CC18: the colours of your country's flag

This week's Corrosive Challenge is to be inspired by "our country's flag colours". I think we're going to see a lot of red, white ± blue. The New Zealand Flag is pretty similar to the Australian flag but we have one star less.
I used Pacific Point for my blue as NZ is found in the Pacific Ocean, well this card didn't quite turn out how I thought but it is rather striking.

Stamp set: Fresh Cuts
Ink: Pacific Point (in places stamped off once)
Paper: Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, Pacific Point, Pacific Point Patterns DSP
Other: Riding Hood Red striped grosgrain ribbon, scallop circle punch, 1-⅜" circle punch, 1-¼" circle punch, Ruby Red Brads

Hope you can play along too. Janet has a HUGE prize this week too - so well worth entering. It's
a roll of ribbon and a SU stamp set! (She will give you a choice!!) WOW is all I can say.

So many handbags!

Wow Pete's daughter has turned 16 & this lovely card I made at Jacque's punch card class is just perfect as I'm giving her shopping vouchers.

Stamp sets: Stem sayings, Circle Circus
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Riding Hood Red
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla, Candy Lane DSP
Punches: Scallop edge, Eyelet border, small & large oval, round tab, curly label, 1-¼" circle
Other: Pink grosgrain ribbon, gold brads, dimensionals

Meet my boys - they're cute too

Both Sharlene & Trudi have lovely cat stories on their blogs today - well I think my boys are pretty special so here they are: Napoleon AKA Napster - yes he likes eating & sleeping & his wee brother Tiger (who actually is the boss).

Fifth Avenue Simplicity

I just love this swap I received at 2009 Convention from Marelle Taylor, she's one of the Aussie bloggers who's work I have admired from this side of the ditch for a long time.

So I was delighted to meet her in real life (& she's really lovely) and even more pleased to receive this which is just stunning in it's simplicity & will certainly be cased by me!

Stamp set/s: Fifth Avenue, Best Yet (level 1 hostess)
Ink: Baja Breeze, Sahara sand, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Kraft, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip Patterns DSP
Other: Eyelet border punch, kraft tafetta ribbon, dimensionals

CC17: A different kind of fold

Janet Rossi's 17th Corrosive Challenge has asked for a different kind of fold (trifold, gate fold).

This is called a Trifold Shutter Card & is certainly "new" to me so I had to follow the excellent tutorial created by Bonnie Szwalkiewicz

It was easier than it looks & it looks amazing in real life, so not sure if I can bear to post away to my friend Mike who I created it for, but I'll certainly be reKReating this one again. I've been having a real clean up of my craft room this weekend so I have used up old stuff i.e. retired so I can make some room for the new.

Stamp set: In the Stars (retired)
Ink: Real Red, Wild Wasabi (retired)
Paper: Wild Wasabi (retired), Real Red, Tempting Turqiouse, Whisper White, East Coast Prep DSP (retired)
Other: Large & small star punch, Bold Brights brads

Hope you can play along too in the challenge (& Janet's giveaway this week is a vintage scrapbook & ribbon - sounds yummy) - love to see someone create one of these cards - it's well worth it.

This is what it looks closed for posting too. Happy stampin'

KW Inspiration 55

Every week I think these can't get harder & every week they do but always fun to have a play with colours so far removed from your comfort zone - some I love this one not, but maybe I don't love what I've created. It is actually quite cute IRL so will try & take a picture in daylight to do it some justice.

Stamp set/s: Scribble This (AKA Doodle This), Scribble wheel
Ink: Basic Gray, Real Rust, More Mustard
Paper: Real Rust. More Mustard, Whisper White
Other: Clear button, Basic Gray Tafetta, blender pen, orange fine supernova glitter, 2 way glue pen, dimensionals
Technique: Triangle Box

Do check out the other entries HERE. Thanks for poppin' in.

Who's the sweetest demo of them all??

