Stampin’ Up! are running a fantastic Deal of the Week promotion for June.  Every Wednesday in June they will announce a new deal which will be 30% or more off selected products.  The first week is a doozy…

30% discount on the following punches.

So instead of paying the regular $30.95 you will only pay $20.12.  Wow!  A fantastic saving and a great way to build on your punch collection.

Call or email me today with your order as this deal will run out on Tuesday.  Be sure to check back in on Wednesday for the next amazing Deal of the Week!

Have a great weekend.

Hi all.  I thought I would share with you another couple of projects I made during the ESAD Unconvention weekend before last.

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

Hi all.

Well last weekend it was the Stampin’ Up! Convention held in Sydney.  I chose not to go this year due to some work we are doing around the house and the possiblity of a family holiday instead of me having all the fun alone.  Whilst I was a little blue once I knew the girls were heading East I got some amazing texts and calls from great friends giving me the lowdown of the bridge climb and the Momento Mall shopping experience. 

I am a member of the ESAD forum which means Extra Special Aussie Demonstrators (and now NZ of course) and they held an Unconvention for those of us who couldn’t go but wanted to participate in something special.  Well, I just loved it!  I got right into the challenges and I have a few things to show you now because of it.

One of the challenges I took part in was a ribbon challenge, which required us to use two different ribbons, three different cardstocks, and some bling on the one card.  This is what I came up with.

Cardstock:  Kraft, Very Vanilla, Not Quite Navy,
Accessories:  Scallop Circle Punch, Big Shot Embosslits Thanks die, Bella Blue DSP, Kraft and Vanila taffeta ribbon, clear rhinestone brad.

The next card challenge I took part in was a Z-fold challenge.  I haven’t made one of these for ages so it was good to give it a try.

Stamp set:  Always
Cardstock:  Basic Gray, Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
Inks:  Pink Pirouette
Accessories, Regal Rose marker for thumping, Fillagree brad

This next card was for the challenge that I set which was to use a stamp set you haven’t used in a very long time and update it using new tools, colours and papers etc. 

Stamp set:  Heartfelt Thanks, Occasional Greetings
Cardstock:  Not Quite Navy, Basic Gray, Baja Breeze, Whisper White
Inks:  Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy
Accessories:  Big Shot Perfect Polka Dot die, Scallop Circle die, Scallop edged punch, striped Baja ribbon, Circle Scissors Plus, Word Window punch, Urban Garden DSP

I hope you have enjoyed these and I’ll be back soon with some of the 3D items I did too.  I even did a scrapbook page challenge!! 

Have a great weekend!

Cheers

I’ve been a bit naughty by not acknowleding some gorgeous blog awards I have received lately so without further ado, I would like say a big fat thanks to my gorgeous effverscent friend Charmaine for the following Sunshine Award.

and also to my darling friend Keesh, Steph and Robyn for the following Beautiful Blogger Award.

Thanks so much guys.  It means a lot to me that you would consider me worthy of your awards and I just love that you pop in here to see what I’m up to.

Part of receiving the Awards means I have to share 10 things about myself with you.  I have to say they aren’t particularly exciting but here they are:

I missed my first ever SU event by not going to Convention last week :-(

I have three tattoos
(ok they are all for medical purposes but I love saying that – I’m such a rebel!)

I have weird double jointed thumbs!

I really want to learn the guitar

I love to sneak kisses from my boys when they are sleeping

I am the youngest of four girls.

I’m a lousy cook.

I can’t seem to say “NO” to helping out at school (I think that was passed down from Mum & Dad)

I lived and worked in Sydney and Melbourne but Perth is and always has been home!

I am 12.5 kilos lighter than at this time last year!

So there you have it.  Not too many skeletons in my closet.  Now the other thing I have to do is pass on these Awards to bloggers I love to visit.  I have a very long list of blogs I visit regularly, including the ladies who have awarded me so we could around in circles for a long time here so I won’t pop in their names even though they are all cherished by me!

Gardenia Pepworth

Chantelle

Tanya Kitto

Teneale Williams

Caroline Colgan

Leonie Schroder

Sue Joyce

Kirsty

Jodene

I hope you pop into these blogs and check out some amazing creations.

I’ll be back soon with some projects I have created lately. 

Cheers

Hi all.  Sorry it’s been a little while since I’ve posted.  There are lots of things going on at the moment and I just haven’t been able to get on here!  I owe a few lovely ladies thanks for some gorgeous blog awards and I shall be back to do that soon.  (waving at you Robyn!) 

Anyway I just thought I would quickly share this gorgeous little picnic basket with you.  I have joined UStamp for this round which is all about using the Big Shot.  This one uses the Top Note die to make the lid.  Pretty cute isn’t it?

