Sue Madex: Stampin Up Demonstrator Australia

SaleABration Blog Hop

Hello - blog hop time again and this month my friends and I are hopping with Saleabration products.  If you're not sure what to pick for your freebie with a $100 order, then perhaps this blog hop will help you decide.  Or give you some ideas for what to do with your selection if you've already taken advantage of SaleABration.

Waving a hi if you've arrived from Kathryn's gorgeous project, or perhaps you're starting off from here.  There are 7 stops on the hop today.

Confession time: I put my project together yesterday when the temperature was about 37 (ugh) so mine is definitely on the 'quick and easy' end of the card making spectrum!

I've combined two of the stamp sets:  The Celebrate is from Outlined Occasions and the star is from Sprinkled Expressions.   You can choose wood or clear mount for your SaleABration stamps.

I've stamped my greeting with Basic Black ink and used my Brights Markers to colour the outlined letters, and added a bit of sparkle with some rhinestones and with the Shimmery White cardstock.

Perfect for celebrating a bright, happy occasion.   

Next stop on the hop is the very talented Ros Davidson who always has an inspiring project to share.   Happy hopping and have a great weekend.

Cheers, Sue

#JAI 104: Back To School

One of my gazillion resolutions for this year is to enter some of the terrific challenges that are around so kicking off today with the Just Add Ink challenge #104:  Back To School Theme.   

Back to school means back into the routine of readers.  I've gotten back into the habit of having a bit of quiet time on the couch with the kids before bed with a pile of books too.

I came across a quote as part of a scrapbooking course I'm doing and knew straight away I wanted to do a layout with it.  Dug through my photo files on the weekend to find pics of the kids and I reading together and set to work. 

I've used lots of the designs from a pack of the Beau Chateau DSP, along with the big circle die and some punches.  Another resolution is to use more of my stash of patterned paper this year.  I have rather a habit of  'saving' it. 

Here's a closer look at the Emilie Buchwald quote:  Children become readers on the laps of their parents. 

Timeless Type alphabet for the letters, with some Soft Suede sponging so they'd show up better.  The lined pieces of paper I've punched to write the rest of the quote on are from the Beau Chateau pack as well.  Handy for journalling!

Included some pics of some of our favourite books and our loungeroom book basket. 

I loved this frame from the DSP so kept it showing behind my focal photo.  Love those soft blue scroll/flourish images too. 

I've been doing a bit of digital scrapbooking lately and it was lovely to sit down and do a paper one - isn't it just so nice to play around with all the different designs of paper and different shapes. 

Yay, now I can tick off a few of my resolutions - to enter a challenge, to do some more scrapbooking of things that are important to me like our love of books, and to use more of my papers.   

Happy stamping, and happy scrapbooking, (and happy New Year's Resolutioning!)

Cheers, Sue

Back To School

We've been in back to school mode the last week so in keeping with that theme here's another school inspired project.  I've been wanting to make some sort of school years scrapbook album for Hannah and to start one for Jack, but hadn't quite come up with a plan.  I got started this month using a Becky Higgins Project Life Kit and some of my Stampin' Up supplies.   When I dug out the school photos I noticed I'd done Hannah's hair in 2 plaits (a la Heidi!) each year.  Really highlighted how she's grown up.

It is a 12" x 12" album but I've got an 8 1/2" x 11" pocket in to start each section (one for each school year.)  I've used the bigger school photo matted with Night of Navy or Early Espresso (or both) and popped onto a piece of DSP.  I've used the lovely Mocha Morning Specialty paper for most, and the Grade 3 page uses one of the designs from Spice Cake DSP (Summer Mini.)   The titles are cut using the Timeless Type alphabet sizzlits for the Big Shot.   Such a handy addition to the stash for scrapbooking titles and I use it a lot for cards as well.  (Hmmm and you get a free SaleABration item if you purchase this before the end of March.) 

A couple of products I love to use with my alphabet are the Two Way Glue Pen and a pair of tweezers. 

The tweezers make it easier to position the letters for the title I find .....

