My Health and Merry Christmas to all

Hi All,

During the last week and a half my health hasn't been the best. I have been experiencing strong pain down my right side. I have had a multitude of tests and examinations and was also hospitalised on Monday overnight but to no avail. Little Bub is fine and has been happily bouncing around. I am going back to hospital today as I am not satisfied with the diagnosis I have been given as I know there is something more going on.

For this reason I doubt I will be able to post anything more before Christmas so I would like to wish all my readers a very happy, safe and fun filled Christmas. Thank you so much for all your visits, comments and encouragement. I look forward to creating and sharing my creations with you more in 2009.

God Bless and Happy Stampin'
Dani

P.S. For those who wanted to know I got the mini calendars from Educational Experience http://www.edex.com.au/. Prices are Price is $8.90 +GST for 50 (Item X260620) or $5.90 +GST for 25 (Item X042572). Shipping for orders under $100.00 is $12.00, $100.00-$299.00 is $25.00. If you would like to order, you need to quote the Item number, and you can pay by credit card. Email: hotline@edex.com.au Telephone: Tollfree 1300-134 211 Fax: (02) 4942 1991. Hope this helps and happy creating!

Some big news!

If you read yesterday's post I promised to be back with an announcement about why I have been a little slack on my blog. Anyone who has read my blog over the last few weeks or so (Thanks for sticking around) will know that there has been alot going on in my life of late (post related can be found here and here).

I can now safely and confidently reveal to you guys what exactly is going on. But I thought to do so why not have a bit of fun with it so I made a card to reveal to you all my news. Here is is below...

That's right I am having a BABY!! I am 12 weeks pregnant. I am due on the 27th June 2009. Initially this news came as a big shock and wasn't where I planned my life to be at this point. However I believe that God works in the most mysterious ways and this is apart of his plan for me and I'm really excited about embracing this new part of my life.

I am so grateful and blessed to have some of the most supportive people around me at this time who have just assisted me to know safely in my mind that all the decisions and changes I am making in my life are the right ones.

The other really great thing is having Stampin' Up! in my life. I know that I will be able to keep doing my SU! work right into and after my pregnancy and am looking into the new things I will be doing with SU! in the future.

So the next few months I will be still a bit more quieter than usual but this is all for a great and exciting reason. I will be moving within a few months along with everything else. Thank you all for your support and for understanding!

Love Dani :)

Christmas Promotions

I sound like a broken record but I have been very slack and am only putting these promotions up now. I do sincerely apologise. I will be putting up an announcement tomorrow about why I have been so slack. Please tune in tomorrow as it is quiet exciting.

Anyway onto saving you some dosh! For the month of December spend $20 on products and Stampin' Up are so generously taking 20% of a range of products in there "Tying up Christmas" promotion. See list below for more details or contact me (danielle.fender@catholiccare.org) to find out how you can qualify for this fantastic promotion.

Item page Description Regular Price Discount Price
108790 27 Festive Favorites stamp set $45.95 $36.76
108772 28 Crazy for Christmas stamp set $39.95 $31.96
110244 29 Snow Flurries stamp set $20.95 $16.76
108930 43 Tag Time stamp set $53.95 $43.16
108869 111 Many Merry Messages stamp set $64.95 $51.96
103604 133 12" x 12" Days-to-Remember Calendar $20.95 $16.76
104144 133 6" x 6" Days-to-Remember Calendar $18.95 $15.16
109663 138 Winter Bright Simply Scrappin'™ $36.95 $29.56
112670 143 Three for You Punch Box $85.95 $68.76
109055 146 Very Vanilla 5/8" grosgrain ribbon $14.95 $11.96
109050 146 Certainly Celery 5/8" grosgrain ribbon $14.95 $11.96
103372 147 White Square Aluminum Metal Edge tags$7.50 $6.00

To show you just how great this promo is I have made up a make and take using 3 of the discounted products. Snow Flurries - which in my opion is an absolute steal at $16.76 during the promo, The ever so versatile Many merry Messages only $51.96 and my favourite Certainly Celery 5/8" grosgrain ribbon which is only $11.96.



The card I have made is a total case from the Idea Book & Catalogue. Turn to page 36 if you want to see the original. I think the card looks so simple but stunning at the same time and can be made within next to no time.

