Hannah turned 18 last week (I know - how fast does time fly!)  We couldn't get together with family and friends as we usually would so we had to think a little outside the box to make the day special. 

I've used the Christmas Countdown Project Kit and decorated it with some pretty colours to make this set of gorgeous drawers.  Each drawer has a message from grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins plus our clan.  Just print off the greetings and wishes and fold them to go in the little drawers.  

Doesn't it come up well all decorated.  I've used Peony Garden DSP plus a little of the In Good Taste DSP (patterned paper.)  I've also used some Whisper White embossed with Greenery embossing folder.  (In my video below I accidentally said shimmery white but it is the whisper white.)  I've cut some leaves from Champagne foil for a little extra shine, and added some Beaded Pearls and Elegant Faceted Gems.

The set of blank drawers come in your kit (along with some Christmas decorating parts to make an advent calendar.)  To repurpose it, just choose your favourite patterned paper or coloured cardstock to make an alternative set of drawer fronts to decorate for a special occasion.  Cut each drawer front piece to 5cm square and you can either trace one of the templates from the kit and cut with scissors or a HUGE shortcut would be to get a 1" circle punch.  I didn't have one of those but I did have the Timeless Label punch and just used the edge of that.  It is a little shallower than the circles in the kit but still worked well and was a lot easier than cutting with the scissors.  

I made a matching card and envelope using some of the same supplies.  

Here's a shopping link if you need any of the supplies I've used:  Project Supplies

I've put together a video giving a closer look and a few more tips for this project.  

Thanks to the lovely Ann from Complete Balloon Decorating in Buckley St, Essendon for the beautiful balloons.

And thanks to the lovely Helena from Bakes By Her for the extra special cupcakes and biscuits.

Wow - doesn't really seem ALL that long ago that Hannah was a cute little bub and now she's 18 and soon to finish school.  That saying is so true - the days are long but the years are short.  Wishing you every happiness Hannah.  xx

Happy creating.  

Cheers, Sue

Each month the Art With Heart team that I belong to has a creative showcase with a different theme. 

This month it is Patterned Paper and to celebrate this month's patterned paper special we're sharing ideas for how to make use of your collection. 

I just love love love using all our pretty colour coordinating patterns in my cards so enjoyed creating for this showcase. 

I've got the link to the showcase host at the bottom of this post - head on over there to see lots more DSP card ideas from the crew. 

Tips for making this card at home:  I've used the Snowflake Splendor DSP with a Whisper White thick base.  Love the blues and purples in this paper and the gorgeous snowflakes.  I cut an extra panel of the white cardstock that is 14.3cm x 10cm and glued the strips and ribbon to this.  I cut my DSP to 14.3cm then the middle panel is about 7cm wide. I overlaid it with the side panels which are 2.5cm wide.  I trimmed it down a little once I had it all stuck down.  Don't forget to add your ribbon trim before you adhere this part to the card base.  The snowflake splendor ribbon is a lovely addition with the iridescent shine and some metallic thread woven through it.  

Snowflakes are cut with the Snowflake Wishes bundle from Balmy Blue glimmer paper, with of course a blue adhesive backed gem for a finishing touch.  The greeting is from that same bundle, stamped in Night of Navy ink.  The frame is from Painted Labels dies. 

When I find a design I like I love to make it again in different colours.  For this next one I followed the same measurements but I used World Of Good paper.  Great one for masculine cards. 

Greeting is from Happiest of Birthdays stamp set embossed in white on black cardstock. Some twine and copper stars to finish. 

Head on over to our showcase host Rachel and she's got the full list of participant links at the bottom of her post.  Then we'll have lots of inspiration and can get stuck into those patterned papers - chop chop chop.  :-)

Click here: Showcase Host Rachel

Happy creating!

Cheers, Sue

Do you love your patterned paper?  We've got a great bunch of patterned papers on sale this month including all my favourites.   They're 15% off during October.   Here are a few of my favourites.  

Head to my store to browse all the papers in the sale and pop some in your cart.   Sue's Store

Peony Garden DSP

Coordinating colours are: Basic Gray, Gray Granite, Petal Pink, Whisper White

In Good Taste DSP (LOVE!) 

Coordinating Colours: Basic Gray, Early Espresso, Gray Granite, Night Of Navy, Petal Pink, Rococo Rose, Smoky Slate, Very Vanilla, Whisper White

Snowflake Splendour DSP

Coordinating Colours: Balmy Blue, Coastal Cabana, Highland Heather, Misty Moonlight, Night Of Navy, Pacific Point, Pool Party, Whisper White

Heartwarming Hugs DSP

Coordinating Colours: Mossy Meadow, Pear Pizzazz, Real Red, Whisper White

And there are a bunch more.  Which papers are your favourites from our sale range?  

For some handy measurements for using patterned paper on your cards I've got a couple of my most used measurements here:

New host code for October if you're ordering online is:  FYQ74CT6

If you are after some tips for ordering online, using the host code or earning free products head to this tips page I put together. 

Happy creating!  

