Looks Like Spring is in the air....

Hello to all! In case you were confused by the weird weather we are having locally (stinkin' hot one day, howling a freezing gale the next...) it is actually spring in the Land Downunder! And to celebrate, Stampin' Up!® have their Looks Like Spring stamp set, matching Spring Bouquet Flower Punch and Double Sided Designer Series paper bundled as a special..... buy the Stamp set and the Punch, and get the Paper for free!

This pic shows the lovely stamps in the set, the punch (note that it punches out the triple flower stamp perfectly! - no need to cut those teeny things out!) and the Spring Showers paper... The Spring Flowers paper is the same, except instead of Bashful Blue and Creamy Caramel, it has Cameo Coral and Mellow Moss. Here are some things I have made with my Looks Like Spring set, Spring Bouquet Flower Punch and the Double Sided Paper....

The three cards in the front are all basically the same sketch (layout), but I have used different colours to get 3 very different results! The far left is Almost Amethyst, Lovely Lilac and Barely Banana, and the paper is Barely Banana with white dots. The middle one is the Spring Flowers paper (Coral and Moss) with some flowers in Barely Banana and Pretty in Pink. Far right is a card I designed for a male themed Stamp-a-Stack, and has the Spring Showers striped paper (Basful Blue and Creamy Caramel) with Sahara Sand, Bashful Blue and Chocolate Chip ink. In the back is a little card using Chocolate Chip and Bashful Blue.

Here is a scrap book page I did of my lovely Lilli on her 6th Birthday... all in Kraft, Lovely Lilac and Lavender Lace - with a bit of Cocoa and Vanilla thrown in.... so glad I did not cut out all those little flowers! Go the Flower Punch! I have also used Big Deal Alphabet and Rough Edges Alphabet, and on the cards, there is the Hostess Set from this years Catalogue called Warmest regards.....

If you would like to take advantage of this month's special, then email me at cherylandrews@optusnet.com.au, and we can arrange it! Make sure you get your order to me by Monday 29th October to avoid disappointment..........

One more thing! The Stampin' Up! Regional Training for Sydney will be held at Darling Harbour on the 17th November (a Saturday) and they have opened the doors to guests now! This means that I can take you with me! The cost is $75 for the days training sessions, plus a free stamp set (this year it is Simply Said). If you have been thinking of becoming a demonstrator (and therefore part of my wonderful team!) then this is an opportunity to see it all first hand! Kind of a try before you buy thing.... Stampin' Up! events are not to be missed - loads of fun and new things to see and try....... email me ASAP so I can book you in!

Happy Stamping!

An interesting couple of weeks...

Hi All!!! Our family has had some interesting moments over the last little while, including the removal of Darling Son's (10yo) appendix! It seems the dreaded lurgy has also not left us unscathed - the flu has brought down 3 in our family of 5 so far, as well as both my parents in Sydney, and of course many others we know!!! We finally got to give my Dad his Fathers' Day card on the weekend just gone..... You remember the one I have in a post further down about Fathers' Day? Yeah... Ages ago.... So here are some more offerings from me.... including another with the All About U set used in my Dad's card....

This one has a base of Confetti Cream - a lovely recycled card stock that has a bit of texture. It also has a background of Certainly Celery wheeled with the Petals Wheel from the Spring Mini Catalogue. The two largest circle punches came in handy for the images from the matching Polka Dots and Petals set, which are stamped in Regal Rose and Rose Red on Vanilla Card Stock. Believe it or not, the ribbon is Light Pink Grosgrain Ribbon!!!! (Looks white on my screen) A silver brad finishes the Thank You sentiment from the Seeing Spots set.

This card has the All About U set, Paisley Background, Everyday Flexible Phrases, Trimtastic and the Warmest Regards hostess set. I have also used the Tab Punch, Corner Rounder (with the guard off to make the scallop), Chocolate grosgrain ribbon, White Organdy ribbon and the Pumpkin Pie marker from the Earth Element set. The colour scheme is Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie and Almost Amethyst, with Whisper White.

