A Bonus Post!!!

Tags

Lovely as a Tree Stamp Set, On Your Birthday Stamp Set

Hi everyone!

I thought I might share another card … cos I soooo dislike the one I shared with you earlier!!! Why did I post that card??? I guess it was because it was a rather nice sketch layout … and also to remind you that a colour combo might not work for you … but believe me … I did see some other gorgeous ideas for  that colour combo … so just keep working on the balance of colour if you are unhappy!

So … I decided that I might have another go at the colour challenge … and this time try a different approach!

Here is my new attempt!!! …

Much better … don’t you think??? Phew! I was beginning to think I had really lost my MOJO!

Card Recipe:

• Stamp Sets: Lovely as a Tree, On Your Birthday
• Cardstock: Riding Hood Red – A5 (21 x 14.8 cm); Very Vanilla – 10.1 x 14.5 cm; Bordering Blue – scraps, More  Mustard – scraps
• Inks: Basic Grey, More Mustard, Bordering Blue, Riding Hood Red
• Extras: Sponge Daubers, Blue Dew Drops (non SU!), Paper Piercer and mat, Dotto
• Notes: I have used an oval window mask and stuck it to the vanilla card with some “dotto” – which is removable glue (a bit like the glue on post it notes). This just holds it firm while you work. I stamped the tree image inside the window and sponged around the edge with the yellow & blue inks … then I removed the mask and stamped the phrase onto the bottom of the image.

Hope you are looking forward to a lovely weekend. C U again soon!

Images copyright © Stampin’ Up! ® 1997—2009.  Artwork by Andrea Lowcock.

Cyberstamp Colour Challenge

Tags

Amy Rysavy Challenge, Colour Challenge, Fresh Cuts Stamp Set, Sketch Challenge

Hi again!

I thought I would share another of the fun activities we had for our Aussie Demo Cyberstamp last weekend. It was a colour challenge … and I really did struggle with these colours. I decided I really didn’t like them … but then I saw some of the other submissions … and realised that sometimes it is getting the balance of the colours right that makes a colour challenge work well. Some of the other cards were just lovely!

But … mine??? Not so lovely!!!

So … the colours given …

Bordering Blue, Riding Hood Red, More Mustard & Ivory Naturals (or Very Vanilla)

Another “yikes” … but again … it was a challenge … so I had a go!!!

This layout was also based on Amy Rysavy’s lates sketch challenge – a repeat of an “oldie but goodie” … AmyRS5

I would like to try this sketch again with nicer colours!  So … here is my card for this cyberstamp colour challenge …

Now … please don’t feel you have to compliment this card!!! I REALLY don’t like it … and for some reason just couldn’t make the colours work. But … I thought I would be brave and show you anyway!!!

Card Recipe:

• Stamp Set: Fresh Cuts
• Cardstock:
  • Bordering Blue: A5 (14.8 x 21)
  • More Mustard: 9 x 8.5 cm
  • Riding Hood Red: 10.3 x 5.3 cm + scrap for phrase
  • Very Vanilla:  8.3 x 7.8 cm + 10 x 5 cm + scraps for flowers
• Stamp Pads: Riding Hood Red, More Mustard, Bordering Blue, Whisper White
• Extras: Dazzling Diamonds, 2 way glue pen, sponge dauber, Very Vanilla grosgrain ribbon – sponged with RHR ink, Eyelet Border Punch, Word window punch

Hope the weather is as beautiful in your part of the world as it is here at the moment. Yes! It is the middle of winter … but the days are full  of gorgeous sunshine … and really mild. The kids and I had hot chips at the beach yesterday for lunch!!! There was a slight chilly breeze … but it was so nice to get out into the fresh air & sunshine!

Images copyright © Stampin’ Up! ® 1997—2009.  Artwork by Andrea Lowcock.

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #21

Tags

Bella Rose DSP, Flight of the Butterfly Stamp Set, Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #21

Hi everyone!

More fun for you … then I am keen to get some more scrapbooking done! Am on a bit of a roll … holidays are SOOOO GREAT!!! Especially when you don’t fill them up too much!

