INKlings Blog Hop

Welcome to The INKlings’ Team’s Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue blog hop. You may have arrived here from Cath's blog or just be visiting my blog, whichever way once you’ve checked out my creations you can continue the hop through the links at the end of this post to the next team member.

With a new Mini Catalogue out today we thought it would be a great time to showcase the gorgeous new products to all our blog readers. You can check out the new mini catalogue online here or if you'd like your own copy contact me today and I'll pop one in the mail to you.

Want to win some Blog Candy? Simply leave a comment on each blog before midnight AEST on 3rd April and then email Kari at karigail@internode.on.net.au and let her know you’ve done so and you’ll be in the running for some fantastic handmade cards plus other goodies. Sorry Blog Candy prize not available to SU! demonstrators or anyone living outside Australia, but you're more than welcome to leave us a comment!

As soon as I saw the Sweet Stitches DSP in the Autumn/Winter Mini Catty I fell in love, funny thing is that it wasn't with these papers, it was all the other ones. When I was searching for some pics to scrapbook I found these from my daughters first day of school & realised that the colours matched the uniform perfectly (the sports uniform is even yellow & green)

Please forgive my contraband doily - since the colour was such a great match I couldn't resist adding it.Here are a couple of close-ups of the cute flowers that I made using the Birds & Bloom Die through my Bigshot

I also LOVE the gorgeous butterfly from the Strength & Hope stampset. Stampin' Up! is donating $2 from the sale of every set to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, so if you'd like to make a difference contact me today to order your own set.

Well that’s all from me. Next stop on the INKlings’ Team Blog Hop is Liz. Have fun and don't forget to leave a comment on each blog to win some great Blog Candy - I have made 2 gorgeous cards to giveaway as blog candy, just haven't had a chance to take a pic yet!

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1. Kari Hughes - http://www.karigail.wordpress.com/

2. Fiona Brown - http://www.fionajanestamping.blogspot.com/

3. Clare McIlhatton - http://www.crafty-cow.com/

4. Jayne Mercer - www.jaynemercer.com/blogs

5. Beth Stewart - http://www.elisabethstewart.com/

6. Christie Wallace - http://www.christiescreativecorner.blogspot.com/

7. Cath Dean http://www.cathdean.com/

8. Alana Galagher http://www.alanagalagher.com/

9. Liz Halbisch - http://www.lizhalbisch.blogspot.com/

10. Dani Holland - http://www.daniholland.wordpress.com/

Cupcake Inspiration

My scrapbooking has really fallen behind in the last year, so I've been trying to get abit more done lately. Afew weeks ago Jayne hosted an INKlings cyberstamp & one of the challenges was to join in the So Shelli Creative Challenge. This month it is Crazy for Cupcakes & I knew straight away what photo's I wanted to use - only problem is, apart from the cupcakes wheel, I don't own any cupcake stamps .......yet. Luckily I received this cute cupcake invitation in the mail last week which was just the inspiration I needed.

I tossed up the idea of just using the actual invite on my layout, but couldn't find the right papers, so I created my own cupcake using Stampin' Up! papers

This layout is also abit of a sneak peek at some of the new Designer Series Paper in the upcoming Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue & is available to order from 1st April 2011. I have also used one of the new punches, the Decorative Label Punch. The other new punch would have been perfect for this layout as it is a Build a Cupcake - very cute & now on my wish list :-)

Here are a couple of closer pics -

Stamps: Cupcake Wheel

Cardstock: Pretty In Pink, Very Vanilla, Vellum Cardstock, Sweet Stiches & other assorted DSP

Ink: Versamark, Pretty In Pink

Accessories: Melon Mambo Marker, Scallop Edge Border & Decorative Label Punch, Crop-a-dile, Bigshot, Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Dies, assorted Buttons

Scrapbooking Just Rugby

I got the Just Rugby stamp set specifically to use on scrap pages of my son playing football & finally I have made one - it's only taken about 12 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I made this for a challenge on one of the demonstrator groups I am a member of, it uses a great sketch from Page Maps that I have been wanting to try out since I saw it.

I've used some elements from the Hoppy Memories Scrappin' Kit to try & add some interest. I also peirced holes in the ball & threaded some twine through them to imitate the stitching.

