Stamp Happy - Top New Zealand Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Petite Pockets Coffee & Gingerbread Man

It's been a great weekend!  I got to see many of you at our Christmas events, and that was fun for me and for our entire team!

The above picture is yesterday at the Hamilton Extravaganza.  Shona and I had a great time chatting away and teaching the ladies!

At both events, this is what I taught:

These were fun and quick to put together - perfect for a Merry Christmas gift for co-workers, teachers and the like.

We used the Petite Pockets die (love this!) for the coffee and the Top Note Die for the gingerbread man.  We jazzed both up using the new Scentsational Season stamps and dies - cute!!

You still have lots of time to order these now to make this project or similar up for Christmas!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Scentsational Season, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Colours: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso

Other: Petite Pockets Die, Festival of Prints DSP, Dazzling Details, Holiday Framelits, Top Note Die, Sugar and Spice Embossing Powder

Upcoming Events:

Saturday Nov 10th Auckland Scrapbooking Day!  $55 for 4 layouts!  If we have extra time, you can work on your own projects 9:30 am to about 5 pm.  Birkenhead

Monday November 12th Christmas Stamp Class in Birkenhead!  7:30pm  2 projects  $15

Wednesday Nov 14th Takanini Stamp Class!  7:30 pm  2 projects $15

Stamp Camp Easy Peasy Valentine's Project

Yesterday we had to say goodbye and return home to real life.

It was fun, it was was inspiring and it was rejeuvenating!

Sunday morning's class was taught by Vicky-Lee Meuller, a beautiful Tri-Shutter Album that had about a million pieces.

Hmm well I did have three pics of her teaching, but I'll be darned if I know where they went.  Not on the camera and not on the computer.  Check out her blog to see her pretty face.

One of the projects that I taught is this sweet little Valentine that was shown to us in Hamilton Island:

It's quick, easy, and effective. That Love Defined set is sooooo cute!

And the really fun thing about this one is there are treat included!  I intend to give these to my girls - everyone loves to get a little treat.

I had those converstation hearts for the ladies to put in instead of these round whatevers that the USA girls brough over for us.  Okay, some of them were a bit x-rated, but they were good for a laugh. 

You know what?  We should have given one of these to the cook at the camp . . . we might have gotten more than the extra scones!  ha ha ha girls!!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Love Defined set of eight $45.95

Colours: Bushing Bride, Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede

Other: 3/8 inch silver brads, Linen Thread, Jewellery Tag Punch, Small Cello Bags

Gingerbread Sand Art - Recipe in a Jar

 
Last Wednesday we had our annual Christmas gifts class, and one of the projects was this very cute Gingerbread Cookie Recipe in a Jar:

Gee, it looks like I cut that ribbon with a butter knife.  (I'm pretty sure I didn't; my guess is the girls were playing with it and frayed it up a bit).

The idea here is that this is the dry ingredients to a cookie recipe layered up like sand art.  The instructions include adding the wet items.  Makes for a really quick treat for the recipient and an adorable presentation.

Love that little gingerbread man.

The ribbon is part of the Dressing Up Christmas Promotion - you can get this goodie for FREE!  Nothing's better than that!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.  I will see many of you tomorrow at the Auckland Christmas Extravaganza!  Looking forward to it!

 

 
 

{Sweet Treat Cups Tri-Fold Card}

Who doesn't enjoy a little chocolate with their crafting?  Sounds like a winning combination to me! 

The 'sweet treats' sentiment is just perfect for this:

This project is an easy tri-fold card designed so there is a "trap door" behind the cup. 

I am sure it's called a trap door because many have opened the door and been surprised at M&M's on the floor  . . . .

There are only a few weeks left of the Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue - get this cute set of four (A Little Treat) while you can!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: A Little Treat $20.95, Teeny Tiny Setiments $58.95 (set of 24 - that's $2.45 per sentiemnt!!)

Colours: Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore, Pumpkin Pie

Other: 1/4 grosgrain ribbon, sweet treat cups, Tab Punch, 1 3/4 circle punch, dazzling diamonds glitter

{Another Cute Box Project}

I hope you all had a lovely weekend off and a memorable Easter season.  I love school holidays - a much needed break from the rush-rush of school and activities.

