Summer Solstice

 If you know me or have been following my blog for a while, you will know I love butterflies.

 We found this stone sign at a garden we visited during the school holidays.

We are happiest when we can get involved in something we love, something we are passionate about or something that engages our creativity.

 

 I discovered this stampset in the catalogue recently.

It is called "Summer Solstice" and it has a butterfly, a flower, leaves and words such as:

"We meet no ordinary people in our lives".

 I have stamped the butterfly and cut it out so that it lands on the Apothecary Art flowers for a Mother's day card. The main part of this card is the Designer series paper in  Daffodil Delight, Pear pizzazz and Poppy Parade.

The patterned paper was not very exciting so I have stamped some more butterflies in Early Espresso ink around the base of the card.

 I have used the colours of the paper in my watercolouring of the flowers.

Square scallop box

 Today I am showing you my completed scallop square box made at Team training with Angela Sargeant on Thursday.
I have decorated the acetate top with a crumpled paper flower made from Vanilla cardstock.
The "leaves" are made from ruffled ribbon in Pool Party and stuck on with Mini glue dots.

 My box is filled with ribbons, the new buttons from the Autumn mini catalogue, and antique brads.

Each of the dividers is a square scallop die folded with my Simply Scored scoring tool into a pretty box.
They look like square cup cake papers.

Mixed Bunch Autumn card

 Here is the card (or my version of the card) that Angela Sergeant showed us how to make at Team training  on Thursday. I just love the Ridinghood Red with Vanilla and Chocolate chip!

I couldn't help taking a few photos of the red square rhinestone in the centre of the "Mixed Bunch" flower.
And how it goes so well with the Pleated satin ribbon and the embossed scalloped Edgelit.

 It is a different style to my own usual colours and layout.

My words say "Here's to you" from the

 "Friendly Phrases" stampset.

I think you could say ...

here's to you MUM

with

Happy mothers day

or Happy Birthday

on the inside.

April Team Training Day

 One of the great things about being a hobby demonstrator with Stampin up is you are part of a larger team of demonstrators.
I was very fortunate this week to be invited to Angela Sergeant's Team training day at Chatswood.
We talked about new things happening in Stampin' Up and we talked about changes to the Demonstrator rewards and new Specials coming up on 1st of  May.
Angela demonstrated how to make this amazing little box complete with divider boxes and clear window frame cut out with the square scallop die and folded with the Simply Scored tool.
Wouldnt it be lovely filled with chocolates?

 Here's the second Make and Take we could make at the team training day. Angela has used the Mixed bunch stampset and Flower punch. I love the Ridinghood red pleated satin ribbon on this with the scallop Edgelits in chocolate chip and red.

 We had a demonstration by the fabulous Beth Stewart showing how to make the Framelit die purse. It uses Box number 2 die inside and the layered framelits on the outside. And there is more of that gorgeous pleated ribbon held on with glue dots all around the outside of the stamped frame.

Michelle Le Breton demoed these beautiful pocket wallets made from pieces of 12x12" Designer series paper. I just have to make one of these folded gift wallets - they have 4 pockets (or more)
and are made out of one piece of Designer series paper. This one above is for Mum ( a really nice gift for mum's day).

 And on the inside is a tea bag, nail file holder, chocolate and a small card.

 There was one for Dad ... with place for a gift card and photos and hugs and gift vouchers from the kids.

 And the next one was one for the sewer/aunty/gran of the family.

 (which includes a few sewing accessories to keep in the handbag for those fashion malfunctions and emergencies) The needles are safely tucked into a felt square scallop too.

 Oh and there was one for the little "miss" with a note pad inside and pink pen on a chain!

 More uses for our delicious Designer series paper -

The folded paper gift envelope/bag :

So Lush-ious in the Mocha Morning patterned paper and a paper rosette.
Followed by two more envelopes in Cardstock and patterned paper using the edgelits dies and paper doilies, paper flowers and buttons.

 But wait there is more ...
 Don't you just love this beautiful lace ribbon punch card?

Would you love to join me next time I go to team training?
Perhaps May is the month to sign up and join our team ... there will be a paper-ific explosion going on next month for customers and new demonstrators especially!!!

Attic Boutique Framelit card

 Today's card is a fun folded card that uses the Framelit die.

The folds are made using the new Simply Scored scoring tool

which makes scoring any measurements on a card very very easy.

Very cleverly, I have run the folded card through the Big shot with the framelit die.

The framelit is only half covered with the cutting plate so it only cuts where it comes into contact with the plate... clever huh?

Then I have folded the card back onto itself which creates this framelit flag.

I think it is a stylish elegant Thank you card for a music teacher.

Card Recipe:

Stampset: Rue de Fleurs, Enfrancais background.

Cardstock: River Rock, whisper white, Basic Black.

Paper: Attic Boutique

Ink: River rock, Soft suede and Early Espresso.

Accessories: Very Vanilla 1/4" Ribbon, Sponge dauber.

Tools: Big shot, Framelit die, Simply Scored Scoring tool.

Amazement Farm

 As you can see from the photos the girls had a great day at the Amazement Farm.
At mid day there is a sheep race and you are able to take the winning sheep for a walk back to their barn. The sheep are happy to be led and pose for photos with their adoring fans.

 My broadsheet Alphabet is brilliant for a fun heading in Melon Mambo and Early Espresso ink.
I love how each letter is a slightly different style and yet holds together so well for a stylish title.

 These v-cut banners are very in at the moment. So I have added some distressed circle punched flowers to pretty the soft suede page abit.
My banners and circles have been stamped with the "Style Beautiful" stampset in Melon Mambo, Wisteria Wonder and Elegant Eggplant.

 The crumpled circles are crushed and unfolded then pinned together with a Rhinestone brad for a little bling in the centres. These stamps are usually used as background stamping on cards but I have brought them front stage and centre to make my flowers.

