CreativeLea Made

stay tuned.....

2009-12-07T00:58:00.002+11:00

I promise to add something to my blog BEFORE Christmas!

Christmas cards

2008-11-21T01:20:00.005+11:00

This first card I cased from Yvonne Campbell's website (see links).

Supplies:
Stamp set: Season of Joy, So Swirly (wheel)
Cardstock: Whisper White
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Blue Bayou
Accessories: markers (for faux string), hold punches, Whisper White grosgrain, dimensionals, sponging
This next two cards I did at a workshop tonight, held by Leonie and Philippa. Both cards were designed by Philippa and Leonie.

Isn't this first one a cute chrissy card?! Let me know if you would like to see a tutorial of how to do this card on my blog.

Supplies:
Stamp set: Season of Joy
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: Pretty in Pink Grosgrain, sponging
Technique: Reverse masking
This last card is very clever. The second photo shows the front of the card and the first photo is the inside - its a pop up card!

Supplies:
Stamp set: Crazy for Christmas, unknown retired set (for trees), Season of Joy (sentiment, coloured with Real Red marker)
Cardstock: Real red, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, River Rock
Ink: Stazon, Old Olive
Accessories: markers, aqua painter, two way glue pen, dazzling diamonds, tearing ruler, Crystal Effects

Fred

2008-11-21T01:15:00.004+11:00

This is our new family cat, Fred. He (we think he's a he not a she!) is 9 weeks old. Very cute!

New blog name!

2008-11-13T23:48:00.004+11:00

I have decided to change my blog name, to "CreativeLea Made" and give it a new look. The name is a slight play on words, incorporating my name. With all of the great cards that everybody has been making, and now I have some time that exams are over (yay!), I am really inspired and thought this new name will reflect the cards I will be posting. I am very excited to get into posting some new creations.

My boyfriend, Luke, helped me with taking the photo etc for the header, as well as the name, layout and design. Don't you think he did a great job?

Let me know what you think!

Corset Card

2008-11-13T21:47:00.000+11:00

This is one of my most favourite cards I've ever seen, created by Leonie Hegarty. Good on you Leonie, this is so beautiful.

Leonie (see link to the right) has finally joined Stampin' Up! as a Demonstrator, as she should! She is very talented. You have to check out her blog.

BTW, I know I've been very slack with blogging lately and I apologise for not updating my blog and checking out my usuals. I've been flat out with exams, working and my other usual stuff. I'll post something in the next couple of days, as I'm going to be stamping and making up for lost time, yay!

Another great blogger!

2008-09-23T01:07:00.000+10:00

My friend Philippa, who is also a fellow SU demonstrator (and one of my downlines!) has started a blog also. She is one of the funniest people I know and has an excellent eye for colour coordination. Check out her blog and you can subscribe to her posts:

http://cardsfromthecauldron.blogspot.com/

Well done Philippa. I can't wait to see your stuff on your blog, and I'm sure you'll keep us entertained too!

Check out this great new blog

2008-09-20T01:29:00.001+10:00

I am very excited, a friend of mine, Lovely Leonie, has started a blog. She truly is an up and coming talented stamper! If I were you, I would bookmark her blog site and check it regularly: http://astampersworld.blogspot.com/

I have also included Leonie in my links to the right of the screen.

I would also recommend you checking out Gabbie's website. She is incredible! You know people who just ooze creativity with whatever they touch! She is now making incredible candles which look like cute cupcakes. I actually saw some tonight in the flesh. If I hadn't been told they were candles I would have eaten them! Great ideas for Christmas pressies (my kids' teachers will love me!). Check it out: http://www.dotcomdesign.com.au/justme/

Take care, I will post again in the next day or two, I promise!!! (I have been told off 3 times today for not posting anything recently - sorry!!!!)

Princess Castle Album

2008-08-10T12:39:00.000+10:00

I made this album yesterday for DD5. She absolutely loves it! The only problem is, she wants to add her own 'bling' to it! I'll cry if she wrecks it!!!

The album came already cut into the shapes of the castle (cardboard), I just had to cover it with paper I chose myself. This was the longest part of the process!

