Oh dear - I'm addicted!

I decided the other day that the next card I posted on my blog WAS NOT going to have any green in it - but then Kristina Werner goes & posts another colour challenge & I couldn't help myself, I had to play along.

I only used the tiniest bit of Wild Wasabi, so you can't even really tell the card has any green in it. These challenges are so much fun so why not challenge yourself to make a card using these colours too!Stampsets: Boho Backgrounds, So Many Sayings

Cardstock: Regal Rose, Purely Pomegranite, River Rock, Whisper White

Inks: Purely Pomegranite, Regal Rose, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White

Accessories: Purely Pomegranite Double Stitched Ribbon, Rhinestone Brad, Clear Embossing Powder

I'm fairly happy with how this turned out, although think it would look much nicer with some of the Pomegranite Satin Ribbon in the new Mini - yep thats right Stampin' Up! will have a new Spring Mini Catalogue out in August & one of the perks of being a demonstrator is getting the catalogue early & being able to preorder products, so keep your eye out over the next month for some sneak peaks.

Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge #21

I've been trying to finish off some Christmas cards for a swap I am in, but have been having trouble getting started. I already knew which stampset I was going to use & a couple of days ago decided on the colours, but was abit stumped as to what to do for a layout. Well today while I was blog surfing I came across Taylor's Cupcake Challenge so thought I'd give it a whirl. I know the challenge sounds like you need to use cupcakes & Taylor does for her cards (pictures of cupcake that is), however it is not required, what you are required to do is follow this sketch

So here is my card, I had alot of fun making it - sorry to any of the girls that are in the swap who may visit here!

Stampsets: City of David, Circle of Friwndship

Cardstock: Old Olive, River Rock, Naturals Ivory, Basic Gray, Brocade Background DSP

Ink: Black Staz On, Basic Gray

Accessories: Jumbo Pewter Eyelet, Crop-a-dile, Pewter Brads, Crystal Effects, Stampin' Write Markers, Grosgrain Ribbon & Twine

I have added some Crystal Effects to the centre of the sentiment circle, which gives it a nice shiny raised appearence, abit like the raised stickers you can buy - anyway hope you like it!

Kristina Werner Colour Challenge #12

I had so much fun doing Kristina's last colour challenge that I couldn't resist having another go last night. I was supposed to be home from football early to take a picture in the daylight ..............but we didn't get home until after dark. Oh well, I'll try & take a better picture tomorrow in the daylight.

The colours for this challenge are Whisper White, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi & Sahara Sand.

I have made a card before using colours very similar to these & was not very happy with the results, but I'm much happier with how this one turned out.

Wild Rose Birthday

It was my Nan's birthday earlier this week so I made her this card. She has just recently gotten a new bed & bedspread, which she really loves, so I based my card colours on them. I CASEd the layout from a card on splitcoast stampers.

I think that my Nan liked it & she knew straight away that I'd based it on her bedspread ..... actually I think her placemats are very similar too! I have also used the stampset & punch from the June eScape promotion - check it out here to see how you can save 25% on selected Stampin' Up! products.

Stampsets: Wild Rose, Circle of Friendship, Sanded Background

Cardstock: Bravo Burgandy, Choc Chip, River Rock, Very Vanilla

Ink: Bravo Burgandy, River Rock, True Thyme (retired), Choc Chip

Accessories: Bravo Burgandy Wide Grograin, Antique Brass Brads, 3/4", 1", 1 1/4" Circle Punches, Photo Corner Punch

In Color ATC swap

These are my latest ATC's for the demonstrator swap I am in! We were to use either In Colors or a new stampset - I've used both
Stampset: Spring Solitude Hostess Bundle
Cardstock & Ink: Blue Bayou, Wild Wasabi, River Rock, Whisper White
Accessories: Blue Bayou Double Stitched Ribbon, White Gel Pen, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Scalloped Circle, 1 3/8" & 1/2" Circle Punches

Would you like to recieve one of these ATC's? If so then join my ATC swap (see here for details), as I am going to use this as my "In The Garden" ATC also - I know it's cheating abit, but I thought it might give you idea of what to expect :)

ATC swap anyone ???

