Last post for 2015!

By | December 31, 2015
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Hi there

We’ve just got back from seeing the latest Star Wars movie – very cool and a great way to round up 2015.  There are just a couple of hours left of 2015 – what a year it has been.  We’ve had our ups and downs this year that we hadn’t expected but I can say I am a stronger person for it – so that’s got to be good 🙂  I am looking forward to 2016 and what it will bring.

A family friend is celebrating her birthday today so here is the card and little gift I sent her.  Happy birthday Karenina – I hope you’ve had a great day with your family.

Supplies:
Stamp Set – Awesomely Artistic, Crazy About You
Card Stock – Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Basic Black
DSP – Back to Black (retired)
Ink – Momento Black, Melon Mambo
Other – 1 1/2″ and 1 3/4″ Circle Punch, Wide Oval Punch, White Satin Ribbon
Thank you so much for visiting my blog and supporting me this year – I really appreciate it.  I hope you all have a wonderful New Years Eve and here’s to a great 2016.  See you next year.

Loads of Love Birthday

By | December 30, 2015
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Hi there

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas Day.  I’ve been a bit of a ‘bookworm’ since Christmas hence no blogging 🙂  I have now finished my book and last night even managed to have a play with some of the new products due out 5th January – which isn’t that far off.

The other day my friend and fellow demo had her birthday.  She loves her dogs and I wanted her card to be themed around them.  Two of my favourite stamp sets that I will never part with even though they have retired are ‘Loads of Love’ and “Loads of Love Accessories’.  I’ve lost count how many times I’ve used these sets – they are perfect for all occasions.  Here she is driving her ute with the dogs in the back 🙂

As the weather has been rather warm lately I decided against sending chocolates in the post as they may not resemble chocolates on arrival.  Instead I’ve made a tissue cover – this can either fit in your bag or the car glovebox.  So much nicer to pull this out of your bag than a plan plastic wrap one don’t you think?  Do you like the paper?  It’s a ‘sneak peak’ at what’s coming next week 🙂

Supplies:
Stamp Set – Loads of Love, Loads of Love Accessories
Card Stock – Basic Gray, Pumpkin Pie, Watercolour Paper
Ink – Basic Gray, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Soft Suede
DSP – Wildflower Fields DSP (SAB paper)
Other – 1 1/2″ Circle and 1 3/4″ Circle Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Blackberry Bliss Satin Ribbon (retired)

Happy Birthday Vellum Card

By | December 23, 2015
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Hi there

Getting my post in early today as we are going to head to Franklin Road and check out the Christmas lights tonight.

Last week another friend had her birthday and this is the card I made for her.  I CASED it from this one I shared last weekend.

I used the same layout but changed the stamp set and used one of the other designs of Vellum from the pack.  Have you done this before – make a couple of cards using the same layout but different colours/papers etc.  If not give it a go.

Supplies:
Stamp Set – Petite Pairs
Card Stock – Melon Mambo, Whisper White
Ink – Melon Mambo
Other – Fancy Foil Designer Vellum, Banner Triple Punch, Washi Punch, Candy Dots, 1/8″ Silver Ribbon, Glue Dots

Sweet Treats Cup Card Request

By | December 22, 2015
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Hi there

Today’s card was a year in the making – no it didn’t take me that long to make it but the recipient requested it after his birthday last year.  Check out last year’s birthday post to get the story – at the bottom of the post.  His mother sent me a photo of him with a big grin holding his gift so I guess he liked it 🙂

Supplies:
Stamp Set – Endless Birthday Wishes, A Little Something
Card Stock – Tempting Turquoise, Early Espresso, Whisper White, Silver Foil
Ink – Tempting Turquoise, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake
Other – Silver Embossing Powder, Dots & Stripes Decorative Masks, PL Cards and Labels Framelits, Hello You Thinlits, Circle Framelits, Sweet Treat Cups (Retired)

Double Mask Holly Jolly Card and Candle

By | December 21, 2015
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Hi there

Well I think this is the last Christmas project I have to share with you for 2015.

At this months card class we made a card and decorated a candle – these are fun to make and can be done for any occasion.  I CASED the card from Sandi MacIvor – with a few tweaks.  This card uses a double mask technique to create the ‘ornament’ and the bottom snowflakes.

My top ‘snowflake’ is a double stamped image – I stamped it with full strength ink then restamped (without reinking) again just off from the original image to create a bit of movement.

Stamping candles is fun – just watch you don’t heat your fingers in the process.  Stamp whatever image you want to use on white tissue paper then cut out the image as close as possible to the stamped image – you can have multiple images on the candle.  Place the cut out image on the candle then wrap a piece of wax paper tightly around the candle and heat with a heat tool.  Cut the wax paper the height of the candle and long enough to wrap around the candle and then some more – enough to create a ‘handle hold’ for while you heat it.  The tissue paper melts into the candle after a few seconds.

