The reason for not Posting for more than a month

I just wanted to apologize for not posting for a month or more.. As I have been very busy getting ready for a craft stall that is held annually at an Anglican Church. I have been working my fingers to the bone to get enough stock for an impressive stall... I think I may have succeeded... if anyone is interested I still have heaps of stock left over.. So please come shopping at my place... I have nativity sets, jewellery, Swarovski crystal angel ornaments and sun catchers, Pasta Angels, hair accessories, hand painted glass jars and so much more!!!
The weekend was great! I even had a Stampin' Up display... And I made up at least 100 cards for Christmas and other occasions. As well as some DIY Christmas Card Kits... Heaps for all tastes…..

Wishing you Peace - Dove

Stamp the ‘wishing you’ and the ‘peace dove’ from the mini catalog on cream card stock then cut out. Back them in Certainly Celery card stock. Stamp the Christmas wish message on cream card stock In Certainly Celery ink pad and cut it out in a rectangle. Tie chiffon ribbon In a bow around the round paper clip embellishment(from Hodgepodge Hardware collection), slide onto the corner of the card with the message. Glue onto the Certainly Celery card stock, glue on card. Another lovely yet simple card design.

Christmas Tree Cut Out

This card is made from the left overs of Christmas trees that had been cut out of the card stock for our big Christmas workshop. I wanted to come up with an inventive way to USE up the LEFT OVERS… so I stamped the polka dot background stamp with VersaMark and stamped a so saffron Star (stamp from Love It set in Hostess rewards level 2) on white card stock then cut it out leaving a border of about 2 mm around. Then I used the snow flake background stamp from the Festive Favorites stamp set to create the Christmas tree colour. Then stamp in StazOn the Christmas greeting words (from Holiday Spirit stamp set)… SO SIMPLE but so great in using up my scraps!!!

Tis the Season

Tis the Season in Italian colours. Stamp on white card stock the Tis the Season from the Greetings Galore set stamp with StazOn and then colour in with Stampin' Pastels and Blender Pen. Cut out and mount on black card. Stick green and white strips on card and glue Tis The Season on top. Then stamp in Real Red the Celebrate stamp from the All About U stamp set.

Wishing You Peace

This card is so simple it is silly… but it is very effective. The Moss Gingham imitation ribbon is made from 2 pieces of ribbon one small and one long enough to go round card stock and tuck under the back. Tie in single knot, use glue dots to adhere to back of card stock, by putting another glue dot on back of imitation bow. This will hold it in place… Glue down with snail adhesive to card… Stamp wishing you to one side of the red card stock strip then, stamp a tag with a star stamped once on blotting paper then 2nd time onto the card stock tag to give the more washed out appearance. Stamp peace word over top. Punch a hole for the split pin. Thread cord through the tag and tie in knot. Place split pin prongs either side of cord and put through red card stock, spread split pin prongs and then glue onto card. You can use stamping dimensionals to give the tag another level if you like.

Happy Birthday Daisy

This card is made by stamping the daisy 2 part flower in a background pattern on some card stock. By using a dauber you can colour the middles of the flowers with ink from an ink pad. Then stamp the words Happy Birthday from Happy Everything stamp set) in basic black ink. The background is stamped with VersaMark using the distressed line stamp from the Background Sampler stamp set.

Framed Love Hearts

This card is stamped by using a masking technique. Stamp the lighter colour on your card stock first then stamp them onto the top of some post-it notes, making sure that a large part of the colour is in the sticky part of the post-it note. Cut them out about 1-2mm less then the actual stamp. Place post-it note masks on top of the card stamps, stamp darker hearts on top of lighter. This gives the effect that the lighter ones are on top of the darker ones.... Stamp large center heart on some more plain card stock and then cut it out with about a 2mm border. Use glue dots to glue on to a metal frame. Wrap metal frame with wire and glue ends on the underneath side with piggybacked stamping dimensionals (2 layers of double sided sticky foam). Stamp the Happy Birthday (from Happy Everything stamp set) before you stick the heart and frame on. Inspiration is thanks to Liz...

