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!

Quadrangle Scrapbooking by Liz!

This is straight from Liz's Blog... (I spotted my face on there, funny!)

Check out this groovy way of scrapbooking - quadrangle style!!!!

This is a really simple, yet effective design that you can use

whenever it is possible to trim photos down to 4 inch squares.
1. Divide a 12x12 base into quadrangles and add four mats measuring 5 3/4 inches square.
2. Cut the photo mats to 4 1/2 inch squares.
3. Adhere the top right and bottom left photos to the mats and raise with dimensionals.
4. Adhere the top left and bottom right photo mats directly to the base.


Liz has used 'Haiku' Designer Series Paper with some Rich Razzleberry thrown in to create a layout for the page above which she made for Jeanette, who is one of our Demonstrator Support Agents in Sydney. Jeanette and I had a great time catching up at our recent Convention in Sydney - as you can see, we had lots of fun posing for the camera. I bet she just loves this page Liz has made for her.

Here's another great page Liz has made of her daughter Dana and friend Jess, using a colour scheme inspired by Jess's shirt - Orchid Opulence, Basic Grey & Basic Black...

And another great layout, a perfect Christmas Page of her 4 kids...

The sky is the limit in terms of choosing your colour scheme and embellishing the lower right quadrant. Liz used 'Friends 24-7' Stamp Set in the first two layouts shown above and then for the third layout, she used 4 photos and popped an embellishment in the middle - easy!

I'd love to see your Quadrangle Creations, send me a pic if you make one!
Thanks Liz for this fabulous idea!

Happy Scrapbooking! xo

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?????

Cottage Wall Card

Without fail I fall in love with the new DS Papers we get each time we get a new Mini, and this time is no different. I'm in LOVE with Cottage Wall in our Autumn Winter Mini.

Here's my latest card, guess what DS papers I have used for this one? lol

Stamps: Best Yet (level 1 hostess)

Ink: Rich Razzleberry

Card: Cottage Wall DS, Whisper White, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence

Accessories: Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon

Tools: Paper Trimmer, Wide Oval Punch, Horizontal Slot Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Adhesives including Dimensionals.

Rich with Razzleberry!

My favourite new colour to play with is one of our NEW 'In Colours' in the Autumn Winter Mini Rich Razzleberry, and it's here to stay!

Here's a few projects I've made since Rich Razzleberry came to join me at my house...

Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Sincere Salutations

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Orchard Opulence

Card: Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence, Kraft, Whisper White

Accessories: Whipser White Taffeta Ribbon, Crystal Brad (Purple) from the Ice collection

Tools: Paper Snips, Piercer (for brad), Adhesives including Dimensionals

Below is a cute little bag that I had previously shown here in Good Morning Sunshine DS, this time I've made it with the new DS Papers Cottage Wall and my New Favourite Colour

'Rich Razzleberry'.

Stamps: Vintage Vogue

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence, Old Olive

Card: Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence, Old Olive, Whisper White, Cottage Wall DS

Accessories: Build-a-Brad, 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Jumbo Brads,

Silver Brad, Small Clear Bag

Tools: Paper Trimmer with Scoring Blade, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Crop-a-Dile, Paper Snips, 1/2" Circle Punch, Piercer (for brad), Adhesives including Dimensionals.

I've case this next idea from another demonstrator (I'm sorry I can't remember who it was) who made these and will be having them as her swaps at our Convention coming up in May.

They are cute little bags made from the 'Top Note' Big Shot Die. I'm planning on using it to put little pages in and make a mini album (brag book) for Grandma for Mother's Day.

Card: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Cottage Wall DS

Accessories: Silver Brads

Tools: Big Shot, Top Note Die, Trio Flower Punch, Two-Step Bird Punch, Piercer (for brads), Paper Snips, Adhesives including Dimensionals.

Medallion Kisses

I know I say this over & over, but I sooooo LOVE being a Paper Angel! Specially those times when we all get together at Liz's house and play with new products!

Here's a card I made on one of those "Play Days" at Liz's

featuring the new Medallion Stamp

from Page 17 of the Autumn Winter Mini.

The chocolate Baroque Swirls you can see are created by

'Kissing' Baroque Motifs and the Medallion together before Stamping.

Ink Medallion in lighter colour, then ink Baroque Swirl in darker colour and 'kiss' both stamps together so the Baroque Swirl leaves an imprint on the Medallion. Then stamp the Medallion onto your card stock. "WOW"

Stamps: Medallion, Baroque Motifs, Sincere Salutations

Ink: Brocade Blue, Chocolate Chip

Card: Brocade Blue, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Accessories: Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon, Half Pearl

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

(Card inspired from Split Coast Stampers)

Above is Kathy's funky version of this card in the NEW colours

Melon Mambo & Rich Razzleberry

from our Autumn Winter Mini!

