Ros Davidson, Independent Stampin' Up! demonstrator, Melbourne, Australia

"Art with heart", Easter themed blog hop

Welcome to yet another blog hop. Today’s blog hop is involving participants from the "Art with Heart" team which is managed by Claire Daly. Only a small number of us are participating in todays blog hop but there is actually over 80 demonstrators  in the “Art with Heart” team  and we are spread all over Australia. If you wish to join the “Art with Heart” team, e-mail me for more details. We have a fantastic team forum, a business building club not to mention lots of friendly and supportive fellow demonstrators.

The "Art with Heart" team are running blog hops each and every month. (They are to be held on the last day of the month.) Keep this in miXnd to come back and visit if you are not a regular visitor.

You may have just come from Tina Gillespie’s blog but if not, there is a link at the end of my post (and each post of those involved) and you will be able to make a complete journey to all of those demonstrators participating. If you leave a comment on all of the blogs, e-mail Nikki at nikki@inkyart.com.au and you will be in the draw to win some lovely blog candy.

Note: There is a deadline of 72 hours to enter for the blog candy, (finishing at 6am AEDST, Wednesday March 3rd, 2010) and only non SU demos are eligible to win. Please don’t feel discouraged to comment if you are a fellow demo or if the blog candy contest has closed as I love comments from all my visitors.

For our second blog hop, we are celebrating “Easter”.

I have made a chocolate pull tab slider box for todays blog hop. As a teenager, I always asked for a block of Caramello chocolate and a cream egg (both from Cadbury). It was my standard Easter request for years (and pretty much still is) so I used that as the basis for my creation. Not only the colours but also the block of chocolate inside the pull tab slider box.

Slider box in action

Close up of the chocolate bunny (stamped onto whisper white cardstock tag and a second image cut out and popped up with stampin' dimensionals)

Materials list

Stamps: Greetings eight, circles circus, chocolate bunny (summer mini catalogue)

Inkpads: Chocolate chip, versamark, riding hood red, so saffron

Cardstock: Elegant eggplant, so saffron, whisper white

Punches: Round tab punch, 1/2" circle, horizontal slot, scallop edge

Accessories: Linen thread, crop-o-dile, elegant eggplant 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, so saffron 5/8" grosgrain ribbon (retired), button latte, bella rose designer series paper

Other: Google eye, DMC cotton, cadbury caramello chocolate

Take your time to enjoy all of the lovely creations that everyone has created for your viewing pleasure. I hope it is an inspirational journey for you. 

Click here to stop by the next blog on the tour, the lovely Kristine Thompson from Bayswater North, VIC.

I am including a list of all the lovely other 13 demonstrators participating in the blog hop so if you run into any trouble viewing pages, you can still move onto the next person.

For those who have never viewed a blog hop before, there is no beginning or end, it is a full circle so you can begin anywhere!

Kristine Thompson
http://inkspotcreations.typepad.com/ink-spot-creations/2010/02/art-with-heart-team-march-blog-hop.html

Sue Madex
http://www.madexcreations.com/madex_creations/2010/02/easter-blog-hop.html  

Di Dunk
http://stampartbydi.typepad.com/my-blog/2010/02/february-blog-hop-easter-theme.html

Nikki Sadler
http://www.inkyart.com.au/inkyart/2010/02/easter-blog-hop.html

Judy May
http://judymay.typepad.com/just_judy_designs/2010/02/february-blog-hop.html

Erica Boxall
http://www.ericaboxall.com/2010/02/easter-blog-hop-hop-hop.html

Christine Blain
http://christineblain.typepad.com/happy_heart_cards/2010/02/easter-blog-hop.html

Kathryn Lowe
http://www.katlodesigns.com/stamping_with_kathryn_low/2010/02/easter-blog-hop.html

Kim Meiklejohn
http://www.paperenchantment.com.au

Gayatri Murali
http://scrapawayg3.blogspot.com/2010/02/art-with-heart-team-blog-hop.html

Kathryn Mangelsdorf
http://klm55.blogspot.com/2010/02/art-with-heart-blog-hop.html

Tanja Westwood
http://tanjawestwood.wordpress.com/2010/02/28/art-with-heart-easter-blog-hop/

Tina Gillespie
http://scissorspapercard.blogspot.com/2010/02/art-with-heart-easter-blog-hop.html

Technique cards for Marysville craft group

A fellow demonstrator (Sue Madex) on the Art with Heart team forum recently put out a call requesting some help with technique cards for a Marysville craft group. The people that particpate in the craft group are victims of the Black Saturday fires from last year. How could I say no to helping fellow crafters particulary ones that suffered such a tradegy.

If anyone would like some more information on joining my 'Live, Life and Create' team and a greater team of wonderful resources and demonstrators, contact me for further details. Remember, any new person joining Stampin' Up! during sale-a-bration recieves their choice of a stamp set from the Idea Book & Catalogue valued up to $79.95.

I also have a stamp club begining next month (first friday of each month) minimum spend is $50 per month for 6 months and we are focusing on watercolouring at our first meeting. I do have 2 spaces left for anyone that is interested in joining.

