WSSC1 – My take.

Good morning.   Here is my simple card for the WE Stamp Sketch Challenge (WSSC1) – pop over to the front page of the WE Stamp blog and check out my more detailed version.  I’m really loving this set – Three Little Words.  You are welcome to play along as well – simply create a card using the WE Stamp Sketch provided and post it to your blog or online gallery, then upload it via Mr Linky. 

 

The Spring Mini Catalogue Launch taking place on Sunday is now fully booked sorry – watch out next week for some cards from that.  You can still place an order by Sunday with me to enter the draw for one of two Stampin’ Up! Gift Vouchers though – you don’t have to be there to enter the draw. 

Happy Friday everyone!

Michelle

WE Stamp Sketch Challenge #1 (WSSC1)

Good Evening!
Tonight we started our classes at Inglewood High School again.  SO much fun – the women are really fabulous, and I come away from there buzzing.  Thanks ladies – you’re so much fun to stamp with!

Over at the WE Stamp blog we are having our first Sketch Challenge, and I’d love for you to take part.  This layout is a favourite of mine, and one that I use often.  It can be as simple or detailed as you wish.   You can go over to the WE Stamp blog (whether you are a member or not… and if you’re not… why not join up now and get all of our projects from this round before they disappear!) and participate in the challenge, and upload your card via Mr Linky.

I will be posting a card tomorrow for this challenge, and look forward to seeing what you all come up with as well!

Michelle

Mojo Monday #97

Woohoo!   It’s another Mojo Monday sketch to play along with.  These sketches are so great – give you a fabulous place to start, and things just seem to flow from there.    This card has been made with a particular friend in mind – a very special friend - “just because”.  OK, so maybe it’s “just because she had a birthday last Wednesday”.  NO – don’t even consider that I may have forgotten her birthday.  I sure didn’t forget – in fact, when she arrived at my place on Sunday, I asked her if she was all ready for her birthday tomorrow…  See – I didn’t forget – just wrote down the wrong date for her birrthday.  {SHAME}!   Sorry Jacqui – you are so incredibly gracious, and even when I SAW YOU ON YOUR BIRTHDAY and didn’t wish you a happy birthday, you still didn’t say anything!  Man – I’m really bad!   So I’ve made this card, and am just putting some finishing touches on a little something to go along with it, and then I’m heading up town with Blake, who has a teacher-only day today, and we’re having lunch up town.  Blake has spent about 3 hours cleaning his room from top to toe.  No grumbling, no whining or moaning – he just got stuck in, and our rubbish bin is now FULL!  Isn’t that fabulous?  So we’re celebrating – with lunch!  After lunch I’m coming home to make some Triple Mini Chocolate Cheesecakes – YUMMO!  We’ve got our final squash competition against another club tonight, and it’s all come down to the wire – we're only 1 point apart at the moment, so if our team all win our games – we’re the champions!!    No pressure or anything!

 
STAMP SETS : Tres Chic, Great Friend.  Cardstock/Ink : Sahara Sand, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Cameo Coral, Baja Breeze.  Accessories : Photo Corner Punch, 1/2 Pearls from the Pretties Kit, Dazzling Diamonds, Oval Punches, Coluzzle, Taffeta Ribbon, Walk In The Park DSP.

Better fly – have a great day!

Michelle

Mini Catalogue Launch THIS SUNDAY

Good afternoon!
Come along this Sunday to my Mini Catalogue Launch. If you are interested in coming along, please let me know by Wednesday night. I have a couple of spaces left for Sunday afternoon from 2-4pm, and lots left for Sunday night from 7-9pm. There is NO COST to come along, and we’ll be making two make & takes with some of the lovely new sets from the Spring Mini Catalogue. You’ll get your own copy of the mini catalogue as well as some nice nibbles & bubbles to enjoy your evening, AND there are TWO $50 GIFT VOUCHERS to be won – simply place an order on the night, or book a workshop! Even if you haven’t been to a class with me before, you’re VERY welcome! Bring a friend who hasn’t been before and you’ll receive a little thank you gift from me as well.

