Hi again,

 I just wanted to let you all know that I have finalized all the Stamp a thon efforts, and have worked out all the figures etc….

Thanks to those that bought the left over projects!!! Actually I had such a good reponse to them, that I made extras to sell to help with raising more funds! It was a rather big task, but with the help of my bestie Lee I got them all cut yesterday, but I still needed to stamp them up. SO last night I was saying to hubby how I just can’t wait to have them all finalized, and he offered to help!

Yep, I was rather suprised that he would put hand to stamp etc….. but hey did!!! And I got proof too……….

Here he is with the Tart and Tangy stamp set in his hands and the Pumpkin pie stamp pad…LOL!

I have to tell you though, that I don’t think he got addicted…….he was singing. ….. “One Powerball, and I’m outa here!”

That is an Aussie joke for everyone that has no idea what I am talkin about

Well thanks to his help, I have all the packs out at the Post office today, and could spend time tallying the funds.

I am really excited to tell you that we have raised $2,083 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation!!! WOO HOO! Even better than last year which is really exciting.

Thanks again to everyone that donated money, to Stampin’Up for their kind contribution of products, and to everyone who attended the day and made it so much fun!

Till next year hey……

Hello everyone,

Do you ever get those thoughts…..where has the week gone?

Well I just can’t believe how fast time is going, and that “to do” list never seems to become smaller because there is just new things added everyday! Well if I could add a few extra hours each day that would be the remedy to my losing hours in each day problem! hehehe

 Well I have recently showed you the last challenges, and then yesterday being Thursday it was time for the coming weeks new Challenges…….

Okay so for the first one, I picked a Scrapbook page sketch. I can’t remember where I have seen it, I just saved it for a rainy day, so it is not my own sketch but if anyway comes across it, let me know so that I can credit the creator!

Well it thought this was a fun one. Here is the sketch :

And here is what I did with it….

Okay here I have used the Brocade Basics stamp set. The base is textured Sage cardstock which I have stamped with Chocolate ink. I also added some half pearls to bling it up.

The next Challenge is to make something Monochromatic. Now I don’t ever recal making something like this, so it is a great challenge for me personally. I didn’t have much time at all, but managed to throw two cards together. They are really simple, but hopefully if I get a little more time, I will do something a little more elaborate with this challenge.

Here is my first card. It is using the Close as a Memory stamp set, I have used More Mustard and So Saffron together. The DS paper is So saffron, and then I mounted it onto Mustard cardstock. Lastly adding the mustard grosgrain ribbon, and Mustard brads.

With this card I have used the Lovely as a tree stamp set, stamping the trees and adding a little glitter for highlight. The colours are Always Artichoke, andMellow moss. The DS paper is from the Holiday Harmony pack, and I also used some Moss Taffeta ribbon.

NOW FOR THE BEAUTY!!!

I recieved this beautiful card in the post yesterday from Jenny Cain who is a SU demonstrator! It was such a lovely suprise, and after I had taken photos of my other cards, I looked at this, and thought…..Hey this is Monochromatic too! So I just had to show it off to you. Thanks a million Jenny for your thoughtfulness!

Well that is the Challenges. Remember if you want to play along you are welcome. All you need to do, is make your creation, and upload it to your blog, and then add it as a link in the comments block after this post.

Well back to that “to do” list, which I think I will attack my craft room, and master bedroom as they are a complete shambles!!!

Take care, and I will be back soon!

Well I know that sounds like a stupid title, but hey that is what I am about to show you

The Challenges for last week, I told you what they were, but hadn’t made any of the projects yet….(too busy with Stamp a thon) but promised to get them done and show you. And I have this weeks (runs till Thursday) done for you too…what fun!

Okay so last weeks one was to follow a sketch from Taylor VanBruggen at www.tayloredexpression@blogspot.com  and this is it here…..

I thought this was rather funky, but to be honest when I went to go put it to work, I found it harder than I thought I would!

Here is my first attempt, using the Fishy Friends stamp set, and the Spring Break DS paper pack. The base is Blue Bayou cardstock which I also stamped with the little circle stamp from the Priceless stamp set.

