Many Thanks - October Challenge

Many, many thanks to Leonie Conyers, an inspirational Paper Angel and friend for her contribution to my October Challenge.

Leonie has created a beautiful card that exudes warmth and charm. I know Leonie loves the damask stamp which features on the right hand side of the card. This is a thank you card anyone would be thrilled to receive.


Leonie made this lovely card using the products listed below.

Stamps: Friends 24-7 & Lovely Labels
Ink: Sahara Sand & Not Quite Navy
Card: Kraft, Very Vanilla, & Not Quite Navy
Accessories: DS paper Bella Bleu & Very Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Paper Trimmer, Eyelet Border Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, & Adhesives

Please take sometime to view Leonie's blog ( http://www.stampandscrapinheaven.blogspot.com/ )I am sure you will agree with me her work is both beautiful and inspirational....she also posts on a regular basis.

Fathers Day

As well as Ella giving Sam the obligatory “Socks, Jocks and Singlets” for Fathers Day, I wanted to make a special gift for Sam with Ella.

So I thought it would be nice to capture her hand print on canvas, well initially I was thinking hands and feet, fortunately I gave that up as a bad joke and decided to stick to hand prints only. I then thought it would be nice if the card reflected the gift. So I decided on a fold out card with two hand prints and a couple of photo's of Ella in her creative mode, which includes lying under the table with paint brush in hand.

I padded the back of the canvas out with a hand towel, so that there was not as much give in it. Proceeded to cover her palms (one at a time in paint) and then practiced on card stock before tackling the canvas. Everytime I congratulated Ella on how well she had done, she tried to clap.... yes with her hand covered in paint. Also I probably should point out that this is not the smartest thing to do on a day when you do not have running water. I woke up to a leaking kitchen tap (a fine continual spray of water and a very large puddle of water) that morning, so I was waiting on the plumber to arrive and hence had the water off..... a bucket of swimming pool water and a large number of baby wipes did the trick.

Sam loved the idea and we now also have Ella's handprints at 18months....

Monthly Challenge

Unfortunately due to personal circumstances there will not be a September... I will still put the $10 CR towards my Mater/Townsville Maternal Bereavement Fund in lieu of not being able to offer the challenge.
The Challenge will be back on again in October and with a 7 week lead time I am hoping for a number of entries.... the Challenge Theme of October will be: "Many Thanks"

All About Baby!

Another item I have been working on both for the August Challenge and for Ella is a 6 x 6 Scrap Album using ½ pack of Rock-a-bye Baby, Simply Scrappin Kit. So far I am a little over half way through the 20 page album. In addition I have added some SU Ribbon, onboard elements and some bling to some pages.

August Challenge

The August Challenge Theme was "All about Baby"

Unfortunately there were no entries this month. As a result my Mater Fund keeps growing.

Below are the items I have prepared for the Challenge.
The bear on this card has been stamped on Close to Cocoa Card, using Chocolate Chip Ink, trimmed around and then outlined using Crystal Effects. It has then been mounted using Stampin Dimensionals, as has the So Saffron card.

SU Products
Cardstock: Old Olive, So Saffron, Close to Cocoa
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive
DSP: Windsor Knot
Ribbon: Chocolate Chip Grosgrain
Stamp Sets: Bundle of Joy, Everthing Baby

I found these gorgeous mini clothes pegs and could not wait to incorporate them into this months challenge.

The tops and onsies' have been cut out by hand ..... and hung out to dry! I have then used a single onsie on a smaller gift card.

SU Product:
Card Stock: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink (Girl) Brocade Blue (Boy)
DSP: Patterns Pack II (Available as Level 1 hostess pack)
Ink: Pixie Pink (Girl) & Brocade Blue (Boy)


My next post will include the 6 x 6 Scrap Album using Rock-a-bye Baby.

Spring Mini Catalogue is here!

Spring Mini Catalogue is here. http://www3.stampinup.com/au/documents/AUNZ_SpringMini09.pdf

A range of new Stamp Sets,Designer Series Paper and Accessories ; available from 1 August - 30 November only!

For the first time there are a number of individual stamps available ranging from $11.95 - $13.95 ea.

Click on the link above to view the Catalogue.

July Challenge

You've had a sneak peak it's now time for the unveiling. As I said in an earlier post I really did enjoy working on these items.


