Wedding CD tin

My brother-in-law and his wife were recently married and I took quite a few photos on the day of the wedding so I thought I would give them a copy of the photos in this cute little CD tin that I decorated especially. I really need to stop using PINK! Anyone who knows me will understand that this is REALLY REALLY difficult :)

I have used some of the Candy Lane DSP and the Together Forever stamp set using the large oval punch and scallop oval punch with some Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon. I also put a strip of cardstock that I used the scallop border punch to decorate. I sponged all around the outside for a textured look. If you wondering why I have managed to post THREE times today it's because it's stinking hot outside (37 degrees celcius) so the best place to be is inside in the aircon creating right! Thanks for looking.

On my soap box again......

Ok here is another one but a different design. The other ones I made were for square soap blocks, these are for rectangle ones. I have used a piece of Pink Pirouette Cardstock and some little strips of Candy Lane DSP. I punched one of the Boho Blossoms Flowers and stamped the For you from the Fresh Cuts set. I used the Horizontal Slot Punch to tie the Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon. Once again no need for any adhesive. I might add this to the tutorial if anyone is interested. It's super easy just some cutting and scoring and you're done :) Thanks for looking.

On my soap box...

I have wanted to make one of these for ages and just haven't had the time to sit down and work it out until now. These are little boxes for soap blocks but you could put little 3 x 3 Note Cards in them or some little treats. They are not very elaborate as I just wanted to try them out and work out all the measurements etc.. I have stamped the one on the right using the new Razzle Dazzle Stamp Set and the one on the left uses the beautiful Bella Bleu DSP with a butterfly from the Butterfly Prints set (both these stamp sets are in the new mini). The best thing about these is there is NO adhesive needed - are you impressed or maybe just intrigued? I might do a tutorial for these but I have never done a tutorial before so please be patient. I have another idea for a different type of soap box so stay tuned for that one too.

Tea Light Candle holder

This is actually designed for battery operated tea light candles but I didnt have any on hand so put some real ones in it just for the picture (not advised to burn with the paper and all - LOL). This project is yet another one from the UStamp group. Thanks to Madeline Morcelo for this awesome idea. This is the first project that I have made using the new Sweet Treat Cups (these hold the candles in the box) how cool is that! The sweet treat cups come in a box of 12 for $6.50 so you could make four of these beautiful holders if you wanted with just one box. The sweet treat cups are available in the New Mini Catalogue. The little butterfly is from one of the new stamp sets in the New Mini Catalogue too called Butterfly Prints ($25.95) It comes with the matching butterfly punch ($30.95) too to make cutting these out a breeze. Once again I have used the Bella Rose DSP - gee I love this. So glad we have this until September. The little flower to the right of the butterfly is simply cut out from this paper. Thanks for looking :)

Time to get organised

Here is another project from the UStamp group. This project was designed by a very talented NZ Demo Tracy Old. This is my own take on her project using different papers and stamp set. I have used the Always stamp set with the matching Sweet Always Designer Series Paper. These are super easy to create and you can print off a calendar FREE from here. I printed it at 110% just in case you are interested. I have used one of the backing card sheets from the DSP packs (I have sooooooooo many of these, knew they would come in good use one day) for the 'tent' part. Thanks for looking. More projects on their way soon.

Love Notes Box

This is another project from my UStamp group. Thanks again to Becky Roberts for such an awesome tutorial. I made it my own by using different papers and stamps but the idea is still the same. This little box holds all four 3 x 3 note cards and then the little drawer holds the envelopes. There is room to hold many more if needed. I have used the Dreams du Jour set with the Bella Rose DSP, some corduroy buttons and some taffeta ribbon with coordinating cardstock with the In Colours Pink Pirourette, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red and also some Chocolate Chip. I stamped the 'Love You' on watercolour paper then coloured the flower image in using my blender pens and punched it out using the 1-1/4" square punch. This was super easy to put together, if you want the instructions just join up on the UStamp group, it's not too late and you will have access to all the fabulous projects and instructions. Totally awesome for inspiration. There is something new everyday, great for me while I am on holidays with 'plenty' of creative time - YAY! Thanks for looking :)

Gifts for work colleagues

Here are some more candles this time using the Always set. I am so glad they released this in the full catalogue this year, it was my favourite set in the mini last year. I have used some of the Urban Garden papers and some Silver Hodge Podge (these are easy to bend around the candles).

