A Cute Handmade Share.....

Hi Everyone

Hope everyone had a nice Christmas. I really enjoyed the few days break I had with my family :)

I hope to be able to post a bit more in the New Year, but I am taking a break at the moment. I am a bit burnt out after all the fairs and markets I had this year!!

I wanted to share a recent purchase with you all as it is so cute and I do like to support Local crafters.

This is a gorgeous reversible dress I bought for my 3 year old daughter from a lovely lady called Wendy, from Artisinat. She has a stall at the Hillarys Markets in WA but also does custom orders so I am sure any interstate people could arrange an order with her.

This is one side and both sides have coordinating buttons to match the outer fabric. Isn't the owl adorable!!

I absolutely LOVE the second side, isn't the fabric gorgeous!!

 And a close up of the gorgeous little owl....

Plus, a matching Lucky Owl just for fun!!

Wendy's dresses are beautifully made and no two are the same. My daughter loves her one of a kind creation!!

Wendy also makes hand dyed silk scarves, baby feeding covers, baby carriers, appliqué cushions and paper crafts.

Email Wendy to order your Artisinat Creation :)

Happy New Year!!

My Etsy Shop is NOW OPEN!!

Happy Friday Everyone!

As you may know, I have been doing quite a few markets and fairs this last month and I love that my creations have appealed to so many! I have been thinking about setting up an Etsy shop for a while and have finally decided to bite the bullet!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/stamparama

My Shop is called Stamparama, which is actually the name of my Stampin' Up! team so it all ties in nicely together :)

I hope to upload some of my cards in the next week or so but I have placed quite a few of my gift items on there.

If you like anything you see in the Etsy Shop and would like to order, please contact me or buy through the shop. Quantities in the shop are low to save on fees, so don't be concerned if you want more than it says are there. I am looking at branching into invitations and party.wedding favours so if you are after something in particular please let me know :)

Anyway, enjoy your weekend!!

December Frenzy & A New Mini Catalogue!!

Lots of fun stuff today! Not only do we have a fantastic new promotion with over 20 items up to 50% off, we have a New Mini Catalogue with new toys to play with!!!

Click Here to see all the fun new goodies in the Summer Mini Catalogue. You can also click on the pic on my sidebar.

Now for the great December Promotion, presenting...............

Click Here to see which products are discounted.

If you haven't finished your Christmas Shopping yet, why not think about a Stampin' Up! Gift Voucher. I can provide vouchers for any amount, complete with a lovely voucher holder. Contact me for more information.

Any questions or orders you can email me

I'm Sorry!!!

I am so ashamed that it has been so long since I posted!!! Sorry everyone!!

I have been so busy dong school and craft fairs this month that I haven't had a chance to post anything. It will get better soon, I promise!!

In the meantime, here is a card I did for the Weekly Challenge over at We Stamp for Lara

Enjoy your week everyone!

Helping a Special Little Girl......

One of the things I love about being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator is the capacity of the Stampin' Up! community to all pull together to help another. Now we are all pulling together to help a special little girl called Lara May. Lara is the daughter of a fellow Elite demonstrator Madonna Dunn. You can read Lara's story HERE

To help raise money for the specialised equipment Lara needs, we are running a stamping event called We Stamp for Lara. The details are below.......

If you would like to join in, the Paypal button is above. You will be emailed the invitation for the forum closer to the date. If you aren't able to participate but would still like to donate, there is also a donate button under the blinkie in my sidebar

Thanks in advance and hope to see you there!! 

Dress Up for Christmas - New Promotion!!

Yay!! Another promotion and one with EXCLUSIVE product even!! From now until 30 November you can get FREE ribbon (choose from 4 designs) when you purchase a Christmas Bundle or host a $550 (before shipping) workshop!! There is even an EXCLUSIVE Designer Series Paper pack that cannot be purchased separately!

Check out the bundles and details below. To see the ribbons and get more details click here or click on the flyer over on the side ----------->

The Fine Print
•There is no limit to the number of bundles a customer can purchase. For every bundle purchased, the customer may choose another spool of ribbon.

•Bundles and free exclusive ribbon are only available while supplies last. If any of the components of a bundle run out of inventory, the bundle will not be available to order. If any of the free ribbons run out of inventory, customers may choose another free ribbon.


