Snow globes in Summer

Who can remember snow globes from their childhood - ME!

Well today was my team final training/Christmas party & it was a fun afternoon of crafting followed by bubbly & nibbles. It also meant we got to do swaps for the new Summer Mini catalogue that is going to be released in one days time December 1st. So lots more to blog about. If you do not have a demonstrator let me know & I'll drop one in the post for you.

My own launch party is this coming Friday night: contact me if interested in coming as I'll have the mini catalogue for you to pick up, new samples & a FREE make n' take plus Christmas Cake with a hot drink on the night.

One of the really neat NEW products are the Sweet Treat Cups & my pantry is full of wee lollies - many which have made it into my tummy - all in the name of research I might add!

So when I was blurfing for cool ideas I came across this really cool card of Kirsty Brown's & just adored it. You can see a really cool video on how to KReate a snow globe card  by clicking HERE too. So this was my swap for my team today. Isn't it just gorgeous!

Stamp sets: Winter Post, Holiday Line Up
Ink: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Versamark, Basic Black, Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip
Punches: Scallop edge, designer label, 1/16" handheld punch, 1-¾" circle
Other: White embossing powder, sweet treat cup, blender pen, Dazzling Diamonds & Chunky Sprinkles, mini glue dots, linen thread, dimensionals, ¾" polka dot real red grosgrain (yummy)

Here's the globe all shook up:

The inside of the card (the snowflake is rock n' rolled):

So thanks Kirsty for the inspiration so much better than lollies!

Santa Gift Bag in a Box

This idea is totally cased from one of my fellow demos Lisa Bullock AKA Daffy Scrapper, this is one of the coolest things about being a demonstrator that being part of a team you almost have too many ideas and projects to do & the day isn't long enough! If you'd like to join in on the fun & being part of our team you can check out some FAQs HERE.

Back to the fabulous Santa that we KReated at class this week.

Card Stock: Real red 1 piece 4-½" x 4-½", Whisper white 1 piece 1-½ " x 11" and Basic black 1 piece ~ 1" x ¼"
 Yoyo yellow, basic black & whisper white scraps
Paper: Ski Slope Designer Series double sided paper - 1 piece 5-½" x 11"
Punches: Eyelet border, ½" & ¾" circle; double rectangle, round tab, Crop-a-dile
Other: Real red striped grosgrain

Box Base Instructions:
1. Using scoring blade and a paper cutter (or a bone folder and ruler) score your 4-½" square real red card 1 inch in from all four sides. Crease all your score lines.

2. Using scissors, cut up to the 1-inch line on TWO of the four sides.

3. Assemble your box base. Stick the 'flaps' to the outside of the box, so they will be hidden when the base is covered.

Making the 'Bag':
1. Attach double-sided adhesive to one long side, and one short side of your designer paper.  Take care to attach to the 'wrong side' of your paper - that is the pattern that you want to be on the inside of your bag.

2. Position so the bottom edge of the paper is level with the bottom of the box, and the end of the paper is midway along one of the box edges. Attach paper to box base.

3. You may need to put one hand inside the bag to help get the seams smooth. The side with the paper join will be the back of your bag.

Hopefully the rest is self-explanatory looking at the picture - any questions drop me a line.

Small gifts for Christmas

I made this really cute post-it note holder at my upline Jacque's class going on 2 years ago & it's one of those projects I always was going to do at my own home classes - well finally we did it last night - it was supposed to be quick & easy (& it is but a few at the naughty table - that's where my lovely downline get to sit didn't finish as they talked to much! so no piccies of their creations).

But will share with you those that did get finished, starting with the original:

Mary & Sue's:

Sue & Nyra's :

Joan's:

Mine & Judy's:

They're easy to prep too;

Base card stock: 8-¼” x 3” (i.e. cut A4 card stock horizontally at 3”)
Score at 2-7/8”, 3-3/8”. 6-3/8” and 6-7/8”

2nd colour card stock 2-5/8” square
Whisper White – 2-1/2” square

Hands up who hates masculine birthday cards!

After trudging around West City for 4 hours on Saturday to find Paul the birthday boy a pressie & then zooming home to make 2 dishes for the pot luck dinner, I needed something quick & easy that I could make for a card & the Cheers To You stamp set was perfect for the occasion.

Just stamp one of the drinks out, punch out, colour up, mount on a scallop circle & attach to some striped paper containing brown - we are talking masculine here & we're done - even time to shower & change clothes.

Stamp set: Cheers to You
Ink: Basic Brown, Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, Bordering Blue
Paper: Confetti White, Chocolate Chip, Parisian Breeze DSP
Punches: Scallop circle & 1-3/8" circle
Other: Dimensionals, Dazzling Diamonds glitter (got to have froth on that beer)

A wee box for the tree

This is a small triangle box created with a piece of 6 x 3" card stock. These are super fast to make.

I've  made a wee tree using the scallop edge square punch which is one of the punches you can earn for free with Stampin' Up! until December 15th - click HERE to see all the details.

I've also sponged around the edges of the tree with the glorious green ink to add a bit more definition in real life.

