It's Christmas Time...

Okay, when I came across the template for these fabulous stocking stuffer's I just couldn't resist giving them ago. They are designed by Lauren Meader. Aren't they just the cutest? I can see that between now and Christmas I'm going to be busy making many more and filling them all with lots of fabulous Christmas goodies.

Stampin' Supplies; Stamp Set -Party Punch (Hostess Set), Ink - Always Artichoke, Basic Black, Cardstock - Real Red, Old Olive, Kraft, Designer Paper - Dashing, Accessories - Snail Adhesive, Real Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin Dimensionals, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, uni-ball Signo Gel Pen, Other - Green Fibres

Tis the Season...

I haven't had a lot of time this past week to sit down and stamp, so I was wrapped to get some time today to make a start on my Christmas cards (normally I'm still making them a week before Christmas). The card is one that I have cased, although have altered slightly and the 'Christmas Globe' I saw in the current US/CAN Holiday 08 Mini Catalogue. I decided to attempt my own version using the 1-3/8" circle punch. I have to say I'm thrilled with the results.

Stampin' Supplies;

Card; Stamp Set -Merry Merry, Many Merry Messages, Ink - Real Red, Cardstock - Real Red, Whisper White, Accessories - Snail Adhesive, Horizontal Slot Punch, Versamark, White Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon

Christmas Globe Designer Paper - Wintergreen, Accessories - Snail Adhesive, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Other - Ruler, Stylus

Happy 42nd Wedding Anniversary...

My mother in-law Olive, absolutely loves this 'Stipple Rose' stamp. I have used it here on her and Peter's Anniversary Card. They have been married for 42 years. It doesn't seem like 2 years ago that they celebrated their Ruby Anniversary. Where does time go?

The rose image has been stamped on water colour paper using black stazon and then coloured using Stampin' Write markers and a blender pen / Aqua Painter. I then re stamped the image a couple more times on water colour paper, coloured as above and cut out portions of the rose head and adhered to the main image using pop up glue dots for a 3D effect.

Stampin' Supplies; Stamp Set -Stipple Rose, Everyday Flexible Phrases, Paisley Background, Ink - Ruby Red, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa Stampin' Write Markers, Ruby Red, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa Classic Stampin' Pad, Black Stazon, Cardstock - Mellow Moss, Cameo Coral, Ruby Red, Whisper White, Water Colour Paper, Accessories - Snail Adhesive, Pop Up Glue Dots, Blender Pen, Aqua Painter, Stampin' Sponge, Crop-a-dile, Ruby Red Brad, Word Window Punch

Welcome Little one...

Here is the card we created on Monday afternoon. Although a really simple layout, this card shows how easily you can co ordinate your projects using the stamp sets available through 'Stampin' Up!' designed to work with the punches . The baby sentiment from the 'Lovely Labels' set was stamped in 'Apricot Appeal' on 'Very Vanilla' cardstock, then punched out using the 1-3/8" circle punch. This was then adhered to the scalloped circle and popped up on dimensionals.

Stampin Supplies; Stamp Set -Lovely Labels, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Nursery Necessities, Ink - Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal Classic Stampin' Pad, Cardstock - Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal, Very Vanilla, Accessories - Snail Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Punch, Mat Pack, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Get Well Wishes...

This is the card that I made for one of the ladies in our card group. She is such a fantastic women whom we have to be grateful to as she and her husband do so much for our group. Unfortunately she hasn't been feeling well for a short while and this past week ended out in hospital. Connor and I stopped in to see her last night and dropped off the card that was full of 'get well wishes' and 'kind thoughts' from all the ladies at cards. Although it's not your usual 'Get Well Card', the stamp set, Touch of Nature, is one of her favorite sets.

Stampin Supplies; Stamp Set -Touch of Nature, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Ink - Blue Bayou, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers, Ruby Red and Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pad, Cardstock - Blue Bayou, Ruby Red, Close to Cocoa, Water Colour Paper, Accessories - Snail Adhesive, Pewter Hodgepodge Hardwear, Aqua Painter, Stamping Sponge

Connor's Big Day Out...

