Category Archives: Off-the-Page

Dec 2 2014

Countdown to Christmas

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And the roller-coaster that is Christmas begins!

Time seems to be disappearing before my eyes yet I’m not sitting back contemplating my navel I can assure you – I’ve made six dozen personal Christmas cards; I’m about to make two dozen “work orientated” Christmas cards for hubby; I’m helping a friend in her shop each day until Christmas during school hours; plus I’m still a mother of two and wife to one and with no Christmas fairies to do the washing and cooking there’s still THAT to do each and every day. But hey, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Well, maybe just a smidge, lol! 🙂

But enough yabbering, the Tiny Treat Boxes (135829 – $8.95 for 25) on page 10 of the Holiday Catty are a favorite of mine. They are just so darn versatile but for today’s post I’ve simply used the catalog as my inspiration.

Christmas Countdown with Tiny Treat Boxes

Aren’t they the cutest? And what a great way of using up those little pieces of cardstock that one accumulates. A bit of Dazzling Diamond Glitter, a few Basic Rhinestone and voila, what fun!

Now, a quick heads-up given we are getting closer to Christmas, for anyone wanting Christmas supplies or thinking of purchasing some Christmas supplies as gifts, I’ll be submitting my last order next week, Tuesday 9th December. This allows a full two weeks for orders to arrive and no disappointments.

Oh, and have yourself an... Inkee Fiddling Day!

Joanne x

Jul 24 2013

Another frame!

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I just couldn’t help myself! When a friend of ours celebrated the birth of her daughter I wanted to giver her something special so… created a frame similar to what I did for Miss Ten’s teacher. As the children would say, it’s the same but different.

Congratulations on the safe arrival of number 3!

I finally found an outlet that sold the frames which are perfect for these creations and was told they had a shipment about to be delivered. Hmmmm, that was three or four weeks ago so I guess I’d best make the call.

Don’t you hate it when you request a particular item from a retailer are then told, yes not only can they get it but they already have an order coming which is expected next week. You then ask if perhaps you should call to confirm the order’s arrival: No, they say, we’ll call you {smile} {smile}… and never a peep is heard.

This frustrates me no end as I do appreciate they are busy, heck, most of us are busy but if they know they’ll get side-tracked with other business then put the onus back onto me, make it MY responsibility as it’s what I want. I don’t mind, honestly!

Oh, and have yourself an... Inkee Fiddling Day!

Joanne x

Dec 28 2010

Merry Christmas one and all!!!

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Albeit a very late, it still comes with all the wishes for a safe and happy holiday season sprinkled with much fun and frivolity!

I cannot believe where this last month has disappeared too! No sooner had I packed up from the second garage sale then I was up to my armpits with baking, packing for our week’s holiday which commenced the day after school finished, endeavouring to get all the shopping done BEFORE school was out, plus all the general froth and bubble that goes with day to day life in the lead up to Christmas anyways!

Another thing that kept me busy in that fortnight before school finished for the year was making four dozen Sour Cream Bags. This name is actually American and probably should be renamed “Frozen Samboy Bags” for here as I have yet to see any sour cream in these shaped bags in the Australian dairy cabinets.


These bags were in lieu of Christmas cards from the children to their class mates. Last year the children made their own cards. Yes I did design a card each for them to copy but what can I say, they are my children hence they nodded their heads in unison with a “yes mum” whilst all the while doing their own thing. Now who does that remind you of?!

No such luck this year though, their hearts were willing but their bodies weren’t able so it was left to me to cut, stamp and punch. Miss Seven did however sort the Christmas Tree marshmallows that went inside each of these little bags quite willingly and they both wrote up their own Christmas tags thankfully.

Both the paper and ribbon were last year’s stock from Stampin’ Up! I can highly recommend these bags should you need to use up any back-log of supplies you may have. I could have used even more paper but the Midas in me redid the sizing’s so I could get six bags instead of just the four out of one 12×12 – far more economical for mass makings!

The stamps however are both from the current Idea Book and Catalogue from Stampin’ Up! The Perfect Punch set I now leave in my kit as I continually reach for it when I need a basic sentiment that doesn’t look basic.W hat you can’t see from this picture is that I’ve in fact stamped Joy for Christmas twice – once in green, once in red – using my 1-1/4″ circle punch on one just for the sentiment then using dimensionals to adhere this circle then to the scallop punched out stamp.

As for the bauble stamp from the Delightful Decorations set, my gosh, how often did I use that in the last four weeks? All I can say is thank goodness my bauble punch was up to the challenge as at a rough guess I think I’ve used it at least 500 times… if not 600 times… at least!