Stamp Set: Snow Flurries, Many Merry Messages
Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Purely Pomegrante, Whisper White
Ink: Certainly Celery, Purely Pomegrante
Accessories: Certainly Celery 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Purely Pomegrante Double Stitched ribbon, Mini Glue Dots, 3/4 inch circle punch, dimensionals

Thanks for looking!
Dani

Men!

I don't know about you but I find it very hard to make cards for men. Boys is fine but men I find are very difficult. Even if I had extremly man-ly sets I think I would still have a great difficulty. On the weekend I had 2 cards to make for friends who are having upcoming birthdays. I like both of the cards I made for different reasons but still think that all the cards I make for men are the same and struggle to find different things to put on them. I think I will need to challenge myself more to make more masculine cards.

This first card I orginally started making with the other person in mind but once I was finished I realised it was much more suited to the other person because he has property which has thousands of pine trees on it and it really reminded me of being back on there property.

Stamp Set: Lovely as a Tree

Ink: Old Olive

Cardstock: Old Olive, Choc Chip, Whisper White

Accessories: Dimensionals, Old Olive and Choc Chip Markers

This second card is very simple and very simular to a card I have made for a Kristina Challenge before but I think it has a masuline look to it. I love the colours used and will definatly be using them again. They are a great combo.

Stamp Set: Always*, Occasional Greetings

CardStock: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Blue Bayou, Basic Grey

Ink: Certainly Celery, Blue Bayou, Basic Grey

Accessories: The brand new scallop punch from the Summer Mini! LUSHNESS GALORE!

I have also been asked about where I got the mini calendars from 2 posts back. I will be back with some more projects made with them and where I got them from!

Thanks for looking

Dani :)

Flowers in the breeze

Hi all,

I do apologise again about my lack of posting. I have stuff to share but our computer crashed and then life has really got in the way. I will be posting again soon with all the exciting things happening in December!

A few weeks ago the Inklings had a challenge night. Amongst these challenges was a colour challenge based on the colours of the ultra lush Bali Breeze paper. If you haven't seen them PLEASE contact me they are divine! The colours that were set were Old Olive, Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie and Taken with Teal. Really bold colours but so nice together. Here is one of the cards I made.

I used the Season of Joy set which is no longer available to purchase! Here's praying it makes into the main catalogue next year because it is such a great set. I also used the Priceless set. To get the leaves I simply stamped the flower image in old olive and then cut out the individual petals and used them as leaves.

Stamp Set: Priceless, Season of Joy*

Card Stock: Whisper White, Taken with teal, Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie

Ink: Old Olive, Taken with teal, Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie

Accessories: Scissors (Big time), Rich Regal Brads, Ice Rhinestone Brads

Thanks for looking!

Happy Stampin'

Dani

Magnet Christmas Calendars

I have been getting busy making and creating more stuff for Christmas including cards, gifts, wrapping paper, bags, etc. I have been making up these super cute Magnetic Calendars using Kaiser Craft wood. They are so simple and quick to make and they are such nice and practical gifts to give to a friend, relative, work colleague, loved one or someone you haven't seen in a while. Here are 2 of the ones I have made recently using Dashing DSP. I have used the same piece of DSP for each just flipped it over to showcase both designs! I have stuck an old fridge magent on the back of them so the calendar can be in the most practical spot in the house! Your fridge!



Here's a close up of each...



The one below I have taken a photo of it whilst it is a magnet on the fridge I got given on the weekend. Such a good pick up I think the lady who gave it to me will be getting more than just one of these!



Stamp Set and Ink: NONE!
Card Stock: Real Red, Old Olive, Dashing DSP
Accessories: Real Red and Old Olive Wide grosgrain, Sanding block, Mini Calendars, Kaiser Craft Wood

Now on a lighter note... While I was taking photo's out the back under the patio where my new fridge is residing temporarily Miss Purdy was watching me. She rarely makes alot of noise but she kept whinging as if to say "don't take photo's look at me I'm cute!" So because of that I got this rather cute photo of her snuggled up looking oh so comfortable! Oh the life of a dog!

Thanks for looking!

Dani

Keesh's Layout Challenge

Hi all,

I'm back from a well deserved break away. Not as long as I would have liked but just some lovely down time. I arrived home to check out what has been happening in blog world only to find a new challenge by Makeesha Byl. If you haven't checked out this women's work please go have a look tell her I sent you! She really is a talent! This week she has posted a layout challenge that I just had to get my hands on. So I sacrificed my nanna nap to give it a whirl and here's one of the things I came up with...



