Very versatile Pennant Parade

Well if you look at the Pennant Parade stamp set you'd think of birthdays & celebrations but I saw a very cool card up on the boards at a recent SU! event I attended & thought that is too cool making Christmas trees with it - the set has a matching punch with it so it makes it quick & easy - 2 of my favourite words!

Stamp set: Pennant Parade
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White
Punches: Petite Pennants Builder Punch
Other: Basic rhinestones, dimensionals, Chocolate Chip Scallop Dots ribbon, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder

Well it's the first of October & Stampin' Up! have an awesome promotion to anyone hosting a $500 workshop or more this month the opportunity to earn the Simply Stocking stamp set & matching builder punch for FREE. Contact me if you'd like to know more.

Totally off stamping for anyone that likes fantasy, tales of brave knights & ladies one of my friends has started a blog aptly named The Castle of the Beloved Queen - do go check it out & say hi & tell Poli AKA Lady Pol I sent you xxx

Last but not least the WOW paperKRafters annual Christmas event is coming real soon on Saturday October 29th 1-5pm in West Harbour.

$40 gets you everything you need to make 4 fun & fabulous projects with instructions (you only need to provide adhesive, scissors & a bone folder), a chance to win spot prizes, afternoon tea, $10 shopping on the day with any order over $50 - seats limited so book your spot ASAP!

Flip Flop Card

Well I'm not sure what you'd call this card but I really love cards that have a wee twist & this is a card inside a card to me  - the original I found on the fabulous Nancy Riley's blog - where she calls it's a 2-way open card.

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Cottage Garden
Ink: Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz
Paper: Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait, Sunny Garden DSP (retired)
Punches: Word window,1-3/4" scallop circle, 1-3/8: circle, 1-1/4" circle & the flower is hand cut using our fabulous paper snips (I've had a few comments that it looks punched out when seen in real life)
Other: Old Olive brad, dimensionals

Well it's a gorgeous Spring day in Auckland today so I hope everyone has a super weekend.
Happy stampin' in the interim

Hello My Friends

Hi all I'm not really sure where the days & months go but I'm going to try really hard to blog at least once a week in time for the for the weekend for starters for a catch up - as I'm sure you all know the new IB+C has launched from SU! & I don't know how they do it but they manage to surpass themselves everytime.

This was one of the wee projects that attendees at my Launch made recently, a covered notepad. I just love this colour combo - it's so bright & cheery; Pacific Point, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight & it uses the new My Friend stamp set, which I love.

Well the Rugby World Cup has kicked off in NZ & last Friday was a frenetic day from dawn to very late for me so I thought I'd just share a collage of my day's experiences!

Hope your weekend goes well I have a rugby match to attend tonight - go the AB's

Love my leather belt

Hi all I had a go at making a  faux leather belt for the very first time for this very cool buckle card that Rhonda Fawcett from my team showed us at a play day recently.

I'd seen faux leather/alligator skin on blog posts but it wasn't till I saw it in the flesh that I thought I have to have a go at that as it was so shiny. And now I've done it so easy!!!! All you do is cover the piece of card with clear embossing powder & before you heat set it create a pattern with your bone scorer & viola :)

This was the 2nd project at my Masculine class the other night with it's matching gift card holder & it was a real hit with all the ladies so a big thanks Rhonda!

Stamp sets: Motorcyle (retired), Oval All, Sandy Speckles (wheel)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Versamark
Paper: Wild Wasabi, Peach Parfait, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Punches: Corner Rounder, Word Window, 1-3/4" Oval, Curly Label
Other: Mat pack, paper piercing tool, clear embossing powder, heat gun, vintage brads, square lattice embossing folder
Techniques: Big Buckle card, Faux Leather, Gift Card Holder

UPDATE: Retired items are now appearing on the retired list there's a link on the top RHS of my blog which takes you to the status at the end of the previous day; so far jumbo eyelets have gone (that was a good prediction of mine but pretty obvious), metallic eyelets & now the punches (they're normally the first).

There are 3 stamp sets that are 40% off which is phenomenal & my Gifted set is on it's way - phenomenal value at $28.77 (clear mount) RRP was $68.95. So if you haven't check out the Retiring List I'd do so ASAP as once it's gone it's gone forever.

Enjoy your weekend & happy stampin'

August 1st & it's time to say farewell

It's August 1st & that means we're only one month away from a new Idea Book & Catalogue it also means that the items that are not carrying over are being retired - some you'll see are 25% - 40%  off.

The promotion page on my SU site is going to be updated daily at 1000am NZST but the list is only a reflection of what was available at the close of the previous business day.

The retiring list can be seen HERE & if you're like me, do print off a copy & tick which ones you want. I am also taking pre-orders for the new IB+C $12 posted to you (anyone who has spent over $350 with me in the last SU! year 1/9/10 - 31/8/11 will earn it for FREE or if you've a hostess & hosted a workshop in the same period where you reached level 1 rewards).