Contact me today to order your bundles or book your workshop!!

Birthday Invitation Share.....

Hi Everyone

Long time, no blog!! Sorry, about that. Been a busy time here and I just haven't been able to keep up with everything. I have been making wedding invitations, birthday invitations and goodies to sell at the 4 fairs in 4 weeks I am doing in November!! So you can see why I have been busy :)

I thought I would share the invitations I did for my Dad's 60th birthday which is coming up next month. I needed something simple as I had so much on, but I also wanted it to be effective. I like the colour combination for a classy male invitation :)

So here it is......

It was a pocket card with the party details printed on the insert (as below)

Stamp Sets: None!!!

Cardstock: Basic Black, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Love Letter Designer Series Paper

Accessories: Scallop Trim Border Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Big Shot, Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Sizzlits, 5/8" Black Satin Ribbon, Round Tab Punch, gold brads

Enjoy the rest of your week everyone, I am busy packing for a much-awaited scrap weekend this weekend. Can't wait!!

Jingle Bells!!

Hi Everyone!

I am in the midst of making cards to sell at some fairs I have coming up in November and I have started on Christmas Cards - Only 3 months to go!!

My mission is to use up all my retired bits and pieces so this seemed like a good way to get rid of some ribbon, lol! You can use any ribbon really, which makes it a great design (it was inspired by a card by Ann Craig). I really like the colour combo too so you may see a few more cards in these colours!

Stamp Sets: Delightful Decorations, Season of Joy

Carstock & Inks: Riding Hood Red Cardstock, Old Olive Cardstock, Whisper White Cardstock,

Riding Hood Red Ink, Baja Breeze Ink, Old Olive Ink

Accessories: Retired Ribbon, Star Brad

Enjoy your week :)

Regionals Swap

I promised several people at Perth Regionals that I would post my swap and how I did it, I am sorry it took me so long but better late than never!!

This is the card I gave out as my swaps for Regionals, you may recognise it as being similar to a previous card I posted. It was inspired by that card, but I changed a few things......

So, the technique I used was Faux Embossing. To do this, all I did was stamp the Medallion on my Baja Breeze cardstock in White Craft Ink. I then lined up the image with my Stamp-a-majig and moved it slightly down and to the right and stamped the image again in Baja Breeze ink. Easy!!

The ribbon was done by putting a line of sticky strip accross the bottom of the card and then ruffling the taffeta ribbon accross it. The finished ribbon made me think of a wedding garter, hence the card being a wedding card!!

For the sentiment, I made my own Modern Label by cutting the top and bottom off a scallop oval.

Hope you like it, I am quite fond of this one - even after making 25 of them!!

Just Add Ink #35

Its been a while since I have done a Just Add Ink Challenge, I have been so busy! Tonight I felt in need of some direction, so I headed to JAI to see what the Challenge was. This week it is a Theme Challenge...... Just Add Sympathy. I haven't made one of these for a while (which in this case is a good thing!) so I struggled with where to start. I decided to use a set from the New Catalogue called 'Just Believe'

Its a really lovely set which could fit many themes.

When I stamped the main image I decided to try a shadow effect. I stamped the main image and then straight after lifting the stamp moved it very slightly to the left and stamped again. Its hard to see in the photo but it gives it a lovely shadow.

I have also used some of the New In Colours! Expect to see more of these colours, they are YUMMY!!

Stamp Sets: Just Believe, Occassional Quotes (Level 3 Hostess Set)

Cardstock & Ink: Concord Crush Cardstock, Pear Pizzazz Cardstock, Bashful Blue Cardstock, Whisper White Cardstock, Concord Crush Ink

Accessories: Scallop Trim Punch, Wide Oval Punch

Enjoy your Sunday :)

Hoot Hoot Hooray!!

Hi Everyone!!
So I finally got my goodies this week and spent all day today playing with them!  I am completely in love with the Two Step Owl Punch. There are so many different ways you can use it, not just owls! I will do some more playing and come back another day with more examples.

Today, I made a card for a set of twins who are turning 1. It is their party tomorrow and I thought it would be a great excuse to get out the Owls! It also uses two more lots of goodies from the New Catalogue, the Scallop Trim Punch and the Designer Series Paper Patterns Stack. The DSP Stack is particularly good value, 40 sheets of excellent quality double-sided paper for $37.95!!

