Welcome to another Art With Heart Team Blog Hop.  This time our theme is Women In Our Lives.  Very timely with Mothers' Day approaching. 

Our friendly, funny team has demonstrators from all over Australia and a fabulous team forum where we all connect and share ideas, encouragement and lots of laughs.  Remember as you're hopping along, that if you'd like to become a demonstrator and join a warm, welcoming crew - you can get in touch with one of us and we'll send you some more information.

Previous Blog Hop:

You may have arrived here from the blog of Kristine Thompson, or perhaps you are starting your hop from here.  There are 14 stops today and a prize to be won for leaving a comment at each lovely project.  Details below.

Time To Get Hopping:

My contribution today is a little gift box, containing some matching little gift cards and envelopes.  I think it'd make a lovely Mothers' Day present. 

(Inspired by a gorgeous one I saw when I visited Sue Bayliss.  Sue is not blogging just at the moment but she's still creating exquisite papercraft items.)

The box base is 8cm x 8cm which is just the right size to fit the little Love Notes that come in Very Vanilla or Whisper White with envelopes.  Just waiting for you to get creative and decorate them.  They are a great size for a little gift card.

The Recipe:

Colours:  Not Quite Navy, Blue Bayou  oops no it is Baja Breeze (thanks Christine for being a good proofreader - you missed your calling!), Whisper White

Stamps: Vintage Vogue

Tools:  Big Shot, Scallop Envelope Die, Little Leaves Sizzlits, Trimmer with Scoring Blade, Sponge Daubers, Small Oval Punch

Other: Pretties Kit Half Pearls, Pretties Kit Rhinestone Brad, Whisper White Love Notes/Envelopes, Urban Garden DSP

Thanks for visiting my patch of blogland and an early  'Happy Mothers' Day' to all the mums out there. 

Prize Draw:

Leave a comment on all 14 stops before 6am May 3rd and email Nikki at [email protected]  for a chance to win some blog candy.  (Non SU demos eligible for blog candy.)

Next Stop On The Hop:

The next stop on the blog hop is a big hop skip and jump over to Western Australia for the talented Gayatri Murali.  Have fun!!

We Art With Heart girls do a blog hop at the end of every month.  Hope to catch you again at the end of May for another fabulous hop.

Cheers,  Sue

A 'sorting out' urge hit on the weekend and I grabbed a big BIG box of photos from 2009 and spread them all over the lounge room floor.  I sorted them into categories - Hannah, Jack, family and friends, birthdays, day trips, odds and ends, holidays and so on, then popped them into a photo box with some dividers.  My plan is to very quickly scrapbook a bunch of my favourites from the different piles, then I have other plans for storing the rest. 

If you'd like to see the album cover I came up with for my 'Snippets of 2009' scrapbook, head on over to StampAMemory - our scrapbooking website where we share lots of scrapping tips and layout ideas.

You'll also find the story behind this photo!  Made me chuckle.

If you are just teetering on the edge of taking up the hobby of scrapbooking, I'll have lots of simple, easy layouts to share with you over the coming months.  Just photos, stories, some cardstock and the odd extra.  That's all you need to get started on a very satisfying hobby.  Hope I can tempt you! 

I don't care that I have a gazillion photos I'll never get scrapped.  I just grab whatever has captured my attention when the scrapping bug hits.  Don't feel like you have to scrapbook everything - it gets too overwhelming.  A snippet here and a snippet there - that's fun!

I do love my cardmaking and find it relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable.  Would it sound too daggy if I said, there's something about scrapbooking I find that just feeds the soul.  I love capturing just a little of the day to day moments of our lives, knowing they'll be such fun to look at later.  And I love that it also captures a bit of me, my thoughts and my loves.  

Bit like this blog!    Have a fabulous day and thanks for stopping by in my patch of blogland.

Cheers, Sue

Bit of an odds and ends post today with a little dash of this and a little dash of that!

Firstly a couple of cards.  I sat down to have a play with my new Simply Scrappin' Kit - the Sunny Day one from the Autumn/Winter Mini.  I decided to use the textured cardstock, patterned paper and die cuts to make some bright cheery cards.

I cut the Top Note shape out and used it on the card shown above, then used the remaining frame on the card below.

My Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder came in handy too.  This time I used it with the reverse side showing - inverted dots.  (Actually I think that was by accident when I stuck it down upside down but I do quite like it!)

If you like your colours bright and kits of coordinating colours for quick and easy projects - check out our Simply Scrappin' collection.  (Pg 33 of the mini for this bright funky one and pages 136 - 138 from the main catalogue for our full range.)