I hope you can tell in the photos, you can open the little door on the front page, so that when you open it you can see a photo of DD5 on the next page. I used cotton thread and made holes with my crop-a-dile to attach the door. I used a button and some grosgrain ribbon from my Stampin' Up! collection to make a little handle.

I have only posted photos here of the front and first double layout. I need to add a bit more bling to the rest of the album before I'm completely finished (without DD5 around!!). Then, I've promised my neice I'll make her one for her birthday in November!

About time for another post

2008-07-03T22:06:00.000+10:00

First, I must apologise for my slackness in not posting a message for a couple of weeks. I have been doing exams and also started working again. Good news is that the exams are over (well, for 5 months anyway) and that I have a part-time job.

Here are some cards I have done over the last couple of weeks. They all involved embossing.
Supplies -
Stamp set: Fishy Friends, Life's a Breeze (for the bubbles)
Cardstock: Ruby Red, Whisper White, Basic Black, SU Designer Paper (Spring)
Ink: Versamark, Certainly Celery (for sponging)
Accessories: Corner rounder (for scallops), Brocade Blue wide grosgrain ribbon, heat tool, black embossing powder, embossing buddy, sponge, glue dots, markers.

This next one was for dd4's birthday, she is now dd5. She is a girly girl and loves pink! I stamped the cake on Whisper White offcut and embossed it, then cut it out and stuck it on with dimensionals. Supplies -

Stamp set: Pretty Princess, Simply Said (for love hearts)

Cardstock: Pink Passion, Pixie Pink, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark, Pixie Pink (for sponging)

Accessories: Heat tool, silver embossing powder, embossing buddy, heat and stick powder, dazzling diamonds (glitter), markers, dimensionals, Whisper White and Pretty in Pink narrow grosgrain ribbon, Pink gingham ribbon

This card was for ds10, who turned ds11. Yes, all 3 of my darling children's birthdays are very close together (planned that well didn't I! Not!). This card involved embossing first and then braying. I put a little bit of cord hanging off the end of the surfboard, which is supposed to resemble the foot rope (terminology??). Supplies -

Stamp set: Surf's Up, Big Deal Alphabet (I used the "L" for number "1" x 2), Scribble Alphabet (retired)

Cardstock: Glossy White

Ink: Versamark, Kaleidascope pad (retired)

Accessories: Heat tool, black and white embossing powder, brayer, stamp-a-ma-jig, dimensionals, gold cord (retired).

More Petal Prints

2008-06-16T20:29:00.000+10:00

This was an easy card I put together without too much thought. I used Old Olive and More Mustard markers to colour the leaf image and repeated. I swiped the edges of the Whisper White with Old Olive. The flowers are a two-step stamp set. I first used markers to colour the first step (being the more solid image) of the flower stamp (with Real Red and More Mustard) and stamped over the image with the outline stamp in Old Olive. I then cut out the flowers and attached them with dimensionals to make them 'pop' off the card. Supplies -
Stamp set: Petal Prints
Cardstock: Old Olive, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Versamark (flowers printed on Old Olive card), Old Olive (for second outline stamp of flower)
Accessories: Markers, dimensionals.

Unfrogettable

2008-06-12T19:04:00.000+10:00

This is such a cute stamp set. It can be made to suit a child or an adult, depending on your colours and design. Its also a nice one to colour with, if you like colouring as I do. I used the SU watercolour pencils and blended with a blender pen. I also drew in a few extra bits of grass with black pen, which I coloured over with pencil. Its hard to see in the photo, but I finished off with crystal effects on the eyes and circles on the mushroom.Supplies -
Stamp set: Unfrogettable
Cardstock: Blue Bayou, Sahara Sand, Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White
Ink: Stazon
Accessories: SU Watercolour pencils, blender pen, Blue Bayou double-stitched grosgrain ribbon, corner rounder (for scallops), brads, black pen, mat pack, crystal effects.

