A Card, a Cake and some News!!

Well… this was to be my entry for Keesh's inspiration challenge, but I missed the deadline. I didn't have a chance to upload it in time because of all that has been happening. I'll tell you about some of it in a minute, but first of all this card. Another fairly simple design, with an oriental feel to it. I have rock 'n' rolled the image using Rose Red ink and then Purely Pomegranate (an in-colour from last year). I stamped the flowers and 'thankyou' on the cardstock first, then drew the lines to fill the gaps.

So what has been happening in my life over the last two weeks?? I guess I should start with the biggest news…

I have a job!!! I will be working 9 'til 5 Monday and Tuesday as the Office Secretary at my church, Belconnen Baptist. It has been a very interesting journey and it has all happened quite quickly. Applications were due last Friday 2nd. Interviews were held Tuesday night, and Wednesday morning I received the call offering me the position — I start tomorrow. Whoooaa!! It is still sinking in. My hubby Kal will be a stay at home dad on those days (and maybe work from home a bit). It will be a big change for us as a family, but we all feel it will be good for us. I am looking forward to it, but at the same time I'm soooooooo nervous. Since Kal hasn't had to do the daytime routine before, I will be making sure everything is organised (meals for the evening too) so that it is not too overwhelming to start with. So that's my plan for the rest of the day, as well as recovering from yesterday!!

Yesterday we had a bunch of 6 year old boys and girls (10 plus my children!!) over for my son Liam's birthday party. It was a lot of fun, but as always with such events there is a fair bit of work. I did a lot of the prep during the week, including making 184 mini sausage rolls!

Each birthday I let the children choose the cake that they want, and Liam chose the Scary Castle this time. I love making cake creations, but I think 4 in a year is plenty :) The blue food colouring was sooooooo messy, all the children had blue hands and mouths after eating it.

Here is a pic of the creation, complete with hand piped chocolate spiders!!

It has also been the school holidays, which are now at an end. Even though there has been a lot happening, I've enjoyed not having to make lunches and race out the door for school each morning :) Back to it tomorrow!

Anyway, I had better go and get some things done before the day gets away!

Hope you are having a great weekend.

Upsy Daisy goes Pink

Recently a friend asked me to make a thank you card for someone. It had to be bigger than a standard sized card so that several people could sign it. I wanted it to look pretty because I thought that would suit the person receiving it, so I chose pinks!

I used Upsy Daisy again, which I love, and markers to ink it up. The marker colours were Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose and Close to Cocoa. You can't see it very well, but the flowers have a touch of Dazzling Diamonds glitter, which I felt worked nicely with the silver of the filigree brad.

The cardstock colours are Whisper White, Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink and Pink Pirouette.

A week later it was my grandmother's 89th birthday so I thought I'd make her a similar card. Once again, the prettiness suited her dainty, sweet nature.

It's wet and cold here in Canberra this long weekend. We are having an inside, pottering about kind of day. Hope you are having a lovely weekend.

Keesh's Colour Challenge #13

This week has been so busy and stressful, but today I found some time to be creative. I really love the colours that Keesh chose this week for her challenge. Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy and Very Vanilla. They work so well together don't you think?

I thought that the Embrace Life set would suit these colours. I have stamped the images in Choc Chip, using the Stamp-a-ma-jig to position the flowers. It needed a little sponging around the edges which I did with Choc Chip ink, and a hint of Vanilla and Old Olive to frame it. Not Quite Navy is one of my favourite colours so I wanted it to feature a little more by being one of the main colours. I have torn and then rolled the edge on one side of the Not Quite Navy to add a little texture. I had forgotten how much I love this stamp set, it is so beautiful and elegant.

Have a wonderful weekend :)

Inspiration Challenge #12 - Alana's Entry

Hi my name is Alana and I am 11.

I'm borrowing my Mum's blog (with her permission!) to enter Makeesha's challenge this week.

I am always seeing my mum enter the challenges and thought that I might like to have a go. I decided to enter because I really like making cards and Makeesha's challenge this week was very inspirational for me.

I have used the Good Friend stamp set. The colours are So Saffron, Pacific Point and Whisper White.

Mum and I stamped together today, but she didn't like her card much.

I hope I get to enter again sometime

from Alana

Keesh's Colour Challenge #12

The colours that Keesh chose for her challenge this week just cried out for some sponging and blending. I wasn't sure how or what stamps to use, or even if I'd have time this week with the long 'to do' list that I have. But I couldn't resist the temptation to play with ink this afternoon — just in time for the challenge!

I won't go into any detail about how it was done, it's just a quick post from me tonight. I had better go and work on the other things that need doing!

Thanks for stopping by, have a great weekend :)

Father's Day

I know Father's Day was over a week ago now, but I wanted to share with you the little project that we made at the class I ran a couple of weeks back, and also the gifts that my kids made.

One of the projects at the class was a 'toolbox' gift box. The design was based on the toolbox that belongs to my hubby, one of those red metal ones!

So here is the end result. A red toolbox with a tray of tools (from the Totally Tools stamp set). When you lift up the tray there is space for a small gift, chocolates or a tie etc.

