How Cute...

I am one proud Mum!! Breanna had her first dance concert on the weekend and she did a fabulous job! I was terrified she would freeze or run off the stage, but she was wonderful and oh so cute...Here's a couple of pics - pretty crappy photography but you get the general idea.

Their item was called Rainbows and Friends...here she is

and here with some of her mini movers group (I've pixelated the other girls faces for privacy reasons)

Isn't that just gorgeous!

Now for some other exciting news...I'm off to Sydney for a four day weekend - YAY!!!! That's great in itself, but how good is this....Day 1 -we are going to see New Moon in the Gold Class Cinema in George St, Day 2 a whole day of Stampin' Up! fun at the Sydney regional (Woo Hoo), Day 3 Pearl Jam concert and day 4 Australian Museum to see the dinosaur exhibits!!! And all this while based in a 5 star apartment in Darling Harbour with Rick, Bre and my Mum coming along as our live in babysitter. I am so lucky, and very very grateful. Cant wait!! I'll be back with pics and details sometime next week (when I have gotten over all that excitement!)

More Tree Trimmings...

My absolute favorite set from the current Spring Mini Catalogue would have to be Tree Trimmings. Its a fantastic set for making quick & easy Christmas cards. Here's a couple of cards to demonstrate...As you can see I'm also a fan of the wide striped ribbon too...

If you'd like details on any of these cards please email me or leave a comment.
The Spring mini finishes at the end of this month so times running out to contact me if you'd like to place an order.

Just a super quick post ...we have Breanna's first dance concert today! and as if that wasn't enough we are also off to see Kate Miller Heidke in concert tonight!!! So off I go to get everyone ready! I'll be back soon with photos...

Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas

As promised here are a couple of pics of some of the Christmas items I've made lately...The first one is a Christmas Stocking made using Lauren Meaders template using Ski Slope DSP - very cute:

Next is a coffee jar decorated with Ski Slope DSP and filled with Christmas Choccies:

This Bag-a-lope features Holiday treasures DSP and the Soft Holly wheel:

This acetate box also features the Holiday treasures DSP:

Please email me if you'd like more info on any of these projects. I'll be back soon with the Christmas cards...Have a great weekend everyone!

Tree Trimmings

I couple of weeks back I did another workshop for the Crafty Sisters (waving!) These are the projects we made. The first is a cute little matchbox...

Wouldn't you just love to get something nice and shiny in that for Chrissy! I'm thinking diamond earrings but some of girls thought they'd be ideal for Pandora beads! We used the holiday treasures DSP, Old Olive and Ruby Red cardstock, and the sentiment is from the Best Yet Hostess SS. Thanks very much to the extremely talented Karen Thomas for the poinsettia idea - I've been using them heaps - they are so effective!

The next project was a card using the very popular Tree Trimmings SS. This one is in the Spring Mini caty - so if you don't have this set yet you've only got until the end of November to get it.

The Holiday treasures DSP was used for the background, the card base is Sahara Sand and there is also some brushed gold on there. The holy was done using the Soft Holly wheel in Old Olive then going over the berries with a Ruby Red marker. Seasons greetings is from the Snow Swirled SS and has been gold embossed.

I've done dozens of Christmas cards and gifts lately so I'll be making an effort to get on here more frequently to show you all. Hope you like my first Christmas offering for 09!

I've been scrappin'!!!

I had a wonderful weekend this one just past, the weather was very conducive to staying indoors, and for once we had no plans... so I took advantage and got some stamping and scrapping done. I've made quite a few Christmas projects but I'll save those for next time, and i completed three layouts:

This first one is of the native Australian marsupial Rufous Bettong (more commonly known as the Rat Kangaroo) they are smallest of all the kangaroos - so there's your nature lesson for today! I captured this cute photo when we were on Hamilton Island earlier this year and just had to scrap it:

This is an all SU! Layout. The papers are from the Urban Oasis DSP pack, the colours are Basic Grey and Kiwi Kiss, I've used some Kiwi Kiss ribbon, a basic grey corduroy brad and some chipboard from the On Board So Tweet set. The title is stamped using the Big Deal Alphabet and both the title and chipboard have been coated in Chrystal Effects for dimension. Its a very basic layout but it works I think.

Here's a couple of non-SU! layouts I did as well. These two photos are also from our Hamilton Island holiday. I absolutely love this first shot of Breanna:

Meet The Commander

As promised here's a pic of my new big black boy... the awesome Jeep Commander...

He's so cool I'm absolutely in heaven driving this baby! He has everything that opens & shuts and can just about drive himself! Woo Hoo!!

Its a Jeep thing...You wouldn't understand! (You would Bettina. What do you think? Rick cant wait to show it off at the next Cherokee Club outing!)

On a stamping note I haven't done anything for ages but the creative bug is biting again which is a good sign! I'm going to get stuck into making some Christmas projects real soon and I have a couple of workshops coming up - nothing like a workshop to get me motivated! So check back soon and hopefully I'll have something other than my new car to show you!

