Try Stampin on Tuesday #12

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

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

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

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

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

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....

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.