Inspiration - Janine's family stamping

While surfing around all the NZ demo blogs on the weekend I came across a lovely post on Janine's blog. It shows the cards that she and her children made for her husbands birthday. I thought it was so lovely to see cards that her children hade made themselves for their dad. As it's the holidays it might be fun to see what your children can create for someone they love. Remember not to be to precious about our stamps (I am soooo guilty of this) at the end of the day they can be cleaned and as long as the children are supervised your ink pads are fairly safe. It's worth it to see how proud they are of what they make.

Inspiration - Stevie's Wheeling

if you have been an observant little demo, you will have noticed a new blogger on our list.... Stevie has just started her blog, and there is some really great stuff on there already.

I think that the way she has used an SU wheel on this layout combined with colouring the images looks fantastic.

To see more of Stevie's creations, go and check out her blog

Inspiration - Bloomin' with Beauty by Sarah

I think any card made with this stamp set would be beautiful but what Sarah's done with it is gorgeous!  I love how she's coloured and layered it.  To get the recipe and full instructions on how Sarah made this card, check out her blog thINKing Stamps.

Inspiration - Best Friends Layout by Michelle

OK so I'm a little biased towards this layout because the photo includes my daughter Baylee.  What I find amazing is both Michelle and I have a same photo but the layout and colours we've chosen are completely different.  Michelle's done an amazing job and I think the simplicity keeps the focus on the photo.  Check out the rest of Michelle's blog O 2 B Stampin

Inspiration - Michelles Box in a Bag

Isn't this just FAB!!!! I spotted this on Michelles blog "O 2 B Stampin" .

Wouldn't this be great as something to demo in a masculine theme for Fathers Day, filled with as Michelle used fudge or similar?

Michelle got her instructions from Paula Goffs Blog.

To see the Michelles recipe and more of her fantastic cards and projects go visit her blog

Inspiration - Bloomin by Sharlene

So here's a sneak peak at one of the stamp sets available in the Spring Mini (starts 1 August). I love pretty much all the stamp sets in it, including the wide satin ribbon, the rub ons ... ok pretty much EVERYTHING. This stamp set is top of my wish list.

Sharlene has pre ordered it and made this card along with a couple of other beautys. To see the others and check out how to WIN this SET FREE! check out her blog Stamp With Sharlene.

Inspiration - Fall Flowers Set by Kim

I love the muted tones in this card from Kim. Even better, she has a whole set of cards, envies and a box to put them in on her blog! Jump on over to INKin Fun to see the rest of the set!

Inspiration- One for the Boys by Sharlene M

I love this card!  The colours are fantastic together, until I got the new IB&C in April I would never have thought of putting these colours together.  Check out Sharlene's blog Magpie Creates to see her matching scrapbook layout and for her recipe.

Inspiration - A Cute Bundle by Tracy

Ok it's not really a bundle, but she has made a bunch of cards.  You'll have to keep checking her blog as she posts them.  This is just the first and it's adorable!  I can't see what else she's made.  I love this set, it's my favourite for baby cards.  Check out Tracy's blog Stamping All Seasons.

Mini Pizza Box Tutorial

Hi everyone, I came across this Mini Pizza Box the other day and I wanted to share it with you all as it's so cute but so easy.  Email me at trudi.hopkinson@xtra.co.nz with your Mini Pizza Boxes and I'll upload them.

Cut an A4 piece of card to 6" x 11"

Score along the pink lines at 1" 5" 6" & 10" widthways and 1" & 5" lengthways.

Cut along the purple lines up to the score lines.

Fold and tape tabs and all done!

Traces Christmas Criss Cross

This is Tracy from over at Stamping Seasons criss cross card for the criss cross challenge.

I love festive favourites, and I think you have to agree Tracy's card is FABULOUS!

Inspiration - Scallops by Sharlene T

Here's a very cool card by Sharlene.  I love the colour combo she's used and the large circle and scallop she's done.  If you want to know how to do the large scallop, it's really easy, just check out her blog Stamp With Sharlene, for instructions.

Trudi's July Challenge Entry

Thanks Louise's for this month's Challenge. 

Stamps - Baroque Motifs

Ink - River Rock, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip

Card - River Rock Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip

DSP - Brocade Backgrounds

Accessories - Tab Punch, Scallop Punch, Choc Chip Wide Grosgrain, Vintage Brads.

 

Doncha just love that Wide Chocolate Chip Grosgrain - I can't wait to get my hands on the satin ribbon in the new mini!!!

July Challenge - CrissCross Card

Your challenge, should you wish to accept, is a criss cross card, I am going to be doing a sketch every month starting in August. I thought I would ease you all into it nice and slowly with an easy first one, so hence a criss cross. I have loaded a picture so those of you that may not know what a criss cross is can have a look. Also if you need some instructions here are some really good ones.

