More Fifth Avenue Floral

I'm still playing with my Fifth Avenue Floral set, and today I have a card and gift I made recently for a friend of mine. This friend is a loving wife and Mother. She works full time and manages to run her household and get the kids to school on time. Anyway, I thought she could use a little something to brighten her day.

Above is the card which was inspired by a lady called Maureen (no blog), and below is the little gift box I made. Within the box is an Earl Grey Tea Bag (in a tea bag holder), a handmade Fruit Tingle candle and some chocolate eclairs. I hope she manages to take time out for herself to enjoy her gift.

Supplies:

* Fifth Avenue Floral & Best Yet Stamp Sets.

* Craft, Tangerine Tango & Whisper White Cardstock. Haiku DSP.

* Close to Cocoa, Tangerine Tango & More Mustard Stamp Pads and/or Markers.

* Mini Glue Dots, 1/1/4" & 1/3/8" Circle Punches, Scallop Punch, Tangerine Tango Grosgrain Ribbon, Small & Large Cello Bags and Linen Thread.

Fifth Avenue Floral

As some of you will remember, after recieving a gift a few weeks ago which used the Fifth Avenue Floral set (thanks again Karen), I just had to rush out and buy it myself. Well, today I had a chance to play with it, and this is what I created. Again, it's another simple card, but I'm very happy with the way it turned out. As always, I hope you like this creation as well!

Supplies:

* Fifth Avenue Floral Set.

* Chocolate Chip & Very Vanilla Cardstock.

* Chocolate Chip & Baja Breeze Stamp Pads.

* SAMJ, Mask, Snail, Mini Glue Dots & 1/4" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon.

Free Standing Pop Up Card

Tonight I'd like to show you a free standing pop up card I demonstrated recently at an in home workshop. Prior to making this card, I'd never made anything like this before and I can guarantee it won't be the last time either...they were so much fun!

I obtained my inspiration from a lady called Sarah-Jane who has a lovely blog definitely worth checking out. I changed her traditional style card into the above and I love the way it turned out.

Supplies:

* Great Friend Stamp Set.

* Kraft, Whisper White, Certainly Celery & Pink Pirouette Cardstock.

* Certainly Celery, Pink Pirouette & Close to Cocoa Stamp Pads.

* 1/3/8 & 1/1/4 Circle Punch, Trimmer with scoring blade, Sticky Strip, Crop-a-dile, Pink Pirouette Grosgrain ribbon.

Thinking of You

I just have a very quick card for you today. No plan for this except that I wanted to use the paper crimper which I haven't had for very long. As for the colour scheme...I actually love Chocolate Chip and Kiwi Kiss together and find it hard to move away from when using my Trendy Tree's stamp set. I hope you like today's card.

Supplies:

* Trendy Tree's Stamp Set.

* Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White Cardstock. Urban Garden DSP.

* Kiwi Kiss & Chocolate Chip Stamp Pads.

* Paper Crimper, 1/3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Punch, Stampin Dimensionals, Mat Pack & SAMJ.

To You From Me

Hello readers,

I promise in my absence, I have been stamping. Unfortunately with our new computer came several new programs that I've had difficulty navigating...especially for photo's. I'm also still struggling with a few issues such as watermarking the image with the Stampin' Up! copyright. However I do have a disclaimer on my blog, so I hope this will suffice for the time being.

Moving on, the above card I recently created for a friend who's celebrating a birthday. Although she hasn't seen it yet, I feel safe posting it for your enjoyment now as she doesn't check my blog. I've used a lovely DSP from our new Spring Mini catalogue. This DSP called Parisian Breeze is a specialty paper that is extra thick and textured. I love it!

Supplies:

* Baja Breeze & Whisper White Cardstock. Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP.

* Best Yet Stamp Set (Level 1 Hostess Set)

* Baja Breeze Stripped Grosgrain, 1/3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Mini Glue Dots & Stampin' Dimensionals.

