Fond Farewell

I just realised that I never blogged the swap I made for our Creative Inkers Stamp Camp back in February {bad Debbie}. I'm sneaking it in while the stamp set Tropical Party is still current. Okay, so there's less than 2 hours to go until it retires, but it's better late than never...lol. It's a very simple unisex card and I thought the crumb cake cardstock resembled a grass mat, once it had been run through the lattice embossing folder. Wouldn't you agree? Squint your eyes a bit when you look at it, and you'll know what I'm talking about :)

Stamp set: Tropical Party
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Ink: Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz
Accessories: Lattice Embossing folder, Dimensionals, Sponge.


I'll be back in the next day or two with some gorgeous projects using new products from the Autumn/Winter mini Catalogue.  The new mini goes live tomorrow and I've got my Launch Party on Saturday 9 April - more details are on the left. Hope to see you then :)

Counting down...

Only 3 days left until the Summer mini retires and Sale-a-bration (SAB)finishes... There are so many fabulous stamp sets and goodies in the Summer Mini catalogue that I'm sure going to miss. They retire on 31st March although some may make it to the new catalogue (due to be released on 1st Sep) but we don't know which ones, that'll be. I also think that the FREE stamp sets on offer with Sale-a-bration are the best ever. They will no longer be available after the 31st March either, so if you were wanting to get your FREE set, best you order today. You don't want to miss out.

I was inspired by the wonderfully talented Australian demonstrator Jayne Mercer to make this card. There is no such thing as too much bliss...

Stamp sets: Bliss, Well Scripted
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Marina Mist, Natural Ivory, Early Expresso
Ink: Crumb Cake, Marina Mist, Early Expresso
Accessories: Distressing Tool (Cutter Kit), Chantilly Crochet Trim, Vintage brad.

Ciao for now x

In the Spotlight

It's a bit miserable here in Auckland, New Zealand today, still humid but we've had some rain overnight and everything is still wet. It looks like it might rain again any minute, so I'm not going to risk it... and am going to settle in and have an afternoon crafting.

This was a technique that many of you are probably familiar with - Spotlighting. It's very easy, but so effective. Jacque Pedersen showed us this card last week and I love all the extra details on it. We used the jumbo eyelets, sponged around the edges and did some paper piercing too.

Stamp set: Friends 24-7
Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Bashful Blue, Very Vanilla
Ink Pads: Black Staz On, Cherry Cobbler, Bashful Blue, Old Olive
Designer Paper: Pear Pizazz In Colour Paper Pack (Level 1 hostess reward)
Accessories: Jumbo Eyelets, Paper Piercing Tool, Aqua Pens, Black 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
I hope your weekend is going well :)

Gracias, Merci, Thank You

Have you noticed how many fab ideas there are in each and every Stampin' Up! catalogue?  I'm often time starved (like most of us these days), and this Thank You card which uses the Sweet Summer stamp set is featured in the Sale-A-Bration (SAB) cattie. I whipped up four of these babies in 15 minutes. 

DON'T FORGET!!  Only 6 days left to order from the Summer Mini and to earn your FREE Sale-a-Bration stamp set!

Bleach blond

No, I haven't dyed my hair blond - can you imagine how hideous that would be! {gasp}, but I have been dying cardstock. I held a repeat Bleaching Technique class over the weekend and for one of the projects, we coloured in the flowers with bleach, on Pear Pizzazz cardstock. Here's the end result which I really like, teamed with the black. It was a card that Jacque had shown us, using Blushing Bride and Basic Grey, which was just as effective. 

A wee hint is to use fresh bleach when you do this technique. Otherwise the chemical reaction just doesn't happen - not even after four layers and drying the cardstock each time {trust me, I'm speaking from experience}. By using fresh bleach straight from the bottle, the cardstock lightens before your very eyes, and saves a whole lot of time and effort.

Stamp Set: Elements of Style
Cardstock: Pear Pizzazz, Basic Black, Very Vanilla
Designer Paper: Pear Pizzazz (Level one Hostess reward)
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Black Embossing Powder, Basic Pearls, Aqua Pen, Pear Pizzazz Stitched Poly Ribbon, Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing folder, Lattice Embossing folder, Ovals Original Die.

