28 Saturday Feb 2009
Posted in Challenges, Colour Challenges, From my Bloggies!, Sketch Challenges
Just Added: Julie A has sent in a card for the last KWerner colour challenge that I did. You can check out her card here -> Colour Challenge #41. This card also fits the Mojo Monday challenge from the day before this one! How clever! Thanks so much for sharing, Julie!
28 Saturday Feb 2009
Posted in RAKs
Tags
Blossoms Abound, Bodacious Bouquet, Bodacious Wheel, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Victorian Bushfire Appeal
This week I received a RAK (random act of kindness) card that was just so unexpected … but soooooo appreciated. One of the most special things about being involved with Stampin’ Up! is the lovely friends I have met. I received this stunning card in the mail this week from a very special friend from WA who had noticed I had a birthday coming up. She sent me the most gorgeous birthday card! Thanks, Keesh! I was so surprised … and so touched to receive this. And … it came on a day that I was really needing a bit of encouragment! Thank you thank you thank you! I just love it!
Aren’t these colours just beautiful! Keesh has used Rose Red, Regal Rose & Sage Shadow. Lots of pretty stamping. I’m not sure if you can see the sparkle in the centre of the flower … and the flower is actually lifted off the white card to give a 3-D look. The stamp set is Bodacious Bouquet … teamed with Bodacious wheel stamp & Itty Bitty Backgrounds. The “my friend” stamp is from the Blossoms Abound set. I love all the detail … the scalloped edges & the pierced corners. Just so yummy!
I am sooooo looking forward to meeting Makeesha at Convention in Canberra in May! It will be so lovely to be able to say thank her in person & give her a big hug. She has been such an encouragement to me! (Keesh was the one who told me NOT to take my computer on hols!!!) 
I just wanted to mention … SU! has given us the latest tally for the bushfire appeal! So far they have been able to donate $34,653.80 from the sales of 10 of their stamp sets. Some of you have helped to raise this amount by purchasing these stamp sets … so thank you! (And … I know that on top of this amount … there are many demonstrators who have given their commission as well as the 50% of retail value that SU! have given. So … in reality … there is probably another $8000 on top of that amount!) Thank you for your support. If you would like to order any of these sets to support the appeal … the details are here -> Bushfire Appeal. With the death toll over 220 now, I am sure that every cent of this money will be greatly appreciated by those who have lost so much!
Off to get ready for stamp club on Tuesday night. I am determined to get on top of things … and stop being “last minute man” … ‘cos I have never been that way until very recently!
Thanks again, Keesh for your thoughtfulness. I do treasure our friendship … even though it is such a long distance one!
All images copyright © Stampin’ Up! ® 1997—2009. Artwork by Makeesha Byl
26 Thursday Feb 2009
Posted in Andrea's Cards, Andrea's Chit Chat, SU! Workshops
Tags
A Happy Heart, Bali Breeze DSP, Cami's Tri-fold Card, Chunky Sprinkles, Eastern Blooms Stamp Set, Fishy Friends Stamp Set, Punches, Tri-fold Card
Hi everyone! Hope your day has been a good one! I have been at the zone swimming carnival with Sandy (10yr old son) in Nowra. (1 hours drive away) ALLLLLLL DAY!!! Yep! He happened to qualify for EVERY event … so we had to leave at 7am to be there for the first event … and arrived home at 3.45pm after the last event finished! It is really funny … leading up to the carnival … I had constantly commented that 3rd place is GREAT!!! (1st & 2nd place go to state – a 2 hr drive to Blacktown) so … 3rd is good!!! He actually thought I was serious! He decided not to train this week … so that he would come third!!! Isn’t he gorgeous! So … I had to say “just do your best”. (Hoping secretly that he would place third!) The last 3 yrs he has qualified for state and I have diligently taken him there for 2 races! And … I would be happy to do that again! Every year I “psych” him up … and remind him that he doesn’t do swim training … he doesn’t have a swim coach … one of these years the squad swimmers are going to improve past him … and he needs to be prepared for that! But … each year he proves me wrong! Perhaps … this year might be different??? And … yes! He did really well … a couple of thirds … a third in the relay … and a couple of other places … but NO seconds or firsts!!! So … no STATE! Yippee!!! (Sssshhhh … don’t tell him I said that!!!)
Anyway, I wasn’t popping by just for another “kid brag” … I just got a little sidetracked!
Amy's Trifold Card
I found this super cute card on Amy’s blog. And … told Amy that it was so gorgeous that I needed to CASE (copy & selectively edit) it for a workshop demo. She was more than happy for me to do so! Isn’t this just so sweet!
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Attempt no. 1 - Just really thought this was far too fussy! Scrap this one!
Anyway, I decided that I wouldn’t just steal Amy’s design … but would try doing one for myself … And …
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Attempt no. 2 - Yuck! Good in theory ... but just didn't cut it in practice! Scrap this one!
It wasn’t such a great day for Andrea’s “mojo”. It was just not happening that day!
