My last post of 2008

Goodness! It is now 11pm and it is the last hour of 2008 for all of us in this timezone.

I've been away from Sydney for a short Christmas visit to Melbourne and it had been my excuse to let everything drop including posting this picture of the wonderful things that I received from Beth Stewart - my INKlings Secret Santa.


Beth fulfilled my Christmas wish for items from the Australian Summer Mini by bundling together some of the marvellous extra wide double-stitched Grograin Ribbon, a cute sampling of Flower Fusion and the versatile Carousel Notes (you can see that she has filled one with a few Lindor Lindt balls .... mmmmmmm chocolate). She also included my favourite Stampin' Up! bling in the form of rhinestone brads. The most amazing thing, though, was the little portable folder that she made out of Groovy Guava cardstock and the prettiest sheets from Ginger Blossom DSP. Everything was gorgeous and all most gratefully received. Thank you so very muchly, Santa Stewart!

I'm sure that I'll be looking back at 2008 in the next couple of days - it is always sad to see the end of any year as it marks the relentless passage of time. The new year also marks the beginning of a raft of resolutions that puts paid to all the excuses that I've had to drop the ball during the silly season... But it has been a great year for me - one in which I've started new endeavours, made some awesome friends and let go of past attachments including my previous career. I hope this year has been great in lots of ways for you too. See you in 2009!

The ocean commotion

(To the tune of Locomotion)

Everybody's checkin' out the brand new mini
(C'mon baby do the ocean commotion)
I know you'll get to like it
If you give it a chance now
(C'mon baby do the ocean commotion)
My little baby nephew could do it with ease
It's easier than drawing creatures from the seas
So come on, come on,
Do the ocean commotion with me

You gotta ink your stamps now
Come on baby, stamp it, hmmm lift back
Oh well I think you got the knack

Now that you can do it
Let's make a card now
(C'mon baby do the ocean commotion)
Stamp-a stamp-a seahorse and an angel fish now
(C'mon baby do the ocean commotion)
Do it nice and easy now don't lose control
Use a Stamp-A-Ma-Jig and a firmer hold
So come on, come on,
Do the ocean commotion with me
You gotta ink your stamps now
Come on, come on,
Do the ocean commotion with me
Yeah

Stamp stamp (sampling)

Add shells to the sea floor in an ocean commotion
(C'mon baby do the ocean commotion)
Do it with your hands if you got the notion
(C'mon baby do the ocean commotion)
There's never been a stamp set that's so easy to use
It even makes you happy
When you're Bordering Blue
So come on come on do the ocean commotion with me
You gotta ink your stamps now

Come on, come on,
Do the ocean commotion with me
Yeah
Come on, come on,
Do the ocean commotion with me
You gotta ink your stamps now

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Basic Black
Not Quite Navy
Old Olive
Pumpkin Pie
Ruby Red
Sahara Sand

Stamps:
Curvy Verses set
Ocean Commotion set

Paper:
Whisper White CS

Accessories:
1 1/8” Circle Punch
Glorious Green Marker
Sponge Dauber
Stamp-A-Ma-Jig

Margaret's targets

Just-too-busy-ber¹'s INKlings Cyberstamp coincided with Mum's birthday. This one was very ably organised by the super clever Margaret Crawford. Oh! How I have tried to match her Scramble score on Facebook and fallen far far short! Margaret is also a tremendous photographer, so make sure that you check out her pictures on her China blog.

Margaret's first challenge was to use a sketch from the Australian Stampin' Up! demonstrators' website like in her example. I was a little naughty as I really should have been finishing off my preparations for a workshop tonight but I wanted to take part in the fun. As a bit of synergy², I used most of the colours from the Winter Bright Simply Scrappin' Kit as I'm going to demonstrate a couple of projects made with it (ie the kit). The kit, funnily enough, happens to be 20% off during Just-too-busy-ber! This card also uses a few Stampin' Write Markers which will only be available individually until this Sunday, December 14 - so please choose your colours and send me your orders before then to avoid wailing and the gnashing of teeth.

Must run now to complete the last workshop project preps...

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Certainly Celery
Real Red
Regal Rose
Wild Wasabi

Stamp sets:
Embrace Life

Paper:
Certainly Celery CS
Ginger Blossom DSP
Real Red CS
Whisper White CS

Accessories:
Certainly Celery 1.6cm Grosgrain
Heat Tool
Stampin' Write Markers in Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink & Real Red
White Embossing Powder
Wild Wasabi Double-Stitched Grosgrain
Word Window Punch

---

1. Just-too-busy-ber: December, remember?
2. Synergy: Reads as fixation, same thing, isn't it?! OK, OK ... not really *grin*

Many happy returns Mum!

It is my amazing mother's birthday today. What else could lure me back to this blog after neglecting it for yet another week?! Just-too-busy-ber is living up to its name (I have to admit that it was me who named December as such) and I've been clinging on to the edge with my toes propped on my blog to keep me from falling into the abyss of "BELATED"ness. *pictures self falling from cliff, with arms flailing, towards a river* Please don't ask me about the river...probably to do with watching too many disaster movies when young.

Gee...that stream of consciousness took a windy route! Anyway, back to my wonderful mum who I have to thank for a great upbringing and for working so hard to make sure that I was never short of opportunity. I'd go on and on but it would just embarrass her especially if I told everyone how much I love her and miss her.

So, instead, I'd like to share with you the quaint beginnings of the phrase "Many Happy Returns" in my life. When I was a child in Malaysia, and subsequently, in Perth after our migration, my Auntie Kim and Uncle George (who lived in Sydney) would send me a birthday card every year along with a crisp 10 ringgit or dollar note along with wishes for "Many happy returns of the day". I was always perplexed by this as I wondered whether they wanted me send the money back. Even worse, why would they want me to return everything that I had received from everyone else? Sounded like a miserable thing to wish someone for their birthday if you ask me!

And then I consoled myself with the thought that perhaps the phrase originated from Aborigines and the fact that there is always much happiness when one threw a boomerang and it returned effortlessly to the thrower's hand. After all, I had heard that boomerang catching was a tricky business. Needless to say, I held on to the money and every other gift that I received for my birthday albeit with a sense of how inscrutable Australian phrases and customs were.

Many happy returns, Mum!