We didn't even give this to my hubby on Father's Day. My children had all created their own special things for him, by themselves. I thought he'd appreciate that far more than a box he'd seen me working on for weeks. And he did! Here is the line-up of cards and home made gifts that they made for him. They absolutely adore him :)

There is a plane and a story created by my 5 year old, Liam. Two beautiful cards made by my 7 year old, Zali. A blue card, cut with scizzors by my 2 year old, Luke. The little orange man is indeed my hubby :) made by my 11 year old, Alana. She also made the pop up card which features the pancakes that they brought to us in bed on Father's Day.

The only Stampin' Up products used were some of my least favourite coloured brads, to put my 'orange hubby' together!!

Upsy Daisy Card Class & 'Class in a Box'

Create a set of 8 co-ordinating cards using the Upsy Daisy Stamp set and Urban Garden Designer Series Paper. The class is based on the cards in a recent publication which you can view in the previous post.

Upsy Daisy Card Class

Date and Time:

Thursday 17 September 7:30pm

Friday 18 September 7:30pm

Saturday 19 September 7:30pm

Cost: $70

What you get:

• Upsy Daisy stamp set — if you already have this you can substitute for something else of the same value, but please remember to bring Upsy Daisy on the night!
• All materials cut and prepared, ready to assemble.
• Envelopes
• The use of my inks and other equipment — you will need to provide your own adhesive.
• Step by Step Instructions for all 8 cards, including dimensions, so you can recreate at home.
• Supper and Door Prizes

Registration and payment are due by Tuesday 8 September. Payment can be made by cash or direct deposit. Email me for more details shelley.starkis@gmail.com

Class in a Box

If you don't live in the Canberra area and can't come to the class above, I am offering my 'Class in a Box' to other residents of Australia.

A box of goodies will arrive on your doorstep so you can get straight into creating your set of cards. You will have left over supplies to create more than the 8 cards.

Cost: $112

What you get:

The following items straight from Stampin' Up:

• Upsy Daisy Stamp Set (value $33.95)
• Whisper White cardstock - 40 sheets (value $13.50)
• Baja Breeze Ink pad (value $11.95)
• Not Quite Navy Ink pad (value $11.95)
• Basic Grey Ink Pad (value $11.95)
• Kiwi Kiss ink Pad (value $11.95)
• Urban Garden Designer Series Paper (value $16.95)
• Greeting Cards and C6 Envelopes, pack of 20 (value $11.50)

The following items from me:

• Step by Step Instructions for 8 Cards, (value $20)
• 2 sheets each of Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Basic Grey and Kiwi Kiss cardstock (value $3.50)
• 2 metres each Kiwi Kiss satin and Basic Grey Taffetta ribbon (value $6.30)
• 10 brads (value $2)

Free Shipping (value $6)

Total value $150 you save $38

Payment can be made by cash, credit card, or direct deposit.

To order your 'Class in a Box' or for more information, please contact me shelley.starkis@gmail.com

I've been published!

I am so excited that I just have to share it with the world!

It has been a few months in the process and now here it is. The cards were created using my favourite stamp set, Upsy Daisy, and DSP Urban Garden. They can be found on page 50 of the Vol 15 No 4 edition of the Australian Cardmaking Stamping & Papercraft magazine. I think they've done a great job of photographing the cards and I'm really happy with the result.

I am holding a class next month based on these cards, and will post more about this in the next day or so.

Keesh's Sketch Challenge #12

Recently I stumbled across these couple of blogs, Clean and Simple Stamping and Simplicity. I love some of the creations and have been so inspired. Sometimes simple can be so effective. I was challenged by the fact that some of the cards were created using one layer of card stock and only inks.

When I saw Keesh's Sketch challenge, I thought I might try the "simple" approach and use only the card itself and ink.

There was quite a bit of use of the old Stamp-a-ma-jig for this!

I pulled out my oval template (from way back in those University days LOL) and lightly penciled an oval where I wanted it. Then I stamped the image from the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set so that it followed that oval. The same thing was done with each word from the greeting in the Pocket Silhouettes stamp set. Then using a marker I drew in the missing parts of the oval shape. I have just scored two lines in the card to achieve the stripe in the background.

I hope you feel inspired to try something simple, and if you haven't visited those blogs mentioned above, make sure you check them out!

SoShelli Creative Challenge

This is my entry for Shelli Gardner's creative challenge. I had so many thoughts of what could be done that the challenge for me was chosing 'one'.

Ever since I did the sunset sky for one of Makeesha's Challenges, I have been wanting to try out the "stormy" look. For those who don't know, I am an artist (when I'm not being a mum or a Stampin' Up demonstrator!) and I paint and draw landscapes. One of my very favourite subjects for an artwork is a dark stormy sky. I love them. I love the awesomeness and power that they portray. To me it is a glimpse of the awesomeness of God, and his creation is always an inspiration to me. So I guess it is fitting that at some point I would bring this into the world of stamping!

I have used Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Mellow Moss and Always Artichoke inks. The card stock is Very Vanilla and Always Artichoke. The edges have been distressed to add some texture. I tied a knot in a thin piece of card stock to create the little bow. The hill in the background has been achieved by applying the ink pad directly to the card stock and then sponging a little.

