About time for some brighter colours and some glitter sparkle I think!

Our daughter Hannah turned 7 last week so I dug out my PINK supplies as she's a rather pink loving girl.  Here's her card.

I used a panel of paper from Sweet Always patterned paper pack and cut the section with the bird.  The base card is Regal Rose and the eyelet border punched strips are Rose Red.  The letters are from the Lovely Letter stamp set.  They are stamped in Versamark, then I used Heat and Stick Powder.  Briefly heat the powder until it turns translucent (and tacky) then sprinkle some pink glitter (from the Fine Supernova set.)  Very sparkly.  I punched them with the 1 1/4" circle punch.  Some are raised on dimensionals.

And I used another piece of the patterned paper for the inside of the card, and a matching Stampin' Write Marker for the writing.

Hannah and Jack have been reading the cake decorating book (the good old Women's Weekly one) for weeks now.  Here's our cake effort for this year. 

All set to go.  John and Hannah were on life saver lolly chopping duty!

Ready to blow out the candle ...

Loved this photo that John captured of me and Hannah that evening.

Happy birthday sweetie!

Card making is definitely contagious.  Jack (3) made a card too for his sister.  Thought it was a cute drawing of our family.  He's just started to draw people with recognisable 'bits.'

Well that's about it for birthday week in our household.  Think I should declare it laundry week next! 

Cheers,  Sue 

If you're in the mood for some scrapbooking inspiration, head on over to StampAMemory where a group of 6 of us share some ideas for using your Stampin' Up! products for scrapbooking. 

Here's a sneak peek from my latest article - its on Craft Ink.  You can find the article here.

I've set up an index page here if you'd like to see some of my other contributions. 

Happy Scrapping! 

Cheers, Sue

It was birthday week in our house last week which means I've been busy 'birthdaying' but also means I have a couple of cards to share this week.  John's turn last Wednesday and Hannah turned 7 last Thursday.

Here's John's card.  A simple but I hope elegant one.  (No no no - nothing to do with the fact that I'd only left myself with a short window of time to put it together!)  :-)

I really love the silver from our Metallics Pack (pg130) teamed with Basic Gray and Black for cards for guys.  The Basic Gray patterned paper panel is from the pad of 6" x 6" patterned paper in the Hostess set on page 18. 

Love the corduroy buttons too for male cards ....

I punched two slots with the slot punch to thread the Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon through, then added the button with a glue dot. 

And another favourite for this card is the greeting.  It is from 'On Your Birthday' (pg 113) and I love the message.  Came up well embossed in black.

Now from very masculine greys we move to pinks and get the glitter out for Hannah's card.  Back another day with that one.  (And a very pink cake too while we're in birthday mode.) 

Thursday night is booked out but there's still 4 spots left for Wednesday night's class if you'd like to try Stained Glass technique and an array of colouring tools to use on your cards.  Lots of fun and you go home with 3 cards!  Give me a buzz or shoot through an email if you'd like to grab one of the last seats.

Details here.

Cheers,  Sue 

October already so I'm guessing some of you are starting your Christmas cards to avoid the mad December rush.  Here's one made with Wish For Peace stamp set ($29.95, pg 32)

Elements of this card were inspired by a card from Claire Daly that I got in a team Christmas Card swap.  You can find that card here.

This one uses the Stained Glass technique with markers and vellum.  This is one of the cards we're making at this month's technique classes.  There are a few spots left Wed 28th if you'd like to join us and try the technique.  Details here.

Here's a closer view.

The greeting is embossed onto patterned paper and uses the Christmas Greeting from Punches Three (hostess set) then I've trimmed off the top and bottom.  I've used the Word Window punch and Designer Label punch to complete the panel.  (You need to cut the Word Window one in half to extend it a little.)  A bit of sponging helps tie it all together.

Hope your Christmas card creations are coming along well.  Who has made a start??

Cheers, Sue

My daughter Hannah (who is about to turn 7) was listening very carefully when I rehearsed my Faux Silk presentation with her ready for our Melbourne Stampin' Up! training day on the weekend. 

The next day she was making some cards for two friends to say thanks for coming to her birthday.  "I want to put that crinkly stuff on mum."  Here are her Faux Silk creations.

She picked out Priceless stamp set, and some Soft Subtle colours.  The greeting is in Rose Red and is from Punches Three stamp set.  She distressed the edges of her matting cardstock too with the distressor from the cutter kit.

She really is enjoying some craft time lately.  Reminds me of what a relaxing and fun hobby this is.   I love that we have something we like to do together and can just imagine many mum and daughter crafty times ahead as she grows up.

Back with a Christmas card idea from me tomorrow.

Happy stamping.

Cheers, Sue
  

Have been unloading my camera tonight and thought I'd share a few pics of what's kept me out of mischief the last couple of weeks.

Here's me, Dania and Michelle at the Stampin' Up! stand at CraftExpo last Sunday - all set to meet lots of crafty folk exploring the stands.   We had such a great day.  Congrats to Lesley in Kyneton and Shirley in Lynbrook who won the baskets of stamping goodies. 

Then on Saturday we had an all day Stampin' Up event at a conference centre at Crown.  So lovely to meet heaps of girls I know from my team, the other teams I belong to and the wider Stampin' Up circle.  Here's a quick snap of the room.  Lots of demonstrators and guests busy stamping away there.

My friend and team member Angela Dickins was one of the girls presenting a technique to the group.  She showed us how to make these gorgeous flowers using 2 scallop circles.  Must give them a go.  Great job Ange.

