Announcing.......

the arrival of Holly Grace at 3.23pm yesterday! All going very well, now at home and settling in.

A note for you

This card was made for a friend who recently moved into a new place, after having her things in storage for a while. I wanted to wish her well with un-packing and re-discovering her precious things!

The colours for this card were inspired by another of my daughters Pumpkin Patch tops. Everytime I saw her wearing the top, I couldn't stop thinking of the colours: White, Turquoise, Coral, Rose Red, Regal Rose. The main image was watercoloured using an aquapainter and ink pad lids. The textured effect on the coral panel was achieved by running it through my paper crimper in both directions.

Materials

Stamps: Sweet Little Sentiments, Playful Petals

Cardstock: Confetti White, Tempting Turquoise, Cameo Coral, Rose Red, Watercolour Paper

Ink: Stazon, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Grey

Other: 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Paper Crimper, Aquapainter, Pretties Kit

Bright Valentine!

Valentine's day is not too far away, so I went for a Valentines Card for this months Project of the Month. I have a bit of a Turquoise thing going on at the moment, so combined it with Real Red, and Whisper White for a high impact card!

I coloured my stamp using Stampin' Write markers - so quick and easy but always really effective!

Materials

Stamps: A Happy Heart, Polka Dot

Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Whisper White, Pink Flamingo DSP

Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Going Grey Stampin' Write Markers, Basic Grey

Other: Rhinestone Brads, Mat Pack

Thanks for Everything

My Mum recently purchased the For Everything Stamp Set, and before I gave it to her I was able to stamp off a few images (thanks Mum!). The images have been sitting on my desk ever since waiting for inspiration to strike. Finally at the weekend that inspiration struck when I caught my toddler 'working' with my Watercolour Wonder Crayons!

I absolutely love the Watercolour crayons but haven't used them in a long while, so it was good fun to colour this image with them and a blender pen. Add to the coloured image, my current obsession with Tempting Turquoise, and this card came together pretty easily! Not being much of a Brights girl, I think this is the first time I have ever used Only Orange and Yo Yo Yellow cardstock too...

Materials

Stamps: For Everything, Polka Dot

Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Only Orange, YoYo Yellow, Whisper White

Ink: Stazon Black, Watercolour Wonder Crayons, Tempting Turquoise

Other: Wide Oval Punch, Blender Pen, Mat Pack

Sale-a-Bration is here!! Get your FREE stamps now!

It's time for Stampin' Up!'s biggest promotion of the year, Sale-a-Bration!! From today until 31 March you can earn free stamp sets! Here's how:

Simply order $120 worth of Stampin' Up merchandise and get 1 free Sale-a-bration stamp set - there are 4 to choose from! PLUS there are NO limits - spend $240 get 2 sets, Spend $360 get 3 sets.....

Host a workshop with at least $700 in sales and earn 1 free Sale-a-Bration stamp set, in addition to the usual generous hostess benefits!

Join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator during Sale-a-Bration and choose a free stamp set from the Idea Book & Catalogue (valued up to $93.95)

This years Sale-a-Bration stamp sets are the best yet! Check out how cute they are:

Don't you just want them all - I know I do!! For more details, view the Sale-a-Bration catalogue here, and then email me with your order!

Show your heart for Haiti

Help make a difference in the lives of those who continue to suffer from the effects of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on 12 January. From now until 28 February 2010, Stampin' Up! will set aside $2 from the sale of every I {Heart} Hearts stamp set ($49.95) and donate it to the Red Cross' Haiti Relief and Development Fund. The Red Cross is already well-established in Haiti, and this money will be used to provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need.

Contact me today to order your I {Heart} Hearts Stamp Set, and make a difference in the lives of the Haitian people.

In addition to this appeal, Stampin' Up! has already donated supplies for 5000 Hygiene Kits to provide immediate assistance in Haiti. You can read more about it here

Thanks a Latte

I love the retro feel of this image, so went for a couple of papers that I thought added to the retro groove - in this case Urban Oasis. I couldn't get a really crisp image with the confetti white cardstock but decided it added to the effect of the image.

Materials

Stamps: Sip by Sip

Cardstock: Kraft, Confetti White, Baja Breeze, Basic Grey, Urban Oasis DSP

Ink: Basic Grey

Other: Basic Grey Taffeta Ribbon

Thanks Birdie

A cute, Springtime feel to todays card, which was based on a Mojo Monday sketch from December.

I love being able to cut circles of any size using the great Circle Scissors - it sure makes card making a whole lot more fun! The bird and flower were both paper pieced from Designer Series Papers, and don't you just love those crochet fleurettes!

Materials

Stamps: Fun & Fast Notes, Always

Cardstock: So Saffron, Mellow Moss, Whisper White, Regal Rose, Confetti White, Sweet Always DSP

Ink: So Saffron, Stazon Black, Mellow Moss Stampin' Write Marker

Other: Rhinestone Brad, Fleurette, Regal Rose 5/8" Grosgrain, Circle Scissors

Sale-a-Bration starts Monday!

It's Stampin' Up!'s most popular promotion of the year and it all starts Monday! Yep, SALE-A-BRATION is back and this year you have even longer to earn all those FREE stamp sets!

