FRIENDS 24-7

Today I gave myself permission to not go in to work - what bliss! We have our own business, and I have been trying for a long time to 'retire'.  The first step is to actually not be there some days, and it is harder than it sounds to make that happen.  Happily, today I'm at home.

I have been having a play with my Friends 24-7 stamp set, which is one of my favourites in the current Stampin' Up! catalogue.  First I made a couple of cards (just to have on hand) using my 'fallback' colour combination of Kraft, Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip.  I love that they're simple and pretty - here they are:


All paper,punches and accessories are Stampin' Up! - if you have any questions, drop me a line!

I was visiting Renee Van Stralen's blog the other day, and loved this card she made using the cute little bird from this stamp set.  I was inspired to make a Christmas card using Friends 24-7.  Mine is a lot simpler, but I like how it turned out:

 Stamps: So Swirly Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel, Friends 24-7, Season of Joy

Ink: Chocolate Chip and Riding Hood Red stampin' pads, Chocolate chip marker (bird's eye!)

Card: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red

Other: Riding Hood Red 1 1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon, large oval punch, scallop oval punch, dimensionals

KIWI KISS "THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS"

Kiwi Kiss is one of this year's "in colours" from Stampin' Up!, which means that it is one of six colours available (in ink, cardstock, papers and accessories) only until the new catalogue is released.  "Thoughts and Prayers" is the name of the stamp set I've used.  Right, now that the explanation is out of the way, I'll get on with showing you my card!

I decided to make a sympathy card, and just love this beautiful green.  Once I'd finished the card, my darling husband told me it looks "unbalanced" (the pedant in me wanted to tell him "imbalanced", but I didn't want him to think I agreed in any way, ha ha).  I told him I'd post a picture of the card on my blog, and see what feedback I get.  Andrew said nobody would actually comment if they didn't like it, but I told him he obviously doesn't know my friends!!  (Hey, Kerry - at least it's not insipid!)



Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers

Card: Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Basic Gray

Ink: Basic Gray stampin' pad, Whisper White craft stampin' pad, Versamark ink pad

DSP: Walk in the Park

Other: White embossing powder, Wide Oval Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Basic Gray and Kiwi Kiss corduroy buttons, Basic Gray taffeta ribbon, sponge dauber.

Don't you just love how the buttons, ribbon, paper and card match so beautifully?  This Designer Series Paper, and the corduroy buttons, are available only until the end of November in Australia, so if you haven't already got them, but *need* them, feel free to contact me to place an order.  I'd be more than happy to help you find loads of matching products that you didn't know you needed!

In the meantime, leave me a comment and let me know what you think of the card (honestly, I can take it!!).

ORGANIC OUTLINES CHRISTMAS CARD

Yesterday I attended my first Stampin' Up! event, being Melbourne Regionals (a full-day training session, with stamping and socialising time mixed in) at Crown Promenade Hotel.  What a fun day, with hundreds of like-minded women (and two men)!  It was a very long day, as I was up at 5.45am - a bit like a child on Christmas Eve, over-excited about the day ahead!  The function itself ran from 8.00am (registration) until 3.30pm, and I enjoyed coffee afterwards with a couple of my special stamping friends.  It was so nice to spend a day with 'the girls', but all too soon it was over.  The absolute highlight of the day (oh, apart from the friendships, that is!) was having Bonnie Thurber, from Stampin' Up! in the US, take part.  She is such a warm, friendly, funny woman - a total delight.  What a shame we can't keep her!

At Regionals, a number of demonstrators swapped cards/ card fronts, to share ideas on how to use Stampin' Up! products.  I've come home with some amazing creations, that have inspired me to do some 'different' things.  Here is my card, that my swaps were based on:

Stamps: Organic Outlines, En Francais, Occasional Greetings

Card: Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla

Ink: Real Red, Always Artichoke, Old Olive

DSP: Ski Slope

Other: Real Red 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, sponge dauber, Real Red & Always Artichoke brads, dimensionals

Once I arrived home from Regionals, I was looking forward to an easy dinner and relaxing at home.  However, my accident-prone husband (who is on Warfarin and has an unstable blood clot in his leg), had a fall and rolled his ankle - it was swollen and we suspected fractured, so off to hospital we went!  Thankfully it turned out to be a sprain; it is now bandaged and we are back home.  A more eventful end to the day than I needed!

