Free Wheeling in September

Buy a preselected stamp set and receive the coordinating wheel for FREE (RRP $18.95)!

Options & prices are listed below:

* Merry, Merry Bundle (includes Merry, Merry stamp set and All about Christmas jumbo wheel). Cost: $53.95 instead of $72.90
* Artfully Asian Bundle (includes Artfully Asian stamp set and Watercolour Vine Jumbo set). Cost: $53.95 instead of $72.90
* Nursery Necessities Bundle (includes Nursery Necessities stamp set and Nursery Letters jumbo wheel). Cost $66.95 instead of $85.90
* Bodacious Bouquet Bundle (includes Bodacious Bouquet stamp set and Bodacious jumbo wheel). Cost $68.95 instead of $87.90
* Carte Postale Bundle (includes Carte Postale stamp set and Leaves à la Carte jumbo wheel). Cost $57.95 instead of $76.90
* Priceless Bundle (includes Priceless stamp set and So Swirly jumbo wheel). Cost $57.95 instead of $76.90

This great offer is available 1-30 September 2008. Contact ME by e-mail if you would like more information or to place an order. I'm also happy to offer personally 10% of any matching set & wheel as well.

So happy wheeling all!

I've been baking

Not cookies but marble coaster tiles. That's one of the really neat things I've learnt along the way that you can stamp on just about anything! I've got quite a lot of birthdays coming up so thought I've got all this stuff so let's create something.

• You have to stamp off first as the first impression is really dark on the tiles i.e. they're really absorbent.
• Bake at 160oC for approximately half an hour.
• Cool, seal with Mod Podge.
• Wrap in a bow & give away (that's always the hard part).

Stamp set/s: French Script, Easy Elegance (both retired)
Ink: all Stazon - Timber Brown, Azure, Pumpkin, Forest Green, Royal Purple
Other: marble tiles, Stampin' Pastels (for chalking the edges), Mod Podge

Happy weekend all (I only have today off as I worked yesterday - so a short one for me).

Masculine Cards

Don't you hate them? Well that was the theme at my upline's card class this week. I think that may have been something to do with Father's day looming but saying that we didn't actually make a Father's day card, so I'll have to think of something for Pete for his dad all by myself.

Jacque got us to make 2 items that Shelli demonstrated at this year's convention. As my team knows I'm not a great fan of Wanted & I have my own nick name for it but it's starting to grow on me but I do love the designer paper that "matches it" - Outlaw and it's colour combo.

I changed the sentiment on the card as one of my colleagues Harry was leaving us to go work at North Shore Hospital lab.

Stamp set/s: Wanted, Sincere Salutations, Weathered (BG)
Card Stock: Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Confetti Cream, Outlaw DP
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Sage Shadow
Other: Cropodile, jumbo eyelets (pewter), vintage brads, crop-o-dile, hemp twine

Definitely best wishes Harry - enjoy not travelling over the bridge & the FREE parking!

My 2nd blogging award

How exciting is this?? Anne Marie from my team has been brave & joined up with a SBS online team, she's very good at doing challenges unlike me so I expect lots of neat ideas from her that she'll be sharing.

Anyhow back to my award. The rules of the award are:

1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4. Put links of those blogs on yours
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the girls you have nominated.

Drum-roll now I'll nominate the following for your inspiration & thanks for sharing so willing!

Trudi (of course)
Delys
Sharon
Sarah G
Lisa
Diane
Anna

Thanks Anne-Marie for my lovely award. Hope your stamping galore right now!

Happy Birthday Rachael

Yes another birthday in The Creative Inkers team this time Rachael Knight AKA Knight Stamper & if you haven't checked out her blog you're missing out on something good.

Rachael likes chocolate in more than one way - she often uses it in her stamping and I know she loves Berry Bliss Designer Paper so her birthday card was easy as Berry Bliss matches the newly released (Spring Mini catalogue) One Of A Kind which I'm still playing with as it's my newest toy!

Stamp set: One of a Kind
Card stock: Purely Pomegranate, Pretty In Pink, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White, Berry Bliss DP
Inks: Purely Pomegranate, Pretty In Pink, Close to Cocoa
Other: Purely Pomegranate DS grosgrain ribbon, Boho Blossoms punch, silver brads, corner rounder (for scalloped edge).

So I hope it was a special day with lots of chocolate & other goodies too as you are definitely One of a Kind.

