Swaps from America

These are from Sharon B from the USA and I received them as part of the Fall Swap on UStamp - how cool is it to receive cards KReated with stamps and designer paper not found in our Idea Book and Catalogue.

Tracy Old the NZ guest designer is giving away a free pass to the next round - so check in with her - you could be the lucky one.

I might be quite sad but I really like the Halloween one with the pumpkins - must admit I love that Halloween is gathering in popularity here and I'm always waiting with lollies for the children that make an effort to dress up (think I make a banner like no costume no lollies) and so far no tricks have been down to me.

So thanks Sharon it's always lovely to receive real mail especially when it's as lovely as this.

Happy birthday Jacque

It's that time of the year again (where did the last one go??) my upline's Jacque Pedersen's birthday - so pressure!!

Lucky for me Jan B chose to learn the tri-fold shutter card at her home class this week which I'd created prior HERE and HERE.

So I had an absolutely fabulous card (even if I say so myself) to post away and yes these do fold up flat to post.

 Well I hope it is a very special day for Jacque and hopefully she allows herself one bit of cake!

Recipe (all products available from SU!):
Stamp set: Great Friend
Ink: So Saffron, Cameo Coral, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray
Paper: So Saffron, Cameo Coral, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Walk in the Park DSP
Other: Trio flower punch, Signo white gel pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Anywhere glue stick, dimensionals.

Elegant Fifth Avenue Floral

It's been awhile since I inked this stamp set up but I remember how much I loved it as it makes cards quickly, simply and elegantly.

This is a case of my wonderful downline Debbie's who always does elegant perfectly. Her card used Riding Hood Red with the black which I've changed to Rose Red but both colours with the black are stunning.

Recipe:
Stamp sets: Fifth Avenue Floral, Oval All
Ink: Rose Red, Basic Black
Paper: Rose Red, Basic Black, Whisper White
Other: Oval scallop punch, large oval punch, dimensionals

I love this card!!

This was the 2nd project that we made at the 3D class this week a diorama card and my fabulous upline Jacque taught me this card.

The card is easy to create just requires a bit of cutting to really add some 3D punch but isn't it gorgeous. The windows have been created with the large and small tag punches (but you can also use the circle punches).

The card lies flat for posting so you have to be careful that no excess adhesive is behind any of the cut-outs which is where the 2-way glue pen comes into it's own for gluing down small bits (as well as glitter).

Recipe
Stamp sets: Cheep Talk, Best Yet (level 1 hostess)
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red, Summer Sun, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Pacific Point, Whisper White, Rose Red
Punches: Large and small tag, scallop circle, 1-⅜" circle, Heart to Heart
Technique: Diorama card

My first recessed window cards

Tonight's theme for my home class was 3D and I thought when the tutorial on Split Coast Stampers showed these I thought they looked easy and really effective.

When making one they probably are but when prepping for 12 for class I was thinking I am MAD but I had a brainwave after measuring and scoring 4 to make a template with cardboard with a 1" square and a 1-¼" square frame - dare I say it I'm a genius! It was easy peasy after that.

I do recommend you watch the video link on SplitCoast Stampers rather than just read the tutorial.

Points of difference between the video and the written tutorial follow:

1. Base card stock 5-¼” x 10- ¾”.
2. Score at 5- ¼” and 5-½”
3. On the front of the card pencil the first square 1”in from the outer lines. (I used a frame I cut out of cardboard to trace around - see below and the pictures to the right). 
4. Then 2^nd square ¼” inside the first square - again I used a frame I cut out of cardboard to trace around
5. Score the lines with scoring blade or Scor-Pal
6. To make the frame of designer series paper you need 5” square piece.
7. Line up on cutter at 4- ¼” and cut from ¾” mark on top track to 4-¼”
8. Turn and repeat on all 4 sides (this will give you a ¾” frame)
9. Trim the off-cut to 3-⅛” square - use in recessed window.

To make the 1" frame of cardboard:

1. Take a 5-¼” square of cardboard
2. Line up on the trimmer at 4-¼” and cut from the 1" mark on top track to 4-¼”
3. Turn and repeat on all 4 sides (this will give you a 1" frame) 

To make the 1-¼" frame of cardboard:

1. Take a 5-¼” square of cardboard
2. Line up on trimmer at 4" and cut from the 1-¼" mark to the 4" mark
3. Turn and repeat on all 4 sides (this will give you a 1-¼" frame) 

Recipe:
Stamp set: Great Friend
Paper: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Parisian Breeze DSP
Ink: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand
Other: Dazzling Diamonds glitter, dimensionals, 2-way glue pen, Kraft tafetta ribbon, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Scor-pal, cutting knife and metal ruler

Thanks to the cardboard frames for drawing the squares these won't be my last recessed window cards!

Is Anabel the Queen of triangle boxes?

Well I for one certainly think so - she was teaching our team at least 1 year prior to there ever being a tutorial on SCS to see.

This was the delightful swap Anabel KReated for us all last week - complete with butterflies, flowers - just GORGEOUS!

Thanks Anabel I adore mine.

