Only 2 sleeps to go & I've been baking :)

WOW I've never seen my house so tidy - kits are packed - chocolate chip cookies are baked & as promised another card with something new. This is the fabulous card Jacque Pedersen swapped with me & I like Jacque a lot but I hate how she makes me want stamps that weren't on my wish-list!!

This is a new stamp set called Layered Labels & it also has a matching framelet die which Jacque hasn't used.

As time is running out & my first launch party is less than 24 hours now to go, so no recipe tonight.

Catch you all briefly tomorrow night with something new & it may have something blue on it too ;)

3 sleeps to go now & owlfully cute

This card was swapped with me by Rachael Knight who actually has created this using one of our mds digital collection discs called Remember December - so it's no stamping! but it's so realistic you think it has been - being 3D (as she's done some paper toile) creates the illusion but talk about a really quick way to make a lot of Christmas cards. The stamp set is available in our new Holiday Catalogue & isn't called owfully cute (but it is) but is called Owl Occasions as it can be used for birthdays too! Set of 14 stamps.

So what's new today: mds (which stands for My Digital scrapbook), Owl Occasions & Dazzling Details glitter glue.

Rachael's comments "this is a hybrid project using MDS content in Microsoft Word. I used a laser printer to print on Whisper White cardstock, then layered it up & added embellishments".

Well Rachael says she's not very techno savvy but I think she's owfully clever!!!

4 sleeps to go & this wheely is a fun card

Just sharing another demo swap I received in the weekend &  I love this wee card from Denise Ibbett who has been really creative with the very limited amount of stuff we are allowed to pre-order for the Annual Catalogue.

What's new: Betsy's Blooms standard wheel, Bitty Banner framelits, paper piercing pack, Dazzling Details, Daffodil Delight stitched grosgrain ribbon.

Stamps: Teeny Weeny Sentiments (I can see this set getting used a lot with the banner framelits), Betsy's Blooms (wheel)
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
Other: Bitty Banner Framelits, Daffodil Deight stitched grosgrain ribbon, paper piercing pack & Dazzling Details.

Such a sunny & happy card - perfect for the lovely spring days we're now having in Auckland.

5 sleeps to go & Blooming with Kindness

LOL this was a stamp set that was on my wish list but lower down the list but after team training at my upline Jacque's place the other day it's moved up the order after our make and take for a workshop/party card as it is just fabulous.

Jacque cased the card from the very talented Mary Brown We did an emboss resist technique & this flower was perfect for the technique - I can also see this stamp being used for Sympathy cards in bluer shades.

So what's new on this card: only 3 things the stamp set Blooming with Kindness, Primrose Petals ink & satin stitched ribbon.

Stamp set: Blooming with Kindness
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Primrose Petals, Certainly Celery, Versamark
Paper: Whisper White
Punches: Corner rounder & a square punch (to make the banner neatly).
Other: Clear embossing powder, sponges & daubers, Primrose Petals satin stitched ribbon
Technique: Emboss Resist

Too cute not to share

Remember my blog post about making a light box for taking photos of your cards in, well wee or not so wee Napoleon was looking as happy as Larry in it - not sure how he managed to jump just right & get in past the lamps. I fear I will find it all mangled on the ground when he mistimes his next jump & no a plain brown box from SU! will just not do!!

6 sleeps to go & this is Scentsational

This is the lovely swap card I received from Sally Williams and it smells as good as it looks. She's embossed the wee gingerbread man with our new Sugar & Spice embossing powder so as well as making the wee man shiny - it makes him smell yummy & good enough to eat.

What's new on this card:  Scentsational Season stamp set, Holiday Collection framelit dies (yes the wee man has a matching framelit, as does all the stamps in the Scentsational Season set, Sugar & Spice EP and  Lacy Brocade embossing folder.

