Award Surprise!

Once again I am behind in updating my Blog.  The lovely Kez kindly nominated me for this award and I am only just getting around to doing anything about it.  Thanks Kez it was a lovely surprise.

Now this is what I have to do:

Acknowledge who I recieved this award from - Thanks Kez
Link back to the person who awarded me - Done
Nominate 3 of my favourite blog sites with less that 300 followers.  Now if you think that is easy, think again as there are so many extremely clever ladies out there that inspire me when my mojo takes leave of my body!

1. Karen - Karen is one of my lovely downline ladies and is very talented.
2. Michelle - Michelle is in the same group of demonstrators as me and also very creative.
3.Jennifer - Jennifer is also within the same group as I am and makes some wonderful creations.

Take a look at these fantastic blogsites and enjoy.

Happiness Shared and a little touch of Vintage

Every now and again I get the urge to do some "colouring in".  I actually find it relaxing which some find that hard to understand.  The Happiness Shared stamp set is a great little set to use forn water colouring, blending or just colour with markers and stamp.  This is one of the cards that we did in last weeks classes.

Card stock:   Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke and Very Vanilla
Ink:                Always Artichoke and Early Esspresso
Stamps:          En Francais and Happiness Shared
Other:            Dimensionals, Daubers and Basic Pearls

This is the other card made at class last week.  A little bit of Vintage here was quite a bit of cutting to do in this class which never makes me popular but it is always a good thing to work on those fine motor skills every now and again don't you think??

Card stock:      Rich Razzleberry, River Rock and Very Vanilla

Ink:                  Rich Razzleberry and River Rock

Stamps:            Vintage Vogue and Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Punches:           Word Window and Modern Label

Other:                Dimensionals, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Dazzling Diamonds

Up Up and Away

A Little Treat is such a cute little set that can be used with the Sweet Treat Cups or on its own.  My father in law recently went on a Hot Air Balloon ride that he had received as a gift and had a wonderful time so this was designed around that.

The very first stamp set I bought from Stampin' Up! was before I signed up at the Papercraft Show at Penrith was All In The Family.  The sole reason for buying it was centred around the wonderful thing Stampin' Up! was doing with this set.  The original Managing Director of Australia had recently passed away and SU was donating ALL of the profits World Wide for this set to his family.  How could you not buy it knowing that.  I was so impressed with that, I thought this had to be a great company to be part of.  So there began my journey.

Card Stock:  Pacific Point, Night of Navy,  Real Red and Whisper White

InkL  Real Red, Pacific Point, Basic Black

Stamp Sets:  All In The Family. A Little Treat, Word Play

Punches:  1 3/4" Circle, 1 3/8" Square, 1 1/4" Square

Chocolate Bliss

My favourite Sale-A-Bration set is Bliss and when I think of Bliss I think of Chocolate so naturally the two had to be combined.  This card used the Faux Tearing Technique.

Card Stock:  Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla

Ink:  Chocolate Chip and Pink Pirouette

Stamps:  Bliss and En Francais

Punch: Scallop Trim Border

I have been a very bad blogger!!!!

I have to apologise for not being very consistent with my blogging this year.  It is so hard to believe that it is March already.  Since Christmas I have been distracted from my business as my father is very ill fighting cancer.  At the moment he is doing ok.  This is not going to be an easy time and I have thought about taking time off but I think that I need the distraction.  I have always said that cardmaking is my sanity escape so now would probably be the worst time to take a break.  I will however only be posting occassionally as I get spare time.  Thank you to those of you who have enquired about my absence.

This is a card that we made a few weeks ago in class. 

Card stock:   Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla

Ink:  Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede

Stamps: A Word For You, En Francais

Accessories: Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder, Blossom Party Dies, Boho Blossom Punch, Daubers

Wedded Bliss

I have always admired teh Word Play set and I finally got it so looking forward to creating with this one.  I had a quick play and this is a simple wedding card that popped into my head.  I have used Basic Black and Vellum.  The vellum was run through the Big Shot using the Vintage Wall embossing folder.  You can't see it in the photo but I sprayed the Vellum with Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint and it looks great.  I used the scallop circle punch and the 1 3/8" circle punch and added a clear Rhinestone brad just above the O in Do.  Add a bit of white grosgrain ribbon and a quick card done in about 10 - 15 minutes - got to love that!

