Tuppa Anyone?

It's time to pull out those Tupperware replacements because I'm havin' a party!!!

On Wednesday 24 June from 7.30pm at my home in Westleigh (NW suburban Sydney).

ATTENDANCE SPECIALS

Each attendee receives a hand-made card or novelty from me

And the lovely Tuppa Lady, Cath,

will be making something with chocolate

If you could let me know if you can make it by Monday night before = 22 June (phone 0402 347 010 or email me), that'd be great.

Please feel free to extend this invitation to your friends. All welcome.

And if you can't come along, you're very welcome to browse the catalogue and place an order. Just let me know and I'll arrange a printed catalogue for you.

For a peek of what's on offer, have a look at the latest product range.

Thanks for reading. I'll make a craft-related post next, promise!

Love from Crafty Kim

Baroque Fireworks

(Photo and creation courtesy of Lorraine Mastalski)

Hello _FINALLY_,

Thanks for your patience while my non-stamping world has kept me away. I really appreciate that you keep checking back for new posts and haven't given up on me. A quick note of explanation....I am currently working three part-time jobs (in addition to Stampin' Up!). I've always had a few balls in the air but recently I was offered the opportunity to work part-time in my original profession of science. Paper-crafter and scientist - it doesn't have a poetic ring! But the offer to get back into the corporate world was too attractive to turn-down (I have the best boss in the world and I get a lap-top all to myself, no more sharing with hubby and kids) and is helping to keep my family in the manner to which they are becoming accustomed, i.e. lots of take-away food, an ironing lady, after-school care and a scatter-brain wife and mother. Just joking, it's not all bad. We have just bought a much-needed second car and are planning a holiday to Fiji later in the year.

Anyway, enough of me, you didn't come here for a soap opera but I felt some explanation was necessary and I thank you in advance for your patience until I get into a new routine. Today, I'm plugging a community event. If you're in Australia, do you miss Firecracker Night? Maybe you're too young to remember it but I have very fond memories of bonfires and crackers on our long weekend in June to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's birthday.

Schofield's Public School is holding their Annual Fireworks festival TONIGHT = Friday 29 May 2009. If you're in the area, and would love a kid-friendly afternoon/evening out, then take the kids along, and be sure to drop into the Stampin' Up! stall. Sadly, I can't be there (I'm working elsewhere) but my good friend and team member Ryn Gibbs will be there with a display, catalogues to browse, and paper-crafted treats to buy. There are also Carnival Rides, sideshows, entertainment, a BBQ and a Showbag Stall, so there is something for everyone! And you'll be supporting children's education while having all this fun.

Where: Schofields Public School - St Albans Road, near Junction Road. Click HERE for a map.

When: 4.30 pm - approximately 8pm (fireworks when darkness falls)

And lastly, but certainly not least, thank you to Lorraine Mastalski for her fireworks card (shown above) made with one of my favourite ever sets, Baroque Motifs. Visit Lorraine's website for more card details.

But you know me, I couldn't end it there, in my search I found this cute journal cover from Pat Sell. Thanks for sharing your talent Pat.

(Photo and creation courtesy of Pat Sell)

Well, my time really is up now. I'm off to make lasagne and butter chicken, I am helping my dear friend and new Stampin' Up! demonstrator Carolyn (note this is a link to Carolyn's Facebook Page, register or login to view) to cater for her Winter Warmers luncheon tomorrow. Have a good weekend, squeeze some stampin' in.

Love from Crafty Kim

Reminder about CRAFT SALE

Remember this? That's right, a group of mad paper-crafters are clearing out their stash and having a:

For sale will be all things crafty, both SU! items and goods from other manufacturers. Papers, stamps, punches, embellishments, in great condition, all priced to go.So please come along and grab yourself a bargain. There will be lucky door prizes to win too.

When: Saturday, 23rd May 10am -2pm
Where: The Church Hall (Blacktown East Presbyterian) Cnr Heffron Rd and Gallop Gr, Lalor Park (near Bella Vista and Blacktown). Please go to the Where Is? web site where you can get directions from your home to the hall.
Admission: FREE

If you have any questions , please phone me on 0402 347 010 or email me. Thanks for reading and hope to see you on Saturday.

Love Crafty Kim

Heading off to Stamp Camp

Hello,

Tonight I am heading off to Collaroy (a suburb on the Northern Beaches of Sydney) for a Stamp Camp. I will be back on Sunday afternoon (17 May 2009).

I won't be posting while I am away (I will try to sneak a couple more posts in before I go). Instead I'll be creating so hopefully I will have lots to share with you when I get back. If you need anything while I am away, please contact me on my mobile phone 0402 347 010.

It's a fairly unstructured get-away; we do share tools and tips but not in a formal way. It's my 4th year of attending; in the first two years I was helping my paper-craft friend, Kathryn, to plan and run it. But now, Gaib is doing a wonderful job of getting us all accommodated, fed and water. Thanks to Gaib and her off-siders.

