What??? Scrapbooking!

Can you believe it? I've been scrapbooking. Don't fall over with the shock! ...and go easy on me, because I am really not a Scrapbooker.
Due to popular demand, I'm even running Crop Nights again. I had the first one a couple of weeks ago, and we had heaps of fun. I have lots of space for everyone to sprawl out now. We made these two 6x6 pages and I also did a "Tool Time" session, and taught everyone how to use the Circle Scissor. They were all experts by the end, and cut perfect circles every time. Then, we all worked on our own projects. There was some furious stamping, punching and Big Shotting going on!

6x6 pages are a great place to start if you aren't used to Scrapbooking. You only need one photo, and they frame up beautifully if you don't want to put them in an album. I'll be putting mine into a desktop Calendar for my Mum's Christmas present. 2 pages per month will see me done by September...that will be a first!
My next Crop Night is on Friday 14th May. I'd love to see you there!

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Vintage Vogue, Cottage Garden
ink: Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede
card: Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede, Whisper White
other: Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Ribbon, Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon, Circle Scissor, Photo Corner Punch,

March Elite Challenges

You guys are so sweet! Thank you for all the Anniversary Wishes, and comments on Dave's blog. We're planning a nice dinner somewhere, once he's over the jetlag!
I have the last 2 challenge cards to show you. We're finishing on a high note because, miracle of miracles, I was actually happy with BOTH of these creations!
Here's the Sketch Challenge from March:

I'll be using this Sketch again; it's such a nice simple one. Details HERE

And the Colour Challenge (Details HERE):

Doesn't it just make you go "aaawwww"?! Actually, it made my hubby go "B is for Turtle, O is for Lion???" *sigh*
One thing I've learnt through this whole exercise of 'picking the dud' is that everybody is so different. What appeals to me doesn't always appeal to you guys (and vice versa!). So, because I actually like these ones, that will probably mean that you all hate them LOL
So, dare I ask....What do you think?

Happy Anniversary!

It's our 14th wedding Anniversary today. Dave's not here to share it with me...he's in Dallas, Texas at the World Balloon Convention. Did you know there was such a thing?? He was given the honour of being asked to teach over there, and is the only Australian teacher.
Since I'm not there with him to give him an Anniversary Present, I'm going to ask you all to give him one! Dave has just started a Blog, and I know he would be tickled pink to receive a bunch of comments on there. So, if you'd like to see what happens at a Balloon Convention (and see a hilarious photo of Dave dressed up in retro afro wig and porno mo for the Theme Dinner), head on over HERE, and wish him a Happy Anniversary!
Thanks! :o)

February Elite Challenges

Only 4 more challenge cards to go!
From the January cards, I preferred Card Number 1. Even though it's not my usual style (messy, instead of crisp), I kinda liked it. Card number 2 was a just a bit boring, I thought.

Of today's two cards, one I dislike so much that I'm really tempted not to show you at all. I was going to re-make it, but I haven't had time, so I'm going to show it to you in all it's ugliness. I'm not even going to make you guess. Here it is, a Sketch Challenge:

Yuk. Where do I begin?? The black on there is all wrong, the colours are really really bright, and the background is too plain. Basically, it needs a complete overhaul!
If you want to see what NOT to put on card, click HERE

Card Number 2 is a bit better. I'm not sold on the colours, but it came together OK:

I wanted to try out a "snow dome" Sweet Treat Cup. I've sealed up a cup with water and glitter inside, and popped Mr Whale from "Fox and Friends" behind it. I had heaps of fun making this one! (and it hasn't leaked yet!)
You can see the ingredients for this one HERE

So, are we all in agreement today?? LOL

January Elite Challenges

December's dud was the first card with the bunny...I just don't think I hit the right balance with those colours. I know I'm my own worst critic. I'm really just making fun of myself by calling them "duds". Really, they are just so-so's. You know when you make a card, sit back and look at it and go "hmmmm.......nup". It just doesn't have that somethin'-somethin'.
Here's an easy one...can you pick it?

Sketch Challenge: (full details HERE)

Colour Challenge: (Full details HERE)

I was happy with one of these, and the other was just mediocre. What do you reckon?

Happy Birthday Teneale!

I'll be back later today with the next lot of Elite Challenges, but I just wanted to pop in and say a BIG BIG Happy Birthday to my dear friend Teneale. I'm sure she'd love it (because she really loves the limelight, and getting a year older...not!) if you popped over to her blog to say Happy Birthday! I'm sure you know where her blog is, but just in case, click HERE
Happy Birthday Ten, hope you have a really fabulous day!
xoxo

December Elite Challenges

OK, so you're all too nice to tell me my card's a dud! I really disliked the Kiwi Kiss/Melon Mambo one from October, and I wasn't partial to the Baroque Motifs one from November. I like crisp and clean, and it turned out all messy. All the spritzing and white flecks of embossing were not my original intention. I wanted to emboss the greeting, but the medallion had been stamped in Versamark, so even though it was ages later, the powder still stuck everywhere, hence the white flecks, that I then had to make look deliberate. It was one of those cards that just gives you so much grief that you eventually just toss away in disgust!
The 'dud' is much easier to pick today!

