31 August 2009

Back to school

For some - well it is in the States. Reading blogs it seems like they've had a big summer break - so that's the theme for this week's Corrosive Challenge, as this is my last week of being on the design team I'll offer up a wee prize too of mixed card stock, designer paper, ribbons & a few extras ~$20 value to any "kiwi entries" this week. Well this I found to be the hardest of Janet's challenges so I fell back on my favourite stamp set & card design from last year (as seen on TV too). So Tart and Tangy reappears & I do remember how much I loved it & this is the first time I've used my Old Olive striped grosgrain ribbon - love it too, so may make a few of these as thank yous.

Stamp sets: Tart and Tangy, All Year Cheer I (retired)
Ink: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa (marker), Old Olive (marker)
Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, Real Red
Punches: 1-¼" circle, 1-⅜" circle, scallop circle
Other: Old olive striped grosgrain ribbon. Crystal effects (to make my pips shiny)

Cutting dimensions:
Whisper White 6 x 5-½" - fold/score at 3"
Real Red 5-¼ x 2-¾"
Old Olive 4 x 1-¼"

Well I can't believe it's been 3 months on the design team has passed so quickly - I think this may possible be the best Challenge site as it has so many different challenges; sometimes colours ones, sometimes sketch ones, other times just themes - like last week we where in the jungle, so I do hope you can join us this week or in the future - they are a blast.

A HUGE thank you to Janet Rossi for organising this you are the best!

So from kiwi Karen Ka Kite (Maori for farewell)

30 August 2009

Oh beautiful tree


I made a really quick box for my door prize for CIA - a stamp & some lovely ribbon. As it was a Christmas event I've embellished the box with the lovely tall tree from Lovely as a Tree. I've used white craft ink & heat n' stick powder to make it really sparkle! Click HERE to see how to use it.

This is my favourite box the 7-14-21-28 (cm box) - nice & chunky!

Stamp set: Lovely as a tree
Ink: Craft white
Paper: Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke
Other: Heat n' stick powder, heat tool, Dazzling diamonds glitter.


29 August 2009

CIA report


Nothing sinister but it's the first event for my team the WOW paperKRafters and we did a Christmas in August event this afternoon and CIA is much easier to say.

My project was Dely's hanging Christmas cracker. Step 1 tear open last year's swap I received from her & make a template from it, well put like that there was a bit of sleuthing going on, then think of something easy to embellish it with in a very short time (quick in, as 10 ladies to do the project in 40 minutes quick). Which is where punches come in. I love that lots of SU! stamps having matching punches &  Spotlight on Christmas is no exception.


 
Stamps: Spotlight on Christmas, So Swirly (wheel)
Ink: Always Artichoke, Real Red, Baja Breeze
Paper: Old Olive, Whisper White
Other: Real red grosgrain ribbon, large star punch, 1" circle punch, 2-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter

Well to the ladies that attended today I hope you had fun & we provided a bit of inspiration as dare I say it it's only 117 days to the BIG one. I'll be back later with photos of the day & some of the other projects.

28 August 2009

When the Cats away


This was the name I gave for a cyber challenge we had running on our team's demo forum last week  whilst some of our team were off in Noosa on the Incentive Trip - as we wanted to have some FUN too whilst they were away.

I'm so lucky because the very lovely & talented Pauline McCardle from Napier sent me one of her entries as she knows how much I love cats. It's just adorable and  was so appropriate for the challenge. I'm not sure if you can see in the photo but apart from the fantastic job she's done of colouring him up she's covered the board shorts with Crystal Effects and they do look rather amazing. Thanks Pauline I love my card!!
 
I think Pauline knows me rather well as "surfing the net" or "blurfing" as I call it is my 2nd favourite pasttime after stamping.(Unfortunately this is not a SU! stamp but a Penny Black one so no I can't order you one).

26 August 2009

The last of the swapping

Well at least a 2 week break until the next lot of demo swapping occurs. I love swaps & find them very inspirational (which is probably why the size of my card sample box seems to be growing as I can't bear to throw any away).

These are the last lot I've received recently.


From Janine Pearce:
she's used one of the single stamps we can buy in the Spring Mini Fun Flowers, Washington Apple DSP and the very lovely Riding Hood Red/Vanilla tafetta ribbon.

So simple but so effective!