Petal Punch

2008-06-12T18:57:00.000+10:00

I have had the new 5 star petal punch on my 'wish list' since the new catalogue came out and I finally got it! This card was soooo easy to make. Supplies -
Stamp set: Looks Like Spring (the soft images stamped on the white)
Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Certainly Celery DP, Regal Rose (bottom layer punched flower) and Pretty in Pink (middle layer punched flower)
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip (sponged)
Accessories: sponge, Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain, 5 star petal punch, flower and flat pearl (from Pretties Kit), vintage brads.

Cards by Philippa!

2008-06-07T21:36:00.000+10:00

One of the unexpected things I enjoy about being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator is meeting nice new people. Philippa is such a person, who I met fairly recently at a workshop and it turned out she lives very close to me. I rang her yesterday to let her know I had her order and she promptly arrived at my house to collect it on her way home from somewhere (she couldn't wait to receive her goodies, which I can relate to!). Well, a 2 hour chat/card session later, Philippa had made these cards. Not only has Philippa quickly caught onto the addiction, but I'm sure you will agree, she is getting really good!

In this first card, Philippa used a picture I had printed off from Yvonne Campbell's blog to follow. It is using Stem Silhouttes stamp (retired), Close to Cocoa, Certainly Celery and Chocolate Chip cardstock, Chocolate Chip and Certainly Celery ink, sponged the edges with Chocolate Chip ink, Certainly Celery wide grosgrain ribbon, and vintage brads.

This second card was completely Philippa's own creation. She used Baroque Motifs stamp set, Blue Bayou, River Rock and Purely Pomegranite cardstock and ink, as well as brads.

Nice work Philippa!

Scribble This

2008-06-07T21:07:00.000+10:00

One thing I love about this stamp set is that you can make designs that are in either bright or earthy tones to give it a completely different look and still looks fantastic.

I made these cards awhile ago (ie before I started my blog), but haven't given them away yet, because I really like them both.

I cased this first card from Sharon Dale's blog: http://digitalcreations.typepad.com:80/creations_from_the_heart/2007/11/scribbles-card.html. Mine is a little different. Sharon's blog is worth checking out, especially if you're a scrapbooker. She is published and has won a number of competitions.
Supplies -
Stamp sets: Scribble This, Linen (for the white edge around the card)
Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore, White offcuts
Ink: Stazon, Versamark (its hard to see in the photo, but I have used the swirls as a background on the Green Galore cardstock), Whisper White (for the Linen stamp around edge of card)
Accessories: Tempting Turquoise and Green Galore markers, circle punch, button, Whisper White narrow grosgrain, glue dots, dimensionals.

I cased this second card on Yvonne Campbell's blog, but is a little different.

Supplies -

Stamp set: Scribble This, Warm Wishes for greeting (retired hostess set)

Cardstock: Rose Red, Old Olive, Whisper White

Ink: Stazon, Rose Red, Cameo Coral and Old Olive markers

Accessories: Black and white gingham ribbon, dimensionals, corner rounder punch (for scalloped edge), small hole punch

Surfs Up!

2008-06-05T18:24:00.000+10:00

You may have been thinking that I've been a bit quiet on the stamping front and you would be right. I've got exams coming up and of course, I am stressing! However, I still need my stamping to relax...

This is a very quick card I knocked up for my 13 year old nephew. Its great to have some stamps available now, that are suitable for teenage boys. The design is similar to one I watched Yvonne Campbell make. I like the effect of the tearing of the cardstock. Supplies -
Stamp: Surf's Up, For a Friend (greeting)
Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Brilliant Blue, Whisper White offcuts, Yoyo Yellow, Basic Black
Ink: Basic Black (greeting)
Accessories: Dimensionals, Yoyo Yellow and Tempting Turquoise markers

Creative Memories Project Centre

2008-05-28T21:36:00.000+10:00

For all you scrapbookers out there, my fantastic CM Consultant, Roz Bowles (see her link) has forwarded to me a link to a great site which is useful for scrapbooking layouts. Its worth checking out (follow link in my list under Creative Memories Project Centre).

Natural Beauty and more ...

2008-05-28T21:17:00.000+10:00

All of the stamp sets used in these cards were in the old catalogue and made it into the new one.

