Have you added a 'Great Friend' to your collection this August?

As August comes to an end and we gear up to
'Spring' on into September,

I bring to you one last creation I have made for the month

using August's stamp set of the month 'Great Friend'.

This card and matching envelope was our make and take

today at Margaret's house.

The colours used are Basic Grey, Baja Breeze, Cameo Coral, & Whisper White. The Baja Breeze strip and Cameo Coral square have been raised with dimensionals but this doesn't show too well in the photo. Our butterflies wings have been lifted for a 3D effect by stamping a second butterfly, cutting it out and sticking it over the first one with only a strip down it's tummy!

The extra touch is a felt flower from the 

Flower Fushion Too collection attached with a silver brad.

This card is simply stunning and could be used for almost any occasion a special card is needed.

Birthday, Thankyou, Sympathy, Get Well, Miss You... you name it!

Great Friend can be found on pages 4 & 5

in the Spring Mini Catalogue (RRP 31.95).

This month (August 2009) though... with only 2 sleeps to go,

you can purchase 'Great Friend' from me

for my very special price of $27!

That's a saving of over 15%.

I will be placing my last order this Sunday night at 6pm.

If you like what you see and would like to

add a 'Great Friend' to your collection,

please email me to get your set at this one time, last chance price!

I've been to another great class!

Last week I had the pleasure of attending another class held by Liz.

Look at what we made this time...

This 12x12 page is created using products all available in the Spring Mini... Walk in the Park DS, Baja Breeze Corduroy Buttons, and Summer Love Rub-Ons. It is such a WOW page close up... you can't see it so well in a photo, but it is 3D with all the patchwork squares raised using dimensionals and the Corduroy Buttons/brads are tucked in between.

We also made this card. It is created by weaving two patterns from the Walk in the Park Papers. The love birds on the front are rub-ons from the Summer Love rub-ons pack.

I must say I have never tried paper weaving before this... it really is quite effective!

Thanks Liz for another fabulous class!

Has anyone noticed I LOVE the Walk in the Park DS???? hee hee hee

Same but Different!

No you are not seeing double!

When you make a card you are happy with...

why not make it again,the same but different?

I previously shared with you this fab card that Liz created using the

left over corners of our Patchwork Scrap Page...

Here is the same card... a little different...

I made this one using the left over corner pieces from the 'Walk in the Park' patchwork page I had made. I also changed the embellishment in the middle to

feature my stamp set of the month 'Great Friend'.

Here is another card I made recently that got lots of lovely comments...

This card was made with Great Friend and the

Walk in the Park DS papers

from the Spring Mini Catalogue.

So I had this idea that if Butterflies were found in a 'Walk in the park',

they just might also be found in an 'Urban Garden'!

Here is the above card again... this time with Urban Garden DS.

I love that Stampin' Up! products all co-ordinate so well that when it comes to making a little change such the DS I use...everything else will easily fall into place!

The end result... a fabulous card...a little bit the same, but a little bit different!

Both cards I have shown here feature my

Stamp Set of the Month 'Great Friend'

from the Spring Mini Catalogue pages 4 & 5 (RRP $31.95)

During the month of August 2009 you can

purchase 'Great Friend' from me

for my Special Price of $27.

That's a saving of over 15%

Butterflies for you...

Tomorrow marks the 2nd birthday of our Angels Billy & Zac.

The butterflies are sure to be out in the sunny garden reminding us of their special day!

So with this months Stamp Set of the month Great Friend...

I have made 2 very special cards in which both I refer to as

"Butterflies for you".

This card's colours were inspired from the DS Papers Washington Apple. Having the Idea Book handy, I was stuck for a colour combo that would be different to my usual favourite colours, so I flicked oped to where all the DS papers are and used the colours from those papers as a guide to a colour combo guaranteed to look great! I love the effect it gave by putting Bashful Blue with Riding Hood Red & So Saffron. The butterfly in the middle has been stamped twice and the top one cut out and layered over the base one with just one strip of sticky strip down it's centre so you can lift up the wings.

From bold to soft... I was busting to emboss on Chocolate Chip again with white, as my Iced Chocolate Card had had so many comments how striking it was. I also desperately wanted to use my new eyelet border punch which I have only just added to my collection... yey! I knew I had Pretty in Pink ribbon and ink, but just couldn't work out what colour to use for the border, so this time I reached for the colour wheel and there it was for me... just add Mellow Moss!

