So Tweet!

We did something a bit different for my Project Class this month - a Pencil Box! We decorated a plain pencil box with DSP (Cottage Wall from the Autumn/Winter Mini retiring at the end of this month). I also taught how to colour and cover chipboard. We used chipboard from the So Tweet set (also retiring this month). We decorated all 4 sides of the box: I covered up the owl's spooky looking heart-shaped eyes and added some wings too (he looked a bit naked).
Here are the sides:

And a Mummy and baby bird on the other side:

Too cute! It was a fun, and quite therapeutic project to make. However, trying to source the Pencil Boxes was not! I got mine from Bunnings, but I think I've bought out most of the stock in NSW!!

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: none!
ink: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Basic Black
card: none!
other: Cottage Wall DSP, sanding blocks, sponge daubers, tombow glue, 1/2" circle punch, heart-to-heart punch, scallop circle punch, dimensionals, white gel pen

Asian Artistry Stamp-a-Stack

This was the other Stamp-a-Stack Design for May (click to make the pic larger) ... a few more layers on this one, and a richer colour palette. I just love the "Asian Artistry" stamp set. It's a Level 2 Hostess set in our Autumn/Winter Mini. I've helped a few ladies earn this set for free, by doing a workshop for them and their friends. I'm taking bookings now for July and August, so let me know if you would like to have a stamping get-together!
It's raining again here in Sydney. I've lost track of how many weeks it's been, but it feels like 40 days and 40 nights! It's at the stage where everything just feels damp.
I'm reading a really good book at the moment ("Still Alice" by Lisa Genova), and I just feel like curling up on the lounge with a nice cup of tea and burying myself in that. But that won't get the grocery shopping done, or my tote packed for tonight's workshop (Hi Kerrie!).
Besides, it's one of those books that you almost don't want to keep reading, because that brings you closer to the end. As opposed to another book that a started a couple of weeks ago - "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" - which I couldn't bear to read at all. I don't know if something got lost in translation, but I found the writing plodding and clumsy. It must be just me, because it got rave reviews. I gave up in disgust, long before I reached the end...maybe I'll just see the movie instead LOL
Well done if you've stuck with my ramblings this long...can you spell PROCRASTINATION? Blame it on the rain!

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Asian Artistry, Tiny Tags, Sanded background
ink: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Basic Black, Versamark
card: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla, Basic Black
other: Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Old Olive Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Ribbon, sponge daubers (to apply ink to the stamps), Jewellery tag Punch, Linen thread, 1/16" hole punch

Cottage Garden Stamp-a-Stack

I can't believe we're in June already...the year is flying by scarily fast. I'd better get cracking and design the rest of my classes for July (including Christmas Stamp-a-Stacks!!). My plan for today is to do just that. However, the sun is shining outside for the first time in a couple of weeks, so I might have to squeeze in a walk in the sunshine too. Poor Coco has been very walk-deprived lately... I have to say, I love my job!
Before I do all that, I thought I'd pop in here and show you last month's Stamp-a-Stack design


Super-easy, these ones! We just stamped a background on a 1/4 sheet of A4, and punched twelve 1 1/4" squares from it. The squares fit really nicely on a 7cm x 10.5cm piece of cardstock, and I've added a few extra squares of co-ordinating DSP. Finish off with some ribbon, and voila, you're done!
I've used a soft, gentle colour scheme - Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze and Basic Grey.

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Cottage Garden, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
ink: Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze and Basic Grey
card: Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze, Basic Grey, Whisper White
other: Baja Breeze Patterns DSP, 1 1/4" Square Punch, Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Grey Taffeta Ribbon, Word Window Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, White Gel pen

Coming back down to earth

The week after Convention is always a funny mixture of coming back down to earth and still being on a high. I had Team Meeting on Monday, and it was great to relive it all, and share with those who weren't able to make it along this year. And then I've had 3 classes this week too. Plus, it's Amy's birthday on Sunday, so I've had a few bits and pieces to do for that. Can you believe I'm going to be the mother of a teenager?? That spins me out. Thankfully, she is still a sweetie (no sign yet of the teen attitude and moodiness I have been told is just around the corner!).

I haven't managed to share a card all week. I've made a couple...Amy's Birthday card for one! Shannon West showed us a clever card using the Circle Scissor and making a spiral pop-up inside, and I've made a butterfly version for Amy. I haven't taken a pic yet, but when I do, I'll pop it on here. It turned out really cute. Amy even told me what colours I had to use!

In the meantime, here's my other Technique card from this month. this one uses a variation on the Joseph's Coat technique (a form of emboss resist)

Lots of brayering on this one!

...and that Melon Mambo sure is bright!

