Sweet Friend Party Girl Card

I've been experimenting with paper piecing. The stamp is a digi from Sassy Studio designs and the Sweet Friend sentiment stamp is from the gorgeous Flourishes Apple of My Eye set. I distressed the card after cuttelbugging with Divine Swirls. I added some gorgeous bling and Kaisercraft flowers for a finishing touch.

I used the Nestabilities Labels 4 die for the main image and a smaller version for the Sweet Friend sentiment. I also used my Martha Stewart doily punch for the borders and added some red ribbon.

Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp - Punch 'Em (Punches & Dies)
Flourishes - Anything But Buttons & Bows

Calling All Australian Cardmakers - Can You Help In Any Way?

Can You Help?
CURRENT CARD TALLY = 848
CARDS TO MEET TARGET= 152
 
Tracey Hanshaw has been keeping me posted on progress for this amazing initiative to provide handmade Christmas cards for troops overseas to post home to loved ones. Currently, there are 3 700 Aussie armed forces personnel in peace keeping missions throughout the world.

Appreciated By The Troops
Last year there was so much positive feedback from personnel. They really appreciated that people back home were thinking of them. And that crafters would go to so much trouble for people they didn't know. It's wonderful for these men and women to be able to send a special handmade Christmas card to someone back home, when apart from loved ones at Christmas.

Tracey says  

Just thought I would let you know with 3 weeks to go, we now have as at today, I have collected 858 cards, I know that Karen has collected another 200 odd down there in Sydney, and I know that one of my girls has another 250 with her and we still have two big days scheduled in.  

Tracey also says there are some still to come in and not counted/confirmed, so the total is likely to be much higher.

CURRENT CARD TALLY = 848
CARDS TO MEET TARGET= 152

How You Can Help (even if you're not an Aussie)

• Spread The Word in forums, blogs, in your local card groups and with friends
• Contact Tracey to find out where to send spare handmade Christmas cards you have around
• Get together with friends and have a cardmaking day for the cause
• October 26th - If you live in the Maitland, NSW area, you're invited to come along to Tracey's making cards for the trooops day

More details, including contact details can be found at Tracey's Stampin Up Blog or Karen's Paper Lady. Thanks ladies for co-ordinating such an amazing initiative.

Michelle Philippi's In The Bag Giveaway

It's starting to feel a lot like Christmas with all the generous crafters emptying out their goodie bags,. Or in the case of Michelle Philippi, a super goodie box.

Check out the fab gift bags Michelle has made... so creative and inspirational. And she's giving away not a bag of goodies, but a box of goodies ... too many to fit in a bag... so generous! And the range of goodies  is amazing. I"m just dabbling in mini books, so noticed those right away, plus stamps, ribbons, brads, paper, diecuts and more.

Head on over to Michelle's site to find out all the details and while you're there, take a look around her fab site.

Shabby Chic Quilted Heart Card

Another square card. I quite like this size and shape... a bigger "canvas" to experiment with. I like the  shabby chic or vintage look of the quilted heart (papers from a craft magazine). I've added a button and embroidery thread.

The sentiment is on an oval using a Nellie Snellen Multi die. It's been a rainy day here, so again, I apologise for the photo quality due to poor light.

Does anyone have a reasonably priced source for envelopes for square cards?

Beatrix Potter Bunny Card

I'm experimenting with square cards. Apologies for shadow on the photo. It's a rainy day here so very little nice natural light.

This is a Beatrix Potter image. I've added a Cuttlebugged border, a gold tie and a button. Very simple, but I thought it might make a nice card for a child, or even a new baby card.

Papertrey Ink Blog Candy

I followed the recent Papertrey release and loved the stamps, especially the Wreaths For All Seasons stamp set, so was excited to see Monlight Creations is offering the gorgeous Wreath stamp set as a generous giveaway. It's such a versatile set. There is also Papertrey cardstock and ribbon.

Check out the details at Moonlight Creations. Closes October 10th, 2010.

While you're there, check out the main site as Moonlight Creations makes some stunning handmade wedding invitations and stationery.

Do You Know Of Any Nestie Friendly Stamps - I'm Making a List

As I start to slowly build my collection of Spellbinders Nestabilities Dies (love them!), I'm on the hunt for stamps that fit the Nesatabilities frames. I'm coming across more and more, so thought I'd start a list as a reference for myself and for anyone else who may be interested.

Do you know other companies who make Nestabilities compatible stamps? Please leave a comment, and I'll add them to the list. I'll update this list as I find more.

Nestie Friendly Stamps Listing

• Just Rite Stampers (Download Die Punch Compatibility PDF) 
  
• Waltzng Mouse Stamps (direct link to Nesties Friendly stamps)
  
• Papertrey Ink (Don't claim Nestie Friendly but similar  shape to Labels 1 - Check size) - Also have their own range of dies- Fillable Frames
  
• Gina K Designs (direct link to Nesties Friendly stamps - also for punches)
  
• Flourishes
  
• Heartfelt Creations
  
• Stamping Scrapping (direct link to Nesties Friendly stamps)
  (Not sure of Manufacturer For These as also available elsewhere. Do you know?)
  
• Blockheads Stamps (direct link to Nesties Friendly stamps)
  
• Layers of Color (direct link to Nestie Friendly stamps) 
• Scrapbook dot com (then search for Donna Salazar Compatibles) 
• Sparkle n Sprinkle Combo Dies & Stamp Sets 

Nestie Friendly Digital Stamps or Frames Listing

• Lindsay's Stamp Stuff at My Grafico (direct link to Vintage Christmas themed Nesties Friendly Digital Stamps and Vintage Halloween themed Nesties Friendly Digital Stamps)
  
  
• Raindrop Echo Designs at Whimsy Stamps (direct link to Nesties Friendly Digital Stamps)

Any others?

Update: Spellbinders has announced further partnerships with Flower Soft,  Our Daily Bread, Quick Quotes,  Sparkle N Sprinkle, Taylored Expressions, Technique Tuesday, The Rubber Café, and Unity Stamp Co.

I haven't had a chance to look into these yet, to see if they have Nestie Friendly Stamps. Will update the list as I get to them.

Credit:
The pictured set  is from Gina K Designs by Nina Brackett - works with Spellbinders Labels 1,4, 8 and 9

I Love Papercrafting Blogaversary Candy

Jerusha at I Love Papercrafting is celebrating 2 years of blogging with a super blogaversary giveaway.

I have my eye on the wonderful Spellbinders and Provocraft goodies, but there's also an amazing selection of fab stamps, stickers, ribbons, prestamped images, embellishments and more. Jerusha calls it her Every Occasion candy, covering all sorts of occasions and holidays. Wonderful! Thanks Jerusha... and Happy Blogaversary.

Head on over to find out more. Closes October 23rd.