Stamp Sets: Polka Dot BG, Season of Joy
Cardstock: Old Olive, Whisper White, Purely Pomegrante
Ink: Old Olive, Purely Pomegrante, Versamark
Accessories: White Grosgrain Ribbon, White Embossing Powder, Mat Pack, Dimensionals

I also started on a scrapbook page which I wasn't quite happy with so I'm going to let it settle overnight and see if I come up with anything else amazing tomorrow...

Happy Stampin'
Dani

Happy Anniversary Hunny

I got my camera back! Which means I can share with you something I made this week! Mine and my boyfriends anniversary was on Wednesday so to celebrate I made him a card. He loves landscapes and sunsets so I made him this beautiful Michelle Zindorf inspired card which he loved.

I stamped the Lovely as a tree image in versamark onto glossy white cardstock and then embossed in black powder and then sponged colour on in a range of colours. It looks really stunning.



Stamp Set: Lovely as a tree
Cardstock: White Glossy Cardstock, Basic Black, Mellow Moss
Ink: Versamark, Yoyo Yellow, Blush Blossom, Apricot Appeal, Pumpkin Pie, Pretty In Pink, Regal Rose, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke
Accessories: Black embossing powder, Black Brads, Sponges

Happy Stampin'
Dani

Amethyst Bloomin'

Hi kids,

I am so sorry for my absense this week or so. I hate when it leads up to Christmas there is always just so much going on. I have been doing some stuff this week but the images are all on my camera which my brother took with him to his year 10 formal last night so you will just need to settle with a card that I made a while ago but never really added here. Again it is using that GORGEOUS flower from Bloomin' with beauty from the Spring Mini. If you like it please get in fast as it (and the other sets in the mini) won't be available for purchase after 30th November!

I made this card for my mum to give to our "aunty and uncle" for there anniversary back in September. I think it's really elegant and pretty.

I watercoloured the flower in mellow moss for the stem and leaves and then a combination of almost amethyst, elegant eggplant, bashful blue and ballet blue for the flower and petals. I love how the colours have combined together so perfectly. Here's a close up.

Stamp Set: Bloomin' with beauty, Short and Sweet, French Script*

Cardstock: Watercolouring paper, Very Vanilla, Almost Amethyst

Ink: Almost Amethyst, Elegant Eggplant, Bashful blue, Ballet Blue

Accessories: Aqua Painter, Mellow Moss Gingham Ribbon, Hodgepodge, Sponge Daubers

I will be going away this weekend for mine and my boyfriends anniversary. I will post some photo's and more projects when I return home.

Have a great weekend!

Dani

I'm a sucker for Colour Challenges

During the week I have came across a few colour challenges and although life is super hectic I can't help but want to make a card for it. The first colour challenge I tackled was a challenge by the lovely Makeesha Byl using Choc Chip, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery and Very Vanilla. I love these colours! I came up with the following card using a layout that I had seen on her blog. I was going from memory though and it isn't exactly like the layout but I'm still happy with it.

Stamp Set: Bloomin with Beauty

Ink: Certainly Celery, Regal Rose, Choc Chip

Cardstock: Watercolour paper, Choc Chip, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery Prints DSP

Accessories: Aqua Painter, Corner rounder, Hemp Twine, Spounge Daubers

Technique: Watercolouring

I then saw the latest Kristina Werner colour challenge using some more beautiful colours. Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Old Olive and Sahara Sand. Soooo Pretty. I had to make a thank you card for my mum to give to family mate who helped us with the electricals on our new spa so thought these colours could be used. Here's the quick and easy but stylish card I made.

I was a little worried it wasn't very masculine but my dad and brother told me it they liked it (which is HUGE) so I'll take there word for it. I coloured the branch from Always in Certainly Celery and then the branches in Old Olive. Here's a close up...

Stamp Set: Always, Occasional Greetings

Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Old Olive, Whisper White

Ink: Old Olive (Marker), Certainly Celery

Accessories: Wide Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon, hemp twine, sahara sand eyelet, crop a dile, word window punch

Thanks for looking!

Have a great Thursday night!

Dani

Birthday Gifts

I work with a guy who thinks I am extremly talented. Not only for my card making but also my cookie making skills particularly my white choc macadamia cookies and my anzac cookies. He keeps encouraging me to quit me job and open my own shop called "Dani's Cards and Cookies." Apart from me not being able to make enough money from something like this I feel the novelty would wear off quickly. So I simply have decided to stick with thoughtful and enjoyable to make gifts instead!

