Here's another card made using the 2011 Sale A Bration stamp set Bliss.  I'm enjoying using this set with Kraft cardstock. 

The base card is stamped with the flourish and the butterfly using Kraft (Crumb Cake) ink.  I stamped off the butterflies first on scrap paper so they are just faint. 

I stamped some more using Cherry Cobbler onto Naturals Ivory.  (Stamped off once again so that they're subtle.)  Then cut out one that was stamped onto Whisper White.  I usually avoid fiddly cutting out but have quite been enjoying cutting these little butterflies out while I watch TV of an evening.  I had a scrap of embossed Cherry Cobbler so used that.  The embossing folder was Finial Press.  Some of that lovely Summer Mini lace and some pearls to finish off.

Just in case I forget to ask you - if you're placing a SaleABration order, let me know whether you would like your free stamp set in wood mount or clear mount.   You have the choice of either.  I forgot to mention that in my newsletter - holiday brain!

I'd best be off for a cuppa.  Hannah and I had a girls's night out last night and went to see Mary Poppins.  (Her Christmas present.)  It was fabulous and she managed to stay awake til the end and all the way home.  Rather a late night so some bleary eyed looking girls in this house today!   I had a moment of 'aagghhh' when I got back to the Wilson car park at 11pm and found it all locked up!  A few heart palpitations later I read the sign more closely and realised that there was a main entrance on the other side - phew!!   So a bit of extra exercise for us walking around the block. 

Have a great day.  Almost the weekend!

Cheers, Sue

It is SaleABration time here in Australia and all we Stampin' Up lovers are no doubt checking out this year's four exclusive stamp sets and choosing our favourites. 

Click here to view the catalogue online:  SaleABration 2011

I've been having lots of fun with this set "Bliss"

Here's one of the cards I've made.  Check my newsletter for another, or pop by during the week for some more 'Bliss inspiration.'  (Newsletter is coming to your inbox this morning.)

I particularly like the 'For You' stamp from this set - Punch Bunch.  So called because it matches with a bunch of Stampin' Up punches.  I've been colouring this one with my markers and trying the same design in a few different colours.  Here it is in Concord Crush and Poppy Parade.  (Plus some Pear Pizzazz.)

So for those of you new to SaleABration - it works like this.  One free SaleABration stamp set for every $100 of product ordered.  It runs from Jan 25th to March 31st.

Spend $100, chooose one free stamp set.

Spend $200, choose two free stamp sets.

Spend $300, choose three free stamp sets, PLUS a Level 1 hostess set, PLUS $30 of free products from our current catalogues.

Host a $600 workshop, and you'll get a free SaleABration stamp set on top of your usual hostess goodies.

Phone: 0417 377 057     Email: [email protected]

Join as a demonstrator and you'll be able to choose a free stamp set up to $79.95 in value with your starter kit.  Get in touch if you'd like more info on this.  I'd be happy to chat with you about all the benefits of becoming a demonstrator - either as a business or as a hobby, and answer any questions you might have.

Check back here this week for some more SaleABration creations. 

CLASSES KICK OFF SOON

I've updated the class page with dates and details for my February and March stamping/card making classes.  (Avondale Heights, Vic.)  If you are hoping to catch a class, you can find it here:  Stamping Classes

In February we're using the spritzer - a great tool.

Have fun picking out your favourite SaleABration stamp set from this year's collection.  Which one is your pick?  Leave a comment to let me know.

Cheers, Sue

I seem to come back to this card design with punched squares quite often.  This was one I made last month after experimenting with the new Smooch Spritz spray - Gold Foil. 

Colours: Concord Crush, Blushing Bride, Cherry Cobbler

I've spritzed the Blushing Bride cardstock and the ribbon with a mix of Isocol and Champagne Mist shimmer paint for some lovely sparkle.  Then I used Smooch Spritz (Gold Glow) on the Concord Crush cardstock and rubbed some more on the Presto Patterns Designer Paper to reveal the pattern.  My 1 1/4" square punch came in handy to make the squares. 

I love the Antique  Brads - such an elegant finishing touch for lots of projects.  The ribbon is Concord Crush plus the narrow Daffodil Delight taffeta. 

If you're in the mood for some more creative inspiration, my friends have a Summer Mini blog hop happening today.  You can catch it here:  Nikki's blog. 

Have a lovely week.  An exciting week ahead - SaleABration starts on Tuesday!  I'll be back with more news on that very soon.

Cheers, Sue

Were you one of the people who took part in the Helping Hudson project by buying one of the tutorial packs, donating a tutorial, taking part in the challenges or entering the daily draws? 

Take a look at his mum Tina's blog post today where she's shared a video of Hudson using his Kid Walk - purchased with the funds raised through the Helping Hudson project with the support of the lovely crafting community. 

Tina's blog:  Hudson And His Kid Walk

Just magic.  

