infuse creations

Im going to be missing for a while

2012-02-13T10:25:00.000+13:00

Morning Crafters,

This is just a short post to say that for the next few weeks maybe for the next month or so, i won't be able to do much in the way of crafting, as i have something big happening in my home life, don't worry it is a good thing not a worrysome thing, ( i will revel more as soon as i can).

I do have a couple of birthdays i need to create for, so i will try my best to blog those creations, in the mean time i am still around and checking out your wonderful sites/blogs.

Take care, will be in touch with my news as soon as i can.

Oh My Gosh 5000 mark

2012-02-09T10:14:00.000+13:00

Hello again.........

Oh my gosh after posting my last post i realised that i have hit the 5000 blog view mark.

For this wonderful ocassion i am giving some special bloggers this wonderful Blog award.

This to let you know how much i appreciate your visits and your very encouraging comments

The rules for this award

* Thank the person who gave you this award

* paste the award to your blog

* Link the person who nominated you for this award

* Nominate as many other bloggers for this wonderful award as you like

* Post links to their blogs

My chosen award recipients are:

Narelle Hoggard http://handmadebynarelle.wordpress.com/

Paula Reid http://yellowbearnz.blogspot.co.nz/

Julia Leece http://juliascards.blogspot.co.nz/

Andrea Lowcock http://andrealowcock.wordpress.com/

Helen Williams http://craftyhelen.blogspot.co.nz/

Try Stampin on Tuedsay #52

2012-02-09T09:43:00.000+13:00

Hello fellow crafters

Well once again it has been a while between posts.

I have so much going on in my personal life right now, some things are good and some things are well i have to wait for an outcome before i decided if it is a good thing or not.

I will revel more when i know, until then i will post as i get the chance to do a bit of crafting.

Todays post is a card that looks very much like the last card i posted.

This unfinished card has been sitting on my desk for a few weeks now, i had fully intended to do two of the last card i made, but after seeing this weeks challenge over at Try Stamping on Tuesday, i decided to change it a little bit to fit the sketch.

Here is my card, the photo doesn't show up the light hint of glitter i used around the edge of the flowers.

This is my most favourite colour combination to use, it suits every ocassion,

Well i had better run as i have a yet another busy day ahead, i just hope this on coming cold/flu keeps away, well for a few more days at least

Warm wishes for an ill friend

2012-01-24T13:22:00.000+13:00

Hi Crafters,

Isn't it hard to believe that we are nearly at the end of the first month of the new year already.

I have been enjoyed getting back into the swing of normal daily life, and for those lucky few i know that are still enjoying a bit of R&R, don't rub it in.

Anyway i have still not gotten back into my craft room very much, as this year is so far showing signs of being a busy year ahead.

It is going to be an exciting year for myself and my family.

Yesterday our Daughter started back at school over in Australia and also her first shift at her first ever part time job. Our daughter (15yrs) lives over on the gold coast and attends school there, but she was home over the holidays. The month flew by far too quickly, i am missing her already.

Our son had a big day yesterday too, he started his first day of full time work, and all going well he will have a Engineering apprenticeship come June.

And i have a exciting time ahead but i can't say anything more on that front, but will tell all once i am able to.

So back to carding, today's card is one i did yesterday for a very good friend of mine who underwent surgery, i wanted to brighten up her day as she was not looking foward to this day at all. i made up a R&R pack for her while she sits back and recovers, i put in some juice, magazines and some chocs so she has the energy to turn the pages, and a blackout mask so she can sleep without the sunny days stopping her from doing so (yes believe it or not we have sunshine)

The saying isn't one im fond off for this card, but it was the only "get well" or "feeling unwell" stamp i had, but she loved it and yes it did put a smile on her face,

anyway im off i had better go and fix up the months books, apparently if you leave them they don't do themselves, just wish full thinking, maybe a part of me is still in holiday mode.

Welcome to a new year

2012-01-12T13:16:00.000+13:00

Afternoon crafters,

Happy new year

I know it is a fraction too late, but this is the first time this year i have been back and visited my blog, slack i know but i took a holiday away from my crafts, and even blog surfing.

Apart from the occasional card i had to make during the break, i have enjoyed this time to sit back relax and enjoy the precious sun that we got, when it showed. I think someone forgot to tell the weather god that it is summer here in NZ. I hope you all have had a relaxing safe and happy holiday season, i worked through but did manage 3 days up at the beach this past Monday

From here on in until June i have a very quiet time on the card front, so this is normally the time i end up trying out new techniques and ideas.

I have already seen a few new ideas i want to play around with, oh exciting times ahead.

The card i want to show today is one i did recently for my F-I-L's 60th birthday.

I got to play with my new stamp set "The Open Sea"

I really enjoyed making this card, the ship and the anchor has been clear embossed. The background of the ship is a piece of cardstock that i stamped then just rumpled up and then flattened back out.

Well i must get back to my blog surfing i have alot to catch up on......oh and my paper work i supposed i had better do that as well

Where has the time gone....pt2

2011-12-23T08:00:00.001+13:00

Morning All,

So where did i leave off yesterday. Oh that is right birthdays cards, i have had a few birthdays pop up in the last month, including annivarsary cards. Oh blast i have just noticed that i have forgotten to take a photo of a few of them, double blast.

Birthday cards are so much fun to do, i always love trying to tie them in with the person receiving them

This was for my youngest sister's 18th birthday, and she is a wonderful bass player

This one was for my Neice's 15th birthday

Every year my best friends kids challenge me, as they love the cards with the sweet treat cups in them, so each and every birthday, i have to come up with something new using them, this year i had access (i know Shame on me, i don't own this set Yet!! ) to this set, so i was yet to do a gumball one, one i had fogotten to take a photo of was one for Nathan's brother, for his i used a test tube instead

And last but not least, this one was made for a special friend, Kelly it was her birthday day yesterday, and on many occassions she is down in the dumps, as she is an Amercian and is missing her home and family very much, something i could always understand, as i lived away from my family for 7 years
What the photo doesn't show is that there is a little bit of bling on the big flower, yes the ribbon is hiding a Boo Boo

So anyway i am off to go finish my Christmas shopping as i am teenager free for a few hours, also it is another busy day ahead, Staff party, doc's appts, nail appts must have them looking all blingy for Christmas, well tidied up anyway

Sorry one last photo, i had to show you my nails done up for Christmas, i got them done a couple weeks ago now, they are not painted, but done in coloured acrylic, everywhere i go people love them.

Where has the time gone

2011-12-22T09:33:00.001+13:00

Hi Stampers,

I have just noticed that i have not posted a post in nearly a month.

I can sum that all up in one word "Life", my life has been hectic for the past month, between work, home and christmas, i have not had much quality time to be able to sit and either blog, blurf or even create.

I have done a bit of creating over the past few weeks, i have had a few birthdays and of course there are the Christmas cards to do.

So in this post i will show some of the projects ih ave been working on, might even have to do it over a couple of posts to keep the photos down

So here goes

This is my Christmas card this year.

i CASEd it from a wonderful lady over at CA, Dawn Ferguson NSW

The centre of this card was designed for our ATC swap, but im sorry as i made two ATC swaps at the same time i cannot remember if it was our CA swap or the Creative inker swap, im sure a fellow blogger will let me know which one, see i have been very busy

This is a gift card holder i made to hold some special gift cards

And the inside, thanks to my Sister Narelle for the idea & measurements

I will blog the Birthday cards in another post, Sorry if this was a long post.

See you all back here tomorrow for part two of my creative days gone by (well last month anyway)

It is that time again.....Christmas card season + JAI 95

2011-11-26T12:28:00.002+13:00

Afternoon stampers,

Well it is almost the silly season again, so for us crafters that means making a start on our Christmas Card list and also handmade Christmas gifts.

Well i have made a start on my Christmas cards, and will be making a start on the gifts soon.

This week over at Just Add Ink they have a great challenge to make us all think out side of the box, which suits perfectly with what i wanted to do

Here is their challenge

JAI 95 - Bah Humbug!

We've been seeing lots of Christmassy entries lately and we thought we would go BAH HUMBUG! lol

This week's challenge is to make a Christmas project but with NO Christmas paper, NO Christmas images (Christmas sentiment allowed) and definitely NO chocolate .. oh, okay scrap that ... you can give us chocolate!

This card was created using a Tea bag fold star, another version of this fold can be found in my previous post

This is one that i saw a while ago and had to give it a go, i do not know who's design it is, so please let me know if you know who did it so i can give them credit.

this is another clean and simple one (minus black mark, thanks to my work desk), i have made up many of these in different colours and using a different stamp from the same set, i am giving some to my mum, so she can send them out to her friends

Well as i have been away from my desk for a few days, i had better get back to the growing paper pile.

Quality time in my craft room

2011-11-18T12:58:00.000+13:00

Afternoon Crafters,

This morning i spent time in my craft room making a card a few cards, and also finishing off two ATC swaps i am involved with.

It felt great to sit there and craft until i decided i had had enough, i haven't done this in quite a while.

I will wait until i receive the ATC's from the rest of the group before i post the ones i made, to be fair on the groups, incase they peek.

This is a case from the wonderfully talented Andrea Buckland,

I did put my spin on it, but i am not totally happy with it at all, it is amazing how we can hit and miss sometimes, i think this one is a miss, i did have my mum in mind, as it is her birthday tomorrow but i'm not so sure, now that it is finished.

I also finished a few christmas cards,

This is one i remembered to take a photo of, i tried a few different things here, i stamped directly on to my ribbon, and also the tree is made using a teabag fold technique

Here is another one, i made this end of last week.

I was asked to make for a friend of my son's girlfriend's birthday

Oh well i had better go back to the drawing board for a card for my mum's birthday tomorrow,

Oh on a final note, i was picked as one of the top three winners for last weeks Try Stampin on Tuesday's sketch,

Here is my badge

Have a great weekend

Try stampin on Tuesday #40

2011-11-10T11:12:00.000+13:00

Morning Stampers,

It is once again that time of week,

Try Stampin on Tuesday

has released a new sketch, and it is a good one

Yesterday was my Brother-in-laws birthday, so i used this sketch to do a male themed card, i also got to ink up a new stamp, well it is not new i have had it for a while but it was yet to see ink.

This one isn't one of my finest pieces, there are many boo boo's

Next time i will have to lock the cat out of my office, as he always insists on a pat or cuddle just as sit down to create.

So go on over and have paly with this weeks new sketch

An extra special birthday card

2011-11-09T15:29:00.000+13:00

Afternoon stampers,

Last month was my birthday, and this year as always i had a great time, but i wanted to take the time to show you all a special card handmade just for me.

Every year i make a couple of great kids a birthday card each on their special day, and this year Crystal decided to get her craft gear out and make me a card.

Crystal is 11 years old, and hasn't been making cards for very long.

I was speechless when i was handed this card, i love it

This is the front,

Here is the inside

And she even decorated the back, compete with her "made by Crystal" mark

Didn't she do a great job, i have been sorting out some of my old stuff, and i have a nice little pile to give her so she can go on and create more beautiful cards.

With xmas coming up i am thinking of having a crafting afternoon, where i can help her to make special little gifts for her family.

Now for the news on the home front.

Last Tuesday was a very hard day for me, it was the day i said goodbye to my 15yr old Daughter, Alana has gone to live in Australia with her Grandmother. The previous post explains why this all came about.

