Back again with the last of the cards we did at this month's technique classes.

The Recipe:

Stamp Set: Fresh Cuts

Colours: Almost Amethyst, Pretty In Pink, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery cardstock and ink pads, plus Black Stazon Ink and White Glossy Cardstock

Other: Word Window Punch, Certainly Celery Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, Vintage Brads, Sponge Daubers

And since it's always nice to have a little choice of colours - here's the 3 versions my class ladies could choose from.  Do you have a favourite?

Next month's class theme is Christmas In July.  We'll be making 4 different Christmas cards using a variety of the techniques we've learnt over the past year.  I can't wait!   Dates and details here - spaces are filling already so lots of people must be as keen as I to get an early start of this year's Christmas cards.  (Last year I made most of mine in December - aagghhh! Going to be more organised this year!) 

Lots of exciting things coming up here.  Stay tuned for the July edition of Madex Creations newsletter - due to hit your inboxes next week if you're on my newsletter list. 

For those girls in my Marker Clubs - the postie just deliver them this morning so your packages will be in the post over the weekend.  (A couple of spots left if you'd like to join us!  Details here.)  I always love seeing that postie van stop out the front!

And during July I'm going to be doing a post a day, including a Christmas challenge, so there'll be lots to see over in this patch of blogland. 

See you soon!
Cheers,  Sue

Thank you to all the people who left a comment and helped me celebrate my little blog milestone.  Your lovely words were very much appreciated.  Thanks to everyone who visits.  Getting to know my fellow bloggers and others popping by for a cybervisit has been a nice part of entering blogland.

I used Random.Org to pick a number between 1 and 20 as there were 20 comments left on the blog candy post.

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 12 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

It came up with 12 so congratulations to Bianca who left the twelfth comment.  You can check out the list of my retired sets here Bianca and choose your favourite.  I'll pop it in the post.

Back very soon with what we made from this at classes this month ....

Cheers, Sue

Here's another of the cards we've been doing at this month's technique class.  (You can see the cracked glass card here.) 

I saw this rainbow background technique on Angela Sargeant's blog a couple of months ago and wanted to give it a try.   Back later this week with a pastel version.

The Recipe

The background is Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie and Kiwi Kiss inks sponged onto glossy cardstock with sponge daubers.  Then I've stamped En Francais (pg 109) over the top with Stazon ink.  Mounted with Basic Black onto a Kiwi Kiss card.  The top panel is Ruby Red cardstock with the large flower from Fifth Avenue Floral stamped with the matching ink, then the greeting from the same set stamped in black.  The eyelet border punch gives the edging on the Ruby Red and Basic Black cardstock panels.

Due to a cancellation, I've got 1 space remaining for the last of this month's Cracked Glass and Rainbow Background technique classes on Thursday evening.  Give me a buzz if you'd like to join us.  Details here.

Exciting Fish Tank News

Well, I'm pretty excited about it anyway! :-)  I have a 4 foot fish tank with about 30 tropical fish swimming about.  I like to feed them late at night and sit for a bit watching them.  The other night I was doing just this when I noticed something unusual.  Hmmm, that Oto (my littlest variety) is eating like a Cory (another slightly larger inhabitant.)  Then I realised that it was a cory - a baby one! 

My fish have been busy it seems!  I'm amazed the little guy made it as these fish are not the doting parent types, they're more likely to see their little offspring and think 'Yum, dinner!' 

He's about 1cm in length and the cutest little thing.  He hides well as I can never see him during the day when children are dashing about the house clattering and clanging.  But late at night if I pop some food in and sit very still, out he darts looking oh so cute as he fossicks about the gravel for some tasty tidbits. 

I tried to get a pic but he wasn't being very cooperative!  This spotty blur is the best I could do.

Cheers,  Sue

Firstly a big thanks for all the lovely comments on my last post - very much appreciated.  I'll be drawing a winner for the blog candy tomorrow night so stay tuned for that.

Our guest card maker for today is Anne-Marie who has come along to some classes in the last couple of months.  She recently showed me some of the cards she's been making with her new stamping supplies.  I'm sure you'll agree they are very elegant designs.   Thanks for letting me share them with the blogland crew Anne-Marie! 

This card features the stamp set Live Like You Mean It and I just love the colours Anne-Marie has used.

And these two cards use the now retired Mostly Flowers set - loved that stamp set.

Thanks for letting me share your creations with other crafty people Anne-Marie.  They are just gorgeous and I really like your card making style.

Now I'm off to punch a bunch of flowers!   I'm visiting a nursing home this afternoon and we're making one of those flowerpot cards that has been circulating in cyberspace lately.  We're doing a very simple version that works for the young crafters out there, and for those whose fine motor control is not quite what it used to be.  Will be back later to show you.