On the reverse of these pages I've put the class photo.  Then I've got some divided pocket pages to slip in photos of school events.  I saw a lovely idea on a blog (and can't find it now to link - will keep hunting!) where they included their favourite photo relating to their child for each month.  Liked that idea too.  I'm doing a big sort through various mountains of photos around the house now to get them into some sort of order and to find some school pics to add to the album.

While we're talking school, here's a pic of my newest school kid! 

He is LOVING school.  He told me yesterday, "The best thing in my whole entire life is being a school boy." Thought I'd share some snippets of 'school according to Jack'.

Highlight so far seems to be playing footy at recess.  "The teachers keep taking the ball off us because they say we're playing too rough, but we're not mum, we're not."  Ha ha.

Making friends:  "I've made - counts on fingers - 8 friends and it is only the second day mum!" 

The rules:  "The rule is you sit on the floor with your legs crossed and you put your hands in your lap and if the teacher is talking you don't talk, NOT EVEN whispering or moving your lips." 

If you're in back to school mode - hope the new term is off to a great start.

Cheers, Sue

Postage Stamp Punch Card Meets Everyday Enchantment DSP

I'm so enjoying using the Everyday Enchantment DSP from this year's SaleABration range.  And I'm a little surprised at how much I love the Postage Stamp punch too as wasn't quite sure I 'needed' that one.   Here's a card combining both.

I've used coordinating cardstock - Lucky Limeade and Pool Party, plus one of the SaleABration brads and some ribbon from the embellishment pack.  And a few pearls to finish. 

Popped a couple of squares up on Stampin' Dimensionals and distressed the edge of the cardstock for some added texture.   The greeting is from another SaleABration stamp set and I think the oval punch has retired.  Have a feeling the new size oval punch might fit the greeting better - anyone got one to test out that theory?

You can get the paper pack free with a $100 order until the end of March, or there's 4 great stamp sets and an embellishment pack to choose from.  Check the details by clicking on the flyer here: SaleABration. 

Have a lovely lovely weekend and hope you get to squeeze in some craft time.  I should probably squeeze in some labelling and ironing uniform time too but what's the bet I'll be doing that at 11pm the night before Jack's first day!

Before I sign off - a big huge congratulations to two of my dear dear stamping friends (and super talented crafters) Tina and Christine who were just announced as new design team members for the fabulous challenge site Just Add Ink.   Woo hoo! 

Cheers,  Sue

Reader Cover Time ....

There's a 'back to school' buzz in the air so thought it'd be a good time to share my 'jazzing up the reader cover' effort for this year.   Jack is about to start Prep and is completely obsessed with anything Mario Kart related so I thought we'd go with that.  

I've used the gorgeous, bright and happy papers from the Big Top Birthday pack (pg 130.)  Love the reds and blues.

We hit Google Images and found some Mario and Sonic pics and printed them on Whisper White.  I added some Night of Navy matting and a divider strip. 

Here's the back cover with another of the designs from the Big Top Birthday pack.

And some scraps for the inside.

I took the pics before I added the clear contact as I had a sneaking thought I might flunk contacting and end up with wrinkles everywhere.   Happy to say it didn't go too badly so just the odd wrinkle.  All ready for a terrific year of reading.  Jack is counting down the days til he heads off to school.   I'm counting down to starting a mega much needed fitness/decluttering/scrapbooking kick!  I think my family are getting worried I'll declutter all their stuff while they're at school/work!  Hee hee. 

Have a great weekend.  

Before I duck off:  Don't forget to check out the class page  if you'd like to catch a Feb or March class in Avondale Heights.  The lists are changing and rearranging almost daily as people get back into the year and juggle the diaries.  The booked out and spaces available lists are changing regularly so pop by for the latest update, and let me know if you'd like to go on the waiting list for a booked out class.

Cheers, Sue

Elementary Elegance and Vellum

Just a quick little card for you today using one of the SaleABration 2012 sets:  Elementary Elegance.  This main image coordinates with the Curly Label punch.  I've stamped it in Rich Razzleberry then used a Concord Crush marker to pick out a few details before stamping.