I wanted to share a couple of cards from yesterday’s $2 cards. Both of these were swaps from convention – I LOVE that we come home with heaps and heaps of new samples that are just stunning, and then when MY brain freezes for ideas, I can use someone else’s – fabulous!!

This stunning card was made by a demonstrator from Australia – Cathy Clark
RECIPE : Stamp Sets : Dreams Du Jour, Watercolour Vine Wheel. Cardstock/Ink : Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze. Accessories : Markers, Earth Elements Brads, Mat Pack, Baja Breeze DSP.

And this wonderful card was made by another Australian Demonstrator – Chris Parker-Barnes.
RECIPE : Stamp Sets : A Rose Is A Rose, It’s Your Birthday. Cardstock/Ink : Very Vanilla, Pink Pirouette, Mellow Moss, Ruby Red. Accessories : Mellow Moss Taffeta Ribbon, Spiral Punch, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig

THANK YOU ladies for your fabulous swaps that I have very much enjoyed making.

Have a wonderful night.

Michelle

Stamp Club Project

Good evening! I thought I’d show you one of the cards we made last night at Stamp Club – it started out as a complete case of Cherie’s card (SUCH a huge thank you for allowing me to case your projects AND for providing all the templates – you’re a real GEM!) and then as I discovered I didn’t have the right cardstock or ribbon, I changed it and this is how it came out.

RECIPE : Stamp Set : Three Little Words, Priceless. Cardstock/Ink : Regal Rose, Kiwi Kiss, Real Red, Whisper White. Accessories : Scallop, 2 circle punches, narrow grosgrain ribbon, markers, Raspberry Tart DSP

Now I can’t show you a picture of the inside, as it didn’t come out, and now it won’t photograph well, so that will have to wait, and I’ll add it on tomorrow! Instead, I’ll show you another of the projects from last night – A Pillow Box.

RECIPE : Stamp Set : Sweet Little Sentiments (Hostess Set), One of A Kind. Cardstock/Ink : Textured Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White. Accessories : A CD!!, Cutter Kit, White Taffeta Ribbon, Scallop Oval Punch, Oval Punch, Word Window Punch.

This is the cutest little box, that we decided should definitely have chocolates, or A RING… in it! Everyone made theirs from different cardstock & Ribbons, and they all looked gorgeous!
I’ve just got home from Business House Squash, and had a long hot shower, and am now in my pj’s – and it’s only 8pm!! How lovely! Sad huh – Friday night and I’m excited about a night at home. Boy how things change!

Hope your night is fabulous, wherever you are!

Night!

Michelle

Mojo Monday Sketch #96

I saw this sketch layout at mojo monday, and knew that I simply had to make some time to do it – LOVE this layout!  Unfortunately, when I sat down to create last night, I just sat.  And sat.   Hmmm.   What set to use… what colours… what DSP??  HELP!  

RECIPE : Stamp Set : Enjoy Every Moment.  Cardstock/Ink : Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Baja Breeze,, Whisper White, Real Red.  Accessories : Coluzzle, Fire & Ice Brads, 1/2” & 3/4” circle punches, striped grosgrain ribbon, cutter kit.

This card took me about 2 hours, and lots of re-stamping, as I kept getting red ink on the white cardstock each time I cut it out – I think I had some red ink on the back of the inkpad.  Drove me CRAZY!    The three strips of DSP got lost on the Old Olive cardstock, but NEVER MIND!  I got there, and managed to hide the imperfections pretty well.   I think!   Not quite what I imagined, but it will do.  Wrote off last night, then started stamping this afternoon, and was on a roll!  YAY!   I’ll show you the three projects we are making at Stamp Club tonight later. 

Have a fabulous night

Michelle

For my darling…

Helllllloooo Stampers!!

