Mother's Day ESAD Blog Hop

Here we are again with another Blog Hop. I love being involved with these, it makes sure I get a chance to get in my stamp room and play and I love all the ideas that other Demonstrators share. So let's get going!

Once again, this is the ESAD Blog Hop. What is ESAD you say?
ESAD stands for Extra Special Australian (and NZ) Demonstrators and it is an online group just for Australian and New Zealand Demonstrators for Stampin' Up!

We love what we do and not only do we love to share it with our customers, friends and wonderful blog visitors, but we share our love for what we do with each other as Demonstrators. We run swaps, challenges, tutorials, product know how and cyberstamps and we are always there to help and support each other when its needed.

So if you are a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator located in Australia or New Zealand, then please feel free to click here - http://www.esad-su.ning.com - to join our wonderful group.

Let's get going with the fun stuff! You should have just arrived from Steph's blog - http://www.stampingwithsteph.com.au . This hop is focused on using the new Big Shot! I absolutely love this machine and I don't know how I ever got by without it! It makes crafting and cardmaking so easy.

I love using the new colour Rich Razzleberry. It is so elegant, so I thought it would be perfect for doing Mother's Day cards. I've also used the top note die on the card and stamped it with the new Medallion stamp in the mini. Soft Suede goes so well with Rich Razzleberry. So in this set of card and Pillow box I have used - Top Note Die and Pillow Box Die, Very Vintage Wheel (card Background), Vintage Vogue Stamp set, Medallion Stamp, Teeny Tiny Sentiments Stamp set, Soft Suede and Rich Razzleberry Ink, Soft Suede Ribbon, Half pearl from the Prettys Kit, Dazzling Diamonds, 1 3/4" Punch, Word Window punch, Versamark.

Not the best picture, but I was trying to show the bling on the medallion stamp. And the Pillow Box Die is great to make up a quick gift.

This next one I have used the Cottage Garden DSP and the Fancy Favour Die to create the box - how quick was that!! I've also used the Little Leaves Sizzlits Die, Cottage Garden Stamp set and the Teeny Tiny Sentiments again.

Unfortunately, this next card doesn't have anything Big Shot on it, but I was playing around and thought I'd give the Heat'n'Stick powder and the glitter a go on the medallion stamp. I'm pretty happy with how that turned out.

And here's a close up - it's so sparkly - a much better effect than using the two way glue pen and glitter.

We are offering blog candy again. So what you need to do to go in the draw is visit every blog on the hop and leave a comment on each one. Once you have gone all the way round and get back to me, you need to email Sharlene - stampwithsharlene@hotmail.com and she will put your name into the draw.

Now onto your next stop...you are now heading over to check out what Nikki has created - click here - http://www.inkyart.com.au

Thanks for stopping by,

Catchya soon,

Deb

Thanks Heaps

Hey everyone,

Thanks for all the positive responses to the ESAD Blog Hop! I do have some more things I've been playing with and would love to get them up here for all to see...but I can't find my camera charger anywhere and am currently turning the house upside down to find it!! I think I put it in a safe place, so I may never find it!!!

Hope you have all had a wonderful Easter weekend.

Catchya soon,
Thanks, Deb

ESAD Autumn Winter Mini Catalogue Blog Hop!!!

Good Morning Everyone!!

I hope you're ready for the ESAD Blog Hop! Better go grab yourself a cuppa as you'll be hopping for a while. What is ESAD you say? ESAD stands for Extra Special Australian (and New Zealand) Demonstrators and it is an online group just for Australian and New Zealand Demonstrators for Stampin' Up!

We so love what we do and not only do we love to share it with our customers, friends and wonderful blog visitors, but we share our love for what we do with each other as Demonstrators. We run swaps, challenges, tutorials, product know how and cyberstamps and we are always there to help and support eath other when its needed.
So if you are a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator located in Australia or New Zealand then please feel free to click here ( http://www.esad-su.ning.com/ )to join our wonderful group.

