Check out my Specials page for all the details.

I’m still waiting for my freebies to arrive but if you would like to see lots of fabulous samples, check out the ESAD Blog Hop, starting here at Leonie’s blog.

I’m attempting to be more organised this year and actually send out more birthday cards this year.  To this end, I’ve been thinking about a birthday card folder where I can get the cards ready at the start of the month, including addressed, stamped and written in and then just be able to whip the card out a week before and post it off.

I’ve had lots of cardboard used as stiftening for projects so I thought it would make a good base for the folder.  I was going to use a different DSP for each month but I fell in love with Spice Cake so the whole book will be the same paper.  I’m also using the matching stamp set, Spiced Paisley.

Of course, my photo really doesn’t do it justice but you get the idea.  I’ve usedthe Timeless Type Alphabet Junior Sizzlits for the title and the very glittery Silver glimmer paper.  There’s also the new velvet ribbon for the border and flowers.

January

Here’s close up of each page.  Special birthday’s are indicated by a rhinestone.

February

March

April

I’ve still got a few pages to go but I’ve run out of paper!!  And I think I might need some bigger rings as well.

Stamp Set:  Spiced Paisley

Paper:  Spice Cake DSP, More Mustard, Soft Suede, Pool Party, Pear Pizzazz, River Rock, Very Vanilla.

Ink:  More Mustard, Soft Suede, Pool Party, Pear Pizzazz, River Rock, Very Vanilla.

Accessories:  Big Shot, Timeless Type Alphabet Junior Sizzlits, velvet ribbon, Silver Glimmer paper, various punches and big shot dies, brads, paper flowers.

Stampin’ Up! have announced that the Stocking Tag punch will not be continuing into the main catalogue later this year and when stocks run out, that’s it!!  So if you were thinking about purchasing this punch, you need to get in quick.  Contact me at stampinwithrebecca@yahoo.com.au or 0408 193 792 to order.

I’ve had to work between Christmas and New Year so I’m just getting into playing with some of the new products from the Summer Mini.  One of my goals this year is to be more original with the cards that I post on my blog.  So I’m going to try out a few of the sketch challenges that are out there. This week, I’m trying out one from Mojo Monday, who have a great sketch every week.  This one has already closed but I thought I would give it a try anyway.

Here’s the sketch:

I’ve been wanting to use the Spiced Cake DSP from the Summer Mini.  This paper is just gorgeous and the catalogue really doesn’t do it justice.  I think I set a record on this card for the number of big shot dies that you can use on one card!!  Love my Big Shot!!!

Here’s a close up of the flower (and isn’t the paper lovely)

Stamp Set:  Perfectly Penned

Paper:  Spice Cake DSP, Soft Suede, More Mustard, Pool Party, Very Vanilla

Ink:  Soft Suede

Accessories:  Big Shot, Scallop Square Bigz Clear Die, Oval Die, Fun Flowers Bigz L Die, Neutrals Flower Brads, Very Vanilla Velvet Designer Ribbon.

I also participated in a Secret Santa swap with ESAD (Extremely Special Aussie Demonstrators) which is a Facebook group that I belong to for SU demonstrators.  I sent a parcel to Richelle and I received a parcel from Louisa.  I was very lucky and got lots of lovely goodies.  Thank you, Louisa!!

All the packages before opening.

After opening!!!

Mary has done a video on how to do the flower and it’s so easy!!  Just punch out the border strip, score every 1/4″, and fold, and there you go!!  A gorgeous flower!!    Happy Birthday, Leanne!

Stamp Set:  On Your Birthday

Paper:  Beau Chateau DSP, Very Vanilla, Marina Mist, Crumb Cake

Ink:  Crumb Cake, Marina Mist

Accessories – Big Shot, Perfect Pennants Die, Lace Border Punch, Linen Thread, Pearl, 1 1/4″ circle punch, Antique Brads.

The Summer mini started on 1st December and there are lots of gorgeous stamps, papers, punches and more!!  I love, love, love the glimmer paper!!  and you don’t end up wearing it when you use it (actually, that might be a bad thing!!).  There is also the very cute candy wrapper die, which I will show you below.  You can now purchase the stocking punch and matching stamp set again, if you haven’t finished your christmas cards, like me!!

If you are looking for male stamp sets, there is a great set called The Open Sea which is just perfect.  It has gorgeous matching paper which I will be using at one of my stamp classes soon.

It’s sale time!!!  Click on the photo to be taken to my Specials page, where you can check out the great specials on offer.  If you are interested in ordering anything, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I am having Christmas lunch with a few girl friends on Friday and I’ve made them each a little present using the Candy Wrapper die.  If you have ever thought that the milk carton die was cute, you haven’t seen the candy wrapper die!!  You can just fit 2 Ferrero Rocher’s in them!!  (and drat, there were none left!!)

Stamp set:  Merry & Type

Paper:  Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer Paper

Ink:  Wild Wasabi, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories:  Big Shot, Candy Wrapper Die, Large scallop circle punch, decorative label punch, sticky strip, 1/8″ Taffeta ribbon Cherry Cobbler.