Sparklin' Surfin' Santa

When I made my money holders earlier I thought they'd look great re-KReated using the Season's Surfin' stamp set as there was a wee space for the palm tree.

I've added lots of Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the surf and wow it sparkles in real life. I don't think the photo captures it fully.

Otherwise recipe the same as this post but this time I've coloured it all up with my blender pen and Stampin' Pastels*. Once again go Santa go!

* Stampin' Pastels are the easiest way to do a lot of different colours as they contain the 4 basic SU! colour families (48 colours) plus a grey, black and white - all for the incredible price of $57.95 (+ postage).

Contact me if you'd like to know more or order your own set. For the rest of September anyone ordering a set - I'll throw in a FREE blender pen ~$8 value.

Happy stampin'

Great friends all right

Debbie Airey and her daughter Sarah share the blogging duties on Deb's Stamping Corner

I've always admired both of their work so it was  a very pleasant surprise to also receive on Saturday at the demo training Debbie's swap and a Good Friend card from Debbie and a Great Friend card from Sarah - now do I feel special or not!

The official swap complete with home made bath bombs. If you'd like to know how to make these Debbie is organising a ladies night next Friday night (17 September) so contact her HERE if you'd like to know more.

And as well as stamping with white Stazon on the acetate if you look closely here you can see the cellophane bag has been too.

My extra special card from Debbie:

And a very special one from Sarah:

Quick Report from the Auckland Regional Training

It's hard to believe it's the middle of the week and I haven't blogged for awhile but I'm going to blame the lovely Trudi who started up NZSU blog and got me blogging - she has now gone and got me hooked on Farmville and Crystal Age on Facebook (sure the excitement will wear off but all my friend's farms are so much prettier than mine!).

Anyhow back to regional demonstrator training on Saturday, it was great to catch up with so many (51 in total attending) and the event was held at the very lovely Parnell Rose Gardens function centre.

One of the really neat things about when us demos get to together is we swap cards.

I used the card I created for the Corrosive Challenge 22 for my swaps (all 32 of them) and this time around the lucky recipients either got it with Ruby Red or More Mustard brads (which looked a bit Pumpkin Pie'sh) from the Earth Elements set (200 brads - 50 of 4 colours for $19.95).

These are the cards I received from my lovely downline (the WOW paperKRafters).

From Janine Pearce: a delightful wee bag of Hershey's kisses - with a cute Boho Blossoms tag - very yummy they were in my tum too!

From Debbie Lamb: a Snow Swirled meets Bella Rose DSP card.

From Clare Stirling: a silver embossed Tree Trimmings card- stunning in it's simplicity.

From Sally Williams: a really cute Christmas tag card using one of my favourite Christmas sets Winter Post

 

From my dear friend Judy Beetson - guest and honorary WOW paperKrafter for the day a Gift Card holder using Priceless, Best Yet and the very yummy Tea Party DSP

Be back later after I've harvested a few more crops and done some more quests with some more goss. So ciao for now.

How to make money look prettier..........

now that got you attention (didn't it). How? - put it in a money holder (of course).

Stamp sets: Holiday Lineup, Spotlight on Christmas
Ink: Basic Black, Old Olive, Baja Breeze, Real Red
Paper: Real Red, Baja Breeze, Real Red, Whisper White
Other: Blender pen, scallop square punch, 1/16" hand held punch, linen thread, sticky strip, dazzling diamonds glitter, Old Olive striped grosgrain ribbon

This will be one of the projects I'll be doing in my small gifts class in October so if you haven't signed up for My Monthly Newsletter do so now as it's so cute!

Thanks for poppin' in.

Dazzling mail for me!

Wow I sure hope my postie was impressed with this envelope - I sure was, flowers, butterflies and glitter galore!

But wait there's more when you open it - DSP lining the envelope.

And wait there's even more just not any card but a very special card for me from the very talented  Pauline McCardle from Napier. If you haven't seen the latest Up2 Scrap magazine - Pauline's stepper box is just phenomenal I'm almost too embarrassed to blog my chocolate version for Christmas. So lucky for Pauline she sent me this beautiful card the same day I was running my stepper box class so my nose wouldn't be too far out of joint.

Stamp set: Dreams du Jour
Ink: Cameo Coral, Basic Gray
Paper: Cameo Coral, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Walk in the Park DSP
Other: trio flower punch, scallop edge punch, vintage brad, 1-¾" circle, 1-¼" circle
Technique: Stair step fold card

Just one word describes it all PHENOMENAL - thank you Pauline I am very privileged to know you as yes you sure do spread the luminous spheres and brighten my life!

Soft Holly candle

This was the 2nd project from our CIA event last weekend & was inspired by Tracee Jones sneak peek of her June class on her blog which was a card but I thought wow that would make a great candle.

Clare Stirling from our team was in charge of this project & they turned out so much better than I/we could have envisaged.

Stamp sets: Soft Holly (wheel), Sincere Salutations, Spotlight on Christmas
Ink: Always Artichoke, Riding Hood Red, Real Red (marker)
Other: Tag punches, hemp twine, heat tool, Riding Hood Red striped grosgrain ribbon
Technique: Stamping on candles