Royal Blog Tour Announcement

Have you noticed that a couple of new logos have appeared on the left hand side - they are quite fancy aren't they.  I am taking part in a rather special blog hop ... its like nothing I have ever done before.  Its huge - the organisation and effort of the volunteers is amazing.  It happens twice a year and involves heaps and heaps of bloggers - thankfully we are all split up into Groups to make it easier to hop around and check out what everyone has created.

You'll notice other bits and pieces appearing on my blog before launch day ... a little computer fairy pops into my little bit of blogland and adds the bits needed to make it all run smoothly.  

If you click on the links on the right hand side you'll be transported out to the official website .... each participant is profiled - if you want to check out my profile click here.

So it all starts on 4 November and will run for one week - can't wait to show you my creations .... it will mean that the usual posts will be on hold until after the hop is over .... so there will be plenty to keep you inspired next month.

Until then .... 

 

 

Happy Birthday Clare

Happy birthday to my lovely sister-in-law Clare.

I am in love with this flower ... I keep making them ... so I thought I'd take this opportunity to show you how to do it.  Punch three scallop circles and screw up each one .... over and over again ... imagine you are breaking down the fibres of the cardstock .... when you think that is enough ... fold and bend some more - especially around the edges  ... the more you screw it up the better .... because you want to be able to split it into two layers - the cardstock will split into two layers that you can peel apart from each other. 

Here it is with the layers coming apart .... don't worry if you tear it ... it all adds to the vintage look ... infact if it hasn't torn ... I tear it LOL

Do this to all three punched circles ... layer the six pieces together to create a beautiful vintage flower.

Happy birthday

With love from Nikki, Paul, Olivia, Kieran, Max and Spencer xxxx

 

Stamp out Diabetes

One of the ladies in our team has a daughter who has Diabetes - Alisha is an amazing girl and she is raising funds to find a cure. Alisha's mum Fiona and a couple of the other girls are arranging a fab stamping event - so if you are in the area go and check it out.

Stamp Out Diabetes

Fundraiser

Join them for an afternoon of crafting fun and help them

stamp out Type 1 Diabetes

Date:     Saturday 20^th November 2010

Time:    12:45pm for a 1pm start till 3:30pm

Venue: Oxley College, Life Ministry Centre, Kids Hall

              Old Melbourne Road, Chirnside Park

              (Opposite Bunnings)

              Upon entry go straight through the roundabout and it's on your right.

Cost:    $20

BYO:    Scissors

5 Craft Projects

Intimo Display & Sales

Afternoon Tea

Heaps of Door Prizes

Raffles Galore

(bring cash for Lucky Tickets - no credit card facility available)

To book your seat ring Fiona Ryan on 0438 141 114.
                                             

Payment is required to secure your seat (Cash / Direct Debit)


Net Proceeds to JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes Team – Alisha's Angels

Fiona's blog can be found here

Making Merry Monday Strikes Again

I was so excited when I saw that Dasher was in the new catalogue - I had been eyeing him up in the US catalogue and keeping my fingers crossed that he'd make an appearance in sunny Australia.  Dasher is one of the 'a la carte' range of single stamps .... you'll find them on the inside of the back cover of the new catalogue - he's $14.95.

This is the card we will be making during the classes in November - the one on 5 November is full but there is still places left on Friday 19 November if you are interested in coming along and having a play.  Check out the CLASSES page for more information - there's a tab at the top of this page at the very top - click on it to find out more.

The cardstock is Riding Hood Red from the Regals range, teamed up with Certainly Celery and the spotty paper from the Love Letter Designer Series paper pack. The sentiment is from the Perfect Punches stamp set ... I've used a marker pen to highlight just the wording.  Lots of sparkles too - Stampin' Up! have just this year included self adhesive Jewels (page 140) .... they are faceted and very sparkly :)

Oh and did I mention it is now 9 weeks until Christmas ..... aren't I naughty to you!  If you know me well I am only bragging cos I am ahead ... that's unusual for me (isn't it mum) ... if you need help making your cards let me know .... I'm here to help :)  And don't forget if you want a seat at the next class get in touch.

