Gift Bags

Howdy, howdy! ... It was definitely time to put a new post up here - the NZSUO blogs really gives you a guilt trip, last posted ... two months ago! It is probably two months since I had time to take a breath LOL

Anyway, as the year starts to wrap up, its also wrapping up time for lots of sports, school etc ... so it's also gifting time. Yesterday it was the end of year Gymnastics display for the two girls, and between them they have seven (yes, seven!) coaches/helpers. So what to give them that wasn't going to cost a fortune? Why, hand-made, using the last odd bits of papers from various DSP packs and a small bar of chocolate, economical and FUN to make ;)

Double pocketed hand bags - Thank you to Julie who showed our team how to make these, they are an awesome idea! I'm not going to put down exactly what I've used, there are too many variants - but basically each bag takes one sheet of 12x12 paper, and then I've used scraps and matching stamps to make the front picture and card to put inside, and then wrapped the bar of chocolate with a bit of matching paper (as matching as possible, some of the paper I used was a last sheet in a pack).

Enough talk - here they are -

Hopefully it won't take another two months to get another post done!

Gift Cards

Don't you love School Holidays - I certainly do! A lot less running around, which gives me time to be much more organised than usual. The last few days I have been getting October's workshops all ready and prepped, its looking like being a busy month for me! Today I worked on my door-prizes, I found this gift card idea on Kwernerdesign's Blog, changed and adapted it to fit with what I wanted. I demo'd these last month, but using the Popping Pastels and Always set - I of course never thought to take a photo and they have all been given away.

What is actually after the Congratulations on the gift card is a surprise ... if you're coming to one of my workshops this month I've spoiled the surprise a wee bit, but not totally ...



Stamps: Scribble This
Card Stock: Soft Sky, Old Olive, Vanilla
Inks: Old Olive, Soft Sky (for watercolouring and stamping)
Extras: Old Olive Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, Snail, Fall Flowers DSP, Dimensionals, Aqua Painter

As I got the camera out to take a photo of the gift cards I noticed my kids, plus my two nephews all outside in deep discussion, I tried to get a quiet photo of them all ... ha!! Definitely wishful thinking ...

Two leaped up and away leaving four ...

... here is one of the escapees, sheesh - who'd have thought having your photo taken was that bad! ... and the other one disappeared around the back of the house. So much for a nice extended family "moment".

Hope everyone else is enjoying their holidays!

Today is ... Tuesday!

... and lookee here, I caught up :) Only two challenges today as there was no KwernerDesign Colour Inspiration, I did think of finding another somewhere, but I had fun making the two, my kids are obviously fairly observant they wanted to know where the third card was! LOL

So just Splitcoast Sketch and Colour Challenges this week. I got out my Tart and Tangy stampset this time, a very popular one that I have to admit I hadn't used yet!

First up was the SCS Colour Challenge 184 (remember I got my weeks wrong!) The colours were Basic Grey, Always Artichoke and Real Red.

Of course, with Artichoke and Red - it had to be the strawberries! I did a lot "more" with this card than I normally would, obviously I had more time than normal ;) ... I used rub-ons which I've had for a while, but you know, once you use them, they are gone so I have trouble making myself use them - but lately have decided I need to, no point in buying things and just admiring them in their packets!! I like the way this turned out - busier than my usual, but a lot of fun to put together :)

Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Basic Grey, Real Red
Others: Stampin' Write Markers, Rub-Ons, Half Pearls from Pretties set, 11/4" punch, Scallop punch, white gel pen, corner rounder punch, snail, dimensionals, Summer Picnic DSP

Then the sketch challenge - SCS Sketch Challenge 195

I picked out the cherry paper from the Summer Picnic DSP for this and worked from there - pretty self-explanatory I think. I liked this one too!

Cardstock: Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Real Red
Extras: Stampin' Write Markers, Bashful Blue Ribbon, Rub-Ons, Summer Picnic DSP, 11/38" punch, scallop punch, snail, dimensionals

I also started another project over the weekend, and carried on with it yesterday - I'm going to have to ignore it screaming at me to be finished while I work on workshops over the next couple of days, but it's looking really good - I'm looking forward to showing it off ...

