Sunday 29 March 2009

40K Blog Candy...


First up, thanks so much for all your lovely comments on my 40,000 hits post...you guys are the best :-)!

I've just done the Random Number thing at RANDOM.ORG...

-------------------------------------------------
True Random Number Service
Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

10

Timestamp: 2009-03-29 08:28:57 UTC

© 1998-2009 Mads Haahr
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Congratulations Jocelyn! I'll email you for your mailing address.

Hope you all had a nice weekend,
Sam.

Wednesday 25 March 2009

Good Morning Good Friend


I got the Good Friend stamp set from the 2009 - 2010 Idea Book and Catalogue Sneak Peek in the mail today. I've been looking forward to it arriving, as I wanted to use it with the coordinating Good Morning Sunshine DSP:


Ingredients (all available from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White, Pacific Point plain cardstock and Textured Chocolate Chip cardstock
Stamps: Good Friend
Ink: Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Chocolate Chip and Tangerine Tango Classic Ink
Paper: Good Morning Sunshine DSP
Accessories: Hidden Garden Rub-ons, Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon, SNAIL adhesive, Dimensionals, Fire Circle Rhinestone Brads.


I think you can see that I have stamped the Bluebird's body in Baja Breeze first, then rock n'rolled it in Pacific Point before stamping it onto the Whisper White. I have also stamped a copy of the Bluebird's body on pacific Point cardstock and then cut out his wing and mounted it up on Dimensionals. The base card is a 6 x 6 inch square of textured Chocolate Chip.

Okay...better go do something about dinner I guess.

Have a good rest-of-the-week!

Sam.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

I have not participated in a Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge for quite some time now, but when I saw what this week's movie was...I thought I'd give it a go!


I remember reading this story as a kid. Wow...I could see that chocolate river so clearly in my head! But you don't want to know about my 'issues' here ;-).

The challenge also includes the use of bright colours on your card...not so challenging hey? I love bright colours!!

Here is my card:


Here is a list of the ingredients I have used (all available from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):

Cardstock: Tangerine Tango, Pink Passion and Textured Whisper White
Stamps: All Wrapped Up Accessories (retired)
Ink: Papertrey Ink Raspberry Fizz, Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet and Melon Berry
Accessories: Papertrey Ink Raspberry Fizz Luxe Satin Ribbon, Crimper, Hidden Garden Rubo-ons, sticky strip, SNAIL, mini glue dots.


I also have a couple of happy snaps to share. On the weekend we took the kids down to Lake Tuggeranong for a picnic dinner and we took along their bikes too. It was the first time they've ridden anywhere other than our small backyard...and to say that they were pleased to be out would be putting it mildly ;-).




Using your eyes to assist in the steering process is obviously OPTIONAL (they both have their eyes firmly closed)! Luckily they didn't mow anyone down. The other riders and pedestrians seemed to be giving them a very wide berth. Funny that!

Grandma and Grandpa were also visiting from Sydney, and Grandma turned one and a half balls of this:


...into this fabulous scarf for me...


...in just one day! I barely got 10 rows of '50 x knit one perl one' done in the same time (and you should see the mess that is...actually, NO...you should not). I think I'm beyond hope in the knitting department. (ETA...I did make the fringe though....woo hoo huh?).

Thanks for visiting :-)
Sam.

PS. Don't forget, the SCS Victorian Bushfire Appeal 2009, closes today. Head on over to SCS to be in the draw for some wonderful crafting goodies!

PPS. I keep meaning to ask you guys...Do you feed your kids enough? I, apparently...do NOT!:

Thursday 19 March 2009

40,000 Hits Blog Candy

Hey there Stampers!

I just wanted to announce a little Blog Candy.

I've just made it to 40,000 hits...so in celebration I have put together a little pack of goodies.