Talking about workshops the NEW hostess rewards are phenomenal & the hostess only stamps are very cool now that I can see them & you could earn one item from the main catalogue for 50% off (I'm hoping a few people might earn that Big Shot for half price with this reward system) but more about that later but it's not too early to book a workshop now for September onwards - there are some very funky new Christmas stamps.

Do contact me ASAP if you'd like to order anything as things do go fast.

Sailing Away...maybe forever gone after tomorrow

Hi all & happy weekend - just a  wee reminder that tomorrow is the last day to order from the Autumn-Winter Mini catalogue and  we have 2 fabulous a la carte stamps perfect for men-themed cards in it,  this is one of the cards I showed at my masculine card class last night  it uses the fabulous Sail Away stamp which is priced at only $17.95 & maybe after tomorrow no longer available to purchase ever again.

I saw this card on Amy Celona's blog & I really loved the cut out sails they really popped out to me - just changed it a wee bit as I wanted to show ink to paper directly as a technique for men plus added the wee pendant which adds a nice nautical touch which my upline Jacque had showed when we played with the stamp a month or so ago.

Here's my cutting directions as we use A4 card stock down under.

Soft Suede: A5 card and a piece 10.5 x 9 cm for the torn mat.
Whisper White: 14.3 x 10 cm
Marina Mist: 13.8 x 9.5 cm
Crumb Cake: 8.5 x 7 cm

Stamps: Sail Away, Live Laugh Love
Ink: Marina Mist, Soft Suede
Paper: as above
Other: Dimensionals, hemp twine, neutral brads

Who needs a ray of sunshine??

I sure do I don't think I can ever remember being this cold before at wintertime! The sun was shining yesterday & I was fortunate to have some play time with my team the WOW paperKRafters.

One of the projects we KReated was to take a $2 clipboard & cover it using my stash of now retired DSP and ribbons - even if I do say it looks fabulous & makes me feel happy. This pattern came from a pack called Pink Flamingo which was a tad bright but great for this project.

We used Mod Podge to stick the DSP to the board & then again to seal it. Everyone chose different papers but they all looked fabulous & so much prettier than the "before" board.

More butterflies

This is known as the 7's box it is a piece of A4 scored at 7,14,21,28 & 7, 14 cm. I really like it & the fact it makes such a sturdy wee box, this one was filled with heart shaped soaps, a wee stamp & a wee ink pad & was one of the demonstration items I did at a work shop recently.

The card stock has been wheeled with the Kindness wheel to, to make a subtle background.

Stamp sets: Flight of the Butterfly, Kindness wheel
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Stazon white
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Vellum Paper
Punches: Butterfly, scallop oval
Other: Dimensionals, stamp-a-ma jig, acetate, mini glue dots, fire rhinestone brads.

Peek-a-boo

I know it's been awhile since I blogged but gosh life seems to go so fast lately. This is the workshop card Miah & her friends made last weekend at her workshop. As the attendees were approx. 6 years old I wanted something that was cute but hopefully couldn't fail & it didn't! Or they were very clever which was also true.


Cutting measurements:
Top mat (Melon Mambo or Marina Mist) 6.5 x 10.5 cm
Whisper White 6.8 x 12 cm
Basic Black 10" x 7" - love that our cutter has inches & cm

There is a wee trick to the card & I mucked up my first demo so that meant no one else did - they all learnt from my mistake :)

1. Scallop border the whisper white piece - this width should be exactly the right width to give entire scallops.
2. The trick is to punch out your scallop circle on the top mat by inserting your punch from the top as far down as it goes & centred. 
3. Then attach to Whisper White - with your 1-3/8" circle punch from the side punch a hole in the centre of the scallop.
4. Attach to Basic Black & punch out a hole with the 1-1/4" circle - this gives a wee black frame.
5. Insert another whisper white mat inside.
6. Stamp a small image - glitter it up. 
7. Place around the image a scallop frame.

Inside the card

Stamp sets: Flight of The Butterfly, Short & Sweet
Ink: Melon Mambo, Marina Mist, Basic Black
Paper: Melon Mambo, Marina Mist, Basic Black, Whisper White
Punches: Scallop border, scallop circle, 1-3/8" circle, 1-1/4" circle
Other: Basic Black 1/8" taffeta, 2-way glue pen, dazzling diamonds glitter

Happy stampin'

Convention 2011 Report Part 3

Today's report is all about bags in all sorts of sizes & colours. The above tag was decorating one of my favourite bags - the one that is full of stamps & other goodies I earned or all attendees at convention received.

I was pleased that the stamp sets are now unmounted & come in DVD cases for less space & weight & talking of DVD cases - look at this very cool gift I received from SU! & is signed by none other than Shelli Gardener.

