Hop . .Hop . . Hop . . .

Welcome to my “stop” on the ESAD Sale-a-bration blog hop ~ how many pages have you been to already? I hope that you have been inspired by what you have seen today. Dont’ forget, on your way around the hop leave a comment  & if you leave a comment on every blog you’ll be  in the running for some great blog candy. Once you’ve left a comment on every blog, send an email to Leonie at leonie@stamp-a-latte.com and you will go into the running . There are 3 prizes this hop, so there are more chances for you.

If this is your first stop, I better tell you who we are. All the members of the “Hop” are members of ESAD - an Australian-based Yahoo group just for Extremely Special Aussie & New Zealand (Stampin’ Up!®) Demonstrators that provides support, encouragement, tips and ideas on building your Stampin’ Up!® business.  We have regular chats, swaps, online support and friendship with other Australian & New Zealand Demonstrators. There are weekly challenges, product know how, tech talk, online chats, cyber crops and sharing of creations.  If you’re an SU demo and you’d like to join  this great group – click here.  

Today’s hop is showcasing stamp sets from the-just-released-today Sale-a-bration catalogue.  You can earn your choice from 4 stamp sets for free (more information below). Today I want show you what I have done with ‘Vintage Labels’ stamp set, which has 6 stamps in the set that are a mix of greetings and labels.  Just like this one here. 

Here I’ve used  the Designer Series Paper “Tea Party” with the Curly Label Punch. . . which just happens to fit one of the gorgeous stamps in the Sale-a-bration ’Vintage Labels’ set.  You too can get your hands on one of these sets – FOR FREE! All you need to do is spend $100 (before shipping)  on Stampin Up! items from either the main Idea Book & Catalogue or the current Summer Mini Catalogue  and it’s yours!  There are 4 stamp sets to choose from, and no doubt you have seen a wide range of ways you can use them on your cards, layouts and OTP items.  Would you like to see some more? I’ve gone Tea Party crazy, I love this paper so much that I’ve made another card . . . .

This is actually a gift card holder and looks like this on the inside ~

To make the flap I just turned up the end of the card and decorated it with some Tea Party Paper and used the curly label punch to make a thumb hole.  Are you sensing a theme here with the paper?  My next card is ’inpired’ by a card in the current Summer Mini Catalogue. I’ve used papers where they have used ribbons and I’ve used dimensionals to get some elements popped up as I didn’t have buttons (Shock! Horror! I know! How can I possibly go on? . . . I shall have to rectify that soon!)  The stamp from Vintage Labels set is the teeny-weeny Happy Birthday at the bottom . . .see? It’s waaaaay down there . . .

I’ve also used the 3-heart punch and the eyelet border punch on, yes, you guessed it, more Tea Party DSP. All very quick and easy and using up scraps of my printed paper ~ all those scrpas t hat I just can’t bear to throw away (I knew they’d come in handy sooner rather than later, I was saving money to buy some buttons!).  All these sets have used card stock and inks from the ‘Soft Subtles’ colour family and Basic Grey Classic Ink.  If you’d like to order any of these items, don’t forget to contact me to place your order.

If you’d like to see what other sets you can earn, check out the Sale-a-bration catalogue here.

Now, that’s enough from me for the time being and it’s time for you to ‘hop’ over to Narelle Hodge’s blog here.  Enjoy the rest of your travels & don’t forget to leave a comment to be in the running for the candy!

Thanks for stopping by, I hope to see you here again soon!

Michelle

PS- I have another blog that is for my charity project “Aides de memoire” – I’d love it if you could stop by for a look there too!

Hopsctoch around the blogs

On Monday 25 January,  Stampin’ Up!’s annual “Sale-a-bration” starts and to introduce you to some of the free stamp sets that you can earn, a group of Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators have banded together to show you what they have done with the new goodies. The ‘hop’ goes live at 6am Monday morning so grab a cuppa, make yourself comfortable and go for a spin around the intertubes. If you visit each blog and leave a comment on every one, you will go into the draw  to win a HEAP of blog candy. 