Forest Friends

How cute are the animals in the Forest Friends set!! I love them, and couldn't resist using them for the Spring Mini swap that my gorgeous friend Mel Hanlon organised. Here's my swap:

I love receiving swap cards in the mail, they were all gorgeous - I may take a photo and show you them all...later.

I haven't been doing much creating lately - my mojo has been on holidays...too much other "stuff" happening at the moment. But I do have some exciting news (for me anyway) I've bought a new car- brand spanking new (a Jeep of course for those that know me!) I pick it up in a couple of weeks - so I'll show you a photo of my new baby when I get him...he's big and black...

My AMM Vituri Handbag

For some time now I have been admiring the AMM Vituri Handbags...well a few months back I bit the bullet and decided to spoil myself...here is my cool personalised handbag...

Now the trim and lining is a very nice pale pink - extremely close to our beautiful SU! in-colour Pink Pirouette! See...


So that inspired me to make a co-ordinating notebook to keep in my bag...I used some papers and die-cut stickers from the Sweet Nothings Simply Scrappin' Kit...and of course personalised it with a beautiful picture of my darling girl....here it is:

I also stamped the inside pages using the priceless stamp set and Riding Hood Red and Pink Pirouette inks:

And of course I couldn't get the handbag without the wallet - so here is a picture of the complete set:

What do you think? If you'd like more info on the AMM Handbags ~ I got mine from www.craftainers.com.au (look under totes and bags - not sure if they have stock right now but they are very helpful so just drop them email).

I wish I got a dollar for every time someone asked me about the bag! We have been away for a short break in Sydney and I had to write the details of where I got it down for a couple of random strangers!! Its a great talking piece!!

Returning from Sydney and finally getting through my emails I got a nice surprise to find that the extremely talented and lovely Cassie (of the circle flowers fame -see previous posts!) has started her own blog - YAY!!! Do yourself a favour and check out her work here - you'll want to add her to your favorites!! I've also added a link to Cassie's blog from my Team members section on the right.

Until next time, Happy Stampin'!, Kaz xx

Shield Your Eyes - This One's Bright!!

You'll need your sunnies for this one - OMG - I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've ever used Summer Sun! Not being a yellow fan and all, but despite all the brightness and being totally out of my colour comfort zone, I am totally STOKED with this page - I loooove it!!! So much so I have framed it and put up in Bre's room! (she loves it too!)

So the page came together last night when I was instantly inspired by the Pink Flamingo DSP - I was supposed to be preparing for a workshop I'm doing this afternoon - but I just had to make this page! Lucky it was a quick one! In case you cant read the journaling it's the lyrics of "You are My Sunshine" which I just started singing when I saw the paper!!

All the products are SU! apart from the turquoise felt flower (which was a gift from Dannie who is now in Kuwait - miss you heaps!!). If you would like product details please let me know.

Live Like You Mean It

Sorry for being such a slack blogger!! I have been SOOO busy!! I have just done 3 workshops in the past 6 days (as well as my day job) which is HUGE for me - I usually do one or two a month!!! Anyway, at one of those workshops (Hi Crafty Sisters!) I demonstrated how to make the cool circle flowers that Cassie taught me (see previous post) on this cool scrap page...

...I REALLY love this photo. I took it when we at the Gold Coast earlier this year and I was just learning to use my SLR. I wasn't trying to do anything fancy here, it was just an absolute fluke that I captured this perfect silhouette image of Rick & Breanna, and how is that shadow for an awesome leading line...

The colours are Basic Black, Riding Hood red, Basic Gray and Whisper White, The DSP is Urban Oasis, and I've used a Build-a-brad for the centre. The Stamps are Bella's Border wheel and Live Like You Mean it (hostess set).

Here's another sample with the layered circle flowers...this time made with Baja Breeze DSP. The Stamp sets used are Fifth Avenue Floral and Wonderful favourites. Colours are Baja breeze, Basic Gray and Whisper White.

How Awesome is Cassie!!

We had a Happy Stampers team get together for the local demos yesterday, Vicki, Cassie & I had a great time. Cassie is a new team member and she is an awesome scrapbooker...she designed this layout and taught us how to make these cool layered flowers using circle punches and the Circle Circus stamp set - here's a close up:

This is Cassie's layout design which I have CASED entirely (only the photo is different! - it's the first time I have wanted to completely copy a layout and not change a thing!!):

Thanks so much Cassie!!! I Looove this layout!!!

If you love it too leave some comment love for Cassie -which may help inspire her to get her blog up and running!! - no pressure Cassie ;)

My task for the get together was to demo using heat and stick powder. This is the card we made - My first Christmas card for 2009:

Simple but elegant, whisper white and riding hood red, the stamp set is Snow Swirled. It's stamped with versamark then riding hood red, then added heat and stick powder to apply dazzling diamonds to the whole stamped image (I hope you can see that beautiful bling in this photo).

Embossed Creations

A few weeks back I held a technique class on Embossing. We had a great time, my lovely customers enjoyed learning the cracked glass technique:

I cased one of Shelli's convention demonstrations using Rustic Rooster for this card then made the feature panel cracked glass - here's a close up...


Here's another example of the technique, this time using Fresh Cuts:


We also did the Josephs Coat technique which always gives the WOW factor...here I used the Its Beautiful wheel

And another (stepped up) version...