Natural Beauty is such a beautiful stamp set, definately worthy of having made it from last year's catalogue into the new one. Its a nice one for colouring. Supplies -
Stamp: Natural Beauty, Occasional Greetings (sentiment)
Cardstock: Sage Shadow, Pretty in Pink, Barely Banana
Ink: Stazon
Accessories: Aqua Painter, Crayons, circle punches, pretty in pink tafetta ribbon

Next one...

I cased this one from somewhere, but I can't remember where. If somebody knows who did this sees, please let me know so I can credit the original creator!

Supplies -

Stamp: Looks Like Spring, French Script (background stamp, retired (although it could easily be replaced with En Francais)

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke

Ink: Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Regal Rose

Accessories: Looks Like Spring punch set, stamp-a-ma-jig, brad, dimensionals, paper snips

And finally ...

This is similar to a card I saw on Splitcoastampers by 'teacher11'.

Supplies -

Stamp: Bodacious Bouquet

Cardstock: Taken with Teal, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White off-cuts, So Saffron

Ink: Bashful Blue, So Safron, Ballet Blue, Taken With Teal

Accessories: Wide grosgrain Chocolate Chip ribbon, hat pin and half-back pearl from Pretties Kit, dimensionals.

Hope you liked. I have done quite a few cards this week. I will post some more in a couple of days, after the workshop on Friday.

More Oh, So Lovely

2008-05-25T15:26:00.000+10:00

I cased this card on Marelle Taylor's blog http://marelletaylor.blogspot.com/. She is so talented. My card is a little different, but has the same basic layout. Supplies -
Stamp: Oh, So Lovely, Seeing Spots (sentiment)
Cardstock: Almost Amethyst, Going Gray, Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Ink: Brilliant Blue, Going Gray and Certainly Celery (sponging around image)
Accessories: markers (Sage Shadow, Almost Amethyst), sponge, 1 3/8" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, 3/4" circle punch, crop-a-dile, jumbo eyelet, Going Gray tafetta ribbon, glue dots, dimensionals.
Thanks for looking! Please feel free to leave comments on any of my posts.

See if you can tell the difference!

2008-05-20T19:01:00.000+10:00

Dd4 and I decided to have a quick cardmaking session. One is mine and one his hers. See if you can tell which is which! I'll give you a hint, dd4 made hers for (who she denies is her boyfriend), Noah, who she wants to go to the beach with to collect shells and then have a sleepover (OMG!). Supplies -

Stamps: Mostly Flowers, Little Pieces, Warm Wishes (sentiment)

Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranite, Whisper White, Groovy Guava

Ink: Groovy Guava, Stazon

Accessories: Corner rounder (for scallops), Purely Pomegranite double-stitched ribbon, White narrow grosgrain ribbon, white gel pen (for middle of flowers).
Note, this design was based on a card by Marelle Taylor, but different stamp set and colours used.

This is the next card:

Supplies -

Stamp: Life's a Breeze

Cardstock: Whisper White

Ink: Purely Pomegranite

Accessories: Pencils

I love the sunglasses on the person, which has been hand-drawn (if you couldn't tell!).

Love Note box

2008-05-19T14:20:00.000+10:00

This cute little box was demonstrated at the recent convention in Brisbane and the template is now available on the demonstrator website. I made this box at my upline's house on Friday night, the lovely Yvonne Campbell (see her link). I almost straight copied the one Yvonne did, except for a couple of little things. You should check out her blog, if you haven't already. She has recently updated it and it looks beautiful. She also has a funny story on her blog, about Friday night when I was there, when her dd2 locked herself in her brother's room!

The box could be used as a gift box to put something in. It perfectly fits the pre-cut small cards and envelopes Stampin' Up! sell (called 'Love Notes' on page 132 of catalogue, which are only $13.50 for 20 cards and 20 envelopes). Supplies -
Stamp: Baroque Motifs
Cardstock: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Purely Pomegranite, Whisper White off-cuts
Ink: Blue Bayou, Purely Pomegranite
Accessories: Blue Bayou double-stitched ribbon, Crop-a-dile, jumbo eyelet, flower (from Pretties kit), scallop punch, paper snips, crystal effects, dimensionals, mini dots, bone folder (to score the lines).
Yvonne suggested that I put a little bit of blue bayou cardstock underneath the eyelet and then put crystal effects inside the eyelet, which makes it look like 'bling'! The scallop punch was also used to punch and then move slightly and re-punch to give a slightly different effect. Great ideas Yvonne!

