For the Little People in our Lives!

Hey Sminkers!

Yes I know it's been forever since I have blogged but rest assured I've still been crafting my little heart out! Now as some of you may know I'm a mother to a now 6 year old boy (gee whizz they grow up quick!!) and am always in constant need of kiddy cards. Just last week I ran a class which focused on cards for these little people in our lives.

Now the first one I want to share with you I found online through either Pinterest or Google which are my favourite places to find ideas and inspiration. Anyway I wanted to do an Elmo card because seriously who doesn't love Elmo right? I stumbled upon a real cutie made by Andrea Borries which you can see here. It was so quick and simple to make and is just adorable don't you think?

Now another classic with the kiddies is Minnie Mouse and I had seen heaps of ideas around using different punches and dies but I set about making one with the right proportions to fit the bow builder punch. So to do this I used my circle Framelits and cut 2 circles for the ears using the 1 1/2 inch framelit (3rd smallest) and 1 circle for the head using the 2 3/4 inch framelit (6th smallest). Then because I only need the bow part and not the tag pieces, I cut my DSP to 1 inch width and was able to thread it through and punch the piece I needed without much wastage. I hope that makes sense! I'm planning to do a tutorial when time permits so if you would like a copy once it's finished please leave a comment or send me a message. So how do you think it turned out?

 

I think she's pretty cute and Minnie could easily be turned into a Mickey Mouse for a little boys card by putting the bow underneath the head instead of between the ears. I also love making matching gift bags to keep on hand so after class I whipped this one  up to add to my collection and match the card.

 

 

The other little girl's card we decided to do was based on one I made for my friend's daughter a couple of years ago and loved it so much I thought it would make a great addition to the class. Now the only problem was that it used a retired stamp set called Pony Party but this design, as with most of my designs, are easy enough to adapt to stamps you have at home so don't feel you need to have exactly the same supplies that I have used.  I made a matching gift bag for this one too!

 

 

Now last but definitely not least is a card I saw on Pinterest a couple of years ago and added it to my list of cards to make. The original one I saw was made using an owl digital image but I knew that I could use any number of sets in the Stampin' Up! range to recreate it. Then not too long ago I stumbled across a version by Dawn Olchefske using the now retired Dinoroar set which you can see here and decided to make my version with the current stamp set called Boys Will Be Boys.

 

 

Now as you can see this is a super simple yet effective card that any child would love to receive and colour in themselves. You could easily make them for boys or girls by altering the stamp images and cardstock used. I'm planning to add quite a few more of these to my stash soon. If you have any questions about the cards I've shared today please do not hesitate to get in contact with me and I'll only be too glad to help. Until next time, take care!

 

Marsha xx

 

 

Subway Art with MDS

So back in August last year I had a close friend give birth to a beautiful baby girl and I was stumped as to what to get her as a gift. Then I remembered seeing some baby subway art online and set about creating my own in MDS.

I contacted my friend and asked if it would be ok to make it for her and she was thrilled. I got all the details like birth weight, length etc, then started work on it and was pleasantly surprised with the outcome.

 

My friend loved it so much she asked me if I could make one for her son also. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of the framed one but this is what the design looked like.

 

 

What do you think? I'm loving the whole subway art trend and they are such a lovely personalised gift which they are unlikely to receive double of so it's a win win situation :) So a couple of months later, with my new love of subway art, I set about creating some end of year gifts for my son's kindy teachers. I saw a few ideas online and borrowed bits from a couple of different ones and this is what I came up with;

 

 

They were printed  on Whisper White cardstock and placed into a frame which was then wrapped in tissue paper and put into a handmade gift bag with matching thank you card. The teachers loved that they each had their names on them and one even said it was one of the best gifts she had every received. Wow I was so touched!

 

So as you can see the possibilities of what you can create is endless and all you need is a bit of time and you have a beautiful unique gift anyone is bound to love. How about you have a try when you have a bit of spare time and send me a picture of what you have created, I would love to see them! If you would like any further details or guidance on how to get started please don't hesitate to leave a comment. If you would like me to create a personalise subway art for someone special please contact me for details. Until next time, take care!

 

Marsha xx

 

 

Love Is In The Air!

Bet you didn't think you would hear from me again so soon did you! Well I had my first class for the year today and it was themed 'Love Is In the Air' with Valentine's Day just around the corner. I know I promised to show you my backlog of stuff in order but I really wanted to share with you what we made today and maybe give you some inspiration for your own creations.