Now for my joke I’ve been saving for months and now is really too late but never mind such minor details…

What is orange and says Ho Ho Ho?
FANTA Claus… ha ha ha… oh go on, I know your smirking! 🙂

Here’s hoping you all had a wonderful Christmas whichever way you may have chosen to spend it, and are now bunkering down for one heck of a 2011!

Oh, and have yourself an... Inkee Fiddling Day!

Joanne x

Oct 21 2010

You know you’re really, REALLY tired when…

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no matter where you stand, what setting you put the camera on, or no matter how many lights you put on you simply you just can’t get the camera to work... then after 15 minutes you realise the lens cap is still on!

And that my dear friend is a fairly good indication how things currently are at our house. I couldn’t tell you how many times of late I’ve stood there of a morning waiting for the shower to get hot only to realise, after what seems half a day, that I haven’t even turned the hot water on – how sad is that!

Anyways, back to some paper-play… this mini-scrapbook was going to be this month’s “Off-the-Page” class but  after much deliberation and soul-searching on my part, I’ve made the executive decision not to have any further classes until next year. There simply isn’t enough time so this will now become February’s “Off-the-Page” class. However I do hope to have a Christmas workshop so please stay tuned!

Now back to the Mini-Scrapbook… this was inspired by the extremely talented Dawn Olchefske. This has been something I’ve wanted to do for such a long time as it’s something I feel could be adapted to anyone’s style. Plus it’s small enough to “pop” into the post to family or friends filled with happy snaps.

And I’m sure after making one or two of these little gems you could even do one a month as a great keepsake (sure would be easier then the 12×12 albums I do for EACH child EACH year… that’s something else I need to complete before year’s end… for both this year and LAST… ugh!). Now bear with me as there are MANY photos to this project…

I’m so pleased that you can see the beautiful new Champagne Shimmer Paint on the Big Shot’s Vintage Wallpaper embossing finishing with an Antique Brad… love it all!

The DSP I’m using throughout this Mini Scrapbook is the delightful Greenhouse Gala which co-ordinates beautifully with the textured Wild Wasabi and Very Vanilla I’m using on each page and the base of Soft Suede.

Maybe, just maybe do you think, I’ve used a tad too much Champagne Shimmer Paint on the Two-Step Bird Punch and the Embosslits Beautiful Wings… I don’t think so but  then again the flash does make it appear that there is a LOT more then there really is 🙂

I’ve been loyal to my beloved Pumpkin Pie for the past 18 months but I have to say, the Tangerine Tango I’ve used on the various sentiments has really grown on me of late. What a shame we don’t celebrate Halloween in this neck of the woods otherwise I could have some reall fun with it 🙁

Project Recipe:
Cardstock: Soft Suede, Wild Wasabi (Textured), Very Vanilla, Tangerine Tango, Baza Breeze
Stamp Sets: Sense of Time, Word Play, Every Moment
Classic Inks: Early Espresso, Wild Wasabi, Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze, Soft Suede
Accessories: Two-Step Bird Punch, Embosslit Beautiful Wings, Corner Punch,
Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Greenhouse Gala DSP, Antique Brads,
Champagne Shimmer Mist, Organza/Satin Ribbon, Sticky Strip, Scallop Trim Border


Oh, and have yourself an... Inkee Fiddling Day!

Joanne x

Aug 30 2010

The Lucky Last!

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Oh my gosh… talk about being on auto pilot… I’ve been awake since 3.30 this morning so now I keep falling asleep as I sit here attempting to write this so goodness knows if I’m going to make any sense but here ’tis, my last three colours on the Colour Renovation Chart.

Actually here are six of the retiring colours and DSP’s that I’ve used for Term 3’s thank you gifts for the teachers and the lovely ladies at the school office as I like them to know how much I appreciate their hard work each term. Beside the colours I’m highlighting below I’ve also used Barely Banana, Really Rust and Apricot Appeal.

These came about as I really wanted to make some notelets with the Big Shot Scallop Circle Die Cut but to simply put them into a box didn’t seem right so I made up a template of a hand-bag that would hold them. I made four notelets for each bag – two each of two designs. (And I’ve used one of the new punches from the 2010-2011 catty – can you spot it?)

Okay… here is  Fond Farewell to Colour #28 – Blush Blossom.

Here is a Fond Farewell to Colour #29 – Pale Plum.

Here is a Fond Farewell to Colour #30 – Orchid Opulence.

I’m really happy with how they turned out but I’ve dozed off so many times now I’m signing off as the alarm is already set for 4.30am as I need to make a dozen or two cupcakes before school tomorrow. Yes, seemed like a really good idea last week when I planned to make them then and there then put them into the freezer so I would be organised. As I’ve said before, just call me FOGI!

Oh, and have yourself an... Inkee Fiddling Day!

Joanne x

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