Things to do

I'm sure this is one of the catch phrases of us all at this time of the year & my dear friend Judy gave us all a very pretty notebook to jot down ideas to help get us organised as the silly season starts being silly!

She's covered a notebook with Ski Slope DSP (no longer available), a very sparkly ornament & my favourite alphabet set of all time Tidy Alphabet (retired but a real keeper).

Thanks Judy I'm sure it will come in real handy!

Who can resist Dasher Part 2

This is my take on the earlier version which used Cherry Cobbler CS & Winter Post for the snowflakes.

Stamp sets: Dasher, Snow Swirled, Tiny Tags
Ink: Old Olive, Versamark
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Whisper White
Other: Petals-a-plenty EF,  Old Olive 1-1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon, Antique brad, dimensionals, Frost White Shimmer Mist paint, black embossing powder, sponge dauber.
Technique: Emboss Resist

I'm back but back with a goodie to share!

One of those crazy weeks when classes, workshops & a team event get in the way of blogging but have lots to share. Yesterday was my team the WOW paperKRafters Christmas party/play day - absolutely fabulous day, 6 projects in 7 hours & lots of food :)

This is the project I demoed & was shared to me by my upline Jacque & then I shared with my team - which is what being part of a team is all about. If you'd like to know about being part of a fabulous team do check this page out.

Stamp sets: Fifth Avenue Floral, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Ink: White Craft, Early Espresso
Reinkers: Rich Razzleberrym Pumpkin Pie, Pretty in Pink
Paper: Confetti Cream, Rich Razzleberry, Pear Pizazz, Watercolour
Other: Rich Razzleberry 5/8" grosgrain, Top Note die, little leaves Sizzlit die, Manhattan Flowers embossing folder. dimensionals, white embossing powder.

The colour combo which is rather fabulous was the Colour Coach's pick for Rich Razzleberry which became the focal point as that was the ribbon I had enough of & the right size for the project. I'll be sharing the tutorial for this project with my newsletter readers as well as links to the new Summer mini catalogue and December's specials, which I hate to tell you this but they're very tempting as quite a few items 50% off. So if you haven't signed up for my Monthly Newsletter the sign up box is on the right-hand side of my blog, next newsletter out December 1st!

Popping Pendant Park

Donna & her friends wanted a lesson on poppin' pastels & Christmas and this is what I came up with and it's not even a "Christmas set" - it was fun seeing all the different versions they created - don't tell anyone but I think Donna's Wayne had the most funkiest colour combo & blending. Wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself!

Stamp sets: Pendant Park, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Ink: Versmark, Old Olive, Early Espresso
Paper: Real Red, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Punches: Modern Label, Word Window
Other: Stampin' Pastels, sponge dauber, cutter kit, dimensionals, Sleighbell ribbon, basic pearls
Technique: Poppin' Pastels

What a delightful gift card holder!

Many thanks to Rachael Knight from our team who swapped this great idea with me. She used the punched out shape to be the closure/fastening mechanism & it works! I see Lisa Bullock from our team took the concept & made the wheels on a truck do the same!

I recreated Rachael's idea with Jolly Holiday DSP & the Christmas Cocoa DSP the sayings are from Snow Swirled. My only change was to take a small bite with a small oval out of the word window punched "slot".

Stamp sets: Delightful Decorations, Snow Swirled
Ink: Cherry Cobbler or Real Red, Old Olive or Early Espresso
Paper: Crumb cake (AKA Craft), Very Vanilla or Whisper White , Jolly Holiday or Christmas Cocoa DSP
Punches: Ornament, word window, small oval, scallop trim border
Other: Old Olive or Real Red 1/8" taffeta ribbon, dimensional, basic pearl or rhinestone, sticky strip, mini glue dot

Thanks Rachael what a great concept & it's quick & easy which are my favourite catch phrases for all things Christmas.

Quick & easy gift token holder

This is the next project we did at my class the other night & folds up so that there is a wee pocket to insert those gift cards that look like a "credit card" into - yes SU! does great gift packaging - for any demos that read my blog this project can be found in October 2009 Impressions which is online & the template is in the library (Pouches 2).

