An Apology & The Stamp That Started It ALL!!!!!

First, an apology. I thought I was technically proficient enough to take photos of my creations. I used Amy's method of setting up, however it appears we have little or no natural light coming into the house as our skylight has been covered during our on-going renovations and I'm just NOT as good as a photographer as I thought I was. Back to the scanner for me! LOL.

Also, my WONDERFUL trial version of Paint Shop Pro X has finally expired. Today, I downloaded a trial version of Photoshop Elements 5.0 & boy, is it hard to use. After this I'm off the the forums at SCS to see if I can get some idea of how to use this program. I must say though, the organiser feature is super easy, but anything else I've tried to do has just seemed REALLY complicated (even just saving the damn file - AAARGH).

Anyway, as promised this is the card I made for our friend's engagement. I made it using THE stamp that started my obsession with Stampin' Up! - the beautiful Soft Swirls. I saw the most beautiful card made using this stamp in a US stamping magazine The Rubber Stamper in 2004 and that was IT! I had to have this stamp!!!!!

So, imagine my UTTER DESPAIR when I found out that it was NOT included in our 06/07 catalogue. And then to make matters worse, it was listed on the US RETIRED list, to be retired at the end of June, 2006. This time I was lucky enough to have a truely WONDERFUL contact who was able to finally get this stamp for me. And wouldn't you know it, this is only the 2nd time I've used it, LOL.

I stamped Big Rock by Paper Candy (don't you just LOVE this stamp) in VersaColour Silver onto Whisper White and matted onto Basic Black that had been punched with my 1-3/8" SQ punch. The diamond has been covered with 2-way glue and dazzling diamonds for that extra bit of BLING, you just can't see it in the picture. I mounted this onto the Soft Swirls (stamped in silver, matted with silver) using dimensionals. I then stamped Big News (also from Paper Candy) in silver on W/White, punch a hole in either end using the 1/8 punch and threaded through some silver organdy ribbon. This sentiment is also raised up on dimensionals. I then attached the whole lot to a Basic Black card.

This is the matching gift card holder I made for our gift (a travel voucher to go towards their honeymoon). I had a major DUH moment when making this. I used my slit punch for the first time to make the holder for the gift card, but before I actually punched it I just couldn't figure out how this was going to work! (I put it down to seeing it used to make scalloped edging). Finally figured it out - DUH!

Supplies Used (for both)

Stamps: Soft Swirls (retired), Big Rock, Big News (Paper Candy)

Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Silver (source unknown)

Ink: VersaColour Silver pigment

Accessories: 2-way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Silver Organdy Ribbon, Dimensionals, 1-3/8" SQ Punch, 1/8" RD Punch

Blogs, Blogs & More Blogs

You may have noticed that I have updated my listing of 'Blogs I Like'. This is just a small listing of those I view each morning! Also included is the brand new blog of my downline, Anna. Her blog is called Creative Delight. Check it out.

A Weekend of Firsts

A few weeks ago, my mum sent me a text message. This is what it said "Do you know anyone who could teach me to make cards like you do?" I know, what do you say to this......... I mean, 'DUH'. My reply, "Me stupid". So, yesterday my mum came over for her first stamping lesson! I gave her a couple of left over M&T's from my last workshop and set her in motion. I also made a discovery - I found out that my 'Ribbon Challengedness' is INHERITED. I also showed her how to colour images using coloured pencils & OMS. She CASED my 'Sorry Bear' card, except she changed the sentiment to 'Happy Birthday', & she even wrote her greeting in the matching Pale Plum marker!!! She was so proud of her creations. Next week, a box of SU goodies will be arriving at my door for her! How cool is that! I'm so pleased that we can enjoy a hobby together, and with her coming over to my place to stamp too, she gets to spend some extra time with Harrison, who just LOVES his Nana's.

My second first - I know, not really logical but bear with me, was Harrison having his first sleepover! Jarrod & I had an engagement party to go to so Harrison spent the night at Jarrod's mum & dad's. It was SO strange coming home and seeing an empty little cot. It was SO strange waking up without his smiling face greeting me! He seemed to have a great time & I know Nana & Pop had a great time too!

Next post will be of some recent projects, including those I made for our friend's engagement.

Just to finish off, here is a photo I took of Harrison last week, just before his shower. He looked so cute and has begun to realise that he should 'smile' for the camera (or in this case, just open you mouth and look super cute). I'm hoping to get another scrapbook page done soon, this time with a 'bath' theme so I can include this one.

Photo Credit: Joanne Eades - copyright 2007

Can you 'Spot' what I've been up to?

