A productive night!

Good morning, everyone!

I managed to get quite a bit done last night as the girls slept over at their cousins' house, & my husband was occupied with 'the boys' who all came over for a Poker night. The girls very rarely sleep over anywhere (I think this is only Demi's second time sleeping away from home) so it feels quite strange. I miss them ever so much but it was qo nice to craft without any interruptions. I managed to get all my packs ready for my Mother's Day Class, and all my packs for my first official demo! What would normally take me a week to do, I managed to get done in one night! Yeah me!

I also got to use the For the Bride set for the first time...

I particularly love the bride image in this set as it is really versatile - you could use it for a wedding or bridal shower card, or for a teen's card, depending on the colour scheme. I hope to try a few different colour schemes soon.

For this version I used Whisper White, Basic Grey and Basic Black cardstock. I inked my stamp with Versamark ink, followed by the Basic Black ink & stamped the image onto Whisper White. Then I heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and mt heat tool. I did the same thing with the sentiment. Using the Versamark ink prior to the coloured ink pad is a simple way of turning all your dye ink pads into pigment stamp pads that will hold the embossing powders for heat setting.

If you have any questions about this or anything else for that matter, feel free to contact me.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Another Wish For Peace

Here is another card using A Wish For Peace. The layout is exactly the same as the card in my previous post, just the colours have changed.

A closeup of the Dazzling Diamonds glitter effect on the trees...

...and a shot of the inside of the card with the sentiment from Many Merry Messages...

Colours used were: Whisper White, basic Black & Sahara Sandcardstock, which I can't seem to get enough of at the moment, & basic Black ink.

If you have any questions, please ask.

Thanks again for visiting!

Andrea.

Christmas Cards in April!

One of the very first stamp sets I fell in love with from the new catalogue was the A Wish For Peace Set and the Soft Holly wheel. I tossed up whether to order them straight away or put it off for later in the year since they are Christmas stamps, but I just couldn't resist, and I couldn't resist putting them to use straight away. So what that there are another eight months left until Christmas - ha ha! Those of you who know me know that I am very organised but this is ridiculous, right? LOL.

Well, here is my first attempt with this beautiful set...

Here is a closeup so you can see the tree covered in gorgeous Dazzling Diamonds glitter...

And here is a shot of the inside of the cards...

The sentiment is from many Merry Messages.

This is defintely one of my Favourite sets from the catalogue.

Thanks for stopping by!

Other supplies used:

Whisper White, Real Red, Basic Black cardstock, Basic Black & Basic Grey ink, Stampin' Around Standard Handle.

Just got back from trudging through, & almost getting bogged in ankle deep mud. We're building a new house & I had to let a tradesmen in. Just our luck that it has been raining just about everyday for the last week :(

Anyway, here is a masculine card using the Seaside stamp set & my beloved Big Kick machine...

It's a little difficult to pick up but I used the Argyle Cuttlebug embossing folder on the Sahara Sand cardstock. I also used the Short & Sweet set for the sentiment, Very Vanilla & Chocolate Chip cardstock, Chocolate Chip ink, the word window punch & the photo corner punch (to cover a mistake - ssshhh!)

I'll be back in a few moments with a couple more cards. Thanks for looking!

Surf's Up, Dude!

Just a quick post to share with you a card that I made with the Surf's Up stamp set, using the paper tearing technique.

I also used Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Basic Grey & Sahara Sand cardstock, Basic Grey & Bashful Blue ink, tag punches & a silver brad.

I'll be back soon with some more cards.

Bye for now.

Surf's Up Layout.

This is a 12 x 12 double page layout featuring my newly acquired Surf's Up stamp set...

The paper is paper that I had in my stash from my pre-SU days. The cardstock is Sahara Sand, Bashful Blue and Basic Grey. I tore the Sahara Sand for the sand effect. I think everything else is pretty self-explanatory but if you have any question, please just ask.

Thanks for looking!

Mother's Day Flower Pot Card

This is the card I have made for my Mum for Mother's Day...



