Totally Addinktive

Well I got an email a few weeks back about this new online university thing for stamping and I thought “looks interesting” and made a mental note to go back and read it. You think I’d have learnt by now about my ‘mental notes’!!

I then received another email and found that they’d asked my good friend Alisa Tilsner to be on their dream team to adjust the classes to meet the Australian market so I thought I’d better join up before the price goes up.

Now UStamp was started and designed by two Stampin’ Up!® demonstrators in Canada and USA (Heather & Dawn) but it is not run by or endorsed by Stampin’ Up!® but being Stampin’ Up!® demonstrators they will be designing the classes with Stampin’ Up!® products.

Well I joined and got bonus projects for signing early - School Years scrapbook layouts and a fold out brag book! How cool!

Here’s the brag book I created tonite … didnt take too long either and would make an awesome gift for the grandparents complete with photo’s & journaling or notes. I’ve used my corner rounder punch to create the scalloped edge and rubons in the bottom right as an accent.

I am rather looking forward to the classes with UStamp and you can find out more about UStamp here. Now if you join by 31st July its just CAD$20 (approx AU$21.00) to register. The registration fee will go up to CAD$25 on 1st August.

Here is my brag book open.I have just realised there are no stamps and no inks in sight - oh dear … think I need a Latte!

If you do decide to join please email them and give them my email address as your referral then I get the next class free - you can too by referring your friends on.

You can also purchase the class kit from me so email me for details on that - I am giving away freebies for anyone who orders their class kit from me and also uses my email as a referral so email me today for all the details!

You know how bad it feels when you turn up somewhere wearing the same dress as someone else and bringing out your coffee mug to make a cuppa at a crop or meeting and finding that someone else has exactly the same coffee mug? Well those days are gone!!

With the 2008-2009 Catalogue Stampin’ Up!® introduced their rub ons to the Australian public. Yes I know we have had other brand rub ons here for quite some time I am very proud to say that the Stampin’ Up!® rub ons are of very high quality and I have not had one problem with them like I have with other (big) brand rub ons.

Before a recent demonstration where I thought I’d decorate a mug and give that to my hostess with a sachet of hot chocolate in there I would test them myself and I am very pleased to say they worked at home and the demonstration and my hostess (as well as her guests) were very impressed with it - I am sure that my hostess also enjoyed the hot chocolate!

So when I came across the new Financial Year diaries in Big W last week and found a lovely pastel pink one but thought it would have been nice with a pattern on it I figured I’d survive.

So as I was sitting down preparing for a class and glanced and my coffee mug and had one of those light bulb moments and wondered how they’d go on my diary. So what’s a girl to do? I applied the rubons and boy did they look good.

Then I remembered seeing them on Tracey’s laptop so yeah I put a couple on there too.

Now I do a fair bit of work on my laptop and they have shown no signs of wear yet and one is where my wrist sits when I type -but then again it has only been 4 days!

Bit snazzy hey??

Remember a while back I made a friend a pocket card for her birthday with no stamping? that one was using rub ons too - here’s the card as a reminder and to show you that you can use rub ons for just about anything!

A couple of months ago I got a lovely RAK from Maria in Texas, USA and I just loved how she did the card and its ‘insert’ and have kept it on my desk for one of those ’spare minutes’ to make one up myself.

Well I decided on the weekend that I really love the “I like it a Latte” set and rarely use it so I thought what better set to use casing this card of Maria’s. The Like it a Latte set is a great set as you can use it for cocoa/hot chocolate or for coffee.

Here you can see the inside of the card as well as the the ‘Pull Treat’ that I was inspired to make after receiving one as a swap at convention from Carol. It holds one of those cappuchino sachets you can buy in packs at the supermarket and I followed the tutorial at Splitcoast Stampers. The only tip I have about these Pull Treats is to measure what youre inserting and make sure it will fit nicely in there as if its too snug the adhesive will no hold properly.

How cool to send this card to a friend who needs a little pick me up?  Or just to someone to let them know youre thinking of them??

You could even adapt it for anything - how about a get well card and include a sachet of chicken cup-of-soup!

I have a friend who does the pull treats and pops them in a mug and some marshmallows as a gift for friends and hostesses.

I do have another friend who has had a very trying week with all sorts of things not going right for her so I might just pop this in the post to her today!

Now if you would like to see how to make this cute card then contact me to book in your workshop today and I’ll show you just how easy it is!

This was the card that was highlighted in the Splitcoast Stampers Weekly Inkling - the regular newsletter you can get for free and it is full of great information, tutorials and challenges and well worth signing up for!

