Matching gift

By | March 11, 2012
1 Comment

Hi there

(This post was meant to have been put up on Friday BEFORE I left for stamp camp but I forgot  🙁 so just imagine it’s Friday lunchtime as you read this!)

As promised here is the matching gift to go with the card I posted here.

By the time this is posted the recipient should have it – Happy Birthday Julia :).  For those of you that know Julia she LOVES chocolate so I’ve filled it with Pineapple Lumps, Jaffas and Chocolate Fish.
Supplies:
Card Stock – Soft Suede
DSP – Spice Cake
Other – Top Note Die, Eyelet Border Punch, Antique Eyelets (retired), Baja Breeze Ribbon (retired)
This afternoon we head off to Rotorua for a fun weekend – we have our demo stamp camp for the Creative Inkers team.  I’m really looking forward to meeting some of my blog friends that live out of Auckland.  I’ll be back next week with our creations and the card I made for our swaps.
Have a great weekend.
Paula

Just Add Ink #107

By | March 6, 2012
6 Comments

Hi there

I’m sitting here eating my salad (still trying to think it’s summer) but I should be eating something warm as I’m feeling cold – never mind.

The challenge this week at JAI is to CASE Nikki Spencer.  I checked her entire blog and picked about 6 I’d like to CASE but have narrowed it down to these two here and here.

I needed to create a gift voucher holder for one of the guys at work who has just got married.  Here’s my take:

I’ve decided that the next stamp set I buy is going to be a wedding one as I don’t really have anything suitable at present – here I’ve used the set Wedding Sweet which is more for the invite side of things.
My second CASE is a birthday card for Phil’s other uncle.
This stamp set has to be one of my all time favourites.  I have stamped the image on watercolour paper and used my new found favourite accessory – watercolour crayons:)  I have cut the car out and then used dimensionals to attach it to the backgrouns watercolour paper.  The people and gifts are stamped straight onto the background paper.
Thanks Nikki for sharing your creations with us.
Supplies:
Gift Voucher
Stamp – Wedding Sweet, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Card Stock – Real Red, Whisper White
Other – Big Shot, Petite Pockets Die, Vintage Wallpaper and Designer Frames Embossing Folder, Wide Oval Punch, Gold Embossing Powder, Organza Ribbon (retired), Real Red Ink, Daubers
Card
Stamp – Loads of Love, Loads of Accessories
Card Stock – Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight
Other – Watercolour Paper, Brights and Regals Watercolour Crayons, Black Stazon, Brights Buttons, Daffodil Delight 1 1/4″ Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals, Hemp Twine

Have a good rest of the week.
Paula

Try Stampin on Tuesday #55

By | March 4, 2012
5 Comments

Hi there

Well I’ve had a busy crafting weekend but you’ll have to wait a bit to see all my creations :).  Next weekend I’m away on a demo stamp camp so I’ve been preparing my swaps.

I did however make time this afternoon to play along at this weeks challenge for TST.  I will be sad to see the Spice Cake DSP disappear at the end of the month I really love this paper.

Triple Treat Flower is one of my favour stamps from the current catalogue – it’s so versatile.  I teamed it up with the matching paper – check back later in the week for the matching gift I’ve made.
Supplies:
Stamp – Triple Treat Flower, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Card Stock – Soft Suede, Very Vanilla
DSP – Spice Cake
Ink – More Mustard, Pool Party, Soft Suede
Punches – Fancy Flower, 5-Petal, Word Window, Modern Label
Other – More Mustard Scallop Dots Ribbon (reverse side used), Antique Brad, Dimensionals
Well I’m off to bed – need to get up early and take some more photo’s of my weekends creations.
Have a great week.
Paula

Try Stampin on Tuesday #54

By | February 27, 2012
7 Comments

Hi there

I finally got round to completing this weeks challenge over at TST – not sure where the week has gone!

Phil’s twin uncle’s have their birthday next month so thought I’d do this weeks layout with a masculine touch.  In my last order I bought the Regal Watercolour Wonder Crayons and have been dying to trial them.  I tried two different methods – crayon straight onto the paper then using the Blender Pen and applying colour via the Blender Pen.

I am now in love with crayons – now I need to buy the Subtles & Neutrals!
Supplies:
Stamp – Sail Away (retired)
Card Stock – Night of Navy, Cherry Cobbler, Watercolour Paper
DSP – Cherry Cobbler & Not Quite Navy Patterned Paper Stack
Other – More Mustard Scallop Dots Ribbon, Regal Watercolour Wonder Crayons
Have a great evening.  Catch you later.
Paula

Big Shot Challenge

By | February 26, 2012
2 Comments

Hi

Over at the NZSU blog I gave everyone a challenge – to use the big shot for a card or 3D project.  So I thought I’d better enter it myself!  I make the birthday gifts for all the staff at work and this year I am making a variety of boxes and filling them with chocolates or lollies.  When you have to make 60+ it gets a bit boring doing the same thing.

