Inked and Ready. . . . .

Party in the USA -cover by Dan n Ric

2010-02-20T17:37:00.000+13:00

Valentines and Birthdayz 2010

2010-02-20T17:28:00.003+13:00

Party all week at our house: Valentines on the 14th, Stefs B/day on the 15th and mine on the 19th:) Putting on the pounds - yikes!

Happy Valentines

2010-02-14T15:11:00.004+13:00

I was wondering how/or even if, I was going to get my traditional annual bunch of flowers today for Valentines and YES I did! Aren't they just gorgeous! And after 24 years of marriage this is the only time that Ren has been able to give them to me personally because Valentines happens to fall on a Sunday lol. All the other years I have always received them by delivery. It's not Valentines until I get them - Kahamsamnida! Arigato! . . . . and . . . . ALRIGHT!

Smile, YOU!

2010-02-14T07:16:00.002+13:00

Okay - so this is the first post since over a year. I had a look through the blog and was amazed that I had done so much. So, I sent it along to Dan, Ric and Laura via Facebook (as u do:) just for a laugh and Ric suggested I should keep it going . . . . so in order to get out of doing my next weeks planning for school lol, I have spent the last 4hrs trying to figure out what my password is to get in here, done a bit of tweaking to the Title and added a slide and video bar. Both of which I could never figure out how to do before. (My friend Joelene who is residing reluctantly in Tonga also thinks I should carry on . . . .) *I feel like breaking into song here* Let's see how long I last:)

I have decided to change the focus of this blog (coz, I could never keep more than one blog going unlike some other people) and so it will be more of a "whatz up" with the Huysmans . . . oooo that's a fun title - might make a change from 'Inked and Ready'. . . . . maybe? . . . especially as my stamping mojo has faded into . . . 'only for special occassions.' hahaha:).

Which reminds me of Dan's graduation (Dec 2008). Below is the original that I was half way making, about 25, for her when I started to play with the burgundy coloured card and it just popped and looked so awesome that I just changed the whole thing there and then.Below is the final product. I bought pre-made tassels from Ikes Emporium and used the Tassel Time SU set. I also used 'shrinky dink' to incorperate the line: 'The tassel was worth the hassel' which I thought was way cute.

I made Lillian (Dan's roomie and best friend) a batch as my gift to her. Ren went over to the ceremony for us and stayed with Timo. Apparently the recipients loved the cards so much they asked if the designer does wedding invites. . . but that's a whole 'nother story lol.

PS: Smile, You - is the title of the current kdrama that I am watching lol. It just seemed an approprite title for this comeback. hahahahahaha!

2007-10-02T13:11:00.000+13:00

We got so carried away surfing the net for bargains when we met for this class that we had to take our tins home to make up. This is what everyone brought back on our next meet. The bigger tins were coffee tins discarded at work after use and rescued from the bin.

Secret Compatment Card

2007-09-27T07:39:00.001+12:00

Tuihana showed us how to make this card. Very simple and fun. The above sample was made by Joeleen for fathers day. When you prise open the middle section of the card - a whole new section is revealed. 1. Measurements are: 5 1/2" x 8 1/4" for the main card and strips: 2" x 5 1/2" Stamp your desired background images on both sides of card. 2. Lay card on landscape position: score 2 1/8" from either side. 3. Make half inch slits one inch from top and bottom. 4. Weave the strips into the slits. . . .so that one sits above and the other below. 5. Close the sides inward and fold the whole thing back into itself. . . . . and score well. 6. Prise the middle open to use the hidden section. The more you open and close it the easier it is to use. Good luck. Thanx Tuihana - this is a fun and useful card. Love it!

School Ball.07

2007-09-15T14:10:00.000+12:00

The School Ball on Thursday night was a lot of fun. Everyone just looked so gorgeous! Most of these kids are from my class. I was impressed that they all turned up to school the next day.

Last One

2007-09-12T06:12:00.000+12:00

Here is our third entry. The colour combo just fell into place once I teamed up the specialty light blue and gold paper with mellow moss. The stamp set is Delight in Life. The ribbon poking out from the top inset wasn't glued in so I was glad to see it had survived the journey in the magazine.

Happiness is Bravo Burgundy with Certainly Celery

2007-09-07T18:25:00.000+12:00

Here is a very bad picture of Joeleens entry. Top is her original before I sent it. Awesome colours.

Take Ten 1

2007-09-05T18:14:00.001+12:00

Joeleen and I decided to send in our efforts from the Spring 2007 Take Ten challenge and they published them in the latest Autumn Sampler. Here is the first one. The stamps were French Flare from SU and Pacific Koru from Kiwi Impressionz. The specialty paper has a paua influence which dictated the main image for me. Fun huh! Below is pic of page - have to do it this way as my scanner is not hooked up yet.