Today, my 12yo personal trainer is nagging at me to do that walk I was supposed to do yesterday (making cards is SO much more fun), so the two girls are going to hop on their bikes and come along too - lets hope that horrible rain holds off!

A bit late ...

A bit late - but here is my regular Tuesday update, on a Monday, nearly a week late! To say I had a busy week last week would be a slight understatement, any week that I don't have time to do any creating at all is a bad week for me :)

I finally had time to sit down on Saturday afternoon, and this week, picked out my Pick a Petal set - this is the set I fell in love with when the 2008/2009 Ideas Catalogue came out in April - I used it for a while, but its been sitting collecting dust for the last few months so I figured it was time to revive it.

I started backwards this week so I wasn't rushing the SCS Colour Challenge as I usually am. I obviously was rushing though, because I picked out the wrong week's colours (that's what happens when you're a week behind!). I'll have to do last weeks colours, this week. But that's okay.

CC185 - Breezy Vanilla Kisses

(Vanilla, Old Olive and Baja Breeze (I substituted this with Tempting Turquoise)).

Card Stock: Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, Very Vanilla
Ink: Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise

Extras: DSP Old Olive, Very Vanilla Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, Snail, Dimensional Dots

Next up - SplitCoastStampers Sketch Challenge 194

I have no idea what I was doing when I cut the card for this, but I cut it the wrong size - duh! So the sketch isn't quite the same as it should be - its shorter and squatter ;) I stuck with the Old Olive Designer Paper as I already had it out - checked out my faithful colour wheel and picked out the Elegant Eggplant to go with it.






Cardstock: Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive

Ink: Elegant Eggplant

Extras: Old Olive DSP, Elegant Eggplant Grosgrain Ribbon, Snail.




and lastly, the KwernerDesign Colour Inspiration No. 23

I had to finish this up yesterday - and it was a very quick one! I'd been enjoying the sunshine up in Levin while watching our 12yo play soccer - left David at home digging out a new vege garden with the girls helping him, I reckon I got the better deal ;) Anyway, I knew it was going to be difficult to fit so many colours onto one card, with such large images! So I used the rock and roll method to use a couple of colours on the petals and the middle of the flower ... and used the Old Olive DSP, again!

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla
Inks: So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Bravo Burgundy
Extras: Old Olive DSP, Old Olive Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, Snail

Now, if you're lucky I'll have the usual Tuesday post after some creating this afternoon! It's school holidays which for me = more time, not nearly the usual running around!

Tuesday Again!

I'm loving my Monday afternoon ... I'd been looking forward to it all week, a chance to just sit and create - not ideas for workshops, not cards for market, not samples ... just plain old me and creating :)

This week I used the very popular Priceless stamp set - this is one of the Free Wheelin' Bundle specials this month - and is proving very popular with my customers, the So Swirly wheel is so versitle!

First up, the KwernerDesign Challenge -

Once again, there was one colour that was a challenge to fit in - the Bravo Burgundy - I love the other colours in combination together, but the Burgundy just didn't want to fit. I broke into my Pretties Kit - I'm trying to make myself use all my lovely goodies, I'm terrible at not wanting to waste things, and then never using them (which is even more of a waste!). I coloured the flowers with my marker pens - love the way they came out.

Card Stock: Soft Sky, Regal Rose, Bravo Burgundy and Rose Red
Ink: Soft Sky, Rose Red, Bravo Burgundy
Extras: Stampin' Write Markers, Flowers from Pretty Kit, Half Pearl from Pretty Kit, Corner Rounder, Snail, Dimensionals

Next up, the Splitcoast Stampers Sketch - Sketch Challenge Number 193

Because I'd pulled out the colours for the Kwerner Design Challenge, I stayed with those (minus the Burgundy! LOL). This is my favourite of the three cards, must be something about the sketches, it was my favourite last week too.