Stampsets: Just Rugby, Jumbo Outline Alpha

Cardstock: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie Textured, Pink Flamingo DSP

Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black

Accessories: Hoppy Memories Scrappin Kit, Black Hemp Twine, Black Brads

More Raspberry Tart

I've been having more fun using the gorgeous Raspberry Tart papers - they are so bright & fun.

Stampset: Trendy Trees

Card: Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red, Raspberry Tart DSP

Ink: Rose Red

Accessories: Pink Pirouette Striped Grosgrain, Button Bouquet, Eyelet Border Punch

I made the corner decoration by layering one of the photo corner punch outs onto a scallop square punch out & hand cutting off the bits of the scallop square that I didn't want.

Stampset: Define Your Life

Card: Kiwi Kiss, Regal Rose, Rose Red

Ink: Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss

Accessories: Rose Red Brad, Eyelet Border Punch, Scallop Square Punch Photo Corner Punch

Urban Oasis & a couple of chooks!!

I've been having fun making afew things using the gorgeous Urban Oasis Double Sided Papers. This card has to be one of the quickest & easiest I have ever made ......

Stampset: Occasional Greetings

Card: Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Urban Oasis DSP

Ink: Basic Gray

Accessories: Button Bouquet, Twine

I totally CASEd this layout from splitcoast stampers ( ETA: Oooh just found this on Delys blog, she has some awesome scrapbooking)- loved it as soon as I saw it! I'm so happy to be finally getting some scrapbooking done, it feels good.

Stampsets: Defining Alpha, Jumbo Outline Alpha

Card: Urban Oasis DSP, Confetti White

Inks: Basic Gray

Accessories: Lace Edge Border Punch, Daubers, Distressing Tool, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig

When we moved into town we didn't bring all our chooks with us. I wasn't really worried, but my hubby decided we should get some more. I told him I didn't want as many as we used to have, so he brought home 1 rooster, 2 hens & 7 chickens *roll eyes* I was thinking more along the lines of 2 or 3 ....... I guess it's less than the 20 we had on the farm!

Scrapbook Challenge

One of the demonstrator groups I am a member of is going to have monthly scrapbook challenges & as soon as I saw this month's sketch on Mandy's blog I knew I wanted to play along. These pics are of my sister & son taken a few years ago ....... aren't they cute. Sandi will probably choke me when she's sees them :-)

Stampsets: Life Definitions, It's All Good (retired), Retired Alphabet

Card: Sahara Sand, Basic Gray, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Urban Oasis DSP

Inks: Basic Gray

Accessories: Kiwi Kiss Striped Grosgrain, Metal Edge Tag, Filigree Brads, Circle Ice Rhinestones, 1' & 1 3/8" Circle Punches

Summer Mini Love

Things I LOVE in the new Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Catalogue:

• Scallop Edge Punch - no more using my corner rounder for scallop edges YAY!
• 1" Double-Stitched Ribbon - I thought this ribbon might be too wide & therfore hard to tie in a knot or bow, but I am happy to report that it is not. It is soooooo nice, I just love it & have already used almost a whole roll of the Rose Red
• Bali Breeze Double Sided Papers - the colours are just gorgeous & I'm having lots of fun using them

I really love just about everything in the catalogue really, but for the purpose of this post I will only list the items I actually used on the cards :-)

These cards were for a recent card swap I was involved in. I couldn't decide which colour I liked best, so made both

I coloured the word in using my Taken with Teal marker, then covered with 2 way glue & Dazzling Diamonds.


I also challenged myself to make a scrapbook page using a white background & am really happy with how it turned out. I used the same colours as the cards & have done the wording the same - although you can't see the diamonds in the pic.

Stampsets: Big on Spring, In the Spotlight (hostess set)

Papers: Whisper White, Taken with Teal, Regal Rose, Bali Breeze DSP

Inks: Rose Red, Taken with Teal, Versamark, Black Staz On

Accessories: Scallop Edge & Scallop Circle Punch, 1" Double Stitched Ribbon, 2 Way Glue, Dazzling Diamonds

6x6 Swap

Recently I organised a 6x6 scrapbook page swap for the INKlings demonstrator team that I am part of. I made the theme 'All About You', so everyone had to include some information about themselves - it was great fun learning abit more information about these lovely ladies, some of whom I have never met 'in real life'

I used one of my new favourite stampsets, Brocade Basics - I really can't believe I didn't like this when I first saw it!! I heat embossed the leaves on the background with white embossing powder, cut out the petals & attached with a gorgeous brad from the Styled Silver Hodgepodge. The medallion on the top left was made using silver embossing powder & the faux metal technique - lots of fun!

