Help Needed

OK, so here is the page I was talking about - my 2nd EVER attempt at scrapbooking. It's an 8 x 8 page and I have no idea of where to go next. The background is stamped to co-ordinate with the cushion Harry is leaning on. I also matted the photo on black cardstock. The photo & the 'cute' sentiment are attached using removable adhesive, so they can be moved. The 'So Very' sentiment is stamped & embossed - so it's pretty much stuck there. I thought of adding handwritten journalling (sp) (in black) in the light green squares, in line with the cute sentiment, but other than that I'M STUCK. What do I do NOW???? Any creative advice would be greatly appreciated. Once again, this is another project that 'looked good' in my head but in reality - aargh!!!

Supplies Used (so far):

Stamps: So Very (SAB set), Shape-Ups

Cardstock: Green Galore, Basic Black

Ink: Glorious Green Classic Ink (who would have thought - not my fav. colour), Whisper White Craft Ink

Accessories: White Detail EP,

What's Been Happening??????

Well, not all that much here, what about you? Once again, I can't believe how quickly the days are flying by......next week my little boy will be 5 months old. Watching him today, he started to move his legs in the crawling motion......time to start baby proofing the house. The big question is -what do I do with all my stamping & crafting supplies - they are currently stacked in clear plastic boxes beside our dining table as what was going to be my craft room is now Harrison's room (we only have 2 bedrooms). I also have lots of things in draw units too. Now I know the boxes will be too hard for him to open, but the drawers - I think they'll be easy picking. Any ideas?

I've been meaning to get some samples done for some upcoming workshops but I haven't been sitting down until late & the light is SO bad that it has really put me off. I need to go out and get a new globe for my light TODAY so I can get going. I did get a scrapbook page started - only my 2nd one EVER - I say started because now I'm stuck. I just don't know where to go from here?!? Scrapbooking is WAY HARD. I'll post what I've done so far & hopefully someone can give me some tips on what to do next (please....)

This week I have been inspired in other ways - actually, by Triple J's Annual Hottest 100 countdown that was broadcast on Australia Day (Jan 26), so yesterday we ventured out to JB Hi-Fi to spend a gift voucher Jarrod got for his birthday LAST YEAR before it expires (we are so bad at using these by the due date). We picked up the Foo Fighters - 'Skin & Bone' and the very first volume of Triple J's Hottest 100 that is full of really cool songs from way back in 93. So last night I decided to get busy 'updating' my itunes library on the home computer. It now 'looks' very pretty. lol. I also downloaded a few songs that I seem to be missing from 'The Smiths' - bits & pieces from the album 'Meat Is Murder'. Much to Jarrod's dismay, I am still pretty much stuck in the '80's when it comes to my music. He calls me the 'Queen of Crap Music' and reckons that we have music on our iPod that no one else has never heard of! Well, he might be right, LOL!

Where Does The Time Go???????

I can't believe almost a week has gone by - where does the time go (well, I DO know, but still....) This week I have kind of deviated from my resolution, but it wasn't intentional. I did have my design all worked out in my mind, but ONCE AGAIN, what 'looked' good in theory didn't look so good IRL. ARRGH. What should have been a quick project has now taken as much time as it took the Aussies to get the NZ's out in the ODI - gotta love Sports Sunday at our house, usually the TV is stuck on the surfing channel but this week I had a 'choice', tennis (good), surfing (bad - really bad background music today) or the cricket (good, but what should have been a good & exciting game ended up being a bit boring)

Anyway, after many, many alterations, trying out this & that, this is what I came up with. It was supposed to be SC102 but it was just NOT working. Does this happen to anyone else or am I the only one??? I used my new Simply Said stamp set from the Mini Catalogue. I also got out my new Word Window punch - I was having a bit of a duh moment and was trying to trim a piece of cardstock to fit the sentiment when I remembered I got this punch for this VERY reason, LOL. It's hard to tell in the picture but the flowers in the main image are covered with Dazzling Diamonds glitter to give them a bit of sparkle! I also sponged ink on the edges of the main image & the sentiment, and the MM layer on the flower image got 'distressed' with the distressing tool from my new Cutter Kit, also found in the Mini Catalogue.

(As I'm typing this I've realised it DOES qualilfy for a SCS Challenge, Limited Supply Challenge LSC97 (yay) - for things you got in 06 and didn't use until 07 - I got the sponges I used for the sponging in 06!! - I know, it's a stretch)

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Simply Said (Mini Catalogue)

Cardstock: W/White, B/Black, Mellow Moss

Ink: B/Black and Mellow Moss Classic Ink, B/Black Marker

Accessories: Distressing Tool from Cutter Kit, Word Window Punch, Blender Pen, 2-Way Glue, DD Glitter, Black Gingham Ribbon, Foam mounting tape

Happy Birthday to Me!!

A BIG thank you to SU! Today I received my gift stamp set from Stampin' Up!. Happy Birthday to me - what a great present!!!! How fantastic is Stampin' Up! - giving each demonstrator a FREE set of stamps to show their appreciation for us doing something that we LOVE. I'll be posting some samples using my new set soon. (I need to do some housework and prepare for an upcoming workshop - those dishes and that ironing just won't do itself, no matter how long I leave it!!! LOL)

How time flies.......

I can't believe how fast this week has gone....I've been busy mounting my new SAB sets - Delight in Life and Happy Harmony, along with my 2nd order from our Mini - Simply Said. Will hopefully have some samples from those next week - gotta keep up with that resolution. This is what I created this week using Colour Challenge CC96 and Sketch Challenge SC72 using my Delight in Life set.