Tiki Tiki Tiki

2007-09-03T18:20:00.001+12:00

Another tiki card from Joeleen's collection. Fell in love with this one when she first showed it to us. The So Saffron used for the main image and sentiment makes a great contrast against the darker colours and lightens the whole design. Love the restrained use of the polka dot ribbon - something fun, unexpected. A blending of two cultures perhaps? (Or the pakeha in you? lol)Brings a smile to my face. Love this colour combo too :)

Gentler Times

2007-09-02T08:00:00.001+12:00

My son broke the lcd screen of my camera when he took it to school for an assignment and I thought it was done with only to happily find out three weeks later that it still works. Yeaaah! I let his father deal with that one. :) This is a retired set called Gentler Times and I think from the 2005- 2006 catalogue. I've had it for a while and have been looking for an excuse to use it already. Colours I have used are: Blush Blossom, Always Artichoke, Whisper White and Old Olive. The challange was to use the layout for Renaissance Angels on page 30 of the current catalogue. It was fun.

. . .get AROUND to it!

2007-08-19T06:18:00.000+12:00

This is one of my favourite cards that I cased from Kiwi Ipressionz. Images were randomly stamped on glossy card, cut out with a round punch, roughly sewn on to a contrasting card and finished off with fiber, brads and sentiment.

Stud Muffin

2007-08-10T06:40:00.001+12:00

I loved this card when I first saw it and just had to sit down and do one. Doesn't it make you think, OooOOh, Stud!:) This card is made by Pauline McCardle from Hastings. Stamps: Linen, It's your Birthday, Looks like Spring. C/S: Whisper White, Buckaroo Blue, Blush Blossom. Inks: Black, Bashful Blue. Don't you just love the buttons punched out with 6mm circle punch. All from SU.

Heartfelt and Paisley

2007-08-07T07:02:00.001+12:00

This gorgeous card by Ann Dil is done in silver, black and white. An unusual feature is the strip of torn newsprint on the side of the inset. I love everything about this design. This was her swap for our last meeting.

Simplicity

2007-08-02T05:21:00.001+12:00

This is another design that I cased earlier and just had to sit down and replicate. Just the simplicity of the card was so eye catching and yummy! (yeah, yummy!) I think the designer was making these for wedding invitations. The original card was in the lighter pink but I also wanted to see it in the darker. Wonderfully delicious don't you think?

Scallops

2007-07-31T06:37:00.001+12:00

This card I cased earlier in the year (can't remember where) when I received my embossing folders and scallop punches. I just had to sit down and make it. Absolutely loved everything about it, especially the colour combinations. The black background is also embossed with the same folder.

1st Tutorial

2007-07-29T07:40:00.000+12:00

My first tutorial! This is for Sibylle who I met Wednesday night at her friend Rachelle's workshop. She absolutely loved this purse card just like I did when I first saw it. This is also for Julanne Rostran from Glitter Freak who inspired me to not put off a tutorial as too hard. Check her out at http://glitterfreak.blogspot.com - Thanx! The first template I got was off Linda (Annabelle's friend) which was a photocopy on an A4 sheet of paper. Too big as I needed to make 50 cards and too fiddly so I had to find another solution. So here is what I did. 1.Cut A4 sheet into two and place one in portrait position to you. 2.Fold down flap of about 3-4cm (an inch). 3. Take bottom and bring it up just below that fold line. Crease. This is the body. 4.Open flap. Measure 2cm (3 quarter inch) from sides and mark. 5.Line up the mark and corner of bottom folded edge of body and cut both sides. This way all sides are perfectly aligned. (The rest is per instructions). 6.Measure 2cm in from sides of flap fold on both sides and cut slits of about 1cm (half inch). These are for the handles. 7.Stamp other side of card to your design. 8.Thread fiber/ribbon through the 2 cut cut slits so the ends are on the inside and tape about 2cm down and towards the middle so it would be hidden. 9.Inside part: Square off piece of A4 (normal copy paper) fold diagonally twice so you get an x. 10.Turn it so that the folds are on top and creases at the bottom. Bring the bottom edge up to meet the top making a rectangle. 11. Bring the two newly creased lines together and everything should fold neatly in together to make a triangle. 12.Fold sides into middle. Crease well. 13.Center and align folded paper to the inside of card making sure that bottom point does not go over the middle fold. Mark paper just underneath flap fold where the pencil is. This is where you need to cut so that the paper can sit nicely inside. 14.Open paper to cut as it may be too thick for the bladed to go through. Refold and push the sides inward and crease well. 15.Place sentiment inside. Note that folded rectangle line are the side parts. 16. Center velcro at top flap - this is the fastner. Tape one side of paper, center and place just underneath fold line, making sure handles are not seen underneath. 17.Tape top, bring bottom of card up, press into place. Take backing off velcro, close and we're finished. Hope I made sense. ROCKIN GIRL BLOGGER - My first nomination for this tag is: Julanne Rostran. Congratulations girl!