Card Stock: Soft Sky, Regal Rose, Whisper White and Rose Red
Ink: Soft Sky, Rose Red, Regal Rose
Extras: Stampin' Write Markers, Rose Red DSP, Ribbon Originals (last years), Snail, Dimensionals

Then lastly, the Splitcoast Stampers Colour Challenge 183Challenge

Hmmmm, Read Red, Green Galore and Going Grey. Definitely not colours I use a lot, in fact Green Galore and Going Grey are both stamp pads I don't have, obviously never been on my "must have" list ... and plenty of the Green Galore card left over from the packs of Bold Brights ;) - but that's what it is all about, the challenge! Definitely not a card I'm in love with though, it was very rushed - it was almost time to put dinner on, and getting one to gym at 6.30pm (don't you hate that timing, do you quickly do dinner first, or write it off early and have it late ... the dilemmas of a Mum eh?).

Anyway - one of my ever faithful layouts, the good old strip with a bit added on -

Card Stock: Real Red, Going Grey, Green Galore
Ink: Real Red
Extras: Snail, Corner Rounder

Righty, time to do the never ending grocery shopping ... although we're down two big eaters this week as they are away at school ski camp - means I get to make "normal" size meals this week!

Happy stamping :)

~Lisa

Three for One Tuesday

Ahhhh ... brilliant idea, I have some occasionally! I'm loving all the sketches around ... keep thinking I should do more of them, it helps those creative juices to flow a bit. BUT, I'm busy, things crop up, all the excuses in the world to say that I never keep up with sticking to doing one a week as they come out. That combined with all the excuses for not keeping my blog up to date, comes to the conclusion that I need structure :)

So ... here comes the idea, Three for One Tuesday - I'm challenging myself to use one stamp set to do three sketches every Monday. Monday is a quiet day for me, we have gym and soccer after school but they're more like evening times, than "after school" times. I don't rush off to work in the evening ... its one of the few afternoons I have to just "create".

Three sketches I love are the Kwernerdesign colour challenge, the Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenge and the Splitcoaststampers colour challenge, so those are the three I plan to use.

This week I used my "dying to use, but haven't had time, hasn't been inked yet" Always set from the Spring Catalogue ... and here are the results!

KwernerDesign Design Challenge

I found putting the turquoise blue into this really hard! I think it came out okay :) I used the Popping Pastels method, one that has never been a favourite of mine - but with the heart, it is perfect, just made for it really!

Stamp Sets: Always
Card Stock: Turquoise Blue, Old Olive, Rose Red, Regal Rose and Wisper White
Inks: Old Olive, Versamark
Extras: Silver Hodge Podge, Snail, Rose Red DP, Dimensional Dots, corner punch

Splitcoast Stampers SC191

Love this one, I picked out the Certain Celery DP because I had it sitting on my desk waiting to be used, then picked the Ballet Blue from my pile of A5 leftovers, just because I liked the look of them together - no technical method at all! Used Popping Pastels again for the heart and added the Not Quite Navy just to make it pop, along with the matching ribbon.

Stamp Sets: Always
Card Stock: Ballet Blue, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
Inks: Not Quite Navy, Ballet Blue and Versamark
Extras: Snail, Dimensional Dots, Pastels, Certain Celery Ribbon, Certain Celery DP


Splitcoast Stampers Colour Challenge - Monochromatic

Okay, I have to admit, I read the latest colour challenge, monochromatic, and thought maybe I should cheat and use the week before - but no, I'm going to do this right - its all about challenge, right? As it turns out, I really like the way this turned out! I have stamped the bird into versamark and then into the Basic Grey and then clear embossed it to make it stand out more.

Stamp Sets: Always
Card Stock: Basic Grey, Going Grey
Inks: Versamark, Basic Grey
Extras: Snail, Dimensional Dots, sponges

So there you have it, tune in next week to see if I manage two weeks in a row!!

Happy Father's Day

Something a bit different from the usual paper and card!

