Clearance Rack Blitz!

WOW, Stampin' Up sure knows how to surprise us! They have just announced a Clearance Blitz Sale. This blitz finishes on Monday 31 March 2013, so is only available for a few days. All items are reduced from between 40-60%! Click HERE to see what's on sale! Clearance items are only available while stocks last. 

Sale items are from either:

• 2011-12 Idea Book and Catalogue - view it HERE 
• 2011-2012 Summer Mini Catalogue - view it HERE 

Contact me ASAP if you'd like to order something - last time items sold out pretty quickly - please note these items are NOT available on any online stores, they can only be ordered by a demonstrator.

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Stampin Up's Easy Events

A work colleague of my daughter's, recently gave birth to their first precious bundle. I can't tell you any other details other than they had a delightful little girl. That's all the reason I needed to make this card for Nicole to give to the new parents. 

Stamp set: Easy Events
Card Stock: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Crumb Cake
Ink: Early Espresso, Pink Pirouette, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo
Accessories: Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Linen Thread, Vintage Faceted Button, Paper Doily (Seasonal Mini Catalogue)
Tools: Big Shot, Honeycomb Embossing Folder (Seasonal Mini Catalogue), Window Frames Framelits Die (Seasonal Mini Catalogue)

I've got a short day at work today and am finishing at midday. How cool is that! I've got a special friend visiting for the long weekend and am looking forward to having some downtime. I will however, be back to show you some more goodies, so be sure to check back here soon. Enjoy the rest of your day! 

FREE MDS 30 Day Trial

Woohoo!!  Exciting news!!  We now have MDS, which is My Digital Studio.  A fantastic piece of software for creating digital scrapbooking, cards and so much more.  The best part, is that the price is sooooo much lower than I thought it would be! Only $27.95!!  Email me HERE if you want to download a FREE full working copy on a 30 Day Trial. Please be warned that it's a huge download (almost 1GB)  and watch this video HERE which gives you some more information about it. 

The other exciting news is that we now have ONLINE ORDERING. Unfortunately, I don't have a Stampin' Up! Business Website, so it won't be available from me, but for those demonstrators who do, you just need to hit the 'Shop Now' button and do all your ordering online.  Or, you can still email me your orders too if you prefer. The benefits of emailing me your order, is that I can combine my orders so you'll still only have to pay 5% shipping (with no minimum). The downside of online ordering is that you'll have to pay 5% with a minimum of $9.95 - but then you'll get it delivered directly to your door.  

I'm looking forward to having a play with MDS over the weekend and once I've sussed it out, I'll hopefully have something to show you. 

Until next time :-)

Simple but Elegant

When I first laid my eyes on the Established Elegance stamp set, I knew it would be one of my favourites. This is the card I'm including in my customers orders this month, as my way of thanking them. I've cased it from Kristine McNickle who is a demo from Hamilton. Kristine has some gorgeous projects on her blog. Click HERE to see what I'm talking about. 

Stamp Set: Established Elegance, Vintage Verses (2013 SAB Retired)
Card Stock: Naturals White
Ink: Early Espresso, Primrose Petals, Lucky Limade
Accessories: Basic Pearls
Tools: Big Shot, Delicate Design EF, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack

Be sure to pop back again soon, to see what else I've been cooking up in my craft room. 

Get Well Wishes

I made this card for my friend Jo, who has recently had shoulder surgery. She's not allowed to work, drive or go to the gym for 3-4 months! I hope that also includes cooking, cleaning and all the other tedious jobs we do daily. Wishing you a very speedy recovery Jo! 

I've used products from Sale-A-Bration for Jo's card and today is the very last day that they're available, so don't delay, submit your order with me today!

Stamp Set: Bloomin' Marvellous (2013 SAB), Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Card Stock: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Calypso Coral
Designer Paper: Sycamore Street (2013 SAB)
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Calypso Coral
Accessories: White Bakers Twine, Sycamore Street Ribbon and Button Pack (2013 SAB)
Tools: 2 3/8" Scallop Punch, 2" Circle Punch, Big Shot, Vine Street Embossing Folder (2013 SAB)

Do you think the quality of my photo's have improved? My kind and generous upline Karen, gave me her light box that she had made, because she's upgraded to a store bought one. Karen made it from a cardboard box, white sheet and two lamps and it works a treat! Thanks so much - I really appreciate it and can now take better quality photo's any time of the night or day. Well, here's hoping anyway :-)

Welcome Baby

Did you realise that there is only three days left to SaleABrate?! It finishes a bit earlier this year because of Easter. So, long story short, if there is something from the SAB catalogue that you wanted to earn for FREE, don't wait - contact me today!

The cutie tootie card here was demonstrated by Sally Williams last weekend at our SAS (Stamp-a-Stack) team event and it uses a stamp from the Patterned Occasions Stamp Set. You get five stamps in the set which each have an image and a message. You can turn those five stamps into ten, just by cutting the message off the bottom so you can mix and match them. And, they cater to all occasions too!