Today at Makare's

2007-07-28T18:50:00.001+12:00

Our swap meet at Makare's today was cool. The challenge came from the Summer edition of the Take Ten Sampler. None of us had done it till this morning and I for one bemoaned the fact that I had set it. Very difficult especially if one had to cut out the diamonds by hand. There was no way I was going to do that two hours before the meeting so I just punched out 3cm squares which meant that I had to make the card longer to fit all four in. Only two things came to mind yesterday was that it had to be my new Montaga Maori stamp and the colour had to be green. Above was the result with the first two cards only having three diamonds. I used only one ink colour which was handsome hunter - at long last as I never use this colour. The other stamp set was French Flair. The cs was handsome hunter, old olive, and garden green. Accessories were black ribbon, gold wire and fun fiber. This is Joeleen's effort. I was intrigued by her colour combinations. Bashful blue, cameo, barely banana and certainly celery. Such a complete contrast from mine. Cool!I received my 'Bind it all' this week and this is what we made today out of chip board coasters. This was so I can get someone to read the instructions of the 'bind it all' and show us how to use it. Joeleen did the honours - Thanx!

Woop! Woop! I'm a Rockin' Girl Blogger

2007-07-24T16:55:00.000+12:00

Thanx Maria for nominating me to be a Rockin' Girl Blogger. How cool!! (Haven't a clue what it means but I'm jumping up and down:). I'll have to think about who to pass this fun award on to. Hey doesn't it match my letterhead.

Happy Birthday Maria!

2007-07-24T07:45:00.000+12:00

Maria (student in my class) turns 13 today and all of last week and especially yesterday she has been reminding me. I remembered last night at 10pm when I was going to bed. :) An hour later I completed a Jacobs Ladder card for her. I figured it had to be something over the top and special because she has been noting the cards for the other girls in the class. Maria is a twin to Burnadette who features with her on the 3rd and 1st pictures going up the ladder. They are gorgeous girls and very tall (towers over me). Big hugs!

Puzzled

2007-07-21T16:02:00.001+12:00

Judy from Stamp and Create showed this technique one night using a special embossing powder that seems to float on top of normal ep making the work look very metallic and substantial yet you only use a very small amount. It comes from an Australian company called Pipe Dream Ink I think. An image was stamped on a white sheet of paper and after embossing an old piece of jigsaw puzzle, the same stamp is inked, (in this case in black) and placed lightly on top of the jig saw and after a few minutes, taken off. The puzzle piece is then placed on top and matched with the stamped image below. This is the technique I like to use on the monograms. I thought it would have been better if the black image was done in brown then it wouldn't look so photo copy - ish. Fun tho!

Tuihana

2007-07-18T07:11:00.000+12:00

I would like to feature another artist today. This is my friend Tuihana Whites' earlier work.

Fame

2007-07-15T21:54:00.001+12:00

Stamped with a hilarious bunch of ladies yesterday at a pre-school called Fame in Whangaparoa. We did two projects and one was a purse card that I keep meaning to do a tutorial on. It probably already has been done but hey, it will be a first for me. (I usually do the pleated frock as a first lesson - less thinking). I hope they enjoyed it as much as I did. They are scrapbookers and it showed in their work that they knew what they were doing. Great work ladies and thanks Jane. I hope they invite me back. :) (I'm smiling because I told them to check my blog out lol).

I also stopped at a Scrapbooking shop at Silverdale and raided their bargain bin. The metal embellishments were going for four packets for $2. Couldn't pass that up plus they had these packets of gorgeous glitter cards. So much for just looking. :) I also gave Ashlee's mom the frame below that I had made for her daughter. She loved it. UUggh - back to school tomorrow. Better go and do some planning.

Holiday Programme

2007-07-11T17:52:00.001+12:00

This is one of todays projects of our two day holiday programme in Highbury. I forgot to take the camera so I don't have any pics but they did some great work. I was very impressed with these future stampers in the making. Awesome. I loved being with them. There were 24 girls with the oldest being 13 and the youngest seven. We used the Headline Alphabet and I had the girls put down their birth dates yesterday (which I typed up and printed last night) then had them use the large oval or key tag to them punch out. We also did a purse card and a book of coupons using the Create a Coupon set. These are my 12 and 11 year olds who were very keen and quite capable of taking instructions so they were able to move forward a little faster. Yesterday we did the pleated skirt and then after lunch I let them create their own. Interesting! My little seven year olds took a little bit more work but I so loved their enthusiasm. Yesterday they all stuck their work up on the counter top for display and I just had to take a shot of them. After that I just completely forgot to take photos so I was so glad to get these which is a shame because each of the four tables had a different set of inks, cs colours and stamp sets with same project. Well done girls.

