Stamp Happy - Top New Zealand Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Fishin Around Treat Cup Fishbowl!

Well this last weekend was full-on fun!  Saturday we had our Sold-Out Auckland Extravaganza, and the team and I had a super day presenting five projects to our guests.  We hope those who attended had a fabulous afternoon, too!

Sunday I shot down to Hamilton and taught with some of the Hamilton demonstrators at the Hamilton Extravaganza.  Both were great days with left us leaving tired, but happy.

Andrea Schweer, Vanita Hurbuns and myself taught this cute Fishbowl Card the last two days using the new Fishin Around stamp:

We had fun and games working out how to get the water to be sealed water tight, but I think my dear husband found the trick! (photos on my Facebook page!).

You will need the Sweet Treat Cups, water, hot glue, and a piece of acetate to put on the back of the cup

Tips for getting a watertight seal:

1. Make sure the glue is really hot (hot glue!)

2. Use a heavier acetate to seal on the back of the sweet treat cup

3. Press down firmly to remove any extra trapped air in the cup

4. Turn it over (right side facing you) and press down around the rim to remove any air bubbles in the glue. You may need to use a spoon or similar so you don't burn fingers.

The ladies had a lot of fun making this one!  It's like eye candy!  And some did this up with more black accents annd made it a bit more masculine.  It all looked great.

Our next Extravaganzas are:

Nov 2 Auckland

Nov 3 Hamilton

Nov 9 Tauranga

We'd love to have you there!

 

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Fishin Around, Really Good Greetings

Colours: Real Red, Calypso Coral, So Saffron, Pool Party

Other: Sweet Treat Cups, Aqua Painters, Calypso Coral Chevron Twill Tape, Mosaic Embossing Folder, I am Me DSP

 

Sponged Framelits FREE PDF Tutorial

As promised and also requested, I've typed up a tutorial on yesterday's project!

Download Secret Garden Sponged Framelits Technique

I hope you all give this fun project a try!

 

 

Puzzle Technique in Swallowtail

 I came across this puzzle technique on Splitcoaststampers, and gave it a try.  It's an easy one, but it does boggle the mind for a minute . . .

Loving this fresh, fun, color combo: Pool Party, Calypso Coral, and Daffodil Delight with a splash of Wisteria Wonder.   I've been using a lot of Pool Party lately, and am so happy this color is sticking around!

The basics of what we are doing here is stamping the Swallowtail butterfy and then cutting out the nested flower images.  Sponge colour on each of the pieces and then reassemble the butterfly.

I've also made a matching envelope out of the Calypso Coral Designer Prints as this card is quite a large one at 6x6 inches.  The envelopes are easy to do with the new Diagonal Plate.

If you are loving this Pool Party Coredinations Cardstock, please get it now (in June), as it will no longer be available in single colour packs come July. 

I'll be teaching this project tomorrow 7pm in Nelson and in Auckland by request.

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Swallowtail, Loving Thoughts

Colours: Pool Party, Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder

Other: White Embossing Powder, Versamark, Heat Tool, In Colour Brads, Butterfly Embosslits, Basic Rhinestones

 

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Swallowtail in Vintage

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Swallowtail in Vintage

This is One of the Two projects I will be teaching at my Vintage Cards Class at SENZ in a few weeks.  Featuring the gorgeous Swallowtail stamp (129216)  in the Seasonal Catalogue and a colour wash technique, you'll find this easy to achieve:

 

The Swallowtail butterfly looks really, really great monochromatic or coloured in - she's/he's a keeper!  I've used very soft colours here for a sweet look.  The very large pearls top it off.

 

 

The background is the Primrose Petals CoreDinations Cardstock, which is really fantastic for distressing just a litte bit or a whole lot:

I won't give too much away about this project as it's a SENZ class.  I'll be teaching this mid day 5th of July.  There will be a second project, but I am waiting on my NEW supplies (released 1 of July) to arrive any day now to design that up.  Cost of the class is $45 and includes $25 worth of product.

