Beginning the year as I mean to go on

Throughout the year last year, I knew I wasn’t doing as much scrapping for myself as I wanted. There are lots of stories and lots of photos that I really want to get in and play with. When Hubby asked me the other day “what did I want to do before going back to work?” my first thought was – “Something crafty!”. Luckily for me, the weather conjured up some great indoor weather – how else can you look at wind and rain in what is meant to be fantastically gorgeous summer time days???

I gave my space a bit of a shuffle (I can’t say “tidy” cos that would be lying! That is another job for another day!!) and created some space at my little table. The first thing I did was get a card out of the way which has been in my head – I don’t know any babies about to be born as yet, but this will come in handy once I do!

Then I headed to Harvey Norman / Norman Ross (side bar: why do both stores exist in the same building and attempt to compete?? I know they are owned by the same people so I just don’t get it!!) Norman bet out Harvey’s VIP price on enlargements, so I did my printing at Norman’s for a change. I needed some 8 x 10s for the school photos as I decided finally, I really needed to get started on the Becky Higgins School Years kits that have been waiting for me to do something with for at least 18 months if not longer! I’ve been collecting items from the Mr’s from their pre-school activities and popping them into the provided pockets but hadn’t actually scrapped any photos. I have now! They might be basic (very basic), but as a first dip of the toe back into scrapping, the pages were just what I needed.

The kits are definitely American with “Grades” instead of years, but I figured I can make this work with a bit of good old Dymo.

Mr 8 in Year 3,

Mr 5 in Year 1.

A little planning on what I need to do for the other pages is needed but they will get done before the end of this month. Then I just need to catch up on the rest of the pre-school items like kindy and the like and I’m up to date on these albums! Great because that will keep me motivated for the upcoming years. Despite being stung on the shipping price (the kits themselves were awesome value – plus it was even better at the time because the $NZ was really good!), I’m still pleased I got these kits. It’s going to be fun to have something simple, cohesive and all-encompassing of the Mr’s school lives at the end of however many years I’m looking at!

Once these were done, I had the need to break out my new Circle Scissors (new in the Stampin Up Summer mini… there’ll be more about those over on my SU blog: Kelly’s Stampin Spot if you want to take a look over there in the next few days and weeks ). There was also a challenge on Scrappin Patch’s forum (to use a frame of some sort) so I ended up the day with this next page.

I felt like this was a pretty good haul for someone that hasn’t touched her scrapping supplies for many (too many!) months. It certainly made me want to keep up with the urge to scrap so I have a feeling there is likely to be more pages being done over the remainder of the year! I’m determined to get more of our stories told as well as keep up with the other crafty urges I’ve unleashed through ’09!  Plus, it felt oh-so-good to dive back into my underloved stash of scrapping goodness.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed that little tour of scrappy goodness. I’m off to fold some washing so that maybe I can get another little project started before I go back to work tomorrow morning!

PS – for those of you that are interested in Stampin Up goodies, there is an Inventory Clearance Sale on at the moment – until 24 January, in fact. Click over to my SU blog, and check out the Current Specials image. Click on that and it will take you to the file with all the goodies in the sale – some of the sets are up to 50% off. There’s some great Alpha sets perfect for layout titles at just $46 (half-price) and then there is the awesome value “Wonderful favourites” set – 23 stamps for just over $35. (This set in my view was way under-priced to begin with, and now at the sale price, it’s incredible value.) This last set is a great one for all kinds of family members on your layouts and helps make great cards.

I am, of course!, happy to place an order for you if you are interested in any of the items. Just send me an email and let me know. I’m looking to place an order for this sale 14th January, and then any last minutes orders on the 24th.

A little bit of news

Thanks to my total addiction to papercrafting and the great special price to join the ranks of Stampin’ Up, I officially became an independent Demonstrator earlier this week.

I am really excited by this venture because I know it means I get to meet other people that enjoy cardmaking and scrapping like me – and as a bonus I’m hoping I might even be able to pay for my own addiction……

Anyway, so I can keep this blog filled with  my usual goings on for family and friends, I’ve created a separate blog that will be dedicated to all things Stampin’ Up!. You’ll find all the news and creations associated with my SU venture over there at Kelly’s Stampin’ Spot. And just so you don’t need to go hunting around for this post to get that link, you’ll see I’ve already added a nifty wee link over there -> on the right.