For his birthday I made him the following card. It's masculine but could also be used as a Christmas card. He thought it was lovely and proudly displays it on his desk.

I used Sahara Sand and Wild Wasabi with a touch of white from my gel pen. I think Sahara sand can be used to really masculine a card up but is still very calming. I stamped the tree's in wild wasabi and versamark and then embossed in clear powder. I then went over it with my white gel pen to highlight the trees and also give it a sort of "snowed on look." I then paper peirced along the outside and joined together every second one with a gel pen. So simple but gives a whole new effect instead of regular faux stitching. I also roughed the edges up with my thumb nail. Here's a close up so you can see all those things in detail...

Stamp Set: Lovely as a tree

Ink: Wild Wasabi, Versa Mark

Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Sahara Sand

Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Mat Pack, White Gel Pen, Hodgepodge Hardware, Wild Wasabi double stitched ribbon

Also as mentioned he loves my cookies so I make him a batch of anzac cookies as we had no macadamias. I put 2 cookies into the Med cello bags (from SU!) and tied them with Real Red wide grosgrain ribbon. So simple but they look so good!

Easy gift to make and yet quite cheap also and it was very appreciated because he had enough cookies to last him a week!

Also only limited spots left for tomorrows class! Please contact me soon to save your spot.

TFL!

Dani

Thanks to all and some cute gifts!

They say in times of need you can always tell who your true friends are and who you can rely on. That has been evident throughout the last few weeks. They have been tough on me and a real challenge and really not anything I am used to coping with. I have been given so much support from my Stampin' Up! crew and so many people have offered there support and a shoulder if I need it. I want to thank each of you (You should know who you are) for your emails, messages, cards and support. It has really made me feel so loved and special by each of you, some of whom I have never met. None of you have asked me to explain my situation just given me the opportunity to talk if I need and I do thank you so much for that.

Apart from Stampin' Up! I must give a huge Thanks to my best mate in the whole world, Kris! If it wasn't for this girl I don't think I would have got through everything as quickly and as positively as I did. She has been my rock and I love her so much for this and everything else she has blessed me with. I know that what happens over the next few days, weeks, months and years I will be able to deal with it because of her. Thanks Kris you rock my bright, coloured, striped, odd socks! :)

To thank Kris for everything she has done I decided to make her a little thank you gift and made her a sweet little gift bag, gift cards and pull treat. She really is one for things matching so I decided to keep the same colours and design across all projects which she really appreciated. She loves Chocolate Browns so I very easily chose Chocolate Chip as one of the primary colours. I then teamed together a few other colours I wouldn't usually put together but think they look very complimentary. The names of the colours also sound like a yummy desert Vanilla Pomegrante and Chocolate... Mmmmm!

Here is a picture of all 3 projects together. Gift Bag on left, Pull Treat in the middle and sample of the gift cards on the right. There was a set of 5 cards in the bag.

Below is the Pull treat I made... Can you guess what's in it???

Mmmmmm... Dairy Milk! Nearly as good as a best friend, Not quiet though! My brother was selling these for a fundraiser for school and they fit perfect for pull treats. I think I'll be buying all of his next box lol!

Here is the gift bag I made her. It is quite little but so cute and it holds exactly 5 cards. You could make it larger if you want depending on what your putting in it. I made her an embellished K out of chipboard covered in Choc Chip Cardstock. She loved this and wanted to make it into a necklace lol! I told her I would if she wanted me too. Here's a close up...

Stamp Set: So Swirly Wheel, Think Happy Thoughts

Cardstock: Choc Chip, Purely Pomegrante, Very Vanilla, Sage Shadow

Ink: Purely Pomegrante, Sage Shadow

Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" 1 1/2" and 3/4" circle punches, Corner Rounder Punch, Dimensionals, Brads, Jumbo Eyelets, Very Vanilla Ribbon, ChipBoard

I hope you like this cute and so simple projects as much as she did as we are making something simular in pink and black at my class on Sunday. I really hope you can make it along. Hurry because spaces are filling!

Have a great evening

Cheers,

Dani

Life Oh Life!