I just followed the tutorial for the Trifold Pocket card which was written by the very talented Beate Johns.

Beate does such stunning work and writes wonderful tutorials so that anyone can follow them & make lovely cards - if I can do it anyone can!!

Now can you believe there is NO INK and NO STAMPS on this card???? yes its true! A bit unlike me hey? Nearly fell off my chair when I realised but boy how much do I love the new Stampin’ Up!® rub ons?? they are wonderful and work first go unlike some others I know of from a major brand too - but we wont talk about thems.

Recipe:
Paper: Blue Bayou textured CS, Soft Sky textured CS, Fall Flowers DSP
Accessories: Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Blue Bayou double stitched ribbon, Cherished Memories Rub Ons, Tool Kit, circle punches, corner rounder, Pretties Kit.

I think it turned out a bit nice - just love the new In Colours and Designer Series Papers. I hope the recipient likes this card.

Now onto the tagging … I was tagged by my good friend and fellow demonstrator Nikki Stalker and the loverly Edie Bunting a fellow Diva from Erie PA in USA.

Rules of Tagging are …

1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog

So here are my 7 facts

1. I am married with 2 daughters and we have 3 angels in heaven.
2. We have a thing about birthdays … I share my birthday with my aunt & brother-in-law, My oldest daughter was born on my grandfathers birthday, my youngest was born on my hubbies grandmothers birthday, My mum’s birthday is 2 days after my father-in-law and my dad’s birthday is 2 days before my Mother-in-law. Weird huh?
3. I love watching the crime shows on TV especially, CSI, CSI Miami, CSI NY, NCIS, Without a Trace, Cold Case, Womens Murder Club, Law & Order, Law & Order Criminal Intent, Law & Order SVU, Criminal Minds, Numbers, Bones and I also like to watch Greys Anatomy, Stargate, Stargate Atlantis, Torchwood and ReGenesis.
4. I love to watch Aussie Rules Football and love my Sydney Swans
5. Looooove my coffee - but I think everyone knows that!
6. I have fibromyalgia and was diagnosed in 2004
7. I am a night owl and love to sit up in the wee hours of the morning making cards

Now onto tagging 7 more blogs I love to visit …

1. Maxine Conrad - Max runs Utah Divas International which is a group just for SU Demonstrators and a great resource so if you want to know more about this then just ask me.
2. Sharon Davis - a fellow demonstrator, lovely lady & friend and one very busy gal - I dont know how she does all she does!
3. Stacey - a great friend from Texas and wannabe Aussie
4. Creations by Adela - this lady does such lovely work and is a SU demo in USA
5. Kerri Hunter - lovely friend and another Aussie demo
6. Vanessa Webb - one of my very talented downlines
7. Tracey Eaton - my lovely upline & its about time she put up another post

Now its time for me to sign off and leave comments on all those blogs so they know they’ve been tagged.

Hope you are all very nice to your Mums tomorrow for Mother’s Day and for all the mums - Have a great day and dont do anything you dont wanna

Well I must say when I got my sample Palette OPrints pad I was a little lost what to do with them as you might be too but wow have I had fun creating with them and I just want to share it all with you so I’m adding a little bonus for all my hostesses holding demonstrations during May and June.

How cute are these little boxes? I was sitting wondering what else to do with these gorgeous papers and my eyes wandered to my shelf where I have the three little boxes my upline, Tracey, gave me for Christmas which were filled with lots of goodies like buttons, brads and ribbons. You can find the tutorial for these boxes at Kristina Werner’s blog.

Now I know you wont want empty boxes so I too will be putting little surprises in them - but they wont necessarily be brads and such - I might even put in a voucher or the like so you wont know until you hold your demonstration!

I will even show you how to create these darling boxes so you and your guests will all know how to create them for your own gift giving.

Now because I’m feeling in a generous mood all those who contact me by midnight on Mother’s Day and book their demonstration in before 31st May will not only receive the tower of boxes but will also receive one of these containers also filled with little bits and pieces. The tutorial for these sour cream containers was written by my good friend Beate Johns and can be found at SplitCoast Stampers.

Also, if you attend a demonstration during May and book your own demonstration in June you will also receive one of these containers filled with little morsels to decorate your cards, scrapbook layouts and hand made gifts. There will be different goodies in each one so you wont get the same as someone else!

Now these little treats and bonuses I’m offering are only available from me and are in addition to the regular hostess benefits you would earn holding a demonstration.