Cheers,  Sue

Just noticed that my site meter clicker is about to click over to a bit of a milestone number (bit like me next month but with a few less zeros! Ha ha!) 

It's approaching 20,000 visits (wow!) so thought that might be a good time for some blog candy.  Leave a comment on this post to tell me your all time favourite stamp set and I'll draw a person at random for some blog candy - a stamp set from my retired stamps list.   Australian visitors only though for the prize, my lovely demonstrator visitors welcome to join in too.  Prize drawn - Wed June 24th late evening.

Here's my favourite ever stamp set - Stem Silhouettes.  This stamp was in a mini catalogue a few years ago when I first saw Stampin' Up and I fell instantly in love with it.

I started my blog in February 2008 and it has become quite a fun part of my week.  I love to visit my favourite sites, and share whatever new creations or snippets I've come up with here on mine. 

Peeking back a year or so, here's my  First ever post which tells how Madex Creations got its name.

Got lots of new things to show you but have yet to take photos, plus I have some guest bloggers creations to share and some blog awards to pass on.  But off to grab some lunch with the kids and then I promised Hannah a craft afternoon while Jack naps and John hits golf balls so blogging will  have to wait for another day.  Just got a couple of new toys - a crimper and some watercolour pencils so Hannah and I might have some fun this arvo with those. 

Thanks to all the lovely people who visit my blog, and a special extra thanks to those that leave comments to say hi.  I think it is a nice part of crafting that there are so many people who share their work with others in all sorts of ways and share encouragement and laughs too.  Makes the world seem quite small at times.  Hope you're all having a great day.

Cheers, Sue

Catching up on some cards today for family and friend's occasions happening.

Here's a little girl's birthday card with a touch of sparkle (since I'm having a bit of a glitter phase this week!)

The Recipe:

Stamp Set: Crazy For Cupcakes

Colours: Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White

Markers: Ruby Red, Pretty In Pink, Chocolate Chip, Barely Banana Stampin' Write Markers

Other: Pink Pirouette Striped Ribbon and Patterns Designer Series Paper, Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds

Happy Thursday!

Cheers, Sue

One of the techniques we're doing this month at my technique classes is called Cracked Glass and involves building up layers of clear embossing, freezing briefly then cracking to give a vintagy look.  I loved this card by Angela Sargeant - and based our class card this month on her design.

Class attendees have a choice of base card and ribbon.  Here's the other combination. 

You get a different look too for the cracked glass flower oval by using Very Vanilla cardstock ...

.... or Naturals Ivory for a flecked appearance ...

Come along to my place (Avondale Heights in Melbourne's west) this month on Wed 17th, Thurs 18th or Thurs 25th June to make this card, and 2 other cards featuring Rainbow Background technique.  Class fee and all materials: $15.   There are a few spaces remaining for each of those dates.  Phone 0417 377 057 to book your spot at the table.

Check this page for more details and for the dates for my Christmas In July classes.  Book early to get a start on your Christmas cards.  I made most of mine in December last year and this year I'm starting EARLY! 

I got a card in the mail late last week from my mum, along with the last issue of Simple Scrapbooks Magazine.  The card said, "There is nothing nicer on a cold, wintery day than curling up with a cup of coffee and a good book, Love Mum."  Made my day and reminded me that it is really the thought behind the card that is most important, not what technique or what colour you choose.   The most important thing I think with cards is just to be thinking of someone else and sending them a little message that tells them so.   Thanks mum!

Have a great week,   Sue

Hmm, few days passing between posts lately!  Time for some cards I think.

I made this one with a group of ladies on Wednesday night (hi girls!)  A simple design but I like the sparkle.  Mind you it has rattled around in my basket for a few days and shed a little glitter in the process I think!

The Recipe:

Stamp Set: Fifth Avenue Floral

Colours: Whisper White, Basic Black, Pink Pirouette

Other: Eyelet border punch, Pink Pirouette Striped Ribbon, Heat and Stick Powder, White Craft Ink and Fine Supernova glitter (pg 145)

I love the vivid colours of the Supernova glitter.  It is nice and fine too like the Dazzling Diamonds glitter.  Going to be a favourite of mine I think.

And here is the other card I CASEd from Robyn.  Saw this card on her blog when I was visiting and just wanted to give it a go.  Have been doing lots of CASEing lately and am finding it really helps me get going if I have an idea to copy from blog hopping or from the catalogue or magazines.  Then once I've got a project done I'm all in the mood for coming up with my own design. 

The Recipe:

Stamp Sets: Always (the heart) and Best Yet (the greeting, from my favourite hostess set.)

