Pretty Postage

I had a special card to make for a very 'special' friend's daughter this week.  The beautiful girl is 21, and a complete credit to her lovely parents.

I've been wanting to use this Pretty Postage set for ages - itsn't it cute?  I love the coordinating Postage Stamp punch.  The Fancy Fan embossing folder is fast becoming one of my favourites.

I made two cards - both slightly different but I forgot to photograph the one I have sent - so here's the second one I made.

I even pushed myself out of my comfort zone and used a piece of Designer Series Paper - a piece from the Patio Party pack.

I was really pleased with the result - hope you agree.

Happy Stampin'

Nikki

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Our Livs Turned 17!

Yes I know it was last week, but better late then never.

Liv's present this year was a pair of Tiffany earrings - I know just how lucky is she.  I am sure she won't mind me telling you that she doesn't actually them in real life ... she has such little ears that even these mini ones look huge on her .... so we are off to the Tiffany store tomorrow morning to choose a bracelet instead.

Here's a close up of the Tiffany inspired card I made for her.  I used Pool Party of course, and the Simply Scored and Diagonal Plate to create the quilted look - oh and loads of pearls.  The sentiment is from the Curly Cute set.

Did you spy anything else that's handmade?

Yes the little Petite Purse - isn't it cute.  Its a Big Shot die (194) and I've stamped it using the En Francais background stamp.  I'm busy making a heap of these as little gifts for some friends - can't wait to show you them ... but you'll have to wait a few more days so I don't spoil the surprise.

Nearly forgot to show you a picture of the birthday girl .... here she is

... she received her main pressies on Sunday when her dad was home, so I bought her some flowers for the actual day - she loved them, made her feel very grown up.

Til next time .... Happy Stampin'

Nikki

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Just Wee Little Blog Hop

It's that time of year again isn't it .... everyone gets so time poor .... so this month we have a little blog hop for you - but there will be heaps of inspiration so take five minutes from your busy day to be inspired.

At the recent HeartFelt events held around Australia, Sophie Zadah from Demo Support demonstrated how to make this beautiful wreath.

You start with a simple polystrene ring - which I purchased from a local craft store.  You then wrap the ring up with ... well I used the packing paper that Stampin' Up! send with all of our orders, I've metres of it (so if you are thinking you'd like to make one of these let me know and I'll send you some).

I used the Blossom Party Originals and the Fun Flowers Bigz Big Shot dies and punched out various flowers using the new Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stack from the Holiday Traditions catalogue.

I did the same with about 8 sheets of coordinating cardstock.  I stuck all the flowers together using Tombow adhesive.  The flower centres and two packets of Designer Buttons, Brushed Bronze again from the Holiday Traditions Mini, and the Naturals from the annual catalogue.

I found it easier to punch a heap of flowers and then just pick out combinations that I liked.  All the petals of the flowers have been shaped slightly with a bone folder - just be really careful with the little flowers - there I was watching Coronation Street and bending a couple of hundred flowers into shape and the poor little ones kept losing their leaves - oops!  (Corrie was good though!)

It did take me two evenings to put everything together (I hot glued all the flowers in place on the first night and then made up more smaller flowers for all the bits I missed), but I am really pleased with the result.  The whole wreath has been spritz with a bit of Shimmer Paint and rubbing alcohol for a bit of sparkle.

I like that it isn't that festive - I can keep it hanging in my craft room all year.

Right it's time now to hop off to visit the lovely Christine Blain.

Enjoy your weekend and see you next time.

Nikki

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Primrose Petals for Christmas Anyone?

I am traditionally a green and red girl when it comes to Christmas cards - but I have been stepping out of my comfort zone a little this year.

This was a class card from last month - Primrose Petal and Very Vanilla.  I love the Fancy Fan Folder.  I stamped the ornament in the middle of the Very Vanilla cardstock and then cut it out using the matching framelit.  I then embossed the rest of the cardstock with the Fancy Fan Folder and placed it all back together again - adding some height using dimensionals.

Think I will be rustling some more of these up in different colours as they are so quick to make.

Happy Stampin!

Nikki

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Ornament Keepsakes with Festive Piercing Pack

This month's Ornament Keepsakes promotion features this brilliant stamp set and includes the festive piercing pack too.  

I stamped the little pieces at the bottom individually, lining them up with the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (where would we be without that brilliant tool) .... and then stamped the ornament and die cut using the matching framelit.

The sentiment is from the New Christmas Lodge stamp set - yet to get inky with that one.

Hope you enjoyed your weekend.  My husband is home for 9, yes 9 sleeps .... and although he has to work we are now decorating our ensuite ... well I can't have him home with nothing to do can I!

Back again this week with more Ornament Keepsake samples.

Happy Stampin!

Nikki

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Ornament Keepsakes!

Ever since I saw the Holiday Traditions catalogue I have been itching to make the ornament on the front cover.  