Birthday in Hawaii

2007-07-09T14:05:00.001+12:00

This is my oldest girl, Dani, working her way through school at the Polynesian Cultural Center at BYU Hawaii. Last year she turned 20 and was her first birthday away from home so I made her a special birthday card below.

It was one of those concertina cards in a box and I made an extra long box on the side to house the silver bracelet that I got her.

This is one of the segments. I think I got carried away and tried to put everything in it that I thought she would love and laugh over. That's a shaker box on the right. She loved it! Most of the stamps I used were from SU. This post is in celebration of Maria Bell over at http://www.cardinspired.blogspot.com/ who has a really fun weekly challenge called (TIC) the 'Tuesday's Inspirational Challenge.' I submitted my '$2.00 Orchid' cards last night:). Fun! She is also from Hawaii but has moved to California (I think). So go on over and check my cards out . . . Aloha Maria!!

Tiki

2007-07-07T09:29:00.001+12:00

This is one of my favourite cards from Joeleen. She went through a tiki phase . . . I think she is still on it. She absolutely loves them. I think this stamp is from Kiwi Impressionz. I love her understated colours and clean lines which she offsets with a dark crumbled frame, heat embossed copper image and koru shaped embellishement (nice authentic touch there). The dark chocolate twill gives the card weight and substance. Her colours are: mellow moss, chocolate chip, and close to cocoa. Perhaps she can comment next time she is passing through. Kia ora koutou. . . did I get that right? Check this site out if you have the time: http://www.islandpaperie.com/

High School Graduation

2007-07-06T21:54:00.000+12:00

Just looking through some photos on my computer and came across my 2nd daughter, Ricci's High school graduation photos from last year. She boarded at CCNZ in Hamilton. Her school had some fun traditions like, red sash for honour students, and lollie leis for graduates from everybody and anybody. The more the better.

These are candles I made for her to give to her teachers as 'Thank Yous' and she had fun giving them out because people were both surprised and thrilled to get one and immediately asked how her mother made them. I tried to incorporate their school colours in the packaging. At the back of the candle I had printed (from the computer) their school song. The first few lines which goes something like: It is better to light just one little candle, Than to stumble in the dark. Better far just to light, just one little candle, All you need's a tiny spark. I thought it was appropriate as she steps out into the world, besides if for nothing else she will be remembered as 'that girl with the candle.' Go Ric!:)

Primas

2007-07-05T12:38:00.001+12:00

Talking about Primas - here's my stash so far. Love those frangipanis and of course you would think that I would do something about them and not go off on an orchid tangent found at a $2.00 shop.

Well, actually I have. The pin above left is what I made myself after a lovely lady called Carole Gotz from Porirua gave me the one on the right on the Friday afternoon of SENZ. I was rapt as I had seen other people at the show laden with pins but didn't know what they were, especially the security guard at the door. She had some awesome ones and I just had to go over and chat her up so I could examine them closely. I tried to put everything significant to the event on mine, especially the frangipani flower that I picked up from there. I also made Rachel and Tracy one each with a G but I can't remember why now? (How sad is that?) Must organize with them for a picture. Guess what SU stands for tho? Ha!

$2 Orchids

2007-07-04T08:10:00.000+12:00

Yesterday I was at the Two Dollar shop in Northcote and saw these sprays of artificial orchids that caught my eye. There were more muted colours of apricot and lilac but this one jumped at me and said 'make me into a card.' Here is my first attempt. Ink colours are: old olive, true thyme and Brilliance white. Card stock: old olive, garden green and green galore. And here is my 2nd try. I used the same ink and cs colours for this one except for the ruby red and I have them in a different order. Stamps used are: Water Colour Vine roller, French Script and Weathered backgrounds and wonderful words. Extras was the fern punch and polka dot ribbon. These would make great primas if they were a quarter size smaller.

Two days later: Ok here is my 3rd try. this is a 6"x6" card and so the orchid looks a lot smaller. The ripped paper is done with the quarter inch square punch and the paper is from the SU 'Spring Flowers' collection. Vellum stamped with French Script and held down with three brads is on the right.

Tins & Things

2007-07-02T22:17:00.000+12:00

Our swap group met this morning and Joeleen (first photo) took us through embellishing these small band aid tins and making matching cards to go with them. This was a class that she had taken with Jacque awhile back. I have been slow to warm to these tins but I'm coming round. It was a miserable cold morning so I had egg and corn soup ready for everyone. Kirsten is middle in the 2nd photo and Makare on the right working the sizzix machine. Third photo is Joeleen and Kirsten's trifold cards. This picture doesn't do them justice - the colours are much more vibrant. The fourth photo are Joeleen's tins. Love the one on the left that she did today. We used the cuttlebug 2 step scribble die for embellishment and they look so awesome. We were baffled that sometimes the die would cut through and other times it wouldn't until we figured out a couple of hours later that if we did not center the die in the middle of the converter then it would not fully cut. My effort is the fifth photo and Makare's is the last. She has a son in Japan so she used the Kanji stamp set for her sentiments and I used Warm Words. It has ben a great day.

