BIG SHOT Magnets

This was a fantastic project that I did with some of the girls in my Church Activities Day Class... The girls are 8 to 13 year olds and LOVE cool colourful projects...

We made some picture frames for the fridge with the Top Note die... and made some flowers and some butterfly magnets to decorate the frames or to use individually...  When you cover the magnet with our beautiful DSP you can create a lovely gift for someone... I used Pritt Power glue to stick the DSP onto the Magnet... And I recycled the magnets from the ones that you get in the post from Real Estate representatives and from some of calendar magnets that I got Vista Print to do for me last year..

What I love is that the Big Shot is so easy to use!!! Both youngsters and elderly arthritic hands can easily turn the handle to cut out the fantastic shapes and make wonderful projects.

Happy Magnetising

Harry Potter Sweets... With Stampin UP!

This week we had a girly day out to GOLD class movies... just to spoil ourselves before the onslaught of the madness of kids on School holidays and Christmas.. I got this FANTASTIC idea for a party bag from some of my friends on Facebook.. They have done Twilight and Harry Potter treat bags.. and man they have been really Awesome.. some people are just soooooo creative!!! .... so I wanted to try doing some myself.. and WOW Stampin Up does make them look really professional!!! How much FUN!!!!

I Googled Harry Potter Candy images and came up with some of the candy that gets a mention in the books and the movies... Above I have the Honeydukes Chocolate Frogs... and wouldn't you know it Elegant Eggplant went BRILLIANTLY with the label.... Which we had to do a little remaking cause the best image we could find was a little blurry... So saffron was close to the Goldy colour so I used a little strip on the side of the box and punched it with the Scallop Trim Border Punch.. How AWESOMELY did it go with the look of the label??? It really finished off the box quite well!!! We had 5 different flavored Fredo Frogs in the box... Yum Yum!!!

The Jelly Slugs label went PERFECTLY with Pacific Point card stock.. And I used my Big Shot to punch out a bag topper..... Of course I could not find anything that looked like a slug sooooo I put a few snakes in the bag.... Close enough....


Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans..... This label went perfectly with Elegant Eggplant again.... I put some mini Jelly Beans in this bag... and man Were they SWEET!!!!


I put all out treats in a lovely bag and presented them to the girls just before going into the movies... It was a hoot.. and made it all the more special!!! I also printed out a label for some Butter Beer... in the photo it looks a little bad cause the condensation got to it but when I dried it off and put it in the fridge overnight it dried right out and the crinkled label looked quite authentic... I really wanted to have a bottle of Ginger Beer for this one but the shop was out of them.. so I went for good old lemon lime and bitters....

I printed all the labels on sticky photo paper to make it REALLY easy to stick on each item...

Fantastic Memories..... Thanks girls for sharing it with me!!!

11/7/15
Here are the labels and Pattern for the Frog box... If you would like to make them yourselves...
This has been a very popular request over the years.. hope these images help;)... If I knew how to attach a PDF I would attach the original docs... one day I may learn... xxx ENJOY!!!

Love Ursula

Voting Ribbons

Recently my Son was running for School Captain... and he had to have a campaign and some badges and flags or things to hand out to the kids at school to remind them to vote for him.. we had fun making at least 150 of these.. We used a whole heap of Scrap card stock and left over ribbons... It was amazingly quite Quick... I love Stampin Up punches!!!!

He had a blast making them and LOVED handing them out to the kids at school!!!

Unfortunately he was not awarded School Captain or vice captain. I reminded him that just because he does not have the title there is no reason that he can not be a big support to the ones that were elected...

Artisticly Helping along a TRUE Happy Ending!!!

Daryl is a dear (old.. heheh) friend of mine and he is sooooooooooo talented!!! He is a movie producer... And his BEAUTIFUL Fiance is Erin... and she is a megga talented artist as well.. the found love half way across the world... and it really is a fairy tale romance...

Daryl has entered the Doritos competition to share his talent and maybe to win the prize money which would go to their wedding and bringing his 4 kids from Australia to the USA for the wedding....

Please vote.... You are allowed to vote 5 times a day... then in the last run only once a day... Let's do all that we can to help someones dreams come true.. these guys deserve it!!! Especially hte HAPPY ENDING!!!!

Please Vote for Daryl Young's Video http://doritos.com.au/#/gallery/week-8/id/1988
Add it to your FaceBook profile or email it to your friends to vote also... Share the love!!! With all as they have shared their romance with us!!!