Good Morning Sunshine Bag

Here's a cute little bag I made for my hostess last weekend

featuring Good Morning Sunshine DS Papers!

I've also made one using some NEW DSP 'Cottage Wall' in the Autumn Winter Mini, but you'll have to stay tuned to see that one as it's at Liz's house being that it was part of our display for our launch last Sunday.

Bag

Card: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Good Morning Sunshine DSP

Accessories: Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Jumbo Eyelets, Build-a-Brad

Tools: Paper Trimmer with Scoring Blade, Crop-a-dile, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle punch, 1/2" Circle Punch (for brad), Piercer (for brad), Adhesives including Sticky Strip.

I made this set of gift cards to pop into the bag for my hostess.

For those who were lucky enough to get 'Happy Moments' FREE during Sale-a-Bration,

here's some cute ideas for that set...

Gift Cards

Stamps: Happy Moments (Sale-A-Bration Set 2010)

Ink: Basic Black, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Old Olive & Summer Sun Markers

Card: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Summer Sun, Whisper White, Good Morning Sunshine DSP

Accessories: Soft Subtles Brads, Dazzling Diamonds, Cello Bag, Chocolate Chip 1" Double-stitched Ribbon

Tools: Paper Snips, Piercer (for brads), 2Way Glue Pen (for glitter), Adhesives including Dimensionals.

Easter Treat Jar!

When I spotted this little fella on Marelle Taylor's Blog, I couldn't help resist but CASE him. Thanks Marelle for the wonderful Inspiration.

What a great little Easter treat to make for teachers, neighbours, friends and loved ones!

Stamps: No stamps were harmed in the use of making this little wabbit!

Ink: Basic Black Marker

Card: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette

Accessories: Glass Jar (from Ikea), Pink Pirouette Strip Ribbon, Silver Brad (tail), Googly Eyes

Tools: 1 3/4" Circle Punch (head), Small & Large Oval Punches (ears), 1/2" Circle Punch (behind googly eyes), 3/4" Circle Punch (cheeks), Trio Flower Punch (trimmed to create nose), Boho Blossoms Punch (tail), Piercer for brad in tail, Adhesives including Glue Dots and Dimensionals

Look at his cute little tail...

Don't the pink eggs just look fabulous? They taste yummy too! (giggle). Conveniently a whole packet fits in the jar except for just one... :-)

Creating Cards with Carla!

I was so lucky to have my friend Carla come over and stay the weekend (she would say she was even luckier, as she got to come child free! hee hee hee). We had plenty of time to relax in the craft room and at our leisure create some cards! (That was in between the many interruptions from my kids though, it wasn't child free for all damn it!)

Here's a few of the cards we created over the weekend together...

This was an idea I had stored away in which I can't remember where I had first seen this. It's a great way to use up your DS scraps (1cm strips). You could guarantee you would never get 2 cards looking the same with this one!

Stamps: (L) Best Yet (level 1 hostess), (R) Seeing Spots

Ink: (L) Almost Amethyst, (R) Basic Grey, So Saffron

Card: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Almost Amethyst, So Saffron, Tea Party DS

Accessories: (L) So Saffron Grosgrain Ribbon, (R) Certainly Celery Grosgrain Ribbon, Bling

Tools: Paper Trimmer, Paper Snips, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Horizontal Slot Punch, Adhesives including Dimensionals.

(L) made by Leonie (R) made by Carla

This next card was my little invention I was busting to try out after making the menus in the easel card style for my sister's wedding. Carla and I created the card front, then with a little trial and error I came up with the measurements for the base of the card to get the easel effect.

Stamps: Butterfly Prints (summer mini), Whimsical Words (Sale-a-Bration free set)

Ink: Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip

Card: Regal Rose, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Sweet Always DS, Pink Pirouette Patterns DS

Accessories: Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Bling

Tools: Paper Trimmer with Scorer Blade, Butterfly Punch (summer mini), Eyelet Border Punch, (L) Designer Label Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, (R) Wide Oval Punch, Adhesives including Dimensionals

(L) made by Leonie (R) made by Carla

You may have seen this card design before, it was one from a set of 4 at a recent Stamp-a-Stack class of mine. I just changed the colours. Carla wanted a B'Day card for a friend who loves purple, so we came up with this...

