What Kind Of Book Is It?

The answer is, whatever you want it to be!

The Meander Accordian Folded Book has many aliases, so is it any surprise it can be whatever book you want it to be? (This link has a video tutorial if you are that way inclined.)

I made this one to gift to a friend's 5 year old girl - the idea is that she can fill each of the 16 pages with her favourite things. I gave suggestions of favourites, such as favourite song, favourite animal, favourite saying/quote, favourite thing to do, etc...you get the gist. I am thinking I have to do one of these for each of my children each year. This can be my answer to scrapbooking which I know I am not discipline enough to do. The children each can fill their new book each year on their birthday - wow, imagine a collection of these little books for each child journalling how their favourites have change over time. Hmm, I like....

Next one of these I make will be a Baby one - for a newbie born at the beginning of this week.

Hoot Hoot

Well, I'd never have considered myself an owl fan, but how could you not be with these little hooters?



I got the instructions from Darlene (she even has a video tutorial on there) - isn't she a talented lady? I am considering making this birthday card for all the birthdays the rest of this year - that is how much I like them!

For the outside of the card, I thought I ought to try to keep it clean and simple, but still something that will work with the whole owl theme. So here it is:

Stamp Set: Build A Cupcake

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Paper: Pink Cardstock, Mulberry Cardstock, Whisper White, DSP Good Morning Sunshine

Punch: 2-step Owl Punch, Corner Rounder, Large Word Window, Build A Cupcake

Other: various embossing folders, jiggly eyes

Skittles Cake

Another Cake gift - this time for 11 year old fan of Skittles whose Mum says they (the Skittles lollies) are a birthday treat only.

11 boxes filled with Skittles - sorry Jan (his mum)! His sisters (pictured above, who helped made the boxes) think I will be his best friend now (even though we're almost a month late with the gift.)

Don't these just remind you of Jaffas or Mint Slice? Yum!

Punch: Scallop Edge (actually, these scallop edging were done using a pair of craft scissors I purchased for the kids from Geoff's Emporium for only $1.95!)

Other: Cuttlebug Spots and Dots Embossing Folder

The Cake That Never Runs Out

I saw a sample of a cake slice box, so guess what I did? Google of course! Found this template but I wanted it to open from the top so I modified the template accordingly and photocopy onto a set of pink card stock. As you can see from the pictures, it took 11 cake slices to make one cake.

There is that Swiss Dot embossing folder in use again - see how versatile it is?

And just to show that this "cake" is even filled with a layer of "cream", lol!

All packaged up for the birthday girl turning the big 5 - what a milestone, what a celebration!

Paper: Pink Cardstock (Trophee Brand from The Warehouse Stationery), Whisper White, Purple Cardstock (from old stash, DSP Raspberry Tart scraps

Punch: Butterfly, Scallop Edge, Full Heart

Other: Cuttlebug Swiss Dot Embossing Folder, You're Not The Boss Of Me Alphabet Set

We filled each box with all sorts: ladybird pegs, beads, a NZ Fern Key ring that S7 had that he insisted on gifting to J5, jiggly craft eyes, a small nail polish, a bottle of bubble mixture, necklaces, lollies and chocolate easter eggs.

New Journey

The title to my first post on this blog is apt on two accounts. First it, refers to where I'm at in my paper crafting journey and secondly, this post is about how I created a card to congratulate a couple who will soon make the lifelong commitment we call Marriage. It was the night before DH's youngest brother's engagement BBQ. The children are in bed early-ish (8.30pm) and after a day of slow going on the motivation front, I got out my small (though growing!) Stampin' Up supplies to see what engagement card I could come up with.

I have been wanting to use the Versamark ink pad but really had no idea how to use it since I hadn't seen a demonstration of its use (which I now know is a-plenty - Google is so my friend!) and bought it new off Trade Me cos it was a good buy. The Watermark technique was the obvious route with what tools I have.

I only have 4 cardstock colours to choose from - Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White or Very Vanilla. Limited choice is good, otherwise I might still be debating which colours to use! The watermark effect popped out more on the Cherry Cobbler than the Real Red, so that was a simple decision that needs no more deliberating - phew.

Next decision - what sentiments and stamps to use? Well I was already using the Priceless swirly stamp for the watermark background, and since it is a card about Love, the heart or butterfly stamps in that same stamp set seems fitting. I also went for the Best Wishes stamp from the Oval All stamp set because it means I get to use the oval and Scallop oval punches (I just love using punches). Sweet - now all that remained to do is to put the card together.

Stamp Set: Priceless, Oval All

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Versamark

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Whisper White

Punch: Scallop Edge, Scallop Oval, Large Oval

Other: Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, 2-way Glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive

(ps: I just can't seem to capture the true colour on camera or otherwise it is blurry...oh well, you get the idea.)

Ahh - I feel better. It is so good to create. This was a great way to end my slow going day. Now I just have to think what to write inside the card! But that will be tomorrow's task as it is far too late now.