More Mini Projects

I made this collection of gift cards for a hostess gift recently. She loved it and so did the other attendees (maybe a little jealous). I have used the Razzle Dazzle set (which I won at Regionals) and the new scallop notes from the Summer Mini Catalogue. I used the Rock'n'Roll Technique with the image on the front (sorry this photo does not help) and cut a tiny strip of the matching colour paper from the Patterns DSP to adhere on the inside.

New SUMMER Mini Catalogue

The New Summer Mini Catalogue has just been released and the products are so pretty. I am all inspired to create cards using bright colours and lots of colouring. In this post you will find some photos of my projects that we made at the recent Regional confernence in Melbourne as well as some of my samples made using the set For Everything - definitely my favourite. The new Mini has new punches, buttons, ribbons, stamps (of course!), wheels, Designer Series Papers, embellishments, rub-ons..........and the all new Circle Scissor Plus which cuts circles and many sizes from as small as 1" up to 6". Cant wait to play with that too.

Gift Card Holder

Yes these really are gift card holders and the perfect size. They are origami christmas stockings - how cute! The gift card sits just in the top and wont fall through because of the way it is folded. This is another project I learnt on UStamp. There are so many more projects that I am dying to try and now that I have some time I will do as many as I can over the next few weeks. The problem is there are new ones every day and I cant keep up - hehehe :)

U Stamp Swap

Shame on me for not posting anything for a month! Ok, I have an excuse, let me explain. I am a teacher and this time of year is particularly busy with reports and exams but today was my last day - YAY! plus I have been very busy with a workshop every weekend for the last month. But now I am on holidays and I promise I will make up for it. This post is for my litle goodies received from Charlene Godsave in the recent UStamp swap. It is an awesome opportunity to get lots of ideas and inspiration while meeting others from all over the world with new projects every day. This recent UStamp has finished but the new Year End Blowout has begun. It's not too late to join either. Click on the blinkie in the right margin if you would like some more info. These photos include the swap I sent to Charlene (the box and matching card with little Aussie treats) and what she sent me which includes a beautifully decorated notebook, card and hot chocolate sachet with a caramel Mars Bar - YUM!! Thanks for looking.

Christmas is coming....

It's time to get organised with all those cards and gifts. Not only can you make your cards, you can make your gifts as well - how impressed will your friends be!!! These are SUPER EASY. All you need is some candles, some tissue paper, some baking paper, your favourites stamp sets and inks and your embossing tool. I am going to make some more of these over the coming days so stay tuned for more samples. I have to thank the wonderfully creative Simone for demonstrating this fabulous idea at Regionals a few weeks ago. I made candles like this many many years ago before I discovered Stampin' Up! but now I have sooooooooo many more options...... Thanks Simone for reminding me about this technique. Thanks for looking.

Oh Baby!!!

One of my close friends at work is leaving to have a baby this week and I offered to make the card from all of the staff. The only problem is she isnt finding out what she is having so trying to make a card that isnt too boyish or too girly was difficult. So this is what I came up with (with a little help from my downline Jody - thx chicky) I had so many ideas for this card but when I started to put them on paper they just didnt work. This has been made using the Wild about you and Bugs and Kisses stamp sets and some of the free ribbon from last months promo. I hope she likes it. I have offered to make her baby thank you's so stay tuned for those creations come December:)

Regional Swaps

Here are the swaps I made for Regionals this year. Not as many as I would have liked but it has been so busy at work with the Yr 12's that I havent had as much time as I would normally. I also have included a pic of the swaps I received in return. Thanks to all the lovely ladies that swapped with me. I was really impressed with a lot of them especially the Christmas stocking - OMG!!!! Soooooooo much work. We were spoiled this year with our gifts and I was even luckier winning a new set from the soon to be released mini catalogue in December. Cant show you pics just yet but keep a look out in a month. I learnt so much this year and have lots of ideas I want to try. Stay tuned for samples of things I will make using some new techniques.

