Here's the last of a batch of 3 cards I made late one night last week (while watching the Tour De France) using this card layout.  It is a favourite of mine as it is quite quick and easy to whip up.

The Recipe:

Stamp set: Forest Friends from the Spring Mini

Colours: Choc Chip, Close To Cocoa, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Kraft

Other: Choc Chip wide grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Write Markers, 1 3/8" square punch

You can't really see from this pic but I've cut the owl out and popped him up on dimensionals.

I love how Kraft cardstock works with such a range of colours.

OK, lots of things on my To Do list today so best I'd get this bottom off my computer chair and out to cross a few things off!

Happy Friday! 

Cheers, Sue

This month at my classes we've been getting into the festive spirit nice and early with some Christmas In July cards. 

For this card everyone had a choice of the 3 stamped images in this set 'Holiday Lineup' - the elves, reindeer or snowmen.  Plus a choice of colouring method - pencils, markers or pastels.  Plus a choice of background cardstock strip and ribbon - all on a Kraft base card.  The card above is done with pastels and a blender pen.

And here's another variation using the reindeers this time, coloured with pencils.  I just need to make that nose a bit more vibrant I think and add some crystal effects for shine!

You can find the marker and snowmen version on this post.

I've enjoyed seeing the different looks people have achieved with their particular choices of colour and colouring method.  Such a variety of looks with the one design.

The last of my Christmas In July classes is this evening and I'm looking forward to seeing what the ladies come up with.   For the remainder of the year I'll make sure at least one of our cards each month is a Christmas themed one for those people looking for ideas for their Christmas cards this year. 

Book a spot now for August classes - Wed 12th, Thurs 13th, Wed 26th and there's another on Thurs 27th August but that one has booked out already.  Class fee $15 which includes all materials. 

We're learning the Faux Silk technique and making 2 cards, plus if you have a blank art journal to put your techniques in each month you'll have the chance to decorate the front cover.

Let me know when you book if you need to order a blank 5" x 5" art journal.  I think some people have filled their first book and are about to start their second in the coming months.  Note: The next cover decorating class won't be until Dec '09 or early 2010.

Phone o417 377 057 or email smadex@bigpond.com to reserve your spot before they fill up!

Take care,  Sue

Must be time for another card made from my Simply Scrappin' I Wish Kit.  Here's card number 11. 

This uses cardstock, patterned paper and die cuts from the kit, plus some Old Olive brads, and my new crimper.  (Loving crimping everything at present!)

11 cards done and I still have heaps left in the kit.  Will see how many I can get to for my I Wish Kit Challenge.

Better do a close up of that crimping hey!  Thanks Sue Bayliss for showing me all your gorgeous crimping so that I just HAD to get one too. 

Remember I was telling you about the dress up day Hannah has for school tomorrow?  I sat there last night watching TV and hand stitching a lace border to a shower cap (hoping it turns out like an old fashioned mop cap.)  Got all the way round then realised I hadn't stretched the elastic out when I was sewing so now the shower cap wouldn't stretch to fit over a head.  Doh!  Had to unpick it and go again.  Lucky I like NCIS and there were 2 episodes! 

Cheers, Sue

As soon as I saw this set - aptly named Choo Choo - in the new Spring Mini catalogue it went straight onto my must have list.  With a 3 year old boy in the house and a gaggle of nephews I think it will get a work out!

I've used Night Of Navy, Riding Hood Red, either Pumpkin Pie or Tangerine Tango - oops have forgotten now! - and I've stamped onto Naturals Ivory cardstock for the squares.  Punched with the 1 1/4" square punch and on a Kraft base card.  Some Versamark puffs of smoke/steam if you look carefully!

I made 3 cards using this basic design - one more to show you later in the week.

Better go.  Hannah has to dress up in olden day clothes on Thursday for an excursion so I have a skirt to take in.  (One that I made for myself and have never worn - quite possibly tells you a bit about my competence with sewing!  It'll make a perfect long skirt for Hannah though.)  Am attempting to turn a white shower cap into a sort of mop cap style hat using a length of wide lace.  Hmmm!  Will let you know how it goes.  Found a shawl in the dress up box too that I remember wearing to a 'Dress in Olden Day Clothes' day when I was in primary school.  OK where's that sewing box!

Cheers, Sue

Hello Everyone - Hope you had a nice weekend. 

Here's the first card from a series of 3 I made last week with Kraft base cards.  Really loving that colour this month.  Can't believe I bought my first pack this year - how did I manage to go all of 2008 without discovering it in our catalogue!?

This card uses the stamp set Great Friend from the soon to be released Spring Mini Catalogue.  The colours are Certainly Celery, Pink Pirouette, and Almost Amethyst.

I based this card (plus 2 more I'll show you another day that use different colours and stamp sets) on this card that I made earlier in the year using Pocket Silhouettes stamp set. 

Quite liking this card layout - I always love cards that make use of punches as they're quite quick to whip up.  Remember - stamp first then flip your punch over so you can see where to punch.  Saves being too accurate with your stamping - you can use the punch to get everything all straight.

A big hello to all the people who stopped by my table at Milleara Market yesterday - I always enjoy my day there, meeting new people and saying hi to crafters who drop past.  Made a bunch of things while I was sitting there so will have lots to show you this week here on my patch of blogland and in my August newsletter.

Better dash - time to head off for the school run!

Cheers, Sue

We've just welcomed a new bub to the family - our nephew Nathan.  Here's a card I made for him.  It is one of those baby suit cards, but the bit that makes it extra special and a little bit different is inside.

