This month in classes, as well as doing our art journal covers, we've been trying Faux Silk Technique.

One of the cards we're making is this one:  Here's the Baja Breeze version.

Scuse my fingers - bit tricky to photograph!  Here it is opened.

The other option is the Riding Hood Red base card.

Once again its a little tricky to make out the crushed silk look on the main panel - rather hard to capture on camera. 

If you'd like to try this technique there's space left in my Wed 26th Aug 7.30pm class.  Phone 0417 377 057 or email [email protected] to book one of the remaining spots.  Class details here.

Out Of The Office!

And now I'm off to finish packing!  My newsletter ladies and class regulars already know (because I've been raving on excitedly!) that I am heading off to Noosa tomorrow for 5 days of fun. 

A big big BIG thank you to my upline Claire Daly.  Not only has she been such a great support over the last 18 months since I joined Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator, but she earned the Incentive Trip this year and invited me along to be her guest.  How lucky am I?!   THANK YOU!

5 days of warm weather and the fabulous company of Claire and a whole bunch of Stampin' Up girls.  I don't think I can still quite believe that I'm actually going.

I'm feeling just a tad guilty about how much I'm looking forward to 5 days of just organising myself - no housework, school runs, meal preparing, diary checking etc etc.  Claire and I have a deal - she won't call out in the middle of the night 'I HAD A BAD DREAM AND I CAN'T GET BACK TO SLEEP' if I promise not to run away and hide when its time to clean teeth!  Other parents of young kids will relate I'm sure :-)  Think we're both looking forward to a few days of relaxing.   Parents don't get many opportunities for a little holiday from being mum or dad hey!

But I'm sure I'll also be looking forward to my 3 smiling faces greeting me at the airport on Sunday afternoon too. I'll have to store up a lot of cuddles to last 5 days, 4 nights and I think I'll especially miss that last tuck in of the kids I do at night before I head to bed.  There's something about watching sleeping children isn't there and tucking them in safely at the end of a day.  Nice to know they'll be well cared for by their terrific hands on dad (who has taken a few days off to hold the fort at home.)  A big thank you there too.  A supportive husband makes starting a home based business that much easier and I'm very grateful.

Oops - this is turning into a bit of a soppy post! 

ANYWAY - so I'm officially 'out of the office' between Wed and Sunday.  Will be back with lots of pics to share.

In the meantime I've set up some posts to share a few things with you while I'm away so if you're missing me (hee hee) stop by here over the next few days!

Cheers, Sue

What do you get when you mix a table full of tools, papers and gorgeous embellishments with a bunch of lovely ladies and a dash of creativity?

The answer - these beautiful art journal covers.  Thanks to the girls that attended classes this week for letting me share their creations with you.  Here's what they came up with after they'd finished their Faux Silk cards.

Claire:

Cecile:

Sharron:

Kerri:

Anne-Marie:

Suzanne:

and Michelle:

Didn't they do a super job.  I love seeing what everyone creates and what colours they use.  We had lots of fun.   'Scuse my photography.  Took the pics at night which is not the ideal, so the covers looked even more gorgeous in real life.  

If that looks like fun I have 6 spots left on Wed Aug 26th at 7.30pm.  Details here.   Better be quick! No classes in September  but I'll be back in October with some exciting new topics.

I have heaps more to show you - some of my latest cards, more Faux Silk creations, some guest blogger cards from Anne-Marie S and Anne-Marie W and lots more.  But that'll have to wait for another day - time to go play jigsaws with Jack!

Have a great weekend.  Cheers, Sue

I loved this card by the talented Teneale Williams.  Just had to give it a try.

Here's my version:

Stamp Sets: On Your Birthday and Fifth Avenue Floral

Colours: Pink Pirouette, Pretty In Pink and Regal Rose

Short and sweet today.  Hope your day is going well.

Cheers, Sue

Time for a card I think.   Here's a peek at one of the two Faux Silk cards we're going to be making this month at my technique classes. 

The two Thursdays have booked out but there's lots of space left this Wednesday 7.30pm and Wednesday 26th August 7.30pm if you'd like to try this technique. 

Details and how to book can be found here.

Its such an easy technique but looks really effective.  Going to be a new favourite of mine I think. 

Edited to add another pic:

It's one of those ones that is a little hard to capture on camera.

You might be able to make out the crushed silk effect a little more in that shot. 

Spring Mini Product Shares

My newsletter ladies have had a head start on this one.  Here's the details for blogland!

GIANT SPRING MINI BRAD and BUTTON SHARE:

Cost per share:  $26.50    plus postage if required

6 Basic Gray Corduroy Buttons (2 each of 3 sizes)

8 Jumbo Brads 5/16”

(2 each of Choc Chip, Very Vanilla, Whisper White and Silver)

8 Jumbo Brads 5/8”

(2 each of Choc Chip, Very Vanilla, Whisper White and Silver)

8 Designer Brads

(2 each of Pumpkin Pie, Pretty In Pink, So Saffron and Choc Chip)

TOTAL:  42 brads and buttons in total to add a bit of WOW to your next project.

Spring Mini Designer Series Patterned Paper Share

I don't think I've showed you this one yet have I?  Its a card I made for John's sister and her hubby who recently had a baby boy.  (Jack and I visited again today - he's very cute!) 

The Recipe:

Stamp Set: Punches Three (Hostess set)

Papers: Washington Apple DSP, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Riding Hood Red

Other: Bashful Blue Ink, Scallop Edge Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Pumpkin Pie and Bashful Blue ribbon (so nice to have matching embellishments.)

I did a pink version of the same card a while back.  You can find that one in this post.

Handy making use of the same basic card layout.  I can be a tad inclined to spend too long on the 'thinking something up' part.  Nice to grab a previously used idea or a sketch or CASE something that's caught my eye.  Big timesaver for those days when we're in a bit of a hurry. 

Happy Stamping!

Cheers, Sue

Aaah Monday - great day for catching up on lots of little jobs!

August 1st has been and gone which means the new Spring Mini catalogue is officially up and running. 

You can find the online version here.  If you prefer a copy to flick through at the dentist, in bed, at the traffic lights (perhaps not!), then get in touch and I'll get one in the mail to you.  (Of course if you have another demonstrator - give them a buzz and they'll be happy to look after you.)

You can place orders (by phone or email or at a class) for all the Spring Mini goodies until November 30th. 

August Newsletter

The August edition of Madex Creations newsletter is zipping its way through cyberspace to your inbox right now if you're part of my newsletter crew. 

There's a sign up box at the right there if you'd like to join in. 

I send one out at (OK near!) the start of each month.  Lots of card pics, info about specials and heaps more. 

This month a little about crimping, more eyelet border punch ideas, product shares and cards, cards, cards. 

Mop Caps

Last week I was talking about Hannah's 'Dress Up In Olden Days' Clothes' Day at school.  Now that I've unloaded the camera, thought I'd share a couple of pics.  They all had a great day by the sounds of it.

And that's about it for tonight.  Hope you enjoy your newsletter.  All the details about Spring Mini Product Shares can be found in it.  I'll pop them on here in the next few days so newsletter team - you get a little bit of a head start! 

Cheers, Sue