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 :)

More Sneak Peeking!!

I'm a bit late this week with the Helping Hudson Challenge so I decided to combine it with the Just Add Ink Challenge again :)

This week's Just Add Ink Challenge is Just Add Wheels (in honour of the Helping Hudson Event) and the Helping Hudson Challenge is a Colour Challenge using the following colours.......

Since the JAI Challenge is Wheels, I decided to use the new Jumbo Wheel I got with my preorder. Its called Baby Tees and is very cute!! Very versatile too, you can use it as a wheel or cut the images out and mount them individually. My card is actually a combination of both!

Stamp Sets: Tiny Tags, Baby Tees (Wheel)

Cardstock & Ink: Baja Breeze, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Medium Jewellery Tag , Blender Pens, Rhinestone Brad (Pretties Kit), Linen Thread

Hope you like it :)

Please help a Special Little Girl.....

One of the things I love about Stampin' Up! is that the demonstrators all have really BIG hearts. They are so generous with their time, resources, money when it comes to helping people.

I am a part of a wonderful group of ladies called the Elite Stampers and one of our beloved Elite girls, Madonna Dunn, has a beautiful little girl with a myriad of health issues. Lara May is nearly 2 years old and in desperate need of a special chair that will help her mobility and join in family activities. At $6,000 this chair is out of the reach of most people, Lara's family included.

So we are launching an appeal to help Lara get her chair :) You can donate using the button over here ---------------> or you can keep your eye out for the event we will be holding in November to coincide with Lara's 2nd Birthday.

Here is Lara' story taken from Madonna's blog http://www.madonnadunn.com.au/

Lara’s Story

Lara May Dunn, my fourth child, was born on the 5th of November 2008. The first sign that something was not right were Lara’s feet which were twisted and turned. At 6 weeks she was back in hospital for failing to thrive. A gamut of testing was started to try to find out what was going on…blood tests, x-rays and even an MRI. Her head hadn’t grown – Microcephaly was diagnosed. Nothing could be detected. There were no answers to be found in the genetic testing.

At 5 months Lara was back in hospital. This time the Royal Children’s Hospital in Brisbane for laser surgery on her floppy voice box. Another gamut of tests and a diagnosis of severe reflux and Cerebral Palsy. This time they put a nasal gastric tube in and all her feeds were directed through there. By October of 2009 the NG tube had been replaced with a “button”, which is a direct line into her tummy for feeds. She will never eat a meal with our family conventionally or “normally”.

Over the last {almost} two years, Lara has been in and out of hospital with many different complex medical issues. She is so fragile and yet has a core of steel and is such a fighter!! She has grown so much!
With her growth has come a need for more specialised equipment. One of which is a Leckey Hi Low chair. A specialised seating system that can be adjusted to fit Lara perfectly. It’s on a wheel base which means she can be more a part of our family. She is able to be moved to where we are. She is not limited to where we can take her in and around our house. She can be exactly where the action is at any given time!

We are trying to fundraise the money to purchase one of these wonderful chairs – how much money?? They are upwards of $6000. We are trying to get funding for some of it but I am working with other stampers and dear friends to find ways to get the rest.
I don’t want to limit where Lara is able to go in our house. She will never walk or run or play with her siblings in any conventional way and yet she can still be present as they do those things. Your help in our efforts is very much appreciated.

Please help this beautiful little girl in any way you can.

Helping Hudson Challenge

Hi Everyone

I am having another go at the challenges over at Helping Hudson and this week, one of them is a Template Challenge! I haven't done one of these types of Challenges before and I really enjoyed it! Here is the template, designed by the lovely Johanna Sherry

I decided to think outside the square a little and made a Tealight Holder to house a battery operated candle. So, I cut the template in half lengthways and added a strip of Vellum Cardstock stamped with Cottage Garden stamps in Baja Breeze. It is a very subtle effect that is hard to capture on film. The stamped images show up much more in person :). The candle is sitting on a platform inside the box and I also made a lid out of Urban Garden DSP to enclose the light.

Another one of those ribbon flowers I like so much......

with the candle on.......

and the inside......

Stamp Sets: Cottage Garden

Cardstock & Inks: Baja Breeze Cardstock, Vellum Cardstock, Urban Garden DSP, Baja Breeze Ink

Accessories: Baja Breeze Double Stitched Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, Butotn Bouquet

Thanks for looking :)

Multitasking....

Hi everyone

Had a busy weekend putting together a Flip Flop Album for a very special friend of the family. I hope they like it!

I wasn't sure if I was going to have time to do the Just Add Ink Challenge this week as I had the album to complete and a class to prepare for. So in the end I decided to combine the Challenge with one of my Gift Card Class projects, Multitasking at its best!!

The Challenge was a Colour Challenge this week, here are the colours......


I am really enjoying these Colour Challenges as they are generally colours I wouldn't use together as a rule and sadly, I don't think I have ever used Always Artichoke!!

So here is my entry, it is a Top Note Gift Card Holder...

and the inside........

Stamp Sets: Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Cardstock & Ink: Kraft Cardstock, Rose Red Cardstock, Very Vanilla Cardstock, Always Artichoke Cardstock, Raspberry Tart DSP, Rose Red Ink

Accessories: 2 Step Bird Punch, Top Note Die (Big Shot), Circles Die (Big Shot), 3/4" Circle Punch, Word Window Punch

TFL!!

Week One, Done & Dusted!!

Well, this has been my week for Challenges! I have finished the third Challenge for Helping Hudson. The last one was a Technique Challenge, the technique being Rock & Roll. This is a favourite technique of mine so you will probably have seen quite a few other cards using the technique. All you do is ink up the stamp in a light colour and then tap (or roll) the edges of the stamp on a darker co-ordinating stamp pad.


