Art with Gillycat

Beach Explorers

Hello Beautiful Crafters

With the Summer fast approaching and school holidays on the way, I thought I would do a page based around scrapbooking beach layouts of children. So many families end up in the sand and the surf at some point in the warmer months........(unless you're red-headed and fair skinned like me LOL) so it's a theme to keep in mind when you're clicking away with your camera.

  Click on photo to view larger

 I've used a couple of different techniques that you may not have thought of before which I'd like to share. The first of which is: using real foliage from your garden to embellish your layouts. On this page you will see that I have attached a twig directly under the title with Stampin' Up!s 'Linen Thread'. (No tree was killed in the making of this page.......it had already died of natural causes in my garden ha ha ha).

Close Up Click on photo to view larger

The second thing I have done that may have you thinking that this page was done digitally is:  as well as the actual store developed colour photo, I have opened up the digital photo on an image editing program on my computer, changed it from colour to black & white, printed it out on non photographic paper and then cut the images out to paste onto my background under the photo. This is another way to create an element of interest in a page.

Here's a list of everything I have used:

Designer Series Paper:Parisian Breeze for the main background (Spring Mini - Ends November 30, 2009),  Bella Bleu for the backing to the heading and Urban Oasis for the sprig in the top left hand corner (cut out and inked up with Chocolate Chip ink using a sponge dauber).

Ink Pads: Sahara Sand, Riding Hood Red & Whisper White & Chocolate Chip.

Card Stock: Sahara Sand 12 x 12 textured, Kraft , Confetti Whit, Chocolate Chip and Riding Hood Red.

Embellishments: Linen Thread, 3.2 cm Riding Hood Red Striped Grosgrain and a Build-a-brad and Chipboard Letters (Lots of Letters set).

Punches: Spiral

I hope this gives you some inspiration.

Have a great evening - Di xox

 

Cheeky Pants Sneak Peak

Hello Beautiful People,

Time to pop on over to Stamp a Memory again. I have a funky new layout just up that you may enjoy a look at.  Here's a sneak peak:

Keep cool! Until next Time - Di xox 

A Moment of Reflection

Hello Lovely Ladies,

 

Well, yesterday was one of those days that just didn't go to plan and I found myself feeling quite tired an emotional. These days come along for all of us and for myself, this is where I really like to use my craft as therapy. It is a very relaxing activity to do to take your mind off things. I have had a crazy busy time over the last few months with Stampin' Up!, Paperific and Cub Scout Leader Training and I really only came up for air yesterday. I've barely been home in 4 days too which doesn't help........aaaaargh! It's nice to sit with family and have time just being together; to also get the chance to chat with a good friend on the phone and to catch up on some household chores (no matter how tedious).

PAPERIFIC

Thank-you to all those people who came to visit Paperific. Friday was an exciting day full of demonstrations, 'make & takes' and chatting with customers. It was lovely to meet new people and talk to them about my love of Stampin' Up! I hope that those of you who dropped into our stand enjoyed seeing all our displays and sharing our enthusiasm for what we do. I look forward to speaking with some of you again.

To brighten my day, and hopefully yours too, I want to finish off today by sharing the details of the Christmas card (pictured at the top of this post) with you and also to tell you that I have up-loaded new cards to my 2009 Christmas photo album (top right hand column) for you to enjoy! 
Today's card is done using the Christmas Classics stamp set (pg 32 IBC $45.95). This set has some very simple but striking images which lend themselves to both classy or funky style cards.

Here's what I've used:

Stamp Set: Christmas Classics

Ink: Not Quite Navy

Card Stock: Not Quite Navy & Whisper White

Designer Series Paper: Ski Slope (Spring Mini 2009 - Expires Nov 30)

Stampin' Write Marker: Close to Cocoa

Ribbon:Striped Grosgrain in Baja Breeze

Punch: Horizontal Slot

Metal Star: From  'Hodgepodge Hardware ' in Styled Silver

Until next time - I hope your Christmas shopping is going well and happy stamping!

Di xox

Just a little peek

Hello Lovely People,

Don't forget to keep yourselves and your plants watered in this hot weather! And my hasn't it been hot!?...and it's only early November! While you are sitting in (hopefully) air-conditioned comfort you can take a moment to pop on over to Stamp a Memory where you can view my latest layout and learn a new technique. As always, here's a little peek..............

I have lots of new Christmas cards to pop up in my gallery too.....just need to get outside with the camera and take some snaps of them. Keep an eye out on my Christmas Card Gallery.