I have watercoloured the fish with my Aquapainter, and stamp pads on Watercolour paper.

With this card, I have used the Polka dots & Paisley stamp set. The pumpkin DS paper is from the Spring break DS paper. I have also used the Spiral punch and the colours are Chocolate chip, Pixie pink, and Pumpkin pie.

And last of all, I have used the Always stamp set, with Regal rose, Taken with Teal, and Close to cocoa cardstock and DS paper. Finishing it off with some Hodgepodge hardware and ribbon.

Okay so that was for the sketch, and the next Challenge was to show how you have used rub-on’s on your projects. Stampin’Up has released some BEAUTIFUL rub-on’s this year, and even in the new Spring mini.

Here is what I have used them with

On this little square card. I have used the large flower rub-on which is the white one, onto Elegant Eggplant cardstock and then cut it out. The base is Pretty in pink, and i have also added a strip of Soft sky cardstock along the bottom which I have rolled. Lastly adding the scallops and some white Taffeta ribbon and a pink button in the centre of the card.

This little card I have used Real red, and More mustard cardstock, with a strip of Old olive ribbon. The rub-on’s are the flowers on the top, along the ribbon, and the greeting at the bottom. I also added some staples, and mustard brads.

And then I have added them to this cute little bucket. I have this on my desk full of pens and scissors, and this is amazing how easy it is to add rub-on’s different items, like glass, wood, metal etc…… SOOOOO easy to bling up plain items up.

This weeks Challenges!

Okay for this weeks Challenges I set a colour challenge…….these are so much fun!!!

This weeks colours are Purely Pomegranite, River rock, and Very vanilla

With this card I used River rock for the base which I stamped with the Fine Lace background stamp. Then adding a strip of Holiday Harmony DS paper. Then using the very yummy pomegranite satin ribbon. Then I stamped the little bird with River rock ink. Then adding the little greeting which I stamped and punched out with my two circle punches and two copper brads.

This square card, I have used the new Holiday Harmony DS paper to make the base, then adding the strip of satin ribbon, which I overlapped with the large oval Hodgepodge Hardware, the greeting is from the Carte Postale stamp set. I have used the Fabulous stamp set for the big flower, and I have used the emerging colour technique onto some of the DS paper. I have lastly added a half pearl in the centre, and along the bottom.

I made this little Love Note, with the Sweet sampler stamp set. The stamped image, I also covered with Crystal Effects, and placed a half pearl in the centre.

Then last of all I put together this Scrapbook page, once again using the Holiday Harmony DS paper, Satin ribbon, Hodgepodge, and Vanilla Half pearls. The hearts are from the Always stamp set.

This photo is of my In-laws on their wedding day…….Now you can see where hubby gets his good looks from……..hehehe!!!

Okay the second Challenge is to make Baby cards.

Now baby cards are something I don’t make very often, and I don’t find them easy??? WHY??? I really don’t know, but I am never happy with what I make. So really this was a great challenge for me!

I worked at it, but in the end I am happy with the results. I have made one male, one female, and a birth announcement.

Here I have used Pretty in pink, Close to cocoa, Regal rose, and Chocolate chip cardstock. I have stamped the pram from the Fun & Fast notes stamp set. I stamped the pram also on DS paper and cut out the basket. Then I added some pretty in pink taffeta ribbon and the row of buttons.

This male baby card, I used Chocolate chip, Pumpkin pie, and Bashful blue carstock and ribbon. I have also used the Bundle of joy, and circle of Friendship stamp set. I coloured the giraffe with my blender pens, and stamp pads. I have used ribbon, brads, and the spiral punch for bling.

Then last of all I made the birth announcement which is a tri-fold with a belly band around the centre. I have used my corner rounder to create the scalloped edge and then added the ribbon. The teddy bear I stamped and watercoloured on watercolour paper.

Then you remove the belly band off and the card opens like this

Then this is the centre of the card. I used the announcement stamp from the same stamp set, and then added it to the centre……I think if I had a baby I would use this design…..it is too cute!