I’ve used a few items from the Autum/Winter mini catagloue to create it.  Firstly, the gorgeous Cottage Wall designer papers and Rich Razzleberry cardstock.  I’ve embellished it with Silver Hodgepodge and wide Old Olive ribbon.  My flower is made with Rich Razzleberry, Perfect Plum and Pale Plum cardstock. 

I’m a little sad tonight as my stamping gals from Perth have all boarded the plane for Sydney heading to the Stampin’ Up! Convention.  This will be the first time I’ve missed Convention but with a few home renos and things that we plan around here I decided I would stay home this year and save the pennies.  I know they will be unpacking their bags and laughing till their sides ache tonight and that’s the part I’ll miss the most.  We always have such a wonderful fun time together!  Oh well, I have fantastic memories of my times at Convention and hope I get to go next year! 

Over the next few days a group of demonstrators who haven’t been able to attend this year are holding Unconvention.  We will be having all sorts of fun over the next few days cyberstamping together so be sure to check back in now and then as I hope to participate in a few challenges along the way.

Cheers

Hi all.  I thought I would share with you this gorgeous little handbag I made a while back using the new Cottage Wall designer papers and the Big Shot Top Note Die. It is also my entry into this week’s Stamping Royalty challenge which is anything but a card.

It’s actually quite simple to make using the Top Note Die.

Here is the side view:

Here is another I made using the Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder instead of a layer of DSP and using the Scallop Circle Die as the lid. 

and here are a few more……

I somehow managed to put my hand up for helping out with a little ‘token’ for the Mum’s at our school Mother’s Day breakfast this morning.  My idea was a simple bookmark for each mum, however as soon as I let those girlfriends of mine loose in my craft room and they saw these handbags they had their hearts set on them!  I tried to explain they had no idea what was involved in making them in bulk but they twisted my arm (and the top off the champagne bottle)!  We managed to cut and prep 50 in one afternoon while the kids ran around together.  I have such a wonderful bunch of girlfriends from our little school and whilst it was a chore in itself, we had some fun putting these together.  Part way through we changed the handbag to a quicker little gift bag and after a few more get togethers we had finally completed our quota of 130!  

Here is a closer look at the gorgeous gift bags using the Top Note Die as a lid.  Super cute and the Mum’s loved them!  Aren’t these rosettes just so sweet?

Well I’m off for an early night as I’ve had some dental surgery this week and it’s finally catching up with me.  I’m exhausted.  Oh, and I guess I’ll have to get up tomorrow and make my Mum one of these little bags!! 

Happy Mother’s Day girls.

Cheers

Like what you see here?  Well this is a sneak peak at my final entry as Guest Designer with Keesh’s Inkspirations Challenges.  I have absolutely loved being involved with these challenges from the other side of the fence (so to speak) and it certainly has challenged me to look at my tools, stamp sets and colours with a new approach. 

This week’s challenge is an inpsiration pic:

 and here is my entry:

What do you think?  I have to say I am really happy with it.  When I first looked at the pic my thoughts jumped straight to Fifth Avennue Floral, Regal Rose and Pink Pirouette.  

I have recently begun making flowers out of all sorts of punches and DSP and so I knew I wanted to incorporate them on the front.  These are made by punching cardstock with the scallop circle punch and running them through the crimper (A LOT!) to break down the fibres and peel the cardstock into two layers. Then layer them together and pin with a brad and scrunch them up to your liking.  I ended up making several different colours and then used my smaller circle punches to make the smaller buds.  I loved making these so much I have a desk full of different colours – they are sooo purty!  You can also use tissue paper but it has be folded over and layered on cardstock to allow the punch to cut through.

Here is a view from the side and you can see a little peak of the Fifth Avenue Floral rose in there too.

Stamp set:  Occasional Greetings, Fifth Avenue Floral
Cardstock:  Rose Red, Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Always Artichoke
Inks:  Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip
Accessories:  Big Shot Scallop Circle Die, Circle Scissors Plus, Chocolate Chip Ribbon, Sweet Always DSP, Clear Rhinestone brads, 5 Petal Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4″ circle punch, 1″ circle punch, glue dots.

Well as I said I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of the Challenge Team and I have so say what an amazingly talented bunch of girls Keesh and her Team are.  Thanks for the warm welcome and blog love girls!  I have soaked up their brilliance and hope to play more often!

Don’t forget to go and check out the other Design Team members creations.  Keesh is having technical dramas this week and hasn’t been able to load her item so Kirsty is hosting the challenge.  I’d love to see you have a go and upload your entry with Mr Linky on Kirsty’s blog.

I hope you get the chance to join in.

Makeesha
Kirsty
Chantelle
Teneale
Sarah-Jane
Renee
Cindy

Cheers

Hi all.  I hope you are having a lovely long weekend.  The weather here is glorious at the moment and the kids are really enjoying the sunshine with their friends this weekend.  I have one sick boy on the lounge with what looks like another bout of tonsilitis after just finishing the anti-biotics from suffering it last week.  I hate to see my boys sick. :=(  Here’s hoping its shortlived.

