Try Stampin on Tuesday #20

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.......

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

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.........

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

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

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

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

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.......

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

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