& it is nearly over.   Sale-a-Braton is such a great time of the year.  I love how Stampin’  Up!  love to give back to their customers & Sale-a-Bration is just one of those times.  For each $100 you spend on regular product, you are able to choose a limited edition stamp set out of the Sale-a-Bration catalogue.   I absolutely love the Yummy set & find it so great to use on those yummy gifts I give to friends, family & teachers.   I also love the Botanical Blooms set.  The card below uses this set & is one of two that I am demonstrating on Tuesday at a party.  The lovely ladies there will also be making them.  I am so looking forward to Tuesday as the ladies that are coming have not been to any Stampin’  Up!  events or even seen the product, so it is so exciting being able to show them all these wonderful products available.  Anyway enough chatting, here’s the card

All product Stampin’  Up!

Stamp sets:  Baroque Motifs, Wonderful Favourites,  Botanical Blooms

Cardstock:  Soft Sky, Pretty in Pink,  Barely Banana, Whisper White

Ink:  Soft Sky,  Pretty in Pink,  Basic Black,  So Saffron

Accessories:  Cutter Kit,  Soft Sky double stitched grosgrain Ribbon, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Stampin’ Sponges

I am really happy with how this card has turned out as it has been so long since I have stamped as such.  I hope you like my card. 

Take care & keep smiling

Well this past week certainly has been a busy one.  As you can tell by the title it has included some travelling, 1000km’s of driving actually.  I have been watching the kids with their swimming lessons, taking the kids to birthdays parties, & a workshop.  Hmm doesn’t sound like I have done too much, but each trip  includes travelling a fair bit.  Swimming lessons is a 240km round trip, & each birthday party was about 150ish round trip & my workshop was out at the very HOT Morawa (120kms away).  I just consider myself very lucky to have a very comfortable car with air conditioning

While out at Morawa yesterday we were busily working away when one of the ladies received a phone call.  It was not a very one as when she hung up she was certainly distraught.  She left to be with someone who needed her at the time & we found out that a young girl had a car accident that morning & had died.  It certainly did put a bit of a dampner on the whole day, but we keep plugging on.  A couple of the ladies told us what they new of the incident (which wasn’t much) & said she was a gorgeous girl.   She was one of twins & they turn 21 this year.  Both twins were/are engaged.  One to be married in a couple of weeks time & the other to be married later in the year.   It makes you realise that life is just so precious & how quickly it can be taken away.  Anyway I was on my way home from the workshop & rang Robby before I felt Mingenew to let him know I where I was (I always try to keep in touch with him when I’m out & about), he said that he had found out some sad news.  I said I heard  there has been a terrible car accident & a young girl died.  Yeh he said & it is my cousins fiance’ ………..     Oh my.  It is one thing when it is someone you don’t know & then it takes on a whole different dimension when you find out it has something to do with you.  We aren’t extremely close to Robby’s cousins, but close enough,  it definitely rocks your world.   So today we are taking things a fair bit slower, enjoying life & loving our kids to bits.

Now onto some photos.  These are the scrapbook pages we did yesterday.  The ladies had a choice of two, but could do more if they wanted.  Warning there are a few photos as there were a couple of ladies that couldn’t attend & these are partly for their benefit, because they have the kits to do at home

All product Stampin’  Up!

Stamp Sets: Peaceful Wishes

Cardstock:  Real Red 12×12, Old Olive, River Rock, Very Vanilla, Dashing DSP

Ink: Real Red

Markers: Real red, Old Olive

Accessories:  Scallop edge punch, Square Aluminium Edge Tag, Very Vanilla wide grosgrain ribbon, Stampin’  Dimensionals, 1 1/4″  Square Punch

All products Stampin’  Up!

Stamp sets:  Peaceful Wishes,  All About Christmas jumbo wheel

Cardstock; Real Red 12×12, River Rock, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Dashing DSP

Ink:  Real Red, Old Olive

Markers: Real Red

Accessories:  Jumbo wheel handle, Scallop edge punch,  Paper piercer & mat pack, Corner Rounder punch,  Circle punches 1 3/8″, ! 1/4″”,  1″,  3/4″, Real Red wide grosgrain ribbon, River Rock double stitched grosgrain ribbon

All products Stampin’  Up!

Stamp sets:  Embrace Life

Cardstock:  Sahara Sand 12×12,  Whisper White, Choc Chip, Regal Rose, Ginger Blossom DSP

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Versamark

Accessories:  Scallop edge punch,  Three for You punch,  Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon (not current – from the spring mini), White Gel Pen,  Paper Piercer & mat pack,  Stampin’  Sponges,  Linen Thread,   Metallic eyelets

All products Stampin’  Up!

Stamp set:  in the Stars

Cardstock:  Saraha Sand 12×12,  Brilliant Blue,  Ruby Red,  Whisper White,  Ginger Blossom DSP

Ink:  Night of Nave,  Versamark

Accessories:  Cutter kit,  Stampin’  Sponges,  White Gel Pen,  sml Star punch,  Whisper White & Night of Navy narrow grosgrain ribbon,  Linen Thread,  Metallic eyelets, Linen thread

I hope these pages inspire you to do some scrapbooking yourself.  I must go & tend to my family.

