I BOW TO YOU BOW!

Bow tying is one of the things I hear most crafters struggle with, so this weeks challenge at Just Add Ink is a perfect one to perfect your technique - Just Add Bows!

I have added a really BIG BOW to my Christmas card.  You can't miss it can you?!  I figured for the challenge it really needed to take centre stage.  I have used the new 1" Cherry Cobbler Ribbon from the current Stampin' Up! Holiday catalogue.  I love this ribbon!
To get the chequered patterned, I have used the Gingham Wheel.  I inked a strip in Cherry Cobbler, one in Garden Green and another in Versamark, so I could Gold emboss it.  I then cut the strips into squares and adhered them to my card.  I have also used Brushed Gold cardstock and pretty gold bells I picked up at the $2 Shop.

If you struggle with tying bows then check out my two favourite ways HERE and HERE, just two of the many free tutorials I have available.  I hope they help.

Now hop to it and join in the fun at Just Add Ink this week and while you are there check out what the rerst of the Design Team have come up with.

DON'T FORGET THE COFFEE!!

All of our household shopping items get written on a white board that sits on top of our fridge.  Easy for me to forget to write things down that we need to get.  So I thought I would make one that will stick to the front of the fridge with magnets.

I simply found a long narrow pad and covered it with Soft Sky cardstock to fit the pad, then went ahead an decorated the front.  I keep all my ribbon scrapes, even the retired ones, you just never know when they might come in handy.  This piece of ribbon matched my blues perfectly!  The Perfect Blend stamp set was just right for this shopping list and I have teamed it with the Sweater Weather DSP.

SWEATER SUNBURST

While blog surfing, as you do, I visited the blog of an Aussie friend, Di Barnes at Colour Me Happy.  Wow!!  Was I glad I decided to drop in.  Di has been busy making Sunburst cards, which seem to be all the rage at the moment.  Not only that, but she has very generously shared how she did her card, measurements and all.

My card is almost an exact replica of hers (why change a good thing?) except I left the twine and ribbon off and changed up the colour way.  This is a great card for a guy!
If you want to make one of these cards then pop in to see Di at Colour Me Happy and get started.

HOLIDAY COLLECTION SINGLE STAMPS!

A new, holiday-themed collection of single stamps is now available! The holidays will be here before you know it, and these holiday-themed single stamps may be just what the budget-conscious stamper needs. There are eight different stamps to choose from, six of which coordinate with Framelits dies or punches.

Visit my Online Store today to order yours!

ONE OF "THOSE" DAYS!

Ever have one of those days where you have a mountain of jobs waiting to be done, but you just can't face any of them?  That was me yesterday!!  So I pulled out one of my hardly used wheel stamps, Shop Around, and had a play!

I really like the Chocolate Chip ink on the Pool Party background.  I thought it looked really striking.  I have used some of the Coastal Cabana Ruffle Stretch trim along the bottom of the image panel and  finished off this simple card with a Very Vintage Button and Bakers Twine.

Did you know I have put links to the products I have been using over the past few posts, directly to my Online Store?  If you want more information on any of the products I have used, simply click on the product name!

Pick of the week for NZSU!

THANK YOU SAMPLER

I recently purchased the Six Sided Sampler Bundle and finally, it has seen some ink!  I used the Note Cards & Envelopes to make this little Thank You card.  I love that the card and envelope are blank and ready to stamp on.  No measuring or layers neccessary!  You also get 20 of each for just $11.95.  A bargain and great place to start if you are new to crafting.

This card was a test of my Stamp-a-ma-jig skills as each Hexagon has been stamped separately!  SO while it is a single layer card, it did take some time to create.  I love that it looks like a well loved quilt!

MY FRIEND SILHOUETTE

A quick post today and something clean and simple.  I saw a great challenge over at CASology - Silhouettes - and decided to have a go.  As most of you know, I struggle with simple so this was a good exercise for me!

This card couldn't be any simpler if I tried, with only 1 Basic Pearl (dare you to find it!), the Four You and My Friend stamps and a bit of sponging.
  There are some lovely samples of Silhouette cards at CASology.  Be sure to have a look!

Many thanks to Melissa and the team for the honorable mention!!  I really enjoyed this challenge ♥

FRAME IT!

Just add Frames is the name of the challenge this week at Just Add Ink!  I wanted to get away from my usual card making and challenge myself to do something a bit different.

This year Stampin' Up! released My Digital Studio (MDS) software in Australia and New Zealand.  I have to be honest here, I am an ink and paper girl!  I really didn't think I would use this new medium very much at all.  Well let me tell you - I was wrong.  Well, kinda.  I am still in the learning phase.  This program is just amazing!  Just look what I did with it!

I decided to have a go at subway art, Christmas style!!  It is hard to believe this is a single sheet of paper, printed on my own home computer.  I made my own Christmas artwork just by adding different images, changing sizes and colours, adding designer paper and mats.  It took me a while, but I really enjoyed the whole process.  It really looked so professional once I put it behind a frame.

I hope you will join us with your own interpretation of our challenge this week.  Just click HERE to see what the other member's of the Design Team have come up with.

Oh, and by the way, if you want to try MDS yourself, just visit my Online Store and download a 30 day trial absolutely free!!

COFFEE ANYONE?

I have a confession to make, although my friends already know this about me.  I can't go a day without a "real" coffee!  There is nothing I like more than a hot cup of coffee.  It brings friends together, after all!

One of my first purchases from the current Stampin' Up! catalogue was "Perfect Blend".  My husband even said it was a forgone conclusion!

I have teamed this image up with a little texture and print on this card.  I have paper peiced the cup with DSP (retired), hand drawn a border around it with my Early Espresso Marker, and layered it on a Hexagon embossed Early Espresso card.  I have also coloured the Basic Pearls with a permanent marker to match!  The little sentiment is from the Six Sided Sampler stamp set.

Live in New Zealand?  Then you can order any of these products from my Online Store.  Just click the product names above to see more information!

POINSETTIA GREETINGS

I am loving this gorgeous Poinsettia stamp set in the Holiday Catalogue called Joyful Christmas.  I really love the look it gives to Vellum.  I have kept this card very soft in colour by using Soft Sky (although it hasn't photographed very well!).  Not a very traditional colour, but I really like the subtlety of it.

I also really like the bold Rhinestone at the centre of things.  If you would like to learn how I made this card and live in the Wanganui/Manawatu area, then come to my class on the 22nd of September!  You can find class details HERE.  Check out the rest of my classes on my Events page HERE.

Forget the washing! Forget the cooking! Forget the housework!  COME AND STAMP INSTEAD!!

A whole weekend of paper-crafting, fun, laughter and relaxing at the Silverstream Retreat, Lower Hutt.  You will enjoy 3 great classes, plus have lots of time to work on your own projects (it’s the perfect time to get your Christmas cards completed!)

Classes led by Sharlene Meyer, Paula Dobson and
Special Guest Tutor: Delys Cram

COST: $230, this includes:
* 2 Nights Shared Accommodation (Fri & Sat)
*Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on Saturday, Breakfast and Lunch on Sunday
*Tea/Coffee and biscuits throughout the weekend
*All project kits (including a stamp set valued at over $40)

We had so much fun at this event last year, that many guests booked then and there to do it all again this year!

There are only a few places left so BOOK NOW to avoid disappointment!!