Gorgeous Grunge.

This was a really quick and easy card made for an 11 year old boys birthday. The Gorgeous Grunge stamp set is so versatile and the washi tape look seems to be all the rage at the moment.

Stamp sets: Gorgeous Grunge, Tape It and Sassy Salutations.
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Basic Black and Modern Medley DSP
Ink: Basic Black, Smoky Slate and Crushed Curry
Accessories: Epic Day This and That Designer Washi Tape and Basic Black Chevron Ribbon.

Thanks for looking....

New Catalogue Time!!!! Yipee

The New Annual Catalogue is here. Well it has been here for a week, so I guess I'm a bit slow off the mark this year, but I have been away enjoying some wonderful family holidays...now that I am home again I can concentrate on the exciting new products and ideas. I have placed my first order Sunday and am eagerly awaiting it's arrival....fingers crossed it arrives before the weekend so I can play!!!

This is a photo of the front cover.  What do you think??
If you click on the image on the side you can view the catalogue or click on the order now link to view the products online.

Not only is there a new catalogue we also have a promotion with 25% off a selection of Greeting Stamp Sets.

Greetings are the most versatile and essential stamps you can have in your collection so why not purchase some while they are 25% off. 

Here are a couple of Birthday cards I made recently.  I really need to improve my photography skills as the photos really don't show the colours very well.

 Stamp Sets: Postage Due and Petite Pairs (currently 25% off)
Cardstock: Smoky Slate, Crisp Cantaloupe and Whisper White
Ink: Smoky Slate and Crisp Cantaloupe.
Accessories: Basic Gray ribbon, Boho Blossoms,Postage Stamp and Square Punches, Creped Filter Paper

Stamp Sets: Serene Silhouettes and Sweet Essentials (currently 25% off)

Cardstock: Smoky Slate, Pool Party and Whisper White

Ink: Smoky Slate and Pool Party

Accessories: Rhinestones

Don't forget my Open House Catalogue Launch on Saturday 20th July...

Box 2 of 2

Box 2 of 2 didn't arrive on the Tuesday!!!! After going to the post office everyday hoping it had turned up it was finally there Friday morning.  Although a little annoyed that it took over a week longer than usual I was relieved to finally have all my preorder to play with.

First of all I needed to make a card for Hamish to take to a party on Saturday afternoon.  As it turns out I didn't use any new products on this card, but it was a winner with the boys.

Stamp set: Memorable Moments

Cardstock: Storytime DSP(retiring),Very Vanilla, So Saffron, Pool Party, Wild Wasabi and Riding Hood Red (retiring).

Accessories: Big Shot, Labels Collection Framelits, Typeset Alphabet Bigz and Cupcake builder punch.

Once I had finished the Birthday card I was able to play..........

Here are some of the creations I came up with using NEW products....

Starting with new DSP called Soho Subway I created a male and female card.  I love the versatility of this new range, identical cards just using different papers from the set.

Then I played with some new in colors.  Pistachio Pudding is still my favourite new in color, but the Crisp Cantaloupe is really growing on me.  I especially like the combination with Early Espresso.

 Stamp sets: Mixed Bunch and That's the Ticket
Cardstock: Early Espresso, Crisp Cantaloupe and Very Vanilla
Accessories: Blossom and Ticket Punches, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Crochet Trim and Early Espresso Taffeta Ribbon.

Stamp sets: Hearts a Flutter, En Francais  and Lovely Labels
Cardstock: Whisper White, Early Espresso and Pistachio Pudding
Accessories: Hearts a Flutter and Labels Collection Framelits and Hung Up Cute Clips and Fancy Fan Embossing Folder (which is a bit difficult to see in the photo, but the Early Espresso piece is embossed!)

Don't forget to RSVP for the New Catalogue Launch on Saturday 20th July.  It is going to be a fun day!!

