Final Secret Sister Gift Revealed.....

Well finally here it is - this months gift for Jane and the final gift for the current Secret Sister Round. You may recognise some of the projects which I showcased earlier. I have included 3 cards, a decorated pencil tin, a scallop envelope box with a pack of build-a-brads and some Rich Razzleberry Grosgrain ribbon inside cos don't forget Jane LOVES embellishments. I also made a cupcake box and a tea light candle box. As you can see I stuck with the Cottage Wall DSP theme throughout. I also included a copy of Masterchef winnner Julie Goodwin's cookbook as Jane loves cooking too. I have to say that delivering this last gift in person was awesome as was the opportunity to meet Jane face-to-face. She was so over the moon with everything I sent her and kept saying how she felt so spoilt this round and how she signed up thinking this would be her last - but not now, she wants to do another one :)

Second Secret Sister Gift....

Here is what I sent to my Secret Sister for April. I was continuing to give her some clues about who I was and I made this to hint how much I love PINK!!! Jane's profile said she loved chocolate with nuts so I made her a chocolate block cover for a block of Cadbury's with Hazelnuts, I hope she liked it. The DSP in the background with the blue flowers on it is from the Washington Apple pack and the big blue flower is from the Blooms Die Cuts set. Continuing on with the embellishments she likes, this time a decorated a pack of vintage brads and also included some clips etc.. Finally all this had to have a matching card so continuing on featuring products from the new Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue, I used the gorgeous new Medallion stamp with some pearls from the pretties kit (love this kit, it's just got sooooo much cute stuff in it) finished off with some ribbon and a button. The little butterfly is one of the new 'a la carte' stamps in the new mini. I was really happy with the colour combination of the Melon Mambo and Bashful Blue when I completed this collection. Thanks for looking again. The final months gift will be revealed tomorrow :)

First Secret Sister Gift...

I thought I had better take some time to explain a little for those that may be unaware how this Secret Sister thing works. Basically I was allocated another Australian Demonstrator who is a member on our ESAD (Extremely Special Aussie Demos) site. She didnt know who I was and it was up to me to keep it that way until the last month. I was allocated to a different demo and she would do the same for me. The swap goes for 3 months. Each month we send out two cards plus a gift at the end of each month, usually things we have made and perhpas incorporating things on their profile. When we start we are given a profile of our secret sister so we know her likes and dislikes, hobbies, interests etc... so we can structure our cards and gifts to their tastes or requests. As this was my first time I was very nervous and did not know what to do or what to expect. Here is what I sent to Jane at the end of the first month. In her profile she said she likes Sudoku puzzles (me too) chocolate and cooking so I made these things a feature over the 3 months. In the first month I wanted to make things using the new items in the new Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue. I just love the autumn papers and colours. I recreated a top note box (click here for the tutorial) that I made for the earlier ESAD Blog Hop and placed some chocies (for Easter), and some embellishments (Jane likes these too) inside such as buttons, grommets and brads. I made a matching card with the new stamp set Autumn Days and covered a Sudoku book and decorated it with some rub-ons and a pen. I believe she really enjoyed it. You can check out her blog post from when she received it here. I will post what I sent the next month tomorrow :)

Secret Sister Revealed...

Ok now that my Secret Sister has received her final gift, I can now show you some of the cards that I made her along the way. I will post some pics of the gifts I sent her over the coming days.

The first card uses the top note die cut once then put through a second time after turning 90 degrees to get this cute little square frame, so luv my BIG SHOT!!! The stamp set is Asian Artistry, a new hostess set from the new Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue. I did case this card from somewhere I think but cant remember where, sorry.

The next card is one I made for ther birthday as it fell (lucky Jane) in the first month of the round. This card uses the same stamp set but a differnt image. I also decorated the inside of this card - a first for me!

The last one uses the Two-step bird punch, cant remember where I found this idea either sorry as I made these so long ago. I have used one of the new Soho Designer Hardware grommets in the centre.

Secret Sister gift almost finalised...

Here is some of the items I am sending off to my secret sister for her final package. I can show you some of it as I will be revealed very soon. This is a 'Build-a-Brad' Box with a belly band and matching card. I have used the Cottage Wall DSP (yes AGAIN!!!) and the Vintage Vogue stamp set with some Whisper White taffeta ribbon and a flower designer brad wrapped around the ribbon. You see my secret sister loves embellishments so I thought this was a great idea, this way she can make her own creative brads. I have included many other items already seen on here for her final box of goodies, cant wait to send it off on its long journey up north. I will post all the pictures next week when she receives her exciting mail.