The pack includes:

- Six 6" x 6" squares of the new Stampin' Up! Goodmorning Sunshine Designer Series Paper (one each of the six patterned double-sided sheets);

- Six 6" x 6" squares of textured Stampin' Up! cardstock (one of each of the six new In Colours for 2009-2010: Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette and Tangerine Tango)

and

- Twelve A5 rectangles of plain Stampin' Up! cardstock (two of each of the six new In Colours for 2009-2010 - please note that A5 equates to half an A4 sheet of cardstock).

All you need to do to be entered into this blog candy competition is leave a comment here stating what you love about new catalogue time with Stampin' Up!. Is it the anticipation? Is it the beautiful new catalogue cover? Maybe you are hoping for a particular stamp set or accessory...just leave a comment and let me know. I don't mind if you are a demo or not, or where you are from.

Comments need to be left here prior to 5 pm Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time on Sunday 29th March 2009, and I will post the winner on my blog shortly therafter. Please make sure you have left some way that I can contact you, either log in to leave your comment (So I can see your details) or leave your email address in the comment.

Thanks for visiting :-).
Sam.

Tuesday 17 March 2009

Beautiful Autumn...


I've just been thinking what a GLORIOUS Autumn day it is here in our Nation's capital, and I was moved to make an Autumn-looking card, and take some Autumn-ish happy snaps...so here they all are:


(Just briefly, we've got Kiwi Kiss plain cardstock, Chocolate Chip textured cardstock, Goodmorning Sunshine DSP, Chit Chat Rubons, Choc Chip Poly-Twill ribbon and I've also used the crimper).

Now for the happy snaps...a gorgeous Banskia in flower:




...and a Protea:


...and while I was taking those snaps my kids waltzed out, having undertaken an identity switch. Miss almost-5 has his clothes on and Mr almost-3 has her clothes on.


They are kooky kids!

Hope you are having a lovely Autumn (or Spring) day too!

Cheers,
Sam.

Monday 16 March 2009

More Good Morning Sunshine DSP

...just a few more cards made with the lovely Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series Paper, and some Pacific Point textured cardstock too:




I love Pacific Point already!

I also wanted to show you this awesome sculpture I saw yesterday at the Canberra International Arboretum and Gardens (CIAG) Open Day:


It is by Richard Moffatt and is located on top of Dairy Farmer's Hill. There is a fabulous view out over Canberra from up there too:


You can see part of the CIAG grounds in the middle-ground of the image..and from there you can probably tell that this is a very new attraction. It will be some time until the trees reach maturity (the Pinus Radiata in the foreground are apparently considered a noxious weed and will be removed). This site used to be part of a pine plantation until the fires of January 2003 came through.

Thanks for stopping by...sorry for the lack of text, Preschool pick up time soon :-).

Sam.

Sunday 15 March 2009

Card Coo-ture...

I was playing about last night with some new Designer Series Papers from our 2009-2010 Idea Book and Catalogue (a few items have been released to us already in a sneak peek...a little something to whet our appetite ;-).

This DSP set is so pretty and it is called Good Morning Sunshine. This is the Card Coo-ture that I made with some of it:






oooh, and this is what she is wearing underneath that last coat (I haven't quite finished it yet, I am going to hide those uneven hem and necklines, but I got too carried away watching Prince Caspian :-):


Ingredients (all from Stampin' Up!):

Cardstock: Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss and Whisper White
Paper: Good Morning Sunshine
Stamps: Polka Dot Background
Ink: Pacific Point Classic Ink
Accessories: Rich Regals brads, 1 1/4 inch circle punch, scallop circle punch, scallop edge punch, SNAIL adhesive and sticky strip.

What do you think? Does it look like a little fashion show? I watched Raising Helen the other night, and The Devil Wears Parada a week or two ago, so I've kinda had fashion shows on the mind.

I hope that you are having a nice weekend!

Sam.

Saturday 14 March 2009

A Perfect Pair...

On the weekend I stumbled across THIS beautiful card by Dana Grothaus. I loved the design so much I could hardly wait to CASE it, so I did just that...twice in fact!