Hi all,

I know it's been a while for me between posts! I am so slack! I must admit though it is all due to somethings that happened earlier this week. It has meant I cannot concentrate on Craft and Stampin and must make some decisions and follow up somethings. I will be back on track shortly but need this time to myself. I will assure you that I am fine and will be ok just need to get through what is going on my own way.

For this reason I need to report that I need to reschedule the class I am due to hold this Sunday. I am sorry to anyone who was looking forward to it as I was also. I have just bumped it back a week. So instead of this Sunday 2nd December it will be NEXT Sunday the 9th November at 2pm. I really hope you can join me on this date as I would like to still have lots of money to donate to Cancer Council.

I really thank you all for understanding these unexpected circumstances!

Anyway on a lighter note I do have some craft project photos for you. Here are photo's of my most recent ATC Swaps. They were Christmas themed and I really wanted to do something a little different. I also thought most people would be using Season of Joy so wanted to steer clear of that set. Here is what I came up with. It is a little different but I really like it and hope you do too.

Here is the individual ATC! I used the Faux Metal Technique to make the snow flake pendant and cracked out my jewelry making stuff to attach it to the ribbon. Here is a close up.

Stamp Set: Short and Sweet, Snow Flurries

Ink: Night of Navy, Ballet Blue, Bashful Blue, Versamark

Cardstock: Whisper White, Night of Navy, Ballet Blue

Accessories: Silver Embossing Powder, Ballet Blue Grosgain Ribbon, 3/4" Punch

Techniques: Faux Metal

I won't have a spotlight product this month as things are too crazy at the moment. I do apologise! I will be back when I have time!

Take Care,

Dani

Always in Pink!

Kristina Werner posted another colour challenge and although I should be cutting up cardstock for my upcoming demo I couldn't resist. The challenge was to use tones and shades of red including pink. I also am not a huge pink person but LOVE red. I did however mainly used pink/red tones for this card. It is very simplisitic but I love the end effect. I think this card would look lovely in other colours also.

Here is the card I made, How lush is it??

Here is a close up of the heart. I used the embossing resist techniqueand embossed in clear embossing powder then used my brayer and sponging to add tones of pinks and reds. I also added eyelets and tied ribbon through it!

Stamp Set: Always

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Purely Pomegrante, Versamark

Cardstock: Whisper White, Rose Red

Acessories: White Eyelets, Crop a dile, Pink Grosgrain ribbon, Pretties Kit, Sponge Daubers, Clear Embossing Powder, Sponges, Brayer

Thanks a bunch for looking!

Please post your guesses for belows post so you can win some goodies!

Have a great night

Dani

Birthday Card Comp

Allo Allo Allo,

The other day I was making a birthday card. As I was making it I someone asked me who it was for and when I told them who it was for they were quiet surprised and advised that you couldn't tell the person it would be for just looking at the card. This got me thinking of making a little comp of this. (I sort of stole the idea from Marelle Taylor) So I have a few gifts up for grabs for the first person/people who correctly guess the following questions... This is open to demonstrators and customers!

Based on the card below comment and tell me
a. The sex of the person I am giving it to (Male of Female)
b. The age of the person. I will give it to the closest if no one gets it within a week.
c. The way in which this person is known to me ie. Related (if so how - Brother, Mother, Uncle, Cousin, etc) Close Friend, Work Colleague, Stampin Up! Friend, Netball Team Mate, Aquintance, Youth Group Friend, etc.

Here is the card in which you have to answer these questions about...




Here's a close up of the card!



Stamp Set: Big Bold Birthday
Cardstock: Summer Sun, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Certainly Celery, Ballet Blue, Real Red, Summer Sun
Accessories: Summer Sun Marker, Wide Certainly Celery Ribbon, Thin Ballet Blue Ribbon, Dimensionals, Paper Snips, Real Red eyelets, Crop a dile

If you like this card you can purchase the set used in it for 20% of when you spend $20 or more from the catty. Please contact me if you would like to take advantage of this! Hurry runs out at the end of the month!

Cheers,
Dani

Scrapbooking Challenge

I originally got into craft after my mum started scrapbooking a few years ago. I got into scrapbooking and found it alot of fun but my pages were very basic. I started buying stuff with the intent of scrapbooking but never had photo's printed (I'm sure others can also share a simular predicament) so moved onto card making. My card making started off again very basic and still wasn't all that spectacular until I found Stampin' Up! Since then though I haven't really continued doing much scrapbooking because I still feel my skills are quite basic and can never really come up with any new layouts. I find my pages also take me a very long time to complete because I can't just get an idea and sort of run with it like cardmaking I have to explore absolutly every possibility and then give up after 2 hours and just end up doing something very basic.