Technique Book Cover:  Bella Bleu

I came across this pic in my photo folder.  It is of a technique book cover I made recently for a group of ladies.  Nice and simple with just a piece of one of my favourite patterned papers from the Bella Bleu DSP.  (Designer Series Patterned Papers.)  I've used a chipboard letter sponged with Sahara Sand ink and topped with a half pearl.  The spiral punch is what you need to get the paper punched to fit the art journal spiral bound covers.

Blog Awards

Thank you to Christine for awarding me a Beautiful Blogger Award.

For this award I need to tell you 10 things about me.  Hmmmmm .....

1.   I love to take photos and LOVE my Canon 400D digital SLR camera.

2.  I grew up in Seymour, about 1 hour north of Melbourne.

3.  I have 52 gorgeous tropical fish that I love to sit and watch, including 2 surprise baby cories I discovered a month or so back that managed to grow big enough to avoid becoming dinner for one of the other tank members! 

4.  Before kids I was a primary school teacher and taught at the one school for about 12 years.

5.   I can't go to sleep without going downstairs one last time to tuck in the kids.

6.  I have a habit of taking photos of food all laid out on the table at family gatherings - much to the annoyance of hungry family members waiting to get stuck into eating it!

7.   I love love love books and have a big collection of Isaac Asimov sci fi novels. 

8.   I have a sewing machine and a big stash of fabric and cannot sew a straight line to save myself, but keep it all anyway - just in case!

9.   I love storage containers and shelves and storage ideas and am in heaven with a trip to Ikea or a browse through Howard's Storage World.

10.  I love to read Dr Seuss books and any good rhyming stories to the kids.

I'd like to pass the award on to:

Anne-Marie at Hand-Made by Anne-Marie

Mary at Meakly Made

Kathryn at KatLo Designs

and lots more wonderful bloggers but I'm out of time so that will have to do!

Thanks to Christine B too for awarding me a Sunshine Blog Award.  I'll pass that one on another day.

Not much sunshine here today - getting rather chilly in fact.  My two munchkins wore their new flannelette PJs for the first time last night.  Fresh out of the bath clean kids in warm snuggly jammies - nothing like it is there.

Hope you have a snuggly evening!

Cheers, Sue 

My post today is over at StampAMemory - our blog where we inspire you with ideas for using your Stampin' Up products to do some scrapbooking.

My layout today has just a tiny photo, and the story behind this note ....

Possibly not my best mum moment but one of those funny day to day happenings in a typical household.   Head on over to read the full story.  You'll find it here - I Think I Look Bootful

Don't forget to check out our current scrapping challenge with the chance to win 2 jumbo Stampin' Around Wheels.  Ooh yum, what a great prize. 

If you're interested, you can find my other StampAMemory articles if you check this index page - Sue's StampAMemory Index.

Happy Scrapping!    Cheers, Sue

A warm hello to all the ladies that came along on Saturday afternoon or last Thursday evening to my Autumn Winter Mini Launches.  Have a few prize winners to announce today plus one of our projects to show you.

Let's start with one of the cards we made.  Everyone took turns to crank that lovely Big Shot handle to make this design.    People chose either Rich Razzleberry .....

.....or Melon Mambo.

We used the Big Shot, the Top Note Die, the Manhattan Flower embossing folder, the matching ribbon - with either the dotty or the plain side showing depending on people's preference, plus the Vintage Vogue stamp set.  Such a lovely stamp set. 

Lucky Door Prize Winners:  Saturday

Linae, Maria and Melissa were the door prize winners for Saturday and all took home either a stamp set or some of our beautiful in colour ribbons.

Launch Ordering Prize Draw Winners

All the people who placed orders at either Thursday or Saturday's launch got a ticket in the prize draw (one for each $50 of goodies.)  I drew 3 names out ........ drum roll ......

1st Prize:  A 6" square of each of the gorgeous new Autumn Mini DSP designs plus a hostess stamp set goes to Judy.  Congratulations Judy.

2nd and 3rd Prizes:  Sharron and Margaret both receive some lengths of Autumn Mini ribbon and a SaleABration stamp set of their choice.  Congratulations ladies.

Thank you to everyone who came along and made the launches such fun. 

While we're congratulating winners here's some more.

Milleara April Craft Market Winner:

Congratulations Andrea.  You won the Whimsical Words set and little bag of embellishments.  I'll get those in the post to you.

I'm not at Milleara Market in May as I'll be joining lots of other excited Stampin' Up demonstrators and guests in Sydney for our annual Stampin' Up Convention, (can't wait!) but I'll be back at the market on Sunday June 27th if you're a local and would like to check out some fabulous products and lots of display cards.

