CraftExpo News - starts tomorrow

Starts tomorrow ladies and the team are there today setting up our space.  We have so much to show you, some beautiful displays, some great demonstrations ... and a fabulous prize basket to be won. Our very own Sue Madex and Kathryn Lowe will be demonstrating at the Discovery Centre too - want to see the Big Shot in action - make sure you don't miss their presentations.

There are 12 of us taking part - you can check out the talent by checking our special Show website Try Some Stamping ..... be sure to click on the tab at the top and check out the projects; and there's a sneak peak of the Show Specials too.

If you want all the details for ticket pricing, parking etc check out the CraftExpo site here.

I've created a display of Christmas cards this year - had lots of fun putting together some different samples ... here's one of my favourites.

The idea for this card came from offcuts!  The frame part is the left over from another card.  I sponged some Real Red onto the Very Vanilla offcut just to see what it would look like and loved it so much I had to make a card with it.   The little bird has been created in the same way and the trees are from the Lovely as a Tree set in Craft White with Dazzling Diamonds.  One of the Many Merry Messages stamps finishes the card off nicely.

So if you want to see more ideas - stop by and say hello.

 

Making Merry Monday

Well I think it could be time to start this again .... Helping Hudson is ticking along nicely .... so I have some more time to make a few cards to share with you.

I often use the Top Note die as a basis to make a card - this time I have used a circle punched from a post-it-note for a mask and then sponged the colours to create a landscape for the lovely reindeer from Winter Post and the line of trees from Lovely as a Tree.

A bit of two way glue pen-ing and some dazzling diamonds to finish ... along with a sentiment from the Punch Pals set - and this makes a lovely Christmas card.

Have you made a start on your cards yet?  Don't forget that Tracey Hanshaw is collecting cards for the troops overseas ... check out the details here.

 

Making Merry Monday is BACK!

Oh yes, after a little break .... I am back in full Christmas card making swing again (and supporting the Cards for the Troops campaign) .... and to help with my inspiration for a layout I used the latest challenge over at Just Add Ink.

The first of the two cards I made using the sketch from the JAI girls is made with Melon Mambo and Elegant Eggplant.  I've used the beautiful tree from the Lovely as a Tree set and embossed it in silver.  I ran a two way glue pen around the edge of the top note die cut and added some dazzling diamonds and finished it off with the little post mark image from the Winter Post set.

The background is the snowflake from the Winter Post set too - I used a Versamark ink pad first but then thought I would add some snowflakes in craft white ink also.

And this is the second version ... my tree looks a little crooked doesn't it but it isn't I promise :)  This is a Rich Razzleberry and Kraft version.

July is such a good time to make a start on your cards .... just one a week will give you a great start - and whilst you're making one you might as well make two!

 
 
 

Art With Heart Team Blog Hop - Christmas in July

Welcome to another Art With Heart Team Blog Hop! Who are the Art with Heart team? Lead by Claire Daly, there are over 90 demonstrators across Australia ... if you want to be come part of this great team just email me for more details. There's a special on just now for joining demos .... check it out here. 

You may have just come from Kristine Thompson's blog, but if you are starting here, don’t worry … you can make the complete journey just by following the links at the end of each post. There are over 10 stops along the way and we hope you will visit each one to see the wonderful creations we have to show you! If you leave a comment on each and every blog and then email me, Nikki at nikki@inkyart.com.au, your name will be put into the hat to win some beautiful blog candy. There is a deadline of 72 hours to leave your comments and only non SU demos are eligible to win the candy - although we'd love all visitors to leave some comments please. 

So on with my contribution ...

 I've created a double page spread using Whisper White and I created the background using the Lovely As A Tree stamp set to create the border along the bottom and the snowflake from the Winter Post set to create the border along the top.

(Sorry about the flash in the photos), here's a close up on the first page - can you see all the Dazzling Diamonds ... I was very sparkly I can tell you ... but Christmas isn't Christmas without a bit of sparkle is it!  I just ran a Two Way Glue pen here and there and then sprinkled the super fine glitter all over.

The numbers are from the OnBoard Timeless set - coloured in with Old Olive marker and then covered with Crystal Effects and more Dazzling Diamonds.

And the second page.  I've used a piece of Holiday Treasures and some felt flowers - you can find these on page 144 of the catalogue.   

Well, that’s all from me. Now you’re off to enjoy the beautiful creations of Erica Boxall, a very special lady who is very creative.

And don't forget to enter the draw for some candy.

 

 

Our Girl is 14

And we are feeling very old!  Never did I think I would be making a card for my daughter with a red truck on the front ... but here it is ...

Oh yes it is a Twilight card .... I am so pleased with it.  Why? Well I am not a Twilight mum, just the mum of a Twilight addict so a lot of effort has gone into its creation ... firstly I needed inspiration so I trawled around the internet and found the site for Angela Sargeant and this lovely card.  

I then realised that I needed the Loads of Love stamp set for the little truck, which I don't own so I put the call out on the Art With Heart Forum and Vivian from Riddles Creek (a fellow Stampin' Up Demonstrator) sent me loads of stamped images of the truck - I coloured it with a Real Red marker pen and aquapainter and hey presto ... Bella's truck!