We are again offering Blog Candy for our blog hop. What you need to do is complete the blog hop until you get back to me. Once you have visited and commented on every blog then you will need to email Sharlene at stampwithsharlene@hotmail.com who will then put your name into the draw for the blog candy. There will be one winner from New Zealand and one winner from Australia, so start hopping!

So let's get going!! You should have just arrived from Danielle Daws' Blog ( http://www.danielledaws.blogspot.com/2010/04/910-autumn-winter-mini-catalogue-blog.html ) and now you're here!!

For my first project I've used the New Cottage Garden Stamp Set and the Cottage Wall Designer Series Paper. I just love the new In Colours as well, I have used the Rich Razzleberry in this card along with our regular colours, Old Olive and Orchid Opulence - a perfect match for the DSP. I've also used the new 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon - where are the polka dots, you ask? The ribbon is plain on the back, so you can use it with or without the polka dots! I finished the flower and the butterfly off with a bit of dazzling diamonds.



The next lot of cards use all three of the new In Colours - Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo and Soft Suede - they go so well together. I've made 3 little cards for each packet here (1 of each design in each pack). I've used the Big Shot Top Note Die to create the little bag topper and then embellished them with the In Colour Ribbons and made a bit of a pleat/ruffle, just for something different!

I have used the new Vintage Vogue Stamp set to create these cards, along with the new In Colour inks and Ribbons.

My last little project is this puffy box (tutorial on http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ ). They are so simple to make and they look great and are the perfect size for a few choccies or some jewellery, etc. I've made this one using soft suede and I stamped the flowers from Vintage Vogue to create a background. Then I made up the box and wrapped a piece of Melon Mambo Ribbon around it (which you can't see coz the bird is on top of it!!). Then I layered 2 ovals (the top one is cut from the wide oval punch and the bottom one is the smallest oval cut from the Big Shot Ovals Dies). I punched out the bird using the NEW Extra Large Two Step Bird Punch (What a mouthful!!) using Pink Pirouhette Cardstock and sponged with Melon Mambo and then layered it up. It was so quick to put together!

I am absolutely loving these new products! For all the stamps I've used for these projects, I used the NEW Clear Mount Rubber Stamps. These have been fantastic! Love how they work and how they store and Love the Price!

Well enough from me, there's plenty more to see and don't forget to email Sharlene when you have visited and commented on all the blogs and get back to me! Off you go now to see what Felicity has created - http://www.stampinwithflick.blogspot.com/2010/04/autumnwinter-mini-catalogue-esad-blog.html

Catchya again soon,

Deb

Some Easter Treats

First up, I've made some Birthday lolly bags for my son in Prep. His birthday is next week while the kids are on holidays, so tomorrow he is taking in his birthday treats for all his class! I've used the new Big Shot Top Note Die to create the Topper and I've stamped it with 'Happy Birthday' from the Voila Stamp Set and the Monkeys from the New 'Fox & Friends' stamp set from the New Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue which goes live TOMORROW (Only a few hours now!!) Here's a close up of one of the bags.

And here is the pile of 30 something that I made for the class!!

And of course with Easter coming this weekend and the kids going on holidays, they like to have treats for their teachers, so I've made up clear Pillow boxes - using the new Big Shot Pillow Box Die and filled them with easter eggs and tied a ribbon around them. I've also made little love note cards to go with them, using an old Easter stamp set. I just love this bunny - he's so cute. I'll package the card and the pillow box in a cello bag with some ribbon before they go to school tomorrow after they've written in the cards.

And here is all of them together - some of my children have 2 teachers, and I told my oldest daughter that I wasn't making 7 for all her high school teachers, so she is taking a couple for her friends. I love how quick it was to make up the pillow boxes - just run them through the big shot, fold on the score lines, add a little sticky and fold it all together - Perfect!! I was lucky to find easter eggs that had foil that matched the Stampin' Up! ribbons almost perfectly!!

Well, not long till the New mini goes live!! Check back tomorrow for another ESAD Blog Hop featuring the Autumn Winter Mini Catalogue.

Catchya,

Deb

Finally, I have had a chance to get back here to my blog. So I have done a little playing and here is some of what I've done over the last few weeks. I really love how this first card turned out. I love using Old Olive and Chocolate Chip together, and the Lovely as a Tree set is so simple - finished of with Whimsical Words.