A wise owl!

2008-05-18T21:31:00.000+10:00

I did another workshop at my newly discovered scrapbook shop. They have very talented scrapbook artists working there. We started an album, this is the front cover. I will be going back for 3 more workshops to finish it. It is supposed to be an album about ourselves. We used a variety of papers and techniques, including painting, gluing, sanding, inking and cuttlebugging (is that a word?!). It was soooo relaxing putting this together. I think its going to be a very personal album for me.

CM Scrapbooking page

2008-05-18T21:22:00.000+10:00

I love any scrapbooking (well almost). I started with Creative Memories (thanks Roz! - see link) and it has given me a great starting block. I still use CM heaps, but have incorporated it with Stampin' Up as well as other well known brands (such as Basic Grey, Cosmo Cricket and Heidi Swapp, to name a few favs). I went to a CM home party at my friend Cheryl's on Friday morning and completed this page surprisingly very quickly. It is using all CM product. I love the vibrant colours and design, which was perfect for a boy's page. I thought it was about time I did another page of ds10! Ds10 has his (mouth) plates in these photos, but he still has a beautiful smile (but I'm biased!).

D6 turns d7!

2008-05-18T20:37:00.000+10:00

Well today was my middle child's birthday. He had a great day, but during the party with his friends, my nerves were tested! We had the party at one of those kids play centres. They were quite unorganised with the food, but I don't think the kids really cared too much.

This was the card I made for ds7.
Supplies -
Stamp: All in the Family, Wild about You, Birthday Best (for background), Scribble Alphabet (retired) and the greeting was from Voila
Cardstock: Brilliant Blue, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White
Ink: Stazon, Wild Wasabi, More Mustard, Versamark (for background)
Accessories: tag punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, watercolour pencils, blender pen, Crop-a-dile (for eyelet), jumbo eyelet, Wild Wasabi double-stitched ribbon, crystal effects (for lion's mane, croc's eyes, boy's face, letters).

Petal Prints

2008-05-18T20:21:00.000+10:00

Here are some more cards created by Kelly, with Petal Prints. I think they are gorgeous.

Kelly used Blue Bayou cardstock in the first one and Purely Pomegranite in the second, both with with River Rock. They both have 'So Swirly' wheel (in coordinating ink), with the white gel pen, as the background to both cards. She coloured using the aqua painters in the coordinating inks.
Kelly also created this card, with Chocolate Chip and Groovy Guava textured cardstock. She inked in River Rock, Groovy Guava and Wild Wasabi. Love the colour combination. She also used some River Rock double-stitched ribbon and 3 barely banana brads to finish off.

Scrapbooking

2008-05-12T17:50:00.000+10:00

I got back into my scrapbooking again today. First, I did a page of ds6 of when he was being bathed on my kitchen table as a baby. Times have certainly changed, I would kill him if he was lying on my kitchen table today!

All products used were Stampin' Up!. I used 12x12 Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White and off-cuts of Brilliant Blue, Taken With Teal and Whisper White (for the bubbles). I used Life's a Breeze stamp set for the stamped bubbles and the boat. I also used 12x12 Brilliant Blue and Taken with Teal for the ripped card at the bottom. I stamped the bubbles in Taken with Teal ink along the White at the top and also around the White for the mounts on the photos (a bit hard to see in the photo). I stamped the boat in Night of Navy. I used Best Friends Alphabet lower, stamped in Whisper White, for the word. Finally, I used my circle punches for the bubbles and white brads on the boat.
This is a simple page, but effective I think, of dd4. I used 12x12 Whisper White and stamped it randomly with Wild Rose (with some help from dd4!), with Pretty in Pink and Regal Rose ink. I then stamped the large flower from Wild Rose and leaves (in Certainly Celery ink) on off-cut White and cut it out. I then used Pretty in Pink and Whisper White narrow grosgrain along the bottom, with 3 pink brads. Easy!!