I'd love to have you in this Technique Class!

Email me to book in!

 

 

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Epic Day Pocket Mini Album

Elements of Style in Soft Suede

This is a beautiful monochromatic card I did up a while ago; Love that Elements of Style stamp set.  It was released just as the eclectic collage look was becoming popular - one of the first!

Just two colours for this project - Soft Suede and Very Vanilla.  I love the Victoria Crochet ribbon, too, for that extra bit of lovely texture!

I've done some clear embossing with the flourish under the floral image, and then added pearls for some 3D.

Simple and lovely!

You can order your supplies directly online or email me!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Elements of Style 120045 $46.95

Colours: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla

Other: Basic Pearls, Oval Punch, Victoria Crochet Ribbon, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Lattice Die Pop Up Card

This was a fun card inspired by several samples I found on the net - featuring the Lattice Die and the Butterfly Punch and the Bitty Butterfly Punch:

I used the Lattice Die on the front as a layer for a faux dry embossed look, but also embossed with the Polka Dot Embossing Folder on top.

The Bitty Butterflies are embossed with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder and the Butterfly is embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper Folder.  A little Linen Thread and some pearls finish it off!

We used the lattice inside as well to make a simple pop up feature.  Cute!!  Add a few more butterflies and Mom will love it!

Email me to order or Order Online Here

 

 

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Petite Pairs

Colours: Calypso Coral, Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery, Basic Gray

Other: Butterfly Punch, Bitty Butterfly PUnch, Bird Punch, Pearls, Linen Thread, Lattice Die, Square lattice Embossing Folder, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Polka Dot Embossing Folder, Circle Punches, Subtles Brads

Tint Your Own Custom Paint - My New Chalkboard

Well, I know I keep saying it, but we are nearly there with the new craft room!  I had my inaugural class in there last night, so we are functioning now.  Just need a curtain for the laundry area, some chairs, a rug, and to paint the two new walls (little ones).  Then I think that's IT!

On Sunday night, Rob painted me a chalkboard and built a frame to go around it. I have pics of him doing this on my Stamp Happy Facebook Page.

Well we had white paint, chartreuse paint, and the beige wall colour paint. of course, I wanted something else.  Pool Party came to mind as quite nice.

It was Sunday night.

Sooooo, we got the white paint and played with the Stampin' Up! Ink Refills!  Fun!!  Mostly Pool Party, but also some Island Indigo and Always Artichoke were put in. It's still relatively pale, but it worked great!

I LOVE IT!  I have the best husband ever!!!  (Well, he's my personal favorite anyway!)

This was easy to do, if you want to do one as well. We just got some light mdf board and painted it with chalkboard paint (see pics on my business page on facebook), and then framed it.

Hope you've enjoyed and are inspired to use your creative tools in a new way!

 

Core'Dinations Vintage Scrapbooking Layout

I love how Stampin' Up! is continually giving us brand new product!  We all fell in love with the sand-able Core'Dinations cardstock last Seasonal Catalogue, and in this catalogue we have it in three more colours.  (Primrose Petals, Real Red, and Pool Party).  What a yummy combo those three are, too.

My scrapbooking group requested a vintage layout, so I went sort of mid-way.  My photos I wanted to use are quite "clean", and I wanted to keep them that way.  But you/I can still add some vintage elements without going 100% antique.

I used a Nic Howard layout ( see below) as the inspiration for my layout, although mine did not turn out a great deal like hers, just the basic layout of the photos and elements is the same.

I find it quite fun to use something as a springboard, but using your style, your supplies, and your colours, the finished product can be quite different!

I used the Pool Party Core'Dinations cardstock and the Vine STreet Embossing Folder here to ceate a small accent element.  Also the words from Sweet Essentials were perfect for me here, but there are plenty of other sayings in the set to suit other photos.  I realize not many will be necessarily scrapping wedding photos!

