Talk about PROCRASTINATE!

Ok, so tonight I should be busily packing my bag to leave tomorrow, and what do I do???  Of course, I blog!   I think I’m just putting off doing my swaps (oops, I mean packing my swaps of course, as I’m SUPER organised, and finished mine AGES ago!) and the “what shall I take” dilemma.  I’m taking less than ever I’ve decided – more room for some new shoes!!

I had a class out with some lovely ladies in Waitara today, and it was also a LOVELY distraction from packing & sorting… and here’s one of the cards we made.  Thanks to all of you who came today – hopefully you’re all enjoying admiring the projects you made – well done to you!

This is called a Tea Bag Fold, and is a slight variation on the one I made recently with Mostly Flowers.  This time I used Boho Backgrounds, which is such a versatile set, and Baroque Motifs.    I’m sure you can work out the colours for yourself!

Have a wonderful week – I’ll see you back here sometime next week once I unpack.

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle

Just for Joanne

Hi everyone, and especially Joanne!

Joanne missed out on our last class for Inglewood High School, and hasn’t yet seen all the projects we made, that I’m taking out to her this week, so I thought I’d better put on another photo, just for Joanne!

This card was inspired by a card done by Beate on Splitcoast Stampers.  A fabulous place to get ideas for your cards (www.splitcoaststampers.com).

Stamp Set : Pun Fun, Classic Stars Wheel.  Cardstock/Ink : Baja Breeze, Real Red, Baja Breeze Patterns DSP.  Accessories : Large & Small Star Punches, Gold Brads, Photo Corner Punch.

Today, the boys all went back to school, and I had great plans to get sooo much done with 6 whole hours to myself.  Hmmm.   I just couldn’t get myself organised.  I managed to get a bit done, but felt a little odd with no noise… so I went and had coffee with my sister!   TOMORROW, I’ll get sorted.  Probably!  Actually, tomorrow I have a hair cut & colour, and after reading MAKEESHA'S post about her horrific haircut, I’m freakin out just a little!   I mean, how bad can it be, right??  

Hope you like the card Joanne!

Have a wonderful night.

Michelle

KWerner Colour Inspiration # 50

YAY – TIME TO STAMP!!   With just a few things (very important things, mind you) left on my “MUST DO” list before I leave for Australia this week, I’ve actually got some time to create tonight.  My DH is out, and the boys are about to have an early night, getting ready for going back to school tomorrow morning (YAY, just quietly), so I gave myself an hour to make a card for the KWerner colour inspiration, and this is what I came up with.

Stamp Set : One of a Kind.   Cardstock/Ink : Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Whisper White.   Accessories : Versamark, Dazzling Diamonds, Heat & Stick, Grosgrain Ribbon, Wide Oval Punch, Designer Label Punch, 1 3/8” circle punch, Markers, Dimensionals

Check out the other amazing entries at Kristina's Blog.

Have a wonderful night!

Michelle

Masking 101

Good afternoon!   I hope your day was as fabulous as mine has been…  creating three fabulous projects in one day gives you a real feeling of achievement.   Thank you to everyone who was involved – it was a great day!   You’ll have to wait to see photos of our projects another day, but in the meantime, here’s a card that I made this week – it was actually a technique tutorial I was asked to do that is not needed anymore, so if you want to know how to create this card in a step-by-step, photographed tutorial, then just leave me a comment with your email address and – I’ll email it out to you.   It’s kind of a little bit too much information to post on here, and I’m trying to get my head around linking to a document… somehow…  Anyway – I gave this to my DH for his birthday which was on Wednesday.    It’s a great card for a man.  I did think about putting the whole family on the front of the card, or me driving… but in the end I just left it empty.

Well, I’m a little weary, so I think it will be a lovely quiet night tonight, before I attempt to do my swaps tomorrow for convention – YAY!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Michelle

A double slider sweetie!

Good morning!   A real quick post before Stamp Camp starts in 30 minutes…!   This was one of our projects at my Thursday night class – A double slider.  It is such a WOW card – and pretty easy to make with a bit of help from a friend!  

If you would like to make this (or a similar) card for a WOW class, then give me a call and we’ll set up a date for you and some friends.  A class starts at $15 for 3 WOW cards, or a combination of WOW and 3D items.   You can either have it at your house or mine, and with just a small group of friends you can tailor-make your class to your wishes.  Or if you like to more simple, quick cards, then we can do a class where you make 4 cards for $10.00!  What are you waiting for??

Stamp Set : Fifth Avenue Floral.  Cardstock/Ink : Chocolate chip, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White.  Accessories : Eyelet Border Punch, Ribbon, Round Tab Punch, and lots of dimensionals!

