Welcome to a new year

Afternoon crafters,

Happy new year

I know it is a fraction too late, but this is the first time this year i have been back and visited my blog, slack i know but i took a holiday away from my crafts, and even blog surfing.

Apart from the occasional card i had to make during the break, i have enjoyed this time to sit back relax and enjoy the precious sun that we got, when it showed. I think someone forgot to tell the weather god that it is summer here in NZ. I hope you all have had a relaxing safe and happy holiday season, i worked through but did manage 3 days up at the beach this past Monday

 From here on in until June i have a very quiet time on the card front, so this is normally the time i end up trying out new techniques and ideas.

I have already seen a few new ideas i want to play around with, oh exciting times ahead.

The card i want to show today is one i did recently for my F-I-L's 60th birthday.

I got to play with my new stamp set "The Open Sea"

 I really enjoyed making this card, the ship and the anchor has been clear embossed. The background of the ship is a piece of cardstock that i stamped then just rumpled up and then flattened back out.

Well i must get back to my blog surfing i have alot to catch up on......oh and my paper work i supposed i had better do that as well

Where has the time gone....pt2

Morning All,

So where did i leave off yesterday. Oh that is right birthdays cards, i have had a few birthdays pop up in the last month, including annivarsary cards. Oh blast i have just noticed that i have forgotten to take a photo of a few of them, double blast.

Birthday cards are so much fun to do, i always love trying to tie them in with the person receiving them

This was for my youngest sister's 18th birthday, and she is a wonderful bass player

                            This one was for my Neice's 15th birthday

  Every year my best friends kids challenge me, as they love the cards with the sweet treat cups in them, so each and every birthday, i have to come up with something new using them, this year i had access (i know Shame on me, i don't own this set Yet!! ) to this set, so i was yet to do a gumball one, one i had fogotten to take a photo of was one for Nathan's brother, for his i used a test tube instead

 And last but not least, this one was made for a special friend, Kelly it was her birthday day yesterday, and on many occassions she is down in the dumps, as she is an Amercian and is missing her home and family very much, something i could always understand, as i lived away from my family for 7 years
What the photo doesn't show is that there is a little bit of bling on the big flower, yes the ribbon is hiding a Boo Boo

So anyway i am off to go finish my Christmas shopping as i am teenager free for a few hours, also it is another busy day ahead, Staff party, doc's appts, nail appts must have them looking all blingy for Christmas, well tidied up anyway

Sorry one last photo, i had to show you my nails done up for Christmas, i got them done a couple weeks ago now, they are not painted, but done in coloured acrylic, everywhere i go people love them.

Quality time in my craft room

Afternoon Crafters,

This morning i spent time in my craft room making a card a few cards, and also finishing off two ATC swaps i am involved with.

It felt great to sit there and craft until i decided i had had enough, i haven't done this in quite a while.

I will wait until i receive the ATC's from the rest of the group before i post the ones i made, to be fair on the groups, incase they peek.

.

This is a case from the wonderfully talented Andrea Buckland,

I did put my spin on it, but i am not totally happy with it at all, it is amazing how we can hit and miss sometimes, i think this one is a miss, i did have my mum in mind, as it is her birthday tomorrow but i'm not so sure, now that it is finished.

I also finished a few christmas cards, 

This is one i remembered to take a photo of, i tried a few different things here, i stamped directly on to my ribbon, and also the tree is made using a teabag fold technique

Here is another one, i made this end of last week. 

I was asked to make for a friend of my son's girlfriend's birthday

Oh well i had better go back to the drawing board for a card for my mum's birthday tomorrow,

Oh on a final note, i was picked as one of the top three winners for last weeks Try Stampin on Tuesday's sketch,

Here is my badge

Have a great weekend

Try stampin on Tuesday #40

Morning Stampers,

It is once again that time of week, 

Try Stampin on Tuesday 

has released a new sketch, and it is a good one

Yesterday was my Brother-in-laws birthday, so i used this sketch to do a male themed card, i also got to ink up a new stamp, well it is not new i have had it for a while but it was yet to see ink.

This one isn't one of my finest pieces, there are many boo boo's

Next time i will have to lock the cat out of my office, as he always insists on a pat or cuddle just as sit down to create.

