Quick & easy thank you

Yep the story of my life lately; quick & easy & hopefully with a bit of pizzazz.

I just got a box of goodies the other day with my Greenhouse Garden stamp set & the Elegant Lines embossing folder. I've used 2 of the new in-colours Concord Crush & Peach Parfait - yummy & bright - with the aid of my Colour Coach I've found their dynamic duos - Cajun Crush & Perfect Plum. I've stamped the PP off once & used the Concord Crush as the "highlight".

 I do love 2-step stamping so think I'll be playing with a few more dynamic colour combos.

If you'd like to know more or to order any of these products don't hesitate to contact me.

Beautiful butterfly with lots of style!

Firstly a huge thanks to Lisa Freeman for the inspiration for this card. I loved Lisa's card but chose my colours to be the same but different shades dependent on my ribbon availibilty.

Stamp sets: Elements of Style, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Ink: Basic Brown, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizazz, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede (sponging)
Paper: Blushing Bride, Pear Pizazz, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Other: Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die, word window punch, modern label punch, cutter tool (distressing), sponge dauber, basic pearls, sticky strip, dimensionals, Blushing Bride poly twill ribbon, blender pen.

I've ruched the ribbon by running a strip of Sticky Strip on the Pear Pizazz layer & then folding the ribbon on top of the Sticky strip.

Craft Market this coming Saturday

Calling all Nor-Western readers of my blog the WOW paperKRafters are holding their first craft market/garage sale this coming Saturday from 3-5pm.
WHERE: Marina View Primary School Hall, West Harbour 97-99 Marina View Drive. Free parking & entry. We'll have goodies to buy for Christmas plus our retired stamps, ribbons, DSP - the majority reduced to clear.

My dear friend Wendy's mum Pat Blayney will be there with her fabulous Christmas cakes & chutney's marketed under "Mrs B" - she is a regular at the Craft Markets around town & her stuff alone is worth the trip.

Who can resist Dasher?

Not me & certainly not Shimmer Mist paint. This was the lovely card we created at Jacque Pedersen's card class this week. Just love stamping the Shimmer Mist directly onto the snowflake to make nice shimmery ones!

Dasher was embossed first in black & then the Shimmer Mist was lightly daubed around him & then onto the large snowflake from the Winter Post set. Dasher is an a la carte stamp that means it's a single stamp & priced at $18.50

Stamp sets: Dasher, Winter Post, Tiny Tags
Ink: Old Olive, Versamark
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Whisper White
Other: Petals-a-plenty EF,  Old Olive 1-1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon, Styled silver Hodgepodge brad, dimensionals, Frost White Shimmer Mist paint, black embossing powder

Jolly Holiday Bird

This is the lovely demo swap that Judy Beetson shared with us but her slack upline has been too busy to share with you all it's fabulousness!

Stamp set: Perfect Punches
Ink: Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler
Paper: Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Jolly Holiday DSP
Punches: 1-3/8" circle, scallop circle, extra large 2-step bird, corner rounder
Other: Perfect dots EF, Big Shot, dimensionals & a wee basic pearl for his eye (so cute!)

Thanks Judy I do love it :))

More cracked glass cards

This is a fabulous card that I had the pleasure of making at Debbie Lamb's class a wee while ago & it's fabulous in name too as it uses the lovely level 2 hostess set Fast & Fabulous

Stamp sets: En Francais (background), Fast & Fabulous
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Regal Rose
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip
Ribbon: 5/8" chocolate chip grosgrain (retired now but replaced with Early Espresso - darker chocolate in colour)
Technique: Cracked glass

Blue and White Christmas

Well this is certainly not your traditional Christmas - but appropriate for us down under where we have lots of blue - skies & the sea are all around us. I received this card a s a swap from Sally & I really like the cleanliness of it all.

Sally mixed drops of Pacific Point re-inker with Frost White shimmer mist & daubed directly on the stamp to get a translucent look which does not photograph at all! The card in it's entirety revealed:

Check out her BLOG for all the finer details. Anyone purchasing the Delightful Decoration stamp set & it's matching punch receives a free roll of ribbon (4 to choose from - valued from $19.95 to $26.50 in value)

Southern Girls Challenge Blog

This is the brainwave of Tracy Jackson & Louise Forsyth - 2 lovely gals I meet through blogging. They asked me to sponsor this weeks challenge which is all about glitter so go check out the Southern Girls challenge blog & good luck if you enter. I'm donating this years Sale-a-bration stamp set Good Neighbours as that seemed an appropriate name for the prize.

