Another in colour

I really like this colour co-ordination, soft and subtle...

Another in colour creation

Here is another creation using the in colour card stock from Stampin Up...

Stampin Up - In Colour creation

After being so very fortunate in winning a stampin up gift basket at the recent catelogue launch, I though I'd have a go creating a card with the new in colour card stock and the yummy stampset (a little something for you)... I used sassy stems which I like alot, although its now retired... I have to say I am quite found of the colour co-ordination....

Teddy Bear Wheel

I love stampin up wheels and have quite a few in my collection... This wheel is not a stampin up wheel, it's a brand called rollagraph. I found it quite by accident on trademe and love the design. I do love bears and wish there were some in the new stampin up catelogue... Maybe next year.

Photography - Mountain with snow - yipee

Yipee, the snow has finally arrived, after a rather cold day yesterday, we are finally able to see the new snow..... The mountain looks far better when it has a sprinkling of snow.... Although i love winter, i'd still opt for the sunny side!

Photography - Tupare again

So after last weekends ventures, I have managed to start the easter weekend off well. Today being good friday, I caught up with a friend from work, Val, and we went to Tupare for a nice bushwalk and some photography....


Once again, here are some lovely fantails having a bath in part of the fish pond....





Her is the smaller house, hiding in amongst the beautiful gardens....

Phtotography - Tupare

So last Sunday after a rather eventful day on Saturday, Gaynor and I decided to visit Tupare for a less active morning out... I had never been there before and it ended up being an hour long tramp....
Well worth the visit, what a beautiful place to visit...

I loved the fantails, it was rather difficult to catch these flighty birds in my camera lense, they move so very fast....





Another pretty fantail....
The pathways are super... the lining of trees makes for great photography....

















The main house is very stylish - I love the old tudor look, very english...

Phototgraphy - stoney river and lighthouses

Gaynor and I continued our travels and went on to Stoney River, it's a nice tramp although a little rocky in places....










This is the new (versus the old one) lighthouse out at Pungarehu...
And lastly the old lighthouse... Shame the mountain was hiding... also only a little patch of snow on the top.... Bring on the winter...

Photography - zoo

Last Saturday my best friend, Gaynor, came to visit from Hamilton. So off we went venturing around Taranaki...

We started at the zoo, here are a couple of pics from the morning.... Nice carrot! All he needs is some bunny ears for easter!
This guy is so very smelly - yuk... He's also having a bad hair day..
Of course we had to visit the park, nice clouds in the lake....

YIPEE I WON! Stampin up gift basket

I still can't believe it! Wow, I actually won this fantastic gift basket from Michelle and Sharlene's Stampin Up Catelogue Launch Party last night.... YIPPPEEEEEE...... I was so very excited when I checked my ticket, I was waiting for someone to say it was them... but to my surprise it was me!!!!!!!!!! The lucky ticket holder... I was so very very excited I was literally jumping for joy, it must have been a funny sight (perhaps not so for those who know me). In all the excitement I can't remember if I actually thanked Michelle and Sharlene... So a very BIG (while jumpig up and down) thank you to you both. The gift is very much appreciated and such a thrill.

So in this wonderful basket is a pack of all of the in colour cardstock, two in colour ink pads, kiwi kiss and pacific point (beautiful colours) and a Yummy (acutual name) Stamp set... which is fantastic!
WOW WOW WOW

Just can't wait to find some time over easter to start playing with all of these lovely new things..

We forget how lucky we are sometimes, in amongst a busy working life.... If I had never started looking at stamps on trademe then I wouldn't have met Michelle, and all of the lovely friends I have made through Michelle, Rel, Sybille, Joanne, Dawn, Raewyn etc etc... Now I also wouldn't have learned how to stamp and how to make such lovely cards. Although its funny that I probably would have been richer ($$$$), rather than broke, as any spare money I have seems to go straight to Michelle for new stamp sets and other goodies. But I am so much richer having had Michelle share her talents, techniques, ideas, friendship and her friends and family with me. I look at the cards and the creations I make now and know I wouldn't be making them if it wasn't for such a great teacher with endless ideas. Life doesn't get much better than that!

Stampin up Catalogue Launch PARTY

My inspiring mentor, Michelle, had organised a party to celebrate the launch of the 2009 Stampin Up Catalogue which took place last night at the west end bowling club.

WOW what a night. We had such fun. The room was packed with lovely ladies, most of whom I had never met! Hi to Joanne if you are reading this! It was great to see you there... Hope to see you at Michelle's next class....

