Just Add Ink Winner!

30 August 2012


I feel so humbled (and super excited) that the design team at Just Add Ink have chosen me as this weeks winner. Thank you girls, I love playing along and really enjoyed making this card. 

I get to wear this badge with honour on my blog.


 Lou X
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Just Us Girls Challenge

Just Us Girls Challenge 151

My close friend (and cousin), and amazing card maker, Marlene Goulder, often enters the JUGS challenges, so I sort of feel like I'm stomping on her 'playing field'....but I really just wanted this picture on my blog! I want to dive into this image, live there and drink tea!

Inspirational Photo: 
Swoon - It's just beautiful isn't it!?


My card:


Thanks for letting me play along Marls! I really just wanted this image on my blog! LOL

Stamp Set: Tea Shoppe
Accessories: Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon
Colour Combination: Whisper White, Pool Party, Rose Red

Lou X
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Just Add Ink - Sneak Peak!

27 August 2012


Just Add Ink 132

WOW- Another challenge this week! 
I received my pre-order Stampin' Up! box last week and have been so eager to get creating. One of my favourite new stamp sets is from the up-coming Holiday Catalogue, Perfectly Preserved. I love the jar in this set. Another thing I love to do, (apart form spending copious hours in my craft room) is decorate my home. I enjoy having jars and jugs of flowers around, so I have incorporated my other new favoutite stamp set, Papaya Collage, to create a lovely jar of roses. Both of these stamp sets are available from the 1st September 2012 - in Australia.

I thought I would play along with another favourite challenge team at - Just Add Ink.

The inspiration this week is a sketch challenge:


My JAI:

Inside:


Sneak Peak Stamp Sets: Perfectly Preserved, Papaya Collage
Accessories: Scallop Border Punch, Stampin' Write Markers, Blender Pen
Papers: Cheerful Treats DSP (Hostess), Twitterpapted DSP
Colour Combination: Whisper White, Regal Rose, Lucky Limeade, Melon Mambo

Thanks for stopping by,
Lou X
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Mojo Monday 255

26 August 2012


This year is going way too fast. Christmas is just around the corner and my daughter declared that in 6 months she turns 10. Arrrh. Don't want to think about that just yet!
However, in the case of being an Aunty Lou again - it can't come fast enough! My younger brother and his beautiful wife, Sam and Alice, are expecting their second child in 5 weeks time. I don't think Alice will be having a baby shower, but I still think a card is necessary (of course!)

Mojo Monday is a sketch challenge. Visit their page for lost of inspiring card ideas.

Mojo Sketch:

My Work of Art!:


Inside:


The duck on the front of the card is a nice bright yellow. This is because I stamped the image on Daffodil Delight Cardstock and then cut just the duck out. I then used my Daffodil Delight Marker and went around the outside. This makes my duck nice and bright - unlike my duck on the inside. It's hard to get that brightness with just a marker. I just wanted to show you the difference.

Stamp Set: Easy Events
Accessories: Satin Ribbon, Scallop Edge Border Punch, Simply Scored, Stampin' Markers.
Colour Combination: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight

Thanks for stopping by. 
Lou X
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Launch Party!

21 August 2012


The **NEW** (in flashing lights) Stampin' Up! Annual 2012-2013 Catalogue is due out on September 1st and I can hardly contain myself!

I am hosting my first ever Launch Party and YOU'RE INVITED! (note my excited voice!)


Please RSVP by the 7th September.
louise@sharpcooling.com.au

Note: Launch Party is at my home in Londonderry NSW, located in the Hawkesbury/Nepean District.

Lou X
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Mojo Monday 254

16 August 2012

Mojo Moday 254

Finding my 'mojo' some weeks can be hard! However, I had a clear theme in my head this week of what I was going for - Shabby Chic! I even tried the 'sewing' on cardstock for the first time! The Antique Brad has been painted with White Shimmer Paint to give a more vintage/shabby chic look.