March # 1

This is this week’s card for Di’s sketch. There are lots and lots of different interpretations over there, so do go take a peek.

Here’s the sketch:

And here is my card:

Supplies used: Cardstock, Fancy Pants pp, Fresh fillers and Rivets Stampin Up stamps, versamagic ink, some lacey flowers and Lil Davis paper frills.

Di Hickman Feb #2

This week’s sketch was a fun one to work with – something about it just made it come together.

Did you know that these card sketches are available as a freebie digi-sketch too? Meaning if you are inclined to work with digital things, you are able to download it from Di. Check out her blog for more details.

And this is my take:

Supplies are some of that patterned paper from the Warehouse (stuff I bought and then wondered how on earth I would use it!), Stampin’ Up cardstock, ink and stamps, some Bazzil and some versamark. Go check out the other sketch team cards too – not just valentines themed ones there. And as always, they are gorgeous examples.

Week 4 November Card

This week’s sketch with Di Hickman is up. This is mine – I really love this particular mix of papers and I’ve used them a few times on various christmas cards. The whole traditional colours but looking pretty crisp and clean. Like that!

There’s a good range of interpretations on this sketch this week – really loving the different looks. I think my favourite this week is Jackie’s sympathy card.

I used: KI memories and Shabby Princess patterned papers, white cardstock, bobbin ribbon, Stampin Up ink, Bella brads and Montarga stamp

If you still have a few cards to make for this year, go check out the last few weeks’ sketches. A lot of them have been great for using the scraps you have.

Also I thought I’d throw a plug into Keryn and let you know the new Stampin’ Up Mini catalogue is out. There’s some interesting things in there – both for cards and for scrapping. Her contact details are on her blog if you are interested in more info. And if there was something in the current mini cat – well, you’d better get your skates on because those orders must be made by tomorrow!

Speaking of tomorrow, our Mr 6 is a bit excited. As is the rest of his school. They are among the lucky ones that get to see Mr Beckham bend it at training tomorrow at Westpac Stadium. Not that Mr 6 is actually into soccer – but hey, it’s not everyday that you get the chance to see these kinds of things.

Weekend of fun!

I can definitely recommend a weekend away with good friends and some crafting supplies! Amongst the stress of revising for fast looming exams, I’ve been looking forward to this weekend for some time. And it didn’t disappoint!

Amid the laughter, the chat, the perusing of local scrap stores, lunch and dinner we managed to find time to be crafty. I might have thought I would have got more pages done, but I was happy with this little effort. Mr 3 is all about “Me 3!” at the moment. It’s not really anything to do with the fact he IS three – more to ensure he gets included in whatever is going down.
Keryn’s family bach is a home away from home and it was a pleasure to be there again. It was a year ago that I first met her and Vicky after attending SENZ in Palmy last year with Donna. It has been great hanging out with them regularly since then and this weekend was so much fun. The four of us are planning on doing it all over again in April – see my diary already has us booked in!

The card making was quite prolific. Thanks to Keryn, we had a set of “stampin’ stacks” to complete. A great way to make a dent into the christmas card pile. We completed 12 cards each just doing that – and then threw in some more for good measure. It’s great to have a friend with the supplies! …. Thanks Keryn!!

Let me say, if you are in the Porirua / Lower Hutt area and want to make a start on your christmas cards, contact Keryn here as she is running a “Stampin’ Stack” session soon.

I had fun demonstrating a giftbox shown to us at the ScrapPink session a few weekends ago. Everyone’s turned out really nice this weekend – and I went on to make a couple of teeny-weeny ones. To fill with a few Pebbles and bring home to the boys. Of course it didn’t matter how cute they looked – the lollies were a hit!

September 25 Sketch

My the weeks are just flying by – I know it seems like that all the time – but don’t you think they are just getting faster and faster??