Here's Ange in action .... and a very blurry shot of one of the flowers! 

I was one of the presenters this year as well, and showed the technique Faux Silk.  (Which I figured I couldn't muck up even with nervous fingers!) 

I had a great day and it turned out to be so much fun taking a turn up on the stage - very glad I said yes on the phone quickly then hung up before I could change my mind!

We had time to do some projects too while we were there.  I brought mine home to finish off so will have to show you those another day. 

I practised my presentation on Hannah and Jack.  Hannah was definitely paying attention as this morning she wanted to make cards for her two friends.  "I want to make one of those crinkly ones mum with the tissue paper."    Be back soon with what she came up with. 

It is her birthday next week and this afternoon two friends joined her for some fun at BuildABear.  (I think we three mums had just as much fun!)  Here they are dressing their new friends.

So lots happening lately.  Plus John spent 2 weeks over in the US for work (with one week's notice of the trip!  Just enough time to organise a passport.)   We certainly missed him (and his cooking ....)  He made a delicious meatball lasagna when he got back though!  Yum.

Quieter week ahead this week so hope to have lots more creations to show you here in my patch of blogland. 

Cheers,  Sue

Time for a card!  I had a lovely time yesterday doing some stamping with two friends from my team - Angela Dickins and Sue Bayliss.  We met at Ange's place and raided her stash (and ideas!) to make this card.  (Thanks Ange.  Yummy lunch too!)

The Recipe:

Stamp Set: Great Friend (from the Spring Mini)

Colours: Regal Rose, Whisper White and Close To Cocoa

Other: Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds, Half Pearls from the Pretties Kit, Eyelet Border Punch

Based on this card by Jayne Mercer. 

You get a bit more of the sparkle in this shot -

OK better go get that vacuum cleaner out before my class ladies arrive tonight.  Think you could put together a box of weetbix if you gathered all the crumbs on our floor right now! 

We're doing 2 cards using Stained Glass technique (including a gorgeous Christmas one I'll show you soon) and trying out a bunch of colouring tools - crayons, pastels, markers and more.  Spaces are booking out fast but there's a few spots left if you're quick - including a few tonight if you have a spur of the moment desire to head out for an evening of stamping!   Details here.

Cheers, Sue

A big hello to you if you've just found my blog after visiting Craft Expo over the last few days.  I had a lovely day on Sunday at the Stampin' Up! stand with Dania and Michelle, meeting lots of excited craft lovers.  We demonstrated lots of techniques and chatted with people about how the various things that were on display had been made.  There were such a range of crafts to see at all the stands - it was an exciting place to be and I had a GREAT day with Dania and Michelle meeting all the enthusiastic people exploring the show.

Now quick little one today:  In the last post I showed you my Flower Power Card Elements Kit cards.  I enjoyed making them so much that I thought I'd get the Rock Star Kit too.

Thought you might like to see what is inside when you take off the wrapping .....

Now I just have to grab out some inks and adhesives and get creating! 

Think I might use some different stamps to complete the cards for this kit, and I think I could make a nice 6" x 6" scrapbook layout with the items remaining once I've made 2 of each card.  (You get enough materials to make 3 of each of the 3 card designs, but I like to make 2 then ad lib a bit !)

You can purchase the  matching set 'Starring You' - 20% off the stamp set this month when you purchase a Card Elements kit.  Pgs 140 and 141.  Great gift idea.

Be back with what I turn that kit into soon!

Cheers, Sue

Thought I'd show you a quick close up of the two cards I made by mixing a touch of creativity with the things in the Flower Power Card Elements Kit, plus the Wow Flowers stamps.

First I made 2 each of the three card designs following the directions included with the kit,

I'd not have thought to put those colours together: Rose Red, Old Olive, Perfect Plum, and More Mustard - but I really like the bright colourful look.  I had such a lot of fun making these.  The papers, cardstock, ribbons, buttons and self adhesive die cuts come in the kit.  The matching stamp set 'Wow Flowers' is 20% off this month when you buy the Card Elements Kit. Then you just need inks and adhesives.

There's enough in the kit to make 3 of each of the 3 designs, but after I'd finished 2 of each I then used the remaining materials to make this one:

... and this one ... 

I think I like the Old Olive base card one best.  What do you think??

The die cuts are self adhesive but they look extra gorgeous popped up with Stampin' Dimensional foam dots for some added pizzazz.

You can find these kits on pages140 and 141 of our catalogue.

Cheers, Sue

It has been busy this week with preparations for CraftExpo - a big craft show on at the Exhibition Buildings in Carlton from today through until Sunday.    (I'll be there Sunday. Come say hi if you're there exploring all the gorgeous craft stands.)

So today's card is one from Hannah - my 6 year old daughter.  She had fun with her Aunty Lisa making one of the cards from the Simply Sent Kit "No One Like You" (pg 143.)  Didn't she do a good job! 

 I love the colours in this kit - Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Kraft and Bashful Blue - a gorgeous combination.

The kit includes everything you need to make 5 cards like Hannah's and 5 of another design.  You get the stamps, little Stampin' Spot inks, cardstock, ribbon, buttons, adhesives and lovely Kraft envelopes.  The kit is $83.95 and when you've made your 10 cards, you'll have stamps and inks you can use on other projects.  Quite a lovely gift for craft lovers.

Hannah even distressed the edges of the Vanilla piece - she really has been watching carefully!

Happy Stamping!
Cheers,

Sue