I had so much fun with the Chalkboard technique that I had enough pieces left to make a few cards. Here's another version of last week's card. Colours are More Mustard and Calypso Coral. I'm really loving the Soda Tops - I use the Big Shot to squish the tops flat - just one at a time .... and so many of our stamps and punches fit the inner circles. Have a great week. Nikki x Continue reading

For the past couple of months the Chalkboard Technique has been everywhere I've looked. I didn't have the stamp sets being used .... so that stalled me for a bit, but then I had the call for a couple of male birthday cards. I've mainly used the Bring On the Cake stamp set (page 142 of the main catalogue) and added in a few other birthday stamps from other sets. I found the best thing to do to create the chalkboard effect was to use the embossing buddy and a white pencil - both of these left lots of lovely... Continue reading

I've seen various designs of this card around the web and on Pinterest, and really wanted to have a go myself. I loved the effect - it looks so striking. I've used the boho blossoms and Itty Bitty Shapes Pack punches to create the flowers - highlighting some with pearls and placing the odd brad here and there. It was quite time consuming but I do think it would be a good card to mass produce in front of the television .... Olivia has already been asking for a couple for friends who are celebrating their birthdays very soon so... Continue reading

If you have a wish list as long as your arm from the current or seasonal catalogue? Then I have good news for you. There are two ways to receive an extra $60 of product. Book a Party Hold a Party before 30 May (yes that's the day before the end of the this month) and receive an additional $60 of free product - that's $120 of Hostess dollars to spend on anything you want. You could buy a BigShot for just $30 ... yes $30! You can hold a workshop in your home, hold a catalogue party (just pass... Continue reading

When was there ever a better time to shake up this little piece of unloved blogland than on Mother's Day. Of course, Mother's day in England is a little earlier in the year, and as this year I only managed to send a card to both of our Mums I thought I would send their pressies on the Australian date - great excuse to make an extra card .... albeit that I don't think they have actually arrived yet! I used the All Dressed Up Framelit dies together with the Print Poetry Designer Series paper packs - my favourite pack... Continue reading

How can it be 1 May already? This little piece of blogland has been taken over by dust bunnies - thank goodness the same cannot be said for my crafting space! And what does the first of every month bring? Yes a One Little Word blog hop that I have forgotten all about. So I need to leave you with a 'relevant' quote to my OLW 'Consistent' (one which is hopelessly apt for me this month) and ask you to hurry along to Ruth who I am sure has something far more exciting for you to read. I'm off to... Continue reading

Good day to all the fellow One on 1 blog hoppers and friends. With the first quarter of the year now over, I am pleased to say I am loving how my word Consistency is appearing in my day to day life. So to start with I have last month's 'homework' - the mood board. I'm not sure if it was because I only had copies of Weight Watchers, Preventation and Woman's Health to hand to find inspiration but when I looked at the collection of photos it struck me that it was bang on target - health, strength, fitness,... Continue reading

I was asked to make a 50th wedding anniversary card last week. As I was making it, I couldn't help but think of the recipients - 50 years together, all those memories, how different their lives must be today compared to when they first married - what a special moment to celebrate. Soft Suede, Very Vanilla and Champagne Glimmer paper look so luxurious together. The Memorable Moments set is so versatile - I have it in the clear mount option which makes it super easy to place the images where you want them (of course you can use a Stamp-a-ma-jig... Continue reading

I was asked to make two Christening cards last week. The recipants were a three year old niece and a nephew who is one. As I don't have any baby / little people stamps I thought I'd rustle up two shaped cards. I've made a card similar to this a while back - you can see it here. It's such an easy card to make and looks so pretty. I used a piece of scrap paper the same size as the card front to create the template. If you fold the paper in half lengthways - then use punches and... Continue reading

Mum sent me a present out of the blue, something to make me smile she said. I don't know what I was expecting to receive but it certainly wasn't the most beautiful pair of diamond cluster earrings. They are so beautiful and I have been wearing them 24/7 ever since they arrived. And yes they do make me smile, every time I look in the mirror I can see them and its like a hug from Mum. Of course I had to send something to make Mum smile in return, so I pulled out the Stippled Blossoms set to create... Continue reading

Yes in the UK today it is Mother's day! That scared all my aussie friends didn't it - ha ha! I was browsing the internet and saw an ad for flowers for Mother's Day - thank goodness for the odd advert here and there otherwise I would have completely forgotten. It was Sunday, so I quickly whistled up two cards. I took part in a swap a couple of months ago and was inspired by a card made by Virginia Newcombe. Its been sat on my desk waiting for me to recreate - what perfect timing. The frame cut in... Continue reading

