Get your diaries out - Stampin' Crop Dates are done!

This year, as part of my resolution to plan ahead, I have scheduled my monthly Stampin' Crop days for January through to July 2010.

Saturday January 30th


Saturday February 20th


Saturday March 20th


Saturday April 17th


Saturday May 15th


Saturday June 19th


Saturday July 17th

So, pretty much we have them listed for the 3rd Saturday of the month.

When: 10am - 5pm Come for the whole day, or for a few hours when you can.


Where: Cherrybrook, North Western Sydney. Location provided on booking.


What it's about: These days are a social occasion to gather with fellow crafters, and catch up on whatever projects are important to you - stamping, scrapbooking, quilling, cross-stitch, whatever! I provide the use of all my stamps and tools, as well as an inspiration table with card samples and magazines. I also provide casual instruction in techniques, and demonstrate a couple of techniques or ideas.


What is provided?: Use of my extensive stamp and tool collection. Casual instruction. Tea, coffee, table nibbles and light refreshments.


What to bring: Your projects to work on, basic papercrafting tools such as trimmer, scorer, bone folder and adhesives. Bring your lunch with you, or there is a cafe and bakery a few minutes walk away.


Cost: $15.00 for the day.

How to book: Call me on 9484 9447 or 0403 175 790 to reserve your place. Early booking is recommended, as places are limited. Looking forward to seeing you, beginners are welcome!

I've also shown a card above that I made recently for a new baby girl arrival. It uses some colours that are not often featured in my cards, but it is nice to break away from the favourites sometimes! I started choosing colours with the Summer Mini paper range 'kaleidescope' in mind, hence the Apricot Appeal, Pixie Pink, Pink Passion and Pretty in Pink scheme. The stamp set is the gorgeous "Crazy for Cupcakes" and the sentiment is from "Short and Sweet". I used blender pen and watercolor pencils to colour the image. Dressing up touches come from some halfback pearls from the Pretties Kit and some lovely eyelet lace ribbon from the "Dress Up" ribbon originals pack and the eyelet border punch. I think I'm doing OK with my other resolution of "just USE it!" too! Kids are nagging to get in the pool now, might be back later if I get to take some photos!!

We're BAAAACCCKK!

Kim and I are back from a week in Bawley Point, and after a jam packed weekend are ready to go with bloggings again. Thanks very much to everyone who was able to come to our Summer Mini Catalogue Launch yesterday, we hope you enjoyed seeing many of the products in use! I'll be posting pictures of the Make and Take projects we offered soon .

For now, here's a project I made for a Secret Santa. Underneath is a tin that I saved from a china mug I bought, and was nice and easy to decorate with flat smooth sides. The papers are the delectable Bella Rose Designer Series. I used the wonderful Circle Scissor to cut the layers for the top of the tin (after demo'ing a number of times yesterday I can confidently say I am now a Circle Scissor expert!!!) using Riding Hood Red and Pink Pirouette cardstock to match the paper. It's so easy to pull a project together like this when everything matches so nicely - it's a simple matter of choosing a paper design you like, a couple of the matching cardstocks, some matching ribbon and stamp using matching ink colours! And with things like the Pretties Kit flowers, used here in the hat pin, which can be coloured with reinkers to match any colour you like, you have an ideal finishing touch to match. I have also used the Eyelet Border punch to decorate the strips on the tin base. The stamps are from the "Dreams du Jour" set, and I watercoloured them using a blender pen and inkpad puddle. I added some layered flowers to the central motif, and glazed them with Crystal Effects. It did blur the ink a little, but I decided I liked the soft effect and left it that way. I hope my recipient Angie finds it useful as a keeping tin for bits and bobs.

Hi from a clifftop on the NSW South Coast!

Kim and I are enjoying a beach holiday with our families near Bawley Point, south of Ulladulla on the NSW South Coast. We have no phone coverage, and are currently perched on a clifftop where there is some wireless internet coverage! Ah, the wonders of modern technology! Then picture above shows the famous beach dwelling kangaroos at Pebbly Beach - we only saw one, not on the sand, but it was a pretty spot nonetheless.

We're off to the beach soon, just wanted to say HI, and remind you of our Summer Mini Catalogue Launch Party this SUNDAY 17th January, 2pm-5pm. Leave a message on (02) 9484 9447 or 0403 175 790 if you'd like to RSVP. Cost is $5 per person and includes your copy of the catalogue, light refreshments, make and takes, demonstrations and the chance to win prizes!

We've both been busy creating with the goodies in this catalogue, so promise to have lots to show you when we return!