Cheers, Sue

This week on our AWH Colour Creations Showcase we are featuring the colour Gorgeous Grape.

I had some trouble with my project until I realised that the feature panel I'd made didn't match the background I'd made. 

When I separated them into two different cards- yay.  

Tips to make this card at home:  The flower stamp there (and the greeting) is from Queen Anne's Lace stamp set.  I stamped it in Gorgeous Grape ink then stamped it off first on scrap paper.  Then I dabbed some extra ink on some parts with a sponge dauber.  The embossing folder is Scripty and it is shimmery white cardstock.  I've matted it with champagne foil which teams nicely with the Gorgeous Grape.  My favourite Elegant Faceted Gems are the finishing touch. 

This was the background I'd made initially - it didn't quite work with the floral circle but I love it with this panel.  It is a gatefold card and for the background panels I've used the Plush Poinsettia specialty paper and the Wrapped In Texture embossing folder - both from the Aug - Dec mini.  

Oops sorry I think that congrats die has retired but Well Written die set has some beautiful script words to use.  I popped a couple of leaves from Birds and More dies cut from the Plush Poinsettia paper.

 Now if you love Gorgeous Grape then head on over to our lovely Showcase Host - she's got all the links to the other projects from our talented team.   Click here:  Showcase Host Catherine 

Happy creating,

Cheers, Sue

I did lots and lots of scrapbooking in the early 2000s but lately any layouts that I've done have been digital.  This weekend I decided to get the supplies out and do some paper scrapbooking.  Isn't it so lovely to rediscover a past passion.  With lots of time inside these past few months I've been looking for things lately that I enjoy doing and that lift my mood when I'm feeling flat.  How are you going?  Just sending a cyber hug to anyone finding things a bit tough at the moment. 

I grabbed out a partly done album I'd started in 2004 as an alphabet album for my daughter.  This is such a great project to start with as it doesn't require organising all my photos - I can just choose any photo of Hannah that I love and think up something for a title for one of my remaining letters.  Alphabet albums were a format I found really easy to get stuck into when I was scrapbooking regularly.  

Here's one of my 2003 pages for the M page.  It has a hidden letter - you can just see the vellum tabs to pull it out.  It also has one of my first set of stamps - an alphabet.  

For my layout yesterday I used our Playful Alphabet dies for the title.  No more running out of letter stickers - I used to always run out of the Es when I used sheets of alphabet stickers.   Pop one of our adhesive sheets on the back of your cardstock before you cut your letters and voila - you have your own set of letter stickers with a peel off backing. 

The way these letters are arranged on the backing sheet is totally messing with my brain. :-)  Am getting some magnetic sheets to pop my dies on in the latest of my 'organise my stuff' efforts.  (Thanks Christine and Jacqui for the helpful organising tip in our discussion over on my facebook page.)  This set is so good - perfect size for card making and great for scrapbooking titles. 

My layout style these days is very clean and simple - I just like the photo and a title.  Usually I'd have some journaling but this album is more of a spot for some of my favourite photos.  I quite like that I've left it so long to finish that now I can have a great range of ages in the album.  

I've used 'In Good Taste' patterned paper for my layout for the woodgrain background and the concrete looking panel.  If you love some of the papers I've been featuring lately - hang off until October - we've got a 15% off patterned paper special coming up with heaps of our gorgeous papers.  

Stay well.  

Cheers, Sue

Are you keen to buy some great craft supplies for your papercrafting hobby?  Got a big Stampin' Up! wish list?  Looking for scrapbooking or card making supplies?

Here's a great way to save, with some added perks during September.

Get your starter kit before the end of September and for just $169 you will get:

• To choose $235 of products - pick from ANY current items.  What's on your list?  That's a saving of $66. 
• Free shipping on your starter kit
• Sept extra:  Queen Anne's Lace stamp set free (valued at $30)
• Sept extra: So Much Love stamp set free (valued at $35)
• Sept extra: Sheet of sparkly rhinestones free (valued at $8.75)
• Sept extra: Some cardstock pieces to make some cards
• Some extra catalogues if you want to share them with any craft loving friends. 

You'll be able to join in the fun on our friendly team facebook groups where we chat stamping, crafts and heaps more.  We welcome everyone and have a fab mix of happy shoppers who want to stock up with the terrific demo discount (20%) and get an early peek at new catalogues along with people wanting to share a bit of cardmaking fun with others.  You decide what you want to do.  Join now and you can be part of the demo family until the end of January without even placing another order. 

If you've got lots of craft supplies on your list and want to get a stack of value for $169 - make your list of items up to $235 in value then head on over here to join my Think Ink team.  We'd love to welcome you.  Get My Kit Of Goodies

(Note: The form doesn't play well on a tablet, best to use a computer.  Get in touch if I can help with any questions at all.)  

Need some essentials to get started?  Looking for ideas of what to get in your starter kit?   

Here's a couple of videos I put together showing some essential tool kit items plus some great cards you can make with just a few additional supplies. 

Happy creating!  

Cheers, Sue