Sunday night a little angel came by and delivered an Easter package just for me with a hug and expressions of love.  While I love the box and the girls loved the chocolate inside, it's the thought behind it and the effort to bring it by that really make this special. 

 
Which is really such a big part of why we love paper crafting, isn't it.  And why you are all such a lovely group of people to work with.

 This is a really cute design - one that can be (and will be!) adapted to suit any occasion.

Thanks, Tracy!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Greetings Eight set of eight $58.95

Colours:Riding Hood Red, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie

Other: Scallop Circle Punch, Circle Punches, Pumpkin Pie striped Grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Write Markers, Scallop Edge Punch, Washington Appple Papers, Linen Thread

{An Easter Treat}

Happy Easter!

One of my Guest Artist's (Paula Dobson) sent me up a beautiful Easter gift, and so I wanted to share that with the world today rather than on Wednesday (after Easter).  Enjoy this gorgeous, gorgeous Easter Acetate Box Paula made for us.

 
The challenge items this month was the Sticky Cuts and the Clips Assortment.  Sticky Cuts are die cut shapes made out of Sticky Strip (that lethal tape with the red lining). Very fun stuff!

Paula has used it here with the Chunky Glitter and Riding Hood Red cardstock, and it looks really great.  Great use of the Scallop Oval Punch, too, for the leaves.

 
I thought it was also very clever to make a base for the egg using the circle punch and making a little stand . . .the attention to detail is quite impressive here.

 
The Clips Assortment can be used as an actual "adhesive" or just for embellisment, like this example.  I really like how it adds the 3D and a touch of importance to a small item.

Wow, Paula, thanks for sharing! And thanks for letting me keep this one!  :)

{Sweet Animal Stories}

This is my take on a fabulous project designed by Bronwyn Heslop.  I just changed a couple things to suit the class I was teaching and their requests.

I loved her use of the very cute Animal Stories set and the Sweet Treat Cups. This is the kind of project you need to do step by step and in order to make sure it's all "secure", but really quite easy once you see it done.

The water is held in by a very firm piece of acetate and the very sticky glue that comes on the back of the sweet treat cups.  Such a cute way to use them.

The waves are made not with the Scallop Edge punch, but with the Scallop Square punch - just used in "reverse".

Bron is a navy mum, so this card was just a perfect creation from her.  Thanks, Bron, for the inspiration!

The Animal Stories stamp set, the Tall Tales Paper, and the Welcome Baby stamp are all being retired next week (march 31), so please place your orders today!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Animal Stories set of four $28.95, Sweetness Unlimited $13.95

Colours: Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron

Other: Tall Tales DSP, Sweet Treat Cups, Scallop Square Punch, So Saffron Striped ribbon, Whisper White ink, sponges, acetate

{Divided Chocolates Box!}

Well, I have a story to tell.  I wanted to make a little video showing some parts of how to make this box.  My video camera is super tiny, and that's my excuse for losing it . . . . or it might be the fact that I have three daughters who love to be movie stars.

As soon as it turns up (bribes may be in order), I will follow through with my original intention.

In the meantime, here are some photos of my SaleABration project.  I pulled my hair out over this one, but I like how it turned out in the end.

This project is made entirely with the Vintage Labels SaleABration set (FREE with qualifying order or workshop).  The lid is a simple sheet of acetate, stamped with the fabulous White Staz-On ink ($26.95 and includes an ink refill), using just a portion of one of the swirly labels.

The dividers for the inside of the box are super easy to make - most have commented that it was much more straightforward that it orginally appeared.  Stamp up some tissue paper to match and you're all set.

Instructions for the Chocolate Box available on request and I will also put up a video soon . . .

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Vintage Labels  - SaleAbration set Free with order of $120

Colours: Chocolate Chip, Real Red

Other: Curly Label Punch, 1/16 hole punch, hemp, Real Red Striped Grosgrain ribbon, acetate, tissue paper, Heart to Heart Punch

{Sweet Treats Gumball Machine}

One of the most fun new accessories in the Summer Mini is the Sweet Treat Cups.  I've compiled a little list of cool things you can put in them - but this is by no means exhaustive!