End of March Winners:

Lots of prizes here this week!  I popped all the people who ordered on the last weekend in March into a prize draw.  Congratulations to Michelle L, Michelle S, Kimberley, Olivia and Chris who all received a free stamp set. 

Razzleberry Flowers

On Saturday morning John (hubby) and Jack (3) went and did the grocery shopping while Hannah and I got the place looking 'Launch Ready.'  My lads brought me back these beautiful flowers - they even tried to pick some that would coordinate with our projects.  I'm a lucky girl.

May Big Shot Classes

Would you like to try out the new Big Shot Die Cutting Machine?  In May we'll be using it at my classes. 

We'll be making a box, a bag topper and a card using the Top Note Die, the Alphabet Sizzlits and more.  

4 dates to choose from - Wed May 5th, Thurs May 6th, Wed May 12th, or Thurs May 13th - all at 7.30pm.  Class fee is $20 and all materials are supplied.  They do book out some months so check your diary and book a spot if you'd like to crank that Big Shot handle and make some great gifts.

Phone:  0417 377 057    Email: [email protected]

Hope you are having a terrific week. 

Happy stamping!

Cheers, Sue

It is challenge time again over at our scrapbooking website StampAMemory.  This is the place to visit if you are looking for some ideas of how to use your Stampin' Up supplies for scrapbooking.

Tanja has set the challenges this month and this time it is to scrapbook a layout with 5 things you like about yourself, and include a pic of yourself.  How often do we scrappers find we're behind the camera lens rather than in front of it?  

This challenge comes with a fabulous prize - 2 jumbo Stampin' Around wheels of your choice!!  You have a couple of weeks to complete your layout.  Use Mr Linky over at Stampamemory to link to your challenge entry on your blog or facebook page or photo gallery.  If you don't have any of those and you'd like to enter, shoot through your photo to one of us on the StampAMemory team and we'll help you out.   You'll find all the challenge details here at StampAMemory. 

OK here's my 5 things layout. 

Just love that we now have Kraft cardstock in 12 x 12 packs.  I've sponged the new in colour Soft Suede around the border and around the edge of the punched journaling boxes too.  It's a combination of colours I can see I'll be using a lot.  Not sure if you can see but I've rolled the jumbo wheel Very Vintage across the layout twice using Sahara Sand ink. 

I've used my favourite new toy, the Big Shot and the Timeless Type alphabet sizzlits for the title.   Aaah no more running out of key letters - I can just make whichever ones I want.  It is a fabulous way to use up little scraps too.  You just pop a scrap over the particular letter or letters you want and zip it through the Big Shot.

Tucked away in my photo boxes I found a leftover collage from some my family put together when they made me an album for my 40th last year.  This one was actually a reject as my head was chopped off in a few spots but I thought I'd use it anyway.  Was funny looking at photos from my 20's, 30's and now. 

And my 5 things?  It is not something we do everyday is it - listing off things we like about ourselves.  I was pondering how easy it is when we're young.  Jack (3) was just telling me the other day, "I am awesome at colouring mum."  Somehow it doesn't come quite as spontaneously when we're adults, so I think this is a fabulous challenge.  We all have so many strengths and positives when we just set our minds to listing them down. 

Here's what I came up with.

I share that first one with my mum, must be a gene for it I'm sure!  I so love our chats on the phone when one or the other of us is having a little 'spring clean of our lives' and making a fresh start, full of plans and goals.   

I think I share the second one with John (my hubby) which makes for a very happy, harmonious marriage. 

Hunting through my photo boxes for a pic of myself made me think of the 3rd one there on the list.

And I finished the list off with a love of learning and an optimistic nature.  I do love my rose coloured glasses.  :-)

So, what 5 things would be on your list?  Leave a comment and tell us, or better still  - record them on a layout and enter our challenge.   Those two jumbo wheels make a very tempting enticement!

Cheers, Sue 

A big warm hello to all the ladies that came along last night to my Autumn Mini Catalogue Launch.  Thanks for coming along.   I so enjoyed the evening sharing some of the excitement of new catalogue time with all of you.   Thanks to everyone for helping make the evening run smoothly.  I saw lots of people helping each other out and sharing tips and tricks.  That sharing of ideas and techniques is such a lovely part of the craft world. 

Here's a couple of pics of our make and take table and Autumn Mini sampler stations all set to go.

I'll pop some photos of our 2 cards on after Saturday's group have had their turn. 

Still some space left on Saturday afternoon 2pm if you'd like to come along and see some of the fabulous new Autumn/Winter Mini products, try some out, crank that Big Shot Die Cutting Machine handle and make a couple of cards.   Phone or email if you'd like to join us (Avondale Heights.)  Entry is free. More details here.