Here is another lovely card sketch that I found at “The Sweetest Thing” -> Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #21.

This is a really easy sketch to use especially if you have some double sided designer series papers!! All you need to do is cut a 9 x 9 cm square of pretty paper … then cut into 1/3′s both ways (3 x 3 cm squares) … and flip the middle ones to show the other side of the paper!

I sooooo love this Bella Rose DSP! Love Love Love the colours & the designs!!! SU! is soooo good at combining colours & designs! (One of my favourite things about SU!)

Card Recipe:

• Stamp Sets: Flight of the Butterfly (yes! I finally gave in to temptation and bought this set!!! – Love it!!!)
• Cardstock & Papers:
  • Bella Rose DSP – 9 x 9 cm
  • Whisper White – 14.8 x 21 cm + 6 x 6 cm
  • Riding Hood Red – 6.3 x 6.3 cm + scraps for small butterflies
• Inks: Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Versamark (for silver embossing on large butterfly)
• Extras: Silver Embossing Powder, Silver tiny half pearls (non SU!), Sponge Daubers + Embossing supplies – Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy, Powder Pals

Such an easy card but it looks so impressive, don’t you think??? Wow! So many ideas over the last couple of days … hope you are enjoying them  all! I know I will be checking back here to use some of these sketches again. I think they are great. Don’t forget to check out more ideas at the sweetest thing blog! And … if you need some new ideas … all the links to the sketch & colour challenge blogs can be found in my sidebar! Just click on the link for some great inspiration!!

Have a lovely day!

Images copyright © Stampin’ Up! ® 1997—2009.  Artwork by Andrea Lowcock.

Sketch Saturday #60

Tags

Oval All Stamp Set, Spring Mini Catalogue, Sweet Stems Stamp Set

Hi again!

I am enjoying our last week of school  holidays! Yes … July is such a LOVELY holiday!! Because our kids are at a Christian school … we get 3 weeks holidays in July!!! It is so nice not to have the morning rush … and the lunches to make … and the school newsletter to produce for just one extra week!!!

I was a busy bee last week … trying all sorts of different challenges … and then doing the CYBERSTAMP … and also having my stamp a stack. So … I have lots still to share! Yippee!!!

Here is another cute sketch challenge … and once again … I am past the deadline! But … that is the great thing about these wonderful websites … the ideas are ALWAYS there for us to take advantage of!!! How fantastic that so many lovely ladies share so many gorgeous ideas with us! I don’t do a lot of square cards … mainly because I don’t have envelopes to fit … but as long as you keep them under the 10.5 cm x 10.5 cm … then they will fit in a standard envelope! So … here is a great SQUARE sketch from the Sketch Saturday blog -> Sketch Saturday #60.

I love the samples at the Sketch Saturday site … so make sure you check out the link above! And … here is my pretty card! I am really into pretty, lately!!! I think perhaps to brighten up the cold winter days!!!

I am so loving this “Sweet Stems” stamp set … it reallly does make some “sweet” cards!!! And … you can use the images for backgrounds as well as feature images. AND ….. here is another look at the absolutely gorgeous “Oval All” stamp set AND  the pretty Scallop Oval Punch … BOTH FROM THE NEW MINI CATTY!!! Email me if you would like me to send you a copy of this fabulous new catalogue!!! I am so taken with so much in this catalogue!!!

Card Recipe:

• Stamp Sets: Sweet Stems, Oval All
• Inks: Basic Grey stamp pad; Regal Rose, Pumpkin Pie, Gable Green SU! Markers
• Card & Papers:
  • Whisper White: 10.5 x 21 cm + 4 x 6 cm + scrap for phrase
  • Sweet Always DSP: 10.2 x 10.2 cm + 10.2 x 8 cm + scrap
  • Regal Rose: 4.3 x 6.3 cm + scrap for phrase
• Accents: Matt Silver Dew Drops (non SU!)
• Extras: Crimper, Scallop Edge Punch, Scallop  Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig (used to position two stems of flower images to meet perfectly)

I am giving you heaps of ideas … so why don’t you try some out and email me a pic to include on my blog??? I would love to see what you have been creating lately!!!