Now I know some who read my blog are not close enough for me to come to your house to do a demonstration so if you would like to hold a ‘catalogue party’ then I will still send you these bonuses. Conditions do apply so please email me if youre interested.

So what are you waiting for?? email or phone me now to arrange your demonstration!

Now I bet your were thinking food or paint?? Well no - I am talking Palette O’Prints.

The Palette O’Prints is only available during May from Stampin Up!® for just $12.95 when you spend $35.00. Its a 6×6 pad of double sided prints designer series papers. Each pad includes 48 sheets from 12 patterns and 4 colours being …

• Certainly Celery
• Rose Red
• So Saffron*
• Almost Amethyst*

You can see the colours and designs here and I’m sure you can think of many ways to use these papers in your cards, crafts, or scrapbooking!

The So Saffron and Almost Amethyst included in this pad are not available in the 2008 Idea Book and Catalogue so you can ony get those colours through this special offer.

This card was made using the Palette O’Prints Almost Amethyst for the shirt and So Saffron Prints for the background.

I have also used the Occassional Greetings Set for this quick and easy Father’s Day Card.

This one is so fun and fast to make and I’d love to show you how to do the shirt so when you place an order of $50 or more with me during May I will include the shirt instructions - or why not book a demonstration with me in May and not only will I show you how to make the shirt but you will also get to keep all I make at your demonstration and a free Catalogue!

Its my neices’ birthday on Tuesday so I was trying to think of a way to make a nice card for her and she’s not a baby anymore - she’ll be 20 so its not like I can give her the cute fairy cards anymore! They just grow up way too quick!

I went looking for ideas and found these great little bag cards using Designer Series Prints Papers and a couple of Punches. I used one of Certainly Celery Patterned sheets from the Palette O’Prints for the background and used my Round Tab & Oval punches to create these gorgeous bags and added Rhinestone Brads for a little bling!

I thought a plain ‘happy birthday’ sentiment didnt fit right so used the sentiment from the Fabulous Flowers set which just seemed to ‘fit’. I do hope Janine has a fabulous birthday and she also likes the card!

So as you can see you can do many things with the papers from the Palette O’Prints and I will be showing you more things during May using this great little Palette.

Leonie

I know its been a few days since I posted and I do apologise for that but I have been working on these gorgeous little pocket books!

A friend (thanks Vicki) shared what she had made with her Scor-pal and being that I got one recently I thought I just had to try her tutorial - and all it takes is one sheet of 12×12 and a dash of inspiration.

So I grabbed an old sheet of 12×12 and realised how easy these little books are I had to make some with our lovely new Designer Series papers!

This one uses the lovely Fall Flowers Papers and I’ve made it into a Mother’s Day Card which I will add some tags for myself and my girls to write on for mum and also pop in a few recent photo’s of us all.

Recipe:
Stamps: Wonderful Favourites, Baroque Motifs
Papers: Fall Flowers, Old Olive Cardstock, Soft Sky Cardstock
Inks: Old Olive, Versamark
Accessories: Stampamajig, Pretties Kit, Stitched In Colour Ribbons, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Ribbon Originals - Theatre, Bind it All & wires.

This one is done with the Spring Flowers Papers and would make a great gift for a friend. You could use it as an encouragement booklet with uplifting sayings or quotes and a little note to tell them why you appreciate them and their friendship - or just as an encouragement if they are going through a rough time or for no reason at all!

Recipe:
Stamps: Simply Said
Papers: Spring Showers Designer Series Paper, Bashful Blue Cardstock, Whisper White Cardstock
Inks: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Stampin Write Markers, Grosgrain Ribbons, Stitched In Colour Ribbons, Gingham Ribbon, Bind it All & wires.

Now this one just has to be my favourite - its using the Berry Bliss papers and how could you go wrong with Pink & Brown??

Recipe:
Papers: Berry Bliss Designer Series Papers, Pretty In Pink Cardstock, Very Vanilla Cardstock, Chocolate Chip Cardstock
Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Priceless, Simply Said, Beautiful Life, God’s Blessings, Be Happy, Garden Whimsy, Polka Dot & Paisley and Simply Said - it sound like alot of sets but most were for different sayings.
Inks: Versamark, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Apricot Appeal, Creamy Caramel
Accessories: Very Vanilla & Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon, Stampin Pastels, Stampin Write Markers, Brads, Grosgrain Ribbon, Ribbon Originals - Theatre, Stampin Dimensionals, Sponge Daubers, Circle Punches

I just love this one - I’ve used the Berry Bliss with a combination of stamp sets and techniques. These books have 8 pockets so I’ve made 4 tags to pop inside so you will have one tag and one photo per double page opening.