Congratulations:   Thursday Door Prize Winners

Congrats to Laurel, Louise, Gail, Anne-Marie and Helen who won the door prizes for Thursday's launch.

(If you placed an order I've put your name in the other prize draw and will draw names out after Saturday's launch for that one.)

Pendant Note and Very Vintage Wheel Card

A quick card to finish today.  This one uses the new Pendant Notes.  They're Kraft and come with a matching Kraft envelope.  I've used the Very Vintage Wheel, Soft Suede Ink and Melon Mambo cardstock.  The flower is from the Summer Mini with a Rhinestone Brad to finish.

Almost the weekend!  Aaahhh.   I hope you have a lovely one.   

Cheers, Sue

Thursday 15th, 7.30pm is now booked out.   There's still plenty of room on Saturday April 17th, 2pm if you'd like to join the fun of my Autumn Mini Catalogue Launch.   (Details here.)

Entry is free but booking is essential.   Demonstrations of the Big Shot, the new clear mount stamps and the new punch style.  A couple of make and take projects plus samples and products on display.  Phone or email to book your spot - Avondale Heights, in Melbourne's west.  (Contact details here.)

Here's Tote-ally Tess.  I've been having fun doing some paper piecing with her.   She's wearing Melon Mambo pants and a Cottage Wall DSP blouse, and carrying a Rich Razzleberry bag!  (Oh and Barely Banana hair.  Blush Blossom for the base layer.)  Sharp scissors essential!  I've used my Stampin' Up Paper Snips.

Cheers,
Sue

The stunning new Medallion stamp and the Big Shot Die 'Top Note' were the Autumn Mini products I reached for when making a wedding card this week.

One of my stamping buddies is getting married today:  Kathryn Lowe.  (I've set this post to 'pop up' mid afternoon so it'll be safe to show the card!)   I had lots of fun making her card and can't wait to see her walk down the aisle. 

This one is for Kathryn and Tony and it uses the new in colour Rich Razzleberry.  I've used the matching ink to stamp the large medallion and some script with En Francais.  (I think these 2 background stamps should come as a set - they're so lovely together!)

I've used my Top Note die with some silver cardstock from a Brushed Metallics pack.

I love the Tiny Tags set in the new Autumn Mini (pg 14.)  Here I've stamped the flourishy flower in grey (stamped off once first) and the Mr and Mrs in Rich Razzleberry.

The finishing touch is some matching Rich Razzleberry ribbon (pg 21) flipped over to the plain side as dotty didn't seem too weddingish!  It is cinched in with a rhinestone brad.

While I had my things out I thought I'd make a second one to put on display at my Autumn Mini Launch.  (Are you coming along??  Thursday is getting busy - it is going to be a fun night.  I'm sure we can squeeze in a few more if you're keen to join us.  Or there's lots of elbow room left on Saturday afternoon.  Details here.) 

I'd run out of silver so used gold for this one. 

A big silver brad with a half pearl from the Pretties Kit attached on top was the finishing embellishment for this one.  One more pic with some mood lighting for a bit of romance hey!

And now I'd best stop blogging and start prettying up for the wedding! 

Have a lovely weekend,

Cheers, Sue 

Breaking news from Stampin' Up! 

A colour renovation is on its way.  That's right - our colour families are having a freshen up, a facelift, a makeover. 

It is always nice to go through the wardrobe and shake everything out, look at it with fresh eyes, keep some, make some space and then do a bit of updating and that is what Stampin' Up will be doing here in Australia in September.  Here is what the new fresh colour collections will look like in September 2010.

 
 
That's right - 4 colour collections:  Brights, Neutrals, Regals and Subtles - each with 10 colours.    You'll see 25 of our current range, 10 returning in colours (ooh some gorgeous ones too!) and 5 brand new colours.   Kraft is getting a new name - Crumb Cake. 

In September 2010 we'll be getting 5 new In Colours and these will be with us for 2 years - a great idea I think.  In September 2011 we'll get 5 more new In Colours (once again for 2 years.)

Now making space in the wardrobe does mean we'll be saying farewell to some colours at the end of August 2010.  Some we may not miss much at all, some we might be sorry to see on the list.   We've got plenty of time here in Australia to stock up on reinkers and cardstock in any favourites.  Keep the list in mind in the coming months.

Here's the colours we'll say a fond farewell to at the end of August 2010.

I think I'll miss Sage Shadow and Close To Cocoa so will be having a good play with those colours in the next few months, but there are lots of yummy colours in the new collections that will keep us all busy in our craft rooms when September rolls around and the changes take effect. 

Big news isn't it!   Makeovers are always exciting.  Have a lovely weekend.

Cheers, Sue