40K Blog Candy...

First up, thanks so much for all your lovely comments on my 40,000 hits post...you guys are the best :-)!

I've just done the Random Number thing at RANDOM.ORG...

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True Random Number Service
Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

10

Timestamp: 2009-03-29 08:28:57 UTC

© 1998-2009 Mads Haahr
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Congratulations Jocelyn! I'll email you for your mailing address.

Hope you all had a nice weekend,
Sam.

Good Morning Good Friend

I got the Good Friend stamp set from the 2009 - 2010 Idea Book and Catalogue Sneak Peek in the mail today. I've been looking forward to it arriving, as I wanted to use it with the coordinating Good Morning Sunshine DSP:


Ingredients (all available from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White, Pacific Point plain cardstock and Textured Chocolate Chip cardstock
Stamps: Good Friend
Ink: Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Chocolate Chip and Tangerine Tango Classic Ink
Paper: Good Morning Sunshine DSP
Accessories: Hidden Garden Rub-ons, Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon, SNAIL adhesive, Dimensionals, Fire Circle Rhinestone Brads.

I think you can see that I have stamped the Bluebird's body in Baja Breeze first, then rock n'rolled it in Pacific Point before stamping it onto the Whisper White. I have also stamped a copy of the Bluebird's body on pacific Point cardstock and then cut out his wing and mounted it up on Dimensionals. The base card is a 6 x 6 inch square of textured Chocolate Chip.

Okay...better go do something about dinner I guess.

Have a good rest-of-the-week!

Sam.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

I have not participated in a Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge for quite some time now, but when I saw what this week's movie was...I thought I'd give it a go!


I remember reading this story as a kid. Wow...I could see that chocolate river so clearly in my head! But you don't want to know about my 'issues' here ;-).

The challenge also includes the use of bright colours on your card...not so challenging hey? I love bright colours!!

Here is my card:


Here is a list of the ingredients I have used (all available from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):

Cardstock: Tangerine Tango, Pink Passion and Textured Whisper White
Stamps: All Wrapped Up Accessories (retired)
Ink: Papertrey Ink Raspberry Fizz, Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet and Melon Berry
Accessories: Papertrey Ink Raspberry Fizz Luxe Satin Ribbon, Crimper, Hidden Garden Rubo-ons, sticky strip, SNAIL, mini glue dots.

I also have a couple of happy snaps to share. On the weekend we took the kids down to Lake Tuggeranong for a picnic dinner and we took along their bikes too. It was the first time they've ridden anywhere other than our small backyard...and to say that they were pleased to be out would be putting it mildly ;-).




Using your eyes to assist in the steering process is obviously OPTIONAL (they both have their eyes firmly closed)! Luckily they didn't mow anyone down. The other riders and pedestrians seemed to be giving them a very wide berth. Funny that!

Grandma and Grandpa were also visiting from Sydney, and Grandma turned one and a half balls of this:


...into this fabulous scarf for me...


...in just one day! I barely got 10 rows of '50 x knit one perl one' done in the same time (and you should see the mess that is...actually, NO...you should not). I think I'm beyond hope in the knitting department. (ETA...I did make the fringe though....woo hoo huh?).

Thanks for visiting :-)
Sam.

PS. Don't forget, the SCS Victorian Bushfire Appeal 2009, closes today. Head on over to SCS to be in the draw for some wonderful crafting goodies!

PPS. I keep meaning to ask you guys...Do you feed your kids enough? I, apparently...do NOT!:

40,000 Hits Blog Candy

Hey there Stampers!

I just wanted to announce a little Blog Candy.

I've just made it to 40,000 hits...so in celebration I have put together a little pack of goodies.

The pack includes:

- Six 6" x 6" squares of the new Stampin' Up! Goodmorning Sunshine Designer Series Paper (one each of the six patterned double-sided sheets);

- Six 6" x 6" squares of textured Stampin' Up! cardstock (one of each of the six new In Colours for 2009-2010: Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette and Tangerine Tango)

and

- Twelve A5 rectangles of plain Stampin' Up! cardstock (two of each of the six new In Colours for 2009-2010 - please note that A5 equates to half an A4 sheet of cardstock).