Thanks for looking. Hope you like!

From the Garden

2008-05-08T22:51:00.000+10:00

This is my first attempt at using this new hostess set. I think the cardstock looks a little better in real life, than photographed here. However, the detail of the flower has come up well. I enjoyed colouring the flower and I think I will do a better job next time. Supplies -
Stamp: From the Garden
Cardstock: Purely Pomegranite, River Rock, Very Vanilla
Ink: Black Stazon, River Rock, Purely Pomegranite, Groovy Guava, Summer Sun
Accessories: Aqua pen (to apply ink to colour image), Pretties Kit (for hat pin), crystal effects (to hold beads in place), glue dots (to hold hat pin in place)

Let me know what you think by leaving a comment here, I would be interested to hear your comments, good or bad.

Mother's Day card

2008-05-04T21:44:00.000+10:00

After a day working on an application for a graduate position for next year, I NEEDED to do something creative to unwind. I thought this would make a lovely Mother's Day card. I hope my Mum likes it!

I saw a similar design on Marelle Taylor's blog and had a go at my own version. Its hard to see in the photo, but I used the Linen background stamp at the bottom of the card to give it some more interest.
Supplies -
Stamp: Boho backgrounds, Linen (background stamp) and Occasional Greetings (for sentiment)
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Old Olive, Rose Red Designer Paper, Whisper White
Ink: Rose Red and Old Olive markers, Basic Black, Sahara Sand (for linen background)
Accessories: Hodgepodge, white taffetta ribbon, corner rounder (for scallops), tear ruler, glue dots.

I thought afterwards, it would have also looked nice on River Rock card.

Bodacious Bouquet

2008-05-04T18:42:00.000+10:00

This is made with one of the new sets I earnt with my Stampin' Start award. There are so many lovely things you can do with it. Supplies -
Stamp set: Bodacious Bouquet
Cardstock: Rose Red, Very Vanilla (for background and off-cuts for flowers) and paper I got out in a magazine.
Ink: Rose Red, Old Olive, Basic Brown (for sponging on Vanilla)
Accessories: corner rounder (for scalloping), mat pack (for holes), vintage brads, paper snips, dimensionals

Unfrogettable

2008-04-30T21:51:00.000+10:00

Here are some more cards made by the fabulous Kelly. Kelly and I both like to colour, as she has done in this one. This is a cute set.
Supplies -
Stamp: Unfrogettable
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Wild Wasabi (top card) and Purely Pomegranite textured cardstock, Whisper White
Ink: Stazon
Accessories: Whisper White narrow grosgrain ribbon, pencils, blender pen

HAPPY with a dog

2008-04-30T21:39:00.001+10:00

This is a very simple card, but I think effective. I love the bright colours against the gloss white, and the little dog finishes it off. It also uses very little paper.
Supplies -
Stamps: Big Deal Alphabet, All in the Family (for the dog),
Cardstock: Glossy White, Whisper White (I stamped the letters on the WW off-cuts and then cut them out)
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Only Orange, Ballet Blue, Real Red, Green Galore, Basic Black
Accessories: Paper Snips, Red Gingham, dimensionals (for letters), glue dots (to adhere ribbon).

Oh, So Lovely

2008-04-27T18:15:00.000+10:00

I loved this card when I saw it on a Canadian stamper's blog, by the name of Renee Van Stralen (see link to Stamping for Sanity), I just had to try to recreate it. It is done with a new Australian hostess set.

Supplies -

Stamp: Oh, So Lovely

Ink: Stazon, Creamy Caramel (for sponging around edges of cardstock)

Cardstock: Groovy Guava, Whisper White, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky

Accessories: Aqua Painter, Groovy Guava, Blue Bayou, Wild Wasabi and Purely Pomegranite ink (dipped my blender pen in to pick up colours), slit punch, Blue Bayou double stitched ribbon, sponge.