Here, I've used some fruit shaped lollies found at Pak N Save in the bulk bins. The colours are perfect for the Pink Flamingo papers and so cute!

It was a bit of trial and error to figure out the best assembly process for this one, meaning which steps had to go first.  In the end, I think the consensus was to punch the hole first and then (using the stamp-a-ma-jig) stamp the gumball machine to fit the circle placement.

The card is designed with a little trap door so the lollies can be retrieved without destroying the card.  However, this is optional - it depends if the contents are to be used or for embellishment only.

The stamp set here is Something Sweet, one that's be designed specifically to work around the Sweet Treat cups.

Some ideas for the cups are:

1. small lollies

2. Chocolate Chips

3. Mini m&m's (baking ones)

4. Hundreds and Thousands

5. Glitter

6. Water

7. Small biscuit

8. Beads, etc. to make a shaker-like project

9. Small bells

10. Sunflower seeds

11. Gardening seeds

12. coffee beans

13. Pet food or treats

Share your ideas in the comments section below!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Something Sweet set of 14  $52.95 (summer mini)

Colours: Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Summer Sun, Green Galore, Cameo Coral

Other: Horizontal Slot punch, Real Red Striped Ribbon, Sweet Treat Cups, 1 3/4 inch punch, Pink Flamingo DSP

Order here

{RAK Valentine's for ME}

My downline and friend, Rachael Knight, aka Kightstamper, surprised me on Sunday morning with this beautiful box she made.  And not only that - it was full of Jolly Ranchers!  Woo hoo!

the operative word there is "was".  The photo shows just a few left . . . Mostly it was my children who keep thinking that if they just take one, mom won't notice.  But times that by three, and quickly there's not much left . . . .

The sentiment is from the SaleABration set, Whimsical Words - such a beautiful font.  And a very appropriate sentiment for me at this time - thanks Racheal for being a friend as well as an outstanding business associate.  And thank you for the beautiful box with a thoughtful gift.

And I must mention the stamp set used here, I {heart} Hearts is the one that, when purchased, Stampin' Up! will donate $2 to the Red Cross Haitian Relief Fund.  I've seen it several times now - the Kiwis have really big & generous hearts.  You are fabulous.

Supplies Used:

Stamps: I {heart} Hearts  $49.95, Whimsical Words  FREE SaleABration set

Colours: Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip

Other: Heart to Heart Punch, Pink Pirouette DSP, 1/2 circle punch

{A Masculine Valentine Idea}

Oh, the oh-so-challenging Masculine Project!

I thought the matchbook style would suit a guy, you know the whole playing with fire thing.  And chocolate is always a winner. For any gender and any age group. 

I designed this up going for an antiqued look because of a blog challenge (which I never uploaded in time, but at least it got me thinking).  I love these hearts!  I love how they can look so sophisticated here, but can also look fun and bright, like here.

And even better, this is the set that Stampin' Up! has designated as with each purchase, they will donate $2 from the proceeds to the Red Cross Haitian Disaster Relief Fund.  That's a great reason to order this one before February 28th!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts  $49.95, Three Little Words  $28.95

Colours: Riding Hood Red, Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Creamy Caramel

Other:  Heart to Heart Punch, Full Heart Punch, Curly Label Punch, Twill, Vintage Brads, Windsor Knot DSP, Riding Hood Red DSP, Small oval Punch

{Diana Farthing}

Because I'm a week behind, I'm inserting Diana's lovely submission today out of our normal schedule.

Diana filled up her swet treat cup with mini m&m's and then used all the ink colours to match.  The hearts are all from the I {heart} Heart Stamp set  ($49.95).  And Diana very cleverly flipped her ribbon around so it's white with Kiwi Dots!  Love it! 

Words are from the Chit Chat rub-ons.

SU has recently accounced that $2 from each of these sets sold will be donated for a Haitian Relief Fund.  Now through Feb 28th.  A great, great set and now helping a good cause. 