The details here on the lower left hand corner were so fun to make. The flower is made using the Blossom Party Die, some glimmer spritz, and a bit of Pink Pirouette ink.

The ribbon flowers are the best value and the most fun in the Seasonal Mini - just $14.50 for 100 of them!  And so fun to spritz and colour to suit your project.  I've already gone through one or two or three packs  . . .

Love the butterflies . . . always a spot for a butterfly.  I did this using the Rock & Roll technique to achieve the multi-coloured look to the babe.  Lots of pearls to finish this off.

And here is the original artwork by Nic Howard

Source: nichoward.typepad.com via Jacque on Pinterest

 

What do you think?  Love it?

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Create A Scene with Paula Dobson

I was fortunate enough to be invited to take a quick class from Paula Dobson while in Palmerston North last week.  We only had 50 minutes start to finish, and look at the amazing work of art she taught us!

I can very confidently say everyone in the class was pleasantly surprised they could achieve this.  A bit of ink and some masking, and away we went.

The lovely tree image is from Forever Young, a sentimental stamp set perfect for this technique.

Thank you, Paula, for making me feel like an artist for an hour!  :)

Supplies Used:

STamps: Forever Young

Colours: Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze

Other: post it notes, neutrals brads, Word Window Punch, sponges, scallop circle punch

 

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Gorgeous Honeycomb Card

Just for Fun - my family's Valentine's Cards

Oh Hello! and Tea for Two

I had fun making this project for my swap yesterday at our Stampin' Up! Creative Inkers team training.  Okay, maybe i was still making them as the ladies arrived. . . . but it did go together quickly and was fun!  I just love those new Vanilla Flower Trim flowers in the Seasonal Mini - so fun to spray and colour!

This idea came directly from Jenny Peterson.

I did this up with a few different patterns from the Tea for Two DSP:

The really fun bit was, as I said above, the flowers! I love these babies and will be ordering more tomorrow.  I spritzed them with my own potion made up of water, rubbing alcohol, and some drops of Calypso Coral ink refill.  Fun!  I love the spritzers, too, and for only $3, they are sure worth having.

Enjoy!  To order any products, please contact me here!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Oh, Hello!

Colours: Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Crumb Cake, So Saffron

Other: VAnilla Flower Trim, Ovals Framelits, Tasteful Trims Die, Basic Rhinestones

 

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Come to Bethlahem Brayer Card

This is a take off of a samply by Delys Cram, one of my talented demonstrators who lives in Whakatane.  She used a different technique, but I've used the layout and colors to recreate another version.

I've used a brayer and Bashful Blue here for the background for a gradual colour gradation.  I need to get that brayer out more often!

This was my first take:

And I fiddled around and tried it with another arrangement to see which one I liked best:

Because I love that Striped Satin Ribbon!  My girls couldn't decide which they liked better, so both pass the mark at my house.

I did a "naughty" and cut my star apart from my camel images.  That way I could easily stamp one in one colour, and the other in something different.  Plus, I could them place the star where I wished.

Well this one was fun and the ladies last night did well with it. We had a guest at class - my little brother!  He's here for the wedding and was a good sport and joined in.  I have a pic of him brayering on my Facebook Page.  Was fun!  We haven't had such a good laugh in a long time.  (not AT him . . . .)

Order your supplies for Christmas!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Come to Bethlahem

Colours: Midnight Muse, Bashful Blue

Other: Lace Brocade Embossing Folder, Whisper White stitched ribbon, White Embossing Powder, Dazzling Diamonds, Brayer

Blissful Bird in several color ways

I designed up this project when I was teaching a group of lovely ladies who had not ever stamped before.  This one features an easy, but effective and fun, technique, and is quick to put together.