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Pumpkin Pie
Taken with Teal

Stamp sets:
Live Your Dream
Wonderful Favourites

Paper:
Old Olive CS
Pumpkin Pie DSP
Taken with Teal CS
Whisper White CS

Accessories:
Mat Pack
Scallop Edge Punch
Stampin’ Write Markers in Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie, Taken with Teal and Old Olive
White Gel Pen

By the way, I didn't send this card to my mum - rather I made a card for her using "Summer by the Sea" and didn't take a photo of it in my haste to make sure that she received it in time. Just-too-busy-ber, may you know what it's like to be you! Er... ie too busy!

No blather For Father

A marvellous stamp set for watercolouring and masculine themed cards is now available through the Summer Mini catalogue. For Father has three images and a sentiment stamp - and it's set to be one of my favourites.

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Basic Black
Close to Cocoa
StazOn Black

Stamps:
Cheers & Wishes set
For Father set
Sanded background

Paper:
Close to Cocoa CS
Watercolor Paper

Accessories:
Aquapainter
Hodgepodge Hardware in Antique Brass
Twill Tape
Watercolor Wonder Crayons in Bold Brights and Earth Elements

Summer Mini skirt-ed

Farewell spring and welcome summer! Not that it has been particularly summery or that I like even summer (sorry summer! It's not meant to be personal). This unseasonal weather has suited me perfectly since I much prefer cooler climes. Who likes sunburn, sweaty brows and ...um... other non-brow body parts and the oppressive heat of a glary, angry sun, anyway?!! Yeah! I know - just about EVERYBODY.

Perhaps it because of what everyone can do during summer - like going to the beach, enjoying beach volleyball, scorching their soles on the hot sand or tripping over their rubbery thongs (flip flops for our Northern friends) which double-up when caught on the undulating grabby surface of said beach. D'oh! At least I started positively...

I do love December in spite of it being summer. Lots of special birthdays in my family during December, and there's always the good cheer that accompanies the holiday season which gives me the nerve to sincerely wish another person, who I had never met before, a joyful time ahead.

In terms of Stampin' Up! in Australia, December sees the start of the Summer Mini catalogue. One of the fabulous stamp sets available through this mini is Eastern Blooms which I used for a vivid colour challenge comprising Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red and Taken with Teal set by the lovely Alana as part of last month's INKlings Cyberstamp. I waited until today to post this card as I didn't want to pre-empt this mini too much before it was made public. But I can now safely say "Tada!"

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Basic Black
Old Olive
Pumpkin Pie
Rose Red
Taken with Teal

Stamps:
Eastern Blooms set
Short & Sweet set

Cardstock:
Whisper White

Accessories:
Stampin' Dimensionals
Stampin' Write Markers in Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red and Taken with Teal
Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon


Have a joyful December - regardless of the weather!

Tying up Christmas promotion

All tied up attending Christmas parties, searching for perfect Christmas presents and preparing for Christmas festivities?

Save time and money and a little bit of your sanity with Stampin’ Up!® Tying Up Christmas Promotion. Spend $20 on any Stampin’ Up! merchandise and qualify for 20% off selected accessories and stamp sets to wrap up your Christmas in style. The stamp sets and calendars would also make great presents for crafty friends and relatives...or yourself!

This promotion runs from December 1st until December 31st.

Item description	IB&C Page	Item Number	RRP	Promo Price
Festive Favorites stamp set	27	108790	$45.95	$36.76
Crazy for Christmas stamp set	28	108772	$39.95	$31.96
Snow Flurries stamp set	29	110244	$20.95	$16.76
Tag Time stamp set	43	108930	$53.95	$43.16
Many Merry Messages stamp set	111	108869	$64.95	$51.96
12” x 12” Days-to-Remember Calendar	133	103604	$20.95	$16.76
6” x 6” Days-to-Remember Calendar	133	104144	$18.95	$15.16
Winter Bright Simply Scrappin'™	138	109663	$36.95	$29.56
Three for You Punch Box	143	112670	$85.95	$68.76
Very Vanilla 5/8” grosgrain ribbon	146	109055	$14.95	$11.96
Certainly Celery 5/8” grosgrain ribbon	146	109050	$14.95	$11.96
White Square Aluminum Metal Edge tags	147	103372	$7.50	$6.00

All prices do not include Stampin' Up!'s standard shipping and handling of 5% or $5.95, whichever is greater.

Too cryptic...

...for a three-year-old, perhaps? I'm thinking of sending this to my nephew for his 3rd birthday but it's a bit cruel to torture the wee one with a puzzle for a card. I suspect it is even more cruel to require my sleep-deprived sister to explain it to him, along with the origins of the phrase. Ah well! If she ever visits my blog, she'll have a reference handy.

This card is rather appropriate for me, though, as I've made it using some Summer Picnic Designer Series Paper (from the Spring Mini that is due to end). While the weather hasn't been great for picnicking, we've had an influx of ants roaming in our study. Every so often I feel a tickle on my leg, slap it and come away with the harsh chemical smell of squashed ant. Even more often, I feel the brush of something, check my limbs, find no insects and wonder whether I'm going insane. I suppose actually mailing this card to my little nephew and expecting him to get it would be proof of that!

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Barely Banana

Stamp:
Tart & Tangy set

Paper:
Bashful Blue CS
Old Olive CS
Summer Picnic DSP
Whisper White CS

Accessories:
A Perfect Day Rub-Ons
Anchored Rub-Ons
Paper Snips
Stampin' Dimensionals
Stampin' Write Markers in Basic Black, Old Olive, Rose Red
Whisper White Grosgrain


Oh! The individual Stampin' Write Marker promotion was extended today - it will be ending on December 14. November 30 will still see the end of Spring Mini and the 20% off Rub-Ons promotion so remember to get your orders in by this Sunday.

That hair is really long! Gee!

During our trip to Longji, China, we encountered a group of Yao women who were rather keen on seeing us fulfill our responsibilities as tourists. These duties included photographing them doing their customary hair unveiling and combing as well as allowing them to adorn our heads with their hand-made kerchiefs. Normally, I would not wear hanky on my head as it makes me want to impersonate Luigi of the now defunct WA Salvage - we’re not fancy but we’re cheap, eh! Sandgropers'll know what I'm talking about...but the women were so insistent in such a nice way.

And yes indeedy! Their hair was very long once unfurled - reputed to be the longest hair per head so to speak. I found it fascinating that their hair has the added bulk and weight of an extra length of hair - from when they cut their hair for the first (and IIRC the last) time when they reach 18 years of age. With all that weight on their heads, it's no wonder they were all shorter than me.

