A Christmas Surprise.....

 

So what is inside?

 

Over the coming 10 posts, I'm going to show you what I've created (times 4) on the first few days of my holidays.  I have really enjoyed some crafting time, and am looking forward to some more before I have to put my nose back to the grindstone. 

 

For this and the next 10 posts in the series, supplies are:

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade

Inks: Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade

Stamp Sets: a variety of Christmas sets, both current and retired, and a couple of borrowed sets from other companies.

Embellishments: Candlelight Christmas DSP (retired, but I didn't have my current Christmas order when I started the project), pearls, rhinestones, various ribbons, punches and framelits.

 

Happy Stamping......Manda

A long time between posts.......

 

Being a teacher is very rewarding and a wonderful career.....but doesn't leave much time for oneself after looking after my own family as well.  Stamping, sadly, often comes last on the list.

 

This project was one of those times where I had to combine family and stamping.....YEAH!! 

 

DD 1 wanted a birthday gift for a friend, and found the present, but wanted Mum to make a gift box.  So 9.45pm on Friday night, Mum sat down and whipped up this little number. 

 

 

And on the inside.......

 

Yes, purple and pink were the colours of the evening!!  A little bit of retired ribbon, but the rest is all current......except the Rimmel nail polish.....which is actually really good and doesn't chip.  Hehe....not that I bought any for myself :-)

 

Stamp Set: Lacy and Lovely, Label Love

Card stock: Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise

Other:  Retired ribbon and brad, Artisan Label punch

 

Happy Stamping.....Manda

Sale-a-Brate Birthday

DD2 has been invited to a girlfriends birthday party.  So out came my crafty ideas, and I whipped up this for her birthday.

The family have just moved house, so I hope that the name in the frame will give her a little ownership of her new bedroom.  Lets just hope that the colour scheme suits!!

Happy stamping....Manda

Pay it forward......a little late!

At the beginning of the year, I put a post on my Face book page about Paying it Forward, where I promised to send/deliver a handmade gift to anyone who replied.  The only rule was that if you replied, you then had to post the same message on your Face book page, and pay it forward with a gift also. 

Anyway, here is the gift that I made for one of the forwardees (if that's a word). 

A sweet little handbag box, which I've decorated with the scallop envelope die and the Embosslits butterflies, using Lap of Luxury DSP.

And here's what was inside.....

which is where the 'late' part comes in, because the little gift cards are made using Sale-a-bration sets.  Even though SAB has now finished, I still wanted to share them with you. 

Here are some close ups......

The little gift cards have matching DSP scallop envelopes.

What you need.....

Card Stock:  Concord Crush, Very Vanilla, Blushing Bride

Ink:  Blushing Bride, Concord Crush

Stamps:  Bliss, Punch Bunch

Other: Lap of Luxury DSP, Embosslits Butterflies, Scallop Envelope Die, Stamp'n'Write markers.

Happy Stamping.....Manda

Fridge Decoration.....

I found these cute little round tins online, and thought that they would make fantastic window box style magnets for the fridge.  I've just today given them to Megan from Gone Dotti (see sidebar for link).

Here is the first one, using Play Date DSP, monkey from Fox and Friends and tree from Four in a Row.

 Old Olive and Chocolate Chip.  I have raised the money up on a stack of 3 dimensionals and the tree on 1.  It's a bit hard to see the effect in the photo.

This one uses the same sets and DSP, but a different sheet and hence different colours.

Regal Rose and Tempting Turquoise

This photo gives you an idea of how high the tins are - the punch is the owl punch.

This one uses the Good Friends set, with the retired Walk in the Park DSP.  I've stamped the sentiment and butterfly onto acetate, so that the pattern of the DSP shows through subtly.

This one shows the dimension better.  I've raised up both the sentiment and then the butterfly higher again.

And another one with retired DSP, but it matches the stamp set. 

Same retired DSP, butterfly from Cottage Garden.

Happy Stamping.......Manda

Last Christmas post.....

I promise this is the last post I'll make for now about Christmas.

This is a glass ornament that I made for some of my demo friends.  I've white embossed Dasher and then used a combination of Crystal Effects, reinker and shimmer paint to make the snow.  I've then sealed it all with a spray sealer.  Add some ribbon and a tag, and there you go. 

And this photo is another jelly bean bottle, using a sheet of Real Red paper from the Playdate DSP.

Looking forward to posting some new creations for you all soon......