I feel very blessed to be associated with a company that is so wonderful in so many ways.

Order yours here.

Supplies Used:

Stamps: I {heart} Hearts  $49.95, Butterfly Prints  $29.95

Colours: Kiwi Kiss, Ballet Blue, Real Red, Cameo Coral, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Summer Sun, Green Galore

Other: Chit Chat Rub-Ons, Pig tails Kiwi Kiss ribbon, Sweet Treat Cups, Pretties Kit

{Sweet Treats Lollipops}

Great little project for a little something to give friends this year or anytime.  My girls enjoyed making a couple of these, too.

Make a flower or an ornament for the tree using the Sweet Treat cups in about ten minutes.  Great way to use up those leftover strips of DSP, too!

Scallop edge your strip of DSP and then run it through the crimper.  This will allow you to ease the strip around the sweet treat cup.  Now fill the cup and cover the back, sandwiching in the popsicle stick and an ornament hanger if you wish.

I also stamped the stick with staz-on.  I've never had an ice pop in New Zealand, but I recall as a kid the sticks having little jokes and things, so this is throwback to that.  Do you have that here?

And don't you love the polka dot ribbon! 

Order your sweet treat cups here.

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Short and Sweet set of twelve  $35.95 or Something Sweet $52.95

Other: strips of DSP, Scallop Edge Punch, Crimper, Sweet Treat Cups, Circle Scissors, Black Staz-on, Ribbon

{Choo-Choo Pull-Up Treat}

  Now here's a cute little gift-y item for little (and big!) ones!

The Pull-Up Treat has been around for a long time and it works up really cute with the Choo-Choo set.

And it's a fun way to wrap up a small gift, like this sleeve of oreos, a chocolate bar, a meusli bar in a lunch, or a little treat as a thank you.  One of my customers last year made up a number of these and hung them on the tree.  I'm sure her grandchildren loved to see what surprises were held inside!

Plus, then you'd have little gifts ready to go for holiday visits.  I'm liking this idea!!

Choo-Choo and the coordiating track wheel available until the end of the month.

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Choo Choo set of five  $35.95, Right on Track wheel  $13.95

Colours: Real Red, Brilliant Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Grey

Other: horizontal slot, crimper, Pumpkin Pie ribbon

{Pun Fun Chocolates!!}

Little baggie toppers, as they are so creatively named, are easy and inexpensive to make!  It's a neat way to jazz up an otherwise ordinary bag of goodies.

This is birthday season at my house, with three birthday parties in a row, so this is a quick and satisfying project for the younger set on up.  Madeleine chose the Pun Fun, her favourite and we've use the new, yummy Designer Series Prints.

Now you're all wondering what the chocolates are and where to get them!  They are miniature chocolate bars I found at Gilmours.  The outer wrapper comes right off, leaving just the gold wrapper, ready to be embellished to match your project.

Deal of the Day:  Anyone ordering Pun Fun by 10pm tomorrow night gets 20 of these little bars thrown in for free! 

Supplies Used:  

Stamps:  Pun Fun

Colours: Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss, Real Red

Other:  Wide Grosgrain ribbon, Tempting Turquoise brad, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Blender Pen

{An Infestation of Bunnies}

 

As Victoria put it.

How cute are these?  These have been floating around the net for a while now; I have no idea who to credit for the original idea - but darn quick and easy!

These little bunnies have a peppermint patty inside for a fun presentation of a small treat for Easter.  A chocolate sandwich.  It doesn't get better than that!

These are made nearly entirely with Stampin' Up! punches, but you can also use the Pick a Petal set to make the ears for a matching print.  The faces are just drawn on with Stampin' Up Markers.  See, my drawing is terrible.  This is why I stamp.

I am sure there are lollies of some type that will work for this project in New Zealand.  I do have a couple bags of the peppermint patties left.  Sooo, because I cannot eat them, I will offer them up to anyone placing an order for the Pick A Petal stamp set from now until Easter or until supplies last.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  None or Pick a Petal

Colours Used:  Various - we stuck to Soft Subtles - a great way to use up bits and pieces

Other: Scallop circle punch, 1 3/8 and 1 1/4 inch punches, large and small oval punches

Cllick here to place your order.