So the super cards above are the creations we made on the night. The left is Michelle's design, crisp, clean and beautiful... Using the new in colour range and a lovely hostess set. Once again, Michelle has outdone herself. On the right is Sharlene's (Michelle's sister) design. A fun card to make and a very clever design. I had the chance to check out some of Sharlene's designs on the night which were also inspiring. There is also a stamp camp coming up this month and the samples for that are super... unfortunately i can't go as my brother is coming out from London.... which of course is just as exciting...

Michelle ran the night ever so well, as expected, she is a fantastic hostess, teacher and friend.

And to top off an already exceptional evening, Michelle and Sharlene were giving away a gift basket to one lucky person...... you'd never believe who won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

An Easter Gift from Rel

Wow how very lucky and spoilt I am... Here is a fab easter basket made by Rel. She only learnt how to make it at Michelle's stamp club the day before and was able to recreate one the very next day....
This is the cutest little basket, a striking design and filled with easter eggs and topped off with the cutest little chickens (I LOVE BIRDS)! Rel has used the Stampin Up polka dot punches set on the front and even paper pierced each dot! Her attention to detail and perfection shows through!
Thanks Rel, I'm very touched.

card from Rel

Well, i must say it's awefully nice to return home from a days work to find a lovely card in my mail box... This is a card made by my cardmaking friend Rel. She is also very addicted to stampin up and we met through Michelle at her stampin up classes... how lucky we are!
What a super card! Good job Rel, I'm very impressed, thanks so much.

Easter bucket of eggs

Well, what with Easter coming up, I thought I'd make a tin of eggs for Michelles boys to share. I have all three boys names on the tin next to a picture of a rabbit for each... The Riley rabbit even has glasses! I have filled the tin with 9 hollow eggs, 3 each unless Michelle takes 3 out for herself, which is possible you know as she LOVES chocolate!!!

I hope the boys enjoy these.....

CD /DVD Covers

Well only one creation for tonight....

My best friend is coming down from Hamilton for the weekend. Yippe. We are planning to roam around Taranaki taking photos. The weather is looking good, so I am planning a visit to the Mountain, Stoney River and maybe even a Chaddy's Charter!

Gaynor loves horses and I had a disc for her, so it seemed appropriate that I make a cover. It was also her Birthday and Wedding Anniversay earlier this week.








The next one is for my friend Christina in Stratford. Valentines Day was her 1st Wedding Anniversary. I caught up with her and her family at Brooklands Zoo over the holidays. Funny really, I was taking photos of the lovely Red Panda and along came a little girl, all I could hear was her saying to her mum "look ... a carebear!" I literally laughed out loud as I am also quite fond of carebears.... Anyway turned around to see it was Christina and her youngest daughter Charlie. Cute as! So Chirstina's husband, Braden, was also at the zoo so I ended up taking a few photos of them. I promised to email them to her - but the files are quite large, so I have been planning to put them on a disc... still haven't got around to it but at least I have made a disc cover!



Lastly, this one is for Windy (Pieter Voorwinde) and his lovely wife - Lesley. Windy turned 50 recently so we helped him celebrate last saturday. It was a super party, with all the old operatic people. Great band, great atmosphere and overall a great night out. Would you believe I didn't get home till 3am. It's been a long time since I have done that. Pretty impressive considering I don't drink too, I even danced a little. It was such a good photo opportunity and certainly a party to remember, so I need to sort out the pics and put them onto a disc for Windy and Lesley. Once again, at least I have made the cover!

Train stamp

So here is the last creations for tonight. I was lucky to win the auction on trademe for this cute train. It's a cube stamp so has four different stamps on each side. It's a nice looking train! I'm sure it will go down well for men and boys cards.....

It's way too late now so I must go to bed, I had a very late night last night due to getting my hands on the new STAMPIN UP catelogue - YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Thanks so much to Michelle, you rock!

Rel if you are reading this, you better hurry up and get the new catelogue, there are some lovely things in there that I think you will LOVE!

Window stamp

So while chating to my friend Rel, I was looking for a lamp post stamp for her on trade me (I have one and it's great)... I stumbled across this cute window. It was a bargin price so I couldn't refuse.... Just need some more ideas on what to do with it but so far so good....

solemn stillness - early christmas card

So afetr a frantic weekend and crazy start to the week, I made a little time for a few creations tonight. I should have been studying but oh well, I will have to catch up on that later...

Here is couple of xmas cards, Michelle kindly sold me this set as has now expired from Stampin Up. Thanks Michelle......