So go on over and have paly with this weeks new sketch

An extra special birthday card

Afternoon stampers,

Last month was my birthday, and this year as always i had a great time, but i wanted to take the time to show you all a special card handmade just for me.

Every year i make a couple of great kids a birthday card each on their special day, and this year Crystal decided to get her craft gear out and make me a card.

Crystal is 11 years old, and hasn't been making cards for very long.

I was speechless when i was handed this card, i love it

This is the front, 

Here is the inside

And she even decorated the back, compete with her "made by Crystal" mark

Didn't she do a great job, i have been sorting out some of my old stuff, and i have a  nice little pile to give her so she can go on and create more beautiful cards.

With xmas coming up i am thinking of having a crafting afternoon, where i can help her to make special little gifts for her family.

Now for the news on the home front.

Last Tuesday was a very hard day for me, it was the day i said goodbye to my 15yr old Daughter, Alana has gone to live in Australia with her Grandmother. The previous post explains why this all came about.

 There were a few tears at the departure doors, she even laid down a bet as we approached the doors.....as to who would cry first, then a very short time later she looked at me and said, "bugger it's going to be me". i managed to hold it together ...just, but then when her plane left the ground, i couldn't hold it back anymore and then for the rest for the day there were tears off and on, even now i find the tears building when i think of her so far away from home. Just writing this has tears falling.

I am missing her so much, i didn't realize just how much i still did for her.

But she is doing very well, she has just got her very first part time job, and is about to join up with the local surf lifesaving club, and is going to re-join with the scout movement, but the most important thing is she is happy and finally has a bit of piece within her mind, what more can a parent ask for.

Anyway i must go, i have a few cards to show you, so i will get around to posting these in the next few days or so, 

until then, take care and keep crafting 

A Special birthday

Afternoon stampers,

What a weekend, it was one that all of us kiwi's can feel proud about.

We beat the Australians in netball by one goal, and then we went on to beat the French by one point in the grand final of the Rugby World Cup,

Well done to both teams.

I had a blast on the night of the RWC final, we headed over to a friend of ours and joined them in a night of laughs, sighs, and breath holding moments, before, during and after the game.

i know i went to sleep with a smile on my face, well who wouldn't after such a great night.

And to top the weekend off the kids went back to school today, so now i can go shopping in peace, away from my own two and other kids at the mall.

In my last post i mentioned that a very dear friend of mine had just lost her father, but right in the middle of this was one of her Nephews birthday's.

 Every year for each of my friends children and one of her sisters children birthday's i always try to include a choc somewhere in the card.

This one was no different, but with the sad things happening at home, i wanted a little bit of an extra special birthday card for him.

Not long ago, i managed to get hold of some great little test tubes, which i knew i wanted to be included on the card somewhere. 

This is what i came up with.

I love this, in fact i have ear marked a couple more birthdays to do this for.

Here is a closer look

I have written on the back of the tall piece, this is right up my alley with the bright colours.

i even almost completely matched up the colours of the M&M's with our inks.

Well i am off to go and enjoy the rest of my day here in Hamilton, the sun is shining bright and the wind is finally laying low, bring on the summer tan......Don't think so i am getting to old to worry about that now, my swimsuit body has been laid to rest, bring on the cover ups *Giggle, Giggle*.

Another male birthday

Afternoon stampers,

On Monday this past week, my son celebrated his 17th birthday. I am starting to feel old now, my two children are growing up so fast, it wont be long before they spread their wings and venture out on their own...i will admit that i am not looking forward to that day, im sure there will be many private tears when it does happen. heres hoping there are still a few more years yet before i have to cross that bridge.

I had alot of trouble with his card, as in some ways he is still young, but in other ways he is so much older now.

So instead of settling for a teenage card, i went for a more mature card.

Next year for his 18th i have a fun card already picked out for him.

I hope everybody is enjoying this wonderful spring weather, well today here in Hamilton is is a wonderful day, almost a shame i have to sit here in my office and do paper work, lets hope it lasts until the weekend so i can go out and at least enjoy some of it.

Thinking of you

Morning Stampers,

This past week has been one of many laughs, i had alot of fun at my first paintballing experience, i can say i was worried going in as i was the only female on both teams, so i was either going to be a big target or they would be nice to me, i can say once they found me i was a big target... my team won, but i am sporting a couple of great bruises thanks to a few good hits from the opposition.

