Hello Again,

Had yet another go at that beaded card and this one is more like what I had in my mind originally.  Can't wait to try it out on Basic Gray.

This time I used Basic Black cardstock.  Punched my circle again with the 1 1/4 inch circle punch.  Embossed the Baroque Motifs swirl and 'cherish' using silver embossing powder.  Glued on my favourite beads from my collection - they are a lovely smoky dark grey/black colour, and threaded some more for the length taped behind the circle opening.   

Cheers, Sue

Thought I'd give my beaded design another run.  (Here is my first try.)  My second try was a flop - didn't take a snap of that one - bad clash of the purples!  Here is my third go. 

Quick summary of what I used:  Baroque Motifs and Sincere Salutations stamp sets, Regal Rose and Encore Gold ink (and Basic Black too), Confetti White cardstock and some beads from my stash.

Think I might give it another run with different colours - maybe some silvers and grey - stay tuned!  It is a bit of a fiddly design but lots of fun. 

Cheers,  Sue

Edited to add:  For the silver and black version scroll up!

... when you can make a bunch.  I did some watercolouring while I was at my table at the market on Sunday and made lots of cards using the same basic design. 

I stamped the bud/stem from Artfully Asian stamp set using Basic Black ink.  Then I used an aquapainter (has a reservoir for water and a brush on the end) and some ink from my ink pad.  (Squeeze the ink pad before opening it.  When you flip the lid there will be a smudge of ink on the lid that you can use to paint with.)

I watercoloured the buds and leaves, then chose matching cardstock for the card base or for matting.  For the base card I stamped the leaves from Artfully Asian using Versamark.  (Versamark gives a watermark effect so is great for subtle backgrounds.)  I sponged around the edge of the card using the matching ink, a simple step which really gave the cards that little extra pizzazz. I matted the white piece and popped some ribbon underneath (some SU ribbon, and some from my stash.)  I was making Thank You cards so the greeting that came with the Artfully Asian set worked well in the lower right corner, or you could substitute another from a greeting stamp set. 

I used Perfect Plum, Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranate, Real Red, Pink Passion and Brocade Blue for my base cards, and for watercolouring.

I think this one was my favourite colour scheme from this batch.  Which one do you prefer? 

If you would like to make 3 cards in this design, come along to my Stamp A Stack on Thursday, June 19th at 7.30pm in Avondale Heights.  We'll be making 3 of these and 3 of another design with matching envelopes.  All materials supplied, $15.  Lots of fun.  Bookings are essential and close 15th June for this class.  Further details in the June Classes page - link is in the left column there.   I have different designs each month so keep an eye out for one that appeals to you.   

Cheers,  Sue

Recently I got the instructions for these gorgeous chocolate holders from Kathryn - another demonstrator I know.  They are so easy to make and really dress up a bar of chocolate into a delicious gift!

To open you just pull the bow at the top like so ....

I'll pop it on my list of things to include in future tutorials, so newsletter subscribers keep your eyes out for this one.  If you'd like to receive my email newsletter and tutorial each month there is a spot to register near the top of the left hand column on this website.  Pop your email address in and follow the prompts. 

Congratulations to Wendy from Avondale Heights who won this chocolate holder along with a basket of stamping goodies at my stall at Milleara Craft Market today.  Hello to those visiting my website after popping by today.  I'll be back in the same spot next month - June 22nd, cnr Milleara Rd and Buckley St at Milleara Shopping Centre.  Hope to see you there.

Cheers,  Sue

PS For those blog visitors who know my sister Melissa and her husband Luke - they became the proud parents of baby William on Friday morning.  All are well, baby is just SOOO cute and James seems to be settling into his role as big brother.  Will post a pic if I get the all clear from the proud parents!  Better check first!

Not long to go now and we will be welcoming our new little nephew to the world.  Thought I'd better get to the desk and make a welcome baby card so we would be all set for when he arrives - any day now!

This card is based on a design by Jen70 on Splitcoaststampers.  I unpacked my new Wild About You stamp set and used my So Saffron marker for the giraffe.  I used Always Artichoke and Ballet Blue for the flower.  I made the grass by just inking up a little of the flower stem.  I did all the matting with Always Artichoke cardstock.  The base card is So Saffron, and the patterned pieces are from this month's Palette O'Prints Promotion.  (Spend $35 and you can buy the pad of 48 6"x6" squares of Rose Red, So Saffron, Certainly Celery and Almost Amethyst patterned paper for $12.95.  Offer ends 31 May.)  I popped a short length of the wide blue grosgrain ribbon across and stamped my Short and Sweet greeting in Always Artichoke to finish it off. 

