It's Spool Time!

There's a new Stampin' Up! promotion for October:  Spool Time!  Quite simply, with every $60 you spend, you get a free package of in-colour stitched satin ribbon!

Here are the details:

And check out this hilarious video made by Stampin' Up!  asking the eternal question:  Will it Embellish?

Betsy's Birthday

I was fortunate to have my lovely cousin (and Downline) Maree over last weekend to spend some time catching up, and creating together.  Maree is a Demonstrator in Dalby, so if you live that way, please look her up!  She is enormously talented, and fun, and she'd be happy to help you with all your scrapbooking and stamping needs.

Aside from the plug, LOL, Maree and I  borrowed each others stamps and had a great time creating samples and perfecting watercolouring techniques.

Here's a card I made with Maree's stamps, from Betsy's Blossoms (can't believe I haven't got this yet!):

Stamps:  Betsy's Blossoms, Wacky Wishes (NEW Hostess)
Inks:  Summer Starfruit, Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple, Gumball Green
Other:  Big Shot, Apothecary Accents Framelit

I promptly gave away the card because my daughter had a birthday party to attend today!  Note the envelope I stamped peeking behind the card?

Of course, I also had to make a matching gift tag once I'd wrapped the gift (in recycled brown paper, naturally, stamped with my new favourite Jumbo Wheels):

Stamps:  Allhambra Jumbo Wheel, Wacky Wishes
Ink:  Wild Wasabi, Primrose Petals
Other:  Bigshot, Labels Collection Framelits

As you can see, I'm rather addicted to the new Framelits.  They make creating a pretty gift tag so easy and quick.

I tell my husband I'm saving soooo much money by never having to buy tags, cards or wrapping paper any more.  All the money is going towards my stamp collection instead!

When you need to send "With Sympathy."

In the past fortnight, two of my friends have experienced the sorrow of deaths in their family.  One, an elderly ill parent;  the other, a spirited, mischievous four year old daughter lost in a tragic accident.

I'm not telling you this to garner sympathy, but because I am reminded that a handmade card is perhaps most needed at a time of bereavement, and yet much more difficult to create than any other type of card.   None of us know when a tragedy will strike, and when it does, our instinct is to reach out to comfort our friends, even when it is difficult to know the right words to say.

Here are the two cards I've recently created, and sent to my bereaved friends.  I hope that they might be useful to you if you are in the unfortunate situation of having to come up with something suddenly, and in a time of stress.  Both of these cards were photographed just before I popped them into an envelope to post, so they weren't photographed in the most ideal conditions.

Stamps:  Loving Thoughts; Daydream Medallions

I find it easier to keep the card one-layered in these situations; mainly because it makes them easier to produce quickly.  I also like to keep it fairly simple, unless you are making a few to have in advance, for the same reason.  

Stamps:  Loving Thoughts; Papillion Potpourri

Remember that when you are making a bereavement card, it really doesn't matter how complicated it is, or how perfect.  What matters is that you are reaching out with love to someone in the depths of grief.

It doesn't matter what you say inside the card - a simple "I'm so sorry for your loss; please know I'm thinking of you," is sufficient.   People are often worried they'll say the wrong thing; but it is more hurtful to say nothing at all and leave the loss unacknowledged, in my opinion.

True story:  When my youngest sister died sixteen years ago, I remember receiving a card from a young male friend, and being touched by his kindness.  Three years later, I married that kind man.

Shocked yet?

By the amount of posts I've done in a row?  LOL!  I'm trying to be more consistent and I've scheduled a week's worth of blog posts in advance, because it is school holidays and I'm busy with 4 children and their friends, sleepovers, movies, playdates, activities, fights, etc.  I want to get into a good habit with regular posts.  So here goes anyway - life will get in the way of my intention, no doubt!

I've been on a real creative steamroller lately, with ideas whirring in my head that I MUST get down in ink and paper.  So there are plenty of projects to show you over the next few weeks!

Last weekend my next door neighbour turned 40 and had a fabulous birthday party.  It was such a fun night - I ended up having a little too much fun and paid for it the next day (I really don't drink much these days!).  But that means it was a fab night, right?  LOL.

Here is the very quick and easy birthday card I made Steve (I also made a matching gift tag, but didn't remember to take a photo of it!):

Stamps:  Memorable Moments
Other:  DSP strips, Labels Collection Framelits, Big Shot

 And here's another from my sample board using pretty much the same elements:

Don't you love a stamp set that makes it easy?  And when there is a matching punch or Framelit too...swoon.  

Christmas Countdown

Can you believe how much Christmas paraphernalia is in the shops already?  It will be upon us before we know it.  I'll be doing Christmas Card Classes, etc, so watch this space for details - and your in box, if you are on my mailing list.  I'm just figuring out what clear spaces are in my calendar once I factor in the children's commitments, husband's travel schedule, my own appointments and commitments....and I'll make sure that's done asap!

To get you into the mood, here are photos of a sweet Christmas project I made at Convention  this year - Advent Boxes.  The boxes were all made with the Fancy Favour Die and the Big Shot.  I love how versatile this box is.  The stamps are from the cute Christmas set "25 & Counting".

Launch Continued....Bec's cards!

 Once again, my lovely customer Monica allowed me to photograph her creations from the Launch, didn't she do a fantastic job?  Can you believe Monica is new to card making?

My talented Stampin' Sister Bec O' Gorman designed these cards, she's very clever!

From the Mini:  Friendship Preserves stamp set and matching Framelits; also Woodgrain embossing folder and the Paper Piercing Pack.

Papillon Potpourri stamp set, and co-ordinating Butterfly Punch

I'm so lucky to have such talented, generous, hardworking friends that I never would have met if I hadn't joined Stampin' Up!  I really think I am blessed to have these amazing women in my life.

Steph's cards from Launch

Again, thanks to my lovely customer Monica for allowing me to take photos of the cards she made!
These cards were designed by Steph Pike, aren't they gorgeous?

This card features products from the mini - Early Esspresso c'oredinations card stock, Lacy Brocade embossing folder,
Scentsational Season gingerbread man stamp and co-ordinating framelit, and Illuminate Glimmer watermark stampin' pad.  

Again, from the Mini - Owl Occasions stamp set, plus the NEW DSP Be of Good Cheer (it's a Christmas one!).  The sentiment is from Create a Cupcake, i think.