Hope you like the card - I'm rather fond of it myself!

CHRISTMAS CLASSICS

I am having a HEAP of trouble with Typepad, and have tried numerous times over the last few days to post, only to be thrown out repeatedly.  I had a rather lengthy post saved, and it has disappeared into oblivion, so today I am feeling just a bit grumpy!!  (Alright, a lot grumpy.)

I've been playing with my gorgeous new Christmas Classics stamp set (LOVE the crisp images it produces), and have a couple of cards to share, if only the uploading of images is successful, on my 247th attempt.  Here goes ..... 

Oh, wait, I just remembered I promised my sister, Lynda, that I'd post a photo of the birthday cards she and I made for Ethan recently.  Lynda and I are twins on one day of the year (she was born the day before my first birthday); for the other 364 days we do share thoughts, ideas and colour-choices in clothing.  It's a bit uncanny sometimes.  This year Lynda was super-organised and had made my little man a birthday card early.  Foolishly, I didn't think to check with her as to what colours and stamp set she used (you'd think that after 40+ years of 'twin-like' behaviour, I'd know better).  This was the result - Lynda's card on the left, mine on the right:



Now for the Christmas cards I have to show you - both using Christmas Classics stamp set and Ski Slope Designer Series Paper, from Stampin' Up!  I have tried several times to upload these photos, and add all the 'ingredients' used, and such is my frustration at failing repeatedly that I am going to try ONE MORE TIME to just get the pictures up.  I'll skip all the extra explanations - if you need any details, just email me!  Here's what I came up with:


How cute are those baubles?  Here's the next one (my favourite) - let me know which one you prefer!  I know some of my friends need no prompting to let me know, but I'm interested to see your feedback :)




Well, hallelujah, I've successfully uploaded 3 photos, and even managed to add some text -what progress!  I'm going to sign off here (don't want to push my luck).  Fingers crossed my next post will be smooth sailing, and will take less than 4 days to complete!  

Tomorrow my littlest love turns 9.  Can any other Mum out there relate to the slightly-sad feeling of their youngest growing up??  I LOVE seeing my boys grow and develop, and feel enormously proud of the beautiful human beings they are, but I can't help but see that shortly my cuddly little man will not be too keen to cuddle his Mum. Hopefully that will be a passing phase! (Jack, 13, has come back around and, amazingly, even lets me kiss and cuddle him in public.)

My boys are working at the Royal Melbourne Show tonight, which has afforded me some crafting time.  Just as well, because I have been totally under-prepared for Ethan's birthday tomorrow.  I have made my boy a card using one of his favourite stamp sets, Pun Fun (have to love that rocket for boys, especially!).  I was inspired by this card made by Sue Madex; love the look of stars punched out of cardstock, and adhered to the same coloured card.  Here is the end result:

Stamps: Pun Fun, Starring You

Card: Kraft, Pacific Point, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White

Ink: Pacific Point & Riding Hood Red stampin' pads, Versamark ink pad

DSP: Good Morning Sunshine and Candy Lane (for paper-pieced rocket parts)

Other: Small star punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, scallop circle punch, scallop edge punch, rectangle & scalloped rectangle nestabilities

Despite the blurry photography, I hope you like it!  I think my boy will be happy with it - mind you, he may not pay much attention to the card, since there's cake and presents to be enjoyed.  May you all have as happy a Sunday as my boy is bound to have.

I've finally had a chance to play with the SEPTEMBER RIBBON BUNDLE ......

I have had a very stressful few weeks, with trying to run our business while my husband was overseas, and taking on even more workload with our Office Manager leaving.  I was temporarily relieved when Andrew returned, to lift some of the stress from my shoulders.  However, this week he gave us all a scare when we found that he has two blood clots in his leg - Deep Vein Thrombosis, that was not something we seriously considered he'd have at his (middle!) age.  This means he must rest at home (under the care of hospital nurses visiting daily to inject him with blood-thinning medication) for at least a week.  I am almost crumbling under the load of what I need to bear, trying to keep our family life strong with all the business demands.  Thank goodness for my craft room, is all I can say!

