Here's another of the layouts I did as part of Erika Martin's Souloulogy course late last year.  I really enjoyed it.  This one was on the theme of change and I chose to reflect on some of the changes in my life since becoming a mother. (The title reads: Becoming a Mother - well, it does when you put the layouts side by side.)

Scrapbooking topics like this can be quite therapeutic!  I hope to continue to record personal reflections this year in some of my layouts. 

This layout uses Le Jardin patterned paper and strips of coordinating cardstock: Always Artichoke, Bashful Blue, River Rock and Very Vanilla. 

Actually I was using up offcuts.  When I make small square cards I make them 9.9cm square - this means I get 3 from an A4 sheet of card.  It also means I trim a thin strip off the long edge of the cardstock.  These were the leftover strips from making the cards below.  Handy!  I have a bunch more so will have to come up with some other ways to use strips!

Three friends from the Stampin' Up team I belong to are on the Design Team for Erika's next course - Miriam, Anita and Claire.  Congrats girls.  The participants will enjoy getting inspiration from your lovely layouts.

Cheers, Sue

I know, I know ... speed is not supposed to be the prime consideration when going about your much loved hobby.  But I have a trillion album ideas at the moment and a gazillion photos just begging to be put into layouts, so for me speed is a bit of a factor.  Right now I fit my scrapbooking into little windows of time - a bit here and a bit there.  Completed layouts make me feel good, so if I can sit down and get a few done in one short sitting I'm happy.   Fortunately I'm always drawn to clean and simple styles.

These haven't scanned too well but I like them in real life.  Thanks to my friend Jen again for this photo of Jack. 

I've been typing up all my little post it note scribbles of things Jack has said since he started yakking away.  Some funny, some just make me think of that little moment in time.  I've printed them off onto our lovely vellum cardstock and then its so easy to finish the layout.  Just grab some coordinating papers, attach the vellum with some little eyelets, flick through the July ish section of my photo box for a snap I like and done!

I've used Notebook Patterned Paper for these ones.  And for the next one too.  Love this pack for my boy pages.

My cropadile makes it nice and easy to add the eyelets.  I've used them heaps more since I added that tool to my tool kit, and gave John back his mallet!   I'm thinking of stocking up on all our lovely coloured eyelets actually.  In the US all the little ones except for the Metallic pack retired.  (Sob!)   I have my fingers crossed that won't happen here but think I'll grab a pack or two of each just in case. 

Now for some brighter pages.  These haven't scanned well at all - I promise that ribbon is straight in real life, think I caught it on the glass of the scanner! - but you'll get the general idea.

Have used East Coast Prep patterned paper and the matching cardstock Tempting Turquoise here.  Some red ribbon (pg 146), eyelets (pg 145) and buttons (pg 147) and all done.  I've used the mini glue dots to attach the buttons.  Actually there is one under that bottom right eyelet too.  My cropadile wouldn't reach that far so I just added it to the vellum then put a glue dot underneath to attach it to the cardstock.  The other eyelets are through the vellum and cardstock.  (And I've stitched those two scans to overlap a bit - oops!)

Another shortcut - these are 8" x 8" albums.  My favourite size this year!  Small enough to complete quickly but enough room to be a little creative if you feel like it.  I got a bunch of 8 x 8 albums off mum and dad for Christmas (thanks!) and some 6 x 6s too for extra speedy moments!  Looking forward to filling them up.

Have you been scrapbooking at all lately??  For all those that share a love for this hobby, hope you get lots of scapping time this year.

For those of us looking at the 5 day forecast with lots of 40 degree days (celcius for my overseas blog visitors) - hope you manage to stay cool.  We've filled up the ice trays, lowered the curtains - now can I just fast forward to a nice day of 20 something degrees!

Cheers, Sue

Ooh - just noticed my Sitemeter counter is telling me that Madex Creations is just about to click over to 10,000 visits.  Wow!

I started my blog in February 2008 not long after I became a Stampin' Up demonstrator.  This time last year I'd just joined and was having a ball playing with all the bits and pieces in my starter kit.  And tiptoeing into blogland too!  

While I'm taking a trip down memory lane, here's the first Stampin' Up card I made.  (My photography has come a bit of a way since that one!)  Actually I was a bit too excited with looking through the catalogue so I had to pull it all to bits when I got home and put it back together again.