I had a bad nights sleep last night, was up cleaning my kitchen, crafting and awake for over 2 hours in the middle of the night. Not good when you need more sleep but handy to work on my blog hop creation for Sunday. Yes, it is almost that time again, time for another blog hop... This time, the theme is Easter. Any guesses what I am creating???

Off to bed (just finished watching Julie and Julia). Might have to do some cooking tomorrow, movie inspired me somewhat.

Grrrr

Small whine happening here... I have a layout accepted for publication in the UK and since my mum was going to the UK this week (this evening actually) I was going to get her to post it over there for me and save myself some $$$.... Guess who forgot to get it organised and take it to her mother's house.... It is not like I could come home and get it as it is a 20 minute drive one way...

Damm it, off to post it tomorrow and find out the cost of expressing it as I am on a tight deadline (and I could have posted it on Monday when I was at the post office doing banking.... Ahhhh)

Rant finished...

February's MMM pdf

As mentioned in yesterday's post (and many other's previously) I now have the February, Making Merry Monday pdf available to purchase.

$6 for the instructions for 4 cards. 

I have used the "I wish" simply scrappin' kit and sweet treat cups on 3 out of the 4 cards. The "I wish" simply scrappin kit is not essential to make the cards but certainly did make it easier for me. If you wish to purchase the "I wish" simply scrappin' kit, sweet treat cups or any other materials I have used to create the cards, contact me.

Making Merry Monday #4

Edited: To purchase pdf visit http://rosdavidson.typepad.com/ros_davidson_live_life_an/2010/02/februarys-mmm-pdf.html

For once, I am actually glad it is Monday! My kids have been giving me some grief over the weekend and with two of them attending school and one attending kinder 8.30 - midday today, It has certainly reduced my stress levels. Not to mention, the volume in the house some what...

Enough of my tales of woe, today's MMM card. Once again, I begun with a sweet treats cup (I am in love with this in case no one has noticed!)

A pdf file of instructions for February's Making Merry Monday cards will be available to purchase from tomorrow.

Head down, bum up

I've been working on a card based on a sketch that I can't reveal until next month and have been struggling with it. Sad really, after getting on with scrapping of late, it feels as if my card mojo has gone awol! Not great timing as I need a 60th birthday card to give to my mum's husband for his party today! So much for a resolution of getting things organised and no more last minute Charlie. I have been staring at this secret card for too long. I should probably put it away and begin something fresh but the deadline is Sunday and I want it photographed before that. (I had being late!)

 

Here is what I managed to churn out for my step-dad. I am totally love the 'pigs arse' card I made. It is my step-dad's 'catch cry' so he was quite amused with the card... (Always a bonus when giving a male a card and usually my aim to get a giggle out of them.) I made the pig (on the card front) using the same punches etc. (except the sweet treats cup) as my make at home mini punch art kit.

Inside card

 And some close ups because I am proud of my card...

 

If anyone is interested in making their own 'pigs arse' card (without the numbers or lettering) I am selling a mini kit complete with cardstock, linen thread, stampin' dimensionals and instructions. Materials also include supplies to decorate inside card. Finished card is 5.5" square.

 

Cost is $6.50 including postage (to be posted within Australia. Postage outside Australia, costs extra).

You will need to supply stamp sets, co-ordinating inkpads (if desired), white gel pen, lettering and envelope.

Materials list

Stamps: Good neighbour (sale-a-bration), boatloads of love, outlined for fun

Ink: Versarmark, creamy caramel, chocolate chip, whisper white, cameo coral, bashful blue, close to cocoa, basic grey

Cardstock: Creamy caramel, cameo coral, bashful blue, basic grey, more mustard

Punches: Boho blossoms, ¾” circle, 5 petal flower, 1 ¾” circle, 1 3/8” circle

Accessories: Linen thread, vintage brads

Other: Google eyes, lettering stickers from my stash

Opps...

I got a message from a friend in Canada on Facebook earlier saying "Will you be around later? Tried calling you today but got the machine."

 

I checked what time the message was sent and it was 9.06pm Melbourne time, so I picked up the phone and rang her as it was 10.30pm Melbourne time. No answer at her place so I started to leave a message... Of course there was no answer, who normally answers their phone at 4.30 in the morning... Whoops!

 

I blame hubby, he has my iPod which has the time in Edmonton on it... Anyway, she was dozing so sort of awake and we had a good chat. Always lovely to catch up with friends even if I did disturb her and hubby's sleep!

 

Just so this isn't a totally boring post. A picture of me and Kerri taken in the Grand Canyon, October last year (said friend from Canada).

 

Stamp-a-memory layouts

Just realised I haven't posted links for some recent Stamp-a-memory layouts I have completed.

First day of school

 Flowers... on a boy layout

 

Baby book

 

More about February's make at home punch art

While blog surfing last night, I came across this cute as can be Pig-E Bank. I contacted the creator, the lovely Mary Beerman and asked if she minded me sharing her creation.

How cute is it?

A lot of the feedback I have received regarding my punch art mini kit creation is that people like it, but don't know what to do with it.... Well, above is a perfect example!

Handmade kids

Yesterday, I got a lovely e-mail from Tanja Westwood letting me know that one of my madeit items was featured on Handmade kids.... Just my little woo hoo for the day!