Hive of industry today.

I haven't fallen of the face of this earth.

 It is only this week that I have been feeling better again, it was very draining I was always tired.

I'm glad school has finished for the year. Darian and Savannah finished Thursday 10th and Samuel finished today.

We had a visit to Christchurch on Tuesday and stayed the night at Mum and Dad's, came home on Wednesday as Samuel had Montessori on Thursday.

My Dad is Santa at the Hornby Mall, as long as I can remember his dream was when his beard is white he would give up work in December and be a Santa in a mall. He has been Santa for 10 years now and loves it every moment of it and has lots of great stories to tell. The kids visited him on Tuesday and had the photo taken with him. On Wednesday  Mum took the kids and Jessica (cousin) into town on the bus, They went to see the Ballentynes window display and then went  to the Cathedral  and put presents under the Christmas Tree.

I met my to 2 sisters at the Hornby Mall, we went and had our photo taken with Dad (aka Santa), then we had lunch together without children. It was great we have never managed it before. I was able to get some more Christmas shopping done.

Today had been a real hive of activity Savannah (11 years) has been stamping on candles for her Christmas presents, she has used the snowflake stamp out of the Winter Post Stamp Set and stamped using Pacific Point, Real Red and Pixie Pink. She has done a fantastic job and everyone will love them.

I have been at the other table making cards and boxes for Christmas presents.

This set of 4 cards are made using For Everything Stamp Set.

Supplies List

Card Stock: Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, So Saffron and Whisper White.

DSP: Washington Apple.

Inks: Riding Hood Red, Old Olive and Baja Breeze.

This Set I have used the Butterfly Prints Stamp Set and the Butterfly punch.

Supplies List:

Card Stock: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Close to Cocoa and Whisper White.

DSP: Baja Breeze.

Inks: Chocolate Chip and Baja Breeze.

I made matching boxes for them to go into. I made tags using the Butterfly Prints and Punch.

We had a great day with Christmas Carols and stamping what could be better.

Going Live today

The New Summer Mini Catalogue goes live today.

Jam Packed with wonderful new products, Including stamp sets (butterflies, hearts, flowers and more).

Ribbons, buttons, punches, Designer Series Papers and a fabulous new tool.

To download a copy click on the Summer Mini Catalogue in the sidebar.

If you would like a hard copy for bedtime reading email me and I will get you one.

I have had fun playing with my pre ordered product from the Summer Mini.

The DSP are just fabulous, I love both, but I think the Tall Tales DSP is great, so great I have pasted one of the pages on to a canvas which will eventually make its way onto Samuel's Bedroom wall.

I painted the sides of the canvas with chocolate and olive paint, them pasted the page to the canvas. I cut out the large hot air balloon and trees out of the second page and mounted them with Stampin' Dimensionals.

I used the 2 Way Glue Pen and Dazzling Diamonds on the balloons, trees and some of the flowers and put some clear Rhinestone Brads in the centre of some of the flowers.

I am very pleased with the results, how could you cut up a page like this one.

It will look great in Samuel's room after I have stopped showing it.

If you would like to know more about these product, book a workshop or place an order email me.

Snow Globe

Life around has been very busy lately. I averaged 2 workshops a week this month and have travelled 725km, I have been to Geraldine, Temuka and Waimate twice I attended a team meeting in Christchurch last week and not to mention workshops here in Timaru. My asthma has been playing up (it that time of year with all the pollens in the air). I finally gave in today and went and saw my Doctor, so now I am on antibiotics and steiods to help combat it and I will now soon be on the mend (so there will no sport events for me as I will fail the dope test LOL).

Saturday I hosted a Pre launch Party for the New Summer Mini Catalogue, which goes live tomorrow. There were 15 lovely ladies that attended, we had fun and they made a card and a gift tag. As a Demonstrator we get to pre order our summer mini product a month earlier then you, so we can make our samples and play with the new product. Here is 2 photos of the display I had for Saturday.

I will feature the items later.

This morning while looking at the NZSU site. Karen R posted a link for snow globe cards. Here is my attempt, using sweet treat cups all will be revealed tomorrow in the Summer mini.

Supplies List
Card Stock: Ruby Red, Very Vanilla.
DSP: Holiday Treasures.
Stamp Sets: Winter post and Best Yet Level 1 Hostess.
Inks: Basic Black.
Extras: Sweet Treat Cups (Summer Mini), 1/4" Grossgrain Ribbon, Scallop Oval and Large Oval Punches.

Make and Take

This is the card, I have been doing in some of my workshops lately.

It is a very versatile card, change the DSP, colours and stamps and it very quickly transforms

into a birthday card. I cased this from Karen R and Janine P. Thanks ladies it has proved very popular.

Supplies List

Card Stock: Real Red, Baja Breeze, Whisper White and Old Olive.

DSP: Ski Slope.

Ink: Basic Black.