Faux Jewellery

2007-07-01T15:22:00.001+12:00

Had a fun afternoon yesterday with Ann who showed me this technique for making jewellery. The original idea for this came from her friend Wendy who works at Stamp Zone in Albany. The small squares of bamboo were painted with a metallic paint and when dried stamped with an image using Staz On. This was then finished off with beads and a layer of Crystal Effects. Holes were then drilled from the sides and joined with matching beads to make bracelets or a necklace. The samples she had were just gorgeous. I only had two stamp sets with me so no competition - I had to see how Do the Hula looked on these tiles. Awesome possibilities here. Tile on the right is one of Anns. I think I may have too many metallic colours on mine. OOooo, can't wait to show my girls :)

Colourful Inspiration

2007-06-30T21:03:00.000+12:00

Looking at my SU cardstock always makes me smile - aren't they so inspiring. I decided to not put them in their colour families but in corresponding shades and hues. Don't you just love all those greens! Great huh! :) :) :) :)

1st Regional Swap

2007-06-30T20:25:00.000+12:00

These are most of the swap for the night. I particularly like Jacques card (first on the left below). Below the inset of her card is a piece of clear(OHP) plastic with the word 'friend' that added an unusual finishing touch to her work. Very nice!!! With her card I have displayed the other favourites of mine. Anyone interested in knowing more about SU productives please let me know at lissa.huysmans@gmail.com

1st Regional Meet

2007-06-26T07:49:00.001+12:00

Just a few photos from last nights meeting at the Ibis Hotel. I would have liked to hear more of the business side of things. They covered a lot of ground. It was good. Some of the swaps were excellent. I think I would have to give Jacque the 'wow' today. More tomorrow . . . . . .

. . .and more

2007-06-25T23:23:00.001+12:00

Made 15 extra cards for interested people that I asked to the Regional meeting. This was cased from page 54 of the catalogue. Card stock and inks: Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip and Old Olive. That red ribbon made the whole card pop!

SU SWAP

2007-06-23T14:35:00.000+12:00

This is my swap for our first regional meeting in NZ - no one is sure what to expect but most of us in our group are making about 20 swaps to trade. I decided to use one of my latest buys - the All Natural set. I had not seen this set much so I decided to look up splitcoaststampers for an example and loved everything about this one I copied. There was one more step that they had which I didn't include and that was a band of old olive c/s at the bottom. I also stapled the tag. Colours are chocolate chip, creamy caramel, Old Olive, glorious green and pixie pink.

Tri-Fold

2007-06-21T06:47:00.001+12:00

This tri-fold card we cased from Stamp with Heather (yep we are always over there drooling at her creations). Kirsten made this the challenge for this month. I used the 'Reflection' series again with the co-ordinating colours. The images in the middle are stamped and by the third try (middle card) I got an almost perfect match with the paper. Cool!

Tying a Perfect Bow

2007-06-20T18:40:00.001+12:00

Want to know how to tie a perfect bow? Check out 'Stampin' with Gal Val' link on the left or her 'you tube' link below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yojsEtR4uZI

DELIGHTFUL

2007-06-20T06:25:00.000+12:00

Joeleen made me this gorgeous tin for my birthday. She hand cut the big circles and the scallop in the middle as she did not yet have a punch. Her colours of whishper white and basic black are really stunning with the Delight for Life stamp set. She also made a matching card to go with it. I decided to store my extra special buttons that I have been collecting. Much AROHA Joeleen!

To Die for . . .

2007-06-18T16:13:00.000+12:00

These dies are from the sizzix range and I couldn't stop using it when I first got it. I designed this for my sister who was going to Niue with a youth group and my koha (contribution), since my 16 year old was in the group, was making a ton of cards for them to use for 'thank yous' etc. This has a bit of everything - the background is a leaf set from Stampendous and my favourite for a long time. The dragon flies are from a Carl punch and the oval tag and sentiment are SU.

Bold Floral Pattern

2007-06-17T19:34:00.001+12:00

These, I'm making for a lady in Helensville and I was trying to keep it simple. That was really hard to do. These lovely stamps are from Hero Arts and I am using them for the first time. I was also trying to recycle discarded card stock from other aborted projects that went wrong. My colours are Night of Navy, Elegant Eggplant and Orchid Opulence. I think this is the first time I've used Orchid Opulence. Not Bad. I hope she likes them coz I sure do.

