PDCC107 - Another challenge!

Yes, it's another blog challenge entry! I might be getting a bit carried away with all the challenges I've found over the last few days (and there are a couple more coming!), but I've been having so much fun! It's one thing to create a card with a person or occasion in mind, but I've found that it's a lot easier for those who may be creatively challenged at times (i.e. me) to have some constraints or guidelines to work within.

This week's challenge at the Play Date Cafe was to use black and white with a splash of orange. Even though this card is pretty simple, I'm quite proud of it. I'm fairly certain that I made this one up completely by myself! It's sometimes hard to tell, because even though I didn't CASE anyone directly, I may have recalled something that I'd seen somewhere else and just thought I'd come up with it.
Anyway, here it is (and if it looks like something anyone has already done and posted, let me know and I'll credit ;))

It's a bit hard to see in the pic (cos I'm the worlds dodgiest photographer!), but I've used some vanilla shimmer smooch spritz on the black card and there is actually some clear plastic under the orange circle to make a window!


Stamps: Punch Bunch (r), Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Snow Swirled
Cardstock: whisper white, basic black, pumpkin pie
Ink: versamark, basic black, real red, pumpkin pie marker, night of navy
Other: White embossing powder, decorative label punch, white gel pen, owl punch, word window punch, modern label punch, vanilla shimmer smooch spritz. Circle nestabilities dies, big shot

Guess who found more challenge blogs?!?!

That's right.. it's me! I've started out pretty slowly with the challenges, but I was feeling pretty inspired (could that be the wine?) so I decided to have a crack at some other blog challenges. As well as being fun, these challenges help me learn new techniques that I can use to make more cool stuff! Plus I end up with lots of pretties to give my bestest buddies :) (you know who you are!)

So, since it's waaaaay past my bed time, here is the pic of my evening's toil.

I've combined challenges from Just Us Girls and Inkspirations to make this Christmas gift box with non traditional colours. I'm loving the Petals A Plenty embossing folder for Christmas stuff - it's got that hint of the jolly without being overpowering. Kind of like a bottle of cheap bubbly :)

Aaaaanyhoo, enough for now, but I'll be back later with more aweseome...... umm... awesome stuff! (I've got some new toys coming soon, so stay tuned!)

BIG November Special!

Here it is, my crafty minions! The awesome November special from Stampin' Up! is BIG SHOT DISCOUNTS!!

There is a selection of dies and embossing folders being offered at 10% off the normal catalogue price, and if you don't own your own Big Shot yet (what the heck is wrong with you??), there is a fantastic Big Shot bundle just waiting for you!!
Check out the list below and tell me you don't want them! I dare you!

JAI #92 - Just Add a Tag or Bookmark

It's been a very hectic few weeks, and I promise to add some Christmas workshop pics tomorrow, but for now I'm quickly putting up my entry for the Just Add Ink challenge for this week. It was quite by coincidence that I made some thank you tags for the ladies who ordered at my last workshop and this week's challenge is Just Add a Tag or Bookmark... easypeasylemonsqueezy! I figured since I'd already made them to put on the bags, I may as well enter! I absolutely *had* to use my latest toy, the delightful Two Tags die, and it is sooo cute! I can see tags popping up everywhere in my house in the near future :)

Aaaanyhoo.. it's getting late, so I'll add the pic then get my beauty rest (and trust me, I need it!). I'll be back tomorrow to post the goodies we made at the Christmas Extravaganzaaaaaaaa (were there that many a's?), and the latest, most awesomest ever special from Stampin' Up!

Christmas Card Extravaganzaaaaaaaaa!

So, my friendly neighbourhood blog followers... I am having an awesome Christmas Card making session on Saturday, November 5th... and I think you *really* want to come! Well, maybe you don't. But I think you should anyway.. c'mon, it'll be fun! You'll get to make some awesome Christmas cards to give to friends and family, some gorgeous gift tags to attach to the presents you have thoughtfully picked out for them, and a wonderful gift box for one lucky person to receive (although the filling of said gift box is up to you!).

I would post some tricky teaser photos of these fantastical projects, but I forgot to take them.. but trust me, they're awesome!


Aaaaanyway, if you would like to join some fellow stampers for a morning of fun, stamping and delicious treats, drop me an email or leave a comment :)

*Edit* okay, so I was apparently supposed to leave some sort of information. Hmm.. ok. My wonderful friend is letting me use her house (because mine is small and full of children!) in Lauderdale, so you would need to probably come there if you want to attend. Cost is $25 and includes everything you will need - card, envelopes, adhesives, stamps, inks, use of my tools and a mouth watering morning tea. Did I mention prizes? No? Well there are prizes too!! Lucky door prizes for just attending, and extra special bonuses for orders placed or workshops booked on the day. What are you waiting for?? Email me now!

