When the Dog sat on the Tuckerbox

Last year, we went for a drive to Bendigo, Victoria and of course we stopped at the Dog on the Tuckerbox for a well deserved break in the holiday drive home.  We enjoyed a refreshing Ginger beer and being tourists had our photo with the dog statue and also sipping our nice cold drink, as you do.

 It was a hot and humid wind that was blowing that day Jess and I enjoyed our quiet rest under the trees in that green and shady stop. The photos spread over two pages so a facing page of Concord crush was in order to match the colours in the photos.

I've used a couple of punches to cut out the Bliss, the butterfly and the patterned paper.

I can't go past a rock and rolled butterfly in Marina Mist and Concord crush. So not only was the butterfly cut and punched but received an overlay of vellum so that you could still see the swirly patterned stamp underneath.

Oh the ribbon, yes that was a little trick we learnt at regional training last year.

Using a piece of tafetta ribbon you find a thread and simply pull it up to make a ruffle which creates that pretty ruffly edge... mmm not very straight but you can stick it down properly with sticky strip or mini glue dots of course.

More itty bitty bits in Concord Crush...

Just because my favourite colour is concord crush at the moment... I am sharing this same card version 2 with you. Its a happy birthday card (another new stampset "well scripted" page 18 of the Summer mini).

Did you see the Cute little coffee cup in the centre of the flower? I have used the marker to rubber technique to stamp these little pieces in two colours. Always remember to do the lighter colour first, to keep your marker tips clean.

Actually this photo show what happens when you dont water your cacti and succulants in hot weather, they flower as a last ditch effort to survive. Best go and water the pot plants now the weather has cooled down.
One week its rain, next week its boiling hot heat wave conditions but that's Summer as we know it.

Sale-a-bration

This year Sale-A-Bration started on 25 January and runs till 31st MARCH!!!

We have two months to Sale-a-brate!
Until 31 March you can choose one of 4 stamp sets for FREE when you purchase $100 worth of Stampin' Up product.
That is a free stampset with every $100 worth of product purchased. Spend $200 and choose 2 SAB stampsets.
There are extra specials for Hostesses (when your workshop sales reach $600 you receive another free SAB stampset),
And, if you purchase the Stampin' up Starter kit on page 8, you can choose a free stampset from the Idea Book and catalogue (up to the value of $79.95), so if you would like a Sale-A-Bration catalgogue, or some more information about hostessing a workshop or purchasing the Starter Kit just email me at nerida_carter@hotmail.com .

This card was one that we made at our first workshop for 2011!

The card above uses itty bitty bits from the Summer mini and the square lattice embossing folder run through the big shot machine.

I have used two embossing folders on this card: polka dots for the centre of the flower and square lattice. The Edgeing on the green strip of cardstock is a new punch too: pinking hearts. (page 7 Summer mini $30.95).

 The stampset used is "itty bitty bits" a set of 9 stamps ($16.95 clear mounted) that coordinate perfectly with the Bitty Buttons (64 clear buttons for only $7.95 in 4 different shapes) AND there's the Itty bitty shapes punch pack (3 new punches - that's 3 little punches in a set for $30.95). 

 You'll just love them to itty bitty bits. 

 And don't forget for every stampset purchased until the 15th February (over the value of $30) Stampin' up will donate $2 towards the Australian SES Flood appeal. Enjoy!!!

Flood Appeal to Support SES.

We have all been listening to and watching the news reports of the Flooding in Queensland. The State Emergency Services have done are doing an amazing job as only voluntary services and the Australian community can. To do what they can Stampin'Up has posted this offer as a way to support those people affected by flood in QLD:

"As flood waters continue to inundate Australia in what has been described as the worst flooding in 37 years, we express our deepest sympathies to those who have lost loved ones and homes and to those whose lives have been changed forever. We, like so many of you, feel a compelling need to lend support to all those who have been affected.