Sorry, no card tonight although I do have a couple which I'll post over the next few days. Instead I thought that I would share a couple of pictures from Connor's big day out. As mentioned in my previous post we surprised him with a trip on the Kingston Flyer for his birthday which turned out a real hit. The day entailed a trip from Kingston to Fairlight and return on board 'Thomas the Tank Engine', a magic show and lollie scramble.

Connor and his Dad standing in front of 'Thomas the Tank Engine'.

Waiting patiently for the 'Thomas' to pull out of the station.

Looking a little bit more relaxed and daring on the return trip from Fairlight to Kingston.

Thomas The Tank Engine...

Three years ago today our darling son Connor was born, now three years on everything is 'Thomas, Thomas and more Thomas'. It amazes me how he can rattle off all the Thomas characters, so I thought it was on fitting that his birthday card feature Henry, the number 3 engine.

Friends of Thomas is running this weekend so as a birthday surprise we are taking him for a ride on the Kingston Flyer, where he'll be able to have his photo taken with the Fat Controller. It should be a fun day out and one to remember.

Stampin Supplies; Stamp Set -Like it a Latte, Family Phrases, Ink - Blue Bayou, Whisper White, Cardstock - Blue Bayou, River Rock, Sahara Sand, Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black, Accessories - Snail Adhesive, River Rock Double Stitched Ribbon, 1" Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Large Oval Punch, Small Oval Punch, Crop-A-Dile, Antique Brass Jumbo Eyelets, Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Pop Up Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals, Other - Provo Craft Stickers

Celebrations...

I had so much fun making this card and would have to say I am thrilled with the end result. The original designer is Andrea Walford, a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator in Canada. You can check out Andrea's card here. Her version uses both the 'Upsy Daisy' stamp set and 'Urban Garden' designer paper which aren't currently available in NZ.

I love the look of 'Urban Garden' designer paper so much that I have created my own version using the technique called masking. The stamp set I chose for creating this look is 'Fabulous Flowers'. I would have to say that this is one of my favourite sets currently available in the 2008/2009 Catalogue. The card base I've used is 'Certainly Celery', and the images have been stamped in 'Blue Bayou', 'Soft Sky', 'Wild Wasabi' and 'Whisper White'.

Stampin Supplies;
Stamp Set - Fabulous Flowers, Oh, So Lovely (Hostess Set), Sweet Serendipity (Spring Mini 08), Ink - Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Cardstock - Certainly Celery, Blue Bayou, Whisper White, Accessories - Snail Adhesive, Pewter Vintage Brad, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Happy Father's Day...

This is the card I made my Dad for Father's Day. If there's one kind of card I really struggle making then it would have to be cards for males. The inspiration for this card came from the 2008/2009 Idea Book and Catalogue.

Stampin Supplies;
Stamp Set -Everyday Flexible Phrases, Lovely As a Tree, One of a Kind (Spring Mini 08), Ink - Chocolate Chip, Cardstock - Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand, Blue Bayou, Very Vanilla, Accessories - Snail Adhesive, Blue Bayou Double Stitched Ribbon, Blender Pen, 1" Circle Punch, Crop-A-Dile, Black Vintage Brad

Each day provides it's own gifts...

This is the 'Make & Take' that I had the privilege of demonstrating yesterday for our card group. They are a lovely group of ladies ranging in age from early twenties to mid-late eighties.

The panels of the card have been embossed using versamark and clear embossing powder on very vanilla cardstock. They have then been lightly sponged using 'Groovy Guava' to bring out the embossed pattern. A blender pen was then used to apply further 'Groovy Guava' to the flowers for added depth.

Stampin Supplies;
Stamp Set -Artfully Asian, Carte Postale, Ink - Versamark, Groovy Guava, Cardstock - Very Vanilla, Groovy Guava, Accessories - Snail Adhesive, Groovy Guava Double Stitched Ribbon, Blender Pen, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Square Punch, Stampin Dimensionals

With Heartfelt Sympathy...