Now we didn't just focus on Valentine's Day but instead created cards for some other 'Love' occasions like wedding, anniversary and Christmas. What? Did she just say Christmas? Yes I did! Some of the ladies in my class always run out of time later in the year for Christmas cards so they have requested I include one at each class so that by the end of the year they should have a good head start. So to tie in with the theme I used the Love & Joy stamp in the Holiday Catalogue. Now just a heads up, if you would like anything from this catalogue you better get cracking because it finishes on 1st of February.

I got the idea for this card from one I saw a few months back by Rochelle Blok. I changed the orientation and simplified it a bit but was really happy with the outcome. This would be a great one to mass produce as it's super quick and easy.

The second card we made was an Anniversary card as most of us need one of these on hand. I saw two similar cards on Pinterest, one by Beth McAlexander and another by Wendy Weixler. I really liked elements from each so I used those along with my Night of Navy, Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla colour combo to come up with this.

 

The third card we made was a wedding card as it's always good to have one of these on hand also. I stuck with the classic combo of Basic Black and Very Vanilla with the Modern Medley Designer Series Paper then added some bling with the Silver Glimmer Paper and Rhinestones.

 

 

What do you think? You could easily add a bit of colour especially if you wanted to customise it to match the wedding but I think this is really elegant.

 

Last but not least is our Valentine's card. This one was based on one by Dawn Olchefske but I've just mixed it up a bit and utilised current products.

 

 

Well I hope you have enjoyed seeing my cards as much as I have enjoyed sharing them with you. If there is anything you would like to know like measurements, products used etc please leave me a comment and I will send the details through to you. I'll be back soon to show you some of the other fun things we got up to in our classes last year. Take care!

 

Marsha xx

I'm Alive!!

Hey Sminkers!!

I know it has been forever since I have blogged. The last few months have been super crazy for me but I can assure you I'm still alive and still getting my craft on whenever possible...I just haven't had the time to tell you all about it.

The last few months of 2013 were particularly tough for us. In addition to other challenges I had been dealing with regarding my 4 year old, we received a bit of a bombshell in October when my dad was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. I won't lie, I was pretty devastated when we first received the diagnosis but once I did my research and worked out what it all meant and what action we needed to take in order for him to beat it...I was on a mission. So it's been a long few months of doctors appointments, surgery, recovery plus lots of tests and scans. It's not over yet, he's still undergoing treatment at the moment and there's no guarantee he won't need more surgery or further treatments but we are all trying to stay positive and make sure he has the best possible chance to kick this cancers butt!

So with everything that has been going on, having my little craft hobby has definitely helped me keep my sanity. What 's the saying...'Stamping is cheaper than Therapy'. I have loved having my little escape from reality even for just a few hours. So my plan is to keep crafting and sharing but just hopefully a bit more regularly this year :)

I'm planning to show you the cards and projects we have been working in the order in which they were created however I did come across some photos of a Mothers Day project I forgot to share back in May...a flower pot card.

 

The pink version was the one the girls made in the craft class and the second one I created using colours I had seen in a sample I found online by a fellow Aussie demo Diane Barnes. Her version is much more elaborate but I decided to keep it simple for the class. I used a video tutorial by Julie Davison to learn how to make the card which you can find here.

 

The beauty of this card is once you have the flower pot base, you can use any flower stamps, punches or dies you have to create the insert. They are great for birthdays, Mother's Day, get well cards and the list goes on. I'm planning to make a few more versions of this card utilising different supplies I have in my stash. I will share those once I have had a chance to make them.

 

Well I think that's it for now. I really hope you have all been well and had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. I have my first class for 2014 on Saturday and I can't wait to get back into it. The class ladies are equally excited. Until next time take care and happy stamping!

 

 

Marsha xx

 

Card 1 Recipe:
Cardstock - Crumb Cake, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla, Certainly Celery, Silver Glimmer Paper
Accessories - Blossom Party Die, Scallop Border Punch, Pretty in Pink 1/4 inch Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, SNAIL adhesive, Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals.

 

Card 2 Recipe:
Cardstock - Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Whisper White, Lucky Limeade

Accessories - Blossom Party Die, Scallop Border Punch, Everyday Enchantment Brads, 1/8 inch Calypso Coral Organdy Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive, Glue Dots.

** Please note some products used are retired and not currently available for purchase.
 

It's here...Washi Tape!