Hope you enjoy your Anzac Day!

Michelle

I’m in LOVE!

… with Fifth Avenue Floral (ok, AND my DH!!!!!)  WOW – this stamp set is just fabulous!   I did an impromptu make & take at our M&M’s team meeting on Wednesday using this set for the first time, and it showed just how simple & quick a card can be and still have that WOW factor.   Sharlene has made a card very similar to this, which gave me the inspiration for my card – THANKS!

Stamp Set : Fifth Avenue Floral, Boho Backgrounds.   Cardstock/Ink : Not Quite Navy, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White.  Accessories : Versamark Ink, Heat & Stick Powder, Dazzling Diamonds, Wide Oval Punch.

 

Last night we had our last Inglewood High class (a make-up class that we missed) at Kim’s house – well, what a LAUGH!   Kim, your muffins are to-die-for, and no, I HAVE NOT GOT A COLD… it’s just a headache, blocked nose & croaky throat.   Thanks girls for a much-needed laugh.  I never knew we could take so long to make three cards – I guess that was all the laughing, eating & drinking that went on with it, and hey, what do you expect stamping with BLONDES!!  Sorry to all the blondes out there, but we did have a few VERY blonde moments last night!

Have a fabulous day everyone – I’ve got lots & lots to do getting ready for our Stamp Camp tomorrow – WOOHOO!

Michelle

M&M’s swaps & a wicked recipe

Hi there!  

Today we had our M&M’s meeting, and the most bestest part is getting everyone’s swap cards.  WOW – they were nothing short of FABULOUS today.   I just love the colours, stamp sets & layouts from everyone.  What a very talented group of women!   Thanks ladies – such wonderful swaps from you all!

By CHERIE

By TONI

By Helen

By TRUDI

By KIM

Now, I have a terrible recipe to share with you all that I made this morning (and last night…) for our morning tea.  Terrible, because it only takes 4 minutes, 20 seconds to cook in the microwave, and I tell you, it’s DIVINE!!  YUM – Terrible!   Thanks to Sibylle for making this for us last week, and for kindly sharing the recipe!  I’ll know who to blame when I next weigh myself!

Sibylle’s Microwave Brownie

100g melted butter
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
3/4 cup flour
1 tsp bp
1/2 cup choc chips

Stir with a fork.   Bake in a microwave safe bowl for 4 min 20 sec (Line bowl with baking paper, otherwise it's very hard to get out, and try not to drop the brownie on the bench once it’s cooked, as it will break into three pieces in front of your guests – believe me, I know!).  Leave the brownie in the dish for at least 10 minutes – IF YOU CAN!   The mixture tastes very good, but the cooked brownie is really yum.  Enjoy!

Michelle

Inspired by Nature & STAMP CAMP THIS SATURDAY!

Good evening everyone!   I’ve just inked up for the very first time one of the gorgeous new sets from our new catalogue – Inspired By Nature.  LOVE IT!!    This is my swap card for tomorrow’s M&M’s meeting (and yes, I always seem to leave my swaps ‘til the night before).  We simply had to use some of the new in-colours.

What I love most about this set it the simplicity of the cards you can make with it – the stamp set & words speak for themselves, without lots of fuss, so just perfect for a last minute card!  I used our new eyelet border punch along the side of my whisper white card, then along a strip of Baja Breeze card, then attached a strip of black card behind that just to add to the contrast.  I stamped the flower first in Sahara Sand which I had stamped off lightly first to give a lighter shadow colour, then used the stamp-a-ma-jig to restamp the flowers in Pacific Point just slightly up above the original stamp.   Cool huh?!

Now – STAMP CAMP!!   This is on Saturday from 10am – 4pm, and we are making three VERY cool projects – I’m talking major cool projects, not just some cute little box, but WAY COOL things that you’re going to just LOVE.   We still have spaces available for you & a friend to come along.   If you and a friend book and pay together by Thursday 5pm, then I’ll give you a reduced rate – A VERY SPECIAL rate of just $40 per person, instead of $50.  Of course, if you just want to come by yourself, then I still have a space for you as well, just at the normal cost of $50.     This is your chance to spend the day creating alongside other like-minded women – how much fun is that?!   

Have a wonderful night, and I’ll be back with some more stuff tomorrow!

Michelle

HELLOO!!!