And dug about on my computer for some of my first creations after getting my kit and some other supplies.  (OK I did have a bit of a stock up in the first few months!! Hee hee.)

I think Stem Silhouettes (remember that set) was one of the reasons I joined actually.  I just fell in love with that set.  It is still a favourite.

This was one of the first cards I CASED from the previous catalogue.  I love Touch of Nature.  Borrowed mum's to make this one but its in my collection now!

Have always liked this simple design too.

I wouldn't have guessed that one year down the track I'd have a lovely team of 6 , a super bunch of ladies that come to my classes each month, a humungous stash of Stampin' Up stuff (hee hee!), lots of fellow demonstrator friends plus all the great people I've gotten to know through blogland and the forums.  I've just booked my flights to Canberra for the Stampin' Up! Convention in May.  I think I might even get to pop up on stage for an award - wow!  I'll certainly be cheering loudly for all the girls in the teams I belong to.

And to think back a year ago I really just wanted to get a few things at a discount!  What a bonus!

Oh - and here's Hannah's first card.  She's come a long way too in her creative talents, and is enjoying the fact that I let her use more of my stuff now!  She's an excellent stamp cleaner too!

Anyway - thanks for joining me on a little nostalgic moment!  And thanks to all the people who've visited Madex Creations over the past year, and an extra happy wave to those who've left such lovely comments along the way.  I've made my little counter thingy public at the bottom of the left column there.  Like watching your car odometer clicking over I guess!  Except that counter probably tells you your car is getting a bit older, this one tells me I'm having way too much fun!

Cheers, Sue

(Resuming normal transmission tomorrow with some quick layouts to show you.  And for those who've been to my Jan classes, a stepped up version of that flower card coming later this week.)

Had a sudden urge to glitter something on the weekend so Hannah (6) and I spent some time at my craft desk.  A touch of sparkle always brightens the day ... (and the floor!) 

The Recipe

Stamp Sets:  Paisley Background Stamp (loving this at the moment) and Bodacious Blooms (love the big bold flowers)

Colours:  Elegant Eggplant cardstock and ink, Whisper White craft ink

Other: Eleg Eggplant ribbon, Heat and Stick Powder plus Dazzling Diamonds Glitter and my Heat Gun, and of course raided my Pretties Kit for those rhinestone brads, hatpin, pearls and beads.

Pretties Kit - Hatpins:

Take the end off the hatpin and thread your beads and pearls on.  There are tiny spacer beads to put between them. 

I've used a glue dot on the top bead and bottom pearl to hold it in place. 

They are very handy those little glue dots.  You can find them on page 148 and you get 250 for $9.50. 

I've only just discovered them on a recent browse through the catalogue and now I use them all the time.  Great for sticking the halfback pearls on or ribbon or other embellishments.

February Classes - A Touch Of Sparkle

We'll be making some sparkly creations at my February classes.  4 dates to choose from.  Note: They book out quickly these days!   Details here.

Cheers, Sue

Oops - nearly forgot to post a pic of  Hannah's sparkly creation (DD 6.)  I manned the embossing gun but she managed the rest.  (And added a bunch of stuff from her rather large craft stash too.)

At the supermarket last week I saw some pomegranates. 

Now since my only experience with pomegranates is in this year's In Colours, I thought I'd buy one and see what was inside.

Jack (2) was game to give it a go. 

Yummy juice but I think its one of those fruits that seems a lot of work for a small reward! 

Next time I might have to google 'How do you eat a pomegranate!?' 

But I can see how Purely Pomegranate got its name as the juice is that gorgeous rich colour.

If you love Purely Pomegranate and the other In Colours from this year (Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, Wild Wasabi, Groovy Guava and River Rock) then this is just a quick reminder that they're only available until the end of March. 

Personally I'd stock up before the end of Feb to be on the safe side as in March things like this that will be retiring will only be available while stocks last.

Some Purely Pomegranate creations from the last few months:

(Note: This card was inspired from a design by Jayne Mercer.)

I'm going to miss this colour!

Happy Australia Day!  (Hmmm, should I have focused on Garden Green and Yo Yo Yellow today to fit with the occasion!)  Hope you're having a relaxing, happy day.

Cheers,  Sue

Here's another version of my Emerging Colour Elephants.  (See another one here if you missed it.)