This rather colourful one was our convention bag & it sure is bold & bright & happy :)

I'd be hard pushed to say which one of these is my favourite both bought at Memento Mall one pretty but useful & one such a good idea for a rubbish tote & it folds down to a frisbee looking piece of black plastic, wire  & elastic band.

I'm sure you'd all agree with me that is a good collection of bags in all sizes, shapes, colours & uses - just what every girl wants. So pencil in this date for the next SU! Convention 31 May- 2 June 2012 in Canberra. So if you'd like to join a small friendly team & come to Convention next year with me to collect a few bags don't hesitate to drop me a line.

Happy stampin' in the interim.

Brayering inspired by Paula

I'll have some more Convention photos coming but thought I'd share one of the cards we made at my home class last night (the other one I'd already blogged HERE). I was inpsired by the fabulous card that Paula Dobson from my team had swapped with me at Convention which I blogged about with my last posting. As the first card for class was already prepped & the predominating colour was Cajun Craze I had to change the colour combo - using my unbelievably fantastic Colour Coach I recreated Paula's card in More Mustard & Garden Green & as I know Paula loves Garden Green I'm sure she'll be happy with my efforts ;)

Stamp set: Just Believe
Ink: Garden Green, More Mustard
Paper: Garden Green, More Mustard, Very Vanilla
Punches: Word Window, 1-1/4" circle
Other: Brayer, vintage brads, post it note

Take a look at the difference sanding does to a solid stamp. I always sand my solid stamps lightly before use & then clean, as I had used this stamp set before I was a bit shocked to see how it stamped. Click on the image above to make it go larger too.

The image on the LHS is my demo from class & the one on the RHS my sample prep before class. I might post a  So Saffron / Wild Wasabi combo one day too.Sanding blocks are only $7.95 for 2 - once you own them you'll wonder how you ever did without them.

Last but not least I'll share a monochromatic wee note card my fabulous downline Sally Williams gave me using the Just Believe stamp set and Crumb Cake ink, ribbon & card stock - fabulous - very classy.

Well I think everyone enjoyed last night's class as those that didn't already own a brayer ordered one. Remember my home classes are the last Friday of the month at my place 7pm kickoff but if you'd like to have a go at doing something you see on my blog schedule a home workshop & now is the perfect time to host a home workshop (if your home is too small you can use my place) .

Stampin' Up! has announced an amazing promotion which has just kicked off & runs until the end of June - all hostesses with workshops with sales of $550 or more (including GST and shipping) that are held between 23 May and 30 June 2011, will earn an EXTRA $100 in hostess rewards on any catalogue merchandise! This is on top of all the other rewards you also receive. You may also gather orders from your friends to take advantage of this great offer & share the rewards of free shopping & stamps. Contact me to book yours today.

Convention 2011 Report Part 2

We'd better do some cards today that I received as swaps - us demonstrators love swapping amongst ourselves when we get together - it's a great way to get new ideas & form friendships - the POWER OF A CARD!

So let's start with my own team swaps I received.From my roomie and best friend Donna Blackmore:

 Then a real cutie from my fabulous upline Jacque Pedersen:

Racheal Knight created with the big shot fabulous wee gift pads - WOW :)

Patrice Halliday-Larsen also decorated the front cover of notepads to make us a wee gift - a pink version would also be very cool for our gal pals that are a bit wild at heart.

Paula Dobson - formerly known as NZ's Queen of Sponge; has discovered brayering - I love the colour combo Paula!

Did I mention shopping yesterday - I went across with my old trusty blue suitcase which I've owned forever & came home with a new super king size duffel bag on wheels. I am very thankful I did Works Deluxe returning back - this gave me 2 suitcases allowance (always a good thing when you go to SU! conventions) & access to the airline's lounge - this also came in very handy as we were 3 hours late in take off as a problem with one of the computers on board.

I'll be back tomorrow with more photos - catch you then I hope.

Convention 2011 Report Part 1

Hi all I stayed on after convention & caught up with one of my oldest girlfriends Jo,  that lives in Melbourne permanently now. I love Melbourne but it can be really cold (we landed on the coldest day in either 70 years or 5 years!) but the food & the shopping are always great. Just some quick pictures to share of the event to start the ball rolling - I plan to blog daily for the next week so do check back to see more.

The Convention Centre is right on the Yarra River (which was a rather interesting shade of brown - Soft Suede would be a good description of it's colour).

First order of business swapping with other demonstrators ~ 500 attendees.

Donna, my best girlfriend, roomie for the meeting & fellow demonstrator.

Donna & myself - yes the theme of the meeting was Share What You Love.

I meet the Aussie Karen Rodgers (except she has a D in her surname) - both of us holding up our swaps from the other.

The fabulous Shelli Gardener kicking off the meeting; as always an inspiration to us all as demonstrators and as humans.

Check back tomorrow for some more piccies & cards.