But I'm built for cold climates!

I love living in Australia, and no matter where I travel, its always a brilliant feeling when I get back home...the bright skies, Vegemite on my toast (what is it that we Aussies love about a spread that other countries liken to axle grease?!?!?!) and vast open spaces...BUT....the heat...oh my giddy aunt!  I'm built for places like Alaska, Norway, Antarctica...plenty of insulation!  Not so good in an Australian summer! 

So here I am perched comfortably under the air conditioner,  papers, cardstock, ribbons and all manner of tools littered around my feet and my newest design ready to share with the world! This card started out with a masculine theme, but all of the sudden, there were flowers! I'm yet to put a greeting on the card. Cant decide if it will be a birthday, mothers day or just a general "hi, how you doin' ?" card, but I'm quite pleased with it...hope you are too!

Supplies Used

Kaisercraft Papers: Velvet Ensemble, Hunt & Gather
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics, Gold Invitation Card
Prima Flowers
My Favorite Things Leafy Flourish Die
Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 18 Die

Now I should leave this chair, advance to the study and try and convert the chaos into a well ordered craft room...but...to prove that my procrastination skills  are worthy of an Olympic gold medal, I am going to sit in this chair and see if a 60th birthday card idea appears! Hope you are all enjoying your weekend!

Hugs, Samantha

To peacock feather, or not to peacock feather - that is the question!

I usually have terrible trouble making male cards. Stick some pretty heritage floral paper, some ribbons and a few flowers in front of me and I'm in my element, but ask me to create a masculine card and I stare at you blankly!

So I set myself a challenge, firstly to come up with something my dad wouldn't open and say "that's girly!" and secondly, to finally find a use for the stash of peacock feathers I picked up on eBay. To say I've struggled with this is an understatement. I've stared long and hard at the card putting the peacock feather in, taking it out...and repeat...several hundred times!!!  Also, I'm pushing the boundaries with the ribbon...a wee bit on the girly side, but it may still pass the 'dad test'!

So I'll leave it up to the wonderful world of blog readers to decide... that is, if I have any blog readers yet!?! ... onto one of life's big questions - to peacock feather, or not to peacock feather!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

• Just Thinking Stamp Set
• Itty Bitty Banners Stamp Set
• Tea Time DSP
• Regals Collection Cardstock (Not Quite Navy & Always Artichoke)
• Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon
• Vintage Brads
• Button

I also added a triple dome turquoise hat pin to tie in with the blue card layer

Thanks for looking!

Hugs, Samantha

Oh dear, now I have a blog, what on earth do I do with it?

Welcome to my very first blog post! I've whittled the day away trying to add a touch of shabby to the blog and now, when I need divine inspiration to strike to help me create a captivating and witty literary masterpiece, I find I've got terrible stage fright and am at a loss for words! Those of you that know me will know that's an incredibly rare event!

I can't promise I will faithfully blog every day, after all I've had a zillion attempts at keeping a diary, which has resulted in several beautiful books with only four or five entries in them! I will try to add a new paper creation at least once a week though.

For those of you who have stumbled upon this blog by accident, there is still time to RUN AWAY!!!  But for those that are still with me (a thousand million thank-yous!) - without any further ramblings - here is my very first card created from Stampin' Up! products. This one uses card stock from the Regals Collection and the new DSP Print Poetry. Stamp set is World Treasures. I hope you like it!

It started out as something completely different in my mind, but I am quite happy with how it turned out!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

• World Treasures Stamp Set
• Regals Collection Cardstock (More Mustard and Not Quite Navy)
• DSP Print Poetry
• Designer Silver Basics Buttons
• Itty Bitty Banners Stamp Set
• Very Vanilla Cardstock
• Round Tab Punch (Retired)
• Party Punch Stamp Set (Retired)

I hope your weekend was fabulous and I sincerely thank you for looking!

Hugs, Samantha