The Recipe

Stamp Sets: Wild About You, Polka Dot Punches, Yummy

Cardstock and Ink: Whisper White, Real Red, Brilliant Blue, Basic Black, Wild Wasabi

Other: Brayer, Versamark and Clear Embossing Powder, Oval Punches, Eyelets and Cropadile, Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

I think a more subtle greeting would look better with this one so might take it back to the desk for a tweak!

Cheers,  Sue

This month at my technique classes we've been doing the technique - Emerging Colour.  Thought I'd try it with the elephant from Wild About You today.

The Recipe:

Stamp Sets: Polka Dot Punches and Wild About You

Inks: Wild Wasabi, Real Red and Brilliant Blue,  Basic Black brayered over the top

Cardstock: Whisper White and Real Red

Other: Brayer, Scallop Circle Punch, Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Versamark and Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

And since they're a bit cute - here's a side view of my elephant line up!

If you'd like to learn this technique there are a couple of spots left for Wednesday night's class.  See here for details and for how to book.

We'll be trying it on this card.

More elephants tomorrow!  See you then and have a happy weekend,

Cheers, Sue

I'm having a lovely afternoon at my craft desk.  Jack's napping, the housework can wait and Hannah is sitting beside me making her own creation.

Here's mine.

The Recipe:

Stamps:  Yummy (SaleABration Set) and Paisley Background Stamp

Colours: Elegant Eggplant cardstock/ink and Very Vanilla cardstock

Other: Cream Pearls from the Pretties Kit - 5 large and 1 small, Mini Glue Dots to hold them on, Sponge Daubers for sponging

If you'd like some pearls to add to your creations (and beads, hatpins, flowers) then you might want one of the 3 spots remaining in my current Pretties Kit Share.  1/5th of a Pretties Kit for $12.50 including postage.  Check here for all the details.

Now, back to the craft desk!

Cheers, Sue

Here's Hannah's creation.

OK I'll play.  Anita has set me (and 5 others) a photo challenge.

Go to where you store you pictures on your computor.
Go to the SIXTH folder and pick the SIXTH picture.
Post that picture on your blog along with a SHORT story about it.
Tag SIX people and leave a comment on their blog or email them letting them know you chose them.

Short Story:  July 2007 - My two sleeping beauties in the back of the car after a busy day at the Melbourne Zoo.  All rugged up for a winter day. 

Gotta dash so if you'd like to play - consider yourself tagged!  (Cheating I know.)

Cheers,  Sue

Hello - Back from a lovely time in Seymour where the kids had a ball playing with their grandparents (and I had 2 lovely sleep ins with breakfast in bed and caught up on some scrapbook magazine reading!  Bliss!)  I had fun with my camera too.  (Some pics at the bottom for those who like photos, and any friends/family popping by.)

Thought I'd swing by blogland and say hi. 

Quick Storage Idea -  Patterned Paper

Nothing too original here but I'm working my way round my craft supplies so will continue on! 

I keep my Stampin' Up! Patterned Paper in one of those 12 x 12 sized plastic expandable file thingys.  A set or two in each compartment.

Easy to flick through and find the set I'm after.  I like the range of patterned papers we have currently.  (Til the end of March if you have your eye on some.)  And it's so easy to use with our gorgeous coordinating cardstock, ribbons and inks.   Makes it simple to create a coordinated look for your layout or card. 

Our patterned papers are $11.95 for a pack of 12 double sided sheets (12" x 12" size.)  Here are some of my favourites.  (Spring Silhouettes, Berry Bliss and Brocade Backgrounds.)

My non SU patterned paper is in one of those solid cardboard compartments you assemble yourself.   It has 4 shelves.  I have it all divided roughly into categories (vintage, floral, stripes/plaids, other.) 

Some of my tastes have changed since I started filling it up, so I think I might be adding to Hannah's stash of offcasts supplies!

How do you store your patterned paper??

Cheers,   Sue 

Some family snaps before I go ...

Tuesday's highlight was baking with Maddy.  Jack wanted to make purple cupcakes and Hannah wanted to make a BIG cake.  What a patient grandmother they have!

Yum! 

Jack liked jigsaws too. 

My favourite photo of the trip?

... not a smily one and Jack had a bit of a splotchy face, but really like this one.