I’ve had one of THOSE weeks.  You know the ones… “STOP THE WORLD.  I WANT TO GET OFF” weeks.  Started on Monday having my tooth pulled out – long story – and went downhill from there, ending last night with me falling asleep on the couch at 9pm during a great movie, with Brad Pitt, Matt Damon & George Clooney in it… I mean, HOW could I possibly fall asleep with the eye candy on t.v???  (Not that I don’t have my very own eye candy right here in my house….).  After a fabulous weekend playing squash and having no children all weekend, this week has been quite a shock.  So, last night I decided that “tomorrow couldn’t possibly be any worse.  Right!?” and it hasn’t been.  I took myself off up town, did the groceries, a couple of jobs, and bought a pair of shoes.  YIPPEE!  Nothing like retail therapy, ESPECIALLY shoe therapy to make yourself feel better, and there are lots of SALES in the shoe shops, including a 50% off EVERYTHING sale in one of my favourite shoe shops in town.   So, now I’m home, cooking a Pork Roast for dinner that will convince my DH that' I’m a Domestic Goddess (honestly, it really doesn’t take much!!), and finally blogging!   I’ve had this box half made for a couple of days now, and finally bought some more lollies (‘cos I ate the last ones in one of my moments of desperation) and finished it this afternoon.  I have made this for my Darling Husband (DH – aka Said) as he’s been so fabulous over the past couple of days, including listening to a good friend of mine sobbing on the phone and not freaking out and throwing me the phone; Coming home from work last night and saying “Off you go – I’ll finish doing the dinner.  You go and relax!” – WOW!  WHAT A MAN!    Everything seems so much better when you have a supportive ear listening and backing you, (and right now my grateful thanks go out to the “others” who have been incredibly supportive & encouraging to me.. you know who you are! – does this sound like an Oscar acceptance speech??).  

ANYWAY….   this little cube is one of the “mini” projects I have done over on WE Stamp this week.   I have made up a template to print directly onto your cardstock so it’s super easy.   To join up all you have to do is CLICK HERE and then hit the “join WE Stamp” button.  You will then have access to all of our fabulous 8 projects, templates & ideas so far, and be delighted each day until the 4th of August with new projects.  OK.  So.  Are you sick of me talking yet??  LOL – I’m making up for lost time.   I already have something else to blog for tomorrow, so I’ll see you all then!

Have a great night.

Michelle

Tomorrow is THE DAY!

Hi everyone!   Finally, just one more sleep until             WE Stamp’s first round opens tomorrow – I can’t WAIT!   I’ve been flat out with school holidays, a sick son, squash and WE Stamp so not much other time left for creating!   Today I want to give you another sneak peek – this time at one of our fabulous projects that will be included in this round of WE Stamp!  

Doesn’t this look gorgeous??  You can still join WE Stamp, simply by CLICKING HERE to go to the WE Stamp blog, and clicking on “Join WE Stamp” – simple!   If you are desperate to do our projects, but enjoy making things as a part of a group, with someone to instruct you, then we have that covered for you as well!   On Saturday 15th August WE Stamp are holding an all day event, where we will be making lots of the projects from the current round.  If you are interested, then watch this space for details coming soon.

I hope you all stay warm tonight – I’ll be back later this week with some creating for you.

Take care
Michelle

Do you want a peep at the new mini??

I KNOW some of you are desperate to see some of the AMAZING new stuff in our new mini catalogue, which is beginning on 1st August… so here’s a little peep for you.   I must say, this mini is my absolute favourite ever – soooo hard to decide what NOT to buy.  I really LOVE it!   This set is my current favourite, and I was very excited when I saw it was in the mini.

This shows you not only a new stamp set, but also some new DSP – fabulous!!  

This card also fits into the MOJO Monday Sketch #94 – hooray for Mojo Monday! 