Hey Sminkers

Well what an enormous week it been! After taking part in my first ever Blog Hop, I had to knuckle down and finish preparing for my Catalogue Launch Party which was held last Saturday. It was a fabulous afternoon full of fun, laughter and of course stamping! Everyone was super impressed with the new products on offer in the catalogue and one which definitely grabbed my interest was the introduction of Washi Tape.

So what is Washi Tape? Well it first originated in Japan and I suppose the best way to describe it is that it feels like masking tape, but way prettier! You can get it in more colours and patterns imaginable and Stampin' Up! has started off its collection with the introduction of Epic Day This and That (left) plus Gingham Garden (right).

        

Now I must admit I honestly didn't see what all the fuss was about when I first started seeing Washi Tape around the crafting world but after getting the Gingham Garden with my preorder and having a play I must admit I'm a little hooked!

When it came to making the display samples for my launch party I did have to enlist the help of Google to see how people were using it on their cards and projects. One of the simplest ways I believe (and I saw a lot of it online) was to just place strips of the Washi Tape onto the cardstock and then add any additional embellishments you like to jazz it up which is what I did here.

I honestly couldn't believe how quickly I put this card together. Washi Tape definitely adds a WOW factor using minimal time and effort! The other ways I saw people using this versatile product was by applying it to die cuts. Now I tried it two ways, the first was cutting the shape then applying the Washi Tape and the second applying the Washi Tape to the cardstock then cutting it out using a die and the Bigshot. Both methods worked but I prefer the second way then you don't have to go back and recut around the shape after applying the Washi Tape. Hmm I hope that made sense. So here are the card two cards I made using this method.

 

So what do you think? Have I made you want to run out and grab yourself some Washi Tape :) Well if I have you can head over to my online store and grab some here. It's great value at $8.95 for 3 rolls. The lovely ladies who came along to the launch on Saturday had a play with the Washi Tape and used it to decorate some magnetic pegs. If you would like to be shown some of the awesome Stampin' Up! products come along to one of my classes or better still get some friends together and I can come and do a workshop for you all in your home.

Well I better get back to prepping for tomorrow class, Christmas in July. If you would like to join us please contact me for details. I'll be back soon to show you those creations and more from the Launch Party. Until then stay warm and have a great weekend!

Marsha xx

ESAD Annual Catalogue Blog Hop

What is ESAD?

ESAD stands for "Extra Special Australasian Demonstrators" and it is an on-line group just for Australian and New Zealand Stampin' Up! demonstrators.

We love what we do & love to share with our customers, friends, and wonderful blog visitors. We also share what we love in our ESAD Demonstrator community, through swaps, challenges, sharing knowledge, ideas & friendship, and we're always there to help and support each other.

So if you are a Stampin' Up! demonstrator located in Australia or New Zealand,
then please feel free to leave me a comment with your email address and I'll contact you with information on how to join our wonderful group.

Now whether you have started your blog hop here or have just been visiting the super talented Tanya Bell, you are in for an inspirational journey so make sure you have your cuppa  and Tim Tam  then relax and enjoy the ride.

The ESAD Blog Hop consists of 25 passionate Stampin' Up! demonstrators each showcasing a new product from the 2013-2014 Annual Catalogue which starts today...WOO HOO!!! If you would like a copy please contact me and I will get one to you or better still come along to my Catalogue Launch Party this Saturday and play with some of the fantastic new products Stampin' Up! have released...it will be a blast!

I have chosen to show you two products that I received FREE for welcoming a new person into my team during Sale A Bration, the Modern Medley Designer Series Paper and the Happy Day stamp set. I just love how Stampin' Up! is so generous and offers achieveable challenges and fantastic rewards. If you would like to know more about becoming a part of my team click here.

The Modern Medley DSP is fabulous! It features a variety of patterns in Basic Black and Very Vanilla with each pack containing 12 sheets (2 each of 6 double sides designs). The patterns are so versatile and look great on their own or put them with a flash of colour. They can easily be adapted to suit all ages and genders. As my new favourite colour is Bermuda Bay I decided to add this into the mix.

Now who always gets caught out and realises it's Aunty Betty's or Cousin Jim's birthday in a day or two and you have nothing organised? Worst still you are going to their place for celebratory dinner or drinks so need to have something to take. This happens to me more times than I care to admit so I've now learnt to keep a stash of homemade cards, tags, gift boxes and bags on hand for use in those last minute emergencies. So upon realising my stock was running low I decided to make some more using the new products and show you how easy it can be. The first two items I have to show you are a Gift Box and matching card.