Stamp sets: Scentsational Season, Curly and Cute
Ink: Soft Suede, Versamark
Paper: Soft Suede, Whisper White
Other: Holiday Collection framelits,  Sugar & Spice EP,  Lacy Brocade EF, Scallop Squares Duo Bigz die, dimensionals, sponge.

Thanks Sally I love my card - its surely is good enough to eat!

7 sleeps to go now, so "let's make a cake"

This is a card I made at demo training with my upline Jacque a month ago & had to keep a secret until August - it uses Make a Cake which is a seriously cute set of 7 stamps & phenomenal value at only $24.95 (clear mount) & $30.95 (wood mount) once we're able to order it in 7 days time now & counting!

New goodies: Make a Cake, Patio Party designer series paper (DSP), Primrose Petals 3/8" stitched satin ribbon

Stamp Sets: Make a Cake, Curly Cute
Ink: Night of Navy
Paper: Night of Navy, Whisper White, Patio Party DSP
Punches: 2-3/8" Scallop Circle, 1-3/4" Circle
Other: Adorning Accents folder (wee hearts), dimensionals

The card looks real pretty inside too!

See you all tomorrow with something new xxx

Counting down only 8 days till .....

Our new Annual Catalogue (AC) goes live :)

Hi all, well I've been spring cleaning my wee place & organising my stamps etc which is why I've been so quiet, but I thought as I'm swapping with some of my team mates tomorrow plus I plan to stamp all weekend, I'd share something new everyday till D-day September 1st!

And before we start sharing new stamps, inks etc I still have room at my Open Home Launch next Saturday 1st for a few more people & for only $10 it's phenomenal value & hopefully a lot of fun - full details top right hand column.

So without further adieu here's what is new on this card: Betsy's Blossoms, Betsy's Blooms (matching wheel), Raspberry Ripple, Gumball Green, Summer Starfruit, Bitty Banner Framelits and Dazzling Details.

My card was inspired by Barb Mullikin's lovely card - I just loved her colour combo. I do think the Summer Starfruit flower does make it pop too - my Pete gave my card a BIG tick (which makes me go phew as he is very critical), he said it looked like an old sepia photo with a bright splash of colour.

Stamp sets: Betsy's Blossoms, Betsy's Bloom (wheel), Loving Thoughts
Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Raspberry Ripple, Summer Starfruit
Paper: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Raspberry Ripple, Gumball Green, Very Vanilla
Other: Little Leaves Sizzlit die, Bitty Banner Framelits, Dazzling Details and dimensionals.

I can't express how much I love our new firm ink pads - it made stamping the birds & flowers a real doddle. Well only 8 more sleeps till the new Annual Catalogue & Holiday mini catalogue goes live - I can hardly wait!

Mighty Max's "Make a Monster card"

It was Pete's nephew's 6th birthday today & I ended up buying him glow in the dark monsters & colouring books to match,  so I thought it must be time to ink up that Make a Monster stamp set I bought ages ago & I also wanted to play along with this week's Simply Stampin' Challenge.

 I was glad to have the sketch to work with as it made it much easier to make the card. Though I couldn't do scallops as it was for a boy so I tore the 2nd layer to make it more masculine!

Stamp sets: Make a Monster, Party this Way (retired)
Ink: Stazon Black, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight, Basic Gray, Sahara Sand, Versamark
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight, Watercolor
Punches: Scallop Oval, Large Star (retired), Small Star (retired)
Other: ICE Irridescent embossing powder, Brights brads, Timeless Type Alphabet Jr. (retired), dimensionals, blender pen, spritzer, cutter tool kit
Techniques: Easel card, Watercolouring with marker pens

Inside of the card

Well the possibilities are endless for the possibilities of what your monster can look like, so hopefully I'll play with it again real soon! $50.95 wood mounted set or $40.95 for a clear mounted set. So an awful lot of fun for a very reasonable price.