Class of 2009

As a gift from myself and the house at school we gave the Yr 12's a graduation card (I had some help from the Yr 10's and 11's otherwise I would have had no sleep at all this week) I found the idea here and just adapted a little using this great set - Great Grads. I really love the Shakespeare stamp. Lots of punches with this one but a bit quicker to do than the original owl I made about a year ago. Here are some photos of the 10's and 11's helping out. We had to make 24 of them!

Totally calorie FREE!!!

Well last week was very sad as I said goodbye to my Year 12's as they leave to go and prepare for their exams. I have been very busy the last few weeks preparing for this as well as doing my swaps for Regionals last weekend (will post those soon). During the year as each of my 'tutees' celebrate their birthday's, I bring in a cake or some cupcakes to enjoy the special day with all of the group, so as a reminder for them of the year with me I each made them a cupcake which they can keep (this one cannot be eaten) perhaps on their desks at home. I am so happy with the outcome and I brought them in in my cupcake stand for presentation. The girls loved them and so many people thought they were REAL! :)

I was able to use up a lot of the paper I had leftover from all the wedding stationery but some of my fingers went numb for a day after cutting all the cakes out. But the girls loved them so it was all worth it totally. I saw the idea here and couldn't resist having a go myself. I have topped them off with a pearl from the 'pretties kit'. To make these you need to cut three separate templates - one for the base, one for the inside and one for the top. Thanks for looking.

World Card Making Day Success

Today was lots of fun and I am sure all whom attended had an enjoyable afternoon. I have included some of the photos taken today including Kylie's finished projects (thanks Kylie, not bad for a first timer) and some of the attendees busy at work and the display. I would firstly like to thank Karen who very kindly arranged the venue for today and I am happy to announce that we were able to raise well over $200 towards our chairty fund for the Child Development Services at Central Bayside Community Health. Secondly I would like to thank my ever inspiring upline Gail for working with me today to create some gorgeous projects for everyone to make. Thanks to everyone for coming and supporting a local cause. We all really appreciated it.

Another WCMD project....

Here is the last of my 3 projects from today's World Card Making Day. It is a 2,5,7,10 box. I have more pics of some in an earlier post here where you can find a link to the instructions. The ladies loved them and using the wheel was fun too for everyone especially those who had not been lucky enough to use the Stampin' Round Wheels before. They are great for creating backgrounds for cards or scrapbook pages. The wheel we used today was called 'It's Beautiful' and is one of my favourites. If you wheel onto a white piece of cardstock with a dark colour ink, it comes up brilliantly and could be used for backgrounds for cards etc.. like the one below. A little tip - when you wheel large areas, wheel across your cardstock on an angle instead of up/down or left to right as this helps reduce visibility of the gaps between each roll. This can then be used in place of patterned paper on a card.

WCMD Christmas Cards

Here are the cards that we will be making on Saturday for World Card Making Day. These are just two of the 6 projects that we will be making and all for a low $25! I will post more photos after Saturday from the day's projects. If you still have not registered your attendance, please email me ASAP to see if there are any spots left. I have used the Season of Joy Stamp Set. This set is so versatile and can be used for cards and other projects besides Christmas which is why I love it so much. I have used Bravo Burgandy and Mellow Moss with Whisper White. With the tree, I stamped it three times and cut them out. I then scored them down the middle and stuck them together to give this 3D look which can still be sent flat in the post :)