All you need to do to be entered into this blog candy competition is leave a comment here stating what you love about new catalogue time with Stampin' Up!. Is it the anticipation? Is it the beautiful new catalogue cover? Maybe you are hoping for a particular stamp set or accessory...just leave a comment and let me know. I don't mind if you are a demo or not, or where you are from.

Comments need to be left here prior to 5 pm Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time on Sunday 29th March 2009, and I will post the winner on my blog shortly therafter. Please make sure you have left some way that I can contact you, either log in to leave your comment (So I can see your details) or leave your email address in the comment.

Thanks for visiting :-).
Sam.

Beautiful Autumn...

I've just been thinking what a GLORIOUS Autumn day it is here in our Nation's capital, and I was moved to make an Autumn-looking card, and take some Autumn-ish happy snaps...so here they all are:


(Just briefly, we've got Kiwi Kiss plain cardstock, Chocolate Chip textured cardstock, Goodmorning Sunshine DSP, Chit Chat Rubons, Choc Chip Poly-Twill ribbon and I've also used the crimper).

Now for the happy snaps...a gorgeous Banskia in flower:




...and a Protea:


...and while I was taking those snaps my kids waltzed out, having undertaken an identity switch. Miss almost-5 has his clothes on and Mr almost-3 has her clothes on.


They are kooky kids!

Hope you are having a lovely Autumn (or Spring) day too!

Cheers,
Sam.

More Good Morning Sunshine DSP

...just a few more cards made with the lovely Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series Paper, and some Pacific Point textured cardstock too:




I love Pacific Point already!

I also wanted to show you this awesome sculpture I saw yesterday at the Canberra International Arboretum and Gardens (CIAG) Open Day:


It is by Richard Moffatt and is located on top of Dairy Farmer's Hill. There is a fabulous view out over Canberra from up there too:


You can see part of the CIAG grounds in the middle-ground of the image..and from there you can probably tell that this is a very new attraction. It will be some time until the trees reach maturity (the Pinus Radiata in the foreground are apparently considered a noxious weed and will be removed). This site used to be part of a pine plantation until the fires of January 2003 came through.

Thanks for stopping by...sorry for the lack of text, Preschool pick up time soon :-).

Sam.

Card Coo-ture...

I was playing about last night with some new Designer Series Papers from our 2009-2010 Idea Book and Catalogue (a few items have been released to us already in a sneak peek...a little something to whet our appetite ;-).

This DSP set is so pretty and it is called Good Morning Sunshine. This is the Card Coo-ture that I made with some of it:






oooh, and this is what she is wearing underneath that last coat (I haven't quite finished it yet, I am going to hide those uneven hem and necklines, but I got too carried away watching Prince Caspian :-):


Ingredients (all from Stampin' Up!):

Cardstock: Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss and Whisper White
Paper: Good Morning Sunshine
Stamps: Polka Dot Background
Ink: Pacific Point Classic Ink
Accessories: Rich Regals brads, 1 1/4 inch circle punch, scallop circle punch, scallop edge punch, SNAIL adhesive and sticky strip.

What do you think? Does it look like a little fashion show? I watched Raising Helen the other night, and The Devil Wears Parada a week or two ago, so I've kinda had fashion shows on the mind.

I hope that you are having a nice weekend!

Sam.

A Perfect Pair...

On the weekend I stumbled across THIS beautiful card by Dana Grothaus. I loved the design so much I could hardly wait to CASE it, so I did just that...twice in fact!


Ingredients:

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White and Pink Pirouette
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Butterfly Kisses
Ink: Whisper White Craft Ink
Accessories: Cuttlebug Wood Grain, Stampin' Up! Chit Chat Rub-ons, Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon, Wireworks (retired), SNAIL adhesive, Dimensionals and Glue Dots.


