Off on my spring break……..

Well….this is where I will be until October 7………………are you jealous???? I sooooo deserve a bit of R & R and I intend on taking it. Actually my kids deserve it more…we didn’t go away last holidays and had a very quiet break as that is when I started with my pneumonia (mycoplasma infection) and to be honest I still suffer now….the doc did say that I would have it most of this term so we are all off to rest and recuperate and to enjoy the caravan we so live to go to LOL!!!!

Now……important info…….don’t forget that for celebrating World Card Day, Stampin’ Up! have a great special…..20% off the Simply Sent kids from the 4th of October until the 10th…..If you’d like to take advantage of this I will be placing an order as soon as I return. So, send me an e-mail and include your phone number and I will phone you to organise payment and we can combine our orders on the 7th or 8th……sounds like a plan???? If we get three or four of us ordering…..we can raffle off the free benefits that we get from combining orders….never know, for ordering one simply sent kit you may end up with loads of free product. Check out the kits here.…..everything you need , all pakaged up in a great gift box , to make the great cards pictured….. See you in a little while……

A little tear as they leave for the big, wide world……

This is the group of cross dressed young women and men that i have taught Chemistry to for the past two years…..well most of them anyway. My photo of my senior science class is too blurry to share – will have to e-mail one of these guys to send my one from their camera……..They are very very talented, as well as being just great kids – I’m confident the world will be Ok with these guys in charge. I’ve already warned the doctors amongst the group that they better look after me when I’m old and senile….or I’ll bring these and other pictures out of the closet. I’m always sad to say goodbye to Year 12…..but this year I did it in style by making each and every one a graduation card – 40 in total!!!! I spent most of Monday night finishing them and I was really chuffed to see how much they appreciated it – especially realising that I had made these cards myself. Some of the girls know that I make cards as my ‘other gig’…….but I even had a very burley boarder boy visit me on Wednesday morning to coyly collect the card he missed out on Monday because he was otherwise engaged…..I even got a big kiss and cuddle in return…………………oh, I miss them already and I’m really looking forward to seeing their great results in the HSC this year. I hope we get lots in the top 20….. Anyway enough gabbing – I’ll show you the cards….I made both styles using both real red and Wild wasabi and was very happy with the results…… This is a great stamp set – Great Grads and I have already given my left overs to the teacher who teaches the special kids at our local Primary school and she is looking forward to giving the year 6 kids a special treat as they leave……..

All images © Stampin’ Up! 1990 – 2008

Gift voucher purse….

Isn’t this just the cutest??? It is a cut – two pocket purse – that I used to hold a gift voucher for a customer for her best friend . K & K both turn 40 this month….(I still have a few months to go for that biggy)…and one K bought the other a great voucher that I placed in this bag. The bag is made from folding a 12″ double sided sheet up and a bit of sticky strip later leaves you with this. The scallop circle you see sticking up is the top of the gift voucher that tucks into one of the pockets and I tucked a cute little magnet into the other………just so cute……keep you eye out for the class i am running soon where we will make some Christmas packagaing that will include the how’s of theis one plus others……….stay tuned!!!

images © Stampin’ Up! 1990 – 2008

Wheelin’ deal!!!

Time to remind you all of the great deal Stampin’Up! have this month. They have 6 of the best stamps in the catalogue being sold this month (ONLY!!) as a bundle that includes the jumbo wheel that coordinates with the stamp set. Yep, that means a FREE jumbo wheel with these sets. I already own three of these bundles and think there may be an order for one or two more of them with this great special.

This here chocolate cover was made using one of my favourites ! This one is the Carte postale bundle (which includes the leaves laCarte) and uses the stamp set that I have used for the central medallion. This was the hostess gift for my workshop held earlier today. This was made with my fave colour combo of Sahara sand and very vanilla. This combo hasn’t seen the light of day much lately but with it matching the coffee cup so well…how could I refuse?

The other stamp sets available as a bundle are

* Priceless bundle (which includes so swirl- see post below) for $48.95

* Merry, merry (which includes the All about Christmas wheel) for $45.95)

* Artfully Asian (with water colour vine wheel) for $45.95

* Nursery necessities (which includes nursery letters) for $56.95

* Bodacious Bouquet (which includes the bouquet wheel ) for $58.95

This truly is fab! A saving of $15.95 in each case. If you’d like to order, then drop me a line by e-mailing sharon@lvh.com.au. Go on….I’m putting in an order today LOL!!!!Customers should receive a newsletter in the next day or so that will offer instructions on how to make these very cool chockie covers (for the lindt choc I have used , although they are way too easily adapted for whatever chocolate you’d like!)

The gorgeous medallion in the middle was made using punches and the Carte Postale set with a gorgeous flat back cream pearl from the pretties kit……..the first real time I have cracked that bit open…..and I luuurrve them….think you will be seeing them more often!!! LOL!!!

All images © Stampin’Up! 1990 – 2008

Taking note!

I’ll be back later to tell you about these……..off to the CPS concert !! Maddy is singing in the rain…Jared is drumming up a storm……Caitlin is a scientist….GO FIGURE!!!!! Well….they all did really well….so I better get back to the instructions for these.

These are all A4 spiral bound notebooks available at Woolworths supermarkets. They are made by Marbig and cost a big $3. Why are they so good??? They have a plastic sleeve as a cover so you can design you cover – stamp it and then insert in…….I have added two brads to each one though after inserting the sleeve. This gives the book a real 3D feel. I just poked a hole through the plastic and my cover and then poked my brad in and opened the back carefully so it reamined within the plastic sleeve. This makes the cover wipeable and this project can be completed in under half an hour. Drop into Woolworths (in Australia LOL) and grab some. My 11 year old daughter has been making these for her friends as part of their birthday present. Kids love personalised presents – so all those people with kids with names that aren’r spelt conventionally – (like our Jaie!!!) can now have somehing with their name on it!!! LOL!!!