Ain't this the cutest baby card you've ever seen

I found this really cool tutorial by Lauren but there's a couple of things you need to know!

• The size of the card stock in the first step should read 11 x 4-1/4" or in my/our case down under 11 x 4-1/8" as our cardstock is slighter narrower than the USA's.
• If your circle punch won't cut two layers for the neck don't force it or you'll spend the next 2 hours unjamming & filing it (in my case about 1230am!). Must admit it's nice & sharp now & it can cut 2 layers. I did use another cutting system in the end but for the next versions in pink & blue I create hopefully the circle punch will keep on working as that will definitely speed it all up.
• When using your craft knife if right handed like me, turn the card over when cutting the left hand side (if you look closely at my LHS it's not quite straight - it was an awkward angle to cut).

Otherwise have fun - lots of oohs & ahh's at work today. Yes no. 2 mum to be leaves tomorrow. Good luck Bhamini.

Stamp set/s: In The Wild, Short & Sweet
Card stock: Barely Banana, So Saffron, Whisper White
Ink: So Saffron
Other: White brads (non-SU), Scallop circle punch, 1-3/8" circle punch or other cutting system, craft knife/scalpel, white Signo gel pen

Happy Birthday Anabel

One of the greatest things about becoming a demonstrator is the lovely people one meets along the way - one of the very special ones is Anabel Welch who is part of the same team as me The Creative Inkers - she's has a heart of gold plus a willing ear and an inspiration to everyone. I think she lives & breathes STAMPING!

It's her birthday today & I hope it was a special one. I've made her a wee card that I'm only going to give you a sneak peep to as it's one of the projects I'm doing in my Wheeling Good Fun class next Thursday 4th September.

And why might you ask are we looking at Wheels apart from they're so much fun? It's because in September It's Free Wheeling with Stampin' Up!

I have my eye on a few as this is such good value. Click HERE for all the details.

One of the bad things about being a demonstrator (who works full time and who also has a long distance romance) is lack of time so I've had to combine Anabel's card (which is really sweet) with my home class. So full details about the card will be revealed next week.

Once again Happy Birthday Anabel!!!

Watercolouring with markers

This is the technique my team is looking at this week & we used one of my favourite stamps, the delightful wee girl from Summer by the Sea.

Anne Marie from my team has also also been looking at watercolouring with some amazing differences using the watercolour crayons & watercolour paper and comparing to Whisper White.

What I love about using markers is it's FAST ( & you got to love that!). It's just a matter of stamping your image with Stazon (as we get really wet) then running around the image with the marker pen - normally inside the line & then using an aquapainter to spread & blend - WOW!

Stamp set/s: Summer by the Sea, Small Script (retired)
Card stock: Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Sage Shadow, Close to Cocoa, Watercolour paper, Enchante DP (retired)
Ink: Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Sage Shadow, Close to Cocoa, Stazon Black
Other: Aquapainter, Kraft tafetta ribbon, silver brads, Dimensionals, word window punch, sponging, Pretties flower, SU! markers (same as the ink colours)

Once again the colours are chosen because of the colours in the designer paper - makes it so easy!

Cutting dimensions:
Base card: Perfect Plum 10 x 5"
Enchante Designer Paper: 1-1/2 x 4-3/4", 2-1/4 x 4-3/4", 2 x 4-3/4"
Sage Shadow: 2-1/4 x 4-3/4"
Pale Plum: 3-3/8" square
Close to Cocoa: 3-1/4" square
Watercolour paper: 3" square

UPDATE 10/12/08 Kristina's colour challenge this week uses 4 of the 5 colours I've used here (gotta love that when I haven't really started on my Christmas cards) and I don't own Bordering Blue as yet.

So anyone poppin' in thanks for calling by!

Time to throw away the plastic ice cream container!

Been thinking for ages I must retrieve the coffee tins from the work recycling bin so I could cover it with DSP, ribbons & stamped images. That way I could have the prettiest "rubbish tin" at my next class/workshop.

Must admit my choice of DSP was easy as I'd got carried away cutting out lots of Looks Like Spring large flowers when I was making pop-up cans in the past.

The matching Spring Flowers (& Spring Showers) DSP is still available though missed out on being published in the current IB&C.

Just Chicken In on David

It's been Casualty City where I live & family wise lately. The latest "casualty" is my neighbour David who has just had a triple by-pass but doing well post-op.

I whipped up this cute (I hope) pocket card with one of my favourite retired sets Best of Cluck & the masculine Outlaw designer paper.