The background was stamped with the smaller flower using a Gable Green marker to ink the stamp. I also used Passion Pink and Lavender Lace markers to 'watercolour' the flowers. I did this by scribbling the marker on to a cd case and then used my blender pen to pick up the colour and colour the images. I LOVE my markers (I have them in all colours now - I had tried to make do without the soft subtles because I had that family in ink pads, but I just couldn't - I'm now concentrating on getting all the ink pads because I NEED them too! LOL)

Supplies:
Stamps: Delight in Life (SAB set)
Ink: Basic Black Classic, Pink Passion, Gable Green & Lavender Lace Markers
Cardstock: W/White, B/Black, Gable Green
Accessories: Blender Pen, Dimensionals

I also did a slightly different version for my MIL for her birthday, except hers got a bit of a glitter treatment on the middle flower. You can see them both, along with some others I've made in my SCS gallery on Monday.

In other exciting new, I've also put in my application for a Merchant Number which means I'll soon be able to accept credit cards - yay!

Also, don't forget our Mini catalogue finishes on January 31, 2006, so if there's something you want, make sure you don't miss out!!!

New Year's Resolution - How long will it last???

One of my NYR was to put my ever growing pile of stamping stuff to good use and actually make something, instead of buying it and stacking it beside the dining table, lol. I can't believe how many sets are still sitting there unused and unmounted - it's the baby's fault!! To make sure I DO something, I thought it would be a good idea to particpate in the challenges on SCS (SplitcoastStampers). They have different challenges for every day (except Sundays) and my resolution was to complete at least 1 each week and to 'catch up' on all the previous ones. So without further ado, here is my first creation......drum roll please........

The layout for this card comes from SC70 (Sketch Challenge #70) and I have used a technique called 'Gamsol Magic' for the first time to colour the bear image. I check out AmyR's blog daily and she has compiled a great list of resources for this technique. After I checked them out I realised that I could put my tin of 72 Derwent pencils to good use (have had these for about 20, yes, 20 years and the majority of them are UNUSED - do you see a pattern here???)Anyway, I think this is the best that I have ever got 'Melanie' to look (although I do have a way to go - got some of the shading in the wrong places - it's all a learning process). I also used the 'Sorry' stamp from my new So Very SAB set and some of my patterned papers that have been sitting around here FOREVER!
Supplies: (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: So Very, Bear Framed - Melanie (Stamp-It)
Ink: Pale Plum Classic, Basic Black Classic
Cardstock: Whisper White, Lilac Bazzill, Lilac Gingham - source unknown
Accessories: Derwent Pencils, Odourless Minerals Spirits, Blending Stumps, Dimensionals

In other news, my latest order arrived today - finally, I have found that it is beneficial to have Christmas and my birthday so close together - thanks Mum, I've put the cash to good use and will post something shortly showing you all what I got!!! hint: it's SAB time!!

OK to Go!

I got the 'rubber stamp' (pardon the pun *wink*) from SU! that everything is A-OK, so I'm good to go with postings! I thought for my first post I would add a couple of cards I made using the stamps from the SAB catty.

I made this card for my friend's birthday using the cute little cow from the Very Punny set. She just loves cows so that was an easy choice. The colour combo came from the SCS colour challenge. I also used my 2 new favourite things, no make that 3 new favourite things; my paper piercer and template from the Crafter's Tool Kit, my 2-way glue pen and dazzling diamonds glitter (the red spots are covered in the glitter - very sparkly IRL) and my ribbons. I usually have a HARD time using ribbon, but these days I feel like I want to add it to everything! lol

Supplies:
Stamps: Very Punny, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Canvas
Cardstock: Whisper White, Tempting Turquiose, Real Red
Ink: Basic Black, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise Classic Ink, Basic Black, Blush Blossom, Real Red Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories: 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Paper Piercing Tool & Template from Crafter's ToolKit, Blender Pen, Red & Black Gingham Ribbon, decorative scissors.

This second card I made using So Very (from SAB) and one my most favourite stamp sets, Love Without End. I saw some beautiful samples is a SU! ad nearly 3 years ago and fell in love. This is actually the 1st time I've used it, I really like the way it has turned out!

I made the pink polka dot layer using WW Craft ink and repeatedly stamping the dot pattern from Itty Bitty Backgrounds. I used my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to line it all up and, voila pink polka dots. I used the 'kissing' technique to get the dots on the flower and my new 1" round punch to punch out the 'cute' sentiment.

Supplies:
Stamps: So Very, Love Without End, Itty Bitty Backgrounds
Cardstock: WW, Pretty In Pink
Ink: WW Craft, Pretty In Pink Classic
Accessories: Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (SAMJ), 1" RD punch, dimensionals

Check out the SCS SAB galleries for more great samples. Don't forget, SAB stamps are for a limited time only so if you like what you see, email me with your order.

It's time to Sell-A-Brate

Sad about missing out on that post-Christmas bargain? Don't worry - use those dollars saved to get FREE STAMPS during Stampin' Up's most popular promotion - Sell-A-Bration!

FREE STAMPS - Do you need another reason to Sell-A-Brate?

From January 1 to February 26 2007, you will receive a free Sell-A-Bration set when you spend at least $100*. There's no limit - spend $100, get 1 free set, spend $200, get 2 sets and so on. There's also great benefits for hostesses and recruits during this time too. Check out page 3 of the SAB brochure for full details.

(*Net Sales, before shipping and handling)

For more information, email me and join in the Sell-A-Brations!