Decorating Gifts

The flowers in the Bodacious Bouquet stamp set are pretty big but aren't they fantastic!



I was asked the other day "What can you do with such a big flower?"

Stampset used: Bodacious Bouquet
Stampin' Up! ink and cardstock: Mellow Moss, Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla
Other: Lots of Stampin' Dimensionals for all those flowers and leaves!
images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

I suppose scrapbooking is probably the most common answer, but how about decorating gifts? The box of choc's shown above was just wrapped in tissue paper, and then I slipped a 'belly band' around the whole thing which is decorated with flowers and leaves from Bodacious Bouquet. The matching card uses stamps from the same set.

While I was digging around in the very-unorganised-photo-filing-system on my computer to find that photo, I came across the HUGE amount of happy-snaps I took at the Stampin' Up! convention in Brisbane last month. Wow! Was that an amazing time!



Here are some pictures that a couple of the girls in my team have asked for....


The first photo is me (far left in the red top) with the amazing Shelli Gardner (co-founder of SU!, 2nd from the right) along with the lovely Qld demo's in Naomi's group. The second photo is me (on the left again) and Naomi Swan, who just happens to be one of the top 11 demonstators in Oz - WooHoo! - and a very inspiring upline.

Card CASE

images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

When I first started stamping and cardmaking I kept hearing about CASEs and people case-ing this and case-ing that. It took a while to figure out (only because I was too embarrassed to ask and show my ignorance) that CASE means to Copy And Share Everything.

This practice is encouraged in the papercrafting world and what a wonderful thing that is! It means you don't have to be too artistic or creative to come up with beautiful handmade projects to share with others. As long as you credit the original source of inspiration you can find inspiration everywhere, on SplitCoastStampers, other people's blogs, websites, magazines such as Stamping & Papercraft, and the list goes on.

One of my favourite sources of inpiration is the Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue. No matter how many times I look at it I seem to notice something new... a new layout, or colour scheme, or technique.

I started making a card using one of my new sets in preparation for a Very Special Event (more info to come). The set is called Curvy Verses and this card is a direct CASE from the Idea Book & Catalogue on p112. They were so quick and easy to make that I, well, kept on making them! lol

PS. It also took me a long time to work out that LOL (or lol) means Laugh Out Loud!

Stamp sets used: Curvy Verses

Cardstock: Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Rose Red, Bashful Blue, Wild Wasabi textured

Other: Rose Red Designer Series Prints paper, blue gingham ribbon, white gel pen, Wild Wasabi ink.

The front of the card is 1cm narrower than the back, so that the Rose Red prints paper can be seen when the card is closed.

Are you reading this? Let me know by leaving a comment.

Faux Tapestry Bag

Had a little bit of fun today playing around with mini paper handbag templates. Tweaked it here and there because I wanted to hide the metal pins on the brads from showing inside the bag.

Ok, I think I'm nearly ready to move on from the Brocade Background paper.

images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Brocade Notecards

These cards were made from some of the leftover Brocade Background Designer Series paper from a couple of days ago. I love finding a use for all the little bits and pieces. Most of these cards are 3x3".

images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Cardstock: River Rock, Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip

Stamps used: Basic Phrases

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Other: Word Window punch, scallop punch, corner rounder punch (with guide removed to create scalloped edges), Old Olive button, linen thread, mini glue dot

Altered containers

How cute is this?

One of the very talented demonstrators in my Stampin' Up! team, Juliana, sent these cute pics of some altered cheese & dip and yoghurt containers.

And they are so simple to make. Just give everything a really good wash and remove any of the original wrappers and lids.

Put some Sticky Strip along the top edge/rim of the container, and close it up with some beautiful double-sided Designer Series paper. Or, create your own decorative top by stamping on cardstock.

Juliana added ribbon and a little pull tab. Very clever! Inside she added some card candy, stamped images, ribbon, buttons etc, to use as gifts at her workshops.

Now I'd better get the kids eating up so I can make some too :)

images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

A huge thanks to Juliana Main for allowing me to put these pics on my blog.

New paper! Yippee!

I love it when a box of Stampin' Up! goodies arrives. Even if it's not for me!

Well last week I did get something that I'm a bit excited about... some of the new scrapbooking papers. I got the Brocade Background Designer Series Paper (p134 in the Idea Book & Catalogue) and I've got to say, I was surprised. The little swatches in the catalogue really don't do it justice. SO lovely. And great value too at $11.95 for 12 double-sided sheets.