I put together this scrap page as part of this month's INKlings Cybercrop hosted by the wonderful Alana. Her second challenge was a scrapbook sketch based on a card layout.

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
VersaMark

Stamp:
It's Beautiful wheel

Cardstock:
Naturals Ivory
Pink Passion Texured
Tempting Turquoise

Accessories:
1 1/4" Circle Punch
Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker
Circle Rhinestone Brads
Corner Rounder Punch
Eastern Elegance Rub-Ons
Heat Tool
Scallop Punch
White Embossing Powder

I thought the combination of the It's Beautiful wheel and Eastern Elegance rub-ons would be a good way to say farewell to the Spring Mini in scrapbook form. I must confess that the only way that I could bring myself to use the Eastern Elegance rub-ons was by buying an extra package while it's on sale this month! *puts hanky on head* We're fancy but we're cheap, eh! *takes off hanky*

20 days in November

There are two neat promotions this month which start today and finish on the same day as the Spring Mini, November 30 [ETA: Marker promotion extended to December 14].


Make your mark on your Stampin' Write Marker collection by choosing the right colours for you! For a limited time only, Stampin' Up! are offering Stampin' Write Markers individually for only $4.95 each. This beats the normal price of $5.75 for the Basic Black marker and you get to choose from all 48 colours in the four Stampin' Up! colour families (ooh! and Sahara Sand too!).

Stampin' Write Markers in alphabetical order

Description	Item number	Description	Item number
Almost Amethyst	100043	Mellow Moss	100038
Always Artichoke	105113	More Mustard	100076
Apricot Appeal	105107	Night Of Navy	100069
Ballet Blue	100066	Not Quite Navy	100059
Barely Banana	100039	Old Olive	100079
Bashful Blue	105111	Only Orange	100051
Basic Black	100082	Orchid Opulence	100055
Blush Blossom	100037	Pale Plum	100036
Bordering Blue	100070	Perfect Plum	100035
Bravo Burgundy	105109	Pink Passion	100053
Brilliant Blue	100057	Pixie Pink	105112
Brocade Blue	100064	Pretty In Pink	100045
Cameo Coral	100074	Pumpkin Pie	105115
Certainly Celery	105106	Real Red	100052
Chocolate Chip	100071	Really Rust	100073
Close To Cocoa	100072	Regal Rose	105108
Creamy Caramel	100078	Rose Red	100063
Elegant Eggplant	105110	Ruby Red	100075
Gable Green	100049	Sage Shadow	100040
Garden Green	100080	Sahara Sand	105105
Glorious Green	100047	So Saffron	105114
Green Galore	100048	Summer Sun	100077
Handsome Hunter	105116	Taken with Teal	100068
Lavender Lace	100041	Tempting Turquoise	100058
Lovely Lilac	100056	Yoyo Yellow	100050

My November newsletter has a product focus on Stampin' Write Markers so sign up if you wish - it's free! Please check the Free Subscriptions panel on the right for details on how to do so.


Get fabulous Rub-Ons for 20% off! Spend $20 on Stampin' Up! products and you can buy any number of Stampin' Up!'s Rub-Ons for $15.96. That a saving of $3.99 per package. If that doesn't get you rubbing your hands with glee, well...ok then. *grin*

Rub-Ons	Page	Item Number
A Perfect Day	11*	111277
Anchored	141	110282
Cherished Memories	141	110281
Eastern Elegance	6*	110284
Urban West	141	110285

Page numbers from Idea Book & Catalogue 2008-2009 unless indicated by an asterisk (*) in which case Spring Mini page numbers have been used.

All prices do not include Stampin' Up!'s standard shipping and handling of 5% or $5.95, whichever is greater.

Combine all these offers with whatever you have left on your Spring Mini wishlist - November is the last time to Spring Mini to it!

Spring Mini bloom

On first impression, you're probably thinking: this is card on its side, isn't it?

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Basic Black
Handsome Hunter
Rose Red

Stamp sets:
Bloomin' with Beauty
Floral background
Occasional Greetings

Cardstock:
Handsome Hunter
Rose Red
Whisper White

Accessories:
Aquapainters
Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware
Purely Pomegranate Satin Ribbon
Watercolor Wonder Crayons in Neutrals
Watercolor Wonder Crayons in Rich Regals

Even though I made this card, when I was cropping this picture of it, I actually rotated it to make it portrait - and thought "Doh! That was completely unnecessary". It's probably because I have seen so many great cards made with the blossom standing up that this is almost...unnatural. Some of you may have cleverly based your frame of reference on the piece of Hodgepodge Hardware in which case I give you 100% *hands out gold star stickers*

Hubby is another case. When I handed this card to him, he held it such that the flower was upside down. That's just too lateral, Hubby! *stamps foot (no rubber stamps involved here btw)* *rotates card for Hubby* I suppose it is Karmic comeuppance for my previous naughtiness. *sigh*

Anyway, this is just a reminder that Bloomin' with Beauty and the luxe Purely Pomegranate Wide Satin Ribbon is in the Spring Mini and like all blooms, the Mini will be just a lovely memory too soon. So make sure that you finalise your wishlist from that mini catalogue and submit your orders before November 30 comes around.

Serenity serendipity

Things have been rather busy for me since the Papercrafts Festival. On top of the goings-on in my little craft world, there has been a couple of momentous races - one involving horses and the other presidential candidates! Amidst all that hurly-burly, I made a card using the Summer By The Sea stamp set and the watercolouring brought me a sense of serenity that made me feel as if I had a teensy holiday, away from everything.

Now, when I look at the card, I imagine being the lady in the boat, dipping her toes into the cool water, without any intrusions on her lake of solitude. Of course, to the right of her, off the page, would be a mountain of calorie-free delectable morsels and, quite possibly, Hubby having a quiet snooze. Aaaahhhhh!

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Old Olive
StazOn Black

Stamps:
Summer by the Sea set
Sweet Serendipity set

Paper:
Cameo Coral CS
Naturals Ivory CS
Old Olive Prints DSP
Watercolor Paper

Accessories:
Aquapainter
Crop-A-Dile
Jumbo Eyelets in Antique Brass
Mat Pack
Natural Hemp Twine
Stampin' Dimensionals
Watercolor Wonder Crayons in Earth Elements

Wishing you moments of sweet serendipity for the rest of the week!

A pinch and a punch...

