Merry Christmas

Hi Everyone

Just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.

Looking forward to sharing more creations with everyone in the New Year.

Regards
Vanessa

End of Year!!!!

Well it is official. School holidays have started in our house and the fun has begun!!!

We had our End of Year Concert at school and I have to say Josh looked very cute up on stage. Unfortunately the photos didn't turn out too well. Maybe next year...

I did get photos of the presents I made for the teachers. It is very hard to know what to get teachers so I thought I would make something personalised. I hope they liked them. After a friend of mine told me how the teachers at her school complained about receiving handmade things I nearly didn't do them but went ahead anyway. They both seemed to really like them so I am happy.










I made these from MDF coasters. I covered the inside of the coasters in paper. The outside is covered with Brocade Blue card and then stamped the swirl from the Priceless stamp set all over and then embellished it with the butterfly stamp from the same stamp set. I used the Crop-a-dile to punch the holes for the rings and then put ribbon on the rings to decorate. I downloaded the calendar from SCS.

As Josh has two teachers this year I made two versions. This one was made using Wild Wasabi card and the new Eastern Blooms stamp set from the Summer Mini.




I also made one for the Teacher's Aide but ran out of time and didn't take a photo.

Thanks Susan!!

I received a lovely surprise of the Kreativ Award from Susan. It is my first one so I am pretty excited!!! Thanks Susan! Sometimes when I put things up I do wonder if they are ok.

The Rules for the Kreativ Blogger Award are :
1. The winner may put the logo on their blog.
2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award.
3. Nominate 5 blogs.
4. Put links to their blogs.
5. Leave a message for your nominees

So now the people that I nominate for this award are:

Chrissie
Kim
Karen
Nardi
Kristy Jane

More Christmas Cards

So I have been extremely busy reorganising my craft area now that I have had the window added. I will post some photos soon. It has been so wonderful having so much space and light.

I have done another couple of cards.


The first one is made using the Solemn Stillness and many Merry Messages stamp sets.
The card used is Purely Pomegranate and Whisper White. I also used Holiday Harmony DSP. The ribbon is the Purely Pomegranate double stitched ribbon.



The second card is using the Season Of Joy stamp set.
Again I used the Purely Pomegranate (I love this colour!!!) and whisper white card. The ribbon is a double layer of Burghundy and Gold. I used Crystal Effects on the top flower and a gold brad.

My son is so excited he has now asked me to make cards for his entire class!!! I think I will make little Love Note cards for them and will post them when I am done.

Christmas Cards

Well I have managed to make a couple of Christmas cards so far but will hopefully have heaps more done by the end of the weekend.

The first one is using the Crazy for Christmas stamp set. I love these trees. They are so cute. I coloured them in using the Stampin' Pastels and Blender Pens.

The cardstock used: Confetti White, Purely Pomegranate, Blue Bayou and Whisper White

I mixed some of the Dazzling Diamonds glitter in with clear Emboss Powder and stamped a snowflake all over the Confetti card using Versamark and then stamped the greeting (from Many Merry Messages set) using Purely Pomegranate ink and then used Blue Bayou double stitched ribbon to finish it off...

I will have to scan the second card and then I will post it.

World Teacher's Day

I know I am posting this a bit late but Friday week ago (31st October) was World Teachers Day. So I made these Mini Pizza Boxes filled with homemade Caramel Fudge. I saw the idea for the mini pizza boxes on Splitcoast Stampers and thought they were a fantastic gift idea. I believe the original design came from Jen del Muro (I don't have a link for her sorry!!)

Since Josh has two teachers I made two boxes and put their initial on it. They just loved them.

The box was made using Pixie Pink card and I stamped the box with one of the Boho Background stamps using Pixie Pink ink. I then made a band using Close to Cocoa card and pink ribbon. To do the monogram I punched Mellow Moss with the Scallop punch and Pixie Pink with the circle punch.

Another Birthday Card

It was my best friends Birthday last week (Happy Birthday Liz!!!) and I made this card for her. We have been friends for longer than I care to mention (it will show my age!!) and every year I seem to forget to make a card - so this year I thought I would make that extra effort.


So I made this card using the Priceless stamp set (I just can't stop using this set at the moment). I stamped the butterfly using Brocade Blue ink on same coloured card then added some glue and dazzling diamond glitter. I punched them out using the 1 1/4" square punch. The base of the card is Rose Red and I used some So Saffron DSP that I had lying around.