When I first started stamping, about 7 months ago, I came across a card while blog-browsing and I printed it out. I remember thinking 'there is no WAY I could make something like that' (click here and scroll down a little for the original). Anyway, it wasn't until I saw my new papers that I remembered the card. Well, I went into a cardmaking frenzy (you know what I'm talking about LOL) and 20 mins later this is what I'd come up with....

Not exactly the same, but I love it and it was a step out of my usual style and color scheme.

Later this week I'm getting the Crop-A-Dile, thanks to a bonus from Stampin' Up!, so will be able to add the eyelets and then it really will be a perfect copy!

Soooo much fun.

Stamps used: Baroque Motifs

Cardstock: River rock c/s

Ink: Always Artichoke, Whisper White craft ink, Chocolate Chip

Other: Stitching done on the sewing machine (don't laugh, I had just finished sewing up a hole in DH's work pants when I made this... how could I resist?), Old Olive button

FYI: Brocade Background designer series paper goes well with the following Stampin' Up! colors: Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, River Rock.

images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Rock'n'Roll Make'n'Take

This is the card we're making at a workshop on Saturday ('wave' to Leanne). It uses a technique called Rock'n'Roll, which is great for both beginners and more experienced stampers because you can do so much with it.

I inked up the flower stamp in Almost Amethyst, then 'rolled' the edges of the stamp in the darker shade of Lovely Lilac (both are Stampin' Up!® colours). Isn't it a great effect?
This card was inspired by a gorgeous swap I received from the very talented Marelle Taylor at Convention in Brisbane.

The bottom half of the card is covered in the Prints Designer Series paper in Certainly Celery - and this month Stampin' Up! is offering a one-off Palette o' Prints with qualifying purchases. They are gorgeous! Email me if you'd like more info on this.

The flowers are cut out and raised slightly with Stampin' Dimensionals. The card is finished with the yummy wide grosgrain ribbon in Certainly Celery and a matching rhinestone brad.
Q. Have you worked out which stamp set was used?
A. Bodacious Bouquet (page 80 in the Idea Book & Catalogue)

For more details on this technique visit SplitCoastStampers here, and have a go today :)

images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

I'm not a scrapper

But, I do enjoy it :)

Here is my attempt at a 6x6 scrapbook book for our Stampin' Up!® group's 'Strive Challenge'. You can't see it in the photo, but there is glitter on the bugs and also the edge of the wings on the photo.

This picture was taken at Playgroup a couple of weeks ago. We did some arty photos of the kids in preparation for some Mothers Day activities. Do you know how hard it is to get two sisters smiling at the same time? Well, not normally this hard! We must have taken half a dozen photos... but for some reason I really like this one. Zoe doesn't normally look so serious. She was nervous about Rachel falling off her lap and was being quite protective of her.

images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®
Stamp set: Garden Whimsy
Cardstock/Ink: Pink Passion, Pretty in Pink, Pixie Pink, Handsome Hunter
Accessories: Dazzlin' Diamonds glitter. Basic Black marker, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Mother's Day

Mum is on her way to visit us for the night so we are having Mother's Day a little early this year. This is what we're giving her.

The card is made using Wild Rose (Stampin' Up!) and the gorgeous So Swirly jumbo wheel.

Do you want to know what's in the box? It's a necklace/pendant made by some very talented friends, Leanne and Jennie, from WhiteLilyJewelleryDesign.

Inside the larger present is the new cookbook that we just finished printing at school this morning. It's a Parents' Club fundraiser, and has over 140 pages of recipes! We made our own wrapping paper using butchers paper and the So Swirly jumbo wheel, of course! :)

Happy Mother's Day to all the mums out there.

Welcome to my very first blog!

I did it! My first attempt at blogging (I'm a big girl now!)


I thought this would be a handy way to keep in touch with all the fantastic people I've met since I started stamping, and can also be a place to share my papercraft projects.


We'll start with a few little tags I whipped up after I demonstrated at a Stampin' Up! workshop on the weekend (Hi to Lorinda and all the girls).


Can't get enough of that scallop punch :)

Images copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2008.

Stamp set: Wishing You the Best

Inks: Rose Red, Sage Shadow, Close to Cocoa, Bashful Blue