Totally Addinktive

I’ve been busy creating different types of boxes and gift bags - I find they are just a nice way to ‘wrap’ a present or to start a conversation about classes.

These are three I’ve done over the last week. These are so fun to make and you can turn them into a gift bag or pop a few cards in there as the present - anything really.

This bag was done from an online tutorial by Paula Goff and you can find the Easy Box Tutorial here.

The base of this gift bag is Old Olive (dont you just love that colour?) and the paper is from Brocade Backgrounds Designer Series Paper pack (12 yummy double sided papers for just $11.95)

This one can also be converted to a little box to hold a few 4×4 cards - so I might make up one of those when I have finished that.

This one is a gorgeous item called a box in a bagor was it a bag in a box?

See can you tell I’ve lost the plot today?? lol However I DO know where the tutorial for this one is!! Its at Diana Gibbs blog and its a Box in a Bag - odd name I know but it all becomes clear as you make this bag and it is rather easy to make!

For mine I’ve used Purely Pomegranate cardstock and the gorgeous Berry Bliss designer Series Papers.

Do you see the ribbon? thats the very lovely new Chocolate Chip Satin ribbon available in the new Mini Spring Catalogue starting August 1st. I’ve also used the Boho Blossoms Punch (another in the Spring Mini Catalogue you’ll need) with Pretty in Pink and Purely Pomegranate to make the little accents on the front.

Now for my last little piece - I just love this little box and yes its a nice simple one too!

After making that Fold out Brag Book yesterday I decided to explore Dawn’s blog - she’s one of the gals from UStamp and she has some lovely stuff there and there is also a tutorial for this Super Cute Box on her blog.

Here’s my Super Cute Box made in Blue Bayou Cardstock and using papers from the Fall Flowers Designer Series Pack. The Accent is made using the Boho Backgrounds stamp set and various punches and tied around some Double Stitched Blue Bayou ribbon.

I’ve popped in some little treats into a baggie and tied it up with some more Double Stitched Blue Bayou ribbon and made a tag using the Tags for All Set (available in the Spring Mini Catalogue) and coloured them direct onto rubber with my markers and then used the ‘for you’ from Occassional Greetings set.

Something tells me your going to need to cut down that money tree so you can get all the lovely new goodies coming in the new Spring Mini Catalogue.

Maybe you had also better grab your diary and your phone and ring me to book your demo in before I’m all booked out!

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!

I first saw this shared on the lovely Patty Bennett’s blog and just had to try one after seeing hers.

How nice is this little book and how easy is it to make?? Well its pretty easy to put together once you decide what papers and stamps to use.

I have used the Berry Bliss Designer Series Papers (gotta love those!), Chocolate Chip cardstock, Purely Pomegranate cardstock, One of a Kind Stamp Set, with some Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain and double stitched Pomegranate.

I’ve also incorporated the Vanilla Double technique on the cover - just love that technique.

The picture above shows the album closed.

The image to the right shows the album cover open with the ‘pull out’ sections tied closed with ribbons and decorated using stamps from ‘One of a Kind’ and using the Boho Blossoms punch which match one of the stamps perfectly - these are both in the upcoming Mini Spring Catalogue.

These pictures below are of the two sides ‘pulled out’.

As you can see you can decorate them any way you want. I’ve added a little pocket to slot the tag in and layered an accent using the circle punches and they actually have a little bit of dazzling diamonds to the centre.

This is a lot of fun to make and would make a great gift for family with photos inside or for friends with sayings and personal notes inside. Would also make a great Father’s Day Present which is coming up soon! Its pretty cool hey? You can view the tutorial at Splitcoast Stampers or have me show you how to make it - and I’ll even make you a coffee with my new machine

Why not ring or email me and book in for a class for this today?

OOooooh … What’s in the box??

Well the box contains all the cards we will be making tomorrow at my eScape Card Crop - I have had a lovely time creating them and I know the ladies coming tomorrow will just love them!