What I created was two completely different cards which both carry the same message... Butterflies for you.

Both cards have been made using the

'Great Friend' stamp set found on

pages 4 & 5 in the Spring Mini Catalogue (RRP 31.95).

In the month of August 2009 you can purchase

'Great Friend' from me

for the special price of $27!

That's a saving of over 15%.

Keep posted in August for more ideas how you can make the most of this gorgeous stamp set... Great Friend

Order you set today at my Special Price!

Create your own brads!

Did you know you can design your own brads to coordinate with your cards, scrapbooking and off-the-page work? It's as easy as 1-2-3 with Build-a-Brads by Stampin' Up!

Step 1.Punch out an image using a 1/2" circle punch.

Instead of patterned paper as I've used,

you may wish to stamp an image or use a rub-on.

Step 2.Using your adhesive of choice,

adhere your punched out image to the top of the brad

from your Build-a-Brad kit.

Step 3.Peel off the self-adhesive bubble from your Build-a-Brad pack

and place it over your image on the brad.

Looks like fun? It is!

Email me now to purchase a Build-a-Brad Kit

and you too can start creating your own coordinated cards, scrapbooking and more.

Here's a card I made recently using the Build-a-Brad kit

to make my own coordinated embellishment.

Getting ready for my sister's military style wedding... we have added a Build-a-Brad on her invitations to co-ordinate with the badge from her 'soon to be hubby's' suit.

Are we clever or what????

Build-a-Brads can be found on page 149.

They come in the choice of Antique Brass or Pewter.

Each pack contains 24 RRP $18.95

Top Tip ~ "Oh no it's crooked!"

How many times have you adhered a layer of cardstock

onto your base card only to find

you layered it crookedly?

To avoid doing this, simply stand up when layering.

You'll find by standing you will be able to

layer your cardstock straighter

much easier than you would if you were sitting down.

Already layered some cardstock on and the

SNAIL Adhesive has stuck it down for life?

Try this....

Simply use your heat gun to

heat up the edges of the cardstock

and you'll find that your cardstock will lift easily so that you can reposition it nice and straight.

I go to classes too!

Being a demonstrator gives me the special privilege of being

surrounded by talented crafters who inspire me everyday...

and one of those talented crafters is Liz who introduced me to Stampin' Up!

Liz is a breath of fresh ideas every time I see her.

For those who know me, scrapbooking isn't my most talented area, in fact those who know me well would know for years I have made cards and often been heard to say I would never be a scrapbooker! But.... how can I resist with all the wonderful products Stampin' Up! have to use to make lovely scrap pages... and how could I not want to re-create beautiful pages such as these below by going along to Liz's classes and being the pupil!

Look at what we made....

This page is the coolest patchwork page ever!

Cool page = cool kid!

That's my adorable nephew/god-son Kingston xo

Cherish definitely sums this photo up!

The papers we used are from Urban Garden and Urban Oasis.

Then... Liz being Liz and being so talented...

whipped up this fab matching card

by using the 4 corners we cut away from our scrap page.

Now lets keep in mind here girls... that was my first Scrapbooking Class making a 12x12 page that I have ever attended. So when it came to making a sample before the launch of the new mini at the beginning of the month, I was feeling so excited about the fabulous design Liz had taught me, I just had to make another page,

but this time using products from

the Spring Mini... and... wha-lah!

This page is so sweet. It's created using Walk in the Park DS, Summer Love Rub-ons, and those two cute little pink flowers are from the Flower Assortment Designer Brads

all in the Spring Mini Catalogue.

I will confess, this page is addictive. I have actually made 3 more using co-ordinating papers from other DS packs... I will share them all with you when I have photos to complete them.

Look out... Scrapbooking here I come! lol

August is the time to have a 'Great Friend'

As August is a month of mixed emotions for me...

I am reminded of how important my friends are and

how wonderful and "great" they are to me.

How lucky I am to have each and every friend I have.

I have chosen for that reason 'Great Friend' as my

stamp set of the month.

I do apologise on not having posted many ideas just yet for

'Great Friend', but I have made sure to make an extra special card to show you this time to make up for my lack of postings. I will work really hard to make many more projects before the month is out!

