Merry Christmas from NZSU

I've been much too busy making cards & gifts to blog hop lately so will leave all with this fun poem from Anne Wills

Twas the night before Christmas
And in case you forgot,
I thought I’d remind you
What I like a lot!


Stampin’ Up! Stamps
And papers and ink,
“Hmmm, that’s what I should buy you
You’ll be tickled pink!”


To make it so simple
I’ve sent your demo a list,
Just phone her with credit card
You get the gist!


She’ll wrap it, and pack it
And deliver it too,
But if you’re to late
One of her Gift Vouchers will do!


So contact her now
Shopping’s no longer a chore,
She’ll make it so easy
And you, I’ll adore!

I do hope you all have a great Christmas & New Year & will catch you all in 2010 with inspiration & ideas from the very talented demonstrators & friends of NZSU.

Take care all KarenR

Jenny Humphreys

Jenny is this week's inspiration with her 12 days of Christmas gifts. She has some cool projects but I love her bit late fold out-scrapbook - especially as I'm a bit late with posting this as my sister has been working on my PC lately.

So this week's challenge is to link below your gift ideas.



Update: Click on Mr Linky 3 & 4 to see Dely's take on this mini-album - gorgeous

Sweet Treat Ideas?

Well I hate to say this but I haven't been able to find anyone this week that has shared or linked to somewhere else or provided a tutorial apart from ME and my link to the snow globe video - so I'm going to nominate myself for this week's inspiration - my card for my downline was cased from one of my favourite Aussie bloggers Kirsty Brown & she has done something amazing today with the sweet treat cups & butterflies - stunning!

So this week's challenge is to link all those ideas for Sweet Treat Cups; which should be easy as I can see there's plenty appearing already.

Please link your blog post or SCS or PCP post using Mr Linky below:

Kristine McNickle

is this week's inspiration - she's got a real web page & it doesn't link with blogger so she sits on the RHS all by her lonesome - but do check her out - she has some really cool projects to see. I just adored this stamped candle using Just Beachy which after tomorrow will no longer be available from your SU! Demonstrator as the Spring Mini is making way for the new Summer Mini on December 1st.

So this week's challenge is to post a  picture of your candles, if you don't know how to stamp on a candle check out the tutorial on Split Coast stampers HERE. My only advice is to look out for nice white candles - there seems to be yellowish ones at a lot of the $2 shops/TWH lately.

Remember to link using Mr Linky so we can all ohh & ahh

Rachael & Kerry do Christmas ornaments

It was a toss this week between Rachael Knight's & Keryn Campbell's lovely ornaments but as there's no rules here let's have BOTH for inspiration!

So any Christmas ornament made using designer series paper is the challenge this week.

Remember to link using Mr Linky so we can all ohh & ahh

Debbie Airey

Debbie is this week's inspiration - she's made some really cute triangle boxes & has really clear instructions on how to create them - so hope you can join in this week as these are easy too. Cut off for entries next Sunday at 9.00pm.

Please link your blog post or SCS or PCP post using Mr Linky below:

Donna Calley

Donna is this week's inspiration with her Just Beachy wee treat bag holder, it will be hard to top hers but let's all have a go - cut off next Sunday at 9.30pm - giving us all week & the weekend. She has a link on her blog to the tutorial on how to create it.

Again you can link to Mr Linky using a public site like SCS or PCP if you don't have a blog.

Helen has done it again

Helen Williams is again this week's inspiration - she's created this really cute card purse that can contain 16 wee cards!

You'll start realising I like people to share where they got their ideas from so the rest of us can go off & have a go! For the non-demos reading this her link to the card purse is a demonstrator only area on Split Coast Stampers - so you'll have to ask your demonstrator to share with you.

Once again, thanks Helen, you so deserve your name Crafty Helen.

So as the last challenge was so successful, I think this week's one is pretty obvious which is to create a wee card purse too. Random draw next Saturday night approx. 8.30pm again. Again you can link to Mr Linky using a public site like SCS or PCP if you don't have a blog. This week's prize will be some retired 6x6" Old Olive & Certainly Celery DSP.



UPDATE: The winner using Random.org is no. 5 - congratulations Sally I'll be in touch.

So happy creating again
KarenR

Inspiration - how to make a window frame in a card

Hi all it's been a 3 day weekend in NZ (BLISS) so to finish the weekend off I thought I'd point out the cute video Jacque Pedersen has created on her blog on how to make a window frame - it's so easy.

This would be a really cool Christmas card as it's quick and easy but has a bit of WOW & I love that CHUNKY glitter! Contact your demonstrator on how to earn the Window Dressing stamp set (which is a level 3 hostess set).

So how about the first NZSU blog challenge (since I've been one of the administrators)?

The challenge is to create a card using the window frame technique. I'll have a random draw this coming Saturday at approximately 8pm. The winner will receive a roll of Certainly Celery Twill & So Saffron grosgrain ribbon (~$35 value) from me.

The winner was no. 7 congratulations Delys I'll be in touch.

If you don't have a blog, load your card photo to a site like SCS or PCP & link back to Mr Linky below:



Happy crafting & I've changed the date (24 hours later) as so many cool cards & ideas & I want to enter too!
KarenR

Scrapbooking Inspiration : just case the catalogue!

This week's inspirational blogger has to be Keryn Campbell who has promised to blog daily for a whole MONTH - well she is on target after a week As well as that she's on the Daring Card Makers challenge team - I'm not sure about daring maybe MAD maybe a better description but well done Keryn & keep up the good work.