There were a few tears at the departure doors, she even laid down a bet as we approached the doors.....as to who would cry first, then a very short time later she looked at me and said, "bugger it's going to be me". i managed to hold it together ...just, but then when her plane left the ground, i couldn't hold it back anymore and then for the rest for the day there were tears off and on, even now i find the tears building when i think of her so far away from home. Just writing this has tears falling.

I am missing her so much, i didn't realize just how much i still did for her.

But she is doing very well, she has just got her very first part time job, and is about to join up with the local surf lifesaving club, and is going to re-join with the scout movement, but the most important thing is she is happy and finally has a bit of piece within her mind, what more can a parent ask for.

Anyway i must go, i have a few cards to show you, so i will get around to posting these in the next few days or so,

until then, take care and keep crafting

Try Stampin on Tuesday #38

2011-10-27T14:00:00.000+13:00

Afternoon Crafters,

It is that time of the week again, it is time for a new challenge over at

Try Stampin on Tuesday

And as usual it is a great sketch.

My mind is else where at the moment so i made a pretty simple card, but i am happy with the results.

When i first saw this sketch i had a much better card in mind, but i have so much happening on the home front that i went simple

Here is my card

(sorry for the photo quality)

I have used an older retired stamp set, which i seem to go to quite often, Bud Basics

To finish it off i have done a bit of spritizing with the early espresso pen, which i think finishes it off nicely

Now back to my home front.

my daughter has had very long and hard road these past few years, with hassles from school and other outside issues, she had been asking since we came back to live here(NZ), if she could return to Australia, so after one low(almost depressive mood) too many, my hubby and i made the big decision to send her back to live with her Grandmother and attend school over there.

As a mum this has been a very hard decision to come to, there have been many tears already, and many more to come, as she is leaving on Tuesday next week, we need to get her settled into school as much as possible before the holidays so come next year it will be better for her.

On the bright side she will be coming home at Christmas time as her grandmother is also coming back for a holiday.

A Special birthday

2011-10-25T16:39:00.000+13:00

Afternoon stampers,

What a weekend, it was one that all of us kiwi's can feel proud about.

We beat the Australians in netball by one goal, and then we went on to beat the French by one point in the grand final of the Rugby World Cup,

Well done to both teams.

I had a blast on the night of the RWC final, we headed over to a friend of ours and joined them in a night of laughs, sighs, and breath holding moments, before, during and after the game.

i know i went to sleep with a smile on my face, well who wouldn't after such a great night.

And to top the weekend off the kids went back to school today, so now i can go shopping in peace, away from my own two and other kids at the mall.

In my last post i mentioned that a very dear friend of mine had just lost her father, but right in the middle of this was one of her Nephews birthday's.

Every year for each of my friends children and one of her sisters children birthday's i always try to include a choc somewhere in the card.

This one was no different, but with the sad things happening at home, i wanted a little bit of an extra special birthday card for him.

Not long ago, i managed to get hold of some great little test tubes, which i knew i wanted to be included on the card somewhere.

This is what i came up with.

I love this, in fact i have ear marked a couple more birthdays to do this for.

Here is a closer look

I have written on the back of the tall piece, this is right up my alley with the bright colours.

i even almost completely matched up the colours of the M&M's with our inks.

Well i am off to go and enjoy the rest of my day here in Hamilton, the sun is shining bright and the wind is finally laying low, bring on the summer tan......Don't think so i am getting to old to worry about that now, my swimsuit body has been laid to rest, bring on the cover ups *Giggle, Giggle*.

Try Stampin on Tuesday #37

2011-10-19T13:40:00.000+13:00

Afternoon Stampers,

The sketch this week over at Try Stamping on Tuesday is a great one.

I had a sympathy card to do, so i used this sketch to do so.

Unfortunately i have had to make two sympathy cards this week, one for a family member of one of our staff, and the other one was for a very special friend of mine who lost her dad last week, My heart has gone out to her and her 3 sisters as they also lost their mum 6 years ago, the girls nursed both their mum and their dad until the end.

The youngest sister is not quite 30, this was such a sad occasion, we are all so grateful that they have a very special and close knit bond, so they will always be together. My friend and i have been best buds since we were 2, and during my teen years, her dad became my weekend dad.

R.I.P Paul, you have gone home to be with your beloved Jenny.

Here is the sketch i used for the staff member's card

i knew i had to use one of my new stamp sets that was yet to see and ink. So i choose my new set

"Awash with flowers"

I can see this one getting a fair bit of ink time.

Here is my card

The need for a sympathy card for my best friend, came as such a surprise that i didn't have time to make one (in fact i wasn't in the mood to make one), we knew he was sick, but didn't expect him to go quite so soon, so i grabbed one from my "opps almost forgot" box,

it is not a favourite one of mine, but she loved it.

I gave her the concord crush one, as she is a purple girl.

So i had have a very busy and eventful week, one that included my - tried to forget, birthday, one in which i got spoiled with love and attention, but at least it is now over for another year.

Try Stampin on Tuesday #36

2011-10-12T13:15:00.000+13:00

Afternoon,

This is a quick post as i have to head home (yes i'm doing this at work again) and get ready for our big night tonight. we are off to see Def Lepard play live in Auckland.

Wow two challenges in a row, i am on a roll.

The sketch this week was a tricky one, well for my half creative mind any way.

Here is this weeks sketch.

And here is my card

The bows are done using my new tool, a standard kitchen fork. It never fails to create the most perfect bow, in fact you can use anything that has tines

i also added a bit of sparkle as i found that this card needed that little bit of something extra.

Anyway must go so i will, be back in a few days to tell you all about the concert

Try Stampin on Tuesday #35

2011-10-11T13:48:00.000+13:00

Afternoon Stampers,

For the first time in what seems like ages i had a bit of mojo this morning, so i set to having a go at this weeks sketch challenge over at

Try Stampin on Tuesday

I have not had any creative juices for quiet a while now.

i did set myself a personal challenge to have a go at each and every one of their sketch challenges, but with missing mojo, this was rather hard.

So until it all returned i sat back and gave my craft room a miss.

But Hello this morning my creative brain kicked in - here to stay i hope.

Anyway here is this weeks sketch

And here is my attempt.

I haven't added any sentiment as i am not sure of it's use as of yet.

Here is a close up of the flower

I added a bit of sparkle to the edges of the flower.

Now for a update on the home front. our son is without his prized vehicle...thanks to the local police and an impound yard. i have been busy running him around between Tec and his GF, i had gotten so used to him been able to run himself around. The daughter has had many ups and downs, life seems to be a hard road for her these days, so i am hoping that things will improve soon, before her confidence is completely shattered. And last but not least our foster son has made the big move back in with his mum, and from what i hear he is still doing well, but i have told him i am not giving up on him, and will keep popping in to see how he is going, and maybe offer a boot (where it is needed) or a hug.

So anyway i had better get back to the books (at work) and i will be trying my hardest to get back into my craft room now, so keep tuned for new creative splurges.

Another male birthday

2011-09-23T14:12:00.000+12:00

Afternoon stampers,

On Monday this past week, my son celebrated his 17th birthday. I am starting to feel old now, my two children are growing up so fast, it wont be long before they spread their wings and venture out on their own...i will admit that i am not looking forward to that day, im sure there will be many private tears when it does happen. heres hoping there are still a few more years yet before i have to cross that bridge.

I had alot of trouble with his card, as in some ways he is still young, but in other ways he is so much older now.

So instead of settling for a teenage card, i went for a more mature card.

Next year for his 18th i have a fun card already picked out for him.

I hope everybody is enjoying this wonderful spring weather, well today here in Hamilton is is a wonderful day, almost a shame i have to sit here in my office and do paper work, lets hope it lasts until the weekend so i can go out and at least enjoy some of it.

Thinking of you

2011-09-17T08:00:00.008+12:00

Morning Stampers,

This past week has been one of many laughs, i had alot of fun at my first paintballing experience, i can say i was worried going in as i was the only female on both teams, so i was either going to be a big target or they would be nice to me, i can say once they found me i was a big target... my team won, but i am sporting a couple of great bruises thanks to a few good hits from the opposition.

I only feel them when the family cat tries to make him self comfortable on my lap in the evening.

I hope you all have been keeping nice and warm this past week, i know it has been cold here in Hamilton, and here i was thinking last weekend was the start of spring, i even got a bit of sun, but no........ just to return us to the land of reality the cold has crept back in.

Believe it or not i have been doing a bit of crafting, well i should say i have had to with the odd request here and there for cards, which i really love doing for others, as it normally gives me the opportunity to try something new.

This week i was asked to do a card for a friend of a friend who has just had surgery and was recovering. I don't have any "hope your feeling better" stamps, so i went with "thinking of you".

But i didn't have much time so i didn't try anything new, i just went with a bit of heat embossing.

The round stamped images are all heat embossed with clear powder, with the receiver being a male i went with my old time fav colour combination,

Blue, Kraft and Choc Chip.

At least i heard it brought a smile to his face, that is the greatest reward to me.

Happy Birthday to the man in my life

2011-09-16T12:56:00.000+12:00

Afternoon stampers.

This week was my darling husband's birthday, and i swear each year it is getting harder and harder to buy for him. he is not the easiest person to buy for.

After being together for nearly 24 years, i have run out of all ideas on gifts for him. But this time i ended up taking him out to the movies at the La Premiere theater, which has very comfortable leather lazyboys, we had a snack while watching the beginning of the movie, then bout half way through the movie they brought us in our desserts. It was a very enjoyable night and the movie "Crazy stupid love", was great.

I have struggled with male cards, so it is always even harder to make that special card for that special person in your life.

But i think i managed to get it just right

Now the next challenge will be for my son's 17th on Monday, oh boy what to do there.

Wherever you are tonight enjoy the All Blacks game, if you plan on watching it.

I know my town is going crazy about this game, they have been all week, It is a big deal for us here in Hamilton.

"GO BLACKS"

Yes i am still here.

2011-09-13T12:36:00.000+12:00

Hi Stampers,

Boy has it really been 3 weeks since my last post....i guess it has been.

So much has been happening.

I have attended a SU big day out, and boy oh boy it was so much fun, i got to met ladies that i have spent the past few months talking to online. It was just brilliant to put faces to names.

Here is a photo of us CA ladies.

FRONT: Helen Williams

SECOND ROW: (Left to Right) Dee Sturgeon, Narelle Hoggard, Louise Hopman

THIRD ROW: Raine Walton, Debi Ryan, Bev Poultney, Julia Leece, Heather Stewart, Shona Davy, Sally Williams.

FOURTH ROW: Rhonda Fawcett, Cindy Backhouse, Kristine McNickle

BACK ROW: Sharna Russell, Baby Holle & Claire Mason, Judy Kilmore, Faazia Sherrard, Karen Williamson, Katrina Bongers

Life has been so busy that it has been very hard to find time to create. I am also suffering with a sore arm, and when i do spend time stamping or creating, i seem to be spending just about as much time with an aching arm afterwards.

I can honestly say that i have only made about 1-3 cards lately.

i still have not got much mojo happening, but i have been busy doing a project or two.

Over at Crafters anonynous (CA) we have an up coming secret sister swap, so i have been busy trying to get it all finished so i can get in the post to my lucky swap sister.

I do have a card i want to share today, i was asked to make a card for my daughters new boyfriend, it was his birthday on the weekend, but with mojo lacking i went back to an old favorite of mine, but just used a different layout, i have lost count the number of times i have now used this particular stamp in this way.