Its that time again and guess what? I'm not ready! I've been thinking of making a vision board for a couple of years now but the passion to actaully gather the pieces and make some sense of it has evaded me this month. Sorry I have nothing to show you - however, I can tell you I have consistently looked after myself, consistently looked after the family and today I started a brand new chapter in my life - a new job. So February hasn't been totally unproductive. I'll leave you with this inspirational quote (which will make an appearence... Continue reading

New schedule has been listed HERE Join me for some fun - pick either a scrapbooking class, a technique class or an 'off the page' 3D class. Spaces are limited - book now. Call on 0481 316 626 (new numbe) or 03 9587 6363 Or email by clicking here Continue reading

Another challenge entry, this time for Seize the Birthday # 6 - it's a male birthday card this week. Keeping with the theme of the past few challenges I've entered this week, it is of course ..... Midnight Muse, So Saffron and Whisper White .... and its for an 18th! I'm really enjoying this new challenge site as it is helping to build up my birthday card stash and is forcing me to consider making male birthday cards - I've come to the conclusion that I don't have very many male orientated stamp sets - think I might need to... Continue reading

Nikki Spencer from the Just Add Ink team set a colour challenge this week - I love blue, yellow and white together - reminds me of a beautiful duvet (or doona as they say in Australia) that I wanted when I first got married. It was from Marks and Spencers and was covered in blue and yellow flowers - needless to say it never graced our bed, Paul and flowers? Never in a month of Sundays. But its funny how this colour combination always reminds me of that moment when we were first setting up home together. So I made... Continue reading

With my daughter's calendar filling quickly with 18th birthday party 'save the dates', I thought I might make a start on a pile of cards for her to give to her friends, and thought this would be a great way to enter some different challenges I haven't taken part in before - so first up is Create With Connie and Mary. This first 18th is a very special one, its Amy's 18th and Amy and Olivia have been best friends for as long as we have lived here (10 years ago yesterday we touched down for the first time on... Continue reading

Come on be honest, you thought I had forgotten to send a card to my valentine didn't you? If you missed yesterday's offerings for my lovestruck teenagers, check them out here! Well here it is. I used the lovely new Cross My Heart set from the new catalogue, together with the More Amore papers, the Honeycomb embossing folder and the lovely new Natural Trim Ribbon. Here's a close up of that lovely new trim - its quite thick. I was so super organised with this card - I was quite chuffed - ready ahead of time and sitting on my... Continue reading

Happy Valentine's Day. I don't think this household could get any More Amore if it tried! With two teenagers it was bound to happen I suppose, both Livs and KP have 'other halves'. What better excuse than to rustle up a card or two! So first up is one for the love of Liv's life - the gorgeous Hayden. It's hard to make a masculine Valentine's card without girlie stuff just appearing .... so I decided to use one of the new soda pop tops. A fellow demonstrator Christine Blain (she who does the bestest masculine cards ever) gave us... Continue reading

Lee Currie has taken over the reins for the One Little Word blog hop from Margie - thank you Lee. So this month we start afresh with our new words and our January assignment - and a new OLW badge - isn't it cool - thank you Melanie. Welcome if you hopped over from Lynn's post ... and if you are starting here, great place to start! I was still a little undecided about this word for most of January, but I feel very comfortable with it now. It's perfect for where I am this year and will work well... Continue reading

Just how lovely is the new Sycamore Street Designer Series papers with coordinating ribbons and buttons? I love the bright colours of Island Indigo, Rich Razzleberry and Summer Starfruit. This is a quick and simple design I produced for a swap I took part in last week (more on swaps later on this week). I wanted to showcase the new Vintage Verses set too so this was a perfect design. Have you decided which of the Sale-a-bration goodies are your favourite yet? Its such a fun time of year - everyone loves to receive freebies don't they. I'll be back... Continue reading

Welcome to the ESAD Sale-a-bration blog hop, 25 blogs all linked together to celebrate and showcase the lovely new Sale-a-bration goodies which are now available free with every order placed of $100. Before I show you my contribution I do need to tell you a little about ESAD. ESAD stands for "Extra Special Australasian Demonstrators" and it is an on-line group just for Australian and New Zealand Stampin' Up! demonstrators. We so love what we do and not only do we love to share it with our customers, friends, and wonderful blog visitors, but we share our love for what... Continue reading

Pop back tomorrow from 10.00am to take part in the ESAD blog hop - we are showcasing the new Sale-a-bration products .... be prepared to be inspired! Nikki x Continue reading

We are only days away from Sale-a-Bration - five sleeps in fact, and two weeks away from the new catalogue being launched - its an exciting time for us crafty ladies! I'm still getting asked to make cards for all of Liv's friends so when I had the request for an 18th card I delved right into the new box of goodies I have pre-ordered and look what I found. All of the new goodies are from the new Seasonal Catalogue, if you've placed an order recently, one will be winging its way to you in the post any day... Continue reading