Stamp Set: Patterned Occasions, Petite Pairs
Card Stock: Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Ink: Certainly Celery
Accessories: Paper Doilies, 
Tools: Big Shot, Window Frames Collection Framelits Die, Fancy Fan Embossing Folder

I hope you're having a happy hump day!

Clean and Simple

This card is not only clean and simple, but it's quick and easy too! The very talented Karen Rogers demonstrated this card last weekend at our SAS event. I don't own this stamp set - well, I didn't own it, but after seeing this little gem, I've got it on order. Thanks Karen, you have a way of doing this to me...

Stamp Set: Love and Sympathy
Card Stock: Wisteria Wonder, Naturals White
Ink: Sahara Sand, Wisteria Wonder
Accessories: Basic Pearls, Wisteria Wonder Bakers Twine
Tools: Corner Rounder Punch

I hope you've enjoyed seeing the Sale-A-Bration offerings. There's still more to see, so I hope you pop back again soon :-)

By the Sea

Here's another project made at the Stamp-a-Stack event on Saturday. Isn't it gorgeous! Vanita Hurbuns demonstrated this one and she's done a fabulous job! Perfect for the males we have in our lives. 

Stamp Set: By the Sea
Card Stock: Sahara Sand, Marina Mist, Whisper White
Designer Paper: First Edition Speciality Paper
Ink: Marina Mist, Sahara Sand
Accessories: Linen Thread
Tools: 1" Circle Punch, Big Shot, Latice Embossing Folder, Labels Collection Framelits Die, Bone Folder

That’s it from me for today – hope to see you back here soon!

Feeling Sentimental on Vellum

As some of you may know, we held our team Stamp-a-Stack event yesterday. What a wonderful day it was too! Great company, yummy pizza and cool projects to make.  It was a very relaxed afternoon and looked as though everyone enjoyed themselves. This was the card that I demonstrated. I loved it as soon as I saw it and have cased it from Kimberly Van Diepe. Kimberley is from the States and she has some gorgeous projects on her blog. Click on her name to take you there.  Everyone got to make three of these cards, one in Certainly Celery, Pink Pirouette and Bashful Blue. 

Stamp Set: Feeling Sentimental (2013 SAB)
Card Stock: Crumb Cake, Certainly Celery, 
Designer Paper: First Edition Speciality Paper
Ink: Black Staz On
Accessories: Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons, Linen Thread, Vellum, Cute Clips
Tools: Big Shot, Honeycomb Embossing Folder

Watch this space for the next Stamp-a-Stack event. Unfortunately Linda, Robyn and Lesley it won't be next weekend like you requested {waving at you ladies} :-) 

It's always great to receive feedback and we're happy to hear how we can improve on our events, so if you have some ideas - please let me know, so I can forward it to the other ladies in the WOW PaperKRafters team. 

That’s it from me for today – I'll be showing you the other projects we made at our team event during the week, so pop back again soon.  Enjoy your Sunday!

Birds of a Feather

I was putting away all my fabulous birthday cards the other day (yes finally.. you might thinking) and came across another lovely handmade one that I hadn't shown you. I don't know how it slipped by me. 

This was made by Denise and I love it! I'm not sure what stamp set is used for the bleached bits down the bottom and have a feeling it might not be Stampin' Up! - but it's very effective, none the less. It inspires me to want to get my bird punch out, but I have no time to do so, as have been busy preparing for our team event, which is on this Saturday. I hope I'll be seeing you there!

Card Stock: Bashful Blue, Crumb Cake, Melon Mambo, So Saffron, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive
Tools: Decorative Label Punch, Bird Builder Punch, Distressing Tool
Accessories: Bleach, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter

Are you wondering if Summer is ever going to end? Apparently, we're in the grip of one of the worst droughts in a decade! After last years abysmal Summer we've certainly made up for it this year. Although, I love the heat and am enjoying the sunshine - I do feel for the farmers and the animals. It's certainly not fun for them. 

On a brighter note, I hope you're enjoying your week! 

You're Invited to...

If you live in West Auckland... or any part of Auckland... or neighbouring towns or cities... heck, you're welcome to come no matter where you live! We're holding our Twilight Stamp-a-Stack event in West Harbour and I invite you to join us! 

This event is hosted by The WOW PaperKRafters Team

When: Saturday 16 March

Time: 4pm until 8pm

Cost: $30

What: Make 12 fabulous cards (3 each of 4 designs) 

Includes pizza too - great value and lots of fun! 

You'll have to be quick as registrations close on Wednesday. 

Email me today to book your place.

Here's a sneak peek at some of the projects:

I look forward to seeing you there! 

Clockworks Notecards

Have you got any half finished cards and projects lying around in your craft space that you have great intentions of finishing one day? Well, I've got quite a few... and over the last few days I've gotten around to finishing some. That's a great achievement for me, because I can tend to have the attitude of "out with the old and in with the new" and they end up in the bin. 