...for missing a post for the first of the month. Yes! I missed posting properly yesterday due to duties at the Papercrafts Festival, which has been a whirlwind of preparation and activity. It has been great meeting so many crafty women over the past two days *big wave* - I can honestly say that I have yet to do a make and take with a man at the fair. Perhaps this is why women are called the fairer sex? Also, a special hello to belle for being so sweet to visit me at the stand.

Stampin' Up! promotions will be starting on the 10th this month - when you click on the Specials heading on the top of this blog, you'll see that markers will be offered for purchase as single items very soon! I'll update the blog with the promotions as soon as they are made public. Also, I'll be sending out my newsletter with all the details on that date too. So, please sign up if you are interested (check out the free subscriptions panel on the left right [don't know my left from my right!] of the page).

This is one of the cards that I have on display when I do my demonstration of the Poppin' Pastels technique at the fair. I can sneak this on now since some of you have seen it already.
Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
VersaMark

Stamps:
It's Beautiful wheel
Short & Sweet set

Cardstock:
Naturals Ivory

Accessories:
Mat Pack
Paper Piercer
Paper Snips
Sponge Daubers
Stampin' Dimensionals
Stampin' Pastels





Today is the last day of the Papercrafts Festival so poppin' I mean pop in if you can. We have an amazing array of papercraft samples (and I can say this because you should see everyone else's work) and you can even take a photo or two of your favourite pieces. There are also specials just for the show including a Pick-A-Prize for all bundles and if you are thinking of joining Stampin' Up!, you'd definitely want to ask us about it!

Plainly for Jayne

Let's say, purely hypothetically, that you have an upline who has so much talent that it would take years to make a card that could impress her. One could embark on such a mission but the impact of the card would be seriously dulled by the fact that it had come five years too late!

So, I'd suggest using alphabet stamps. The great thing about these is that you can customise your papercraft project to suit its intended recipient. Use an alphabet set to create a card that is just for her by stamping her name so that there is no doubt that it's meant for her and no-one else. In doing so, I reckon that she would forgive you for not coming up with a truly amazing card that may have taken away whatever remaining youth you had, along with your hubby, children, house and, quite possibly, that box of chocolates that you had been keeping for a treat. Alphabet stamps or calamity - you've been warned!

Yesterday was Jayne's birthday and here is a picture of the card that I sent to her a couple of days ago - I'm sure that it would have made it to her by now but, if it hasn't, this may be the only record of its existence. I really hope that she liked it...

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Always Artichoke
So Saffron

Stamps:
Big Bold Birthday set
Baroque Motifs set
Defining alphabet
Lovely Letters alphabet

Paper:
Le Jardin DSP
Very Vanilla CS

Accessories:
Apricot Appeal Grosgrain Ribbon
Pretties Kit
Sponge Daubers
Theater Ribbon Originals

Happy Birthday Jayne

It is Jayne's birthday today! Jayne is my very talented and amazing upline who has a team called the INKlings who, in turn, are spread all over Australia. We are having a virtual birthday party to celebrate her special day.

Many happy returns, Jayne! May the stamping fairy bring you lots of smiles and supplies!

See what the other INKlings are bringing to the party:
Alana
Beth
Carol
Jo
Karen
Kari
Kim
Margaret
Merryl
Michelle
Susanne
Teneale

My contribution is a stand of flowers...I know it looks a little sad but I was getting a little nervous taking pictures in a shopping centre as it seemed like people were starting to suspect that I was some sort of terrorist casing the place!

Many thanks to the lovely Alana for organising the celebration!

Lucky as a door

I've just been wondering what it is about doors that make them so lucky that they are associated through the term "Lucky Door Prize". Perhaps luck was associated with doors after a large number of people survived an earthquake by staying in doorways...

And, strangely, even though this term is widely used, the phrase "lucky as a door" hasn't quite made it into the vernacular. I suppose it is yet another mystery to add to my list of things to Google when there's nothing else to do and I remember what is actually on this list.

This post is really a little teaser for the Papercrafts Festival being held at Canterbury Park Racecourse which starts this Friday (October 31) and finishes on Sunday (November 2). I'll be there with four amazing Stampin' Up! demonstrators to show off Stampin' Up!'s tremendous products along with various useful papercraft techniques. There will be Christmas make and takes, Pick-A-Prize with every bundle purchase and, of course, the ubiquitous Lucky Door Prize (in fact, six all up, as we are giving away two each day)! The prize pictured above is the one that I'm contributing. Please come to visit us there and, if you are as lucky as a door, you could go home with something smashing for your stash.

Short and sweet

In keeping with Short and Sweet, so is this post! Pssst...this set is 20% off this month with a $20 purchase (that's the sweet bit)!

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Basic Black

Stamps:
Short And Sweet set

Paper:
Berry Bliss DSP
Whisper White CS

Accessories:
Aqua Painter
1/2" Circle Punch
Pretty in Pink Grosgrain Ribbon
Stampin' Dimensionals
Watercolor Wonder Crayons in Bold Brights
Watercolor Wonder Crayons in Earth Elements
Word Window Punch

The same outfit

Have you ever turned up to an event and sported the same dress or outfit as someone else? People in uniform, of course, are excluded from this discussion! I am also sure that men do this all the time but probably don't even notice.

My first experience of this was as a university student doing Industrial Training. I remember being completely thrilled that I could buy a smart, partially lined cream jacket with contrasting navy buttons for only $49 (as a poor student, financing a formal work wardrobe was a bit of a burden). The very next day, I sashayed into the office with my brand new outfit and lo! one of the managers was wearing the same styled jacket in the same colour as mine. Like mirrored images, we looked at each other's clothes then each other's faces, turned red and returned the way we came. Synchronised shame - it should be made into an Olympic sport ... then I wouldn't still be feeling mortified in merely recounting this event! Anyway, we spent the rest of the day trying to look around corners to avoid being in the same room or corridor as each other and I don't think that I ever wore that jacket to that workplace again. I might have even burned it - just kidding...I was a poor Uni student, after all!

Well, I am feeling a little this way again today. On uploading my card made for Krafty Kylie's sketch challenge combined with Christmas colours for her colour challenge, I spotted this card on Ryemilan's Stamping & Scrapbooking. Our supply lists would be practically identical. Sorry, Sam - I promise I didn't copy it!

