Crouching Dog Graphics

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS PROMOTION

AN EXCITING WAY TO BEGIN YOUR VERY OWN BUSINESS AND ASSIST THE BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION

Everyone that knows me will tell you that I enjoy being a SU Demonstrator.  I make no secret that I initially joined because I wanted to be able to purchase quality products at a reduced cost.  However, after joining I became aware that not only could I fund my addiction to paper crafting I could make my hobby generate quite a healthy income to boot.  I’ve listed below some of the further advantages I’ve discovered along the way:

For over 20 years, Stampin’ Up! has helped women make a difference in the lives of others by simply doing what they love to do–sharing creativity, from your own home.

Now you too can become a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator and make a difference! For every person who joins the Stampin’ Up! family between 7 October and 31 December 2009, we will donate $5 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (AU) or The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.

Plus, until 31 December 2009, we’ll give you a FREE pack of Raspberry Tart Designer Series paper and a Pretty in Pink Classic Stampin’ Pad to help you get started!

If you have been thinking of taking the plunge to join SU and want to discuss this further please contact me.

Just a couple of photos showing what we woke to this morning.  The dust storm hit McKees Hill in the early hours of this morning and wow!  what a red hue has been added to everything.

looking north west note the 'girls' huddled in the chook run corner

looking west towards the incoming dust

After this has passed, who IS going to do the dusting??????

Oh well!  it’s off to the studio to create.  No sense in trying to work outside in this!   (sneaking away now to avoid having to do any housework)  Come back tomorrow and check out what I’ll be making today.

Cheers!

The view that we woke to each morning

I’ve just returned from a Stamp Camp held at Jackadgery.  I guess the best description of this place is ‘Heavenly’.  Jackadgery sits at the foot of the ranges between Grafton and Glen Innes.  I guess it has the potential to be chilly there but our week ends was perfect.  Nine girls stamped, scrapped, laughed and ate for two days from sun up to the wee hours of the morning.  I shared a room with Vi,  from Glen Innes.  Thanks Vi for putting up with me.  Vi and I were in a room away from the others because we are precious.  (actually it’s because we  both snore…….badly).  What a great time we all had inspite of our ages varying from 12 to ?????? (maybe 70?)  I’m not admitting to anything here.

Nancye and Shirley enjoying the afternoon

As you can see we retained our ‘housekeeping’ skills all week end NOT!  Shirley had precooked all our food and we ate like queens from when we arrived until we left.  Thanks again Shirl!

This is my newest friend, Bianca.  Bianca came with her grandmother to the stamp camp and was such a joy to have around.  The first thing she did was make a list of everyone’s tea/coffee needs and fetched cuppas on request all week end.  She is a delightful young woman who is so interested in scrapping and cardmaking.  It was a pleasure to get to know you Bianca.  It was refreshing to meet a young person so respectful, interested and co operative.

A big thank you also Bianca for getting my coffee right EVERY TIME!  Well done!  I’m a bit fussy when it comes to my coffee.

Jackadgery was fun.  Rustic, but fun.   I’ll be going back there and cannot wait.

It’s my daughter-in-law, Amber’s, birthday today.  Happy, happy day honey!  This is the card that I made for her.  Amber is a very gifted musician and whilst working at the Casino Beef Week Art/Craft show I came across this stall that had hand made timber piano pieces that was a jewellery box.  Had to have that!  I have just spoken to Amber for her birthday and she loves both the card and the box.  I just love being a mother-in-law, to such a lovely girl who is soooooooooo very patient with my son (who did purchase a birthday gift, however the card was forgotten about).  Can you imagine any son of mine forgetting to purchase (or arrange for his Mum to make) a birthday card?  Shame.  Tony shame.

Anyways,  when my good stampin’ buddy, Laurel, came to play the other week-end and brought this set with her, I knew I was going to have to play.  After a quick whip around Splitcoast I was inspired to make these gorgeous layouts.  I just love this cute set.  It’s called Crazy for Cupcakes and is a set of six (6) stamps for $41.95.  Yet another bargain from SU!  it even has a matching roller for just $11.95.  I really enjoyed making these cuties! 

There’s lots of product in these cards.  In Amber’s:

Cardstock – Pink Piroutte, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White

Inks – Black Stazon, Real Red, Pink Piroutte, Close to Cocoa

DSP – Candy Lane (this paper is divine)

Punches – medium oval and scallop oval, scallop edge

The others:

Cardstock – Choc.Chip, Pink Piroutte, Whisper white, Pretty in Pink,  Rose Red, Tangerine Tango, Black

Inks – Black Stazon, Tangerine Tango, Kiwi Kiss, Pink Piroutte, Rose Red, So Saffron

DSP – So Saffron, Candy Lane, Raspberry Tart, Tangerine Tango

Ribbon – Kiwi Kiss striped grosgrain, Pink Piroutte striped grosgrain, choc. chip narrow grosgrain

Punches – large circle and scallop circle

Dazzling Diamonds and Crystal Effects on the various cupcakes

Crikey !  this post has made me hungry!