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Attempt no. 3 - I actually loved this one ... but punching through 3 layers wouldn't work ... so had to take time to match the punched holes in the 3 layers, separately ... THIS WOULD BE TOOOOOOO FIDDLY FOR A DEMO!!! Scrap this one!
But … I didn’t give up … and actually quite like the next attempt!
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I decided that none of these were going to work for a demo! And … had to try one JUST LIKE AMY’S! The moral … when you see something perfect … don’t try to improve it!!!
Attempt no. 4 - Why ... O ... Why didn't I just stick with this one?
So … here is my workshop demo sample! I could’ve saved myself a lot of heartache … if I had just stuck with Amy’s design! I can hear Amy laughing from NZ even now!
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And … here is the inside … so you can actually see how this trifold card works!
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Andrea’s Card Recipes:
No. 1 – Bali Breeze DSP, Colours: Soft Sky, Pumpkin Pie, Taken with Teal; Stamp Set: Eastern Blooms; Punches: 1 1/4″ Circle, Scallop Circle, Slit punch; Accents: Chunky Sprinkles & Grosgrain Ribbon
No. 2 – Almost Amethyst DSP; Colours: Almost Amethyst, Elegant Eggplant; Stamp Set: A Happy Heart; Punches: Slit punch; Accents: Sponged ink & Chunky Sprinkles
No. 3 – Colours: Whisper White, Pink Passion; Stamp Set: A Happy Heart; Punches: Scallop Square, Slit; Accents: non SU! pink organza ribbon.
No. 4 – Bali Breeze DSP; Colours: Blue Bayou, Whisper White; Stamp Set: Fishy Friends; Punches: 1 1/4″ Circle Punch, Scallop Circle, Slit; Watercolour Pencils: Olive, Blue, Yellow & Blender Pen; Accents: Blue Bayou Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds
All images copyright © Stampin’ Up! ® 1997—2009. Artwork by Andrea Lowcock
25 Wednesday Feb 2009
Posted in Andrea's Chit Chat
Hi to all my blog friends!
It is one of those weeks … so much to do … so little time! I had to take my dad (& mum) into the hospital today for his cataract surgery. Yes … I know this is usually a simple op … and hundreds of families face this op each week … but nothing is simple with my dad. He has a tendency to blood clots … and is a diabetic … and apparently this makes anaethesia rather tricky! Then … he also has Parkinsons & Myosthenia Gravis … both neurological conditions … and their medication treatments tend to work against each other. Long story short … a simple op for some … becomes much more of a deal for Dad. And, for my mum who is his carer! For her … this is a constant & unrelenting task … so wherever I can I help out. Now … please don’t think I am complaining … far from it. I am just finding life a little bit of a battle at present … between the demands of my own family (I still have 4 kids at home) … my SU! commitments … and the need (& desire) to spend more time caring for my mum & dad. The battle tends to be more in my own mind … feeling as if none of what I do is being done well.
So … I have decided that I do need to focus on family & my mum & dad a little more … even if that means not having as much time for stamping & blogging! I hope you all understand! So … if I am not here daily … as I like to be … and if I end up deciding that I need to cut down on classes & workshops … I hope you will understand that it is not because I no longer LOVE my stamping … it is just that I cannot be a superwoman any more!!! I’m sure many of you have been there! I also need to give my hubby a little more attention! He must be the most patient man in the world.
So … sorry … I didn’t mean to bore you all with my little sob story! I will go now … and will try & post a new card later. I have a funny story attached to a tri-fold card I made. Amy (my NZ SU! blog friend is going to laugh at this one!)
C Ya later!
PS … Were you wondering about the photos? I have always wanted to escape to a tropical island (preferrably the Caribbean) … and now seems as good a time as any … but you know me … 5 STAR ALL THE WAY!!! Doesn’t hurt to dream! 
24 Tuesday Feb 2009
Posted in Andrea's Cards, Sale-A-Bration 2009, Techniques
Tags
5 petal flower punch, A Good Egg, Boho Backgrounds, Polka Dot Punches, Priceless, Scallop Circle Punch, Thumping Technique
I have to be quick … I really need to get started on project samples for my Friday class … and here it is 4.38pm & I meant to start at 9am this morning!!! Have you had days like this … where you have a list of “things to do” but every one of them is actually No. 1 for priority??? Where do you start? Anyway, the project samples are still a no. 1 and here I am stopping to do a quick post! HHHmmm … I really need to get moving!
So … here is a cute little Polka Dot Punches card. We did this as a M&T at a workshop recently. And … apart from the EASY stamping & punching … we also learnt to do “thumping”. You can see this on the background stamp … where there seems to be different colours … dark & light blue!
Thumping is really easy. All you need to do is ink your stamp with the lightest ink colour you are using – here I have used Bashful Blue & the Priceless small swirl stamp. Then “bounce” or “tap” your darker blue (Night of Navy) marker onto the stamp so as to just add a little darker colour here & there. Stamp onto your card.
See how perfectly the stamped images can be punched with the Scallop Circle Punch (bashful blue shape) & the 5 petal flower punch (Night of Navy flower). The only shape I cut by hand was the small bashful blue flower. This really was a 5 minute card!
