MERRY CHRISTMAS

I would just like to take the time to tell all visit my blog, how grateful I am for all your encouraging comments.  I truly do appreciate each and every one.  I will be taking a short break for the holidays and would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.  Keep those creative juices flowing while I am away - I want to see all of your beautiful projects when I get back!!

Take care and best wishes for 2010,    Paula

SUMMER GARDEN

It is summer, isn't it?  I can only imagine this is what a summer garden looks like, since I haven't seen too many yet this year!  What is with the weather?!!

I have made this wee writing pad (no it's not a card, for a change!!) for my Mother-in-law.  Just a wee extra pressy she doesn't know about.  We are going to Whangarei for Christmas and her main gift is not transportable, so I thought I would make something she can unwrap on Christmas morning.  These are so easy to do and you can personalise them to suit the receiver.  Her favourite colour is green!!

Stamps: Echoes of Kindness
Card Stock: Garden Green, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Paper: Tea Party
Accessories:  Markers to suit, blender pens, Eyelet border punch, adhesive, Cutter kit (to destress the edges)

CHRISTMAS MOON

This is one of the last Christmas cards I have made for this year.  Going back to my sponging, of course, lol!  The photo really doesn't do it just justice.  I have put Dazzling Diamonds on the snow and it just catches the light beautifully.  I have hung up my Christmas stamps for now.  Counting down the days until Santa comes!

Stamp Sets: Best Yet, Lovely As a Tree

Card Stock: Night of Navy, Baja Breeze, Whisper White

Inks: Night of Navy, Baja Breeze, Basic Black

Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds, sponges, snail adhesive

IN MEMORY OF......

A loving husband and Father of a dear friend I have in Karen.

Sympathy cards are the hardest to make.  I had this one in mind when I knew Pete's hard fought battle was nearing it's end.  My deepest condolences to you and you family, Karen.

GOING CRACKERS!!

Here is the post I promised you all - my Christmas Crackers all finished!

I have put everyones name on each cracker, becuase the wee gifts inside are personalised for each family member and I don't want them to get the wrong one!

I used plain cardstock, but gold embossed christmas baubles on each one.  Inside is a gift, a small bar of chocolate, a hat, a joke, and a party popper.  My crackers don't "bang" when opened, but we can still make a bang with the popper afterwards!!  And man, are they loud!

I finished each one off with a coordinating ribbon.

Don't they look stunning.  The best bit, was they didn't cost as much as the bought ones and the gifts inside are sure to make everyone happy!






Stampin' Up! are having a HUGE INVENTORY SALE!!  Have a look at the list below, some of the product is half price!!

Until 24 January, 2010 you’ll get amazing discounts on select, high-quality Stampin’ Up! products with no minimum purchase, and no limits to how many you can purchase!  Contact me now to place your order!!

OH, CHRISTMAS TREE

I have just finished sending out my own Christmas cards, after spending the last three months teaching others to make their own.  I hope I haven't left it too late for my family to enjoy them!

This is last of the Christmas cards I made for this year.  I just love the Snow Swirled stamp set.  It is so elegant and versatile.  At $53.95 for a set of six stamps, it is very economical too.

Here I have only used Red as the focus colour.  I have also added some gems to the tree to add that little bit of bling you know I love!

THE CHRISTMAS BLUES

I had a fab afternoon with my Monday class ladies the other day.  It was the last class for the year (and yes, ladies, we will do it all again in 2010!) and I wanted to make it a bit special.  I had a request for the Emboss resist technique and that is exactly what we did on the card.

I decided to add a wee surprise by getting them to make a christmas cracker to go with it!  Of course, that meant they needed Chocolate to go in them as well!  I have to admit, they all resisted temptation and the chocies actually did make it in to all the crackers we made that day!!  Hehehe.

This was all great practise for me, as I am making the Crackers for the family Christmas table this year.  I had ten to make.  My husband and I had great fun trying to find gifts (personal for each person) that were small enough to fit inside!!  I have just to put the finishing touches on the last two and I am done.  Check back for a photo of them all completed!