When I saw this card on Diane Pappas's blog, Stamp With Diane I just knew I had to case it. I love the way the flowers blend themselves into the background. I've used the stamp set 'Close as a Memory' on this card and the 'Spring Showers' designer paper was the inspiration behind the colours. The scalloped edge was created using a corner rounder with the guard removed.

Stampin Supplies:
Stamp Set - Close as a Memory, Ink - So Saffron, Creamy Caramel, Cardstock - So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Designer Paper - Spring Showers, Accessories - Snail Adhesive, 1" Circle Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Crop-A-Dile

The second card was a flow on effect of the first.

Stampin Supplies:
Stamp Set - Solitude Standard Wheel (Hostess Set), Ink - Creamy Caramel, Versamark, Cardstock - So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Designer Paper - Spring Showers, Accessories - Snail Adhesive, White Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Gun, Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon, Mat Pack


Tip - To make the oval shape for the sentiment I stamped my image on a piece of card stock and rounded the ends using a circle punch.

Happy Stampin'

Fluttering By...

I'm not to sure about this card, although I do like the way the flowers have turned out. It's the first card I've made using a two step set.

Stampin Supplies:
Stamp Set -Heartfelt Thanks, Well-Worn Words, Time Well Spent (Hostess Set) Ink -Black Stazon, Purely Pomegranate, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Cardstock - Purely Pomegranate, Whisper White, Accessories - Watercolour Paper, Blender Pen, Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon, Snail Adhesive

For Nan & Pop...

I have been wanting to make a Jacob's Ladder for ages but haven't been able to find any light weight coasters, so I've used the backing card from the packs of designer paper. I cut them into 4x4" squares and then covered them 'Spring Showers' designer paper (this designer paper isn't listed in the current catalogue, however is available from your Stampin' Up Demonstrator), rounded the corners, sponged the edges and hey presto, I had the basis of my Jacob's ladder.

The photo's are of our son Connor and his Nan. They were taken the day we went to see Nan & Pop out at Uncle Todd & Auntie Amy's place. Nan & Pop had been house sitting and asked if Connor would like to come out and help them feed the animals.

What a poser, sitting on the chicken coup.

Connor helping Pop feed the hay to all the animals.

Stampin Supplies:
Stamp Set -Lovely As a Tree, Always, Circle of Friendship, Ink -Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa , Cardstock - Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Designer Paper -Spring Showers, Accessories - 1" Circle Punch, Crop-A-Dile, Sticky Strip, Stampin' Dimensionals, Caramel Gingham Ribbon, Cuttlebug Dies, Photos

Friends...

After reading a post on Stevie Merryweather's blog, Create with Stevie, I turned to the catalogue for inspiration. This is what I came up with. I'm really happy with the way this card turned out. The flower images have been stamped on coloured card, cut out, then highlighted with the 'Water Wonder Crayons'. The sentiment has been coloured with the co ordinating classic stampin' pads and a blender pen and the ribbon, white 1/4" grosgrain, has been dyed using a sponge dauber and Blue Bayou Classic Stampin' Pad.

Stampin Supplies:
Stamp Set -Scribble This, Time Well Spent (Hostess Set), Ink - Black Stazon, Blue Bayou, Wild Wasabi, Cardstock - Sahara Sand, Blue Bayou, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Accessories - Snail Adhesive, Whisper White 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, White Watercolor Wonder Crayon, Aqua Painter, Blender Pen

For You...

Stampin Supplies:
Stamp Set -Artfully Asian, One of A Kind, Ink - Always Artichoke, So Saffron, Cardstock - Always Artichoke, So Saffron, Whisper White, Designer Paper - Le Jardin, Accessories - Snail Adhesive, Very Vanilla 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Blender Pen

Fabulous Flowers...

