Let's Party...

My sister asked me if I could make up some party bags for my nieces eighth birthday which was on the 10 of October. I hunted through my paper stash and found these cute prints that I thought would be ideal. I then matched them up with some gorgeous ribbon from Stampin' Up!.

To personalise the bags a little for each of the girls I made up little tags with their first initial. To make the tags I used both the large and small tag punches by Stampin' Up! The tags themselves I think are pretty self explanatory.

And finally a pic of the finished product.

Roses Are Red...

I have wanted to make one of these paper roses for so long but never had the right punch until the other day. They are so simple to make and look spectacular when finished. This one was created using ' Rose Red' card stock. The edges were sponged prior to assembly using 'Rose Red' ink to add a little depth to the flower. On completion I added a touch of red glitter and a little crystal effects to give a dew droplet effect.

I had an order for one of my customers sitting on the table. Knowing her favourite colours I decided to package her order up using some retired paper and ribbon from my stash. I finished it off by adding the rose.

Edited 24th October 2009
The punch used to make the rose is a 6 Petal Marvy Giga Punch.

A Very Merry Christmas...

Tonight I decided to challenge myself to use what was within reach of my crafting area. I had earlier been working on a couple of Christmas projects and still had the stamps sitting on the table in front of me.

Okay, so it's not your usual traditional Christmas card, but I like it and surprisingly it came together really quickly.

Waterfall Album with Co-ordinating Card...

I can now show you all the swaps that I made for my swap sister Heather O'Keefe during the last round of UStamp. I'd have to say being my first swap it was all a little daunting, not knowing what to make or to what degree.

The first part of my project was this waterfall album (below). It measures 6 x 5 7/8 inches. Basically it work by the same principal as the waterfall card.

As you pull the tab the pages turn exposing a hidden panel at the back of the album. The album itself is made using 'Chocolate Chip' and 'Whisper White' Card Stock, 'Parisian Breeze' Specialty Designer Paper from the Spring Mini and a combination of stamps from 'Friends 24-7' and 'Baroque Motifs'.

The second part of my project was this coordinating card (Below). I used the same coloured card stock and specialty designer paper as that in the waterfall album. The stamps used were again 'Friends 24-7' along with the sentiment 'To You From Me' from the Level 1 Hostess set, Best Yet.

I've already joined up for the next round of UStamp and am looking forward to participating once again in the swap.

Ben 10, Alien Force - Part 2...

On Monday Connor turned four. Although the day was solely family orientated it was still busy leading up to the day. As I mentioned in a previous post, Ben 10 is the flavour of the month in our house and one wee man was lucky enough to get a Ben 10 scooter from his Nana and Grandy.

Connor taking his scooter for a test drive. (Below)

I also took on the tedious task of making him a Ben 10 Birthday Cake. I have no ambition of ever becoming a cake decorator. Three hours later and this was the end result. I must admit I am really wrapped with the way it turned out.

I kept telling Connor all day that mummy just ran out of time to make him a cake. When we suprised him with his cake the look on his face was priceless.

The birthday boy blowing out his candle.

Swaps from Canada...

I received my swaps last week from Heather O'Keefe who was my swap sister for this round of UStamp. The set criteria for the swap was that we had to make 2 card/3D items. As you'll see from the photo's below I was very spoilt receiving not 2 but 3 cards and 3 gift tags.

Although I love all 3 cards I think that this one (above) would have to be my favourite.

Please note that the products shown in this post are not available in the Aus/NZ Stampin' Up! Catalogue.

Ben 10, Alien Force - Part 1...

It's hard to beleive that yet another year has past and that on Monday Connor is turning four. This year has been a busy one for him, firstly starting Kindy and then the arival of his new brother. He's also enjoying having me at home. Anyway this is the card I have made him for his birthday. If you ask him what his favourite program is at the moment he will tell you 'Ben 10, Alien Force'.

To make the card I did a search on the net for an image. I found a black and white colouring in page which I reduced in size and printed off half a dozen times on coloured paper. I then cut out each piece in the relevant colour and pieced it back together. I'm sure he is going to love it.

