MASON IS ANOTHER YEAR OLDER!!

My nephew had a birthday this weekend, and now he’s not a little kid anymore we had to make him a more grown-up masculine card.  I found the new Motorcycle stamp that is in the current mini catalogue fits the bill just perfectly!  You can find the a la carte or single stamps in the inside back page of the mini catalogue. 

If you haven’t already seen the current mini, you can check it out HERE or drop me an e-mail and I would be happy to put one in the mail to you.  It’s a GREAT mini, even if it is a little dangerous to the wish list …



Happy Birthday Mason!!!

THERE’S ALWAYS ONE …

I had cased a lovely card for $3 card this past weekend that was in Daffodil Delight and chocolate Chip, but Melinda doesn’t like yellow, so she changed it up.  I really like the colours that she used and how it turned out, so I guess I won’t take it personally this time …

Harry and I have spent the past week cleaning out the clutter in our house.  I don’t get it - when do those gremlins get time to sneak in and put all this stuff in our house without our knowing?  We have already put out 10 sacks of recycling in the past 2 days and an unknown number of trash bags, on top of that we have already sent a few boxes of stuff to Hospice as well with more heading that way.  I’ve listed a ton of stuff on Trade Me as well with more coming.  I’m so excited – we’re finally going to get things under control!!  I’m especially astounded that Harry has finally decided that he doesn’t need to keep the 6 million (only a slight exaggeration!) ball caps that he’s collected from everywhere over the past 40 years … that’s a big deal, trust me!! 

We’ll I had better get back to work or Harry will think I’m shirking!!

MY BABY IS EIGHT YEARS OLD!!

It’s been a busy week – between the last of the kid’s holiday programme’s (that was great!), and $3 cards this past weekend, and a few workshops it’s been busy! 

Then my “baby” Parker turned 8 (while missing both his front teeth!).  That’s kind of scary as I was very, very pregnant with Parker when I first signed up with Stampin Up in the US, so that means that I’ve been doing this demo thing for 8 years, man do I feel old now …

Anyway, this is the card that I made for Parker.  I love the way that the numbers in the Play Date paper lend themselves to doing this sort of highlighting!

I used our new gold “Smooch Spritz” on the scallop circle, but you can’t really see it here.  I will try and sneak into Parker’s room tomorrow and “borrow” the card back and take a close up photo that will show something of how yummy and metallic the Spritz is – I was really very excited about it!

An of course, who couldn’t love the new Bunch Punch owl stamp?  He’s so cute …

Well I had better be off to bed, but I’ll catch you again soon …

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX!

Parker seems to always being invited to birthday parties, and this weekend was no different!  I was running behind and wanted a super fast and easy card to do in the moments before we left home, and this is what I came up with …

Punches are a great way to pull together fast and easy cards for those times when you are running a little behind (or even when you are not!).  I love the bird punch and of course our coordinating designer papers and cardstock always make it all easier to put together.

I have finally finished my rag bag (had to wait for my machine to come back from servicing), so I’ll share that with you tomorrow along with some samples of stamping with glimmer paint on fabric – boy has that got my little brain thinking of options!!

See you tomorrow …

WOW – SHE’S BACK … WITH A BIRTHDAY CARD!

It’s been the longest break EVER from my blog, but I have actually been stamping and creating amazingly enough – just not enough time in between Stamp Club, kids holiday programmes, and then my own kids on school holidays doing things with them to actually post anything!

I thought I would post this birthday card that I made for Melinda last week.  I had bought the mugs (with chocolate to go with it of course!) and just had to grab the “Morning Cup” set of stamps to make the card since it was obviously just made for it!  How cool that our colours even matched as well … Happy Birthday Melinda!

Now I’m off to take my boys swimming (what else can we do in this heat!). 

Hope you have all had a FABULOUS Christmas and New Year and are ready to start stamping again!!

HO HO HO – THE HOLIDAYS ARE HERE!!

I don’t know about your house, but have you heard “How many more sleeps till Santa comes, Mum?” about a million times already?  Yes, it’s almost time for the big man to drop down the chimney (reminds me, I had better clean out the fireplace tomorrow!!)



I saw this cute punch art santa on Becky Roberts blog and had to have a try at making one.  Since I have lent a friend my decorations punch I had to use the large heart punch, and I changed things up a bit with other punches.  Isn’t he just too cute?  I will be offering monthly punch art card classes again starting in January, so make sure you come join us to see what other cute creations you can make with your punches.