Stamp set: Snow Swirled
Ink: Old Olive
Paper: Old Olive textured, Cherry Cobbler, Jolly Holiday DSP
Punches: 1-1/4" circle, 1-3/8" circle, scallop trim border
Other: Rhinestone brad, dimensionals, crop-a-dile, Very Vanilla 3/8" grosgrain ribbon

I'll be back tomorrow with the 2nd holder which is really fabulous but if you'd like to learn any of these projects - think about scheduling a home workshop - I'll come to you & all you need is 4-10 friends & it's all FREE.

Really quick Christmas cards!

As there's hardly any stamping! I've used the fabulous Christmas Cocoa Designer Series Paper that is only available with the Christmas Bundle offer which closes November 30.

The paper used for this one is flocked & is fabulous in real life.

I'm not sure why this is just a straight paper but almost looks 3D.

Stamp set: Many Merry Messages
Ink: Real Red
Paper: Real Red or Soft Suede, Whisper White, Christmas Cocoa DSP
Other: Ornament punch, dimensionals, Real Red 1/8" taffeta ribbon, mini glue dots.
Cutting: 4-1/8" square card with 3-7/8" & 3-3/4" mats.

So if you'd like to order some of this fabulous paper get in before November 30.

I am blown away by this card

It's so amazing & yet so easy! Brayering was the technique my fabulous upline Jacque taught at class last night. She took her inspiration from Michele Zindorf (of course).

Stamp sets: Sense of Time, Thoughts & Prayers
Ink: Peach Parfait, Cajun Craze, Bashful Blue, Night of Navy, Wild Wasabi, Always Artichoke, Craft Whisper White, Basic Black
Paper: Basic Black, Cajun Craze, Whisper White
Other: Marina Mist grosgrain ribbon, black embossing powder, Signo White gel pen, Stampin' Pastels, brayer, sponge

Krystal's cardstock basket

This was one of the cool projects I learnt last weekend & was demonstrated to me by Krystal Karauti from Taupo - it made my Pete go WOW & that reaction is normally not his usual platitude.

Believe it or not this was created from one piece of 12 x 12 " & I have the template :)

Thanks Krystle too; it's to cool for words - here's early construction of the basket:

Stamp set: Season of Joy
Ink: Cherry Cobbler & Old Olive
Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Other: Scallop eyelet border punch, brads

Looking for the perfect packaging for a wine bottle

Karen's aka Moi on the LHS & Michelle's on the RHS

Look no further than Stampin' Up! & the fabulous wine card holder of Michelle Cave from Hastings (as she's from the wine growing country & her husband is in the industry I think we'll trust her ;-)

This is such a cool idea & so easy you're probably thinking like me why didn't I think of that before!

It's just a piece of 9 x 6 " card stock folded in half & then scored at 6" & one of the top corners removed. Tracy Hanshaw from Aussie has a template on her blog which you can check out HERE to see.

Stamp sets: Lovely as a Tree, Christmas Greetings or Many Merry Messages
Ink: Early Espresso or Basic Black
Markers: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Garden Green
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Jolly Holiday DSP, Early Espresso or Basic Black
Punches: 1-3/8" circle, scallop circle
Ribbon: Very Vanilla 1/4" grosgrain or 1/8" Basic Black taffeta
Other: Basic rhinestones

Such a fabulous project Michelle & I can see the birthday version one coming up real soon !

Patrice's suspension card

Don't ask me why but I like snowman on Christmas cards, so this was one of my favourite projects from my play day in the weekend. I didn't stuff this one up too much apart from 1 step so only had to swap the side  my snowman was on. This project was taught to me by Patrice Halliday-Larsen and she made it so easy!

Stamp set: Punch Pals
Ink: Night of Navy, various markers
Paper: Night of Navy, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White
Other: lots of circle punches, Top Note Die, Perfect Dots EF, Petals-a-plenty EF, Champagne Mist shimmer mist, dimensionals, Rich Razzleberry 1/8" taffeta ribbon
Technique: Suspension card

My first time to be...

an attendee at one of the team's Extravaganza events that took place in the weekend. It was funny in some ways being on the wrong side of the table but in a fabulous way!

