Awash with Flowers

Hi there, I think my mojo has been missing for a while as every time I went to sit down in my craft room nothing was coming together.

Well I finally got around to playing with the Awash with Flowers stamp set and at first the mojo was struggling, then finally something came together. Now these are fairly simple cards (but sometimes simple is best when things aren't quite working).

Did you know - the Awash with Flowers clear mount set actually comes in two DVD cases (cause there are so many pieces). But all these pieces means that you can use the two step stamping method to add just the right amount of colour (and you don't need a stamp-a-ma-jig with this set - its not meant to fit together perfectly).

For the cards I used Crumb Cake base, Old Olive and Whisper White mats and Baja Breeze, Blushing Bride and Peach Parfait textured mats with the square lattice embossing folder (love this one). Add some Old Olive ribbon and done.

On the inside I used the Old Olive and Whisper White mats and added the corresponding flower on the inside left corner and the Well Scripted 'Happy Birthday'.

On another note - I ran in a 5km 'fun' run today. Now I am by no means a runner, and the longest I have run before today was a 4km run (and that took me a month to recover!!). Unfortunately it was very wet this morning but thankfully not really cold, so by the time I finished I was saturated, but finished, I did and I only had to stop once at the halfway mark (for water).

I have a bit of a dodgy hip at the moment so walking will probably be interesting for the next few days. Oh the pain and the glory! lol

Play Date Set

I'm back with another set that we will be doing in an upcoming class. This set uses the cute Play Date Designer Series Paper. I also created a Magazine Holder for store all the cards, now I haven't put a link here for the holder as there are so many on the internet (so please just search for Card Magazine holder and be inspired). I ended up creating my own as I wanted it to be a particular size (which I couldn't find).

The cards were inspired by some gorgeous ones created by Jayne Mercer (see here). I used the For You Flower single stamp and the Fancy Flower Punch, in bright colours to match the DSP. I have added the happy birthday from the Well Scripted Stamp Set available in the current mini catalogue.

My elbows are getting a little better - although I'm still losing the feeling in my fingers/hands when I'm asleep, hopefully a little bit longer and they will be back to 'normal' and I can get back to more card making.

A Vintage Set

I know it has been a LONG time.

I have had a bit of a break from blogging, but it doesn't mean I haven't been busy. Although I must say, at work we take OH&S pretty seriously, but I realised this Christmas break that I hadn't taken the time to ergonomically assess my craft desk, and after spending many a day on my holidays creating I ended up with severe elbow problems - I was sitting far too low. I have now taken the keyboard shelf from underneath my desk so I can sit higher and bought a new chair. I actually had to get a drafting chair as its the only type that I can get to go up high enough so that I am sitting properly, it also has a ring that you can put your feet on, which for someone of my limited height is extremely useful. The elbows are still a little sore but I think the new desk arrangement is starting to help.

Now unfortunately a lot of my creations I have been working on are for classes so I can't show you just yet. This set will be one of my February classes - it includes a treat bag, card and treat wallet.

I love the 'vintagey' look of this project, to achieve this I sponged all the edges in Soft Suede prior to putting them through the Square Lattice Embossing Folder (available in the current mini catalogue from Stampin' Up!).

I have made a number of these treat bags - they use a small kraft gussetted lolly bag and are so easy to make. I cut off the top portion of the bag and used this to create the treat wallet.

For the card I layered some of the beautiful lace ribbon to some Satin black ribbon and 'scrunched it' (it's a technical term - lol) along some sticky strip.

I'm Back with a new Craft Room

I know, I have been missing for sometime now, so I better let you know what I have been up to (besides the tooth saga, which btw only finished last week with the proper insert being fitted - it does look pretty good, and so it should for that price!).

Well I decided a couple of months ago that I was going to move my craft room to my other 'spare' room (it is a bit larger and we always seem to need more space for crafting - lol!). I am currently on 2 weeks annual leave from work (this is the second week), so I spent the first week moving rooms - wow talk about the amount of stuff you uncover when you move!!!