Very Merry Christmas Card:
For this card I have used the new “In Colour range and Designer Serie Paper Ski Slope from the new Spring Mini Catalogue.
Stamp Set: Season of Joy and Short & Sweet
Ink: Kiwi Kiss (in colour)
Caradstock: Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze & Very Vanilla
DSP: Ski Slope
Accessories: Hodgepodge Hardware5/8 Striped Grosgrain Ribbon - Kiwi Kiss


Christmas Decorations:

Both Leonie and Orrell made lovely Christmas Decorations for last years Christmas Card workshops using DSP and the round scallop punch. I was inspired to do the same for this challenge and thought I would use our new square scallop punch, creating a diamond shape decoration. I then thought it would add another dimension to fold in the edges of the decorations. I think they look like little lanterns. Each decoration has been finished off with an Indian Glass Bead.
DSP: Raspberry Tart
Punches: Round Scallop & Square Scallop

8 x 8 Fold Out Scrap Page:

I love the idea of the fold out scrap page as a Christmas Card.... great to send to those special people in your life. Can you imagine how excited Grandparents would be to receive a card like this. This fold page/card is made using a combination of current and retired SU product.

SU Product:

Stamp Set: Season of Joy

Ink: Always Artichoke

Cardstock: Purely Pomegranate (2008/9), River Rock (2008/9) & Always Artichoke (current)

DSP: Holiday Harmony (2008/9)

Ribbon: Purely Pomegranate Satin

Off the Page:

Just to show you that the challenge does not have to be all about Stampin' Up! Remember your entry only needs to have 2 Stampin” Up elements. I have made a Christmas book for Ella for her First Christmas. Using Holiday Harmony DSP (from 2008 Spring Mini Catalogue), Cardstock , Ribbon, Kaiser Off the Page Board.... and some Christmas Rubbons I picked up at Crazy Clarks.
I really enjoyed this as it is something a little different for me and I found I was forced to journal; which I generally do very little of.
SU Products:
Stamp Set: Season of Joy
Cardstock: Purely Pomegranate (2008/2009) & Always Artichoke
DSP: Holiday Harmony
Ink: Purely Pomegranate
Ribbon: Variety of current and retired ribbon

Happy Birthday Sis!

It was my sisters Birthday at the end of June. I really wanted her card to be something special. So I decided to incorporate photo's of her and her family with Ella.
Liz had made me a lovely 12 x 12 fold out Scrap Page when I was in Brisbane at the end of May, which was very special. This was one of the items that demonstrators made at Convention in Canberra in early May. Some demonstrators have since been running classes on these scrap pages.

So I decided to make an 8 x 8 fold out scrap page and incorporate photo's of my sisters family with Ella when they visited earlier in the year and to effectively turn it into a card.
I think the beautiful Designer Series Paper (DSP) help to make these projects something really special, there are some lovely designs and they all coordinate beautifully with the cardstock and inks.
Stamp set: Sweet Stems, Crazy for Cupcakes, Short & Sweet

Ink: Rose Red
Cardstock: Rose Red & Pretty in Pink
DSP: Raspberry Tart
Ribbon Pretty in Pink
Punches: Round Scallop, Circle

August Challenge Theme

In honour of two very special people (Matt & Nicole) who are expecting their first child at the end of this month.

The theme is : All about Baby!

July Challenge - Christmas in July

I had a great deal of fun completing my items for the July Challenge

I was determined to create more than one item. Here is a sneak peak with more pictures and details to follow.

July Challenge

The Theme: Christmas in July

A big Thanks to Bec (a fellow Paper Angel and SU Demonstrator – http://www.stampinwithbec.blogspot.com/) who made a card specifically for the challenge. It is just lovely

Bec made this card using the Circle Circus stamp set on page 104 of the Catalogue and Punches Three a Level 1 Hostess set. Bec has used Ruby Red and Old Olive Ink on Very Vanilla cardstock. The greeting has been stamped once in Ruby Red (on Ruby Red cardstock) and punched out with the Square Scallop Punch and then stamped again in Old Olive, this time cutting out the only the greeting. Both parts of the greeting have been raised on dimensionals.

A fabulous card and Bec has clearly demonstrated that you are not limited to Christmas stamp sets to create beautiful Christmas Cards.

Thanks Bec I am very grateful for your contribution.

Happy 9th Birthday!