 

 

A Technique Blog Hop - Brayering

A  group of friends are blog hopping again - just a little group this time with five stops along the way ... if you've arrived from the lovely Judy May's blog, hello ... if you've started here that's great ... just click the links at the end of everyone's posts and you'll travel the full circle.

I am always amazed by the response I receive when I share the brayering technique.  It's my technique of choice to demo at craft shows - hello if you were at Craft Expo and saw this card being created .... it is so simple.

Here's some samples which I made at Craft Expo - you can see that each one is going to be different - there is no right or wrong finished piece - and they are little works of art.

Last year I created a tutorial for another card I did ... the technique is the same ... just different colours .... if you'd like the tutorial just leave me a comment and I'll email it to you - lots of photos so it is easy to follow.

 It is now time to go on your way ... of to see my lovely friend Christine Blain  have fun and I hope to see you again.

 

Does size matter?

Well that title grabbed your attention didn't it :)

I'm a 12" x 12" girl when it comes to scrapbooking, but just recently I was asked to be involved in a project that stipulated a 8.5" by 11" layout .... gee it's little ... but certainly doable ... just a bit bigger than A4.

My layout is simple ... very simple for me ... pop on over to Stampamemory for a look see.

 

FREE to a good home!

YES ... that's right .... he's FREE to a good home!  Look what he has done ...

How could he?  Shoes I can just about live with ... my boots ... well okay it's spring time and I won't need them for a while but .... a STAMP .... that's a crime ... and I needed it for Thursday night!

Here's the card we will be making .... although now the sentiment will be .... well .... different!

This is the my second entry for the JAI challenge this week to 'Just Add Blue' - the Just Add Ink team are raising awareness for the charity Beyond Blue who work  depression and anxiety .... the second part of the challenge was to send the creation as a Random Act of Kindness (RAK).  Now I really love RAK's ... because whenever I receive them I really appreciate the sentiment behind them .... to receive a note from someone out the blue makes you feel loved, cherished and remembered.

So whilst Spencer may have tried to eat a whole stamp ... and isn't yet forgiven .... this card is winging its way to someone who is very much loved, very much cherished and very much remembered ... very often :)

And if there is anyone out there that wants a free six month old schnoodle be sure to leave a comment and I'll post him to you ...... LOL

It's another Making Merry Monday and a JAI Challenge

Shall I scare you and tell you that there are 10, yes TEN, more Making Merry Monday's before Christmas ..... OMG!  

So now that I have been mean, I thought I'd show you a very quick and easy card. Marina Mist is the new blue in the Subtles collection and perfect for the latest Just Add Ink challenge to 'just add blue'.

I ran the Very Vanilla cardstock through the Big Shot using the Vintage embossing folder.  I then sponged the edges with Marina Mist ink and a dauber, ran the Two Way glue pen around and dipped them into some Dazzling Diamonds.

Perfect Punches (page 93) is such a versatile set - I am finding it very handy for easy and quick sentiments.  I stamped the image twice and punched one with the scallop circle punch and the other with the circle punch - layering the two together with a Stampin' Dimensional - too easy as they say!

The lovely striped grosgrain ribbon is lovely and soft - so you can 'pinch' it together with a brad - here I have used a Filigree brad and a Rhinestone brad to match the blue theme.

That's it from me today - if I have scared you and you are thinking you must make a start on your cards and fancy coming to a class - sign up for the newsletter ... I'll be setting all the dates for the classes between now and Christmas - November's newsletter will contain all the details and all the sneak peeks - and don't forget to check out the Dress Up for Christmas promotion if you are wanting to buy a new festive stamp set (click on the link in the side bar on the left hand side for more info).

 

Dress Up Christmas Promotion

Do you want / need some FREE ribbon?

Of course you do!  Here's news of the latest promotion from Stampin' Up! - this Christmas season there are two ways to get FREE exclusive ribbon. 

Here are the details

During the Christmas season, you can earn exclusive Stampin' Up! ribbon in two different ways:

• Purchase a gift-giving bundle and receive one FREE spool of ribbon.


• Host a $550 workshop and receive a FREE spool of ribbon.