Happy Birthday Cup Cake

This card was made with stamping the cup cake stamp with StazOn from the Birthday Best set of stamps and coloured in with the Watercolor Wonder Crayons. Then punching out with the tag punch. Then I double mounted it on complimentary card stock, and punch a hole and threaded hemp twine through and cut on an angle. The background is stamped with happy birthday all year multiple times then stamp with StazOn in the center one to give you a shadowed effect. I then ran the edges through a Choc Chip stamp pad on a slight angle to get the rough sanded looking edges.

Celebrate You

This lovely little birthday card. I think it is quite a cute one. By using the Birthday message stamp from the Birthday Best stamp set as a background. Then stamp over one of the messages in black ink to create a shadow effect. Stamp Celebrate (Wonderful Words stamp set)on some Confetti White card stock that has been cut into a strip, cut corners off to create a tag shape. Stamp some Kraft card stock with the U stamp(All about U stamp set) and cut it out with a 2 mm border around. Then double mount on coloured card and a slightly bigger piece of Kraft card stock.

Celebrate Bright Card

Celebrate Bright. This is a really simple idea. Stamp different colored card stock, then turn the punch upside down and center your stamp and then punch out. (Punch out 4 1-1/4inch squares.) Glue onto a strip of card cut at 1-1/4inch thick x 15cm (width of card)with Snail Adhesive leaving a small gap at either side of card. Stamp with Wonderful Words set Celebrate stamp.

Ball Card

With the Ball Card I used a technique with glossy white card stock. You stamp it with spot stamp pads then place a tissue over the top to dab excess color off which leaves the square patterns to them. Then stamp with StazOn Jet Black. Card background is also stamped with Versa Mark in random patterns. Again very simple yet quite masculine. I find boy type cards are always harder to design...

Heartfelt Celebrations

Celebrate Heartfelt Thanks Flowers, background stamp is Beyond the Basics. Background stamped with Perfect Plum, White Card Stock stamped with Perfect Plum , and Pale Plum, using the double stamping technique. The green leaves are painted on with a Water Color Wonder Crayon, Taken with Teal from the Rich Regals colour range and the Aqua Pens. Celebrate stamp with Jet Back StazOn. this colour combo is lovely! Very simple yet effective.

Baby Card

This Baby card is created by stamping on to velum with StazOn and then by turning over the velum you colour in on the back of the velum with your Watercolor Wonder Crayons. The round tag is done by using the Riveting hostess stamps which is then punched out using the 1-1/4 inch Hole Punch. Punch another circle out of card stock with the 1-3/8 inch punch and glue them together using your SNAIL Adhesive, then punched on either side to thread hemp twine which is stuck down with sticky glue dots on back of overlay card and then it is stuck to the card. I love this technique it is really simple, subtle and effective!!! Try it you can do so much more with the Watercolor Wonder Crayons! They are one of my favorite products!!!

Some Gloss Paper Stamping

I had a night with some friends last week and taught them some stamping on gloss paper techniques... We had a ball!!! And I had to spend the next day finishing all the cards!! These will be for sale at the November craft market that I am going to....

September / October Events & Classes

Saturday the 20th of October … Back by popular demand!!!! Cost:- $20 CHRISTMAS IN OCTOBER workshop….. Want to get a heads up this Christmas? Come make a beautiful decorated box of 20 CHRISTMAS gift cards… Class fee will include bickies, hot drinks, water and cordial…Orders on the day… for every $50 spent receive a CREDIT to your order! Or one free ideas catalogue booklet ... Hurry Bookings are essential!.. Please let me know if you would like some fliers to hand out or post up on community notice boards…I can email them or print them for you…

Friday 14th Sep 7pm and Sat 15th 10am Class….
Water colour wonder crayons. Learn how to use them in may different ways… contact me if you are interested even if dates do not suit as I am flexible!

Friday 28th Sep 7pm and Sat 29th Sep 10am Class….
Embossing… Learn new and exciting ways to use your embossing techniques… Metal tags by embossing.. Reverse embossing…. etc

Mapelton RETREAT…26th - 28th Oct…
A whole weekend of crafting projects… 3 Deluxe Classes including lots of beautiful products... full instruction sheets… 2 Crop sessions.. Door Prizes and giveaways… Come stay overnight.. be social and share with other CRAFTY people… BE inspired… Be enthusiastic… BE PREPAIRED for the time of your life!!!! Cost$190. Pay $50 deposit now to reserve your spot. Balance Due by 28th September… If you would like to pay by credit card call Liz... for Liz's details contact me...