Thank you.... Below is some of the attention their romance has received!!!!

our story was featured on a software developments website, as their software was a part of our "getting together"

full story here
http://zaxwerks.com/blog/2010/03/10/proanimator-helped-my-love-life

Fascinating Hair Accessories

It all started a few years ago when a friend of mine suggested that I should make some hair accessories for her sisters Hair Dressing Salon... Then in 2009 a friend wanted a VERY elaborate fascinator for a costume party... See this Link for past blog entry .......I found a new hobby.... (like I need another one!) I am loving making hair accessories... I love that there really is not limit on how much, how big or how to attach!!! I am trying my hand at the markets this weekend and next month I am taking a class of ladies who want to make some fascinators for a cocktail party they are going to.. it should be fun... I Love Peacock feathers. This little number is stunning... It is on an Alice Band... Silver and Black is always nice and Elegant!!
On a Spring loaded hair clip.Now with satin, feathers and a rose you can't go wrong... Very sophisticated!!! Kind of reminds me or Audrey Hepburn.. not sure if she wore such things... but I like this look.. (Slide Comb)
Now for a Spanish feel.. OHLay... on a parrot clip...
Pocahontas... I LOVE these colours! (Slide Comb)
A little 1920's.. just to add a bit of colour (Slid Comb)
This orange fantasy one is LOVELY!!! It is on a large spring-loaded Butterfly clip...
This one is a little more Elaborate... I love it.. It makes a wonderful statement.. It is very light and you can pin it in with bobby pins. It gives you great versatility as to how you can wear it...

Red Organza bow... Very stylish. Adds that touch of colour. (Slide Comb)

If You would like a Fascinator made for your function or special occasion please let me know... Of if you would like to learn how to make them, gather some friends together & I would be happy to run a class for you all....

Dichroic Glass Jewellery Class

As PaperANGELS we get together for other occasions.. Not just paper craft events...
We had the opportunity in July (2009) to attend a Dichroic Glass class... There was 4 PaperANGELS (Liz, Kathy, Amanda & myself- Bec unfortunately was not able to come.. bummer.. we missed you Bec) and Friends and Neighbours... I think I have found a new craft to become addicted to.. This is my second class and I believe that I may just grow attached to it... and passably even get better at it... One can only hope...
I took my camera but forgot to take photos till after everyone was almost finished.. Hence the reason why Kathy features in most of the photos.. as she was the only one left making the peices when I whipped out the camera... But she is such a beautiful subject!!!
These are some of the unfired peices I managed to take photos of...
After the class some of us went to The Manley Yacht Club and had a hot Drinks and DELICIOUS cakes etc.. It was soooooooooo COLD so some of us wrapped up with the devine Green blanckets... mmmm mmm mmm

And a few days later we were able to pick our peices up... They had been fired and fused together in the Kiln... LOVELY!!! I think our beginners did a BRILLIANT job.. infact I LOVE some of theirs better than mine... Well done girls... It was a lovely day...

My Oversaeas Trip

I bet you didn't even know I went Overseas did you??? Well I did... nar nar nar...

I was needing to get out of the house in June.. a week before The Arty Farty Tea Party so I called up Leonie and asked her if she would like a visitor.. She said yes.. So I drove to the Redland Bay Ferry and went over the sea.... to Macelay Island....

Leonie drove me around the whole island.. We did the touristy thing and took some photos.. It was a fun escape for the day...
This is Leonie in her In The Night Garden - Iggle-Piggle pants.. hehe...

see they are the same... Leonie is gonna kill me!!!


That's ok caues there is a photo of me looking hot.. (not) too.....




This was the day The Arty Farty Morning Tea Party Make n Take was dreamed up - with thanks to Splitcoast and a little artistic license...

I just had to take an arty looking photo... The angle is a bit weird but I think it is a pretty good photo...
It was a lovely day, spent with a wonderful friend.... Yeah for beautiful people who do crafty things!!! I am BLESSED to be surrounded by them!!! Muwah to you all!!

Hodgepodge Hardware - Jewellery

I have blogged this before but my photos were some what lacking.. I have a new camera now and it takes much better shots.. it's amazing what another 7 pixels will do to the quality of your photos!!!! I love begin challenged... And I love this necklace... I can have my kids (photos) close to my heart every time I wear it!!!
I have 2 Hodgepodge (pg 149, 2009-10 Aus/NZ Ideas Catalogue) Designer Labels back to back and using the Designer label punch (pg 152, 2009-10 Aus/NZ Ideas Catalogue) I have punched out the photos and some clear Over Head Transparencies (OHT's). I have put the photos in and stuck the Hodgepodge together...

If you would like me to make you one let me know.. this design takes about 4 hours at least... I would have to sell for at least $130... because of the time factor and all the beads are good quality hand made glass beads... and each one is individually hand wraped with wire...