Stamp Sets: Tiny Tags

Cardstock & Ink: Bashful Blue Cardstock, Daffodil Delight Cardstock, Chocolate Chip Carstock,

Whisper White Cardstock, Real Red Cardstock, Pear Pizzazz Ink

Accessories: Two-Step Owl Punch, Jewellery Tag Punch, Scallop Trim Punch,

Dazzling Diamonds, White Gel Pen, Linen Thread

Hope you like it!

Catalogue Launches

Hi Everyone

Yesterday was our Stampin' Up! Regionals in Perth and it was FANTASTIC!! Had such a great time, as usual!! I was asked to do a presentation at Regionals this year on Catalgue Launches which was very nervewracking but all in all a good experience :)

I was asked by several people if I could post the photos that I showed in my presentation, so here they are :)

This is my Pick-a-Prize pot and was inspired by a similar pot made by Marelle Taylor. Each flower opens up to reveal a prize. Guests get to pick a flower if they book a workshop or place an order over $100. The prize is redeemable at their workshop (for bookings) or on their next order over $50 (on sales)

My Book to Look scratchies are just done up on my computer, the scratchie parts are stickers which I got from Ebay.

These are Sweet Treat Flowers which were also inspired by Marelle, but I changed them a bit to include a prize. As you can see, the prize is revealed once the lollies are removed (and eaten!!)

This is the Book to Look Cake which was inspired by Sharon Davis. Customers get to choose a piece of cake if they book a workshop. Inside each slice is a gift such as ribbons, embellishments or a gift to be redeemed at their workshop.

I had a few people ask me what sorts of gifts I use in my pots/scratchies/flowers/cakes. I tend to make the gifts between $5-$10, most of the prizes being of the lower value with a few of the higher value prizes.

As there aren't that many items priced between $5-$10 in the catalogue, I will break items up to make them a lower value. Some examples of prizes are Stampin' Write Markers, Pack of Dimensionals, 20 Whisper White Envelopes, Mixed Pack of A5 Cardstock (20 sheets), 5m of Assorted Ribbon, Pot of Dazzling Diamonds or a Roll of 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon (top prize)

Ok, next were the gifts I gave when purchasing the catalogue at the IB&C launches.

First was the New Catalogue Survival Kit which was shared with me by Rhonda Statham. This held all sorts of little items along with the new catalogue such as a pen, post its, tabs for the sections of the catalogue, chocolate, coffee sachet etc...

This was the incentive I used at my latest launch for customers who bought the IB&C. I got the idea from Nicole Heady of PapertreyInk. Very easy and all the customers loved them :)

Next, was food!!

How cute are these cupcakes!! I am addicted to these cupcake toppers right now, I have made them for just about every occassion that called for cupcakes!!

Lastly were these cute covered Kit Kats that I saw on Dawn Griffith's website. I thought they were a cute addition to the goodies I served at my launch :)

I hope some of you found my presentation helpful yesterday. I had quite a few lovely people stop me and tell me they enjoyed it which was really lovely as I am sure you can all imagine how nervous I felt at standing up there!! Looking forward to next year as I am sure I am off the hook for a while now!

I will be back in the next couple of days to share the swap I did for Regionals with you, until then enjoy your week

IT'S HERE, IT'S HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DRUMROLL PLEASE................................

The NEW Catalogue is now LIVE!!!!

LOL, I am excited - can you tell??!!!

Trust me, once you see it you will be excited too!!  Check it out HERE  or click on the pic of the catalogue over here ------------------------------------>

Since I am so excited, I am having a SUPER SEPTEMBER SPECIAL!! For every workshop held in September, the hostess will receive $10 to spend on goodies at her workshop!! So email me now to book your workshop. Limited dates are available so be quick!!

Ok, I am SUPER busy at the moment preparing for Ryan's 5th Birthday Party on Saturday. Can you believe I have 50 kids coming???? Before you ask, YES I AM CRAZY!!!!

Enjoy the new catty everyone!!

The Last Hurrah.....