Random Creations

I have found it almost impossible to get any crafting done while John has been away! I usually get some things done once all the kids are in bed, but I've been soooo tired I haven't even bothered opening my stamp cupboard. Except to make these:

I managed to meet one of the Stampin' Up! goals for new demos, so I got to choose 3 free stamp sets!! I wanted to get the Jolly Bingo Bits set anyway, so that was the first on my list! The postie came earlier this week, so I just had to have a little play :)



I found the tutorial for the tea bag caddy a while ago on Andrea Walford's site, but hadn't gotten around to making it. My bestie is having her baby in a couple of weeks, and she just about lives on tea when in hospital, so I though I'd include this in her gift basket :)

I've got a workshop and Christmas workshop coming up in the next couple of weeks, so I'm going to be pretty busy getting everything ready! Thank goodness John is coming home on Saturday!

JAI #88

The challenge at Just Add Ink this week was "Just Add ...a Die Cut", so given how much I love my Big Shot.. I had to make something! One of my more recent additions is the Top Note die, and it is fabulous! There are so many things you can use it for.. one of the best being boxes. I'm starting to think about Christmassy things I can make.. to show at my Christmas workshop, and to give as gifts, and I think this box is pretty cute (yes, I know... I'm so very humble ;) ). All is needs are some yummy choccies or cookies inside, and it makes a lovely gift. It's sturdier than it looks, too, because I used some of the on-board sheets for the lid and base, then covered them in cardstock. The Big Shot had no trouble cutting them out because it's AWESOME!

Anyway, this will probably be the last thing I make until my darling husband returns... once the kids are in bed I don't think I'll be far behind :)

Stamp Sets: Baroque Motifs, Triple Treat Flower, Tags til Christmas
Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Poppy Parade, Very Vanilla, Just Add Cake DSP
Inks: Wild Wasabi, Poppy Parade
Accessories: Top Note Die, on board sheets, Wild Wasabi striped ribbon, fancy flower punch, 5 petal flower punch, 1/2" circle punch, heat & stick powder, dazzling diamonds, filigree brad, rhinestone brad, rhinestones

More brayering!

Just a quick post with my latest attempt at brayering...I'm not sure if I'm actually getting any better at it, but it's lots of fun trying :)

Hopefully my next post will be some instructions on how to make the mini folding scrapbook I posted a few days ago.. fingers crossed the children stop fighting long enough for me to get it done!

JAI #87

I have decided that I absolutely love the new in colours and am using them on almost everything at the moment! So when I saw the Just Add Ink colour challenge for this week, I had to have a go :)

My card is not exactly the way I want it, but I just haven't got the time to re-do it at the moment. I have a lot of things to prepare for this weekend with a playgroup fundraiser, a craft event for our local Christmas pageant, and getting my darling husband ready to leave on a 2 week business trip! Not to mention trying to mentally prepare for two weeks of being a single mother to a 6 year old, a 5 year old, and 18 month old twins! Some times I wonder how I ever get anything done ;)
Anyway.. enough of the drama, on to the card!!

Stamp Sets: Tiny Tags, Best of Everything, Pocket Silhouettes, Create a Cupcake
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Island Indigo
Inks: Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Garden Green, Wild Wasabi, Versamark
Accessories: Top Note die, Beautiful Wings embosslit, Square Lattice ef, Chantilly Lace, Pearls, White ep, Jewelry Tag punch, Calypso Coral designer printed brad.



I quite like easel cards... they appeal to my love of the 3d projects.
Bronwyn Eastley makes amazing easel cards - she showed a few in her presentation at the Tassie regional using the two tags die, which is now on my wish list! I think I'll have to practice making some more, so stay tuned!!

Simply Stockings Promotion

Hello again, just dropping in to let everyone know about the awesome promotion happening in October.

Dates: 1–31 October
Promotion Details:
Purchase the Stitched Stocking Stamp Set and Stocking Tag Punch early--before the debut of the 2011 Summer Mini Catalogue.
and
Host a $450 workshop, and receive the Stitched Stocking Stamp Set and Stocking Tag Punch for free.

If you would like to view the set and punch, click here

This set is perfect for making gorgeous Christmas cards for your friends and family! If you want to get it FREE, let me host a workshop for you and your friends and we'll see what we can do to help ;)