Here it is.... Dah dah dah dah!!!!!

Fancy hey???? I was first inspired to make this style of card by a lady called Dawn on Splitcoast. Then when I was at camp, Debbie J was making cards using this fancy fold, and that inspired me even more so to give it a go. Like Debbie said... it's quite easy, but it gives such a "wow" affect!

This card will surely wow any friend who receives it...

I bet they are all lining up now saying "Pick me!"

Featuring the 'Great Friend' stamp set of course and our new Walk in the Park DS paper, teamed up with matching colours of Basic Grey, Going Grey, Baja Breeze, and Cameo Coral, complimented with basic Grey Taffeta ribbon, half pearls from the Pretties Kit, silver brads and Baja Breeze felt flowers from Flower Fusions 2... isn't it just a treat?

This is just one of the ways you can make the most of the

Great Friend stamp set found on pages 4 & 5 in the Spring Mini Catalogue (RRP 31.95).

If you like what you see...
start making beautiful projects like this for your friends,

to let them know how special they are by purchasing
'Great Friend' in the month of August 2009 from me

for the special price of $27!

That's a saving of over 15%.

If you would like to know how to make this card... drop me a line.

Maybe I could come and show you with your friends at a workshop?

Your friends will love you for it!!!!!!!

Keep posted for more 'Great Friend'...
Order you set today at my Special Price!

Flowerpots & Cows for Macleay Island last week!

Each fortnight the Macleay Island ladies join me at my place for a fun workshop... and last Friday we made two very cute cards... I just had to share them with you!

This is a flowerpot card inspired by the latest tutorial on Splitcoast...

The flowers are stamped with a much loved set of mine 'Eastern Blooms' and cut out by hand. The girls decided that with the lovely flower punches Stampin' up! has to offer, this card would also look great with punched flowers for a quicker result.

But for someone special, this card is really worth the time.

The flowers slide up to give you a special place to write your message... isn't it just adorable!

The colors used are: Flowerpot - Tangerine Tango.

Ribbon & leaves - Kiwi Kiss.

Flowers - Elegant Eggplant, Pink Passion, & Summer Sun.

The second card we made was a card that I had been busting to make since I had seen it at convention. This card was a swap made by someone who I don't know... sorry :-(

I didn't get one myself... but when I noticed it in someone else's stash of swaps, I made sure to take a pickie of it so I could re-create it myself...

The card has been scored and swiped with ink to give it a faux woodgrain effect, and the cow... named Daisy by most of the girls at the workshop was made with punches!

Colours used are: Card - Riding Hood Red.

Stable - Creamy Caramel & Whisper White.

Daisy the Cow - Whisper White, Basic Black, & Pretty in Pink.

I will also add in, that the lovely 'For you' stamp in the corner is from my Stamp Set of the month this month 'Great Friend'

We really had a blast making these two cards, hope you like them as much as we do!

Memories from a fab day on the 1st August!

On the 1st of August I rolled up at Ursula's new craft haven namely'Angel Ave', in Rochedale South, armed with lots of fun crafting gear for a great day... and what a day it was!

I had a group of 8 join me for my Christmas Blitz Class from 12:30-4pm, each making 12 Christmas cards (3 designs - 4 of each)... We used the Snow Swirled set which was my stamp set featured in July and teamed it up with the gorgeous new DS Papers in the mini catalogue called Ski Slope. Everyone had a great time, and now each have started off their Christmas card stash for this Christmas! Congratulations to Debbie Mc & Shelley T on each winning a funky red storage holder for all their Chrissy cards.

Why stop there though?.. Straight out of Christmas Blitz mode... and into Spring mini catalogue launch mode!!!!!! From 4-6pm we celebrated the launch of the new mini catalogue. This was a joint celebration with Ursula and her lovely guests also. We had some fabulous specials that were only available on the day, and everyone made a cute card featuring little handbags made from punches with the new DS papers 'Walk in the Park' and the new stamp set 'Oval All'... and... my favourite part... the new Scallop Oval punch! One of the handbags even had a cute flower designer brad,

also new in the Spring Mini.