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Mellow Moss
Old Olive
Real Red
Sahara Sand

Stamp sets:
Big Bold Birthday
Occasional Greetings

Paper:
Dashing DSP
Old Olive CS
Real Red CS
Very Vanilla CS

Accessories:
1 1/4" Circle Punch
Gold Embossing Powder
Heat Tool
Red Gingham Ribbon
Stampin' Dimensional

I'll just end here with: Big Bold Birthday is 20% off for this month with a $20 purchase and you can use it for Christmas cards too (as Sam and I agree).

Krafty Kylie's christmassy cyberchallenge

Amazing! I haven't even finished posting my cards from last month's INKlings Cyberchallenge and it's here again already. It has been over a month so I can't say that I didn't have enough time to post the last card - oh well, I suppose I could have but none of you would believe me, anyway! I could say that I've submitted it for publication but that would just be delusional...and it'd be embarrassing a year down the road when people ask "where's the magazine with that card of yours waiting to be published?" How about the dog ate it? Wouldn't you know it? Don't have a dog. Been washing my hair? For a month?! Let me think about it and I'll get back to you...maybe...

Back to the brand spankin' new cyberchallenge hosted by the very crafty Krafty Kylie. Her first challenge was to make a pocket card for Christmas. All those rounded corners on the insert made me think of plastic cards and hey! how about putting a gift card in there?

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Always Artichoke

Stamp sets:
Many Merry Messages
Occasional Greetings
Party Punch

Paper:
River Rock CS
Sage Shadow CS
Wintergreen DSP

Accessories:
1" Circle Punch
Corner Rounder Punch
Silver Embossing Powder
Slit Punch
Stampin' Dimensional
Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon
I like the idea of the whole thing unveiling itself in phases: first phase is the closed pocket card with the sentiment peeking over the flap, second phase is the present in the form of a gift card, and, lastly, the message for the recipient when the gift card is taken out. It's so Salome and the seven veils - thankfully, without any decapitations...

Simply delightfully uniform

I wouldn't be surprised if the runaway favourite Simply Sent Kit is Simple Delights. With its elaborate flourishes and rather delightful sentiments, who could resist? I know I didn't and that was way before the kits were briefly available at 20% off. So, even though the promotion is over, I thought I'd post the cards that I had made using one of them. After all, the fun really kicks in after you've made a couple of the predesigned cards and you're looking to do new things with what you've got. *cue MacGyver theme song* *gets Indiana Jones theme instead* Sorry but I can't remember the MacGyver song because it was sooooo long ago and I only recently watched Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull! Unfortunately, the latter is now well and truly lodged in my head.

Speaking of predesigned cards, I'll begin with the standard "I didn't design these but rather these are the ones that have instructions in the kit" just for completeness. Each kit has enough supplies to make five of each of the cards to the left.

I reckon that this particular kit cries out for uniformity and order. Those geometric patterns look tremendous when perfectly lined up and spaced out precisely - a bit like a military tattoo. Keep the kit happy and use a Stamp-A-Ma-Jig with it at least some of the time. Am I projecting here?

Another tool which really suits this kit is a square punch. The square stamp impressions are peeking out of square windows in this card but one can imagine them just as happy being layered on square cardstock. Am I projecting again?

Additional Stampin' Supplies
Cardstock:
Very Vanilla

Accessories:
1/16" Circle Punch
1 1/4" Square Punch
Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon
Corner Rounder Punch
Stamp-A-Ma-Jig
Word Window Punch

Simply Sent three shorts

I promised to post my Simply Sent Three Thoughts projects today and I only have half an hour until the deadline! So, I'll keep the post short and talk about the shots. I know you are thinking "Thank Goodness! No banter!"

Cards on the right - you can make six of each with a Simply Sent Three Thoughts kit, ironically without much thought since these come with instructions!

The card to the left was made using the kit and a few extra supplies from my stash. I used Stampin' Write Markers in Mellow Moss and More Mustard to make my life easier but I could probably have just used the Stampin' Spots in the kit. If you got it, flaunt it. [Hey! What happened to no banter?!] But I have all this white space to fill...

Additional Stampin' Supplies
Accessories:
1 1/4" Square Punch
Mat Pack
Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware
Purely Pomegranate Double-Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon
Stamp-A-Ma-Jig




Thirdly, I thought that I'd do something a little different so I used the kit to put together a scrap page. The photo was taken by Hubby when we were living in Melbourne last year. Whenever I look at it, it makes me nostalgic *sniffle*

Additional Stampin' Supplies
Cardstock:
More Mustard Textured

Stamps:
Carte Postale set
Defining Alphabet set
Totally Tabs set

Accessories:
Clear Buttons
Corner Rounder Punch
Mellow Moss Taffeta Ribbon
Round Tab Punch
Stampin' Write Journaller

Ooooh! Just made the deadline. Make sure you make the deadline to save 20% of Simply Sent kits as it ends tomorrow night.

Just a thought...

and not much else! It was awesome Belinda's birthday recently and I gave her a gift bag and a card and that was it. Pretty bad, huh?

OK OK...I wasn't THAT awful. We had a delicious (although a tad salty) lunch of rigatoni and scallops followed by a refreshing strawberries and vanilla bean mascarpone dessert (which would have tasted rather strange if served in a gift bag). I also promised her an item that I'm expecting will be in the next Stampin' Up! mini catalogue.

For the matching gift bag and birthday card, I used a few non-Stampin' Up! supplies including Quickutz Blossom font, Fiskars Sunburst punch and Provocraft large eyelets with grommets. I also used just a thought out of the three in the Three Thoughts Simply Sent Kit. I have to say that whilst this is not the fanciest of the Simply Sent Kits, I think that it would be the most versatile because of its excellent sentiment stamps. I'll post what I make with the kit tomorrow - and of course, there's only two days and a bit to save 20% off these delightful packages!

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Close to Cocoa

Stamps:
Three Thoughts Simply Sent Kit

Paper:
Apple Cider DSP
Dashing DSP
Naturals Ivory CS
Very Vanilla CS

Accessories:
Crop-A-Dile
Double Rectangle Punch
Tangerine Grosgrain Ribbon
Wild Wasabi Double-Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

Simply Sent-sational

Ever feel the need for a little bling? Just make a card with Dazzling Diamonds after you've put on your makeup and you'll have just the right amount of sparkle everywhere to attract attention. Cosmetics with creamy formulations help the dazzle to stay put while you dance the night away. Try using a glue dot dipped in Dazzling Diamonds for a blingy beauty spot that would make Cindy Crawford Certainly Celery with envy.