Colours: Perfect Plum and Pale Plum, Certainly Celery and Whisper White

Other: Eyelet border punch again (using this on every card I make lately! Keep an eye out for my July newsletter with a few eyelet border tips.)

Half pearl from the Pretties Kit and Wide Certainly Celery Grosgrain Ribbon.

Going to try this one in reds and black next I think.

Have a great weekend.

Cheers, Sue

Hello, back again.  Have been having a lovely long weekend with the family (and staying off the computer!)  We went to the footy, had a dip in the pool, did lots of cooking and playing and generally enjoyed spending time with each other.  Gotta love long weekends. 

Last Thursday evening I got together with a couple of the girls from my team and we did some cardmaking and chatting. OK now to be accurate I was too busy talking and eating biscuits and actually only got the strip stamped from this card but I stayed up afterwards and finished it off!

It is CASEd fromthis card by Robyn - I just changed the colours.  One of those cards I just wanted to try as soon as I saw it.  (Be back later this week with another one I CASEd from Robyn - thanks for my dose of inspiration this week Robyn, much appreciated!)

The tricky bit is just lining up those stamps straight - definitely a card you need to use a stamp positioner (StampAMaJig) with. 

The Recipe

Stamp Set: Circle Circus

Colours: Kraft base card, Not Quite Navy, Pumpkin Pie, Sahara Sand

Other: Eyelet border punch, Pumpkin Pie narrow grosgrain ribbon, StampAMaJig

Anyway - better leave it at that.  I have some embossed flowers in the freezer waiting for me to go and 'crack' them!  Making my projects ready for 'cracked glass' technique at Thursday's class.  Quite fun. 

Before I dash, got some photos of John and the kids doing some cooking (while I took snaps of their hands - my contribution to the meal!)  Thought they'd be good to scrapbook.

Mmmmm, home made pizza.  Gotta love that!

See you again soon.  For those enjoying a long weekend, hope its been a fun one.

Cheers, Sue

If you have received my June newsletter you'd recognise this card.  I quite liked this cute little Trendy Trees card CASEd from the catalogue (pg 99.) 

Thought I'd mention that Lin Mei has a great tutorial for making a little vellum sheet to use with your StampAMaJig for lining up those trunks so you don't end up with a tree floating off into space.  :-)   Very handy tip!

And Tracy emailed me with some lovely newsletter feedback and another use for StampAMaJig sheets - as a palette for markers and ink pads.  People who came along in May to my class scribbled some marker colour onto a stamp case and used it with an aquapainter to watercolour.  The StampAMaJig sheet would be great for this.  Tracy says she puts white paper underneath so you can see lighter colours better.  Thanks for the great tips.  You can visit Tracy at  her blog .

I got another piece of positive feedback this week! You'll find it at the end of this post.

Marker Club

If you're interested in building your collection of 48 markers over 8 months plus the carry case, the set of 4 neutral markers, a Level 1 hostess set of your choice, $70 to spend, 8 free monthly gifts and 8 bonus marker tutorials, I'm taking names for Group 2 now.  $40 per month for 8 months. 

All the details here:  Marker Club Information

Get in touch to ask questions or join the club. 

Product Shares

I've got a couple of product shares running this month too. 

In Colour Striped Ribbons - 1m of each of the 6 In Colours           

$13 including postage

DSP Patterned Paper - 6" x 6" square of each paper in the range. 

138 squares in total.  You can find the DSP papers on pages 132 -135

$50 plus postage.

DSP Patterned Paper - 3" x 3" square of each paper in the range

138 squares in total

$11 for one share plus $6.50 postage = $17.50

$22 for two shares (to make the double page display) plus $6.50 postage = $28.50

For Australian Demonstrators wanting a 3" x 3" square of each paper to make a DSP display (or anyone else wanting a small sample of each paper to use in their projects)

Template for the display book and display ring available free, email me if you'd like a copy.

Contact me if you're interested in any of these shares.

And while I'm in INFO mode, I have some retired sets for sale too. 

Find them here: Sue's Retired Sets

Back soon with some creations.  Some of my team are heading over here on Thursday evening and we're getting out the inks and stamps so hopefully I'll be feeling super creative and will have lots to show you afterwards.  (Unless I'm too busy chatting - always a possibility!)  It's fun to stamp with friends.  If you don't know any crafty people, come along to a class and perhaps you'll make some new crafty friends!  Class details here.

This made me smile this week ....

My daughter Hannah (6) got into the 'positive feedback' mood too and left me a little note.

"Mum, and you have been very nice to me the last few days.  Keep up the good work."

And Jack (2) can always make us smile.  Here he is in fine form with red wig, Ben 10 top  and Hannah's pink Barbie high heels.  Quite the combo.  Must put that one aside for the years to come!

Hope you've had some smiles this week too.

Cheers, Sue