Hi everyone,

Well we had a great trip down yesterday to Busselton after a huge morning!!!

It was DS Malakai’s 5th Birthday yesterday too. We had the In-laws over for Breakfast and then some of his friends came over for a party in the morning….well the neighbours really. Since his birthday is in the holidays, I have always only just had family come over because it just gets too busy! But I thought that since he is going to school now, it would be nice for him to have a party. All in all we had 22 kids between 7 mums! A very busy morning indeed.

So by the time we got all cleaned up and packed we didn’t leave till 2:30 pm, but managed to drive straight down with no stops.

We are all settled in and I have my stamp studio set up too!!! I have the spare room which has all my stamps lined up on the bed and the outdoor table inside. It is a far bigger space than what I have at home!

Let’s just hope I packed the Mojo amongst all the stamping gear I brought along.

I just wanted to also let you know that I have mobile broadband, which is in one way great, but it is SOOOOOOO SUPER slow!!! I am going nuts with it. Also I haven’t been able to send emails out. So I sincerely apologize to those of you that have emailed and haven’t heard back from me!!! As soon as I get it sorted out, you will hear from me. I was on the phone to 3, and to Optus today from my mobile which will cost a fortune after listening to the waiting music!!! But neither company were able to help me

Well I will keep in touch. I hope you are all well!

Hey you all out there in cyberland!

I am excited to tell you about another Challenge I am putting out to all of you. This again started in the demo’s on-line group. It is called Make it Monday….great name hey! All thanks to Leonie Schroder of Totally Addinktive : http://www.totallyaddinktive.com

Well my Mondays usually consist of washing, washing, and a little more washing! Then it is cleaning, cleaning, and more cleaning! Whilst it is one of those days where you work all day to catch up from the weekend, it is also the BEST feeling to be on top of things right at the start of the week and to plan what you will be doing, meal plans, shopping lists….etc, etc…..

So why not add a stamped project to your “TO DO” lists that you probably haven’t thought about., hence Make it Monday is to inspire you to do something this week.

My first MIM is to make Gift Card Holders which are so nice to give it in rather than slapped into a card, AND it then looks like you have actually made some effort for that persons Birthday!

I have put together the following tutorial so you have absolutely no excuse because they are SUPER easy! Here we go….

Materials Required:

Paper cutter

Scallop punch

1 1/4 circle punch

1 3/8 circle punch

Ribbon

Bone folder

Jumbo Roller

Stamp pads

Cardstock

Scrap paper

Stamp set

Step 1:

Cut your A4 cardstock in half vertically

Step 2:

Roll both sides of your cardstock with your jumbo roller

Step 3:

Fold your cardstock in half, and then each edge fold out to make a W shape

Step 4:

Place tape onto one side of the centre folds like above

Step 5:

Close the two centre sides together so that it looks like this

Step 6:

Taking your 1 1/8 circle punch, punch out half of the doule cardstock

Step 7:

Trim off the sealed section so create the pouch

Step 8:

Wrap a strip of ribbon around the holder with overhang so that they can be used as ties

Step 9: - Final product

Decorate the outside of your Gift Card Holder with stamped images and tie is closed

This is the inside of the holder

So there you have it. I hope you can make that time this week to whip one up and then you will always have it ready for that special someone’s gift

Have a good week everyone!

Oh it is different to say that this colour challenge is from me! I am so used to referencing other stampers or groups that it feels strange!

Well the other challenge I put forward to the ladies on the Demo On-line Forum this week was a Colour Challenge. The colours I chose were, Pretty in pink, Close to Cocoa, and Soft Sky. I LOVE those colours together….which you probably already know.

Well I managed to have a little play with them and this is what I put together……

Isn’t it pretty? I have used Soft sky for the base which I stamped with the Linen background stamps with Soft sky ink. I have then used a piece of Berry bliss DS paper which I spiral punched on the left hand side and roughed up a little. Adding some Taffeta pretty in pink ribbon also. I have then stamped the large flower from the Fabulous Flowers stamp set and cut out and layered, adding some dazzling diamonds glitter for bling. Then topping it off with two extra flowers and a half pearl. The greeting is using the two oval punches and the Warm words stamp set.

On this card I have used the Boho Backgrounds stamp set on the Close to Cocoa cardstock. I added two 3 x 3 squares from Berry bliss and Spring Silhouettes DS paper packs. Adding the Taffeta ribbon which I tied through a large Aluminium circle. Adding the Scallop punch and the Boho Large circle stamp with Soft sky ink. I then used the Circle of Frienship stamp set to form another circle. Lastly adding some half pearls to dress them up.

WANT TO PLAY ALONG?………..

If you would like to participate in this colour challenge, make your card, and either upload it to your blog and put a link in my comments box, or email me an attached photo of your card. I will pick my favourite at the end of the week, for display on here.

Have fun! …..right now I have to think of next weeks challenge.