Milleara Craft Market

I'm setting up a table at the Milleara Craft Market (in Avondale Heights) this Sunday 25th May from 9-3 if anyone out there will be in the neighbourhood.  I'll have some cards and other items on display and will be demonstrating a few simple techniques.  Pop by and say hi.

Cheers,  Sue

This card uses one of the stamp sets that workshop hostesses can choose for free if their workshop sales reach $300.  (It is called A Little Bit of Happiness and is on page 19. It consists of 4 stamp panel similar to this one - butterflies, flowers, hearts and leaves.) It is a great one to add some colour to. 

I used a blender pen and Real Red from my Stampin' Pastels.  First I stamped the image on Whisper White card using Basic Black ink.  Then I coloured in the hearts or backgrounds, adding some darker shading. 

I matted the white card using Basic Black then stuck it to my Real Red base card.  A greeting from Short and Sweet stamp set in Basic Black to finish. 

You could leave it there, but I added some spots of glue with my Anywhere Glue Pen and sprinkled some Dazzling Diamond Glitter to give it a little sparkle.  (Just on the spots on the centre heart and the small flower to the right.)

Cheers,  Sue 

Before Hannah started Prep this year I asked her what she thought she might do at school and jotted down her reply.  (Can you tell she has a crafty mum!? You will if you read her answer!)

Well since she loves ribbon so much I popped some on the page.  The Soft Sky double stitched ribbon matches the Spring Silhouettes paper perfectly.  I printed my journalling on vellum cardstock again - the ribbon hides the join.  I stamped one of the flower squares from Mostly Flowers and embossed it with silver.  I added some silver heart brads from my pre Stampin' Up supply stash just to finish it off.

This side of the page took about 2 minutes to put together.   I just popped a thin layer of Pink Passion cardstock at each side of the photo.  It is a 6" x 6" album so standard sized photos take up most of one page.  I want the focus of this album to be on my portraits and journalling so am keeping it quite a simple style.  (OK, plus it is very quick so I am more likely to sit down and get a few pages done in a short sitting!)

Tidied up my craft desk last night (you can see the surface again) so have been busy creating today while Jack naps.  (Well in between tackling loads of washing and a mountain of dishes.)  Back soon with more.

Attention Beginning Stampers and Cardmakers

Nearly forgot - I've been rewriting some of the pages on my blog (the ones you find in the left hand column there with further information about workshops, classes and other topics.)  I've added a page with a few tips for getting started and what basic supplies you might begin with if you are new to cardmaking and stamping.  This page might help you if you love the look of cards like these, are keen to try stamping or start getting some supplies but just don't know where to start.  Now if you ask 5 card makers for starting out advice or basic kit tips you'll get 5 different answers of course - it is such a personal thing.  This is just my two bobs worth!   Hope it helps.

Cheers,  Sue

I got the idea for this card from a template in the US newsletter for Stampin' Up! Demonstrators.  Somehow mine ended up being very pink!  (Well Regal Rose actually.)  With a touch of sparkle too so my daughter LOVES it! 

This card is 6" x 3" so you can get 4 cards of this size out of a 12' X 12" sheet of scrapbooking cardstock.  (You can get a pack of 24 sheets in a range of colours for $17.25, or $21.95 for textured so that would be 71c per sheet, 91c for textured.  Divide by 4 cards, add a short bit of ribbon and that is quite an economical design!  OK will put the calculator away now!)  Back to our card. 

I punched the square out of the top with my 1 1/4 inch punch.  (I'm not one for measuring most times so I usually just guess to get it centred!)  I used my mat pack and paper piercer to get a row of holes to frame the square cut out.  I used to use a ruler to mark where to do a row of holes.  It was fiddly and somehow never ended up straight so I LOVE my little mat pack for getting nice even holes. 

The butterfly stamps are from Garden Whimsy (pg 77, $45.95) and the greeting is from Short and Sweet (pg 118, $29.95, so versatile) and I've used Regal Rose ink.  I popped a few dots of glue on with a glue pen then sprinkled some Dazzling Diamonds Glitter for a touch of sparkle.   Some Regal Rose 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon to finish it off.  I think it probably needs a touch of white or something but Hannah loves it like this so might leave it!

Patterned Paper Display Book

Just a quick note.  If there are any demonstrators out there interested in my patterned paper  display book template, just pop me an email and I'm happy to share!  It fits 3" x 3" patterned paper squares, and I punched out the matching cardstock squares with the 1 1/4 inch punch.

Thinking of Becoming A Demonstrator??