Supplies:
Stamp Set – Holly Jolly Greetings
Card Stock – Thick Whisper White, Silver Glimmer Paper
Ink – Island Indigo, Pool Party
Other – Christmas Greetings Thinlits, Delicate Ornaments Thinlits, Word Window Punch, Sponges.  Candle, Tissue Paper and Wax Paper – all non SU.

Happy Wedding Anniversary

By | December 19, 2015
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Hi there

We have just had a lovely evening with friends celebrating their 34th Wedding Anniversary.  Each year they come to the ‘Reid Cafe/Restaurant’ for dinner.  Thanks to the wonderful chef for another great meal.

Here is the card I made for Dave to give Deb – the rule is ‘husbands are not allowed to buy cards they must give hand made cards for all occasions’. 🙂

This was a CASE from Sam Donald – love the layering
Supplies:
Stamp Set – Pictogram Punches, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Card Stock – Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Fancy Foil Designer Vellum, Silver Foil
Ink – Melon Mambo
Other – Itty Bitty Punch Pack – Heart, Washi Label Punch, Banner Triple Punch, 1/8″ Silver Ribbon, Glue Dots, Handheld Stapler
And here is the card we gave them

Supplies:
Stamp set – Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Card Stock – Real Red, Whisper White, Red Glimmer Paper, Winter Wonderland Designer Vellum
Other – Itty Bitty Punch Pack – Heart, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch (retired), Happy Heart Embossing Folder

Well its been a busy day so I’m heading off to bed.

A Double Birthday

By | December 16, 2015
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Hi there

It is nice hearing the rain outside – the garden is so dry and it’s not even full on summer yet.

This week seems to be the week to have a birthday.  On Monday friends of ours celebrated their birthday’s – like us husband and wife share the same day.  They can never forget our birthdays!

Here are the cards and little gifts (filled with chocolate of course) I made:

Supplies:
Stamp Set – Butterfly Basics, A Little Something
Card Stock – Bermuda Bay, Very Vanilla, Blackberry Bliss, Delightful Dijon
Ink – Bermuda Bay, Blackberry Bliss, Delightful Dijon
DSP – Bohemian DSP
Other – Butterflies Thinlits, Deco Label Thinlits, 13/4″ Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/2″ Circle Punch, Gold Sequin Trim, Rhinestones, Gold Sharpie Pen (Non SU)

Supplies:
Stamp Set – Party Wishes
Card Stock – Naturals Ivory (retired), Island Indigo
DSP – Adventure Bound DSP Stack (retired)
Ink – Island Indigo
Other – Little Letter Thinlits, Bakers Twine, Curvy Keepsake Thinlit

I hope you had a lovely day Raewyn and Neil.

A Special Birthday

By | December 15, 2015
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Hi there

Today a very special family friend celebrated a special birthday milestone which called for a special birthday card :).

So my crafting fingers got to work and here’s what they created:

I used the same style of card I taught at last months Creative Inkers Extravaganza but changed the stamp set to create a completely different look.

A special card has to have some ‘bling’ so I cut the sentiment and numbers out of silver glimmer paper – nice and sparkly.

Supplies:
Stamp Set – Awesomely Artistic, Butterfly Basics
Card Stock – Basic Black, Thick Whisper White, Silver Glimmer Paper
Ink – Momento Black
Other – Softly Falling Embossing Folder, Little Numbers Thinlits, Hello You Thinlits

Balloon Ballerinas

By | December 14, 2015
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Hi there

Yesterday our friends daughter turned 3.  I don’t have any little girl stamp sets but did receive a new set at last month’s OnStage which I used to create this cute card – thanks to Kelly Kent I was able to CASE her card.  I did add faces to my ballerinas and also a bit of ‘bling’

The little bag is made using the Gift Bag Punch Board – so quick and easy.

Supplies:
Stamp Set – Balloon Builders, Endless Birthday Wishes
Card Stock – Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White
DSP – Cherry on Top Paper Stack
Ink – So Saffron, Wisteria Wonder, Mint Macaron, Marina Mist, Blushing Bride, Chocolate Chip
Other – Little Letters and Little Numbers Thinlits, Rhinestones

Square Pillow Box

By | December 13, 2015
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Hi there

A day late but here are the rest of the projects I taught the ladies.

This project was inspired by the one taught by Sally, Heather and Michelle at our recent Creative Inkers Extravaganza.  I didn’t have the stamp set or framelits they used so went with a set that has become my favourite this Christmas – Holly Jolly Greetings.  I’ve also used the Winter Wonderland Designer Vellum Stack to create the belly band.  The Snowflake Elements go so well with this stamp set – I didn’t think I’d use them that much but I have – so much so that I had to buy another packet.
Supplies:
Stamp Set – Holly Jolly Greetings

Card Stock – Whisper White
Ink – Gold Embossing Powder
Paper – Winter Wonderland Designer Vellum Stack
Other – Gold Satin Ribbon, Foil Doillies, Snowflake Elements, Gold Cording, Softly Falling Embossing Folder, Square Pillow Box Thinlit

The other two projects the ladies made were:

For details of this card click here

And details for this card click here

Have a good week

Embellished Ornament Card and Box

By | December 11, 2015
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Hi there

A couple of weeks ago I had an afternoon for a group of lovely ladies and we made 5 projects.  Here are two of the projects using the Embellished Ornaments stamp set and thinlits.

