I'm renovating HERE

Hi all, I've also been forced to spend a lot of time at home lately as Industrial Relations keep breaking down on the day job so I've been renovating; which involves clearing out 3 years of being a SU! demonstrator & so my Launch Party this coming Saturday will have out a lot of stuff I am being brave & "retiring 90% of the old" as I have to make room for the new plus need to put food in my tum. I am very thankful that I have my Stampin' Business at the moment to help pay a few bills!

So don't miss the sale of the year plus you get to eat, drink, make a card or 2 & go in the draw to win stuff. Contact me if you'd like to know more.

To save me going mad looking at the 4 walls last week I dragged Judy & myself along to my upline's card class & Jacque did it again - added another stamp set to my wishlist! Loved this card - lots of new products here.

Stamp sets: Greenhouse Garden, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, French Filigree (Background)
Ink: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Sahara Sand, Versamark
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Greenhouse Gala DSP
Punches: Extra large 2-step bird, eyelet border
Other: Ice rhinestone brad, Circle Scissors, dimensionals, Whisper white envelope, sponge dauber

So don't forget FREE catalogue release party at my house this coming Saturday - hope to see you there if you can make it.

The last of the love for awhile (me thinks)

Just a quick post as I promised my work morning tea & I have blueberries muffins to bake. Though looking at the time now they may have to wait until tomorrow night!

I run out of broadband (again) & it's impossible to post or view blogs without it in case any of you have missed me. I'm allowed to change my plan on March 5 so after this date I'll be able to change my allowance plus it'll be cheaper.

These are the last of the projects we made at my Valentine's classes last week:

Peek-a-boo treat holder using A Happy Heart & Lots of Dots jumbo wheel

& inside the yummy chocolate heart from The Chocolate Boutique in Parnell


Another Chocolate Treat (this time done in red)


and last but not least a masculine Valentine's card that I cased directly from my upline's card class I attended a week earlier


Stamp set: A Happy Heart; Polka Dot Punches, Sanded (though I used Distressed in my class)
Paper: Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White
Ink: Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip
Other: Chocolate Chip 1" double-stitched ribbon, crimper, crop-a-dile, jumbo eyelets, designer label punch, sponge daubers, a tiny weeny bit of Dazzling diamonds glitter (remember it's for a man), whisper white envelope

This is a very clever card - it's actually 2 cards in one! This is the inside of the top wee card:


And this is the inside of the larger bottom card:


So I hope everyone has had a lovely weekend, mine's been great: Top Gear the live show Friday night, helping out at the Hamilton extravaganza (exhausting but have some new ideas), Slum Dog Millionaire at the movies Saturday night (DO GO AND SEE IT). Today demo training & visiting my family. Plus I did get some red roses that were actually chocolates - mmm & best of all Pete fixed my broken driver's door. So me very happy.

Pop Up Cards goes Bodacious

Well this is the 2nd card from my home class this week & lots of WOW so a big thank you to my upline Jacque for the inspiration behind this card. I couldn't find a tutorial on SCS!! So have created my own - click HERE to see it. I do hope you can all appreciate the "nearly perfect" stamped images on Whisper White which is an ultra-smooth card stock - perfect for solid stamped images!


Stamp sets: Bodacious Bouquet, Seeing Spots, It's Your Birthday, Linen background
Card Stock: Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Ink: Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White craft ink
Other: Word window punch, 1" circle punch, 2mm circle, linen thread, hodgepodge hardware, Celery grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals

Cutting dimensions:
Regal Rose: 5-1/2 x 8-1/4"; 1-15/16" square
Certainly Celery: 5-1/2 x 2-1/4"; 2-1/4" square, 7-7/8 x 5-1/4" (inside the card)
Chocolate Chip: 5-1/2 x 2"; 2-1/8" square; 3-1/2 x 2"
Whisper White: 1-7/8" square; 3-3/8 x 1-7/8"

My first SBS card challenge

Well we had to make 5 cards, all with the same image and colours but change the background and embellishments! I've only said tentatively I'd do it - 5 cards! Well the weekend is over & I've chatted, lunched & gardened & just a tiny bit of stamping at night time so I've half achieved the challenge which is maybe what a tentative yes means. I've only got 3 of the 5 cards for the challenge & one was already made (a year ago)!

I started with Crab & Co as I had it out on Friday night - it's part of Stampin' Up's 20th birthday promo and therefore 20% off the price, so thought I should create some stuff with it.

This is the card I made a year ago at a class at Jacque's & I love it but it's a very sad shaker card & leaks sand but is seriously cute!