I only feel them when the family cat tries to make him self comfortable on my lap in the evening. 

I hope you all have been keeping nice and warm this past week, i know it has been cold here in Hamilton, and here i was thinking last weekend was the start of spring, i even got a bit of sun, but no........ just to return us to the land of reality the cold has crept back in.

 Believe it or not i have been doing a bit of crafting, well i should say i have had to with the odd request here and there for cards, which i really love doing for others, as it normally gives me the opportunity to try something new.

This week i was asked to do a card for a friend of a friend who has just had surgery and was recovering. I don't have any "hope your feeling better" stamps, so i went with "thinking of you".

But i didn't have much time so i didn't try anything new, i just went with a bit of heat embossing.

The round stamped images are all heat embossed with clear powder, with the receiver being a male i went with my old time fav colour combination, 

Blue, Kraft and Choc Chip.

At least i heard it brought a smile to his face, that is the greatest reward to me.

Happy Birthday to the man in my life

Afternoon stampers.

This week was my darling husband's birthday, and i swear each year it is getting harder and harder to buy for him. he is not the easiest person to buy for.

After being together for nearly 24 years, i have run out of all ideas on gifts for him. But this time i ended up taking him out to the movies at the La Premiere theater, which has very comfortable leather lazyboys, we had a snack while watching the beginning of the movie, then bout half way through the movie they brought us in our desserts. It was a very enjoyable night and the movie "Crazy stupid love", was great.

I have struggled with male cards, so it is always even harder to make that special card for that special person in your life.

But i think i managed to get it just right 

Now the next challenge will be for my son's 17th on Monday, oh boy what to do there.

 Wherever you are tonight enjoy the All Blacks game, if you plan on watching it.

 I know my town is going crazy about this game, they have been all week, It is a big deal for us here in Hamilton.

"GO BLACKS"

Yes i am still here.

Hi Stampers,

Boy has it really been 3 weeks since my last post....i guess it has been.

 So much has been happening. 

I have attended a SU big day out, and boy oh boy it was so much fun, i got to met ladies that i have spent the past few months talking to online. It was just brilliant to put faces to names.

Here is a photo of us CA ladies.

FRONT: Helen Williams

SECOND ROW: (Left to Right) Dee Sturgeon, Narelle Hoggard, Louise Hopman

THIRD ROW: Raine Walton, Debi Ryan, Bev Poultney, Julia Leece, Heather Stewart, Shona Davy, Sally Williams.

FOURTH ROW: Rhonda Fawcett, Cindy Backhouse, Kristine McNickle

BACK ROW: Sharna Russell, Baby Holle & Claire Mason, Judy Kilmore, Faazia Sherrard, Karen Williamson, Katrina Bongers

Life has been so busy that it has been very hard to find time to create. I am also suffering with a sore arm, and when i do spend time stamping or creating, i seem to be spending just about as much time with an aching arm afterwards.

I can honestly say that i have only made about 1-3 cards lately.

i still have not got much mojo happening, but i have been busy doing a project or two.

Over at Crafters anonynous (CA) we have an up coming secret sister swap, so i have been busy trying to get it all finished so i can get in the post to my lucky swap sister.

I do have a card i want to share today, i was asked to make a card for my daughters new boyfriend, it was his birthday on the weekend, but with mojo lacking i went back to an old favorite of mine, but just used a different layout, i have lost count the number of times i have now used this particular stamp in this way.

So here is the boyfriends card

i am so hoping the mojo returns soon, as from here until Christmas i have a busy time with birthdays starting tomorrow it is my husbands birthday, i do have a card made for that, so i will post that in the upcoming days.

But that raises a bigger question...what to get him, he has no hobbies(too busy with our business), no real interests and if he wants anything he just goes and buys it for himself.

Anyway i must go, and rest my arm i had to make Hubby's card this morning, and the arm is showing me it is there, As if i didn't know that already

Missing in action.......where has it gone ???

Hello stampers.

Well this is the million dollar question.

I have lost all of my mojo, i do not have any creative juices at all at the moment.

Normally after a bit of blurfing (blog surfing) my mojo hits top gear and away i go again, but lately even blurfing has failed to have this effect.

i have a few things i need to get done, but am struggling to do so

I have been doing a little bit of creating, but nothing major, it all has been very simple.

