Party This Way

Hello fellow stampers once again!
Its my grandson's birthday today and he is now 13 years old.  Time flies dosen't it!  I wont be seeing him today and he asked me to keep his card here until he arrives tomorrow from the country so I sat up until 2.30am this morning making his card. Lucky he didn't want it earlier.  This card was made using retired products but I thought I would post it anyway as the idea is there. I wanted a nice bright card and was waiting for my Big Top Birthday DSP to arrive but it hasn't arrived yet hence the discontinued DSP. 
For this card I have used the following products:-
Stamp Set: Party This Way
Cardstock: Real Red, Daffodil Yellow, Very Vanilla (1 balloon)
Inkpads: Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Versamark
Accessories: Hoppy Memories Simply Scrappin DSP,
Real Red 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Real Red Marker,
B'Day Party Rub Ons
I have made this into a slider card. I will put the instructions up soon so keep watching if you have not already made a slider card. Can you tell where I got my inspiration for the colours. If you check down a bit further you will see our Make & Takes from Perth Regionals last weekend. The colours are so bright, its enough to cheer anyone up.






I was having a little play with the Flirtatious DSP and saw a card make on Andrea Walfords 12 weeks of Christmas and decided to use a similar approach to this card. Its very simple and did not take any time at all.
The following was used:Stamp Set: Heard From The Heart
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White

Ink Pad: Pumpkin Pie
DSP: Flirtatious
Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice Folder,
Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint diluted in rubbing alcohol,
Whisper White 5/8" Organza ribbon.
Its amazing what a difference it makes when you put your DSP through the Big Shot with a folder. It depends if you want the sharp clean image or not.
I best be on my way as I have some shopping to do for tomorrows birthday party.
Thanks for popping by:)

2011 Perth Regional Make & Takes

Well here I am again already.  I spent the afternoon making my Make & Takes from Regionals. I think this years Make & Takes are the best we have had. There were lots of different ideas on how to use the Under The Big Top Stamp Set. I am sure once you see these beauties that you will also like to have a go at making them. I just love the little Circus Box which holds four little cards along with the envelopes. It was made using the Scallop Envelope Die. The next one is so cute with the bear in the ballerina costume. I originally thought this was a mouse until today. After I read that it was a bear I looked to see if it had a mouse tail and of course it doesn't.  Anyway whatever it is, its cute.  The last one is a scrapbook page and full of colour. I have not got a photo to put on it as yet.  I will have to find some clown who will want their face on it. LOL!
Im off again to try out some of the new ideas we saw yesterday so its bye for now.
Thanks for popping by :)

2011 Perth Regionals

Hello fellow stampers!
What a day I have had.  We had our annual Stampin' Up! Regionals today in Perth.  The day was fun filled with many WOW demonstrations. The day went too quickly for my liking. Registration was from 8am.  It was so quiet walking through the big double doors of the resort but as we started heading up the stairs we could hear a beehive of activity going on upstairs. Demonstrators doing their swaps and catching up on old friends and fellow stampers. We had two new demonstrators on our table and it is always lovely to meet new friends. Thats what it is like with Stampin' Up! I have never been in a business that so many of us share the passion of the product we sell. I always think it must be wonderful being a singer as their job is to sing and that is what their passion is. This is how I feel about Stampin' Up! It is on my mind almost every minute of the day (in a good way). How many people get to experience that in their everyday life. Anyway back to the meeting we had today. We had the chance to watch and listen to some very talented people today who showed us some very interesting projects. I am sure each and everyone of us today learnt something new. Cate Lynch showed us various ways to use the Wheels. Sarah Klass dazzled us with her glitter and granny plastic lace ideas.  Andrea Buckland showed us her patchwork cards using the new fabric. Miriam Thomas gave us a lot of ideas on how to use the Petite Pockets. Ngaire Anderson gave us a fantastic demo on how to hold a workshop. Cathy Clark gave a fabulous demo on how to make various flowers with the punches. Gorgeous! Then we were shown how to make a bow using a huge garden fork by Amanda Maycock. The bigger the fork, the bigger the bow. Of course we had to use a normal dinner fork and it was very easy. The list goes on. Here are a few pics of the swaps that were doing the rounds today. I have also included my two swaps. The first one is using a few different techniques. I made this card with the following products:-
Stamp Sets: Oval All

Ink: Concord Crush, Old Olive, Whisper White
Cardstock: Concord Crush, Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories: Big Shot, Polka Dot & Framed Tulip folders, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Stamp Block, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Crystal Effects, 2 Step Bird Punch, Eyelet Border, Scallop Circle Punch, Whisper White 5/8" Organza Ribbon, 1/2" Circle Punch.
The Whisper White cardstock is in one piece. To achieve the result of having the Polka Dot centred on the card you will need to cut some scrap cardstock approx 6cm x the width of the folder. You can use the backing of the DSP but you will need them to be stuck together to form a pad about 1/2" thick. Place your cardstock into the folder and lay the pad over the top of the folder centred and run it through your big shot. I used the Big Shot without the plates. Have a play and you will work out what is best for you. Once that was done I then used my Framed Tulip Folder and lined up one end with the pattern along the last row of dots and only put the card through at that particular point and wound it back again. (hope this makes sense). I then did it again on the other end.  For the flower I punched two pieces of card using the Scallop Circle Punch. I then scored from top to bottom all the way around between the petals and then cut to the centre only once. I then folded concertina style and joined the two together with tape and sponged with Whisper White Ink using a dauber. The rest looks pretty self explanatory.
The next card is shown in three different colours. I even tried Basic Grey and Sahara Sand but I didnt like that one. For this card I have used the following:-
Stamp Set: Creative Elements (one of my very favourites)
Ink: Pear Pizzaz, Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi
Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Scallop Circle Punch, Tempting Turquoise Marker, Very Vanilla 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Pearls, Dauber, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint mixed with rubbing alcohol.