It would be great if everyone (including you Aussies that visit) could have a go, it would be a nice way to share ideas, and see some new "faces" on here.


You can email me a picture of your card here and I will upload it.

I look forward to seeing what you all come up with.

Inspiration - Simply Bodacious by Jacque

What I love about this card is how simple it is, yet it's still a fantastic card.  Jacque's turned it up by using a different fold (yep Jacque I'm pretty sure it is a Z fold).  That's another thing about stamping, you can make a card sweet and simple or go all out - it's completely up to the designer (or CASEr in my case) and there are no rules.  Visit Jacque's Blog Stamp Happy NZ to see what else she's been up to.

Inspiration - Tracy's Fishy Friends

This is a card from Tracy Jackson's blog "Stamping All Seasons"

I think this is a fab colour combo and one not usually seen with this set, but it definitely looks great.

Tracy has loads of great cards and layouts on her blog so make sure and go and check it out.

Inspiration - Definitely Pretty by Louise

I'm sure you'll all agree with me that this one SOO deserves to be an inspiration post.  It's simply gorgeous.  Louise has used her Pretties Kit to make this dragonfly.  I'll definitely be giving this project a go in the near future.  Visit Louise's Blog by clicking HERE.

Inspiration - Berry Bliss LO by Rachael

Once again I was blog hopping yesterday and I hopped onto Rachael's blog.  She had this beautiful LO posted, and isn't her little girl just beautiful as well??  Rachael's Blog has just been added to our links list so go check her out.

Inspiration - Boatloads by Kim

Kim's big on sponging and has got me into it more as well.  She used sponging on this card and it looks fantastic!  Checkout what else Kim's been up to, she's been busy, on her blog INKin Fun.

Inspiration - Petals by Louise

Isn't this just gorgeous??  I still don't think I've seen an actual flower made with this set, but that just shows you how versatile it is.  Louise has made this stunning dragonfly and used a sketch challenge - for more details check out her blog HERE.

Hi everyone.

What do you think of the new links list???

I've added the new one so that you can see instantly who's updated their blogs recently.  It also show up who's been slacking.  Hope this saves you a little time blog hopping and encourages those who haven't updated in a while.

Please let us know what you think.

Hope you're all keeping warm & dry - a perfect night to stamp!

CC #1 by Trudi

Here's my entry for the colour challenge.  It didn't come out quite how it looked in my head, but I think it's ok, a little more green than I had intended. Sorry I've used Stem Silhouettes, but it's one of my favourites, shame it's retired, it could easily be substituted with Artfully Asian but I don't have that set - yet.  The layout was CASEd from a card I saw a while ago on Amber Hight's Blog.

Stamps - Stem Silhouettes (Retired)

Ink - So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, Black Marker

Cardstock - Sahara Sand, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, Whisper White

Accessories - White Grosgrain, White Brads, Cuttlebug, Crop-A-Dile, SAMJ, Sponge

A Colour Challenge for the Last Week of the Month

I've seen so many fantastic cards using these colours and cards from K Werner's other challenges. She's so talented at putting together great colour combos. Here's her current Colour Challenge.

Sahara Sand, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White

Have fun with it and email me with your cards with the subject NZSU CC 1.


Don't forget - this is the LAST week to enter in for blog candy. Leave your comment and go in the draw.

Inspiration - Sharlenes Baroque Motifs

This gorgeous creation comes direct to us to us from Sharlene Meyer's blog "Magpie Creates"

I love this set, and from what I understand from alot of your blogs so do you, I love that this is so simple and still so effective, and only uses two colours.... sweet.

Anne Marie's June Challenge Entry

Here's a card and a layout by Anne Marie for the June challenge of doing a 'masculine' project.  She's done a fabulous job with both.  She's also been busy making some bright and colourful children's cards you can check out on her blog Stamping Galore.

Sorry my computer's playing up so will try and publish the card in the morning.  And sorry Anne Marie that's it's taken me so long to get them published.  

Lets try again

Here's Anne Marie's card that she made for the challenge.

 

Stamps - Canvas BG, Circle of Friendship

Cardstock - Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, River Rock

Accessories - Twill Tape, Hodgepodge & corner rounder punch.

Thanks for being so patient.

Inspiration - Louise's Mates LO

Aren't children and animals great to scrap?  I know that's what most of my scrap albums contain, although our cat usually disappears when the girls appear. lol  

Louise has captured both in this lovely LO.  I love the colour combo she's used and her use of hodgepodge and it works for our June challenge!  Check out more of Louise's creations on her blog PunknScrap.

Blog Hits 5000+

Yay we've had over 5000 hits!  I thought I'd let you all know that we're averaging over 120 hit's per day with yesterday a high of 206!!!  Hopefully many of those who visit here are then browsing the blogs listed.