My first Blogger Award!!!

I received an email from fellow demonstrator Rhonda Statham, letting me know she had passed on a "Beautiful Blogger Award" - how awesome, this is my first one! Thanks so much Rhonda and right back at you.

The conditions of accepting this award are that I need to tell you 10 things about myself and also nominate another 10 blogs to be the recipient of the Beautiful Blogger Award. Let's start with 10 things about me:

1. I love being an SU! Demonstrator and have been for nearly 3 years now


2. I am a secondary school teacher by day, crafter my nights and weekends (when do I sleep you ask???? Still trying to figure that one out!)


3. I live in Melbourne with my husband, married 18 months


4. We have no children but hope to one day and we have a kitty called Hanger


5. I love to travel, I have two trips planned this year, one to Singapore with hubby and one to the States to visit my brother (does convention count? make that 3 trips then)


6. My favourite city in the whole world to visit would have to be Sydney - loving that Convention is there this year, but love living in Melbourne


7. I have identical twin brothers


8. I am very organised and like organising others (Miss Bossy Boots here, well someone's gotta do it!)


9. I love to shop, go to the movies and eat out at restaurants (seafood is my fav)


10. I love making 3D items the most and spending hours and hours in my craft room creating anything and everything papercraft - there is just sooooooo much to create and sooooooo little time

And now for 10 more beautiful blogs! These are in completely random order

Gardenia Pepworth

Dannie Graves

Jo Eades

Pauline Laing

Chris McLucas

Karen Yates

Gail Kirby

Anne-Marie Walker

Becky Roberts

Patti Lee

Check these blogs out for heaps and heaps of inspiration and awesome creativity!

Double Act....

I purchased the tutorial for this awesome little tote a while ago but havent got around to making it. Well, once I sat down to make one, I loved it so much I had to make another. The Riding Hood Red and Bella Bleu DSP was the first one I made then the second one I made using the new Simply Scrappin Kit in the Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue. I love these kits so much, they enable putting projects together to be just so simple. I first saw these cute little totes on lovely Leonie's Blog during the Blog Hop last month. I then followed the link to Adela's blog for the tutorial. It is super easy to make, you just print the templates out onto your chosen paper, cut out and assemble - done! All I have to do now is make something to go inside them. I have the blue one on display at the Stitches and Craft show this weekend at Caulfield. Our group of demonstrators have a stand at the show so get along and see the Big Shot in action and lots of other fabulous products.

It's Party Time!!!

You may remember in an earlier post I put together a version of Becky's Cupcake box for a birthday party I was planning for one of my friend's daughters. Well today was the BIG day and Emily was soooooo excited. These are the party favours I made with lollipops inside. Emily and her friends had a great time and they worked so well and were very productive. I have included some pics of what they made, working hard on the projects, and the bithday girl with her cake (cup cake theme of course). Emily had her friends choose a DSP they liked then I pre-cut all the pieces for their boxes so all they had to do was put it all together. Emily also liked the pig I made earlier so we made one of them too. And of course we made a matching card.

Good enough to eat....

I had so much fun making these gorgeous little treats - yes I know they look like something you could eat but they are really made from paper. I found the idea on Patti's blog - she is amazing!!! I punched a heap of flowers from the trio flower punch and stuck them into little polystyrene balls with tiny pins. I then cut the bottoms off them so they would sit flat in the box oh and so the lid would fit on :) The other chocolates are tiny little boxes that I put through the Big Shot (a must have tool) using some of my embosssing folders - soooooo cute :) I cut the swirls freehand, cant you tell??? LOL The best part of this project is it's in my fav colour combo ever - Pink and Choc Chip. Patti has awesome instructions so get on over there and have a go yourself.

And the winners are....

Congratulations to Jo and Donna on winning the Big Shot UStamp passes. Random.org has just generated your lucky numbers. I will forward your email addresses to Dawn over the weekend so she can invite you to the group. Please let me know which email address you prefer as the contact, please email me at felic77@hotmail.com. Well Done Girls!!!

