Delightful Designer Paper

I've always loved the DP (Designer Papers) Stampin'Up has come out with. In this post, I've made cards using my favourites. All the DP's are double-sided, meaning both sides have a print, which co-ordinate with each other. So here is the process I've used to design these cards.:
1. Decide on DP and cut to size for background.
2. Cut from the same piece of DP for the strip in middle of card, about 5cm x length of card. Now you will be using the otherside of same paper. (For example in the first card, one side of DP is True Thyme and the otherside is Dots)
3. Pick a co-ordinating colour for base of card.
4. Stamp image and embellish card how you desire.

It really is easy to come up with some quick and simple cards using this method because you hardly need to decide on the colours. Just pick your favourite DP and your favourite stamp set, and away you go. I certainly had fun making these 8 cards in one sitting!




The first three cards use Treehouse DP (which is retiring) and I've made some boyish cards using Wild About You and Bugs & Kisses stamp sets. These sets will both be in the new catalogue.

Here I've made some more samples cards using the All in the Family stamp set. Some girly cards using the Loves Me DP from the Summer Mini (which is also retiring). I really love the combination of colours you can use with this paper - Choc Chip, Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink and Cool Carribean - some of my favourites.

And these two pretty Bella cards use Petals & Paisley which came out earlier this year in the Spring Mini. And I'm happy to say, we will be seeing this DP in the new catalogue.

If you have any questions about these cards, leave a comment for me to answer. There is one more week before the release of the new 08/09 Catalogue and as a demo, I've already received my copy. It has heaps of new DP to choose from, new stamps, punches, ribbons and lots of other exciting products. So I look forward to showing you creations using these new products very soon.

All images Copyright Stampin'Up 2008

My blog counter is ticking over very fast these days and I want to say thanks to those who take a peek at my blog, whether that be for Stampin'Up or personal. I can't believe it's getting close to 10,000 - which is actual visitors on my setting. So I'm planning on some blog candy and will be taking note of your lovely comments and who pops by to see me in the next month. So stayed tunned for more info....

The happy couple.

Maurice and Coralie's engagment was this weekend. And they celebrated with a family BBQ. Here are some happy pictures. Got to love the one of Warren with his five sisters. They were not all co-operating when I was taking the pictures, so this is the best shot. It was a lovely night with lots of yummy food and great company enjoyed by all. The happy couple - we wish them the very best in the time ahead!!

Lets go fishing!!

We had a night at my parents house, last night. This morning the boys wanted to go fishing in their dam. So they found some sticks and made some line from palm trees, then tied some bread on the end and off they went to have some fishing fun. It certainly attracted the tadpoles and the boys had a great little time.

Checking out the little fish.

Kyle posing with Nana's petunia's.

Liam's happy face.
Tyson's happy smile.
Kyle trying to concentrate on fishing.

Baby Blue

I just got in a couple of new embossing folders for my Cuttlebug. The one I've used on this card is 'Swiss Dots'. And I needed to make a baby boy card, so it was perfect for that. The little baby image is from the stamp set, All in the Family, which will be available in the new catalogue. It's the cutest set and I need to do up some card samples, so will have to post them here to show you all as well.


Card Recipe:
Stamp set: All in the Family, Riveting (hostess set)
Cardstock: Ballet Blue, Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, DP Spring Showers, Whisper White
Ink: Stazon Black, Ballet Blue, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Circle punches, Yellow Brad, ribbon, SU marker, paper piercing

All images Copyright Stampin'Up 2008

Scrapbooking!

I love nothing better than to scrapbook photo's of my boys, especially recent photo's. You would have seen these pictures a couple of posts ago. I got them printed up 5x7 and have made these two 12x12 layouts. Generally, my scrapbooking is simple, with some patterned paper, a few embellishments and some journalling so the main focus is on the photo subject.

Base colours are Mellow Moss and Buckaroo Blue. The patterned paper is from K & Company. The chipboard pieces have been inked with Night of Navy.

Every year I start a new scrapbook. Last year, I made three individual ones for each of the boys, seeing as it was our first year in Busselton. These albums were 8x8 in size. This year, I've gone back to just one family album in 12x12. Hopefully I'll be able to work alot quicker, doing just a few layouts for each month. I've also decided not to limit this album to SU only supplies, as there are so many nice products available and I have a bit of a stash which should be used. And now that I've finally started this years album, hopefully I'm motivated enough to keep going.

The journalling reads as follows:

Taking the boys to the beach is always fun. They love spending time just playing in the sand and exploring in the rocks. They could do this for hours. On this day, I took them after school as a break from the normal busy routine.

These pictures capture them in their moments of play, perfect innocence and in their own little worlds. I love these special times. It's the simple things that make life fun.

Stamped images Copyright Stampin'Up 2008

I had my mid-way anatomy scan yesterday and everything is looking really good. The baby was very active which was good to see as I haven't felt any movement yet, mainly because the placenta is in front, acting as a cushion. And true to my word, we didn't find out the gender.

Thank you!

These are some thank you cards I made today, to send to my new downlines. Yes, it's exciting, I have some recruits and it feels very motivating as well!