Ingredients:

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White and Pink Pirouette
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Butterfly Kisses
Ink: Whisper White Craft Ink
Accessories: Cuttlebug Wood Grain, Stampin' Up! Chit Chat Rub-ons, Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon, Wireworks (retired), SNAIL adhesive, Dimensionals and Glue Dots.



Ingredients:

Cardstock: Basic Black, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Butterfly Kisses
Ink: Whisper White Craft Ink
Accessories: Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I Texturz Plates, Papertrey Ink Black Double Stitched Ribbon, Stampin' Up! A Perfect Day Rub-ons, Wireworks (retired), SNAIL adhesive, Dimensionals and Glue Dots.


Thanks so much for the inspiration Dana! I love this design.

Sam.

Stampin' Up! Australia - 2009 Retiring List

Hi Stampers,

I just wanted to give you an update on the status of some of Stampin' Up!'s retiring products:


(Last updated 24th March 2009)

Page Item # Description Availability
Stamp Sets
125 112229 ABC Images Low
62 108720 Ahoy, Matey Unavailable
75 108722 All I Have Seen Low
40 108728 *All Through the Year
34 108992 *All-Year Fun
110 108734 *Alphabits
48 108738 *Artfully Asian
102 108742 *Background Sampler
53 111229 *Backyard BBQ
86 108740 Bareback Unavailable
51 108744 ***Be Happy
83 108998 Beautiful Life Low
124 108746 Best Friends Alphabet Lower Unavailable
124 108747 Best Friends Alphabet Upper Unavailable
124 108748 Best Friends Numbers Unavailable
88 110250 Big Pieces
51 108753 Birthday Best
79 108755 *Blossoms Abound
80 108756 ***Bodacious Bouquet
81 108757 Bold Butterfly
101 112294 Brocade Basics
65 112376 *Bronc Buster
78 111232 *Bud Basics
58 110255 Bundle of Joy Unavailable
63 108763 By Land Unavailable
116 112326 Calendar Cues
108 108764 *Canvas
94 111234 Carte Postale
115 108765 Cheery Chat Unavaiable
112 108767 Circle of Friendship
30 108768 City of David
102 112272 Classic Backgrounds Low
55 110246 Crab & Company
28 108772 Crazy for Christmas
33 112253 *Dad's Day Low
42 108781 *Eat Cake
106 112300 Elegant Notes Low
116 108785 Everyday Flexible Phrases
58 112391 Everything Baby Low
117 108786 *Expressive Flexible Phrases
79 112310 Fabulous Flowers Low
27 108790 Festive Favorites
40 108805 Figures of Speech
108 108806 *Fine Lace
95 108807 *Finest Flourishes
67 108809 Fishy Friends
107 108811 *Floral
32 112316 Forever in My Heart Low
108 112397 *Friendly
115 111973 ***G'Day Mate
110 108820 Genuine Articles
68 111975 *Go Team
56 108828 *Greetings Galore
92 112306 *Happiness
28 108840 *Holiday Wishes
26 108842 *Hung Up on the Holidays
116 108847 It's a Date
112 112320 It's All Good
111 108849 It's Your Birthday Unavailable
97 108850 Itty Bitty Backgrounds
68 112330 *Just Golf
68 112332 *Just Tennis
31 112216 *Keep Christmas Low
122 111989 *Kia Ora
96 112338 *Labelicious
113 108855 *Lexicon of Love
53 110254 *Like It a Latte
107 108857 Linen Low
88 108860 Little Pieces
76 108864 ***Looks Like Spring
29 112223 *Merry, Merry
77 108874 Mostly Flowers Unavailable
118 108875 Much Appreciated
84 108877 Natural Beauty
90 110243 *Office Accoutrement
107 108884 *On the Spot
108 108887 *Paisley
31 108888 Peaceful Wishes
74 108890 Petal Prints
46 110247 ***Polka Dots & Paisley
47 110248 Polka Dots & Petals Low
38 108894 Pretty Princess