Until then, here’s a little card I whipped up with the Tea Party DSP and my new favourite “Baby Elephant” Grey ribbon and the ‘For Everything” stamp set from the Summer Mini Catalogue.

A trio of half pearls from the “Pretties” Kit, applied with some Tombow glue, just give it a little ’something’ (I’ll leave that ’something’ for you to decide!). 

Don’t forget to come back Monday and check out the blog hop & don’t forget to visit everyone and leave a comment to be in the running for loads and loads of candy!

Have a great weekend,

Michelle

It’s a girl!

After a 2-year pregnancy and a 6-week labour Dokkoon, the Elephant at the Melbourne Zoo,  finally gave birth to a 110 kilo baby girl on the weekend (that’s just over  242lbs  in the old money). Mother & baby are doing well. Check out the Melbourne Zoo website for gorgeous pictures and more stories about “baby” (name yet to be decided – no doubt a poll in the HeraldSun will provide the answer!)

To congratulate them all on a job well done , I have just popped this card in the post .

I’ve used Rose Red ink and card stock, the “kissing” technique to get the pattern on the ear, a piece of Tea Party DSP then finished off with some “Elephant” grey  taffeta ribbon.  A bit cute don’t you think?

I hope they like it!

Michelle

 

Here’s one of the first pictures of the baby girl.

A visitor on New Year’s Day

I mentioned the other day that we’d had a visitor to our (not so sunny shores) on New Year’s Day. during a family stroll along Chelsea Beach we noticed that a little black object was getting closer and closer to the beach.  Next moment, he popped up and barked a hello to anyone who would listen.  Who was this visitor, you ask? Well, here he is ~

Manny, posing for the cameras.

We christened him “Manny” for no other reason than one of our number is a supporter of Manchester United Football Club and we were at Chelsea beach (apparently they are rival teams on the  UK football fixture).  I do not understand football/soccer or sporting pursuits in general, but Manny seemed like a fitting name for a friendly seal.

Since seeing our little friend we have learned that he has been a regular visitor to the beaches in the Bayside area and he’d even made it to our local paper .  Apparently he is about a year old and is still learning to fend for himself and feed on his own.  Seemingly he’s not quite up to speed yet! Local wildlife officers are keeping an eye on him, and any possibles threats on the beach, so let’s hope he grows up big and strong so that he can visit us for many more years. 

So how is your new year going so far? Keeping those resolutions? Hmmmm, me neither! although not as much as I would have likesd, I have managed to get at a little bit of creating done.  It was in the form of a gift for my cousin who is an avid card maker.  I was inspired by this card organiser & thought that it would be a great idea for my little cousin. Now, I say “inspired” as I didn’t actually have the instructions with me when I made it  ~ so it was made from memory.  But it’s a cinch to make and comes together very quickly.  Even more so when you use Designer Series Paper!

Card Organiser for Beth

I’ve used ‘Bella Rose’ paper with this, which is just gorgeous.  And as she’s in the ‘Rose’ business I thought it quite apt. Here’s a peek at the inside !

If you give one of these as a gift, don't forget to write your birthday in there!

Here’s a view of the inside  ~ isn’t that paper gorgeous? Have I said that already? How about luscious? It’s that, and more.  Beate conveniently provides a PDF with the months on it, so all you have to do is print them out, crop and decorate.  I’ve used Boho Backgrounds and Kiwi Kiss ink on this , plus a few ribbons on the coil.

After my recent stamping drought, there should be loads to show you after this weekend.  I am going to ‘play’ (which translates as: stamp till I cramp) with a Stampin’ Up “sister”.  There will be new Summer Mini Catalogue goodies flying everywhere! I can’t wait!

I hope you have a chance to create this weekend too.

Till next time,

Michelle

Don’t forget to give thanks.