Been A Long Time

Wow, I can't believe that I haven't posted since Deccember 17th!!  It is now February.  We had a wonderful holiday firstly in Port Stephens and then my hustband and I went to Hawaii for a week.  That was absolutely awesome and I highly recommend it as a wonderful holiday destination.  We came back so relaxed and I think I still have a little "Holiday Head" going on.  It has been harder to get back into it all than I thought. 

Classes started back this week and it was so good to catch up with most of you.  I look forward to seeing everyone that couldn't make it soon.

The first card was designed for Valentines Day as it is just around the corner.

The colours are Real Red and Sahara Sand with patterned paper from the Bold Brights pack.  I just love the Owl punch and we also go to use the Punch Bunch stamp set from the Sale-a-bration Catalogue.  The hearts are from the Heart to Heart punch and the words are from Short & Sweet.

This card is the same layout as the first but looks completely different.  the colours are Rich Razzleberry and River Rock with Very Vanilla.  The papers are from the Bold Brights DSP pack.  The stamp is from Friends Never Fade and we used the Markers to ink up the stamp.  The River Rock layer was stamped with the flourish from Baroque Motifs which is ann old favourite.  Add a bit of Rich Razzleberry ribbon and a Clear Rhinestone and there you have it.

These were both quick and simple cards as we all had a lot of chatting to catch up on. 

Dasher and Dancer

Most afternoons I have my two little "lions" sitting on either side of my steps reflecting on their day and enjoying the afternoon breeze.  Each year I try to add some new christmas lights and some sort of decoration to my collection.  This year I saw these gorgeous reindeer and tried to resist.  I managed for several weeks but yesterday whilst driving my car somehow managed to get to Parramatta on its own and before I knew it I was parked outside the Christmas Warehouse!!  Now I don't know how that happened but who am I to fight fate, so I thought, if they are there I will have to have them.  Well it was obviously meant to be  as not only were there a few left but they had been marked down - bonus!!
I rushed home and set up Dasher and Dancer and just as I went to take the photo, one of my little "lions" came out to take up his post.  He was a little miffed and certainly gave me a look of disgust as his possy was gone and some strange creature had taken over.  I will have to teach him some Christmas spirit.

I want to take this chance to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.  A huge thank you to everyone who has attended my classes throughout the year and best wished to all that take the time to pop in and look at my blog.
If you are travelling please stay safe and I hope you have time to relax and enjoy special moments with your family and friends. 
I am sure that Santa will visit each and everyone of you as you have all been excceptionally good all year and that you experience a little of the magic that Christmas brings.
2011 is just around the corner and I hope that the year ahead is full of happy times and pleasant surprises.  I am looking forward to catching up with everyone and hearing how you all spent the festive season.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

Peek - A-Boo

This was just a quick card I put together using one of the little characters I created whilst playing with my new toy.   I have punched out a circle from the front of the card and the owl is acutally stuck to the inside of the card.  The papers are from the Celebrations pack.  The colours are Bashful Blue, Pacific Point. Real Red and Pear Pizazz.  The words are from Curly Cute which was a late addition to my modest (ha, ha, I wish) stamp collection.

My Alfred Hitchcock moment

Birds, birds and more birds!  There are greater powers working here to make me get over my bird thing.  Hopefully this will be it and I can move on.   These were made at the last class of the year which was sad but I was ready for a break and can't wait to come back refreshed and ready to hear everyones holiday stories. 

This was created using the Punch Potpourri Level 1 Hostess Set with a little EnFrancais and Medallion background stamps.  The colours are Bashful Blue and Chocolate Chip which I love together.

I have to thank my friend Kez (thanks Kez) for getting me hooked on the Owl punch but you have to admit that even though it is a 'bird' he/she can be very cute.       I say he/she as you can create so many different personalities with this punch it is amazing.  I have to admit I have had hours of fun creating different characters with this one. 

The colours are Pacific Point, Marina Mist, Real Red and Whisper White.