This next card I cased from my sister who cased from somewhere else - not sure, but I have seen it around a bit in my travels. So quick to make up and I think it's so clever.

Here's the birthday card I made for my neice who just turned 1!

I finally made a 'One Sheet Box' (tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers), actually I made a few. This one is my favourite - I don't know why I waited so long to make one!

Here are a few different ones as well - we did the Easter one in a recent workshop.

And here are some Easter Cards - using the same layout as the cards above.

I love the Tag Box too (Tutorial is found at Splitcoaststampers.com). I used this one to put some easter eggs in, I haven't actually finished it yet - it still needs a tag!

I will be playing over the next week or so with products from the new Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue which starts 1 April. So keep an eye out for some new products. It's so exciting - some of the new products include the Big Shot and a variety of Dies, new Clear Mount Stamps, some new In Colours and so much more!!

Well, I'm off to play.

Catch ya soon,

Deb

Thanks Blog Hoppers!

Thanks to everyone who visited my blog and left so many wonderful comments for the Sale-a-bration Blog Hop. Thanks to all the other Aussie Demonstrators who participated - there were so many wonderful ideas! Can't wait till the next blog hop!!
Now that the kids are back at school, I'm hoping to get a little more time in my stamp room to create. So I should have some more things to post soon.

Catch ya soon,
Deb

Sale-a-Bration Blog Hop!

I've recently joined a yahoo chat group called 'ESAD' - Extremely Special Aussie Demo's! We share ideas and tips and it's a great support network. If you are an Australian or NZ Demo you can join the group here http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/ESAD-SU/

So as part of this group, we are doing a Sale-a-Bration Blog hop - showcasing ideas for using the Sale-a-Bration FREE stamp sets.

Here is my card using the Sale-a-Bration set - Whimsical Words...

This is an easel card. I saw this first at Brisbane Regionals and thought it would be great to do. So I found a tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers and went to work ! (Here's the link - http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/easelcard/ ).

I used Regal Rose, Rose Red and Whisper White Card Stock; Rose Red Ink; Raspberry Tart DSP; Rose Red 1" Double Stitched Ribbon, and half pearls from the Pretties Kit. I also used the Circle Scissors to cut the circles - I punched the white with the 1 3/4 punch then cut 2 circles - 2 1/4" and 2 1/2" - from the circle scissors. I sponged each circle along the edge then roughed them up with my bone folder. I stuck them on with dimensionals so I didn't flatten the roughed up edges! I love this idea of a card because they look so great standing up on your desk!

Don't forget to leave a comment on ALL the blogs to go into the draw for some great Blog Candy!! Once you've done that email Leonie ( leonie@stamp-a-latte.com )to let her know and she'll put you into the draw.

So now you should head over to Felicity's Blog - http://stampinwithflick.blogspot.com/2010/01/esad-sab-blog-hop.html she has some amazing stuff over there!!

See you back here soon.

Catchya, Deb

Pics as promised!!

So here are the pics I promised! Here are the finished boxes of cards for my son's school Fundraiser. We raised $200 for the school which they were very grateful for. It was a little stressful to get it finished, but a great experience to help out the school. Might even do it next year!!


Then on to making gifts for school teachers! Now, having 5 children at school, some with 2 or 3 teachers, it makes for a lot of gifts to make for Christmas. So I did something simple and the same for all the teachers, just changing the colours of the papers and ribbons. I saw this idea at the Stampin' Up! Brisbane Regionals, it's just a little post-it-note booklet, quick and easy to make- and I ended up making 8 for teachers (with a little gift bag of choccies!) and a couple for friends as well!

I saw this type of flip calendar on a blog some time ago and thought one day I would try it. So I made it for a friend for Christmas and she absolutely loved it. It was pretty simple to make too.

Then onto the gifts I made for my sister-in-law for Christmas. I stuck to the fancy stationery theme and did another post-it-note booklet, a flip calendar, memo block (yes all the individual papers in the memo block were stamped-I think about 300 sheets!!), and a covered notebook and matching pen. Liv loved it. I thought they turned out quite nicely, if I say so myself!!