Cracked glass technique

This is a fun technique where you stamp an image & then apply layers of clear embossing powder (4-5 works best) freeze for 15 minutes & then crack. Sponge in the cracks to emphasise them & viola:

This is the card my upline Jacque taught us the other night & had a few techniques extra on board as well - a bit of popping pastels, we've used the Signo white gel pen to make the flowers pop - but it was fun & I'm going to use it for a Sympathy card as it's a bit somber to me. The stamp set used is Upsy Daisy.

Where have I been?

Not in Hamilton Island but working at the Dunkley's Craft fair with the fabulous Rachael & Vicki-Lee which was so much fun (though my feet did get a wee bit tired) - as they say a change is as good as a break - here's a picture just before start time - I should have taken the after shot but I'm sure the team would still be cheery & bright! Thanks anyone that did pop in & say hi I'm sure one of us will be in touch with you if you entered the door prize draw which was won by Ann C from Takanini - congratulations Ann!

I'll just share another quick & easy Christmas card that I did at workshop recently. Trust me Quick & Easy is exactly what you want at Christmas time.

Yep red & white again & one embossing folder - one Christmas message & the so versatile Delightful Decorations stamp set & punch which is one of the Christmas bundles on offer at the moment - buy the set as a bundle & receive a roll of fabulous ribbon.

Stamp sets: Delightful Decorations, Christmas Greetings
Ink: Real Red
Paper: Real Red & Whisper White
Other: Ornament punch, Real Red glitter or Real Red marker, Elegant Bouquet embossing folder, basic jewels & dimensionals

Dressing Up for Christmas

Oh who loves free - me & wow these ribbons on offer & Christmas Cocoa Designer Series Paper are not available in our market. So from today until November 30th if you order one of the Christmas bundles you earn one free roll with each bundle and/or host a $600 workshop to earn one roll for free too.

Click HERE to see all the details & the ribbons in closer detail.

Contact me to order yours ASAP as they say that it's whilst stocks last.

Found the Christmas Cocoa paper online - it is a specialty paper & is flocked - sounds amazing  - colours Soft Suede & Real Red - not sure if there's a bug but it's letting you order the paper separately $23.50 + 5% shipping - so get in quick if you're interested in getting some ;-)

And I think I've found a picture of  the"unknown:" ribbons online - the joys of finding stuff that has been in the US & now retired. The top one is definitely Sleigh Bells & the middle one is in Mistletoe & I think you might get the other one too looking at the picture online.

Glossy ornaments - so shiny & bright

Sarah Roche made this simple but stunning effective card for her demo swap - Sarah's is the "2nd youngest member" of my team but she does awesome cards - always a little bit extra - this one has all the ornaments clear embossed so they're super shiny.

She's also the furthest South, based in Hamilton if anyone is looking for a demonstrator in that area; click on her name to schedule a workshop & make  your own baubles shiny.

Stamp set: Contempo Christmas, Heard from the Heart
Ink: Old Olive, Chery Cobbler, Versamark
Paper: Old Olive, Chery Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Whisper White
Other: Ornament punch, dimensionals, clear embossing powder

HELP no Christmas stamps!

This was the dilemma Claire faced when our team set it's swap theme as Christmas - but she was very clever as she had a word saying & improvised. I totally love it as it's so unique. Can't wait to see what you come up with next. Claire has just started blogging so do pop in & say hi - click HERE for her very lovely blog.

Stamp set: Many Merry Messages
Ink: Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Versamark
Paper: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Jolly Holiday DSP
Other: Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds, Very Vanilla Ribbon, Basic Pearl, white embossing powder
Punches: Circle & scallop edge

Reuse & recycle

I probably don't need to preach this too hard to fellow crafters but one of my favourite things to recycle is the DSP backing cardboard - it makes 4 very nice 6x6" squares which are the base for my scallop box that the WOW paperKRafters created yesterday at our team training. It was a CASE of one that Rachael Knight sent me for my birthday this year resplendent in Rich Razzleberry - the girls & I all really like our Cherry Cobbler one so a huge thanks Rachael - though I'd appreciate if you use less Sticky Strip next time so I can pull it apart easier! Judy also had a fancy ribbon holder with her yesterday so look at my bow - gorgeous!