Clean & Simple Layout

Hello Readers,

I always get so excited when I find a new blog that has, what I think is a similar stamping style to my own. Thanks to one of my SBS#27 sisters (Hello Heather) I have found the Clean & Simple Stamping blogspot. Above is my contribution to their FTL#41 Layout Challenge.

I'm going to add the Clean & Simple Stamping blogspot to my favourites list as well as my "other blogs I visit" section to the right of this post. Their creations are amazing and just like their name, everything is just so simple while still very eye catching.

Supplies:
* Garden Whimsy Stamp Set.
* Whisper White and Red Riding Hood Cardstock.
* Red Riding Hood Stamp Pad.
* 3/8" Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon & SAMJ.

Because I Care

Hello readers,

I know I've been away for a while, and for those of you who check my blog daily - I'm sorry. I've been in a stamping slump for a while now and have not been enjoying the hobby half as much as I used too. So, I decided to take a break, read a few books and do some sewing instead.

I've also been experiencing what a friend of mine calls "the post holiday blues". I don't think I realised why I was so melancholy though until I was speaking with her at the Anzac Day March. Instead I just thought that I was down because of my environment - location, bat problem, the fact that I want to move closer to family etc.

Anyway, I've decided to help myself and my mood somewhat by stamping when I feel like it - not because I have too. I've also decided to partake in other crafts and amusements I used to enjoy before stamping so totally dominated my life.

Last night, I wanted to stamp. I've had new products to play with for almost two weeks and hadn't even mounted the stamps or played with the other items up until yesterday. I found myself stamping a lot with one of the new in colours - Kiwi Kiss, which I love more than Groovy Guava!

Today I have for you a Love Note which I've decorated simply by stamping and using a little satin ribbon. I hope you like today's basic card.

Supplies:

* Stem Silhouette's & Best Yet Stamp Sets.

* Kiwi Kiss & Chocolate Chip Stamp Pads.

* Very Vanilla Love Note & Envelope.

* SAMJ & Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon.

I'm So Glad There's You

Today was very exciting for me, I received a copy of the new Stampin' Up! catalogue which is to be released in just over a week. I can tell you I am in LOVE with so many of the new products, and my wish list is almost as long as my arm. Luckily, the Level one hostess sets are fantastic so I don't need to pop in a huge order for myself to get a level two or three stamp set.

Moving on, I really liked the above card which I've somewhat cased from the stamp sample for Close as a Memory in the new Catalogue. There are some things I have changed but you'll have to wait to find out what.

Supplies:

* Close as a Memory Stamp Set.

* Kraft, Very Vanilla, Mellow Moss and Whisper White Cardstock. So Saffron DSP.

* Cherished Memories Rub On's & 5/8" Very Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon. Soft Subtles & Rich Regals Markers. On Board Lot's of Letters.

Spring Butterfly

Unfortunately we don't have a 'Spring' as such in the tropics, however with the beginning of the dry season we have butterflies flitting about everywhere of a day. There beautiful to watch and Master 3 is enraptured by the way they frolic with each other whilst flying.

Today I have for you a Gable Fold card which is such an easy card to make. The card opens from the centre and the focal image is held in place [in this case] with a stamped flower. I've used the Bold Butterfly stamp set which is retiring in a few weeks as well as the Spring Fling DSP.

Supplies:

* Bold Butterfly Stamp Set.

* Pretty in Pink & Whisper White Cardstock. Spring Fling DSP.

* Pretty in Pink Stamp Pad.

* Soft Subtles Brads & Kindy Glitz because I was too lazy to get out my glue pen and dazzling diamonds.

Another Artfully Asian

On the weekend I demonstrated a SU workshop to a group of ladies who are new to stamping. We created a scrapbook page as well as a quick and easy card made using supplies from my hoard of scraps. I'll show you the scrapbook page later in the week, but today I wanted to show you the easy and quick card we made. We specifically used scraps on the card as I think it's a great way to use up scrapbooking 'remnants', and as the ladies are scrapbookers, I think it's a great way to cross them to the 'dark' side...LOL!