Okay well that is it for the Challenges……only 2 days till the next one (each Thursday) so I better get my thinking cap on as to what to put up for the coming week!

Take care,

Hey Everyone,

 Well we have just had ourselves a very busy weekend……..that is why you haven’t heard from me

We had friends for dinner on Friday night, then Family for dinner Saturday night, and Rod’s brothers birthday on Sunday, so fairly jam packed.

So earlier today, it was back into the chores to catch up, not to mention washing etc…. etc….. etc…..

Anyway I am back with this weeks Make it Monday……nubmer 5 ALREADY!!! WOW the time flies hey.

This week it is a tutorial for Lolly bags which are super cute for birthday parties, or little gifts,

Materials Required:

Paper Trimmer

Cardstock

Stamps

Stamp pads

Lollies

Ribbon

Scissors

Hole punch

Clear plastic bag

Stapler

 Step 1:

Cut your A4 sheet of cardstock in half Vertically

Step 2:

Score your cardstock accross the narrow side first at 5 cm’s, then 9cm’s, then 4cm’s, then 9.5cm’s, and then 1.5cm’s. Each distance is from the last score line you just scored.

It should look like this:

Step 3:

Fold your carstock at all the scored lines

Step 4:

Cut a 9 x 10cm square of DS paper and place it on the end with the little strip next to it

Step 5:

Stamp the tab at the other end of the one with DS paper

Step 6:

Punch two holes at either end of the narrow strip

Step 7:

Add ribbon that you have fed through the holes and knotted on the inside of your narrow strip

Step 8:

Load a clear plastic bag with lollies of your choice and fold the top down a few times

Step 9:

Staple the bag into place on the narrow strip in between the knotted ribbon

Step 10:

Fold your bag over to wrap around the bag of lollies

Step 11:

Corner Round the from tab that you stamped

Step 12:

Add a velcro dot onto the tab and the DS paper so that you can close the bag

Step13:

Decorate the front and add a greeting if you wish to.

Side View:

Cute Hey?!

Other Samples:

Tart and Tangy with Summer Picnic DS papers….

Wanted Stamp set, with the Outlaw DS Papers.

So there you have the cute little Lolly bags. I got this template for these bags from the gorgeous Suzanne Barnard, who I met at the ‘07 convention, and she is from Brisbane. I don’t know where she got it , or whether she designed it herself etc…..but thanks to her I have made heaps of these!

Well I also won’t tell you how many Fantales I had to sample whilst making this bag……just had to make sure they were fresh before I gave them away!!!

Be back soon,

Well it has been a few weeks since we got to play along to one of these, but understandably so, with the busyness of the US Convention, ….didn’t that look amazing? Hmmmm Don’t know if I would cope waiting in line 3 hours in Momento Mall though!!!

Okay well Kristina picked some funky colours this time and I had fun with them. Now one thing I did learn though was that you should read the instructions!!! LOL!!! I just looked at the picture, then made my first card, then came back to look at the inspiration photo again, only to realize on the first card I made it with pink passion rather than Rose red!!! Ah well I like how it turned out, and then I behaved myself for the rest of the projects!

Here is the colour inspiration:

And here is my naughty card first……

I have covered the letters in Crystal effects so that they are all glossy, but here is a close up…..

Next I made a pocket card that I wrote that tutorial for last week….

I have used the Priceless stamp set, with my Scallop, 2 circles, and round tab punches. And the paper is Pumpkin pie, prints DS paper.

Then I made this fun Scrapbook page of cheeky Janaya…..this is what she does when you try to get a snapshot of her!

I used one of the Die-cut flowers from the new mini catty, and I also used the Be Happy stamp set…..had to blow the dust off frist though….haven’t used this one for AGES!

And last of all I made a little Love Note. I have used the Pumpkin DS prints paper again, adn the Natural Beauty stamp set, which I coloured the butterfly in with my blender pens and stamp pads. Lastly adding some glitter and brads for bling!

Well hopefully I have made the cut off so better go and load this to Kristina’s website….better dash!