{New! Good Friend Altered Paint Can}

Altered Paint Cans are a lot of fun!  I did a class with these last week, and couldn't resist using my NEW sets!  I've filled the can with chocolate eggs, and I think our little bird is quite appropriate for Easter, too.  (At the time of the class, the can was full, but I have a little six year old who has been emptying the can for me at an alarming rate - I have since put this up out of reach).

The papers used here are the Bali Breeze series, which are found in the Summer Mini Catalogue.  They are bright, but I think they were just the thing for a whimsical project like this.

The FAT ribbon is the Rose Red double sitched ribbon also in the Summer Mini Catalogue.  Do you want to know which punch was used to make that wide slot in the sides of the image?  It's the tiny Horizontal Slot punch. If you want to make a bigger slot, punch once and then side it along punching again and again until the slot is the size you want.

The felt flowers are also in the Summer Mini and match these papers perfectly, making for quick and easy embellishments.

I have about 16 paint cans left; the first to schedule a class for these gets them!

Stamps Used:  Good Friend (available April 1st!)

Colours:  Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie, Close to Cocoa, Taken with Teal, Old Olive

Other:  Bali Breeze Papers, Horizontal Slot punch, Rose Red double stitched ribbon, Felt Fusion Flowers, brads, Sticky Strip

{Kristina Werner Colour Challenge #44}

Brown and pink together is one of my favourite combinations - a no-fail standby.

Today has been quite cold in Auckland, although that might be because I have shorts and a singlet on, so I pulled out this hot chocolate pouch for a sample.  Pretty much everything on this project is being deleted by the end of March, so get it now if it's on your wish list!

If I have time tomorrow, I will do up a page using this colour combo as well; we'll see how much work I can get done today!

Stamp sets:  Like it a latte

Colours:  Pretty in PInk, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate chip, Purely Pomegranate

Other: Berry Bliss Designer Series Papers, Soft Subtles Eyelets, various ribbons, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, stampin' sponges

{Masculine Peek A Boo Card}

 

Peekaboo cards are a fun twist on the traditional card and hold a sweet inside!  This is a take on the lovely card AnneMarie designed a few weeks ago. 

Once you know where to score, this one goes together very quickly.  The centre window is made using the circle scallop punch, and then the remaining image is used to layer on the front.

The focal image is done using In the Stars stamp set and the two sizes of star punches.  I added just a bit of glitter, even though I was going for masculine!  I did run this by my husband, and he gave his approval. 

Colours Used: chocolate chip, Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi

Stamps Used: In the Stars, Rough Texture jumbo wheel

Other: Scallop circle punch, both star punches, Scallop Edge Punch, silver brad, Dazzling Diamonds glitter

The chocolate heart inside is from the Chocolate Boutique and come in a myriad of colours.

{Cute, Quick, & Easy Valentine's Chocolate!}

 

I took this idea from Angie Juda, a demo from the United States.  I can see where she's from, but from her accent, I'd guess Texas?  You can see her project here.  And this is my adaptation on it:

This is a super easy project, made easy by the slit punch.  This is such a useful punch for creating little closures!

The images are from both Big On Spring and from Love Owl-ways, both sets from the Summer Mini Catalogue.  The scallop is done with the new scallop edge punch.

I love the Love Owl-ways set for Valentines because it includes words suitable for friends.  I suggest we all make a valentine and remember our girlfriends!  My girls and I are going to make up Valentine treats and take them to some of the  the single ladies at church. 

Of course you can change the dimensions and the treat inside to suit you!  please email me for the dimensions on this to fit the Whittaker's chocolates.

Colours Used:  Certainly Celery, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Purely Pomegranate, Basic Black, Whisper White

Stamp sets used:  Big on Spring or Love Owl-ways

Other:  Slit punch, Scallop Edge Punch, 5/8 grosgrain ribbon, blender pens, Dazzling Diamonds glitter