I was on a bit of a roll with the Amethyst and Chocolate thing, and the Paisley Background and Trimtastic scalloped edging..... Also here is Certainly Celery, Whisper White, the white gel pen, tab punch, Expressive Flexible Phrases, Cheery Chat, Touch of Nature, the largest circle punches, spiral punch (for the notebook page effect) and some Celery grosgrain ribbon. All images are © Stampin' Up! 1990-2007. All the artwork is by Cheryl Andrews, and inspired by the likes of Linda Higgins (my gorgeous upline) and Teneale, one of the Elite Stampers (who inspired the colour scheme on the last card there.)

Don't forget, this is your last chance to get a free set of Hodgepodge with the Starter Kit if you have been dreaming of doing what I do, and having LOADS of fun at the same time.... Applications must be in to Stampin' Up! head office by this Friday 28th September... Call me now! We can express post.... It's been done before! ;-)

Happy Birthday to Me.........

And you thought I was modest and humble..... seriously, just wanted to share about my birthday, which was **********. Did you catch that? I'll say it louder.... my birthday was ***********. Make sure you remember it for next year...... Anyway, the point is that I got 8 cards, and all of them, with the exception of one from my Craft group, were Stampin' Up! creations! Yes, even my friends are now using the products I sell to make GORGEOUS cards for ME!!!!! How cool is that! Talk about great returns. So here is a pic. Hope it is not too fuzzy. Woops! How talented are my friends and Stampin' Up! team? Don't forget, if you would like to host your own workshop and earn your own free stuff, as well as learn how to USE it all, then email me at cherylandrews@optusnet.com.au so we can book a date.... Also, don't forget the marvellous deal this month with the Starter Kit - the Hodgepodge Hardware! It takes all kinds of demonstrators to make up my team, including Discount Demonstrators (just in it for the benefits), Hobby Demonstrators (in it to support their habit, and to run a few workshops and classes here and there) and Business Demonstrators (committed to putting the work in to build a successful business). You get to decide..... and this month is a good time to start. Email me for all the info you need to sign up today. And here is one more pic of a FABULOUS picture my darling son, who is 10, drew for me for my birthday... it is a picture of a goose that he copied out of an encyclopedia...... I just LOVE it! Isn't it tops! He even created a frame for it by stapling pieces of black cardboard around his finished masterpiece... I will definately be hanging this one up in pride of place... What a talented boy.

Happy Fathers' Day...

....to all you Dads and Significant Male Role Models out there.... Here is a card made in honour of you, which I am actually giving to my own Dad and Dad-in-Law...

I used the All About U set, which is available to Hostesses this month and until the 15th September as an EXTRA FREEBIE when their workshop sales exceed $600. Cool hey! I have also used: Chocolate Chip, Brocade Blue, Confetti Cream and Really Rust card stock, the Paisley Background stamp, Chocolate Chip, Really Rust and Brocade Blue ink, Linen Thread, Tab Punch, Earth Elements and Neutrals Button, and the Paper Crimper (My new toy!!!) Images © Stampin' Up!® 1990 - 2007. Artwork by Cheryl Andrews.

In addition to the Hooray for Hostesses promotion which concludes on the 15th September (you know, the free EXTRA stamp set deal!), Stampin' Up! have a great deal for those of you who have been putting off signing up to do what I do (and LOVE) - Demonstrating and using Stampin' Up! products and getting PAID for it!! If you sign up in September, you will not only get the fabulous Starter Kit, which is already great value, but your choice of 1 of the 3 sets of Hodgepodge Hardware valued at over $50 for FREE. This is a much saved for and coveted item on my customers' wish lists, and is something that will make beautiful cards and scrapbook pages even more special... Check out some of my creations below that have Hodgepodge on them.... (the metal photo anchors, brads, book plates, clips etc) All images © Stampin' Up!® 1990 - 2007. Artwork by Cheryl Andrews, or CaSEd from the 2007-2008 catty. Remember that you don't have to 'do' workshops, or do the sales thing if you don't want to... you can be a discount demonstrator (ie, get the 20% discount for you and your friends), or run classes from your place if you can't get out.... email me at cherylandrews@optusnet.com.au right now to make the most of this great offer...

Hope you liked my Hodgepodged cards.........

More Things to Drool Over...... and another competition!