Stamp set: Short and Sweet
Ink: Glorious Green
Paper: Glorious Green, Real Red, Yoyo Yellow
Punches: Scallop square, small star, crop-a-dile
Other: Red gingham ribbon, sponge.

Now wouldn't these look cute hanging on your Christmas tree with a few treats inside!

Non- traditonal Christmas colours?

I kreated this card at my friend Donna's card class the other night - it changed from the original as she had some lovely white embossed presents on the side of hers which looked really cool on the chocolate chip card stock but as she couldn't find her embossing buddy & I couldn't cope with the embossed speckles, so I cut off the side of the card - I then decided I was going to make it masculine & used earthy boy colours to colour it in - certainly brown & green would not be my first pick for a Christmas card but it works beautifully.

Stamp set: Punch Pals
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, Earth Element markers
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Bella Rose DSP
Punch: Scallop edge
Other: 2-way glue pen & dazzling diamonds glitter

The embossing buddy is only $11.25 and really makes those embossed projects WOW.

Christmas Crackers

I've seen a few of these popping up on blogs lately & this has certainly been a real favourite at my classes & workshops  with all.  If you'd like to schedule your own home workshop & learn how to create these with ease contact me ASAP as I don't have many free slots left.

The cutting & scoring is a breeze with our paper trimmer which has the option of a cutter & scorer refill, but you can also just use your bone folder in the cutting groove but for speed & accuracy I'd certainly recommend getting a scoring blade for your trimmer.

The original concept was created by Shelley Hopps.

Stamp set: Best Yet (level 1 hostess)
Ink: Old Olive
Paper: Real Red, Old Olive, Whisper White, Ski Slope DSP
Punches: Scallop oval, large oval
Other: Dimensionals, chocolate chip & old olive narrow grosgrain ribbon

Donna shares a Christmas Card

Donna Blackmore; who is one of my oldest & dearest friends is also one of my down lines & I haven't quite persuaded her she wants a blog but I'm sharing one of her recent creations from one of her classes. She lives in Bucklands Beach and has one or two vacancies for her monthly stamp club - so if you'd like to join a great group of girls for a fun night of stamping & chatting you can drop her a line by clicking HERE.

I'll apologise now my camera takes really useless photos at night but if you look hard the paper mats are all on chocolate chip card stock & the cherries are bright red in real life. She's also used Crystal Effects to add some real shiny glossy accents. If I'm very good she's promised me my own one for Christmas!

Stamp sets: Window Dressing (level 3 hostess), Tart and Tangy, Winter Post
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, various for colouring
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Parisian Breeze DSP
Punches: Scallop circle, 1-3/8" cicrcle
Other: Crystal Effects, white taffeta ribbon

Lovely letters?

Well for some strange reason I think the letter K is beautiful but truthfully all the letters in the Lovely Letters Alphabet are beautiful - I just love the monogrammed look - perfect for stationary or in my case a wee treat from the incredibly talented Delys Cram.

Thanks Delys just adorable!

NZSU Challenge - Treat Holder

This week's challenge on NZSU was inspired by Donna Calley & it was to make a wee treat holder. Wow this could be the easiest challenge ever - it took me longer to "dye" my homemade bath salts to go in it than to make one. I just used scraps on my desk too to embellish it.

Stamp sets: One of a Kind, Scribble It (wheel)
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Riding Hood Red
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Basic Black, Riding Hood Red Patterns DSP
Punches: Wide oval, designer label, scallop circle, 1/2" circle
Other: Clear rhinestone brad. linen thread, pretty in pink taffeta, medium cello bag, Sticky strip

The flower is a cute embellishment - it's just a scallop circle in DSP - each "petal/scallop" cut in - I think I was trying to make it look like a "black-eyed susan" which is why it has a black centre.

Simple gift boxes

These are my favourite boxes - they're so easy to create, you score an A4 piece of card stock at 7, 14, 21, 28 cm (turn card & score ONCE at 7cm - horizontal line).

Then cut on the lines at 7,14,21 & 28 to the one line that was scored horizontally, remove the small rectangle at the end and fold & decorate (always the fun bit).

[Clear embossed tree]

Stamp sets: Season of Joy, Soft Holly (wheel)
Ink: Old Olive, Real Red, Always Artichoke (wheel), Versamark
Paper: Old Olive, Real Red, Whisper White
Other: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Clear embossing powder OR Heat and Stick Powder & Dazzling Diamonds glitter, sponge dauber

[Heat and stick & glittered tree]

Gift box inspired by Debbie

Debbie Airey from my team gave me a delightful box as a demo swap - the original box used Fifth Avenue Floral and Great Friends & then she kindly taught me how to make one using Snow Swirled which is such a versatile set.

Well it's been a long time since I stamped on acetate with Stazon White & I'm very happy to report that I'm a much better stamper now - it used to scare me but no sign of any hand shake & the snow flake was a dream to cut out - thanks Debbie this is such a cool project.

