Be Inspired Blog Hop - Summer!

26 July 2023


Welcome to the Be Inspired Blog Hop for July! You may have hopped here from my fabulously talented friend Angela Meiritz-Reid from New Zealand. Please hop around by clicking the next button at the bottom of this post. 

The theme for this months hop is 'Summer'. 
In the Southern Hemisphere we are all rugged up in our Winter woollies enjoying camp fires and roasting marshmallows (no we don't call them s'mores over here) and I have to admit I had a bit of a laugh to myself while making this card in my craftroom....wearing my pink fluffy dressing gown and ugg boots while the air conditioner is set on heating and the temperature 'feels like' 1.3°C (about 34°F)! However, that being said, I truly believe that ice-cream is for any season, and so this is the direction I went with!

I created this card using the icing top from the cupcake in the Circle Sayings stamp set on page 17 of the 2023-2024 Annual Catalogue. I created the waffle cone myself by making diagonal score lines using the Simply Scored (page 145) on a piece of watercolor paper and then used a black pen to create similar outlines as the cupcake. I watercolored both using the smallest pen from Water Painters. 

Next up to 'Be Inspired' by is the amazingly talented Janneke Dijkstra-deJong from the Netherlands. I just adore her and her project this week! Hit the Next Button below:

 

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Here's a snippet of some of our Winter nights here on the farm. We get the most beautiful winter sunsets and I wish I could capture the stars against the clear black skies just to share with you. In Australia our marshmallows are much smaller and it's not the same unless toasted on a stick you have carefully searched and chosen for this very purpose - and no, I don't like to share - my stick or my toasted marshmallows! 🤣

Thanks for stopping by, 
Louise xo
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Celebrating The Global Design Project

26 June 2023

 

#GDP400 - 
Hello friends! I am very excited to be playing along with the Global Design Project this week as the Challenge and Design Team celebrates the 400th challenge. Wow!! The Global Design Project was born back in 2015 when Kylie Bertucci and I decided to created a challenge that included Stampin' Up! demonstrators from around the world in an effort to showcase all the amazing global talent. Even though we have both now left the design team, we are thrilled that the GDP is still going strong and provides a great place to be inspired by exceptionally talented crafters from around the world.    

What does CASE mean? Copy And Share Everything or Copy and Selectively Edit. Put simply, we take inspiration from the project and make it our own.

My CASE Inspiration: I decided to take inspiration from both of our cards.
I took my inspiration from four different aspects of Kylie's card including the card layout, a fruit stamp set, the 'thanks' sentiment and the use of Designer Series Paper for the background. Kylie also loves geographic shapes, so this is also a nod to her style. I incorporated my love of watercolour with pink. I also used the hint of yellow on the tips of the green leaves, as I did in my original card. 


I haven't crafted in months *gasp* - and I really had to dig deep and find the motivation to get me into my craftroom and make a card. I actually thought all my creativity had dried up and left the building! When I was kindly asked to participate in the GDP Challenge, I panicked and wasn't going to play along...HOWEVER...I know from experience if I just start creating my enthusiasm for crafting returns and my mind buzzes with ideas. That's also why 'CASE-ing' is also such a great idea! 

You can view or play along with Global Design Project by visiting the blog:
www.global-design-project.com or follow on Instgram @global_design_project

HOW TO PLAY ALONG:

Create a NEW project that reflects the current challenge
3 ways to play:
1. Post your entry to @global_design_project Instagram
2. Post your entry to Global Design Project Facebook page
3. Post to the Global Design Project Blog

Remember to and tag us with the weekly challenge hashtag and #globaldesignproject
Deadline for entries closes each Sunday at 6pm CET; 3am AEST

Happy crafting, 
Louise xo
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Be Inspired Blog Hop - Stampin' Blends

28 September 2022


Another month has passed which means it must be time for the September Be Inspired Blog Hop! You may have hopped here from my fabulously talented friend Angela Meiritz-Reid from New Zealand. Please hop around by clicking the next button at the bottom of this post.

The theme for this month is 'Stampin' Blends'. 
Stampin' Blends are alcohol markers filled with an alcohol-based solution which give a rich and more saturated look. They are beautiful for shading and can give a lovely 3D dimension to your stamped images.   