I've punched the frame out then popped a piece of vellum embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder behind it.  I love this shot (above) with the light shining through.   Crowns and birds and butterflies and swirls - a lovely vintage looking image. 

I trimmed a tiny bit from the front of the card (as I'd winged it and not quite stamped it centrally.)  I popped a piece of Rich Razzleberry satin ribbon round the inside part of the card so it shows through when closed.  (Does that make sense?  Here's a pic that shows it much better.  Stayed up too late watching the tennis and my brain isn't quite in gear today!)

Have a lovely week.   I think I might spend a bit of time checking out camera reviews after my 'aagggghhh splash' moment at the lake on Friday!   Yes, dropped my point and shoot camera out of my pocket so it is nestled away there at the bottom of the lake in the reeds keeping the fish company.  Doh!  

Cheers,  Sue

Summer Mini Saturday Blog Hop

Hello, time for another blog hop with some of my stamping buddies.  This weekend the theme is 'Summer Mini.'  Hello if you arrived from Kathryn's beautiful project   and waving a big hi if you're starting the hop from here.  There are 7 stops in the hop today (if I've counted right!)

When my team was over for a bit of a stamping afternoon last weekend, I stamped off a couple of the images from Pretty Postage stamp set on page 20 of the mini.  (Thanks Rachel, much appreciated!)  I had fun putting together a project to make use of my Rich Razzleberry postage image.

Project materials: Pillow Box Die, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Curly Label and Postage Stamp Punch, Beau Chateau Fabric backed with cardstock using the adhesive sheets, Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon, Antique Brad, White Bakers Twine, Rich Razzleberry Cardstock and a dab of Crystal Effects.

I thought I'd make a card to match.  It needs a greeting I think but I might wait until I know who I want to post it to.

Materials:  As above plus Vellum, Fun Flowers Die, Deck The Halls Fabric, the Summer Mini Velvet Ribbon, Crumb Cake Cardstock and if you look very closely you'll spot another Summer Mini stamp set hiding there.

Did you spot Fabulous Florets there?  It looked a little loud for my fabric flower so I borrowed an idea from two of my class gals (thanks Anne-Marie and Michelle) and added the vellum layer to soften it.  Tried a bit of fabric fringing too by pulling some threads out til I had the amount of 'fringe' I wanted.  Not sure I'm in love with that Razzleberry sponging on the vellum but alas, there's no 'undo' button in cardmaking!  (Now wouldn't that be handy sometimes!) 

OK time to hop to the next stop for some more Summer Mini Ideas.   Hop, hop, hop on over to the lovely Alisha's blog  for a look at her project. 

Happy Hopping.  Hope you get all inspired to get out some inks and cardstock and have a creative play.

Cheers, Sue

Super Simple To Just A Little Layered

This is a new blog feature I'm doing this year and it is especially for those beginners out there, who are just getting started with stamping or cardmaking.   Or for anyone after really super easy ideas for cards.  Plus a few ideas for if you have JUST a little extra time or supplies and want to add a layer or two. 

Here's our super simple card first with just a strip of the Everyday Enchanted patterned paper (free with $100 purchase), a coordinating cardstock base (this one is Poppy Parade) and a greeting punched with the Modern Label Punch.  The greeting is from Elementary Elegance - one of the SaleABration sets.

 Now if you want to add just a little more layering  .....

I've added some Poppy Parade matting plus an extra layer of Vanilla trimmed with the Scallop Trim Border Punch.  I also added some of the free SaleABration ribbon.  It is Calypso Coral but looked good on top of the Poppy Parade.  This ribbon is a sheer one and is very narrow.  (1/8" or 3.2mm wide.) 

If you choose this pack free with a $100 purchase you get 2 rolls of the ribbon - this one and Lucky Limeade, plus a container of 30 gorgeous brads.   Click here for details:   SaleABration Info.