Last weekend was Mum’s 60th birthday and did we plan a surprise for her!!!  She didn’t want a surprise party so we decided to give her and Dad a weekend away at Lennox Head.  But that wasn’t the main surprise…. we all came too (me and my husband and my sister and her family)!!!  and so did Mum’s best friend, Pauline and her hubby Eric.

We let Mum know that we were giving her the weekend away a couple of weeks before, so that she could look forward to it and know that we hadn’t completely forgotten her birthday.  Dad was in on the plan and he knew that we were all coming.  He had to have her at the restaurant at 6.30pm on the dot and he did!!

She was sooo surprised!!!  She had no clue that we were going to be there!!  I had tricked her and called in the morning to wish her a good trip and said that I would call on Saturday which was the actual day.  I also had a big bunch of flowers delivered with a message saying that we couldn’t be there.

We had a lovely time away as a family and the beach was great!!  Will definitely have to go back there!!

Mum, Dad, my sister, Sue and I.

I gave Mum a Big Shot and a few embossing folders and dies for her birthday, which is very exciting!!

I made a telescoping card for her birthday.  I used a template from Julie Davison, who is a US Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator.

Closed

Open

Stamp Set:  Delicate Doilies, On Your Birthday

Paper:  Whisper White, Rose Red, Specialty Flirtatious DSP

Ink:  Rose Red, Pretty in Pink

Accessories:  Big Shot, Scallop circle die, circle scissor plus, Large scallop circle punch, 1 3/4″ circle punch, glitter brads, blushing bride ribbon.

Some of the girls in my team, Carolyn G and Mary R.

Here are my guests, Me, Jan S, Lynn W and Sandra (aka Super Mum!!)

One of the best parts of any Stampin’ Up! event, is the swapping!!!  Generally, you make a card front, include a project recipe and make lots of them.  I don’t enjoy making 50 of the same thing, so I usually do a couple of different cards.  This year, I did two card fronts and a bookmark.

I cased this one from another SU demonstrator, Elizabeth Dyson.

Stamp Set:  Elizabeth, It’s Your Day

Ink:  Early Espresso, Rose Red

Paper:  Early Espresso, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Whisper White

Accessories:  Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Whisper White organza ribbon, pastels, blender pens.

This one was cased from Heather Klump.  I really love this paper and the colours!!

Stamp set:  Four Frames, On Your Birthday

Ink:  Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder

Paper:  Berry Blossoms DSP, Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral

Accessories:  Corner Rounder punch, Decorative label punch, oval punch, scallop oval punch, doily triple layer punch, finial press embossing folder

Now when I saw this on Splitcoaststampers, I just knew that I had to make it as a swap.  It’s by Snowteach.  I have to admit that I am addicted to Angry Birds!!!  These were very popular!!

Paper:  Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White, More Mustard

Accessories:  Two Tags Die, Scallop circle punch, owl punch, bird punch, 1 3/8″ circle punch, 1 1/4″ circle punch, slot punch

It’s always exciting at the start of the month when Stampin’ Up! release their new specials!!!  This month,  it’s the big shot!!  Woo hoo!!  I love my big shot; it’s one of the best crafty investments that I made!!

You can get 10% off selected dies, or if you don’t own a big shot, you can choose the big shot bundle which also includes an embosslit and an embossing folder for 10% off as well!!  How good is that!!  I use my Mr Big on nearly every card that I make, so sometimes I have to challenge myself not to use it.  But I can’t really help it as it is such a great tool and saves me cutting out fiddly shapes.

Check out my specials page for all the details or contact me at stampinwithrebecca@yahoo.com.au or 0408 193 792.

I recently attended a baby shower for a close friend and I thought I would try a set that I haven’t used for a while.  I find that I get all excited about the new stamps that come out and forget about the old ones.  Well, Something Sweet is an older set but it is very cute.

I cased this card from Leah Weir, who is a talented Aussie demonstrator.

Stamp Set:  Something Sweet, Baroque Motifs

Paper:  Flirtatious DSP, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White

Accessories:  Scalloped circle punch, 1 3/8″ circle punch, 1 1/4″ circle punch, scalloped edge punch, mat pack, paper piercer, blushing bride poly stitched ribbon, whisper white grosgrain ribbon.

Look, I did manage to not use my big shot!!

Shadow (left) and Jaster - Brotherly love

At the Stampin’ Up! convention earlier this year, Shelli Gardner, the co-founder, demonstrated a really cute box using the cardboard circle from a box of glue dots.  Well, there are 300 glue dots in a box, and it’s taken me until now to use them up!!

How cute is that!!

Now to find someone with an upcoming special birthday to give it too!!  And put something special in it!!

Stamp Set:  Tiny Tags

Paper:  Mocha Morning DSP, Basic Black, Crumb Cake

Ink: Basic Black

Accessories:  2 1/2″ circle punch, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Antique Brads, Hemp twine, Champagne Mist Shimmer paint, Jewelry tag punch

I cut out the flower twice and shimmered it so that there is a bit of sparkle on it.  You always need a bit of bling!!

Stamp Set:  Creative Elements

Ink:  Marina Mist, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler

Paper:  Naturals Ivory

Accessories:  Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, Marina Mist Seam binding ribbon