I am really rough on necklaces so I needed to make it industrial strength... I always lean over chairs or door handles and get my necklaces caught.. of course the non industrial strength ones break.....but this one will stand that kind of cruel and unusual punishment!!!! ;)

If you would like to check out the first blog info click HERE for a short cut...

Dying Pearls Tutorial

I have been meaning to post this for at least 8 months!!!! And by popular demand I am now getting to it!!!! Thanks to Bec.. for the heads up & the questions regarding the process today.. Thanks again to Bec for being my Motivation!!! It's all about sharing great ideas!!! And getting it out there for all to use!!!!

How it all came about....
In our PaperANGEL team meetings we are asked to help out every now and then with the make-n-take sessions... Weather it be to do a short demo of something, help instruct the make-n-take tables... Sometimes we get the easy way out and Liz comes up with the idea... and others (the brave ones- like Bec!!!) come up with their own!!! AMAZING... Some of us give a few minute spiel on classes that have worked or that we are creating... It is a wonderful thing to belong to a team that involves the individual... I believe it makes for a greater feeling of ownership and pride in each member of our team..

Because they are VALUED!!! ... Also I happen to think is only fair we each take turns... As we have so many lovely wonderful talented demonstrators.. Who individually are so ingenious!!! And it takes a little pressure off Liz... so she can enjoy some of the meetings too!!! ;)

Anyway... I have strayed a little... back to the story...

I was STRESSED (a little).... I knew MY TURN would come.. soon... arghhhhh.... RUN HIDE!!!

And well... Do you ever get the feeling that you really have nothing to teach all these wonderfully talented demonstrators??? ... (sounds a little like the Ladies that demoed on main stage at convention!! I feel their pain.. even if it is only in front of 20... I have had a glimmer.. Demoing in front of 450 talented demonstrators... ARGHHHH... I will be running fast... and hiding!!!.. if ever I am asked to do something big like that)... Well that was me... so I did the normal thing in preparation for my inevitable turn... Chewed my nails a bit... I stressed a bit... Researched a bit... and felt like nothing was happening.. I was drawing a total blank... for quite some time...

Then; magically one day a memory from my childhood POPPED into my head... (Thank goodness)

My Mum was a Costume Jewellery Designer and I remembered that she used to dye pearls... With that memory I wondered if I could dye our pearls from our pretties kit? . After all I was getting a bit board with the white and cream pearls.. as lovely as they are.. well I just wanted a change.... you know colour my world... with colour!!! So I did some experimenting...

Then when I thought I had it... I told a couple of people.. and B4 you knew it Liz asked me to take part in one of PaperANGELS make-n-take sessions in our meting... Of course this may have had something to do with my total secrecy in 'the process'.... I wanted to keep it to myself.. I wanted it to be FRESH... NEW and INSPIRING... When I finally unveiled 'The Secret'... (Can you tell I like DRAMA??? Suspense is a great thing.. It makes life exciting.. and surprising.... hehe.. and... I get a bit of a kick out of being a tiny bit evil!!!)

Anyway... I am so grateful for an ingenious Mother!!! Who not only still inspires me even though she passed away when I was 18... but also that she taught me well to "HAVE A GO"....

Muwah (*blows kiss skyward) I Love you Mum...

Damm it now I am crying.... as mum would say.. "You big B.... sook!!! "

Ok so.... on with the tute...

Materials needed..
Pretties Kit.. (of course....), re-inker, microwaveable small cup, paper towels, rubber glove, small funnel, Microwave & pliers or tweezers.

I find egg cups, small par fee bowls or tea light candle cups are the best... The smaller the better as you will use less ink.

First you take the pearls out that you would like to colour..... and... place them in your (microwaveable) cup...

Squeeze in some of your chosen re-inker... enough to totally submerge the pearls... (note:- you do need to choose from our stronger colours... Light ones are not pigmented enough to change the pearls...)

Place cup with pearls in microwave for 10 seconds... being sure that it does not bubble over..

(It gets very messy when it boils over!!!)
Be sure to keep listening all the time to ensure it does not bubble & crack too much because you can blister the pearl.. What you want to achieve is for the resin to expand enough to let in some of the colour... Heat is a great way to expand resin and make it more porous...


* You may want to repeat that process once or twice more.. If it bubbles and cracks you need to stop the microwave even if time is not up.. .. allow it to cool a little.. one or 2 mins.. and then put it back in for the remaining of that 10 seconds...

Lay out a paper towel with a plastic bag underneath.. or put paper towel on the sink so that if it soaks through the towel the clean up is easier...

Take glass with peals out of the microwave.. (it may be hot... so you may need a oven mitt or a tea towel... Protect those CRAFTY hands they are precious!!!) Allow the pearls to cool in the dye.. You can do it over night or it can be for 10 mins.. this all depends on how the ink takes to the pearl... All colours are different in this process.. so ‘trial and error’ is needed...