As you may know I join in a demonstrator only Artist Trading Card (ATC) swap each month. It is so much fun that I have decided to run one for my customers & blog readers. Here are the details:

• Open to Australian residents only (sorry if you are visiting from OS)
• ATC size to be 3.5 inches x 2.5 inches
• THEME: "In the Garden"
• Due date: 25th July 2008
• Please put your name, contact details & card no (ie 1 of 5) on the back
• Send 5 ATC's with a self addressed stamped envelope & receive 5 back

My address is Alana Galagher, PO Box 205, Wee Waa NSW 2388

If you have any further questions please email me - alana@aussiebroadband.com.au

**NOTE - if you can't tell I'm blonde by the picture at the top of my blog, then you may have gotten a clue if you read this post - ATC's are actually 2.3 inches x 3.5 inches, not cm like i have originally typed - thanks for letting me know Dani, you're a gem :)

Kristina Werner Colour Challenge

I've seen afew of these, but never been able to participate before, so was really excited to have time last night to make a card to enter. You can check out Kristina's website here.
This is challenge #11 - you are required to make a card using the following colours, Rose Red, Old Olive, Whisper White, Going Gray & So Saffron. I would never have chosen these colours together, but am really pleased with how my card turned out

I won't put up my usual card recipe as the colours used are self explanatory. The stampsets I have used are Oh, So Lovely, Occasional Greetings & Sanded Background. All products are Stampin' Up!, please email me if you need any further information - alana@aussiebraodband.com.au :)

6x6 Calendar

At a workshop recently we decorated the Stampin' Up! 6x6 calendar. They are so easy to do & the best thing is that once you have finished using the calendar you can take off the pages & store them in one of our 6x6 albums. I used a colour theme taken from the Brocade Background Double Sided Papers thoughout my calendar & am really happy with how the pages turned out.
Stampsets: Paisley Background, Carte Postale
Cardstock: Naturals Ivory, Chocholate Chip, Always Artichoke
Ink: Always Artichoke, Choc Chip
Accessories: Jumbo Eyelets, Choc Grosgrain, White Gel Pen, 1/2 Pearl from Pretties Kit, Scalloped Circle, 1 1/4 & 1 3/8 inch Circle Punches


I haven't attached some of the photo's to the calendar yet, but figure since it is for next year that I have abit of time to finish it.

Stamp Sets: Boho Backgrounds, Leaves A La Carte Jumbo Wheel
Cardstock: River Rock, Old Olive, Basic Gray, Brocade Backgound DSP
Ink: Versamark, Old Olive
Accessories: Paper Piercer & Mat Pack, Jumbo Pewter Eyelet, Rhinestone Brad, Pewter Brad, Gray Taffeta Ribbon


I CASEd this one straight from Beate Johns - I really love her style & the colours worked so well with the photos.

Stamp Set: Happiness Background
Cardstock: Always Artichoke, River Rock, Basic Black
Ink: Always Artichoke
Accessories: Black Brads, Spiral & Photo Corner Punches

I will be showing off the remainder of my calendar pages over the next few weeks, so make sure you come back to check them out :-).

Feeling challenged!

Last week the Inklings had a cyberstamp with the talented Carol setting the challenges. I knew she was going to have purple in there somewhere & she didn't dissapoint me, issuing a colour challenge of Basic Black, Perfect Plum, Brocade Blue, Tempting Turquoise & Very Vanilla.
I didn't have any Brocade Blue or Tempting Turquoise cardstock, however managed to used my pastels to come up with this card. I stamped the flower in Whisper White ink on to black cardstock, then coloured it in using the pastels - you can't really see the variation in colour very well though. I've just gotten some new photo editing software, so am hoping my pictures will be looking abit better in the future, although I'm not sure it will help with the dodgy photography!