Birthday Present

It was my Mum's Birthday recently (Happy Birthday Mum!!) and I gave her some 8x8 albums of photos of her with the boys. I decided that I should be a little bit creative and make the box to put them in and then Mum would have something to store the albums in. So...



This box was made using 2 pieces of 12x12 cardstock. I used Vintage Violet for the lid and Buckaroo Blue for the base (these colours are both retired but are some of my Mum's favourite colours). Before assembling the box I stamped the swirl from the Priceless stamp set all of the Vintage Violet piece using Versamark then embossed with Silver EP. I then tied it with silver cord. It looks so much better IRL. After I made the box I then made the Birthday card and decided to keep with the same theme and use the same colours and this is the result.



Again I used th Priceless stamp set and als It's your Birthday. I embossed the heart and butterfly with Silver EP and stamped the Happy Birthday in Vintage Violet.

It was so nice to totally co-ordinate the wrapping and card and I know Mum loved it as well.

Work Area

I know I promised to post photos of my new work area a while ago but it has been a bit messy!! I have finally tidied up (a little bit) so thought while it is in this state I will post them now. It is a pretty small area but it is so nice to have everything organised and have my own space to go into and do some work. The boys have started to come in and want to work with me so I have set a desk for them as well. I just need to install an air conditioner for summer as it gets a bit hot!!


The boys have gone camping this weekend. Woohoo!!!! So I have an entire weekend to craft. I am extremely excited and will hopefully have a heap of items to post.

Faux Tearing Card

I know, I know, 2 posts in 2 days!!!!! There must be something wrong with me!!!!! Don't worry I don't know if I will stay whis focused for long! LOL!!

I had another great workshop today. We had so much fun. I don't know how anyone could say this is work!!

We made the above card using the faux tearing technique. This is made by ripping a scrap piece of paper and then brayering over cardstock to make it look like you have used a second layer of card. The stamp sets used are Sanded, Priceless and It's your Birthday.

I used Whisper White, Brocade Blue and Pretty in Pink inks and Bashful Blue and Pretty in Pink card.

Hope everyone has had a fun filled weekend and I will hopefully post more creations soon

Happiness Card

I did a workshop today with some lovely ladies and had so much fun. We made the above card using the Happiness background stamp and it was coloured with Stampin' Pastels. The card stock used is Pretty in Pink, Rose Red and Whisper White. We added dimension by applying Crystal Effects on the diamonds and the "Happiness".

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

New Work Space

I am finally in my new workspace and as soon as I can I will post some photos. It is just great having everything in the one spot and to have a larger area to work in.

I have been a bit slack in the card making department but I did make this one recently. I used a Level 1 hostess set (A Little Bit Of Happiness) and coloured it with various SU! markers, I also used Sanded and one of last years hostess sets for the "Thinking of You". Card stock used is Bashful Blue, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum and Whisper White.

Pocket Card

I know I have been slack with posting but I am in chaos at the moment with most of my craft stuff packed up as I am working towards converting our garage into a workspace. Hooray!!!! I can't wait to have a large area to work in. It is very exciting!!

Here is a card I made recently and used as a make and take at workshops. I have used the Berry Bliss DSP, Close to Cocoa, Purely Pomegranate and Bashful Blue cardstock and the new Boho Blossoms Punch and One of a Kind stamp set that is featured in the new Spring Mini catalogue. I love this set as it co-ordinates so beautifully.

Round Tab Punch

I am so glad school holidays are over!!!!! I think my eldest is happy too - he couldn't wait to get back to school and tell his friends about his holidays. His highlight this holidays was going to Toowoomba. It is nice when they can be easily amused.

I have been experimenting with my punches lately and decided to play around with the Round Tab Punch. I used it to make the large circle on the front of the card and I also used the scallop punch, 1 1/4" and 3/4" circle punches. To achieve the large circle with the Round Tab punch just punch the card and then turn the card 90 degrees and line up the edges and punch again and voila you have a large circle.

If you have any questions please contact me.

Scratch 'n' Sniff Card

I started experimenting with scented emboss powder a while ago but wasn't happy with the results as it turned out all bumpy and I thought something was wrong with it but have since discovered that that is the way it is supposed to be because of the jelly crystals.