Here are a couple of older projects that I've completed for my 'samples' book using On The Spot and Sweet Spot that were featured in our recent Mini Catalogue. Now I've kept these in my samples book because we were given a gift from Shelli Gardner, (Cofounder & CEO of Stampin' Up!) called Seeing Spots that coordinates beautifully with both of these sets and we have been told that Sweet Spot will be in our new Catalogue, due out April 1, 2007 - see where I'm going here?

The colour palate for this sample was taken from

our Impressions magazine. I've used Real Red, Elegant Eggplant and More Mustard. I used my Stampin' Write Markers to ink up the background stamp (On The Spot) in different colours. Markers are such fun - there's no way you'd be able to acheive this look with an ink pad. I used my More Mustard Classic pad to ink up the solid circles, flower & sweet sentiment (all from Sweet Spot). I really like this colour combo.

Supplies Used:

Stamps: On The Spot, Sweet Spot

Cardstock: Real Red, Elegant Eggplant, More Mustard, Whisper White

Ink: Real Red, Elegant Eggplant and More Mustard Markers, More Mustard Classic Ink

This is another project using the same sets, pretty much an exact copy of a sample shown on the SU Demo's website. (It was late & I really liked the sample). I also used Seeing Spots for the background behind the flower. It was really quick & easy.

I stamped On The Spot in Apricot Appeal on W/White and then overstamped with images from Sweet Spot using Regal Rose, Lavender Lace and Certainly Celery. I stamped an image from Seeing Spots in Regal Rose & punched out using the 1-1/4 Circle Punch (instead of stamping on metal edge tage), layered a flower (from Sweet Spot) stamped in L/Lace that I attached using a silver brad. I attached the W/White piece to a L/Lace card, used the Paper Piercing Template & paper piercing tool from the Crafter's Tool Kit to pierce a row of holes above the Celery grosgrain ribbon, stamped the sweet sentiment in B/Black and popped the circular image up using dimesionals.

Supplies Used:

Stamps: On The Spot, Sweet Spot, Seeing Spots

Ink: Apricot Appeal, Regal Rose, Laveder Lace, Certainly Celery, Basic Black Classic Ink

Cardstock: W/White, L/Lace

Accessories: 1-1/4" Circular Punch, Celery Grosgrain Ribbon, Brad, Dimensionals, Paper Piercing Template & Tool from Crafter's Tool Kit

It's Official

I'm the WORST blogger EVER! I have just realised it's been 10 whole days since I last posted - that's SO bad - and it's not like I don't have anything to share - I really do. As it's kinda late, and I've only just finished cleaning up, this will be short and sweet. So, what has prompted this rash decision to post tonight, you may well ask? Well, I placed my order today for these beautiful stamps from PAPERTREYink. I have been looking for AGES for a simple Sympathy sentiment & here it is, along with 35 other beautiful images. I can't wait for them to arrive!!!!

2 Posts in 2 Days - What's Up With That!!!!

Well, I told you that I had been doing SOMETHING, lol! These are a couple of things that I made for my last workshop - a gift for my hostess and door prizes/booking incentives.

So this is a Bag-A-Lope, I received one of these little beauties (along with instructions on how to make it) at our Training Night in October from a fellow demonstrator, Naomi as part of a swap. Now I must say how generous the VIC SU demos are - I hadn't made ANY swaps as our training night was only 6 weeks after I gave birth to Harrison, yet everyone was happy to hand their creations to me without getting ANYTHING in return. Thank you ladies, your kindness was greatly appreciated. Might I add, I didn't realise it contained chocolate goodies until the NEXT day, what a FANTASTIC surprise!!!!!

I have made these up for my hostess gift - filling them with M&M's for my last 2 workshops. I also show everyone how to make them as part of my demo - they are proving to be a real WOW factor.

For this one, I stamped the frame in Sahara Sand and then masked it. I them stamped the Floral Background in Bravo Burdandy on the front & back of the envelope so it was completely covered, removed the mask and using the Headline Alpha, stamped my hostess' initial in B/Burgandy. I then topped it off with a piece of Sahara Sand cardstock folded in half, punched 2 holes using my 1/8" punch (using my Paper Piercing template from the Crafter's Tool Kit as a guide) and threaded Burgand grosgrain ribbon through & tied it in a bow to finish it off. I really like how it turned out.

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Floral, Headline Alphabet, Label Classics

Cardstock: Sahara Sand, White envelope

Ink: Sahara Sand and Bravo Burgandy Classic Ink

Accessories: 1/8" Punch, Burgandy Grosgrain Ribbon, Post-It Note, Paper Snips, M&M's, Bone Folder

This next project is a Post-It Note Holder. Emily (emilymomto3boys) has a wonderful tutorial on how to make these - they are SO easy & effective.