Now I should first say that I CASEd lots of aspects of the shaping of the front of this card from someone and I'm not sure who.  If I track it down I'll put the link here.  It was a bluish card with pearls used for the snaps.  I like how she'd shaped the front with some extra babyish curves.

Some of my class ladies have asked for the details on how to make this so I'll give a bit of a step by step and some rough measurements. 

I've used a 12" x 12" piece of the gorgeous new patterned paper from the Spring Mini - Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP.  It is textured, cover weight cardstock so holds its shape well.  I folded a piece in half then sketched out a baby suit shape and cut it out with scissors.  It is roughly 9" long and 6" wide.

The front pocket is done with Vellum Cardstock - it is approx 2 1/2" square.  I've corner rounded the pocket and used my paper piercer to do the row of holes across the top and on the sleeves/leg/neckband.  The cute little bunny is from a Spring Mini catalogue set called Forest Friends.  He's stamped in Baja Breeze ink.  1 1/4" and 1 3/8 " circle punches plus the scallop circle punch to make the pocket decoration.  All popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals. 

Some half pearls from the Pretties Kit for the snaps - stuck on with Glue Dots.

Now to open up the card.

Inside I've made 2 more pockets using Kraft cardstock.  (Approx 3" high and 3 3/4" wide with corner rounding plus paper piercing across the top. The bunny is stamped with Sahara Sand ink.) I've used Sticky Strip - an extra strong adhesive tape - so the pockets stay stuck!

Inside the pocket are some cards cut from Whisper White cardstock.  (Approx 8cm x 7cm.)I've rounded the corners and stamped a bunny in the lower corner.  On one side in Baja Breeze, on the other side with Close To Cocoa - stamped off once so its subtle.

The cards are for friends and family to write wishes for the new baby. 

I collected wishes for my two children - Jack's are on blue cards and Hannah's on pink - ready to put onto a scrapbook page.   When I asked people to write their wishes, I suggested we all use the same basic wording.

" I wish you __________.  May you ______________________________." 

We just love looking through all the wishes from grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.  It's such a lovely collection of thoughts - and so personal with each person doing theirs in their own handwriting.   I thought I'd adapt the idea for our newest nephew and put them in pockets in the baby suit card.   Isn't it just too cute?!  Some lovely thoughts to welcome a new baby, and to treasure in years to come.

Back next week with some cards using my newest favourite colour cardstock - Kraft.  Plus more Christmas cards.   Have a great weekend.

Oh, before I go - If you're in the area, I'll be setting up my table at Milleara Market this Sunday from 9 - 3.  Milleara Shopping Centre, Cnr Milleara Rd and Buckley St, Avondale Heights. 

Swing by if you'd like to pick up a Spring Mini Catalogue and see some of the gorgeous new products and card samples. 

Cheers, Sue

We have a new Spring Mini catalogue starting from August 1st.  (Get in touch if you'd like a copy mailed, or pick one up at a class.)  I've received my first order (yippee!) and have been having fun playing with my new toys.  Hmm - what to show first.  How about a nice easy one today. I've had this card sitting on my desk for ages waiting to be finished and decided the new Scallop Oval punch was what it needed.

I stamped an A4 page using Circle Circus stamp  set and Pink Pirouette, Choc Chip and Baja Breeze inks and have chopped it into pieces to use on a range of projects.  Some spiral punching down the side, some torn pieces of coordinating cardstock made this a quick and easy card to put together.  I've used the new stamp set Oval All (with my Pretty In Pink and Close to Cocoa and Choc Chip markers) for the greeting and punched it with the Scallop Oval punch.  It sits quite nicely on the Wide Oval punched from Baja Breeze.

Back with a baby gift idea for you tomorrow.  (Its just so cute and one of those things to treasure in future years - I hope!) 

Take care,  Sue

And here's another of the cards we're doing in this month's Christmas Card Making Class.

This one is a tri fold card.  I LOVED this card by Sue Bayliss and decided to CASE the idea but give it a Christmas theme. 

I've used the Christmas stamp set 'Christmas Classics' from page 32 and my Stampin' Write markers - great for getting a multicoloured image.  Do you have a favourite Christmas stamp set??

The colours I've used here are Real Red, Old Olive and Not Quite Navy. 

Some spaces left tonight and tomorrow night (7.30pm) if you'd like to join us.  Next Wed and Thursday's classes are full so these are the last vacant spots at the table for this month.  Check here for details about how to book in.

Hope you're having a great week.  I stayed up last night watching the men in lycra (AKA the Tour De France!)  Seemed like a good idea at the time but maybe not quite so much when the alarm went off this morning!   Glad this race only happens once a year.  I should really call it the 'Tour De Sitting on the Couch Eating Too Many Late Night Snacks.'  Perhaps I should be dusting the cobwebs off my bike.  Hmmm for anyone who has been to our place - that first hill outside our front door would be a tad daunting though hey!

Cheers, Sue

We're getting an early start on our Christmas cards this month at my Christmas In July classes.  Here's one of the four cards we are making this month.

This card uses the set Holiday Lineup on page 26 and the base card is Kraft.  It has a bit of personality that set I think - its definitely growing on me.  Class participants have a choice of the 3 images, a choice of colouring method and a choice of ribbon and background cardstock - so lots of decisions to make!  I'll show you a couple of other variations later in the week.

Four dates left for this class this month and there are some spots still available if you'd like to make some Christmas cards using a range of stamping techniques. Details here. 

You can see one of the other cards we're doing in this post.

Cheers, Sue

I've used some of the self adhesive border die cuts from my I Wish Simply Scrappin' Kit to make card 10 for my I Wish Kit Challenge.

This one is a little card - perhaps a gift tag?  Quite a cute little one.

Cheers, Sue