The card is my take on those gorgeous flower pot cards going around on the Splitcoat Stampers website.

For my card I used somethings old, like the Soft Sky cardstock, Afternoon Tea papers & the Rough Texture wheel, & somethings new, such as the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set.

I think it turned out quite special which is always appropriate when it comes to your Mum, right? Now I can't wait to give it to her.

Other supplies used: Chocolate Chip & Whisper Whitecardstock & ink, Chocolate Chip ribbon, Wonderful Favourites stamp set, Corber Rounder punch to create the scallop effect & the Window punch. I think that's it!

Party Treat Bags

Gosh, I forgot to post photos of the girls' party treat bags from their party a couple of weeks ago!

Well, do you remember the invitation? Here it is again, just in case...

Here are the party bags made to match...

I thought I'd also share with you a photo of the matching cupcakes. I made them all from scratch - all 52 of them - including the frangipani icing toppers! Cupcakes are another of my hobbies.

Now for the last photo - I promise! This one is of us....awww.....

Bye for now...

Seaside in Sahara

Here's a little square cut card made so I could put my new Big Kick into action again & so I could use my new Seaside stamp set! I'm really loving the Cuttlebug embossing folders. This time I used the Argyle folder.


I used Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand & Choclate Chip cardstock, Choclate Chip ink pad, the So Many Sayings stamp set for the sentiment punched out with the window punch, and the paper piercing tool.

A nice masculine card!

Finally used by new Big Kick!!!!

Yeah, I finally got a chance to pull out my new Sizzix Big Kick and use it to make a card!!!!! Here is the card...

I used it with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing folder, and let me tell you that this machine works a treat. It is so effortless and stable, even when using it to die cut. I LOVE IT!

Well, now onto the card. It's an Easter card for Mia's teacher, although there is nothing Eastery about it - ha ha! I don't own any Easter cards because I don't really make Easter cards. I promise to make some next year.

I used my beloved Embrace Life stamp set, together with the sentiment from the One of a Kind stamp set, Whisper White, Soft Sky & River Rock cardstock, River Rock & Soft Sky ink pads, River Rock ribbon, rhinestone brads, small oval punch, paper piercer and glitter.

The result is very soft & pretty.

Thanks for visiting.

Card Folder

Here is a lovely gift folder inspired by a tutorial by Makeesha Byl that you can see here.

I made it some time ago but I never got around to posting it. I can't believe I did that because it's one of my favourite things that I've made!

Anyway, to make it I used the Live Your Dream and Short & Sweet stamp sets, Always Articchoke, So Saffron, Bashful Blue & Very Vanilla cardstock, Le Jardin DSP, Always Artichoke, Bashful Blue & So Saffron ink pads, window punch, and gold brads. I think that's all.

Have a great day!

Finally a post!

It has been a while, hasn't it? Never mind. I finally have something for you, although no new stamp sets yet, and I can't bear to part with the now retired Groovy Guava or Afternoon Tea papers.

I tried to give the butterfly the appearance of having fluttering wings by adhering another set of stamped wings with dimensionals, in a slightly different position. Did it work?

I used Whisper White, Groovy Guava and Basic Grey cardstock, Afternon Tea DSP, the Garden Whimsy butterfly rock & rolled in Groovy Guava and Basic Grey inks, the One of a Kind stamp set, the Boho Blossoms and Large Oval punches, half pearls and glitter.

It actually looks really pretty in real life.

I hope it's not so long between drinks again. Thanks for stopping by.

The new Idea Book & Catalogue is here!!!

Today marks the launch of new Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue!

You can view the online version here, or you can order a hardcopy from me by contacting me via email at arthur_andrea@optusnet.com.au

The catalogue is jam packed with wonderful new stamp sets and accessories. Let me tell you that my wish list is as long as both my arms, & then some!

I apologise for not posting for quite some time. I've had so much happening lately that I just haven't had a chance to create anything & it's killing me. I will get my fix tomorrow, though, as I'm holding my first scrapbooking class. Can't wait!

Take care,
Andrea.