Extras: Old Olive 1/4" Grossgrain Ribbon. 1-1/4" Square and Scallop Edge Punches, and scrap of tissue paper.

Here the birthday I made using the same design.

Card Stock: Lovely Lalic, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White and Pink Pirouette.

Simply Scrappin': Sweet Nothings.

Ink: Craft Whisper White.

Extras: Certainly Celery 1/4" Grossgrain Ribbon. 1-1/4" Square and Eyelet Border Punches, Sponges and scrap of tissue paper.

Embossed Candles

After seeing Donna Calley's blog yesterday, I had to have a go at embossing candles.

So I did a google search and found instructions. Isn't the web great.

Here is my first attempt. The candle is a $2 candle, next time I would buy a better candle ( great for practice.)

I stamped the tree from the Thoughts and Prayers Stamp Set.

Savannah our 11 year old is going to have go for her Christmas presents.

I will post her finished candles.

Christmas Reef Decoration and Card

I found this Decoration Last week while surfing the net.

Here is the link to the tutorial.

I used Holiday Treasures DSP ( 2" x 4" ) for the decoration.

I made a smaller reef (1 1/2" x 3") and mounted on a card.

Supplies:

Decoration.

DSP: Holiday Treasures.

Extras: 1/4" Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, 2-Way Glue Pen and Dazzling Diamonds.

Card

Card Stock: Real Red, Old Olive.

DSP: Ski Slope.

Extras: 1/4" Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, 2-Way Glue Pen and Dazzling Diamonds.

Mainly Music Train Day

Yesterday instead of having mainly music at church, we had trip to Pleasant Point, South Canterbury, New Zealand. Were we had a short train ride from the station to the museum.

This Samuel our youngest he is 4 year old, he is watching the train arriving at the  Pleasant Point Railway  Station.

He is on the train.

The train was pulled by a diesel engine, on special weekends they run a steam locomotive.

 All the children were allowed up on the big locomotive. Here is Samuel in the locomotive.

We had a great morning. There was lots to see and do and even a showing of Thomas the Tank Engine in the movie theatre.

Then was all climbed back on the train, home bound to the station.

Then we headed to a park for morning tea and a play.

It was a fabulous morning.

Betsy this one's for you!

WOW what a Fabulous day we have had at the Temuka Baptist Christmas Scrap and Craft. Day. The company was great, I love spending time with you all. We had lots of laughs, and completed some great projects. There were 8 make and takes, you could choose 4, the projects looked great. I tutored 2 make and takes. First project was the decoration, from the decoration in the box, that I did a few weeks ago. Then after tea we made Triangle Box Christmas Crackers. I had seen in a magazine a Hexagon Cracker, so I played around until I had got it cracked. In the photo is the Triangle Box and the Hexagon Cracker.

Recipe
Old Olive Card Stock, I stamped the middle with Baroque Motifs Stamp Set, Real Red Grossgrain Ribbon.

You need an A4 piece Card Stock.
Score parallel to 29.8cm side of the card at 1 1/4" , 2 1/2" , 3 3/4" , 5" , 6 1/4"  and 7 1/2"
Score Parallel to 21cm side of the card at 1 1/2" , 2 1/4" and 3" rotate 180 degrees and score other end with same measurements. Then follow the link above for the triangle box for the rest of instructions.

Sharing in your Sorrow

A friend's father passed away last week. Here is the  sympathy card that I made for them. I love the Thoughts and Prayers Stamp Set, It makes very nice thinking of you, get well and sympathy cards. I used God's Blessing Stamp Set in the inside of the card.

Christmas Gift Giving Guide

November has arrived. Were has the year gone?

Stampin' Up have put together a Christmas Gift Giving Guide.

Receive a Free Scallop Square Punch (a $35.95 value!) when you spend $105 on products from the guide.

Download your copy the guide.

Julie and Tony's Wedding

Julie and Tony's Wedding yesterday was beautiful.

Julie arrived in beautiful old red cars (sorry I don't know what type of cars they were, My husband would know but he isn't home).

Julie and her Dad Ian just arriving.

The wedding was at Sopheze on the Bay, Caroline Bay, Timaru, New Zealand.

The bay has a lovely area for weddings, a beautiful setting.

This is Julie, Tony and Jarred (Julie's son).

The Bridal Party.

The wedding was very lovely. Julie and Tony laughed and cried all the way through the ceremony.

It was just great. The reception was lovely, great speeches. Wonderful food. A man played the guitar and woman sang, they were great, and knew how to get everyone up on the dance floor.

 We had a fabulous night, it's been ages since I last went dancing.

This is how we all know Julie, she is always laughing.

Thanks Julie and Tony for sharing your special day with us.

This is the wedding card I made for them.

Stamp set: Baroque Motifs and God's Blessings.