I must admit that I was really sad when Stampin Up! discontinued the 1/4” circle punch a year ago, I had used it for so many things (especially punch art), so you can imagine how excited I was to open the new Summer mini and find that we have a whole set of 3 little punches that not only work perfectly for punch art, but also match the Itty Bitty Bits stamp set and have little Bitty Buttons that match perfectly as well – how cute is that!!!

 
A set of 3 punches for just $36.95 – that’s fabulous!  Drop me an e-mail and I can order you one with my last order of 2010 that I will be placing on December 29th. 

Don’t forget that you only have until December 29th to take advantage of all those yummy things at up to 50% off retail!!  Check out the details HERE.

Have a fabulous Christmas Eve day tomorrow, and I’ll see you again soon …

Keep stampin’

ARTISTIC ETCHINGS IN CAJUN CRAZE

 
Stamps:  Artistic Etchings, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Music Notes wheel
Colours:  Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, Basic Black, Very Vanilla (and a touch of So Saffron in “moon”)
Accessories:  Spiral, Modern Label, and Word Window punches, Polka Dot embossing folder

Okay, so I’m officially obsessed with this stamp set, but it’s just so versatile I can’t help myself!!  Who would have thought that the stamp set I was using in pinks just a little while ago for pretty feminine cards would look so at home in a masculine card as well …

This was one of the cards that we did at $2 cards this past Sunday and Monday.  Super easy masculine card to create, but it looks really fabulous in real life. 

$2 CARDS TAKE A BREAK IN DECEMBER AND ARE BACK IN JANUARY

We won’t have $2 cards in December because of Christmas, but we’ll be back with the revamped $3 cards again in January!  Keep an eye on my blog for all the dates, but it will again be the last Sunday afternoon of each month and the Monday night immediately following.  Depending on numbers on Monday, we might have to kill the Monday night, so if you want it to stay, make sure you support it in January and February to ensure it doesn’t get canned!

Have a great day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU … AND A FEW SNEAK PEEKS!!

Parker had a birthday party to go to over the weekend, so we had to make a card to go with the pressy.  I used 3 of the products that I got to pre-order out of the mini catalogue that starts on December 1st in this card – without cheating and checking below, can you spot all 3 of them??? 



You are so going to LOVE the new mini catalogue, it’s just packed with loads of fabulous new things that you are going to flip over!  If you want to check it out, make sure you have booked into my mini catalogue launch party on December 2nd where you’ll get to make 2 projects with new product, and you’ll also get some fabulous offers that are only available on the night to those that are there … you’ll have to drop in to find out more!!  Call or e-mail me to confirm your spot on the night.

Okay, it’s time to let you in on what I used on this card so you know if you guessed right … 

* Square Lattice embossing folder
* Well Scripted stamp set (see the “happy birthday”)
* 2 3/8” scallop punch

DON’T FORGET …

I also used the FREE Mistletoe ribbon from our current “Dress Up Christmas” promotion.  This white with red stitching ribbon is not just for Christmas as you can see – it’s a great ribbon for all sorts of things! 

The Mistletoe ribbon pack also comes with another free roll of ribbon – a fabulous Old Olive green taffeta ribbon as well.  How about that, 2 rolls of ribbon FREE just for buying a Christmas set of stamps that I had been wanting anyway and a pack of flocked and embossed specialty designer paper that’s just too fabulous for words!!  You only have until November 30th to make use of the free ribbon promotion, so don’t miss out by waiting too much longer …

If you would like to be able to pre-order a month before everyone else, then you need to talk to me about that as well as all the other benefits of being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator!!

Now I’m off to create some more samples with all my new “toys” – it’s like Christmas come early!! 

REMINDERS OF HAMILTON ISLAND

I couldn’t believe it – not only did they provide us with an amazing trip to Hamilton Island last month, but today I got a card from Stampin’ Up! to say “thank you” for coming to Hamilton Island!!  I think it should be me sending cards to them, not the other way around …  Anyway, I wanted to share this cute card that I received in the mail yesterday with you. 

  

They have used the Level 2 hostess set, Fast & Fabulous, and it really is!! 

A YUMMY CARD!!

I haven’t made nearly enough cards with the Sweet Treat cups yet – they are so yummy to work with (and so yummy to get on the other end as well!).  This is a card that I made at a workshop last weekend (Hi Jenny!).  Such a simple card, but the Sweet Treat cups really give it a “Wow” so easily!! 