Here are 2 other samples in different colours. Rose Red + Pretty in Pink and Handsome Hunter + Gable Green. I also used different background stamps. The pink is from “Boho Backgrounds” & the green is from “A Good Egg”. And … the best thing about this cute Polka Dot Punches set … it is FREE … during Sale-a-bration (Jan/Feb) with any order of $100! But … you will have to get in quick! Only 4 more days before this great offer disappears!
So … email me with your order today! Ok … so quick card … quick post … I am OUTTA HERE!!!
Oh … and I have to add … I found this design on someone’s blog. I know it is out there somewhere but I can’t for the life of me find it again! Please let me know if it is yours, so I can acknowledge your FAB inspiration!
24 Tuesday Feb 2009
Posted in Stamp Bits
Just a reminder that our Project Classes are starting again this month! I already have all 8 spots +1 filled … so there are no vacancies at present. But … I do have 5 people on the waiting list … and am planning to start a class on a Thursday in March. If you & a friend would like to join us … please email me ASAP to reserve your spot! Don’t miss out … I am imagining this class will fill up quickly! Only 2 spots left!!! If you would like further information – go to my classes page -> Project Classes.
DATES FOR CURRENT CLASS MEMBERS: (I am still working on project list! – these are tentative suggestions!) I will send you all a FULL CALENDAR once the classes (members & projects) are all finalised.
Friday 27th February – Easter Gift PackagingPlease note:
* The March date is a week early due to my Catalogue Launch on March 28th. ** April & July Dates fall during the school holidays. These may be put back a week to early May / August or may even be cancelled! We will chat about this closer to the dates. *** Our November date may be a week earlier or cancelled – depending on whether there are any who are available. (I realise this is a busy time of year!)
I have Linda B, Karen M, Tanya R, Bev B & Katie C on my waiting list & will reshuffle to add a couple from my first class … is there anyone else who is interested in my project classes? This class will probably run on the Thursday night before each Friday date. There may be some from my current group who would prefer to change nights?? There will be opportunity to shuffle the groups if one night is better for some & not others! Please help me out if you can!!!
PS: IS THERE ANOTHER NIGHT THAT WOULD SUIT? Perhaps we can organise the 2nd class on a Tuesday rather than a Thursday??? Please let me know!
23 Monday Feb 2009
Posted in Promotions, Stamp Bits, SU! Demonstrator
Can you tell I am excited? Yes … I have had another wonderful girl join my tiny team! It is so nice to welcome Larissa to my Stampin’ Up! team “The EnchantINKs”. Larissa is a prep teacher … so is not anticipating a lot of time for demo-ing … but is hopeful she can share some time with friends & family & just keep things “ticking over”. Larissa has also had the super advantage of joining during February … and so has an EXTRA 2 FREE STAMP SETS … and an extra 3 CARDSTOCK PACKS! If you would like more details about why FEBRUARY is a great time to join Stampin’ Up! … then … click this link -> Super Bonuses!
So … welcome, Larissa! It is so nice to have you on the team! And … I hope we will enjoy many times stamping & sharing!
Stampin’ Hugs, Andrea
PS Oh … I just had an email from one of my “groupies” … and she has started her own blog … if you would like to have a look … here is her address! I can’t wait to see some of her SU! creations! I’m sure she is going to be a great inspiration! Trish’s blog. (Thanks, Trish for the link to my blog! I feel very honoured!)
PPS: JUST ADDED A PIC FROM CHRISTINE TO THE RECENT MOJO MONDAY CHALLENGE Click here to see the details -> mojo 74
23 Monday Feb 2009
Posted in OTP (3D) Projects, SU! Workshops
Tags
Bali Breeze DSP, Easter Wishes Stamp Set, Occasional Greetings, Sweet Scallop Easter Cone, Sweet Scallop Pouch
Hello!
5. Fill a little cellophane bag with some small easter eggs - tie with a pretty bow & slip into the cone!
I am doing a project class this Friday and I am in the process of planning a few little Easter Packaging projects. I found this gorgeous little gift packaging cone on Angie Kennedy Juda’s “Stampin’ Academy” . She has a FAB video tutorial on this project … if you would like to have a go for yourself. How pretty is this Bali Breeze Designer Series Paper! I just love the colours! Don’t forget these will only be available until the end of March … so email me with an order if you would like to get some before they disappear! And … Send me a pic of your sample or just even let me know what you think … my blog comments have dried up recently! I am beginning to think I am talking to myself again!
Here is a quick picture tutorial … for those who don’t have a lot of download access!
I demo-d this project at a workshop last Saturday (we used the Summer Mini papers – “Afternoon Tea”) … and my workshop guests really loved doing something a little different! It was a “WOW” (workshop wonder) make & take! The little “Easter Wishes” phrase is from the “Occasional Greetings” stamp set.
So … for all my class girls … this is one of the treats we are making this Friday! Can’t wait to see you all! Hope you all have a nice week!