About a Boy

2008-04-27T17:58:00.000+10:00

I went to a scrapbook workshop yesterday. Thanks to Sharon from The Scapbook Scene in Burwood, for sharing her talent. We used the Cosmo Cricket "Cogsmo" range of paper and embellishments. The day started a bit slow, as we had to match all the die cuts with the chipboard, but it was well worth it I think. I decided to do an small book album for my "middle child", as being a middle child myself, I am conscious about him not often being first. I intend to eventually do similar albums for my other two children as well.

We actually put this album together with chipboard and cardstock, so easy and cheap! This was an actual scrapbook 12 x 12 page we did, which will go in ds6's baby album.
I love how the big blue eyes of the robot match ds6's. The brads were fantastic, they look like phillips and flathead screws, which matched beautifully. I learnt about using archival ink (or can use Stampin' Up! Creamy Caramel) to sponge around the edges and sanding the edges of photos, to give a grungy look, which I love.

Garden Whimsy

2008-04-22T15:26:00.001+10:00

This is another favourite set of mine from the new catty. There are so many designs you can make with it. These cards were created by the fantastic Kelly Gray, my friend and fellow demonstrator. It is so simple, but gorgeous.
Stamp set: Garden Whimsy
Top card -
Ink: Groovy Guava, River Rock
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Groovy Guava, Whisper White
Accessories: Narrow White Grosgrain ribbon.
Bottom card -
Ink: Blue Bayou, River Rock, Soft Sky
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Textured paper Blue Bayou, Whisper White

Dragon

2008-04-21T20:10:00.000+10:00

I went to see Dragon perform on the weekend. Remember the Aussie 80's band who sang April Sun Cuba, Rain, Young Years, Are You Old Enough? I love 80's and although I never saw Dragon back in their era, I always liked their music. Of course the lead singer, Marc Hunter died in the 90's, but they have re-formed. The only original was Todd Hunter (Marc's brother). Marc was there in spirit I'm sure!

Well, it was quite funny really. I must have been one of the youngest people there, except for the people who brought their children! It was funny to see 50 something olds showing more cleavage than I would have ever shown and another woman out cold being carried out of the venue by her partner! Hmmm, some things never change! It was a great night with lots of laughs and singing along.

Boatloads of Love

2008-04-20T21:17:00.000+10:00

I loved this set as soon as I laid eyes on it in the new catty. It is a good one to combine with Loads of Accessories. I used dimensionals on the smoke puffs to create a 3D effect.
Stamps: Boatloads of Love, Loads of Love Accessories
Cardstock: Blue Bayou, Wild Wasabi, Saraha Sand, Whisper White
Ink: Stazon
Accessories: Aqua Painter, Crayons, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Dimensionals, corner rounder (for scalloping), mat pack (for holes along the bottom).
Enjoy!

New Stamps

2008-04-17T13:57:00.001+10:00

I was so excited to receive my new stamps and accessories from the new catalogue when I got home from Brisbane and have been hanging out to use them.

This is a cute card made from the stamp set "Voila!". I like the gingham ribbon used as a tea towel. It was inspired from a design I saw on Splitcoastampers.
Stamp sets: Voila, Looks Like Spring (for pattern on pants)
Cardstock: Whisper White, pretty in pink, SU Designer Paper
Ink: Stazon, Tempting turquoise (for the sentiment)
Accessories: scissors, aqua painter, crayons, scallop punch, dimensionals, brads, black gingham, SU designer ribbon and circle punch to edge the corners of the designer paper at bottom.
My most favourite set from the new catalogue is the one I used for this card.
Stamp set: Baroque Motifs
Cardstock: Pretty in pink, certainly celery, old olive, whisper white
Ink: Old Olive, Regal Rose
Accessories: Rhinestones brads, pink gingham ribbon, scallop punch, dimensionals

Scribble This

2008-04-17T13:40:00.000+10:00

This is the card I make for the Convention in Brisbane. Most demonstrators make a number of cards with the same design so that they can swap with other demonstrators. This card was made with:

Stamp: Scribble This

Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Really Rust, Old Olive and Very Vanilla.

Ink: Basic Black

Accessories: Aqua Painter, Earth Elements Crayons, mat pack (for the small holes along the bottom), and Dimensionals (I stamped the flower on separate cardstock, cut it out and mounted it on top of the main image.