Whew – sorry about the absence – I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders, as today I’ve finished what has been a marathon preparation few days for me.  I’ve just finished my very first video tutorial (I’m kinda hoping that I’ll get better with the focusing as time goes on… and that it will only take me ONE day, rather than THREE to do a 7 minute video!) for UStamp, which starts on Friday, plus another tutorial for UStamp in PDF format.   AND tonight, I’ve just completed my sample card for Stampin’ Up! Convention which is in 10 more sleeps – YIPPEE!!  I can’t WAIT!   SO, I have been super-busy, with school holidays and all, and fitting in a few days out at the bach (where the boys caught a lovely lot of eels – YUCK) and buying a new car for me .. it’s SOOO cute… which we pick up tomorrow… and, well, you get the gist, so my blogging has just had to wait while I got all this other STUFF done.   what a fabulous feeling now though – I feel like I could stamp all night now, which I kind of have been doing over the past couple of nights!  Whoops!!  Don’t tell my DH, as he’s fast asleep by the time I sneak into bed at the moment.  Poor neglected baby!   So, what have I got to show you… hmmm.  Pretty much nothing I can show you right at the moment.  Ummmm… surely something… nope.  Nothing.  Sad huh?   So, I’d better get on with making something fabulous to WOW you with tomorrow.  Just wanted to tell you that I’m not ignoring you all – and “I’ll be back”!

Oooh  Oooh Oooh – I’ve found something!!! YAY!  This is kind of a sneak peek at my UStamp project, but I wont even tell you what it is, and you’ll never guess, so I think that’s ok. 

Do you see this gorgeous little mat in Basic Gray that I made?   I’m preparing myself mentally to have another go at making a video tutorial, so if you would like me to do one showing you how you can easily make this, then let me know.    10 comments means I’ll do it – any  less than 10 and I think I’ll just have another little cup of coffee instead!!   CAN YOU TELL I’M SLEEP DEPRIVED???

Have a fabulous night

Michelle

The things you find…

When you clean up your office cupboard!   Honestly – it’s been like Christmas today.   I found this scrapbook page (in a 8”x8” size) which obviously was put aside before being finished, so today I thought – FINISH IT!   I just added a couple of rub-ons, which are absolutely fabulous for real quick scrapbooking, and mounted the 8”x8” onto a 12”x12” chocolate chip page.   Done.   How simple.  This photo is another of my favourites.  This is my big boy, who is now 11, and would DIE if he saw I’d put a baby photo of him & his lovely curls on my blog!   I’m very nearly done (although the hallway is now filled with things that don’t belong in my office, so I now need to go sort out who to put/throw them!) so I can get on with enjoying the tidy workspace – while it lasts!

Have a fabulous day, and thanks for stopping by!

Michelle

So, I just moooooved the junk out of the way!

I'm finished organising my office.    Ok, so maybe not quite finished, but at least I've cleared enough space to stamp something.  Seriously!  I was getting withdrawl symptoms looking at all that new ribbon, DSP, stamps & punches just screaming out my name "use me, use me".   In the best interests of all involved, I set aside the piles yet to be sorted, and made a card, and it's way cool!   I first saw a flower pot pocket card done by Stephanie Luman, and knew I simply had to have a go.   Cool huh??  I'll be making some of these cards at my classes this month (and probably for my M&M's swaps, Convention Swaps, School classes.... - you get the idea??!)  

Stamps : Best yet (BRAND NEW HOSTESS SET - WOOHOOO!), Eastern Blooms.  Cardstock/Ink : Tangerine tango DSP Patterns, Certainly Celery, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White.  Accessories : Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, 5 Petal Flower Punch, Curly Label Punch.

This was just such a fabulous card to make.   OK, so that's my little play, and now I guess I'd better ignore the screams from the OTHER stamps that I didn't use (not to mention the other DSP & punches..) and get back to my sorting so that tomorrow I can start with a clean desk.    Right??  

AND - who else was bummed that at 8.30pm, as I ignored the phone call that was coming in and about to watch Grey's Anatomy, which I have been hanging out for since last Sunday, did you go "Oh STINK" (or words to that effect), and then answered the phone only to have your sister on the other end going "it isn't on tonight??"  LOL.   STINK.   Had to watch something, as it was my T.V night, so I watched Memoirs of a Geisha.  WOW.   Very cool movie.  Beautiful woman.   Makes you put on a little more anti-wrinkle cream, and do a few squats & sit-ups after watching that.  Doesn't it??   Ha - I WISH!

Enjoy your night!

Michelle

QUICK AS PAGE, AND A SPECIAL FOR YOU!