Itty Bitty Box...

One for you, one for me, one for me, one for me, one for you, one for mummy...
This little itty bitty box is one of the projects from the current round of UStamp. The original design of this box uses the Big Shot and Bitty Box & Envelope Bigz Die from Stampin' Up! which we don't currently have available here in New Zealand. With this in mind I decided to sit down and create my own template, one that I could print directly onto my cardstock and just cut around.

Yay, the template worked and I have to say, they really are cute little boxes. This one I made for Pop. The top of the box was decorated using one of the stamps out of the 'Greetings Eight' Stamp Set. The image was stamped upside down and then touched up with a Stampin' Write marker and White Signo Gel pen to alter the wording to read Pop.Then with a little help from Connor we managed to get a couple of scorched almonds wrapped.

Look who's turning 5...

One of Connor's wee friends from Kindy is turning 5 on Monday, so he had his birthday party today. The weather was glorious. Honestly, you couldn't have asked for any better, which was great because it meant the kids could run around outside.

I promised Connor that I would make a card for Darian, so while surfing came across some adorable cards by Tracey Old. They were using the stamp set 'By Land' which retired at the end of March. I showed them to Connor and asked him which one he wanted me to make. As you can see he chose the tractor. I have to admit I am thrilled with the way this card turned out and will definitely be making more.

Celebrate a little longer...

Okay, I finally had some time last week to sit down and get crafty. This is what I came up with for our teams first cyber challenge. The theme of the challenge was spring time.

The colour combo was very much dictated by the 'Bella Narratives Pad' that I picked up at Spotlight. The colours I've used to compliment the patterned paper are; Rose Red, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White and Baja Breeze.

Child's Play...

Connor and I had so much fun making this card for Nan's Birthday. I was so impressed at how well he did to punch out all the shapes. We then worked together to construct the lion with one little boy telling me where each bit should go. It was then off to bed for him while I finished the card. The next day he got to write a message to his Nan inside the card.

K WERNER CHALLENGE #49...

What a great colour combo this week. I just couldn't resist using them on a scrapbook layout. I used a page map by Ingvild Bolme to complete the layout below. You can check out her blog here. The only real challenge I faced was how to incorporate the rose red into a layout for a boy. I cheated slightly and used a pink heart that I've had in my stash for quite some time and never got round to using.

The flowers have been dyed using 'Pacific Point' Ink Refill of differing shades, while the faux stitching has been created using Stampin' Up's 'Mat Pack' and a 'Basic Black' Journaler. I used a sanding block to give a white border to the photo's. A technique that I had never used before but was shown to me by a lovely lady whom I sat next to at the 'Nic Howard' Class I attended in Timaru at the end of March.


Stampin' Supplies; Stamp Set -n/a, Ink - Pacific Point, Cardstock - Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, Designer Series Paper - Good Morning Sunshine, Accessories - Snail Adhesive, Stampin Dimensionals, Spiral Punch, Pop Up Glue Dots, Mat Pack, Cutter Kit, Sanding Block, Pretties Kit (Small White Flower and Clear Round Rhinestones, Stampin' Write Journaler (Basic Black), Other - Felt Alphabet, Large White Flowers, Ghost Shapes, Bling Alphabet and Swirls, Journal Stamp Set, Black Antique Lace

K WERNER CHALLENGE #43...

I had so much fun making this card and am thrilled with the way it turned out. The flower was stamped using Chocolate Chip Ink and the 'Basic's Outline' Jumbo Wheel on Ruby Red and Old Olive card stock. I then embossed the flower image using clear embossing powder to give it a nice patina before cutting it out and adhering it to the card front using Stamin' Dimensionals.

I then completed the card by adding a strip of colour to the insert. To check out the other entries in Kristina's colour challenge, click here.

Keryn's Colour Challenge #8...