I have a wonderful invitation for you all – I’m having a Spring Mini Event, to celebrate Spring getting closer… AND to show you all our fabulous Spring Mini catalogue.  Here are the details :

Sunday 2nd August  2-4pm OR 7-9pm
Cost : Free – includes a free mini catalogue & make & take

I’m offering free shipping on all orders during August, and giving away a $50 Stampin’ Up! Gift Vouchers to two lucky people who place orders on the night.  Bring a friend who hasn’t been before, and you’ll also get a lovely goodie bag.  We’ll be making something using some of the new stamp sets & products from the mini, and of course having a few nibbles, and even some bubbles (and no.. I don’t mean the type you blow at kids parties!), so make sure you RSVP by Sunday 26th July – I look forward to sharing some of these wonderful new products with you.

PLUS : Book a workshop to be held during July or August and receive either a free pack of the gorgeous new Designer Paper OR a pack of mixed cardstock of your choice, plus get a second entry into the Gift Voucher draw.

Michelle

MOJO MONDAY SAVED MY BACON!

So…. it was only 8 1/2 hours until we started our monthly team meeting, where we are swapping cards made with our favourite stamp set.   And I was stuck!   Until 1.30am this morning, I was freakin’ out, wondering if I could fake Swine Flu and get out of the swap for another day.. then I spied the Mojo Monday sketch challenge – THANK YOU!!   I used the image that I had already stamped seven times (ok, so more than 7, as I had to ditch quite a few due to the state I was in trying to stamp in a hurry!) and added some more layering, and my card turned from “ho-hum” to “whew!  I’ve done it”!  Sometimes we all get “stampers’ block”, and need a little kick start.  I find a challenge sketch or colour challenge often is just what I need.

Stamp Sets : Inspired By Nature, Dreams du Jour.  Cardstock/Ink : Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White.  Accessories : Crystal Effects, 1 1/4” & 1 3/8” circle punches, Haiku DSP, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon. 

I hope your day has been a good one.  I’m off to prepare for our children’s holiday class – tomorrow!   WHY do I leave everything until the night before??  I will do better… soon!

Michelle

WE STAMP BLINKIE & BLOG CANDY!

Good afternoon – I hope you are all enjoying a little bit of sunshine today – just perfect for the start of the school holidays!  We have had an overwhelming response to the opening of WE Stamp so if you haven’t yet been to our gorgeous new blog, then check it out by clicking HERE.   You can enter our blog candy draw (valued at $150) any time before the 20th July by downloading our FREE template for my Guylian Chocolate Box and uploading your creation.  You can ALSO get an entry simply by displaying our blinkie on your blog!   If you want to post our blinkie, just cut & paste the HTML code below and insert it as a gadget in your blog sidebar.  Don’t hesitate to email me if you would like some help doing this – it’s not hard once you’ve done it once!
HTML CODE :
<a href="http://westamp.blogspot.com/" target="blank"><img src="http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu49/Michellehabib/westampblinkie.gif"></a>

Here is a card that we made at Stampin’ Up! Convention in Canberra recently – I haven’t quite got around to posting it before today …

Stamp Set : Trendy Trees.  Cardstock/Ink : Textured Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Whisper White, So Saffron, Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango.  Accessories : Twine, Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals.

Have a wonderful day!

Michelle

Some Scrapbooking

This is one of the pages from May’s double page layout that we did at our Scrapbooking Madness evening.  I’ve just got around to putting a photo on it, and I’m so delighted, as the colours just tie in perfectly!  We are having a Scrapbooking night THE LAST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH.  There is a class from 6pm-8pm, then an open crop from 8pm-midnight.  You can come for the class and the crop for just $20, and make two double page layouts, or just the crop for $10, where you bring all of your own cardstock, and can use our ideas and inks, stamps & punches.  
Gorgeous photo, huh??  Yep – this photo was taken by Jacqui Jones – who I’m sure will very soon be a famous photographer, and I have the honour of receiving some of her photos in a gorgeous calendar.  Thanks Jacqui – this was just a stunning gift, and one that I can continue to use in my scrapbooking!