The Spring Mini Catalogue is in full swing, and our launch on the 31st July was a whole heap of fun! Lots of People, Prizes and Projects...... If you missed it, do not fret, I can still show you all the things in the Mini catalogue at a workshop at your place, or at a class at my place.... I have one space left in my Card Compendium Class (scroll down to look at a previous post with a picture of a Card Compendium) on Wednesday 22nd August (one has had to pull out), and a Santa Stack on Wednesday the 19th September (6 cards for $10 - get ahead on your Christmas cards). I am also hoping to run classes on embossing and watercolouring - email me if you are interested in these.... $10 per class, all supplies provided, one completed project and lots of time to experiment and practice....

One of my favourite projects is the On Board Art Journal - we have 2 sizes, one pictured below, and a smaller one in the Mini Catty - 5" x 5". This weekend I am going away on a Women's Retreat, where I will be running a short workshop on how to go about covering these gorgeous journals. They have heavy duty chipboard covers, spiral binding, and actual card stock for the pages inside.... pefect for scrapbooking, or any other special project. Post here, or email me with your brilliant ideas for how to use these fabulous books (eg, address, recipes, birthdays), and you will go into the draw to win one of the 5x5 inch journals for yourself.... I will also publish all the great ideas on here. Please have your entries in by 15th September 2007, 5pm Australian Eastern Standard Time, no entries from outside of Australia will be accepted (although I still would love to have your brilliant ideas!!), or entries from other Stampin' Up!® Demonstrators (I definitely still want your brilliant ideas too!)

Here is my journal.....

All products are available through me from Stampin' Up!®. Images © Stampin' Up! 1990 - 2007. I have used the On Board Art Journal from the Idea Book and Catalogue as mentioned above, as well as the On Board Accents and On Board Simon Lower chipboard (flower and letter 'C'), Aged Copper Hodgepodge, White Grosgrain Ribbon, Olive Organdy Ribbon, Old Olive Ink, Pretty in Pink Ink, Tempting Turquoise Ink, Newsprint Alphabet Stamp Set, Expressive Flexible Phrases and Everyday Flexible Phrases Stamp Sets, Large Oval Punch, 1 3/8 inch and 1 3/4 inch circle punches, and from the Spring Mini Catalogue, the Petals and Paisley Double Sided Patterned Paper, Petals Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel (on the oval piece), the Spiral Punch (to fit the paper perfectly onto the cover) and the Tab Punch (to label sections inside the journal). The Spiral Punch is an absolute gem - it is sized to allow you to not only cover your journal with beautiful paper, but also to add more pages to your journal as needed, which is particularly handy if you need more pages for an address book, or if you left out a photo in your scrapbooking, or if you fill up your journal and want to do more in it! And the Tab Punch is extremely cute for plenty of other projects too, especially scrapbooking and card making.....

One more picture of a card for my Sister-In-Law (Hi Belinda!!) for her birthday......... it uses embossing and watercolouring if you are interested in those classes I mentioned.......

This card uses Elegant Eggplant card stock and ink, Perfect Plum ink, Pale Plum card stock and ink, Basic Black Card Stock, and Whisper White Card Stock and Ink. It also has the Scribble This Stamp Set and matching Scribble Wheel, and the Cheery Chat Stamp Set, plus some black grosgrain ribbon. (and a non SU! bit of bling in the centre of the flower - sshh!) I have embossed the Scribble wheel image in the background on the Pale Plum card stock using the Whisper White Craft ink (pigment ink) and White embossing powder. The big Scribble This flower (cut out and double mounted with a dimensional in between the layers) is watercoloured with the Aqua painter using Perfect Plum and Elegant Eggplant inks. It is also Stamped in Jet Black Stazon Ink, which I find is best for watercolouring - it doesn't bleed into your pretty colouring in!

My email is cherylandrews@optusnet.com.au if you want to enter the competition to win a journal for yourself to cover and enjoy, or to book a workshop or come to one of my classes......

Bye for now!

New Mini Catalogue samples, and a Piano....

Hmmm that got you looking, didn't it!!