Well everyone, as fun as it has been, today is the last day of the Helping Hudson event. Thanks to everyone who supported Hudson. It has been such a fun things to be involved with :)

I decided to quickly knock out the last two cards for the Challenges today, which sounds easier than it was! I just could not get them right! Eventually I came up with two cards that I like.

Here they are....

The first one is for the Helping Hudson Colour Challenge. The Challenge being to choose one colour (can use varying shades of that particular colour) and one neutral. I have a Wedding Party to go to tonight so I decided to make a card for them under the Challenge.

I really like the finished card. To get the mottled effect on the Medallion, I inked the stamp up in Baja Breeze ink and then used a sponge dauber to dab Not Quite Navy ink in parts. The layering on the tag is done using the scallop oval punch and trimming off the top and bottom scallops/

Stamp Sets: Medallion, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Cardstock & Inks: Not Quite Navy Cardstock, Baja Breeze Cardstock, Very Vanilla Cardstock. Not Quite Navy Ink, Baja Breeze Ink

Accessories: Ice Crystal Brads, Scallop Oval Punch, Word Window Punch, Very Vanilla Tafetta Ribbon

The next one is a Notecard inspired but a card from Marelle Taylor. This card is for the Helping Hudson Sketch Challenge as well as the Just Add Ink Colour Challenge.

I used a new Hostess Set from the New Catalogue being released in just 11 days!!! It is called Playful Pieces and has my head swimming with possibilities!! The base of the cupcake was a rectangle, but I trimmed it down to look like a cupcake base. The top of the cupcake is half a scallop circle punch. The background is using Real Red ink that I have stamped off so it is a bit more subtle.

Stamp Sets: Playful Pieces, Tiny Tags

Cardstock & Inks: Kraft Cardstock, Real Red Cardstock, Very Vanilla Cardstock, Chocolate Chip Cardstock, Real Red Ink, Versamark

Accessories: Chocolate Chip Tafetta Ribbon, Chocolate Chip Tafetta Ribbon, Linen Thread, Scallop Circle Punch, Small Jewellery Tag Punch, Heat & Stick Powder, Dazzling Diamonds

Ok lovely people, I have to be getting ready to go out. Tomorrow I plan to get a start on my swaps for Regionals. Wish me luck!!

Technique Challenge

Evening All

I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to manage the Helping Hudson challenges this week but had an idea for the Technique Challenge and decided to give it a go!

So, the technique this week is 'Embossing & Sponging' - two of my favourite techniques :)

I decided to break out another set from the new catalogue. This one will be a best seller, I am sure!!

The set is called Artistic Etchings and I specifically wanted to use the Eiffel Tower image as it felt whimsical and romantic. The colour scheme that comes to mind for me when I think of France is Black, Red & White so I went with that!!

I decided to make a Swing Card, which is a bit of a trip down memory lane for me. My wedding invitations were Swing Cards (try making 70 of these!!) so its no wonder its been 5 1/2 years before I made another one!! I used clear embossing on the background and the masking technique on the main panel. I will admit, I wasn't too sure of it at first but it is definately growing on me :)

So here it is.......

and the middle of the card......

Stamp Sets: Artistic Etchings

Cardstock & Ink: Basic Black Carstock, Riding hood Red Cardstock, Whisper White Cardstock, Basic Black Ink, Riding hood Red Ink, Versamark

Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Hope you like it :)

By the Skin of my Teeth!!!

Did I make it??!!! Desperately trying to get my card for the last Helping Hudson Challenge done before midnight EST!! I think I made it by 2 minutes, lol!!

There was more I would have liked to have done to this card but time wasn't on my side! Will probably tweak it a bit after I post this, once the pressure is off!! This card is for a special lady, my auntie, who lost a very good friend of hers last night. Just to let her know I am thinking of her.

Here is the Challenge Sketch...........

and here is my take on it..............

Stamp Sets: Vintage Vogue

Cardstock & Ink: Kraft Cardstock, Rich Razzleberry Cardstock, Very Vanilla Cardstock, Orchid Opulence Cardstock, Rich Razzleberry Ink

Accessories: Rich Razzleberry Spotted Grosgrain, Circle Scissors, Circles #2 (Big Shot Die), Half Pearls (from the Pretties kit)

Hope you like it :)