Another year older...

and a year wiser... A good friend and work colleague celebrated her birthday on Sunday. I dropped this card into her letterbox, late Saturday night because I knew that she was out and about early on her special day. I hope you had a wonderful day Tammie.

I've cased this card from a blog I found while blog hopping one day, but I'm sorry I can't remember who. If it was you, please come forward and make yourself known, so I can give you the credit you deserve.

You can't really see in the photo but I've twisted the ribbon around while attaching it to the sticky strip underneath. I've seen this on lots of projects and is something I've wanted to try for a while. I quite like the end result.

Stamp Set: Nature Walk
Cardstock: River Rock, Very Vanilla, Early Expresso
Ink: Early Expresso, River Rock, Ridinghood Red, Regal Rose
Accessories: Early Expresso Satin Ribbon, Distressing Tool (Cutter Kit), Blender pen.

It's a stunning day here in Auckland today which is a vast contrast to the cold and windy day we had yesterday. 

Talk to you again soon :)

Liebster Blog Award

Look what I got!!  I feel extremely honoured to receive this blog award from Juliette Chapman. Thank you so much - it made my day. Check out Juliette's blog HERE as she has many inspiring projects and is one very talented lady. I was fortunate enough to meet Juliette and attend one of her classes last year, while I stayed on in Sydney, after Convention.  If you ever get the opportunity, I thoroughly recommend that you attend a class of Juliette's - they are loads of fun and very inspirational.

Anyway, back to the award...The premise behind it, is to draw attention to new blogs, or blogs with fewer than 300 followers. So, now it is my turn to pass on this award to three other people whose blogs inspire me. This is so difficult, as there are tons of very creative people out there! Here are the three ladies that I've chosen (after deliberating for a very long time and finally making a final decision):

Karen Rogers - my amazing upline who I regularly get inspiration from.
Denise Ibbett - a fellow demonstrator from the Creative Inkers Team in Papakura, Auckland who does awesome work.
Bev Watt - a wonderfully creative demonstrator from across the ditch in the Gold Coast, Australia.

Thinking of You

I've been practising my brayering lately - thought I better, since I'm holding a brayering class soon and have cased this from the amazingly talented Michelle Zindorf.  Michelle has some amazing projects with step by step instructions and makes it look so easy. Pop over to her blog and have a look - you'll be really impressed.  I'm quite pleased with my effort although I've got a  long way to go until I'm even half as good as Michelle. This little bird is from the Silhouette Sentiments set which you can earn for FREE if you host a qualifying workshop. Email me HERE if you want to know more.

Happy Birthday Baby!

My baby girl celebrated her 15th birthday on Wednesday which is unbelievable!  Where did that time go?  It only seemed like yesterday that she was born...{sigh}.

Bridgette is sporty and outgoing but she still loves all things girly including make up, jewellery and clothes. I was really stuck on what to make her until I came across this beautiful card from Teneale Williams. Teneale has a clean and elegant style which I love. I would have liked to have added a bit of vintage but with time restrictions, I ended up keeping it exactly the same. Why change something so gorgeous?  Bridgette loved her card - so, mission accomplished.

And, here's the inside...

Stamp Set: Butterfly Prints, Flight of the Butterfly, Upsy Daisy
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Fine Supernova Pink Glitter, Basic Pearls, Sticky Strip, Extra Large Butterfly Punch, Corner Punch, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Circles #2 Originals Die, Dimensionals.

TGIF and the school holidays :)

Take a Walk on the Wild Side..

Well, not quite the wild side but a nature walk... I wanted to update my display board and show off some new products from the Autumn/Winter mini catalogue so went blog hopping, and found this lovely card from Jennifer Weide which I have cased. It uses four new products including my fave Nature Walk stamp set and coordinating designer paper, a beveled windowpane and the new framed tulips embossing folder. Check out Jennifer's blog - she's certainly got it going on and has lots of inspiring projects.

Stamp set: Nature Walk, Occasional Greetings
Cardstock: So Saffron, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Designer Paper: Botanical Gazette
Ink: Old Olive
Accessories: Beveled Windowpane, Antique Brads, Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Framed Tulips Embossing Folder.

Happy hump day everyone :)

Technique Samples

I just love this Technique Album we made with Jacque - and I'm sure you will too. It's a great reference guide which you can add to, as you learn more stamping and papercraft techniques.  I'm holding a class on how to make this gorgeous album on Tuesday 19 April, so click here to email me, if you want to join us. It might look complicated but believe me, it's easy to make. More details on the class are to the left.

