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.....

Camp 2010!

Since Camp in August, things have been a little hectic here, so my apologies for this blog post being sooooo late!

Camp 2010 Memories....

This year we set off to Brookfield for our Camp.

A fresh venue, bigger room, private bedrooms,

larger group... and a whole lot of fun!

The meals were yummy...

It was so relaxing sitting by the pool and catching up with friends

over lunch/breaky, and a cuppa...

The highlight for me was having my sister Jackie at camp!

Jackie has caught the Stampin' bug, and flew down from Cairns to join the fun!

She made some gorgeous cards (of course, she has a good teacher! lol)

Jackie was inspired to make these cute cards by Sam who made a card similar on camp...

My Best friend Kirsten did some travelling too, all the way from Westmar/St George. Kirsten caught the bug last time she came to the Island, it's so much fun to stamp with friends...

I don't mind sharing the bug!

Kirsten was set a challenge by a few of us around her when she commented on a particular piece of paper as "yuck". We challenged her to make a card with it, and like the Kirsten I know well, she took it on... and WOW... look what she created! It goes to prove, you can make a masterpiece out of anything if you put your creative mind to it, well with talents like Kirsten's you can!

Big THANKS to Debbie J for the cute name tags she made "Stampin' Up! style of course!

Camp wouldn't be the same without our 'Debbie Tags'. I have a cute collection from over the years, thanks Debbie, they are so special xo

Carla has always wanted to make a 'Family' decor piece for home, as long as I can remember, and this was her year! Check out the masterpiece she made... well done Carla, it turned out perfect, and worth the wait! xo

Here are a few happy snaps of some of the wonderful creations this years campers produced...

This is the beautiful box Debbie Mc made me. Thanks Debbie, I am so lucky to have so many lovely & thoughtful friends like you xo

On the last day Carla and I were sneaking clinkers under the table, look at the groovy heart shaped clinker we found. I couldn't resist this photo!

And here it is... the card of the camp! Yes, there is a story.....

This is the card Kirsten made on the Sat night before she went to bed. We all kept telling her she should add something to it like a tree or clouds etc, but she just loved her card the way it was. (So did we of course, but we weren't letting her know that. lol)

As she went to bed, her last words to us were... don't touch my owl, he's watching you!

hee hee hee...

As soon as she was out of sight, Jackie made a replica and this was our joint effort of 'improvements' we made to Kirsten's little owl. lol.

We left it in the spot where she left her card, and the next morning Kirsten's face was unforgettable! But yes, it was a replica, and I only kept the joke for a tiny bit of time before I gave in, but it was a laugh and a half and a camp memory we will never forget! What a hoot!

I guess you are wondering what I made... well... hmmmm, I did make a couple of cards, but had so much fun sitting with my sister, Kirsten, Carla, and all my other wonderful friends... me being me, I will admit, I made more conversations than cards... but never mind... I had a ball, and can't wait until next year!

Big Shot ~ Baby Boy!

Congratulations

go to Paper Angel Fiona & her husband Sam

on the arrival of their baby boy

Matthew James Constas

Matthew is little brother to Ella.

Matthew was born on the 9th of August

weighing in at a neat 8.0 lbs

Stamps: Fox & Friends

Card: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Whisper White

Ink: Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Bashful Blue

Accessories: Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon

Tools: Big Shot, Junior Alphabet Sizzlits, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Folders,

1 1/4" Square Punch, Adhesives including Dimensionals.

Inspired by Marelle Taylor

Now that's Dedication to Real Inspiration!

I know I say it all the time... the Idea Book & Catalogues that Stampin' Up! print are not just a wonderful place to shop, they are also a perfect place to be Inspired with Beautiful Project Ideas in glossy colour print.

When the latest Autumn Winter Mini was released, my customer Barbara T fell in love with the 'Love Life' card on page 31 and knew she just 'had' to make it! She was Inspired!!!!!

But... after looking at the recipe that Stampin' Up! share with us at to what items are used to make each and every project, Barbara came up with a small problem that she rang me with. She couldn't figure out what the strip of colours down the left side was, and I have to say, it had me stumped too!

This was a few days before convention, and I had it in my diary to remember to ask Stampin' Up! what it could be. Without needing to ask, it was announced on stage (probably after others had also noticed this striped decoration) that it was a printing error. A staff member who had made some of the creations for the catalogue had been given a sample of the Printed Window Sheet used on the front of this card and down the side of it, it had a strip of colour samples, creating the pretty striped pattern that was added to the card.

I shared this info with Barbara when I got back, and like a true committed paper crafter, she didn't let this get in her way! Barbara committed herself to creating that strip so she could make that card.

After several hours of cutting thin strips of each of the colours and gluing them individually on a piece of Whisper White, side by side, she had made herself a sheet of

A4 Striped Card and this is it....

Barbara was then able to cut a thin end off her new piece of striped card and Voila!

There she was with a perfect thin strip to decorate the side of her card.

Yep, that's dedication!

Barbara's daughter Jennifer was the lucky recipient of this beautiful card for her Birthday!

Yes, it took hours Barbara says, but so so so worth it! The best part now is that Barbara has a whole sheet of this striped pattern that she can take a little strip off the end each time she wants a fancy edge down a card, and the hard part is already done!

Reminder: The Autumn Winter Mini ends on the 31st August as well as the 2009/2010 Idea Book and Catalogue.. there are some items in the Autumn Winter that we won't see again, such as the DS Papers in there and even the beautiful printed Window Sheets from page 31 that Barbara has used on this card. Don't forget to order any favourites from the Autumn Winter Mini as well as the Big Catalogue, before the end of the month!

Last Bite at your Wish List!

Have you had a Wish List as long as your arm that still needs chewing away at?