So as not to spoil their surprise I wont show you the cards until after theirs are all done - sorry.

Did you Notice the new page on my blog? Scroll up the top and you will see a ‘calendar’ page.

This page will highlight the different events I have happening or booked in. You will see all the things I have in my diary like …

• demonstrations
• Stamp A Stack
• Classes
• Team Meetings
• Team Crops
• Stampin’ Up!® promotions or specials and when they start and finish
• Dates for Mini Catalogues

You might also notice all the pretty colours I’ve used to code the different dates I have.

This will show you when I am available should you wish to contact me or book in your own demonstration or class.

I can bring the classes to you!

If you can arrange to have at least 4 ladies together I am more than happy to come and do the classes I offer at your house - so why not get your girlfriends together and have a great time creating and spending some time together!

only 181 days until Christmas

dont you just love bearers of good news??

Why not start on your Christmas Cards now and book in for a Christmas in July Stamp A Stack - make 10 christmas cards (5 of 2 designs) for just $15.00

Please Note: the cost of my Stamp A Stacks will be increasing from 1st August to $18 so get yours booked in for July to beat the price increase!

Why not ask me about the Christmas gift classes coming up and make your own presents this year and this way you wont have to stand in line for hours on end - you can come have fun hours with me instead!

Have a great night and dont forget to check back tomorrow for the eScape cards we made.

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!

Well during June Stampin’ Up!® are offering you just that! Well maybe not an escape from the day to day things but an escape from all those ‘e’ mails we all get and send.

They have bundled a great special just for you - and with a 25% saving why wouldnt you want to grab this eScape?

So whats in the bundle?

eScape Bundle (item 113705):

I do love this idea so I have been busy today doing just that …. making cards to send out to surprise friends!

I just loved making these cards - they are quick and they are easy and so much fun to make. I have just used some left over pieces from the Palette O’Prints promotion from may and added a few extra punches and some ribbon and its done!

Now in celebration of this great promotion Stampin’ Up!® are declaring Wednesday 25th June ‘eScape’ day but as I’m already booked that day I will be opening my home and holding an ‘eScape’ card fiesta at my place on Friday 27th June - details as follows …. bookings are essential so I know how many to cater for.

Cant make it on the day? No worries - you can still purchase your bundle and my special ‘add on bundle’.

Why donate to Alzheimer’s Australia NSW? well my Father in Law has dementia and I know first hand how hard this is on those with loved ones who have Alzheimer’s, Dementia or some form of mental illness.

Now in addition to this great promotion I am offering an extra little help to eScape! Order your bundle from me and add the 1″ punch and Scallop Circle punch and I will give you the 1/2″ punch absolutely free! Orders must be placed and ordered on or by 27th June.

Now as I was taking photos of these cards to share with you I thought of another way to use these punches which I have seen before so its not my invention but one that many people use to make cards especially with the Scallop Circle punch.

Can you see how it resembles a flower? Oh I sure hope so!!

So come make some cards and make someone’s day! Remember bookings are essential so ring or email me today to book your spot!

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!

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.

Well I cant contain my excitment any longer and I dont have to!

The new 2008 Idea Book & Catalogue from Stampin Up!® is now available!

How stunning is this book? The inside is just as gorgeous as the outside with many many new stamp sets - and some just for us Aussies and New Zealanders!

It has many new surprises inside including new Simply Scrappin Kits, Textured (yes textured) Cardstock, new gorgeous In Colours, rub ons (yup you read that right), punches, chipboard, new patterened papers and designer prints. Its all so very exciting and I dont know what to buy first!!

Oh did I mention the cropadile?

Oh did I forget to mention we have a whole new arrange of new ribbons and rhinestone brads!!

Silly Me!!

Just look at these little beauties!!

Now I know you are going to want it all and I’d love to show it all to you and your friends so why not book in your demonstration today - any bookings held during april or may will not only receive this gorgeous new book but a choice of a mixed pack of A4 In Colour Cardstock or bonus ribbon bundle. Be quick as places will book fast!