BIG CHRISTMAS Workshop… 6th Oct 9am -4pm Carina Legues Club
When you were a kid… Do you remember
CHRISTMAS morning!... the excitement.. the
anticipation… the sheer JOY of knowing there is going to be some ‘goodies’ waiting for you under the CHRISTMAS tree… WELL this workshop is like that… Come and be YOUNG again with us… It is going to be HUGE!!
Spend the whole day with at least 100 other CRAFT enthusiasts… Participating in at least 6 project workshops. The cost for the day will be $65
LISTEN TO THIS:- for this small $65 amount you will receive…
*6 take home projects.. that can be used as gifts or inspiration and motivation…
* A fully catered lunch and morning tea.
* Bottomless Tea and Coffee
* A FREE Christmas stamping set
* A discount on all orders placed on the day over $50
* There will be lucky door prizes, Raffles, auctions etc going on throughout the day!
* AND we (Stampin Angels) propose to raise money for the Salvation Army Christmas appeal … from our commission on your purchases… and the raffles etc….

So…. Come be Mary.. Jane or June.. or your CRAFTY self!!! For the day… Help a good cause… be inspired… be up lifted… And get some awesome stuff for yourself!!!

Bookings are essential.. please pay money by mid September to reserve your place… filling up fast!!!... If you would like to pay by credit card call Liz... contact me for Liz's #...

So as you can see it is getting close to Christmas and things are gonna be busy!!! get in FAST for the classes as the mad rush will start soon... I will post some pictures of projects as soon as i have a play with some more stampin stuff!!!! Love you all... take care and Chat soon...

Christmas in July Report

The Christmas in July workshop was a great success.. Thanks to those wonderful women who came.. As you know I will be repeating it in August on the 4th.. The ladies were so thrilled with the box of cards they made... We had a lovely day... And I learned a lot about over techniquising people. I will KISS now…. A lot more… (Keep It Simple Silly!!!..) I just had so much that I wanted to share.... And yet there is still so much more I have learned... I've put up some photos of what the "art studio" was set up like and a photo of the girls working hard on their creations... Again thanks to Liz for loaning heaps of stuff to me...


Tools table and mini Display


Embossing Station and Rejuvenation station.... We also had decadent choc coated biscuits, Chocolate slice and some lovely sultana cup cakes that one of the ladies brought along! Thanks Dawn!!! My Hubbie and kids really appreciated these!!!

Christmas in July Repeat Class

Hi there everyone.. I have had a few ladies who really wanted to come to my Christmas in July class not able to come on this sat.. SOOOOOOO I am repeating the class on Saturday the 4th of August.. At 1pm... If you missed out because the 14th of July did not suit you.. Please let me know if you can make it to the 4th August!!! It is going to be great.. and you will learn so many new and inspiring techniques.. that you will have them coming out of your ears!!! Look forward to hearing from you!!! Again booking is essential as I need to prepare the class materials… Bring Tape runner… and scissors…. Just in case…

Birthday Parcel

A girlfriend asked me to do some invites for her daughter's 16th birthday.. I came up with this... I like inventing something new... I think it is new anyway... I've not seen anything like it...



Card:- Black & Lavender old stock (Stampin’ Up similar Basic Black & Lavender Lace), Glossy White
Stamp Sets:- Wonderful Words, Beyond the Basics, Simply Said
Ink:- Staz On, VersaMark, Pale Plum, and an old Kalidascope ink pad (not Stampin’ Up)
Coloured:- with blender pens in Kalidascope pad,
Other Materials:- Orange bargain shop ribbon, Gold Brad
Measurements… 21cm long x 11cm wide… score at 4cm & 13cm

Baby Bundle Card

Back of Card (open)

Inside Card (open)

A girlfriend has just recently had a baby... So I made this card for her.. I used some of the new techniques that I learned in Regional’s.... I stamped the vellum (pg 130) with Staz On (pg 144 ) and then coloured in the picture on the back with the watercolour wonder crayons.(pg 144).... Don’t forget they are ON Special this month(July 2007)!!! I also used the tag punch (pg 140) to punch out a double ended tag so I could tie the package together... Quite cute really...