Stamp sets: Fabulous Flowers, Baroque Motifs
Cardstock: Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Perfect Plum
Ink: Versamark, Black Staz On, Whisper White
Accessories: Ice Circle Rhinestone Brad, Pastels, Clear Embossing Powder

On to #2, a sketch challenge from CPS. I decided to go with a masculine theme as I wanted to use the Outlaw papers. I really love these & have been having lots of fun with them lately
I took a bit of a close up pic of the centre of the card to try & show the horse stamping better - I think I should have stamped it in a darker colour, as it's not really dark enough.

Stamp Sets: It's Your Birthday, Wanted, Frames With A Flourish, Sanded Background

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Really Rust, Creamy Caramel, Outlaw DSP

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Versamark

Accessories: Antique Brass Brads

Simple Scrapbooking

At the Stampin' Up! Convention in Brisbane earlier this year, Shelli Gardener (Stampin' Up! CEO) showed us some scrapbook pages she had made. I loved them so much, that apart from changing the size (hers were A4), I've shamelessly CASEd the pages, pretty much exactly!

I've called this simple scarpbooking, as there really isn't alot involved in the layouts. Some background stamping, abit of patterned paper & afew embellishments - some of the photo's aren't even matted!


I think these pages need abit of a title, so am going to add 'singing & dancing' as that's what everyone in the pics was trying to do! I also need to add some journaling, but am not sure what to write yet - I might leave that for my sister to fill in.

Stamp Sets: Baroque Motifs, Big Deal Alpha, Defining Alphabet, It's Your Birthday, Baroque Background

Card: River Rock, Old Olive, Groovy Guava, Choc Chip, Whisper White, Brocade Background DSP

Ink: Versamark, Choc Chip, Old Olive

Accessories: Antique Brass Hodgepodge Hardware, Pretties Kit, Double Stitched Ribbon

eScape with Stampin' Up! in June!

Put down the phone, turn off the computer & break free from 'e'

Maybe you should finish reading my post to find out how you can save 25% on Stampin' Up! products before you turn off the computer!!

I'd like you to do abit of visualising today & think of how you feel when you get a card or letter in the mail .................. if you are like me it is such a buzz to get something that is not a bill!! Why not make your friends & family feel special by sending them a handmade card too. During June Stampin' Up! are offering a fantastic deal to help you break free from 'e'. If you purchase the following bundled package you will save 25% - these products would normally cost $78.40, but until 30th June will only be $58.80!

• Love Notes assortment, page 132


• Circle of Friendship stamp set, page 112


• 1 1/4 inch punch, page142

I will be holding a special eScape event on Sunday 29th June from 2pm. We will be using the bundled products to create 10 cute 3x3 cards & a box to store them in for $20! Let me know if you would like to come along & have an 'e' free afternoon - alana@aussiebroadband.com.au



These are a sample of the cards you could make - if you have a colour preference let me know & I'll make sure I have the right cardstock for you!
I am also offering a special for any long distance customers (Australian Residents only) who may be checking out my blog. Purchase the eScape bundle along with your choice of designer series paper pack & matching inkpad, all for only $80 delivered to your door - this is a huge savings of over $25!!
You will be able to create 20 matching 3x3 cards & envelopes with ease. I have made the above ones using the Rose Red Prints Designer Series Papers & Rose Red inkpad & the one below using the Outlaw Designer Series Paper & Chocolate Chip inkpad. Send me an email - alana@aussiebroadband.com.au or give me a call - 0428 964360

In-Color

Each year Stampin' Up! have 6 In-Colors that are only available for the 12 months. This year the colours are Purely Pomegranite, Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, River Rock & Groovy Guava. I made these cards for an In-Color card swap - I couldn't decide which colour to use, so just made one of each!

Stampset: Brocade Backgound, various sentiment stamps
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black & all the In-Colors
Ink: Basic Black & In-Colors
Accessories: Double Stitched Ribbon, Black Brads, Black Stampin' Write Marker, Circle & Scalloped Circle Punches.