And...YES I finally did it - I purchased all the Stampin' Blends! (*Shock horror I know...you probably thought I owned every single SU crafting item ever...ok I do now! Lol 😆)  If you know me you will know I'm a watercolor enthusiast and the alcohol markers never really took a hold of me - until now! I love the saturated colour they give and blending is so much fun. You will definitely see more creations from me using the Stampin' Blends.  



Next up to 'Be Inspired' by is the amazingly talented Janneke Dijkstra-deJong from the Netherlands. I just adore her and her project this week! Hit the Next Button below:

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Be Inspired Blog Hop - Pick a Season

31 August 2022

Hi there! It's time for our August 2022 Be Inspired Blog Hop. You may have hopped here from my fabulously talented friend Angela Meiritz-Reid from New Zealand. Please hop around by clicking the next button at the bottom of this post.

The theme for this month is 'Pick a Season'. Christmas is a Season right? Well, I'm running with it! And being the end of August already, it feels like Christmas is just around the corner.
I hosted my forth 'Stamping by the Sea' craft retreat last weekend and it was amazing, out of this world, fantastic, filled my bucket, wow, wow, wow!!! There's actually not enough words to describe wonderful it was. (I will do a separate post about it soon.) Each year I theme it and this year it just so happened to be Christmas themed...and every year I do my own class kit  - ‘Louise's Paper Paradise Card Kit’ and it includes a stamp set and kit designed by yours truly of course! ðŸ˜‰ The stamp set, which is appropriately called Merriest Moments is from the latest Mini Catalogue on page 23. We shared so many merry moments last weekend!



Next up to 'Be Inspired' by is my incredibly talented and fellow Aussie friend, Tanya Rees. Hit the Next Button below:
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Be Inspired Blog Hop - Sale-a-Bration

27 July 2022



Welcome to the July 2022 Be Inspired Blog Hop. You may have hopped here from my fabulously talented friend Angela Meiritz-Reid from New Zealand. Please hop around by clicking the next button at the bottom of this post.

The theme for this month is 'Sale-a-Bration'.
 
Sale-a-Bration is Stampin’ Up!’s twice-annual sales event where you can earn free and exclusive products for every $90AUD and $180AUD you spend. There's also extras if you choose to join the Stampin’ Up! family. Earning period is 1st July - 31st August. 


What does a caravan and Christmas have in common? Well, I'm glad you asked! Haha. Every year (forgetting the past two years of a pandemic) I host a craft retreat called 'Stamping By The Sea' held at East Beach Holiday Park Kiama and every year I give it a theme, the last one in 2019 was a 'Fiesta' theme and next month is set to be Festive with a traditional Christmas theme. Also, who can resist an adorable caravan...especially when it's decorated for Christmas!

I made these adorable caravans using the Tree Lot Dies from the Sale-a-Bration brochure, which you can earn for free when spending $180AUD or more. It just so happens to coordinate with the Trees for Sale Stamp Set in the new Holiday Mini Catalogue. *All current catalogues are liked on my blog you can click them to view online. 


Free with $180AUD purchase or more.

Next up to 'Be Inspired' by is my incredibly talented Laura Mackie. Hit the Next Button:
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Be Inspired Blog Hop - Case The Catalogue

29 June 2022



Hello and welcome to the June 2022 Be Inspired Blog Hop. You may have hopped here from my fabulously talented friend Angela Meiritz-Reid from New Zealand. Please hop around by clicking the next button at the bottom of this post.

The theme for this months hop is 'Case The Catalogue'. The latest/new 2022-2023 Catalogue is bursting with gorgeous new stamps and lovely products, however at the time of writing this I am yet to receive my latest order so I am using the very adorable Peekaboo Farm. Thankfully this stamp set has carried over because I have only just now had the chance to use it. 