Card Stock: Lovely Lilac, Elegant Eggplant and Very Vanilla

Ink: Orchid Opulence.

Punches: Eyelet Border, Large Oval and Scallop Oval (Spring Mini)

Extras: Dazzling Diamonds and Clear Rhinestone Brad.

Spring Mini Catalogue is only ends on the 30th November. So if there is anything you need out of the Spring Mini email or ring me 03 6862891 to place an order.

.

Mini Note Purse

I made this purse a couple of weeks ago, it was just waiting for the velcro dots which I didn't have any. I remembered the velcro dots yesterday when I was at the supermarket, so I finally got it completed. I first saw this purse on a  NZSU site, I can't find it now so if it was was yours thanks for sharing it. Here is the original tutorial Mini Note Purse Template - Toni Sacrison . I have made it using Walk in the Park DSP, Certainly Celery Ribbon and Clear Rhinestone Brad. It can hold 16 3" square cards and envelopes. I haven't had time to make the cards to go inside as of yet.
If you would like to know more about these product or would like me to come and make this purse with you and your friends email or ring 03 6862891.

Life has been busy busy!!!

I have been very busy. Darian and Savannah had last Friday and this Tuesday off school, and Paul was able to get the days off also. So we had five wonderful days in Dunedin, Catching up with friends. It was Christmas when we last made a flying visit. We used to live in Dunedin ( have only been in Timaru 2 years ), the kids have been been nagging us for awhile for to go down there. I finished the wedding dress I was making for Julie on Tuesday (I took the dress with me to do the hand sewing off the lace flowers), and I have managed to make a new top and alter a skirt that was already in my wardrobe for the wedding on Saturday. I will post some photos of the wedding next week.

Today Samuel was at Montessori all day. So I went to the gym, I did my vibe training then I got on the bike and did 20 minutes rolling hills approx 8 kilometres. I love going to the gym, just lately I haven't had time to get on the bike, it felt good to get back on the bike today. Then I spend the day tidying Samuel's bedroom and sorting out his clothes.

Tonight I finally got some card making done, I made 4 cards. A wedding card, Sympathy card (will show you them next week) and 2 window card. Jacque Pedersen has a tutorial on her blog for window cards. NZSU have a challenge to make a card using window technique.
They are both Birthday Cards.
First one is made using Pacific Point and Basic Black card stock and the hedgehog out off the Fun and Fast Notes stamp set.
The second one is made using Kiwi Kiss and Creamy Caramel card stock and the cakes out off the same stamp set.

Decoration in a box

Yesterday I made this beautiful decoration and box. I first saw this a couple of months on Scor-pal, the links didn't work for the decoration, so I emailed the author and she sent me the links for her blog.

Thank you Katie Renz. This link is for the decoration.

So at long last I have managed to get around to completing then and I am very pleased with the results.

I made it in Ski Slope DSP.

The box was fun to make. I made it in Ski Slope DSP and Whisper White Card Stock.

Ready Steady Go

I have got my craft room all ready for classes.

There is still places available for next weeks classes.

Class #2 Punch Class

You will make 2 Cards and a decoration.

Tuesday October 20^th  7.30 pm

And Thursday October 22th 10 am

Cost $10 includes all materials.

Email me or ring me 03 6862891

Challenges

I have not had much time lately for crafting. We have had 2 weeks off school holidays, I love the holidays relaxing with the kids and no routines to follow. I have also been sewing, I'm in the middle of making a wedding dress for a friend who is getting married on Saturday 31st October.

I have also been getting my craft room ready for classes, it is now ready. My first class was meant to be tonight but I didn't have any takers, so I spend the night finishing a few half finished items.

This card is one of the items I have just finished. It is a wiper card. I made it for a workshop in August but wasn't happy with the wiper. So I have  now fixed it,

This weeks Crazy 4 Challenges Week 6 Truly Thankful C4C6.

As this is a Thank you card what could be better.

Supplies

Stamps: Heartfelt Thanks, Oval All.

Stock Card: Ruby Red, Very Vanilla.

Ink: Basic Black, Real Red, Versamark.

Punches: Scallop Oval, Large Oval.

Here is a Christmas Wiper Card the needed finishing.

Supplies

Stamps: Tree Trimmings.

Stock Card: Ruby Red, Kiwi Kiss, Very Vanilla.

Ink: Old Olive, Real Red, Versamark.

Punches: Eyelet Border.

Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge # 43 (MTSC43)

A friend showed me how to make this Christmas Tree, It is very simple.

Cut 1 of each 3" square, 2 1/2" square, 2" Square and 1 1/2" square.

The fold is a Waterbomb Variation Teabag Fold, then you insert them into each to form a tree.

Thanks Fern.

Supplies

Stamps: Best Yet (Hostess Level 1).

Stock Card: Chocolate chip, Old Olive, Whisper White.

DSP: Ski Slope.

Extras: Mat Pack.