Hope I'm not sounding like the evil queen here but the answer is Pauline McCardle for her lovely sweet "taste of honey" demo swap. BTW this is Pauline's idea of simple but I for one am enjoying the honey which has come from her own hives & hopefully it's keeping the winter colds away.

Stamp set:/s Bloomin' with Beauty, Best Yet (hostess level 1)
Ink: Black Stazon, Sahara Sand
Paper: Kraft, Whisper White, Vellum CS, Copper Metallics, Urban Oasis DSP
Other: Scallop Circle, 1-⅜" circle punch, 1-¼" circle punch, Kraft Taffeta ribbon

So anyone living down in the Hawkes Bay - I'd be booking Pauline up for a workshop ASAP!

Is it snowing yet?

It seems to be cold enough to snow even in temperate Auckland - so it seems appropriate to share this card which I cased from a swap I received at convention from Trish Hollis. Soon as I saw it; I said yes that is stunning & perfect for a class. I think the ladies that attended last week would agree with that sentiment. So thanks Trish we all loved it.

Stamp set: Snow Swirled
Ink: Versamark, Encore Silver, Basic Gray (sponging the edge)
Paper: Basic Gray, Basic Black, Whisper White
Other: Black EP, red & black gingham ribbon, clear rhinestone brad, dazzling diamonds glitter, sponge dauber

Here's one done in silver too (going to try it on black CS next time):
Below is what my beautiful sliver tree looked like until I got rid of the "grey gloom" if you haven't read this post by Lisa from Sideoats & Scribbles go & check it out!

Corrosive Challenge 16

This week the Corrosive Challenge is a sketch to work with - I've never done one of those before but it actually made it easier so I did another one the next morning. Must admit that I whipped this card up in under half an hour as it was 1am & not surprisingly I was tired - last week I was a wee bit late - I do get confused with the time difference between my country (New Zealand) & Canada so was trying to be early this week. Janet is giving away a a Ketto stamp, and some lovely ribbon so get KReating!

It's dark, gloomy & wet as winter here so I've made a really bright card to cheer me up & hopefully the lucky recipient. The words have been coloured up using Stampin' Write Markers & I've used my Petal Party Simply Scrappin' kits to show that you can also make cards with them (in fact a lot of cards), I do love the die-cut flowers they look awesome in real life.

Stamp set: On Your Birthday
Paper: Pixie Pink, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Petal Party DSP
Other: Stampin' Write markers (Old Olive, Summer Sun, Pixie Pink, Pumpkin Pie), Dimensionals, Petal Party self-adhesive die-cut flowers

A wee handbag perfect for a small gift

Isn't this just gorgeous! Debbie Lamb from my team taught us all how to make one on Friday night at team training - must admit I was the least dexterous at creating it but the final project is just lovely. I do think Tea Party DSP is so yummy. I've coloured my pretties flower up with Almost Amethyst & So Saffron markers - even if I say so myself it matches the paper perfectly. Thanks Debbie for lots of hilarity & fun.

2 challenges in one

Well the new Corrosive Challenge by Janet Rossi is out tomorrow & it's a sketch challenge. I must admit I've never done one before & it made it easier to create a card. So when I saw Kristina Werner had her 54th colour challenge up, I thought let's try & combine it with another sketch challenge - so off to Mojo Monday for their latest offering & yes it works. Janet you sure do rock for making me do the first one.
Stamp set: Cheep Talk
Ink: Green Galore, Taken With Teal, Pumpkin Pie
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Taken with Teal, Whisper White, Bali Breeze DSP (retired)
Other: Trio flower punch, white Signo gel pen, Flower Fusion felt flower, ice rhinestone brad, dimensionals, cutter kit, dazzling diamonds glitter, Taken with Teal marker for the bird's eye
Thanks for poppin' in.

Fresh Notes are resistable

Emboss resistable that is. This is my take on my upline's demo swap from April. I've used one of my favourite colour combos: Perfect Plum, Pale Plum & Mellow Moss.