So here is the boyfriends card

i am so hoping the mojo returns soon, as from here until Christmas i have a busy time with birthdays starting tomorrow it is my husbands birthday, i do have a card made for that, so i will post that in the upcoming days.

But that raises a bigger question...what to get him, he has no hobbies(too busy with our business), no real interests and if he wants anything he just goes and buys it for himself.

Anyway i must go, and rest my arm i had to make Hubby's card this morning, and the arm is showing me it is there, As if i didn't know that already

Craters Anonymous = fun fun fun

2011-08-19T08:00:00.000+12:00

Hello Stampers,

For the past little while i have been part of a fantastic group of ladies,

over at crafters Anonymous.

Where we have the most brilliant and funny online chats, we also share our creations, and the best part is you get to met so many other like minded ladies.

Each Monday we do an online blind class, hosted by a different very talented lady each week, who shares with us a great new idea, and every second Thursdays we have an online blind technique class.

A few weeks ago we did the Faux postage stamp look.

I have already posted the card i made on the night, but here is another card i made using the same technique, but with the added fancy fold,

( this was made before the missing mojo)

i used my all time favourite DSP, Parisian Breeze

here is the fancy fold part

It is the front square that opens not the whole piece, i am really liking how this turned out.

Also over at CA i was chosen to the featured artist of the week (last week)

so take a look over on the left hand side of my blog to see my badge.

Missing in action.......where has it gone ???

2011-08-17T13:14:00.000+12:00

Hello stampers.

Well this is the million dollar question.

I have lost all of my mojo, i do not have any creative juices at all at the moment.

Normally after a bit of blurfing (blog surfing) my mojo hits top gear and away i go again, but lately even blurfing has failed to have this effect.

i have a few things i need to get done, but am struggling to do so

I have been doing a little bit of creating, but nothing major, it all has been very simple.

Here is a card i made for a friend of mine daughter's birthday, in the past i had made her pretty cards, and made the boys cards using sweet treat cups, so this time i made one for her as well using a sweet treat cup

I have been trying to do a few pages in my kids scrapbook.

So far i have done a couple of now pages, and almost completed their first page in their younger days albums, so once i finish those i will get some photos and pop them up.

Anyway on the home front, our new family member is settling in fine, he is loving being back in school, and is getting good marks.

Happy 15th Birthday

2011-08-08T08:00:00.007+12:00

Morning Stampers...

This card was made for my Daughters 15th birthday back on the 31st,

this is one that took a long time to come up with, it is hard to put things together when your mojo is lacking, or in my case gone competely

But i am really happy with the out come

Sorry for the photo, i had to be quick and get the photo before she ate the lollies, as i forgot to take a photo before i gave it to her, well almost didn't get the photo, some of the lollies are missing.

here is the card open

And a side view

See i even forgot the sentiment.

now for what has been happening in my life....well where do i start.

I now have a new family member, i have taken in a 15yr old boy who needed a family to love him,

we are all so blessed to have the love and support from our families, but there are those out there who don't have that basic need of life. I couldn't turn my back on someone who needed this love, and as a mum i have alot of love to share around.

We all have been busy adjusting to the new addition, and there have been many meetings with winz and social workers to make it all happen.

He wasn't in school, getting regular food nor basic needs of life........ access to fresh water and toilets.

All this while living with a family member.

But since he has been living with us he is now in school, with big plans for the future. a dry and clean room and all the food he wants...being a teenager he likes his food.

He knows he has been given a golden opportunity, and he is very keen to make the most of it, or the only other choice is go back to that family member.

So yes i have been busy, and with life starting to settle, i should be able to get back into the swing of creating.

See you all soon

Try Stampin on Tuesday #26

2011-08-05T13:21:00.000+12:00

Afternoon Crafters...

I have not blogged in a while in fact i even broke my own personal challenge of doing each and every challenge put up for the talented ladies over at

Try Stampin on Tuesday

i have had a very busy time of late, combined with a lack of mojo.

But i have been doing the odd thing, so i will post those over the next week or so.

My mojo has been so low i have taken to re-creating past favorite cards for the few birthdays i have had to do.

I have also done a couple of pages for my family's scrapbook's that i have just started to do

This week there is a great challenge over at Try Stampin on Tuesday.

Here is their sketch

Here is my attempt,

Here is a close up of the background i used, it was done with just using a stamp versamark

i used a digi art image from the fantastic site

Beccy's Place

anyway i must be off i have lots more to do, i will fill you all in soon, and the happenings in my life that is keeping me away from my blog and craft room

Try Stampin on Tuesday #24

2011-07-25T11:37:00.000+12:00

Morning Stampers,

Well there is another great sketch this week over at

Try Stampin on Tuesday

When i first saw it, again i saw a scrapbook page, in fact im glad i did, if i had not had a page in mind, i would have trouble with this one, it would have really tested me.

I even had the perfect photo for this sketch.

But first here is the sketch.

Now here is my page, this one took alot of doing as i just couldn't finish it off right, but i think i got there in the end

This has always been a favorite photo of mine of my son and his best mate - his cousin Ace.

In fact i have so many that shows their mate ship that i think a collage page is in order.

I hid the journaling behind the photo.

Well i must dash off, i have one of those days ahead, where i have to be everywhere at once, and not enough hours to have it all done.

i am heading away for the night to go join my sister Narelle and her best friend in a scrap night, so you never know i might have lots to show if the wine and chatting don't get in the way.

Anyway try and stay warm where ever you are

A new Challenge.....Friday Mashup

2011-07-18T13:18:00.000+12:00

Afternoon stampers,

After doing a bit of blurfing (blog surfing) this morning i came across a great challenge site

Friday Mashup

I came across this challenge while popping over to the amazing

Andrea Lowcock, I love her work.

Anyway the challenge was

This took a bit of doing and re-doing, i don't do too well with too many colours, but i think i got it just right.

The only thing i don't like is the sentiment, but it is only just sitting there, i can change it at anytime, to suit the occasion.

Anyway i'm off to go and enjoy the sunshine while it lasts, so i will be back in a few days to show ~~off~~ case some more of my latest projects

TST #23..... Let it Snow

2011-07-14T14:36:00.000+12:00

Afternoon stampers,

Over at Try Stampin on Tuesday this week is another great sketch, this sketch is very different from all challenges so far to date.

Here is their sketch.

As soon as i saw it...it screamed scrapbook page, so that is what i did.

As i'm new to scrapbooking, i was very nervous about doing this page. but i am very happy with the out come.

Here is my page

The Bashful blue doesn't show up the detail of the snowflake background, stamped with versamark.

The bottom right hand corner needs something, i might add a bit of journaling there, but i just want to work out a way of doing it without ruining it with visible words

Oh no..... im hooked, i have even gone through all of our photos and sorted a whole lot out to be done.

i loved these photos, i am so happy to have a great way to show them off, this was our first ever day in the snow, up to this date, the kids (including me) had never seen snow, we all had a great day.

My time in the spotlight

2011-07-13T15:03:00.000+12:00

Afternoon Stampers,

On Monday night i had the fantastic opportunity at hosting a live tutorial in the Crafters Anonymous chat room.

If you read my last post it will explain all about our Monday night online blind class.

I had a bad case of nerves before i started as i have never done anything like it before. But once i got into it i had a blast, it was so much fun, and even better seeing what everybody came up with after the class.

Here is what i taught to the ladies.

A fancy fold star card

Here it is open

This is an easy card to do.

I also have been playing with scrapbooking a bit so i will have another page or two to show in a day or so.

Fun, Techniques and great company

2011-07-09T08:00:00.005+12:00

Morning Stampers,

Does this sound like you.

I am a member of a fabulous craft site run by some very creative and brilliant ladies, from both NZ and Australia.

Crafters Anonymous

If you would like to be become part of this wonderful site please ask me how to become a member.

The membership is a whole $20AUD a year to part of, but listen to what you can be part of.

Weekly online blind classes - these are done via a chat room, with only written instructions, and the odd photo to help you out. you are given a list if ingredients before the night, then you just pop into the chat room on the night and start having fun, no-one knows what the end product will be.

Online Technique classes, done much the same way at the classes mentioned above.

A place to show your creations, and to meet other great like minded ladies.

We have very funny chats, and the occasional fun events to attend

Anyway on Thursday night we had a technique class, and it was making faux postage stamps.

What a brilliant class.

Here is my end result

So ask me about joining the great site so you too can come and play along

Happy Mail.......Yay me

2011-07-08T17:20:00.000+12:00

Afternoon Stampers,

This afternoon when i got home and opened the mail box, i found this little package waiting for me....

Oh we all love surprises.....and yes i loved mine.

In the package was a brilliant altered note pad and matching card.

It was from a lovely lady who i had the pleasure of meeting on a few occasions, thanks to our mutual love of paper crafts.

Her Name is Paula Reid, her creations are wonderful, and she also designs for the brilliant new site

Stampin Fun & Friends.

Go on over and have a look at Paula's blog.

Looky at what i got

Again Paula thanks so much. it put a huge smile on my face.

TST #22 Because i care

2011-07-06T10:33:00.000+12:00

Morning Stampers,

First the first time in a long time i had an idea come to me as soon as i saw a sketch.

This is one challenge blog everybody should go and have a go at.

You don't need a blog to play along, you can upload your photos to your album over at Splitcoasterstampers and then link back to the challenge

CherylAnn's sketches are brilliant.

This week over at

Try Stampin on Tuesday

Here is this weeks sketch.

i turned the sketch on it's side to match the stamp i used.

I didn't have ribbon to put down the middle, so instead i used the extra piece i tore off from the bottom layer.

This was the first time i had inked up this stamp.

The photo doesn't show you the shimmer paint i daubered over the flower to give it a bit of depth.

Also this week i am the first not the last as i have been in the past few weeks.

Have a great day

TST #21... TAKE 2.......

2011-07-05T11:01:00.000+12:00

Hello Again,

Oh boy......two post in one day,

As i said in my last post i really didn't like my card, so i couldn't rest, i had to give it another go.

This time i'm almost happy with the outcome.

Click here to go and have a play, i'm sure you can do better than me

Try Stampin on Tuesday

Here my second attempt.... a bit better this time around

but still not 100% happy with it.

TST #21... What was i thinking.......

2011-07-05T10:00:00.000+12:00

Morning Stampers.

Today's card is done yet again just in time for the Try Stampin On Tuesday Challenge

Here is this weeks sketch

i have had a huge and stressful past couple of weeks, with no real end in sight for a while....Family issues and this cards show it.

i don't have much to say except it is not a good one....in fact i struggled with even blogging it.

WARNING!!!!!

Bad card ahead

You have been warned........

Sorry girls i haven't done your sketch any justice.

It needs something, but with my head not in it's correct gear i can't think how to finish it, it sat on my desk in a un-glued state for the past 3 days...in the end i just had to stick it together...and yes i was right ...yuck!

I might have to put the creative things on hold until i can get my head in to the correct gear.

But on a brighter note i was again lucky enough to make the top 3 picks over at Try Stampin on Tuesday last week

Here is my badge

Have a great day

Try Stampin on Tuesday #20

2011-06-28T12:34:00.001+12:00

Morning Stampers,

Phew that was close as i nearly missed the deadline to enter this.
then i would have let myself down with my personal challenge, to enter every challenge over at

Try Stampin on Tuesday

Here is this weeks fantastic sketch

Don't forget to go and have a look at the new sketch due up sometime today.

