Project Life 2012

Well Hello!

I’m very excited to be getting back into Scrapbooking after a long hiatus.  I’ve decided to tackle Project Life.  It’s my first year doing Project Life so it will be interesting to see how it goes!

Due to the fact that my life is very quiet, I’ve decided to do my Project Life as a monthly overview as there just isn’t enough stuff happening in my life to fill 2 pages every week.

I’m using a mixture of the Cobalt and Clementine core kits.  I also downloaded the Turquoise and Cobalt digital kits, as well as quite a few fun digital journalling cards and some brushes for a bit of variety.  I'm still new at the digital scrapping thing so I'll see how that goes.

I haven't finished my 2012 Title Page yet but I have done a 2011 in Review spread.

Below is the first page:

It shows:  

• A photo of me with my best friend
• TV Shows I watched in 2011
• Culture I got - shows/concerts I went to
• 31 - the age I turned in 2011
• New Things in 2011 - a list of new things in my life
• Pics from the Michael Buble Concert I attended (2nd Row!!)
• My new Kitchen Aid Mixer and Kindle

This is the 2nd page of 2011 in Review

It shows:

• A photo of my Mum at Max Brenners where we had hot choccie one day

• A photo from the Brisbane floods & corresponding journalling below
• A list of Christmas presents (more on that in a moment)
• My Nanowrimo winners badge and my final word count
• Royal Wedding Journaling with photos below
• A list of the 25 movies I saw in 2011

This is the inside of my pullout Christmas Present List which has a couple of Instagram photos and a little bit more journalling.

I've also done an insert for New Years Eve.  I cut down a Photo Pocked Page A to remove the second half as I didn't really have enough good photos for an entire page protector.

I used my new Fuji Instax 7s Polaroid camera on New Years Eve which was a novelty to the little kids who had never seen one before. I also used Instagram for a few photos too. 

Other side

This is what January looks like so far

Anniversary Easel Card

I made this easel card for my aunt and uncle's anniversary. I think it turned out ok. though I had planned to use the line with hearts from Love Defined, but it hasn't arrived yet, instead of the tree branch for the owls to sit on.  Will have to make one like that when the stamp set arrives!

Pirate Owl Cards

Just for clarification, I am no longer a Stampin' Up Demonstrator. However I still do crafty stuff.

I purchased the cutest Owl Card template from Lyn Pratt at Stamp n Design.  I've made 3 of these owls and once you get the hang of it, they're pretty easy to do.

Two of these cards are going to be birthday cards. I've written inside - ARRRRRR!!!  Happy Birthday Me Hearty!!

Close up view:

LAST CHANCE LIST IS HERE!

Next month Stampin' Up! starts a new Idea Book & Catalogue.  Stampin' Up! has put out a list of retiring product such as ribbon, designer paper, ink pads, card stock, and markers as well as quite a few stamp sets.

You can view the LAST CHANCE LIST HERE.  Some of the products are discounted so contact me ASAP to get a bargain!!  Discounted products include markers, designer paper, stampin around wheel inks as well as quite a few stamp sets. 

Once these products are gone, that's it, no more!  So get in early as it is expected a lot of the retiring stock will go very quickly!!

Most of the punches are being reconfigured to the new style which is why they are on the Last Chance List. The punch prices are going up next month so if you're considering getting any of them, do so now before the price rise.

Contact me at l_prothero@yahoo.com if you would like to order anything from the Last Chance List or any of the non retiring products in the catalogue.  This sale ends August 31, but stock may not last until then so get in early!!

Stampin' Up! July Discounts! & New Demo Reminder

Discounted Stamps!!

From July 1 to 31, you can get 20% off selected 2-Step Stamp Sets! There's no limit and no minimum purchase required.

Click here for the list of stamps and prices.  Contact me if you would like to order any of these stamps!


New Demonstrator Reminder!