Mixed Emotions

It was a day of mixed emotions yesterday.  Early in the day I was full of anticipation as I waited "patiently!!" for the postie.  My preorder, which included a copy of the new catalogue, had been shipped from Sydney on Monday evening.  Therefore I was hoping it would arrive on Thursday, but since that didn't happen all my hopes were on a delivery Friday.  As we live on 5 acres the postie doesn't deliver parcels to me, only the card is dropped in the letterbox letting me know there is a parcel for collection at the local post office.  Well my anticipation soon turned to extreme excitement when that little card was in the letterbox at lunch time.  Not wanting to waste anytime I went straight to the post office to collect my brown box.
The staff at the post office know me quite well and I'm sure the lady could see the excitement on my face when I handed her the card.  Then she came out with the brown box!! As I was carrying the box out to the car I realised it was not heavy enough to contain all my preorder (boxes of catalogues are quite heavy!!). Written on the box was 1 of 2.  It was all ok there was another box....so back into the post office I went.

"Sorry Donna there was only the one box today, the other will probably arrive on Tuesday"

Well you can imagine my excitement was now turning to disappointment as I could tell by the weight that the boxes of catalogues were not in the box I had.  I couldn't wait any longer and so as soon as I got to the car I ripped open the brown box.  My disappointment disappeared and relief washed over me...there was my single copy of the new catalogue...pheww.
When I got home I unpacked the box completely and went through waves of excitement and disappointment.  I had the cardstock of the new in colors, but not the stamp pads (which are obviously in box 2 of 2).
Yesterday I didn't have time to play with the new goodies, but I certainly made time to look at my copy of the new catalogue.
Today I had a chance to play.......here are some of the things created with what new stuff I have....

Stamp Set: Mosaic Madness (new)

Cardstock: Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Pool Party, Indigo Island, Daffodil Delight and Quatrefancy DSP(new)

Ink: Pumpkin Pie and Indigo Island

Accessories: Mosaic Punch, Modern Mosaic Embossing folder.(both new)

Stamps: Postage Due and That's the Ticket

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Epic Day This and That DSP(new)

Ink: Sahara Sand, Calypso Coral and Pool Party.

Accessories: Epic Day This and That Washi Tape(new), Ticket Duo Builder Punch and Postage Stamp Punch.

Since I didn't have the new In Color ink pads I made this bookmark with the cardstock.  It also features a new neutral colour (Smokey Slate), which again I received the cardstock, but not the ink.

Cardstock: Smokey Slate, Strawberry Slush, Crisp Cantaloupe, Baked Brown Sugar, Pistachio Pudding and Coastal Cabana. (all new)

Accessories: Mosaic Punch, Artisan Label Punch (both new) and 1 1/4" circle punch.  Modern Mosaic Embossing folder.

As you can see there are a few sneak peaks there. I did make some more cards today which I will post another day. (Don't want the recipients to see them before they receive them!!)

The new In Colors look amazing.  Pistachio Pudding is my favourite at the moment, but both my children like Coastal Cabana.

Don't forget if you wish to come along to the new catalogue launch on Sat 20th July RSVP on time (see previous post).

New Catalogue Launch

Retiring time again!!!

It is that time of year again...The last chance to purchase some wonderful products that are retiring from the Annual Catalogue...........
The list is huge and some of the accessories have already sold out so if there is something you want now is the time to order.  You can either order online using the link on the side or contact me to place your order.  If you have any questions about retiring products feel free to contact me.

Retiring products isn't the only exciting thing this month.
Stampin' Up! have announced the release of single stamps!!! These single stamps are available as clear mount stamps only and can be purchased anytime between now and 31st August 2013.

Oh but there is more!!!!  As Stampin' Up! is celebrating it's 25th year they are offering best of sets.  There will be five best of sets released between now and October 2103 and these sets will be available for sale until April 2014.  The first best of set is flowers.

Don't forget the MDS!! It is a fantastic digital program and here is another sample of a very quick page I made on MDS

For those who are interested I will be having a 2013-2014 Catalogue Launch in July.  Invitations will be sent out very soon.  If you don't receive and invite and are interested in coming along to see some new products please contact me

18th Birthday

So much has happened in 18 years and yet it still seems like yesterday that our niece Breannan came into this world.  We had a lovely family dinner for her on Saturday night.  Happy Birthday Bree Lee.

