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

More angry birds birthday

Following on from this post on Thursday, here's the other two angry birds creations I put together. The first one is the lolly bags J took to school for his grade.

All boxed up ready for school

Red bird stampin up demonstrator melbourne, handmade, Ros Davidson, classes, south east Melbourne

Yellow bird

Blue bird

Pig

The second one is the birthday cake. I used my thermomix and made this recipe. It was very yummy and Josh loved his cake (and the design). The Stampin' Up! full heart and 2 1/2" circles made the cake design simple. I used a punched out shape as a guide for piping the icing.

I just love the look of pleasure and surprise on his face in this photo.

Materials used (all Stampin' Up! materials used unless otherwise noted):

Cardstock: Real red, pacific point, daffodil delight, old olive, whisper white, basic black

Punches: Word window, 2 1/2" circle, 1 1/4" circle, 1" circle, 1/2" circle, wide oval, large oval, trio punch (circle)

Accessories: Big shot, fancy favor die, stampin' dimensionals

Angry birds birthday card

My eldest boy child is now 9! It's been birthday week around here (mine was 2 days ago) and J loves Angry Birds along with many other crazes :)

I couldn't help make him a bit of an angry birds birthday theme (more on that to come in later posts) but this is his birthday card. I used this tutorial, with a few changes (noted below) and I also inked all cardstock using co-ordinating inkpads.

Side view stampin up demonstrator melbourne, handmade, Ros Davidson, classes, south east Melbourne

Angry pig changes

1 3/4" circle (instead of 1 3/8")

Cupcake punch (sprinkles) for black cardstock in nose and ears

 

Blue bird changes

Owl punch (second smallest circle for eyes)

 

Yellow bird changes

Daffodil delight instead of so saffron

Use a full mini heart for the nose (instead of cutting it)

 

Bomb changes

1 3/4" circle (instead of 1 3/8")

Owl punch (second smallest circle for centre circle above eyes)

Use a full mini heart for the nose (instead of cutting it)

 

Materials used (All Stampin' Up! products used unless otherwise noted)

Stamps: Up up and away

Cardstock: Basic grey, basic black, whisper white, pumpkin pie, real read, delightful daffodil, old olive, tempting turquoise

Inkpads:  Basic grey, whisper white, pumpkin pie, real read, delightful daffodil, old olive, tempting turquoise

Punches: Owl, 1 3/4" circle, 1 3/8" circle, 1/2" circle, trio punch pack (circle), heart to heart, small oval, boho blossom, full heart

Convention wrap up

I've been home for a few days now from the Stampin' Up! South Pacific convention held in Canberra this year. It was an amazing and inspiring event as always but it has to be my favourite one yet (and I've been to four now) yet I still learn lots of new things each and every time. I came home with lots of BRAND NEW spanking stamp sets from the Annual Catalogue to be released September 1st. This is one of the many perks of attending convention along with the giveaways, announcements and meeting lots of friends both old and new. Unfortunately, such perks need to be kept secret for a little while longer still, but here is some news I can share.

Our Catalogue schedule is changing, our annual catalogue (new name, it was previously known as Idea Book and Catalogue) has a new release date, beginning July 1st, 2013. The means our 2012/2013 annual catalogue will be released in September but only run for 10 months. Our mini catalogues will be renamed also, to "seasonal catalogues" with them increasing in size and pages numbers. Seasonal catalogues will last for 5 months and the first one (Holiday Seasonal Catalogue) begins September 1st and runs through to the end of January with the Autumn one beginning in February through to June. How is that for some news? Onto the happy snaps!

We got an amazing and functional bag (chock full of pockets and storage space) when we checked in at Convention which is the by far the best bag we have received yet. Isn't it cute?

This is a quick snapshot I took during shopping at Memento Mall buying exclusive Stampin' Up! goodies (some lucky hostesses might receive some of my purchases in their own home soon enough). Contact me if you want to be one of those lovely ladies!

The almost annual shot of myself and Shelli Gardner, co founder of Stampin' Up! (I missed taking a photo last year)

There was a competition in April featuring the stunning Simply Scored Scoring Tool and the winner and runners up were crowned in Miss Universe style event.

We closed the convention with a formal dinner and awards night. This is my main course at dinner, a lovely persian feta stuffed chicken supreme wrapped in pancetta served with yellow lentil ragout and a coriander rice cake. Very yummy...

My roomies and I (also my car pool buddies) frocked up for the awards dinner (L-R: Me, Teena Pillar, Jodie Griffith with Genna Gifford sitting)

Next years convention will be held in Brisbane, May 23-25. Who wants to join me?

Also announced at the awards dinner along with stage walkers for sales, recruits and leadership was the location of the 2013 Grand Vacation (previously known as incentive trip) an all expenses paid trip to St Regis Deer Valley, Park City, UTAH! Ohhh I so want to be there. Who's going to help me? :D I'm looking to expand my team and increase my number of workshops.

