Window Frame Cards

There is a challenge going on our NZSU (NZ list of Stampin' Up! demonstrators) which anyone can enter, and it is to create a window frame card. I had a little play (OK maybe a big one) and came up with these 3 little beauties:This was my first ever try at heat embossing. Doesn't the little star just shine? Am loving that Baja Breeze colour at the moment too! If you are loving the Scallop Oval Punch, you only have until the end of November to order it, contact me if you would like one.
Stamps: A Holly, Jolly Christmas
Cardstock: Whisper White, Baja Breeze
Ink: Baja Breeze, Versamark
Accessories: Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool
I had fun making this one, but man did it take a while! And then I thought, "why have I put the curtains on the outside?" Oh well.
Stamps: A Holly, Jolly Christmas
Cardstock: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Ski Slope DSP
Ink: Baja Breeze, Real Red, Old Olive, Yoyo Yellow
Accessories: 1 3/8" Square Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, Dazzling Diamonds (on the star), Crimper
In my opinion, this one is just perfect simplicity (you'll have a different opinion I'm sure)! I'm hooked on this embossing thing now!
Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Frames with a Flourish, Priceless
Cardstock: Whisper White
Ink: Real Red, Versamark
Accessories: Hodgepodge Hardware, Real Red 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 1 3/8" Square Punch

Stamp-A-Stack Christmas Cards Class

It's not too late to register for my class this Saturday. Here's the cards we'll be making:
The Joy card is actually on a Chocolate Chip base which is why it looks invisible! Come along at 1.00pm and make cards for only $2 each and tags 5 for $2. All materials and afternoon tea provided.

More Simply Scrappin'

Further to my post yesterday, here's a couple of pages I created using another Stampin' Up! Simply Scrappin' kit - Crew Kids - Girl (retired):These pages were just so easy to create because everything in the kit co-ordinates!

Product Showcase - Simply Scrappin' Kits

Is scrapbooking something you would love to try, but you are intimidated by all the screeds of scrapbooking papers, embellishments, tools and stickers available out there and it appears you need it all to complete the task? I've used quite a few kits from other stores, but none have come close in quality, quantity & creativity than Stampin' Up!'s Simply Scrappin' kits! Each kit provides 8 sheets of 12x12 cardstock, 6 sheets of double-sided patterned papers and 6 sheets (3 different designs) of self-adhesive die-cuts -many of which coordinate with matching stamp sets, punches and more! Each kit also comes with several terrific layout ideas, so to create the scrapbook pages, just cut, copy and add your own photos! You can finish whole albums using these kits, in just a few hours, and are really great for themed albums too.

Each kit can make at least 8-10 12x12 scrapbooking pages, and at $43.95 for the kit, that's less than $5 a page! You'll also have lots of leftover die cuts which can be used for cards, gift boxes, etc.

Planning on going away next holidays? Take one of these kits with you, along with a paper trimmer and some adhesive, and you're set to scrapbook on holiday!

If you have little boys, you'll love the Hoppy Memories kit:
Of course, there's nothing to stop you from using it for girls too! Check out the other kits on pages 136-138 of the Catalogue.

I haven't purchased any of this years kits yet, because I'm still using up the four I bought last year! Yesterday I made this page with my Crew Kids - Boy Kit:
And here's some other pages I made using supplies from the same kit:
Cute eh???

Flower Scrapbook Page

I've had this layout saved in My Pictures for ages:
and now I finally had the right photos to make it with:
I search the internet for a decent giant flower template and finally found this site. I ended up just cutting out 2 petals and making all the petals with them. Sponged around each is Pretty in Pink to give them a glow.
Cardstock: Tea Party DSP, Basic Grey, Whisper White (behind the vellum)
Ink: Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Certainly Celery 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Certainly Celery 5/8" Poly-Twill Ribbon, Hodgepodge Hardware

Sneak Peek - Tauranga Christmas Extravaganza

It's not too late to register for the Tauranga Christmas Extravaganza. See this post for details. Here's a sneak peek of what I'm teaching:

My New SU! Website!

Stampin' Up! have been kind enough to bring us up to par with our American counterparts & give us our own business websites. Eventually you'll be able to order directly from my site but for now, you can check out ideas, products, events and promotions. Visit my site here.