I wish we humans could bank sleep ahead of such gatherings to make the most of dedicated craft time. I'm hoping I won't be asleep at my craft table too early. I also hope your week allows you to do something crafty too.

Bye for now,

Love KimT

Lillian's Build-a-Roo Birthday Card

This is the card I made for a little girl who turned four recently. Thank you to Margaret Crawford who supplied a sheet of images from the stamp set, Build-a-Roo (page 56 of the main SU! catalogue). The images are water-coloured with SU! Markers and the smaller images (hearts, gift and joey) were cut and stuck over the top of the main image. I've used some retired paper and ribbon (it feels good to be using items from my stash). It never fails to amaze me how using decorative paper can add that something extra to a card which makes it a "stand-out". Notice the colour co-ordinated button? Firstly, it is sewn on. "So what?" I hear you say but given I can't sew and I made this card at about 1am in the morning with very tired eyes, I'm proud. It's a Clear Button (P. 151 of the main SU! catalogue) with a piece of coloured card stock behind them. Such a simple concept and it works well. I can't wait to use some of the new Designer Buttons.

I had the privilege of helping with the birthday party. Here is the birthday girl blowing out the candles on her enormous cup cake, baked and decorated by her Mum.


I love decorating kids' birthday cakes but unfortunately my last effort for Ashley's 7th birthday party got eaten by a VERY NORTY Beagle dog just before the party commenced (thankfully The Cheesecake Shop saved the day).

On Mother's Day, I was thrilled to receive this card from my own cherub:

The poem reads:

Mum, you've always been the best
A better mum than all the rest.
I'm thankful for all the things you do
I'm glad my mum is extra special you!

On Mother's Day, I want you to know
You're the greatest mum, and I love you so.
There's one more thing I want to say:
I wish you a Happy Mother's Day!

Aaaawwww...he had a bit of help from his school teacher, Mr C - pretty creative for a bloke don't you think? Okay better stop there before someone nabs me for sexual discrimination.

Love from Craft Kim

Happy Mother's Day & Alisa's Creation

(Creation and Photo Courtesy of the Very Talented Alisa Tilsner, with THANKS)

Firstly, Happy Happy Mother's Day to all of the Mums out there. I thought I'd leave aside the emotive motherhood quotes and try a few funny quotes about mothers:

A mother forgives us all our faults, not to mention one or two we don't even have ~Robert Brault

It's not easy being a mother. If it were easy, fathers would do it ~ From the television show The Golden Girls

A suburban mother's role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car forever after ~ Peter De Vries

Sweater, n.: garment worn by child when its mother is feeling chilly ~ Ambrose Bierce

Hope you got a smile from these.

Now onto the card above. Continuing on with the Convention-themed posts, this card I spied on Alisa Tilsner's bag not long after reaching Canberra. I had hoped to score one of her Convention swaps but alas, I was too late to trade. But luckily she posted this beautiful card on her website so for more details, please visit her there.

I have long admired Alisa's water-colouring. She is one of the most highly-regarded water-colouring artists in the paper-crafting realm. And she generously shared some of her skills with us at Convention in 2008. To view her water-colouring demonstration, please click here. Thanks again to Alisa for sharing her creativity and expertise.

The flower stamp above is from Fifth Avenue Florals which I have just ordered for my own collection so please stay tuned for more cards made using this set. At Convention, I also purchased an Umbrella featuring the stamp set, how cool is this:


A close up of the images follows:


Looking outside, I might even get a chance to use mine tomorrow.

Well that's it from me today. I'll be back to show you the card my son Ashley made for me for Mother's Day. But my life is very full of non-crafty distractions right now so thanks in advance for your patience.

Love from Crafty Kim

Upsy Daisy Silhouette Style Card

Gotta love Upsy Daisy. It's a solid, flat image but I've given it depth by firstly inking up the whole flower image in Baja Breeze. I then took my trusty sponge daubers and daubed (is that a word?) Not Quite Navy onto the tips of the flowers before stamping the image on Whisper White. You probably can't see it well in this photo but I finished up with Dazzling Diamonds on the same flower tips applied via my 2-Way Glue Pen. You can probably figure out the rest of the card...Kiwi Kiss, Urban Garden DSP, Best Yet stamp, Circle, Circle Scallop and Scallop Edge punches and Organdy Ribbon (shhhhh, it's retired but I love it so much that it's making a guest appearance).

At Convention, Pam Morgan (the Tim Tam fan) showed us a similar technique, but she used three colours on the Upsy Daisy stamp, Kiwi Kiss for the stems, and Regal Rose and Rose Red for the flowers, all applied with sponge daubers directly :


In summary, this is one Silhouette technique. And on the subject of tips and techniques, check out all the different ways you can use sponge daubers (courtesy of Angela Sargeant). I seriously wonder how I did paper-craft without them.

Better go but I'll be back tomorrow to wish all the Mums a happy day.

Love from Crafty Kim