Occasions Seasonal Catalogue and Sale-a-bration freebies

The Stampin' Up! Occasions Seasonal Catalogue has just released, with lots of gorgeous new products - much more than just stamps and ink. Until the end of March you will qualify for a Sale-a-Bration freebie for every $90 you spend!
 

I choose the lovely new paper its called Sweet Sorbet - I think I am addicted to patterned paper!! I made this set of sweet little notecards, ready for all sorts of messages. 

Do let me know if you need / want anything from SU or have any questions about papercraft! Oh and Scrappin Sundays are back starting this Sunday so let me know if you'd like to join us. 

My contacts are just to the right ---->

Happy February! 

Caz xx

Welcome to Spring!

Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads out there, hope you are having a great time with family on the beautiful first day of Spring! I haven't managed to make a Fathers Day card this year (Mum and Dad are in Broken Hill!), but I dug out this one that could easily be adapted to suit the masculine theme for Fathers Day. I haven't stopped using the Memorable Moments set that includes numbers plus 'st', 'th' and 'rd' and the 'Happy',' Birthday' and 'Anniversary' stamps. Very handy for cards and scrapbooking!

The new festive catalogue has launched and there are some great new ideas for Christmas cards, gifts, tags and decorating - lets face it its less than 4 months away so the time to start planning is now! There are plenty of card sets if you want to save time and whip out a batch of cards quickly. Another new product is the Christmas planner and sticker collection, and scrapbookers will love the 8x8 album and sectioned page protectors for quick and easy layouts. If you'd like your own free paper copy of the catalogue, or the main catalogue & idea book for just $5 just let me know.

There is also a big selection of Halloween and Thanksgiving craftiness - very American but it seems we are celebrating Halloween more and more each year....I really like the idea of being grateful for the abundance in our lives so why not host a Thanksgiving meal for the special folks in your life? I am planning to do that early with the return of Jo and family to Sydney in October, such special times lie ahead......

 

The Stampin' Up! special for September is the butterfly bundle - save 15% when you order the Bitty Butterfly punch and the Papillion Potpourri stamp set together (7 stamps). A combination you will use for so many occasions, birthday, sympathy, thank you - just about everything could do with a butterfly touch! ($51 for wood mount or $45 for clear mount if you have the clear blocks). Click here to see the flyer. Let me know if you have any questions of would like to take advantage of this bundle deal. I will waive the postage costs on these items in September as butterflies are my absolute favourite stamps!

My next paper craft workshop day will be Sunday 22 September, so please let me know if you'd like to join us.

Happy Spring and have a creative September!!

Caz xx

StampInkPaper Team Mother's Day Blog Hop

Welcome to our . A blog hop is where you 'hop' from blog to blog linked by the same theme, you may have arrived here from Anne Farrar's blog, or just happened upon the tour by chance. Our theme is of course Mother's Day. Each of our team members has made a card using Stampin'Up! products.

My Mothers Day card features Calypso Coral, Raspberry Ripple, Lucky Limeade and Very Vanilla colour scheme. I have used the Tulip Embossing folder which has been sponged with Calypso ink to make the tulips really stand out. Next layer is two Top Note diecuts, one slightly trimmed by hand to provide a matt look, and then stuck together and run through the Big Shot with the Lattice embossing folder. Quite an embroidered type look I guess....

The final touches are the Teeny Tiny Sentiment Mothers Day greeting peeking through a punched Decorative Label punch, and a sponged layered flower - all SU bits and bobs of course! My Mum returns from the UK this week, so I look forward to giving this to her and telling her how much I have missed her the past 6 weeks. I hope you get to speak to or think about the special Mothers in your life this week. 

When you have finished here, you can continue the hop through the link at the end of this post to the next team member's creations.

Lost? Here's a list of links to all the participants so you can find your way again.