Thank you to everyone for sharing your creations and inspiring people.

If you're an NZ SU demo or SU customer with a blog and you want it linked on this blog, just email me with your details and I'll add you to the links list.  And remember ANYONE can take part in our challenges.  Keep your cards, LOs, 3D items etc coming, we love seeing them!!

And for those who haven't commented on this blog yet, there's still plenty of time to go in the draw for the Blog Candy.

Hope you all are having a fantastic weekend.

Take care and happy stamping.

Inspiration - Fabulous by Kim

I came soo close to ordering this stamp set the other night - definitely next time!  This set is just perfect for the technique that Kim's used.  Check out her blog INKin Fun to see what she's used.

Inspiration - Daliah Medallion by Sarah

Isn't this card just stunning what more can I say?  For full details on how Sarah made this card, check out her blog thINKing stamps.

Inspiration - Chipboard Storage by Tracy

What a gorgeous way to store all those chipboard pieces!  I love how she's used DSP and chipboard to create this box.  To see more of Tracy's creations click HERE

Inspiration - Ladybird Petals by Michelle

Isn't this the cutest card?  So far I don't think Michelle's actually made a flower with this stampset but I love what she's done with it all the same.  For more details and to see the matching box check out her blog O 2 B Stampin.

Inspiration - Keryn's Time Well Spent

This card is from Keryn's Blog.....

I love the colours and check out that stunning background effect. Also did you know that that Keryn is on the Design Team for " Daring CardMakers"? Talented or what!

Inspiration - Michelle's Scrapbook Page

I had 5 minutes for a cuppa and a blog hop this morning, and wanted to share this gorgeous scrapbook page by Michelle. I've been using Baroque Motifs a lot lately, and this caught my eye right away. Love the rub-ons on the photo! To see more of Michelle's work, please visit her blog O 2 B STAMPIN!

Inspiration - Altered Clipboard by Tracy

I saw this on Tracy's blog this evening (ok not really evening, it's almost 11.30pm) and had to post it straight away as an Inspiration project.  It's such a great project, the colours and use of the clip board look fab.  Check out the details on Tracy's blog Stamping All Seasons.

Karen's June Challenge Entry

Here's Karen's wonderful entry.  I love the effect she's achieved using different letter stamps.

Stamps - Collage Alphabet, Artifacts, Looks Like Spring Occasional Greetings

Ink - Brocade Blue, Close to Cocoa

Cardstock - Brocade Blue, Natural Ivory

Accessories - Hodgepodge, Hemp Twine

Trudi's June Challenge Entry

And before I go to bed, here's my entry.  I'm thinking Lovely As A Tree will be popular with this one.

Stamps - Lovely As A Tree, Riveting (Retired Hostess)

Ink - Black Stazon, Chocolate Chip

Cardstock - Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Sage Shadow, Very Vanilla,

DSP - Outlaw

Accessories - Grosgrain, Hodgepodge, Tab Punch, 1 1/4 Circle Punch, 1 3/8 Circle Punch, Dimensionals

Kim's June Challenge

Kim did these cards over the weekend, just in time for our challenge.  Great for Father's Day, hope they make the cut Kim.  See Kim's blog INKin Fun

Inspiration - Masculine LO By Michelle

I thought I'd post these to help inspire you all with the Masculine Challenge.  Here's a beautiful LO by Michelle of her DH and her son Blake (hard to believe he'll be at intermediate next year!)

For more details check out Michelle's Blog O 2 B Stampin

Inspiration - Zindorf Cards by Judy

Aren't these cards just gorgeous, I'm loving Michelle Zindorf's style and Judy had replicated that wonderfully in her cards.  Judy is one of Megan's downlines.

SC#1 Anne-Marie

Here's Anne-Marie's card, she's used the sketch to create a very cool birthday card.  Check out Anne-Marie's Blog Stamping Galore

Stamp Set - Birthday Best

Cardstock - Chocolate Chip, Wild Wasabi, Rose Red, So Saffron

Accessories - Matt Pack, Saffron Brads

Inspiration - Trudi's Baylee page

Isn't this gorgeous!!!!!

This is Trudi's page about her beautiful daughter Baylee at 4, what a little cutie! And the page isn't bad either.lol.

To check out more of Trudi's stunning cards and layouts go and see her blog... Made by Me.

Inspiration - Jacques Pretties page

This is from Jacques bog - Stamp Happy NZ

What a gorgeous example of how to use some of the lovely items in the "Pretties Kit"

For more information on this layout go and visit her blog.

Inspiration - Tracy's Ahoy Matey Card

This fabulous card is by the talented Tracy, you can see more of her creations at.... "Stamping Seasons"