Front of Card (closed)

Back of Card (closed)

Card:- Pixy Pink, Close to Cocoa, My Old Cream Card Stock (Stampin’ Up similar..Very Vanilla), My old cream recycled paper (Stampin’ Up similar.. Naturals Ivory or Confetti Cream), my old dark Brown (Stampin’ Up similar… Chocolate Chip)
Stamp Sets:- Greetings Galore, Beyond the Basics, Simply Said
Ink:- Staz On, Pink Passion, Chocolate Chip
Coloured:-Watercolor Wonder Crayons selection from Earth Elements and Rich Regals
Other Materials:- Natural Hemp Twine, old Star Split Pins
Measurements… 14.8cm square… score at 7.4cm on diagonal….

Just Add Water

This is on the Stampin' Up Web site... I am lovin' it!!! As the Water colour Crayons are my favorite medium to colour in with!!! So I am definitely going to go for it!!!

Creativity is only a few drops away. Stampin' Up!'s watercolouring products make it easy for you to be an artist. Watercoloring is a great, cost-effective technique that anyone (yes, even you) can do!
And during July, our Just Add Water promotion is the perfect way to get started! Qualify to purchase the Watercolor Wonder Crayons or Watercolor Pencils at 25 percent off by making any $50 purchase.
Be ready to watercolour the moment you receive your order by including other watercolouring products as your $50 purchase! Choose a watercolour-friendly stamp set and Aqua Painters, watercolour paper, a StazOn pad, or pencil sharpener to round out your watercolouring preparations. Whatever you choose, let your inner artist come out to play!

Regionals

Regionals were awesome... I loved it.. It was a long day but well worth it... I learned heaps... I love learning techniques... This helps me to improve... and helps me to have more variety to teach to others... I am hanging to teach some of the new things I have learned!!! I will put some photos on here soon... We did some lovely make 'n' takes... it's great to get ideas from others.

Christmas in July

Here it is fans!!!! I have been working hard on my fantastic Christmas In July class designs.... I think they look good... I have 8 more cards to design.. but at least you will get a little peek of what you will be doing at the class... Remember the price is really reasonable!! it's a few hours away from the kids... and Husband.. House work... need I go no.. NO!!!! You get the idea.. Do something for yourself!!! You deserve it!!!

NOT BOOKED IN YET?!!!
Shame on you.. be quick space is filling up fast!!!
Let me know ASAP!!

7 Year Old Stamps Like Pro!!!

My son Ethan was in the shed with me a few weekends ago and he was playing while I was having my open house… I think I mentioned he turned out some wonderful work... I took a photo of it and I plan to get it framed... He is so clever!!! He use the Flitting By Jumbo wheel (pg78)... and Watercolor Wonder Crayons (pg 144)...

Stampin with Liz

Liz had a techniques class last week... In which I attended... with the intension of helping her out. … But I was soooooooo lucky that there were not that many people so I was able to ‘play’ with everyone... I got to make these fabulous cards and learned so much!!! You know you read the techniques booklets but sometimes they just don’t sink in till you actually try them!!! I love it!!!

This one is the Antique look.. done with the Color Spritzer Tool... (pg 143) and the Aqua Painter Pens (pg144) picking up ink from the inside lid of the ink pads.

Funny story... I spilled some of my hot chocolate on the card.. and it should have added to the antique effect.. but I went a little heavy on the spritzer... and well you can see the results... still looks good I think...

I fell in Love with this one!!! it is so simple yet so effective!!! You stamp in clear VersaMark (pg 145) on Glossy White card (pg 130) and then you roll over your Spectrum Pad (pg 144) with the Brayer (pg 143) then you wipe off the excess ink with a tissue and stamp the words in the darkest colour on the Spectrum pad....

This one is masking.... you stamp the full hearts (Going Gray) first.. then you stamp 3 more hearts on some 'post it' notes and cut them out... on the inside of the hearts.... You then stick them over the 3 (Going Gray) stamps and you stamp the So Saffron ones...