Till next time…..keep smiling

Hi again everyone,  wow 3 posts in one day, I don’t think this will be happening very often

So I have finally had the chance to stamp a little & decided to get the juices flowing agan I should probably use a challenge & what better one than Keesh’s challenge?!  So this week she has a lovely summery picture for us to find some inspiration in.  Here it is

 I really don’t think I like my creation, but I think that is mainly because of the colours,  I just do not DO Ballet Blue, but that is one of the best things about challenges, they encourage you to go outside o your comfort zone.  So here it is

All supplies Stampin’ Up! 

Stamp sets:  Linen (my newest addition ), Boho backgrounds, Congrats,

Ink: Brocade Blue, Versamark, markers-Ruby Red, Summer Sun

Cardstock:  Brocade Blue, Ballet Blue,  Whisper White

Accessories:  Round Clear Buttons, Narrow White grosgrain Ribbon, Metal Eedge Tags, Hemp Twine, Stampin’ Sponges, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Cutter Kit (distressing tool)

This is the first tie I have used Boho Backgrounds ( I had it for about a month before I mounted it & then it has been sitting for about 10 weeks waiting to be used, it is funny how I just have to have some o these stamps & then I get them & they have to wait till I’m ready….lol)

Have a great Sunday, take it easy & enjoy life.  Till next time……keep smiling

As I mentioned the other day Stampin’ Up!  have a wonderful fundraiser happening at the moment to pass much needed funds to the Australian Red Cross to help those who have suffered from the Victorian Bushfires.  Read below to find out more information.

You can help by purchasing select stamp sets from February 12th to March 31st 2009.  Stampin’ Up! will donate 50% of sales of these sets to the Australia Red Cross Bushfires 2009 Appeal

 *These sets will appear on the upcoming list of retiring products, so they will only be available for the Bushfire Appeal–while supplies last.

 How cool is this,  a sneak peak into some of the items that are going to be on the retiring list in March this year.

 Now there is a link on the sidebar that you can click on to donate directly to the bushfire appeal & there is another explaining more about the Bushfire Appeal with Stampin’ Up!

Happy Valentines Day everyone,  I hope you are having a relaxing & enjoyable day today.  It is very nice & quiet in the Kitto house today.  At the moments I only have 1 child at home.  Maddi & Tom have gone with Robby to pick up Jemma from Mingenew where she had her first sleepover.  Ebony also had a sleepover last night but I picked her up earlier this morning.  So consequently we only had 2 children last night & boy did it make a difference. I really enjoyed the time I had with them yesterday afternoon & last night,  it is the first time EVER!  I honestly think they enjoyed the time too (less competition for my attention).  I am supposed to be getting ready for a workshop I have on tomorrow, (in a little town close to me called Mullewa), but I found this stationery set on my desk that I have been meaning to finish for ages & have not gotten to it yet, so I thought I’d do that.  I also thought I might be able to use the sale-a-bration sets on it & enter it into Shelli’s creative challenge so here is the finished product

All products Stampin’ Up!

Stamp sets:  Polka Dots & Petals, Yummy, Polka Dot Punches

Cardstock:  Pretty in Pink, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Petals  Paisleys DSP

Accessories:  Pretties Kit, 2-way Glue pen, Chunky Glitter, Rhinestone Brads, Regals Rose wide Grosgrain Ribbon, Styled Silver HodgePodge Hardware, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Paper Piercing tool & template, Cutter Kit (distressing tool),  Stampin’ Sponges,  Snail, Mini Glue Dots,Whisper White Envelopes, parchment paper (from stationery store)

I must go now & spend some time with my family, aswell as finish organising for tomorrow.  Till next time……Keep smiling 

Yeah I’m back with the new page.    So the changes I made are quite simple.  Instead of the Diecut Blooms, I used more Rub-ons & punched out 3 x 5 Petal Flower & added a brad to one of the flowers.  Instead of the dry embossing on the left hand side of the page I have scalloped the edge of the dsp & that is basically all the changes I made & everything is currently available through Stampin’  Up!.  I am really happy with how it turned out.  Here it is

All products Stampin’ Up!

Ink: Rose Red, Taken with Teal, Pumpkin Pie

Cardstock:  Rose Red, Taken with Teal, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive

DSP: Bali Breeze

Accessories:  Rub-Ons Cherished Memories & Urban West, Scallop edge Punch, 5 Petal Flower punch,  1″ Rose Red Double Stitched Ribbon, Teal Rhinestone Brad, Paper Piercing Tool, Stampin’  sponges, Stampin’  Dimensionals, Snail

So you can see how easy it is to change a couple of things & recreate a page that is the same but quite different.  I would love to hear what you think of my new page.

& I am finally scrapbooking the first day of Jemma going  into year 3.  I really wish I could get to my scrapbooking much earlier, but I suppose at least I am trying :)  I really do love this page, it is using some products that were in the Spring Mini Catalogue so unfortunately you can’t buy them now, but there are other items you can use to replace the one I have used.

