Happy browsing!

Hi all.  I hope you are having a nice weekend.  I’m still housebound with this bad cough.  I’m definitely feeling much better but hubby is being overprotective and I’ve only been out of the house once in two weeks and am going a little stir crazy.  Tomorrow I’m heading into hospital for another round of chemo and I’m actually looking forward to it just so I can get out of here!!  That’s a worry isn’t it?  Oh well, I’m going to visit the oncologist first and hopefully she’ll have more promising news that we are on the right track and my big sis Jule is coming with me as my buddy so that’ll be nice.  Oooh did I tell you that she shaved her head to raise money for Breast Cancer and has so far raised $2,000!  I think she’s very brave and inspiring and many people talk the talk, but she is walking the walk for cancer research!  x

Anyway, back to the reason you popped in… I’ve been inspired by a couple of challenges this week.  First the colour challenge over at Just Add Ink (JAI) and then a sketch challenge at Inkspirations.

and here is my card.

Stamps:  Medallion, Occasional Greetings
Inks:  Soft Suede, Black Stazon
Cardstock:  Basic Black, Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla
Accessories:  Big Shot Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Champagne Mist shimmer paint, Stampa-ma-jig, Build-a-brad, black satin ribbon

I’m really happy with how this card turned out although it is so far removed from the original idea I had when I sat down at my desk!  I tried a new technique using the Shimmer Paint.  I stamped the Medallion in Soft Suede and then daubered the shimmer paint directly onto the rubber stamp and realigned my image with the Stampa-ma-jig to give it a slight shadow effect. In real life it’s very shimmery and quite stunning (if I do say so myself) but my photo doesn’t really do it justice .

Thanks for popping in.  Have a great week!

Well hello there!  Long time no see hey? I have had a lot going on this past little while and my creative motivation has come to a griding halt… but more on that in a minute.

Tonight I thought I’d share with you these roses I made some time ago now using the Fancy Flower punch.  My friend and fellow demonstrator Pat Carr (who needs a blog) taught us how to make these and whilst they are a little fiddly, once you’ve mastered one, they are quite easy to do and very effective.  They look great on top of a gift box too if you don’t want the single stem. 

Lovely aren’t they?

On a personal note, unfortunately I recently learned that my breast cancer has returned, this time in the form of enlarged lymph nodes in my chest and abdomen. My oncologist has acted really quickly and I’ve already had three sessions of chemotherapy.  I’ll be having ongoing weekly chemo which I imagine will go on for a long while but it’s treatable so we are going to fight hard and hopefully it’ll be third time lucky and we’ll nuke the little suckers once and for all.

I’m feeling remarkably well and positive although it’s extremely difficult to watch Paul, my family and the boys go through this again.  The boys are coping really well and I guess until I lose my hair and start to look sick, it’s not particularly real to them.  The chemo I’m on this time doesn’t seem to have the dreadful nausea and vomiting so I’m feeling ‘quite normal’ most days although I’m told the tiredness and aches will kick in the more treatment I have. 

Please know I am feeling quite good and we are trying to keep things as normal as possible here. We have an amazing support network through the school, my family and many many friends. 

Obviously my focus now will be putting my energies into getting well and so I’m pulling back on my Stampin’ Up! workshops and classes however I’ll still be happy to place orders and help with any queries you may have.  I hope to pop in here every now and then with the odd card or project when I get the urge to dabble in some stamping. 

Thanks for your support, prayers and understanding.  Happy stamping!

It certainly gave us all a scare and put my family under an enormous cloud of worry once again.  I seem to be good at torturing them all.  As a result I have had a much needed rest from classes and workshops and I guess stamping in general.  I’ve enjoyed some reading and relaxing and a bit of tele watching for a change as well as settling the boys back into school and readjusting to the changes in homework, activities and our schedules in general. 

A few updates for you…

As you know we had a few quality issues with some of the new punches and I’m happy to say the Fancy Flower punch and the  2 3/8″ circle scallop punch (Summer mini) are now both available to order again.   They are still working on the issues with the Ornament punch.

The Summer mini is now in it’s last month and as you know we can’t be guaranteed which products may reappear at a later date so if you’ve had your eye on something, now is the time to snap it up. 

