The Start of the May Birthdays

By | May 5, 2013
2 Comments

Hi there

I’m not sure what was going on 9 months prior to May but it seems to be the month to have a birthday!!  At work there are about 12 of us with birthdays this month plus I know of another 7 people (including my husband) so it’s a busy card making month for me.

This is for one of the ladies I work with.  She has a gluten intolerance so I always like to get her some goodies that she can eat.  We have a great shop just up the road that has a big selection of gluten free products.

This bag uses a sheet of DSP and is perfect for holding special little birthday treats – this must be one of my favourite bags to make.
Supplies:
Stamp – Memorable Moments, Bring on the Cake
Card Stock – Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Very Vanilla
DSP – Tea for Two
Ink – Island Indigo
Other – Labels Framelits, Basic Pearls, Top Note Die, Eyelet Border Punch (retired), 1 1/4″ Striped Black Grosgrain Ribbon (retired), Eyelets, Crop-A-Dile (retired)

Well I’d better a get a move on and make the other birthday cards before the birthdays arrive.  Catch you back here soon.

Try Stampin on Tuesday #116

By | May 1, 2013
2 Comments

Hi there

Are you proud of me?  For the last month I’ve been using my accessories and today’s card is no exception.  This is a great layout for a masculine card and came together very quickly.  I’ve used it for a 50th birthday card.

The combination of black and grey work really well and I think are quite striking – great for a masculine card.    I like using embossing powder instead of ink as it gives a clearer image and also adds a 3D effect.  I’ve used two sizes of silver brads – one on the tie to represent a tie pin and the other smaller ones in the top left corner.
I’ve carried the tie to the inside along with the birthday sentiment.  Sometime you just need your card front to  be blank:

Supplies:
Stamp – Best Dad Ever, Memorable Moments
Card Stock – Basic Black, Basic Grey, Real Red and Whisper White
DSP – Real Red Polka Dots
Ink – Real Red
Other – Black Embossing Powder, VersaMark, Silver Brads, 2 1/2″ Circle Punch, Dimensionals

Masculine Cards

By | April 28, 2013
3 Comments

Hi there

Well it’s a beautiful sunny day here in Auckland – it feels as though summer hasn’t left us yet!

As promised here are some masculine cards I’ve made recently using the set ‘Best Dad Ever’.  I first stamped the image in black ink but wasn’t happy as it didn’t seem definite enough so I’ve moved to heat embossing the image – it really makes it stand out and gives it a 3D look.

Supplies:
Stamp – Best Dad Ever
Card Stock – Basic Black, Basic Grey, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
DSP – Basic Grey
Other – Mini Brads, Daffodil Delight Brads, Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon (retired), Daffodil Delight Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Black Embossing Powder

Well I’m off to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine while its here.

NZSU MDS Challenge 1

By | April 27, 2013
0 Comment

Hi there

Over at the NZSU blog Callena has given us a challenge to use Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight and Tempting Turquoise on a page or card.  The twist with this challenge is that we must use MDS (the new digital programme from Stampin Up) to create our project.  I have combined this challenge with one we have on our demo forum to create a page saying how many more sleeps it is till Convention.  Today was my day with only 25 more sleeps to go – I can’t wait as this will be my first convention (very exciting).  So what do you think of my second attempt at MDS?  I’ve gone with a fun layout.

I really enjoyed creating this page and learnt a few things like:
– the ‘bubble’ had the pointy bit (not sure what it’s really called!) on the other side so used the mirror function to get it on the side I wanted.
– how to group the scallop circle and the photo of Yellowbear together as one image so that when I moved it around it stayed as a whole
– creating the banner I used a square punch which I elongated to the size I wanted then added the Dotted Scallop Border Punch top and bottom but only showing one row of the ‘dots’.  To do this you send it to the back of the image and then group so that it also moves as one
I am loving MDS and can’t wait to try more things.
Hope the rest of you weekend goes well.  I’ll try and get back tomorrow to show some masculine cards I’ve made recently using the Best Dad Ever set.

Try Stampin on Tuesday #115

By | April 24, 2013
5 Comments

Hi there

I’ll be honest with you – I struggled with this weeks sketch until I turned it 90 degrees.

My first attempt was the above orientation but I wasn’t happy with the finished card – it just didn’t do anything for me.  I sat and looked at it trying to figure out how I could make it better – I even added some Dazzling Diamonds but that made it worse!  So I started again looking at the sketch and thinking what stamp set could I use.  No light bulb came on so I checked Google for some inspiration and saw something that was a similar layout out but turned 90 degrees.  When I turned the sketch the light bulb came on and so I got creating and this is my finished card.