Stamp: Medallion (background)
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Paper: Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red textured, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Jolly Holiday DSP and last but not least the DSP cardboard backing sheet
Other: 2-step large bird, Little Leaves Sizzlit die, Scallop Circle BigZ Die, Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, sticky strip, anywhere glue stick, mini glue dots, white Signo gel pen, dimensionals.

Rachael, Vicky-Lee & myself are working at the Dunkley's Craft Show at the North Shore Events Centre on Saturday & Sunday - so do pop in & say hi & buy some of our Christmas goodies - though I don't think you'll see this box out for sale as I love it too much. You can print out this coupon too if you'd like to save on the door entry.

And if you'd like to join a team of like minded ladies do please click on my tab above - Join My Team - the fun we have is too good not to share!

I'm in love with side-step cards

Well so much so that I shared how to with my team today at training plus they received one as a swap - so I have lots of gorgoeus cards to share that I received in return - I do love swapping cards & ideas.

Stamp sets: Delightful Decorations, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Season of Joy
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Crumb Cake
Paper: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Jolly Holiday DSP
Punches: Large ornament, modern label, word-window, 3/4" circle
Other: Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon (3/8”), basic rhinestones, dimensionals, mini glue dots, Snail adhesive

Don't you hate it when ....

You're finished your card & it falls in the ink pad or in my case I drop another stamp on it - but too pretty not to share - this is a side step card & my upline Jacque taught me how to make it the other night.

I have my own down-line training tomorrow so if they're very good (& I know they will be as they're so fabulous) I 'll show them too :)

Stamp set: Season of Joy
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Bashful Blue, Poppy Parade, Early Espresso
Paper:  Bashful Blue, Poppy Parade, Early Espresso, Whisper White
Punches: Scallop oval & large oval, 1" circle
Other: Poppy Parade poly twill, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, dimensionals

A different sort of Christmas Card?

Well this in no way could be called a traditional Christmas card but it works & is a take on the lovely Tree Haze sponged bag that Paula Dobson taught me - click HERE to see the original concept.

Stamp sets: Lovely as a Tree, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Ink: Soft Suede, Basic Black
Paper: Sahara Sand, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Basic Black
Punches: 1-3/8" circle, Photo Corners
Other: Sponge, gold brads, dimesionals, Dazzling Diamonds glitter (lots of it - let it snow!), post-it note

Ann & her friends did this at their workshop at the weekend & they all ended up with a pretty good take on it and we all had lovely messy fingers - so much fun! So if you see something on my blog you'd like to have a go at & get your fingers messy; do contact me as dates are filling fast & Christmas is approaching fast!

Red and White Christmas

This was the last of my 3 Quickie cards from class & this was the only one I cased & therefore I made quite a few mistakes but it was midnight, so it had to do.

Stamp sets: Delightful Decorations, Christmas Greetings
Ink: Real Red
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White
Other: Ornament punch, Real Red satin ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, silver brads, petals-a-plenty EF


Here's the link to the card I cased from at  Heather Summer's blog  which is a much better effort than mine - thanks Heather for the inspiration

Our new colours for Christmas are....

Old Olive & Cherry Cobbler - so scrummy together!

This was the 2nd of my Quick & Easy Christmas cards - using the very versatile Baroque Motifs & the Ornament punch & yes more Champagne Mist shimmer paint - this time daubed on the stamped image.

Stamp sets: Delightful Decorations, Baroque Motifs, Many Merry Messages
Ink: Cherry Cobber, Old Olive
Paper: Cherry Cobber, Old Olive, Whisper White
Other: Ornament punch, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, sponge dauber, 1/8" old olive taffeta ribbon, mini glue dots, dimensionals

You can really mass produce these very easily  - so perfect for Christmas - contact me if you'd like to place an order.