Guess what I did yesterday??? SCRAPBOOKING!! Yep!!! I did say scrapbooking!! I have hardly touched my family portrait album in the last year … and now I look back at pages I did PRE-SU! and wonder “what was I THINKING???” But … even though I am not entirely happy with the old pages … I still think they are OK!!! Still so much to do … so I will keep plodding on … this time using all my gorgeous SU! stuff and hopefully the newer pages will be more to my satisfaction??? I know that at least it will all coordinate beautifully!!!

Have a happy day!!! I know I will!

Images copyright © Stampin’ Up! ® 1997—2009.  Artwork by Andrea Lowcock.

Another Sneak Peek! Mojo Monday #95

Tags

Great Friend Stamp Set, Mojo Monday #95, Sketch Challenge, Walk in the Park DSP

Hi everyone!

I know this is not the latest Mojo Monday challenge … but I reallly did like this sketch … so thought I would use it to highlight some of my BRAND NEW Spring Mini Catalogue products that I have just received!!! You are going to LOVE this mini catty! There are SO MANY gorgeous items … and it is sooooo hard to resist them all!

Here is the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #95 design … and here are some other gorgeous samples -> Mojo#95

I hope you will use this to create something yourself, today!!?? It is a great sketch! So … check out the gorgeous new DSP from the spring mini catty … “Walk in the Park” … and how beautifully it teams with  the “Great Friend” stamp set. These were specially designed to work together to create a perfect card!!! SU! continues to do what it does so well … combine colours & designs that coordinate soooo wonderfully well!

Here is the card recipe:

• Stamp Set: Great Friend (Spring 09 Mini Catalogue – Aug 1 to Nov 30)
• Card & Papers:
  • Whisper White – 10.5 x 29.6 cm + 10.5 x 3 cm + 5.5 x 7.5 cm + scraps for phrase & butterflies
  • Walk in the Park DSP – 10.2 x 14.5 cm
  • Basic Grey Patterns DSP (hostess papers) – 3.5 x 10.2 cm
  • Cameo Coral – 5.2 x 7.2 cm + 5 x 6 cm
  • Baja Breeze – 4.7 x 5.7 cm
• Inks: Cameo Coral, Baja Breeze, Basic Grey
• Accents: Whisper White Grosgrain ribbon, Silver half pearls (non SU!)
• Extras: Eyelet Border Punch, Paper Piercer & Mat Pack

I love this set of papers … and can’t wait to do some more creating with them! But … this set is just so pretty … and even though I had just bought Flight of the Butterfly … I knew that I would use this sweet butterfly so much … just because of the gorgeous design on the wings … which matches so beautifully with the leaves stamp & the papers!

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO SEND YOU A COPY OF THE NEW SPRING MINI CATALOGUE! You won’t be disappointed!!! Just email  me with your address and I will forward one to you asap!

Thanks for stopping by my blog … please make sure you leave a comment to let me know what you think of this latest creation! Or … just say hi!!!

Images copyright © Stampin’ Up! ® 1997—2009.  Artwork by Andrea Lowcock.

SASSC23 – Stamps and Smiles Sketch Challenge #23

Tags

Best Yet (Hostess Level 1), Colour Challenge, Forest Friends Stamp Set, SASSC23, Sketch Challenge, You and Moi Stamp Set

Hi everyone … I have been having so much fun doing the cyberstamp challenges this weekend … still have two to catch up on … but most I have completed!!! It was a hoot playing the scavenger hunt! Manic, actually!!!! And … I lost the bingo!!! But … it was heaps of fun!!! It was just a bunch of SU! demos playing together … but I met some really nice ladies … and got to see some gorgeous creations for the challenges.

This morning I am showing you a card that I did last week for another favourite challenge blog … and I decided to use the same sketch layout for one of the colour challenges for the cyberstamp … so I thought I would show you both!

This is the sketch design from “The Fresh Batch” – the Stamps & Smiles weekly challenge blog …Check out the gorgeous designs for this challenge here -> SASSC23.