Have been playing with the new sets I preordered from the Mini Catalogue, and here are some of the results.... The first is one of the designs for my Christmas in July Stamp-a-Stack, using the Wishing You set from the Mini Catalogue.... I will have the Mini Catalogues very soon and will be giving them away upon request..... Want one? Lots of yummy things to see! Just email me.... cherylandrews@optusnet.com.au . I also still have a couple of spots left in the Mini Catalogue Launch that a few of the members in my team and I are planning for the 31st July.... Cost is $10, which you can put towards your order of $50 or more on the night, and there will be things to make, things to win, and lots of fun to be had!!!!!!

I have a couple of spots left in my next Christmas Stamp-a-Stack on the 25th July too... email me and let me know if you would like to come...

Ok, the Christmas card on the left here uses Very Vanilla and So Saffron card stock, with Gold ink, Gold brads and Gold cord. We also made another design which I will post another time..... All images © Stampin' Up! ® 1990 - 2007, Artwork by Cheryl Andrews.

This next card I made using some

of the leftovers from the Stamp-a-Stack.... I have used the Polka Dots and Paisley set from the new Mini, and used So Saffron, Always Artichoke, Regal Rose and Very Vanilla card stock. The ink is Regal Rose, Always Artichoke, and both the markers in these colours too.... There is also some silver cord, and an aluminium small round tag... All images © Stampin' Up!® 1990 - 2007, artwork by Cheryl Andrews (Got the tag idea from the Mini Catty)

You can purchse all these thrings through me as well....

So! What about the piano, you ask... Well, I have an old upright piano here that I want to get rid of for $100. It is in ok condition, however it is a semitone flat, so only suitable to bang around on, not for teaching or learning with a mind to develop ones ear.... My kids have had a great time with it, and are seeming to be more serious about piano lessons, so I am actually investing in an electronic keyboard with weighted keys, which will never go out of tune.... I have not had it tuned for a couple of years, and the piano tuner I had out just the other week said it was well enough in tune with itself, just not able to be tuned up the semitone anymore.... So sadly, it must go in the name of my children becoming concert pianists..... ;-) You will need a trailer, and my hubby will help you load it..... if you are reasonably local, he will also help you unload it....

More Watercolor Wonder Crayon Techniques

Thanks to my upline, the Lovely Linda, (check out her blog over there on the right) I have a really cute design showing off another use for the crayons... (Thanks Lovely Linda!)

On a Sahara Sand base card, I have layered a Cranberry Crisp piece, stamped in Cranberry Crisp with the tree branch from Touch of Nature. Along the bottom is stamped the scalloped lace image from Trimtastic again in Cranberry Crisp, with a strip of the stripey Treehouse paper scalloped with the corner rounder punch (remove the guard). A tag stamped with the branch in Sahara Sand and finished with some linen thread adds the sentiment using the black marker to highlight the appropriate words from the William Shakespeare quote from the set. The butterfly is stamped in Basic Black ink on vellum paper, and when dry, coloured roughly on the reverse side with the Watercolor Wonder Crayons to give this beautiful effect... A one and a quarter inch circle punch creates the window, with a slender frame created by punching first the one and a quarter inch circle, then the one and three quarter inch circle around it on Sahara Sand card stock.... Images © Stampin' Up! 1990 - 2007. Don't forget the Just Add Water promotion, with 25% off the Watercolor Wonder Crayons and/or the Watercolor Pencils for each $50 spent on Stampin' Up! products. (Scroll down for more info)

Don't forget to book in for my Christmas in July Stamp-a-Stack this month! The 12th July is already full, but I still have spots on the 25th....

Also, the new Spring Mini Catalogue will be available soon, and we are having a Mini Catalogue Launch on Tuesday, 31st July, 7:30 pm, to celebrate! Cost is $10, refundable with your purchase of $50 or more.... Let me know ASAP if you want to come, as space is limited, and prepayment is required to secure your place. Lots of fun, with things to make, and prizes too... If I don't already have your email address, then email me (cherylandrews@optusnet.com.au) and I will email you back with all the details....