I adapted this box to fit the Whittakers Sante bars – it holds about six of these and are great as a Christmas ‘thank you’ gift.

Supplies:
Stamp Set – Embellished Ornaments
Card Stock – Real Red, Whisper White, Gold Foil, Red Glimmer, Gold Glimmer
Ink – Garden Green, Old Olive, Real Red
Other – Delicate Ornament Thinlits Dies, Gold Cording Trim, Garden Green and Real Red 1/8″ Striped Ribbon, Softly Falling Embossing Folder, Blender Pens, Rhinestones, Dimensionals

Check back tomorrow for two more projects.

Year End Sale – starts today

By | December 10, 2015
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Hi there

Stampin’ Up! year end sale has now begun.  Be in quick to grab some amazing deals on products – current and retiring.

During the Year-End Sale, you can find ALL discounted products in one location in the online store: under the Year-End Sale category.  So don’t fret if you don’t see the category “Clearance Rack” on the online store right now – it has been integrated into the Year-End Sale See the savings now!


Also, for one week only, get discounts up to 50 percent off select annual catalogue product! This is only available from 10–17 December as a limited-time offering within the Year-End Sale (which will run until 4 January or while supplies last). See these products here!

So be in quick before things sell our as this is ‘while stocks last’ – the best way to order is online or contact me on yellowbearnz@gmail.com

I will be placing an order tomorrow morning – Friday 11 December at 10:00am

21st Birthday Card

By | December 8, 2015
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Hi there

A couple of months ago my brothers eldest turned 21 and I forgot to blog the card I made for him!  (I hadn’t downloaded it to the laptop).

Most of us find masculine cards hard to create – try a ‘special’ birthday – that’s even harder.  I happened to spot this design on Pinterest and thought it would be perfect for Matt’s special birthday.

To create this card I randomly placed all my Little Numbers Thinlits on the card front  plus the ’21st’ and ran it through the Big Shot.  I had to run it through again to change the ‘6’ to a ‘9’.  At this point do not discard the ‘inserts’ for the numbers (0, 4, 6, 8 and 9) – you will need them shortly.  I heat embossed the sentiment with white embossing powder and the adhered a scrap piece of your chosen colour card stock behind the ’21st’ – I went with Daffodil Delight of course!  The card front is then adhered to the base with dimensionals.  Now comes the tricky part – placing the inserts back in the correct place.  I put a bit of Tombow on the back then placed it with tweezers – the ‘8’ was the most trying.

Supplies:
Stamp Set – Endless Birthday Wishes
Card Stock – Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Ink – Pacific Point
Other – Little Numbers Thinlits, White Embossing Powder, Dimesionals

Extravaganza Projects – November 2015

By | December 6, 2015
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Hi there

I hope you’ve had a good weekend – ours has been rather social.  On Friday night we (along with half of Onehunga) enjoyed the annual ‘lighting of the Christmas Tree’ in Jellicoe Park.  It was great to see so many families enjoying their picnic dinners and enjoying the entertainment.  At 9pm the lights are turned on and the big Norfolk Pine is lit up – it looks amazing.  On Saturday night we went with friends to see the new James Bond movie – a must.

Today’s post has the remaining four projects from the Creative Inkers November Extravaganza – we had a great turnout and everyone enjoyed the day.  Keep and eye out for the next event which will be in March.

Slider Card

Picnic Hamper

Square Pillow Box

Gift Card Purse

Have a good week everybody

Extravaganza Z Fold Card

By | December 3, 2015
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Hi there

This is the last of the ‘Z’ fold cards for now :).  I taught this one along with Jacque and Kath at last month’s Creative Inkers Extravaganza and then again for a group of friends last week.  It’s rather stunning in Black and White and has a few more layers than the other cards.

I’ve really enjoyed teaching this card style – I hope you have a go at recreating one.

Supplies:
Stamp Set – Holly Jolly Greetings
Card Stock – Thick Whisper White, Basic Black, Silver Glimmer
Ink – Basic Black Archival, Smoky Slate
Other – Snowflake Element, Softly Falling Embossing Folder, Christmas Greetings Thinlits Die, Bitty Banner Framelits, White Embossing Powder, Silver Cording, Pearls, Rhinestones, Gluedots

We’re saying goodbye to retiring products from the holiday catalogue but before we do we’re giving everyone an opportunity to order their favourities.  Retiring products will only be available until 4 January, or while supplies last, so now is the time to order them before they’re gone.  Click here to see what’s retiring.