So this is this week’s card for Di Hickman’s sketch. I really loved this one – I think there is a lot you can do with it. As much as I loved it I left it to the last minute (again!) and was wondering where to start. Luckily for me I had just gathered up the scraps from when I worked on my CJ the other day and Bam! It’s off. …Haha! Had you all there!! {for those that don’t get the TV reference, that was a direct link to probably the MOST annoying ad on tv… that’s probably why you aren’t watching TV}

OK – so I’m losing the plot today. Truly! So – yes, scraps. On today’s little example, I’ve used the Cosmo Cricket patterned paper (I think it was the Gretel range) and Bazzill. Really nothing fancy at all. And then at long last I used my lovely little hostess stamps I got from Stampin’ Up.

That outer circle it’s hand cut. That’s because I have a 1″ punch and as of today a fantastic 1.5″ punch. But guess what I need: you got it… a 1.25″ punch. Heaven help me!! And I’m sorry, as much as I love SU stuff I just think $30 + is a tad bigger than my budget will let me go. So let me know if you know of a cheaper 1.25 ” punch – otherwise it’s a *cutting-I-will-go* {think Count Homogenised…..}

Ok – there’s a van outside to collect me. They’ve even brought a lovely white coat to keep me warm – the arms buckle up at the back…….

Feels like spring

Doesn’t this look really spring like? And the sun is shining – and even better: it was quite warm in the sun today too! I so love days like this – give me a warm sunny day and I’m a happy bunny!I did these cards last night at a monthly card making thing I go to. Except I haven’t been in aaaaaages so I wasn’t too sure what I was going to do there last night. I threw a few stamps and supplies in, knowing I had to make a card for my MIL who’s birthday is today. The yellow flower card evolved and it worked so I decided that was hers.

The spring flowers are out of my neighbour’s garden. She has masses of those old fashioned fushias – you know the ones: they actually smell! She is always asking me to pick them as they grow better apparently when picked regularly. Seeing as I love them so much, who am I to decline such a request! I also love renunculas (and I’m sure I’ve spelt that wrong!) and there were some in the garden too. So those made a nice little posy for the boys to take to MIL after school.

Hubby gets to give the gift tonight (yes, the one I organised! ) . Wish I could see her face but I wanted to make sure that he didn’t go empty handed.

(oh, FYI, MIL is in a home after a massive stroke so the visits to her are more usually one at a time kind of deals).

{Something really p**sy happened while we were there involving the SIL I’m having issues with. Doing my best not to get into a rant here and now while those pretty flowers are looking back at me but believe me, the keyboard is currently feeling under attack!}

The second card you might recognise if you have seen the Stampin Up ideas book. It’s a lift directly off one of those designs! I had to use this cute little beary fellow and the simple nature of this design meant I got to take home 2 cards for the night. Meaning I must have been productive and not sat around catching up on everyone’s news!

Twin cards

We have a birthday party to go to on Sunday.

Actually we have LOTS on this weekend: hubby is involved with the regional brass band comps so between the rehersals most of Saturday and the actual comps all day Sunday, me and the Mr’s will have to figure out how to stretch ourselves around the weekend’s various regular and social engagements.

The party on Sunday is for one year old twins. It doesn’t seem right that a whole year has gone by – but apparently mother knows best and is convinced her girls were born a year ago. It should be a fun gig – it’s one of those were all the friends get together and catch up. Over the years “all the friends” has evolved from 8 or so couples to 8 or so families. We now have an uncountable number of children between us aged between newborn to nine. Man! How does that happen??!

So these cards are my offerings for the latest 1 year olds on the block. I had a lot of fun making them this afternoon because a girlfriend has just become a Stampin’ Up demonstrator and her goodies had arrived. I now have access to her goodies as well as mine. Woohooo!!! (Sorry Nikki – you know I had to gloat!) One of us thought that going on todays session that we were rather like the stamping world’s version of Hudson and Hall. I wonder which one of us is the lush on the wine??!
{OMG…. I just realised how that dates us!!! }

And thanks to another SU girlfriend Keryn, who taught me how to dye my own ribbons the other day. Yes, my fingers get stained – but I discovered that the StampnScrub will clean fingers too.

And tonight I am going out to scrap. Yes, hubby is out and about all weekend and has been busy in the new job, so I’ve gouged some me-time and life is good. I’ve realised over the last few months that I am a social scrapper. I seem to get quite a bit done when I’m at crops. I wonder if it thanks to the vibes that I collect from everyone else.