Stamp set/s: Crab and Co, Cheesecloth background (retired)
Card stock: Real Red, Kraft, Whisper White
Ink: various - image coloured in with a blender pen
Other: acetate, oval cutting system, foam mounting tape, sand, hodgepodge, cream grosgrain ribbon

My 2nd card:

Stamp set/s: Crab and Co
Card stock: Real Red, Kraft, Basic Black, Watercolour paper, Summer Picnic DSP
Ink: Black Stazon
Other: Watercolour crayons & an aquapainter, 1-1/4" square punch & 1-3/8" square punch

This was my first attempt at using the watercolour paper & my crayons. What I learnt you need to use Stazon, Basic Black ink is not waterproof enough & runs as the image does get really wet, also don't rush putting on a 2nd colour until the first colour you're painting by has dried - my present is a bit sad :-(

My 3rd card:



Stamp set/s: Crab and Co
Card stock: Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White, Summer Picnic DSP
Ink: Basic Black, Real Red, Bashful Blue, Creamy caramel, Close to Cocoa
Other: Blender pen, dimensionals, 2-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Hodgepodge, red gingham ribbon, sponge

Well I have 3 more days till the challenge finishes (though it maybe 4 as my SBS sisters are mainly in America) so may be able to create at least 1 or 2 more (they're in my head) but have 2 card classes to run, plus 1 to attend plus 2 birthday cards to create this week (and my real job) so will have plenty to post if I don't make it.

Happy Birthday Jacque

eek I've been to busy blogging (or blathering) with my new SBS sisters & am a day late for my upline's birthday - TODAY - as I think she's away doing a show hopefully Fastpost will rescue me.

I do hope she's had an awesome day & I wonder what my life may have been like if I've never meet you, definitely not as fulfilled as it is now!

I'm cheating with the card too as Trudi has posted a challenge on the NZSU blog to do some embossing and I love embossing so incorporated it into the card. I've stamped the lovely flourish first in Versamark then chocolate chip ink then clear embossed - for my dear overseas SBS sisters in case you think I'm mad doing this we don't have Craft inks in the SU! range as yet apart from white. But doesn't it make the stamped image glisten!


Stamp sets: Baroque Motifs, French Script background (retired)
Card stock: Very vanilla, Chocolate chip, Purely pomegranate
Ink: Chocolate chip, Purely pomegranate, Blush blossom (BG), Versamark
Other: Clear EP, rhinestone brad (Pretties kit), photo corner punch, dimensionals, sponge daubers.

I hope Jacque likes the card but know she loves chocolate chip & is also very partial to purely pomegranate too & this is such a classy stamp set it's hard to make a bad card with it!

Happy Father's day to all dad's

Don't you just love it when you're told late on Friday night that the get together with Pete & his dad is actually taking place on Saturday lunch, instead of Sunday. I had a medical appointment Saturday & was in the middle of making 28 cards for demo-swap for Auckland regional training of us SU! demonstrators.

So a real quick card needed. I used this card as my inspiration but wanted to make it bright & cheery so used the striped paper from Spring Break DP series.

Stamp set/s: Occasional Greetings, Boho Backgrounds, Weathered (BG)
Card Stock: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Old Olive, Whisper White, Spring Break DP
Ink: Old Olive, Soft Sky, Blue Bayou
Other: Earth elements markers, crop-o-dile, jumbo eyelets (pewter), vintage brads, hemp twine

Certainly not my best work but Pete's dad was pleased with it & we all had a lovely long lunch & get together which is what it is all about.

Masculine Cards

Don't you hate them? Well that was the theme at my upline's card class this week. I think that may have been something to do with Father's day looming but saying that we didn't actually make a Father's day card, so I'll have to think of something for Pete for his dad all by myself.

Jacque got us to make 2 items that Shelli demonstrated at this year's convention. As my team knows I'm not a great fan of Wanted & I have my own nick name for it but it's starting to grow on me but I do love the designer paper that "matches it" - Outlaw and it's colour combo.

I changed the sentiment on the card as one of my colleagues Harry was leaving us to go work at North Shore Hospital lab.

Stamp set/s: Wanted, Sincere Salutations, Weathered (BG)
Card Stock: Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Confetti Cream, Outlaw DP
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Sage Shadow
Other: Cropodile, jumbo eyelets (pewter), vintage brads, crop-o-dile, hemp twine

Definitely best wishes Harry - enjoy not travelling over the bridge & the FREE parking!

Baby time again

This is a card I've cased & has sitting on my desktop for ages. The pitter patter of wee baby feet is happening again at my work - 3 mummy's to be leave within the next month.

Stamp set/s: Greetings Galore, Sweet Shapes, Weathered (BG)
Card stock: Almost Amethyst, Very Vanilla
Ink: Basic Brown, Almost Amethyst, Creamy Caramel
Other: Cutter tool (for distressing), dimensionals, hodgepodge hardware, linen thread, gold organza

Kwerner Colour Challenge 17

Krystina Werner has the most amazing blog & I love her Make-A-Card Monday tutorials, she also does a weekly colour challenge. I loved this week's challenge colours: Sage Shadow, Regal Rose, Rose Red (not one of my favourite colours) & Whisper White.

I adore the dress & it so reminded me of Roses In Winter (now retired) which I can't seem to get back of my sister Tracey but glad to see that someone used it - hope Krystina picks it as it was along the lines of what I wanted to create. Update: Yes it was chosen - check it out HERE.

From "my team" my dear friend Judy made a really funky card; as did Anne Marie.