Get the kit with maximum shine: Sending Happy Thoughts with Dazzling Diamonds included. Going to a party? Get glammed up while assembling a card for the birthday girl. What can be a greater time saver than combining cardmaking with your beauty routine?? Nothing, nothing at all!
Because you take care ^TM - L'ornier

OK...silliness over...unless something comes over me... A Sending Happy Thoughts Simply Sent Kit has the instructions and supplies to make five of each of the following cards:

Don't you love that ribbon?

Here's my spin on the kit with a few extra supplies:

For the card on the left, I inked up one side of the square stamp to create the dotted stems. The Very Vanilla Cardstock is mounted on top of Old Olive Prints DSP and a couple of the flowers have Stampin' Up! buttons for centres and a little bit of hemp twine. For the card on the right, I've used Bashful Blue for a couple of the flowers to match the strip of Summer Picnic DSP. The flower centres are brads topped with glue dots dipped in Dazzling Diamonds (a trick I learnt from the Sydney Stampin' Up! Regional training). The sentiment, shaped using the Word Window punch, is from another item which is on sale this month - the Short & Sweet stamp set!

To make the most of the Simply Sent-sational 20% off kits and stamp sets, please contact me. Enjoy your Labour Day weekend - for those of you in the right places *grin*

Simply versatile

You've probably already seen these cards before - they are the two predesigned cards in the Lifelong Notes Simply Sent Kit. The kit includes enough supplies to make five of each of these styles and even has directions on how to assemble them. I think that the top card is great for men because of the colour scheme and the geometric design. No flowers - I'm sure that they'd be relieved about that! It must be just about every macho man's worst nightmare - to receive a really pretty floral card on their birthday in front of their friends accompanied by a "Here's your prezzie, Honey Bunny Sugar Puff!" *grin*

One of the things that I enjoy most about these kits is creating projects using the supplies to make something that is radically different from the predesigned cards - I suppose it is the MacGyver in me! I also like using things out of my existing stash with the items in the kit for maximum synergy.

The card on the left is a CASE of a card from the Stampin' Up! Sydney Regionals. I added some Certainly Celery DSP, used a stamp from Occasional Greetings and a mat pack and I reckon it looks nothing like the ones above. What do you think?

The card on the right is for the girly girls who would have looked at the other three cards and wondered whether you had confused them with your hubby. I punched out a scallop from a sheet of Summer Picnic DSP and created holes using my 1/16" circle punch, used Basic Black on vellum for the medallion centre, a couple of lengths of Bashful Blue Grosgrain Ribbon and a stamp from Cheer & Wishes. Stampin' Write Markers in Bashful Blue and Certainly Celery sure came in handy too. Pretty girly, huh?

Simply Sent Kits are 20% off for a very short time only (October 4-11) so please send in your orders early so that you don't miss out.

Stampin' Up! is turning 20...

...but not in Australia. Hmmmm...is this one of those time zone difference thingamys? You know, how it is Wednesday here but Tuesday over there for most of the day? Well, actually, it is Tuesday over there for the whole of the day...just not our Tuesday or Wednesday. Yah! Moving right along...

Stampin' Up! is celebrating its 20th birthday and its party favour is a 20% discount off selected stamp sets with any $20 product purchase. Once you qualify, you can choose to buy one or any number of the following stamp sets for inclusion in the same order for the listed promotion price:

Stamp Set	RRP*	Promo*	IB&C page	Item number
Big Bold Birthday	$53.95	$43.16	37	112594
Pretty Princess	$45.95	$36.76	38	108894
Birthday Best	$25.95	$20.76	51	108753
Crab & Company	$52.95	$42.36	55	110246
Short & Sweet	$29.95	$23.96	118	112318

* Excludes standard Stampin' Up! shipping and handling charges.

Team this up with the 20% off Simply Sent Kits during October 4-11 and the festivities of World Card Making Day and that's three great reasons to celebrate being a card maker this month.

Simply Sent: Naked!

Ever wondered what exactly was in a Simple Delights Simply Sent Kit? Wonder no longer as the following picture reveals the full contents of one such kit:



To help celebrate World Card Making Day, Stampin' Up! is offering 20% of all Simply Sent Kits for one week only. So make sure that you get your orders in to me between October 4-11 so that you don't miss out! Come to my WCMD event to see what is in the kits for yourself, along with a couple of alternate card designs using the kits plus some additional Stampin' Up! supplies.

Full circle: two BFFs and a tag

My bad! I was given a couple of Blogging Friends Forever gold cards quite a while ago by two of the loveliest INKlings that I know:

Dani Fender who recently received worldwide recognition for her cardmaking talent by being chosen as one of Kristina Werner's final 15 for her Color Inspiration #22. Yay Dani! Her cards are wonderful and her enthusiasm infectious.

Michelle Dyson who was recently Newly Discovered by Allison. Michelle is very smart on top of being a fabulous crafter. I remember her describing some research that involved someone with an autoimmune condition swallowing an egg of a parasitic worm (which flourishes in pigs) to switch their immune systems to infection fighting mode. This was in great detail and all over dinner! It was seriously interesting and I was really grateful that we had lasagne and not spaghetti that night.

While I was very chuffed to be on the receiving end, I wasn't so keen on one of the rules attached to passing it on. The rules are:

1. Only 5 people allowed.
2. 4 have to be dedicated followers of your blog
3. one has to be someone new or recently new to your blog and live in another part of the world.
4. you must link back to whoever gave you the award.

Yep! I wasn't too sure about rule #2. Who on earth would be a dedicated follower of this blog?! Hmmmm ... checked the list of followers on Blogger (new blogspot feature, btw) and she's already mentioned in this post. So, instead of dedicated followers of my blog, I decided that I would link to the incredibly generous bloggers who have included me in their blog roll to say many many thanks for doing so. I've excluded INKlings from this because I always link to them anyway (they should be known as lINKlings)! In addition, I absolve my newly declared BFFs of any obligation to follow the rules. Can I do that?! I just did!!

Marcia Pringle The Stamp Spot
Marcia makes the most gorgeous cards and off-the-page items in a mind boggling variety of styles. Check her blog for inspiration (or a good dose of awe!) I am really looking forward to seeing some scrap pages from her...does that count as a hint 'cause it really wasn't subtle, was it?