Don’t forget Sale-A-Bration is still on until the end of March so now is a fantastic time to get that little ’something for nothing’ stamping treat.  See earlier post here.

 I hope this finds you all well and if you are in WA, surviving this stinking heatwave!

This week’s challenge is ’stitching madness’ so I’ve chosen to drag out my machine and use the real thing.  You can use faux stitching, hand stitching or machine stitching – whatever takes your fancy!

Here’s my card:

Stamp set: For You Flower
Cardstock: Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie textured, Mambo Melon
Accessories: Stampin’ Write markers, Bright buttons, Brights DSP Patterns Stack, Fancy Flower punch, 1 3/4″ circle punch, Pumpkin Pie ribbon, machine stitching

I hope you likey?  I know it’s very simple but I love these crisp new Brights colours together!

Don’t forget to pop on over to Stampin’ Royalty and see what the girls have been up to and have a go yourself!

The new layout and design of the catalogue is gorgeous and there are sooooo many new goodies to see. You’ll love the new colours and accessories as well the wonderful selection of stamp sets.

You can view it online here or order your copy with me now.  $10 if you collect from my house or $17 to be posted to you.  You will absolutely love flicking through this gorgeous book filled with beautiful layouts and ideas.

I’ll be back soon with more details and samples from the new catty but right now I’m up to my eyeballs with Stamp-a-thon preps for Saturday. I can’t wait to share our projects from the new catalogue with you after our big day!

Cheers

Hudson is the 2 ½ year old son of a fellow Aussie Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, but unlike most children his age, he has had a tough little life!  Doctors realised he had an incomplete brain before he was born and as a newborn he was discovered to be legally blind.  Hudson has recently been diagnosed with both Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy.  His mobility has been hindered severely by his disabilities, however his family and friends wish nothing more than to give him the chance to get moving on his own. Hudson needs a special Wheelchair/Walker, called a Kid Walker. This device will help get him mobile, allow him to play with his brother and sister, interact with other children his own age and give him independence in his day to day life!

This is where the stamping world really comes into play! There is a HUGE online stamping event taking place, called Helping Hudson -A Wheely Great Cause!  The organisers have been working really hard, securing support, tutorials and donations to get this event underway. There are going to be three weeks of stamping fun for you to join in – it kicks off  today and will run right through until 22 August.  

Bundles of tutorials kindly donated by Stampin’ Up! demonstrators the world over, are available for purchase.  Each bundle has 10 fun-filled tutorials for just AU$10!  There are six themes to choose from: Bags & Boxes, Christmas, Kids’ Birthdays, Projects for Men & Boys, Punch Art & Scrapbooking. There’s even a FREE bonus bundle if you buy four or more. WOW how exciting! All proceeds go directly to help Hudson.

The Helping Hudson Crew will also be posting some awesome challenges throughout the three weeks. For a small donation you can join in and be in the running for some FANTASTIC Stampin’Up! Prize packs, kindly donated by Stampin’ Up! Australia (Aussie participants only).  Also keep your eyes peeled for challenges over at Just Add Ink and Stamp A Memory too.

And we would love you to help spread the word too. Check out the ‘Spreading The Word’ page at the site for all you need to know to get the word out to as many people as you can.

To check it all out click on this icon below. 

C’MON LETS GET HUDSON MOVING!!!!!

Thanks for your support.

Well it’s the final week of Deals of the Week and it’s a beauty!  If you love to add a little bling to your creations then this week’s deal is for you!

You have until next Wed 30th June to order at this fantastic discounted price.

Have a great week.  I’ll be back soon to upload another challenge card.

Cheers

 Well aren’t you just loving this Deal of the Week promotion running throughout June?  What a fantastic way to pick up some new goodies at a fraction of the normal price!

This week’s special is an absolute cracker!  You’ll get up to 50% off the price of these selected stamp sets.  

You can click on the link on my sidebar to view the catalogue online.

Call me on 0407 192 735 or email me today at louise@stamp2it.com with your order.  You have until Midday on Tuesday of next week to take advantage of this great offer.

Have a great week!

The second deals of the week are from today, 9 June to Tuesday, 15 June.

Fantastic savings on some of our gorgeous papers!  Be sure to call me on 0407 192 735 or email me this week with your order so you don’t miss out on this amazing saving.

Have a great week.

Cheers