I've used the Blissful Bird stamp here, one of our stamps that comes single AND it matches up with the ever popular Bird Punch:

 I also did this cutie up in the new Primrose Petals colour (Pool Party above), just to see what it looked like:

Someone had the idea in one of my classes (I think it was in Nelson) to do this one up in Cherry Cobbler and make it Christmas.  I thought that was brilliant, especially since the words on birdie's tummy are perfect for general, wedding or Christmas.  So after a few times playing around with different variations, this one was my favorite:

I'll be using this one as my swap in Broome next week - can't wait!  I should have made my travel companion help me with these . . . . :-), but I guess the diamond ring will suffice to earn his way this time.  It's my honor to have him there with me. 

I will be taking my computer with me and will check once a day for orders and customer service and things.  Be thinking of you!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Blissful Bird $18.95

Colours: various, but mostly Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Primrose Petals, Certainly Celery

Other: Bird PUnch, Basic Pearls, Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon

What's On:

Monday October 29th Make the Christmas Ornament on the front cover!  $15 7:30pm Birkenhead

Wednesday October 31st Make two Christmas Projects  7:30pm  $15 Takanini

Thursday November 1st Scrapbooking Night in Howick $15 7:30pm

Faux Patina Long Envelope Card

You may recognize this one from a few years ago.  It's a remake of a lovely design by Chrissie Patterson.  I've just updated this to use current products and to showcase a version of the Faux Patina Technique.

The inside has a neat idea - Chrissie used the long, open-ended envelopes to create an instant pocket inside.  Easy and super cute!

**These sized envelopes are retired as of September 1st!  Order some today or resize this proejct for a standard sized envelope.

Here is a closer look at the technique done on the front, very similar to the Faux Patina technique, but using white embossing powder instead of Gold.

Three steps to this:

1. Dry Emboss using the Antique Wallpaper Embossing Folder

2. Sponge colour on as you wish - two or three colours works best.  Go relatively heavy

3. Lightly brush the top of the embossing with the Versamark pad (use your Embossing Buddy first!!!), then heat emboss with White Embossing Powder. 

And here is another version using another word set . . . . because I forgot the Petite Pairs and had to do a very quick switcharoo . . .

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Petite Pairs or Creative Elements (words)

Colours: Baja Breeze, Soft Suede

Other: Metallic Brads, Floral Fusion Sizzlits Die, Antique Wallpaper Embossing Folder, White Embossing Powder, Big Shot, Long Open-Ended Envelopes, Suede Taffeta Ribbon, Subtles Brads, Lots of Tags Sizzlits Dies

What's On:

Saturday September 1st

Stampin' Up Heartfelt Event Regional Training in Christchurch!

2012/2013 Catalogue and the Christmas Catalogue are live!  Place your orders today for earliest possible delivery!

Monday September 3rd

New Catalogue Launch Party 7:30pm  $15

Thursday-Sunday September 6-9th

Hamilton Quilt & Craft Show!  Please stop in and say hello! Lots of retired stock for sale, place orders, take a class, and bring your camera!

 

Creative Elements in Black

This is a simplified (yes!) version of a card idea one of my team sent me.  Using all neutral colors and the Creative Elements stamp set, we've made a beautiful, vintage project.

The polka dotted paper is from the Neutrals Designer Series Prints - these really are a good thing to have in your stash.  They work in well with the other printed papers to add a bit more option and helps them go that much further.

The other printed paper in the project is Mocha Morning, which is retiring next week!  Love those papers!

I've also used the First Edition Papers on the underlayer here - that DSP is staying, so we can enjoy that one for a good while longer.

Hope you like this one!

Supplies used:

Stamps: Creative Elements

Colours: Basic Black, Very VAnilla, Crumb Cake

Other: Basic Pearls, Neutrals Brads, Jewelry Tag Punch, Seam Binding Ribbon, Oval Embossing Folder, Mocha Morning DSP, Linen Thread, First Edition DSP

 

Saturday August 25th Team Training!  9:30-11:30 am in Birkenhead.  Free!