I just think this is the cutest sketch … and I am sure I will use it again and again! So … here is the card I created last week …

And … did you notice??? Another sneak peek of the “Forest Friends” stamp set from the BRAND NEW Spring Mini Catalogue that is starting THIS SATURDAY!!!

Card Recipe:

• Stamp Sets: Forest Friends, You & Moi
• Cardstock & Papers:
  • Pink Pirouette: 14.8 x 14.8 cm + scrap for scallop circle
  • Chocolate Chip: Scrap for scallop circle
  • Riding Hood Red: Scrap for scallop circle
  • Whisper White: 12 x 5 cm
  • Bella Rose DSP: 14.5 x 7.1 cm – cut 2 cm strip from this DSP & “flip over” to show opposite side of paper
• Inks: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette
• Extras: White Ric Rac (ret. SU!), White Dew Drops, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8″ Circle Punch

The first challenge for our CYBERSTAMP weekend was a “use limited colour” challenge … and we were given these colours:

So Saffron, Basic Grey, Whisper White

“Yikes!” …  Yep! That was my first reaction … but I actually love the final result … even though the colours threw me for a minute! Not very “pretty” … but … ok … it WAS meant to be a CHALLENGE!!! I decided to use this same sketch again … with the same stamp set … because it was a CUTE stamp set … so maybe I could somehow create something pretty??? Here is the result … what do you think???

I actually was quite pleased with the result. Not my favourite colours … but they actually DO work well together, don’t you think? It helped that I had some DSP in both colours … which made the backgrounds more interesting …

Card Recipe:

• Cardstock & Papers: So Saffron (14.8 x 14.8cm), So Saffron DSP (5.1 x 14.5 cm), Basic Grey DSP (2 x 14.5cm), Scraps of Basic Grey, So Saffron & Whisper White for scallop circles, Whisper White Card ( 5 x 12 cm)
• Extras: White ric rac (ret. SU!), So Saffron designer flower brads (NEW MINI  CATTY), Paper Piercer & mat, Sponge Daubers, Yellow Rhinestone Brad, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8″ Circle Punch
• Inks: Basic Grey, So Saffron
• Stamp Sets: Forest Friends, Best Yet (phrase – Hostess Level 1)

Off to visit my dad in hospital … will be back with more soon!!!

Images copyright © Stampin’ Up! ® 1997—2009.  Artwork by Andrea Lowcock.

AmyRS72 – Amy’s Sketch Challenge

Tags

Afternoon Tea DSP, Forest Friends Stamp Set, Fresh Cuts Stamp Set, Sketch Challenge

Hi everyone!

I hope you are all enjoying the ideas & inspiration from the past week! I thought I would show you another card I made this week for the Amy Rysavy Sketch Challenge -> AmyRS72.

Such a pretty sketch … and I wanted to show you one of the new sets from the BRAND NEW mini catty that is starting on Aug 1!!! The theme of this card was based around the most adorable new set called “Forest Friends” … a set of 4 cut stamps costing JUST $24.95!!!

Cute Cute Cute!!! This set is going to be great for baby cards, don’t  you think??? I used my Afternoon Tea DSP to start as I thought the little wildflowers were just perfect for a little forest scene.

Card Recipe:

• Stamp Sets: Forest Friends (Aug-Nov 09 Spring Mini Catalogue!) Fresh Cuts (phrase)
• Cardstock & Papers:
  • Whisper White – A5 + 8 x 8 cm + scraps for stamping animals
  • Pretty in Pink – 10 x 5.5 cm
  • Certainly Celery – 8 x 8 cm
  • Afternoon Tea DSP – 12 x 8.5 cm
• Inks: (Colours of DSP) – Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, Basic Grey
• Extras: Silver half pearls, So Saffron satin ribbon (ret. ribbon originals), Eyelet Border Punch

I did have a little trouble cutting the circles (yet again!!!) I used my circle cutter … but it just isn’t the best one, I don’t think … I wish SU! would hurry up and stock one for us!  So many gorgeous sketches ask for circles in the layouts … and I find I avoid them because I don’t have a decent circle cutter! Maybe when our big new catty comes out next Sept there will be something special in it???? Guess we’ll have to wait and see!

