A challenging latte

Don't faint! I'm back again...

I just had to scoot back and share with you a card I made for a challenge. I have been enjoying watching the growth of a brand new Aussie challenge blog Just Add Ink. They have an amazing design team - many of whom were already in my blog favourites. The best part (for me) is that two of the DT are Tassie girls - go Tassie! It's great to see girls from our little island attracting national and international attention.

I had a few thank you cards to make so I figured I would push myself a little and try this weeks's challenge in my card design. It is a sketch challenge, my favourite kind. I also went with a softer more girly colour combo than I do usually.

Here is my entry for JAI3

Project Recipe: (All items used are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise stated)

Stamps: Sip by Sip

Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze, Versa Mark

Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Chocolate Chip Ribbon, Pink Pirouette Ribbon, Button Latte button, Hemp Twine, Sponge Daubers

Non SU: Versa Marker

Technique: Emboss Resist

Don't forget to get on over to Just Add Ink and check out the challenge yourself if you would like to enter. Otherwise soak up the inspiration on offer.

Thanks for stopping by, I would love to know what you think of my entry.

Cheers

Claire

A Fantastic Tall Tale!

Hi again.

I've just popped back to share the project that I made at a Workshop on Saturday - waving to you Christine! Christine and her pals have been with Stampin' Up! longer than I have, and I was so lucky they chose to find a local demo again, when theirs moved to Queensland. We have had some great fun crafting together in the last couple of years, so when Christine booked another workshop I knew I had to find something a little bit challenging for them to do!

I searched through my favourite resources and came across this box by Stampin' Terri, which I have been meaning to make for ages. I downloaded her fab tutorial and had a go, replacing her chipboard panels with ones cut from the heavy card you find in the backs of packs of Stampin' Up!'s designer series papers - waste nothing!

Here is the one I made with the ladies on Saturday. The first one I made I filled with goodies and gave to Christine as a hostess gift.

The inside

The outside

Project recipe: (All products used are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise stated)

Stamps: Polka Dot background

Inks: Rose Red

Cardstock: Pacific Point, Rose Red Textured

Other: Tall Tales DSP, brad

Non SU: Tissue paper for flower embellishment on box top

Well, thanks for stopping by. If you like my Fantasy Box leave me a comment and let me know!

Cheers Claire

Inkydivas are BACK for 2010

Hello everyone, thanks for stopping by my blog - between computer troubles and school holidays there hasn't been a lot going on here!

I've just called in to let you know that, due to poplular demand, my friend and colleague Lynda Moss and I will again be running our Inkydivas classes this year. Here is what we have in store:

Technique Junkies Club

A group for those who wish to learn how to extend the use of their stamps and inks. Each week we will demonstrate two new techniques, participants will receive full instructions to place in their techniques book and create a sample and a project using the techniques. Last year we looked at techniques such as Emboss Resist, Faux Metal, Fossil Stone etc.

When: First Friday of each Month (except February, the first class will be Friday February 12th)

Where: Lyndas home in Tolmans Hill, Tasmania (full details provided upon registration)

Time: 7pm for a 7.30pm start

Cost: $15 per week (plus $10 at the first class if you require a Techniques Booklet)

Bring: A basic craft tool kit, i.e. double sided tape and/or tape runner, pencil, ruler, scissors and a plate of supper to share. An email will be sent out before each class of any special requirements.

Christmas Club

Get a head start on your Christmas Cards this year! Be prepared early and take the stress out of November. This club allows you to do just that. Each month we will create 4 Christmas Cards, 2 each of 2 different designs, or occasionally a packaging or gift idea.

When: Third Friday of each month commencing Friday 19th February

Where: Lynda's home in Tolmans Hill (full details will be provided upon registration)

Time: 7pm for a 7.30pm start

Cost: $15

Bring: A basic craft tool kit i.e. a tape runner and or/double sided tape, pencil, ruler, scissors and a plate of supper to share. An email will be sent out before each class of any special requirements.

Stamp-a-StacK

Once again we are starting our Stamp Camp schedule with a "New Year's Resolution Stamp-a stacK". Did you promise yourself that this year you would be organised and not buy any Birthday or Occasion cards? Then this event is for you, come along and stamp a pile of gorgeous handmade greeting cards that you can put away to pull out when you need one.

When: There will be two sessions (both the same) Saturday 20th February and Sunday 21st February 2010

Where: Lynda's home in Tolmans Hill Tasmania (full details will be provided on registration and receipt of payment)

What: Create 12 gorgeous hand stamped cards, 3 each (in different colour ways) of male, female, boy and girl

Cost: $40 (This includes all supplies needed to create all 12 cards except adhesive, and afternoon tea)

Time: 1.30pm sharp

What to bring: A basic craft kit - scissors, adhesive (i.e. snail and/or double sided tape) ruler, pencil etc and your own mug.

Here is a sneak peek at some of what we have designed for you!

Boy

Female

All of these classes were incredibly popular last year, so if you are in Southern Tassie and would like to attend book early to avoid disappointment!

To register: Contact your Inkydiva Claire or Lynda as soon as possible, places are strictly limited and will only be confirmed on receipt of payment.

We're looking forward to hearing from you!

Cheers

Claire

Thank you Secret Stampin' Santa!!