126 108904 *Rough Edges Mini Alphabets
83 108906 *Sassy Stems
32 112362 Sealed with a Kiss
122 112346 Seasonal Wishes
124 112402 Short Order Numbers Unavailable
43 108913 Simple Somethings
29 110244 *Snow Flurries
27 108934 ***Snowflake Spot, The
30 108918 *Solemn Stillness
122 112395 Spring Pictograms
91 108920 *Stamp of Authenticity
65 108921 Starstruck
74 108923 Stipple Rose Unavailable
84 108924 Summer by the Sea
100 112284 *Sweet Sampler
93 108927 *Sweet Shapes
60 112290 *Sweet Thing
49 108929 Symbols of Solicitude Unavailable
43 108930 Tag Time
38 110249 Tagger's Dozen
49 108931 Take Three
75 108937 Touch of Nature
54 108944 Unfrogettable Low
108 108954 *Well-Worn Words
36 112336 Whale Wishes
72 108960 Wild Rose
49 108962 Wishing You the Best
120 108963 Wonderful Words
Stampin' Around Wheels
29 109690 All about Christmas
78 106610 Basics Outline Unavailale
42 107467 Birthday Low
80 107466 Bodacious
81 104156 Flitting By Unavailable
95 108423 Leaves à la Carte
62 107212 Matey's Map Unavailable
47 108980 Petals
104 107464 Rough Texture Low
91 107465 Speckled Low
65 109672 Bronco
54 106662 Daisy Field Unavailable
67 104065 Fishy Unavailable
53 107565 Flip Flops Unavailable
40 107561 Garden Annuals Unavailable
28 103195 Gifts Galore Unavailable
32 109678 Kisses
74 104279 Leaf Prints Unavailable
54 107482 Lily Pad Unavailable
125 109568 My ABCs
55 108978 Sandy Shells
28 101638 Star
154 104061 Star Studded Low
Hostess Sets
24 109812 All about Occasions Bundle
21 112393 Cause for Celebration
18 112261 For a Friend
18 112239 From the Garden
22 112340 In the Spotlight
21 112233 Infinite Goodness
19 112259 Little Bit of Happiness, A
17 112214 Oh, So Lovely
17 112243 Party Punch
19 112245 So Many Sayings
20 111127 Spring Solitude Bundle
23 112263 Time Well Spent
Accessories
Brads, Buttons, Eyelets
145 105320 Basic eyelets Unavailable
147 103977 *Bold Brights buttons
145 100375 Bold Brights I eyelets
147 103981 *Earth Elements & Neutrals buttons Unavailable
147 103978 Earth Elements buttons Low
145 100381 Earth Elements eyelets Unavailable
145 105319 Metallic eyelets
147 105446 Rich Regals buttons Low
145 105316 Rich Regals eyelets Unavailable
147 105445 Soft Subtles buttons Unavailable
145 100378 Soft Subtles I eyelets Unavailable
Designer Series Paper
135 110749 *Berry Bliss Designer Series paper
136 109174 *Brilliant Blue Prints Designer Series paper
134 109149 *Brocade Background Designer Series paper
136 109178 *Certainly Celery Prints Designer Series paper
136 109169 *Close to Cocoa Prints Designer Series paper
136 109150 *Dashing Designer Series paper
136 110699 *East Coast Prep Designer Series paper
134 109160 *Fall Flowers Designer Series paper
136 110479 Jersey Shore Designer Series paper
134 109151 *Le Jardin Designer Series paper
135 110748 *Notebook Designer Series paper
136 109176 *Old Olive Prints Designer Series paper
134 109148 *Outlaw Designer Series paper
135 108503 *Petals & Paisleys Designer Series paper
136 109170 *Pumpkin Pie Prints Designer Series paper Low
136 109167 Rose Red Prints Designer Series paper
136 110698 *Spring Break Designer Series paper
135 110273 *Spring Fling Designer Series paper
NA 106686 **Spring Flowers Designer Series paper
NA 106685 **Spring Showers Designer Series paper
135 110271 *Spring Silhouettes Designer Series paper
135 109157 Wintergreen Designer Series paper