The other day when we were given challenges by the lovely Kylie. She set us a challenge to use traditional Christmas colours (Red, Green, Gold (if embossing) and White) to create a card or scrapbook. Usually I would just go the easy option and make a card. I decided that I have heaps of photo's I've been meaning to scrap as a Christmas Pressie to my Boyfriends Brother of his beautiful daughter, Asha, so I should get a headstart on that. This page took me a very long time but I am so happy with how it turned out and it is very different to anything I'd normally do. I got some inspiration for the page from looking at some of the gorgeous pages by Beth Stewart. She has some great work if you ever have time to check her blog out.

Behind the First Picture there is a pullout for some journalling which I haven't written on yet as I want to make sure I put something special on there that really tells the story of the photo's and I think my boyfriend should help with that.

I used flowers from the pretties kit which I coloured in with real red ink and a sponge Dauber. They are so nice and the first time I've used them! I think I'll be using them again!

Stamp Sets: Season of Joy, Many Merry Messages, Big Deal Alphabet

Card Stock: Real Red, Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Certainly Celery Prints DSP

Ink: Real Red, Wild Wasabi

Accessories: Real Red Marker, Summer Sun Marker, Real Red Eyelets, Crop-a-dile, Round Tab Punch, Pretties Kit, Ice Rhinestone Brads, Dimensionals, Mat Pack, White Gel Pen, Stapler, Hemp Twine, Spounge Dauber

Thanks for looking!

Cheers Big Ears!

Dani

Challenge Night

Hi All,

During the week we had another challenge night with the demonstrator group that I am apart of, The Inklings. Challenges were set by the lovely Kylie Swain and were all very appropriatly Christmas Themed. I haven't been able to have the chance to complete them all as yet but I have done Challenge 1 which was to make a pocket card but of course make it Christmas themed! These were very quick and easy to make. It was just the decorating that I took more time. Here's what I came up with...



The Mellow moss insert at the back pulls out so you could write a nice message on it or have something hidden in it such as a gift card/voucher. They are great little christmas gifts to give out and the dimensions can easily be changed to suit what you want to make. Below is a close up of the pull out tab and ribbon. I set an jumbo eyelet and then placed a rhinestone brad in the middle. Looks really cute and blings it up a little too!



Stamps: Season of Joy, Baroque Motifs
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Mellow Moss, Purely Pomegrante
Ink: Mellow Moss, Purely Pomegrante
Accessories: Mellow Moss Grosgrain Ribbon, Corner Rounder Punch, Ice Rhinestone Brads, Jumbo Eyelets, Crop-a-dile, Sponge Daubers, Round Tab Punch

You can make these up to suit any occasion! I will try and get to the other challenges soon!

Thanks for looking!
Happy Sunday :)

Dani

And the winner is...

The other week I posted 3 cards I made for a Kristina Colour Challenge. I left it up to you to chose your favourite. The general consensus was the Giraffe Card was the fav. So I am giving this one away to a lucky person...

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:3

Which is Kristy Young! Kristy please send me an email with your address and I will send that card out to you!

My personal fav of the 3 was the Christmas card as it was just a little different to the other entries that were entered so I'm glad I get to keep it for a bit!!

Thanks guys for viewing my blog and commenting! Keep the comments coming! They are one of the things that keep me motivated and inspired to update my blog and create beautiful things!!

Cheers,
Dani :)

NOT my usual style and upcoming classes

I had a customer buy a set back in April after she saw a card made with it and fell in love with it. She has since not made anything with it and advised me she had no idea how to use the set. She asked if i could demo it at her party on Saturday. Not being able to say no to anything (my worst habit) I said yes. This set is REALLY not one I would normally use or anything I would normally pick but decided to be open to the challenge and also look on others sites for inspiration. I was also instructed that I must use purple for the card also otherwise I could do what I liked! I went blog hunting and used the wonderful and extremly talented Teneale Williams card for some inspiration. Of course my card is no where near as nice as hers but I tried.

The set I was given was blossoms abound! To tell you the truth it is a really fun set to use and I had alot of fun creating these 2 cards. I have even added the set to my wish list...

