Scrappy Monday!

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I just love Mondays! The start of a new week, the opportunity to get everything done that wasn't done last week (hehe), and a chance to show you some of my scrapbooking!!

This page is an old one I did - one that I promised I would show you last year before I took my blogging 'holiday'. I made this page before I went to Australia to spend Christmas with my brother and his family, and it captures the main reason for my visit: to see my nephews and niece!

I used the I Wish Simply Scrappin' kit - a great kit to use to make quick and easy scrapbook pages as all elements co-ordinate together! This kit contains 8 sheets of 12"x12" textured cardstock (four different colors), 6 sheets of 12"x12" double-sided patterned paper, and 6 sheets of die-cut stickers - all this for only $43.95!

I have also used some of the scrumptious Button Bouquet buttons to add a little texture on the page, using linen thread and tiny strips of DSP to fill the button holes. The two corduroy buttons are from a different set that has sadly now retired :( - luckily I stocked up before they finished so still have plenty in my stash!

Also, to add some stamping to my page (which I find isn't always necessary when using the Simply Scrappin' kits, but I like to so I did!) I have used the Snow Swirled set which is still available in the main catalogue. That set sure did get a workout at Christmastime, and is one I'll be keeping in my collection for many years to come!

As this week is the start of National Scrapbooking Month I'm making the following offer to encourage you all to get scrappin'! Purchase any Simply Scrappin' kit during May and receive 5 metres of 1/4" grosgrain ribbon (in co-ordinating colours) FREE! Contact me today to place your order, and let me know which colour ribbon you would like to receive. Simply Scrappin' kits can be found on pages 136-38 of the main catalogue and on page 33 of the Autumn/Winter Mini; 1/4" grosgrain ribbon is on page 151 of the main catalogue.

Recipe (all products by Stampin'Up! unless otherwise noted):
Paper: Simply Scrappin' I Wish kit
Stamps: Snow Swirled
Ink: Versamark
Other: Silver embossing powder, Button Bouquet, linen thread, Chocolate Chip marker
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Get ready for Christmas!

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Christmas is just around the corner, and this year's Christmas is going to be EXTRA special because I will be spending it with my nephews and niece in Australia!!! Yes, I'm leaving on the 17th of December for Sydney! I'm really looking forward to having a Christmas with kids (because, after all, isn't that what Christmas is all about!). I'm a little bit worried about the heat (!!) but am starting to get even more worried about just how much I have to do between now and then; cards, presents, decorations - it's enough to make my head spin!!



Luckily I found some gorgeous easy to make ornaments on Gretchen Barron's blog, so I've got the tree sorted! I also made some of these ornaments for our Creative Inkers team swap on Saturday, which happily also had a Christmas theme, and put them on a little Christmas tree so that the other ladies could each pick one and leave behind a swap for me under the tree.


These gorgeous little origami ornaments are made using the lovely Ski Slope DSP paper ($19.95 for 12 sheets) from the Spring Mini Catalogue, which is only available for another 6 weeks. The advantage of using double-sided paper is that it is slightly thicker than regular paper and makes a sturdier ornament.

If you would like to find out how to make this then sign up for my FREE newsletter here. During the run up to Christmas I will be sending out regular Christmas bonus newsletters showing you a variety of quick and easy Christmas projects that even the busiest person will have time to do. And hopefully I will be able to fit some of them into my suitcase to take to Oz for my nephews and niece!
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Scary or Traditional? You Decide!

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This fellow has caused quite a bit of debate among the other demonstrators in the team I belong to, with some saying he is scary and others liking him for the traditional feel he brings. What do you think? I was in two minds, but bought the set anyway (gotta get those Christmas cards sent early this year!) and now he's grown on me. I certainly don't think he's scary!


This was a really simple card to make, yet so effective. For the front I used Very Vanilla cardstock on Riding Hood Red, and used the matching ribbon to create a bit of elegance as well as tie the whole Christmasy theme together. The ribbon is newly available from the Spring Mini catalogue for $22.95 for a whooping 9 metre roll. To 'pop' the greeting up I covered it with Crystal Effects dimensional lacquer ($13.95), which gives a page pebble effect.

Inside the card I have used Very Vanilla for the inner panel, and have stamped the holly and greeting using Old Olive and Riding Hood Red ink. This set (Good Cheer - $46.95) is great value as you get a phrase for your card inner as well as the images.


Stay tuned for more peeks of what I've made from the new Spring Mini (have you got yours yet??).

Scrapbooking Shed Christmas Page Challenge

This weekend the Scrapbooking Shed in Kerikeri had a scrap weekend for Valentine's day. I went up for it and caught up with some old friends from the Cooper's Beach camps, as well as made some new friends (hi Alison and Nola!). It was a really great day - great company, great nibbles and some really cool pages being made. Rowena and Carolyn (the owners) made it a great day, and if any of you are going through Kerikeri stop in at the Shed - 175 Pungaere Road, just out of Waipapa.

Anyway, they also held a scrap challenge, which was to make a 12"x12" scrapbooking page with a Christmas theme. And guess what? I won!!! The page I made was of my gorgeous god-daughter Carla, who at seven was finally allowed to be in the Auckland Santa Parade (her father has been in it for the past eight years as a certain bearded man in a red suit!). She got to dress up as a 'Sugar Plum Fairy' and she looked too cute!!! Of course I took waaay too many photos, so devised the following layout with some hidden areas so that I could fit them all in!

Firstly, here is the page as it initially appears...


...Then the left side opens (love that round tab punch!) to reveal more photos.


But wait - there's more! The right side photo opens out to reveal another photo and some journalling about the day.


And here is the layout fully opened out:


I wanted to make it like a fairytale book, where the outside is the cover and the inside is where more information can be found. It's also a good way of displaying the best photos on the layout, but keeping the other 'less good' photos that you don't want to discard or not memorialise in a scrapbook. I found that using the round tab punch and star brads from the silver Hodgepodge set to make the 'hinges' kept with the theme of an old bound book. Hope you like it!

Here is the recipe:

Stamps: One of a Kind (Spring 2008 mini), Big Deal Alphabet, Short & Sweet
Ink: Purely Pomegranate, Pretty In Pink
Paper: Purely Pomegranate, Old Olive, Chocolate chip, Very Vanilla, Pretty In Pink
Accessories: Round tab punch, 1/2" circle punch, designer tag punch, boho blossoms punch (Spring 2008 mini), silver Hodgepodge brads and frame, piercing tool, Very Vanilla 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Basic Black marker pen