While they are cooling you can remove the dropper part in your re-inker and poor the remaining ink back into your container using a funnel... (The heating process will not change the colour... However it will make the consistency a little thicker... but I find that that does not matter.. so far I have not noticed changes in the re-inkers ability to re-ink my stamp pads.. If you were worried about it changing the integrity of your re-inker….. perhaps buy one or two darker re-inkers and dedicate them to your pearl dying... OR add a few drops of water)

When cool take your tweezers or pliers... and remove the pearls from the cup.... (a rubber glove comes in handy for this process.. because you can make a mess dropping the pearl back in the cup..)... Place the pearls on the paper towelling... then dab the excess colour off.. you can also rinse it under water.. both will work...

And whalah.. you have a dyed pearl... As you can see it is a subtle difference...Due to the fact that our re-inkers are water based... (if you want stronger colours you could try using fabric dye.. but that is not Stampin Up stuff....; )

I've only put this in the microwave for 10 seconds and allowed it to cool for maybe 10 mins......

The first two pearls are our cream and white ones from our pretties kit.. the one I am pointing to is the Chocolate Chip died one..

Now if the colour is not dark enough you can repeat the process one or two times more.. It may make a difference... again it is all 'trial and error..'.

* If you do not have a microwave.. You may achieve the same result using a baya-maire set up...

Have some boiling water in a saucepan with the cup and pearls in the water...

You need to boil the water so it is bubbling well...

Then you need to boil the pearl in the cup for at least 20 mins.. you may need to top up the water in that 20 mins as the water will turn into steam and will evaporate... do not let it boil dry.. as you will wreck your pearl... burn the bottom of your saucepan... and may (touch wood that it never happens) burn the house down!!! I do not want to be responsible for that!!! Sooooooooo PLEASE keep a close eye on it...!!!

And here is the finished product..attached to my card that I whipped up for this tute tonight...

This is the techniques card I taught in our PaperANGELS meeting all those many months ago.. with some left over and experimental pearls that I have dyed....

As you can see I BOILED the pink ones a bit too much...They blistered... . (Trial and ERROR)... I used Rose Red re-inker... Then the full round pearls at back close to the card I have used Elegant Eggplant.. again you can do it a couple of times to get it darker... and I think (from my really BAD memory) the one on the card was Night of Navy re-inker.... the 2 in the front that got too much light from my cameras flash are the Chocolate Chip ones I just dyed...

Enjoy Experimenting... xxxx

Ps... Oh yeah and the Demonstrator who told us about her pearl dying 'accident' or rather dicovery... Some people have mentioned that they can't remember how she did it... (sorry I can not for the life of me remember her name!!! I took so many notes in her class too!!! How BAD is that??) How she said she achieved it was to leave the pearl in the reinker for a week or so... and it came out a supprise colour... not much like the inker she left it in..

Display boards From Convention

I did not realise how much work people put into these wonderful tutorials and information sessions.. Until I started to crop the photos so that I could put each up individually... When you are sitting in the audience trying to soak in the information and watching the demos... Well it all happens so fast because of "the magic of television" and "here's one I prepared earlier"... I'm waiting for the stake knives to be brought out.. heheh... I just wanted to say THANK YOU to all the wonderful demonstrators that gladly shared their Time talent and ideas!!! You's are all inspirations... (love the english??? yous... bahh haah haah)

I learned so much form Convention and was so inspired!!! I really want to just sit and create non stop for a month... Of course that is not possible... you need to eat and sleep.. take kids to school... cook and clean... You know do all those hum drum things you used to enjoy b4 you became obsessed with paper Crafts...

With all the information that was shared with us and all the demos and displays.... well you would have to be mute and blind to not have learned something... We learned... how to use tools properly, some different techniques, new ideas on how to run your workshops... Little tips that make them more interesting and exciting for your hostess... We learned some more about our great business tools on the web site, some catch phrases, and selling information.. We laughed we cried we jumped for joy. We clapped & cheered, wolf whistled, ohhed and arhed... we got embarrassed (more on that later) and recognised... Some received free stamp sets... (not me... NEXT year they will be mine... yes they will) Some of us were followed around by the camera man!!! some call that stalking.. but when you do crazy things and wear a Halo.. well that's kind of asking for it!!!.... All in all it was a fabulous time...

But wait there's more..... No steak Knives still... ... heheheh

I highly recommend to all demonstrators (hobbyist to career demos) to start putting some money away each week.... about $15 per week should build a really nice nest egg for next years convention in Sydney...That will give you a bit of spending money too!!! Start stashing!!! take it off your profits of your Workshops...