From 25 January until 31 March you can earn free stamps one (or all) of 3 ways:

* Simply order $120 worth of Stampin' Up merchandise and get 1 free Sale-a-bration stamp set - there are 4 to choose from! PLUS there are NO limits - spend $240 get 2 sets, Spend $360 get 3 sets.....

* Host a workshop with at least $700 in sales and earn 1 free Sale-a-Bration stamp set, in addition to the usual generous hostess benefits!

* Join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator during Sale-a-Bration and choose a free stamp set from the Idea Book & Catalogue (valued up to $93.95)

This years exclusive design stamp sets are the best yet, so be sure to pop back on Monday to see them all!

Sweet Birthday

Here is another card using the cool Sweet Treat Cups. This one is a birthday card for my nephew, and was inspired by a card on Marelle Taylor's blog.

So that he didn't have to destroy the card to get the M&M's out, I added a little trap door:

Materials

Stamps: Something Sweet, Cheer & Wishes

Cardstock: Real Red, Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Good Morning Sunshine DSP

Ink: Real Red, Basic Grey

Other: Corner Rounder Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Mat Pack, Sweet Treat Cup

Sip by Sip

A recent addition to my stamp collection is the Sip by Sip set, and I couldn't wait to use it on a card! I wanted a fun but sophisticated colour scheme for this card, so took my cue from the Candy Lane DSP collection.

Doesn't it just make you want to curl up with a hot cuppa and a good magazine!

Materials

Stamps: Sip by Sip

Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Riding Hood Red, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Candy Lane DSP

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa

Other: Word Window Punch, Brads

Inventory Clearance Sale Continues!

There is still time to grab a great bargain from our Inventory Clearance Sale - but be quick as some sets are already SOLD OUT (Jumbo Outline Alpha & Just Riding). Choose from the following great sets at up to 50% off:

You can find further details here, or to place your order simply email me.

Mojo Monday # 121

It's been a while since I last did a Mojo Monday sketch, but this week when I looked at the sketch I immediately knew what I wanted to do!

Here's my take:

(Sorry about the dark picture - you wouldn't believe we are in the middle of summer here if you looked out the window and saw the rain coming down, and the temperature at only 14C)

I am lucky enough to have grandparents looking after my little person today, so am working like crazy in my craft room while I have the chance! Will hopefully have several new projects to share over the coming weeks. We are on 'baby watch' here now as there are only 2 weeks to go until our new one arrives.

Materials

Stamps: Inspired by Nature, Garden Whimsy, Polka Dot

Cardstock: Elegant Eggplant, Lavender Lace, Old Olive, Whisper White

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Lavender Lace, Old Olive

Other: Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Crystal Effects

Raspberry Suite Colour Challenge # 21

Another colour challenge to share today. I am finding that challenges are a great way to get me in the crafting mood at the moment - I sit down to make the challenge card and then find myself making 2 or 3 cards in quick succession because I am in the groove! I love Dawn McVey's cards, but this is the first time I have done one of her challenges.

Here is my take on the inspiration:

Materials

Stamps: Butterfly Prints, Baroque Motifs

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Barely Banana, Tempting Turquoise, Very Vanilla

Ink: Barely Banana, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White

Other: Sticky Strip, Supernova Glitter, Scallop Edge Punch

KWerner Colour Challenge #57

I was so excited to see a new colour challenge up on Kristina's blog this week, and the inspiration fabrics were just so divine that I had to play along. This is also the first project off my new desk (more about that in a later post).

I was very inspired by everything in this challenge - not just the gorgeous colour combo, but also the fabulous patterns that appear on the fabrics. I tried to emulate the fabrics by stamping my own patterned paper using the Circle Circus stamp set. The main image was watercoloured using my inkpads and an aquapainter. Please excuse the poor photo - we have run out of daylight here.

Materials

Stamps: Playful Petals, Circle Circus

Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze, Cameo Coral, Watercolour Paper

Ink: Ruby Red, Cameo Coral, Baja Breeze, So Saffron, More Mustard, Stazon

Other: Corner Rounder Punch, Chit Chat Rub-ons, White Taffeta Ribbon

2009 - A year in Review

Happy New Year to you all! Yes, I know I am a little late getting back to blogging, but have been busy getting things tidied and organised round the house before baby arrives in 3 weeks!

I have seen a couple of blogs this week that have done a bit of a 'year in review' type post and thought it was a great idea! I have spent the last hour or so going back though all my posts for 2009 and choosing my favourite projects - it's actually really fun to go back and see what you did over a year.

So here are my picks:

January:

An engagement card for my best friend

February:

Ok so I couldn't decide between 2 in Feb so have chosen them both. Both cards were K Werner Challenges

March:

Another Kristina colour challenge

April:

Using one of the sets from the catalogue that was brand new at the time!

May:

Again I couldn't decide so chose 2

June:

Trying out a fun technique using re-inkers

July:

A birthday card for our 3 year old neighbour

August:

A Mojo Monday sketch card

September:

Saying farewell to great neighbours

October:

A bright and funky Christmas card

November:

Again I couldn't decide, but as these are both related to each other I went for both

December:

Rounding out the year, it of course had to be my little girls birthday card

I hope you enjoyed my little trip down memory lane. I hope to be back in a couple of days with some fresh new projects to share - I have new furniture for my craft room arriving in the next day or two so currently have no where to stamp!