Stampin' Up! demonstrators have a long history of making a difference in the lives of others--especially when disaster strikes and the need is greatest. Nearly two years ago, we watched another tragedy unfold in Australia. Our hearts were touched as demonstrators, customers and friends joined together in support of the Bushfire Appeal. We've done it before and we can certainly do it again!

Please join with us by supporting the Australia Flood Appeal--a cause in which Stampin' Up! will donate $2 AUD of the retail value of sales from any stamp set (with a retail value of $30 or more) sold in Australia and New Zealand from 15 January through 15 February to the State Emergency Services in Queensland."

 For every Stamp Set that you purchase that has a retail value of $30 or more SU will donate $2 to the State Emergency Services in Queensland. The appeal runs from January 15th until February 15th 2011.

You can place your order with me by email to nerida_carter@hotmail.com.

Aviary owl hanging under Pendant Park?

 Now if you've had a chance to look through your Summer Mini catalogue you will recognise quite a few of the stamps and products I have used on this card.
Aviary (page 13) Its the cutest little stampset of birds and curly cages to set your creative heart a flutter. I have hung my owl in his cage from a ribbon from the Pendant Park tree. Then for a background I'vw wheeled the musical notes... with a basic black ink cartridge it is extremely useful for adding music to wrapping paper, cards and scrapbook pages ...
I know owls aren't that musical (think Mo-poke) but she is cute.

Happy Birthday is also a new stampset called "Well scripted" on page 18 of the Summer mini.
But what's that curly edging around the the whisper white - is it a scallop square?

You will see a lot more of this BigZ clear die. Because it has a clear top! which makes it easy to see what you're cutting, so you can position your material for the perfect cut be it a photo, patterned paper or stamped image. You can even determine the number of scallops of your square.

Dear Diary ...

I thought it time I made myself a personalised journal for my up coming dates in 2011... and somewhere to write down what I did and where I was because the memory gets a wee bit cloudy sometimes.
Someone memorable once said:

'If it's not written down it never happened..."

So I pulled out my Idea book and turned to page 94 to CASE (copy and share everything) the note book there.
I pulled out the Love Letter designer paper, (to cut just a few centremetres as a belly band) and just couldn't bear to use just a strip... I wanted to use half the page... And then the ribbon didn't look right down the centre and guess what? It wasn't a case anymore, it became something completly different.

 I used a really cheap student diary ... [Supermarket shelf find] and it comes with a plastic sleave so my stamping and pearls and designer paper are protected for the year.
I guess if I do get tired of it I can whip off the cover and re-cover it (if I get desperate but we know I won't).

Because I used the "Artistic Etchings" Stampset.
The Eiffel Tower, the crown, the keys and the "amour" stamp.

Here's the Recipe:
Student Diary ($2)
Artistic Etchings ($26.95 Clear mounted)
Ink: Early Espresso, Soft Suede.
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso
Designer Paper: Love letter ($16.95)
Tools: Paper snips, Sponges, Jewels: Basic Pearls
Small scallop and XL scallop circle punches.
...Now all I need is a book mark and perhaps I could give it some colour with my watercolour crayons.

Bliss and a colour challenge at PPA76

This weeks challenge over at PPA76 is a colour challenge.

And when I created my card I used the sketch challenge from Connie and Mary: 

 Here  is my card in the beautiful colours of - Pear Pizzazz, Baja Breeze and Perfect Plum.
I took some liberties with Connie and Mary's sketch but the inspiration and big bow is there.

 Featuring a new stampset in my collection: Bliss! A sneak peek of just one of the free stampsets you can earn from the coming Sale-a-bration ...

I have tied a bow with white organza ribbon. I kept the stamping fairly simple with some rock and rolled butterflies in the baja and Plum. The swirly background is also rock and rolled in the baja breeze and Pear pizzazz.

 I love a bit of cutting ... its called scissor therapy especially during the School holidays and made pleasurable with a sharp pair of  paper snips.

Are you loving the Rhinestone Jewells yet?

 Wishing you Bliss!



Kangaroo Hop, bop she Wop!