HI!!   I'm in the middle of organising my life!  Well, ok, my house then!   I'm tired of having to hunt for everything because it hasn't been put away in the right place, so I've spent half of yesterday and now today tidying, throwing & putting away things.   I LOVE doing it, but find there is always so little time to really get stuck into these sorts of things.  So, my lack of posting will improve - as soon as things are moved off my office desk and into a place they belong!  Here's a REAL quick page I did for the MAY page on my Nana's calendar.  I suddenly realised that my Mum & Dad would be visiting my Nana today, so I quickly did this late Saturday night.   

... I did warn you that it was quick!! LOL.   AND, the photo is not blurry, as it appears, but I took this late at night, and only realised today when I uploaded it that the picture is pretty shocking, but it's too late to fix - the page is on it's way to Nana.  I know that she appreciates the new pages each month.  Check out the Eyelet Border Punch ($35.95) - it's SOOO cool.  I punched the edge of the DSP with it, then added a strip of black that had been punched also with the eyelet border punch behind.  I really like the effect.  I can see that this is going to be a huge favourite of mine!   Hope to get some serious stamping done this week - I'm off to the bach for a couple of days so will take some essentials with me.  Chocolate, Cardstock & stamps!  LOL.  Who needs fruit & vegetables anyway??

ANYWAY... I mentioned a SPECIAL!!   Seeing as it's a lovely long weekend, what better time than now for a fabulous offer for you.   Everyone who orders an eyelet border punch (and that includes everyone who already has this month) will go into the draw to win a credit to the value of $35.95 (the cost of the punch).   I will draw the winner when I've sold the 10th eyelet border punch.     That's a 1 in 10 chance to win the cost of your punch back in new products!!  I'll keep you informed as to how we are going. 

Have a wonderful Monday!

Michelle

Fresh Cuts - brand spanking new!

So great to get some new stamps - much as I LOVE most of the sets I have, it's always exciting playing with new stuff.  And my big order hasn't yet arrived (and I'm not a BIT impatient.  Really! NOT!) yet.  So for Stamp Club yesterday, I made this card with the new Fresh Cuts stamp set.  Very pretty set - I'm looking forward to playing some more over the school holidays, but right now, I'm off to bed.  Yes - early for me, but very much needed.  Hopefully tomorrow I'll feel 100% again after a good night's sleep.

Stamp sets : Fresh Cuts, Baroque Motifs, A touch of Nature, retired (butterfly).  Cardstock/Ink : Elegant Eggplant, Certainly Celery, Whisper White.  Accessories : Clear EP, Versmark, Heat Tool, Sponges

 

Goodnight, and have a fabulous Easter!

Michelle

FREE ... FREE ... FREE ... FREE

OK.   Got your attention??    How would you like to get this stamp set for FREE??   Yep - that's right.  Free.   I LOVE this set - it's a Level 2 Hostess set, and all you have to do to get it for FREE is have a FREE workshop with me (or a paid class, where you get a group of friends together and have a class of your choice, i.e 4 simple cards for $10, or 3 more advanced cards for $10) and you can have this Hostess set for FREE with just $700 in sales at your workshop.  PLUS... it gets better!  You will ALSO earn $80 to spend in the catalogue!!   That simple!  So phone me to book in a date, and start telling your friends about how they can come and stamp with us for FREE!

I have a couple of bids on the in-colour packages so far, and you only have until tonight to place your bid.  I'll notify the winner first thing tomorrow.

This is the card I made for our Catalogue Launch Party last night, with one of the new in-colours, Tangerine Tango.  Thanks to all the wonderful ladies who came along and supported us - it was such a great night.

Last day of school before a 2 week break.  YAY!   I'm really really looking forward to these holidays, even though the weather forecast is not so great.  It will be fabulous to just "chill" and get on top of some housework (Hmmmm) and filing!!  I will be releasing some class details over the next few days as well, so keep an eye out for them.

Have a wonderful Thursday!

Michelle

Eggs, Eggs, Eggs!!

My dear, kind & wonderful friend, Jacqui....   ra ra ra!   No, really, Jacqui is such a lovely friend.  She arrived at my WITT class yesterday with a beautiful Easter Surprise for me my boys.  It was filled with 6 beautiful big eggs.  2 each for the boys.   Check out Jacqui's version of this story HERE!  

 

And here's one of our Stamp Club projects for this morning - the girls are coming any minute, so this might be real short!

Let me know if you want some instructions - it's sooo easy, and thanks to Cherie originally for showing me how to make this, then to Helen for making me up another template when I couldn't find the one Cherie made for me...   I tell you, I'm sure I have early onset alzheimers!!