Just popped back to Amy’s site to get the links for this sketch … and saw that she has added another … “an oldie but a goodie”! Can’t wait to try it out … it is just gorgeous!

Off to do another cyberstamp challenge. We had lots of fun doing the scavenger hunt last night! It was hilarious. We did it in a chat room … and the hostess asked for details from many of the items in the new mini catty. We had to type our answers super quick … as the first in with an answer won a point. It was a new experience for me … and I did have trouble with a delay with my internet speed … but even though I was handicapped I really enjoyed the conversation and the company of the girls! Oh … Leonie (S) … you need to get your clock checked!!! Leonie turned up just as we finished … and said “did I miss it”????? LOL … I giggled my head off!

Hope  your weekend is a lovely one! So much still to share … so keep on popping by!

Images copyright © Stampin’ Up! ® 1997—2009.  Artwork by Andrea Lowcock.

Another Stamp a Stack card!

Tags

Embossing, Snow Swirled

Hello again!

I have been off to Wollongong uni again today … to see Stacey graduate her Diploma in Legal Practice (after graduating her Law Degree & Media & Communications Degree at the end of last year!) Stace has done really well … especially considering she is now married & so has extra responsibilities that many students don’t have … and is also very involved in our local church as a assistant youth leader. So … it was a huge surprise to her to win the “Macquarie Prize” for her course!  “The Bill Macquarie prize is awarded each session to the PLT student who makes the most significant contribution to the Course. Academic achievement, although important, is not the sole criterion for the award. The ‘contribution’ students make is measured by the degree of commitment to competence in their coursework and their professionalism and cooperation in their dealings with their colleagues, staff and others in the Course.”
Stace was thrilled to receive this award … she really enjoyed the practical nature of the course and had some wonderful “mentors” who gave her great support and encouragement. It was hard work (60 assessments in 4 mths) but even though it was really intense and a lot of hard work … she did really enjoy it. So … I guess that is enough of being a proud mum … again!!! Perhaps I should share that final stamp a stack card???

So … I have to acknowledge that I CASED this card from a swap that we had at Ness’ team meeting recently. This card was designed by Leonie Newman … thanks Leonie! (I have changed it a little … using an eyelet punch along the bottom edge … where Leonie had done a torn edge. But … apart from that it is basically the same as Leonie’s design.)

I love this card! It is soooooo pretty … but soooooo sooooo simple to create! And … the Bashful Blue sample was just as pretty as these two! This is also a great card to do for Christmas as it uses very little in the way of supplies! Cheap but gorgeous! Just perfect!!!

Card Recipe:

• Stamp Set: Snow Swirled
• Inks: Versamark, Whisper White
• Cardstock: 1 colour – Cut 1 x  A5 + 12.5 x 9.5 cm
• Notes: Use an Eyelet Border Punch across bottom of smaller piece of card then sponge whisper white ink around the edge of this card. Rub embossing buddy over card. Stamp snowflakes (large & small) randomly over the card with Versamark & sprinkle mix of Heat & Stick Powder / Dazzling Diamonds over the images … tap off excess and heat with your heat tool to set the diamonds onto the card. Tie some white organza ribbon around and stick to the main card. Wipe embossing buddy over bottom of card. Use versamark to stamp phrase & sprinkle with Silver embossing powder. Heat to set. Voila! Done! Such a quick & easy card! I hope you will try it for yourself!

I am participating in a “Cyberstamping Weekend” with some lovely Aussie SU! demonstrators over the next couple of days. It started last night with a colour challenge … and then this morning there was a sketch challenge … and this afternoon a 3D challenge.  So far I have kept up! I will show you all my creations soon! We also have a Bingo game running over the whole weekend and tonight there is a “Mini Catty Scavanger Hunt” on … not sure what that involves … but I had better fly as it starts in 5 mins!!!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Images copyright © Stampin’ Up! ® 1997—2009.  Artwork by Andrea Lowcock.