I love these cabinets and I moved them all by myself - thank goodness there wasn't a candid camera around because they are taller than the doorways and the double ones are pretty heavy, I managed to trap myself into corners more than a few times. They store all my cardstock, DSP, business stuff, stamps, and much more. You will see I have my stamps on one of the shelves (2nd from left) and my Christmas stamps are in the far right shelf, makes it so much easier to find what I need. I got these units from Ikea, but it was some years ago so not sure if they are still available.

This is my Big Shot and Circle Scissors station - I am loving this spot. The magazine holder stores all my plates (large and small), and the Dies are stored underneath in the baskets. The table was also from Ikea, the legs are adjustable which is great to get it at just the perfect height (especially when you are a little shorter than most).

See that little step - that is so that I can get to things on the top shelf (or sometimes the middle shelf!). And my little shredder sits on the other side.

This is the view to the opposite corner of the room (from the Big Shot Station). My desk actually goes with the cabinets and is nice and deep. The table that runs under the window is one that I "whipped up" just for that spot. Well actually I went to Bunnings and bought the top (laminated chipboard), but they didn't sell metal adjustable legs, so I drove another 20 mins to Ikea to get some legs, then realised the screws that came with the legs were too big for the table top, so back to Bunnings I went for my screws.

My TV now sits on the additional table which gives me so much more room on my desk. I have some drawers on my desk which house miscellaneous bits and pieces - stapler, paper clips, glues, ribbon offcuts, etc. I also found these ribbon holders online which houses my taffeta and satin ribbon. Also on my desk - my markers, Stampin' Scrub, and some containers with precut Top Notes, embossed cards and folded card bases. Oh in the two desk drawers are my old style punches.

On my new table is my laptop, my sponge storage, my tool caddy, my Stack & Store and Colour Caddy. Underneath are more storage cabinets where I keep all my Neutrals cardstock, various tools, ribbons, etc.

To the right (and to the left of the Big Shot Station) is the wardrobe which I have also set up shelving with more stuff!!!) - sorry no photos.

Well I hope you liked the tour of my new craft room, sorry it was so long. I love playing in this room now and spent all day yesterday creating. I will start posting my creations tomorrow - must go now I am off to catch up with a fellow stamper (love these type of holidays).

A Very Expensive Tooth & A Piece of Cake

Well I have had a very eventful weekend, but let me show you my project first (because there will be quite a bit of waffle to come).

This gorgeous cake box was created by Kay Sha and she has a fantastic tutorial available to purchase on her blog (see here). I decided to create a card to match and used the same flower design and the scallop to match the cake. I am going to make lots more of these to make a full size cake, but for now 1 slice is enough!!!

Now for my eventful weekend - well Sunday afternoon I broke a tooth on some ice-cream (yes you read correctly!!). Now I am a real woose when it comes to the dentist, I have a bad jaw and keeping my mouth open for longer than 60 seconds results in extreme pain, but unfortunately with a quarter of my tooth missing I had to do something. I managed to get into a new dentist this morning and thankfully after explaining my jaw issue, he suggested a jaw wedge so that I could rest my jaw and he could still work on the tooth. YEAH it worked (why didn't the other dentists suggest this), but then came the outcome of my broken tooth, the damage was too big to simply using a filling to build it back up - I needed a porcelain insert to try to save the tooth at > $1,000 - ouch. So I left the dentist rather pleased that it was not as painful as previous times but quite a bit out of pocket!!!

A Belated Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to All

I hope you have all had a very merry christmas and that you have had the chance to enjoy the season (amidst the chaos). I had some friends over today for the last of the 'Christmas' festivities. I did roast chicken instead of turkey - would you believe it is a little hard to find turkey straight after christmas, but I think they enjoyed it and their kids had a ball. It's off to the shops tomorrow - Stocktake Sales (a girls dream). I will be back again soon with a couple more things I made for Christmas.

All the best for the New Year.

Will be back soon

Just a quick post to let you know I haven't fallen off the planet - however I am without my trusty Apple Mac notebook at the moment : (

I think I am starting to get withdrawals from my usual evening blog hopping - it's all very sad. I hope to be back online by end of next week (fingers crossed).

BTW I had a great time at the Regionals last weekend with the girls, it was my first time and it was lots of fun - I will be sure to post my swap when I get up and running again.

Well - "I'll Be Back" (as Arnie would say).