Can't Live Without

2007-06-17T18:35:00.001+12:00

These are retiring sets from the US catalogue that I ordered and arrived last week. Kewl!! I had been meaning to get them before SU launched here but now that they will not be in the next catalogue I just had to have them. Well I wanted at least nine other sets but I had to be sensible and just get the ones I really, really couldn't live without. I love that Lion and the Lamb stamp and can't wait for an excuse to use it. Tassel Time will always be useful - there is always someone getting their degree and Petite Patterns is the last of of those little background stamp sets that I've been collecting on page 166-167. I was so excited that I just had to mount the leaf pattern stamp to try out straight away. That is why it is on top of the box. Ha! I then went back to the catalogue and made a new list of 'must haves,' closed my eyes and sent it to Jacque who has the contacts. Cross my fingers, eyes and legs that it is not too late. Hope!

A Closer Look

2007-06-17T08:15:00.001+12:00

Loved the detail of Rachael's pocket card. And such good workmanship too. Her colours were Regal Rose, Rose Red, Elegant Egglplant and she used 7 different punches. Wow! That's a lot of work. (Just waiting for her blog so I can case her ideas :) ha!

Three pink beads detail the top left of Ann's card and her colour combination was very eye catching. Almost Old Olive and Pretty in Pink don't you think? Mmm, it looks more Cameo Coral here though.

WoW!

2007-06-16T11:53:00.000+12:00

Ok - got the 'wow' for the month but was close with Rachael who used the 'Look like Spring' set in the middle there. I chose the 4 little stamps as my prize. I won purely because of my recruit Ann, who is so new that she did not have any SU stamps to work with but turned up with her 12 cards to swap anyway. Her pretty in pink concoction is the one at the back, right. Isn't she great. Well done everyone!

Family Nite Activity

2007-06-14T06:11:00.000+12:00

It was my turn to come up with a lesson for family night a few weeks back so I decided to teach everyone how to embellish a spaghetti tin. I used a special can opener that just breaks the manufacturing seal therefore no sharp edges. Here is everyone's effort. Stef's on the left, Pup's is on the right, LA's on the top and mine in the middle.

This idea was inspired from a Tupperware party I attended where I first saw the can opener but the idea didn't hit me until the next morning after I dreamt about it (I, know!! What is the world coming to if you are dreaming about tin cans and openers :) . . . so I just had to have one. I needed an idea for an art lesson at school but something unusual and fun for kids to do. I got them to bring in unopened cans of baked beans, spaghetti or fruit which they had straight from the can for lunch. It was novel for the first five minutes until they realized they had to throw most of it out. But they loved it, especially the girls. Most of them used the cans as desk top pencil holders. Unfortunately I didn't think of taking pictures at the time.

This is the inside. A hole was punched on the side to hold the lid in place. I used Elegant Egglplant, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink on creamy yellow card stock.

My First SU swap

2007-06-11T07:39:00.001+12:00

This is my first SU (in NZ) swap for last month. I used Whisper White from my starter pack and the 'Take Ten sketch challenge from the Spring 2007 issue. The ink colours were Certainly Celery, Old Olive, More Mustard, Perfect and Pale Plum. The half circle was rolled with the Rough Around the Edges jumo wheel in Old Olive and daubed with the lighter Certainly Celery. The grosgrain ribbon was also white which I dragged through the More Mustard. I scored them at 'Ikes' one day when I was just going up for a look :) There were five white,18 meter roles for 25 cents per meter and I bought the lot - I was so excited about my find. Technically I shouldn't have used that Key Tag punch as it is not in the Australian and New Zealand catalogue and I was right - no one noticed. Ha - no wonder I didn't win the prize of 'wow' factor or most 'easy to assemble' catagory. I used the Bodacious Bouquet set and added some fun wool for effect. Maybe this month I'll get somewhere with my Old Olive and Cameo Coral concoction. The ladies did some lovely cards especially our up line Jacque who showed us the polished stone technique. Loved it.

Thanx for the Cookies

2007-06-10T17:00:00.000+12:00

This sweet little card was left with some home made cookies from a couple of friends who dropped in one day when I wasn't home. My son happily passed them on to me minus a few cookies I'm sure, which of course he denied. :) Yummm - Thanx guys!

My first pop up

2007-06-07T06:35:00.000+12:00

This was the first pop up I did with the Bodacious Bouquet set. Wasn't quite sure of the colours. Wanted also to use my new ribbon. I think I should get rid of the extra flower on the far right. I used Old Olive, Bravo Burgundy, Tempting Turquoise and Cranberry Crisp.