From Lisa B AKA DaffyScrapping the card that inspired me to create this card (one of my recent favourites). Shes used my favourite stamp set in our Spring mini Great Friend



And last but certainly not least from Jacqui in Invercargill - now how clever is this wee aquarium/fake shaker card. She's also used one of the single stamps from the Spring Mini; Birthday Wish plus Just Beachy (got to love those wee fishes), the saying comes from Uncharted Territory and the "seaweed" has been created with Pocket Silhouettes. WOW WOW WOW is all I can say.

25 August 2009

Very pretty Christmas baubles

Tree Trimmings is perfect for a quick Christmas card or even to decorate a scrapbook page & it's only $28.95 for set of 4. Lucky me has received a few special demo swaps & I'm sure one of these ideas will be used in my Christmas Stamp-a-stack afternoon (details in my upcoming September monthly newsletter).

The first swap I received was from Debbie Lamb which I've already blogged HERE. But here it is again:


At my team swap last week I received another 2 cards & one tag using this set. I love all FOUR of them that I have received! Thanks gals.

From Jacque AKA Stamp Happy NZ:


From Rachel AKA Knight Stamper:


From Kelly AKA Kelly Stamps:


Now didn't I say they were very pretty & wasn't I right & it's only 3 months and 2 days to the big day so better start planning your card real soon.

24 August 2009

Welcome to the Jungle


This is the theme at Janet's Corrosive challenge this week. Some chipboard letters up for grabs too. Amazingly I think every DT person has chosen a different animal so go check them all out.

I created a wee 3x3" notecard for a demo swap last year & last week it got transformed into a 4x4" birthday card for Pete's nephew's Max's 3rd birthday - as you can see he likes Lightning McQueen & Cars (the movie).


I must admit the giraffe is my favourite image in the set - it's just so adorable.

Stamp sets: Wild about You, Occasional Greetings
Ink: Real Rust, Old Olive
Paper: Old Olive, Soft Sky (retired), Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Fall Flowers DSP (retired)
Punches: Scallop circle, 1-3/8" circle, Spring Flower Bouquet (retired)
Other: Crystal effects, sponge dauber, cutter tool

23 August 2009

Congratulations to my fantastic team mates

Jacque, Rachael & Patrice for achieving a free incentive trip to Noosa this year on SU! For me maybe a goal in 2 years time (I am allowed to dream).

Whilst they've been away we've been running cyber Cat's Away Challenges on our team demo forum (we wanted to have some fun too).

The last challenge was to make a congratulations card for them - as we all like real mail. Plus as I was hosting the challenges & the prizes I made some cards for the 4 winners too. So here they all are ready to be posted out Monday.


This was a take on my demo swap card from 1st September last year - gosh time flies fast!

Back then I used Wild Wasabi (I loved Wild Wasabi) and bright colours; this year I have used our new in-colours & this is the same colour scheme as Sherri's card that was my inspiration for last year's card.

Stamp set: Say It With Scallops, Polka Dot (Background stamp)
Ink: Tangerine Tango, Basic Black
Paper: Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White
Punches: Scallop circle, 1-⅜" circle, small star, handheld 1/16", sacllop border
Other: Linen Thread, Tangerine Tango striped grosgrain ribbon, gold brads

Note: the card is 3-⅞" wide so you get a perfect scallop border. I also love how the Congratulations looks in a 1-⅜" circle too.

Once again well done girls & everyone that took part in the team challenges.


22 August 2009

Parisian Breeze

Stampin Up Parisian BreezeThis is the name of the 2nd specialty designer series paper to be introduced to NZ (the other is Sweet Slumber in the main IB+C). The first thing you probably notice is the difference in price between it & the other designer series paper ($27.95 cf. to $19.95) - that's because it's card stock weight which makes it perfect for creating boxes (as well as embellishing cards). If you click on the picture it will enlarge it so you can fully enjoy how beautiful it is!

My team this week have been having a bit of a cyber-swap on our team demo forum and you may have seen some increased blog activity out here as well because of this - I certainly have really enjoyed it.

One of the challenges was to Try a New Technique - so I finally downloaded one of the many templates SU! provides for us demonstrators & attempted to recreate the cute wee handbag box on page 5 of the new Spring Mini. I'd also just recently purchased Dotto ( & I'm totally hooked so this may not be my last post using templates). The Dotto (which is a removable adhesive) holds the template firmly in place whilst you cut around it and then you can peel it off & use it again - how fantastic is that!


This is my wee handbag box using Parisian Breeze DSP & the Great Friend stamp set. If you'd like the template to have a go yourself contact me or your demonstrator.