Vanessa Cook - www.stampness.blogspot.com

Michelle Dyson - www.stampinkpaper.blogspot.com

Clare McIlhatton - http://craftycowcreations.blogspot.com.au/

Anne Farrar - http://stampinannies.blogspot.com.au/

Carolyn Campbell-McLean - http://carolyncampbell-mclean.blogspot.com.au/

Marilyn Scholtz - http://www.marilynscholz.typepad.com/justcallmemars

Karen Fowler - http://karenfowler61.blogspot.com.au/

You'll find lots of great ideas as you hop through the chain of different team members’ fantastic blogs. Why not add my blog to your "follow" list, or subscribe to my newsletter for info about my upcoming events - just email cazza74@iinet.net.au

Want to win some Free Stuff? Simply leave a comment on each blog in the hop and then email Vanessa and let her know you’ve done so and you’ll be in the running for a fantastic prize of handmade cards plus other goodies from each of the participants. Sorry, prizes not available to current demonstrators, but you are most welcome to leave a comment!

Next up on the hop is Marilyn Scholtz enjoy the rest of the tour.

Caz xx

Hearts a Flutter Birthday Banners

Hello crafty friends, hope you are all well and enjoying a bit of timeout this weekend. The weather here in Sydney this week has been absolutely perfect, still warm but defintely getting that lovely Autumnal feeling, I have always loved the month of April. And there are so many birthdays this month, including my sugary sweet Niece Sophie over in the still very wintery UK.
 
I made this 3rd Birthday card for Miss Sophie using my new Stampin' Up! stamp set called Hearts a Flutter (although I havn't used the hearts!). The set has banner shapes which are so cool right now and really set off wording don't you think? I must say I LOVE this card!

After stamping the banners in a range of pink inks (couldn't choose just one!) I cut them out with the matching Hearts a Flutter framelits through the Big Shot, added some die cut letters - and voila - instant name banner! Under that I had used a strip of glitter paper and gorgeous vintage lace from the Artisan Embellishment kit and of course some pink pearls to finish it off. I wanted to add a '3' somewhere but couldn't find the right place. 

Now Miss Sophie takes after her Aunty and just loves cake so I made a punch art cupcake! 

These products and many more goodies are available in the SU Seasonal Catalogue which you can find on the right side of my blog - and are available until 30 June. Let me know if you would like any orders.

So HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY SOPHIE we cant wait to hear all about your bowling party and cuddle you later this year! (yay they are coming home - for good!) xxx
 

Saleabration freebies and Workshop dates

MY NEWS 
Hello to my lovely blog readers sorry its been so long between posts! I have been distracted by job applications and interviews but I am pleased to report I have landed a great new job at the Lifetime Care and Support Authority. This will involve supporting people severely injured in motor accidents to get the rehab and supports they need to get on with life after acquiring a disability. I am thrilled and excited to be challenged by a different area of disability, and a bit sad to be saying farewell to my colleagues and friends at the Public Guardian. I must remember change is good!

WONDERFUL MOTHER CARD
Hope you like this card I made for my lovely mother in law Jill for her birthday earlier this year? I've combined a Vintage Wallpaper embossed background with a framelit shape in Primrose Petals, my new favourite pink. On top of that I arranged some flowers from Mixed Bunch stamp set which have been punched with the matching flower punch. The Itty Bitty Banners stamp has the birthday greeting and its cut out using the matching framelits through the Big Shot - love the matchy matchy!! Wonderful Mother is from a lovely word set called Well Scripted (I think its retired now). Sweet Jill liked this card so much she ordered the stamps! 

FREE STUFF 
The Salebration giveaway ends next week and I'll be placing my last order on Sunday 17 March so let me know what products you want and you will receive your choice of 19 free items! You just need to spend minimum $100 and choose from stamp sets, Designer Series Paper, a punch, framelits, button and ribbon sets and more - they are all listed here. There are plenty of lovely new goodies to check out in the Seasonal catalogue including vintage items doilies, lace and some lovely new double sided papers. See the link to the right hand side up top.

STAMPIN' & SCRAPPIN' WORKSHOPS
Here are the dates for my next round of workshops. Come and join us for a relaxed and informal day of papercraft - a fun and creative day scrapbooking, making cards or bring along other crafty projects you'd like to work on. Its great crafting with others - the ideas seem to flow better......and we have a good chinwag. No men allowed lol! 

