Jan 28, 2012

Tutorial #1 - Taking Photos for Your Blog or Facebook Page

Hi Everyone,

Something a little different for you today, I'm going to write up a few tutorials this year for different things and i thought I'd start with taking photos for your blog or facebook page.

This is one of my first photos uploaded to my blog way back in July 2007.


Here's another:
See I didn't even know how or think about turning my pics around the right way!

Ahhh how things have changed! These are some recent pics:



Ok so here's my Tips!!

  1. Use natural light and turn off your camera flash! The flash often distorts the true colour of your cardstock, ribbon etc. However, you don't want direct sunlight on your subject either. I have worked out a spot near my front door (when open) provides the right amount of light without being "glarey" and I don't need to use the flash - it's set to 'forced off'.
  2. I prefer a neutral background - my current favourite is 2 sheets of white card (just over A3 sized). I use one as a "dropsheet" and the other as the "background". Alternatively I pop outside and use nature - the flower photo above even has my garden fencing in the background BUT it doesn't distract from my card as it's a continual pattern.
  3. Edit your photos - Sometimes you will have too much space around your photos. Editing your photo is a great way to remove that. I use a free to download program called Gimp, it's like photoshop but free
  4. I also add a watermark which you can also see in the more recent pics above and the white border around the edge but that's going to be in a tutorial of it's own! 
If you have any questions, please ask! The only silly question is one you haven't asked!

Thanks for looking,

Jan 24, 2012

ESAD Sale-a-bration Blog Hop


Hi Everyone,

To help Sale-a-brate Sale-a-bration, the lovely ladies over at ESAD (Extra Special Australiasian Demonstrators) have arranged a new blog hop! I haven't taken part, but want you to see all the exclusive products and well, this is a great showcase of exactly that.

You can start the blog hop at Sherylee's Blog and follow the links all the way round to everyone's blog. It's a great showcase of the NEW and Exclusive Sale-a-bration products.

Thanks for looking,

Jan 23, 2012

Sale-a-bration is here!!!


Hi Everyone,

It's a super exciting time of the Stampin Up! year right now - Sale-a-bration has arrived!!! I think it's only bettered by the anticipation and arrival of a new Idea Book in September.


Earn FREE Stampin' Up! products in one of 3 ways:



Click on this image to view the Sale-a-bration Catalogue online


Click on this image to view the Idea Book and Mini Catalogues online

To place an order, simply email me with the items you'd like and your contact details. I can accept payment via credit card, bank transfer or paypal which means you can have your order delivered to your door anywhere in Australia. Too easy!! :)


Thanks for looking,

Jan 21, 2012

Sunny Stamping Challenge

Hi Everyone,

Here's my entry for the Sunny Stamping Challenge, another new(ish) challenge site I'm joining in.


The theme this week was to add "Love" and I'm currently loving my Give a Gift stamp set.

And yes, you know me, it's another clean and simple card design! Just seems to be my thing :)

Well I mustn't carry on too much today, I'm off the the Glades Art & Fresh Produce Markets in Byford from 4-9pm today. If you can make it down, please come past say hello and check out my new stall layout.... Well that is providing we haven't melted by then!

Thanks for looking,

Jan 20, 2012

Kid's Holiday Class - January

Hi Everyone,

Last week I ran a very successful Kid's Holiday Class at the local Family Centre.

Here's what all the kids made:



They were able to choose a different colour as their stripe across the card and box, but the main parts were kept the same (mainly to make it easier for me to teach them all!)

A big "Thank you" to Simone & Irene for your help on the day and of course a really big "Well done" to all the kids ageing from 3-10years who took part - you guys did a fab job!!!

I have been running a Kid's class on each of the last 3 holiday periods and really enjoy teaching the kids! They are so eager to learn and yet aren't afraid to try something on their cards that they think will work. Results are interesting sometimes, but the sheer joy the kids show is so worth that crooked line or stamp!

If you have a crafty minded son or daughter, why not try one of my Kid's Classes or better yet, talk to me about arranging a class at your next child's birthday party!

Thanks for looking,

Jan 18, 2012

Valentine's Day

Hi Everyone,

Can you believe January is going so fast?! It's officially 2 weeks today until my girls return to school.

Today I'm joining in a new challenge called "Festive Friday" by a South Australian Demo called Nicole Derendorf. The first challenge is to create a Valentine's Day card inspired by one of her design team.

My inspiration comes from Nicole herself and reminded me to use that rather neglected Heart to Heart Punch. I combined it with the new Give a Gift stamp and coloured with my markers.





Thanks for looking,

Jan 17, 2012

Sale-a-bration is coming!!