Happy Stamping......Manda

Just Add DSP

I have to say that I love school holidays.  Not only do I get to turn off the alarm clock, there are no lunch boxes to pack, no homework to do, and lots of slow starts to the morning.  Of course that could be due to the lots of late nights that I have over the holidays, crafting.  Yes, I am a night owl (maybe that's why I love the Twilight books??? LOL)

I realised while I was deliberating over what to do with this weeks challenge over at Just Add Ink, that the prize pack that I made up for Jo, who won my colour challenge recently, fit the bill perfectly. 

So here is my entry into JAI23 - Just Add Patterned Paper (or DSP)

This is a desk set gift box that I've made up.  The gift box itself is a box that I bought some make up in, which just happened to be Real Red.  I've covered the top (which had the brand embossed on it) with the red flower paper from the Pink Flamingo DSP pack. 

Here is a close up of the note block stack.

And here is the mini clipboard.

I've stamped the note paper with a single image from the triple flower stamp from Eastern Blooms.  When I got this set, I got Hubby to saw the triple wood block into three and I split the stamps into individual images.   I find this far easier to use, as I have them separate for when I just want one, but I can still line them up (like the original image ) with the Stamp-a-ma-jig.  I love it when stamps do double duty!!

Happy Stamping.......Manda

Time for an Inkspiration Challenge.

I have been a follower of Makeesha Byl's blog for a long, long time as she is a friend of my friend and upline, Steph Pike.  I have admired Keesh's work and have often completed one of her challenges, though long after the competition has closed.  My kids are on school holidays at the moment, and as you might have noticed by the increased amount of blog posts, I have been able to spend some time crafting. 

So, shock horror, I have completed another challenge, a colour challenge.  Here it is.

You might have seen my last post, where I made DD1 a butterfly frame.  Well DD2's favourite colour is orange, so I thought I'd play along with Keesh's challenge and make another frame.  This time, I've used a butterfly stamp set and matching die cut template from PaperTrey Ink called Butterfly Dreams.  (Thanks Cassie for the loan!)

This is a photo of the picture before I have put it in the frame.  I've used the colours from the challenge, and added some of the dollar shop gemstones.  I've used dimensionals on the top left and bottom right butterflies, to give them a bit of a difference.

Here is the photo in the frame, please excuse the glare on the glass of the frame.

Happy Stamping........Manda

JAI22 Take 2

While I'm on a roll........

I've had this frame in my stash of "things that I find while shopping that I can use one day to stamp with".  (LOL - am I the only one who has a draw or three like this????)  I got it at the local dollar shop, and it had a hideous picture in it.  But, being me, I thought, "I can take that home and one day I'll get to take that awful picture out of the shadow box frame, and stamp something fabulous for the kids bedrooms."

Well as you can see, there is not much stamping on this one, but I still really like how it turned out.  Here is a photo of the insert before I put it in the frame.  You can see where I've stamped the outline from Flight of the Butterfly in Rich Razzleberry ink underneath the punched DSP from Pink Flamingo.  I've then sponged the edges of the butterflies with Tempting Turquoise before adding some tiny clear gemstones, again from the cheap shop.

Before I put the insert into the frame I bent up the wings of the butterflies using a ruler to make sure that they were all the same.

This frame will go into DD1's bedroom, as she has a turquoise and white doona cover, so it will match beautifully. 

Coincidentally, the colours that I've used (Tempting Turquoise, Kiwi Kiss, Rich Razzleberry and Whisper White) also match this weeks colour challenge over at Just Add Ink.  So this frame is also my second entry for JAI22. 

Happy Stamping.......Manda

Bye Bye Jo.....

When I became a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, one of the unexpected benefits was the wonderful friendships that I have developed with people, through a mutal love of stamping and papercraft. One of those friendships is now going to be missed as Jo is moving to Melbourne. (Actually, she is already there as I was supposed to post this on Thursday, but due to illness, it didn't happen).

While we will continue to stay in touch with the wonders of modern technology, namely Skype, we will certainly miss her from around the dinning/craft table at technique and project classes.

I thought I'd share will you a little bit of the going away pressie that I gave to Jo at her farewell lunch.

Firstly, here is the gift bag....just a white bag, that I have decorated up with a roller and a topper, not difficult, but very effective.

And here is a close up of the topper.....

Inside, along with some other goodies, I included this version of my side by side presentation box.

To Jo and her family, I hope the move went smoothly, and that you all find your feet quickly in Melbourne, and that you all enjoy your time down there. Best of luck.