I also did a calendar for my parents, and will post that soon.

Looking forward to a new year and more stamping time. I have one more child off to school this year and only one left at home!! So I'm hoping to have more time to stamp and post on my blog.

Hope you all have a safe new year!

Catchya soon, Deb

Bad Blogger!!

I know, it has been far too long! Here are some of the pictures I promised some time ago. I followed a sketch from '52 Sketches' to come up with these pages for a scrapbook workshop. These are pictures of my family taken Christmas 2008. They all scrub up well. I'm still yet to do my titles for these pages, if you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

I will return shortly with some more pics of the fundraiser cards and gifts I made for CHristmas.

Catchya soon, Deb

November Stampin' Up Promotion - Recieve a Free Square Scallop Punch

Stampin' Up! have a great promotion for November/December. Buy a gift and receive a gift. Purchase $85 from the product guide and receive a Free Scallop Square punch or Boho Blossoms Punch. Go here to check it out - http://www3.stampinup.com/au/documents/Holiday_Extravaganza_GGG_AU_1009.pdf
If you'd like anything shoot me an email and I'll do that for you.

This is a great promotion to get those little gifts for your friends and family or for yourself!!

Catchya Soon,
Deb

It's been FOREVER!!

I can't believe it has been soooo long. I have been so busy, but I have been doing a lot of creating. I am in the middle of doing a Christmas Card fundraiser for the school my youngest son goes to - so I have been busy with that, along with workshops, housework (not very much!!) and 6 kids. I will get myself organised and post some piccy's this afternoon.

Catchya Real Soon,
Deb

September Promotion

Stampin' Up have a great promotion this month to help you increase your ribbon stash! Just spend $100 on Stampin' Up products OR host a $600 workshop and receive your FREE Ribbon bundle!

Bundle includes 9.1metres each of Certainly Celery 5/8" poly-twill ribbon and
So Saffron 5/8" grosgrain ribbon.

Neither of these ribbons are available in the catalogues - so this is a great way to pick up some new ribbons!! Shoot me an email if you'd like to put an order in-deb.williams@optusnet.com.au .

Catchya soon,
Deb

Birthday Fun!

Both of my sisters have had their birthdays this month so I have played around a bit to make them something fun!

Here's what I made for Sarah- I made matching mini magazine holders for her to put her cards in. These were so easy to make (I found a great tutorial here- http://www.stampinwithblythe.com/2009/03/magazine-files-downsized-into-card-files.html)

And here is the birthday card I made her. I followed the tutorial on Splitcoaststampers.com to make this wiper card. I love how it looks like a normal card then you pull both sides out to reveal a fun pop up. Love it!!

Now.... For Claire's birthday I learnt how to do the Faux Allligator technique at a training day with my upline Ingrid, and we made the handbag. Now Claire is a bit of a shoe freak - I think she only has about 40 something pairs!! - so I just knew I had to make shoes to go with her bag card for her birthday!! So here they are - and yes, she loved them!! I found a great template/tutorial for the shoes at ellenhutson.com

And Here are the shoes and bag together. Aren't they cute!!

Well I have to be off now - heading up to school to help teach Jessica's class (yr 5's) how to crochet!!

Catchya again soon - still have plenty more photos to post!!
Deb

Christmas Catch Up!

I know I have been slack in updating by blog, but you know how it is - Husband, 6 kids, sports day, new job, late nights, etc, etc! But anyway, here is a start. Below are the six cards I did for my Christmas in July Workshop. I will post some more soon. In the essence of time I won't be putting up recipes, but if you want to know what I have used for each card, leave a comment and I will get back to you.

This one was inspired by Marelle Taylor (http://www.marelletaylor.com/)

This was inspired by another stamper's blog I've been on but can't find it again - sorry.

This card was inspired by the scrapbook page in the Stampin' Up! catalogue showing this stamp set.

This is one I created myself - that doesn't happen very often!!
Oh, and this one too - I think!

Will post again soon - I want to show you the shoes and hand bag I made for my sisters birthday!

Catchya, Deb