Want to become a new Demo for only $259?!  Well you can until July 31. You'll need to get in quick though, as your paperwork will need to be sent to Stampin' Up! before then.  If you are intested in this fantastic deal, where you can earn free stamps, get 20% off all product ALL THE TIME, contact me at l_prothero@yahoo.com

Stampin' Up! Deal of the Week #3 - STAMPS!

This week Stampin' Up! is offering huge discounts on 5 stamp sets, from the low price of $14.97 to $27.89.  This deal goes from 16-22 June, so get in as there's only a few more days for this fantastic offer.

Remember you can add other Stampin' Up! products to your order.  Postage is $5.95 or 5% of your order total, whichever is greater.

Contact me by Tuesday June 22 if you would like to take advantage of this fantastic offer at l_prothero@yahoo.com

Pictures of Deal of the Week Designer Paper

I thought I'd save you some hunting through the Stampin' Up! catalogue and show you pictures of the current Deal of the Week Designer Paper...it's gorgeous!!! 

Remember you only have until Tuesday June 15 to order these paper packs at these low prices!

Pink Flamingo DSP $11.02 per pack

Haiku DSP $10.17 per pack

Raspberry Tart DSP $11.02 per pack

Sweet Slumber DSP $14.92 per pack

Tea Party DSP $10.17 per pack

Contact me at l_prothero@yahoo.com to place your order today!!!!!!

Week 2 - Deal of the Week - Designer Paper!

This week Stampin' Up! has discounted the price of 5 of their Designer Paper Packs!  This deal runs from Wednesday June 9 to Tuesday June 15!

I know it's a bit hard to read, so click on the picture or go here for a better look at the awesome  discounted prices.

These gorgeous Designer Paper packs are an absolute bargain!  You can order as many as you like, there's no limit.  Orders must be placed with me by Tuesday, 15 June.  Contact me at l_prothero@yahoo.com if you wish to place an order!

Raspberry Tart Designer Paper is my favourite, below are some examples of how I've used it!

Bird House

I did a bit more creating today, whilst watching both The Goodies and the Darling Buds of May (odd combination I know).  I find it very difficult to create unless I'm watching something, usually it's Bones, NCIS or Doctor Who but thanks to Blockbuster I had a bit of a change of  TV viewing!

Anyway, I found a template here, for the cutest bird house box.  I've been wanting to make a bird house and use the Two Step Bird Punch from the current Mini Catalogue and this one is super easy because all you have to do is print out the template onto a piece of card stock and then cut it out and put together. The only measuring you do is for the roof.

I know the pictures aren't very good, awful lighting!  Without further ado...my birdhouse complete with blue bird...

I promise it looks cuter in real life!

Side view..

The bird hose is Pink Pirouette cardstock.  I sponged Chocolate Chip ink on the bird's wing and Brilliant blue for the rest of the bird.  The hole in the bird house actually has a piece of medium thickness Window Sheet covering it.  I sponged the Chocolate Chip roof with Chocolate Chip ink and used a scallop edged piece of paper to make the scallop pattern. I know it's a bit difficult to see in the photo but it looks good.  The ribbon ties the roof and the body of the bird house together but if you didn't want to put anything inside the box you could omit the ribbon and just stick the roof down.

You could use the box to put in chocolates, or a small present, or even bird seed!  And you could decorate the bird house with flowers or use a background stamp on it to make it look more wood-like. 

Talk to the Animals

And now for something slightly different....a card made without stamps!  I've seen these cards and finally got a chance to make one...a Penguin card!! 

How versatile is the Big Shot Top Note Die?!  Not only can you make things like quilted cards and boxes, you can also make cute animals! 

I've named him Bert. :)

I'll even give you a run down on what I used to make Bert. 