I used my inspiration from a card on the demo website which uses the Petals & Paisley DP which I love & will try to re-create it this week.


Stamp set/s: Warm words, Linen Background (have stamped off once & used on the sage shadow mat)
Card Stock: Whisper White, Sage Shadow, Regal Rose, Rose Red , Rose Red Palette of Prints DP
Ink: Sage Shadow
Other: Spring Flower Bouquet Punch, Silver Brads, Dimensionals

Well I'm too late for the challenge - just wanted to join in on the fun. I hope everyone's weekend wasn't too stormy. I escaped further south but was worried about leaving the house & my cats to the storm but all survived a OK.

Happy stamping from me.

More Rose Red

My dear friend Donna & her friend Wendy had a workshop last night. It was quite a scarey thing presenting to friends - much easier with strangers!

Donna wanted to do a magnetic bookmark card using glossy white card stock & the crayon resist technique which could be used as Mother's day cards.

She loves Rose Red, so using the colour coach wheel I matched this colour up with Elegant Eggplant (& purple is Donna's favourite colour) & Always Artichoke. A white crayon, sponges, magnetic strip & we were away.

Stampsets: Artfully Asian, Occasional Greetings, Weathered background
Card stock: Glossy white, rose red, elegant eggplant, always artichoke
Ink: as above
Other: Elegant eggplant grosgrain ribbon, magnetic strip, white crayon, sponges, white Signo gel pen

Some of the ladies filled their leaves entirely in with the crayon before sponging so really white leaves, some only used the elegant eggplant & always artichoke. But some great cards made by all, thank you to all who attended :-) And yes my bookmark which was on the table as a display "fell into" the rose red inkpad on the lower RHS at the end of the night whilst cleaning up :-(

Tile Coaster Class

WOW - yes this was a real WOW class, Jacque's BEAUTIFUL effort using Carte Postale can be seen via this link: http://stamphappynz.blogspot.com/2007/12/my-offering.html

But as Carte Postale is on my wish list from the Summer Mini Catalogue, thought I'd try out the lovely flowers found in Easy Elegance (also in the Summer Mini Catalogue) stamped on top of the French Script background stamp. Guess who wants Easy Elegance now? I'm assuming this will be a very popular class to run in 2008! and am stocking up on marble tiles & have sourced some coloured Stazon ink.

Happy birthday Wendy, Lee & Kathryn

Wow 3 girlfriends having birthday at the same time. Thank heavens for home class as I got to make lots of the above card, with slight variations. I just love the effects of using the watercolour crayons directly onto a solid stamp & then wetting with a mist of water & stamping. I think this was the card that made me fall in love with watercolour crayons, they are so versatile.

Happy Birthday & tri-fold card:
Stamp-set: Petal Prints, Warm Words, Canvas & It’s Your Birthday
CS: Rose red (RR) , Very vanilla (VV), Garden green (GG)
Inks: Chocolate Chip (CC), Close To Cocoa, Creamy Caramel or Rose Red (RR).
Watercolour Crayons: Rose Red, Cameo Coral, So Saffron, Always Artichoke.

Remove ^6/8 inch from end of RR Card Stock leaving 8 ¼ x 11 inch piece of card. Cut in half vertically to give 4 ^1/8 x 11" piece of CS.

Score at 3 ½ & 7 ^1/16 (I found if you do the 2nd score line at 7" it doesn’t fold perfectly).

Using the Canvas background stamp & either CC, Close To Cocoa, Creamy Caramel or RR ink lightly stamp one side of CS.

Sponge edges with ink of choice. Add eyelet to panel that is biggest, stamp large birthday greeting with CC – remembering to leave room for clean outer edge. Stamp the tri-leaves from with RR randomly over outer 2 panels (leaving edge clean).

Stamp the open leaf around edge of 3 ^3/8 x 3 ^7/8 GG mat in an oval shape.

Using the pointed end of watercolour crayons colour in the solid flower, mist lightly with water ~12 inches away & stamp twice in middle of Very vanilla cardstock. Spritz with markers (Creamy caramel & Old Olive), sponge around edges with Creamy caramel ink. Remove an oval from centre panel. Stamp be merry or HB to middle panel. Attach all layers & thread an Ivory organdy ribbon through eyelet into a bow. Viola!!

Doug's 85th birthday

Hi all a lot has happened since my last post - most involving food & friends. a few week's ago it was Pete's dad's 85th birthday - WELL DONE Doug for being such a spritely gentleman. Family & friends meet for a very impressive lunch out at the lovely Bracu restaurant in Bombay, an afternoon nap was in order after the event for me.

Of course I was in charge of the card - lucky for me I had a few I'd made at Stamp Class that were more than suitable.

This card was a work of art if I say so myself - Old Olive cardstock was stamped with the Print Pattern background stamp in Old Olive, then the clock image from Artifacts stamp set was stamped again with Old Olive on Very Vanilla CS, then mounted up on Bravo Burgundy & So Saffron, other embellishments were the designer paper from the Four Seasons Pack, twill, brads & various other stamp images.