We didn't do this one in the class, but I just had to case Pam's emerging colour technique card from convention...

Embossing is not something I do a great deal of - I think thats mostly because I usually create in a hurry and don't take the time to get the gear out! But when I do I always love the result and vow to make more of an effort...

Dingo Scrap Page

Here's another one of the Animal photos I took on Hamilton Island - I love this shot - he looked straight into the camera and I love the focus being on his eyes. Now the photo of the scrap page on the other hand is absolutely terrible! I only took this one shot in a super hurry last weekend before I put the page away in its album - now I've found the picture is blurry (and I cant be bothered getting the page out for another shot)... Anyway, about the scrap page - I did this one to show how embossing can be used on a scrapbook page for a recent class. I've used Circle Circus to do the embossed background at the top of the page and to make the embellishment (which is also embossed). All products for this page are SU!. The papers are Haiku DSP, the colours are More Mustard, Old Olive, Very Vanilla and Tangerine Tango.

I'm having some issues with my photo editing software but once I get that sorted I'll be back with the embossed cards we made...

have a great weekend!

Koala Scrap Page

You may remember that I mentioned I took heaps of cool wildlife shots on our recent Holiday to Hamilton Island. This is one of my favourites...this super cute fella was at the "Koala Gallery" Boutique Zoo on the Island. Breanna insisted we have breakfast there just about everyday! I didnt argue - it gave me plenty of opportunity to practice my photography skills!

I love this photo so much I just had to scrap it...the paper and rub-ons are non SU but everything else is...

Shaving Cream Technique

Here's two of the cards we made at my shaving cream technique class a couple of weeks ago.

This first one uses the shaving cream technique piece as a background...

For this one the bird and flower have been done using the faux shaving cream technique, a great effect without the mess...I really love this card and of the three cards we made at the class this was every ones fave!

After the class I had a piece of pink and blue shaving cream technique coloured card and I needed to make a card for my friend Tanya who had just had twins (a boy & a girl). So this is what I made...its a joy fold card, I stamped the teddy and giraffe images onto the shaving cream peices and then cut them out. I also used some of the blue for a background peice. It didn't come out as good as it was in my head, oh well you get that! Tanya liked it anyway...

A Catch Up...

Busy Busy Busy...that's how its been round here lately. I've had a great time though! I held a class on the weekend with some lovely ladies - we had a great time playing with shaving cream!!! I'm yet to photograph our creations - so that will have to wait till next time. For now here's a couple of cards from earlier this month and the make & takes from convention...

I just had to have a go at these flower pot cards - they're everywhere right now and perfect for Mothers Day...

This was the card I made (twice!) for our twin nieces Jessica & Jade who celebrated their 6th Birthday...

These are the Make & Take projects we made at Convention (or at home after convention!):

Here's the inside of the scrapbook card...The lovely ladies in the top two photos are some of my super talented team members "The Happy Stampers", with my Upline Sharon and my roomies Leah & Julie. In the bottom left photo are the blogging legends Karen & Jean with Mel & I - It was awesome to catch up with these inspirational ladies!

Please email me if youd like any details on any of the above projects.

Scrapbooking inspired by Shelli...

My favorite project Shelli demonstrated at Convention was her Friends 24-7 card, it was absolutely gorgeous and I fully intended to CASE it!! I grabbed the stamp set and then noticed a couple of photos I had printed of my gorgeous friend Mel Hanlon, I got a little sidetracked from the original card and the end result was this scrapbook page!!! I'm pretty happy with it...I love it when something just comes together...Sorry about the glare on the photo I will try to take another picture with better light and replace this one- but here it is...

I created that page last weekend just before a workshop and i thought it would be cool to show the versatility of the set by showing how different colours can give you a completely different look. Here's the same photo printed in colour and scrapped with brighter coloured cardstock, even though the stamps and punch used are the same, the look is very different!

Convention Swap Cards

Better late than never...here are the pics of my convention swaps...The first one was my attempt at a masculine card...I liked this but wasn't sure anyone else would - turned out it was definitely the most popular of my swaps!!!. The colours are Baja Breeze, Close to Cocoa, Not Quite Navy and Very Vanilla:

These were my 3D swaps - Dreams Clippie - these were pretty popular too:

This one was my personal favorite...I just looove the Inspired by Nature set. You cant tell in this photo but I did some faux clouds with a punched out scallop circle in the background. The bulrushes are made using the slot punch and the butterfly is rock n rolled...Colours are Elegant Eggplant, Lavender lace, Old Olive, Bashful Blue & Whisper White:

Last but not least my "tricky" swap - this was done using the brayer to reverse one of the birds from the Always SS. I like the classic black and white and its something a little bit different. It was quite involved to make though, so I only made 10:

So all up I went with 80 swaps and I came home with 70 something awesome swaps in exchange (I gave a few away!!). I have used some of them for display and inspiration already! So if I swapped with you thank you so much!!!

I wont leave it so long till my next post - I have a scrapbook page I really want to show you, so until I photograph it - Have fun, Kaz x