Neighbourhood wheel again

Here is another house/neighbourhood card.... I have added a daisy field to the bottom of the card with the fold out 3d base and added a train to the front...

Gift boxes - playful petals

Here are a couple of very simple gift boxes topped off with the lovely new stamp from the playful petals set... makes a nice 3d topping..

Hoppy for you

Frogs are just so very lovely on a card..... this one is especially loveable as he holds out some flowers (Pocket silhouettes)....

Neighbourhood wheel

Cute! This was the first stamp I knew I had to have the moment I skimmed through the new stampin up catelogue... It is a jumbo wheel and I just love it... Can't wait to have more time to play with it.. I'm sure I can come up with some good ideas with this one...

Winter post - Ice Skaters

Although Christmas is about 8 months away, I just had to buy this new stampin up set... I used to iceskate and just loved the entire set....

Playful Petals and stem sayings

This is probably my favourite creation of the night... I love this flower from the new playful petals set... I have cut out each of the 4 layers and each one is on a dimentional creating a very nice pop up effect.... Used in colour cardstock... and the lovely stem sayings... You could have this card either portrait or landscape...

I have been at the Hawera Races today for a trotting meet with my brother who is out for a short visit from London... That's why I am only just getting around to bloggin last nights creations... We had a great day albiet a little chilly and overcast... I managed to get my face a little sunburnt tho... we both came away with a little extra in our pockets, so that was great... Michelle thought My luck might continue after winning the stampin up gift basket at her recent catalogue launch... she was right! Thanks Michelle...
After many races and no return, I finally won a trifecta on the Hawera cup race, so picked up a very tidy $69 and believe it or not, also on this race... From putting all of my previous losing tickets into a collection box, I was drawn out againt horse number 11 for the cup... it came third so I won $50 from the draw.... what a great end to the day... Well worth the trip to Hawera... I might have to order the little birdie set out of the new catalogue soon....

Hoppy for you - new frog set

I just know when I have some time that I am gonna love this set and come up with some creative ideas... It just so very cute and lots of fun!

pocket silhouettes 2

Another one, I like the dandelions on this.... I am quite enjoying the in colours too...

New stampin up set - pocket silhouettes

How exciting, late afternoon Michelle, Blake and Riley came around to drop off my first order from the new stampin up catalogue... Yipee....

Blake and Riley are so very well mannered and thanked me for the easter treat I made them... Good One mum! you've done well with them... I took them to meet my budgue, kiwi, but he was not on his best form... very sleepy and quiet, most unlike him... very disappointing...

So anyway, I had a few hours early evening to make a few cards out of some of my new sets.. I used the in colour cardstock here apart from th dark green...

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.