I used our gift from Shelli - Seeing Spots - for this project. We have been told that this set will be available in our new catalogue which will be relased in April 07. It's a really fun set and coordinates so well with On the Spot and Sweet Spot that were in our Mini (hope that's a hint of what's to come, KWIM)

I stamped the Whisper White card using Only Orange, Real Red, Pixie Pink and Lovely Lilac markers. I then stamped 'NOTES' using the Rough Edges Alphabet (this is a fun set - a bit of a pain to mount, but one that I will use often!) in W/White Craft on Lovely Lilac, punched out with the Word Window Punch, set some white eyelets and used some Red gingham ribbon & dimensionals to attach it. Then I stuck the Post-It Note pad to the holder with some sticky strip. This is a REALLY fun project!!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Seeing Spots, Rough Edges Alphabet

Cardstock: Whisper White, Lovely Lilac

Ink: Only Orange, Real Red, Pixie Pink, Lovely Lilac Markers, W/White Craft Ink

Accessories: White eyelets, Word Window Punch, Red Gingham Ribbon, Dimensionals, Sticky Strip

I also made a matching card. I stamped On the Spot using Lovely Lilac markers (need to get the ink pad in this colour - colouring those dots was annoying!)

I then stamped the Thank You and Flower from Seeing Spots in L/Lilac on W/White & punched out with the 1/1-4" punch, used the 1/16" punch to make a teeny tiny hole, attached a jump ring and attached it to the red gingham ribbon. Easy peasy - I really like these colours together!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: On the Spot, Seeing Spots

Cardstock: Lovely Lilac, W/White

Ink: Lovely Lilac Marker

Accessories: 1-1/4" Punch, 1/16" Punch, jump ring, Red gingham ribbon

Making Up For Lost Time

Since it has been so long since I last updated, I thought I would do 2 in one night !! (and there's still MORE to come - I have actually been doing something, LOL!)

Monday was Jarrod's birthday (Happy Birthday, babe) so I had Harrison help me make a special card for his birthday. Here it is.

When I saw SCS CC99 I knew these colours (Night of Navy, Taken with Teal [or NQN] and a neutral) would be great for a Jarrod's card. Harrison 'helped' me by letting me cover his little hand in W/White Craft Ink and 'stamping' it onto the Night of Navy card, which I then embossed using White Detail EP. (I also did a footprint at the same time - I'll use that for Father's Day) . Amazingly enough we DID NOT get ink everywhere, not a bad feat since he is VERY wriggly at the moment. I then matted that onto a layer of TWT and stamped happy birthday from EFP in NON ink. The dots were made using a white gel pen. I then matted that on W/White and then mounted this using DS Foam Tape onto TWT card that I had stamped with the Print Pattern background stamp, using my TWT marker to outline just the edges. I got this idea from Kendra. Once again the dots were made using a white gel pen.

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Print Pattern, Everyday Flexible Phrases
Cardstock: Taken with Teal, Night of Navy, W/White
Ink: W/White Craft Ink, Night of Navy Classic Ink, Taken with Teal Marker
Accessories: White Detail EP, Embossing Buddy (must remember to use this more often!), DS Foam Tape, White Gel Pen

I'm Sorry - I've Been A BAD Blogger!!!

I'm sorry, it's been AGES since I've updated, but the upside of that is, I actually have some thing to write about LOL.

Firstly, a big THANKS to Anna (my brand new downline) and Simone for their input on my scrapbooking page. I have finally finished it off - the reason it took so long is that I was trying to find some sheer black & white polka dot ribbon. I finally had a brainwave today as to where I might find some and, voila, sure enough Scrappy Hollow in Croydon had just what I was looking for. So here is the finished page.

I added an extra two matting layers, 1 white and 1 black to give me a bit of extra room to add the ribbon without it covering too much of Harrison's face. I then punched a 1-1/4 circle in Green Galore, matted that on a 1-3/8 circle of W/White and used my white Gel Pen to add the journalling. (btw is journalling spelt with 1 L or 2??). I then used my 1/16" punch to make holes to attach pewter jump rings and then theaded onto the ribbon and tied off. At the moment the 'charms' are swinging freely - I'm still undecided if I should stick them down or not? The photo is mounted on the page using DS foam tape. I'm happy with the way it looks now and I'm actually looking forward to do some more pages. (so save me a seat in your classes Anna)

Supplies Used:
Stamps: So Very (limited edition SAB set), Shape Ups
Cardstock: Green Galore (cut to 8 x 8"), Basic Black, Whisper White

Ink: Glorious Green Classic Ink, W/White Craft Ink
Accessories: White Gel Pen, White EP, 1/16" Hand Held Punch, 1-1/4 & 1-3/8 Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, SAMJ, DS Foam Tape, Sheer Black & White Polka Dot ribbon, jump rings