Here are the two cards I came up with

I was also intimidated by making these cards because I have lost my stamp-ma-jig I then found it whilst I was loading my boot for the demonstration! Whoops! The card above uses my new found love in colours sage shadow! It also has a combo of Lavendar Lace and Elegant Eggplant! I love how it stands out so brightly but not to overpowering!

This second card I toned down in colour a little to just see what the difference would look like. The colours in this one is sage shadow teamed with perfect plum and pale plum. Still really stunning! I demoed this card at the party and she loved it so much she bought all the stamp pads and cardstock along with hodgepodge so she could re-create it! I think I did good! What do you reckon??

On Saturday I also decided to get a little organised. I have planned my classes from now until June next year! I am holding project and technique classes once per month on the first Sunday of each month at 2pm. (This is all I can manage at the moment with a full time job sorry guys! Tell me boss to sack me hehe) I have posted the first few classes on the right hand side of my blog for your info and will keep updating. If you want a full document with all the info please comment or email me and I will gladly send them to you.

For my first class on the 2nd November I am doing a Girls Afternoon In and will donate $20 of the $25 class fee's to the breast cancer council. Please come bring your girlfriends wear pink and make a Pink handbag and gift cards! I would love to have as many people attend as possible so we can donate a good amount of money. I am also accepting donations. Please email me if you would like to leave a donation however big or small! danielle.fender@centacare.org

Thanks in advance!

Dani

Happy 1st Birthday Asha

On the 26th of September my boyfriends Niece, Asha, turned One! I cannot believe she is already a year old. She is the most beautiful and sweet little girl and I'm not just be a biased "sort of auntie." Check out this gorgeous photo taken of her at her party!

As it was her birthday I also had to make her a beautiful birthday card. I used a set that is retired (Sorry guys) called "Favourite Teddy Bear" but it was the most appropriate set for the card. I love this set so much and was bummed when it retired! He (the bear) is sooo cute and I've nicknamed him Boris!

I stamped Boris in Timber Brown Stazon onto watercolouring paper and then watercoloured him in Close to cocoa and Chocolate Chip Inks to get all the shading! I added a party hat to him and watercoloured it in lavendar lace. The rest of the card was done in Pretty in Pink and Lavendar lace as these were the colours of the balloons they had chosen for the party.

On the inside of the card I took a Very Vanilla Love Note envelope. Jazzed it up with punches and bling and stuck it to the inside of the card. I put some money in the envelope to be added to her bank account which was opened for her a few days after she was born. Unfortunatly in the heat my Basic Black journaler went psycho and wouldn't work so I had to write with the thick side of the marker. It isn't as neat and perfect as I would usually write for that reason!

How sweet does it look??

During the party Mum and Dad had a cake for her. They decided after blowing the candles out they would let her loose on the cake. She ended up with icing all over herself including in her hair. I have heaps of photos of her looking like a very cute grub and it was hard to chose one. The photo I have chosen was her whilst eating cake and dancing along to the song her dad made up for her. Isn't she sooo cute?

I can't wait to get these printed and scrapbook them!!

Thanks for looking! Have a great day

Dani

A day of cardmaking

Hi all,

It's been lovely having some time off work the last week it has meant I've been able to get HEAPS of craft stuff done! Today I have been so busy creating I only just noticed that it's nearly 4pm and I'm still in my pj's! Pure Bliss if I do say so myself!

The projects I have to share were made using the colours from Kristina Werner's lastest Colour Challenge! I saw the colours and immediatly thought ok these are my type of colours! I'm pretty sure I've used the combo a few times in the past. I had so much fun creating that I ended up making 3 cards!

Here are the colours... Ballet Blue, Certainly Celery, So Saffron and Ruby Red... Mmmm How nice!!



Here is what I did with the colours. For my first card I started using the Big Bold Birthday Stamp Set (On sale for 20% this month only). And got 3/4 of the way through and decided to change it up a bit and use the cute giraffe from the Wild About You set! I'm so happy I did as I love the outcome!



Stamp Set: Big Bold Birthday, Wild About You
Cardstock: Ballet Blue, So Saffron, Ruby Red, Certainly Celery Prints DSP
Ink: So Saffron, Ruby Red Marker
Accessories: Ballet Blue and Certainly Celery Grosgrain Ribbon

I then had this Cup Cake that I had already worked on and didn't use so I made up a little 3x3" Love Note Card and adhered it to this. How cute does it look??