Let's see one more pair of cards today using another of the Everyday Enchantment DSP and Peach Parfait cardstock.   The greeting here is from Short and Sweet - a great set to have in your collection.  And there's one of those brads I was talking about.

Next up, let's add just a little layering ..... 

I've used the Postage Stamp punch, another brad, plus I've added layers of Very Vanilla and Soft Suede.  An easy way to add a little texture is to distress (or rough up) the edges of the cardstock.  You can use a distresser (there's one on the cutting kit) or the edge of an old pair of scissors. 

Tip:  Want to know a secret?  Distressing an edge is a great option if you cut your matting layers and find you've gone a bit crooked when you stick them all together!  Just rough up that edge and you can hide a bit of wonkiness. 

Stop by again during the year for more Super Simple To Just A Little Layered cards.    Hope you like them.

Cheers, Sue

 

 

 

SaleABration 2012 Starts Today

...... kicks off today!   The most exciting special on the Stampin' Up calendar.

* CUSTOMERS: 

Spend $100 and choose one of the 6 SaleABration items for free. 

* HOSTESSES:  

A fabulous time to host a fun card making workshop and earn lots of free goodies. 

* JOIN: 

The kit is on special for $249 plus you get to add another stamp set (any value!)

 

Click here to check the SaleABration catalogue online and find out all the details.   SaleABration Page

This year the Sale-A-Bration goodies include 4 great stamp sets, PLUS a pack of gorgeous Designer Series Paper, and a ribbon/brad pack.

Get in touch if you'd like to join the fun of SaleABration by placing an order and choosing some free goodies, booking a SaleABration workshop or joining my Think Ink team.

Happy SaleABration,  Cheers  Sue

A Lovely Craft Weekend

I'm having the most lovely craft weekend here.  Yesterday my mum, sisters, Hannah and I all gathered for a craft day.  We did a spot of shopping, had lunch then set to work on our projects.  Here's a peek ...

My sister got some lovely bright card, photos of her boys and her laminator and made them a little book they could read about some of their recent adventures.  My other sister gathered up a bunch of card kits she had in her stash and made a stack of cards, Hannah did some scrapbooking of photos off her Ipod then made us all little cards with lots of embellishments and purple glitter glue, I did my first scrapbooking layout of many this year (details below) and mum worked on her gorgeous altered manuscript project.  She's got an old old book and she opens it to a page and uses all different craft techniques to create.  Combined with some lovely quotes and poems it is such a beautiful project.  What a companionable, fun, creative day. 

I'm doing Stacy Julian's 'Twelve' class this year and am all inspired to rev up my scrapbooking again.  I spotted a fun, colourful layout from a lady called Rhonda in the class gallery and decided to give it a try.  Stacy's passion for colour has gotten me in the mood for using some nice bright happy colours.  Grabbed out my Brights Pattern Stack DSP to make this me page.

It did rather challenge me in the maths and measuring department but I was pretty impressed to get it fairly straight and even! 

I used the matching cardstock and my Big Shot Timeless Type (and much loved) Alphabet die to make the letters of my name.  They were getting a bit lost on the coloured background so I punched white squares with my new Postage Stamp punch and that did the trick. 

Then I just added embellishments from my stash that coordinated with the colours.  (You'll spot some of our lovely glimmer brads, flower brads and a few others there if you look closely.)

I'd been jotting ideas for the letters during the week.  Got stuck on a few and had to get the dictionary out for some inspiration.

Once I was done I had some offcuts of the Brights DSP strips so I grabbed out a sheet of my new favourite Shimmery White cardstock to make this quick and simple card.

My Modern Label punch is getting a great workout lately along with Short and Sweet greeting set.  A glimmer brad and some paper piercing finished it off.

This afternoon some of the girls from my team are coming over and we're all looking forward to chatting and creating with some of the SaleABration items.  Should be a lovely afternoon of card making. 

What a fun way to spend some weekend time.  (And we've still managed to squeeze in some golf and cycling time for John so we're all happy here!)

Happy Stamping!  Back soon with some SaleABration cards to share.

Cheers, Sue