All images © Stampin’ Up! 1990 – 2008

Saturday celebraties…..

My dear son, Jared, Turned 9 today!! Sheesh – where does the time go? My dearest daughter Caitlin, went to an 11 year old’s party today too……soooooooo lots of card making and present wrapping for mum LOL!!So here is Jared’s spread. I embossed his gift bag (first time I have done this on such a gloss bag….) and learnt a few lessons – really is best to find your embossing buddy first and secondly, use a versamark that is very juicy. I actually did this after 11pm and I knew Jared wouldn’t notice the difference…….so how did he like it ?? Both went straight to ‘the pool room MUM!!” LOLInstead of embossing Laura’s bag – still too tired to do it properly LOL….I just decorated her envelope with her name…..apparently the first question caitlin was asked when she entered the door was “Did your mum make the card?”…….she then held up the bag to deep sighs all round…..LOL!!! A huge compliment – I enjoy doing it though because it makes my kids happy to wander off to a party with a present neatly presented and a hand stamped card (that they usually help create). Caitlin helped to cut out the flowers – she usually does a better job than me anyway LOL!!!! Oh, this card was inspired by the lovely Kristie ……I will link her once I find her blog again LOL!!!

Enjoy the weekend!! We are having temperatures in the late 20’s here – way cool!, or warm actually!!

Images © Stampin’ Up! 1990-2008

Stamp a stack

Come stamp 6 gorgeous Christmas cards with me next week at my house. I’d love to have your company…..from 8pm until we can’t stay awake anymore…LOL!!! These are the designs….

You’ve seen this before and some of you have actually made one in a workshop. Well come along and make 3 for your collection of Christmas cards. The other card uses the same set, different colours and some embossing……. Both these will make great cards to start your handmade cards off for the coming holiday season. Overall , you will make 6 cards and envelopes for you to stamp (gorgeous stampin up ones of course!!) will be supplied. The cost is $20 and bookings are essential………so next Friday night, the 18th of September……..e-mail to book your spot and get directions……..sharon@lvh.com.au

Images © Stampin’ Up! 1990 – 2008

Come on, it’ll be fun!!!!

One Sheet Wonders …….. with a FREE wheel!!

Do you like these cards?? These are done using the So swirly wheel and the coordinating stamp set, Priceless…… Stampin’ Up!© have a great special this month…….six great stamp sets can be bought and they will chuck in the coordinating jumbo wheel FOR FREE!!!

The stamp sets selected for this promotion are

Priceless (with the so swirly wheel) for $48.95

Carte Postale (with Leaves laCarte wheel ) for $48.95

Merry , merry (with All about Christmas wheel) for $45.95

Artfully Asian (with the Watercolour vine wheel) for $45.95

Nursery necessities (with Nursery Letters wheel) for $56.95

Bodacious Bouquet (and the bodacious wheel) for $58.95.

I will show you some other examples of projects made with some of my favourites in the days ahead…..

This promotion is available only ’til the end of the month…………..grab your bargain by e-mailing me at sharon@lvh.com.au and I can arrange any or all of these to be delivered to your door this week!!

All images © Stampin’ Up! 1990 – 2008

Happy Fathers Day……

This is the cute little wallet card I made for my kids to give DH for Fathers Day. He has bought himself his own present LOL!!! He used to be an avid photographer and since the invent of digital cameras has never really got back into it. I convinced him to get a digital SLR and he finally liked the look of the new Pentax just released. He is excited to still be able to get some use of his old Pentax lenses. So, he has bought the whole kit and caboodle…camera, new filters and a new bag and is keen to get back into it all. This card is almost a standard sized card with a strip cut from the edge. I used the strip to make the wallet closure. On the inside of the closure and on the wallet front i have stuck a magnet …… one of those little cool zyron magnet tape bits. This is made using close to cocoa and is stamped with linen background and then faux stitching around the whole wallet and the strap. The inside is a piece of cardstock trimmed just enough to fit ncely inside. I have cut some slits and placed a hole punch at each end of the slit to make it more forgiving, so it doesn’t rip. The inside piece is treated the same way, stamped with linen, bit of sponging on the edges and has faux stitching around the edge. I have made little coloured cards to fit into the slit pockets and each child has written their messages to their dad. As I said, the closure made from the strip left over after trimming the card down to size. The sentiment on the from is from Occasionsal greetings which really does give great variety in the options you have for every occasion. P.S. Not an original at all …….. you will see versions of this everywhere ’cause it is so cute!!!

Happy Fathers Day to all and theirs!!!

All images © Stampin’ Up! 1990 – 2008

Magnolia memories…………

Magnolia’s always make me smile. They remind me of my mum. She insisted on us buying a magnolia when we first worked on our garden 10 years ago….it cost us a bomb!! I think it was about $150 at the time. It lives on in our garden, has never really thrived but keeps on keeping on. It reminds me of my mum and her passion for things. I think I’ll always miss her , but she is always with me……..I have had to make three sympathy cards tonight – something that doesn’t make me smile a whole lot. This is the stamp “From the garden” and as soon as I saw it , I knew I wanted it………these are the first cards made with it ……in so saffron, regal rose and elegant eggplant. They are watercoloured and stuck on the front using stampin’ dimensionals with some matching ribbon wrapped around the front. I see lots of uses for this stamp, not just as a sympathy card and will enjoy using soon for positive purposes.

Waving to all the great people I met or have spoken to about the Stitches and Craft show. It was a huge success with many more converts to Stampin’ Up! in our midst and I hope to have a newsletter heading your way very soon, to share the great special for September!!

All images © Stampin’ Up! 1990 -2008