Ingredients:

Cardstock: Basic Black, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Butterfly Kisses
Ink: Whisper White Craft Ink
Accessories: Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I Texturz Plates, Papertrey Ink Black Double Stitched Ribbon, Stampin' Up! A Perfect Day Rub-ons, Wireworks (retired), SNAIL adhesive, Dimensionals and Glue Dots.

Thanks so much for the inspiration Dana! I love this design.

Sam.

Stampin' Up! Australia - 2009 Retiring List

Hi Stampers,

I just wanted to give you an update on the status of some of Stampin' Up!'s retiring products:


(Last updated 24th March 2009)

Page	Item #	Description	Availability
		Stamp Sets
125	112229	ABC Images	Low
62	108720	Ahoy, Matey	Unavailable
75	108722	All I Have Seen	Low
40	108728	*All Through the Year
34	108992	*All-Year Fun
110	108734	*Alphabits
48	108738	*Artfully Asian
102	108742	*Background Sampler
53	111229	*Backyard BBQ
86	108740	Bareback	Unavailable
51	108744	***Be Happy
83	108998	Beautiful Life	Low
124	108746	Best Friends Alphabet Lower	Unavailable
124	108747	Best Friends Alphabet Upper	Unavailable
124	108748	Best Friends Numbers	Unavailable
88	110250	Big Pieces
51	108753	Birthday Best
79	108755	*Blossoms Abound
80	108756	***Bodacious Bouquet
81	108757	Bold Butterfly
101	112294	Brocade Basics
65	112376	*Bronc Buster
78	111232	*Bud Basics
58	110255	Bundle of Joy	Unavailable
63	108763	By Land	Unavailable
116	112326	Calendar Cues
108	108764	*Canvas
94	111234	Carte Postale
115	108765	Cheery Chat	Unavaiable
112	108767	Circle of Friendship
30	108768	City of David
102	112272	Classic Backgrounds	Low
55	110246	Crab & Company
28	108772	Crazy for Christmas
33	112253	*Dad's Day	Low
42	108781	*Eat Cake
106	112300	Elegant Notes	Low
116	108785	Everyday Flexible Phrases
58	112391	Everything Baby	Low
117	108786	*Expressive Flexible Phrases
79	112310	Fabulous Flowers	Low
27	108790	Festive Favorites
40	108805	Figures of Speech
108	108806	*Fine Lace
95	108807	*Finest Flourishes
67	108809	Fishy Friends
107	108811	*Floral
32	112316	Forever in My Heart	Low
108	112397	*Friendly
115	111973	***G'Day Mate
110	108820	Genuine Articles
68	111975	*Go Team
56	108828	*Greetings Galore
92	112306	*Happiness
28	108840	*Holiday Wishes
26	108842	*Hung Up on the Holidays
116	108847	It's a Date
112	112320	It's All Good
111	108849	It's Your Birthday	Unavailable
97	108850	Itty Bitty Backgrounds
68	112330	*Just Golf
68	112332	*Just Tennis
31	112216	*Keep Christmas	Low
122	111989	*Kia Ora
96	112338	*Labelicious
113	108855	*Lexicon of Love
53	110254	*Like It a Latte
107	108857	Linen	Low
88	108860	Little Pieces
76	108864	***Looks Like Spring
29	112223	*Merry, Merry
77	108874	Mostly Flowers	Unavailable
118	108875	Much Appreciated
84	108877	Natural Beauty
90	110243	*Office Accoutrement
107	108884	*On the Spot
108	108887	*Paisley
31	108888	Peaceful Wishes
74	108890	Petal Prints
46	110247	***Polka Dots & Paisley
47	110248	Polka Dots & Petals	Low
38	108894	Pretty Princess
126	108904	*Rough Edges Mini Alphabets
83	108906	*Sassy Stems
32	112362	Sealed with a Kiss
122	112346	Seasonal Wishes
124	112402	Short Order Numbers	Unavailable
43	108913	Simple Somethings
29	110244	*Snow Flurries
27	108934	***Snowflake Spot, The
30	108918	*Solemn Stillness
122	112395	Spring Pictograms
91	108920	*Stamp of Authenticity
65	108921	Starstruck
74	108923	Stipple Rose	Unavailable
84	108924	Summer by the Sea
100	112284	*Sweet Sampler