Body: Top Note Die in Whisper White and a piece of Basic Black

Feet: Curly Label Punch in Pumpkin Pie

Flippers/Hands: Large Oval Punch in Basic Black

Nose/Beak:  Large Oval Punch (folded over in half)

Eyes: Circle from Big Shot Die Circles #2 and the white marks are made using my White Uniball Signo (also available from Stampin' Up)

Ribbon: Melon Mambo Polka Dot

Put them all together and you get the cutest Penguin in Queensland! :)  You can also get Bert to hold things, some people have given him a heart to hold, such as this one here.

I've also made a cute Monkey card using the monkey from Fox & Friends. 

This is just a small card and I got the idea off the Stampin' Up! Demonstrator website.  Demonstrator's get all sorts of ideas from Stampin' Up each month, which is very helpful!

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Fox & Friends

Paper: Sahara Sand, Pink Pirouette, Certainly Celery, Whisper White

Ink: Chocolate chip

Accessories: Extra Large bird Punch (for the branch), Melon Mambo Polka Dot Ribbon, 4.4cm Circle Punch, Cropodile, Snail, Sticky Strip.

I recommend you have a go at making Bert the Penguin, its lots of fun and he's so cute!!

Important Colour Renovation Update

Today Stampin' Up! announced that they have limited stock of the retiring colours, so once they run out of a certain colour, that's it, they're not ordering any more stock.

These are the colours that are retiring.  Click on the picture and it should bring up a larger picture for you to view:

So if you want to order any paper, ribbon, re-inkers, stamp pads or markers in these colours, you need to do so ASAP!!!!  Contact me at l_prothero@yahoo.com

Here's a list of what the new colour collections will look like:

Click on the picture for a better look.

I'm really looking forward to the new colours we're getting.  There will be 5 new 'core' colours plus Kraft will be renamed Crumb Cake.  The new core colours are Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist, Cherry Cobbler (sounds yum!), Early Espresso and Cajun Craze. 

Now, in honour of one of my favourite colours that is retiring - Taken With Teal - here is a card using it.

Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes

Ink: Taken with Teal, Melon Mambo, Basic Grey, Black Stazon

Paper: Taken with Teal, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Accessories: Melon Mambo Polka Dot Ribbon, Sponges, Blender Pens, Sticky Strip, Snail

Example of Cards using Deal of the Week products

I created a few cards today, a couple of them include one or more of this week's Deal of the Week products. Remember these 4 punches are only $20.12 each, but only until Tuesday! So contact me now if you want to order!!! 

This card was made using the Scallop Square and Scallop Oval punches.

The pennants are made from the Scallop Square.  I got this idea from Kari Linder who made a lovely graduation card.  There's a tutorial on her blog on how to make the pennants from the Scallop Square Punch. 

Stamps: Happy Happy Birthday Wheel, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Classic Stars Wheel

Ink: Versamark, Brilliant blue

Paper: Riding Hood Red, Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss

Accessories: Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Scallop Oval Punch, Scallop Square Punch, Dimensionals, Linen Thread, Large Oval Punch, Sticky Strip, SNAIL

This card was made using the Top Note Big Shot Die, the lovely Cottage Wall Designer Paper and the Scallop Oval Punch.  I used the 3.2 cm Square Punch to cut out all the paper squares.

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Vintage Vogue

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive

Paper: Cottage Wall DSP, Very Vanilla, Rich Razzleberry

Accessories: top Note Bigshot Die, Large Oval Punch, Oval Scallop Punch, 3.2cm Square punch, Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Ribbon, Dimensionals, Rhinestone Brads, Sticky Strip, Snail

Deals of the Week - Punches!

Throughout June, Stampin' Up! will be offering discounted prices for several products each week. 
The deals will run for one week only, so if you see something you like, you need to order before the week is out, which is Tuesday, June 8.

The first deals start today, June 1 and ends next Tuesday on June 8.  Week 2 will start on Wednesday, June 9. 

This week's deals are:

The Scallop Oval Punch goes well with the Large Oval Punch (p152, Order No. 107305, $30.95) and the Scallop Square Punch goes well with the 3.2cm Square Punch (p152, Order No. 104400, $30.95)

Contact me at l_prothero@yahoo.com if you would like to order any or all of these fantastic punches.  There is no limit to how many you can order, so if you want to buy some as presents for friends or family, you can!