Stamp set/s: Best of Cluck (retired)
Card Stock: Close to Cocoa, Really Rust, Very Vanilla, Outlaw DP
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip
Other: Earth Elements markers, spritzer, vintage brads, Pewter jumbo eyelets, cropodile, dimensionals, sticky strip, hemp twine, sponges, corner rounder punch.

Cutting Dimensions Front Pocket:
Close to Cocoa 11 x 4-1/8", fold in half & then score at 1-1/4"
Designer Paper 3-1/4 x 4" & 1-3/8 x 4"

Close to Cocoa 3 x 2-5/8"
Really Rust 2-3/4 x 2-3/8"
Very Vanilla 2- 5/8 x 2-1/4"

Cutting Dimensions Tag:
Very Vanilla 5 x 3-1/4"
Designer Paper 1-1/2 x 3-1/4"

Well I hope David is feeling a box of birds real soon!!

Baby time again

This is a card I've cased & has sitting on my desktop for ages. The pitter patter of wee baby feet is happening again at my work - 3 mummy's to be leave within the next month.

Stamp set/s: Greetings Galore, Sweet Shapes, Weathered (BG)
Card stock: Almost Amethyst, Very Vanilla
Ink: Basic Brown, Almost Amethyst, Creamy Caramel
Other: Cutter tool (for distressing), dimensionals, hodgepodge hardware, linen thread, gold organza

Happy Birthday Fee

It was my friend Fiona's birthday on Friday & the girls are off to do Sunday brunch tomorrow. I wanted to play with my new One of a Kind stamp set with the matching Boho Blossoms punch which are in our new spring mini catalogue.

I love regal rose as a colour so chose the other colours from the SU colour wheel. I think it looks very spring-like & was really easy to create (almost seemed too easy).

Stamp set: One Of A Kind
Inks: Regal Rose, Apricot Appeal, Bashful Blue, Almost Amethyst
Card stock: Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Other: Boho blossoms punch, silver brads, dimensionals, distressing tool from the Cutter Kit

So I hope Fee enjoys it! Happy stampin' for now.

Birthday card for Pete

Pete hinted that he thought the perfect birthday card for a boy should be a boat on the sea & he's always suggesting I should add more colour to my cards to make them more cheerful. MMM what's a girl going to do!

This gal' borrows Seaworthy from a friend & attempts to make a colourful card. I had originally thought I was going to use jumbo eyelets & the wide Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon which is why I chose Pumpkin Pie for the mainsail. So next step was to see what designer paper had Pumpkin Pie in it - Spring Break to the rescue.

I used watercolour paper & Stazon ink & coloured up the outline of the boat with markers & then used my aquapainter to blend/spread the colour. I was happy with the finished product as it was colourful & Pete loved it so that's the main thing. Would have preferred the sail to have been another colour, as you can see no ribbon was used in the end.


Stamp set/s: Seaworthy, Cheesecloth (now retired but perfect for the background)
Card stock: Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, watercolour paper & Spring Break DP
Technique: Water colouring with marker pens

Tart and Tangy Colour Combinations

I played with quite a few combinations before settling on the make n' take for my spring mini launch. The wide striped grosgrain ribbon works so well with these cards.

Colour combo: Real Red & Old Olive
Extras: Crystal effects - the cherries are so glistening in real life.




Color combo: Pumpkin Pie & Summer Sun



Colour Combo: Wild Wasabi & Chocolate Chip - a great tip from Anabel Welch in my team is to stamp the solid stamp with the predominant ink (wild wasabi here) & then remove with a cotton bud where you want to colour up - in this case the stalk with a Chocolate Chip marker - thanks Anabel.



Colour Combo: Real Red & Old Olive (again) but doesn't the strawberry look cool with so much Dazzling Diamonds glitter.



Enjoy your weekend everyone :-)

A popsicle card

Yes everywhere you look popsicles are poppin' up!

I thought it would be fun to try a scratch n' sniff technique as the Tart & Tangy stamp set seemed just perfect for this. Earlier this year our monthly newsletter for demonstrators introduced this technique. I didn't really have a stamp set that would work at the time but now I do!

I used Weight Watcher's orange juice mix as the sugar free drink & it worked fine & didn't caramelise. Both the demo newsletter and Split Coast Stampers say to mix 1-1/2 tsp of clear embossing powder to one tsp of scented "drink" mix. I probably added another tsp of embossing powder to the mix as the first few attempts weren't shiny enough.