Happy Stamping......Manda

Side by Side Presentation Boxes

Hi everyone.....I was doing some blog hopping and was checking out my friend and upline, Steph Pike's blog, and found that she had posted a project that I created a little while ago, and shared with Steph's team at our monthly meeting.

As she has beaten me to it, I thought that I'd better get on and post my versions of the Side by Side Presentation Box. I have used these boxes, as you'll see, to display 6 love notes, 3 each of two designs, side by side (really!!) in a box.

You could also use them to put some love notes on one side and some chocolates or lollies on the other.....the possibilities are endless.....

Anyway, enough waffle, here are my creations.

First the Red Box - Real Red cardstock, Raspberry Tart DSP and SAB set Vintage Labels.

Next we have the Pumpkin Pie set, again with Vintage Labels, and some retired DSP (a girls and boys side!)

And I think this one is my favourite. Bashful Blue and Washington Apple DSP, and Best Wishes and More stamp set.

I also have made another set, but more on that soon.....

Happy Stamping.......Manda

Easter Treats...

Hi there everyone.....sorry for the long time between posts. Life has a habit of getting busy doesn't it????

Anyway, I thought I would show you a project that I have made in preparation for Easter. It is a fantastic milk carton basket, made from a tutorial by Becky Roberts. The little milk cartons open from the bottom, so that you don't have to ruin the DSP on the top. How cleaver.

Not the most fantastic of pictures, but I promise that it looks really good IRL.

I have used the Kalidescope paper from the Summer Mini, which is nearly at an end. It has taken me a little while to get used to the bright colours, but now I love them. You may notice that I have added the scalloped border stamp from Eggcoutrements from the summer mini, to the DSP on the box.

Stay tuned for some more Easter ideas soon.......

Happy Stamping......Manda

Journal Set Class

Hi Everyone......

Hope you are enjoying this amazing weather.....we actually have some sun today. Personally, I'm taking advantage of the sun and breeze to catch up on all that washing.....Ho Hum.....anyway.......

Thought I'd let you know about a class that I am running on Friday 19th March. I have created a Journal Set, which with 2 daughters, I think is a perfect gift for all those birthday parties that they are invited to. The added benefit is that you can be assured that it is a present that the birthday girl is only going to have one of. DD1 is already asking when she can have the one in the pictures below.

Here is the front cover.........

Which opens up to reveal........

If you would like to come, cost is $25.00, and all supplies are provided to make the set. BYO scissors, bonefolder, trimmer, snail, sticky strip. Please email me at jatla@aapt.net.au if you would like further details.

Happy Stamping.......Manda

Schoolbooks......

Now that the dust has settled and we are into week 3, I felt that I could make you all think about back to school again.

DD1 had some books to be covered for school, and as I have decorated her books for her for the past 4 years, I thought that I had better do something again this year. To add to the challenge, they all had to be done in one night and returned the next day!

DD1's instructions before going to bed were - "I want something tomboy girly and you can use purple, black, green, yellow and little bit of pink".

Well, after checking out my wrapping paper supply, I decided that purple was the feature and I worked from there.

I love Seeing Spots, it is such a versatile stamp set. Colours used are Lavender Lace, Certainly Celery and So Saffron. I have also used the journalling stamp from Enjoy Every Moment as the central feature, which I filled in with DD1's name, class and subject - please note - in black (I had to sneak it in there somewhere!)

And here are the finished items, after contact! (sorry about the glare).

Happy Stamping.........Manda

Close to Close to Cocoa

If you have found my blog from reading my upline, Steph Pike's, wonderful work, you may have seen the selection of gifts that I gave her for Christmas. If not, check them out here. What you can't see in the photo, as Steph has mentioned, is that I have stamped the big flower from Embrace Life (LOVE that set) all over the vase in White Stazon, so that when you look at the vase at an angle, you get a lovely textured effect.

The vase that I gave to Steph is a bone coloured vase, and when I visited my local discount shop, I found a very similar one, but this time in a colour very close to Close to Cocoa, from the Earth Elements colour family. And I thought.........why not try it again?

This time I have used Razzle Dazzle as the stamp, and have tied a bow using the the polka dot Real Red ribbon (which I adhered at the back with a little bit of Sticky Strip). Both these products are available in the SU! Summer Mini Catalogue. The flowers are made from the Die Cut Blooms, that I have stacked using dimensionals, and then I have stuck them onto a wooden skewer. To keep them in place in the vase, I picked up some Florist Foam, again from the discount store.

Happy Stamping........Manda