Hi everyone!    I have some fantastic news for you!  Today I am super excited to announce details of the 4th annual Stamp-a-thon to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.  

This year’s event will be held on  SATURDAY, 4 SEPTEMBER

Stamp-a-thon is a day of fun filled stamping activities where you will make 7 exciting projects and receive the brand new Ideas Book & Catalogue which launches on 1 Sept.  There will be loads of give aways, silent auctions, door prizes, etc and you will have the opportunity to be the first to see and play with some amazing new products from the long awaited new catalogue.  All proceeds from the day will go to the NBCF for breast cancer research.

I know those of you who attended last year, or missed out on a spot, are itching for the details, so help is at hand.  For those of you new to Stamp-a-thon, it was started three years ago by my gorgeous friend and fellow Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, the very talented Makeesha Byl, when I was diagnosed for a second time with breast cancer.  Keesh decided to do something proactive and embarked on raising money for breast cancer research by doing something that we all love – stamping! 

So,without further ado…

click here to view the details and obtain your registration form. 

Be quick because places are limited and fill extremely fast.  Come and join us in this great cause and have a fantastic day out doing something you love!

Each Stamp-a-thon event has grown tremendously and last year Keesh asked myself and fellow demonstrator Charmaine Black to assist her with the day, and of course we jumped at the chance!  This year, preparation will be a little different as Keesh is now living in Cairns but we are thrilled to say she’s coming home to head the show once again.  Woo hoo!  I can’t wait to see that girl and give her a big squeeze. 

You can read more about how Stamp-a-thon came about here and about last year’s event here.

We look foward to hearing from you soon and seeing you on the day!

Cheers 

First up is a Top Note gift card holder which is really cute.  Excuse the pic – I took it at night which is a no no. It opens up to hold a gift voucher card inside.

Stamp sets:  Vintage Label (Sale-A-Bration)
Cardstock:  Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss
Inks:  Riding Hood Red, Choc Chip (sponging)
Accessories:  Big Shot, Top Note die, Bella Rose DSP, Curly Label punch, Cropadile, jumbo eyelets, Felt Fusion, Choc Chip taffeta ribbon

Next up was a 3D challenge to make this gorgeous gift bag with pocket and matching gift card.  I really like this and I will definitely be making more of these.  This is kinda masculine but will try a prettier one soon.

Stamp set:  Think Happy Thoughts
Cardstock:  Not Quite Navy, Choc Chip, Whisper White
Accessories:  Scallop Edge punch, Bella Rose DSP, Scallop Circle punch, clear rhinestone, Choc Chip ribbon, Cropadile, Jumbo eyelets, Old Olive ribbon

Last but not least, a scrap page!!  I know – don’t fall off your chair.  I actually had some beautiful photos of a wonderful day which made this challenge so much easier.

Stamp sets:  Medallion, Circle Circus
Cardstock:  Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose, Whisper White
Ink:  Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose
Accessories:  Scallop Edge punch, Scallop Circle punch, Curly Label punch, rhinestone brads, Regal Rose marker for thumping and journalling.

This was a sketch challenge and these pics are from our wonderful Mother’s Day we recently celebrated.  This is my gorgeous mum and her four lovely daughters!  Our family had decided to have a pink theme (if you hadn’t noticed) and we had to wear something pink, the whole setting was decorated in pink, our desserts were pink and even our champagne was pink!  Everyone donated to Breast Cancer research instead of buying pressies and we managed to send off a generous donation to the Cancer Council’s Mother’s Day Breast Cancer campaign. 

The whole day had a magic feel about and I’m so glad I made this page to remind me of it.  Behind the photo is a pull tag for with some journalling.

I do have a couple more projects to show you but it’s late now so I’m off to bed.  I’m off to Scitech on a school excursion with Matt and his Year 5 class tomorrow.  Should be fun!?  Somehow I’ve even been talked into going on the bus with them!