Not much creating going on here just at the moment.  I'm having lots of fun spring cleaning, sorting out, decluttering and doing lots of school holiday playing with the kids.  Have knocked off a few novels as well.  What a nice way to spend some January time.  Hoping to direct my spring cleaning to my craft room/study very soon then there'll hopefully be some new creations to share once more.  In the meantime I've dug through my Summer Mini vaults and found a few projects I've not shared yet. 

This box features the Big Shot Clear Scallop Square Die and the Island Oasis DSP from the Summer Mini.  The box is in Old Olive and the lid has Tempting Turquoise - 2 of the coordinating colours for the DSP.

Once you open the lid you find some of these cute little gift cards.

These little cards were CASEd from these gorgeous ones on Kim's blog that I spotted when doing a lap of a blog hop.   Sometimes I come across a project on a blog hop that just says, 'Make Me, Make Me' and this was one of those. 

Have to say this paper didn't jump right out at me, but I love it in small doses like on these bright, happy gift cards. 

A little rhinestone seemed like a nice finishing touch.

The greeting is from Well Scripted and I've used Old Olive and Rose Red markers to ink it up so that I could get a couple of colours happening. 

Not too late to join my marker club you know.  Get your markers, the nifty case, a little gift each month, lots of hostess goodies plus 8 fabulous tutorials with heaps of step by step pics and instructions for marker techniques.  Read all about it here:  Marker Club details.  There's a terrific extra bonus for joining in with this one - email me to find out more!

Cheers, Sue

Goodness - hearts go out to all those in the path of the devastating Queensland floods. 

Queensland Flood Appeal

A scrapbooking bug always seems to hit me in January too along with a spring cleaning bug.   I recently found an 8 1/2 x 11" album so have kicked off the year with a layout in those dimensions.  Actually I think mine is a bit narrower at 8" wide so I could use an A4 sheet for my base - chopping a little off the top first.   This one is a double page spread on facepainting.

I used the Notes and Details stamp set from the Summer Mini for this one.  The 'details' stamp is from that set plus some handy lines which I stamped in Versamark on Night Of Navy for my journaling.

 
Base cardstock is Sahara Sand plus I've used Night of Navy and Tempting Turquoise.  Some narrow white taffeta ribbon is about the only other addition.  Nice and simple.

I wanted to make the lavender Hannah pic the focal one so matted that in white. 

I do love the photo of our arms when we came back from the facepainting workshop.  Not a spare inch of 'canvas' left to practise on!   It was lots of fun and the paints are fabulous.  You can find them here if you're wanting some great face painting gear.  Moz Theatre Face Paints

I'm in a bit of a waffling on mood and rather than do that here or bore the socks off John, I thought I'd make myself a new blog just to waffle on to myself mainly, plus any friends, family or fellow blogworld inhabitants that might want to stop by.  I called it 'Just Me.'  Perhaps I should have called it 'Just Waffling On.'  Anyway if you'd like to have a look you can find it here:  Just Me.

I'll be back here though with plenty of cards and scrapbooking layouts and a few other crafty projects floating about in my head and keen to get out. 

Happy Stamping!    Cheers, Sue

Happy New Year everyone.   Wishing you lots of laughter, fun and happiness in 2011.  Wishing you lots of time too for the people you love, the pastimes you enjoy and the priorities you have for this next year.

I picked up this bunch of flowers for just $3 at the supermarket and thought they looked bright and cheerful - just perfect for my kitchen bench.   Just perfect for this time of year too.  I LOVE love love this time of year.  Time for slowing down, reflecting on where I am and thinking about what plans and goals and changes are needed in my life. 

Lots of time for playing with the kids, reading books ..... 

Time for new calendars ....

Mine does have some things written on it but I photoshopped them out for privacy.  :-)

...... For crisp new diary pages - I just love putting new pages in my planner ....

How did you spend New Years Eve?  We had a very nice quiet one here. 

We all sat down and did a 300 piece jigsaw that Santa had given one of the kids ...

Then we pulled up chairs to the big glass doors that look out on our balcony and across the valley to the city.  (We would have gone out on the balcony but we're not getting along too well with the big mozzies!)  From our place we can see the fireworks at the Docklands - our own personal fireworks show.  9.15pm for the kids and the midnight one for John and I.

Quite a nice way to spend the evening this year I thought. 

And now I'm madly in the middle of my latest clean out, sort out, throw out, simplify life phase - often hits about this time of year.   I'm hoping this one lasts quite a while so I can make it round lots of the bits of clutter that have built up this year in the busy patches.  Decluttering the house and decluttering my mind at the same time.

Today's project was ......

I'm sure these things multiply when we're not looking!   Going for less is more this year and picking out a pencil case worth for Jack and for Hannah and popping the rest (of the ones that made it through the cull) into a container for when the first lot are wearing out.

When I need a bit of a break from this decluttering phase, I'll be back with some cards to share!   And some scrapbooking too - managed to fit a bit of that into the week as well. 

Whatever your plans are for 2011 I wish you all the best with them. 

Cheers, Sue