I didn't think i was going to get around to putting in an entry this week, due to some serious problems with one of my children, and with all of this happening, i haven't been in the creative mood,

But after making a late (as usual) card for my sister Narelle, who's birthday it was yesterday,
ha ha she is getting old now, yes yes i know i'm still older.

I was inspired to go ahead and create a card to submit.

I used the color coach and came up with these dynamic colours.

it isn't the best of work, as with other things on the mind it is hard to do a clean and tidy job.

I will post the other one i made in a few days once it arrives at it's destination.

I was lucky enough again to make last weeks top 3 pick

Here is my badge

Try and stay dry,

Have a good day.

First time ever.......

2011-06-27T14:12:00.000+12:00

Afternoon Stampers,

Well i have finally caved in and done it.

I created my first ever scrap book page.

Over the weekend i attended the SENZ expo up in Manukau, Auckland.

I had a great time, as i hung out with my sister Narelle and Dionne, i also got to catch up with a few friends i have made since joining the Stampin Up world.

After the event we made our way back to Narelle's place and had a craft afternoon/evening.

During this time i made a few simple cards, and also had a go at my very first ever scrap book page.

I have always wanted to have a go, but didn't know where to start, but i just jumped right in and gave it a go.

Here is my page

I think the paper i found for this page suits is so well.

this page is a bit plain, but i will get there, the more inspiration i see the more i will know how to decorate or finish a page, as in the past i haven't even looked around at scrapbooking, a new whole world has been opened up.

Boy oh boy much to my hubby's dislike i am hooked, i now an scouring the shops for more papers as i have many many more pages to come

Out of the blue challenge FTL145

2011-06-25T10:00:00.012+12:00

Hello Stampers,

The other night i got to talking to my sister online over at Crafters anonymous,

and out of the blue she set a challenge.

She gave us both 1 hour to do and complete this weeks sketch over at

Clean & simple

Here is the sketch

at first i didn't want to do it, but i caved in and gave it a go.

Here is my attempt.

this is the result of being put on the spot ...a yuck moment, i don't do well put on the spot

I didn't like this at all.

So i gave it another go, when i wasn't put on the spot

This time i had my nephew in mind as it is his birthday next Monday.

This one turned out really great.

you can see yet again i went for punch art,

the idea came from

here.

It is an UK demonstrator. Lisa from Norfolk.

Today i'm off up to Auckland, in fact by the time this post goes live i will be up there and attending the SENZ craft show. so i will be back to tell you all about it maybe show you a new thing or two.

For the handyman in our lives.........

2011-06-22T12:50:00.001+12:00

Afternoon Stampers.

Afternoon, i thought i would pop in to post the card i made the other night in a moment of boredom.

While searching through a few saved favorites over at Splitcoast stampers

i came across this great one from Donna Cook

I used her idea of the pin board for the tools but used my own layout.

i haven't added a sentiment yet, as i don't know if i will use this for a fathers day card, or for a male birthday card, at this stage i'm not sure which, so the sentiment will come later.

anyway i'm off to go and have some lunch before there is none left,

See you

2 Challenges and a swap

2011-06-19T17:27:00.000+12:00

Evening stampers,

I'm am so glad that weekend is over, i had a huge weekend.

Starting with Friday night, we had an International night for our Venture group, now that was an interesting night, topped of with a late night trying to get some things done.

Saturday was combined with work, kids sport and personal commitments.

i went to my first ever competitive live football game,

The Waikato chiefs took on Queensland Reds, and sorry to say my home team lost, but a good game anyway A late dinner afterwards.............. yet another late night.

Sunday was an early start, we had our annual Cub/Kea/Scout and Venture fundraiser, we get to do the Fielday's clean up (woohoo, not!), Then after that another Venture event, this time a Road safety and Vehicle maintenance down at our yard.

Boy oh boy see what i mean.

Anyway on to crafting.

The card i have to share today was done for my new friend to friend International swap, i have combined two different challenges,

They are from

Try Stampin on Tuseday

A sketch challenge

And

Just Add Ink

JAI 72 - Just Add Some Colouring In

So here is my combined effort

Here is a close up of the flowers

Along with the card for the swap we had to do a 3-D gift, so here is what i did.

( i will also add a few favorite NZ lollies, a postcard or two from my home town), hope my swap sister likes these

it is an altered photo frame

well sorry it has been along post, but this is what happens when you haven't blog in a while

See you again soon

Happy 5th birthday

2011-06-16T15:54:00.000+12:00

Afternoon Stampers,

I promised in my last post that i would be back to post the card i made for my new International swap.

But i didn't take one, i popped into to the post bag to send and just as i sealed it up i remembered that i didn't get my photo.

So i will have to re-create it to show.

Today the card i have to show is one i made for my Niece's birthday party (held last Sunday).

I love to do punch art for the younger ones, and this time is no different.

As normal i left it until the last minute to do. i mean last minute, i finished it as my daughter got into the car to leave

so i found this stunning princess and decided to copy it, sorry i cannot remember who it was as the photo has been in my CASE file for a while now, so if this is yours or someone you know please let me know so i can give them the credit.

I even managed to smudge the sentiment, but the outcome is fantastic, i was a bit worried about the colours, but i really like how they came together

Friend to friend USA swap

2011-06-15T11:17:00.001+12:00

Morning Stampers,

i was lucky enough to have been part of the latest Ustamp with Dawn and friends, and part of that was taking part in a worldwide swap.

I was paired with a lovely lady from USA.

Jamie Adcock, click here to go and have a look at her great blog.

Here is what Jamie sent me

This was a few cards she sent me, including a really neat digital one, created with her digital studio (we are yet to get it here in NZ), and a fantastic bookmark, i love to read, and at the moment i am using a ratty scrap piece of paper, so this new bookmark is a very welcomed gift.

Also in the box was this brilliant mini scrapbook tin, i have never seen this done......i love it

Here is the inside, isn't it great

To have a look at what i sent her Click here

if you want to be part of the new round just click here on the link below and have fun...

As a special treat Dawn has made the new round into a blog hop,

SO what are you waiting for go and have a look, let the fun begin.

I will be back tomorrow to show you my swap for the next round of Friend to Friend Swaps

TST # 18...one for the men

2011-06-08T10:54:00.001+12:00

Morning Stampers,

How are we all today.

Today i started by doing a little blog surfing as normal, and popped over to my favorite challenge site

Try Stampin on Tuesday

And yet again they are yet to disappoint me with their sketch, for the first time in a long time i had a sketch come to mind as soon as i saw it.

Here is the sketch

This time i went for a card designed for the men in our lives

I turned the sketch on it's side as it fitted my chosen stamp better

I am really happy with this one, i must say it is one of my better ones lately.

I might even put this away for my Husbands birthday or maybe Fathers day.

I have done a two tone edge sponging, and marker to stamp inking, i used three colors on the stamps.

The DSP is an oldy but a goody, i love this one for male cards, it is Windsor Knot.

With the second half of the year starting i now have a very busy time coming up with birthdays.

The first half of the year is a slow one for me, then once June hits it is all go until December, i should think ahead and start doing xmas cards now, as i always run out of time at the end of the year, with all of the birthdays, oh well maybe next year i will be better organised

Have a great day, Take care :)

TST #17... Lets play a game.......

2011-06-06T15:45:00.001+12:00

Hello Again,

I have gone from no posts to two posts in one day,

this is a very quick post, as i have left it to the very very last minute to put up my card for this weeks challenge over at

Try Stampin on Tuesday

Here is the sketch this week

And here is my attempt at it,

This is where the game comes into play, as i did this card in such a hurry, lets play spot the boo boo's.

i have to say this is one i would rather not blog, but i did challenge myself to do each and every challenge over at this fantastic site.

i had an idea earlier in the week, but it completely has gone, so i had to wing it.

As for the last card i posted, it won me a prize...yay me, it won the colour challenge that i had created it for.

thanks so much to CherylAnn for her brilliant new site, i am having a blast...

if you do not want to miss out on the fun please click here to sign up....

Stampin' Fun & Friends Colour Challenge

2011-06-06T12:24:00.000+12:00

Hello Stampers,

Boy oh boy it has been over a week since my last post.

In the past week i have been up to so much, it is a matter of where do i start.

Well first things first i have been battling a head cold, that has been following me where ever i went, and wouldn't give me any peace.

I had a very busy end of month in our business and then at the end of this week i have had friend fly over from Aussie to visit and have been busy showing her my home town,

so that mean shopping, shopping & more shopping along with lots of coffee.

but the creation i want to share with you today is one i have done for the wonderful new site called

Stampin' Fun & Friends.

Over at this new site they are giving you great and exciting new blog they are giving you new projects and challenges to compete in

Here is the Colour challenge they gave us to do

Here is my card

All i did on the flowers was using markers i colors the middle with Rose Red directly to the stamp, and filled in the rest of the petal with my So Saffron marker, starting outwards working towards the Rose Red color, which gave me a natural blending of color but i had to clean my marker after each petal to stop color transfer build up and ruining my marker.

I will be back later to post a few more latest creations

Try Stampin on Tuesday #16

2011-05-25T13:38:00.000+12:00

Afternoon Stampers,

Over at Try Stampin on Tuesday this week, their sketch is another great one.

I am short on time this week.

i have been busy running around in circles thanks to the teenagers, and it wont end until Sunday, in fact the rest of the week is only going to get busier.

Here is the sketch over at

Try Stampin on Tuesday

As i said i have been busy, but i did manage to sit down and complete a card for the sketch

albeit a simple card.

But i did give a new technique a go, i have done the spotlight technique. I have added Crystal Effects to the blossoms on the colour part, to make them pop a bit more.

One i have seen many time but have never gotten around to trying.

I do not know what i think of this one, i am hoping to get a bit more time soon to sit down and give it another go, as it is a great workable sketch.

Anyway i must fly, i have another errand i must go and do.

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge 174!

2011-05-23T09:13:00.000+12:00

Well Hello again,

I wanted to post a card i made the other night, it was a quick 10 mins or less card, it was one of those ones you do as you sit at your craft desk still surrounded by items you used to make the last project.

I came across a great sketch over at Mary Jo Price-Williams blog, for her Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge, and i decided to use the items still sitting here.

Click here to go and have a look for yourself.

The beauty of this challenge is that it is a blog hop

I have taken a while to post this one, as i still am not sure if i like it.

Here is the sketch

Here is my card

Now go on and have fun with the blog hop

A fantastic quick & easy bow

2011-05-23T08:50:00.001+12:00

Morning Stampers,

This is a really quick post,

i wanted to share with you the amazing talents of Teneale Williams, she is an Australian Demonstrator, who is a true artist.

She recently has come back from the Australasian convention, where she presented her amazing way of tying bows.

I have been asked by a few people if i would share the link so they could see how to do it.

So here it is.

http://www.tenealewilliams.com.au/wp02/2011/05/20/melbourne-convention-2011/.

Go and have a look at this wonderful and creative lady's work

Try Stampin on Tuesday #15

2011-05-20T16:32:00.000+12:00

Afternoon stampers,

Well the weather has turned....cold that is, i knew the warmth couldn't last much longer...so out comes the thermals. I am sitting here in my office with a small oil fin heater between my knees under my desk, trying to stay warm.