A school holiday scrap page

When the sun was shining last week we visited a Garden farm called "Amazement".

It is full of activities for the children like mazes, three wheel bikes and lawn games to play.

Our favourite part of the gardens to visit was Bunny world.

Where you can pat the baby rabbits, Guinea pigs and chickens that have recently hatched. 

The photos of Jess show her cuddling a couple of very friendly bunnies.

 Can you imagine her oohs and ahhs?

The Title is stamped with my new Broadsheet Alphabet set.

I have stamped on whisper white cardstock and cut them out with my sharp Papersnip scissors.

For this layout I wanted to get several photos on the page so using a grid pattern I lined up the white borders of the photos.

I ran the scallop dotted ribbon through the centre and some strips of patterned paper on either side of the gorgeous pleated satin ribbon in Baja breeze.

The Apothecary Art stamp inside the Edgelit die makes a great journalling frame.

Easter Scrap Page

 You would think by this, that I am up to date with the scrap booking ... You would.
Let's just pretend that I am and enjoy the Easter layout I have created last week.

 My Title is stamped with "Broadsheet Alphabet" in a variety of inks that were dark enough to show up on the Melon Mambo cardstock.

Elegant Eggplant, Cherry Cobbler, Rich Razzleberry, Wisteria Wonder.

I had a lot of fun with this layout.

The scallop edged dotted ribbon you will note perfectly matches the ribbon in Jess's hair.

And the flowers on the layout are the same as the punched flowers on Jessie's Easter hat.

 Then I plunged into to the Punch Art for some patterned paper chickens and cracked easter eggs.

 Very easy with the large oval punch and patterned papers. The chicken is simply the Bird builder punch with his tail cut off and some legs drawn in.

 Journalling is short and sweet on the Apothecary Art stamp, cut out with the Edgelits die.

My Bunny sticker is compliments of a free stampset and sticker pack I received at the last Stampin' up Convention. The Quick Accent sticker sheets just keep giving and giving.

The Liebster Blog Award

I feel very honoured this month

 as I have received a blog award.

Angie has awarded me the Liebster Blog award!

 How exciting! Thank you!!

 "What is a Liebster Blog Award?",

 "Liebster" is German for "Dearest".

The award is a "Share the love arrangement", given to inspirational bloggers with less than 200 followers, to bring attention to their blog, and increase their following!

Here's what you have to do if you are a recipient of the Liebster Blog Award.

1. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award.

Thank you Angie!!!

2. Link back to the blogger who presented you the award.

http://angiescraftfusion.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/liebster-blog-award.html

3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.

(See the pretty award above and on my sidebar!)

4. Present the Award to 5 other deserving bloggers with less than 200 followers.

5. Let them know they have been chosen by leaving a comment on their blog.

So here are my picks and I hope you get as much inspiration from them as I do:

* http://kcpaperlady.blogspot.com.au/

* http://ellenthehappystamper.blogspot.com.au/

* http://lhiggins.blogspot.com.au/

* http://felicityscraft.blogspot.com.au/

* http://stampingwithtennille.blogspot.com.au/

Thanks so much for nominating me!!

Mother's day note cards

I am making Mothers day note cards for my local school.

Probably make 20 or more at this stage.

This one is all pink and pretty, but might be a little time consuming with the watercolouring and sponging.

I have used the "Rue de Fleurs" stampset.

My favourite part of this card is the Framelit edge that I have created with the Big shot and the largest of the Framelit dies.

Happy Mothers day stamp is from "Teeny Tiny Sentiments" on the modern label punch sponged with Melon Mambo ink.

"Rue de Fleurs" for Mothers day

 Isn't this a gorgeous image for mother's day cards?

A bodice bursting with flowers.

I've added two different ribbons some pearls and tiny crumpled roses.

 A touch of First edition newsprint paper under the edgelits die and lots of other vintage elements in the pens stamped on Poppy parade cardstock.

 I sponged around the edges of the Framelit die and watercoloured the stamped image.

Card Recipe:
Stampset: Rue de Fleurs, Teeny Tiny Sentiments.
Cardstock: Poppy Parade, Pool Party, Whisper White.
Patterned paper: First Edition
Ink: Black stazon, Poppy Parade, Lucky Limeade.
Ribbons: white Organza ribbon, Blushing bride pleated satin.
tools: Boho Blossom punch, pearl jewels, blender pen, sponge dauber.
Big shot machine, Framelit and Edgelit dies.

Scrapbooking a proud moment!

 When the weather is wet and gloomy we scrapbook.

Today's page is all about a proud moment when Jess received a class medal at the end of year assembly.

I have so many photos I never know what pictures to scrapbook next,

 so I have chosen a picture that has lots of feelings and emotion attached to it.

... and then its play time with what ever new stamps and tools I can find.

 I am loving the "Mixed Bunch" stampset and matching punch.

You can layer the punched flowers with plain, stamped or patterned paper and the centres fit into several of our circle punches.

 By cutting out two of the frilly petals you can make a butterfly.

The antenas are made from ribbon or twine would work too.

I like to put a rhinestone jewell in the centre of my butterflies. How pretty are these?

 The Journalling box is stamped with the apothecary Art stamp which conveniently has lines to write on.

The New Big shot - Framelit dies are great for making different sized frames around any image.

 And did you notice the gorgeous big strawberry I made using the Sizzlit heart and a trimmed down piece of the 5 petal flower punch? these look great dipped in some chocolate chip or Early espresso ink.

 For a title I stamped the Congratulations stamp from "Curly Cute" and

Wow, you're the best

from "Friendly Phrases".

Cardstock: Cherry cobbler, Lucky Limeade, whisper white.
Designer paper: First Edition.