Oh by the way. I will be packing up all my gear and heading to Busselton tommorrow for 2 weeks! Hubby has some contract work to do down there (it is 2.5 hours away on the coast) and so since it is school holiday time we thought we would tag along and make good use of the free accomodation! Darling hubby has arranged for me to have wireless broadband so I am all chuffed to be able to take my laptop along and keep you all inspired. Now just to narrow down what stamping gear to take! It is going to be great because Chantelle one of my wonderful Downlines and special friend lives there so we are going to have a blast stamping together. She is due to have a baby in about 5 weeks so I will have to be careful not to wear her out!

I still have heaps of prep and plan for the Stamp a thon too, so it will be great to get that done…It has been fun playing with the new Mini items! I can’t wait to show you all.

Don’t forget to get registered for the Stamp a thon, as places are filling up!

Take care,

Recently I was asked to be a moderator in a new On-line group specifically for Australian SU Demonstrators. I have been appointed the role of Challenges co-ordinator!!! Now I just bet you are all having a little laugh at that one, since I have recently become one Challenge Junkie!!!

Well it is great to get others inpsired too! PS if you are an Aussie Demo and would like to know more about this great group, email me and I will give you the details

I picked for one of the Challenges this week, a technique called Embossed Watercolouring. Since have been wanting to do some tutorials for a while now,  I thought “what better way that to do it for both you and the Online group!”

Okay here goes for my very 1st tutorial!!!….

 Materials required:

Scrap paper

Aqua painter

Heat Gun

Versamark stamp pad

Clear embossing powder

Watercolour paper

Stamps

Stamp pads of req’d colours

Step 1:

Stamp your image in your Versamark pad

Step 2:

Stamp into your Stazon stamp pad straight after having it in the Versamark

Step 3:

Stamp it onto your Watercolour paper

Step 4:

Cover with Clear embossing powder

Step 5:

Heat set your embossing powder

Your image should be shiny like this

Step 6:

Watercolour your image with your Aquapainter and Stamp pads

Alternately you can use ink refills

Final Product:

The rest of this cards details are as follows

I have used Blue Bayou for the base cardstock. I stamped the lower half of the card with the Sanded background stamp. Then adding a wide strip of DS paper from the Spring Break paper pack. I then added some Double stitched Bayou ribbon that I also attached a piece of Hodgepodge hardware onto. Then adding some paper piercing, and antique brads, and the Happy Birthday greeting from the It’s your Birtday stamp set with a Whisper white stamp pad.

Here are a couple more cards I made using this technique

Ah those favourite colours AGAIN! I have used the Scribble this stamp set. I stamped some swirls onto the base Chocolate chip cardstock. Then I stamped the large swirl onto some pomegranite cardstock and embossed with the White Embossing powder. I also used the Embossed watercolour technique, but I have stamped the flower with Versamark and stamped it onto Watercolour paper, then added the White embossing powder, and heated it. I then Watercoloured the two flowers differing in strength of ink to get the two different colours. I then added some strips with brads for bling.

Once again using the Blue Bayou and Sanded background for the base of this card. I added a tab of the Twill tape and used staples to adhere it to the card. I then added a strip of Close to Cocoa DS prints paper which I added Antique Brads to at the top and bottom. I have Embossed watercoloured the large shell from the Seaside Stamp set. Lastly adding some flecks of Chocolate chip with my Spritzer tool. The greeting is from the Spring Solitude stamp set which I stamped with Whisper white stamp pad.

Lastly I did this very plain and simple card using the Seaside sketches stamp set. I haven’t used this stamp before. This was one of the stamp sets that I took quite a while to warm to, but I just love the look of it when it is watercoloured.

I used Ruby red for the base which I stamped with the Linen Background stamp. I then added 2 Jumbo eyelets and added some wide Chocolate Grosgrain ribbon to. Then Colouring the image with my aquapainter and stamp pads. Adding some tearing at the edges of the River rock and watercolour paper for feature.

If you would like to give this technique a whirl, and then comment me with a link to your card, or email me with an attachment…I will pick my favourite for display on here at the end of the week

I look forward to seeing your creations!

I received a lovely email from Leonie Shroder on Friday! It seems she has given me a bloggin award. I have never recieved one of these before, so I am feeling very flattered.

THANK YOU LEONIE! It is nice to know someone out there likes my blog LOL!

Now the idea is that I now pass on this award to 5 blogs that Inspire me, I had a little think and have nominated the following:

1. Chantelle Huizenga at  http://chan3boys.blogspot.com/

2. Yvonne Campbell at http://www.campbellcreations.net/

3. Claire Daly at http://clairedaly.typepad.com/sisterhood_of_the_travell/

4. Karen Thomas at http://luvtostamp.blogspot.com

5. Samantha Post at http://ryemilan.blogspot.com/

Be sure to check out these very talented ladies’ work, and thanks again to Leonie for giving me the award!