Now why do I always find these a challenge?  Perhaps its because many of the stamp sets I like most seem to feature flowers or are feminine in design. 

I sat down recently to make a card for my dad's birthday and this is what I came up with.  I quite like the simple layout and use of white space.

The Recipe

Stamp Set:  Best Friend's Alphabet Upper

Ink:  Black Stazon

Paper:  A textured white base card (non SU) and Pumpkin Pie Patterned Paper pack (pg 136)

Other: Pumpkin Pie Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (pg 146) and a slot punch to make a slit to pass it through.  Black Stampin Write marker for the doodled border.

I'd been meaning to try some doodling, use patterned paper and a stapler on a card or layout so this one ticked all those boxes. 

Now shall I make a confession - hmmmm. 

Shhhh - I somehow missed making my dad a Fathers' Day card this year so this card doubles as a belated one of those. 

Yes - if you lift the B (for Birthday) you will find an F (for Fathers' Day.)  Two for one.  I know, I know - how could I not make my super dad a Fathers' Day card on time!  Sorry dad - but I guess better late than never.

Wasn't finished with my doodling experiment yet.  I decided to make a doodled shape and cut it out for the inside of the card.  What do you think??

OK that's it for me for today.  Off for some more school holiday fun!  The kids and I are enjoying the relaxed, 'stay in our jammies half the morning' days.  The weather has been smiling and it has been lovely catching up with friends and family. Speaking of which - Hannah, Jack and I are off to mum and dad's for a few days next week so my newsletter will be a day or so later than usual.  (Once I return to my trusty computer!)  Keep an eye out for it late next week. 

See you all again soon with some more creations.

Cheers, Sue

If you like the idea of quickly putting together a scrapbook album to record a bit of a snapshot of life in your household this year, you might want to take a peek at my article at Aussie Scrapbooking this week.  You can find it here. 

If you've been reading my blog for a while you might recognise a few of these 8" x 8" layouts.  (They look better now - I managed to work out how to get a darker border to appear around my white pages which looks much better for posting scans!) 

Here are a few of the layouts from 'The A-Z of Us in 2007!'

(Note: My desk pre Stampin' Up!  It has gradually been taken over by stamps and inks since then!)

Phew - did you make it through all those!   I've completed all the journalling and have just a few more pages to put together to complete the album.  Managed to fit lots of odds and ends about daily life into the alphabet.  Some things that I otherwise probably wouldn't have scrapped about too. 

And it was nice to have a project that I could tackle with a spare 10 - 20 minutes here or there, and when I wasn't in the mood for thinking too hard.  Just grabbed a photo, my rough journalling notes and followed the simple plan. 

Perhaps you'd like to try a snapshot in time mini album this year?? 

Cheers, Sue

I've been reading Penny's posts on Doodling over at Aussie Scrapbooking and have been itching to try some ever since.  It is a bit of a departure from my usual style and its always nice to try something different.  Had a go on a card instead - doodling on a layout is next on the list!

Here is what I came up with.  (My first effort remember ...)

The Recipe

Stamp Sets:  None!  Inks: Basic Black for sponging the edges of the paper squares

Papers: For the base card I used a textured white card I added to my blank card drawer yonks ago plus some Fall Flowers Designer Series Patterned Paper (pg 134 if you are looking for it.)

Other: My black Stampin' Write marker for the doodling, square punch, jumbo eyelet and cropadile.

I took some pics along the way so here is a bit of a step by step ...

First punch all your squares of paper and arrange them onto your card.

Then if you are anything like me spend the next ten minutes rearranging them multiple times until you are happy with the balance of colours and designs, or until you just get sick of rearranging and stop!

Doodle a rough border around each square then ink the edges of your squares on an ink pad for more definition.

Now it is time for the flower.  Roughly doodle some petals and a flower centre and cut them out of the patterned paper.

Assemble the flower - I stapled it to help hold it in place.

Add your jumbo eyelet and you are all done! 

What new technique or material or tool would you like to try this week??

Happy experimenting!

Cheers, Sue

If my inspiration has waned I often pop by Splitcoast Stampers for a dose of ideas from stampers all over the globe. 

Got a great idea for an emboss resist snowflake card on Splitcoast Stampers from this card by DawnL.

Here is my version. 

The Recipe

Stamp Set:  The Snowflake Spot

Inks: Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip sponged

Papers: Whisper White, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip

Other:  Embossing (White) gear, Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon, Tag Punch, Brass Brad

Another of the cards we did at this month's technique class.  This class is being repeated on Sept 25th.  Check here for more info.  There are a couple of spots left if you'd like to join us.

Sponging inky backgrounds is quite fun.  Whenever I start the process I think 'ugh that looks revolting' but keep sponging and sponging and it always seems to turn into something I like after a while.  Watch those inky fingers though - you have to be careful not to get fingerprints on your next project!  (Yep - speaking from experience again!)

Happy inking,

Cheers, Sue

This year I've been hit by the card making bug and have had a few months where my scrapbooking supplies have been rather lonely!  I wanted to keep some notes about day to day family life for when the scrapping bug hit again. 

Read about what I came up with in my article today at Aussie Scrapbooking. 

Here are the layouts from my article (with a close up on the text to save squinting at the screen.)