Charlotte (6yo) wanted something for news, something they had to hide in a box, I'd been playing with tiles trying to get things to work, so we made this together - then she had her family in a box ;) ... it's also going to make a great Father's Day gift to put on Dad's desk - two jobs done in one go, I like that!

The photography is terrible, my micro thingee on my camera hasn't worked for a while, I could get it fixed, but what I really want is a NEW camera ... definitely on my Christmas list.

I stamped the tile using "All in the Family" and Stazon Black ink, popped it into the oven for a while to make sure the ink was totally set. While it was in the oven Charlotte and I picked out scraps of paper for everyone's clothes and stamped the images again, and then cut them out. Once the tile cooled off we glued the clothes on, and then sealed with the ever faithful Modge Podge :)

... and yes, this is our family - including the cat!

... and talking of family, remember the post a bit further down, with the fresh faced, big smiled 2yo on his first bike? Will that cute blonde kid is now 17yo and rides a motor scooter ... we got a call from A&E on Monday night to say he'd come off it. They were doing a fire exercise next to one of our main streets, a car decided to just stop and have a look, the car behind him slammed on her brakes, just as David turned to look - he saw in time to swerve, but still caught the corner of her car.

Lessons? Always make sure your helmet is *really* latched properly - his came off and he has a huge graze on his face along with a black eye (all pretty surface so not too serious) ... even bigger lesson? If you know anyone with a motor scooter be sure they check their insurance policy, don't just assume it is included under the house and contents ... it is, but you have to actually specifically tell them you have one. Luckily, the damage to the other car wasn't too bad and its not a huge bill, it could have been a lot worse! ... So make the most of those fresh face, cute pre-schoolers, they get bigger, and so do the scratches and bruises!!

Until next time ... happy stamping :)

Embossed Card

The challenge over at NZ Stampin' Up Blogs is for an embossed card - I made this one yesterday, and then thought, oh! it actually matches the challenge, I'll actually be organised enough to participate this month ... even if it was by accident ;) LOL

This was pretty simple, I knew I wanted to use all black with an accent bright colour and just moved from there. I don't have any black embossing powder (and forgot to order it AGAIN in my last order ... oh well, any excuse to put in another one I suppose!), so I used clear - it came out pretty well. I've also embossed the orange butterfly, again with clear embossing powder.

Card Stock: Only Orange, Black

Inks: Versamark

Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Priceless, Sincere Salutations

Extras: Clear embossing powder, Snail, Heat-tool

It's sunny ... hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine!!

My First Bike

Through my usual blog-hopping, one I look at and admire regularly is Alisa's (http://www.alisatilsner.com/blog/) (in fact, really, she was the extra push to me signing up with SU! - thanks again Alisa, I got to meet Alisa at convention and she is just as lovely in "real life" :)). Anyway, Alisa had a scrapbook page and link to a new Australian Scrapbooking site (http://www.aussiescrapbooking.com.au/), which has a "build-a-layout" challenge each week. I am definitely going to try and follow this once a week, I have lots of photos in boxes, and if I can keep up with a once a week page AND learn new ideas while I'm doing it - it has got to be all good. This one I did all at once, rather than one "mystery" step at a time, but I love the way it has turned out :) This is our oldest boy at 2.5yo - he's now nearly 17yo, boy does time fly!! .. he's still cute, but much much bigger LOL



I took a close-up of the embellishments, I love how they turned out - and I'm loving that scallop punch, I thought it was just a trendy "must have fuss", but I caved in and got one, and really couldn't do without it - it is so versitile!

Cardstock and Ink: Real Red, Summer Sun and Taken with Teal
DSP: Not SU, from my pile!
Stamp Sets: Seeing Spots, Big Deal Alphabet
Other: Glue stick, Snail, Dimensionals, 11/4" punch, Scallop punch, Corner Rounder punch, Photo Corner Punch, Rhinestone Brads.

Two posts in one day!

I've been wanting to try scrapping a photo into a photo frame "box" for a while, since I saw a couple of pictures of them in the new catalogue. So Mothers Day is approaching, can't afford pearls, so a picture of the darling grandchildren it is!