 During November and December I don the Proud-Mummy hat and follow my daughter to singing performances at Libraries and Shopping Centres as she spreads her school's Christmas cheer.

We did some scrapbooking at a friends place and I found the XL Scallop Circle punch is just perfect for making Christmas baubles from photos with a piece of taffetta red ribbon for the string. A bit of tearing and rhinestones, shimmer paint and stickers -  another set of scrapbooked memories going down in history....

 I have managed to squeeze on 5 or more photos to the page using the photo as bauble trick. Plus using some photos in portrait and some overlapped in landscape mode.

 Jessie's singing club sing traditional carols and lots of fun modern tunes: my favourites are Kangaroo Hop and Santa wear your shorts tonight. Good Aussie Christmas carols that stick around in your head for months!

Jess just makes me laugh, she took a handfull of bells and got right into the dancing and ringing with "Come on Ring those Bells" and she did!

She Jingled those bells and made Rudolf very proud.

The New Year ...

Christmas may be over for another year, but did you know that the 12th Day of Christmas was only yesterday? (December 25 is the first day of Christmas)

Time to take down those decorations and start to celebrate 2011.

So what do I have to show you today?

A scrap book page that I completed only yesterday, well its holidays and time for creating just for me.

 I find if I start my Christmas scrapbooking while I still have my Christmas stamps out I can capture the moment and "feel" like I am up to date with Scrapbooking for the year. Who said things must be done cronologically? Its more fun to scrap the photos you want, when you want. 

 My title was made in three easy steps:
1. Choose some white textured cardstock
2. Die cut the letters with the Big shot machine using Timeless Type alphabet
3. Sponge the letters with Champagne Mist shimmer paint.
We spend the day with my sister and her family, (we have a very small family) so we recruit in-laws, friends and cousins of cousins to make our family on Christmas day. It was one of those days where we caught up in the morning with my brother, moved on for lunch and getting to spend time with my nephew and his girlfriend, (he does a great fresh trout cream dip by the way).  Masses of prawns and oysters (a la brother in law) and then its hot turkey (my contribution) salads and baked vegies. How we eat desert is always a mystery to me, but we do - Pavlova, cream and  fruit - weve passed on the Christmas pudding these days - there really is a limit.
Page 2 of my Christmas day ...

 We go for an afternoon walk down to the nearest water's edge. Jess paddles, plays in the park and adults snooze and talk in the shade. It was a warm day but does that deter me from stamping snow flakes?
I think it is my sense of humour ... when its hot, do snow flakes ... and reindeers -

 Dasher graces the page with his Rhinestone jewel necklace and antlers.
I think the Soft Suede, White and Sahara Sand with gold shimmer is my favourite combination this Christmas.

Here 's a close up of the distressed flowers that I created for the centres of my snow flakes.

 The background paper is the flocked Christmas Cocoa paper and the flowers are 5 of the XL scallop circles punched from patterns from the same pack, sponged in Champagne shimmer paint. A vintage brad for the centre anchors it to the page.

Sharing the love in 2011

Are you enjoying a well earned break? Sharing time with the friends and family that you love?

Thinking of how you can say thank you to all those who gave you great presents or showered you with love and kindness (also thinking you could get just one wee small pressie for yourself)?

Then here is the "sweetest" promotion for you to share your love around.

From now until 24th January when you purchase either the Sweetheart Stamp set or the Full Heart Punch you will receive a pack of the Heart Treat cups absolutely free –

Purchase any of the following:

121576 p.38 Sweetheart Wood-Mount Set $38.95

120780 p.38 Sweetheart Clear-Mount Set $29.95

119883 p.146 Full Heart Punch $33.95

You receive free Heart Treat Cups:

120435 p.122 Heart Treat Cups (12) $6.50 - FREE

There is no rule to say that you can't purchase the Sweetheart stamp set and the Full Heart Punch then you will receive – not one – but two packs of the Heart treat cups!

Contact me today by email, or mobile phone to place your order and get ready to share the love in 2011.