It was my nephew Tristan's 9th Birthday earlier this month. I thought a nice bright card would do the trick and I really wanted to incorporate my new stamp set Crazy for Cupcakes . Then I remebered the card Leonie had made for her son's 9th Birthday (http://stampandscrapinheaven.blogspot.com/2009/05/keagans-9th-birthday.html), this card became was my inspiration..... a classic CASE! Thanks Leonie
Stamp Set: Crazy for Cupcakes, Big Deal Alphabet
Card: Real Red, Tempting Turquoise
Ink: Real Red
DSP: East Coast Prep (2008 - 2009 Catalogue)
Ribbon: Tempting Turquoise 1/4 " (6.4mm) Grosgrain

Tristan loved his card, I think the quote was “it's pretty cool Aunty Fi”. The letters and cupcake have been stamped in Real Red and mounted on Tempting Turquoise Card Stock. They have then been mounted on on the Real Red Card using Stampin' Dimensionals.

July Challenge Theme

The July Challenge Theme, well what else could it be.... "Christmas in July".

You may want to create a Christmas Card, Christmas Decorations, a Scrap page or a booklet inspired by Christmas it is up to you. Provided it meets the Challenge outline.

I look forward to seeing those entries

June Challenge

The Theme: To make a Bookmark

Unfortunately there were not any entries in the June Challenge, so my Mater Mothers Bereavement Pool grows by another $10.

The opportunities are endless when it comes to bookmarks (well any papercraft really). I decided I wanted to show you some relatively simple bookmarks, using a couple of different techniques that can be recreatived with ease. The hearts and butterflies have been created using the Rock and Roll technique. For the pink & mauve bookmarks I inked the stamp in Pretty in Pink and then rolled the edges of the stamp in Perfect Plum. For the green butterflies I used Apricot Appeal and Green Galore Ink Using this technique no two images are the same.

I used Stampin' Write Markers to ink the stamps for the Happy Place bookmarks. This allows you two use more than one colour on the image with ease.

The Corner bookmark (Triangle) is made using Designer Series Paper (Raspberry Tart). This is a very simple bookmark, no stamping involved only trimming and folding. The inspiration for this bookmark came from the Splitcoast Stampers Gallery... thanks Jane CS.

If you would like specific details to enable you to recreate any of these items, just email me.

There are many, many more possibilities.....I hope you enjoy the few I have to show you.

Now I did not know until yesterday that Stampin Up had it's own Youtube page with tutorials on various papercraft products. Look at what I found as I was getting ready to post my bookmarks on my blog. Step by step instructions on the corner bookmark - just click on the link below and enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/stampinupvideo#play/all/uploads-all/1/J27oQZTNpMg

I think my niece is going to love the butterfly bookmarks, not only does she really like butterflies, but her two favourite colours are pink and purple..... can't go wrong.

Gift Cards
Liz (my lovely upline) provides us with so many inspirational idea's. When I was in Brisbane recently she gave me a set of 4 little gift tags in a cellophane bag.... very nice and a great idea to use up all of those bits and bobs of cardstock and patterned paper that we all accumulate. And for me a particularly good way to use up the non SU product that has been pretty much put to the side
I decided to make some gift cards for a couple of friends. My cellophane bag was a larger size and a perfect fit to hold 4, 3” x 3” cards. In this case I have used a retired SU DSP “Spring Flowers“ from the 2007-2008 Catalogue and Ideas book.

Dying the flowers
I do not have a “pretties kit” or many ink refills at present although I do have a load of Kaiser flowers. Whilst the pretties flowers are much nicer it is a matter of priority at the moment.... so how can I dye these flowers with the resources that I have...mmm... well I took my Aquapainter and filled it with water, pressed the flower face down into the chosen ink pad (in this case Apricot Appeal), then flooded the flower with water to disperse the colour.... I then had a very wet and very limp flower (which is effectively compressed paper)... so what does one do to dry the flower and ink.... well put it on the louver window in the sun of course (in June, a lovely 25 degrees in Townsville)

Gift Certificates

Are you stuck for Gift Idea's? Well how about a Gift Certificate for Stampin' Up! products.

All you need to do is determine the amount and pay for it I will do the rest. A custom made Gift Certificate that allows your friend or loved one to shop from the comfort of their home. A perfect gift for someone who is interested in stamping and papercraft.

The Gift Certificate is valid for 12 months and can be redeemed by either calling or emailing me.