I didn't take this photo, I borrowed it from Shelli Gardner's blog but the photo is of the amazing staff from Australia, New Zealand and America that worked so hard and made convention special.

and finally, full on proof I was really in Canberra (we didn't do any sight seeing while there (our schedule was pretty jam packed))

Darwin

Last week hubs and I had the pleasure of a one week holiday in Darwin. It was fabulous to get away and have a mini break and enjoy being "just us" again. Not only was the weather wonderful, low 30's everyday but we saw some amazing sites as well. We drove to Litchfield national park one day, went to the Mindil beach markets twice, went to the Crocosaurus Cove, walked around Darwin CBD and even caught up with hubs uncle and aunt that we have seen in over 8 years plus much more.

Mindil beach

Selfie at Litchfield park

Buley Rockhole at Litchfield Park (we swam in there)

Hubs at Florence Falls

Holding a baby crocodile with hubs (so weird as it was very soft underneath but extremely tough and rough on the top...) The little thing kept on growling the entire time too (not that I blame it, being passed around from pillar to post!)

We stayed in a lovely 3 bedroom apartment in the centre of Darwin that was easy to walk to many places. Not to mention it was huge and big enough for us and our whole crew to stay in it. Potential family holiday destination for the future maybe?

One night while we were at the apartment, the fire alarm went off. Apparently, someone set it off cooking their dinner. I must admit, while I'm glad no one was injuries or any damaged was done, I was disappointed to see a plain vehicle turn up and disarm the fire alarm. (I know it was an unmarked vehicle as I was on the balcony with my camera ready to take photos!) I was hoping for a fire truck with sirens and lights. It would have made a great scrapbook page...

This is hubs favourite photo from the trip... Being able to do 130km on the Stuart Highway to Litchfield.

I thoroughly enjoyed out getaway to Darwin and am looking forward to my next trip away later this month (Stampin' Up! convention in Canberra.)

My crew were most excited we were home (maybe because we brought them gifts...) but when we drove into our street, the younger 3 were outside jumping up and down on the concrete as if they were on a trampoline. It was very cute and extremely loud but most of all, a blessing to see how excited they were to see us.

Last pic I promise, a darling note Miss N wrote for us:

Mother's day

This year for mother's day, I had some extremely excited kids. As hubs and I had only gotten back from Darwin the evening before they were chomping at the bit to see me and gather and chat.

The kids spoiled me with lots (11) of handmade cards (which will be going in a huge pocket envelope in my Project Life album), gifts from the mothers day stall at school and itunes gift cards.

Hubby even got in the act and got a card at the shops... I think he did good choosing the card. What mother can't relate to the earrings?

Nikki had a questionnaire thing from school to write answers about me. Her answers aren't as funny as she gets older but the spelling certainly makes me crack a grin *smile*. I won't list all her answers here but the ones that made me smile were:

Mum's favourite food: Tasty nodels (noodles)
Mum's favourite drink: Wiyn (wine)
My mum's hobby is: Stampping Up (Stampin' Up!)
Mum's favourite book is: The widing (wedding)

Hubs cooked a lovely breakie, we went out and got kebabs for lunch (totally what I wanted) and headed off to a local park for our annual mothers day photo (of me and the kids).

We had a lovely roast from the webber for dinner along with my mum, step dad, my sister and her fiance before retiring to watch some tv in the evening.

All in all, it was a lovely day where I did little and was spoilt that went way to fast!

Homemade lemonade

With all the hot weather here in Melbourne lately and a fruit bowl of lemons we spent some time making homemade lemonade. It was delish and everyone came back for more. Recipe can be found here.

New from old

With school starting recently (posts about that here and here) I had to make some new library bags. I used an old dress of the girls and recycled it, or up-cycled it to make a new library bag. I also threw in some Stampin' Up! flirtatious fabric and ruffled ribbon into the mix.

Here's what the dress used to look like (have to share a photo of each of the girls as they both wore it and loved it.)

Miss N (with Master J)

Miss B

Materials used:
Accessories: Flirtatious fabric, wisteria wonder ruffled ribbon
Other: Old dress

First day of prep

My youngest, Miss B begun Prep today at primary school. She is finally at "big" school with the rest of the crew and she couldn't be any more excited. A mini collage of B and some photos I took today.

First day...

Back to school... Primary school starts for my kids today (except for Prep) after what has seemed liked a very long summer holidays this year. (For my international readers, the school year in Australia, particularly in Victoria, runs from late Jan/Feb to December with regular 2 week breaks approx. every 10.)

I am pleased school is back in session so we can have more of a regular routine and get back into the swing of things. (Not that I minded the break from the school run etc.!)

We haven't taken baby steps into the start of the school year at all and we are also back at swimming today for the term. I wonder how tired they will all be tonight?

Happy Australia Day

Happy Australia Day from my home to yours. As usual, we had the annual Australia Day photo shoot. Here's my favourite photo of the crew.