 

 

As you can see these colours go beautifully together. Are you curious as to where I got the black gift box from? Well would you believe this is one of Stampin' Up!'s Kraft Gift Boxes and I just covered it in black ink using my brayer. I had been meaning to try it for a while and just love the way it turned out. As much as I love the original colour of the box I didn't think it would look as good as it does being black. I've then just used some Bermuda Bay card stock and the Modern Medley DSP to dress it up a bit, added a paper bow and of course some bling with the new Very Vintage Designer Buttons and a Large Rhinestone. These boxes are the perfect size to fill with some chocolates or homemade cookies.

 

The next two projects are a set also and consist of a wine bottle tag and matching card. Wine bottles tags are so quick and easy to make and just add a personal touch when giving someone a bottle of wine or similar and who doesn't love receiving a bottle of wine!

 

 

 

 

I'm loving the medallion image from the Happy Day stamp set, its just so pretty. The set contains a total of 6 stamps (two images and four sentiments). I have used the second image on my last card.

 

 

I just love this sentiment and the beautiful scroll image. If I had spaced them out more they would have fit perfectly in the Labels Collection framelit but I just ran it through twice to get a completely new shape and love how  it turned out and that I was able to frame it with the regular shaped framelit. The mosaic DSP from the Modern Medley pack also ties it all together. I'm seeing this mosaic pattern everywhere at the moment so Stampin' Up! are definitely keeping up with all the trends.

Well that's all I have to show you today. You are now off to visit the lovely Richelle Fletcher and her wonderful projects. If you have any questions about my creations, joining my team, coming along to classes or joining ESAD please just leave a comment or send me an email.

Thank you so much for stopping by and hope you come again soon.

Marsha xx

Recipe:

Stamps -  Happy Day Stamp Set
Cardstock - Basic Black, Bermuda Bay, Very Vanilla
Inks - Basic Black, Bermuda Bay
Accessories -  Modern Medley DSP, Scallop Edge Border Punch, 2 3/8 inch Scallop Circle Punch, 1/8 inch Mini Brads, Basic Rhinestones, Very Vintage Designer Buttons, Kraft Gift Boxes, Large Basic Rhinestones, Simply Scored, Labels Collection Framelits, SNAIL adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, Glue Dots

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Catalogue Excitement!

Well  the launch of Stampin' Up!'s 2013-2014 Annual Catalogue is less than two weeks away and having already seen what is in store for you guys I'm just bursting with excitement!!

As you know I was lucky enough to get a look at the new catalogue SUPER early when Shelli gave us a copy at Convention a few weeks ago. One of the great perks of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator is being able to view catalogues about a month earlier than everyone else. This is usually online until your copy arrives with your pre order which is another fantastic perk - ordering and receiving new products before everyone else :) However by attending Convention we were able to get our hands on a copy a week earlier than the demonstrators who were unable to attend.... how AWESOME right??

So what's my point you may be asking. Well after going through the catalogue more times than I care to admit, I can honestly tell you there are some amazing new products on offer for all the Stampin' Up! fans out there. We have all seen the Colour Refresh which was announced a couple of months ago with lots of lovely new colours to play with but did you know we will get 5 more with new 2013-2015 In Colours, which will be available in the new catalogue?

Now we had a bit of a play with some of these at Convention and you would have seen a few of them on the Make & Takes I showed you in a post a couple of weeks ago but since receiving my new ink pads and card stock in the pre order I'm even more in love with them. Imagine all the new colour combos we will have to choose from!

On top of that there are lots of new Stamp Sets, a few new Punches, some new Framelits and Embossing Folders plus heaps of accessories like buttons, ribbon and of course Designer Series Paper. There is also a fabulous new product called Simply Pressed Clay which is already on back order as it's been SO popular with the demonstrators. I was lucky enough to get some in my pre order so if you would love to check it out be sure to come along to my Annual Catalogue Launch Party. Do you like the invite I made for you all in My Digital Studio?

I know it's pretty simple but I love how it turned out. For someone as technologically challenged as myself, it's a surprise I managed to get one made at all!! Just goes to show if I can do it anyone can :) 

So who wants to join me in getting my craft on? It will be a wonderful afternoon with some special offers, a make and take or two, door prizes, yummy refreshments plus a goodie bag (containing the new catalogue) to take home. If you bring a friend who is new to Stampin' Up! and you can choose a prize. Book a workshop and/or place an order on the day for an added bonus too. It is definitely an event you don't want to miss. If you would like to come along and be a part of the excitement please contact me by 26th June. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Marsha xx