CHOCOLATE ELEPHANT

Animal Stories is just one of the cute new Stamp sets that are in the gorgeous Summer Mini Catalogue.  It really lends itself to children and babies!  I have been making samples for my display board and this is just one of the cute little note cards I have put up.  This is a card I would love to show people how to make.  Book a workshop with ME in January and I will come and show you how it is done!

Stamps: Animal Stories
Card Stock: Close to Cocoa, So Saffron, Whisper White
Ink: Close to Cocoa
Accessories: So Saffron ribbon, snail adhesive

How easy is that!

CHRISTMAS APPEAL

I can quite often tell who has made a card by the style of it and until now, I really didn't feel I had a style.  I am a great admirer of Michelle Zindorf (as most of us are!) but find it hard to control a brayer.  I start playing around with sponging instead a few weeks ago and have fallen in love with this technique!  I feel quietly confident that this will become my style!!  I also have some artwork on my walls by a New Zealand artist, Malcolm Warr.  He has produced the most beautiful screen prints over the years.  Sadly (for me) he now lives in Australia and has swapped his prints for etchings.  I have produced a card based on his style and mine, but you will just have to check out my blog during the week to see it, because I haven't been able to take a photo yet!  What a tease I am!

In the meantime, I have been producing Christmas cards to sell at the Fairs and Galas I have been attending.  Most of the cards I have done with my new found technique have sold.  This was the last of them.  I love the Apricot Appeal colour in our range, it is such a warm inviting colour and teams well with Baja Breeze.

Stamp Sets: Lovely as a Tree, Snow Swirled
Card Stock: Apricot Appeal, Baja Breeze, Basic Gray, Whisper White
Inks: Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Baja Breeze, Basic Black
Accessories: Snail adhesive, sponges

DO YOU LOVE STAZ ON WHITE?

Well, if you do, I have some great news for you!!  Its is back, along with a few other popular items from the Spring Mini Catalogue:

If you missed out on any of these products you have your eye on, contact me to place your order.

Item #	Item	Price
112534	Jumbo brads 5/16" Neutrals Assortment	$18.50
112533	Jumbo brads 5/8" Neutrals Assortment	$16.25
114889	Scallop Oval punch	$35.95
106960	StazOn ink pad (White pad and refill)	$26.95
109196	StazOn Cleaner	$11.75

MOODY BLUES

More attempts at sponging, but I couldn't have been feeling my normal happy self!  I like this dark and moody card, just for a change.  I have left any sentiment off it entirely so it can be used for any occasion or "just because".  I also want to try putting grass on the card instead of snow.  Guess I am looking forward to summer!

TREAT CUP RATTLE

I have seen so many lovely projects made with the new Sweet Treat Cups ($7.75 for 12), that I just had to have a go myself.  My Mum has a huge collection of beads, so after riffling through her stash, I added colour coordinated beads to the cup and made it into a rattle!!  When you shake this card it really does sound like a baby's rattle!  No stamping involved with this card, as I used Rub Ons for the sentiment, also found in the Summer Mini Catalogue.

The new Summer Mini is filled with new ideas for your card making and scrap booking.  If you haven't seen it yet, you don't know what you are missing!  Give me a call or have a look on line, just click on the Catalogue on the left hand side of my blog!

FOR YOU BABY-SUMMER MINI LAUNCH

It's here at long last, our new Summer Mini Catalogue!!  It is packed full of exciting new product to get those creative juices flowing!  Check out the Mini Online, or contact me for your very own copy!!!

I have been playing with some of the lovely new products that are now available, and will be showcasing a few at my Workshop this Sunday.  You are welcome to join me and make a project of your own while you are there.

I have been invited to be a Guest Artist on the Jacqueline Pedersen's website "Stamp Happy" for the next 6 months.  It is such an honour and I am really excited I can showcase my creations with someone who is a huge talent in the Stampin' Up! family.  Each month Jacque will be sending me a selection of product to create from.  Watch this space to see what I can come up with.

This month I was sent a sample of the new Pink Pirouette 1-1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon ($17.95)and a mix of the Sherbet Designer buttons ($18.50).  I have teamed it with the Animal Stories stamp set ($28.95), which is such a cute set I couldn't resist!  I decided to get away from the traditional baby colours and used Pumpkin Pie and Close to Cocoa as the main colours, and the beautifully wide ribbon and colourful button as the main focus.