Stamp set/s: Tart & Tangy, Sweet Hellos
Card stock: Only Orange, Yo Yo Yellow, Whisper White
Ink: Only Orange, Versamark
Other: Horizontal punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Pumpkin Pie striped grosgrain ribbon (half coloured with Yo Yo Yellow marker), Dimensionals, clear embossing powder, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Cutting dimensions:
Only Orange 5-1/2 x 3-3/4"
Whisper White (inside card) 3-5/8 x 2-5/8"

And who's ben taking a nibble out of it? Yummy!

Ground breaking news

Shelli Gardner co-founder & CEO of SU! has started up her own blog!

She's a very inspirational lady & I can't wait to see what she will share with us all. This is her first layout she is sharing:




She also has a challenge on her blog to use the word CELEBRATE so let's go KReating.

Isn't this the cutest owl you've ever seen?

Wow I saw this video ages ago when I was searching for my first spinner demo, so imagine how happy I was when we got the owl in our new spring mini. He's so cute!

Check out Angie's video for how to do. I've used the designer paper with the dotted image from the Certainly Celery Prints DP as I felt it was a closer match to the cardstock. I've used a different Happy Birthday sentiment too. My hint is to just push the word window punch down as afar as it can go in the piece of CS & move along - much easier to keep lined up than trying to line up a central ruled line.

Stamp set/s: Celebrate Everyday, It's Your Birthday
Card stock: Whisper white, Certainly celery, Certainly Celery Prints DP (backed up with whisper white)
Ink: Certainly Celery, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, So Saffron, Barely Banana, More Mustard, Bashful Blue for colouring in the owl & Basic Brown for his outline
Other: Word window punch, American pennies (our 10c pieces work too), dimensionals, blender pen, Crystal effects for the owl's eyes.

Cutting dimensions:
Certainly Celery 6 x 6"
Whisper White 5-3/4 x 2-3/4" and 5-1/2 x 2-1/2"
Designer paper 5-1/2 x 2-1/2"

Happy stampin' for now.

Spring Mini Launch party

As you may have spotted I've spoken highly of the new Tart and Tangy stamp set. I just love it, it's fun, cute & a real bargain at $25.95. What more could a girl want!

For the launch everyone made a cute wee card using the set plus a few Christmas gift tags as the mini actually has stamps for Christmas, so hopefully this year I'll be finished well & truly before Christmas, last year if my memory serves me right I finished 4 days to spare (eek just a wee bit tight).
Stamp set/s: Tart & Tangy, One of a Kind (sentiment)
Card stock: Whisper White, Real Red, Old Olive
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Other: Real Red & Old Olive markers, dimensionals, 1-1/4" circle punch, 1-3/8" circle punch, scallop punch, dimensionals, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Real Red striped grosgrain ribbon
Cutting dimensions:
Whisper White 6 x 5-1/2" - fold/score at 3"
Real Red 5-1/4 x 2-3/4"
Old Olive 4 x 1-1/4"

Christmas Gift tags:
Card colours: Certainly Celery & Blue Bayou


Card colours: Wild Wasabi & Purely Pomegranate (the wee snowmen have been coloured in using a blender pen & Stampin" pastels).



Finished off with Lemon Shortcake (which was not tart or tangy but yummy) & a draw for a pack of Summer Picnic designer paper (this matches the Tart & Tangy stamps) - won by Janet Appletree (well done).

My very FIRST blogging award

From Trudi who is inspiring me lots lately as well as looking after the NZSU blog she runs Made By Me

So do check them both out of you haven't already. Thanks Trudi you're the best.

I'm new to this I'm actually allowed to pass this on! This is FUN!!

Here are the rules :

1.Use the twinks bank icon

2. Only 5 people allowed. (to be nominated) .

3. 4 of the 5 have to be dedicated followers of your blog

4. 1 is to be someone new or recently new to your blog and live in another part of the world.

5. You must link back to whoever gave you the award.

Here are the 5 people I want to award:

1. Judy
2. Anne Marie
3. Diane
4. Rachael
5. and for the newbie Delys who as yet hasn't got her blog listed on NZSU

I don't have any overseas blogging friends/followers as yet - maybe one day!

Leave me a comment to tell me what you think of my new layout?

I think it's rather gorgeous. Anyone wanting to know how I did it contact me & I'll let you know what I learned in the process.