So I partook in the Rotorua event; demonstrating were Delys & Jenn from Whakatane, Patrice from Hamilton, Kirsty & Krystle from Taupo. I've managed to snap 3 of them but 2 must have been a bit camera shy.

Look here's my bag with my name & wee treat - didn't I feel special.

And then imagine my delight to see my convention swap up on one of the display boards.

A quick squizz at one of the projects being created  - yes some were complicated & I have to confess I did my first 2-3 with lots of errors but by the end of the event I was a pro - you'd think I did this for real ;-)

I'll be back soon to share some of  the projects that worked!

So thanks Delys, Jenn, Patrice, Krystle & Kirsty for a great afternoon of papercrafting

Look no stamps!

This was a fabulous project that the very talented Paula Dobson's NZ's Queen of Sponge taught our team many moons ago and then was gobbled up by my Craft Room - I'm spring cleaning now & finding all sorts of lost but now founds :)

She took her inspiration for the card by Rangitoto Island for us Aucklanders & no stamps were involved in it's creations - just ink & sponges & post it notes!

Ink: Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black
Paper: Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White

This truly is magnificent - thanks Paula it was a fun day!

Revisiting the past

This is cased from one of the first cards I ever made at one of my upline's Jacque's classes - over 3 years ago. I always loved the original but lots of the products used at that time we didn't actually have available to buy, so it was put away & came out of the box last week for my Beautiful Cards class. The original was a Bashful Blue & Chocolate combo. I think the white gel pen shows up best on the blue but still pretty in pink!

Stamp set: Scribble This
Ink: Basic Brown (retired), Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Other: Vintage Wallpaper EF, large oval punch, jumbo Chocolate Chip brad, dimensionals, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, blender pen, white Signo gel pen, sponge, Photo Corner punch, Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon (retired)

Just love the flourish with this set. See good things do take time - the Mainland Ad is right!

Which do you prefer?

My original take on this card was the "more traditional" Old Olive card with a Cherry Cobbler mat to pop it - see HERE - but last weekend I took part with my team in a swap of cards & ideas for Christmas - to be precise 21 of them & wow some stunning ideas - 3 of them are featuring in a class coming to you in November see my LHS side bar for further details.

I'd been making so many cards lately in Old Olive that I had just about run out of the colour when I went to make another 21 so I thought I'd reverse the colours around & I love how it's brightened up my original design - I like the new version best i.e. this one & so did my fab team as they voted for it to be most demonstrable card tied with Kate Tobeck's one - which chuffed me immensely as I love Kate's work!

How to create a perfect mat
Well we're stuck with metric paper A4 & A5 - so as much as I'm an inches girl in real life I find cm better to work with when preparing my "mats"

These are my favourite 3 sizes pinned up all over my craft room
10 cm x 14.3 cm
9.5 cm x 13.8 cm
9 cm x 13.3 cm
- otherwise 1/8" or 1/4" smaller increments. This card below has used an A5 Cherry Cobbler - cut in half lengthwise to create a mountain-fold, Old Olive @9.5 x 13.8 cm & Whisper White @9 x 13.3 cm. The beautiful flourish & star is found in the Baroque Motifs stamp set (set of 6 $47.95), one of the ornaments from Delightful Decorations and the message is from Many Merry Messages. This looks so much better in real life.

Last but not least finally I have my Retired Stamps For Sale list up - click on the link above for all my retired stuff.

So Swirly Christmas

This is one of the projects I demonstrated for Kirsten & her friend's last week. I love wheels - they're so quick & easy! The So Swirly wheel is so versatile  - perfect for a card or a scrapbook page. Dependent on it's colour & sentiment perfect for any occasion.

Looks great just as a monochromatic Old Olive. But definitely more pizazz with the addition of a Real Red mat & ink; the wee star is from the Priceless stamp set. The Sleigh Bells ribbon is on promotion at the moment & you can earn it for free - click HERE to see how.

Stamp sets: Priceless, Curly Cute, So Swirly wheel
Ink: Old Olive, Real Red
Paper: Old Olive (textured), Real Red, Whisper White
Ribbon: Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain or Sleigh Bells (for a limited time - promo)
Other: Dazzling diamonds glitter