This is the Groovy Guava one - I tried to get abit tricky with my stamping & think it worked out OK. Firstly I inked the Brocade Background stamp, then used the Black Stampin' Write Marker & coloured directly to the stamp, trying to just colour around the edges of the image. You could do this with any colour, as long as it is darker than the first inked colour - you wouldn't want to contaminate your marker!

Pull treats...

I have been having lots of fun making these cute pull treats lately.Stampsets: Baroque Motifs, Expressive Flexible Phrases
Cardstock: Really Rust, Whisper White, Fall Flowers DSP
Ink: Choc Chip, Really Rust
Accessories: Eyelet, Taffeta Ribbon, Punches - Sml Oval & Horizontal Slot, Hemp Twine
You just pull the ribbon & up comes a treat! I have also made some that fit Kit Kats, Skittles & other lollies.

Stampsets: Wanted, Occasional Greeting
Cardstock: Really Rust, Choc Chip, Whisper White, Outlaw DSP
Ink: Choc Chip
Accessories: Eyelet, Grosgrain Ribbon, Hemp Twine, Lots of Punches

All products used are Stampin' Up! send me an email of you would like any other information - alana@aussiebroadband.com.au

Tag - you're it!

I've been tagged numerous times over the last few weeks, so thought I'd better join in instead of being such a piker!

The rules are:
1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog .

OK - here goes, my taggees were Karen, Deanne, Kylie & Beth (sorry Beth I'm not sure of your site address - let me know & I'll link it :-)

7 facts about me:

1. I HATE beetroot - I used to love it & even remember sitting at my Grandma's eating a whole bowl of it. Must have overindulged (story of my life!) as I can't stand the stuff now.
2. I LOVE chocolate - I'm always getting in trouble for eating the whole packet of biscuits. I tried the overindulging trick, but it doesn't work for chocolate as I still love it!
3. I'm not good at making decisions - can't even decide what to type as fact 4 ?!?!
4. Testament to fact 3 - as a child one day my Mum told me I could buy any icecream I wanted, upon hearing this I burst into tears crying that I didn't know which one to choose.
5. I'm going to win $50 million in powerball tomorrow night!
6. I'm also testing out the power of positive thinking :-)
7. I have 2 birthmarks - one is in an embarrassing place!

I think you will all agree that my 7 facts are quite random & rather wierd! I can't decide who to tag next (see fact 3) so will instead challenge anyone who reads my blog to pick up the batton! If you are game enough to join in the tagging epidemic, leave a comment on this post with a link to your blog - if your facts make me giggle, I will send you a lovely handmade card in the mail!!

Extra Special June

Do you want more for FREE? From now until July 15th if you host a demonstration with $700 in sales you not only get to choose a level 1 or 2 hostess stamp set & $80 worth of catalogue merchandise for FREE. You will also get another $50 to spend on Stampin' Up! products of your choice for FREE. So what are you waiting for? Contact me today to book your workshop before July 15th & you too can earn an extra $50 in hostess benefits.

Card Compendium Instructions

Look familiar? These are some more card compendiums I made to sell for our football club, I also used afew for hostess gifts. You can see my crop-a-dile tutorial for how to make the embellishment on the front, but I thought I'd also put up some instructions on how to make the rest of it!
Cut a 12x12 piece of cardstock so it measures 28cm x 25cm. Score along the shorter side at 17cm, then turn the cardstock & score along the longer side at 13.5cm & 14.5cm. In the pic above I have drawn along the score lines in pen so you can see them abit clearer.
Once you have finished scoring simply fold the bottom section up, the 2 score lines in the middle make the 'spine' of you card compendium. Pop some cards in one side & matching stamped envies in the other & you have yourself a really easy to make gift.
To make the belly band around the middle I just folded a 6x30cm piece of cardstock around the compendium, abit of supertape at the back to hold it together & some ribbon tied around it to make it look pretty. If you have any questions please send me an email - alana@aussiebroadband.com.au