What classes would you like to attend?

I have a few classes coming up over the next month or two but would like to know what other types of classes you would like to come to.

If you have a suggestion for a class please leave a comment under this post or email me (address is in my profile).

25th July - Christmas In July Stamp-a-Stack

August (date TBA) - Cards That Move

Every Month - Open Stamping Night (like a crop night)

Other Class Ideas - Technique classes such as watercolouring, chalks, emobossing, masking, brayering etc etc
- Mother and Daughter card or scrapbooking classes
- Stamp-a-stacks
- Scrapbook in an evening (complete a 6x6 album using a Simply Scrappin' Kit)

I would like to tailor classes to what my customers want and need so please let me know what you would like to see.

Pink Roses

This is a card I made a few nights ago when my friends Kristy and Sheridan came over to stamp with me. I also made the card that I CASEd from the catalogue (look a few posts back from this one) that night as well as showing the girls how to do faux metal so they could make the "masculine bookmark card" I posted on the blog a while ago.


Stamps: Wild Rose, French Script, Blooming with Happiness (Level 1 hostess set)
Inks: Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery
Papers: Regal Rose, Whisper White, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Stamp-a-ma-jig

Cards That Move Class

In August I will be teaching a "Cards That Move" class. (I got this idea from my upline Liz - thanks Liz!) I will give the details such as date, time and cost once I have finished my July/August newsletter. The details will be on both the newsletter and the blog. This photo is of one of the cards we will be making. This particular card was taught to us by Liz at the last Paper Angels meeting. I can't wait to teach it to you at the class in August! It's such a fun fold and I love the little pop-up piece.

(Please excuse the poor quality of the photo. It was very overcast and difficult to get good lighting on it.)

Subscribe to my blog!

How cool is this?! You can now subscribe to my blog and receive en email each time I post something new. The email will show the pictures and text that I have just posted. This is a great way to keep up to date with the blog without having to remember to go look at it. Perfect if you're like me and have a memory like a sieve! : )

My Actual Stamping Space

I tidied up my stamping space today after having everything out in the dining room for the last week for Open Stampin Night and when I've had friends over to stamp. Now that everything is back in it's place, I decided to take some photos to share with you.

This first photo shows my stamp storage. I have all my stamp sets in these drawers. Each draw has a label on it such as "Wheels", "Hostess Sets", "Large Sets" etc. I picked these drawers up at The Warehouse for about $40.

This second photo shows my paper storage. I bought these hanging files from Ikea. I can't remember how much I paid but it was pretty cheap. I have my paper organised by colour family. On the right side you can see my ribbon storage. It just needs to be mounted on the wall.

This last photo shows my actual space where I stamp. This is the right hand side of the large bench in our study. The left side is for the computer. I got the shelves from Ikea. Don't you just love Ikea??? If you have any questions, just post it in the comments section.

CASEing the Catalogue

When I lose my stamping mojo I go to the Idea Book & Catalogue! This card was CASEd (copy and share/steal everything) directly from it. I didn't have the Rough Texture junbo wheel so I used my Canvas Background Stamp instead. I also didn't have Really Rust ink so I used More Mustard instead. You can almost always find a substitute when you don't have all the materials listed. Remember you can find the recipes for all the examples in the catalogue towards the back. Just search by page number.

Stamps: Artfully Asian, Canvas Background
Inks: Basic Black, More Mustard (instead of Really Rust)
Papers: Bordering Blue, Really Rust, More Mustard, Mellow Moss
Accessories: Moss Ginham Ribbon, Mat Pack & paper piercer, White Signo Gel Pen

Artfully Asian Congratulations

Here is a card I've made for my bother-in-law and his now fiance. I made this at my Open Stampin Night this month. Now I just have to get off my backside and post it to them!

Stamps: Artfully Asian, Warmest Regards (Hostess Level 1)
Inks: Regal Rose, Rose Red, Always Artichoke, Basic Black
Papers: Regal Rose, Rose Red, Always Artichoke, Whisper White
Accessories: Olive Organdy Ribbon, Mat Pack & Paper Piercer

Hostess Appreciation Evening

Here are the REAL invitations for the Hostess Appreciation Evening which will be held on Monday 16th July. I hope all the hostesses have received their invitations by now. If not, please let me know!

Stamps: French Script Background, Looks Like Spring
Inks: Elegant Eggplant, Versamark
Papers: Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive
Accessories: Gold Detail Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Spring Bouquet Punch, Mat Pack, Piercing Tool

Open Stamping Nights

Last night I had my first "Open Stamping Night" at my house. It was great fun! I got some new stamp sets put together, as did my neighbour Kristy. I also got a card made for my brother-in-law's engagement. Just need to take a photo of that to post on the blog. Most of the ladies used their time to madly stamp heaps and heaps of images from my stamp sets in all the colours they wanted. Now they have pages of images to cut out at home and use on cards. I will hold these Open Stamp Nights once a month and the next one will be on the 20th of July. Cost is $5 which gives you access to all my stamp sets, ink pads, markers, chalks, punches and other tools of the trade. Just bring some cardstock to stamp on and any other consumables you need to complete you projects. You may use it as a chance to stamp lots of images OR use it as time to work on projects with a wide array of tools at your fingertips that you may not have access to at home.

Door Prizes

I like to have door prizes at my workshops and here is an example of one. You could win one of these if you host or attend one of my workshops! I have plenty of dates free in July and still have a few left this month if you'd like to book a workshop.

