A baby boom?

I'm not sure if it is my new baby kitten, or the fact that there are several babies to be born within the next month or two, but I was inspired today to get out the pretty baby colours and create!

The first card uses Barely Banana cardstock, stamped with the Polka Dot Background in Barely Banana ink. The elephant is from Wild About You, and is stamped in Buckaroo Blue (07 in color), but using the "Kissing" technique and the Paisley background stamp. There are rumours that the Paisley stamp may be on the upcoming retirement list, so get in FAST to ensure you get your own before they disappear, as it is just fantastic for creating these effects on solid stamps, as well as being a great unisex background. I stamped the elephant again on Brocade Blue using Versamark ink and cut out the ears to mount over the base layer. To finish I used a length of Blue Bayou double stitched ribbon and a piece of Styled Silver Hodgepodge . The greeting is stamped from the Nursery Necessities set.

Next up we have my favourite from today's stamping session. It uses Nursery Necessities and stamping in Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery and Barely Banana inks onto Whisper White cardstock.

Technique tip: To get even impressions from these solid stamps, I used a brayer to roll over the stamp surface after inking. This creates a thin even layer of ink on the stamp.

The base layer this time is Certainly Celery stamped with Polka Dot in Certainly Celery. Then I mounted a piece of cuttlebugged Whisper White onto a piece of Barely Banana and arranged cut out shapes on mounting foam. To finish I stamped the welcome little one greeting and punched with the large oval, and tied a length of wide Certainly Celery grosgrain around the centre band.

The next card is for a baby shower I'm attending tomorrow, and uses the Celery base, Polka Dot background, and a band of So Saffron edged with the Scallop Edge punch. Overlaying this is a strip of Designer Prints paper in Certainly Celery and a Pretties Kit flower with a scallop circle and circle punch centre. The welcome baby sentiment is from the Short and Sweet set. Quick and easy!

Finally there is another photo of my newest furbaby Bentley the British Blue! Everyone together, say awwwwwww....... :)

Last chance!

Quick!! Get those orders for your In Colour inkpads, reinkers and cardstocks NOW!! There are only a few days until the retirement list is announced on the 1st March, and after that date they will only be available WHILE STOCKS LAST. With some of the reinkers already on backorder, this is your last chance to stock up.

So, why get reinkers? Well, depending on how often you use your inkpad, your climate (and if you're like me, your propensity to leave the lids open accidentally...) eventually the liquid ink evaporates and your pad will be a little dry instead of nice and juicy with great impressions from it.

With a reinker, you can refresh your inkpad over and over as necessary, and be happily using it in years to come! Thanks to Kim Tonnet for the image.

Why not check out the Bushfire Appeal list of stamp sets, where 50% of the cost is being donated to the Red Cross by Stampin' Up, and my commission goes to Victoria Wildlife Rescue, and stock up on a few essentials to earn a free Sale-a-bration stamp set? Click here to view the catalogue online.

I'm taking orders up until about 9pm this SATURDAY, 28th February.... DON'T MISS OUT!!

Nothing to do with stamping again, but isn't HE cute

Nope, not a huge spider this time, but the latest addition to our family :) His name is Bentley, and he is a British Shorthair (often known as British Blue since he has the classic steel blue coat colour) We had absolutely NO intention of adding feline #3 to our family when we visited a large pet shop on Sunday. None. I had prepared some water for the mothballed fishtank, with the thought that the children would be thrilled to bring home some pets of the piscean variety.

The actual purpose of the visit was to donate some cat food to the Bushfire Appeal, for the displaced animals in Victoria. Good deed done, we wandered the massive shop, looking at all the interesting creatures. And one of them caught our eye in particular. He captivated the entire family with his antics in the enclosure with his Ragdoll kitten friends. And then we went home. And pondered. And wished that we'd asked for a cuddle. So, we decided, completely unanimously, to call on Monday to enquire about his price tag and other relevant details.

On Monday, the call was duly made, to find that his price had just been reduced because he was now 15 weeks and had been there since 8 weeks of age. Hmmm, that wasn't good, poor little thing needed a proper home. You can see where this is leading!

So, on relaying this information to dear hubby, he surprised me by saying that Lillian and I should go out and ask to hold him, and see how he went with a child around. Hmmm, fateful decision! It turns out that he didn't like being held in the pet shop, and was scratchy and scared. So, I asked if we could take him to a separate room and see how he went in a quieter environment. And he instantly changed to a purring schmoozy kitten. Decision made!

He's settling in well, although Monte and Fudge are a little less than impressed. I'll keep you posted on his progress...