Golden Anniversaries

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 too).  This set is good for creating age related cards or scrapbooking pages - the numbers can be used as Save The Dates, or birthday invites even - great set.  In this instance I used a retired Timeless Type die cut for the numbers as I wanted them to sparkle.

The little tulle roses are individual flowers cut from the new Flower Trim (it's on page 5 of the new 2013 Seasonal Catalogue - its easy to miss I think).  I popped a large pearl in the centre of the little rose and used Glue Dots to attach them to the Glimmer paper.

I finished off the inside using little pieces left over from the front of the card.  I loved the end result - simple but elegant I think.

The lady I made it for loved it - and I hope the couple who are celebrating their 50th loved it too.  If you have a special occasion coming up and would like a handmade card please do get in touch - each card costs $5 and can be picked up or posted to you.

Nikki

x

Seize The Birthday #6

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 'invest' in one or two!

I decided to turn the sketch on its side and introduce a wavy line between the two papers rather than a straight one.  The papers are from the Print Poetry paper stack in the new catalogue and I have cut them straight - the wavy Midnight Muse piece has been cut with the Tasteful Trim BigShot die.

To create the centre piece I first cut out a few flowers, doh!  Then I remembered, this was a male card, so changed that to stamped images from the Circle Circus stamp set.  

If you live in Melbourne I do hope you enjoyed our cooler day today - such a relief from the past few days.

Happy Stampin"

Nikki

x

 

Just Add Ink #153 Colour Challenge

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 a flowery card?  No I didn't - although now as I am sitting writing this I think I might do!  I'm still making the stash of 18th birthday cards.

 I think you could use this card for a boy or a girl - although if Olivia decides to send it to a girl I think I will add some little So Saffron flowers to the number 1, just to pretty it up a little.

And the inside is complete too - these little pieces were just sitting on my desk - off cuts, why have I never thought of decorating the inside of cards like this before?  So quick to just add a few of the left over bits onto a piece of Whisper White - love it.

I might need to go for a lie down - two challenges in two days .... that's a record :)

Nikki

x

Swallowtail Yumminess!

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 now.

The stamp set is called Swallowtail, then there is a new Honeycomb embossing folder and a designer Builder Brad ..... that stamp set is sooo yummy, I love love love it!  

I'll be back to whet your appetitie with more samples soon - lots and lots happening in the next few weeks with Stampin' Up! so I am busy preparing a newsletter.  If you would like to receive a copy just sign up using the box on the right hand side of the blog.

Happy stampin'

Nikki

x

 

Quick Christmas Gift Pockets

When time's short or you simply have no idea what to buy gift vouchers or cash is a good option and this year I sent all of our nieces and nephews little gift holders.  

I used the Two Tags die and created a little pocket to slip them into - the girls have the snowflake glittery ones and the boys ... well I think they'd wonder what was up with Auntie Nikki if I sent them glittery things wouldn't they.

Hope you are enjoying the run up to Christmas and ticking things off that list.

Happy Stampin'

Nikki

x

PS Week 2 of the Clearance Rack has started!

Team Meeting Goodies

Team Inky is growing and now we meet once a month for a cuppa, stamping, sharing ideas and of course some chatting and laughter - its heaps of fun.

This month I demonstrated all the goodies above.  It was kinda like a 'DIY gift night' :)

The little candy wrapper boxes were a hit - well once we had worked out how to fold them and I shared the easy peasy rosette making technique using a hot glue gun and the new silicone mat.

My favourite thing to make is the little lolly treat bags - once again the Owl Punch makes this so cute and easy - how lovely does he look dressed as Santa - and how versatile that the same punch can also make a cute reindeer.

I'll be back another day to show you the card - Reverse Masking - its a super quick, super easy, super impressive technique.  

Stay tuned.

Nikki

x

Petite Purse Gifts

One of the best bits about being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator is the friendships and the sense of belonging to a team.  Last week, some of the Art With Heart Team got together for a Christmas meal - it was lovely to be able to meet up with old friends as well as to meet some lovely new team members.

Aren't we a lovely bunch.  We all belong to a little Facebook group and chat every day to each other on line - so it was really nice to meet some of the ladies in person.

There's a great promotion coming for anyone wishing to join the group and become a demonstrator - you won't want to miss out - more on that in January.

I decided to make a little pressie for everyone - with so many to make these had to be quick and easy so I chose the Petite Purse die and a selection of the in-colours to rustle up this little gift.

How cute do they look all lined up.  I've stamped the bags using Snowflake Soiree from the Holiday Traditions Catalogue in the new in-colours.  Then attached a little dahlia and a bow to finish them off.

They are very little, but just enough room for five little chocolates.  Would make a great gift bag for something small - and so quick to make up so perfect if you have lots of little gifts to make.

Hope you are cruising along with your Christmas preparations - its full steam ahead here as my Christmas cards go postal and we begin the countdown to the big day.

Happy Stampin'

Nikki

x

 

 

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

x 

 

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

x