Well if you have some time play along with the Challenge or definitely pop in & see what everyone comes up with - which is always the coolest thing about challenges. UPDATE 25/8: I made the TOP 3 - how exciting is that!!!

Thanks for poppin' in & hope your weekend is going as well as mine :)

What's going, going and has GONE update

The retiring list from Stampin' Up! was released & we're just starting to see stamp sets appearing. I know for myself  Short & Sweet (which has gone) is one I'm not parting with ever so if you really do want something on the list I would grab it ASAP.

To date & now officially retired as sold out:
Stamp sets
Short & Sweet (wood-mount)
D is for dog

Accessories
Color Coach 2010-2012 In Color Cards
Card Stock & Classic Pad In Color Kit 2010-2012
In Color 2010-2012 Stampin’ Write Markers
In Color 2010-2012 12″ x 12″ Smooth Card Stock
In Color 2010-2012 A4 Smooth Card Stock
Blushing Bride Classic Stampin’ Pad
Calypso Coral Classic Stampin’ Pad
Island Indigo Classic Stampin’ Pad
Lucky Limeade Classic Stampin’ Pad
Peach Parfait Classic Stampin’ Pad
Pool Party Classic Stampin’ Pad
Poppy Parade Classic Stampin’ Pad
Peach Parfait ink refill
Concord Crush ink refill
Poppy Parade ink refill
Pear Pizzazz ink refill
More Mustard Marker
Confetti White A4 Card Stock
3/16" Gold Brads
Dotto refill
Crimper
Stampin' Scrub Replacement Pads
Circle Scissor Plus Replacement Blades
Stack & Store Containers
5-Petal Flower Punch
Stampin' Around Standard Wheel Storage
Color Caddy Extender Kit
Timeless Types Junior Alphabet Medium Sizzliets Dies

On your marks

Get set go.... I created this card many months ago at a team weekend stamp camp & knew I had to save it for my Pete for his birthday as it was so fabulous and he loves red sports cars. The card was taught to us by Bev Poultney & it was my favourite card of the weekend. Not sure why but masculine cards are damn hard, I'm sure we'd all agree on that score.

Stamp sets: Need for Speed, Word Play, Solid Stripes 
Ink: Early Espresso, Versamark
Paper: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Whisper White, Well Worn DSP
Punches: 2-1/2" circle, Petite Pennants Builder, Itty Bitty Shapes
Other: Cherry Cobbler EP, aluminium foil, cork, Houndstooth embossing folder
Techniques: Faux Metal, Easel card

Thanks Bev, Pete was impressed with his birthday card today!

You have to admit that the Solid Stripes does make a damn fine racing flag & it's one of the stamp sets on the retiring list & at $24.95 it's great value, so get in quick as after August 31st it will no longer be available, or sooner if it sells out earlier.

DIY Light Box for night time photography & a sneak peek

This post is for the bloggers amongst us or anyone that sells stuff online. I've been hating the very small opportunity to take a photo with our shortened or non-existent daylight hours.

Doing a bit of reading I found we should be using a light box with daylight bulbs, doing more reading it seems like the blue ones are best & if you live in NZ I found 2 places that do sell them The LightBulb man in Penrose and the Lamp Specialist in Lower Hutt, both do mail order but for the moment I have 24V Phillip Cool Daylight spiral filament bulbs in my $8 lamps from the Warehouse (reduced from $12 - yes got to love a bargain) & Stampin' Up! provided the big cardboard box. If you want to make your own this was a good link on how-to make your own box.

With the lights off :

And a wee sneak peek of our new ink-pads - which are firmer & juicer & perfect for solid images, & believe it or not they are cheaper.

I will have an Cherry Cobbler old & new ink-pad at my open homes for the catalogue launch for you to see the difference for yourself. Below we have the new ink pad on the left. Normally I would tap my solid stamp & twist & re-tap a few times but for this wee "trial" I just inked up & stamped to show the difference.

Happy stampin' & photographin' to you all!