Todays creation is one i have done for the sketch over at

Try Stampin on Tuesday

Here is this weeks Sketch

I had a great time doing this one, i had just the person in mind when making it.

I turned this weeks sketch on it's side, the sketch also has a piece of ribbon in it, but i think if i added one it would be too much, so i left it off.

Here is a photo of the inside as well as the little butterfly

I have added Crystal Effects to all of the dots on the the card, i started with the dots below the message, as i wanted the effect of brads, but i couldn't stop there, and the little butterfly also has Crystal Effects on it, with a dash of Dazzling Diamonds before it dried.

I have a yet again busy weekend ahead, tomorrow i have a stamp day, one i am really looking forward to as i have not been to a class in a long time now, so it will be great to catch up with the wonderful ladies i have met through this class.

I hope you all have a great weekend ahead,and try to stay warm.

Happy 60th Birthday

2011-05-19T10:12:00.000+12:00

Morning Stampers,

What i have to share today is a card i did for my dad's upcoming 60th birthday.

My younger sister turned 21 last month and my dad is turning 60 next month so on the 14th of this month they held a combined party.

I gave my sister her card on her actual birthday, and i gave dad his card when i saw him, as with him living in another town, i don't see him that often at all.

I had a blast at the party catching up with a few family members who i haven't seen since my kids were babies, they are now both in their mid to late teens, so it has been a long time between visits.

Also i learn't a very important thing, don't send the men out to get you your wine...

Well it did taste a whole lot better with a little bit of juice added.....

Here is the card i made for dad

Over at try Stampin on Tuesday, i again made the top three this week. Congrats also go to Helen Williams and Sarah for their top three picks as well.

I urge everybody to go on over and have a play, CherylAnn's weekly challenges are fantastic.

Here is my badge

The card i did for last weeks challenge was done with a new friend in mind.

i have been part of this round of U Stamp with Dawn and Friends.

And through this site i have been chatting to some amazing people, from Australia, America and of course right here in NZ.

I wanted to send a hello to Helen Williams, a demonstrator from Timaru, NZ, also to thank her for her kind words when you ask those silly questions all newbies ask.

So i made the card with her in mind.

here is the card

Anyway i am sitting here writing this and trying to figure out what i am going to do for this weeks challenge,

Again i have a another special new friend in mind, this one is going to go further abroad though.

But i am not going to say who in case she pops in and sees her name, then it won't be a surprise

Till then take care all of you out there in blogger land

TST #14 & Butterflies, bugs and Blooms

2011-05-16T09:17:00.001+12:00

Morning Stampers,

I hope everybody had great weekend.

My weekend was a busy one, between work, a funeral and two big birthday celebrations, it was full on.

But last night i found a bit of quiet time to sit down and think about this weeks challenge over at

Try Stampin on Tuesday

This weeks challenge stumped me, it took quite a while for this one to come together, but once i got started it just flowed.

Here is the sketch

Once again i have gone with a favorite colour combination, i have real trouble going past these colours. i just love the way they gel together.

Here is my card

So go on over to Try Stampin on Tuesday and have a go.

They release a new challenge/sketch every Tuesday.

The host of the site CherylAnn is creating great new challenges every week.

Cheryl Ann is also about to launch a great new and exciting site for all creators out there to get even more inspiration.

She has put together a list of fantastic designers to share projects with us.

Tracey Old

Kristen Conant

Amy Fleming

Laurie Gibson

Tanya Bell

Maria Vanderform

Narelle Hoggard

Paula Reid

Click here to go on over to learn more about this new site

To those of you travelling home from Melbourne in the next day or so, have a safe journey, and everyone who is freshly home, i am really looking forward to the photos and stories.

Sounds like you all had a blast as expected.

Friend to Friend Swap

2011-05-12T08:00:00.001+12:00

Morning Stampers,

For the first time ever i have been involved with the wonderful site of

UStamp With Dawn and Friends.

Each time round has a different theme.

The theme this time round is

classes, clubs and camps

I am loving it, each and every day they put up new creations for you to copy, re-create and share, all with printable PDF's

They have spot prizes in their chat room, which i have been lucky to get two times now.

Oh did i mentioned the fantastic creations from the wonderful design team.

You can also sign up for the swap groups, i have signed up for both of them.

The first one is a group swap, where you send of 6 identical cards and then you get sent six back.

The second swap is a friend to friend swap.

Where you send a 3-D gift and a match card to a chosen swap buddy.

I am extra excited about being involved with the swaps as this is my first international swap.

Here is my Friend to Friend swap

This is my 3-D Gift, it is an altered tin.

Jacque Pedersen did this with us a while back, and i just knew i would do it again one day. I filled it with our one and only Pineapple lumps. Along with this a couple of packets of other wonderful lollies for my swap partner to share with her family.

Here is the matching card, boy oh boy look at my bow, i think i have mastered the bow making horror.

This was a card that featured on Andrea Walford's Blog, this was not the first idea for a card i had, but the first one needed a piece of 12x12 C/S and as i only make cards i didn't have any 12x12 C/S, so i had to do something else.

I wanted to do something different not just a normal card, and i think this one fits the bill nicely.

Here is the insert

Anyway must go, as i have dreaded paper work to finish,

take care

See you all soon.

C/A online class

2011-05-11T14:18:00.000+12:00

Afternoon Stampers,

On Monday night i attended my second Crafters Anonymous online class.

In these classes you are given items needed to complete the class ahead of time, then you pop into the chat room on the night, and follow the given instructions, (along with a few pictures) to complete the gift or card.

No-one in class knows what the finished project will be until the end

This week it was a fancy fold card.

It is so much fun to see the other ladies creations after the class, to see how they interpreted the instructions, and once again the finished cards were all fantastic.

Excuse the photo, as it was taken soon after class had ended.

I used items that i already had on my desk from and earlier creation that i had finished.

I had already made one of these great Fancy fold cards previously, but really enjoyed doing it via written step by step instructions, with no clues as to what the end product would be.

Pop back tomorrow to have a look at the swap i made to send to my swap partner over at Ustamp With dawn and friends.

Until then stay dry and keep safe

Special occasions for all

2011-05-09T09:23:00.000+12:00

Morning Stampers,

Well what a weekend, it was filled with celebrations.

On Saturday i had the 2nd birthday of my twin nieces, and later that night it was the celebration of the engagement of my younger sister to her partner and of course Sunday was Mothers day.

I hope all mums got spoiled out there.

The card for my mum was posted in an earlier post, (i know she doesn't look here she doesn't have a computer), click here to go and have a look the the card i made for her

This year for mothers day i didn't have any kids at home until later on in the evening. A down side of having teenagers, they are never home, well the older one anyway, as he has his own car, so we didn't do alot.

My DD was away at her Scout camp (which is held every year on Mothers day weekend), it was her last chance to attend this camp as she is now in the next age group, so she is no longer a scout but a venture. And boy going on the washing she had a great time, i had to hose off her clothes on the driveway before i washed them, take a look at the mud

Before the hose off

After the hose off, see the shirt was gray.

I had a few cards to make this past week, for the celebrations ahead and of course the amazing challenges i participate in

Here is the one i made for my sisters engagement.

As soon as i saw this one, i really liked it, so i CASEd it. The original was by a very talented Chat Wszelaki

Click here to go on over and have a browse through her amazing creations.

We all had a great night at my sisters celebrating her engagement, it was a small affair, with close friends and family.

Pop back tomorrow and i will post the cards i made for my niece's second birthday.

Until then have a great day

Happy 2nd Birthday

2011-05-09T08:00:00.000+12:00

Morning Stampers,

opps i was supposed to schedule this not post it, oh well two posts in one day

Well it going to be a great day today, the morning started off with a surprising phone call from my local radio station, stating that i had won the weekly lunch shout....

They are coming to our business to make us a whole bunch of sandwiches using the amazing new bread from the Burgen range, and fresh salad....it will be well welcomed by all,
pity to the two who didn't come in to work.

Anyway today im going to share with you the two cards i made for my twin nieces who turned 2 on Saturday.

i haven't seen them for a while as they live in another town, and wow, they are little people now, not babies anymore, and they are so cute, if they hurt each other, they have been taught to turn around and give the other one a hug and say sorry...it was the cutest thing to see one twin trying to console the other by hugging her and patting her on the back and saying sorry.

Here are the cards i made...i love punch art for the younger ones

Being twins, i kept the bases the same but added a different center piece.

On the inside i added the same piece of DSP along the bottom half and a Whisper White top note as well to write on.

Try Stampin on Tuesday #13

2011-05-06T09:29:00.000+12:00

Morning Stampers,

This is a quick post this morning, i have lots to do , and i am in the middle of creating again.

This week over at Try Stampin on Tuesday, they have a another great sketch.

As i have been really busy this week, i have gone for completely simple, in fact i started this sketch with one of my Twin nieces in mind, it is their 2nd birthday this Saturday.

but i found it is not girly at all so it was back to the drawing board.

Anyway here is my creation

if time allows i might give this sketch another go, as i have a another card or so i have to come up with.

In the mean time i am busy creating a couple of cards for my twin nieces for this weekend which i will showcase later on.

Take care and if you are in the wet zone stay dry, (and Aucklanders ...stay safe).

Have a great weekend ahead

ATC swaps and yay me

2011-05-05T10:47:00.000+12:00

Morning Stampers,

The other day i received my ATC swaps, these were for the creative inkers team.

I must say these were amazing, this was my first ever ATC swap.

It was really neat to get these in the mail, there were 10 of us in the group, but unfortunately two of them got lost in the post, my heart goes out to those two ladies who's great swaps didn't turn up, but there is still hope yet that they will turn up.

Aprils theme was Easter

Here is my Swap

These swaps are only 2 1/2" x 3 1/2', so the space you get to work with is small

Here are the other great swaps

L - R Top: Bev Poullney, Debi Ryan, Rhonda fawcett

L-R Bottom: Lisa Bullock, Pam Cregeen, Narelle Hoggard

And this one i have to show you separate

Here is a photo of the inside

Isn't it cute, i love this,

I am luckily enough to once again receive the top 3 pick over at Try Stampin on Tuesday

Click here to go and have a look at the card chosen for the top 3 pick.

here is my badge

Please go and have a look at this weeks great sketch and play along, i will be putting up my entry in a few days.

Until then have a great day and take care

Try Stampin on Tuesday #12

2011-04-30T20:09:00.000+12:00

Evening Stampers,

Wow what a night last night is was all happening,

The NZ Breakers won the NBL grand final, and of course there was the royal wedding.

It was a daydreamers fantasy, to see an everyday girl marrying her prince.

I watched it from the beginning to the end, well i tried to, i managed to watch all of the wedding, then waited for the balcony appearance, but i must have fallen asleep as the next thing i knew was the reporters talking about the happy couple and their time on the balcony.

i was really annoyed with myself as i (like all others) was waiting for that first kiss, well public one anyway.

Both the groom and the bride looked stunning.

I had a few tears when i saw Prince Harry and Prince William together thinking of how proud Diana would have been of her two men on this special day.

Well enough of the daydreaming back to crafting,

After been very very stumped by this weeks sketch challenge over at

Try Stampin on Tuesday

I managed to came up with a second attempt at the sketch.

See the previous post for the sketch challenge.

This one is very much like the sketch itself.

Here is a photo of the insert

This is my original card i started with, but it was one of those that i didn't know how to finished it off.

