Merry Wishes

Who said cards need a multitude of stamping done to make them look special??  I wasn't really in a card making mood when I made this wee sample.  I have a lot of SU Designer Papers and rarely use them on my card projects.  I set myself a challenge to use only a sentiment stamp and papers to make a Christmas card.  Of course, to break it up, I have added a few embellishments as well.  The SU Designer Series Papers are just so lovely, I am definitely going to have to use them more.  They can add such a lot of interest to an otherwise boring card, hehe.

The DSP I have used on this card is from the "Ski Slope" design range which you can find in our Spring mini Catalogue.  All designs in Ski Slope really lend themselves to the Christmas theme.  Be in quick if you want to order some though. The Mini Catalogue range is available only until the end of November and at only $19.50 for this set, really good value.  Contact me and get your order in quick smart!!

Watch this space for some fantastic specials and promotions we have coming up.  I hope you all have your Christmas wishlists made up!!!!

Cyber Challenge No: 4

The team Cyber challenge this month was to create anything, be it card, scrap book, or 3D, around the Baby theme.  The only limitations we had, was that we had to use at least one "in" colour from the Stampin' Up! colour range.

I decided to make it harder on myself and use two colours that wouldn't normally go together.  Just goes to show how wrong I was!  hehehe!

Stamps: A New Little Someone (Retired)
Inks: Real Red, Tangerine Tango
Card Stock: Red Riding Hood, Tangerine Tango
Accessories: Snail adhesive, Brads, Blender Pen

Baja Reflection

I have spent most of today card making for a school Gala I have a stall at this week, along with fellow demo, Diane Taylor.  I have been a mad card making machine!!  But the good news (for me anyway!!) was that I finally managed to acquire the stamp set "Summer by the Sea" I am in LOVE with - Yipee!!  Now I don't need to borrow it from Diane, lol.  THANKS Diane!  Need less to say, that is the one I have been playing with.  This is the beauty I came up with and I just love it.  I have called it "Baja Reflection" because I have used the reflection technique for the first time today and found it not nearly as scary as I thought it would be.  I can feel another class coming on, hehe.

Stamps:  Summer by the Sea
Inks: Staz On Black, Basic Gray
Card Stock: Baja Breeze, Basic Gray, Going Gray
Designer Paper: Urban Garden
Accessories: Snail adhesive, Blender Pen, Stampin Pastels, Brads

I also made a "Sour Cream" container with the same DSP.  I closed one end with sticky strip but the other I closed with the same coloured brads I used on the card.  That way, the lucky gift receiver can get to the Chocolates in side without having to cut the end off, and they can reuse it again.

I have also made another "matching" set that will appeal to children.  I inserted a acetate "window" in the container this time, so the little darlings can see all the lollies inside!  Somehow, I don't think this set will be coming home with me after the gala, hahahaha!!

Emboss Resist Technique

I am doing a training session next week on a technique called emboss resist.  This was a happy "mistake" as I was practicing this technique.  I had intended the tree to be white, but it turned out cream instead!!  The only way I learn is by practice, practice and more practice! Luckyily for me I had card stock I could use that coordinated!  Watch out for upcoming classes, as I intend teaching this technique at a later date :-)

Gift with a Twist!

Well, its not really a gift with a twist, more like a twist in the gift!!  This super little container is called a "Sour Cream" container, although heaven knows why!!  I made this in about 5 minutes flat - fast and super easy.  This would make a great party favour or wedding favour.  If you would to know how to make it, contact me to book a workshop, get a few friends together and I will show you all how easy and super quick it is to make.

A great way to spend an afternoon...

especially when there have been thunder storms about!!  I held a class today demonstrating the great ways you can use just one stamp!  Two projects, one stamp, two totally different looks. My lovely ladies learnt some useful tips and we had a lot of fun (even getting side tracked  playing with a Cuttlebug!!)

I now have a new classroom, with plenty of room to move.  My lovely husband decided to suprise me with a couple of trestle tables I can pop up when I run my classes.  That finally leaves my dinning table free to eat a meal from, lol, without having to move my craft stuff first!

Here are the two projects we made today.  Both feature the pine tree from the "Lovely as a Tree" set.  But by adding a few more images and a bit of bling, in the form of Dazzling Diamonds and ribbon, we have created a completely different look from the idividual stamp we would normally do!

Using just the individual image, we have made the card more interesting by adding designer paper "Ski Slope" (only available until the end of November) and layers of coordinating card stock.

I have now added a Class List to my Blog.  Check back often to see what classes are coming up and if it sounds like you, contact me for further details!!

Wish List - Summer by the Sea

I am blessed with the friends I have around me.  Diane Taylor (a fellow demonstrator) kindly let me borrow a retired Stampin' Up! set called "Summer by the Sea".  I would just love to get my hands on this set.  The graphics are just beautiful.  Here are a couple of cards I have been playing around with today.  The first card is a Joy Fold card.  I have never tried one of these and really love the shape of it.

The second stamp I used in the set just lent itself to something soft and feminine.

When is a Fern not a Fern?

When it's a Christmas Tree, of course!!! 

I have been delaying the inevitable and it's time I got cracking on my Christmas cards.  My Stampin' Up! stash doesn't quite extend itself to all the lovely Xmas stamp sets I would really like, so I played around with my favourite stamp set - Organic Grace.  It is a level one Hostess set that can be won with a qualifying workshop of just $350.00, along with $35.00 of your choice of product from either current catalogue.  What better reason do you need to hold a workshop? 
I got this idea from a card I had seen on Splitcoaststampers.  It just goes to show how versatile stamps can be with a little imagination!

Stamp Sets: Organic Grace, Best Yet (another Hostess gift)
Card Stock: Garden Green, Real Red, Whisper White
Inks: Garden Green, Certainly Celery, Real Red
Accessories: Sponges, adhesive, gems

Card Making Day

Since I will be maning a stall on Card Making Day, 3rd October, I thought I would come up with a couple of my own designs to display at the stall, since I won't be holding a class that day


This card was inspired by the lovely coloured card stock I have just ordered!  I couldn't wait to see it used in a card.  Teamed with the Lovely as a Tree stamp set, I was very pleased with the result.



Card stock & Inks: Close to cocoa, So Saffron, Whisper White
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Best Yet
Accessories:  Sponges, Brads, Snail adhesive

I made this Christmas card in preparation for a class I am running on the 10th of October.  We will be using the cuttlebug embossing folders and dies to make some lovely cards, along with learning a few stamping techniques.  Please contact me for more details if you would like to attend this great class.

Finally, I decided to make a lovely little tote bag to keeps all my cards in.  I had seen them done by other demonstrators but had nevermade one myself.  I love the little bag, it is so cute!