I would just love to show you how to make these in a class and I know your mums or friends would just love them too!

So ring me today to arrange a date - quick Mother’s Day is only 8 days away!!

Dont have time for a class before Mother’s day? then contact me for details for a kit or a pre-made one.

Tomorrow is my first class of the month and this is what we are doing - I do hope the ladies like it.

Leonie

With the end of March fast approaching it means the end of the Summer Mini Catalogue.

I have loved this catalogue as it has so many lovely sets in it as I’m sure you have noticed over the past four months. Some of my favourite sets are in this catalogue and I will be sorry to see them go at the end of the month.

So here is a list of a few of my favourite things at the moment

• Stem Silhouettes - I think every home should have one
• Sage Advice
• Carte Postale
• French Flair
• Small Sayings
• Chocolate Chip combined with Bashful Blue
• Chocolate Chip combined with Pretty in pink

Here is a card with a few of my favourite elements. I love to sponge around the edges of the layers to soften the look. I love to use 2 or 3 stamps in different colours to give it depth and I love sayings stamps!

I also love how this card turned out - you cant see the leaves stamped in versamark too well in this scan but I do like how it looks in real life!

I do hope you like this card and remember I have the discount on all retired stamp sets for the month of march so be sure to check the retired product list on the Stampin Up! website and get your order to me before its too late as some items have already been sold out.

I also received my pre-order shipment of the 2008 Idea Book & Catalogue today so email or ring me to reserve your copy at only $10 - recommended retail price is $12.95 plus shipping & handling so grab one today at the special price!

Who would have thought that giving your daughter a mobile phone would have such a lovely result!

Yes I know she is only 10 but there are times when I am 5 minutes from home when the girls are coming home from school - not very often but it does happen - and you really do not know what is going to happen and when do you?

OK so let me tell you what happened last week. I had given Caitlyn the phone the previous week and it was my old pink mobile which i got her a pre-paid card for. It was Thursday and Valentine’s Day and we were coming home from their gymnastics tryout. Caitie pipes up with “when I get home I’m going to ring Daddy and remind him its Valentine’s Day and to get you a present” Well I laughed so hard I had to bring myself back to reality as I was driving the car at the time! I told Caitie that mummy and daddy don’t normally give valentines presents … mummy gives daddy a card and that’s about it. Did I mention that my hubby isn’t the most romantically inclined person? and he rarely buys me presents - I usually do my own shopping at Mother’s Day, Birthday & Christmas. Mind you he did surprise me with an espresso maker & coffee bean grinder and two packs of coffee beans for Christmas. So going back to Caitie, I told her not to waste her money with her card as Dad wouldn’t do that. When we got home I was tired so I did ring him to ask him to pick up dinner - thats as close as I’d get to a Valentines present! Well unknown to me Caitie did ring him and he arrived home with Fish & chips and as I was dishing it out he said ‘oh I left it in the car’ … silly me thought he was talking about his mobile as he’s always leaving it in the car when he gets home and he waltzes back inside the front door and says “Happy Valentine’s Day Honey!!” well my jaw must have dropped ten feet as this is what he handed me …

So as you can imagine I was (and still am) rather shocked but also feeling very blessed as well. Now remember I said we don’t normally give gifts for Valentine’s? Well I had been going to make some items for hubby to have on his desk at work and apparently he only uses one pen so that meant the caddy would have been a waste of time so I had the coasters covered and thought I’d just make him a calendar however I didn’t have it finished so after the yummy fish and chips I took myself to my table and made two of the coasters into a calendar for him which he assures is on his desk - maybe I should ask for photographic evidence?

This is the calendar I made for him … I’ve used the Au Chocolat papers and the saying is from Small Sayings both from the Summer Mini Catalogue. I attached the two coasters using my lovely Bind It All machine and the hearts are die cut using the Cuttlebug with the Cuttle Kids heart dies.

I also gave him a Valentine’s Day card and did it in “non Valentines” colours - meaning no red or pink as this was a challenge for the Sisterhood 8 of the Blogging Stampers group. I quite enjoyed doing the non traditional colours for Valentines day and hope you like them too.

A nice simple card which really does say it all … the verse is from the Love Matters set and again uses a strip from the Au Chocolat papers - both from the Summer Mini Catalogue.

If you would like more information on the products I’ve used or would like to purchase any of the papers or stamps then please do not hesitate to contact me.