The card above is one of the projects we made. I decided to use the Artfully Asian set again as I want to get as much use out of it before it retires. I've taken the colours not only out of my scrap pile but also from a Petal Prints card on Leah's Blog. I hope you like today's creation.

Supplies:

* Artfully Asian & Occasions Stamp Set.

* Chocolate Chip & Craft White Stamp Pads.

* Chocolate Chip, Whisper White & Mellow Moss Cardstock.

* Chocolate Chip Wide Grosgrain Ribbon. Soft Subtles and Earth Elements Stampin' Write Markers.

Friend

I recently stumbled across a new blog by Julie Davidson that is fantastic. While looking through her posts, I fell in love with one of her cards titled (co-incidentally) 'Good Friend Card' and I knew that I had to not only make it, but also pop my own spin on it. The above is what I came up with.

As I was using left over cardstock, my card is not a trifold card. Instead, the front of the card is only 5cm wide, with the remainder of the card being the inside section. There's still room between the folded sections to pop a short message so the layout isn't spoilt. I hope you like today's Monday Madness Card.

Supplies:

* Bud Basics, For a Friend & Basics Outline Stamp set/Stampin Around Wheel.

* Chocolate Chip Stamp Pad. Chocolate Chip Large Cartridge.

* Real Red, Chocolate Chip, More Mustard & Old Olive Markers.

* SAMJ, Wide Grosgrain Ribbon (Old Olive) & Antique Brass Hodge Podge.

Australia Day 'Thanks Heaps'

As a child, I was privileged to live and travel in quite a few different countries around the world. I can remember being embarrassed by the fact that I was Australian because of how the outside world perceived us as a people and as a Nation. This perception by those around us, filtered down to my family who was living abroad. I was teased at school for my ocker accent and it was expected (and communicated) that I should ALWAYS slob about in thongs, dress in a Bonds singlet and basically behave like the worst of 1980's Australian stereo-types.

I'm telling you this because, not only did my experiences open my eyes to the splendor of the greater world, their sights, foods and cultures. But, it also made me appreciate what I had at home. Australia is truly (in my opinion) THE BEST country in the world to live in. Now, when I travel abroad, I'm proud of my accent and my designer thongs. They symbolise something which I was born too, something that's within my blood, stirs my soul and fills my heart with a completeness of belonging.

So, today I have for you a card that I made specifically for Australia Day. I've taken our national 'green and gold' and created something sophisticated to show the world were all not just thongs, beer and brickies smiles. Were tradition, camaraderie, beauty and a whole lot more that I can't even put into words, but feel with every fibre of my being. Happy Australia Day!

Supplies:

* Live Your Dreams Stamp Set.

* VersaMark & Handsome Hunter Stamp Pads.

* Handsome Hunter, Metallics (gold) & Very Vanilla Cardstock.

* Embossing Buddy, Gold & Clear Embossing Powders & Pretties Kit.

Sale-A-Bration Promotion

For the month of January and February 2009, Stampin' Up! are running a Sale-a-Bration promotion. This is an opportunity for everyone who spends a minimum of $100 on their order (excluding P&H however customer, workshop or demonstrator orders are all included) to receive a FREE stamp set from Stampin' Up's! Sale-A-Bration Catalogue. Spend $200 and you receive two FREE Sale-A-Bration stamp sets and so on.

For those wishing to join Stampin' Up! as an independent demonstrator, Sale-A-Bration is the perfect time as extra FREE stamp sets can be earned. In addition to this, you have until the 30th June 2009 to meet your first quarter's minimums!

For more information or to view the Sale-A-Bration Catalogue, please contact me at jasner5@bigpond.net.au or click on the above picture to take you to the Stampin' Up! Website promotion information.

Last but not least, the card shown in the above picture is a CASE from the Sale-A-Bration catalogue using product I have available. I have used the two step stamping and stamp off processes to obtain the colouring of the flower.

