It's been a while!

Please forgive me for neglecting my Blog. After so much time I had put into it over the past years, it saddens me that I don't have the time to keep that up anymore.

But I'm still here. I don't have the same time as in the past to sit & create, but those times that I do, I feel so back in my element. I have made a few cards over the past couple of months since receiving my box of goodies from the new catalogue, and I'll try to share those with you in the very near future.

Today I'd love to share with you 2 special cards made for 2 very special people....

Fathers Day

Here is the card I made my dad... (yes, it's similar to the card I made for Paper Angel Fiona for her baby boy). I have this theory when I have a card design I like, change it around a bit and run with it... it's fun!

Stamps: Fox & Friends

Card: Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Pumpkin Pie,

Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Greenhouse Gala DS Paper.

Ink: Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Pumpkin Pie

Accessories: Mini Library Clip

Tools: Big Shot, Junior Alphabet Sizzlits, 1 1/4" Square Punch, Adhesives including Dimensionals.

Card Swap

I'm part of a monthly card swap organised by Paper Angel Debbie and for the month of September my Buddie was Debbie herself who I had the pleasure making a card for. There's no theme, and no time limit, just one card sent to the buddy who's drawn out for you anytime during the month.

This is the Kissing Technique I have shared here before.

This time I have made it for Debbie with one of the Brand New Divine In-Colours 'Pear Pizzazz'

Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Medallion

Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Chocolate Chip

Card: Pear Pizzazz, Early Espresso, Whisper White

Accessories: Pear Pizzazz Stitched-Poly Ribbon, Antique Brad

Tools: Stamp-a-majig (for verse in corner of card), Adhesives,

& Paper Piercer (tom make hole for brad).

If you would like to be a part of Debbie's monthly card swap, drop me an email and I will forward your details to her. We have 10 members so far, and it's always fun making the card for your buddy as well as receiving a card in the letter box each month.

No promises when I will be back with more, but please stay tuned.....

2 favourite swaps from Convention 2010

I've been busting to share with you these 2 swaps which stood out as a couple of my favourites from Convention in Sydney this year.

My all time favourite is this cute Punch Panda!

Colours: Pink Pirouette, Rose Red, Whisper White, Basic Black

Punches: 1 3/8" Circle, 1 1/4" Circle, 1" Circle, 3/4" Circle, 1/2" Circle, Word Window, Heart to Heart, 1/4" Circle, Crop-A-Dile.

Stamps: Something Sweet

Made by: Richelle Hopkinson

Isn't he soooo cute? I fell in love with him so much, that although I didn't have any swaps myself, when I swapped this one on Liz's behalf, I begged her cold I please keep him. (of course she said yes, thanks Liz xo).

I also liked the clever Pansies on this card made with the Butterfly Punch.

Sorry, I don't know who's swap this was, but thanks for the great idea to who it was from.

If you click on the photo it should pop up in full size and you can read the instructions included there sharing how to make Butterfly Pansies.

Convention Swaps that caught my eye!

Hundreds of demonstrators swapping hundreds of cards... the inspiration overwhelming... What a wonderful feeling! You can never get enough when it comes to seeing ideas and what other people create.

I'm busting at the seems to share with you some of the swaps that caught my eye.

Now, as I didn't personally swap, I don't have these at home to be able to refer to who created them, but I give credit to each and every creatively inspiring demonstrator who made these swaps I have photographed to share with you.

Enjoy...

This is not all, I will post more in the next few days.

I thought this might be enough though for now...

So the question is... Which one are you going to make first?????

Summer Mini Swaps!

In November Stampin' Up! held our Regional Training here in Brisbane at the Hilton.

I LOVE Stampin' Up! events so much, you get free stamps & accessories, do make & takes, see some fabulous ideas, and get to catch up with other demonstrators. But there's also SWAPS! What a highlight they are at any SU event. Demonstrators who would like to swap make a bulk amount of a card they wish to swap with others and in exchange get a card back. Some take 100's to swap, others a handful. I took along 35 swaps to this event... here's mine.

On the back you put your name etc and the recipe of your project. Some of the ladies made fabulous Christmas treat ideas... boxes etc, you may see some of them on display at the next workshop we catch up at.

There were 2 cards though that caught my eye amongst the swaps I received as they are featuring products from the current Summer Mini Catalogue, and just happen to be 2 of the sets in the catalogue that I really like.

This card was swapped from Sharon Turnbull.

This stamp set and co-ordinating punch are just divine!

Stamps: Butterfly Prints

Ink: Pixie Pink, Only Orange

Card: Pixie Pink, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Kaleidoscope DS

Accessories: Turquoise Grosgrain Ribbon, Rhinestone Brad

Tools: Butterfly Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, Adhesives including Dimensionals

This card was swapped from Amanda Saffery.

How elegant these colours look together!

Stamps: Razzle Dazzle

Ink: VersaMark, Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie, Markers: Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie

Card: Apricot Appeal, Certainly celery, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White

Accessories: Certainly Celery grosgrain Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds

Tools: Word Window Punch, Scallop Square Punch, Designer label Punch, Daubers, Adhesives including 2 Way Glue Pen, and Dimensionals.

If you haven't got your copy of the Summer Mini Catalogue yet, you can view it here or drop me a line and I'll pop one in the post for you.