First a Colour Challenge "Sugar Plum Fairy" (sometimes I wonder if Carol chooses the name first, or the colours!) Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Pink Pirouette, Kraft:

Very girly colours, these! I used a Mojo Monday sketch and it all came together really quickly.
You can find all the details HERE

And a Sketch Challenge:

I used a stamp from Pocket Silhouettes to make lavender. You can see the details of this one HERE

And the Scallop Oval in my last post? I cut a large oval using the Ovals Big Shot Die and used the Corner Rounder with the guard removed to work my way around the edge, making scallops! Easy Peasy!

So, which one is the dud today??

November Elite Challenges

When I was editing the photos for these challenges, I found that for each month there was one card I did like, and the other I wasn't so keen on...I'm sure you can tell which one I didn't like from yesterdays effort! Mostly it's the colour challenges I struggle with. I do like stepping out of my comfort zone, but I'm not always happy with the result. I'm still going to show you the duds, though, so you can have a laugh at my expense ;o)
See if you can guess which one I didn't like out of these two!

November Colour Challenge (Riding Hood Red, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip)
Carol chose some lovely Christmas colours for November's Challenge, but since I am 6 month's late, I decided not to go Christmassy for this card...although if you substituted a Christmas sentiment, I guess this could pass as a Christmas card.

I've turned the Bird on a Branch punch into a little robin. I've done lots of sponging on him, and his little eye has Crystal Effects on it. The background stamps and words are from the new Level 2 Hostess set "Asian Artistry". I only just got this set, and I love it already...you'll be seeing a lot more of it from me! Isn't that Ribbon Originals crinkly ribbon just gorgeous? Any guesses as to how I did the Scalloped Oval?
You can find a list of ingredients HERE

November Sketch Challenge:

Baroque Motifs is an all-time favourite set of mine, and another one I haven't used in a while. That's the thing about Mini Catalogues...there's always such great new stuff to use that I tend to neglect my other stamp sets. I did sneak in one new stamp - I stamped the Medallion in the background in Versamark ink. I used some Felt flowers, Rhinestone brads and did some spritzing on this one. More Ribbon Originals - gorgeous Baja Breeze Satin ribbon this time.
See more details HERE

....So, which one's the dud?

October Elite Challenges

Every month the lovely and talented Carol Dunstan prepares some challenges for us over at the Elite Challenges Blog.
I love to join in, and I was shocked (and I think it says a lot about what my life has been like over the past few months) when I realised that the last challenge I did was back in September! *gasp!*
Any stamping that I've done in the last few months has been purely for business not pleasure (and here I count myself so lucky that I have to stamp for my job, and it is always fun, even when it's "work"). I've designed projects for classes and Blog Hops, but haven't sat down and stamped "just because". When I do stamp for fun, I find that I enjoy it more if it has a bit of structure, and that's why I love challenges. I find having a few boundaries makes the creativity flow in the right direction, instead of spilling out everywhere into a confused muddle.

Anyway, I'll stop rambling and get to the point... I've had a lovely time over the past week catching up on Challenges. Over the next few days I'll show you my creations for the Challenges from October through to March, 12 cards in all. I've done the Sketch Challenge and Colour Challenge for each month (I didn't do the stamp set challenges as they were all from Mini Catalogues that are now retired...thank goodness, or I think I'd still be going!!), and it was so much fun to sit and stamp again. I'm never leaving it this long again!


October Colour Challenge (Pink Passion, Kiwi Kiss and Basic Black)
Carol called this one Passionate Kisses, but I've actually cheated and substituted Melon Mambo for Pink Passion, so maybe this one would be called Mambo Kisses or Kiwi Melons LOL

I just couldn't resist using the new In Colour, especially since Melon Mambo has the gorgeous Polka Dot ribbon to go with it. I pulled out Garden Whimsy, which I love, but has been terribly neglected lately. This one was also a Mojo Monday Sketch from Jan 11. You can find all the details for this card HERE.

October Sketch Challenge:

I love these colours together, so rich and Autumnal. I pulled out Eastern Blooms stamp set, another old fave that I hadn't used in an age. I'd always wished that this set had leaves in it, and now the Big Shot has come to the rescue with the Little Leaves Die. It's so versatile and I've used it heaps already. You can find the details of this card HERE.
I'll be back with November's challenges soon!

Blog Candy Winners!

It's time to announce the STAMPERS ANONYMOUS AUTUMN/WINTER MINI BLOG HOP BLOG CANDY WINNERS!
Many thanks to all of you who took the time to leave comments on our blogs and let us know you liked the projects we created for you using products from the new mini catalogue. We hope we inspired you and showed you that creative opportunities are endless!
Two winners of the blog candy have been drawn and they are:

(drum roll....)

PAULA FULLER and LISA MARTIN

Congratulations Paula and Lisa! You have each won a bundle of Stampin' Up! goodies!

Would you ladies please email Kerry Bunting to notify her of your contact details so she can get your candy in the mail.

Autumn/Winter Mini Product Shares

Joining a share is a great way to sample some new goodies and save some money at the same time.

In Colour Ribbon Share
In Color Ribbon Share (approx 3.4m of each new In Color) $15.40

Designer Series Paper Share
6"x 6" Paper Share (12 6"x6" squares of Autumn Traditions and Cottage Wall papers) $4.40

Pendant Notes Share
3 Pendant Notecards and Envelopes $3.60

You may purchase just one Share, or
Buy all 3 and SAVE:
All 3 shares for $25 including postage and handling mailed to you
or $22 to pick up from me.
(when purchasing individual shares, postage will be charged at cost)

Email me if you'd like to join in the fun!