Supplies:
* Botanical Blooms & Fine Lace Stamp Sets.
* Blush Blossom, Rose Red, Old Olive and Whisper White Cardstock.
* Rose Red & Old Olive Stamp Pads and Markers.
* Cherished Memories Rub On's & White Grosgrain Ribbon.

Summer Mini Swap

Hi everyone. Well as you've all probably noticed I've been 'blog' quiet the last few days. I've been up in Darwin doing my Christmas shopping and taking my hubby to the hospital for a check up on some surgery he had recently. So, I've had no access to a computer - and I've not created anything either. So, I thought now would be the perfect time to show you the below...which I've had up my sleeve for an 'emergency' blog post!

However, before I go into detail on the above card, I just wanted to take a moment to let you all know that I will be closing my 'blog candy' giveaway competition this Friday 19th December 2008. Please make sure you leave a message if you wish to be in the draw for the Birthday Whimsy Stamp Set.

Ok, back to the above card. This card was inspired by a lady in Washington called Crystal (sorry she doesn't have a blog). I saw her card whilst net-surfing (rather than blog-surfing) stamping groups on the Internet and fell in love with it. I popped Crystal's card away in my memory banks and thought my version would be great for a Summer Mini Catalogue swap that was being hosted by my sister demo Mel. The technique I've used on the feature panel is called Faux Swiss Diamond. I feel I can show you this card now as I posted them all off to other swap participants almost four weeks ago now.

To create your faux Swiss Diamond, it's simply covering your coloured stamped image in VersaMark, then sprinkling same with heat and stick powder. Heat the heat and stick powder and sprinkle the image with dazzling diamonds. Once the image has cooled down and you have an even coverage of dazzling diamonds, simply matt your image (especially if your cardstock is on the thin side as matting avoids cardstock warping) and cover with Crystal Effects.

I really like this technique as it keeps the dazzling diamonds 'locked' away behind a hard clear enamel making mess and transference of the dazzling diamonds a thing of the past.

Supplies:
* Embrace Life & Polka Dot Stamp Sets.

* Basic Gray, Soft Sky and Whisper White Cardstock.

* Soft Sky & Basic Gray Stamp Pads. VersaMark.

* Blender Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Heat and Stick Powder, Heat Gun, Soft Sky Double Stitched Ribbon and Crystal Effects.

My Sneak Preview:

Well, I'm just so excited...today I picked up my box of goodies from SU that I pre-ordered from the up coming 08/09 Summer Mini from the post office, and I have to say, it's GORGEOUS!!! So, when a friend of mine asked me to show her how to make a triangle card originally created by Jayne Mercer and featured in Vol 13 #4 edition of the Stamping & Papercraft Magazine, I knew I just had to use some of my new supplies to tease you all.

Here it is, I hope you like it because my hubby doesn't...he said it's too 'different' and not the 'norm'. I've water coloured the main image, used a brad in the centre and have used taffeta ribbon folded over as leaves, to break up the colours a little.

Supplies:
* Stamp set from the up and coming 08/09 Summer Mini.
* River Rock, Groovy Guava & Watercolour Cardstock. DSP from up and coming 08/09 Summer Mini.
* Earth Elements Water Colour Wonder Crayons, Aqua Painter & Mellow Moss Taffeta Ribbon.

A Pretty Thank You:

SU are offering a great special beginning the 10th November until the 30th 2008 (in addition to their already advertised single Stampin' Write Marker special). I can't tell you what it is yet, but I thought I'd make this card to showcase the special...can you guess what it is?

Supplies:
* Friendship Blooms & Kindness Stamp Sets/Stampin' Around Wheel.
* Pale Plum & Perfect Plum Stamp Pads.
* River Rock, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum and Whisper White Cardstock.
* 1/16" Corner Punch, Cherished Memories Rub On's.