I’ve had some lovely chats with a friend lately who has not only given me some good advice, but an ear that was so willingly bashed that I couldn’t adequately express the gratitude that I felt. So what’s a girl to do? Of course ~ I made her a card to thank her. I feel that these colours are ‘her’ and the card was inspired by her ’style’.   I hope she likes it! I’ve used the Level 2 Hostess Set  “Echoes of Kindness” (page 21 of the current SU catalogue) then I copper embossed the wording.  This particular set can be earned by hosting a workshop with $600 in sales (or placing an order for yourself over $600!).

I haven’t quite got back into the swing of creativity just yet  – I really want to get my space organised so that I can just go into my workspace anytime and get started.  I suppose I have to learn to clear up after I’m done to keep it clear for when I come back . . *sigh* I suppose I need to expand on that particular New Year’s resolution. What have you resolved to do (or not do) in the New Year?

Back soon with some New Year goodies and a pictures of a special visitor to our local beach!

Michelle

PS- My ‘Cheaper than Therapy’ sessions are starting at the Chelsea Heights Community Centre on 19 February from 7pm.  Come along and have some time and space to get some of your projects finished – be they scrapping or cardmaking or any other papercraft (actually, if you feel like coming along and doing your knitting, I can’t see a reason why not!:)).  I will have some cardmaking/scrapping tools, punches, stamps and inks available for you to use. All you need to bring along is your projects and supplies. I will not be there to teach a class, but will be able to advise and give guidance, if need be. There will be tea & coffee for you to help yourself to, plus a microwave and fridge for your convenience. Just drop me a line to let me know you’re coming and I’ll have a space set up for you! I look forward to seeing you there.

A little something for the table

I’m spending Christmas Day at my Aunt’s place and I thought a little ’something’ for the table would be nice.  I was advised that the “theme” for the table was burgundy, white & gold.  Now that’s nice & easy ~ It could have been “Star Wars vs Spongebob Square Pants”, now that would have been difficult.  Also very unlikely .

So here’s what I have come up with ~

They are those wonderfully easy no-stick triangle boxes that are a cinch to make. You can make them any size you like, as long as you start off with a rectangle.  If you head over to Split Coast Stampers, there is a tutorial here. I’ve then stamped some Poinsettias in Bravo Burgundy, then gold embossed stars and holly and tied off with some ribbons and bells (jingle bells of course!).  You can’t quite see the tags, but they are gold embossed on Burgundy cardstock with “Love”, “Hope” or “Peace”.  Those images are from a long retired Christmas set that I just love and just keep using again and again.  I won’t tell you what’s inside (’cause that will spoil the surprise!) but suffice to say, there’s Christmas goodies in there . Lucky I’ve left Santa standing guard!

Now to make up some bits for a Christmas party tomorrow . . Hmm what shall I do? 

Till then,

Michelle

Time to trim the tree

Here’s a very, very cute ornament that I have become addicted to . .well, addicted to making.

How cute are these? No need to answer as I think that they are SO cute and won’t hear a word against them. Can’t you just see a tree decked out with these?  Each wreath starts with 8 rectangles and after a bit of nifty folding you have an ornament. No adhesive at all!  I found the instructions on the internet an age ago, printed them out, put them in a safe place and now that I have just tried to Google them so that I conveniently link to them, I can’t find it for love nor money.  I will keep hunting and as soon as I find it again, I will update this and link to it (yes, I know, that’s what bookmarks are for!).  If I can’t, I promise I will do a tutorial for it. But don’t hold your breath, you may have the instruction in time for next Christmas, Okay? Here’s one hanging around in my garden, just waiting for the tree to go up . .  . .

While I remember, Stampin’ Up! are having an inventory clearance sale – check my Stampin’ Up! Website here for all the details, and there are some stamp sets available for up to 25% off – Only while stocks last – Quick! Go and have a look (and then contact me to place your order )

I better skedaddle and get some Christmas cards written and off in the post.