As promised!  Here is my colourful Winter Post creation.  I enjoyed it so much I’m promising to do more.  The image of the reindeer in this set is so graceful and elegant.  I’m not usually a reindeer fan, but this little fellow has really endeared himself to me.  I teamed him up with the DSP in the new Spring Mini Catalogue – Ski Slope.  I’ve used this set of papers a lot in my classes and has been a huge hit.  This Christmas set is sooooo versatile.

All products are Stampin’ Up! ® of course!

Stamp Set – Winter Post (I’m thinking of renaming this set Winning Post – I think it’s a sure winner)

Carstock – Old Olive and Baja Breeze

DSP – Ski Slope

Ribbon – Baja Breeze wide grosgrain – double stitched, Hemp Twine

Punch – Scallop round

Inks – Versamark

Embossing Powder – White

If you come back soon I’ll have a Christmas Card made from the stamp set Boho Backgrounds, to show you!  Yes!  Boho Backgrounds.  That’s not even a Chrissy stamp set, but you won’t believe how great that it looks (I surprised myself actually!!!!)  Boho Backgrounds is used so much in my personal cardmaking and my classes, now I can show you just how very versatile this set is.  So wander back and visit me soon. 

In the meantime please leave me a comment as to what you think of my colourful Winter Post card.

Cheers!

Firstly, apologies again for my photography.  The stamped image is in fact straight, but the card is on a lean in this photo, so it all looks as though it’s on a tilt.

I saw this layout on Splitcoast some time ago and again was inspired by my man to make this card.  Our family is very much into hanging onto special sayings and habits of people that touch our lives.  Dennis carries a tape measure with him everywhere.  Somepeople prefer mobile phones attached to their belt, not Dennis!  He prefers a tape measure.  Sooooo embarressing when we go visit someone for dinner,  and he  whips out the tape and measurers arches, window frames, doorways, patios.  All useful information he exlains!  Then of course he leaves his tapes everywhere he goes, friends houses, hardware stores, car yards (another of his fetishes).  Unfortunately he has passed the trait onto our younger son Tony.  (My apologies and sympathies go to Tony’s  lovely wife Amber, but I did warn her there will be no refunds on him!)   In spite of all this we do love him beyond measure.

This is the last of the cards in the Totally Tools stamp set.  I hope you have enjoyed them.  I lurved making them and my thanks to my stamping buddy, Laurel, who lent me the set.  Darn!  now  I’ve fallen in love with it I’m going have to buy it for myself.  Especially after seeing a friend make great wrapping paper with it,  just out of plain brown paper.  Must give that a go too. 

Come back tomorrow I’ve completed that card in Winter Post that has some colour.

Stamp set – Totally Tools, Jumbo Outline Alpha

Cardstock – Riding Hood Red, Basic Grey, Basic Black, Whisper White

Inks – Black Stazon, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Riding Hood Red, Creamy Caramel

Jumbo Brads and Hemp “Twine

I had a week end stamping with some friends and one of the girls had this set from Stampin’ Up! ®. (actually she had many sets that I don’t – so I had a great time!)

We all know how difficult it is to make masucline type cards so this set would make an excellent addition to anyone’s collection.  Set of five stamps for $45.95!!!!  This card was inspired by my nagging of my dear man.   When he is looking for something in his ‘man’s shed’ I nag him with the fact that he should have a board up at eye height to hang his tools on.  To which he replies ‘yes Darling’.  (but there is still no such board)

It was also inspired by him for another reason.  He is such a wonderful husband and dad.  He does so much for our children, and I know he loves to hear from them on Father’s Day (as he did from all 4 of them yesterday!) and Birthdays etc. but sometimes it’s just nice to be told ‘thanks for all you do’.  Now, having said that I must spirit this card off to them to all sign and give him when he least expects it.

Come back tomorrow because I have a few more to show you from this set.  It’s a good  ‘en.

All products are Stampin’ Up! ® of course

Stamp Set – Totally Tools, Weathered (beautiful background stamp, that adds texture effect to all your projects  for just $33.95)

Carstock – Choc. Chip, Sage Shadow, Whisper White

DSP – Choc. Chip

Inks – Choc. Chip, Really Rust, Bashful Blue, Stazon Black

Ribbon – Choc. Chip grosgrain

Cheers!