Sue Madex Madex Creations
Sue is famous as she is a commissioned contributor to Aussie Scrapbooking! Her site has great scrap pages and pretty cards and lots of useful tutorials too! *waves goodbye to those rushing off to check out the tutorials*

Chris Parker-Barnes Dot Dot Stamping
Chris recently started blogging in August and already has an impressive collection of cards on display. There is even a cutie pie shot of her little one in a scrap page...

Sarah Klass
Surely, she needs no introduction! Sarah is a top Stampin' Up! demonstrator - one of the select 22 to achieve the Incentive Trip to Palm Cove. She has a really funky style and she can make truly beautiful cards too!

Latisha Coleman Prayer & Stamps
Latisha has not yet left a comment here but I stumbled across her blog and spotted my blog in her linky-list. Latisha is from the US and you know what that means...PREVIEW! She has made the most of Pacific Point and I hope we get some of the marvellous stamps that she has used on her lovely creations.

I also just got tagged by Marcia! But I've already been tagged before and you really don't want to find out another 7 facts about me, right?! I'm sure you were traumatised enough by my first response...

So, why the full circle? It turns out that when I was first tagged in May, my taggees were Michelle and Dani - my two BFFers! How neat is that for an ending?!

Scraptember

I hadn't intended it but September has been the month of scrapbook pages of my nephew. On realising this, I decided to create a row of it by adding one more. I remember being told at school that two does not constitute a row - as in two in a row was just nonsensical. But two in a row does make sense, right? After all, it just means one following one other. Anyway, being a particularly pedantic student, I had gleefully stuffed that "rule" into multiple parts of my brain for future reference. I am sure that those brain cells are now a complete waste of space and mourn the fact that they could have been better put to use for remembering:
• Hubby's mobile phone number when asked by an interested employer,
• the names of people that I worked with 10 years ago and bump into at the beginning of a long train ride,
• whether we have to put out the recycled or the garden waste bin this week,
• to post that letter sitting in my OUT tray for the last four weeks! Gah!
• when swaps are due...

Speaking of which ... back to the scrapbook page. This was made for a 6X6 swap co-ordinated by the amazing Alana, who showed great patience as some of us were kinda all over the place (including me as I forgot when this swap was due until a week before closing date and had to beg for an extension). Thanks so much, Alana! Many thanks also to the lovely ladies who took part for the marvellous pages that I received.

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Pumpkin Pie
Real Red
Tempting Turquoise
Wild Wasabi
VersaMark

Stamps:
Defining Alphabet
Frames with a Flourish
Seeing Spots
Sprinkles

Paper:
East Coast Prep DSP
Pumpkin Pie Prints DSP
Tempting Turquoise Textured CS

Accessories:
1/2", 1", 1 1/4" Circle Punches
Horizontal Slot Punch
Real Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
Sponge Daubers

Make Your Own on World Card Making Day 2008

It is less than two weeks to go until World Card Making Day on the 4th of October! For those of you thinking that you are too busy to retrieve your craft supplies from the many nooks in your house, sit down to design and make cards, why not join me on the day? I'll have prepared all the tools and stuff you need as well as cutting cardstock to size so that you can enjoy the fun part - the stamping and card making! As for the regular card makers, join me anyway, for an afternoon of card making fun - you know you don't have to do any of the hard work...

There may be somebody out there who wants to try out card making - give it a go at my place. If you find it as enjoyable as I do, you can start your stash with a Simply Sent Kit. Stampin' Up! will be offering 20% of all Simply Sent kits during that week (4-11 October). I'll be displaying the contents of a few of the kits and some of the things that you can make with them.

Here are the details:

Date:	Saturday, October 4th 2008
Time:	2pm
Where:	Broad Arrow Road, Riverwood, NSW
Cost:	$5 to attend and includes a Make & Take and refreshments. Stamp-A-Stack (including envelopes) is: ● $12 for 4 deluxe cards ● $12 for 6 standard cards
RSVP:	Wednesday, October 1st 2008 [My contact details] Booking is essential as I have to prepare supplies for the event.

Deluxe Cards
Two Christmas cards and two birthday and/or thank you cards featuring:
● Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware
● textured cardstock
● Designer Series Paper
● ribbon.

Standard Cards
Three Christmas cards and three greeting cards featuring:
● Designer Series Paper
● a range of sentiments to choose from
● all Stampin' Up! supplies.




If you can't make it to this event, and you know at least three other people who are interested in making these cards, please contact me and we can arrange a time and place to stamp your own stacks (because it is card making day just about every day for me!).

Out of order

Such strange serendipity! I was entering the title of this post with just the hint of a smirk, when Fate slapped me down for being out of order. The original meaning that I had intended for this title was that I would be showing one of the challenges for the cyberstamp out of sequence...but when Blogger's Autosave feature activated, I was greeted with "Autosaved failed" and prompted with the standard suggestion of please try again...which I did. Hmmmm...did I try that again or did I imagine myself pressing the Save button? So I pressed it again. "Autosaved failed". Oh no! Blogger is out of order!

So, I trawled through the Blogger Help Forums, found no help there but lots of panicky people rearranging chairs. I then tinkered around with my settings and if you are experiencing the same problems, try clearing your browser cache and refreshing on each form before you use it (such as the list of posts and when you open up the edit post form). It worked for me [ETA: just long enough to get this posted] !

The third challenge for this month's INKlings Cyberstamp was the option of either a scrapbook layout or making a card using a themed stamp set so that the theme was not featured (eg. a Christmas stamp set for a birthday card) or vice versa (eg. a Valentine's day card from a non-themed flower stamp set). The scrapbook page is to use [WARNING: sample scrap page features a SNAKE] the following sketch.

I've posted this out of order so that my mum can see another layout of my nephew, Shi Wei! I've kept her waiting long enough...

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Chocolate Chip
Really Rust
Wild Wasabi

Stamps:
Defining Alphabet
Priceless set

Paper:
Apple Cider DSP
Naturals Ivory CS
River Rock Textured CS
Vellum CS

Accessories:
1/16" Circle Punch
Anchored Rub-ons
Antique Brass Hodgepodge Hardware
Black Hemp Twine
Corner Rounder Punch
Earth Elements Buttons

INKlings colour challenge round-up

I'll update links for cards if they come online. And yes! I've had to add mine in to make up the numbers. Also, I haven't forgotten Jayne's - it is just that hers is top top secret.

