Designer Series Paper sampler

My DSP sampler for 2009/2010 is made up of 3" square segments of each of the DSP appearing in the Australian 2009/2010 Stampin' Up! catalogue. I've used my tab punch after carefully measuring the size of the punch and making a template in Word to print the name and code number of each type of paper on an Avery A4 sheet. I used Avery labels because they tend to be a heavier weight label and I wanted the tabs to be fairly strong. I punched using a standard hole-punch and threaded the papers onto a 50mm hinged ring which I bought at my local newsagent.
We have some good news at the Gibbs' household - my husband has an interview on Friday. Keeping everything crossed that it goes well. And only two more sleeps til I head down to Canberra for my first Stampin' Up! convention. I'm SO nervous! The excitement about the convention ALMOST eclipses the THRILL of the children returning to school tomorrow. HALLELUJAH!

"And the walls came tumbling down"

At least we have a roof over our heads and will manage for a while. But the rug has been pulled and we're swept off our feet. Hubby lost his job today - another victim of the "technical" recession. Our home is feeling very very sad today.

You (still) float my boat...

Its been 10 years of wedded bliss... Well, okay its not exactly been blissful all the way, but there's been better and worse, richer and poorer, sickness and health... And we're not dead yet, though I'm sure there have been occasions... ;)
Here's the card I threw together last night for my beloved. I realised on Saturday evening that I hadn't yet made one for him. So as soon as the kids were in bed last night, I started. About one and a half programs (watching telly) later, this was done. Quite pleased with it myself! :) All 'In Colors', Boatloads of Love (my sale-a-bration gift) and much use of the beloved scallop edge punch.

Team cyberstamp cards

I think I needed a distraction on Sunday - I made these two cards for the team cyberstamp which was actually held on Wednesday. The first card, below, is based on a card featured on p113 of the 2009/2010 Idea Book & Catalogue. I've used some of the new DSP "Urban Garden", cutting out the flowers and sticking them to Baja Breeze + Basic Gray card. For a bit of interest I pleated the Basic Gray and scalloped the edge. Looking at it now I think it needs one less Baja Breeze flower - the one under the staple, so I'll pull it off. Kiwi Kiss ribbon, pleated again with staples to hold. Corner is the reverse side of the same "Urban Garden" sheet with a filligree brad to hold it.

This card uses "Fresh Cuts" a lovely versatile set and was for Dani's colour challenge of Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery and Taken with Teal. I had stamped the Baja Breeze some time ago and simply tore it out of the sheet, scrunched and flattened the paper. The teal piece was one I'd scallopped some time ago too, and the celery I'd used for something else, tore it up and placed the stamped side face down. Bit of ribbon, word window punch, added some choc-chip stamping and Voila!

Hope you enjoy!

On a somber note, Grace's funeral is tomorrow and I'm praying that we all get through it okay. I'm also wishing I could be of more help and use to Tab and Michael, Grace's Mum and Dad. Rest well little one.

Sad news...

Our family grew a little on Monday with the arrival of Grace Rosemary Gibbs thanks to Tabitha and Michael (Darren's brother & partner). She never stabilised enough to have the operation she needed and despite struggling for 45 hours, she passed away early yesterday morning. This is the card I made for her family using a set borrowed from my upline Jayne.
Rest in peace little angel.

You're a Blast!

Super cute little card. Took minutes to create with the most time taken drawing more stars and dots around the space-ship! :) The set is Pun Fun and I used Night of Navy cardstock with the spaceship stamped on Whisper White in Night of Navy ink. White gel pen to extend the star field.

Don't fall off your seat...

I scrapped!!!

Here's one using 2 year old SU In Colors, Dazzling Diamonds and the "Everything" from the Always set + a Basic Grey rub-on.

This one is of my darling hubby with his 2nd newest niece, Emma. I just had news that there's another one this morning: Grace Rosemary. Anyway, this was a couple of weekends ago and Emma is 1 1/2 weeks.

And this is using my absolute favourite paper brand, Basic Grey. This layout fell together so easily! Just adore it.

Sunny Boy box with a twist (excuse the pun!)

The box below contains the incentive stamp for my hostess at tomorrow's workshop. I designed this box when looking for something simple to do for our school Mother's Day stall. This will hold 3-4 heart foil choccies and have some kind of SU tag on the end. This one is made with Afternoon Tea designer series paper, a price-tag bought from a newsagent (sold in lots of 100 for about $6) and a scrap of ribbon. I think the scallop edge punch just adds a tiny touch of "special", don't you?
Thanks muchly to Kylie for her much needed inspiration to make this card work! Yeah, I cheat and visit OTHER DEMONSTRATORS blogs to get inspiration!! SHHH! Don't tell anyone! ;) Its crayon resist, a technique I hadn't mastered until now! Pale colours are very forgiving for this technique, so I've used Pink Pirouette and Baja Breeze as my jump points. Easy to add some Pacific Point and Baja Breeze cardstock at the other end. Stamp sets are Embrace Life and Say it with Scallops.
My new favourite stamp set - Bloom Away is coming from 1 April in the 2009/2010 Stampin' Up! catalogue. A lovely lovely stamp set for Aussies! I've stamped on Naturals Ivory card, water-coloured with Riding Hood Red and Always Artichoke and mounted it on Sage Shadow and Always Artichoke cardstock. Kraft is the base card, and choc chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon. Simple but immensely satisfying to do!

Gorgeous colours - beautiful stamps!

The new "In Color" set from Stampin' Up! is just totally gorgeous! I'm addicted to the Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point and Kiwi Kiss colour combo. But I just can't seem to stop myself including Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette and Riding Hood Red to make it a full set of all colours! Here I've used "Window Dressing", a new hostess level 3 set (party sales of $1000). Its quite addictive - and I just adore the little pussy cat and girl - the second image is (of course) Caitlyn and Mishka in the window.
I'm also enjoying the pretty "Bloom Away" stamp set, here coloured in Pink Pirouette and Always Artichoke on Naturals Ivory, matting Sage Shadow, Always Artichoke with Kraft backgound.

These new colours and stamps have revitalised my interest and enthusiasm! Hope they do yours too!

A myriad of things...

Maybe it was my birthday (this week), maybe it was the very helpful government handout, maybe it was any number of things. Or maybe it was just articulating on my blog how I felt and accepting it was a blip and be ready to move on. Anyway, I feel so much better. I think getting to SU! training at Jayne Mercer's place also helped. Everything is much easier when its put into perspective. Its also better when I'm able to break down the "insurmountable" into small tasks which are really much more achievable. Don't expect too much, and don't be so hard on myself. As long as I get there in the end. Setting goals, whether it be personal, financial, family or house-work (my HUGEST "insurmountable") related!!