Hope your week is going well :)

Bleaching Technique

I'm holding a repeat Bleaching Techniques class on Sunday if you want to join me. The class is at my house in West Harbour, Auckland, New Zealand. Email me HERE to book your place or if you want more details.

This is one of my all time favourite cards and it was shown to me by the wonderfully talented Jacque Pederson. Isn't it gorgeous!! It uses my favourite Sale-a-Bration stamp set Bliss, that you can earn for FREE with an order of $120. Sale-a-Bration is only available until 31st March, so what are you waiting for?

Stamp Set: Bliss (Sale-a-Bration set)
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Perfect Plum
Ink: Soft Suede, Early Expresso, Perfect Plum
Designer Paper: Elegant Soiree
Accessories:  Top Note Bigz Die, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Early Expresso Satin Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Bleach, Gold Glow Smooch Spritz $9.75

Thanks for looking :)

Girls just wanna have fun!

And, we definitely did have - at our Regional Training day in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday. We had some wonderful presenters including demonstrators Bron Heslop and Debbie Airey who did an amazing job of showing us what we can do with envelopes and 3D projects. Watch this space - I'm definitely going to case some of their great ideas. Sophie (the Creative Trainer from SU! Australia) and Emma (our Country Manager) gave us some great tips and techniques. We made some cute "Make and Takes" using new products from the upcoming Winter mini catalogue - which I'll post a bit later on, and I won a Stamp set - one of my favourites from the new mini, so that was super exciting!  It was a really informative and wonderful way to spend the day.

Emma also ran a little competition amongst us - we had to make a name tag and Kate Tobeck won. Congratulations Kate! I didn't get to see what you'd made, but I'm hoping you'll post it on your blog soon :)

This was the name tag I came up with and I was quite happy with the end result. Especially when it was after 1am when I made it... I'm thinking that I might turn it into a card at some stage - removing my name of course.  

Stamp set: En Francais, Just Believe, Rough Type ($45.95 in clear mount and only available until 31 March)
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Bashful Blue, Crumb Cake
Ink: Versamark, Soft Suede, Old Olive
Accessories: White Embossing powder, Victoria Crochet Trim ($16.95 only available until 31 March), Linen Thread, Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Antique Brads, Neutrals Designer Buttons, Distressing Tool. 

Have a great week!

Thank You

This was Sally's swap from Stamp Camp (I know it was a month ago but I had to share it with you) and one of my favourites. I'll definitely be casing this one. Sally's used the Bliss stamp which is one of the FREE stamp sets you can choose during Sale-A-Bration. Remember, you've only got until 31st March to take advantage of choosing a FREE stamp set for every $120 you spend. The Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die, Greenhouse Gala Designer Paper and Stitched-Poly Ribbon sets the card off wonderfully.

I was very lucky to have been a recipient of so many beautiful swaps from our inaugural Stamp Camp. Thank you ladies :)

Cocktails anyone?

This was another fabulous swap I received from Shona Edmonds at our Stamp Camp. Doesn't it make you want to relax on an Island and partake in a cocktail or two? Imagine it - ahhh, bliss...

Stamp set: Tropical Party ($30.95 clear mount), Well Scripted ($33.95 clear mount).
Ink: Certainly Celery, Tangerine Tango, Chocolate Chip, Garden Green
Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Garden Green.
Accessories: Rhinestone brads, Sponges, Blender pen.

Punch Bunch

Here are another two swaps that I received at our Stamp Camp. I think you'll agree that they're both lovely. The first one is from Ria and she's teamed the Owl from Punch Bunch with the little owl from the Aviary stamp set. It's very cute. Remember that the stamp set Aviary is only available until 31 March from the Summer Mini Catalogue and you can earn Punch Bunch absolutely FREE with orders of $120 for Sale-A-Bration, also only available until 31 March.

The second card that also uses the owl from the Punch Bunch stamp set was made by Bev Poultney.  She's used Concord Crush and Certainly Celery which look great together and the delicate Pinking Hearts Border punch from the Summer Mini catalogue and so also only available until 31 March. You won't want to miss out on this.

 I feel so lucky to have been a recipient of so many beautiful projects.