So here are two that I made this afternoon.  The first one uses the Petal Cone die and the second uses the Petite Pockets die.  I love it when a die is multi purpose.  I need to create some more gifts so keep an eye out.
Supplies:
Card Stock – Pumpkin Pie, Early Espresso, So Saffron
DSP – Jersey Shore (well and truly retired!), Just add Cake
Dies – Petal Cone, Petite Pockets
Other – Modern Label Punch, Daffodil Delight Ribbon, Pumpkin Pie Taffeta Ribbon, Crop-A-Dile, Acetate Sheets
Our driveway is now all concreted (90 metres!) and it looks fantastic – thanks to Les and the boys.
Have a great week.
Paula

JAI #105

By | February 22, 2012
4 Comments

Hi there

Well half our driveway has now been concreted and it looks fantastic.  The other half has been removed  and is  ready for the concrete but the weather isn’t playing game 🙁 so we’ll just have to wait a few days.

Now onto my project.  When I saw this weeks colours at JAI I knew I had to make something – I really love this combination.  I finally had some time last night and this is what I whipped up – a corner bookmark.

This was so easy to make and it allows you to decorate it how you want.  I must admit to start off it was going to be a card but it just wasn’t coming together so then I changed tack and this is the finished item.  I am loving the Postage Stamp and knew I wanted to incorporate it somewhere in my project.  I found the butterfly in my pile of left overs (even better when it’s in one of the colours I needed) and then added the tiniest pearls for the trail.
Supplies:
Card Stock – So Saffron, Wisteria Wonder, Pool Party, Whisper White
DSP – So Saffron & Certainly Celery Patterned Paper Stack
Other – Wisteria Wonder Ribbon Ruffled Ribbon, Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die, Pearls, Postage Punch, Eyelet Border Punch
Keep dry – until next time …
Paula

Try Stampin on Tuesday # 53

By | February 20, 2012
4 Comments

Hi there

Thought I’d do a quick post while eating my late lunch!  It’s a beautiful day here in Auckland & we’re trying to make the most of the sunny weather.

Our neighbour has just had a knee operation and I wanted to send her a card so have used the sketch from TST and the colours from Colour Q.

I struggled with this colour combo and how I would incorporate each colour.  Once I’d chosen the stamp it all fitted together nicely.  I’ve used brads for the flower centres as I don’t have all the buttons yet (on next months wishlist!).
Supplies:
Stamp – Button Buddies, Thoughts & Prayers
Card Stock – Pool Party, Real Red, Pretty In Pink, Whisper White
DSP – Spice Cake, Real Red Patterned Stack
Ink – Pool Party, Real Red
Punches – Scallop Edge Border, Scallop Trim Border, Decorative Label
Other – Brads (Brights & Subtles), Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon
I had a good start to the week – our driveway is finally being concreted :).  It was an asphalt drive but had seen better days.
Well have a good day and I’ll catch you back later.
Paula

Freshly Made Sketches #22

By | February 19, 2012
8 Comments

Hi there

What a beautiful weekend – two sunny hot days in a row!  We had a lovely family picnic up in Cornwall Park today – so nice to be outdoors.

This is the final wedding anniversary card I needed to make for February.  I’ve combined the Freshly Made sketch with the colours from Color Throwdown.

I had a bit of an issue in that I don’t own any ink or markers in Blushing Bride or Poppy Parade – only card stock and DSP but I’m pleased with the final outcome.  Once I’d laid it out I needed something on the side panels so used my new SAB set Fresh Vintage with VersMark and Clear Embossing powder.

For the centrepiece I used the Heart to Heart punch on the DSP then matted it with Poppy Parade so that the card stock showed through for the hearts.

Supplies:
Stamp – Fresh Vintage, A Word for You
Card Stock – Blushing Bride, Poppy Parade, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
Ink – Crumb Cake
DSP – Everyday Enchantment (SAB)
Other – Heart to Heart Punch, VersaMark, Clear Embossing Powder

Let’s hope this weather continues.
Have a great week.
Paula

Stamping411

By | February 16, 2012
3 Comments

Hi there

Wow two posts in one evening!

I’ve had this sketch sitting on my desk to complete for a few days then realised it closed in a few hours so had to create this quickly.  I just received a new order on Tuesday that had the Postage Punch and Fresh Vintage stamp so thought I’d use them.  I didn’t have a colour challenge so used the Colour lab for help.  I knew I wanted to use the Sale-A-Bration ribbon so entered Calypso Coral & Lucky Limeade.  It came up with Marina Mist & Soft Suede – so here’s my card.