Choose from these bundles:

Description	Wood-Mount Item	Wood-Mount Price	Clear-Mount Item	Clear-Mount Price
Gifted Bundle Gifted Set and Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper	124041	$66.90	124042	$56.90
Welcome Christmas Bundle Welcome Christmas Set and Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper	124045	$69.90	124046	$59.90
Season of Joy Bundle Season of Joy Set and So Swirly Stampin' Around Wheel	124043	$67.90	---	---
Delightful Decorations Bundle Delightful Decorations Set and Ornament Punch	124044	$72.90	---	---

*Bundles and ribbons available while supplies last

Choose from these ribbons:

Description	Item	Retail Value
Mistletoe Ribbon Originals	116792	$21.95
Sleigh Bells Ribbon	116795	$15.95
Riding Hood Red 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon	113099	$19.95
Real Red 3/4" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon	115608	$19.95

This promotion ends on 30 November or until stocks last.

Call or email if you wish to place an order or book a workshop - 0428 254 952

NewsPrint Designer Series Paper

Rose Red, the new Newsprint Designer Series Paper and a new stamp set called Perfect Punches and the trusty Big Shot helped to create this lovely card.  I don't know what I did before Bertie The Big Shot arrived .... I've used the Polka Dot folder and Top Note die cut for this card. 

It's really easy to create the patchwork effect ...  here's a sample of one I made for another project. 

I use the larger 1 3/8" square punch but any size will do.  Run some lines of snail or double sided tape over a piece of cardstock that is just larger than the Top Note Die, then just randomly stick the little squares down to create a pattern.  Run the piece through the Big Shot and hey presto .... a patchwork Top Note die cut.

If you came to my class on 1 October - you'll all know how to do this - its easy isn't it.  Hope this inspires you to have a go for yourself.

 

Making Merry Monday and Cards for the Defence

Yay .... on the right day for a change LOL

The new In Colour Concorde Crush is one of my favourites - it looks so vibrant when teamed with Real Red and Whisper White.

This Season Of Joy stamp set was the first set that I owned from Stampin' Up! - this set has so much to answer for!  

To create the sparkly panel, I stamped the image in Concrode Crush, then pressed a Versamark pad over the entire piece of cardstock ... covering it completely, then applied a liberal covering of Heat and Stick power and melted that with the heat gun.  I then tipped some Dazzling Diamonds over the card ... tapped off and just 'set' the sparkle by giving it a quick once over with the heat gun again ... not too much but just enough.

I'm still making extra cards for lovely Tracey Hanshaw and Karen Cummings to distribute to our defence personnel who are serving overseas.  They are well on their way to collecting 1000 cards ... but need more so if you have a few Christmas cards to spare either send them directly to Tracey or pass them on to me and I'll post them for you.

There is nothing like receiving a handmade card and just one card will give two people a feeling of being loved and remembered ... the defence person who is overseas and is able to write and send the card .... and the person who receives the card ... receives their personal message from their loved ones and knows that card makers around Australia are thinking of their loved ones whilst they go about their day to day work.  

A couple of pieces of cardstock, a little bit of ribbon, a stamp or two and a little of your time will mean so much - you really can make a difference and bring a smile to someone's face!

 

 

Craft Expo 7 - 10 October - Now On!

This is where you will find me today and tomorrow - come along and say hello!

Greenhouse Gala Layout

I have a layout posted on the Stampamemory Site - click here to check it out.

 

CraftExpo News - starts tomorrow

Starts tomorrow ladies and the team are there today setting up our space.  We have so much to show you, some beautiful displays, some great demonstrations ... and a fabulous prize basket to be won. Our very own Sue Madex and Kathryn Lowe will be demonstrating at the Discovery Centre too - want to see the Big Shot in action - make sure you don't miss their presentations.

There are 12 of us taking part - you can check out the talent by checking our special Show website Try Some Stamping ..... be sure to click on the tab at the top and check out the projects; and there's a sneak peak of the Show Specials too.

If you want all the details for ticket pricing, parking etc check out the CraftExpo site here.

I've created a display of Christmas cards this year - had lots of fun putting together some different samples ... here's one of my favourites.

The idea for this card came from offcuts!  The frame part is the left over from another card.  I sponged some Real Red onto the Very Vanilla offcut just to see what it would look like and loved it so much I had to make a card with it.   The little bird has been created in the same way and the trees are from the Lovely as a Tree set in Craft White with Dazzling Diamonds.  One of the Many Merry Messages stamps finishes the card off nicely.