If you'd like a copy of my sheets to adapt for your scrapbooking notes, email me at [email protected] and I'll hit reply and attach the file.

Cheers,  Sue

I borrowed the stamp set 'Scribble This (pg 73) from my friend Leanne and we are using it for this month's technique class for some crayon resist.  (Thanks Leanne!)

The Recipe

Stamp Sets: Scribble This and Short and Sweet.  (OK I think Short and Sweet officially gets the title of my most used set - what do you think??)

Ink: Perfect Plum and Pale Plum (sponged)

Cardstock: Glossy white, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum and Basic Black

Other: White wax crayon (courtesy of Crayola), black eyelets and my cropadile, a chopped up sponge for the sponging.

If you're in Melbourne's west and would like to give this one a go, there are a couple of spots left at my Sept 25th technique class.  Details here.

Ever wondered what to do with that brown packing paper that comes with your Stampin' Up order if you get it delivered straight to you??  Jack has a good suggestion!

Cheers,  Sue

I was hopping around blogland a week or so ago and came across one of Teneale Williams' gorgeous creations - this one.

It was one of those cards that just said 'You've got to try this!'  Here is my version.

The Recipe:

Stamp Sets: Baroque Motifs and Touch Of Nature (for the lovely detailed butterfly), Short and Sweet for the greeting.

Ink: Sahara Sand for the brayering, Versamark for the background swirl and for embossing, Stazon Black for the greeting

Papers: Sahara Sand, Whisper White and Basic Black, and Vellum Cardstock

Other: Embossing gear incl white embossing powder, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon

I just love the butterfly.  To make one yourself - just stamp it with Versamark onto vellum cardstock then emboss in white.  Trim with some nice sharp scissors.  Actually if the thought of cutting out butterflies makes you cringe, I should add that I found trimming embossed images with their nice raised bits is easier than trimming a regular stamped image. 

This was one of the cards we did at my technique class last Thursday - emboss resist and crayon resist.  One of the lovely group of ladies who was there - Lydia- did 2 butterflies.  She stuck one down flat then popped the other one on top with the wings raised a little - it looked lovely.  Something to try on my next go at this design. 

Classes - September and October

I am repeating this class on Thursday 25th September and have a couple of spots left if you are keen to come along and try some different techniques.   Most people got 3 or 4 cards made along with their samples for their technique books.  Class fee is $15 and you can find details  here. 

We took a bit of a vote for a topic for October's Technique Class topic and decided on 'Colouring.'  I'll be running this class twice in October - 9th and 30th- at my place in Avondale Heights (in Melbourne's west.)  We'll be trying blender pens, aquapainters, watercolour crayons, Stampin' Pastels, ink pads, markers, watercolour paper and more.  Come along if you'd like to try a range of ways to add colour to your stamping.   

A Family That Colours Together ...

There is something quite therapeutic about doing a spot of colouring isn't there?  My family obviously agrees as lately the dining table has been a colouring centre with everyone joining in!

Poppy got into the action too recently with his grandkids.

Have you tried some colouring lately?? Very relaxing!  Give it a go.

Happy Stamping,

Cheers, Sue

If you are a scrapbooker like me - fighting your way through leaning towers of photos to get to your scrapbooking space, you might be interested in my article today at Aussie Scrapbooking.  Its about Using Lots Of Photos.   Here are a couple of layouts from it.

Pop over to Aussie Scrapbooking if you get a chance and tell me how many photos you've managed to squeeze onto one layout!

Cheers, Sue

It really is birthday season here.  Hannah seems to have a party every weekend this last month.  (Hmmm - doing the 9 month maths, Christmas bubs???)

I've been enjoying making girly birthday cards using my trusty Best Friends Alphabet and embossing gear.

The Recipe:

Stamps: Best Friend's Alphabet and One Of A Kind (Spring Mini)

Inks: Perfect Plum, Pale Plum

Papers: Pretty In Pink, the Plums, Very Vanilla and some retired patterned paper

Other: Embossing gear, Boho Blossoms punch for the flowers, circle and scallop punches and some dimensional foam tabs.  Oh and some non SU rhinestones as I'm having a bit of a rhinestone phase!

I quite like the flowers from the patterned paper mixed with the stamped ones.  Do you?

Here is a card for a friend of the family who just turned 5.  (Oops and I'm a bit late posting it.  I really need to get a belated birthday stamp! It is in the mail Emma!)

The Recipe:

Stamp: Best Friend's Alphabet

Ink: Versamark for embossing

Papers: Pretty in Pink, Purely Pomegranate, Very Vanilla, Blush Blossom and Perfect Plum

Other: Circle and scallop punches, double stitched ribbon in Purely Pomegranate, and my embossing stuff.  And foam tabs to raise 3 of the letters.

Happy birthday Leoni and Emma!

Hope the ideas might come in handy for cards for some other little girls somewhere.

Cheers, Sue

... to all the dads out there.  Hope you have a great day.

My two got creative and made their cards this year at school and at playgroup.  John enjoyed opening them up.

Isn't this a groovy car?

I thought Jack's card said it all really.  Our two are very lucky to have such a super daddy.

And I'm a very lucky girl too to have a great dad myself!  Happy Fathers' Day from here in blogland Dad!

Love Susan