Till next time,

Michelle

Rubber Wonderland (A Christmas Carol)

RUBBER WONDERLAND

(Sing to Winter Wonderland)

Rubber calls…are you listening?

Glitter falls…bright and glistening.

We’re happy tonight, Our stamping’s so bright… Wading through a Rubber Wonderland.

In the craft room we can stamp a snow card, Send it on its way to a friend.

They’ll say did you make it? You’ll say “Yeah, man…and you can stamp one too, yes you can!”

Later on, we’ll conspire, As we sit, by the fire, To face unafraid, the mess that we made…

Wading through our Rubber Wonderland!

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

This is my type of carol! I hope you enjoyed it!   Here’s a couple of cards using my favourite deer from “Forest Friends” ( retired from the Spring Mini)

I’ve use the papers from the “I wish” scrapping pack and  couple of little stick-on diamantes for the guiding light on his nose and we’re done!

How are your christmas cards coming along? Nearly done? *wink* Mine will probably be finished for Easter!

Till next time,

Michelle

Take a scallop and make a flower

No, not one of those up there. . . . One of these . . . .

I’ve punched this out from some of the DSP from the “I Wish” scrappin’ kit . .*sigh* such lovely papers! Anyway, back to the scallop flower.  So you can see here that I have punched and sponged it . .so far, not a flower. Okay next step, lets snip between every second scallop . .

So just in case you’re not sure how to snip – there’s a picture up there.  Now don’t snip right to the centre, that just wouldn’t make a flower!

Now for the next step, you take a mouse mat, or the squishy mat from your SU ‘Mat Pack’ (or in my case here a handful of folded paper towel – the previous two options were not close to hand when I was taking the pictures . .sorry) and also a tool with a round end . . . in this case it’s my White Gel Pen.  There is a paper tole tool that if you have one would be perfect.  But I didn’t have one here, needless to say the pen worked just fine So you ‘rub’ the petals out from the centre and then ’swirl’ the pen around, till it all starts to ‘raise’ (like a sunflower looking towards the sun).

Next you flip it over and press the middle of it down . .

 (note to self, moisturise hands more often!)

Now all we need to do is pop a small circle in the centre, and voilà, we have a flower . .  Notice the difference between the snipped & smooshed one and the not-snipped-&-smooshed one? It adds a little bit more oomph to your flowers, don’t you think?

I then used this flower on a book mark that was part of a card. . . more about that later . . .

Till next time,

Michelle

PS – Only 18 more sleeps . . !

Keep It Simple . .

You had grand plans in July to make cards for all your loved ones, family and friends and now you’re thinking that perhaps you may have left it a little late for the grand production number that you had sketched out in your head.  Okay, now it’s time to spring into action to make something simple, stylish and Christmassy.  How’s this for an idea ~

It’s pretty simple, but it lets you know it’s Christmas.  I’ve cut Riding Hood Red A4 length-ways with the fold at the top (so when it’s hanging up on those Christmas card-string-things it’s the right way up and everyone can see it and go “ooooh” ). I’ve then stamped it with the wonderful-oh-how-I-love-it ’En Francais’ background stamp and sponged the edges. A strip of DS Riding Hood Red Paper (with 6 patterns on 12 sheets, both sides can be used and there will be some variety amongst your cards too!) and then a Rudolph from ‘Winter Post’ punched out with the 1⅜” circle punch and layered on a Kiwi Kiss Scallop-punched circle.  Stick it all down, pop it up on dimensionals and voilà! ~ you have a Christmas card.  Very easy to replicate mass-production style, if you so desire. Swap the colours over for Baja Breeze, add some twinkling Dazzling diamonds for another option.

Come and join me at the Endeavour Hills Neighbourhood centre this Saturday to Stamp-a-Stack of  Christmas cards (1-4pm) or at Chelsea Heights Community Centre on Sunday (1-3pm) to make a card with a difference – Contact me & let me know you’re coming and I’ll have a kit all ready for you.

Hope to see you there,

Michelle