So if you want to see more ideas - stop by and say hello.

 

New Beginnings

Last week I was sick with a nasty chest infection that just wouldn't go away - this meant I had to take some time off work ... haven't had five days off sick for a few years now.  

I'm not a great patient - and I really don't like the enforced rest ... but it did give me time to think of new beginnings.

With the water restrictions in Melbourne being lifted a stage or two, my husband Paul had renewed enthusiasm with our small veggie patch.  This is usually my job but last week I think he sprung into action realising that here was his chance to take it over LOL.  

We now have tomatoes, beans, corn, capsicum, garlic and lettuce growing - and he's even left a little space for me to add some things that I want like cucumbers and potatoes.  So what are the sticks for?  Well our mischievious little rascal of a puppy, Spencer, is a little obsessed with digging .... he's bought many a plant in through the dog flap to show me ... so Paul thought this little fence might just keep him out - we will see :)

And here's my other new beginning .... a pair of blackbirds spent all last Wednesday morning building this beautiful nest ... the only problem is, that this is one of my climbing roses right outside my back door on the verandah - they couldn't have chosen a more open and noisy place ... fingers crossed that all will be well for them.  

A couple of years ago we had a nest right above the laundry door - so we had to keep it shut and use the back door through the Spring until the little babies flew away ... looks like we will all be going out through the laundry door this Spring!

Will be back later this week with more creations, news of a craft show and hopefully I will be scrapbooking news of homegrown veggies and new blackbird babies in the coming weeks.

Nikki

Update:  Did the sticks work?  Nah!  So far two tomato plants have been dug out and replanted again ... you can tell Spencer has been in the veggie garden because there are black paw marks all through the house and pea straw hanging off his long dreadlocky fur ... anyone want him? LOL 

 

SAM Creative Challenge

Time for the monthly scrapbooking challenge from Stampamemory.  This month's challenge is to scraplift something you have liked from the site - yes any page you like.  Now I thought this was an easy task .... but I had forgotten just how many great pages are on the site LOL

Eventually I decided upon Di Gill's page titled Moo.

I really love Di's style of placement and her embellishments are all just right.  


My photo that I wanted to use was a little larger than Di's so this immediately created a different look.  I used the new Love Letter designer series paper - the cardstock colours that match are Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red and Basic Black.

The title has been cut using the Big Shot and the edging with the little Spiral punch.  I've sponge the edges of the Very Vanilla with Riding Hood Red ink to soften them.

My little embellishment on the side has been created using theHeart to Heart punch.

And the little bird is from the new Hostess Level One set - Punch Potpourri - isn't he cute - I've used the Two Step Bird punch to punch him out and to make the little branch that he sits on.  The Crop-o-Dile and large eyelet makes a great little embellishment too.

Loving this new paper ... you can expect to see plenty more it being used :)

So why not enter the challenge yourself this month.  Take a look through the site and find something you like and recreate it for yourself.  There is a Mr Linky on the site so that you can upload your photo - if you don't have a blog just email the photo through to me and I will load it for you.

Can't wait to see your entries and thanks to Di Gill for the inspiration - hop on over to her site ... she has some wonderful ideas.

Christmas Card Classes

Do you want to join the 'eager to be organised for Christmas' stamping ladies who recently attended a Stamp- -Stack class?   Waving hi to you all - thanks for a lovely night.

Here is one of the cards we made .... the classes give you an opportunity to make several of each card ... and there are always two designs.

This one is using the Tree Trimmings and Baroque Motif sets, the new Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso cardstocks and of course Dazzling Diamonds.

If you'd like to book into a forthcoming class let me know.  They are on the first Friday of every month so the next one will be  Friday 5 November - when this one becomes full I will post up another date for November as Christmas is looming.  So if you can't make that date but would love to come along call (0428 254 952) or email and I'll add your name to the waiting list.  If you want to see sneak peeks of what's coming just sign up to the monthly newsletter - there's a little sign up box on the left hand side.

Cost for the class is $20 - you will have an opportunity to make six cards, three of two designs, together with embellished envelopes.  

Come alone or bring a friend - it's fun.