I took the photo this morning while all the kids were actually there (doesn't seem to happen that often these days!) ... Charlotte (the youngest) wasn't happy because it was drizzling and she hadn't been awake long ... but she managed to sort of smile!

Anyway - I bought the frames from Farmers, there was only one of the one I really preferred (the bigger "box"), but anyone who knows my MIL knows that I won't be too worried that her one is in the smaller, not quite what I was looking for, frame! LOL

I've been dying to try the rub-ons, so I rubbed some onto the front glass of one, and the frame of the other - they're great!



Materials:
Stamps: Stem Silhouettes
DP: Old Olive
Card Stock: Night of Navy, Old Olive
Other: Rub-ons, Brads, Dimensional Dots, Vanilla Wide Grosgrain Ribbon

(I'll come back and edit the proper names, I'm at work and forgot my catalogue!)

Oh - and the quote says "Family is like fudge, mostly sweet with a few nuts" - that was pretty appropriate for our lot!

Awwwww ... True Love

I have to start this with an apology ... there is no Stampin' Up product in these pictures! ... I obviously need to do something about that! LOL

Our 16 (nearly 17)yo has been going out with a lovely girl (Rebecca) for a whole year - yesterday was their one year anniversary! (that's a long time in 15/16yo land, I'm sure). Anyway, not only has Rebecca really settled our David down and made him a much nicer boy (well, he was always nice, but he was definitely "missing" something and she has filled that gap). So anyway, not only is she the best thing for him ... but she scrapbooks too! What more could a mother ask for? LOL

She surprised him with an album for their one year anniversary, and it is just lovely :) These are just a sampling, each page has a quote and a picture of them, so so sweet!







Isn't she clever? ... and yeah, no SU! in there - she has got some SU! stamps ... might need to have a wee chat to her ... LOLOL

I'm back!

Actually, I've been back for a couple of days ... but you know, back home, back to reality ... but much more relaxed ;)

Convention was wonderful, I learnt so much, met so many lovely people and am back and inspired, motivated and ready to go! I sat and wrote out my notes yesterday so I could understand them, and not forget them. Also just *had* to try the mini-scrapbook that was demo'ed ... I have pictures of that further down.

I was very proud to be presented with two awards - a pin and stampset for a Recruiting Award (5-9 Recruits), and much to my delight, 9th Demostrator in New Zealand - that deserves a HUGE thank you to all those customers who have supported me, especially those in the beginning when I was nervous and shaky and really didn't know that much! LOL ... I can't say enough about what a wonderful company this is to work for - it was just confirmed at Convention, they are so down to earth and family orientated, things I try to be ... and well, its just wonderful :) ... enough with the gushing ...

I had my order arrive yesterday with my new goodies! One of the most exciting things in there was my Crop-a-dile ... it is SO easy to use (even for techno/tool phobic me!) - I'll definitely be bringing it along to workshops to show you how easy it is ... there were a few other goodies too, a couple of the new papers, the new colours ... am I serious deprived in life that I can get so excited over paper? LOL

Anyway - here is the little scrapbook I made yesterday, should have been doing housework, should have been doing lots of other things - but I just had to give it a go.

This uses my favourite stamp set and paper (again!), Looks Like Spring, I read on our website yesterday that this paper is indeed still available, but doesn't show in the catalogue - thank goodness, I love using it with the matching punches and flowers! ... and can you see? The eyelet at the top of pull out card? The wonderful Crop-a-dile, of course LOL It is basically made from one sheet of 12x12 cut and folded to make the little booklet, leaving a couple of openings for the pockets. If you want to know exactly how, let me know - I will hold a class if there is enough interest!

Stamp Sets: Looks like Spring, Life Definitions, Rough Edges Mini Alphabet
Designer Paper: Spring Flowers
Card Stock: Whisper White, Old Olive, So Saffron and Pretty in Pink
Ink: Old Olive, So Saffron and Pretty in Pink
Other: Spring Flower Bouquet punch, Round Punch, Snail, Eyelets, Crop-a-Dile

Don't forget my great special - 10% off your order if you host a workshop, on top of the other wonderful Hostess gifts!