Thursday August 30th Howick Scrapbooking Class 7:30pm $15 Color blocking

Saturday September 1st Christchurch Heartfelt Event - product training open to customers and demonstrators!  $120 includes lunch, make and takes, and a stamp set!

Inspired by Nature Watercolour

Isn't this lovely?  This idea was displayed at team training by Vanessa Baker, and we just had to give it a try!  Using the French Foliage and Inspired by Nature sets, layers of ink make a beautiful combination.

We've used the E block (yes the acrylic stamp mount block) covered in distress ink over watercolour paper to create the yummy distressed background here.  It took a few tries, but what a fabulous result!

I just love how those French words from French Foliage come up in layers here, but not too distracting from the main flower image from Inspired by Nature.  Extremely Elegant!

Book in for a class to make this lovely card!  I will be teaching this in West Auckland this coming Sunday or in Takanini this Wednesday!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Inspired by Nature, French Foliage

Colours: Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, Early Espresso

Other: Distressing Essentials Kit, E Block, Hemp Twine, White Embossing Powder, Square Lattice Embossing Folder

What's On:

Sunday July 22nd West Harbour Stamp Class 2pm  make two projects!  $15

Monday July 23rd Techniques Class Birkenhead  Diagonal Plate!  7:30 pm  2 projects $15

Wednesday July 25th Papakura Stamp Class 2 projects!  $15

 

Rue Des Fleurs by Shimmer Paint

Another project inspired by our amazing convention in Canberra this year!!  This card is strongly inspired by the lovely Vanessa Webb, a demonstrator in Australia who is beautiful inside and out.

I had very very poor photos of this, so I just did this up how it appeared to me, so likely a bit different than the original.

Custard in the background is an extra treat for you today.   ha ha! 

Shimmer paint is used on this one three different ways, so I loved teaching this for that reason. The background is stamped using shimmer paint directly on the stamp.  I also used it to sponge around the edges of the Soft Suede Framelits, using the die itself as a template.

We also used paint to colour over the flowers on the bodice, on top of watercolouring it with Watercolour Wonder Crayons.

I used the Riding Hood Red Ribbon, but the rest of the card is so neutral, you could use any of the other three colours in the pleated ribbon instead.  I liked how the Baker's Twine is layered over the pleated ribbon, adding interest, texture, and a different look to the ribbon altogether. 

if you don't have those Framelits dies yet, add them to your wish list!  I absolutely love them and am using them heaps and heaps and heaps. . .

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Rues Des Fleurs 51.95

Colours: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke

Other: Champagne Shimmer Paint, Framelits Dies, Bakers Twine, Watercolour Wonder Crayons in Regals, Black Staz On

Join us!

This Thursday, July 5th, Scrapbooking in Howick!  7:30 pm  Birthday Theme $15

Saturday, July 7th, Stamping Class in Dargaville 1pm  $15

Monday, July 9th, Stamping Class in Birkenhead 7:30 pm  $15  Make two kids cards!

Vintage Tea Shoppe

Wow has this week zipped by!  I'm looking forward to our Stamp Extravaganza tomorrow here in Auckland, and then team training in Christchurch on Sunday.

In the meantime, this card was requested in one of my classes, and this is my version of it.  Each lady came up with her own colour combination - I love it when there's a little creative room in a project so everyone's turns out differently.

This one comes together surprisingly quickly - the embellishments and bits are all stamps, so there's not many supplies either.

Here is another colour version; I couldn't decide which might look the best . . .

This project uses just the Tea Shoppe stamp set in the mini catalogue - such a lovely set with a LOT in it.  Available through the end of July only!

I slipped a real tea bag in the cup, which is quite a nice look.  I poured my tea leaves out, but some ladies left theirs in, and that looked even better.