Despite feeling exhausted, last night I was determined to have a play with my new ribbon, that I got for free with the great September promotion offered by Stampin' Up!  I have not been able to do anything creative lately, so I relished the opportunity to make some cards to showcase the ribbon that is available only this month.  Be warned - I got busy!



Stamps: Seeing Spots

Card: Almost Amethyst, Whisper White, So Saffron, Certainly Celery

Ink: Versamark ink pad, Almost Amethyst and Certainly Celery stampin' pads

DSP: Tea Party

Other: Eyelet Border Punch, Certainly Celery poly-twill ribbon, white gel pen, sponge daubers, dimensionals, circle punches (1 1/4", 1 3/8", scallop circle)





Stamps: Outlined for Fun

Card: Almost Amethyst, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White

DSP: Tea Party

Ink: Basic Gray stampin' pad, Almost Amethyst, Pretty in Pink and So Saffron markers

Other: Pretty in Pink brads, So Saffron grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals, Crystal Effects, Button Latte





Stamps: Outlined for Fun, Seeing Spots

Card: Whisper White, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink

DSP: Tea Party

Ink: Basic Gray stampin' pad, Whisper White craft stampin' pad, Versamark ink pad, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron and Certainly Celery markers

Other: Certainly Celery poly-twill ribbon, eyelet border punch, 5/8" white brads (from neutral assortment), dimensionals, sponge dauber, 1" circle punch, Crystal Effects





Stamps: Outlined for Fun

Card: So Saffron, Riding Hood Red, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White

DSP: Washington Apple

Ink: Riding Hood Red, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie stampin' pads

Other: White gel pen, scallop edge punch, So Saffron grosgrain ribbon, Boho Blossoms punch, Ruby Red and Pumpkin Pie brads, dimensionals, sponge daubers





Stamps: Embrace Life, Say it With Scallops

Card: So Saffron, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White

DSP: Haiku

Ink: Tangerine Tango, So Saffron stampin' pads, Versamark ink pad

Other: Scallop square punch, So Saffron grosgrain ribbon, Button Latte, dimensionals, sponge daubers, scallop edge punch

Well, I think that's QUITE enough from me for today.  I needed to make up for lost time!  If you like these ribbons, remember they are available only as a special for September, free with any order of $100 or more of Stampin' Up! product.  Please email me if you have any questions, or need these ribbons!  Here's what the ribbon bundle looks like:

AAAAAAH..... SPRING!

Today we had a sure-fire sign of Spring being in the air; what a beautiful, sunny day in Melbourne.  It's so nice to feel the warmth of the sun again.  Here's my card for today:



Stamps: Great Friend

Card: Very Vanilla, So Saffron, Certainly Celery

Ink: So Saffron and Certainly Celery stampin' pads, Staz-On jet black ink pad, Versamark ink pad

DSP: Tea Party

Other: Certainly Celery 5/8" and 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Ice Circle and Clear Circles rhinestone brads, 1 3/8" circle punch, scallop circle punch, sponge dauber, dimensionals

Aren't these colours nice and "spring-y"?  Stampin' Up! has a FABULOUS promotion this month, which allows you to get the following ribbon bundle for FREE!



With every order of Stampin' Up! product to the value of $100 or more, you can receive TWO rolls of ribbon absolutely free!  If you love ribbon as much as I do, this is enough to cause heart palpitations!!

These ribbons are not available to buy, and are on offer only for the month of September.  The bundle comprises one roll (9.144m) of Certainly Celery 5/8" poly-twill ribbon, and one roll (9.144m) of So Saffron 5/8" grosgrain ribbon. The width of the ribbons is the same as the wider ribbon on my card above.

So Saffron co-ordinates with, and complements, so many colours and Designer Series Papers in our current Idea Book & Catalogue.  It is a beautiful, soft yellow (not quite as bright as in the amateur photograph of my card!).  Certainly Celery is, as you can see, also a lovely soft colour.

If you agree that these ribbons are "must-haves", please email me - I'd be happy to take your order!