I have started off with a base of Old Olive textured cardstock, (oh how I love this textured cardstock, I have been using it lots lately).  I have then mounted Real Red Cardstock onto the middle of this & popped a piece of the Designer Series Paper (from Summer Picnic) down the left hand side of the Red.  Then I have used the alphabet Perfect Day Rub-ons on the right hand side of the page.  I have mounted the photo at the top onto textured Bashful Blue card & tied a flat know using the Striped Red Grosgrain ribbon.  The flowers are from the Diecuts blooms (from the Spring Mini) & I have a piece of textured Only Orange for my journaling & finally I dry embossed down the left hand side of the page with my Crop-a-dile.  Now I know there are quite a few things on this page that are not available, but you can easily replace them with other items like;

Diecut blooms – use the scallop circle punch, 5 petal flower punch, circle punches & the Spring Flower Bouquet punch.

Perfect Day Rub-ons – Urban West or Cherished rub-ons

Summer Picnic Dsp – Any of the Stampin’ Up! dsp that take your fancy.

Well now rereading this I think I need to design another page.  Ok I am off to do it right now, so check back later for an updated page with only current items & then you will see how easy it is to case (copy & share everything) something, make a couple of changes & it looks completely different, it really does save time & helps you out when you are stuck for something new to design.

Another things I will tell you about when I come back is the SUPER SPECIAL fundraiser Stampin’ Up! are doing to help with the Victorian Bushfires…….stay tuned

I don’t have anything to post for you today as I am again travelling for my kids swimming lessons. I am tidying my craft space, so I should be able to get to & do some stamping soon.

Can you believe the horror that has happened over in Victoria?  It is such a terrible time for people there at the moment & the loss is daunting.  It’s moments like these that make you stop & think about life.  It makes you realise what you have & what you could loose.   Take a minute  today & think of those less fortunate than ourselves, think of those that have lost everything or even those that haven’t lost much but have gone through one of the most horrendous experiences in life.   They are in my thought & prayers ; as I am fortunate to be having a precious day with my kids & living without the fear of fire or destruction.

Hmmm a funny title I know, but I don’t actually have anything recent to post today beacause my kids are starting swimming lessons & I like to go to their first one just so they are confident with the whole getting changed after etc… I know you are probably thinking I am being a little overprotective but it is just something I like to do.   You are also possibly thinking, well how much impact could that have on my day; ALOT believe me.  We live 60kms from the school the kids go to & they travel 60kms to get to the pool,  so I will be travelling 240kms today  just to watch them for about 1 hour of swimming (well 3 of the 4 anyway) & then I will be doing it all over again tomorrow when my 3rd daughter goes.  The classes are split & they all go for a total of 5 days over 2 weeks.   Anyway I had a busy day yesterday getting organised for the week at school.  I was quite proud of the things I achieved.  I made 2 loaves of bread, did 2 loads of washing, made 3 slices, read a few chapters in the new book I am reading (Eldest, 2nd in the Eragon series), 1 1/2 hours of ironing & helped Robby to set up the pool for the kids.

So no crafting, but I thought I’d show you a photo of a card I made a while ago. 

I really love the way this card turned out, I sorta can’t send it to anyone yet because I just love it too much & I haven’t gotten to making another

All products Stampn’ Up!

Stamp set:  Bronc Buster

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Cardstock: Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip & Sage Shadow

Accessories: Eastern Elegance Rub-ons, Cutter kit, Stampin’ sponges, Styled silver hodge podge hardware, Dimensionals

Well I hope you like this card as much as I do.

Till next time……………..keep smiling

Hello everyone,  I hope you are having an enjoyable Sunday.  The wind is blowing here today so that means I need to stay inside, which I’m not complaining about at all.

I thought I’d show you some scrapbooking I have done recently.  I started scrapping about 5 years ago.  I really enjoyed it & took to it like a duck to water.  I plowed through photos of the kids & created a couple of albums each (mind you I wouldn’t show those to anyone now though lol).  The thing now is that I don’t scrap anywhere near as much as I should.   I am trying to get to it more often but there is always something else to do or (more often than not) my desk is just too messy to lay the pages out, so I say maybe tomorrow.    I have a group of ladies that I do workshops for  in a little town called Morawa (about 100ish km’s from me) & they love to scrapbook, so it has been a blessing in disguise having to scrapbook for them because I am getting through it creating pages for them to recreate & I generally use up the kits I have left over for my own scrapbooking.

Here is a double layout I have made using up 2 of the kits from a workshop I did out at Morawa last year.

I still have some journalingto do on the bottom (2nd) page, but that will come when I decide on what to write.

Stamp sets: BIg Deal Alphabet, Best Friends Alphabet Lower, Seaside

Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Purely Pomegranate, Soft Sky & Blue Bayou

Accessories: Cutter Kit, Stampin’ sponges, Pomegranate & Sky double stiched grosgrain ribbon, Jumbo eyelets, Scallop Square punch

I will take a photo of the original page I created & post it hopefully tomorrow.  Must go & spend some time with my family seeing as though it is Sunday.  Till next time……………keep smiling