I'd love to show you how to make this project; book in for a class to or hostess your own!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Tea Shoppe

Colours: Rich Razzleberry, Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Soft Suede

Other: doilies from the $2 shop, various seam binding ribbons, Basic Pearls, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Modern Label Punch, tea bag, Eyelet Border Punch

Upcoming Events:

Saturday June 23 Auckland Stamp Extravaganza!  1-5pm  $45 includes a $10 voucher and 5 projects

Monday June 25th Techniques Class in Birkenhead  7:30pm  $15 Make two projects using shimmer paint!

Wednesday June 28th Papakura Stamp Class 7:30pm  $15 Make two lovely projects!  Requests taken

Embossed Butterflies

A CASE off the net - Many thanks to the original artist Amy Risary.  I loved the simplicity of the butterflies and the cool use of DSP.  I've used the Paisley Petals DSP here:

AND I like how we've used a few of the butterflies from the Bigz Butterfly Die that I don't normally use. It comes with four, and I have tended to just use the one, so this was great.

A little white embossing on them gives them just that bit more interest and it's quick and easy to do.

This makes a nice Mother's Day card or a sympathy card or a birthday card - an easy design that's quick to adjust for the occasion. 

Now, I'm off to do some work for convention!  Just two weeks and a bit away before we leave!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Just Believe, Loving Thoughts

Colours: Calypso Coral, Soft Suede

Other: Paisley Petals DSP, Basic Pearls, White Embossing Powder, Taffeta and lace ribbon, Bigz Butterfly die

A Case of a Mother's Day or Beautiful Card

I saw this project of Debbie Lamb's up on Facebook and just had to make one!  Such a clean and elegant design - using the new dies that are so fantastic!

This one really isn't that hard to make once you've got all the pieces out.  It's a fair bit of die cutting and embossing, but such a lovely effect.

The flowers are from the Mini Catalogue Set, Bordering on Romance, and easily coloured in with an aqua pen and the ink pads.

So this is one that can be used for a special person's birthday or for Mother's Day.  I put the Mother's Day greeting inside as it's just quite small.  I will have to find someone to give this to on Sunday!  (My own mother lives in the USA so I posted hers out a week ago).

To order supplies to make this beauty, please contact me!

Stamps: Bordering on Romance, You're A Gem, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Colours: Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilly, Crumb Cake

Other: Aqua pen, Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon, BAsic Pearls, Framelits Dies, Vintage Wallpaper emboss folder, Dots Emboss Folder, Oval Frame Emboss Folder, Large Oval Punch, Dazzling Diamonds

 

 

Wednesday May 9th Takanini Class Mother's Day/Beautiful Cards  7:30  $15

Friday May 11th Hamilton Flip Album 2.5 hour class 7pm  $20

Tuesday May 15th Afternoon and Evening Classes in Nelson!  1pm and 7 pm  $15


Or Book Your Own Class!

Autumn Leaves in Polished Stone

I had a request some weeks ago for the Polished Stone technique, and I found this lovely idea on the net - rather than using it as a background, to die cut the Polished Stone into shapes to be used as embellishments.

These leaves were perfect.

To do Polished Stone, you need glossy cardstock, ispopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol from the chemist), and ink refills.  We also used a spray of the Gold and Silver Shimmer spray on top.

Wet a cotton ball with the reinkers (3-4 colors) and dab in the alcohol.  Then dab or wipe all over the cardstock until you have the look you want. You can even spray the cardstock with alcohol to make the colors blend even more if you wish.

This is a simple layout card, but a great one to feature a striking technique like this one.

To learn this technique or to book in a class, contact me today!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Word Play

Colours: Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie, River Rock, Soft Suede, More Mustard

Other: Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Antique Brads, Circle Scissors, Leaves Die

Thursday May 3rd Howick Scrapbooking Class  7:30 pm  $15

Monday May 7th Mother's Day/Beautiful Cards  birkenhead  7:30 pm  $15

Wednesday May 9th Takanini Class Mother's Day/Beautiful Cards  7:30  $15

Or Book Your Own Class!