So it sat on my desk for a few days until i could come up with something, in the end instead of another scallop in the opp corner i settled with a bow, using twine.

But i did know i wanted to do a criss cross card, so i made a smaller one on the card,

The bigger criss cross idea came later on

Again no sentiment, i will add this later as i decided on it's use.

Well im off to bed to catch up on the late night i had last night.

Take care

Try Stampin on Tuesday #12 & JAI #66

2011-04-29T16:22:00.000+12:00

Afternoon Stampers.

How is everybody today, i have had a very busy day.

One of those days in which there is not enough hours to get every thing done even working at full speed.

Todays creation was created for the TST (Try stampin on Tuesday) weekly challenge.

The sketch this week has me a bit worried, as this weeks sketch is out of my normal scope of cards i do.

Here is the Sketch

I decided on doing a card i have wanted to have a go at for a while.

A criss cross card.

As i was about to blog this i thought i might do a bit of blurfing first, im glad i did as over at Just Add Ink, their weekly challenge was

Just Add Flowers

As mothers day is approaching fast.

And my card fits their challenge perfectly

Here is my master piece

i absolutely love how this turned out

Here is a picture of the insert

This is perfect as my sisters and i got our mother a voucher for a complete relaxation massage for mother's day, and this will fit nicely in the pocket as well.

Well i had better go and complete the rest of the items on my every extending list

take care

A card for all occasions

2011-04-28T16:53:00.000+12:00

Afternoon stampers,

Well it was yet another cold day here in Hamilton, but thankfully we didn't have the rain today.

Heater on in the evenings, winter blankets on the bed, is a sure bet that Mr Winter has arrived.

Well the card i have today to show is one that i did a while back as a thank you card, but i gave that oner away before i took a photo of it, so i had to re-create it.

This is an easy card suitable for any occasion.

Hense why i haven't added a sentiment yet.

The background was done using my Stamp-a-ma-jig sheet, and drawing/scribbling onto it the size i needed and then placing upside down on to the card stock and rubbing gently to transfer the ink, and the outcome is a slightly washed out background, i want to experiment a bit further with this and see what i come up with.

It is a really neat effect, i like it.

The tree was done using my markers and two different greens and Early Expresso

Give it a try and see what you can come up with.

Bunny Baskets

2011-04-27T16:17:00.000+12:00

Afternoon Stampers,

This year with my kids being that little bit older, i didn't do the usual things i used to do with them, all they wanted was a bit of money to get through the last week of the holidays oh and maybe a bit of choc.

So we got them a large choc bar of their choice and gave then both a bit of money.

But i was hanging out to do something a bit different.

Between our staff down at our business there are 7 young ones,

so i got busy and i made them all a little basket filled with a few chocy eggs.

Here are my baskets,

and yes there is only one girl amongst the kids, well old enough to have chocolate anyway,

(the youngest is just 3 weeks old).

Here is a close up of the front

And the back

The fronts are a bit wobbly, as i had a time limit in which i had to have them done by, if they were to receive them before the break.

As normal i leave it all to the last minute.....but the kids loved them.

Crafters Anonymous online class

2011-04-26T10:39:00.000+12:00

Morning Stampers,

Last night i attend my first ever online class,

over at Crafters anonymous

We were given a list of items needed to complete the class before hand, but no idea as to what we would be doing.

I had a blast doing this as we were given written instructions, which is a challenge alone for me to do.

Tia (our lovely host) put up photos along the way to help as some people like visual instructions (me included).

I have to confess that these did help at times, but i did try very hard not to use them, to challenge myself

Here is my card,

It is a fantastic spinner card.

It is the one i competed at the class, not touched up or re-done later,

I had to have a laugh as i had chosen the same DSP and contrasting card Stock as the host of our class.

I might go back and re-do this as i want to change the colours, but i am happy with the finished card.

It was great to see the other ladies cards that they posted after the event,

to see their take on what the instructions were.

Have a great short (yay) week ahead, try to stay dry if your also sharing this horrible wet and very windy weather.

Try Stampin on Tuesday #11

2011-04-25T20:22:00.001+12:00

Evening Stampers,

I hope every body had a sweet and fun filled long weekend.

I had a mixed bag of a weekend, between work being lazy and of course eating too much of that sweet stuff.

Any just a quick post tonight as in sitting here waiting for my very first online chat class to begin.

This week over at Try stampin on Tuesday is another great sketch

i will admit that this one stumped me real bad.but in the end i gave it a go and i even created two cards with this sketch,

The first one i do not like at all, im not sure why.

Here it is

But i am a bit happier with my second attempt, it was made for a friend of mine who is 21 today, hense the little key, i used to look after him when he was a baby, he was also the first newborn i ever held onto.

So here is the second card

He drives a mini sprint and last year was 2nz.

His sprint car is blue, so i decided to go with the blue truck.

As i said i like this one better, but i have to admit this sketch has me stumped still.

Any way must go, i will pop back in tomorrow to showcase the outcome of tonights blind online chat class

Yay me....

2011-04-15T14:28:00.000+12:00

Just a quick note i forgot to add last week i was again awarded the top 3 pick over at

Try Stampin on Tuesday

Here is my Badge

Click here to see the winning card

See ya

Try Stampin on Tuesday #10 & JAI #64

2011-04-15T14:23:00.002+12:00

Afternoon Crafters,

This weeks is TST's (Try stampin on Tuesday) 10th challenge week, and so far i have lived up to my personal challenge of trying to complete every challenge put forward by CherylAnn who run this amazing blog/challenge.

She has just announced that if 8 more people join in this week she will have a prize for the entrants.

So please go on over and see what you come up with.

Click here to go and give it a go

Here is the sketch

Also over at Just Add Ink, their weekly challenge this week is

Chocolate Wrapper Colour Combo

And one ( i stress One) of my Favourite Chocolate bars is a hard (in NZ) to find Cherry Ripe bar.

Which is Red, yellow and green.

So with this card i just sat down and played with my tools and stamps, i must say i'm not sure what i think of this one.

I like it but then again i don't,

You decide......

i wanted to do a bit more to the base card but with so much already happening in the foreground, i didn't want to make it too busy, so i just gave up and left it plain.

What do you think,

what could i have done to the background.

Every now and then i am blank and feel like a newbie when it comes to techniques, a bit like writers block.

here is a side view of the dimensions i used

I used Crystal Effects in the center of the 3-D flower.

I could draw/sketch no worries but for someone who has always has trouble with adding colour i always ruined my art work, but now that i have mastered ( well i think i have) the art of water colouring i am really happy with my attempts of adding colour to projects.

I an earlier post i said that i would post a few cards i have made lately, but i have to re-create one of them as i didn't take a photo before i gave it out, so as soon as i get that done i will post it.

Have a really great weekend ahead.

I have a busy one planned, in Hamilton starting today we have the ITM Hamilton 400 V'8 street race on, and we are going along tomorrow so we can see ZZ Top in Concert, oh and the racing.

Sunday is a day in the bush, on a trek with our Venture group.

Bring on Monday.....sleep in (hear that Narelle, ha ha) no routine for the next two weeks, the kids are on holidays, so anything goes with the teens.

Happy 21st Birthday

2011-04-12T13:50:00.000+12:00

Afternoon stampers,

Yesterday it was my younger sisters 21st birthday.

(oh to be 21 again)

She is having a celebration in May along with my father who will be turning 60 in June.

but as yesterday was her birthday, i decided to give her her card and not wait, as it is not the same as receiving it in May on the day of their party.

She commented that it didn't feel like her birthday as everyone was waiting until the big day in May.

I also gave her a big bunch of flowers to go along with her card, she was very happy with both.

With it being a special birthday i wanted to do something a little different, so after seeing the twisted easel on a few blogs lately i decided that this style would have the wow factor i wanted.

Here is her card lying flat

And here is it opened

i am very happy with the outcome.

I have even added a little bit of bling, what girl doesn't want a bit of bling.

This card got a big wow from my whole family, so i guess this is a winner.

With this card i was able to play with quiet a few new/unused items,

the Sweet Summer stamp set

my Nestabilities,

Circle Cutter,

Rhinestones.

I should have a few creations to showcase from here on in, as my card needing drought is over for a while.

This week alone i have four cards to make,

two birthdays, a thank you and one engagement card.

I will blog them all as soon as i can.

Until then go on out and enjoy this wonderful day we have on hand.

(well in Hamilton is it so lovely)

Happy Annivarsary

2011-04-11T08:00:00.005+12:00

Morning Stampers,

On the Friday just gone my mum and step-dad celebrated their 16th wedding anniversary,

so i wanted to make them a card to celebrate, even though mum was out with me at our local theater watching the ever so talented "Herman Hermits" and "Gerry and the pacemakers".

This was one show we were not going to miss as mum and i both really enjoy the music of Herman Hermits.

And boy for singers who are not exactly young anymore they could move, it was a fantastic funny and enjoyable night.

For those of you who know who i'm talking about look at this don't they still look great

As for their card...........

This card was one i saw over at an Australian demonstrators blog.....

Bev Watt.

Go on over and have a look at her beautiful creation.

I liked it and saved it to "my need to CASE" file, and as i do when i'm lacking a bit of mojo i go to this file for either a CASE or just inspiration, and in this case i decided to do a CASE.

This is such a beautiful design, that i think i will do a few more for my "oh dear almost forgot" box.

Mum and dad loved the card.

i feel a strange week coming on, well in someways it will be real slow week and in other ways it will go by too fast. With the V'8s in Hamilton this coming weekend business will be bit slow, but i have alot to do before the kids finish school for the term, and if it does not get done i can tell you it most probably wont get done until school goes back.

With the Teenagers being around full time i won't be able to get to the computer/craft room much, my house will be a constant mess and i will be eaten out of house and home.

Well have a great week ahead, im off to go stock up the cupboards, and to hide a few things so at least i can have a few treats as well.

Just Believe.....swaps

2011-04-10T19:23:00.000+12:00

Evening Stampers,

This will be a quick post, i thought i would pop by to show you the swap and name badge i made for yesterday regional training day.

We all had great day with our make n takes, little competitions, new ideas, techniques and the chance to met alot of other like minded ladies.

Hello to the lovely ladies i met yesterday.

I knew i didn't want to make just a card i wanted something a little bit different, so i made a covered note pad.

And here is my name badge

The idea for this name badge came from a tag that the talented Andrea Lowcock made.

Click here to go and have a look around her blog, I bet once you look at her beautiful work, you will keep going back to see the next fantastic new creation.

Well im off to go and read for a while before hitting the pillow.

take care and i'll catch you again soon in blog land

Try Stampin on Tuedsay #9

2011-04-09T18:44:00.000+12:00

Evening Stampers,

Wow what a day I've had. Today i spent it with about 80 other ladies at the Hamilton Regional training, i went along as a guest, and had a really great time.

I will show you the swap and name tag i made for today's training day in a day or two,

Today's post is about showing you my card i made for this weeks challenge over at

Try Stampin on Tuesday

Here is their sketch

At first this sketch stumped me, in fact it stumped me big time.

Then i remembered an idea i saw quiet a while back and thought that i would like to give it a go one day.

And this weeks sketch fitted this idea perfectly.

So here is my card

This did take a few attempts at getting it right,

I am feeling ok about the outcome, but i think i will have to play at this a bit longer for it to have that wow factor.

Go on over and have a play yourself, this is a fantastic challenge blog,

Click on the link above.