• Sun 7 April
• Sun 5 May 
• Sun 2 June

Workshop Fee: $10 includes casual instruction, tea/coffee, light lunch, use of my collection of scraps, stamps, inks, punches, Big Shot etc. You can also purchase card, paper and embellishments or make an order from the Stampin' Up! catalogues 

All the workshops will be at my place in Rydalmere. Please RSVP to me on 0408 472 510 or cazza74@iinet.net.au so I can set your place at the table and you can receive your choccie and giveaways. I will also be having a lucky door prize on each day to help me clear my crafty space! 

Take care and keep on crafting

Love Caz xx 

Storytime card

My sweet nephew Mr Mackie turned one just after Christmas and this is the card I made him. It required minimal stamping as I used the images from the Storytime Designer Series Paper, some Midnight Muse ribbon and a little red jewel on the happy birthday banner.

The boy / train image was punched with a circle punch and layered on a foam dimensional (for that pop effect) onto a bigger circle punchie; a really easy technique, but I like the way it turned out. I used my basic black marker to add the train tracks. As it turned out my card matched the Thomas the Tank jacket present I gave him and his birthday party theme too (well Thomas is his middle name!).

So Mackenzie Thomas has grown from this little cherub:

 

into this cheeky monkey! I really am looking forward to my sister Jo and her lovely little family moving home from the UK later this year.......exciting times ahead!

I will be back later this week with lots more creations from crafty time over the holiday season. Stay safe everyone!

Caz xx

Christmas Wishes

Hello friends 
As you can see I made a variety of cards for Christmas this year, although I didn't make nearly enough as I had planned (Thank goodness I have Facebook and SMS as back ups) Better start earlier in 2013! I did however make all my wonderful carers a little treat bag to thank them for all their TLC. SU make these cute little skinny cello bags perfect for MMs and all sorts of treasures!

Hope you enjoy some time out over the Summer, and please let me know if you would like to do any paper crafting or need ideas, tools or supplies. I just love helping others to create - as you can see below my Express Xmas Cards night was a hoot! A reminder that I will have a Scrappin Sunday workshop on Sun 6 January so just email me for more details.

Wishing you and your families all a very Merry Christmas, and a safe, loving and rewarding New Year. Lets hope the world can reflect on the year about to finish and make 2013 full of hope, joy and peace. Oh and full of crafty time too! 

Love Caz xx

Beautiful Wings

I get so much use out of my Beautiful Wings butterfly embosslits. they are very versatile as you can see I have used them here on a baby card, below on a sympathy card and also below on a general friendship card. Also great for making little girls items and in scrapbooks. 

I love that you get 5 different butterflies in one go (through the Big Shot machine) and they all have different designs and embossed patterns. You can sponge them to bring up the embossed look, add pearls and pop them on Stampin' Dimensionals to make them fly. At just $20.95 they are well worth the investment. 

I'm getting ready for my Express Christmas Cards class on Wed 12 Dec and I've only got 1 spot left so let me know if you would like to join us - 7-10pm and only $15 to make 10 cards! And don't forget all the great things in the Holiday catalogue, not just craft items but cute ready made gift tags, wrapping ideas and other sweet gifts! I will be ordering on 5 December so let me know if you'd like to order anything.

Happy crafting! 

Love Caz xx

A series of cards using DSP and a fresh colour combo

Six different ways to use patterned paper on cards. This DSP set "Everyday Enchantment" was a freebie back in Autumn but to me it is very Spring, and I must say it is one of my favourite DSPs! The colour combo I have stuck with is from the DSP - Poppy Parade, Pool Party, Soft Suede and Lucky Limeade (and a bit of Kraft, Peach and Island Indigo thrown in).  I find it easier to stick to limited colours and get lots done at once - you always find a use for a card later on, and then add the greeting when you know what the occasion is.