Stamps: Circle Circus, Life Definitions

Ink: Lavender Lace, Always Artichoke, Elegant Eggplant

Card: Always Artichoke, Lavender Lace, Elegant Eggplant, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Mellow Moss Taffeta Ribbon, Brads

Tools: Wide Oval Punch, Piercer (for brads), Adhesives including Dimensionals

Now there is a story with these last 2 cards. Carla and I spotted this idea made by Marelle Taylor. We thought we would give it a go, so we googled to find the instructions how to tea bag fold the circle punch to get the petals. All good so far. We both folded our petals, and for some reason my 8 petals would not join to make a circle, AAARRRGGG! Mine were too skinny. Carla's were perfect. I tried re-folding them, but I will admit, this was one of those very rare occasions, when It got the better of me, and I gave up! Carla loved it so much, she took over making mine, so I can say, both of these gorgeous cards were made by Carla! (with me sitting on the side sulking. )

Stamps: Sincere Salutations

Ink: Rose Red, Kiwi Kiss

Card: Rose Red, Kiwi Kiss, Cameo Coral, Whisper White, Raspberry Tart DS

Accessories: Rose Red 1" Ribbon, Crystal Brad

Tools: 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Piercer for brad, Adhesives including Dimensionals.

Stay tuned for more projects from our weekend coming your way!

Wedding Time!

Why are things a little quiet around here? No Classes last month, not too many blogs happening... why... it's the final count down for my Sister's Big Day! This Sat, the 6th March, my sister becomes a Mrs

and I get myself a Brother-in-Law!

The past week I've been busy making 80 name place cards for the tables, as well as table numbers. The invitations we made were Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla, and Choc Chip.

(Check them out by clicking here if you like.)

Naturally all the table settings are these colours too.

Here are some of the name place cards...

Being that this is a Military Wedding, Jackie has painted little army soldier figurines in gold to sit near the place cards. Alongside that there will be a cute little bag of Chocolate Bullets. I'll try to get a photo of these to show you after the wedding.

Today I created my creation of all creations... hee hee hee. I'm a bit proud. Jackie asked me if I could think of a way of making menus that could stand on the tables. Other than a plate stand for them, I was a little stumped. Until I came up with this!

Cool hey? I made a few samples first with scrap card stock until I got it just right. The idea was based around an easel card, but in a much different scale. I started with the size of the menu on the Vanilla and worked the rest of the measurements around that.

Remember the little Build-a-Brad Crowns on the invites? Here they are again. They got so many comments from those invited, I couldn't resist to have them on the tables too!

Well we are off in the morning on our exciting venture to Sydney. There won't be much posting going on while there, although I may try to sneak a quick blog in of the Card I made for Jason & Jackie's Day (it matches too of course).

Catch you all when I'm back. Get ready for some serious stamping when I'm back on track!

Sharing creativity with my best friend Kirsten xo

Thursday was an exciting day for us here at home, my best friend Kirsten and her son Angus came to stay the night. Kirsten & I go way back to year 2 in Primary School.

Last year Kirsten moved far far away out west to a huge property and we've been feeling the distance and missing each other.

Since living on a property with many km's between her and anyone else, Kirsten has found a new love of Stampin' a great way to fill in her days and be able to refocus her energies to when feeling isolated and lonely. We've spent may a time over the phone talking about our creations, and there's been the odd Stampin' Up! parcel delivered out west, but we have been busting to get together and create!

The first thing Kirsten really wanted to make on Thursday when she got here was the ever so popular Sticky Note Holder (click here for my previous post of this). Here's what we made...

Card: Rose Red, Regal Rose, Kiwi Kiss, Raspberry Tart DS

Accessories: Kiwi Kiss Stripe Ribbon, Crystal Brad, Mini Gel Pen, Sticky Note Pad

Tools: Paper Trimmer with Scoring Blade, 5 Petal Flower Punch, Piercer for Brad, Adhesives including Sticky Strip to assemble holder and Dimensionals

Kirsten then spotted my Envelope Card (click here for my previous post of this). Here's the creation we came up with of this...

Stamps: Butterfly Prints (Summer Mini), Three Little Words, Curvy Verses

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Almost Amethyst

Card: So Saffron, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Tea Party DS

Accessories: Pretty in Pink Stripe Ribbon, Whisper White Envelope

Tools: Paper Trimmer, Paper Crimper, Butterfly Punch (Summer Mini), 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Round Tab Punch

I wanted to share with Kirsten a quick classic card I was inspired by from Paper Angel Anna using the FREE Sale-a-Bration set Happy Moments. It looks so effective and can be created using up your DS scraps in any pattern. Stamp 3 present stamps on 3 different pieces of scrap DS, cut each present out and re-stack them to get this groovy card...

Stamps: Happy Moments (Sale-A-Bration Set)

Ink: Basic Black

Card: Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Kaleidoscope DS (Summer Mini)

Tools: Paper Snips, Adhesives including Dimensionals.

We had so much fun creating these little projects (plus a few others), we almost forgot the kids were playing in Elana's room. The cleaning up of her room wasn't so fun, but it was worth it!