Also on a really really great note i made last weeks top three, so here is my badge

Anyway im off to go and have a look through my great swaps i received today.

Catch you again in a few days.

Clean & Simple #134

2011-04-07T10:40:00.000+12:00

Morning Stampers,

We have a very yucky day here in Hamilton today, so what else is there to do but create, oh yeah and do paper work.

And i have been doing just that, creating that is not the paper work, that can always wait it does not go anywhere.

Today i have finished my ATC swaps (which i can't show you for another week), a card for this weeks clean and simple sketch, also a card for the new sketch over at

Try Stampin On Tuesday (which i will post tomorrow).

Anyway back to todays card.

this is for the sketch over at

Clean & Simple stamping

Here is this weeks sketch

I decided to use a stamp set that i really wanted to get as soon as i saw it in the new calalogue, but was yet to see some ink, until today that is

I started to colour in the little bags, but i didn't like it, so to brighten up this card i decided to go with the brightest DSP i could find and paper piece it, and the Sweet and sour specialty DSP works a treat as it also has a bit of shimmer to the paper, i am loving the result.

Well i had better sign off and get back to my paper work before my boss (husband) walks in catches me posting this....ha ha lol.

Lately the only time i have had to get any crafting done is to take it to work and do a bit here and there through out the day....

Opps hubby walked in...

Hubby: that doesn't look like work

Me: i'm on my break

Hubby: (laughing) You were having a break last time i was in here

Me: so paper work is stressful...this unwinds me

Hubby: Walks out laughing

Me: Love ya

Just as well he is a very supportive husband.

Enjoy your day,

if it is a yucky day where you are,

i give you permission to put down what ever you are currently doing and create,

well this kind of day calls for it.

In a nice way bring on winter, more time indoors to create...of course!

Try Stampin on Tuesday #8

2011-04-02T07:51:00.000+13:00

Morning Stampers,

Just a quick post as im sitting here waiting for time to pass, and i thought what a great time to post the other card i made the other night.

This one is for the challenge over at Try Stampin On Tuesday

Here is this weeks sketch

And again this week i have turned this sketch on it's side.

I normally don't do easter cards, but after seeing this little digi image i thought why not,

I went with a clean and simple design.

I have added a little sparkle by adding a bit of Dazzling Diamonds to his tail.

Anyway i'm off to do battle with the books again today

Until next time take care

Have a great weekend

Clean & Simple #133 & CC315

2011-04-01T08:26:00.000+13:00

Morning Stampers,

Over at CAS (clean and simple) this week, they have a great sketch

I haven't done this challenge for a while, but came across a digi art image that suited this sketch perfectly, so i knew i had to have a go.

I love the more clean and simple designs rather the really busy ones, i still love the really busy ones but they are just not the style i like to make.

Here is my card

I also used last weeks color combination challenge over at Splitcoasters to determine what colors to use

Their colors are

Regal Rose

Pear Pizzaz

So Saffron.

What the photo doesn't show is that i highlighted the butterfly and the little bee with Dazzling Diamonds, with also a splash in the centers of the flowers.

I am really happy with this card, i like the colors and the layout

I had a very productive night last night, as i also made a card for another challenge.

I will blog that one in the next coming days.

Have a great day.

Just Add Ink....... Happy Anniversary

2011-03-29T13:01:00.000+13:00

Afternoon Stampers.

Yesterday my husband and i celebrated our 23rd year of being together and also our 13th wedding anniversary.

We started "going out" when we were only 14&15 years old

We had an adults only night out on Saturday night, but last night we went out as a family.

The kids really get involved in our special day every year, this year was no difference, they gave us a night off from chores, and gave us lots of hugs and kisses.

So the card i made yesterday was a quick and easy one, as my husband and i had a busy day sitting in Auckland traffic trying to get to a place we needed to be at, but due to an accident holding things up it took us just over an hour to travel 3kms along the road. But we did get there in the end, and the silver lining on this was that we got to spend a bit more staff free time together.

Yes those of you who visit the great site of "The Paper Crafters Library" will recognize this as her latest technique video, as soon as i saw it i thought it would make a great card to CASE.

I did change it a bit, i used a different stamp set, and i used my pads not the pastels she used, but the colours are the same as hers, as i was in too much of a rush to find my own colours.

Here is my card.

Also over at Just Add Ink this week their challenge it to

"Just add stamps",

that means no ribbons, brads or extras just the stamps and cardstock, so part from the one little brad i think i will enter this card.

yes i know there are a few boo-boos, so don't look too hard, but i will be re-doing this one at a later date, as i really like the layout and the design of this card.

Enjoy your day :)

Try stampin on a Tuesday #7.........Congratulations

2011-03-26T14:18:00.000+13:00

Afternoon Stampers.

I have been trying to blog this card since Tuesday, and i haven't found the time to do so, until now that is.

For nearly the first time since my husband and started our business, we were closed for today.....

well with the weather and lots of things happening around our city, we thought a great chance to take a much needed day off. Our customers can wait till Monday for their parts.

I have been so busy i'm starting to wonder if the days have been shortened.

but wait until our second business opens, then we will be even busier...

The weather here is very very wet, and our youngest is out this weekend enjoying her first camp with her venture group (next age group up from scouts). She is doing a survival camp, so i guess this will be a big test for her and the others.

This card her been sitting on my desk waiting to be blogged, since Tuesday, as lately if i have a card to make i have been waiting for this weeks challenge over at Try Stampin on Tuesday to be released, and then i go for it, and this weeks challenge is no different.

Here is this weeks sketch.

This week i have had to make a Baby card, one i don't have to do very often, as all of my friends and family are done with babies....well so they all tell me.

This card was for one of our employee's, they are due for baby #2 together this weekend, and they way things are going for her she won't go too far over time.

I do know the baby due is a little girl, and after three boys in the house this will be a great change for them. (scans these days makes it easier for us crafters).

Here is my Card.

Which is this weeks sketch turned sideways.

I used the baby tee roller, i brought it when i found out they were expecting, as i do not have any stamps suitable for a baby card, this roller is so versatile. i love it

I also rolled the inside with the roller, but only rolled the top third of the roller along the bottom of the inner card, then coloured it in just like i have done on the front. sorry i forgot to take a photo of inside again.

The images on the baby tee's have been glitzed up with a little Dazzling Diamonds, Which doesn't show in the photo.

We also gave them a big gift basket filled with lots of goodies and vouchers

Any way time i went and had a coffee, so i will catch up again soon

Try Stampin on Tuseday #6......Parsian Breeze birthday

2011-03-16T13:28:00.000+13:00

Afternoon Stampers,

I haven't blogged for a while due to be been very busy with work.

My husband and i are busy trying to get another new business off the ground, and are making the most of the last of the summer daylight by working late every night.

Which does not leave a whole lot of time for creating.

When i have been getting a little bit of time in my craft room,

i have been busy creating swaps for a SU regional training i'm attending in early April.

But i'm not sharing those until after the event.

This morning i did create a card as i have a birthday today for a very good friend's son.

I found a great fancy fold card i have wanted to have a go at.

I found it over on a great American blog.

A Stamp Above - Kelly Acheson

Click here to have a look at her original card.

I had to adjust it a little bit to fit our card sizes, as the size given on the blog is for American paper sizing.

I paper pieced the present stack and coloured with my SU markers the rest of the areas.

i also used my all time favorite DSP's Parsian Breeze (hope it's spelt right), this DSP is a heavier weight than normal DSP, but i love this colour combination so much, the browns and the blues

Love, love, love it.

I only use this paper for special occasions as it is a retired DSP, it came out in a mini last year

Here is the side view and the fancy fold

I also made this to suit this weeks Try Stampin on Tuesday sketch

I normally don't do to much on the inside, but this time i went all out. i have to say i am very pleased with the finished item.

As i said, i am going to enter this in this weeks challenge over at Try Stampin on Tuesday.

Here is this weeks sketch

I turned it sideways and put the scalloped part along the bottom

Go on over and have a look and join in, i dare you

Anyways i must get off here and go and do some ground work in the new place

Have a great afternoon.

New challenge blog........Try Stampin on Tuesday

2011-03-10T14:07:00.001+13:00

Afternoon Stampers.

Boy my head is going around and around,

so i apologize in advance if this post goes askew at all.

I have just finished doing my "almost end of the year" paper work, a time of year i really don't like.

There always seems to be so much to do, even though i manage to keep it all up to date on a weekly basis.

On to a lighter note.

I have done it again, i made the top 3 pick, over at

Try Stampin On tuesday

Here is my badge.

Try Stampin on Tuesday have released their 5th weekly challenge.

I challenge all to go on over and have a play.

This week it is a fabulous sketch with so much potential.

My first attempt was so blah that i am not going to blog it at all.

After checking out this weeks color challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers.

i found a new idea swimming in my head.

This weeks colors are.....

CC313

Concord Crush
Bashful Blue

Pear Pizzaz

Every week there is also an added bonus of adding a "dessert" to your creations.

The "dessert" this week was adding a touch of white gel pen, which i did do

This one of my all time favorite color combinations.

So here is my (take 2) end result.

What the photo doesn't really show is the shading that i have added to the four non 3-D flowers, this is becoming a effect that is growing on me alot.

Do you see the white gel pen?.

One last thing i had to share was a photo of my blogging buddy. every time i sit down to blog, he sits right at my finger tips, and sometimes he even swipes at my fingers to remind me it's lunch time.

I am lucky as for some reason he will sit on the bed behind me until i have finished creating, than come up front when i hit the time to blog the creation.

Have a great afternoon

Butterfly Birthday

2011-03-08T08:28:00.000+13:00

Morning Stampers..

last night to fill in a bit of time before bed, i sat in my craft room and did a bit of blog surfing...

Which nearly always leads to a spot of creating...

And yes the creative juices started flowing.

I found this great card over at Splitcoast stampers.

I realized that i has actually saved this card a while back in to my have to CASE file.

And again last night it stood out to me, so i gave it a go, but have added my touch to it.

Click here to have a look at the original work.

I loved the colours she used, but i wanted to use different colours.

So i settled for a base of "Night of Navy"

and "Perfect Plum" & "Elegant Eggplant" for the butterflies

Another great quick and easy card.

This card is almost all embossing, with one stamped image - the sentiment

Well im off to go and enjoy my day.

Just Add Ink #58.....second entry

2011-03-07T09:04:00.000+13:00

Morning Stampers,

Welcome to another week...is it me or are they just flying past.

I hope everybody had a great weekend, i did.

My husband and i had a very relaxing night away...only to know that is was going to be the last one for quite a while...as with a new business venture we are going to be even busier in the coming months.

As i stated in my last post i had a few cards on my to CASE list from

Amanda Reddicliffe.

As she is also leaving the DT team of Just Add Ink.

And the challenge over at Just Add Ink is

to add Danielle or Amanda.

In the last post i did a CASE of Danielle, so in this post i have CASE'd one of Amanda's great creations.

After looking at her fantastic creations, i notice she is also a scrapbooker, it makes me want to give it a go, but at this stage im a card maker, although i do have plans to have a go at scrapbooking.

here is my CASE

i am happy with the outcome. a great quick and easy card for any occasion.

well im off to go and do battle with the phone company.

Have a great day

Just Add Ink #58

2011-03-05T08:00:00.000+13:00

Morning Stampers,

Wow two posts in two days now im on a roll.

Over at Just Add Ink this week is a challenge....