Pop Up

2007-06-06T07:29:00.000+12:00

Cased this card from 'Stamp with Heather.' I used the Mixed Bouquet and Cherry Chat sets. Card stock: Whisper white, Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Pixie pink and Cameo Coral with corresponding ink colours. I have just discovered Cameo Coral. It goes great with Old Olive. This is for a swap challenge next week. We had to use the SU punches and I've always loved the versatility of the window punch. It is not only used in the front of the card as an embellishment but also inside as the mechanism for the card to pop up. Love it!

SENZ

2007-05-25T23:43:00.001+12:00

SENZ has been an exciting opportunity to introduce Stampin' Up onto the NZ crafting scene. The lead up and organising has been exhausting for Rachael, Tracy and I as we all have full time jobs. Today first looked daunting because the retailers just had massive amounts of amazing products on show but with our door prize as the draw card we were kept very busy. Of course we had to have Stamp Zone across from us. We in our 3x3 meter booth and them stretched out for at least 12 meters. There were many that had not heard of SU but I was also quite amazed at those who knew about the company already. The prize winner for today goes to Robin Flemming of Onehunga. Congrats to you Robin with your basket of goodies and a free catalogue. I have met so many lovely people. One in particular is a sweet little lady from Ashurst called Nell who came up to SENZ with seven friends. They sound like they are having a blast and I look forward to knowing them a little better in the future. I tried to resist buying anything but was very hard so of course I had to let myself go. ha. Found some frangipani primas at Hastings Rubber Stamping, was late twice for the 'Cricut' demonstration and made it the secound time. Sorry Nell - I was in the middle of talking to her and her friend when I left abruptly at a run. Might not have been a good thing that I made it to the demo though, as I had a dream last night with a subliminal voice over whispering " . . . gotta have one, gotta have one . . . " :)

My little friend Eli

2007-05-20T11:22:00.001+12:00

My little friend Eli has a special 8th birthday today. I got up early (0500hrs) to make a card for him but I wasn't happy with anything until I looked at my monograms and thought 'duhh!' This small shadow box frame is one that I've had for about 5 years and so finally I get to do something with it. I used the SU Reflection series of scrapbooking paper again and went for simple using the same method as I used for Sofie's frame. I wanted to feature three things. First it had to have his whole name and I tried to patiently wait until 0700hrs to ring Eli's house for information but by 0640hrs I couldn't wait and just had to ring. Luckily his dad was up and who surprise, surprise was able to answer all questions correctly. (Well, it had better be because I am going to look silly when I arrive this afternoon.) It also had to have his date of birth and his current age. The rectangle tag is from the SU hodgepodge embellishment kit and just adds strength to the layout. The number 8 is embedded on the 'e' . It is in that particular placing because it fell out of my hand as I was carefully trying to center it on. Oh well! The word 'blessed' I couldn't help including because Eli has wonderful parents and he is a truly blessed little boy. I have since added a maori motive element to the letter 'l' as I felt his cool middle name (Tamauia) needed to be recognised. Eli's birthday date is on an actual shop tag that resides to the right hand side. I love those tags and they come in different sizes at most stationary shops. Happy Birthday Eli!

JUST A MOM?

2007-05-14T15:53:00.000+12:00

Sent to me by my mother in law - A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk 's office Was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is," explained the recorder, "do you have a job or are you just a......?" "Of course I have a job," snapped the woman. "I'm a Mom." "We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it," Said the recorder emphatically. I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the Same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, Efficient and possessed of a high sounding title like, "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar." "What is your occupation?" she probed. What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out. "I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations." The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and Looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, In bold, black ink on the official questionnaire. "Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your field?" Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research, [what mother doesn't) In the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out ). I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family) And already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) And I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are More of a satisfaction rather than just money." There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she Completed the form, stood up and personally ushered me to the door. As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, Testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another Mom." Motherhood! What a glorious career! Especially when there's a title on the door. Does this make grandmothers "Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations" And great grandmothers "Executive Senior Research Associates"? I think so!!! (Author unknown)

Trying new things . . . .

2007-05-14T04:46:00.000+12:00

My little friend Sofie turned five last month and I wanted to make her a special card to try out my new chipboard monograms and designer papers from SU. This one is from the 'Recollection' series and just gorgeous. The frame was about $6.00 from Warehouse and a nice length to fit at least 5-7 letters depending on the size. I was happily thinking I had a supply of oblong frames until I actually started putting the project together and realized that there wasn't enough depth to fit the backing on and had to opt for taping it down with tape and placing the frame on an easel. I originally painted this one off white (it was an ugly orange colour) but decided it still didn't go with the whole look. I eventually hunted out the last of my little stand that I had bought years ago that went perfect with the wood finish of this frame. Now, just to let you know I do dust now and again ;) but I was in a hurry to get this photoed, packaged and delivered and hadn't noticed the state of my shelf (haha I think it still looks like that). I found a recently used box, just the right size and stuck a post office sticker on it which made it look like it came through the mail and placed it on Sofie's doorstep. I think she liked it. My kids did. In fact my 18 year old, Ericca said she didn't mind having her name done on a sample if I wanted to. Must get around to taking a photo of the first one I did for my little friend Nova who was born last year on the 3 of November. Everyone in the family related to that date because it is my oldest girl Danielle's birthday as well and she is 21 this year. Fun!!!! Happy Mothers Day!