Here is a card i made for a friend of mine daughter's birthday, in the past i had made her pretty cards, and made the boys cards using sweet treat cups, so this time i made one for her as well using a sweet treat cup

I have been trying to do a few pages in my kids scrapbook.

So far i have done a couple of now pages, and almost completed their first page in their younger days albums, so once i finish those i will get some photos and pop them up.

Anyway on the home front, our new family member is settling in fine, he is loving being back in school, and is getting good marks.

Happy 15th Birthday

Morning Stampers...

This card was made for my Daughters 15th birthday back on the 31st, 

this is one that took a long time to come up with, it is hard to put things together when your mojo is lacking, or in my case gone competely

But i am really happy with the out come

Sorry for the photo, i had to be quick and get the photo before she ate the lollies, as i forgot to take a photo before i gave it to her, well almost didn't get the photo, some of the lollies are missing.

here is the card open

And a side view

See i even forgot the sentiment.

now for what has been happening in my life....well where do i start.

I now have a new family member, i have taken in a 15yr old boy who needed a family to love him, 

we are all so blessed to have the love and support from our families, but there are those out there who don't have that basic need of life. I couldn't turn my back on someone who needed this love, and as a mum i have alot of love to share around.

We all have been busy adjusting to the new addition, and there have been many meetings with winz and social workers to make it all happen.

He wasn't in school, getting regular food nor basic needs of life........ access to fresh water and toilets.

All this while living with a family member.

But since he has been living with us he is now in school, with big plans for the future. a dry and clean room and all the food he wants...being a teenager he likes his food.

He knows he has been given a golden opportunity, and he is very keen to make the most of it, or the only other choice is go back to that family member.

So yes i have been busy, and with life starting to settle, i should be able to get back into the swing of creating.

See you all soon

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.

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 

Happy 60th Birthday

Morning Stampers,

What i have to share today is a card i did for my dad's upcoming 60th birthday.

My younger sister turned 21 last month and my dad is turning 60 next month so on the 14th of this month  they held a combined party.

I gave my sister her card on her actual birthday, and i gave dad his card when i saw him, as with him living in another town, i don't see him that often at all.

I had a blast at the party catching up with a few family members who i haven't seen since my kids were babies, they are now both in their mid to late teens, so it has been a long time between visits.

Also i learn't a very important thing, don't send the men out to get you your wine...

Well it did taste a whole lot better with a little bit of juice added.....

Here is the card i made for dad

Over at try Stampin on Tuesday, i again made the top three this week. Congrats also go to Helen Williams and Sarah for their top three picks as well.

 I urge everybody to go on over and have a play, CherylAnn's weekly challenges are fantastic.

Here is my badge

The card i did for last weeks challenge was done with a new friend in mind.

i have been part of this round of U Stamp with Dawn and Friends.

And through this site i have been chatting to some amazing people, from Australia, America and of course right here in NZ.

I wanted to send a hello to Helen Williams, a demonstrator from Timaru, NZ, also to thank her for her kind words when you ask those silly questions all newbies ask.

So i made the card with her in mind.

here is the card

Anyway i am sitting here writing this and trying to figure out what i am going to do for this weeks challenge,

Again i have a another special new friend in mind, this one is going to go further abroad though.

But i am not going to say who in case she pops in and sees her name, then it won't be a surprise

Till then take care all of you out there in blogger land

Happy 2nd Birthday

Morning Stampers,

opps i was supposed to schedule this not post it, oh well two posts in one day

Well it going to be a great day today, the morning started off with a surprising phone call from my local radio station, stating that i had won the weekly lunch shout....

They are coming to our business to make us a whole bunch of sandwiches using the amazing new bread from the Burgen range, and fresh salad....it will be well welcomed by all,
pity to the two who didn't come in to work.

Anyway today im going to share with you the two cards i made for my twin nieces who turned 2 on Saturday.

i haven't seen them for a while as they live in another town, and wow, they are little people now, not babies anymore, and they are so cute, if they hurt each other, they have been taught to turn around and give the other one a hug and say sorry...it was the cutest thing to see one twin trying to console the other by hugging her and patting her on the back and saying sorry.

Here are the cards i made...i love punch art for the younger ones

Being twins, i kept the bases the same but added a different center piece.

On the inside i added the same piece of DSP along the bottom half and a Whisper White top note as well to write on.

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.

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

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.