Once a month, I hold a Technique class where you will make two different projects using that particular technique.  You'll also receive instructions and a sample so you can add it to your album.

Short and Sweet..

Just a short and sweet post today.  This is a card I made for a friend, to thank him for doing some jobs around my house a short while ago. The stamp set Totally Tools makes it so easy and was perfect for what I wanted.

Stamp Set: Totally Tools
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Jumbo Eyelet, Twine, Crimper, Distressing Tool (Cutter Kit), Modern Label Punch, Twill Tape.

If you're coming along to my Autumn/Winter Catalogue launch this afternoon - I'll see you soon.  If you haven't booked in yet and wanted to come, contact me now because there are still a few spots left.

Have a great Saturday :)

Another Year Wiser...

It was my good friend (and wonderful upline) Karen's birthday last week. This was the card that I made using Nature Walk (I told you I was going to get a lot of use out of it). I've inked up a clear block (size D) with Crumb Cake ink to create the background and am quite happy with how it turned out, especially when it was another late night creation.

Stamp Set: Nature Walk, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Marina Mist, Very Vanilla
Ink: Old Olive, Marina Mist, Crumb Cake
Accessories: Victoria Crochet Trim, Vintage Trinkets, Jewellery Tag Punch, Spiral Border Punch, Antique Brads, Neutrals Designer Buttons, Linen Thread.

I hope you're having a great week.

Autumn Days

I played with the new French Foliage stamp set from the Autumn/Winter mini over the weekend. It is a set that can be made into a masculine or feminine card, so is very versatile.  I wanted to use my water colour paper but couldn't find it - (I'd obviously put it in a safe place) so used Very Vanilla cardstock instead. I sprayed this lightly with water and then stamped the French writing and three different leaves randomly over it in Cajun Craze, More Mustard and So Saffron - real Autumn colours. The colours a bled a bit, which was the effect I was after. After I tucked the linen thread behind the collage piece and adhered the brads, I was a bit stumped and didn't quite know what I was going to do next. I'm happy with the end result though and will pop this away in my little emergency stash. 

Stamp Set: French Foliage, Short and Sweet
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, More Mustard, Peach Parfait, Cajun Craze
Ink: So Saffron, Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Peach Parfait
Accessories: Linen Thread, 1" Circle Punch, Old Olive Designer Button (Brights pack), Old Olive brads (Brights pack), Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots.  

Strength and Hope

Here is a lovely swap that I received at our WOW PaperKRafters team training last weekend. It was made by the lovely Sarah Roche. Sarah has used the new Strength and Hope stamp and although the photo doesn't show it very much, the butterfly is covered in dazzling diamonds glitter and looks gorgeous.

As part of their Making a Difference program, Stampin' Up! is proud to partner with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation® (BCRF) in the Strength & Hope Campaign. From 1 April-31 July 2011, Stampin' Up! will donate $2* from the sale of each Strength & Hope Set to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

*Stampin' Up! is donating $2 from this purchase to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®. BCRF is dedicated to preventing breast cancer and finding a cure in our lifetime by funding clinical and translational research worldwide. For more information about BCRF, visit www.bcrfcure.org.

123663 Strength & Hope wood-mount set $43.95
124232 Strength & Hope clear-mount set $34.95

Contact me today to order this beautiful set and support BCRF as they work to find a cure for breast cancer!

Although I don't like the fact that the end of daylight saving signals the end of Summer, I do love, love, love that extra hour sleep we get.

Hope you've had a great weekend :)

Nature Walk

We had our paperKRafters team training last weekend, organised by our illustrious leader Karen. It was a really fun afternoon and Karen taught us two great projects (which I'll showcase at a later time). We also made swaps and for my swap, I used Nature Walk (the stamp set I won at our Regional Training) and the new Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. I sponged around the edges of the frame, which makes it really stand out.

Stamp Set: Nature Walk, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Cardstock: Early Expresso, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Old Olive
Ink: Early Expresso, Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Vintage Brad, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Jewellery Tag, Linen Thread, Distressing Tool (from the Cutter Kit), Sponge, Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.

I hope you're having an enjoyable Saturday and I'll see you again real soon featuring some more new products from the Autumn/Winter mini catalogue :)

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.