Stamp set: Snow Swirled
Ink: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Stazon White
Paper: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White, "Acetate"
Other: Scallop edge punch, mini glue dots, Tombow Glue, Dazzling Diamonds glitter

Debbie's original inspiration was the lovely Marelle Taylor who kindly has a tutorial explaining how to make this so simple but effective box HERE. She calls it the 7s box - I'll be back tomorrow night with another 7s box so until then...

Hate to say this but Stazon White & Stazon cleaner are in the Spring Mini which expires November 30th so don't forget to order some while you can.

Shaken or stirred?

Ohh it's 9 minutes until I turn into a pumpkin & I haven't blogged today - as it's National Blogging Month my mission is to blog every day!

I've been busy tonight cutting & scoring for my gift box class tomorrow night - wondering why did I say we'd do 3 projects instead of the usual 2 at my class. I must be mad more work for me!!

As I don't want to spoil the surprise of what we're doing for those coming to class, I thought I'd share this gorgeous martini/margarita glass Julia Leese swapped with me at the Auckland Regionals - she's even shown me how to make them for myself.

So this is one of the techniques that I'm going to share with my team, the WOW paperKRafters at our final get together - officially called "training" but we're going to make a few projects & drink a bit of bubbly & eat strawberries & swap cards from the new Summer Mini (which is now only a few weeks away).

So if you'd like to know more about being a demonstrator & you're looking for a small but FUN team & you're free on Sunday 29th November ~3-5.30pm why don't you join us. Contact me if you'd like to know more details plus check out my FAQs about being a demonstrator.

So Swirly card

This is the card I blogged yesterday stepped up & I really like it with the hint of red though it looked pretty good monochromatic too.

I used Real Red with the Old Olive & have used the wee matching star from the Priceless stamp set that co-ordinates with the So Swirly wheel. I have also punched the saying out with the large oval punch & mounted on a real red scallop oval & popped up on dimensionals. Now how easy is this!

46 days to Christmas!

So maybe it's time to start thinking about mass producing your cards.

The So Swirly jumbo wheel must be one of the most versatile wheels - it looks fantastic on cards & on scrapbook layouts. At $18.95 it will surely be one of your most wisest investments.

This month the Christmas Gift Giving Guide has as one of it's items Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon which inspired me to make another So Swirly card in this colour - check back tomorrow & I'll show you the stepped up one (which I prefer for very little more effort).

Did you know that a jumbo wheel can wheel for 9"  before it needs re-inking; so for a card you can just use any ink pad to ink it up, though if I was going to mass produce these I'd buy the ink cartridge. Also the wheels can be washed under a running tap if using a pigment ink as no wood to worry about.

Stamp sets: So Swirly (wheel), Best Yet (level 1 hostess)
Ink: Old Olive
Paper: Old Olive, Whisper White
Other: Old Olive 5/8 grosgrain ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds glitter

Fifth Avenue Floral in "bright in-colours"

Normally when you see in-colours being used with the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set you think of Baja Breeze & Kiwi Kiss - well today when I woke up the sun was shining & I felt like something bright - so Pacific Point & Tangerine Tango it was.

Stamp sets: Fifth Avenue Floral, Oval All
Ink: Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango
Paper: Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White
Other: Scallop oval & large oval punch, dimensionals


This is one of my favourite workshop cards as the set is just divine to stamp with & I really love how the flowers in Fabulous Friend (Oval All) co-ordinate with all the flowers. It's also quick, easy & really effective. I normally do this card in Rose Red & Black so today's combo made a really nice change.

Both Oval All stamp set & the scallop oval punch are in the current spring mini which expires November 30th - so get in quick if you want either of them the clock is ticking down. Both are $35.95, so contact me ASAP if you'd like to order them or plan your own home workshop.

Extravaganza project

This is the project Janine Pearce & myself demonstrated today at the Creative Inkers team extravaganza inspired by the very talented Angie Kennedy Juda AKA Chic n' Scratch.

It's a simple concept of making a wee present using the square punch - we all loved the wee tuft of tissue paper escaping from the middle "present"

Stamp set: Many Merry Messages
Ink: Versamark, Riding Hood Red (RHR)
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Ski Slope, Washington Apple (or RHR Patterns), Baja Breeze Patterns
Other: 1-1/4" square punch, RHR taffeta ribbon, white embossing powder, scallop edge punch

We also had the pleasure of meeting Wendy Rudyk a fellow SU! demonstrator from Canada visiting down under with her hubby - lucky us she joined us & made the day even more special . Here she is with Janine Pearce my team mate for today's project.

Thanks Wendy & do stay in touch!!

And myself, Wendy & Bron Heslop - yep Wendy was a popular gal all right

Gift tag cased from the catalogue

Tomorrow is my team's Christmas extravaganza in Balmoral and I used my inspiration for the tags for my bags straight from the catalogue.

As we don't have the top note die I've borrowed my neighbour & friend Joan's spellbinders to make my base.

Stamp set: Winter Post
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red
Paper: Confetti White
Other: Jumbo eyelet, crop-a-dile, chocolate chip grosgrain & marker, spritzer, rhinestone brad, dimensional

I've rock n' rolled the snowflake in Chocolate Chip that has been cut out too.