Totally Addinktive

In my Box-a-licious post the other day I showed you the gift bag I’d made from the Easy Box Tutorial.

Well here are the two boxes I’ve made using that tutorial.

These boxes are easy and quick to make and will make lovely gifts for friends and family. You can pop a small present inside or even a selection of small cards.

The one I’m showing today is an adaptation of that bag. I have given it a flap and ribbon closure and inside there are four 4×4 cards inside.

I’ve made this one using the Spring flowers Designer Series Papers and the Simply Said stamp set. This is a great set and you get 11 stamps for under $50 - cant beat that!!

Below is a side on picture of the box with the selection of cards inside. As you can see they fit perfectly inside. I’ve used ribbon to tie mine closed but you could also use small velcro dots or small magnets to hold it all closed.

The box & card set is now available as a class. You get to make 4 cards and the box for just $20 and I supply all the materials you will need to complete this set.

So get a start on your christmas presents and book in for this class today.

Here is a picture of the complete set - it will make a lovely gift dont you think?

Yesterday I shared how the July special is on the Starter Kit and the opportunity to be part of the Stampin’ Up!® family. Well its more like a family than a business.

Not only do the Staff at Demonstrator Support and Head Office treat you with respect and as part of the family but you also get to meet other Demonstrators online and at events like Regional Training and Convention. You click cos you know you’re part of something special and more often than not you find you have other things in common.

I am talking about all this today as in the past week or so I’ve recieved two gorgeous RAKs (Random Acts of Kindness) from two demonstrators - who also happen to be awesome ladies and I feel blessed to call them friends.

Firstly, I received this gorgeous card from Nikki Stalker.

How well does this lady know me?? and know what happens to be my favouritest (yes its a word!) stamp set and just how much I love the new In Colours?

I loved this card so much that I used it as inspiration at a recent demonstration and those ladies loved it too! Thanks Nikki!

Yesterday I was totally blown away by a gorgeous gift from Makeesha Byl - another demo and friend from Western Australia.

I had spent most of yesterday on the lounge with a headache so wasnt the best.

Then the girls got in from school and Caitie presented me with an envelope containing this gorgeous pocket card I could do nothing as the tears welled up in my eyelids.

It seems Makeesha knows me too as she used Baroque Motifs as well and the very pretty brocade stampin round.

If that wasnt prize enough I pulled the insert to reveal a voucher for one of mine (and obviously Makeesha’s) favourite book stores - Koorong. Gotta love how God uses people to bless others - and right when they need it!

I will enjoy browsing the store and pondering what to buy … thanks so much Keesh … from the bottom of my heart! Mwah

This pic shows the top of the insert and how Keesh has used the swirly flourish from Baroque Motifs … I dont think I’ll ever tire of using that set - or receiving cards made with it!

Although I did know Nikki before I joined Stampin’ Up!® there have been many ladies I now call friends and some are customers as well as demonstrators and they are all people I would never have met otherwise.

So I do thank God and I do thank Stampin’ Up!® for enriching my life with so many beautiful people and a wonderful job that not only allows me to be home for the girls but also a job that has blessed me in so many ways.

Well not really … but I have been playing with the lovely Brocade Basics stamp set. Now I blame my lovely friend Nikki Stalker for my addiction to this set!

This layout was totally cased from the 2008 Idea Book and Catalogue and as requested the lovely ladies at Thirlmere will be making this layout this week along with a few cards.

This is a 6×6 layout and so quick and easy to make yet very elegant at the same time. I am so in love with Old Olive so will be very happy to share that passion with the girls.

Recipe:

Stamps: So Many Sayings, Brocade Basics
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Always Artichoke
Paper: Old Olive Cardstock, Always Artichoke Cardstock, Very Vanilla Cardstock, Close to Cocoa Designer Prints Paper, Brocade Background Designer Series Papers
Accessories: Snail Adhesive, Stampin Dimensionals, Stamp-a-majig, Paper Snips.