So these cards have been made with a stamp set that will be in the new catalogue called Time Well Spent. I've previously shown other cards with this set as well. It will be a Level 3 hostess set and available when you host a party.
Base cardstock is Certain Celery which has been stamped in same colour ink with flower image to create background.
The butterfly image has been stamped with Stazon onto Watercolour paper, and then coloured with markers. I've punched out a tab and adhere behind image and finished off with a coloured brad and of course some grosgrain ribbon.
The 'thanks' sentiment has been cut out with Window Punch. I love my punches!!

Recipe:
Stamp set: Time well Spent, Small sayings (sentiment)
Cardstock: Certain Celery, Regal Rose, Barely Banana, Watercolour paper
Ink: Certain Celery, Stazon Black
Accessories, Tab punch, Window punch, Brad, Grosgrain ribbon, Marker pens

All images Copyright Stampin'Up 2008

That's all I have to show you today, I'm off to finish off my soup before it's time to pick up the boys. Hope you are all enjoying this beautiful day. (gorgeous and sunny down this way)

Our afternoon

We had an hour or so at the beach after school today. I always have my camera with me, so I took some pictures. After some editing with Picasa, here they are.

Farewell 'All Natural'

This set is on the retiring list for Stampin'up, which means it won't be in the new 2008/09 catalogue. It's one of those sets with some simple images, but I really have loved the pears. And for me, this set it a bit sentimental, as it was my very first stamp set purchased from Stampin'Up. I bought it along with a pack of paper and three stamp pads. From there, the rest is history: now I have a tonne of paper, a great range of coloured ink pads and lots of awesome stamp sets.

You have til 31st March to purchase any retiring stamp set (subject to availability). And I have a special offer for those wanting to make a purchase in the month of March. Email me for details.

So I've made this simple card using the pear image with the masking technique. The pears have been stamped on watercolour paper and coloured with markers. I've used three colours: Summer Sun, Barely Banana and More Mustard to blend all the colours in together. The base of card has been stamped with a BG stamp, Paisley, in Mellow Moss ink. The sentiment is from Warm Words and I've finished off the card with ribbon and Hodgepodge Hardware.

Recipe:

Stamps: All Natural, Warm Words, Paisley BG

Cardstock: Whisper White, Always Artichoke, Summer Sun, More Mustard, Watercolour cardstock

Ink: Stazon, Mellow Moss

Accessories: SU Marker pens, Ribbon, Hodgepodge hardware

All images Copyright Stampin'Up 2008

Get better soon!

I made this card today for a friend whose not feeling so good. For something different, I've made a circle design. Using my Creative Memories circle cutter, I've cut a circle from Certain Celery and then another with DP Enchante. I've stamped the flower image twice and cut out using the paper snips from SU - they are just wonderful and are a must for cutting out images! The flower has been finished off with a bling brad from SEI. (non-SU) The sentiment is from Best Barcodes - I've stamped it onto white cardstock and used a punch to cut out the sentiment. For the background on the Certain Celery cardstock, I've used a stamp from a Sale-a-bration set - Friendship Blooms and high-lighted bits with a white gel pen. The card has been completed with brown grosgrain ribbon.

This card came together very quickly; I think I may be doing a few more circle cards very soon.

Recipe:

Stamps: Friendship Blooms, Best Barcodes

Cardstock: Certain Celery, DP Enchante, Whisper White

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Certain Celery

Accessories: CM cutter, Bling Brad SEI, Window punch, Grosgrain ribbon, White gel pen

All images Copyright Stampin'Up 2007

On the family front: I've had a check-up today with my doctor and midwife. All is going wonderfully well. The program they have down this way is great. Most of your appointment is with the midwife, who checks you out and has a chat, then the doctor will come in and say hello if needed. Both doctor and midwife are really nice and make me feel really comfortable. In a week or so, I have my anatomy scan. We've decided we won't be finding out the sex of this little one. Even though we would be delighted to have a little girl, a boy will be just as perfect; so we are going to wait to the end and enjoy the surprise. I'm sure it will be worth it!

Our time in Tassie

We are back from our wonderful week in Tassie. We had a lovely time with family and friends, the wedding of my sister Katie, being the high-light. So here are some random shots of our stay in Tassie.

Yummy cheese platter at the reception - Bay of Fires Winery - Pipers River
The happy couple, Ben & Katie

All dressed up for the wedding - even Warren with a tie!!
Me and Renae (my sis-in-law)
The stunning bride
Me and my sister Aimee - she was one of the bridesmaids.

Leaving from the church in a really cool 'old' car.

The beautiful gorge right in Launceston - if you go to Tassie, you can't miss seeing this special place

Our zippy little hire car - a Hyundi Getz (I'm tempted to get one for myself - great little shopping car

And this is what we enjoyed on holidays: Cappacino's and yummy cakes, Big breakfasts, Long lazy lunches and Delicious dinners.

So that ends a great relaxing week. It was nice to come back home again and see the boys. They were very well looked after by family, so much, that Tyson & Liam really just wanted to live with Opa and Oma!! It's back to school tommorow for them and hopefully I can get back into my stamping with lots of cards to show.