A very big Welcome to the newest member of my team - Kerry is based in the Southern Suburbs of Sydney, so if you need a workshop down in that area, she's your girl.... Hi Kerry! So my little team is growing.... now there are 5 of us! If you have been umming and arring about becoming a demonstrator yourself, let me assure you that it takes all kinds - A full-on business, a chance to make 'pocket money', a hobby, a discount demonstrator, selling to friends and family.... I am making some 'pocket money' to pay for my own stampin' habit ;-) :-) :-0 and to cover things like piano lessons for my kids.... perfect for me! I even covered the cost of my Starter Kit in the first 3 months.... even better!! Besides that, I am having SO MUCH FUN!!! I've made heaps of great friends, become part of a company that has a philosophy that puts people and relationships FIRST (fits right in with my own outlook on life), and get the most fantastic support and encouragement from my upline, sidelines and downlines..... not to mention all the other girls in the Elite Stampers team.... (Hi Gang!) I find it hard to call what i do "Work"! Surely one shouldn't get PAID to do this???!!

Email me at cherylandrews@optusnet.com.au to get an information pack.......

And the Winner is.........

Hello Hello! How exciting! It's the 1st July and it would appear that we have a winner for the 'Around the Block' retired hostess set from the Stampin' Up!® 2006-2007 Idea Book and Catalogue.... Drumroll...... Congratulations to MICHELE JUTRISA from the Southern Highlands! Woo Hoo Michele! Thanks for subscribing to my blog, Lovey! It's definitely paid off for you..... I'll actually be seeing Deb on Friday, so I will give it to her then, and she can pass it on to you... (Hi Deb! Thanks Dearest.....;-))

So to all of you who subscribed, I am honoured and humbled that you think my blog is worth looking at more than once! I wish I had a free stamp set for all of you..... Instead, I have another card for you to look at....

I really love the set 'Roses in Winter'. I made this one for my Mother-in-law for her birthday. I've actually used the same sketch for quite a few cards, including baby cards and sympathy cards. I CASEd the sketch from a card the lovely Claire from Elite Stampers made for her new baby niece. You can see more of Claire's work in the Elite Challenges Blog, and check out her blog too - it's in the Elite Challenges Blogroll.... I have used......Apricot Appeal, Whisper White, Almost Amethyst card stock and ink, Mellow Moss ink, and Moss Gingham ribbon. I also used Everyday Flexible Phrases in addition to the Roses in Winter Set. The three quarter inch circle punch created the scalloped edge. All images © Stampin' Up! 1990-2007. You can make lots of different sized scalloped edges with the different sized circle punches, as well as the slit punch AND the corner rounder!!!! The corner rounder makes a more subtle curve..... very nice. I'll have to get me one of those!!

Don't lose heart now that the prize has been drawn, and you have not won.... I will have more competitions coming up very soon.....

For those of you who are local, I have two Stamp-a-Stack classes coming up in July..... the Class on the 12th (Thursday week at 7:30 pm) still has a couple of spots left, and the class on the 25th (a Wednesday night at 7:30pm) has spaces also.... be quick! I am waiting for confirmation from a few girls, so let me know to secure your place!!! We are making 6 Christmas cards (3 each of 2 designs) for $10.... There will be more every month now until Christmas, so you can build up your supply....

Happy Stampin', Cyber Friends!!!!

Wow! 2 Posts in 1 day!!!!

Aren't you guys lucky:-) I had to share this great idea that some girls in the Elite Stampers team have been making (check out the Elite Challenges blog and see Jenni O's blog, and also Linda's blog over here on the right) It is the cutest little card compendium, and I have made mine for a friend's birthday pressie (Happy Birthday Georgie!) I will be running a class on how to make these soon - just need to work out dates and costs.... So here are some pics!

I have used three of my favourite sets - Paisley Back Ground, Roses in Winter and Touch of Nature. There are 6 cards, each with a matching envelope. The colours are: Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Apricot Appeal and Mellow Moss ink and card stock, as well as Very Vanilla and Blush Blossom card stock. There is also Twill Tape, Olive organdy ribbon, Moss gingham ribbon and Celery grosgrain ribbon. The Hodgepodge Hardware is Aged Copper. All images are © Stampin' Up! 1990 - 2007. All artwork is by Cheryl Andrews. Email me on cherylandrews@optusnet.com.au if you want to know how to make it, and I will set up a class for July and/or August - Georgie now has a beautiful stash of cards to send to her friends and family all stored in the cutest box!