Hodgepodge Hardware
144 105532 Aged Copper Hodgepodge Hardware Low
144 105531 Antique Brass Hodgepodge Hardware Low
144 105515 *Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware Low
In Color
129 111860 Blue Bayou A4 card stock Low
129 109018 Blue Bayou Classic Stampin' Ink refill Unavailable
129 109013 *Blue Bayou Classic Stampin' Pad
146 109060 *Blue Bayou double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
129 111857 Groovy Guava A4 card stock
129 109019 Groovy Guava Classic Stampin' Ink refill Unavailable
129 109012 *Groovy Guava Classic Stampin' Pad
146 109063 *Groovy Guava double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
129 108638 In Color 12" x 12" card stock Unavailable
129 111856 *In Color A4 card stock
129 108694 *In Color textured 12 "x 12" card stock
129 111853 Purely Pomegranate A4 card stock Unavailable
129 109011 *Purely Pomegranate Classic Stampin' Pad
146 109061 *Purely Pomegranate double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
129 109017 Purely Pomegranate Classic Stampin' Ink refill Unavailable
129 111852 River Rock A4 card stock Unavailable
129 109016 River Rock Classic Stampin' Ink refill Unavailable
129 109010 *River Rock Classic Stampin' Pad
146 109062 River Rock double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
129 111851 Soft Sky A4 card stock Unavailable
129 109015 Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Ink refill Unavailable
129 109009 *Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Pad
146 109059 *Soft Sky double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
129 111850 Wild Wasabi A4 card stock Unavailable
129 109020 Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Ink refill Unavailable
129 109014 *Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad
146 109058 *Wild Wasabi double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
146 110716 *Wild Wasabi striped grosgrain ribbon
Miscellaneous
133 103604 *Days-To-Remember 12" x 12" Wall Calendar
148 103280 Embossing kit Unavailable
133 100900 Gift sacksGift sacks Low
132 106523 Five-in-One Card Cover Envelope Template Low
133 110730 *Pockets & Pieces Office Accents Low
On Board
140 107307 *On Board Accents
141 109181 *On Board Blossoms & Basics
141 109179 *On Board Ginormous Pieces
140 107306 *On Board Simon Lower
Punches
142 104942 1/4" Circle punch
142 104943 *1/4" Square punch
143 104389 Double Circle punch
143 106522 *Spring Flower Bouquet punch
143 112670 Three for You Punch Box
Ribbon
147 109189 *Beachfront Ribbon Originals
147 101259 Black hemp twine Unavailable
146 104830 *Caramel gingham ribbon
147 109187 *District Ribbon Originals
147 109188 *Fairy Tale Ribbon Originals
147 109185 Jersey Ribbon Originals Unavailable
146 104829 *Light Blue gingham ribbon Low
146 104828 *Light Pink gingham ribbon
146 109037 More Mustard 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
146 104831 *Moss gingham ribbon
147 109184 Sherbet Ribbon Originals
147 109186 Theater Ribbon Originals Unavailable
Rub-Ons
141 110282 *Anchored Rub-Ons
141 110281 *Cherished Memories Rub-Ons
141 110285 *Urban West Rub-Ons
Simply Scrappin'
138 109610 Confetti Simply Scrappin' Unavailable
137 110572 *Crew Kids Boy Simply Scrappin'
138 110567 Crew Kids Girl Simply Scrappin'
139 109649 Round Up Simply Scrappin'
139 109635 Secret Garden Simply Scrappin'
138 109663 *Winter Bright Simply Scrappin'
Simply Sent
13 112664 *Friendly Notes Simply Sent
12 112666 *Lifelong Notes Simply Sent Low
13 112665 *Sending Happy Thoughts Simply Sent
14 112667 *Simple Delights Simply Sent
14 112668 *Three Thoughts Simply Sent
Click HERE to download a full PDF version of the Stampin' Up! Australia 2009 retiring list.

If you would like to order any of the retiring products before they sell out, just drop me a line.

Best wishes,
Sam.

PS. I am going to attempt to keep this list updated for you.