This one was shading with the Stampin' Pastels (pg126) and BlenderPens (pg 144)... I like the different ways one can colour in things with all the wonderful tools that Stampin' Up have!!!!

This one is reverse stamping... you stamp with a stamp that has a lot of black in it... and you do it in VersaMark (pg 145)… then you emboss it (pg 145)... then you sponge (pg 143) some colour over the stamp... The ink grabs to the card that is not covered with the embossing powder...

Nothing but Stampin'

Last week I spent the whole day stamping... A girlfriend wanted some cards for her family's birthdays and some thank you cards... She saw some of my cards and she really liked them.... So she ordered 25... I was so luck that we had our 'Paper Angels' meeting... Because I was again able to borrow some stamp sets from Liz... Some of these designs are inspired from the 2007-2008 Australian / New Zealand Idea Book Catalogue.... Some I designed myself... I had a great time... I will try to put all the page numbers, colours of the inkpads, card stock stamp sets used I may have to do it over time… as there are heaps!!!

I used Heartfelt Thanks stamps (pg 66) & Beyond the Basics (pg 100)
Card Night of Navy, Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red
Ink Pad Night of Navy
Other materials Neutral Hemp Twine

Method Stamp heart back ground coloured in with Stamping Pastels (pg126) picking up colour with the Blender Pens (pg 144)

This one uses Stampin' Around Jumbo Flitting By wheel (pg 78)...(one butterfly 0nly) It's Your Birthday stamps (pg 111), Beyond the Basics (pg 100), Wonderful Words (pg 114) Heartfelt Thanks stamps (pg 66)
Card Taken with Teal, Lovely Lilac, Pink Passion, Whisper White
Ink Pad Versa Mark, Cranberry Crisp
Other materials Clear Embossing Powder (Stampin' Up Detail Embossing Powder pg 145) Method Stamp heart back ground, string of hearts, Love, HB and words in Versa Mark(pg 144). Roll butterfly wheel round till you get a nice butterfly to cut out...

With this oneI have used Stampin' Around Jumbo Flitting By wheel (pg 78)...(3 butterfly's of the one size), Beyond the Basics (pg 100), & Favorite Teddy Bear (pg 46)
Card Lovely Lilac, Pink Passion, Whisper White,Green Galore

Ink Pad Versa Mark, Cranberry Crisp, Perfect Plum
Method Stamp butterfly and bubble back grounds in Versa Mark(pg 144). Roll butterfly wheel around until you get a nice butterfly to cut out...

In the next three I have used It's Your Birthday stamps (pg 111), Beyond the Basics (pg 100), Heartfelt Thanks stamps (pg 66)
Card Ballet Blue, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White & Close to Cocoa
Ink Pad Versa Mark, Ballet Blue, Pretty in Pink & Chocolate Chip
Other materials Dimensionals (pg 142)
Method Stamp heart back ground, string of hearts, Love you, and words in Versa Mark(pg 144). on third one I stamped in Chocolate chip) nb... ink up 'love you' words separately to get them side by side.

In this one I used Heartfelt Thanks stamps (pg 66) & Favorite Teddy Bear (pg 46)
Card Ballet Blue, Brilliant Blue, tempting Turquoise, Pink Passion & Whisper White
Ink Pad Versa Mark, Ballet Blue, Brilliant Blue
Other materials Dimensionals (pg 142)
Method nothing really unusual about this one...


Below is .... Part II of 'Nothing but Stampin'!!!!

Pure Inspiration!!!

These are some cards that I have made in the past year... Again must give credit to where it is due... Thank you to magazines... CRAFTY friends... And pure inspiration!!!

This Card is nice.... I love the layered look... inspiration from a Magazine...

This one is a combo of some old stamps I had and some 'retired' Stampin' Up stamps I bought... Again really simple is affective... I have raised the hearts with dimensionals.

This one is nice because it is simple yet affective.. Inspired from a Magazine again....

I Love the bright bold colours in this one!! The stamping leaves a little to be desired but it is effective! Inspired from the Stampin' Up 2007 Australian catalogue... I substituted a lot of my old stamps... but it's all

ideas...

What a great idea this was... I got it from a class that I took years ago... stamp onto paint swatches...They tone in and give you a variance of colour...