Hi All,

There's only 1 week until Sale-a-bration (SAB) starts! I love this time of year to stock up on my card stock and receive some free stamps! Plus this year there's designer series paper and a ribbon and brad pack!

So how does it work? Well, for EVERY $100 you spend, you can choose a free gift. If your order is $200, that's 2 gifts, $300 that's 3 gifts and so on.

Now if you host a workshop or catalogue party with sales of $600 or more, you can also earn SAB gifts in addition to the standard hostess gifts (which start with sales of $300 or more).

If you can't wait for the online version of the SAB catalogue next week, please email me your postal address and I'll be happy to send you a hard copy.

This offer is available within Australia, but if you are living overseas, please check out the Stampin' Up! website and find a demo near you.

Thanks for looking,

Custom Ordered Notepads

Hi Everyone,

One of my friends contacted me about making some notepads for her son's 3rd birthday party.

Here's what I made:


These are A5 notepads with heavier cartridge type paper in them - perfect for the kids as they can use pencils, textas or crayons - or if Mum & Dad are brave - Paint!

Please contact me if you would like to know more about personalised party favours!

Thanks for looking,

Jan 6, 2012

Stampin' Up! Career Plan Changes

Hi Everyone,

Stampin' Up! have announced some new changes coming into place next year. The biggest and best news is that the quarterly minimum sales all demonstrators (business or hobby) must reach is $400 from April.

More information will be released soon about an upcoming recruiting special but if you are interested in learning more about joining Stampin' Up!, please contact me via email to register your interest and I will email the information directly to you.

Information on the Start Kit can be found here.


Thanks for looking,

Jan 5, 2012

Kaisercraft and Me, together for the first time!

Hi Everyone,

I'm very excited to share this project with you... It's taken a couple of days to make in between the kids demands of school holidays and watching the first season of Burn Notice with hubby each night this week...

But I'm proud of myself for making this 3 drawer peg shelf from Kaisercraft and decorating it with Stampin' Up!'s Big Top Birthday Designer Series Paper and some white paint.


And it's taking pride of place, I taken down our pin-up board/ whiteboard, moved our calendar and placed them both on the 1 wall together.



And I even drilled the holes and screwed the back plate to the wall all by myself! And it's straight (I think).

If you are interested, the kaisercraft kit can probably be purchased from your local craft shop - the product code is SB2121. I'm thinking about tracking down some more and decorating them ready for my market stalls in 2012 - what do you think?


Thanks for looking,

Jan 3, 2012

More diaries for 2012

Hi Everyone,

Are you organised for 2012? I still don't think you can go past having a nice diary - even with all the smartphones and being able to do it all online, but maybe that's just because I don't have a smartphone :)

Here's some quick pics of some more diaries I made for 2012.




They are for sale on my facebook page, or you can email me. They are $8 each plus postage.

There's also a couple on this previous blog post.

 Thanks for looking,

2012 - What's coming up??

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to 2012! I'm excited with what I have planned for the year, both with my little hobby and Stampin' Up! business and also at home.

These year will see Miss 5 start fulltime preprimary - it's going to be a big few weeks come February as she's always been so tired after 2 full days of school in 2011. However, I'm hoping that she (and I) adapt quickly as there's no going back now. Miss 3 will start at 4yo Kindy and do a 5 day fortnight, and again I hope she adapts well too. The start of the year for Miss 3 couldn't have worked out better, she has 1 one the first week, 2 days the 2nd week and has her first 3day week after that. All this equals to some extra kidfree time this year - my goals are to keep my house tidier and do some serious spring cleaning in the first term. It also means that I will be working on my projects during daylight hours and not into the wee hours of the morning so often. I know I won't say I never will stay up past midnight crafting again because I would never keep that deal!

So this means that I can do more to build up my hobby into more of a business. This year, I'm going to start a few new things including more classes and some tutorials. The tutorials will be on all sorts of things - cards, scrapbooking, 3D projects and there's even one about photography for your blog. My monthly classes will continue to be on the 2nd Friday night of every month. If there's enough people interested I'm happy to start a day time class as well. Classes are held at the Forest Lakes Family Centre, Thornlie, WA and the next one is the 13th February @ 7.30pm. And of course, I'm still available for Stampin' Up! workshops and can come to you for them.

I'm also going to continue having a stall at The Glades Art and Fresh Produce Markets in Byford, as well as a few other markets that are based south of the river. I love the interaction with people at the markets - and of course I get to catch up with my Glades Markets buddies!!

So that's some of what I will be up to in 2012, if there is anything you would like to learn, why not come to a class, host a workshop (and reap the rewards), or even join Stampin' Up! And of course you can always leave a comment or email me if you have a specific enquiry.


Thanks for looking,