Blue China

I've scheduled this post because at this very moment I'm enjoying the Stampin' Up! Annual Convention.
This is one of the cards we made at this month's technique class. The technique is Emerging Colour, a type of Emboss resist. For this card, I stamped a background on Very Vanilla cardstock using Very Vintage wheel and Vintage Vogue stamps in shades of blue. Next I embossed the Medallion on top in clear embossing powder, and finally, brayered over it in Brocade Blue ink. It's a great effect, and the Medallion stamp is perfect for this technique. This card reminds me of blue and white China....

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Vintage Vogue, Occasional Greetings, Medallion
ink: Brocade Blue, Bordering Blue, Night of Navy, Versamark
card: Brocade Blue, Very Vanilla, Night of Navy
other: sponge dauber, Designer Label punch, Large Oval Punch, Small Oval Punch, Brocade Blue Grosgrain Ribbon, Clear Embossing Powder, Brayer, Heat Tool

My Convention Swap!

The second Technique Class card for April did double-duty as my swap card for Convention. I switched the Kiwi Kiss to Old Olive, and used some different DSP and changed the sentiment to {friend to friend}, but apart from that, I kept it the same.
A few little tricks here:
* I used the outer part of the little Leaves Die, and popped it up on Dimensonals, with DSP behind it
* I used the Polka Dots Textured Impressions folder, but on the Kraft side, I used the reverse side, so it's inverted Polka Dots
* I used the Tags Die, but turned the tag into a framed tag...can anyone guess how I did that?

Here's the inside (I didn't do this for my swaps!!)
Looking forward to swapping and bringing home 50 new designs!

Edited to Add: To make the framed tag, use the Big Shot Tags die to make a Kraft tag and a Chocolate Chip Tag. Cut the Chocolate Chip tag in half - in a horizontal line (where you will be putting the Word Window). Mount the top half of the Chocolate Chip tag just inside the Kraft tag, and the lower half also just inside (you will have an overlap in the middle which gets covered by the Word Window) Voila!

Asian Artistry

During the last school holidays, my team had a fun stamp day at Nikki's house. We decided to have a Shoebox Swap. These are a great way to get a few cards made, without having to put any thought into it. We all cam along with a Shoebox, and inside was a card, and all the ingredients to make it (pre-cut cardstock, stamps, inks, etc). We just kept swapping shoeboxes, until we had all made each of the cards. So, we arrived with bits of cardstock, and went home with completed cards! Plus, we chatted, had a delicious lunch and the kids played happily upstairs...all in all, a perfect day!

TIP: to get the darker area at the base of the stems, I sponged Soft Suede ink straight on to the rubber

TIP: I love this little trick with the Scallop Oval Punch - trim off the top and bottom of the Scallop Oval, and you have a perfect mat for the Word Window!

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Asian Artistry (Level 2 Hostess), Sanded Background, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
ink: Sahara Sand, Soft Suede, Versamark
card: Kraft, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Ruby Red
other: Word Window, Scallop Oval, Ruby Red Marker, Cutter Kit, Mat Pack, Sponge Daubers, Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon

Manhattan Flowers

In just one week, I will be heading off for the Stampin' Up! Annual Convention. I am starting to get really excited! Convention is in Sydney this year, but I am still going to stay at a Hotel in the city, to make the most of the few days. Convention is an amazing experience. 500 people all in the one place, all passionate about stamping is exciting enough, but there's also catching up with old friends and meeting new ones, learning new techniques, swapping, shopping at Memento Mall and then it is all capped off by the Awards Dinner. My hands are always red-raw and my voice is hoarse by the end of it from all the cheering. Can you tell I am a tad excited?? I'm lucky enough to be sharing a room with the wonderful Teneale, and that in itself is going to be a blast. Lots of my team members are coming along for their first Convention too, and I'm excited for them. Now I just have to finish off my swaps (nearly done)!

In last month's technique class we explored the Textured Impressions Embossing Folders. I showed a few different ways to use the folders and a few tips and tricks.
The Manhattan Flower folder is just gorgeous, and really doesn't need much dressing up:

These cards are so touchy-feely. You just can't help running your fingertips over them. I even decorated the inside...not quite up to Teneale standard, but still pretty. The Fifth Avenue Floral set co-ordinates perfectly:
Did anyone spot my set of cards using Fifth Avenue Floral in this months Australian Cardmaking, Stamping and Papercraft Magazine? What did you think?


Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Best Yet, Fifth Avenue Floral
ink: Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Old Olive
card: Pink Pirouette, Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Whisper White
other: Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Melon Mambo Polka Dot Ribbon, Manhattan Flower Textured Impression Folder, Big Shot

Fox and Friends Stamp-a-Stack

Vintage Vogue may be my favourite set from the Mini Catalogue, but this set wins hands-down for cute factor: Fox and Friends


Making a Stamp-a-Stack using just 4 of the animals was really hard...all 7 are so cute! 7 animals for $23.95 (unmounted version) is such a bargain too.
I've used a very simple layout, so the animals take centre stage. I'm loving Teeny Tiny Sentiments too...all those words that fit inside the word Window Punch come in so handy!
I've used one other stamp set for these cards....can anyone tell me what it is? :o)

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)

stamps: Fox and Friends, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, and ???? {have a guess}
ink: Chocolate Chip, Soft Suede, Kiwi Kiss, Not Quite Navy, Riding Hood Red, Really Rust
card: Whisper White, Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Soft Suede, Kiwi Kiss, Not Quite Navy, Really Rust
other: Riding Hood Red taffeta Ribbon, Wide Oval Punch, 1 3/8" Square Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Slit Punch

Vintage Vogue Stamp-a-Stack

These were my Stamp-a-Stack designs for April. Everyone seemed to like them...what's not to like about the combination of Rich Razzleberry and Vintage Vogue? They were nice and easy to put together too, thanks to quick a background stamped with the Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel, and also thanks to the Top Note. I'm loving my Top Note...it fills up a card front perfectly, and requires no layering!
I've been busy with classes the last couple of days, and I'm endeavouring to get my monthly newsletter out too. Make sure you are subscribed...this month I have a Big Shot Dies Special for you!

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Vintage Vogue, Heard from the Heart, On Your Birthday, Very Vintage (Jumbo wheel)
ink: Rich Razzleberry, Pale Plum, Old Olive
card: Rich Razzleberry, Pale Plum, Old Olive, Whisper White
other: 2-Step Bird Punch, Old Olive Wide Grosgrain, Old Olive Striped Grosgrain, Clear Rhinestone brads

Bird on a Branch

This is one of the little love notes I mailed out with copies of the Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue. I whipped up a whole ton of these and it hardly took any time at all, thanks to the wonderful new punch! These are only 3"x3", so they don't use up a lot of supplies either. I used different paper patterns (from "Cottage Wall" DSP in the mini) and mixed up the branch/wing/body colours for the bird too. Easy Peasy!
If you haven't received your copy of the mini yet, you're missing out! Email me and I'll pop one In the mail for you (Australian residents only please).

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)

stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments

ink: Rich Razzleberry

card: Whisper White, Pale plum, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry

other: Small Oval Punch, 2 Step Bird Punch, Cottage Wall DSP

Autumn/Winter Mini Blog Hop + Blog Candy!!

Welcome to our Stampers Anonymous Autumn/Winter Mini blog tour! There are some fantastic new products released in this catalogue tomorrow (April 1st) and we’re going to share some of them with you.
You may have just come from Liam's blog, but if you are starting here, don’t worry … you can make the complete circuit just by following the links at the end of each post. There are 14 stops along the way, including one Special Guest Stamper (the FABULOUS Teneale Williams!!!!) and we hope you will visit each one to see the wonderful creations we have to show you!
At the end of each post there will be a link to take you to the next stop on the tour.

We are offering 2 lucky visitors the opportunity to win some ‘Blog Candy’ this time around - a mixed bundle of Stampin' Up! goodies! There are a few things you must do to be eligible and they are:
1. You must leave a comment on every blog in the tour. Please also leave your full name with the comment.
2. After leaving your comments, you need to email Kerry and inform her you have done so and would like to be in the running for the blog candy.
**Blog Candy is available to residents in Australia only. SU! Demos are allowed to enter. Entries Close 5th April at midnight.

So grab a cuppa, sit back and enjoy the tour!
First up is a little set of Love Notes in a Scallop Envelope Box. I've used the Big Shot to make a box out of 2 Scallop envelopes. It's the perfect size to fit love notes in:

Here are the seven love notes, using all 7 animals from the new "Fox and Friends" set (sooo cute!):

The colours are Taken with Teal, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive and Rose Red.

Next up, I wanted to use some of the new In Colours. Yes, we have 3 new colours to play with now! Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo and Soft Suede. I've also used Old Olive here for my Christmas version. I've stamped the new Medallion stamp in Versamark and added a different centrepiece on each one:
Did you spot the new sentiment stamp too? LOVE it!

My final project is a bit Easter-y. I've made a box using the Top Note Die. I made a quilted pattern on mine using strips of DSP (Tea Party) before running it through the Big Shot. This box can be made using just 1 A4 sheet of cardstock:
Here it is open, with some Easter Treats inside:
Well, that’s all from me. I hope you left your comment to be in with a chance at the Blog Candy. Now you’re off to enjoy the wonderful creations of Juliette
Thanks for stopping by!

If you happen to lose your way here’s a list of all participants:
1. Juliette Chapman
2. Sue Dean
3. Meighan Wheller
4. Chary Belfield
5. Nikki Stalker
6. Sharon Wilson
7. Kirrily Matthews
8. Rob Irving
9. Sally Williams
10. Kerry Bunting
11. Fiona Harvey
12. Teneale Williams - Our Special Guest Stamper
13. Liam Pucher
14. Marelle Taylor