93	108927	*Sweet Shapes
60	112290	*Sweet Thing
49	108929	Symbols of Solicitude	Unavailable
43	108930	Tag Time
38	110249	Tagger's Dozen
49	108931	Take Three
75	108937	Touch of Nature
54	108944	Unfrogettable	Low
108	108954	*Well-Worn Words
36	112336	Whale Wishes
72	108960	Wild Rose
49	108962	Wishing You the Best
120	108963	Wonderful Words
		Stampin' Around Wheels
29	109690	All about Christmas
78	106610	Basics Outline	Unavailale
42	107467	Birthday	Low
80	107466	Bodacious
81	104156	Flitting By	Unavailable
95	108423	Leaves à la Carte
62	107212	Matey's Map	Unavailable
47	108980	Petals
104	107464	Rough Texture	Low
91	107465	Speckled	Low
65	109672	Bronco
54	106662	Daisy Field	Unavailable
67	104065	Fishy	Unavailable
53	107565	Flip Flops	Unavailable
40	107561	Garden Annuals	Unavailable
28	103195	Gifts Galore	Unavailable
32	109678	Kisses
74	104279	Leaf Prints	Unavailable
54	107482	Lily Pad	Unavailable
125	109568	My ABCs
55	108978	Sandy Shells
28	101638	Star
154	104061	Star Studded	Low
		Hostess Sets
24	109812	All about Occasions Bundle
21	112393	Cause for Celebration
18	112261	For a Friend
18	112239	From the Garden
22	112340	In the Spotlight
21	112233	Infinite Goodness
19	112259	Little Bit of Happiness, A
17	112214	Oh, So Lovely
17	112243	Party Punch
19	112245	So Many Sayings
20	111127	Spring Solitude Bundle
23	112263	Time Well Spent
		Accessories
		Brads, Buttons, Eyelets
145	105320	Basic eyelets	Unavailable
147	103977	*Bold Brights buttons
145	100375	Bold Brights I eyelets
147	103981	*Earth Elements & Neutrals buttons	Unavailable
147	103978	Earth Elements buttons	Low
145	100381	Earth Elements eyelets	Unavailable
145	105319	Metallic eyelets
147	105446	Rich Regals buttons	Low
145	105316	Rich Regals eyelets	Unavailable
147	105445	Soft Subtles buttons	Unavailable
145	100378	Soft Subtles I eyelets	Unavailable
		Designer Series Paper
135	110749	*Berry Bliss Designer Series paper
136	109174	*Brilliant Blue Prints Designer Series paper
134	109149	*Brocade Background Designer Series paper
136	109178	*Certainly Celery Prints Designer Series paper
136	109169	*Close to Cocoa Prints Designer Series paper
136	109150	*Dashing Designer Series paper
136	110699	*East Coast Prep Designer Series paper
134	109160	*Fall Flowers Designer Series paper
136	110479	Jersey Shore Designer Series paper
134	109151	*Le Jardin Designer Series paper
135	110748	*Notebook Designer Series paper
136	109176	*Old Olive Prints Designer Series paper
134	109148	*Outlaw Designer Series paper
135	108503	*Petals & Paisleys Designer Series paper
136	109170	*Pumpkin Pie Prints Designer Series paper	Low
136	109167	Rose Red Prints Designer Series paper
136	110698	*Spring Break Designer Series paper
135	110273	*Spring Fling Designer Series paper
NA	106686	**Spring Flowers Designer Series paper
NA	106685	**Spring Showers Designer Series paper
135	110271	*Spring Silhouettes Designer Series paper
135	109157	Wintergreen Designer Series paper
		Hodgepodge Hardware
144	105532	Aged Copper Hodgepodge Hardware	Low
144	105531	Antique Brass Hodgepodge Hardware	Low
144	105515	*Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware	Low
		In Color
129	111860	Blue Bayou A4 card stock	Low
129	109018	Blue Bayou Classic Stampin' Ink refill	Unavailable
129	109013	*Blue Bayou Classic Stampin' Pad
146	109060	*Blue Bayou double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
129	111857	Groovy Guava A4 card stock