I love this new stamp and punch.  It’s hard to see but I’ve used the Strips Embossing Folder on the background card stock.  I had a bit of trouble trying to tie the two ribbons together but got there after my third or fourth attempt!  I decided to place it vertically so the ends & bow stayed inside the card.
Supplies:
Stamp – Fresh Vintage
Card Stock – Soft Suede, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Marina Mist, Very Vanilla
Ink – Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Marina Mist
Punches – Designer Label Punch, Postage Stamp Punch, 1″ Square Punch
Other – Calypso Coral & Lucky Limeade Organza Ribbon, Stripes Embossing Folder, Glue Dot
Well I’m off to bed.
Catch you tomorrow.
Paula

You Are Loved

By | February 16, 2012
6 Comments

Hi there

When I became a demo back in September last year I received an additional free stamp – You Are Loved.  I have used it so much and was glad when it came out in the Summer Mini.  Sometimes I find the quotes in sets just aren’t ones that I would use and it puts me off buying the set but the quote I have used below is perfect.  The recipient of this card just needs a little lift and I couldn’t have put it better myself.

The layout is from Mojo Monday and the colours are from the Paper Players challenge.
Supplies:
Stamp – You Are Loved
Card Stock – Soft Suede, Pool Party, Poppy Parade, Very Vanilla
DSP – Everyday Enchantment (SAB)
Ink – Soft Suede
It’s almost the weekend and we have survived a full week at work!
Paula

Stampin Fun & Friends – Colour Challenge

By | February 13, 2012
0 Comment

Hi there

As promised here is my take on the colour challenge from SFF – Pink Pirouette, Bashful Blue, So Saffron and Wisteria Wonder.


The gift box is a creation from one of my favourite overseas crafters Dawn Griffiths – check out her video.  I made two of each colour scheme using DSP from the Patterned DSP Stacks.  The colour combo for the flowers is from the Colour Coach.  The flower on the outside of the box is a combination of the So Saffron, Bashful Blue & Pink Pirouette.  Thanks Dawn for a great tutorial.
Paula

Sweet Spring Project – Stampin Fun & Friends

By | February 13, 2012
0 Comment

Hi there

This is the project that I created for the current session of Stampin Fun & Friends.  The theme is Spring so I created a Garden Tote but you could use it for anything.  I love the brightness of this DSP which is available till 31 March.

To secure the ribbon handle I attached it with a button and then made another insert for the inside to hide the sewing!
I had fun creating this and will make it again and fill with chocolates 🙂
If you would like to make this and the other great projects I’ve shown it’s still not too late to join and get all the instructions.
I’ll be back later with my colour challenge project from SFF.
Paula

Blog Award

By | February 12, 2012
2 Comments

Hi there

The other day I received a lovely email from Sharna Russell which contained the below award for me – thanks Sharna.  Sharna has just hit 5000 blog views 🙂

Here is the award:
image001.jpg

The rules for this award
* Thank the person who gave you this award
* paste the award to your blog
* Link the person who nominated you for this award
* Nominate as many other bloggers for this wonderful award as you like
* Post links to their blogs

Since I started my own blog just over a year ago I have ‘met’ many wonderful people who have inspired me.  So in keeping with this award here are my nominees:

Have a great week everyone.
Paula

Freshly Made Sketches – #21

By | February 11, 2012
10 Comments

Hi there

The weather here in Auckland can not make up it’s mind what season it should be.  It’s meant to be summer but was raining AGAIN this morning.  So what else can a girl do but make a card 🙂

Today’s card is for a very good family friend who is celebrating his birthday today – I know I’m a bit late but will drop it off shortly.

The sketch from Freshly Made Sketches is perfect for what I had in mind – using a Sweet Treats Cup.  The sketch has a circle (or any shape) for an image so I used my Movers & Shapers Die to cut the hole where I wanted it.  I think that this die is the most under rated die.  I use it heaps and it’s great for Sweet Treat Cups.  It allows you to position your hole where you want with the magnetic plate and the circle die.  If you use a punch you are limited to where you can position the hole.  It also has the heart die which fits the Heart Treats Cup.  I’ll try and show you one of those next week.

So that you don’t have to damage the card to get at the M&M’s I have created a ‘trap door’ on the inside.  I teamed this up with the colour challenge from Hand Stamped Sentiments.  I love the clean and simple look of this card.
Supplies:
Stamp – On your Birthday
Card Stock – Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Whisper White
DSP – Marina Mist Patterned DSP Stack
Other – Movers & Shapers Die, Holiday Windows (Circle Die), Circle Treat Cup, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Round Tab Punch, M&M’s
Well I’m off to do some scrapbooking this afternoon (haven’t done any since December!).  Hope the rest of your weekend is good.
Paula

Stamping 411

By | February 9, 2012
2 Comments

Hi there

This card combines two challenges from Stamping 411 – the sketch is from the weekly challenge and the colour combo is from the monthly challenge.

Rather than use DSP for the background I randomly stamped the images from one of my favourite sets.  This is a great set for guys and has so many uses.

Supplies:
Stamp – Totally Tools, On Your Birthday
Card Stock – Pear Pizzazz, Baja Breeze (textured), Whisper White

Ink – Real Red, Baja Breeze, Island Indigo
DSP – Real Red Patterned DSP Stack
Other – Pear Pizzaz Stitched Poly Ribbon
Well the weekend is almost here and it looks like some nice weather has finally arrived 🙂
Paula