After my play day with Nikki back in May I created another card using Brocade Basics and the ‘Rock n Roll’ technique.

All the ladies at yesterday’s demonstration just loved this card so I hope you do too - they were a bit sad when I told them it wasnt the make and take but did get excited when I showed them what we would be making - so it all worked out in the end!

Gotta keep those customers happy!

The hostess was rather happy too with all the freebies she got - and who doesnt love free stamps??

Dont forget to check back tomorrow to see the card the girls made yesterday!

I know I promised to load these cards yesterday (Friday) but I’m just so popular that everyone wants workshops - now just to learn how to be ‘more’ popular as I’d love to do more workshops!

I had a lovely group of four ladies come along on Friday and we all had a great creating and having fun.

Now for what was in the box …

These are the ten cute little cards that were concealed in the box and that the girls all made.They are a bit hard to see in this picture so here’s a closer look ….

I must admit they did turn out a little bit cute and I’m going to have fun sending my samples out to friends & family just to spoil them - sure Aussie Post have enjoyed all the extra ‘escape’ mail going out to!

I hope you like them as much as the ladies did.

Now back to the prep table for tomorrow’s demonstration.

Lovely … well it has been lovely to play with this set today! It’s the Oh So Lovely stamp set - and you can earn it free as a level one Hostess set!

The set comprises of the three flowers and the background strip. The words/greetings are from the So Many Sayings (another Level 1 Hostess set).

This is one of the cards for friday’s Stamp A Stack - yes I’ve been featuring those cards all week.

Recipe:

I know I said that I wouldn’t use Baroque Motifs again for a week but it sorta ‘just happened’ and it really does just give the card that little lift.

While I was making these cards up this afternoon my daughter was stamping too so I will share her creations with you tomorrow.

I really do love how these cards turned out and hope you do too - I think I will do these as a swap I signed up for.

Well yesterday I was a bit blue (you’ll have to read that post to see why) and today I’ve been browsing a heap of wordpress theme sites and found this groovy blue and yellow one - do you like it? I hope you like the change … I did find some purple ones which I might upload at a later date after I’ve created a banner and such to go with it.

Something else groovy is one of the new In Colours from Stampin’ Up!® - Groovy Guava. I just love that colour - actually I love ALL the In Colours this year - they are all so nice and all go so well together.

Here’s a card I made yesterday using three of the In Colours - Groovy Guava, Purely Pomegranate and River Rock - and I threw in some Old Olive just for fun and because its such a lovely rich colour and another of my favourites.

I know I used the Baroque Motifs yet again but I promise I wont use it for at least a week (promise) but it does have a different look to the one I shared yesterday - it just goes to show you that you can get different looks with the one stamp set.

The greeting is from Birthday Cheer & Wishes and I have fallen in love with the new Taffeta Ribbons - not as elegant as the Organdy we had last year but it does come close

Have a great friday night!

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!

and I do!! Well ok maybe not by the sea shore but I do sell them from the Stampin’ Up!® Idea Book & Catalogue!

I originally bought the Seaside stamp set for a customer’s Stamp-a-Stack and was going to then gift it to a family member however I’ve decided I really like this set so am going to keep it!

Its one of those sets you would never think to buy yourself but after you have used it a couple of times you are so glad you did - it will make great masculine cards and be awesome for those ‘beach’ scrapbook layouts.

This card here I’ve made a little different than normal as its not the standard A6 opening but instead of cutting my A4 cardstock into to A5 cards I’ve cut it lengthwise to make a tall standing up card - this one opens at the bottom as you look at it here instead of to the right - does that make sense?

I’ve stamped the shells onto Whisper White then coloured with the gorgeous Water Colour Wonder Crayons from Stampin Up!® I’ve then cut them all up and layered them and a few of the front ones being mounted with Stampin’ Dimensionals® I even used eyelets on this one & twine to give it that rustic/earthy look. The Crop-a-dile® makes setting eyelets so easy - and great for those like me who have weak wrists.

This is the other card we made at the stamp-a-stack - well ok its a tag but I did give the ladies the option to convert it into a card if they wanted to.