18 August 2009

Do not open until Dec 25........................

Yummy DSP: the new spring mini has 2 new DSP's Walk in the Park & Ski Slope & I love them both but I do adore Baja Breeze (so that may have something to do with it). Only $19.95 for 12 sheets of co-ordinating designer series paper - how can you go wrong!

My home class tonight is looking at Fancy Folds & I think the Tri-shutter fold card is certainly that - looks hard but is so easy - click HERE to see a great tutorial.

Stamp set: Winter Post
Ink: Baja Breeze, Real Red, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Baja Breeze (textured), Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Ski Slope DSP
Other: Ticket corner punch or ½" circle, designer label punch


16 August 2009

Great Friend goes for a Walk in the Park


Janet's corrosive challenge this week is a sketch challenge & they certainly make creating a card easier. One of my stampin' team Lisa B AKA daffyscrapper had swapped with me recently & I loved how she made her own paper using the stamps in Great Friend so she was my inspiration. Her paper sample can be seen HERE - she has been busy with it I see, making invites too! I took the concept & colours from the divine piece of Walk in the Park DSP. Sponged the edges with So Saffron ink plus cut out the butterfly & popped him up on dimensionals plus added a few half pearls - pretty. Dare I say it - I liked working with Cameo Coral too.

Stamp set: Great Friend
Ink: Cameo Coral, Baja Breeze, So Saffron, Kiwi Kiss
Paper: Baja Breeze, Basic Gray, Confetti White, Walk in the Park DSP
Other: Scallop oval punch (so in love with this), large oval punch, half cream pearls (Pretties kit), mini glue dots, dimensionals, sponge

Here's Janet's sketch for inspiration:


Hope you can join us this week. I only have 2 more weeks to go on the Design Team but I've really enjoyed it & will be an active participant in the future and it's been really great seeing all the kiwis entering (& occasionally winning).

I'll have to have a wee prize my LAST week so until then you'll have to rely on the random integer! GOOD LUCK.

15 August 2009

Fabulous friend

My friend Judy has had some to put it mildly some upsetting news this week but she's still found time to be making cards & dropping them in your letter box which is always lovely to find at 7pm at night when arriving home from work & it's dark & gloomy.


I just love all the layers & embellishments - thanks Judy & I hope life starts throwing you a few straight balls - you so deserve it!!

14 August 2009

Which Santa is your favourite?


The new spring mini has two Santa sets - a FUN surfing one (this is the one I love) and a more traditional one. In my stampin' team it seems you like one OR the other!

I've already posted a real quickie card with MY Santa but this is Yvonne Robertson's take which I admit begrudgingly is divine but I think she cheated as she made us such cool cards with it for a demo swap.


This is a tri-fold shutter card & it's one of the Fancy Fold cards we'll be doing at my card class on this coming Tuesday (but we'll be using the Christmas Post stamp set). I have only a few spots left so book in quick with ME if you're keen to make your own!

13 August 2009

Last years hostess set in this year's in-colours

And doesn't it look sensational.

I received this adorable card from Richelle Phillips one of my stampin' team mates - she's used last year's retired hostess set A little bit of happiness with this years' in-colours Kiwi Kiss & Baja Breeze - don't they look great with the autumnal shades of the leaves.

Thanks Richelle I love it!

10 August 2009

Corrosive Challenge 24

Janet's challenge this week was to make a wedding/anniversary card & I was having one of those weeks where I was to busy getting ready for my spring mini launch to have a play so I may enter another card later in the week that is in my head.

It was Pete's birthday this weekend so wanted to have some quality time with him i.e. no blogging or stamping. We had a great time saw the amazing Drallion (Cirque du Soleil) & a yummy meal post-show at One Tree Grill - can highly recommend. Sunday brunch & watching Telethon (yah $ 2 million was raised for Kids Can charity & bought back lots of great memories of past Telethons).

I digress I just wanted to apologise for this week's card which was found by rummaging in my HUGE box of cards for something to use & found the above sensational card I made at my upline Jacque's popping pastel class a few months ago which I loved & thought perfect for the challenge.

Stamp set: Baroque Motifs
Ink: Craft white, Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Cameo Coral
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery
Other: Stampin' Pastels, sponge daubers, silver brads, blue tafetta ribbon, hemp twine, ½" circle punch
Technique: Poppin' Pastels

So don't forget to enter as this is one of those cards you need often & the prize this week from Janet is 6 clear stamps!