Enjoy your day - I'll see some of you tonight at the Bowling Club for our Catalogue Launch Party.  YAY!

Michelle

In Colour sale

Hi there - Happy Monday!

Gee - how can it be Monday already, and HOW can it be the last 4 days of school this term!??   As I mentioned yesterday, I have a stack of cardstock & ink pads from the 208/2009 in-colours that I am going to be selling.  Here's what I have :

PACKAGE ONE :

Cardstock  - 23 sheets River Rock, 1 sheet Wild Wasabi, 4 sheets Groovy Guava.   PLUS a bag of scrap pieces of these colours.  

Ink Pads - Wild Wasabi, River Rock, Groovy Guava

Remember THIS card??   This was a popular card we made at our Christmas Class last year using the above colours!  It was originally cased from a swap brought back by my sister from Incentive Trip last year - I'm sorry, I don't know who made it though.

PACKAGE TWO :

Cardstock - 7 sheets Purely Pomegranate, 1 sheet Blue Bayou, 3 sheets Soft Sky.  PLUS a bag of scrap pieces of these colours.

Ink Pads - Purely Pomegranate, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky

Ribbon - Approx 1 metre Purely Pomegranate, Approx 2/3 roll of Soft Sky

If you are interested, then you can place a bid on these - THEY MUST SELL, so any bid could be the winner.  I'll choose two of the bids placed (not necessarily the highest) and let you know on Thursday 9th April if you have won.  Either email me your bid (o2bstampin@hotmail.com), or leave me a comment on this post with your bid.  Make sure you stipulate package 1 or 2.

I'm off for MORE coffee & breakfast with friends.  What a great way to start a Monday.  Actually, I've already spent the morning growling at children for beserk behaviour - WHAT IS IN THE AIR TODAY??   Hopefully walking to school will help them wear off some of their energy before they get home again in ... 7 hours!!

Michelle

A Little Something Just for you... AND

Good morning!!  I wanted to share a Wedding Gift Voucher card that I made up a couple of weeks ago (seeing as I've been too busy having coffee in the sun to be stamping anything recently!) - it was cased from a card made by Dawn  I added the Pomegranate cardstock, and the pocket inside to slip in some cash, or a gift card, and added a velcro dot to close through the punched circle.  Cute & easy!  We will be making a similar version of this card at Stamp Club this week.

AND... I have a pile of 2008 cardstock & ink pads in the in-colours.  If you are interested, I'll post details later today. 

Enjoy your Sunday!

Michelle

Wine Charm Box

Good evening!   What a gorgeous day here in Taranaki!   I sat with friends down at the port having coffee for over 2 hours this afternoon, and it was just delightful!   The project I'm sharing tonight was one of the UStamp projects from the last UStamp series.  I just LOVED this idea - a Wine Charm Box.  I made this to match the colours of these gorgeous wine charms that my lovely friend Raewyn made for me - wasn't that just the sweetest thing to do??  AND to top it all off, the colours of the beads on these charms match perfectly the colour of my wine glasses!   Don't forget that registrations are already open for the next series of UStamp, which starts on 24th April.  You can register by clicking on the link from the UStamp Blinkie on my sidebar.

Have a great night!

Michelle

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scallop Lid Box

Good morning!

Here's a little box we made last night at Inglewood High School.   I'm happy to email you the template - just leave me a comment here.   It prints directly onto cardstock, which makes it sooo much easier!  Just a little cutting, some scoring, then decorate.   Off to the Weetbix Try-a-thlon today with Mason.  It's a gorgeous day, so should be lots of fun.

Stamp sets : Enjoy Every Moment $63.95, Kindness Jumbo Wheel $18.95.  Cardstock & Ink : Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, So Saffron, Regal Rose.  Accessories : Crimper, Scallop Edge Punch, Markers, 3/4" circle punch, 5/8" Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon, Round Tab Punch

 

Enjoy your day!

Michelle

Scribble This

Good morning!   Here's a card that I saw a long time ago done by Laurie Zoellmer in pastel colours.  I just changed around the colours to use the brand new Tangerine Tango, which I'm sure is fast going to become my favourite!

Stamp set : Scribble This.  Cardstock/Ink : Tangerine Tango, Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Summer Sun. Accessories : Crimper, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds, Markers.

 

I'm looking forward to an extra hours sleep this weekend - kinda short on the hours of sleep at the moment!  I seem to get my second wind at about midnight, then I don't want to go to bed.  Then a few hours later, I don't want to get up!  Do you ever have that problem??

Oh - BTW - we have two new pets.  Have a guess at what they are!

Have a fabulous day!
Michelle