129	109019	Groovy Guava Classic Stampin' Ink refill	Unavailable
129	109012	*Groovy Guava Classic Stampin' Pad
146	109063	*Groovy Guava double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
129	108638	In Color 12" x 12" card stock	Unavailable
129	111856	*In Color A4 card stock
129	108694	*In Color textured 12 "x 12" card stock
129	111853	Purely Pomegranate A4 card stock	Unavailable
129	109011	*Purely Pomegranate Classic Stampin' Pad
146	109061	*Purely Pomegranate double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
129	109017	Purely Pomegranate Classic Stampin' Ink refill	Unavailable
129	111852	River Rock A4 card stock	Unavailable
129	109016	River Rock Classic Stampin' Ink refill	Unavailable
129	109010	*River Rock Classic Stampin' Pad
146	109062	River Rock double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
129	111851	Soft Sky A4 card stock	Unavailable
129	109015	Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Ink refill	Unavailable
129	109009	*Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Pad
146	109059	*Soft Sky double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
129	111850	Wild Wasabi A4 card stock	Unavailable
129	109020	Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Ink refill	Unavailable
129	109014	*Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad
146	109058	*Wild Wasabi double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
146	110716	*Wild Wasabi striped grosgrain ribbon
		Miscellaneous
133	103604	*Days-To-Remember 12" x 12" Wall Calendar
148	103280	Embossing kit	Unavailable
133	100900	Gift sacksGift sacks	Low
132	106523	Five-in-One Card Cover Envelope Template	Low
133	110730	*Pockets & Pieces Office Accents	Low
		On Board
140	107307	*On Board Accents
141	109181	*On Board Blossoms & Basics
141	109179	*On Board Ginormous Pieces
140	107306	*On Board Simon Lower
		Punches
142	104942	1/4" Circle punch
142	104943	*1/4" Square punch
143	104389	Double Circle punch
143	106522	*Spring Flower Bouquet punch
143	112670	Three for You Punch Box
		Ribbon
147	109189	*Beachfront Ribbon Originals
147	101259	Black hemp twine	Unavailable
146	104830	*Caramel gingham ribbon
147	109187	*District Ribbon Originals
147	109188	*Fairy Tale Ribbon Originals
147	109185	Jersey Ribbon Originals	Unavailable
146	104829	*Light Blue gingham ribbon	Low
146	104828	*Light Pink gingham ribbon
146	109037	More Mustard 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
146	104831	*Moss gingham ribbon
147	109184	Sherbet Ribbon Originals
147	109186	Theater Ribbon Originals	Unavailable
		Rub-Ons
141	110282	*Anchored Rub-Ons
141	110281	*Cherished Memories Rub-Ons
141	110285	*Urban West Rub-Ons
		Simply Scrappin'
138	109610	Confetti Simply Scrappin'	Unavailable
137	110572	*Crew Kids Boy Simply Scrappin'
138	110567	Crew Kids Girl Simply Scrappin'
139	109649	Round Up Simply Scrappin'
139	109635	Secret Garden Simply Scrappin'
138	109663	*Winter Bright Simply Scrappin'
		Simply Sent
13	112664	*Friendly Notes Simply Sent
12	112666	*Lifelong Notes Simply Sent	Low
13	112665	*Sending Happy Thoughts Simply Sent
14	112667	*Simple Delights Simply Sent
14	112668	*Three Thoughts Simply Sent

Click HERE to download a full PDF version of the Stampin' Up! Australia 2009 retiring list.

If you would like to order any of the retiring products before they sell out, just drop me a line.

Best wishes,
Sam.

PS. I am going to attempt to keep this list updated for you.