Wild Rose Sketch

2007-05-11T06:48:00.000+12:00

I had just received my 'Wild Rose' set when my friends Joeleen, Kirsten and I met for the 2nd time for our card swap. We originally thought to meet every month but that was way too long to wait for our creative fix, so we decided every fortnight. The sketch was one found on the net but I can't remember where. I thought at first that the sketch was quite hard but after some tinkering I came up with the above to share. The colours had to be going grey, so saffron, mellow moss, and perfect plum. Not having any of the right colour cardstock except for the grey which Kirsten provided, made me concentrate on just the ink colours. The white organdy ribbon I dyed with perfect plum and it came up off white which I curled deliberately and held down with a brad. Here was when I discovered the craft stampin' spots which I embossed clear and just made the whole thing pop. After that I couldn't stop using them and bought the soft subtles intending to get the rest of the range later. The craft colours are not offered on the NZ catty which is a shame but never fear I will find a way. :)

Punga

2007-05-09T18:44:00.000+12:00

I loved this stamp when I first saw it because we have a punga tree in our front yard. It is put out by rubbadubbadoo. The ink colours are chocolate chip, and green galore on glossy white card stippled with close to cocoa and so safron, backed with black. The sketch was from one of last years copy of the'Take Ten' magazine. I find this sketch very versatile giving any card an instant 2D dimension and I use it when I want to make a quick layered look without having to think too much about it because for me it always works.

My First Blog Candy - Yipee!!

2007-05-07T05:54:00.000+12:00

Who would have thought. I'm still BuZZing!!! Check it out on Jody Morrow's blog: http://confessionsofaribbonaddict.blogspot.com/ -can't wait. I have rolled up one lot on a piece of card but not quite happy with it, so may roll them up individually. . . and you guessed it - I haven't used them yet. Still enjoying the fact that I've got some. I just went up to Ike's Saturday and bought $30.00 worth of more ribbon. A lovely roll of olive green, 10mm with white dots and trim put out by Vandoros. Yumm! There is still no polka dotted organdy tho. I only went up to look but you know how it is (:

Kia Ora!

2007-05-05T21:08:00.000+12:00

I call this my Kia Ora card. I used the cuttlebug embossing folders - divine swirls and stylized flowers by Provocraft for the background in brilliant blue. Used ribbon, string etc for embellishment with a punched fishhook by Marvy, (I think). The stamp is 'Pacific Combo#4' by Kiwi Impressionz, inked in 'Stained Glass' Adrondack. This stamp has always been a source of inspiration to me because of its cultural familiarity in design. Kia Ora is Hello in Maori.

Three in a Row

2007-05-05T20:39:00.000+12:00

Of course you have to have a matching guy card to go with the frock. This is another favourite with the same set. I love the combination of the colours - pink passion, old olive and elegant eggplant. The background is 'canvas' and 'print pattern.' All from SU. The small pink frangipani is from an Australian company called Stamp It. I also have it in the large and use them all the time.

. . . Ready, Steady, GO . . .

2007-05-05T12:00:00.000+12:00

"A HANDMADE CARD IS A HUG WITH A FOLD 
IN THE MIDDLE."

The perfect quote to start my blog off and it is a pity I can't remember who said it. I am a mum with 4 great children aged 14-20, who are happiest when I don't have to micro manage them. We live in Auckland NZ and are true blue kiwis. "Kia Ora!"I fell in love with card making last year and when I was introduced to Stampin'Up and all their lovely products by my new friend Jacqui. I love to browse the creativity of other bloggers who are stampers and wanted to come out to play too. Here are some of the things I have been up to . . . .

This card is really popular with most people, especially teenagers who just 'ooohh' over it. I gave one to Britney, my student, yesterday who just turned 13 and she and the rest of the girls in the class just loved it. I'm glad! All stamps are from the SU. I used the 'Do the Hula' and standard roller 'Whirly Twirly.' Both soon to be retired in June. The dress pattern is from Sheryl Graves of Ink Stains. The colours used are green galore and pink passion sprinkled with glitter for a little bit of bling. The frangipani image on the letterhead above is a potted plant that we bought from the Pasifika festival February last year for $20.00 and we can't believe it is still flowering since January. Hubbie, Rene has been nursing it through the year and his diligence has paid off tenfold. When he went to Australia last year in May and this year in March he made sure to give detailed instructions to the kids on how to look after it. He knew it would have died if he had asked me. Hey, I'm too busy stamping!!:)