Well now is your last chance to chomp into it before items on your list are gone forever!

Card by Jackie Scanes (my sister),

using her favourite stamp set 'Wild About You'

which is one of the sets about to disappear in less that 10 days!

To view the full Last Chance List click here.

Items only available until SOLD OUT!

Here's the latest update...

it really is a case of take your bite now or never

as we count down the final days.

SOLD OUT:

For the Bride Stamp set

Basic Black 12x12

Basic Black A4

Sahara Sand A4

Close to Cocoa A4

Old Olive 12x12

Kraft A4

Sweet Slumber Specialty DSP

Pop Up Glue Dots

RUNNING LOW:

Nursery Necessities Stamp Set

Eastern Influences Stamp Set

A Rose is a Rose Stamp Set

Playful Petals Stamp Set

Totally Tabs Stamp set

Short Order Alphabet Stamp Set

Forever Flowers Wheel

Bella's Border Wheel

Kiwi Kiss A4

Very Vanilla 12x12

Whisper White 12x12

Real Red Stampin' Around Cartridge

"I Wish" Simply Scrappin' Kit

"Rock-a-Bye Boy" Simply Scrappin' Kit

Elegant Eggplant Grosgrain Ribbon

Star Punch

Word Window Punch

Stampin' Pastels

And don't forget the list highlights...

There are 6 stamp sets that are 50% off:
A Happy Heart (page 34) is now $20.98
Best Wishes and More (page 53) is now $23.98
Greetings Eight (page 57) is now $24.98
Only Ovals (page 93) is now $19.98
Enjoy Every Moment (page 97) is now $26.98
All Scallops (page 105) is now $27.98

....and 17 other sets are 25% off!

Most of the markers in Retiring Colours are 25% off, making them only $4.31.

Cameo Coral and Apricot Appeal are 50% off, making them a bargain $2.88!

6 of the Patterned papers are 25% off, and one is 50% off (Pink Flamingo is only $8.48!)

"I Wish" Simply Scrappin Kit (page 137) - perfect for Christmas cards and layouts

is 25% off - now only $27.71!

Snap up some Chunky Glitter (page 145). It's 50% off - only $15.98.
While you're at it, grab some Blooms Die Cuts (page 144), also 50% off - only $8.25
50% off Double-Stitched ribbons in Rose Red, Chocolate Chip and Bashful Blue (page 150) - now only $9.98! There's also other ribbon bargains for the Striped ribbons, most of these are 25% off.
7 Jumbo wheels and 8 standard wheels are retiring... these always go fast!

The punches are all listed because they are being reconfigured into the new punch style, however 5 punches are not returning at all:
Small Star
Trio Flower
Double Rectangle
Horizontal Slot
Slit

Email me now with your order

so you don't miss out!

Christmas Card Workshop Fun!

Memories of our fun day on the 31st July at the Springwood Bowls Club for our Paper Angels Annual Christmas Card Charity Workshops.

Paper Angel Ursula deserves a big round of applause for this day... it was fabulous!

The Springwood Bowls Club was a lovely venue, we had a huge room, great lighting, and the convenience of the bistro right beside us for lunch. Oh and I can't forget the yummy treats we had for Morning Tea!

Thanks to all the Paper Angels with a big contribution from Ursula & Liz there were gorgeous displays to get lots of Inspiration from and take photos of...

Cards for Troops was a new addition introduced this year and WOW what a fabulous response we had. Thanks to everyone who donated to this wonderful mission to send cards to our Troops so they have something nice to write a message on to send back home to their loved ones this Christmas. Special Thanks at the Springwood event to Di Greenaway for her 108 cards donated, and to Barbara Thompson for her 40 cards added to our Cards for Troops Box...

I had 7 of my lovely customers join me on the day,

we shared many a laugh, it was a tonne of fun!

Colleen, Sonia & Carla

Jennifer & Kym

Di & Barbara

Paper Angel Sam demonstrated for her first time at an event,

here she is with one of her guests Carla.

We made absolutely gorgeous projects featuring the 'I Wish' Simply Scrappin' Kit

and getting our hands on the BIG SHOT!

Each project gave the opportunity to try something new.

My Card design was even included... shucks!

Using the Colour Instructions and having all tools required within arms reach we had such a relaxing day cruising through the projects at our own pace.

Thanks goes to Liz for all her wonderful time and effort she puts into these special Paper Angels events. Behind the scenes Liz puts in so many hours and is so dedicated to the success of our events, she is truly our 'Guardian' Angel. Thanks Liz.

Congratulations goes to Barbara T for 1st prize in the Card Comp, and 2nd and 3rd prize Congrats goes to Di G. (Both my ladies of course, chuckle, yes I am proud!)

Of course, there was the now very famous raffle prizes! Stampin' Up! again shone through with their generosity of fabulous product donated for our raffles, making up 5 bright beautiful Prizes to be won!

My table nearly had a clean sweep of the lot! Winning prize 1 was Colleen, prize 2 Barbara, prize 3 Di, prize 4 Barbara again (lucky girl), and there was a glimpsing moment when we all gasped as prize 5 was announced, the winner being Carla... but much to Carla M from our tables disappointment *sob sob*, it was not her, but rather Carla Sam's guest. Congrats to all 5 winners of these lovely prizes.

I couldn't resist this cute photo of Barbara T with her 2 prizes, she's still flabbergasted to have done so well in the raffles. Lucky they were wrapped so pretty as she was worried her husband might think she'd been shopping again when she got home with so many new products! LOL

And the finished projects of the day of course...

Aren't they just the most adorable projects?

Thanks to Ursula & Liz for organising such a great day,

and to all who came along to make it the success it was!