Here is abit of a closeup of the embossing & flower. The photo is so typical of my family - it is so hard to get a nice picture of everyone. Journalling reads:

'I love getting family photo's taken, but Bernie hates it! Usually he is frowning or looking grumpy, so wouldn't you know it, the one time he smiles, the kids are being FERAL!'

Stampset: Brocade Basics
Cardstock: Kraft, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Basic Gray
Ink: Versamark, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: White & Silver Embossing Powders, Pink Taffeta Ribbon, Stylied Silver Hodgepodge

Huge thanks to the other ladies who joined in the swap -

Dani
Lin Mei
Kari
Clare
Fiona
Ruth

Oh Dear .......

I can't believe it's been over a week since I posted!!! Things have been stupidly busy & something had to wait - of course the impatient kids & husband wouldn't (why do they need to eat & have clean clothes??) so my poor blog was the loser.

I am hoping to have some new things to show you soon, but in the mean time check out my beautiful daughter in this 8x8 layout I have made recently.

My cousin is a great photographer - if you are even in Wee Waa make sure you drop in to After Image Photogaphy - & last Easter she took some pictures of the kids in a blow up pool filled with easter eggs. The kids had such a fun time, mind you I think they ate about 1/2 the eggs!All products used are Stampin' Up! - I had such fun playing with these new rub ons & satin ribbon that are available in the Spring Mini Catalogue

I just love this picture, Josie is absolutely cacking herself - she told me yesterday that the eggs were tickling her. She is soo cute most of the time, but boy can she chuck a tantrum!

Stampset: Lovely Labels

Cardstock: Purely Pomegranite, So Saffron, Whisper White

Ink: Rose Red

Accessories: Urban West & Eastern Elegance Rub Ons, Holiday Harmony DSP, Pomegranite Satin Ribbon, Paper Piercer & Mat Pack, Photo Corner, Scalloped, 1 1/4" & 1 3/4" Circle Punches

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 :-).

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

Scrapbooking

Oops, it's abit after tomorrow - I got sidetracked yesterday. Here is the scrapbooking I promised!

I haven't been doing much scrapbooking lately, I've been having too much fun making cards! I have also been having trouble knowing where to start, so I used a sketch from Page Maps for this one & am quite happy with how it turned out. Colours used are Sahara Sand, Choc Chip & Cameo Coral (matched perfectly with Josie's top!). The DSP I have used is from Spring Flowers & Notations (Notations is no longer available, I hope it makes the next catty though as I also have the matching stamp set!). I stamped the title using Big Deal & Typeset Lower Alpha. For the journalling I used Everyday Flexible Phrases & Expressive Flexible Phrases stamped in Whisper White along with a white gel pen for afew extra words.

Here is abit of a closer look. I need to get my photos reprinted as I think I have used the wrong paper, you can see on the edges of some where the ink has lifted - looks kinda dodgy!

I used a dauber to sponge choc chip ink around the edges of the Sahara Sand & made the scalloped paper using a corner rounder punch with the guard removed. Do you like my stitching? It is faux - but looks pretty real if I do say so myself ;)

All the products I have used are Stampin' Up! & are available through me, so if you are interested send me an email - alana@aussiebroadband.com.au Thanks for stopping by, hope you have a great day!

Dorothy the Dinosaur...

Thought I'd better post something using some different colours as I seem to be using alot of brown & green lately !! This page is for a workshop I will be doing soon, showing how to turn an 8x8 scrapbook page into a 12x12 one. It uses one of the SAB sets you can get for free, just by spending $100 during Jan & Feb. Here is a closer look at the 8x8 page - I cased it from the SAB catalogue! I was going to change the colours, but when I came across these pics from our trip to Dreamworld last year they matched so well I left them the same. I just need to finish it off with some journalling in the red section.