This is a photo from Pukekura Park – our gorgeous Park right here in New Plymouth, and one that has heaps of photo opportunities.  In fact, as teenagers we used to go up there most Sunday afternoons during Summer and hire the boats that go out on the lake – and have water fights!  We used to get some of our passengers to get off on the little island in the middle of the lake… then leave them there.   Yep – that was sooo much fun, until someone fell in, and we got banned from going back..     hmmm.   Mum – hope you’re not reading this, as I don’t remember that I ever told you about this!   Oops!
Hope you’re enjoying your Sunday – don’t forget to pop over to the WE Stamp blog  to get your free download of our template and enter the blog candy draw.  There is also a new challenge up for you to take part in.  A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

Michelle

I TOLD you I’d be back with some creating!

Good morning!   OK, so if my creating is for a class, that does still count, right??   This adorable little fish comes from the website of the very talented Jan Tink.  Isn’t he sweet?   This is one of our cards we are making this morning at my Punch Art Class.  It’s repeated tonight at 7.30pm, and I can still fit you in if you have found yourself at a loose end – phone me to let me know though!

And here’s a close up…

Stamp Sets : Circle Circus, On Your Birthday.   Cardstock/Ink : Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie, Green Galore, Whisper White.  Accessories : Haiku DSP, Bold Brights Brads, White Eyelet (retired), Large Oval Punch, Scallop Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Five Petal Flower Punch.   Have I forgotten anything…??

Have a wonderful Friday – yippee – I LOVE the feeling of a Friday!   Lunch out with friends again today after my class, which I’m very much looking forward to.  Hope you all get some time having a coffee with someone lovely as well!

Michelle

WE made it!

Good morning!

I’m delighted to tell you all that  WE Stamp is now LIVE.   It’s been a long and very interesting journey, and we are all very excited to finally have our blog open.   Go and check it out for the BLOG CANDY and for the FREE TEMPLATE to download and create on of my lovely Guylian Chocolate Boxes.  

If you would like one of my lovely sparkling Blinkies for WE Stamp, just cut and past this HTML code and put it on your blog – once you’ve done that, leave a comment on the WE Stamp blog and you’ll get an entry into our BLOG CANDY draw!

  <a href="http://westamp.blogspot.com/" target="blank"><img src="http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu49/Michellehabib/westampblinkie.gif"></a>

I do hope you will forgive me for the lack of regularity that I have been blogging in the past month, but WE Stamp is one of the big reasons.    I have been busy busy creating some fabulous projects for our first round which begins on 15th July.  

SO…. I can hear you asking “What IS WE Stamp”?   In brief, it’s an online course that teaches, inspires, rewards & (hopefully) motivates you in all things stamping.   Each round runs for 21 days, with loads of ideas and projects for you, which come with full instructions.    The cost is just fabulous…. wait for it…. NZ$20.00 per round!!  WOW!   That’s even better for you overseas customers who will benefit from our weak NZ dollar, so what are you waiting for?   Go visit, make sure you become a follower to get one entry into our blog candy draw, and better yet, register now for our first WE Stamp round.

I’m really hoping that I’ll have something creative to share with you all here by tomorrow.   Really hoping!

Don’t forget about our school holiday programme, which is on both Thursdays of the school holidays - $20 per session per child.   Morning sessions from 9.30am-12.00pm or afternoon sessions from 1.00pm-3.30pm.    The second Thursday afternoon is already fully booked, so hurry and confirm your place for one of our other sessions.

Have a fabulous day – just one more day of school until we have two weeks of school holidays.  YAY.  Hmmm.  Maybe.  Depends how much the little tykes fight I guess!

Bye!   Oh, and a HUGE Happy Birthday to my BF Keren.  We’re going to celebrate with lunch and coffee.  And chocolate – of course!! 

Michelle