Back again - as promised, to share with you the wonderful treats I received from my ESAD Secret Stampin' Santa. This swap was amongst a group of Aussie Stampin' Up! demos who all belong to the ESAD forum. We committed to secretly sending a parcel of goodies to our sister demo, it was to contain handmade goodies and a gift to a set value. We then had to guess who our Secret Santa was - a very tricky proposition!

I was thoroughly spoilt by my Secret Santa - it was so exciting opening the wonderful box of goodies she sent me! Here are some pics of my gifts.

My goodies as they arrived - all co-ordinated beautifully using the Pink Flamingo DSP - so stunningly bright and breezy.

Inside the large parcel was a Pretties Kit! This has been on my wish list for sooo long, but never quite made it to the top. I am absolutely thrilled to have one and can't wait to make some gorgeous projects with it! I think the first one will be a thank you card to my Secret Santa!

Inside the box was a container of Yummy Chocolate - I have had to hide this one from hubby and Number 1 son!

A close up of the lunch pail - inside there are recipe cards, my Secret Santa even took the time and trouble to write a few of her own for me! It is beautifully decorated with some of the Styled Silver Hodge Podge (also on my wish list!) and the gorgeous red polka dot ribbon from the Summer Mini Catalogue.

Thanks again Secret Santa - I had a ball opening my goodies and will enjoy using them in the months to come.

Cheers

Claire

Merry and Bright

Hello and Merry Christmas and best wishes for a wonderful New Year! It has actually been Merry and Bright here in Tassie for once, the best Christmas Day weather we have had for years, and it continues to improve! New Year's Eve promises to be quite hot, which will be a real treat. I thought I would stop in and share with you some of the fabulous Happy Mail I have received in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

One of the great things that has happened since I became a Stampin' Up! Demo is that the number of hand made cards I receive at Christmas has increased hugely. Here are the wonderful creations that I have been grateful to recieve. Thank you so much to the people who took the time to create them.

From Barbara and from Christine

From Kirsty and from Lisa K

From Lou and from My Mum!



From Sarah

I hope you like them as much as I do, why not leave a comment and let these lovely ladies know that you appreciate their inspiration!

Thanks for stopping by. I will be back soon to share the wonderful Christmas gift I received from my Secret Stampin' Santa. A busy few days coming up though with Number 1 son's 11th birthday and a big New Year's bash to attend, so I will get back when I can!

Cheers

Claire

A new obsession!

Hi all! I am here today to share a guilty secret with you - I have a new crafting obsession! No, don't panic, I have not abandoned my Stampin' Up! - I have just discovered a new way to use the supplies I already own. You gotta love that!

My new obsession began out of a Splitcoast Stampers Technique Lovers Challenge, which involved creating buttons out of cardstock and Designer Series Papers. If you would like to know how this is done, visit this thread here It is a fab way to use up your scraps of cardstock and DSP. As a result I have been feverishly punching, layering and Crystal Effecting (I know that's not a real word!!) every spare moment. I now have a great stash of gorgeous buttons - all different shapes and sizes to use on cards and scrapbook pages. For me this is the real beauty of this technique - you can ALWAYS have a button that matches your page!

Here are a couple of cards I have made with my new buttons.

First a Christmas Card

Project Recipe:

Cardstock: Kraft, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Real Red, Old Olive, Ski Slope DSP (retired)

Inks: Old Olive

Stamps: Warm Words

Technique: Faux Buttons

Accessories: Heat and Stick Powder, Green Supernova Glitter. Red Cord (from my stash, for tying on buttons)

All stamped images are copyright Stampin' Up! unless otherwise stated

The second card, is a birthday card, again using a star shaped button, the rockets were coloured using an AquaPainter and markers.

Project Recipe:

Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Bashful Blue Pumpkin Pie, Watercolour Paper, Washington Apple DSP

Inks: Stazon Black

Stamps: Pun Fun

Technique: Faux Buttons, Watercolouring

Accessories: White Gel Pen, Earth Elements Brads

All stamped images are copyright Stampin' Up! unless otherwise stated

I hope you like my Faux Button cards - why not give them a try yourself, they are so easy and great fun to use on your projects. If you do, leave me a comment with a link to your card - I would love to see what you have created! If not leave a comment anyway - it's always fab to know who has stopped by.

Cheers

Claire

Happy Mail!

Hi all!

Since I joined ESAD (mentioned in my previous post), I have had the chance to join some really cool activities. One of them is a Secret Stampin' Sister Swap. I have been given a fellow Aussie demo to spoil - now I can't show you what I have sent her yet, we have not revealed who we are to our secret sisters. But I can show you the gorgeous happy mail I received in my letter box the other day.

My very clever Secret Sister made this beautiful Advent calendar for me, in my fave colours (choc chip and red). How gorgeous is this?! There is so much work and detail here, I am so spoiled. Inside the drawers (I have opened a few now), there are some sweet treats and fab Stampin' Up! goodies. So far I have found some Styled Silver Hodgepodge (from my wishlist), build-a-brads and other brads. It is very exciting looking to see what is in there each day!

She also made me this beautiful card.

I can't wait to find out who she is, so that I can thank her properly and get the instructions for this fab Advent Calendar. Soon I will go back and share the other lovely goodies I have received.

Thanks for dropping by. Leave me a comment and let me know how jealous you are that I have such a fab secret sister!!

Claire