The shell images are stamped onto Naturals Ivory and then we’ve rubbed on some Stampin’ Pastels® to give them a little colour.

The journey stamp (from Life Definitions stamp set) is stamped onto Very vanilla in chocolate chip and we have then ripped the edges and used 3 different shades of brown to sponge and give it that burnt edge look.

The base tag is in Sahara Sand with random shell images stamped all over.

To finish off the tag we’ve added the photo anchors from the Hodge Podge & added some chocolate chip taffeta ribbon.

This would make a great addition to any scrapbook layout or you could turn it into a card as we did and here is the end card.

The base card is Creamy Caramel with the En Francais’ background stamped and the edges sponged to again give that rustic look. I’ve then torn out a rectangle of vellum and run it through the Crimper for dimension then layered onto the base card and adhered the tag on top.

I think these cards make great masculine cards and I know I find it hard to do a masculine card at times as I know others struggle with this as well but I’m sure you will agree that these certainly fit that category.

I would love to show you how to make these cards at a demonstration for you and your friends and with the great June Specials we have you’d better hurry and book in!

I will post about the June specials in the morning.

Have a great night!

I loved making those little watercolour love notes at convention so I thought I should make a class for you all to enjoy them too!

Here is just a collection to show you what you’ll make in the class … you will make 8 cards - either tall or short or a mixture and and little folder to pop them into. A lovely way to keep them neat & tidy or to give them as a gift.

You will get to use the wonderful Stampin Up products and see just how much difference it makes to use Stampin’ Up!’s water colour paper - it really makes the world of difference with blending and colouring. It may cost a little more but the end result is soooo worth it.

I had so much fun making these up and I’m sure you will have a lot of fun during the class as well.

Check out my Classes & Workshops page for dates & times or email me for more details.

Its been a quiet relaxing day today and just wanted to pop in and wish you all a Happy Mother’s Day!

Here are the cards I made for my mum & mother in law.

They were inspired by one my good friend Kerri showed me today. This first one is a simple 2 layer card.

The flower accent stamped on whisper white with purely pomegranate and layered onto a scalloped piece of purely pomegranate done using the new Scallop Circle punch. I just love that punch - and I am just so in love with the new in colours so expect to see more using them - especially when I get the other 3 colours!

This next one is for my mum and again the same general design just a little different with different elements.

Not sure if you can see it in the post but I’ve stamped the swirly bit (not sure what to call it sorry) twice - first in Sahara Sand and then over the top and offset in old olive to give it a bit of a dropped shadow effect. I’ve also put a dot of Crystal Effects in the centres of the flowers and sprinkled Dazzling Diamonds over the top to make the centres sparkly and who doesn’t like a bit of glitter on a card?? I sure the mums like them! I also love that Mother’s Day stamp - so classy & elegant.

Now I also wanted to share with you what Emily made last night. Emily has always loved play doh and plasticine and loves to create things with them and I was so in awe of what she did and all the detail she put into these.

Here we have the cat and she soooo loves cats.

Notice the whiskers? and check out the food bowl - water and dry food so he dont go hungry or thirsty!

Next we have the older sister Caitlyn doing what she does best and thats watch TV - she’d sit and watch it all day if she was allowed (and she isnt!) Notice the remote control on the table? She’s even put the dvd & video player into the cabinet under the TV - you can just see the orange bits sticking out.

Now of course we couldnt have all this with out mum could we? here I am at the computer (obviously writing a post to this blog!)

Do you see the green brush? its even got bristles!!

Yes I do usually have a brush on my desk as with two girls I tend to brush hair alot!

Last but not least is dear old dad! Now look at Dad’s chair and yes thats how it normally is with the foot rest out!

Then you have his table there complete with Fish tank, mouse for his laptop and drawers for his ‘things’

This child is a little too clever and very creative! Now if only she’d be creative and tidy her room! Then maybe she could teach her sister how to tidy hers as well!!

Have a great day everyone!