I will post next weeks' deals on Wednesday June 9, so don't forget to check out Stampin' Up!'s website or come back here to my blog for further information!

Stamps that fly

Despite the cold that I picked up at work this week, I managed to get a few cards made using some of the lovely products from the Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue. 

This card below was inspired by this card at Splitcoast Stampers.  It uses the All a Flutter butterfly and Very Vintage wheel. 

Stamps: All a Flutter & Very Vintage wheel

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Tango Tangerine

Paper: Very Vanilla & Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Scallop Circle punch, Circle #2 Bigshot die, Snail, Sticky Strip, Glue Dots, Watercolour paper, Aqua painters

This card uses the new bird punch from the Mini Catalogue.  I also used the Top Note Bigshot die and Cottage Wall paper.  This card is actually very quick and easy to make.

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Ink: Rich Razzleberry
Paper: Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Orchid Opulence & Cottage Wall DSP
Accessories: Top Note Bigshot die, Extra Large 2 Step Bird Punch, Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Ribbon, Sticky Strip, Snail

Dont' forget that you can become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator for $259 until July 31, which is a 20% saving off the normal price!  Contact me at l_prothero@yahoo.com if you want any further information!!

Colour Renovation!!

Stampin' Up! is changing it's colours!  Some are staying, some will go and there will be a few new ones too!  This change takes place on September 1, so if you know of any ink pads, markers, paper or ribbon that you would like to stock up on, contact me at l_prothero@yahoo.com 

There will also be a change in colour family names.  The new colour palette is organized into four collections: Subtles, Brights, Regals, and Neutrals. You will see 25 of our current colours remaining, and ten past In Colors returning as core colours, and the addition of five new core colours.

To make things easy Stampin' Up! have come out with some flyers so you know what's retiring and what's staying.

Say Goodbye - Flyer

New Colour Collections - Flyer

The 5 new colours are: Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight and Marina Mist.

Kraft is changing it's name to Crumb Cake and we will be keeping Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede and Melon Mambo from the current Mini Catalogue as well as several of the current In Colours and some previous in Colours including River Rock and Wild Wasabi.

In Colours

There will also be 5 new In Colours, which will stay around for 2 years, with an additional 5 new In Colours next year which will give us 10 In Colours.

The new In Colours are: Blushing Bride, Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz and Poppy Parade!

All of this takes place starting September 1 - so get in early for paper, ribbons, stamp pads and markers of any of the retiring colours.  Contact me at l_prothero@yahoo.com  Perhaps you'd like to hold a workshop so you can earn free product!  If anyone is interested in a class and has something that they would like to learn how to do, just let me know!

Become a Stampin' Up! Demo for 20% less

Fabulous news!  From now until July 31, anyone who signs up to be a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator will only pay $259.00 instead of the regular $324.00.  This is a fantastic deal as there is over $500 worth of product in the starter kit!

What's so good about being a Demonstrator?

Being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator is fantastic - there are lots of perks! You get a 20% discount on all your orders, you get to see and order from catalogues before everyone else does, you can go to Convention and meet lots of other fabulous Demos, you can make new friends, and make some extra money if you wish by selling Stampin' Up! products to others. However if you just want to  be a hobby Demo and just take advantage of the 20% discount without having workshops or classes, that's totally fine too! 

Contact me at l_prothero@yahoo.com for more information on how you too can become a Stampin' Up Demonstrator!

Framed Present

Yesterday I became a Godmother for the second time, which of course meant I had to take a present to the Christening.  Seeing as how I'm rather unemployed and rather broke at the moment, I decided to make my gorgeous Goddaughter a present. 