The other night Sam and I sat down and made a slider card each. I had so much fun making this card and now that it's finished I can't stop playing with it. Who would have ever thought that a supermarket bag could be the basis of such a fabulous card. You heard right. The sliding mechanism for this card is a 1" wide x 11" long strip of plastic to which the side pieces are adhered. When you pull the tab the card extends outwards from both sides.

Stampin Supplies:
Stamp Set -Fabulous Flowers, Ink - Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, Cardstock - Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Accessories - Snail Adhesive, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Square Punch, Round Tab Punch, Mellow Moss 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Plastic supermarket bag

Always on my mind...

forever in my heart. This sentiment couldn't be more perfect. This photo was taken when my son was 3 weeks old (he's now almost 3).

I decided to go with 'Sage Shadow' and 'Close to Cocoa' on this layout, and keep the designer paper to a minimum.

Stampin Supplies:
Stamp Set -Always, Schoolbook Serif Alphabet, Oh So Lovely (Hostess Set), Ink - Close to Cocoa (Sponging), Cardstock - Sage Shadow, Close to Cocoa, Designer Paper - Outlaw, Accessories - Sticky Strip, Pewter Jumbo Eyelets, Versamark, White Embossing Powder, Crop-o-dile, Dimensionals, 3/16" Corner Rounder Punch

Trifold Card...

I decided to try out a colour combination I saw a few weeks ago. It really suprised me as to how well sage shadow and elegant eggplant compliment each other. The flowers are from the Pretties Kit. To dye these I used my elegant eggplant classic ink pad. I simply pressed them onto the pad till I had an even coating. I then used my aqua painter to place a small amount of water into the center of each flower for added depth. My heat tool came in handy to speed up the drying process.

Stampin Supplies:
Stamp Set -Sweet Thing, Ink - Sage Shadow, Elegant Eggplant, Cardstock - Sage Shadow, Elegant Eggplant, Designer Paper - Outlaw, Accessories - Snail Adhesive, Antique Brass Vintage Brads, Versamark, White Embossing Powder, Crop-o-dile, 1-3/8" Square Punch, Pretties Kit, Elegant Eggplant 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon,

The sentiment on the right was heat embossed using white embossing powder and again the flower is from the pretties kit dyed in sage shadow.

Always...

I absolutely love this sweet little bird. It is from the set called 'Always' in the new mini catalogue. The first time I saw this set I knew I just had to have it.

Stampin Supplies:
Stamp Set -Baroque Motifs, Always, Ink - Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Cardstock - Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky, Whisper White, Accessories - Snail Adhesive, Stampin Dimensionals, Clear Embossing Powder, Photo Corner Punch

Best Friends Listen...

This is my first week back at work after having had a short break, so there hasn't been a lot of time to stamp. I did however manage to make this card. I picked out colours that I wouldn't normally use.

Stampin Supplies:
Stamp Set -Baroque Motifs, Garden Whimsey, Ink - Perfect Plun, Pale Plum Cardstock - Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Whisper White, Accessories - Snail Adhesive, Stampin Dimensiionals, Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Scorpal

Earthly Tones

I made this card a couple of days ago. I liked how easily it came together.

Stampin Supplies:

Stamp Set -Leaves a la Carte (Jumbo Wheel), Carte Postale, Sincere Salutations, Ink - Chocolate Chip, Cardstock - Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Accessories - Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Small Cream Halfback Pearl (Pretties Kit), Snail Adhesive, Tombow Liquid Glue

The second card is one I cassed from Kim Teasdale's Blog, Paper in the Works. I wanted to showcase the fabulous designer papers available through Stampin' Up.

Stampin Supplies:

Stamp Set -n/a, Ink - Close to Cocoa (Sponged edges), Cardstock - Close to cocoa, River Rock, Very Vanilla, Designer Paper - Brocade Background, Accessories - Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Large Cream Halfback Pearls (Pretties Kit), Snail Adhesive, Tombow Liquid Glue, Nestabilitie Dies

Welcome to my new blog.....

This is my place to share my cards and creations with you. I hope that I can inspire you as much as others have for me.