What do you think?  What a difference turning 90 degrees can make.
Supplies:
Stamp – Summer Silhouettes and Blooming with Kindness
Card Stock – Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant, Lucky Limeade and Whisper White
Ink – Lucky Limeade and Elegant Eggplant
Other – Honeycomb Embossing Folder, Wisteria Wonder Designer Printed Brads

The only bit from the original card that I kept was the greeting which I used on the inside of the card:

Thanks for looking

Try Stampin on Tuesday #114

By | April 17, 2013
3 Comments

Hi there

As I posted a couple of weeks ago I’m trying to use up some of my accessories that I buy because I love them but then never get round to using!  So when I saw this weeks sketch included some brads I checked what I had and that determined my colour combo.

I’ve gone with Island Indigo and Pool Party as my main colours teaming them up with So Saffron.

I changed the circle to an oval as I wanted to use the stamp set ‘Oh, Hello” from the Seasonal Catalogue.  I love the Core’dinations Card Stock and this time used the Sanding Block for some extra texture once I’d embossed it – it almost gives it a suede feel.  The embossing folder doesn’t fit for a portrait piece of card stock so I did it in two parts and then covered the join with the Island Indigo card stock 🙂 (nobody would ever know)

I’ve remembered to take a photo of the inside of the card this time 🙂

I’m loving this flower image.  I coloured it by applying ink to the stamp using a blender pen as I don’t have the Island Indigo marker.

Supplies:
Stamp – Oh, Hello and Thoughts and Prayers
Card Stock – Island Indigo, Pool Party Core’dinations and Whisper White
Ink – So Saffron, Island Indigo, Old Olive
Other – Ovals Collections Framelits, So Saffron Grosgrain Ribbon (retired), Island Indigo and Pool Party Designer Printed Brads, Chevron Embossing Folder, Sanding Block, Dimensionals, Blender Pens

Have a great day

Hostess and Joining Stampin Up! Offer

By | April 16, 2013
0 Comment

Hi there

Just when you thought all the promotions had finished Stampin Up! have given us another great offer to share.

Host a party: 
If you host a party or place an order (or a group order with your friends) over $500, you can earn an additional $75 in FREE products!  This applies from 15th April – 30th May 2013.

Join Stampin’ Up:
Have you also wondered about being a Stampin’ Up demonstrator yourself.  Well now is a great time to do so as you will get an extra $75 for your Starter Kit and I will be here to encourage you and support you.  If you would like to find out more about what this involves, please contact me with no obligation.  I know I was a bit hesitant about it before I joined up, but I am so glad I did.  Stampin’ Up has so much to offer!  You can be a hobby demo, or offer classes and workshops as much or as little as you like.

If you would like to host a party or know more about joining my team please contact me for more details.

Happy Birthday Dominic

By | April 15, 2013
3 Comments

Hi there

Friends of ours youngest son turns 2 today.  He is mad on lawn mowers (and guitars) so I thought I’d make him a lawn mower themed card and something special.  I checked out good old Google and this is what I found.  A wonderful creation by Lorri Heiling so I just had to buy the tutorial!

The instructions were so easy to follow and it was a fun project to make – thanks Lorri.
Here’s a close up them:

Now the birthday boy also has a new baby sister and each of the children in this special family receive a personalised cross-stitched towel when they’re born.  I really love this towel and it was nice to do a girl one after three boys!

Keep warm and dry as the autumn/winter weather has arrived.

Try Stampin on Tuesday #113

By | April 10, 2013
2 Comments

Hi there

This week’s card was one I did for my girlfriend’s birthday last month.  This is one of my favourite colour combinations – Midnight Muse, Marina Mist and Bashful Blue and combines with a new favourite set of mine – Papillon Potpourri.  When I first saw this set I wasn’t that taken with it but now that there is another punch to match it I love the possibilities it now gives.

To me this is a clean and simple sketch which I love and it came together nice and easy.  I also carried the stamp along the bottom to the inside of the card.  I added a bit of ‘bling’ to each butterfly for a bit of depth to the card.

Supplies:
Stamp – Papillon Potpourri, Summer Silhouttes and Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Card Stock – Whisper White, Midnight Muse, Bashful Blue
Ink – Midnight Muse, Marina Mist and Bashful Blue
Other – Elegant Butterfly, Bitty Butterfly, Rhinestones

Masculine Team Swap Card

By | April 7, 2013
3 Comments

Hi there

Yesterday we had our team training at Jacque’s where we did a masculine card swap, learnt more about MDS and did a Make N Take using the new promotional set of ‘Sent with Love’.