This card would look great in any of the fabulous DS Papers Stampin' Up! has to offer... here it is in another of the papers in the mini, the Parisian Breeze Specialty Designer Series Paper.

Congratulations to Robyn B, one of Ursula's guests, on winning a fabulous Walk in the Park prize pack up for grabs on the day,

and to Carla M and Kristy J

for being the lucky door prize winners.

After both events you would think us girls would just need to put our feet up! Well what better way to do that than have a surprise craft room warming party!!!!!!! Ursula's new craft room is absolutely fabulous, and the floors, walls etc had only been finished days before. Hours of love and devotion has gone into the makings of "Angel Ave" by Ursula, her husband Aaron, and their two boys. I know how excited I was about their new haven, and the many classes we will be able to hold there doing what we love best...

stampin' and being with our friends,

so I can only imagine Ursula & Aaron's joy.

Just after taking some pickies of Ursula in her funky new room to end the day off (or so she thought), in rolled some Paper Angel friends Liz, Kathy, and Kate, with pizza, chocolate treats, and bubbly. Surprise Ursula!!!! Happy Craft Room Warming! Being a part of our group is a wonderful thing, not only do we keep inspiring each other in so many ways, we have made some great friends, so a girls night in with friends was the best way to end what was

an absolutely fantastic day!

Thank you to all who joined us on the 1st August...

it was certainly a day I will remember for a long time to come xo

August is the time for a 'Great Friend'

August is a special month for me. August brings with it the birthday of our angel twin babies,

so when I was choosing the stamp set of the month for August

I had babies Billy in Zac in mind.

What better set could there be to sum August up in a nutshell than the 'Great Friend' set featured in the Spring Mini Catalogue. It has a gorgeous butterfly that through our loss has become a special symbol for our baby boys...

Two Little Butterflies

Imagine if you can,

Gods garden up above,

And two special tiny boys,

Who went there with our love,

To laugh and chase the butterflies,

That flutter all around,

Running, playing in the sun,

Feet lightly on the ground.

So if you catch a butterfly,

Please let it go again,

It just may have been sent from Heaven,

From our two very special little men.

The other special thing about this set is that it is about friends.... All of the wonderful friends I have, are always there for me through the good and the bad, and I feel it is important to let each of them know what a Great Friend they really are!

So.... Introducing to you my Stamp Set of the month

for August 2009... Great Friend!

Over the month of August I will share with you some inspirational ideas of how you can
make the most of the Great Friend stamp set found on
pages 4 & 5 in the Spring Mini Catalogue (RRP 31.95).

If you like what you see...

start making special projects for your friends, to
let them know how special they are by purchasing

'Great Friend' in the month of August 2009 from me
for the special price of $27!
That's a saving of over 15%.

Here is a card that would make any friend feel special...

The colours used when creating this card were inspired by the new DS Papers in the mini catalogue called 'Walk in the Park'. The DS piece down the side is from those papers in Cameo Coral. The card is Baja Breeze and Basic Grey is used for each of the scalloped features.

Keep posted for more 'Great Friend'...

Order you set today at my Special Price!

If you don't have a copy of the Spring Mini... send me an email with your postage details and I will pop one in the post for you... but be warned... it is full of irresistible goodies!!!!!!

Spring Mini Catalogue is here ~ Stay Tuned!

August is here... and so is the NEW Spring Mini Catalogue! YEY... and I tell you what, this one is my favourite mini so far... Stampin' Up! some how always come up with more and more irresistibly gorgeous new products that I just have to have once I see them!

I know that those who made it to our mini catalogue launch on Sat fell in love with all the wonderful new stamps and products too!

If you would like a copy of the new Spring Mini, please drop me a line via my email ensuring I have your full postage details... and I'd love to send you out a copy.

Holding a workshop with all these new goodies is a wonderful way to see them hands on~ what a great excuse for a workshop! Let me know if you would like to book a workshop during the Spring Mini and remember all hostesses who hold a workshop in July, August and September will also go into my draw to

WIN a stamp set of their choice to the value of $50.

If you can't wait for your copy to arrive... please click on the catalogue to view it online.

Stay tuned for my August Stamp Set of the month which I am sure you will fall in love with.

Sorry for the delay with the beginning of the month, I have visitors staying at the moment... but hang in there... I should be back on track by the weekend with lots and lots to share!