Postmarked cyberstamp

The monthly INKlings Cyberstamp came around again and this time I got to set the challenges. Needless to say, it was just another excuse for me to do something silly in the name of trying to be funny *grin*

For the first challenge, I chose a colour scheme. I really hope that Kristina Werner does not mind but I CASEd her color inspiration - for this one Cyberstamp only. Please don't sue me, Kristina!

As some of you may already have read, I love shoes! I use to collect them but, now, most of them sit in storage, waiting for their moment in the sun when they go for a jaunt down the red carpet. (What can I say? I'm a big disappointment to these shoes!) Anyway, after rummaging through the shoe stash that stays with me, I found this pair that screamed out "Wear me to somewhere grand!" - instead, I featured them as inspiration for a colour challenge...

I hope to feature a round-up of the INKlings wonderful creations using this colour scheme if they post them on their respective blogs. In the meanwhile, here is my attempt:

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Almost Amethyst
Chocolate Chip
Encore Silver

Stamps:
Simple Delights set
Priceless set

Paper:
Almost Amethyst
Basic Black
Chocolate Chip
Whisper White
Silver Metallic

Accessories:
Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon
Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon
Mat Pack
Square Ice Rhinestone
Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware
Silver Embossing Powder

Unfortunately, this card does not exist in this form any longer. After I snapped the first photo of it, the wind swept it up and dumped it on the grass that was left wet by the rain. So, it is a smudged remnant of its former self. Oh well! At least I have one photo - maybe I should scrap it up?

Auntie Lin Meanie falls from grace

When you see photos of my nephew, Shi Wei, you'll take his side, for sure! But I'm going to share this little story anyway.

My nephew is the cutest, cutest, cutest little prickly pear in the whole world. The first part is easily confirmed by checking out pictures of him. The second part relates to the fact that you really have to earn his affection. If you are not in his good books and you try to guide him with a gentle touch on his back, he will turn around, grab your offending hand and fling it away (did I capture enough of his disdain there? If not, just insert "disdainfully" before "fling"). But, if you have managed to ingratiate yourself with him by being at his beck and call and not squealing on him to his parents if he hits you, you've got it made! When it is time to put on his socks, he will come to you, sit in front of you and offer you the privilege of dressing his feet - I have to confirm that it completely sets the cockles of my heart ablaze.

By the last day of my stay in Perth, I had managed to inveigle my way to "Shi Wei's Best Friend"¹ status. This was no mean feat it had to be wrested from my mum who had earnt and held on to that title with tonnes of tolerance and lots of dark chocolate. I know you are wondering who feeds children dark chocolate? But it's my sister's rules! Anyway, so Shi Wei asked me to accompany him to my father's home gym, which to my nephew is the equivalent of the Forbidden Forest - scary and dangerous and, therefore, lots of fun! I was a nervous wreck when he clambered on to the equipment since there were countless protusions (OK...11 to be exact) which I kept imagining him hurting himself on. When I tried to hold him to make myself feel happier about his safety, he batted away my hands and told me to "Go away!" Yeah! So much for "Best Friend" status.

While on the gym, he patted this, twisted that and then slipped slightly on something round and gave us both a heart attack. No more Auntie Nice Gal! I lifted him off the gym and Boy! Did he protest! He wriggled, he squirmed, he shouted "No!" and, in the kerfuffle, my spectacles got knocked askew. He then proceeded to raspberry me which covered my face in a fine mist of spi... threw me back to the summer days in London when you'd get soaked by really light rain yet never felt a drop of water hitting you. I deposited him next to his mother (hoping that it was the equivalent of handing over the baton of responsibility) and proceeded to observe the following exchange.

"I don't like Auntie Lin Mei!" declared Shi Wei to my sister. [LM thinks: "Best Friend" status to Shi Wei Enemy Number One in eight seconds] "I hit her glasses off," he said while pumping his little fist into the air, "and then I pppphhhhhrrrrrrtttffff all over her!" he finished triumphantly. My sister then asked him, "Shi Wei, did you want a timeout²?" [LM: Sweet schadenfreude! I'm such a bad auntie...]

The photos in this page were taken by Shi Wei's great photographer father. The page includes a sneak peek of the stamp set that we received during the 2008 Stampin' Up! Sydney regional seminar.

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Bashful Blue
Basic Black
VersaMark

Stamps:
Live Your Dream set
Sprinkles set

Paper:
Bashful Blue CS
East Coast Prep DSP
Pumpkin Pie CS
Whisper White CS
Wild Wasabi Textured CS

Accessories:
1 3/8" Circle Punch
Anchored Rub-Ons
Crop-A-Dile
Jumbo Eyelets in Antique Brass
Mat Pack
Round Tab Punch
Stampin' Write Marker in Basic Black
Stampin' Write Marker in Tempting Turquoise
Striped Grosgrain Ribbon in Bashful Blue
Word Window Punch

---

1. Exclude his parents - they are way above "Best Friend" status.
2. Timeout - the only disciplinary action we subject Shi Wei to is being told to stay quiet for a minute.

Dad-ication

My father's birthday and Father's Day are very close together - in fact, every seven or so years they fall on the same day. And I reckon that's kinda unfortunate for him. It is like having your birthday close to Christmas ... everyone gives you one card and one present and says they've combined the two events (but never mentions that it is with a 40% discount *wry grin*). But that's me completely projecting because my Dad really doesn't seem to mind.

Hence, this dedication to my Dad: a one of a kind father, who is incredibly generous and charming...and interesting! He was definitely there for me when I was growing up and I appreciate the time that he always makes for us whenever we need him. A heartfelt thank you, Dad.

The little boy in "Summer by the Sea" could be my nephew and I thought it was just the right image for Dad's card since my father derives so much joy from his grandson. I'm sure they'll have a great time at dinner, together, tonight!

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Basic Black
Creamy Caramel

Stamps:
One of a Kind set
Sanded background
Summer by the Sea set
Wonderful Favourites set

Cardstock:
Creamy Caramel
Kraft
Naturals Ivory
Vellum

Accessories:
Aquapainter
Crop-A-Dile
Earth Elements brads
Hodgepodge Hardware in Antique Brass
Sponge Daubers
Watercolor Crayons in all colour families
Watercolor Pencils

To all the fathers and grandfathers out there reading my blog, I hope you have a lovely Father's Day. Or, more likely, I hope that your father and/or husband has/have a wonderful day with you. Happy Father's Day!