So I came up with this card using the new In Colours - Purely Pomegranate and Blue Bayou for both card and ink. The stamp set used is Simply Said.

The jelly crystals are strawberry and it is important to use diet jelly crystals as they contain no sugar. I used 50% clear emboss powder and 50% diet crystals. I just love the scent it has.

I'm Back!!!!

Hello, I just received my computer back about 30 minutes ago and I am so very excited!!!! It has been nearly 2 whole months without a computer and in this day and age that feels like a lifetime.

As soon as I get everything organised I will post some pictures of my latest creations. I must say without a computer I have been very busy making cards so I guess something good came out of it!!!

Computer problems

I know I haven't posted in a while and I apologise for this. My computer's motherboard died about a month ago and it is still in for repairs so I don't have anything to upload at the moment. I will post some new creations as soon as I get my computer back.

Card Swaps for Convention

Below are two of the cards I made to swap at the Stampin' Up! convention.

This one was made using Scribble This set and the Level 3 Hostess Set - Time Well Spent. The ink used is Tempting Turquoise and the card is Very Vanilla, Tempting Turquoise and Bravo Burgundy.

This card was made using Scatter Sunshine Jumbo wheel, Time Well Spent and Heartfelt Thanks sets. The inks used are Elegant Eggplant, Bashful Blue and Basic Black. The card used is Bashful Blue, Pale Plum and Perfect Plum. I used the Tag Punch and white grosgrain ribbon as well.

These sets and accessories are in the 2008/2009 Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue which is available now!!!

If you would like to know how you could get one of these catalogues free please email me.

Convention

Well I have finally found some time to post something after convention. It was great to meet and talk to other demonstrators and to see so many ideas and the diversity of talent!! I have learnt some great new techniques which I am really looking forward to trying out.
It was also great to finally meet some of the people from our team forum. I feel very lucky to be part of such a great group!!
One of the techniques we learnt was how to watercolour with markers - this is something that I have never been good at so hopefully with the tips from convention and a bit of practice I will be able to post some watercolour work soon.

New Catalogue!!!

The new 2008-2009 catalogue is here!!!!! Catalogues are $12.95. If you would like to order a copy or if you would like to book a workshop and receive a copy for FREE please Email me.

The above card is made using the Scribble wheel and Scribble This stamp set featured in the new catalogue.

Ryan's 2nd Birthday

It is hard to believe that my youngest is turning 2 in a couple of weeks!!! It seems like yesterday that I was bringing him home from the hospital.

We are doing a party in a local park which I always find easier than doing them at home. Far less mess and cleaning up.

This is the invite I made for the party.

I used the Favourite Teddy Bear stamp set (retiring). I love this set!!! It is so cute.

Carte Postale

I really love the new stamps in the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Catalogue. This card was made using the Carte Postale stamp set and I used the Stampin' Pastels to give a soft look to the card. If anyone would like more information about the Summer Mini Catalogue or the 2007/2008 Idea Book and Catalogue please feel free to Contact Me .

It's also not too late to take advantage of Sale-a-Bration!! This promotion runs until 29th February 2008.

If you spend $100 from the 2007/2008 Idea Book & Catalogue and/or Summer Mini catty you get a special limited edition stamp set from the Sale-a-Bration catty free. So if you are interested please Contact Me.

Peek-a-boo Box

I did some workshops on the weekend and thought I would post the box that one of the workshops made as their "Make & Take". Everyone seemed really pleased with them and it was really interesting seeing how different they all turned out.

I also did a crayon resist card which I CASED off Kim. Thanks Kim!!! They all loved it.

I've been Tagged!!!

Thanks Susan for tagging me!! Not too sure if I am doing this right but we will see

The rules of the game:•
Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog, we all want to know them.
Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.


Seven facts about me:

1. My favourite colours are Burgundy and Blue
2. My dream is to live by the beach one day
3. I apparently have a very loud laugh!!!
4. My five year old son swims better than I do.
5. I love cross stitch, stamping, scrapbooking and glass painting.
6. My favourite time of year is Spring.
7. I would like to be more technologically savvy!!


These are the people I have tagged:

• Nardi
• Lexie
• Kim
• Niki
• Kristy Jane
• Hannah
• Chrissie