Have been enjoying playing around with my Stampin' Around Wheel ® Bloomin'.  Have been doing some 'colouring in' using my ink pads.  Give the ink pad a squeeze before opening it then use an aquapainter or brush to paint!  Here are some quite quick and simple cards I made last night.

Those of you who have been to my place might be wondering where that rose came from?  Yes our yard is still officially a disaster zone but we have managed to keep our balcony plants kicking along while we wait for our retaining wall to get going so we can get a garden happening.  The rose came from Kristin and Steven Christmas 06 and is still alive and even flowering!  Smells gorgeous. Thank you rose for being my prop for the day while I have a bit of an arty farty photographer phase!

The cards use Whisper White, Bravo Burgundy, Brocade Blue, Perfect Plum and Sahara Sand.

The greeting is my trusty much used - Sincere Salutations.

Another quick (my specialty at the moment) card using In Full Bloom - the stamp set that coordinates with Bloomin' wheel.

Brocade Blue again.  Also used Itty Bitty Backgrounds and you guessed it Sincere Salutations.

Here is a close up of the flower from another card - which was done using the aquapainter and ink pad method described above.

Colours: Always Artichoke, Perfect Plum and Basic Black. 

Photo Album

I have just added a photo album to this ever expanding blog.  You can find it down the left column.  (Getting very busy these days in that left column! Don't get lost.)  If you click on 'Family Snaps' you will plonk straight to the album with a page of thumbnails (little photos.)  Click on any of the thumbnails to see the larger version.  Once I've got a collection of card photos happening I'll add a card album as well but that might do for today or we will have no clothes to wear .... yep still haven't done much with that laundry!

Cheers!

And one more post for today.  (I can hear my pile of dirty laundry protesting!) 

Here is a card I just finished.  (Have been doing lots on the computer lately and was itching to get back into my cardstock, stamps and ink!  Very relaxing.)

Stamp Sets: Riveting (Hostess Set)

Stampin' Around Wheel ®:  Bloomin'

Ink: Real Red, Basic Black, Always Artichoke, Basic Brown (bee!)

Designer Series Paper - Recollections

Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White

Accessories: Aquapainter, Circle punches

Tip:  If you squeeze your Classic Stampin' Pad® in the centre then open it you can paint using the ink that will be on the lid and an aquapainter (or brush.)  Quite fun.  I used that method to colour the strip of flowers made using my Bloomin' wheel.  (I sound like Grandpa there!  Where is my bloomin' hat?)  Cheers!

I made this birthday card to send to a friend using the Mostly Flowers set. 

I stamped 2 of the designs in Basic Black ink on Whisper White card to make the background.  Then I added another one stamped in Always Artichoke and adhered with a dimensional to raise it a little. The stamped design was then placed onto Always Artichoke card and to finish it off I stamped a birthday greeting - Sincere Salutations set - at the bottom.  You can't quite see in the photo but I used the paper piercer and mat pack to put a row of pierced holes at the bottom and top.

I like this stamp set.  We will be using it in my March Technique Class to do some embossing which gives quite a different look.  Our stamp sets are quite versatile and you can make such a range of different cards using the same set.  By changing the colours and techniques used you can make many different styles.  Quite handy!

Cheers,  Sue

Hannah started school this month.  Thought I'd pop a photo of my keen little schoolgirl here.  (Hello to all the friends and family having a look at my site!)   Her schoolbag looks huge -  it only has a school diary, drink bottle and lunchbox in it! 

And a quick snap I took of the kids waving John off as he drove out the driveway!

Originally posted 15 Feb

This was an invitation I made when I wanted to have a play with my Birthday Whimsy stamp set.

(This is one of the free stamp sets you can get during Sale-A-Bration when you spend $100. There are 4 sets to choose from - a great offer that finishes at the end of Feb.)

I didn't have any bright stamp pads in my collection but was quite happy with this colourful invite that used just Basic Black ink. All the cardstock is from our Bold Brights range. The base card is Glossy White. The greeting is from Sincere Salutations - such a useful stamp set. I also used a circle punch. (And of course a happy snap of my nephew - the birthday boy!)

It looks a little distorted there at the top. I just checked and it does look much straighter in real life!

Cheers.

Originally posted 14 Feb

This was a quick card to make. Stamped the flowers (from Springtime Stems) with Versamark and Very Vanilla Craft Ink onto Real Red cardstock. Used the paper piercer and mat pack to put a row of holes down the side of the Naturals Ivory strip. Used an old pair of scissors to scrape both long sides for some texture, and added faint colour with Stampin' Pastels. The 'Happy Birthday' is from Birthday Whimsy - stamped in Very Vanilla Craft Ink onto black card. A pewter piece of Hodgepodge Hardware holds the greeting and completes the card.

Sometimes I feel like making a card but am stuck for ideas or can't seem to make a start. (Otherwise known as fluffing about the place not achieving much! Don't we all have those days.) Our main catalogue is also an ideas book with many cards, scrapbook pages, gift boxes and other items for inspiration. At the back of the Idea Book and Catalogue there is an index which gives you a list of all the supplies used to make each item - very handy. Here is a card I adapted from the sample on page 77 of the current catalogue.

I used:

Stamp Sets: Touch Of Nature (thanks Lisa for lending me this one!)
Ink:Basic Brown, Always ArtichokeCardstock: Always Artichoke, Naturals - Ivory, Designer Series Double Sided - Enchante, Very VanillaAccessories: Hodgepodge Hardware (pewter), Grosgrain ribbon - Chocolate

The Idea Book/Catalogue is usually $12.95. Special offer: With orders over $50 it is just $6 and you can have one free with your first order over $100 (or if you host a workshop.)