These would make amazing birthday invites … which reminds me I have to find some time to make invites for my son’s birthday in a few weeks!  That’s scary, Chase is going to be 13!  I’m not nearly old enough to have a teenager already, surely?  No comments on that please …

 

WANT TO BOOK A WORKSHOP TO SEE MORE?
We have a brand new mini catalogue starting on December 1st, so if you would like to book a workshop and see all sorts of great card or scrapbooking ideas, then give me a call on (06) 753-5337 or e-mail me and let’s book a date.  All the guests will get to make a card to take home with them, and as hostess you will also get to keep all the samples!  You’ll also get free stamps and products as well – what’s not to like?

POCKETS OF CARD!

It’s been a really long 2 months, with my Nana dying, having teeth ripped out, then going thru major surgery.  I had thought it was finally over until late last week when we found out that Harry has been made redundant!  So sorry that I haven’t been a very good blogger recently, but things seem to have all happened at once!  The good news is that I’m well on the mend, and Harry already had a job interview for Thursday (so your prayers would be much appreciate for that!).

I’m back doing classes and workshops again now, so give me a call and book in yours to see the fabulous products we have in the new catalogue!!!  As a hostess, you get freebees with customer sales as well – it doesn’t get better than great products for free!

In the meantime, I want to share a card we did at a Show on the Go class last night.  It’s a cute little pocket card on the front of the card where can add a “secret” message (well it will be until they pull the card out anyway!).

SHOW ON THE GO:  If you would like to do a Show on the Go (totally hands-on class) where everyone gets to make 3 cards for $15, then give me a call or drop me an e-mail and we can book you a date and time and talk about the type of cards you want to do with your friends!

Stamps:  Pocket Silhouettes, Flight of the Butterfly, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Cardstock:  Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake
Accessories:  Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Beautiful Wings die, Daffodil Delight satin and narrow taffeta ribbons, Word Window punch

The red is the brand new Cherry Cobbler colour which is so fabulous, I know it’s going to be a new fav of mine!!  The yellow is Daffodil Delight, which everyone agreed last night is a wonderful colour as well!

I will be at the Mitre 10 Ladies Night tomorrow night, so drop by and say “Hi” if you are there! 

Hope to see you again soon!

A BARREL FULL OF BIRTHDAY FUN!

I was chatting to the lovely Jacqui J yesterday and we challenged each other to do a monkey card.  Of course when I thought of monkeys I thought of the game “Barrel of Monkeys”, so that is where this card started …  Thanks for the kick in the butt Jacqui!!

 
Cardstock:  Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Garden Green, Real Red, Whisper White, Neutrals DP Stack
Stamps:  Fox & Friends, Pocket Silhouetts (leaves in background), Teeny Tiny Sentiments (“Happy Birthday”)
Accessories:  Real Red Narrow Grosgrain ribbon, Word Window and Wide Oval punches

I’ve used some of the designer paper from the Neutrals stack on the bottom of the card.  I’m LOVING the stacks, I think everyone is going to fall for them when they see the fabulous colours.  If you would like to get a share of the designer paper stacks, then check out the details here and drop me an e-mail or phone me on (06) 753-5337 to let me know which options you would like.  The Designer Paper Pattern Stacks are option # 2.

These colours are from the in-colour stack – aren’t they yummy??

HOW OLD IS SHE??

I made this card for my sister, Michelle, who is having a BIG birthday this week.  I won’t tell you exactly how OLD she is (she will hit me hard if I do!), but let’s just say that she’s not 21 anymore (or 25, 30, or 35 for that matter) …



This card is made almost completely with the Big Shot!  The Elegant Bouquet embossing folder gave it those lovely embossed flowers on the Whisper White, the Rich Razzelberry cardstock behind the “Happy Birthday” stamp is cut with the Lots of Tags die, and the butterflys come cut and embossed in one step with the brand new Beautiful Wings Embosslit die.   Don’t you love getting all that fabulous texture with your Big Shot? 

Stamps:  Perfect Punches
Colours:  Pretty in Pink, Rich Razzelberry, Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories:  Elegant Bouquet embossing folder, Lots of Tags die, Beautiful Wings Embosslit die, Wide Oval, self-adhesive pearls

HOW CUTE IS HE?