These little note cards which are housed in a cute vellum envelope were one of the projects we did at our Stampin' Up! Heartfelt event in September last year. Isn't it so sweet! I love the colours and think the whole little pack is adorable. It sure would make a lovely door prize or hostess gift, don't you think? There is a FREE mini tutorial for the vellum envelope that all the note cards fit in at the end of this post, so I hope you get around to making one yourself. However, you will need the Simply Scored Scoring Tool and the Diagonal Plate. 

Sorry about the quality of  the photo below - but I've taken it a few times and it keeps coming out as though it's blurry. It must be the vellum. Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.



Stamp Set: Clockworks, One in a Million

Card Stock: Whisper White
Ink: Basic Grey, Pool Party, Gumbo Green, Calypso Coral, More Mustard
Accessories: Calypso Coral Baker's Twine, Rhinestone Basic Jewel, 
Tools: Simply Scored, Simply Scored Diagonal Plate, 1" Circle Punch, 2mm Circle Punch

ENVELOPE DIRECTIONS FOR NOTE CARDS HOLDER:

1. Begin with a 7-¼" Square piece of Vellum card stock.
2. With the Diagonal Plate in place on the Simply Scored Scoring Board, score two opposite sides of the square @ 2-7/8″. 
3. Score the other two opposite sides @ 3-7/8″.
4. Using a square punch, snip out the small triangular area where the score lines cross or intersect. 
5. Fold on the score lines and crease firmly with your bone folder.  Fasten three sides together with snail adhesive, leaving the third side open.  You can trim the bottom flap before adhering if desired.

I've just spent the last wee while in Christchurch where it was a bit cooler than in Auckland. Not cold, but not really warm either. I have to remember that we're in Autumn now, so this is to be expected. I'm not looking forward to the colder temperatures - I'd much prefer sunshine and warmth all year around. I hope you're enjoying your weekend and I'll see you all back here soon!
 

Oh Happy Day

Hi all, and happy Friday to you! I've used the stamp set Bloomin' Marvellous for this card, which is another one of the free sets you can choose during Sale-a-Bration. It's actually quite a cute set and contains four images and four messages. How's that for value! I love the little Hummingbird and the curly font of the messages. 

Stamp Set: Bloomin' Marvellous
Card Stock: Marina Mist
Ink: Pacific Point, Bashful Blue, Gumball Green, Raspberry Ripple
Tools: Big Shot, Label Collection Framelits

See you back here soon for more crafting fun.

Feeling Sentimental Again....

This is the lovely swap that I received from my talented downline Vanita. Isn't it lovely? She's used my favourite Sale-a-Bration set Feeling Sentimental. Pop along to her blog HERE to see some of her other lovely creations. 

Stamp Set: Feeling Sentimental

Card Stock: Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Naturals Ivory

Designer Paper: First Edition

Ink: Basic Black, Soft Suede

Accessories: Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon, Mini Silver Brads

Tools: Modern Label punch

During Sale-a-Bration, for every $120 spent (before shipping), you get to choose something for free! There are lots of stamp sets to choose from, as well as very pretty accessories such as brads, ribbon and gorgeous designer series paper.  Warning: they are all extremely fabulous! There are only 16 days left to take advantage of this special offer. Contact me today to place your order.

Zig Zag Hello

Embossing card stock adds a texture that elevates a simple project, to a WOW project! Have you ever wanted the look of textured card stock, but only in a small area or along the border of your card? The new Simply Scored Borders Scoring Plate from Stampin' Up! will do just that! It takes it in a new direction - one that's curvy, wavy, scallopy.  Unlike most other scoring plates that keep everything uniformly straight, the new Borders Scoring Plate overflows with curvaceous designs to let you prettify plain card stock. 

This was cased from one of our Impressions magazine (that's the fab mag that us demonstrators get delivered to our door bi-monthly). It was also one of the other cards made at one of my cattie launches last week. 

Stamp Set: Oh Hello
Cardstock: Whisper White, Soft Suede
Ink: Crumb Cake, In Colour and Regals Stampin' Markers
Accessories: Linen Thread, 
Tools: Big Shot, Ovals Framelits Dies, Simply Scored, Simply Scored Borders Scoring Plate

If you don't have a Simply Scored tool, then this plate is your reason for getting one! It's an easy way to get an embossed look without a Big Shot. Trace a single line for a simple look or stack multiple lines together.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Feeling Sentimental

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I had a Seasonal Catalogue launch - well, I actually ended up having two, for various reasons.  At both of them, the ladies got to make two cards. This was the second card for one of the launches using the Sale-a-Bration stamp set Feeling Sentimental.  It is so quick and easy peasy to make... truly a 10 minute card! I love this stamp set and it is definitely my favourite from all the freebies in Sale-a-Bration this year. I've cased this card from Patsy Waggoner - a demonstrator in the USA. Click here to check out her fabulous work. 

Stamp Set: Feeling Sentimental (SAB)
Card Stock: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede
Ink: Soft Suede
Tools: Big Shot, Adorning Accents Edgelits

Can you believe that it is March already? Can someone please tell me where February went? I'm away on Sunday for a few (6 to be exact) days, but have scheduled a few posts in my absence. I hope that your week has wrapped up nicely and I'll see you back here soon.