This week the colour's in 'Keryn's Colour Challenge' were Pixie Pink, Brocade Blue, Green Galore plus a neutral. Although I'm not that fussed on the 'Bold Brights' colour family I thought I'd give it a go, after all that's what challenges are all about. The card below is what I came up with. The ribbon on the elephants ear is 'Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon' which I dyed using my Brocade Blue Stampin' Pad. I then adhered it by applying a small amount of 'crystal effects'.

Stampin' Supplies; Stamp Set -Congrats, Nursery Necessities, Ink - Pixie Pink, Brocade Blue, VersaMark, Cardstock - Pixie Pink, Brocade Blue, Green Galore, Whisper White, Accessories - Snail Adhesive, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder, White Stampin' Emboss Powder, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Heat Tool, Mat Pack, Crystal Effects

K WERNER CHALLENGE #42...

Okay, just a really quick post today as I am running really close to the deadline for Kristina's Weekly Colour Challenge. The colours this week were More Mustard, Really Rust, Kiwi Kiss and Whisper White, although like many of you I had to substitute 'Kiwi Kiss' for 'Old Olive'.

Stampin' Supplies; Stamp Set -Botanical Blooms, Ink - More Mustard, Really Rust, Old Olive, VersaMark, Cardstock - More Mustard, Really Rust, Old Olive, Accessories - Snail Adhesive, Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin Dimensionals, Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder, White Stampin' Emboss Powder, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Natural Hemp Twine, Heat Tool, Stamping Sponge, Other - Making Memories Chipboard Buttons, White Flower

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #5

This card measures 4 x 4 inch and was really quick and easy to make. The background has been stamped in Sahara Sand using the "Well Worn Words' background stamp by Stampin' Up! while the base of the card is in Basic Gray. I love the way these two colours work so well together.

The flower is from the 'Pretties Kit'. These flowers all come white providing endless opportunity to colour coordinate as you see fit. In this case I have dyed the flower by pressing it onto my Sahara Sand Stampin' Pad. I have then added a cream halfback pearl as a finishing touch.

I have had so much fun partaking in this weeks challenge and have since enjoyed checking out what everyone else came up with. To check out the other entries in Karen Giron’s Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge, click here.

Stampin' Supplies; Stamp Set -Lovely Labels, Well worn Words, Baroque Motifs, Ink - Basic Gray, Sahara Sand, Cardstock - Basic Gray, Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Accessories - Snail Adhesive, Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Pretties Kit, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Tombow Liquid Glue, Stampin Sponge.

Keryn's Colour Challenge #7...

This weeks 'Keryn's Colour Challenge' colours were Brocade Blue, Old Olive, More Mustard and of course a neutral of choice.

The focal point for this card was based on a card by Karen Giron. You can check out Karen's blog here. I'm sure you would agree she is definitely one talented card maker. The other technique I've used on this card is one I saw on Sarah Gough's blog a wee while ago, using the 'Three for You Punch Box Set' to make the blossom for the centre. I've still got a bit of work to do to get my blossoms looking as nice as she does. Check Sarah's technique out here.

Stampin' Supplies; Stamp Set -Three for You Punch Box Set, Floral, Ink - Old Olive, VersaMark, Cardstock - Brocade Blue, Old Olive, More Mustard, Very Vanilla, Accessories - Snail Adhesive, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Pewter Hodgepodge Hardwear, Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Heat Tool, Three for You Punch, Flower Fusion, Scallop Edge Punch

K WERNER CHALLENGE #41...

When I started this card I had no idea what or how it would turn out. All I knew was that I didn't want the red to be the dominant colour. I'd have to say I'm wrapped with the end result. Click here to check out the other entries in Kristina's colour challenge.

Stampin' Supplies; Stamp Set -Close As a Memory, Paisley, Ink - Basic Black, Real Red, VersaMark, Cardstock - Basic Grey, Basic Black, Whisper White, Accessories - Snail Adhesive, Basic Grey Ribbon, Stampin Dimensionals, Pewter Hodgepodge Hardwear, Crop-A-Dile, Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Natural Hemp Twine, Heat Tool, Cutter Kit