For the piece using the scallop circle punch I cut a piece of Very Vanilla 10.5 x 4.3cm. I put one end of the card into the actual cutting section of the punch using something sharp to lift up at the end so that it does not catch, punch. Do the same at the other end and you have a lovely double ended scallop. I rock n rolled with the butterfly. For those of you who do not how to Rock n Roll. I stamped the butterfly first witht he Pear Pizzaz and then rolled the edges of the stamp onto Tempting Turquoise. Always start with the lighter colour ink first as you dont want to ruin your stamps and it also gives the image that depth you need. I sprayed the butterfly with the Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint mixed with Rubbing Alcohol (from the Chemist) and then placed some pearls on the body section. I used Pear Pizzaz and Tempting Turquoise to colour my Very Vanilla ribbon. This was done by putting the ribbon onto the stamp pad and using a dauber to hold it down and pulling on the ribbon.
The other two cards were made using Crumb Cake & Sahara Sand. Pumpkin Pie and Daffodil Delight.
Well thats it for now as I am quite tired after a big day out and need my beauty sleep. I hope you have fun trying out these few techniques and I will be back soon with some more.
Thanks for popping by:)

September Workshop

Gosh its a wintry day today. I have the heater on and sitting in my craft room getting ready for Perth Regionals. I decided I needed a break so here I am updating my blog. We had a lovely little gathering at our Workshop yesterday. Lots of laughter as usual. Always a laughter when a certain lady attends and we all love her to bits. I am sure you know who you are. I have decided now that it is getting close to Christmas that I will add at least 1 christmas card to our set. I love this one. I found the idea of the Pointsettia from Connie Babberts blog. Thanks Connie!
The Pointsettia is made using one of the leaves from the French Foliage Stamp Set.
For this card I have used the following:-
Stamp Sets: French Foliage, Snow Swirled
Ink: Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler
Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Real Red (flowers), Always Artichoke, Whisper White, Basic Black
Accessories: Big Shot, Polka Dot Folder, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint mixed with rubbing alcohol, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Pearls & Always Artichoke 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon
With the Basic Black cardstock I punched out a circle 1 3/4" to place the petals onto. I have used 14 petals for my flower but some of the ladies in the workshop used only 12 and it looked just as good.
Its all pretty easy.  I cut out my petals while watching tv when I was getting my stamp camp swaps ready. It took me two nights to cut them out.
The next card was one I have designed myself. I orignally made the card using the brown tones but decided to use a bit of colour for my ladies. Funny though, they liked the Soft Suede one best.
Here they are.  The top layer was made using the Scallop Circle Punch on both ends of my cardstock. The piece was 4.3 x 10.5cm.  You place one end of the card in through the cutting section of the punch not where you would normally place it. Slide the card in just past the scallop cutting edge and be sure to line up the card and punch. Do this for the other end as well. You may have trouble sliding the card through so I used one of those things that you use to score with the little ball on the end. I cant think what it is called right now. You can use anything that is pointy. Just lift up the end as you slide and it works wonders.
Here is my recipe for the card.
Stamp Set: Creative Elements ( I love this set)
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Tempting Turquoise
Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Scallop Circle Punch, Very Vanilla 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon (I ran it across the Pear Pizzaz and Tempting Turquoise stamp pads to get a different effect). Pearls, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint mixed with rubbing Alcohol (used on butterfly), Daubers, Tempting Turquoise Marker. With the brown toned card I used Soft Suede and Crumb Cake colours.
The last one is a very quick and simple card also cased from the net but again I cannot remember who it was I cased it from. I promise to check next time when copying over to my files that their names come out readable. I have used the following products for this card.
Stamp Set: Lovely As A Tree,  Three Little Words.
Ink: Cajun Craze, Sahara Sand, Daffodil Delight, Basic Black
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White.
All you need to do is using your stamp pad to swipe it along your cardstock. Do this for all three colours and then stamp your image onto the coloured area and put a sentiment and hey presto! you are done. You can either use the Basic Black Ink or you can emboss it with Black Embossing Powder. I kind of like it just with Basic Black and it makes for a very quick card if you are in a hurry.  Try using Christmas colours and a bit of glitter and you can have your Christmas cards made in no time.



Everyone seemed to love the cake I made this time. Its actually called Apricot Loaf but I dont know why as there is no Apricots in it. (Unless All Bran once had apricots added to it)
Here is the recipe in case you would like to try it. Its so easy! You do need to prepare the day before.

1 cup All Bran
1 cup milk
1 cup brown sugar (firmly packed)
1 tablespoon honey
1 cup SR flour
Mix All Bran, milk, brown sugar & honey into a bowl, stir, cover and place in fridge overnight.
Add flour and mix well.
Place in a loaf tin (greased & lined with greaseproof paper) and bake in moderate oven for 1 hour. Mine was ready in 45 minutes so keep a check on it. Once it is cooked place on cooling rack and spread butter on your slices and yummy! there you have it.