Current Promotion: I am offering the 2007/2008 Catalogue for $6 until the end of March. (Or of course free for orders over $100 or for hostesses.) Please contact me (email address is in my profile) if you would like to place an order.

And for one last sample for today - a quick bookmark I quite liked. (Thank you to ColleenTeacher on http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ for the calendar template.)

I used Stem Silhouettes for this one - my favourite stamp set so far. I used my Rich Regals Markers instead of an ink pad so that I could make the buds and stems different colours.

Cardstock: Close to Cocoa and Naturals Ivory. Also: Versamark pad and Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon.

That might be enough for today I think! Cheers, Sue.

Originally posted 12 Feb

Mum and dad celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this month. Here is the card we kids gave them to mark the occasion.

Now you can't actually tell from this photo but it is a rather large card (no envelopes this big!) The little cards with the letters are about 5cm square and the card is 60cm+ across.

I got the large pieces of card and the flowers from a craft store.

Stampin' Up products:

Stamp Sets: Best Friends Alphabet - upper (in Brocade Blue ink), Carte Postale for the monogram (in Bravo Burgundy ink) Accessories: I used a piece from Hodgepodge Hardware on the monogram (pewter). Love this box of metallic goodies.

Here is a close up of the monogram I came up with for the lower left corner. (That is their initials by the way.)

We had a nice day celebrating with all the family. Wow 40 years. John and I are coming up to 9 years next month and that seems like a long time. Congrats again mum and dad!

I have been making lots of cards lately while I play with all my supplies and thought I'd try making a 3D object for a bit of variety. Made this cute little gift box.

Stamp Sets: Carte Postale. (Really liking this set. I've borrowed it from mum and better give it back soon!)

Cardstock: The base is made using pale plum. The lid uses the double sided Designer Series paper in the Summer Mini Catalogue - Enchante. This is great for lids as there is another pattern on the reverse. The flowers and designs on the paper coordinate with the stamp set for a great look. I can't wait to scrapbook a page with this lot!

Ink: Very Vanilla Craft pad, Versamark. The little tag is stamped using my rich regals markers (Elegant Eggplant) - since I didn't have any purple ink pads. Quite handy!

Other: I used the tag punch for the little tag.

Now while I have been spending time at my desk making lots of these bits and pieces I have often had a little 'helper' beside me. Hannah is a crafter in training I think. She has her own case of scrapbooking supplies (thanks Poppy and Maddy!) and a growing collection of my offcuts (OK and my mistakes - but don't tell her that!) She likes to make cards too while I am busy creating so I thought I'd post one of hers in cyberspace!

Originally posted 10 Feb.

Thought I'd pop on a couple of cards I have made recently while playing with my Stampin' Up supplies.

This one is my first attempt at a technique called masking which you can use to make images appear to be in the foreground or background - a layering effect. The lettering is done using embossing to give a silver raised finish. I've added some rhinestones to the flowers for a bit of sparkle!

Stamp set: Bodacious Bouquet, Stem Silhouettes
Ink: Brocade Blue, Bravo Burgundy, Regal Rose
Cardstock: Brocade Blue, Bravo Burgundy, Whisper White
Accessories: Rhinestones (from my craft supplies), embossing kit and heat tool

I will be running classes in mid March (Fri 14th March - 7.30pm and Sun 16th March - 2pm) at my place where you can learn the techniques of embossing and masking and make some cards during the session using these techniques. I will be posting further details and costs for the class soon when these are finalised. If this sounds interesting pop the dates in your diary and phone or email me to book a spot.

This next card is another one that uses the technique of embossing. (It is based on a card design by Claire Daly. (http://www.clairedaly.typepad.com/)

Stamp Sets: Birthday Whimsy, Sincere Salutations
Ink: Embossing Pad
Cardstock: Naturals Ivory, More Mustard, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Embossing Kit and Heat Tool , Mat Pack and Paper Piercer

Will be back later in the week with some more cards!

Cheers, Sue

Originally posted 7 Feb

My first flick through the Stampin' Up! Catalogue and Ideas Book that my friend Leanne brought over one day got the cogs in my brain spinning. Before I knew it my wish list had exceeded my Christmas stocking space!

It was another month or so before I made it to a workshop at Leanne's place with the inspirational Claire Daly. http://www.clairedaly.typepad.com/

Another quick peruse through the catalogue and I was hooked. So much so that I could not get my brain to focus on actually making a card that day and had to pull it to bits and reassemble it later when I regained a bit of concentration!
Here 'tis!



Poor John - who was out shopping with two rather cranky children - got a rather garbled phone call to say 'I'm considering becoming a Stampin' Up demonstrator. The kit is on special for just under $300. What do you think?'
To his credit, instead of saying 'What on earth are you talking about - translate that for me??' he said something to the effect of 'If you think its a good idea, its fine by me too.'

Anyway to cut the story I got the forms, spent the next few days engrossed in the catalogue, selected and reselected the stamp sets for my starter kit a dozen times before finally posting off my forms, and restrained myself from hugging the postman when he delivered my big box of supplies.

Held my first workshop (with mum, sisters and 5 year old daughter!) three days later ....

Looking forward to learning more about stamping, scrapbooking and card making, meeting lots of other crafty people, and perhaps introducing people to a new hobby.