I can't quite describe how this ornament looks and feels once it is complete just two sheets of cardstock with some tulle and linen thread but it feels heavy and substantial - I am thinking that will last a few years hanging on the Sadler Christmas tree.  

This is the back of the ornament.  There is quite a bit of stamping, hot glue-ing and die cutting but I have devised a plan to make this as quick as possible - even cutting two ornaments at the same time!

Of course the second ornament is made from DSP (I'm not that clever to line up stamped images lol) - I love this one too.  The tulle is just so soft and luxurious.  I am thinking these will make lovely Christmas presents too - have made one for my Mum - just to finish the box before I pop it in the post.

I'm holding classes for these - as they are fiddly and time consuming I am keeping the class numbers low.  You will make two ornaments in the class - the cost for this class will be $25.

I have the following dates and spaces left:

Friday 16 November at 7.30pm - two seats left

Saturday 17 November at 2.30pm - three seats left

Thursday 22 November at 7.30pm - NEW DATE - five seats left

The classes have been very popular so if none of these dates suit let me know and I'll put you on a waiting list for a date in early December.

I'll be at the Chelsea Heights Ladies Market tomorrow night - so if you are local why not pop in and support the school - and check out the ornaments in real life.

Happy Stampin!

Nikki

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Two Special Gifts from Stampin' Up!

 
Promotion Dates: 1 November- 16 December, 2012

Promotion Details: Hostesses who hold a minimum $650 party during the promotion period will receive a FREE collection of Classic Stampin Pads - you can choose from Brights, Subtles, or Regals.  Plus, the free ink is in addition to the regular hostess benefits-INK-credible!

Your Party Sales**	Free Ink Collection	Hostess Dollars	Items at 50% Off
$650	Yes!	$100	1 item
$800	Yes!	$130	2 items
$1000	Yes!	$160	3 items
$1250+	Yes!	$200	4 items

I have just a couple of dates left for workshops during November and December.  Call me on 0428 254 952 to make a booking.  

Remember you don't have to have an in-house workshop.  You can get together with friends and share this special.  If you and five friends spend $130 each (plus P & P), you'll each receive two free ink pads and $20 of free products. 

So what can you spend $130 on?  How about this Gift with Purchase promotion  - get more product for your money.

Promotion Dates: 1-30 November 2012

Promotion Details:  It's only November, but Stampin' Claus is coming to town! Get a FREE Festive Paper-Piercing Pack when you purchase the Ornament Keepsakes Set and Candlelight Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper Bundle.

Choose from the following options:

Item	Description	Retail Value	Special Price
132260	Christmas Gift Pack (wood-mount) Includes Ornament Keepsakes Set (wood-mount), Candlelight Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper, Festive Paper-Piercing Pack	$96.85	$82.90
132261	Christmas Gift Pack (clear-mount) Includes Ornament Keepsakes Set (clear-mount), Candlelight Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper, Festive Paper-Piercing Pack	$84.85	$70.90
132262	Christmas Gift Pack (wood-mount bundle) Includes Ornament Keepsakes Bundle (wood-mount), Candlelight Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper, and Festive Paper-Piercing Pack	$123.85	$109.90
132263	Christmas Gift Pack (clear-mount bundle) Includes Ornament Keepsakes Bundle (clear-mount), Candlelight Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper, and Festive Paper-Piercing Pack	$113.85	$99.90

Call me on 0428, 254 952, email or send a carrier pigeon, I accept all forms of communication!

I've been rustling up a few Christmas cards using the Ornament Keepsakes Bundle - it is such a beautiful set.  I'll be sharing these samples over the next few days.

Happy Stampin'

Nikki

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Just Add Ink Challenge

Its challenge time again over at Just Add Ink.  There's a sketch to inspire us this week.

I broke out the Daydream Medallions and some Pumpkin Pie bits and pieces - it's my Mother-in-Law's birthday at the end of the month and she loves the colour orange.

I'm not sure I could get much more Pumpkin Pie if I tried!  I threaded a little piece of cardstock through the lovely faceted button for good measure.

Off to find her a present now, trying to fill my day with things to keep me occupied.  It's exam day for my daughter Livs (she doing a Year 12 subject in Year 11 - alot of children do this), she doing a Psych exam this afternoon and my tummy is already churning ... what am I going to do next year when she has lots of exams to sit all at the same time?

Right off to shops I go.

Happy Stampin!

Nikki

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Happy Halloween!

Almost forgot to post this today, I had the first Team Inky team meeting on Monday night and I thought I'd make the girls a seasonal treat.

The owl and bird punch have gone all spooky!  Sorry about the photo - Livs took it with her iPhone which is good because I forgot to take a photo before I gave them to the girls.

Our resident cupcake queen made some spooky sweet treats for her friends at school today too - she's becoming an expert with the icing.

Here's a close up of Olivia's bag of Halloween lollies - apparently you are never too old for Halloween treats - even Paul took a bag back to Sydney with him.  I love it when the family ask me to make things for them too :)

Happy spooking everyone.

Nikki

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