Wedding Card

I made this card for one of my colleagues at work as his daughter is getting married this weekend. Here's hoping the rain will clear up before then. I was inspired to make this card after seeing this one. I used one of my embossing folders and ran it through the Big Shot (a must have tool for crafters) for the background and white heart. I embossed the baroque motifs image but it's a little hard to tell. I have used some of the pearls from the pretties kit and a tiny little piece of black grosgrain ribbon for the tie. The sentiment is from the Together Forever stamp set (I used this set for my wedding too). Thanks for looking :)

Cup Cake Box

This cute little box is actually a project from a UStamp earlier in the year but I never got around to making it. I have been planning my friends birthday party today which has a cupcake theme (see earlier post here) and I was reminded of this awesome little project that Dawn created for 'UStamp With Love'. Her project actually had hearts instead of circles but I thought this would be perfect. I just cant stop making projects using the gorgeous Cottage Wall DSP - I think I am on to my 5th pack!!! On the top is a scallop circle punch rosette, been wanting to try one of these for ages - super easy, all you need to do is cut one petal out of the scallop for the first layer then cut two petals out for the second layer etc.. The cupcake is made using a template, I really should have got baking and put a real one in there but having too much fun in my craft room this long weekend to get into the kitchen..... I have been very busy making lots of projects for my Secret Sister (will explain and post these in a couple of weeks, cant risk her finding out who her secret sister is before the end of May). How cute is the Polka Dot Embossing folder??? You seriously cannot live without the Big Shot - I use it on nearly every project I make now. Don't forget I have a special Starter Kit for the Big Shot. Email me for a flyer for more details. Thanks for looking.

Blog Candy time..

You may have noticed that over past few months I have showcased many of the projects that I have made from the UStamp group that I have been a member of. Well.....I am totally stoked as I have been asked to design for the next one. That's not the only exciting news....the theme next month is the BIG SHOT, my favourite tool EVER - you really cannot live without this amazing piece of crafting brilliance. Next month's UStamp will centre around the BIG SHOT and there will be so many fabulous projects with full tutorials and pictures ready for you to recreate any way you like. I have seen some of them and they are 'out-of-this-world' believe me! Dont worry if you dont have many dies, you will be able to adapt many of the ideas to suit what you have. If you dont have a Big Shot, you really need one and I have a special Starter Kit available for only $300 (includes supplies totalling over $350 plus some sample projects). Email me for a flyer at felic77@hotmail.com

Anyway as part of my Guest Designer Status with UStamp I have been given two FREE passes (worth $24.96US each) to give away and I have decided that anyone who comments on this blog post will go into the draw to win them. If you are a lucky winner you will also get a chance to display the Big Shot Member Blinkie on your blog (see below). I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of UStamp for the past few months as I have met so many friendly, helpful and creative stampers from all over the world as well as participate in swaps and chats and I have also won some great prizes :) If you would like to find out more information about UStamp or any of the previous themes, please click here. Don't forget to leave a comment with your name and email address so you can go into the draw. You never know, you could be the next 'Guest Designer'............ and then you could display the Designer Blinkie on your blog too like I have in my sidebar :) So get commenting folks and happy stamping :) Entries will close on Friday 30th April.

Masculine cards not my 'forte'

Since masculine cards are not particularly my strong point, I was in desperate need of some inspiration and assistance on what to do for this special occasion at the request of my Mum. So I looked and found this which was so inspiring and I thought 'yes I can recreate this!'' I liked the idea but was looking for a better shape and then found this. I am happy with the end result and Mum is 'over the moon' with this creation. I have used Bravo Burgundy, Creamy Caramel and some Whisper White with some DSP from Urban Oasis. I have used Sincere Salutations for the sentiment tag and Taking Care of Busines for the 'Special' tag tied on with hemp twine both punched with the tag punches and circle punches. Will definitely make more of these...

Stamp Club Projects

Here are the projects we made today for Stamp Club for Mother's Day coming up next month. I taught them the Emerging Colour Technique and used some Melon Mambo, Basic Gray, Always Artichoke and Whisper White. They love using the Big Shot so I incorporated a label from the Lots of Tags set and we made a matching gift box using the Fancy Favor Bigz XL Die. We decorated the box with a stamp from Vintage Vogue and Melon Mambo Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon. The card uses En Francais in the background before sponging the colours ramdomly. We then inked up the Medallion stamp with Versamark and embossed with clear powder. Finally we brayered over the top with Basic Gray and wiped embossed image clean. Finally we attached a brad to the centre, mounted on two layers of cardstock and tied some Melon Mambo Polka Dot Ribbon round the top. The sentiment is from the Occasional Greetings stamp set. Thanks for looking.