Hannah is off to a classmate's birthday party this afternoon so I whipped up a birthday card in a flash with the help of the newest addition to my punch collection - my star punch.

The Recipe:

Stamps:  Best Friend's Alphabet Upper - this one is now out of stock, and In The Stars from the Summer mini - only available until the end of March.  I've used some of the star stamps in the background plus on the envelope.

Colours: Very Vanilla, Night Of Navy, Riding Hood Red and Bashful Blue - love this combination for boys.

Other: My new Star Punch, Striped and Thin Grosgrain Ribbon in Bashful Blue

Now off to wrap the present, wash one chlorinated daughter's hair and find some party clothes!

Hope you're having a great weekend.

Cheers, Sue

Goodness its going to be the end of March before we know it.  That went by in a flash!   Bit of housekeeping for you today.

The Summer Mini Catalogue ends on March 31st.  Some of the products have made it into the new catalogue, but quite a few haven't and will not be available after the end of the month. 

Thought I'd list off which ones for anyone having a last browse through their mini catalogue.

Here's what is only available until March 31st.

The rest of the products are the lucky ones that have made it into the new catalogue.

Get in touch before March 31st if you'd like anything on the list.  I'd be happy to help.

Phone: 0417 377 057  Email: smadex@bigpond.com

Cheers,  Sue

Hmmm - and perhaps I should be getting onto some housekeeping that involves a vacuum cleaner now!  ☺

This month Reverse Masking is one of the techniques we've been tackling.  This is the technique you need if you have a frame or outline that you want to fill in with a larger stamp.  Here's the card we made.

The Recipe

Stamp Sets: Priceless and Say It With Scallops

Colours: Not Quite Navy, Rose Red and Whisper White

Other: Rose Red ribbon, Scallop Edge, Scallop Square and Square punches, Earth Elements brads.

Some of the ladies got creative with their stamp selection and tried a few other backgrounds.  Here are 3 different variations.  (Thank you to Gail, Michelle and Julia for sharing!)

I always love seeing the small variations people make and the different cards that result. 

There are 3 spots still left for the last Reverse Masking/Rock 'n' Roll Class if you'd like to give this technique a try - this Thursday at 7.30pm.  More details here if you'd like to come along.

Cheers, Sue

We have a special guest card maker today, one of the lovely ladies in my Think Ink team - Lydia.  She makes beautiful cards and runs stamping classes in Caroline Springs.  Here is one of her recent creations.

This one features the stamp set 'Time Well Spent' and Lydia has also used Short and Sweet for the greeting, the pastels to colour the layered flowers, Spring Fling Patterned Paper and the lovely soft Pretty In Pink taffeta ribbon.

We've been doing Rock and Roll technique in my March classes.  You can see some examples here and here.  There are 3 spaces left for the final Rock 'n' Roll class for this month.  Find all the details here if you'd like to join us.

Here's an elegant card Lydia made featuring Rock 'n' Roll technique.  I love this combination of Purely Pomegranate and Elegant Eggplant.

This card is based on a design in the magazine 'Australian  Cardmaking, Stamping and Papercraft' Vol 14, No 5 by Bev Mantle. 

LYDIA'S CLASSES: CAROLINE SPRINGS

Lydia runs stamping classes each month in Caroline Springs.  She has a technique class on Monday April 27th at 7pm.  Techniques are Embossing and Emboss Resist. 

For more information or to book for the class please phone Lydia on 0408503044 or email her at lovetocraft@bigpond.com

Thanks Lydia for sharing your cards with us.

Cheers, Sue

Perhaps you are like me - boxes of photos but not much in the way of notes about the little stories behind them. 

I just added these notebooks to my last photo printing trip.  Read more about why in my Aussie Scrapbooking article:  Organising Your Photos With Journaling Notes

Cheers, Sue

Today I have a super simple card for you made in about 5 minutes with one of the sets that will be in the new catalogue from April 1st.

The stamp set is called Cheers To You.  The card features another of the new In Colours - Pacific Point - a stunning bright blue.

I've stamped the tropical drink in Basic Gray then pressed a blender pen into ink pads to colour it with four of the new In Colours.  Like making your own marker really, then you just scribble off the colour and you're ready for the next one - magic!  The drinks in this set fit nicely in the scallop circle.

Cheers, Sue

   Yes I think it might be.  ☺

This new catalogue stamp set is called Greetings Eight and I've used Chocolate Chip and one of the new In Colours - Riding Hood Red.

As Stampin' Up demonstrators we have a list of new catalogue items that we are able to preorder in March and my box of goodies arrived last week.  I finally took the ink pads out of their plastic today and had a play.  (Thanks Ange for coming over - it's always nice to stamp with some company!  This card is my adaptation of Ange's adaptation of one in the gorgeous new catalogue.)

Plus my scallop square punch.  (Was most pleased to see that the scallop square has made it into the new catalogue.) 

Speaking of which - guess what has arrived on my doorstep?? 

Now that's one way to keep me out of mischief for a few hours!   ☺

Contact me to organise your copy - $10 to pick up and $15 to post.*

* Includes launch ticket if you're coming along to my New Catalogue Launch or a shipping voucher if you can't make it along.  More details here.

Better get my head back into my copy!!

Back with more sneak peeks soon.

Cheers, Sue

Here is another of our 'Rock 'n' Roll' cards from this month's technique classes.  This time I've used Embrace Life and the retiring Bodacious Bouquet.

The Recipe:

Stamp Sets: Embrace Life and Bodacious Bouquet

Colours: Pink Passion, Purely Pomegranate (a last hurrah before it heads off into the In Colour Retirement Ink Caddy!), Taken With Teal andAlmost Amethyst

Other: One last piece of double stitched Purely Pomegranate ribbon and a punch whose name I will have to look up later!

This was a more subtle rock'n'roll effect as there was not as much contrast in the ink colours.  I quite like subtle though!  (If you missed it you can see my greater contrast version here.)

And now for a quick money saving tip ...

If you are matting with a coordinating cardstock piece and either have almost run out (blush - could that be me!) or wish to get the most out of your cardstock, here's something to try.  Just use two narrow pieces instead of a whole wider piece.  Here is my stamped panel from the back before I attached it to the card.

Finishing Touches

Sometimes its all in the little finishing touches isn't it.  Here's my card before and after the addition of a scrap of ribbon.  I think it just anchors the greeting a little.  What do you think?

See you soon with some new catalogue sneak peeks!

For information on how to get your new catalogue when they hit the shores or for all the details on my New Catalogue Launch, check this post.

Cheers, Sue

Our special guest card maker today is Michelle, another of the lovely people I have met at my technique classes.  Michelle has been enjoying the hobby of card making for a long time and I love her style. 

We were talking about this wedding card recently and I am terrible at visualising so was very happy to have a look at the actual pic.

Isn't it just gorgeous?! Perfect for a wedding.  I love the sparkle and shimmer from the papers and ribbon.  Thanks so much for letting me share it Michelle.

Cheers, Sue

Time for some cards.  This month's stamping technique class focuses on two techniques.  One of them is 'Rock 'n' Rolling.'

Here's two versions of one of the cards we're making.  (You have a choice of base card, greeting and punches to use on your version.)

There are a few spots still remaining if you'd like to join us for an evening of stamping.  Right now there are 3 spots left for Wed, 1 spot for Thurs and 3 spots for next Thursday but that can change quickly so check this page for the latest availability and all the details.

A sneak peek there at the equipment table all set up for this week's classes.  I'll be back soon with a closer look at the other cards we're making, plus stay tuned here on Madex Creations for a special guest card maker with a lovely wedding card.

Cheers, Sue