The background stamp has been clear embossed & then colour applied using a sponge dauber, it's a really lovely effect with a bit of WOW & I do adore the fire rhinestone brad which surprisingly matches the pale plum flower beautifully.

Stamp set: En Francais (back ground stamp), Fresh Cuts, Eastern Blooms
Card stock: Fresh Notes card, whisper white, mellow moss
Ink: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Mellow Moss, Versamark
Other: Clear embossing powder, sponge dauber, five petal punch, mellow moss tafetta, fire rhinestone brad.

Fresh Notes are such great value $20.95 for 15 laser die-cut cards & envelopes.

Sweet Cupcakes Always

This is the make n' take we all got to make at demo training on Saturday. I just adore it & I now have another stamp set to add to my wishlist. Isn't it just YUMMY!


Stamp sets: Crazy for Cupcakes, Polka Dot (BG)
Ink: Regal Rose, Basic Brown
Paper: Regal Rose, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Sweet Always DSP
Other: Water colour crayons, aquapainter, regal rose grosgrain ribbon, word window punch, scallop edge punch, dazzling diamonds glitter, dimensionals

And this is another card I received at the SU! convention with almost the same recipe as above but "a chocolate version" - also equally yummy, created by Naomi Swan

Design Team Member announcement

I was asked to be on the 2nd design team for Janet Rossi's Corrosive Challenge - after I got over my initial shock & I thought yes I can do this, I know I need to be challenged & pushed outside my comfort zone to grow as a stamper.

The the list comes & yes I'm outside my comfort zone straight away with week one (week 15 for the challenge). The theme is Father's day (I think it's happening in the States soon) or masculine. Must admit this is an area we all struggle with. Lucky for me I've just been to Convention & Nicki Tidbold did a talk on "male projects". She suggested using the following images: trees, stars, circles, spots, sports. Techniques which are good to use: sponging, spritzing, thump & bump (with the ink pad), tearing, crumpling, crimping. Good accessories to include: hodgepodge hardware, chipboard, jumbo eyelets, twine or twill tape, brads and clips. PS lucky for me I also got one of her swaps which I've used as my inspiration.

For Leslie thumping and bumping is just touching the ink pad to the background - I really like the effect & perfect for those that have problems holding a BIG background stamp


Stamp set/s: Lovely as a Tree, Everyday Flexible Phrases (retired)
Ink: Timber Brown Stazon, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, So Saffron, Bravo Burgundy
Paper: Old Olive, Watercolour paper, Four Seasons DSP (retired)
Other: Watercolour crayons, aquapainter, word window punch, vintage brads, sponge dauber, crimper, dimensionals

Here's Nicki's inspirational card made using Seaworthy. So we've thumped & bumped, torn, sponged, crimped & used brads. So hope you can play along too - lots of ideas above to use/inspire.
NOTE: Anyone from New Zealand that enters the challenge I'll put you in the draw to win some goodies from ME. Janet also has a random winner every week so what are you waiting for! this week it's a Gina K stamp set of a man & a golf bag sounds worth winning.

You can check out the bios of the rest of the team HERE too.

Lots of RAKs

Lucky me so many Random Acts of Kindnesses/thank you gifts in one day. These are from some of my fellow demonstrators.

From Delys Cram - she's covered a Felt Flower Fusion tin with Good Morning Sunshine DSP and included some really sweet gift cards, created with Cheep Talk & Bright Delights rub-ons & YES chocolate inside.
From Jennifer Montgomery a special treat holder, love the acetate which has been stamped with Fresh Cuts background stamp.
From Karen Williamson a lovely card created with Thoughts & Prayers & also another cute acetate treat holder. Must admit not too many kisses left.
From Michelle Cave a beautifully decorated soap with kiwi kiss card stock & ribbon which is a snap for the soap colour & some lovely images from Flight of The Butterfly.

Thanks girls they're beautiful & I feel very honoured to receive them.