I decided to make a card that didn’t use a stamp set and could be easily recreated.  I had seen a card that made a bow out of DSP which I altered as I had to make 21 of these and this is what I came up with:

We don’t seem to have many masculine papers but I managed to find some that were suitable for a bow tie from the Comfort Cafe range – what do you think?  I used two of my favourite masculine colours – Cajun Craze and Not Quite Navy.  I’m really sad that Not Quite Navy is retiring as I find it such a versatile colour. Check here for an update on the new colour range.
Supplies:
Stamp – Best Dad Ever
Card Stock – Cajun Craze, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla
Ink – Cajun Craze, Not Quite Navy
DSP – Comfort Cafe
Other – 1/2″ Circle Punch, Large Oval Punch, Glue Dots

Triple Time Stamping and The Open Sea

By | April 6, 2013
1 Comment

Hi there

Last month one of our Directors who worked in the business resigned after 34 years.  He didn’t want to use the word ‘retirement’ 🙂

I wanted to make a special leaving card for the staff to sign as he is a very special man.  I will miss our little chats in my office where we put the world to rights.  We have decided to book coffee catch ups so we don’t loose touch.

I don’t have many masculine stamp sets so borrowed The Open Sea from my good friend Julia.  This is what I created:

Rather than a card I made this little album which had blank pages inside.  This was good as I was able to add more pages as we ran out of writing space.  I used the Triple Time Stamping technique for the front.  The measurements are:
Whisper White – 14cm x 14cm, 10cm x 10cm and 6cm x 6cm
Cherry Cobbler – 10.5cm x10.5cm
Night of Navy – 6.5cm x 6.5cm
As Bob is a sailor in his spare time I also wanted to add some sort of knot.  This is my first attempt at a Sailors Knot – I think it turned out really well.
I had originally stamped ‘Happy Retirement’ on the front from the Teeny Tiny Sentiments set but when I found out he wanted it called resignation I went on-line and got the RBG colours for Cherry Cobbler and created my own sentiment and stuck it on top of the stamped version.
Supplies:
Stamp – The Open Sea
Card Stock – Night of Navy, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White
Ink – Night of Navy, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso and Crumb Cake
Other – Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine, Word Window Punch and Modern Label Punch

Check back tomorrow for my masculine team swap card.

Don’t forget to put your clocks BACK an hour tonight and check the battery in your smoke alarms.

Colour Refresh

By | April 4, 2013
0 Comment

Hi there

Here’s some news hot off the press – Stampin Up! have just announced they are making some changes to the colour palette.

From today all retiring/discontinued colour products (ink, paper, ribbon, accessories etc) will be available only while stocks last.  That means that some products will not be available throughout the retired list period. So get your orders in early to make sure you won’t be disappointed.  You can order via my online shop or contact me directly.
Stampin Up! have also announced  that Watercolour Pencils and Crayons will be discontinued due to unforseen problems with their supplies.  The following items are only available while stocks last.  So again if you want to purchase any of the below contact me ASAP
  • 101879: Watercolor Pencils
  • 119802: Subtles Collection Watercolor Wonder Crayons
  • 119803: Regals Collection Watercolor Wonder Crayons
  • 119804: Brights Collection Watercolor Wonder Crayons
  • 119805: Neutrals Collection Watercolor Wonder Crayons

Petite Curly Label Punch

By | April 4, 2013
0 Comment

Hi there

If you missed out on getting the Petite Curly Label Punch during Sale-A-Bration – don’t panic – it’s now been added to our product line and will be available until 30 June 2013.

Here are a couple of samples where I have used this punch

Check back later for another project using the Triple Time Stampin technique.

My First MDS Layout

By | April 3, 2013
1 Comment

Hi there

Thought I’d do a quick post to show my first MDS layout I created last night.  I’ve used one of the scrapbook templates and just dropped my photos in.  I did alter the orientation of one of the boxes to accommodate my photo which was easy to do.  I wanted this to be a fun page so have chosen photos of Yellowbear and Bluebear tripping around the US.  What do you think?

Well I’d better get back to work – lunchtime is over.

Category: MDS

Try Stampin on Tuesday #112

By | April 3, 2013
4 Comments

Hi there

Well this time in 7 weeks and I’ll be getting ready to board a plane to my first Stampin Up! Convention.  I’m really looking forward to this event.  One of our team has already started a countdown for the number of sleeps!

As soon as I saw this weeks sketch I knew I wanted to use the Triple Time Stampin technique.  I’ve done a few cards using this technique but not in this layout.  So here goes:

My measurements are for the Whisper White:
Layer 1 – 10cm x 14.3cm
Layer 2 – 7cm x 7cm
Layer 3 – 4.5cm x 7cm

and for the mat (done in Island Indigo)
Layer 2 – 7.5cm x 7.5cm
Layer 3 – 5cm x 7.5cm

I tried a few options for the final layer and settled on the same flower punched out with the co-ordinating punch.  I also punched one out of Island Indigo and matted it at each end of the petals.

And here’s the inside of the card:

Supplies:
Stamp – Mixed Bunch, Embellished Events and On Your Birthday (retired)
Card Stock – Island Indigo and Whisper White
Ink – Island Indigo, Rich Razzleberry
Other – Word Punch, Modern Label Punch, Blossom Punch, Island Indigo Designer Printed Brads, Dimensionals

Have a great day.