 I made the card and Paige decorated the bag.
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black and Melon Mambo
Stamp set: Beautiful Birthday
Accessories: Typeset Alphabet Bigz, Big shot, Oval Framelits, Honeycomb embossing folder, Bitty Butterfly punch, Dazzling Details and Rhinestones.

Introducing This and That

This and That is a new product range which will be available in the next catalogue (starting 1st July), but for this month only Stampin' Up! is giving us a special offer.  If you click here it will take to you the website for more details.

Mother's Day

 I hope all the Mums out there had a lovely Mother's Day on Sunday.  I enjoyed a wonderful lunch with my family celebrating Mother's Day and my sister's Birthday.  These are the cards I made for my Mum and my sister.
The Mother's Day card is a case from page 137 of the current annual catalogue.  I just changed colours, stamp sets and embellishments.

Stamp sets: Just Believe, Teeny Tiny Sentiments and For My Family

Cardstock: Early Espresso, Whisper White, Baja Breeze and Certainly Celery

Ink: Certainly Celery, Baja Breeze and Early Espresso

Embellishments:Tea Time Trinkets and Designer Builder Brads

The Birthday card is a case from the Sale-a-bration flyer using the gorgeous DSP from Sale-a-bration

Stamp Set: Beautiful Birthday

Ink: Indigo Island

Cardstock: Whisper White and Sycamore Street DSP

Embellishments: Tea Time Trinkets, Designer Builder Brads and Pool Party Ribbon

Stampathon Fun!!!

On Saturday Nerida and I held another successful Stampathon.  Thank you to everyone who attended, we hope you had a fun day creating while raising money for an amazing cause.

This time around we chose to donate the money we raised to the One Hundred for 100 Campaign.  You can see more details about the amazing work Kristi is doing here.

These are the projects we made on Saturday.

Our next Stampathon will be mid to late October and will be a Christmas Stampathon so if you enjoy having a day out crafting and meeting great people then watch out for the details to be announced!!!

Family Fun Day Lara Primary School

In February Lara Primary School held their Family Fun Day and this year it included market stalls.  Here are a few photos from my market stall.  It was a very hot day, but we survived!!!

The next card was one of Paige's favourites.  It was made using one of the Sale-a-bration sets.

Cardstock: River Rock, Rose Red, Early Espresso and Very Vanilla

Ink: Early Espresso, Rose Red, Gumball Green, Bashful Blue, Summer Starfruit.

Stamp Sets: Aviary, Feeling Sentimental (SAB) and Curly Cute.

More products promotion

Get $60 more if you host a workshop with total sales $400 or more.
Join Stampin' Up! and get an extra $60 for your starter kit!! That means you pay $169 and choose $295 worth of products for your starter kit. If you want to know more contact me or visit my demonstrator website here.

MDS and Online ordering

Well MDS has arrived in Australia!!!! Are you wondering what MDS is and what all the fuss is about??

MDS stands for My Digital Studio and as the name suggests it is a digital software program.  As I have never done "digital" scrapbooking before I was unsure what all the fuss was about.  But then I started playing with the free 30day trial version and very soon decided to spend the $24.95 and purchased the full version.

You may have noticed my "new look" blog!! I made it myself!!! Well the blog header anyway. Yes I used MDS to create my new blog header (note I am very proud of my first effort) and it didn't take very long at all.

Here are a couple of other quick projects I have whipped up with MDS

The other exciting thing that has arrived in Australia is online ordering.  You can now order Stampin' Up! products directly from me online.  The important thing with online ordering is you need to select a demonstrator to receive the preferred price.  If you order online without nominating a demonstrator you will pay more for your products.  You can order from me by clicking the link on the side "shop now" or by going to my demonstrator website here.

Colour Refresh

They say change is as good as a holiday!!! So lets start with a change of Colour!!! Yes Stampin' Up! are having a colour refresh and below you can see the colours that are retiring and the new colours we will see in the upcoming 2013/2014 Catalogue (due to start 1st July 2013)

You may have noticed there are some returning in colours which is great and some new colours to the Australian market.  If you are interested in purchasing any of the retiring colours I suggest you do so ASAP as we have been told the retiring colours are only available while stocks last and I believe quite a few of the reinkers have already sold out.