Talk to you all soon ...

~Lisa

It's been a while!

So ... 8th of April ... and I think about 100 demonstrators in New Zealand (and even more in Australia) are waiting ...

We, like all our customers, had to wait until 1st April to put in our first orders from the new catalogue, of course, with having to wait until the last minute to book my trip to Brisbane (I'm going to the SU! Convention - yay!), on 1st of April I wasn't flush enough to make the big order I would have liked anyway - I put my order in yesterday, a lot smaller than I was dreaming of ... but I'm now in the waiting club as well! I've ordered the new In-Colours, some new papers and other accessories - I can't wait to show you them in my workshops after I come back!

Meanwhile, I was lucky enough to have two stamp sets from the new catalogue that I could show people at my last two workshops, and the wonderful product that has moved from the old catalogue to the new one is still well and truly worth showing!

As part of the convention experience, I've been busy making 100 card tops - these will be swapped with other convention goers and I will come home with 100 different card tops, which makes for great ideas. However, yesterday I was bored with cutting out the same flower, and the same colours, so I had a play instead. The All in the Family set was brought out for a month last year as a special fund raiser and is now in the new catalogue, it looks like it will definitely be a favourite with my customers!

I had a play yesterday, I used water-colour crayons, water-colour pencils, Stampin' Write markers directly and Stampin' Write markers with my aqua painter ... then made them into very simple bright cards :) I have to say, my favourite look/way to colour these, are using my aqua painter with either the pens, or stamp pads!

Today ... I really have to finish those 100 card tops ...

10 Minute Birthday Cards

Cardstock: Pixie Pink, Turquoise Blue, Whisper White
DP: Non SU
Ribbon: Light Pink Organdy
Stamp Set: All Year Cheer II

We had our usual Saturday morning yesterday, well, lets be honest, we had our usual busy week before that too!

I got home from watching Cameron's cricket at about 12.30, to find that we'd had a power problem with the computer/TV ... tried to sort that out, fed the kids ... and then "eeeeeek", had about 15min before Rhiannon was due at a Birthday party for two of her friends, and I hadn't made cards yet! ... so with some quick (*shhhhhh* Big Red Shed) Designer Paper, and the wonderful SU card, that always has a match for any paper, I made two very quick cards ... probably quicker (and cheaper!), than racing down to the shops, buying two cards, and coming home again :)

Look out for an email newsletter - I'm going to have some fun classes available and ready for you to book into!

Happy Stamping!

Mini Takeout Boxes

Hmmmm, not the best photo, my photography skills (or camera!) definitely need updating ...

I made these for my door prize gifts this month ... nice and easy, and a lovely little gift.


Tiny Takeout Boxes
Jumbo Wheel: Leaves a la Carte
Jumbo Wheel Ink Cartridge: Olive Green
Stamp Set: Carte Postale
Ink pad: Perfect Plum
White Grosgrain Ribbon
Brads
White gel pen
Square punch

Before putting the boxes together I have rolled the Leaves a la Carte roller over the box, then highlighted parts of the stamping with the white gel pen (one of my favourite looks right now!). I've then put the boxes together, using a brad to hold the sides together. I've then stamped the Carte Postale image onto white card with Perfect Plum ink and punched it out with the square punch and put a brad through the middle, and then adhered it to the box with a dimensional dot. I made the tags using Perfect Plum ink again, I've stamped the squiggle once onto scrap paper and then onto the tag so it is slightly lighter, and then stamped "Mon Amie" over the top of that, and then sponged the tag. Lastly I've rolled the Leaves a la Carte over the Perfect Plum ink pad, and then rolled that over the white ribbon. I've then filled the boxes with chocolates and tied them up (... and hidden them!).