Thanks for stopping by — I hope your weekend has been a good one!

First Day of Craft Fair

Here we are on the first day of the Canberra Craft Fair. Ann (my upline), myself and Chantal. We also had the help of Ann's friend Linda — thanks Linda :)

We have made it through the first day, although we are all a little tired.

The Craft Circle was booked out in the first 20 minutes of the Fair opening!! So if you want to take part, make sure you're down there early to book your place. Chantal is on tomorrow, then I will be doing Saturday morning and Ann again Sunday.

I will also be doing a workshop on some marker techniques tomorrow (this is a free class). Ann ran one today that was great, and will be doing one on Sat and Sun as well. Hope I can do as good a job! :)

I should be getting some sleep now before another big day, so just a quick post tonight.

Have a great weekend :)

Inkspirations Colour Challenge #10

Well… I wasn't going to do another challenge until after the Craft Fair so that I could focus on the things I need to prepare for that. Then I saw the colours for Keesh's challenge and I love the colour combo! I tried to resist the temptation to make something, but you know when you get an idea and feel inspired — you can't sleep 'til you've tried it out. That was me last night!!

Also, I have been wanting to test out this gorgeous new stamp set from the Spring Mini Catty.

The colours are Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Rose Red and Very Vanilla. The stamp set is Great Friend.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great day :)

Canberra Craft Fair

It is only a few weeks away now until the Craft Fair!! The pressure is building as I have so much to do in preparation still — no more challenges for me for now!

The Fair runs August 6 - 9 10am - 4:30pm at Exhibition Park in Canberra — that's four days of craft craziness! If you are in Canberra around that time, come on down and visit us at our Stampin' Up! stall. I will be there all four days with my upline, Ann Craig, and other members of the DistINKtive Designs team. We would all love to see you there :)

We will have card and scrapbooking kits, ribbon and embellishment packs, and pre-made cards available for sale. There will also be product displays and retired stock for sale.

If you want to try some hands on stuff while there, book in to one of our "Craft Circles" We are running one each day at 11:30am called Creative Papercraft Gift Packaging. For more info you can view the Craft Circle Timetable.

Hope to see you there!

Shell

Inspiration Challenge #9

Well… here I am using similar colours to my last post!!

This was what I came up with for Keesh's challenge this week. I was inspired by the painting in the picture, and wanted to try out a sunset sky with a silhouette stamp. Not sure exactly what I think of the outcome but here it is.

I have sponged Pumpkin Pie and Regal Rose ink over some torn cardstock to create the layered cloud effect. The grass and flowers from the Inspired by Nature stamp set I have stamped over the top using Close to Cocoa ink. Then I've torn a piece of Cocoa card for the foreground. I love the texture that tearing adds to a card!

Upsy Daisy is Sweet Always!

Here is a little something I made for a friend for her birthday today.

I have used my fave stamp set Upsy Daisy with the Sweet Always DSP. I have been using it with the Urban Garden DSP which I loooove, but I haven't been able to post any of those cards yet (all will be revealed next month!!) I think that the Sweet Always papers work very well with it, and I am loving these colours too. Can't wait to get my hands on those new Flower Brads in the Spring Mini Catty!

Hope you have a great weekend.

Shell

Inspirational Flowers

All week I have been looking at these glorious flowers.

Last weekend my husband went to an awards dinner held by one of his clients at Parliament House (he is a graphic designer) He was all dressed up in his suit etc and I would love to have been beside him, but I had to stay at home with our four kiddywinkles. Anyway, when he came home he surprised me with these beautiful flowers — they were the table decorations :)

They have inspired me to create something. I haven't yet, but when I do I'll show you! I definitely have to get out some of that gorgeous Purely Pomegranate colour from last year's In-colours.

I hope you find them as inspiring as me. Have a great day!

Shell

Inspiration Challenge #8

This is my entry for Keesh's Inspiration Challenge — just in time! The photo is not the best as I had to take it inside under poor lighting because I've left it 'til the last minute to get the entry in, and there's no daylight left. Ooops!

The colours are Sahara Sand — for the background, Melow Moss and Always Artichoke. I've applied some white pastel with a blender pen, to highlight some areas of the stamped image. The images are all from the Fresh Cuts stamp set.

Anyway… I have to keep moving, there's much to be done still before I hit the pillow : ) hee hee 

Birthday Gift Card

It is my brother in-law's birthday tomorrow and because they live so far away I am sending a gift card. I wanted to match the colours of the card to the gift card — Sahara Sand and Always Artichoke went perfectly. I have chosen the Trendy Trees stamp set, the Funky Forest wheel and a greeting from Upsy Daisy set. The DSP is a scrap from Le Jardin, which was one of last years papers.

Inside I have made a little pocket for the gift card to go. I have rolled the Funky Forest wheel over and over without re-inking, on some Always Artichoke card stock to form this background effect — it makes it look even more like a forest.

And here it is with the gift card inside!

Thanks for stopping by, have a great day : )