Growing Green

Growing Green was the first stamp set I bought from the new catalogue when it came out last year.  It reminds me of my grandfather who loved walking around his garden looking at all his maiden hair ferns.

I have only ever used this set once before and I decided it was high time I did something more with it.  The card layout was inspired by Felicity Hawkins, one of my sister's friends on the Central Coast.  I have also used the DS paper Woodland Walk which has been designed to match this stamp set.

Don't you just love long, long weekends when you can play and create.

"Eat Chocolate" - that's what this weekend is all about

I have just spent the day playing in my new study.  I have been without a desk for a week or so while we constructed a new desk and reorganised my craft space.  It is looking good and I am enjoying my new set up. 

I decided given that there was a fair bit of chocolate on offer this weekend I would spend some more time with the new stamp set "Eat Chocolate" from the Autumn-Winter mini catalogue. I created these cards using Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze and Very Vanilla cardstoke with some DS paper in the mix as well. 

The Chocolate Chip cardstock has been run through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Embossing folder which was available in the last mini catalogue.  Although the Summer Mini Catalogue has finished, this embossing folder is still available as part of the "carryover products" from that catalogue.

If you are interested in this stamp set or finding out more about the Big Shot and embossing folders just send me an email and I will be happy to organise a workshop that fits in with the techniques you are interested in learning about.

Convention Swaps

In a couple of weeks my sister Denise and I are off to Melbourne to the annual Stampin' Up convention.  We will participate in various workshops and get a sneak preview of new Stampin' Up products due out later this year.

As part of Convention everyone takes along a bundle of cards to swap with other Stampin' Up demonstrators.  I have my 50 "swaps" ready to go and I thought I would share them with those who read my blog first so here they are.

The first uses the Fine Flourish stamp and cardstock in Marina Mist and Chocolate Chip.  The second card uses the Birthday Bakery hostess stamp set, hostess Designer Series paper (Peach Parfait) and is in Cajun Craze and Certainly Celery cardstock.
  
When I return from Melbourne I will have 50 different cards with lots of new ideas to share with you all.

Strength & Hope

"Strength & Hope" is a lovely stamp set in the Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue.  It comes as a set of 4 stamps - price is $28.95 (C) or $35.95 (W).  Stampin' Up! is donating $2 from every purchase of this stamp set to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  BCRF is dedicated to preventing breast cancer and finding a cure in our lifetime by funding clinical and translational research worldwide.

 

This stamp set is very versatile.  This is the first of many cards I expect to make with this set.

If you are interested in purchasing this set and helping to raise money for a great cause please contact me.

Don't you just love chocolate!

The new Autumn-Winter mini catalogue is out and there are lots of great stamps sets, Designer Series papers & punches available.

One of my favourite items is the "Eat Chocolate" stamp set, after all everyone loves to eat chocolate!  Here are a couple of cards I put together over the weekend using this stamp set.  It also has a new punch to go with it which I think will get lots of use as part of my kit.

I often give chocolates as a gift so from now on I will be able to add an appropriate tag or card to the gift.

Technique Class 30 April - Background Stamps

On Saturday 30 April I will be holding a Technique Class looking at ways of using background stamps.  Each person will go home with 3 different cards made using various techniques but all with background stamps.  We will be using the medium sized Fine Flourish stamp and the large background stamps, En Francais and Medallion.  Cost of this class will be $10.00.  Examples of the cards we will be making are shown here.  If you are interested in joining in this session please contact me by email  or phone.

My first attempt at scrapbooking

In January we went to Japan on a ski holiday.  On our way to the northern island of Hokaido we stopped over in Tokyo for a few nights. 

I decided to try my hand at some scrapbooking and I thought some of my photos along with my "Kimino Kids" stamps would work well together.

I have also used some beautiful Japanese rice paper, not Stampin' Up I know, but bought in Tokyo so it only seemed right to use it.

We are hoping the situation in Japan improves over time so that we can visit again to ski and enjoy the culture and food of that country.

Now that I have started scrapbooking I keep thinking of more photos to use to create more pages.  It looks like I have created another monster for myself.

 

Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue

I have recently received some goodies that are now available in the Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue. 

Today was my first opportunity to play with one of the stamps.  It is called "Motorcycle" and I have discovered it stamps beautifully.  It comes as an individual stamp and costs $13.95.

Sometimes it is difficult to come up with ideas for more masculine cards but this works perfectly.  For these cards I have stamped and then embossed the image before using Designer Series paper as a part of the layout.

If you are interested in having a look through the Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue I have included a link on the right hand side of this blog or, if you prefer, please give me a call and I will get a copy to you

 

A Trip to Paris

One of my Stamp Club girls is travelling to Paris over Easter.  I made her this card to wish her luck on her trip. 

Of course, none of the group were at all jealous when she was telling us about her holiday.  Well not much anyway.