*New Visitors - Welcome. Mojo is a sketch challenge I enjoy to take part in and also love seeing other ladies fabulous works of art. Pop over to get some great inspiration at www.mojomonday.blogspot.com.au

This weeks Mojo Sketch: 

 My creation: 


Inside:


I generally like to dedicate my cards to someone - after all, we make these creations for giving and I always have the person I am making for in my mind the whole time I'm creating.
 This week I was thinking of  the ultra talented, Teneale Williams. Teneale, who is not only my upline, but a friend. This sounds terrible, but I made a card to thank her for, well, just being her and didn't think it was worthy! I have since made two more and still didn't like them! I was determined this week to make her something spesh! I'm sure she will like my shabby chic card. I hope you all like it too!

Sneak peek stamp set from the upcoming new catalogue! 
Backgrond Stamp Set: En Francais and Woodgrain (pg99)
Accessories:Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon (pg139), Antique Brad (pg142), Shimmer Paint (pg147), Stampin' Markers (pg146)
Colour Combination: Whisper White, Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, Lucky Limeade

As always, thanks for stopping by. Love your comments! 
Lou X
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Don't Sweat The Small Stuff!

08 August 2012


My post is significant for a couple of different reasons today...besides the obvious -
"Don't Sweat the Small Stuff", which I had to infact remind myself of that fact when the card
was coming together!  



I'll start with the first point of interest. 
1. The letters I have used are in the current catalogue which is ending in a few short weeks and the letters are retiring. They are great not only for cards, but scrapbooking too. 

Timeless Type Junior Alphabet - Page 158
I used Stampin' Up! Crystal Effects on all the letters to make them glossy and to give them a 3D effect. You can see a bit of the effect on the inside heart. 



2. The second reason for this card is to have a bit of a brag about my older brother, Bob Willetts.
He is a principal out in the country near Wagga and has just landed his dream position at
Berry Public School, on the NSW South Coast. He is a very dedicated teacher and principal and has worked extremly hard to get where he is. Bob has lots of great quotes on life, but sometimes needs to listen his own 'medicine', so to speak! I made this for him based on a book I bought him, called none other than, 'Don't Sweat the Small Stuff' by Richard Carlson.


Bob has a blog about education and teaching in the modern world. Check him out at:

Congratulations Bob, I love you. 

Thanks for stopping by,
Lou X

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My Crafty World Feature

07 August 2012


My Just Add Ink Challenge card has received some amazing response and I couldn't be more
thankful to those who have cased it, shared it and loved it.

I received a lovely email from the beautiful Tiffany from My Crafty World who said she
would like to feature my card on her blog!

Tiffany creates lovely cards, scarpbooking pages and papercraft projects. She also shares the
love by featuring other great craft ideas made by others - so you can get loads of ideas.

I now get to 'wear' another badge with pride!


Thanks again everyone for enjoying my work - it makes me keep going!

Lou X
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Retring List!

03 August 2012


I love this time of year! It's sad, but I really do.
Stampin' Up! starts to prepare for the new catalogue!
In anticipation for the release of the new catalogue on the 1st September 2012, Stampin' Up! release a retiring list....to make room for new yummies. Best of all some items are discounted from 25-75% off!

It may seem a bit daunting - so many retiring products - but don't fear. When one door closes another one opens. In this case, when one catalogue ends, another - more amazing one appears!

However, before we can start salivating over the new catalogue in just under a months time, we must take a brief (or all nighter with a highlighter!) moment, to take the oppotunity to get a hold of those stamps and accessories that will no longer be available.





IMPORTANT NOTE: ALL PRODUCTS ON THE RETIRING LIST ARE AVAILABLE ONLY WHILE STOCKS LAST, SO DON’T WAIT TO ORDER YOUR FAVOURITE OUTGOING PRODUCTS.

Contact me today to place your order.

M: 0410 613 140

Lou X



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So Excited! JAI WINNER!


(Insert my biggest smile here)

I just had to write a quick blog post, because I'm bursting at the seams!

My last challenge was Just Add Ink - JAI 128 - and I won the challange!
Thank you to the JAI team, it's put the biggest smile on my face today!

I now get to put this badge on my blog - and I am going to 'wear' it with pride!


Thanks for stopping by!

Lou X


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