Lovely as a Tree

2008-04-16T21:27:00.000+10:00

One of my favourite stamp sets is Lovely as a Tree. 3 of my most favourite swaps from the Convention were made with this set. The first sample below was made by my upline, Yvonne Campbell (and I am not just biased!), it is gorgeous! The benefit of the swaps is also that the demonstrators who made their swap provide the project recipe. So here they are:

Ink: Basic black, so saffron, apricot appeal, ruby red, old olive (for sponging)
Card: very vanilla, more mustard, ruby red, apricot appeal
Accessories: earth element markers, crystal effects
This card was made by Janine Grocott. I love the idea how Janine has stamped the image twice to give the impression of ghosted trees.
Cardstock: Glossy white, brocade blue, pumpkin pie, old olive
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, versamark
Accessories: clear embossing powder, heat tool, Spring Flower Bouquet punch, markers (close to cocoa, pumpkin pie, really rust, old olive)

This one was done by Jean McKenzie, using the shaving cream technique (see tutorial on Splitcoasters website (see my link)). Jean has made this as a Christmas card for something different.

Card: brocade blue, night of navy, whisper white

Ink: Night of navy, versamark, regal rose

Accessories: Dazzling diamond glitter, heat and stick powder, heat tool

More swaps

2008-04-16T20:40:00.001+10:00

Here are all the swaps I received from other Demonstrators at the Convention in Brisbane. It was great to see stamp sets used in ways I hadn't imagined. I will have these with me at workshops for awhile to show them off!

My Birthday!

2008-04-15T17:14:00.001+10:00

I am 21 again today! I have had such a lovely day. It started with my 3 kids waking me up this morning and giving me cards (handmade of course!). I then had the day to myself. So, I had a facial and then caught up with my family. My brother washed my poor car for me, cos it was a disgrace from the dust storm we experienced a couple of weeks ago. I then visited a scrapbook shop and bought some gorgeous papers. I've booked in to do a boys album workshop in a couple of weeks, so I will be sure to post some photos from this! Thanks to all the well wishers. My favourite pressies would have to be the Pretties Kit from the new Catalogue (thanks Mum!) and some stamp sets from my kids and D. Also love the DVD I got from my brother of Death at a Funeral (funny movie if you haven't seen it).

Will be posting some more photos shortly.

Stampin' Up! Convention in Brisbane

2008-04-14T20:14:00.001+10:00

Well I had such an exciting weekend. It was truly one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I went to the Stampin' Up! Australia Convention in Brisbane on Friday and Saturday. I learnt soooo much, some of which I would love to pass on to you. I was so excited for my talented and lovely upline, Yvonne Campbell, who won Number 15 Demonstrator in all of Australia, out of 1,458 demonstrators! What an achievement. I would urge anybody to check out Yvonne's blog (see link) and you will see the talent I refer to. It was so deserved. Here is a photo of Yvonne with the flowers and prizes she received. Well done Yvonne! I feel so lucky to have you as my upline!
On Friday morning we all received 2 free stamp sets, a lovely bag and some other small freebies. We got to make some cards and a scrapbook page with the freebies (pictured above). We were shown lots of fantastic techniques. Yvonne presented one of the sessions, which she of course did brilliantly (despite her nerves!).

I met so many lovely ladies on the weekend at the Convention from all over Australia and New Zealand, thank you to everyone, but especially Yvonne Campbell, Sharon Dale (sorry if I snored!) and Claire Daly.

Hi!

2008-04-14T10:44:00.000+10:00

My name is Leanne. This is my first ever blog! I didn't even know what a blog was a little over a year ago! Boy how fast technology develops and becomes part of our day to day life.

I will try to post something every couple of days. It might be about my day (if its interesting!), or photos of some creations I have made (cards, scrapbooking, off the page stuff), or even inspirations I have found on the internet.

I have 2 boys, nearly 11 (ds10) and nearly 7 (ds6) as well as a daughter who is nearly 5 (dd4). They are the most important things in my life.

I also study law, as well as politics and policy. I am due to finish my law components this year.

The part you will be interested in is that I love to create. I am mostly into cards and scrapbooking. Stay tuned for lots of photos.