Thanks for stopping by - Di xox

Brothers - Sneak Peak!

Hello All,

Why not pop on over to our Stamp a Memory site in the next few days for a look at what all our designers are doing. I have a new layout that's just gone there which is a sweet & simple boys page for you to enjoy and try, if you like.

Here's a sneak peak:

Stay tuned for more Christmas cards!

Happy Stamping - Di xox

November / December Specials!

November / December Specials!

Christmas Gift Giving Guide Promotion

Dates: 1 November-14 December 2009

Hello Ladies,

Now who doesn't love a good special?

And who doesn't love something for free?

I'm guessing you're all saying

"YES PLEASE" right about now!

Well, in that case you are going to love the special deal we have on offer at the moment! It is our Christmas Gift Giving Guide Promotion which aims to make choosing gifts, for your loved ones and friends, fun and easy - with a little something special in the mix to reward you.

For every $85 you spend on the products listed in the promotional sheet (click on the link below to view it) you receive the Square Scallop Punch or the Boho Blossoms Punch, both valued at $30.95 absolutely free! Oooo, I'm sounding a bit like one of those Danos Direct TV ads now - better stop that! Anyway, I'm sure you get the drift - buy something for someone else or treat yourself to a gift and you get the free punch.

Too easy!  

Christmas Gift Giving Guide Promotion Details Link

(Note: You can enlarge the size of the document to view it better)

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or if you'd like to place an order.

Happy Stamping - Di xox

 

Happy Birthday Mummy Bear

Hello Lovely People,

Today I'm popping up a card that I made for my beautiful Mummy Bear for her Birthday in late October. She loves cats and loves my home made cards so what better an idea than to combine these things into a card made with love. I have made this card using the lovely hostess reward set called 'Window Dressing'. 

Here's the Card Recipe:

I have created this look by first stamping the image with Basic Black ink on Whisper White Card Stock and then colouring it with a range of Stampin' Write Markers - too easy! I then cut out the window panes with a scalpel and put a piece of DSP behind it to create the look of wallpaper in the background. The cat is cut out separately and raised up with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Card Stock: Textured Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette and Whisper White

Stamp Set: Window Dressing

Ink: Basic Black

Simply Scrappin' Pack: Sweet Nothings

Designer Series Paper: Bella Rose

Stampin' Write Markers: Pretty in Pink, Blush Blossom, Close to Cocoa & More Mustard

Needless to say there was a lot of ooooing a ahhhing from Mum when I gave her the card which was just perfect because I wanted her to feel special.

Back soon - Di xox

Paperific is nearly here!

THE NOVEMBER PAPERIFIC EXPO!

Woo Hoo! It's almost here!

Come and visit me at the Stampin' Up! Stand on Friday 13th November. I'll be there with 3 other fabulous demonstrators from the team. We will have 'Make & Take' projects to join in on, technique demonstrations to watch and heaps of cards and scrapbooking pages on display to inspire you! 

13, 14 and 15 November 2009

at the Melbourne Showgrounds in Ascot Vale
just Northwest of Melbourne's City Centre

The expo runs for three days:
9.30am to 5pm - Friday and Saturday
9.30am to 4pm - Sunday

adults: $10
seniors & full-time students: $8
kids under ten: free

PARKING: The Showgrounds provides all day parking for Paperific guests at the low cost of $5. It is a quick drive via CityLink - just exit at Racecourse Road which turns into Epsom Road.

ARRIVAL: Enter the Showgrounds via the main gate in Epsom Road: Gate 1.

I hope to see you all there!

Di xox

'My Man' Sneak Peak!

Goodmorming Beautiful People,

It's sneak peak time again! Pop on over to STAMP A MEMORY for my latest scrapboop page layout; it's just gone up! I hope this one will be particularly useful to those of you who find it hard to come up with masculine page ideas. This one is a layout of my wonderful hubby, Paul.

Enjoy.

Di xox

For my Sister-at-Heart

Hi Everyone,

Just thought I'd pop up another variation on my 'Christmas Sunset' card from a couple of days ago. I made the version I'm showing you today especially for my beautiful sister-in-law for her birthday yesterday. This card has several more layers of mountains fading into the distance - an effect I have achieved by adding lighter ink colours further into the background of the image; starting with 'Staz-on Black', then 'Ruby Red' and finishing with 'Regal Rose'.

I hope you enjoy this design too.

Happy Stamping - Di xox