Lessons in Scrapbooking - Titles

The title of your scrapbook page is an important part of the layout as it often sums up the whole "feel" of the page. If you’re having trouble deciding on a title, think about song, movie or book titles, sayings/quotes etc. When all else fails try www.scrapbook.com/titles or www.theperfecttitle. These sites are sorted by topic so it's easy to find the appropriate title.

SU! have a wonderful range of chipboard letters and alphabet stamp sets available. I highly recommend the stamps as you never run out of a particular letter and can make them any colour! If you have used alphabet stickers before you'll know how frustrating it is when you don't have an "e" or "a" to go with your chosen title.

Which brings me to a wonderful hint. I still have lots of chipboard letters and stickers that are waiting to be used and I discovered that anagram-based websites for scrabble work well for using these up! Today I used this one, but if you google "scrabble word finder" you'll find lots of other pages too. I used it to produce this title today as I was feeling particularly uncreative. (Was very surprised I had an "E" left too) The photos are of my sister and brother-in-law when they lived down at Wanaka. I covered the letters in the co-ordinating (retired) DSP (yes, still have lots of that left too!) I was really happy about the way the flowers came out, I wasn't feeling like cutting butterflies out today.
I followed this layout for inspiration:
Stamps: Good Friend
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Spring Showers DSP, Very Vanilla
Ink: Barely Banana, Chocolate Chip, Basic Grey Marker
Accessories: Very Vanilla 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Border Punch, Chipboard letters (not SU!), Crimper, Pretties Kit, Mini Glue Dots, 5 Petal Flower Punch

Tauranga Extravaganza

I'm excited to announce that I will be taking part in this years Tauranga Extravaganza.

For those of you who haven’t been before – Extravaganza is a great day out for you and your friends. I will join with other demonstrators and we will show you how to make five great projects. Cost for the day is $35, which includes a $10 voucher to spend on the day. Of course there will be great door prizes too, and as always there will be lots of great projects on display to inspire you. Numbers will be limited so pre-registration and payment is essential to secure your space – please contact me to do this.

It will be held on 15 November at 1pm in the St. John’s church in Bureta, Tauranga.

World Cardmaking Day Promotion

In celebration of World Card Making Day, Stampin’ Up! is offering the following promotion throughout the entire month of October: buy a Simply Sent Card Elements kit and get 20% off the coordinating stamp set--no limit!

Buy a Simply Sent Card Elements kit:

Item	Page	Description	Price
112028	140	Flower Power Card Elements	$36.95
112021	141	Rock Star Card Elements	$36.95

Get one of the following stamp sets at 20 percent off:

Item	Page	Description	Regular Price	Discount Price
116779	140	Wow Flowers stamp set	$28.95	$23.16
116777	141	Starring You stamp set	$28.95	$23.16

Breast Cancer Awareness Starter Kit Promotion

For over 20 years, Stampin’ Up!® has helped women make a difference in the lives of others by simply doing what they love to do — sharing creativity. Become a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator between 7 October and 31 December 2009 and start making a difference! For every person who joins, Stampin’ Up! will donate $5 to the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.
Plus, until 31 December 2009, we’ll also give you a free pack of Raspberry Tart Designer Series paper and a Pretty in Pink Classic Stampin’ Pad® to help you get started!
CONTACT ME TODAY TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN CREATE A REWARDING CRAFTING BUSINESS.

Kids Birthday Cakes!

Further to my post last week about the card for my son's 4th birthday. I just had to share the cake my MIL made for our family Pirate Party later that day.
Isn't she clever?! That's only the third party cake she's ever made. Here's what she turned up with at my elder son's 5th birthday last year:I'd only asked her to make her giant roasting dish chocolate cake but she made Thomas instead! Here's my daughter's cake from August. We had a combined birthday party with a friends daughter as she was born a year and a day after Georgia so there's 2 yellow candles for my daughter and one pink one for my friends' daughter. Cute eh?Needless to say, I'll be keeping her on as Chief Birthday Cake Maker!

Waterfall Birthday Card

It's my sister-in-laws birthday today. She lives in Aussie and when she was last over she was admiring a waterfall card I had made. Hope she liked it!
Stamps: Priceless, Curvy Verses
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, Whisper White, Tea Party DSP
Ink: Basic Grey, Almost Amethyst, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery
Accessories: So Saffron Ribbon, Eyelets, Cropadile, Stapler, Slit Punch