I got my inspiration from Yvonne Campbell who created a lovely name frame.  I changed mine a bit, using a large photo frame from Spotlight, which was I think a bit bigger than the one Yvonne used.  I used Raspberry Tart DSP, which was also the paper we used for the Christening invitations.  This was the result:

I used quite a few different things to decorate it -

The squares were cut out with the 1 1/4 inch square punch. 
I used the Big Deal Alphabet stamp set for Annabelle's name. 
Vintage Vogue stamp set for the flowers and stamped images in the corners
Flower Fusion
Circle Fire Rhinestone Brads
Flower Brads
I Heart Hearts stamp set and the matching Heart to Heart punch
1 Kiwi Kiss courdoroy brad
Butterfly punch and Butterfly Prints stamp set
Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla Satain Ribbon
Lots of dimensionals for the name

Paper used was - Raspberry Tart DSP, Very Vanilla, Rose Red, Kiwi Kiss, Cameo Coral, Pretty in Pink
Ink used: Rose Red, Kiwi Kiss

Closer look:

If you are interested in making a similar name frame or would like to purchase some of the products I have used, please contact me at l_prothero@yahoo.com

Carryover Product

Just to let you know there are several products that were featured in the Spring and Summer Mini Catalogues that are still available for purchase.  Contact me at l_prothero@yahoo.com if you would like to purchase any of the products below, or would perhaps like to host a Stampin' Up! workshop, where you could earn free product!

Easter Creations

I made several different boxes over Easter, and used several of the new products in the Stampin' Up! Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue, including window sheets, the Scallop Envelope Die and Rich Razzleberry paper and ink.

This box was made using the box by Angie at Chic n Scratch.  I love this box as it's very simple to make and looks cute!  I used Pink Pirouette DSP and used the curly label punch to create the hole at the front of the box. I then adhered some medium thickness window sheet on the back of the cut out, which leaves a lovely see-through window!

I also made another bunny box, and it, along with the one I've posted about previously, were given to a couple of young relatives.  I was able to fit a surprising amount of easter eggs and other chocolates in there!

This box was made using the Scallop Envelop Die from the new Mini Catalogue.  I used Rich Razzleberry card stock and ink and the easter greeting is from Loads of Love Accessories stamp set.  I cut out 4 scallop envelopes and stuck them together with sticky strip to create this box!  Once again I used the curly label punch.

The other box I created was to hold an Easter present for a very tiny new relative. She's a bit too young for chocolate, considering she's only about 6 weeks old, so we bought her a little outfit and I made a box to put it in.  I used Pink Pirouette DSP and cardstock, Regal Rose ribbon, circle and scallop circle punches, and Regal Rose ink for the turtle from Fox & Friends.

You can find a tutorial for the box here. It's called an A2 card box.

And that's what I've been up to lately!   As well as job hunting, which is going fairly well, after a slow start to the week.  Fingers crossed I get a job next week so I can buy more awesome products from the new Autumn-Winter Stampin' Up! Catalogue!

If you're interested in learning how to make any of the above boxes or would like a copy of the new catalogue, feel free to email me at l_prothero@yahoo.com

Big Shot Top Note Die

One of the new Big Shot dies available through Stampin' Up! is the Top Note Die.  It's quite a versatile die.  I've had a play around and have come up with a couple of examples.

This card was made using a square punch where I punched out a variety of squares from the Good Morning Sunshine DSP.  I then stuck them on a piece of cardstock and ran the paper and Top Note die through my Big Shot and out came this:

I used the curly label punch and stamp from the curly label punch bundle.  Pacific Point card stock and ink and a flower designer brad.

I used the top note die to make a box!  You can find the tutorial here.

Box Closed:

Box Open:

The owl stamp is from Fox & Friends also in the new Mini Catalogue. The background stamp is from the Priceless stamp set. Paper is Melon Mambo, Taken with Teal and Whisper White. Ink is Chocolate Chip and Versamark.

These are just a few of the the ways the Top Note die can be used.  Contact me if you would like to learn more about this product or any other Stampin' Up! products at l_prothero@yahoo.com