You can't tell but the Ballet Blue top of the card is embossed in top boss glitter embossing powder. Here's a close up hopefully you can see it now!!



Stamp Set: Big Bold Birthday
Ink: Balllet Blue, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Versamark
Cardstock: Whisper White, Ruby Red, So Saffron
Accessories: Certainly Celery and So Saffron Brads, Glitter Embossing Powder, Certainly Celery Ribbon

Finally I decided these colours could be used for a christmas card. I pulled out my Spotlight product for this month, The beautiful Season of Joy set and played with that. I wish I owned all the coloured markers as it would have made it a little easier but I am so happy with the outcome! How sweet is this card?? It would make a great Stamp a Stack cos it was really quick and easy!



Stamp Set: Season of Joy
Cardstock: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Ruby Red
Ink: Certainly Celery, Ruby Red, Ballet Blue, So Saffron
Accessories: 3/4" circle, Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, So Saffron Brad

Now it's over to you guys my readers. I love each card for different reasons. I want you to tell me which card you like the best. All the responses I get before 19/10/08 will be in the running to win the card which is selected as the favourite of all the responses! The winner will be chosen at random! You must be in it to win it So leave me a comment!

Cheers!

Dani

Ben and Karl's Colour Challenge

Hi All,

I'm back from my little break! Gee's it was so good to get away with no phone, no tv, no electricity and just relax! Was much needed! Anywho...

The other night I was a little stuck for ideas so was looking at the In Colour Chart that Stampin' Up! have on the Demonstrator site. Just one of the great benefits you recieve from being a demonstrator. The chart has a whole heap of colour combinations that you can use all using at least one of the 2008-2009 In Colours. Some of the combinations are quiet nice and I got lots of ideas from them other's I would never consider.

My apprentice (my 16 yr old brother) kept looking over to have a look at them. He would comment on weather he liked them or how crazy the colours were together. I then did the stupidest thing possible... I opened my big mouth and told him to chose a combo and I would make a card up using those colours. I then did something stupider (if that's a word I did it!) I told him that I disliked/wasn't comfortable with using groovy guava I also don't own the ink pad which makes it even more difficult. So naturally he chose to only look at the combo's using Groovy Guava and finally decided on the following colours...

Groovy Guava, Ballet Blue, River Rock and Rose Red. Ouch! was my initial thought! I wouldn't normally put those colours together! I pondered it for a while and then decided my best bet would to do some watercolouring. I am quiet happy with what I came up with. If you stand back from the card the colours look so well blended and really pop!

The beauty about this card is that you can use it both ways and it works... SEE!!!

Stamp Set: Scribble This

Cardstock: Rose Red, Groovy Guava, Watercolouring Paper

Ink: Black Stazon, Rose Red, Ballet Blue, River Rock

Accessories: Aqua Painter, Corner Rounder, Ballet Blue Wide Ribbon, River Rock Double Stitched Ribbon

Just as I had finished the card my Darling Boyfriend came me over to find me crafting. He asked what I was up to and so I explained. He then decided to jump on the band wagon and choose some colours. He is quiet obsessed with Real Red at the moment. (He keeps suggesting it for everything I make) so was trying to incorporate that into the card whilst also not making it to easy for me. He finally decided on a combo and added Real Red to it.

My colour combo was Close to Cocoa, More Mustard, Blue Bayou, Perfect Plum and Real Red. To make the combo just that bit harder I was forbidden to use watercolouring as I did that with the prevopis card. As these colours aren't really something I would use either I again had some difficulty but am happy with the end result.

Stamp Set: Whimsical Alphabet* Everday Flexible Phrases, Looks Like Spring

Cardstock: Whisper White, Close to Cocoa, Real Red, More Mustard, Blue Bayou, Perfect Plum

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Real Red, More Mustard, Blue Bayou, Perfect Plum

Accessories: 1 1/2" and 1 3/8 Square Punch, More Mustard Ribbon, Spring Bouquet Punch, Red Eyelets, Crop-a-dile, Staples and Stapler

I have always wanted to do this layout card before but never have so was really happy that I colour have a bit of fun with it! I'm thinking I will be getting them to set me some more of these challenges more often as because they are here I am forced to do it otherwise they will rouse on me and that's WAY too much trouble then it's worth! I had lots of fun with it despite whinging at them.

Thanks for looking!

Have a lovely night

Dani

* indicates that product is retired