June Challenge Theme

The Theme for the June Challenge is to create a “Bookmark”

Scrap Day

I had a lovely day on Saturday scrappin with 'Memory Makers', at the Condon Salvation Army Hall. Uninterupted scrap and social time...amazing. Being in a room full of crafty ladies there was lots of conversation, inspiration and laughter. Memory Makers meet monthly, thanks to Carolyn for organizing such a wonderful day, I am looking forward to attending this event on a regular basis. It is hard to believe $10 covers, morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea as well as the use of available tools and equipment - byo paper/card, embellishments, photo's etc.
The theme for the day was”Autumn Leaves”. As I was new to the group I did not know you could deviate from the theme. So I was madly searching the night before the event for colours pertaining to Autumn and appropriate photo's. I really didn't have any Autumn related stamp sets so I have used the leaves from A little bit of Happiness..(a hostess set from 2008/2009) and trimmed around the Autumn leaf... a little time consuming, however I am happy with the end result.
I finally managed to scrap two 8 x 8 pages for Tristan's album and a 12 x 12 page ( t j ) of Tristan for my album..... my how time flies when you're having fun!

In the end I took the inspiration from the colours in the Designer Series Paper (DSP)

Autumn Leaves

SU Products
Card: More Mustard, Old Olive, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise
DSP: East Coast Prep (2008/2009 Catalogue)
Stamps: A Little Bit of Happiness (2008/2009 Catalogue)
Inks: Old Olive & Pumpkin Pie

Dirty Work
SU Products
Card: Really Rust, Cerainly Celery, Very Vanilla,
Paper: East Cost Prep (2008/2009 Catalogue)
Stamps: Big Deal Alphabet
Inks: Chocolate Chip

May Challenge

Unfortunately I did not receive any entries for the May Challenge..... “A card for her”. Not to worry, I know everyone is busy, so I have just kick started my pool for the Mater Mothers Bereavement Foundation...... it has it's first $10 in it.


Above is my contribution to the challenge.... with Mothers Day being in May I decided to make a Card for mum. Those who have met my mum know that “I am just like my mum” and I do think I am very lucky.

SU Products:
Card : Barely Banana, Very Vanilla, Old Olive
DSP: Spring Flowers (07/08 Catalogue)
Stamps: Greetings Eight (09/10 Catalogue)
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Punches: Scallop Edge
Ribbon: Chocoloate Grosgrain

The edges of the very vanilla card have been distressed using craft scissors and then mounted on the old olive card using Stampin' Dimensionals. The old olive card has been mounted on the Designer Series Paper (DSP) using Stampin' Dimensionals.

May's Challenge Theme

Now that the details are out...... we will start with something easy. Inspired by Mothers Day this comming Sunday, the the Theme for the month of May is:

A card "For Her" ...... it might be mum, it might be a sister, daughter or friend... the opportunities are endless.

Introducing Stampin with Fi's - Monthly Challenge

To give you an opportunity to get the creative juices flowing I thought I would create a Monthly Challenge. The winner of the monthly challenge will receive a $10 Stampin' Up! credit redeemable with me.

The Challenge Outline is:

• At the beginning of each month I will announce the Challenge Theme


• Your entry must have at least two (different) Stampin' Up! elements to be eligible for the monthly prize
  ie. cardstock, punches, stamps, ink, embelishments, designer series paper, ribbon etc.


• for example the use of cardstock and an SU stamped image qualifies


• the use of 2 different colours of SU cardstock and no other SU products does not qualify.


• Your entry must be received by the 25th of each month.


• To submit your entry please send two digital photo's to the above email address and details of SU items used


• The winning entry and winners name will be posted on the blogspot on the last day of each month.


• The prize of a $10 Stampin' Up credit is valid for 12 months and redeemable with me at anytime during those 12 months


• Photo's of all other entries will also be posted on the blog.


• If only 1 entry is received in a given month then that person is the monthly winner


• If no entries are received in a given month then the $10 prize money will go towards the paperANGELS chosen charity the "Mater Mothers Bereavement Fund".

When the winning entry is posted I will also post what I have made that month that fits the Challenge Theme.

1st Bithday's

I love 1st Birthday parties. The adults make a fuss and the dear little ones are not quite sure what is going on.... except that they are the center of attention and loving it! Here are another couple of 1st Birthday cards I made for Ella's little friends.

*I have had trouble loading the photo's which has forced me to reduce the image quality