If you are thinking of becoming a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator give me a call and we can chat.  I can answer any questions you might have and send you out an information pack.  As an extra, I have several packs of 3" x 3" squares of all our patterned paper as welcome aboard gifts for anyone joining my team before the end of July. (Limited to the first 3 actually as I have 3 more packs!)  I'm part of a friendly supportive group and can help you get started.  Meeting other people who share a love of craft has been one of the things I've most enjoyed since joining Stampin' Up!

Mmmm, I can smell delicious lamb shank and vegie soup bubbling away out there in the kitchen.  John, the kids and I donned coats and headed out in the rain to Vic Market this morning.  Something about browsing the stalls just makes you want to eat lots of fresh fruit and vegies.  (OK so we did have our traditional coffee and donuts too!)  I've put the soup on the stove and John is making his famous fish and asian greens dinner tonight so it is turning into a gourmet day.  (He and Hannah are also baking banana bread at the moment as we forgot we had a bunch here in the fruit bowl and got more so bananas are threatening to take over our bench!)   Think I'd better go and warm the tummy!

A big cheerio to all my overseas blog visitors too.  Couple more Aussie animal pics from my photo files.  OK well a real koala would have been better, but that is a live wombat!

Cheers,   Sue   

I loved the patterned paper card Claire Daly made recently.  (You can see it here.)  Decided to give it a try.  I used Brocade Backgrounds Designer Series Patterned Paper.  (Pg 134 if you are looking for it.)   I love the colours in this set of papers.

My base card is River Rock (from this years In Colour Collection.)  I stamped the swirl (from Baroque Motifs pg 98) using Always Artichoke ink , then selected 2 of the patterned paper designs and cut rectangles to place on the card.  My greeting (Sincere Salutations stamp set pg 119) is stamped in Always Artichoke then matted with Chocolate Chip card to help it stand out a little.  This was a quick and easy card to put together.  I must try it in another colour scheme.   It is a great design to use with your favourite patterned paper pack.  (Thanks Claire!) It only uses a little of the paper so would be a good one to try to use up leftover scraps too. 

My Painting Boy ...

Jack (21 months) did a bit of creating today too.  He was getting a bit restless this morning so I decided to set up the paints and some paper.  He donned his art smock and got stuck right into a spot of painting.  Time to add some of his creations to our art wall. 

I took a bit of a risk taking the photo as my camera was upstairs.  Wasn't sure how wise it was to duck off to get it, leaving an almost 2 year old with loaded paint brush!  Luckily he was quite absorbed in his splotches! 

Back soon with more cards and scrapbook pages.   Having a creative week!

Cheers,    Sue 

Cleaned my desk up tonight and decided it was time to get back to some scrapbooking.  Haven't done much this year but I've been keeping some sheets going each month (OK well April slipped me by)  to help me jot down things that I think we'll enjoy reading about down the track.  Nothing spectacular, just those daily happenings that often seem so mundane at the time and are quickly forgotten, but give you a burst of nostalgia when you read them a few years (or decades!) later.

I put together a few sheets I print off each month.  One for Jack which has space for snippets about food, sleeping, activities, firsts, words and special events, one  for Hannah with space for activities, skills, quotes, special events and also a general one for family news and events.  A couple of times a month I try to dig them out and jot down anything that comes to mind.  Then all I need to do to make a page is to grab out my sheets, find a nice photo and start scrapping!

Our Designer Series Patterned Paper makes it even easier.  I just found two sheets I liked (from Spring Silhouettes this time) then matted my photo in a coordinating cardstock (Wild Wasabi.)  Printed my journalling onto vellum cardstock.  (By the way - this is a good pick I think if you are choosing between our two vellums.  I tried printing on the paper vellum first and it bled a bit and smudged, the cardstock vellum printing stayed crisp.)  I attached it with two pewter brads.  Quite a simple page, which is my usual scrapbooking style.  The more I like the photo, the less stuff I find I use!

A few years ago in a scrapbooking magazine I saw a little album done with quotes the mum had collected from her children.  She carried a little notebook around in her handbag and just jotted them in for later use on a scrapbook page.  I started doing the same thing and made up a small album about Hannah when she started to chatter.  I think it is about my favourite of the scrapbooks I've done.  Not the best one for design or colour choice or photos or anything, but I just LOVE reading the funny little things Hannah used to say.  If you have any little people in your life, give it a try.  Brings lots of smiles to faces that read them later.

I love to take photos of the kids in black and white.  This one of Hannah really catches her sparkle I think.  (And did I tell you how much I LOOOOOVE my digital SLR.  Best thing we've bought in ages.)

Back another day with some more from this album I've started tonight.

Cheers,  Sue