Of course, being the sponging and brayering girl that I am, the background was easy and the Lovely as a Tree stamp just perfect, but then I needed a quote.  I found a fantastic website but which quote?  Was Olivia Team Edward or Team Jacob?  A coded SMS to her at school and she's Team Jacob.  Found this quote and typed it onto Whisper White cardstock and punched it out with the curly label punch - and I am pleased to say she loves it.  She recognised the quote immediately - she is such an addict!  There were many ooo's and arrhh's from her girlfriends - hence one pleased mum :o)

So what does a 14 year old girl want for her birthday ... a GHD hair straightener of course ... not any old one ... a limited edition one that was discontinued a couple of months ago!  But we found one thank goodness - there were many squeals and wiggles of her bottom (Olivia's happy dance - something she has done since she was very tiny) - so I think she loved her present too - thanks to Granny for chipping in - GHDs aren't cheap are they.

Now I would love to show you photos of our beautiful daughter but she is still in her PJs and it's Saturday afternoon so that isn't probably going to happen today!  She went to watch New Moon with her girlfriends after school yesterday and then they all came back to have a movie night in our TV lounge ... there are doonas and pillows everywhere and now I have just two PJ clad girls who keep popping out for more junk food.  It was so lovely yesterday to sit in the kitchen and listen to their shrieks of laughter and constant nattering - Olivia has a great circle of friends and from the sounds of it ... they seem to spend their school time playing jokes on each other ... I love hearing all their stories.

So perhaps later I will persuade Olivia that she really does need to get dressed and then I can take some photos - but I expect it will be tomorrow before they make it onto here.

Happy 14th birthday Olivia 

Love from Mum, Dad, KP and Max the hairy hound

x

Making Merry Monday # 20

Goodness me ... is this really week 20?  Do I have 20 cards already?  Probably not ... I keep giving them away as samples .... going to concentrate this week on sorting out the family and friends cards ... I would never be able to show my face if this year, of all the years, my cards were late or non-existent!

Today's card is one for all the lovely Paperific ladies I met this weekend.  I am exhausted but gee I have had so much fun.  I was exhibiting on Friday and Sunday and it is an absolute pleasure to meet and chat with so many like minded crafty ladies ... hello to you all :o)

 

And here is a photo of the technique I showcased ... now regular readers of my blog will know that I am a fan of sponging and brayer ... and if you have signed up for my newsletter you will have received the technique sheet this month.

For all of you who have just found this website click here to find the details on how to make this quick and easy card.

Well that's it for today, hope you are having a lovely Merry Monday.

Oops nearly forgot ... the winners of the lovely baskets of goodies for the prize draw are Linae from Kensington and Agnes May from Hawthorn - you will be contacted by Sue Madex in the next day or two ... enjoy ladies :o)

Making Merry Monday # 18

 

It's November already ....does that send anyone else into a panic too?  I have bought three presents but that isn't nearly enough, panic is setting in ... but I do have a stash of cards ... so I am feeling a little more organised than normal :o)

This is another Winter Post creation, with the trees from Lovely as a Tree.  I've inked the trees in Old Olive and stamped them once as you usually would and then again without reinking ... setting the stamp just off centre to produce the 'shawdow' impression - gives the trees some depth I think.

I've used Chocolate Chip and Riding Hood Red and sponged the edges of the card with Chocolate Chip ink - I use a dauber as they give a really nice finish.

And then I've used the Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon and a piece from the HodgePodge hardware kit ... I was worried that this would make the card too heavy but it didn't - I will put a little bit of padding over it though when I post it ... not sure how it will travel through the postal sorting systems ... crunched is so not a good look is it!

I hope that you are having a very Merry Monday and that November hasn't sent you into a panic too.  Come back later today for news of how Stampin' Up can help you with your gift shopping and reward you with freebies too!

Happy stampin!

Nikki

x

Making Merry Monday # 5

Morning ... another Monday and another Christmas card.

This is the second of the two designs for the August / September card making classes.

Lovely as a Tree is a really beautiful set and this little tree looks great embossed in silver.  A lovely bright and crisp card - I plan to make some more of these for a swap I've organised with some other Stampin Up! demonstrators. The words are from the Seasons of Joy set.

One tool I am finding I can't live without is the Stamp-a-ma-jig - I just love it and it has help save my sanity.  

You see having almost finished a card ... I often place the stamp in the wrong place ... or worse still it's crooked (looking at this photo it does look a bit crooked but I promise it isn't!). 

The Stamp-a-ma-jig stops this from happening ... 'use the stamp positioner for precise stamp alignment every time' the catalogue says .... it has definitely saved me from having to 'fix up' some dodgy stamping mistakes.  It's a stamp positioner and wipe clean transparent sheet - best $22.95 I've spent and if you want a demo or to place an order for one just let me know.

Back next Monday with another Christmas card - I've got quite a stash happening now :o)

Happy stampin

Love Nikki

x