A RAK From Lynn:

My poor blog has been feeling rather neglected of late. For those that don't know, I've had my Mum visiting and although we made time for stamping, I didn't make time to post those creations on my blog while she was here. On top of that, I've also become a SAHM again so that I can spend more time with my family and concentrate more on my SU business. So, at the moment, I'm still finding my way around my new found 'time' that I now have to 'manage'...LOL!

Moving on, isn't it lovely when you go to the mailbox and find something other than bills. Well, that's exactly what happened to me on Friday. Not only did I have a SU order waiting for me, but I also received this gorgeous card from Lynn B. Lynn has used the dahlia fold with the scallop punch for the main focal point and has highlighted it with a rhinestone brad. She's also used co-ordinating DSP, Cardstock, Ink and Ribbon for this stunning creation. Thank you Lynn for thinking of me.

What's in the Box?

Hello everyone! Well, it's been a week since I posted anything here and your all probably wondering what happened to me. First my keyboard decided to die an agonising (and might I also add, very annoying) death, and then the family and I drove up to Darwin for a shopping trip for a few days. With both those two little things, a whole week has flown by.

So, to make amends for my absence, I've created this cute little 3x3 notecard set which is held within the above box. I hope you like it. The notecards themselves were incredibly easy to do as was the little box, but I have to confess, this project was very time consuming. I started it last night and it took the better part of 3 hours to complete. Now I know what I'm doing though, I'm sure the next one won't take nearly as long.

Anywho, here's the 6 little 3x3 love notes I created to pop into the box:

(apologies for the over exposed shot, this was the best I could take today, I seem to have the shakes again)

Supplies:

* Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White and Berry Bliss DSP.

* Occasional Greetings & Circle of Friendship Stamp Sets.

* 1/1/4 Square Punch, 1/3/8 Circle Punch, 1/1/4 Circle Punch, Scallop Punch.

* Sticky Strip, SNAIL & Stampin' Dimensionals.

A Bold Butterfly:

Today's card is something I've been wanting to make for a while now, since I saw it on a blog a few weeks back while I was blog surfing (I'm sorry, I just can't remember who it was and I've been backtracking now for quite some time to find you). The card on this unknown blog showcased beautifully the bugs & kisses stamp set, and I thought it was absolutely adorable!

Moving on, I decided to make a similar card using Bold Butterfly...again because I hadn't used it in AGES. The difference with this card, is that when you open it up, you get this delightful little surprise...

I've got flowers and another butterfly on the inside that 'pop up' on this paper spring! The butterflies, to add some bling I've stamped then used my 2 Way Glue Pen and Dazzling Diamonds on the outline. The front butterfly, I've also made 3 dimensional, and it lifts off the page. I already know who I'm going to give this card too, I hope she likes it. If you'd like to know how to make this card, this will be the feature card for my October Technique workshop. Please email me for more information at jasner5@bigpond.net.au.

Supplies:
* Bold Butterfly & Occasional Greetings Stamp Sets.
* Bashful Blue, Regal Rose, Apricot Appeal, Whisper White, Certainly Celery & Almost Amethyst Cardstock. Certainly Celery Designer Series Paper.
* Almost Amethyst & Regal Rose Stamp Pads.
* Small & Large Oval Punch's, 3/16" Corner Rounder, 2 Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Sticky Strip, Glue Dots & Stampin Dimensionals.

Wonderful Friend Love Note:

I've had a packet of SU Love Notes now for quite some time, and despite it's cute 3"x3" size, up until the weekend, I hadn't really used them. Well, all I can say is "...shame on me...". Love Notes I found are FANTASTIC for using up scrappy bit's of cardstock, DSP and in my case...ribbon. Not to mention, I also remembered to stamp the adorable little envelope that comes with each Love Note. This is definitely one product I'm going to use again and re-create as often as I can!

Supplies:
* BoHo Backgrounds Stamp Set.
* Love Note (Very Vanilla), Pretty in Pink, Ivory Naturals Cardstock and Berry Bliss DSP.
* Close to Cocoa Stamp Pad.
* Very Vanilla 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, 1/3/8" Circle Punch.