Hostess Appreciation Invitations

Well I finally got some time last night to make the invitations for my Hostess Appreciation Evening. The invitation in this photo is not the final result. I will post that in a few days, after the hostesses have recieved their invtations - I wouldn't want to spoil their surprise! This one is my first attempt and it wasn't quite right... I wanted to use the Faux Metal techinique like I did on the Masculine Bookmark Card from a previous post, but I realised I would be there forever making multiples. So I went with something different. I also realised that the Elegant Eggplant card base was too plain and needed something more - you'll see in a few days. Anyhow, this is a bit of an idea of what the real ones might be like.

Blank Tin

Ok, here is the tin I bought at the Papercrafts Expo last weekend. I'm going to decorate it (when I get some free time) with Designer Series papers, cardstock, ribbons, etc etc. I'll post another picture when it's finished - might be a few weeks the way things are going at the moment!

More Versamark swap cards

Here are some more of the cards I received in our Versamark swap:



I should add that these cards were made by Loren, Julie, Amanda and Ursula who are all part of our Paper Angels group.

Liz's Versamark swap card

Here is one of the cards I received in the Versamark swap. The paisley panel was done by stamping the Paisley background stamp with Versamark onto white glossy cardstock and then wiping the Lovely Lilac inkpad over the top. The Versamark "resists" the ink, hence the technique being called Versamark Resist.

You can view more of Liz's work on her blog Craft Classroom. See the link at the top of the page.

Scrapbook & Papercraft Convention & Expo

On Saturday I went to the Scrapbook & Papercraft Convention & Expo at the Convention Centre. I didn't buy TOO much but managed to spend a little bit of money! I bought a Versamark Pen which I think will be really nifty. I also bought some storage for my ribbons to keep them neat and tidy. Now I just need to mount it on the wall. I also bought a nice tin that I will decorate with Designer papers and ribbons etc. It is just the right size to keep cards in. I'll post a picture of it when I'm done. There were lots of lovely things there. Check it out if you have time. It's on until Monday the 11th.

Masculine bookmark card

I needed to make a nice birthday card for a male friend today and here is what I came up with:



This bookmark card is a card and gift in one. The bookmark is held in place on the front of the card by sliding the back part of the bookmark into to slits which were cut into the Close to Cocoa layer before it was attached to the Not Quite Navy card base.

The gold medallion was made using the Faux Metal technique. This is were you melt embossing powder and keep adding more layers and when it is thick enough you press the stamp into it. Leave it to cool then remove the stamp. Feel free to contact me for more detailed instructions.

Stamps: Mostly Flowers, It's Your Birthday, Weathered Background
Inks: Versamark
Papers: Not Quite Navy, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White
Accessories: Gold Detail Embossing Powder, Embossing Buddy, Heat Gun, Gold Organdy Ribbon, Hole Punch, Paper Cutter

Images © 1990–2007 Stampin’ Up!

Favourite Teddy Birthday Card

This card was basically copied from the last Idea Book & Catalogue. I made 10 of these cards as part of a swap with my group the Paper Angels. We all had to make a card that used Versamark in some way. My card used Versamark in a wheel cartridge.
Other cards I received in the swap used Versamark to resist ink or to apply pastels etc. I'll ask the other ladies if they mind me posting pictures of their cards so you can see what I'm talking about.



Stamps: Favourite Teddy, Paw Tracks Wheel
Inks: Versamark, Sahara Sand, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Bashful Blue
Papers: Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Navy Gorsgrain RIbbon, Blender Pens (for watercolouring)

Images © 1990–2007 Stampin’ Up!

Stampin' Tip

Repetition Stamping – You can get many colours from just one inkpad. Stamp your image one or more times without re-inking the stamp. Use this method for 2-step stamping. You get several shades this way, and it adds depth to a stamped image, almost like a shadow. Think of trees or flowers - the faded image will appear to be in the distance.

Sassy Stems (Olive)

This is a card I did a while ago. I borrowed my mum's Sassy Stems set and stamped a few images in Staz-On Jet Black onto Whisper White cardstock so that I could water colour them later on. I've yet to colour any of the others.

Stamps: Sassy Stems, Wonderful Words
Inks: Old Olive, Cameo Coral, Apricot Appeal, Staz-On Jet Black
Paper: Old Olive, Whisper White, Apricot Appeal, Cameo Coral
Accessories: Apricot Appeal Brads

Simple Layouts Class

I still have plenty of spaces availbale for my Simple Layouts Class so I am extending the RSVP date to Wednesday the 6th of June. Here are the details of the class:

Description: Come along and learn to make 4 simple but effective cards using a variety of products and techniques including punches, Designer Series paper, 2-step stamping and distressing.
Date: Sunday 10th June
Time: 10am
Cost: $10 per person
Please bring adhesive such as glue stick or double-sided tape.
RSVP and payment by 6th June

Explosion Album Class

Today I held my Mini Explosion Album class. We had a lovely time making these cute albums. They make a great gift and the one you see in the photo was the one I gave Mum for Mother's Day.



I will probably run this class again so register your interest with me if you are keen to attend.

Stamps: Looks Like Spring, Wonderful Words
Inks: Close to Cocoa, Bashful Blue, Barely Banana
Papers: Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Sping Showers Designer Papers, Whisper White
Accessories: Spring Boquet Punch, Soft Subtles Buttons, Blue Ginham Ribbon

Images © 1990–2007 Stampin’ Up!