I have also made some little rosettes using Tania Gould's Rolled Rose technique. I used the 1-3/8" circle punch though as I only wanted little ones.

Stamp Sets: On Your Birthday

Cardstock & Inks: Rose Red Cardstock, Pretty in Pink Cardstock, Brushed Gold Cardstock, Whisper White Cardstock, Pretty in Pink Ink, Rose Red Ink
Accessories: So Swirly Wheel, Corner Rounder, Rose Red Satin Ribbon (retired), Pretty in Pink Tafetta Ribbon

To be honest, I am not sure the card works but I got tired of rearranging cardstock and ribbon and decided to just stick it down, lol! Hopefully someone out there likes it!!

Another Helping Hudson Challenge :)

2 down, 1 to go! Helping Hudson Challenges that is :) This one is a Colour Challenge and I will admit I struggled with it as it is not a Colour Combination I would have thought of myself..... of course that is what Challenges are all about!!

So here is the colour scheme.......

and here is my card......

It is a take on a card I did a while ago and I tweaked it a bit to suit the colours. Oh and there is that 'sneak peek' stamp again ;D

Stamp Sets: Fifth Avenue Floral, Perfect Punches

Cardstock & Ink: Rose Red Cardstock, Pretty in Pink Cardstock, Not Quite Navy Cardstock, Whisper White Cardstock Rose Red Ink, Pretty in Pink Ink, Not Quite Navy Ink

Accessories: Mat Pack, White Gel Pen, Wide Oval Punch, Pretty in Pink Ribbon

I hope you like it, I hope to be back with the last challenge card tonight.

A Challenge or Two.....plus a Sneak Peek!

I am in full Challenge mode right now! With the Helping Hudson event Challenges beginning tonight, I decided to have a go but combined it with the Just Add Ink Colour Challenge!

I am quite happy with how this turned out actually considering it started off very simply.
I like hemp twine on male cards but decided a little braiding might add a bit of a different touch :)

Plus, if you are observant you will notice I have used a set that isn't in the current catalogue........ a Sneak Peek perhaps????!!

Stamp Set: Perfect Punches (Sneak Peek)
Cardstock & Ink: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Kraft, Baja Breeze Patterns DSP, Chocolate Chip Ink
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Double Stitched Wide Grosgrain, Scallop Edge Punch, Hemp Twine, Lots of Tags (Sizzix Die), Wide Oval Punch

Hope you like it, I am hoping to complete the other two Helping Hudson Challenges tomorrow so keep an eye out :)

Helping Hudson - A Wheely Great Cause!!!

Morning Everyone

Today is a special day for 2 reasons!! One reason is that the Last Chance List has been released (see link to the right) and the second reason is that it is the start of the 'Helping Hudson' Fundraising Event. This event has been organised by a very special group of Stampin' Up! Demonstrators to help out a special little boy. Check out the Helping Hudson Blog

Here is Hudson's Story...........

It’s true when they say that a little goes a long way, and I’m here to tell you about how a simple purchase of some fun -filled paper craft tutorials can give freedom to a little boy!
Hudson is 2 ½ but unlike most children his age, he has had a tough little life! Doctors realised he had an incomplete brain before he was born and as a newborn he was discovered to be legally blind. Hudson has recently been diagnosed with both Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy! His mobility has been hindered severely by his disabilities, however his family and friends wish nothing more than to give him the chance to get moving on his own. Hudson needs a special Wheelchair/Walker, called a Kid Walker. This device will help get him mobile, allow him to play with his brother and sister, interact with other children his own age and give him independence in his day to day life!

This is where the stamping world really comes into play! When a group of Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators are asked for help they come to the rescue, ink and paper in hand, to work miracles. This is what has happened around Hudson over the last few months. First with his mum’s direct team, and then spreading out across Australia and New Zealand and over in to the US, the UK and Canada! His story has touched so many people so its time to share it with you all!

There is a HUGE online stamping event taking place, called Helping Hudson -A Wheely Great Cause! The organisers have been working really hard, securing support, tutorials and donations to get this event underway. There are going to be three weeks of stamping fun for you to join in – come back as often as you can, there will always be lots more to see, do and learn. It kicks off on the 1st August and will run right through until the 22nd. You’ll find it at http://helpinghudson.blogspot.com/

When you come on over to the blog you’ll find out all about Hudson, his family and his cause! But, more importantly, you can DO SOMETHING TO HELP HUDSON, at the same time as helping yourself learn how to make some great new paper craft projects. How? By purchasing bundles of tutorials kindly donated by Stampin’ Up! demonstrators the world over. Each bundle has 10 fun-filled tutorials for just AU$10! And there are six themes to choose from: Bags & Boxes, Christmas, Kids’ Birthdays, Projects for Men & Boys, Punch Art & Scrapbooking. There’s even a FREE bonus bundle if you buy four or more. WOW how exciting! All proceeds go directly to help Hudson.

(Just for Aussie Demos....... (The Helping Hudson Crew will also be posting some awesome challenges throughout the three weeks. For a small donation you can join in and be in the running for some FANTASTIC Stampin’Up! Prize packs, kindly donated by Stampin’ Up! Australia (Aussie participants only) Also keep your eyes peeled for challenges over at Just Add Ink and Stamp A Memory too)

And we would love you to help spread the word too. Check out the ‘Spreading The Word’ page at the site for all you need to know to get the word out to as many people as you can.
C’MON LETS GET HUDSON MOVING!!!!!

Please help out if you can :)