I managed to have a go at the latest Clean and Simple Challenge because as this one was all about white space and the sketch was so simple I thought I could manage it in between all my other chores around here at the moment.

Here is this week’s sketch: 

and here is my take on it:

Stamp set:  Party Hearty, Heard from the Heart (Autumn/winter mini)
Cardstock:  Whisper White
Inks:  Pumpkin Pie, Regal Rose
Accessories:  Sweet Always DSP, 1 3/4″ circle punch, dimensionals

As I said, it sure is simple but I really like it!  There is definitely something to be said about going back to basics and I love these challenges.

Well, I’m off to pack up a humungous pile of clothes my hubby is donating to the Good Sammies now that he’s the incredible shrinking man and nothing fits anymore.  He’s lost 15 kilos and is just getting spunkier every minute!

Cheers

Hey there!  I hope you’ve had a good week.  I have been pretty busy just getting back into things after school holidays and catching up with the dreaded housework and those horrid bills.  There’s nothing like a little ink to get a smile on my face!  What about you?  How about a colour challenge to get you inspired? I am thrilled to be Guest Designer for the Inkspirations Design Team Challenges for the month of April.

This week Keesh at Inkspirations has given us these gorgeous colours to work with:

and here is my card. 

Stamp set: Fun & Fast Notes
Cardstock:  Real Red, Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Whisper White
Inks:  Black Stazon, Bashful Blue, Old Olive
Accessories:   Stampin’ Write markers, Scallop Edge punch, wide Bashful Blue stitched ribbon, wide Real Red grosgrain ribbon, Sherbet designer buttons, Big Shot Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder, Word Window punch, linen thread, clear rhinestones, Aqua painter.

With these fantastic colours and the Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder I decided to keep it sweet and simple.  I’m not too confident with my colouring skills so I sometimes forget about this great stamp set Fun & Fast Notes.  I think this little birdie is my favourite.  I have stamped him in Stazon and used my Aqua Painter and Stampin’ Write markers to colour him.

Be sure to pop in and check out the other Design Team members to see their creations and then get to it and make your own and go to Mr Linky on Keesh’s blog to upload your card.

I hope you get the chance to join in.

Makeesha
Kirsty
Chantelle
Teneale
Sarah-Jane
Renee
Cindy

Cheers

Hi everyone!  Well what a holiday to remember!  We are back home and ready for a new school term but not after a few mishaps along the way.  We had a fantastic time and the kids had an absolute ball with their school friends and friends they made at the caravan park.  To cut a long story short it was the first trip in the van where Paul decided to return home during the week to work and I stayed with the boys.  We were with another family from school and they did the same.  Everything was going great, my friend Vick and I were happily reading and relaxing and catching up with other friends.   Enter…… enormous rainstorm!  Panic…… 2 hubbies….. Exit….. 2 mums and 4 children!  After discussions with the guys, we decided to tie down what we could, load our cars with our valuables and ride out the rough weather at the local pub for the entire afternoon while the heavens opened above us!   We all ended up bunkering down in our van for the night and the kids thought it was fantastic!  We had so many laughs!!  Vick and I did our best impersonations of being ‘not too worried’ and continued to drag their belongings to one end of her nearly collapsed tent and cover it with tarps.  We fully expected to wake to one seriously damaged collapsed tent but were pleasantly surprised and the holiday continued albeit wet but still fun!  Who knew kids could get so muddy riding through puddles on a bike? Of course by the time the hubbies returned for the weekend the sun was shining and they wanted to know what all the fuss was about.

Ok so now you are up to date with the travelling Ryan family, it’s time to see some more new goodies from the Autumn/Winter mini.

Here is a little gift box I have made using the Big Shot Top Note die and embossed it with the Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder.  I have embellished with a flower made by layering several Scallop Circle punched pieces of the new Cottage Wall DSP and the polka dot Razzleberry ribbon.

Here is a view from the side so you can see the gift box.

Stamp set:  Vintage Labels (Sell-a-bration set)
Cardstock:  Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Pale Plum
Inks:  Rich Razzleberry
Accessories:  Big Shot Circles #2 die, Top Note die, Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder, Large Oval punch, Small Oval punch, Razzleberry Polka Dot ribbon, Button bouquet

The Top Note die is so versatile for cardmaking, scrapping or gift items and I just love playing with it!  I’ll be back soon with another Top Note gift item.

I’m having a class in my home next Wednesday night, 28th April if you’d like to come along and play with the Top Note die for yourself!  Just email or call me to book your place.

Have a great week!  Don’t forget to visit again on Friday for the Inkspiration Challenge which goes live at 4pm Perth time.

cheers