Scrapbooking Wanna-Be

I've been a "scrapbooking wanna-be" for about 7-8 years, I went to a Creative Memories workshop about that long ago because I just "knew" that craft would take off in New Zealand eventually and I knew I wanted to part of it, but, you know, nothing against CM because I'm sure it is a personal taste thing, and as I say to a lot of people I think all different brands/makes etc all compliment each other ... it just depends what you want to bring to your page, card, or whatever at that time. Anyway - I just didn't fall in love with their product ... and the scrapbooking wanna be was put away at the back of my mind for a while, then I got busy with no.5 and lots of other things in my life ... until early last year when I discovered card making, and soon after discovered Stampin' Up and discovered it was coming to NZ! ... and I fell in love with their "style" straight away ... and here I am.

So on to my scrapbooking wanna-be ... I have five children, the oldest 16 years old ... that is a lot of time, a lot of memories ... and sadly, not as many photos as I'd like - when we started off good cameras were expensive, and definitely not digital ... you were frugal with what pictures you took, I mean $20 to develop a 24 film, you had to make sure you only took the photos you really thought you wanted.

So ... I'm slowly doing it - a page and photo at a time :) Trying to make the most of the photos I DO have, and you know, you only need one or two photos to tell a story. For now they all go into one album, eventually I'll hopefully have enough of each child that they can start filling their own separate albums, and the chronologly will start to happen. All in good time, and for now it's a lot of fun reliving the memories!

Here is the last couple of days effort (oh yeah, the kids are back at school - yay! One of my many goals this year is to be organised enough that I can spend 1-2hrs each afternoon working on scrapping and cardmaking ... 2 days, so far so good ...)

So here is "Toolman Cam" (Cameron is now 12yo, so this is a few years ago!)

I've used:

Cardstock: Real Red, More Mustard, Olive Green

Inks: More Mustard, Real Red, Olive Green

Stamp Set: Big Deal Alphabet

DP: Four Seasons

Jumbo Wheel: Rough Texture

(Bob the Builder printed out from the internet!)

Rhiannon's Choice

I sat last night, and as often happens, couldn't get the creative juices flowing - I'd printed out the latest sketch challenge from http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ and that's about as far as I'd got. One of the things I do when that happens is ask one of my girls (who are always wanting to help!) to pick out a stamp set for me. So I asked Rhiannon (my 9yo) to pick out a stamp set and pick out three colours. She picked out Big Blooms (from the Summer Catalogue) and Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise and Lovely Lilac card. Yippeee! NOW I could come up with something.

Stampsets – Big Blooms, Happy Everything
Cardstock – Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Lovely Lilac and Whisper White
DSP – Petals & Paisleys
Ink – Basic Black (Stamp-pad)
Accessories – Stampin’ Write Markers (Tempting Turquoise and Lovely Lilac), Stampin’ Dimensionals, SNAIL
(Sketch from Splitcoast Stampers)

This also fits nicely with the January challenge (Polka Dots) from the newly formed blog for NZ Stampin' Up blogs (http://nzsublog.blogspot.com/) - a great resource for finding other like minded people and ideas!

Thanks again Rhiannon for the great choices!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! ... New Year = New Resolutions, one of mine is too keep this blogging thing going, both here and on my main blog that I have seriously neglected over the last six months or so.

As you can see from the post below, it's been nearly six months since I set this up, but then I got so busy I never really got it going properly! Roll on 2008 which I have down as my "get organised" year ... one of those organised things being this blog.

Keep checking back to see new ideas, classes, and current specials!

... and of course, every blog entry needs a picture, this is a very simple and quick card I made a couple of days ago - I just had to play with the new Sale-a-Bration stamp sets!

Your Friendship Makes my Heart Happy
Whisper White and Lovely Lilac card and ink
Sale-a-Bration "Friendship Blooms" Stamp Set
Flowers are stamped with Lovely Lilac ink, and then I've used an aqua painter with the LL ink (caught in the top tray of the ink pad) to shade in the stark whiteness of the flowers.

Once again, best wishes to you and yours for a healthy, happy and safe 2008 :)