I cased my card from pages 54-55 of the new Annual Catalogue using the very adorable Peekaboo Farm stamp set. As soon as I spotted it with the stonewall I knew it was going to be another stamp set that I just had to have. You know how it is - it's not a want, it's a need! 😉 

Next up to 'Be Inspired' by is my incredibly talented Aussie team mate, Tanya Rees. Hit the Next Button:
 

The Amazing 2022-2023 Annual Catalogue - And Ideas Book!
Like most creatives, I too often get stuck in a rut and go on the search for inspiration, but I'll be (embarrassingly) honest, I rarely look in the catalogue for inspiration. Isn't that crazy?! Well, who would have thought that it really is bursting with so many fabulous ideas (haha) - from great card layout ideas, lovely colour combinations, gift giving and packaging ideas and different ways to use ribbons and embellishments. I think with the past couple of catalogues I have only flicked through them with the focus on the stamp sets (and how much I need to budget!) and didn't pay attention to the beautiful details and all the stunning creations. If you're like me and only look at the stamp sets (surely I am not the only one) I urge you to also 'Case The Catalogue', because I guarantee you too will get so much inspiration from this beautifully curated masterpiece. 



I made this card for our dear friends Kel and Mahlah Grey who own and run a local family dairy farm called The Pines Kiama. (Note the pic below with the stonewall as to why I 'needed' this stamp set!). They have had a tough few years to say the least with droughts, a pandemic and to top it off months of endless rain. But despite their hardships they always have a smile. Together they have three gorgeous girls and I genuinely don't know how they do it.  

They recently took a leap of faith in hope to build their small business and opened a small produce shop called The Pines Pantry. It stocks their fresh products including *the best* gelato and cheeses you've ever tasted - I promise I'm not joking when I say it's the best - they have been featured on Better Homes & Gardens and in magazines including Delicious, The Land, Good Weekend and my personal favourite Country Style Magazine and they all agree that it's the best too! 

Kel and Mahlah, (if you're reading this) - Congratulations on opening your new shop, you are the epitome of resilience and we are so incredibly proud to be a very small part of your exciting new adventure. You are truly inspiring. 💗


Thanks for stopping by, 
Louise xo

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Be Inspired Blog Hop - Stepping into Spring

30 March 2022




It's hard to believe it's time again for another Be Inspired Design Team Blog Hop because the month of March seems to have flown by! You may have hopped here from my lovely and talented friend Angela Meiritz-Reid from New Zealand. Please hop around by clicking the next button at the bottom of this post.

The theme for this months hop is 'Stepping into Spring'. Spring? Oh boy, doesn't that sound lovely. Here in Australia we are are month into Autumn, however for many people, particularly on the East Coast we are just stepping in puddles - actually the word 'puddle' is down playing it - it's more like a dam, pool, lake or river and for us here on the farm it's the mud, lots of mud. The rain has been unrelenting and it hardly feels like we have had a Summer at all....but I digress...we are here for Spring today!

Lately I have been making cards that bring me joy, and I enjoy flowers and watercolouring. So that's what you're getting from me - which I figured was perfect for our Spring theme hop.
I made this adorable notecard set using the Hand-Penned Petals stamp set on page 105 of the catalogue. The dainty and playful flowers in this set remind me of some of my favourite design prints from Cath Kidston or Liberty of London.


Next up to 'Be Inspired' by is my wonderfully talented friend from Canada, Carolynn Sander, who I know will have something gorgeous to share. Hit the Next Button: 
 


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Everlong Farm Update
Oh, crafty friends, the world just seems heavy right now doesn't it. I feel like I'm sharing all the fun and happy things while the world seems to be sick, drowning or on fire. Please don't be fooled by the 'happy snaps' of social media or even my own personal blog and stories. My family have all been unwell with Covid this year and had our own personal struggles, but I also know it's important to share our stories and I know for me I love seeing how my friends are spending their days. 

Our days lately have been filled with lots of mud and few sunny days, however we are grateful not to be flooded. We are yet to start our driveway works and visits to farm are just an absolute awful mud-pit. James tried to make the most of the mud with his boogie board! We seem to have acquired a fox who visits regularly and I'm sure I won't be too happy with that when we finally get chickens! The bees are going well however not loving all this rain and thankfully my sister-in-law Laura takes good care of them. The social highlight this past month was we were invited to a local neighbourhood gathering at Greyleigh Kiama and wow what a stunning place - thankfully the rain held off and the sun came out for the afternoon. 
Unfortunately I didn't get much craft time this month as my Mum (pictured with the most stunning hydrangeas this season) was moving and we spent most of the month packing and cleaning her unit. With any luck April will be more productive on the crafting front and I will also be able to share some more photos of my adorable craftroom. 

Sending you all love and peace. Stay safe dear friends. 
Louise xo

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