Cheers

I had a fantastic time at Regionals yesterday and just love getting together with my stamping friends and learning new ideas and techniques (and a few sneak peaks of products soon to come).  We made some gorgeous make and take projects with a new stamp set and wheel from the upcoming Summer Mini and enjoyed some great presentations from other local demonstrators, and staff from Sydney and the US.

I decided to do my presentation on vellum petals made with the oval punches.  Here are the samples of the cards I presented:

For this card I have used Riding Hood Red, Kraft, Kiwi Kiss and Whisper White cardstock with sentiment from Occasional Greetings and the So Swirly jumbo wheel.  I’ve also added dazzling diamonds, 1″ circle punch, chunky glitter and clear rhinestones for the centre of the flower.

For this card I have used the “petals” as buttlerfly wings.  Cardstock is Lavender Lace and Certainly Celery with Washington Apple DSP, wide Celery grosgrain ribbon, the oval scallop punch and the large oval punch with the sentiment from Best Yet, Level 1 hostess set. I have made the butterfly body with clear rhinestone and the head is from the Ice Circle Rhinestones.

For this card I have glued the ovals onto the Sweet Always DSP rather than vellum to give a completely different effect.  Also when I’ve punched the ovals I have made the petals wider at the end to give it a heavier look.  This card uses Regal Rose, Choc Chip, Pumpkin Pie cardstock, the distressing tool from the cutter kit, sentiment from Stem Sayings, wide Regal Rose grosgrain ribbon, choc chip grosgrain, and pumpkin grosgrain, 1″ and 3/4″ circle punches and a fire rhinestone brad.  For the leaves I have punched two ovals from Certainly Celery cardstock and run them through the crimper.

and finally, for my favourite of the lot, I have used the Scallop Oval Punch for this elegant effect on the petals.  I just love this card (if I do say so myself) with this gorgeous combination of Kraft, Choc Chip and Baja Breeze cardstock.   I have paper pierced the edge of the Kraft and also the stem of the flower and then gone over it with my white gel pen.  For the centre of the flower I have used the 1 1/4 ” circle punch of Parisian Breeze DSP and added a button from the Button Bouquet range.  I’ve also used the Curly Label punch and the stamp from the Cute & Curly set and added Baja Breeze striped grosgrain ribbon.

I’m hoping to make a tutorial on this technique over the next few days so don’t forget to come back and visit soon if you’d like to see how to make these.

Well, it’s time to get ready for another busy week!  Back soon.

Saturday morning I was first up teaching the ladies this beautiful Christmas Album.  I purchased the class tutorial from Andrea Walford and just fell in love with it.  I can’t wait to have some lovely Christmas pics to put in it!

The front cover

Inside front cover

Another fold

This pic shows the album fully unfolded however it doesn’t do the album justice as you can’t see all the backs of the pages.

It really is pretty spectacular and the colours and papers are just beautiful.  To make this album I have used the I Wish Simply Scrappin’ kit.  It uses only a half a kit so  you can make this whole album plus have enough papers and die cuts left over to make loads of Christmas cards or a second album for a gift. 

I am going to run a class in my home to make this album in mid November so watch this space to find out more details. 

After lunch we were treated to some more classes from the lovely Charmaine and Jan.  Charmaine showed a technique called smooshing which so simple and so effective and makes a terrific background.  It’s also a little bit of fun and so easy to do with just ink and water!  Char had asked us to bring in an old style photo to go with the page she planned and I’m pleased to say my page turned out beautifully.  For this page we used Creamy Caramel, Really Rust, Close to Cocoa and Choc Chip ink and the stamp set is Sense of Time from the Summer Mini Catalogue.

I really love how this page turned out!

Next up was a Fantasy Keepsake Box presented by Jan White.  We could choose our own papers and colours for this and it was wonderful to see all the different creations around the room.  This came together really easily once we got the hang of the box making and as I just love the Parisian Breeze DSP in the Summer Mini so am really pleased with it.  I have embellished the top some more of the DSP punched out and topped off with a button from the Button Boquet collection.

Last but not least, here is a pic of the Stamparoos!  What a fine looking bunch and what a great group of women.  Thanks ladies for another unforgettable stamping event!

Have a great week!