Okay, so maybe I’m a little too hung up on this little fellow, but can you blame me – he’s just soooo cute!!

I’m really liking the Stitched-Poly Ribbon – it has a much more relaxed feel and look about it.  Just perfect for a relaxed and fun box to put something yummy in …

Card:  So Saffron, Poppy Parade, Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz, Greenhouse Garden DP
Accessories:  Owl punch, Poppy Parade Stitched-Poly Ribbon, colour spritzer and Poppy Parade marker to spritz box

… AND THE BLESSINGS KEEP ON COMING …

Anyone who has ever told you that Stampin’ Up! demonstrators aren’t the nicest people in the world, obviously hadn’t met some of the amazing demos that I know!  I got another card in the mail today from the fabulously talented Andrea Lowcock from Australia – totally out of the blue, and I don’t even really know her (apart from through the demonstrator forum we both belong to).  Where else do you think you would find people who randomly share the love by sending cards to people they don’t even know?  Demos are the best!!!

Thanks Andrea, this card is stunning and just totally made my day!!!

65 YEARS – WHAT AN AMAZING LEGACY!

I had a call this week from my lovely aunt who is going to a party to celebrate a 65th wedding anniversary – that’s not a typo – it’s really a 65th anniversary!!!  Can you even believe that!  That’s an amazing thing, especially in this throw-away day and age.  What an incredible legacy to leave to the generations that follow them as well!! 



I thought that a celebration for something that special had to have a special card, so I played around last night and came up with this one.  The embossing you can see on the Olive card is a brand new embossing folder we have coming in the new catalogue – Vintage Wallpaper.  It’s scrummy!!!

 

I’m into hospital tomorrow, so things are going to be even slower than they have been for a wee while as I get back on my feet, but don’t you stop stamping – I want to know what you have been up to so drop me an e-mail with a photo of a card, page, or 3D item that you have stamped recently and I would love to post it on my blog!!

Keep on stampin’!

WOULD YOU LIKE A CUPPA?

I got this cute little stamp at convention back in May and I haven’t had a chance to play with it yet, so today I finally sat down and inked it up.  It’s really cute!  Just the thing for sending to a special friend to cheer them up – invite them out for a coffee or tea!! 

 

Keep on stampin’!

$2 CARDS GO VINTAGE …

Vintage vogue that is!  I just love the Vintage Vogue stamp set (especially when teamed with Rich Razzleberry, so I just love the way this card turned out that we did for $2 cards this weekend (and tonight if you missed out last night).

Keep on stampin’!

RIBBON FLOWERS IN CITRUS …

One of the great things about being a demonstrator is that we get monthly magazines from Stampin’ Up! that show us all sorts of techniques, and while I had read about ribbon flowers a few months ago I hadn’t actually tried them, so when my wonderful downline, Kathy, showed me how she did one and how simple they really were I just knew I had to share with my Stamp Club ladies!  The absolute best best thing about being a demonstrator is that between our Stampin’ Up! family and customers there are so many wonderful new friends to be made!!

 

So this is one of the projects that we made at Stamp Club this month, a simple card that highlights the cute ribbon flower.  What do you think of that funky colour combo?  Pretty cool, huh?  I really like the Tangerine Tango colour, but I hadn’t added it to Pacific Point before, but I really like how the colours work together …

While Stamp club for this year will finish in October, we have brand new Stamp Clubs starting again in January that will run until October next year.  If you want to know how you can get this fabulous monthly class for free!  Not only is a great way to work your wish list down slowly, but you get to meet monthly with some of the most amazing stampers I know as well!  If you want to know more, then drop me an e-mail or call me on (06) 753-5337 and I would love to tell you about how it works!

MORE BABIES …

It seems like everyone is having babies at the moment – what’s with that?  (I’m not drinking the water around here right now – just to be on the safe side …)

We have had 2 new members added to our Stampin’ Up! team in the past month, Megan had her baby boy in May and in June Trish became a grandmother for the first time!  Congratulations Trish, I know you’ve been waiting a long time for this little cutie to arrive!!



Of course I had to send both Trish and the new parents cards to say congrats, so this is what I did.  Now if it looks kind of familiar, it might be because I used the products that were out from one of the cards we made at $2 cards the other day and just changed the images and the main colour (so I admit it, I’m a little behind on cleaning up my stamping supplies …).  But isn’t it great how the same card can look different just by changing the colours and adding another stamp set? 

Keep on stampin’