The challenge this week is to ... Just Add Amanda or Danielle.

As both of these Co- founders of the DT team are leaving their postions.

So as a real lover of Danielle's work i jumped at the chance to CASE something of her's.

this card was made for a challenge over at

CASE Study Challenge

Here is the original work

Click here to go over and have a look at the other wonderful work of Danielle's

Here is my attempt at the same card....as i didn't have the same Fifth Avenue Floral stamp, i used one i had from the retired Bud Basics set.

But as you can see i still have a bit of practicing to do on my bows.

Now i have a few of Amanda's work in mind to CASE so i will be back early next week to show you the outcome of that CASE

Try Stampin on Tuesday #4.....& CC312

2011-03-04T19:41:00.000+13:00

Evening Stampers.

Well it is finally Friday...and it seems as if this week was much longer than the normal 5 days.

And as the rain sets in i can begin to wind down and enjoy the relaxing weekend i have ahead of my husband and myself.

We have managed to get time off from our business and get away this Saturday night......

I'm so looking forward to it....bring on the spa and the bubbles.

The week started with such a high...again i was top 3 pick over at....

Try Stampin on Tuesday.

I also won the monthly prize...yay me!!!

This week they have another great sketch

But i was stuck for colour ideas, so i headed over to the forums over at

Splitcoast Stampers.

Where i found the lastest colour combo challenge.

CC312: Misty Celery Rose!

So i combined the two challenges and came up with this

i am really please with the finished result...the only thing was i had to use a slightly different blue as i don't have Marina Mist as yet....i know i know shame on me.

The scalloped edge is done using my scallop edge border punch, you can find out how to do it Here.

The creative Kirsty brown will show you how it is done.

And thanks to the fantastic videos over at Paper Crafters Libray i feel very confident about water colouring.

Just click on the flashing blinkie (on left hand side) to go on over and see for yourself...there are many videos showing you how to do almost everything to do with paper crafting from begininers to advanced.

The image is another fantastic digi art printed out onto water colour paper.

Well im off to go and pack my bags.

Have good weekend

lack of Mojo....Then go surfing

2011-03-01T10:12:00.001+13:00

Morning Stampers.

Lack of mojo.....Then go sufring

Blog surfing that is.

You will always come across something that gets those creative juices flowing again, just like i did this morning.

i headed over to look at the talented Sarah Gough's blog, as i remember seeing a C.A.S card she did and thought that i might CASE it,

But after reading the post to go with the particular card i liked, i popped over to the sites that gave her the inspiration to create the card she did.....

And what do you know i was very quickly getting out my tools and creating.

The sites were also inspirational to me.

These sites were

Forgotten Stamp friday week 9....to use a stamp brought and never used or use a stamp not inked in six mths or more.

and

SCS Colour Challenge.

But i didn't use the particular colour challenge from this link, i surfed some more and came across an older SCS challenge , this was the one that gave me the final inspiration behind todays card,

but after going back to the colour challenge i noticed that the first post was dated back in 2006...oh well better late than never.

This card uses a stamp i brought but have never used.....

i really wanted this stamp,

All a flutter.

but once i got it i never found a use for it...until today that is.

And the SCS colour challenge i used was

Basic Black

Lavender Lace

Cameo Coral.

yes the last two are retired colours, but what a great combination when used together.

i haven't placed a sentiment on this as this is one for my "opps almost forgot" box.

Try Stampin on Tuesday #3

2011-02-27T20:28:00.000+13:00

Evening crafters,

Wow what a week New Zealand has had.

My heart goes out to all of the families and loved ones affected by the big quake that hit Christchurch last Tuesday.

My family and i are very forunate that we do not know anyone living down there..but that does not make it any less easier to accept what has happened to our fellow Kiwi's.

I spent a good part of Tuesday glued to my T.V and shedding a few quiet tears.

A church on the other side of Hamilton were collecting much needed items to send down in a Mainfreight truck.

My family and i went shopping and spent just over $200 on essential living items, and also sent along 8-10 rubbish bags full of baby clothes...a let go business idea..

It was heart warming to see our teenagers leading the way in the supermarket on what we should buy to send down...they got such a natural high from helping others, they smiled for the rest of the evening.

Now over to crafting.

I have been playing along with Try stampin on Tuesday for the past few weeks, i have come to really enjoy playing along with this challenge site

Here is this weeks sketch.

I had an idea in mind.

I wanted to try an easel card using my new Top Note Die.

So here is my finished card.

I used a couple different techniques with this card

I did a bit of sponging, embossing.

The image is embossed with the background sponged in three different colours.

i am really happy with the outcome, the photo doesn't do this card any justice, it is so much prettier in person

Just Add Ink #56...."Fairy Godfriend"

2011-02-18T19:42:00.000+13:00

Evening all.

Today was a slow one, no matter how hard i tried to busy myself, the day im sure just kept getting slower and slower...that was until i sat down to do a bit of creating.

For today's creation i chose to do the sketch over at "Just Add Ink"

Here is the sketch

The card is a for a very special friend of mine, She suffers from an anxiety disorder, and can have some very rough times.

So i though to put a smile on her face i would make her a card to let her know i'm here for her, even if it is just for a hug.

I have also decided to make myself her "Fairy God~~mother~~ Friend" (if there's such a thing), to give her strength through those rough times.

I know she likes my creations, and this one is just for her.

I had a few firsts on this card...

First time using my new Top Note die

First time using a Digi Image

First time (and having a go at) using water colour paper.

I am really pleased with the finished result.

I left the background simple, as i wanted the "fairy God~~mother~~ Friend" to be the focal point

Try Stampin on Tuesday....& Top 3 pick

2011-02-17T12:06:00.000+13:00

Afternoon Stampers.

Well, i have had to have a few creative free days, due to a bad infection under my nail.

But the worst part is i have a false nail on the finger and haven't been able to get it removed due to the pain, so i can treat the infection, but with lots of soaking i have managed to bring it under control, and i have been able to create again....ya!!!

Yesterday over at Try Stampin on Tuesday, they released their second ever challenge, and once again i gave it a go. In fact i made two different cards using the same sketch

Woohoo!!!

I made the top 3 last week, i was so pleased as this is my first top 3 pick,
see my badge on the Left hand side
Click here to see the Top 3 Pick entry

Here is this weeks sketch

For the first one i went for that ever hard to do Male card.

Im not sure of what i think of it, i like it but then again i don't,

i think it is the sentiment that needs re-doing, but this is what happens when you attempt to do things late at night when you should be going to bed.

Creative Spree...

2011-02-11T08:00:00.001+13:00

Morning Stampers.

Boy it has been hot, the humidity has been very high.

I think the lack of Mojo had something to do with the great books i have picked up lately and can't seem to put down.

Normally i really enjoy reading anything by the talented Nora Roberts/J D Robb, but i was told to read the book my sisters keeper, after i commented to a friend that i liked the movie, and she says the book was better. Now that i have read the book i have to agree the book is so much better.

In fact i have gone and got more of Jodi Picoult's books.

Her books really captivate you, the last one i read was perfect Match and again what a brilliant book.

Well as promised here are the other two cards i made the other day.

Now these two i really like and is one i will copy time and time again.

I haven't added a sentiment as these will go into my stash to be used as emergency ....opp i almost forgot basket, and will add a sentiment as needed as these will suit any occasion

A challenge to all......

2011-02-10T14:05:00.001+13:00

Afternoon Stampers,

This is a quick post as i put up a post this morning.

I put a challenge out there to everyone,

to use a stamp/s yet to see any ink.

We all have a stamp or stamps sitting there just waiting to be inked.

I am going to try this and see if it works, as i have many stamps i'm yet to use, some i couldn't wait to receive but am yet to use them.

As i do this i will post them

Try Stampin on Tuesday..... Take #2

I found the sketch in the last post to be addictive, so i had another go at it,

This time a true Valentine's card.

Try stampin on a Tuesday

2011-02-10T09:54:00.002+13:00

Morning Stampers

Boy oh boy i'm on a roll.........

Much to my husbands dislike my mojo seems to be washing over me right on bed time, i think this is because finally the busy thoughts of the day have left my mind and allows other thoughts to come through, not just the facts and figures from my daily paper work.

Last night was no exception, again after spotting a challenge, a new one at that, i had an idea and couldn't go to bed and rest until i had at least made a start on the new creation,

but we all know how that works.........

i'll go to bed just after i finish adhering this piece or stamping that part.... yeah right

Next thing you know you have a finished creation in your hands... but i have realised if your really tired give up before you make a mistake and start again fresh tomorrow.

The new challenge is called......

"Try stamping on Tuesday",
click here and go on over and have a play as well.

Here is the sketch. Theme is Valentines.
But in my house hold we don't really do valentines, so i made this to put a smile on a friends face who is having a rough time at the moment, so i thought i would send her a not so "valentine" valentines card

And here is my creation

The only thing about this one is i don't like, is the sentiment, i don't to add another layer or more colour, so it stays as it is

But over all it turned out great

Clean & Simple #126

2011-02-09T08:56:00.000+13:00

Good morning to all, i hope you all have a great day ahead.

I have a busy one planned.

After doing a bit of blog hopping i came across a link to a challenge over on Danielle Daws blog, i regularly visit her blog as i really like her clean but very elegant designs, i take a lot of inspiration from her designs as i too like the clean look of cards.

Click here to go on over and have a look at her great work.

The challenge was for "papertrey ink", they had released tag images in a free download in which you added to a card/project.

But i missed this one, but still gave it a go to see what i could come up with,

Then

over at Clean and simple this week was this great sketch

So i combined the two challenges, and here is what i came up with

I'm not too happy with my water colouring, as my computer wouldn't co-operate so i could print this on water colour paper instead i had to settle for plain paper, which does not like this technique, and my yucky ribbons ends are thanks to the cat deciding that this card was almost too good to leave so he had to take a bite, and ended up fraying one side of it.

Mojo where for art thou....

2011-02-07T19:42:00.000+13:00

Evening stampers,

Well my mojo still has not quite returned.

But today i did do a little bit of creating, in fact i just got my supplies out and went for it, i made four cards.

The first ones im not too happy with, but there is alot of room for improvement on these ones.

Here is the first two i made.

They were real simple, just using two colours.

As i stated in a previous post, i had a whole bunch of cards i had created and didn't know what to do with, so i gave them to the local (Brand new) Cancer Lodge, along with these two.

So i have vowed when i am not busy making cards for family and friends i will make some simple ones to give away to local charities

The other cards were ones in which i was trying out new techniques of ideas.

The last two i made i really like, the colours are just really catchy.

but you will have to wait a day or two until i show those ones to you.

Love and thoughts to Nth Queenslanders

2011-02-02T11:52:00.000+13:00

Afternoon,

I thought i would just pop in and give my love and thoughts to those who are affected by the up coming Cyclone.

Please stay safe, i will be thinking of you all.

i lived over there (on the Gold Coast) for nearly 10 years, and while we were there we became Australians, so i think of Aussie as my home.

I have not been creating at all lately, as i have lost my mojo for the time being, i think that is partly to do with being very busy of late

but i was wondering what does everybody else do with the cards that tend to build up as we always tend to make far more than we need,

im thinking of giving them to a local charity - Lions Cancer Lodge for their clients to use as their wish,

I would love to hear what everybody else does.

As im also looking at making a whole of cards and again giving them to a deserving cause, to fill in those quiet times