I have just been inspired to get creating again after a big cleanout of my scrapbooking room over the long weekend. Can't believe its October and the end of year will be soon here again! Lots of things to keep me creating though with Christmas cards and gifts to make, holiday photos to scrap and my Niece and Nephew albums to update, oh and baby cards to make! Is everyone having babies at the moment??

Be back soon with workshop dates, special offers and more creations

Love Caz xx

Christmas in July cards

We had a fun day in July making a stash of Chrissy cards - no one ever has enough time in December so we thought we'd start early! We used different techniques, colours and materials on each card and everyone enjoyed the pre-cut kits I made up for them - less work and more fun! I thought I'd hold another Chrissy workshop in late October/early November before the silly season kicks in. Let me know if you are interested and I'll try to make it a day that suits you.

Caz x

Vintage Make A Wish

Hello friends. I spent most of the weekend in front of the heater watching the Olympics and making cards, one of my favourite combos. I made a total of 5 cards yesterday, I was on a roll, and so will post them up later this week. But today I have a vintage style card for you which was inspired by my recent addiction - Game of Thrones - a fantasy medevil style drama series. Anybody watch it? Steve and I got through 2 seasons in a month and we didn't want it to end; it was full of intrigue, amazing sets and scenes, and a good bit of eye candy.

Ahhhm back to crafting. The card base is Rich Razzleberry, then a layer of Blushing Bride which has gone through the Big Shot Embossing Folder Vintage Wallpaper design. LOVE the SU embossing folders! The main feature of the card is the Medallion stamp which was coloured up using a two tone technique. I inked the stamp in Blushing Bride Ink then used a wet wipe to remove the colour in certain spots. I used my daubers to add Razzleberry ink to the inner and outer parts of the stamp, did a HUFF breath to re-moisten the ink and voila! A multi coloured image! The card was finished with a gorgeous Vintage Brad, ribbon, pearls and simple greeting.

I love this colour combo but sadly Blushing Bride is retiring at the end of August, along with Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait and Poppy Parade.... So let me know if you'd like some cardstock, ink, marker, re-inker or ribbon in any of these colours as they may sell out soon. The Autumn Winter Mini finishes tomorrow 31st July so let me know if you want to order anything from it. 

Have a great week and go the Aussies! So proud! 

Caz xx  

Big Shot embossed sympathy cards

Unfortunately I have had to make some sympathy cards recently, never the type of cards you want to make but a caring way to send condolences. I like that cards can be kept and treasured unlike flowers that wilt away.  Hopefully received with love and the recipients will know I care for them. I like to use soft colours and an image that will convey peace such as the bird soaring to the skies.

I will leave you with one of my favourite quotes:

Do not cry for me,
 because I am gone
Smile for me,
 because I have lived

Hope everyone is having a good day, keeping warm and well

Caz xx

Happy Birthday Bunny

My adorable neice Sophie turned 2 just a few days after their visit to Australia in April. I snapped her in the Beatrix Potter dress I gave her for her 1st Birthday - I am impressed it still fits her - perfect for an Easter Saturday party at my place! Here is the card I made her using a few little characters from Fox and Friends stamp set. The colour scheme is Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie and Regal Rose, not my usual combo but very "little girly".

 

Sophie's great Aunty Jill joined me for some crafty fun and 'whipped up' this cute lil' creation using the dear deer from Forest Friends, which has been mounted onto a Decorative Label punchie, and again onto an Oval cut by the Big Shot. This Oval die is my newest addition to my collection, very handy to make a feature of a smaller stamp.   

 

 

Baby Bundle of Joy

I became an Aunty for the second time at Christmas, and what a wonderfully big Chrissy pressie my Nephew was! My sister Jo had Mackenzie Thomas Willis on 29th December 2011, and he weighed a whopping 4.7 kg or 10 pounds 6 ounces!! He was also tall at 56cm just like his Dad Jason. The best thing is that I will be meeting my "Big Mack" later this week when Jo and co arrive in Sydney for a very special visit, all the way from Dartford in Kent, UK. Here is the baby boy card I've made for Jo, Jason and big sister Sophie. It uses the cute little pram from the Baby Bundle stamp set and I love how it turned out.