She's done some cool projects this week including cute paper bows but I just love her case straight from the Spring Mini catalogue of a scrapbook page - remember it's only 1 month to go for this Mini catalogue before the designer papers, stamps, ribbon etc will no longer be available. So contact your demonstrator sooner than later if there's something in there that catches your eye. The online Spring mini catalogue can be viewed HERE.

For our kiwi readers - enjoy the long weekend & hope it's a crafty one!
KarenR

Inspiration - really cute Christmas ornament

Hi all, as promised on my blurfing (blog surfing this last week) I found this cute Christmas ornament which I really loved,  that Helen Williams from Timaru created - it may have something to do with the gorgeous DSP Ski Slope that's my favourite at the moment but I think I just love the gorgeous box she's created for it to go in.

What a cool present would this be & dare I say it; it's now only 72 days to Christmas plus this DSP retires November 30 so don't be tardy - contact your demonstrator today to order some.

You can check out Helen's post HERE with a link to how to create the ornament and to see her cute box.

Thanks Helen for sharing.

KarenR

Aisling Symes

Good Morning everyone,

I'm sure most of you have already heard the tragic news about the discovery of little Aisling Symes. And I'm sure most of you, like myself have had their hearts touched and shed a tear.

If anyone would like to send the Symes family a card you can post it to the following address -

Symes Family

c/o Ranui Baptist

464 Swanson Rd

Ranui

West Auckland

Take care, and give your children a big hug.

Trudi

Change is Good..

Hi Trudi here, for the first time in a long time.

Sorry for the absence - things have been busy as usual and then we had a family crisis to deal with, so now things are starting to come right.

For the new demos who've emailed me to add their blogs, sorry for the delay, your blogs are now added to the blog roll. If I've missed you please email me your details and I'll add you ASAP.

Hope you like the new look, its thanks to Karen Rogers, a wonderful lady who has come on board to help with running NZSU. She's still getting rid of a few kinks with some of the links so please be patient. I'm sure it'll be running smoothly soon enough.

I hope you are all well, enjoying some peace and quiet for those with children who've returned to school. I'm in the process to putting the house back together.

Happy stamping and scrapping,

Trudi

Hi and a quickie from Karen - don't tell me you hate the new look or I'll cry as it was a major job to re-add everyone to the links again. I'll try & post weekly inspiration from New Zealand & maybe it's time to start a few more challenges.

If I've spelt your name wrong or you want the link to say something different e-mail me HERE & I'll fix it up ASAP.

ciao for now Karen

We Stamp

If you havn't already heard of U Stamp - where have you been? Now in New Zealand 3 fab demos Cherie, Michelle & Sharlene, all Naki girls, have gotten together to create We Stamp.

You can join We Stamp for a small fee and recieve heaps of layouts, ideas, projects etc... For more info on what it's all about you can visit the We Stamp site.

They've also currently got a challenge going - Clean & Simple. Have a go and check out what the girls have got for you!

Inkspiration

Makeesha is an extremely talented, and sweet, Aussie Demo who regularly has Inkspiration Challenges on her Blog. Unfortunately I can't add her link to the Challenges link roll because she's already under the Aussie one and that would just mess things up for some reason.

So here is her latest challenge.

Inspiration - Shelley Stewart

After a lazy day in bed, I admit it's almost 3pm and I'm still in my PJs but the fact that within 24 hours I spent 20 of them at work I'm allowed to be a slob for a day - I guess by now there's no point getting dressed. Anyway I thought I'd have a quick blog hop and was wowed by the very first one I happened to 'hop' onto.

Shelley has made this gorgeous card, and from the looks of the watercolouring you'd have no idea this was her only her third attempt.
To see more on Shelley's wonderful creations you can visit Shelley's blog Stampin-Shellz.

Raspberry Suite colour challenge #10

Hi Guys, Lisa G here.
I have really been getting into Dawn McVey's blog lately, she has such classy taste and a superb eye for design and colour, So in line with the "challenge" theme, I thought I would post her very popular colour challenge.

I have been getting so tired of not being creative, I LOVE making cards and scrapbooking, papercrafts in general and I LOVE Stampin' Up! so very much.
So.... I have made myself a resolution:

1) to USE all my scrumptious SU! products, and not be left with packs and packs of paper, brads and rolls and rolls of ribbon like I did this year when the catalogue/IBC rolled over

and

2) to participate in at least 1 challenge that the NZSUblog has put up on the website, and I figured if I publicise this with you, the fellow blogger, I might actually DO some crafting!

So, let's see if this works...I'll show you mine if you show me yours :-)

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge

Check out this blog for more sketch challenges. There's a new one every Sunday. Love this weeks sketch - I know Michelles already had a go at it and made a stunning card.

Step It Up Challenge - by Marelle Taylor

Here's another challenge for you to check out. This one is by Marelle Taylor - a very talented Aussie Demo. I really like the idea she's come up with - and I liked her card so much I've added it to my folder of cards to case. To see what her challenge is all about - check out Marelle's Blog for details.

How about a colour challenge?

K Werner regularly has colour challenges and the entries are stunning!
I'm pretty sure this is the latest.

This is a great blog for sketch challenges and if you've lost your Mojo.  Every Monday (Tuesday for us Kiwis) a new sketch is posted.

Here's this weeks.

Here's the link to see what everyone else has been creating and to see older sketches.

If you participate in the challenge and want to share your creation you can leave a link below.

Inspiration - Amy Fleming

It's been ages since we had an Inspiration post  - actually I havn't been doing much around here, life just seems to be getting in the way.

Anyway -  Amy Fleming is one

 talented stamper, she's been featured here a few times.  If you havn't already you must check out her blog Me & Mi Stamps.  I promise you will not be disappointed!

Colour Challenge

Our current challenge is a colour challenge.  And to use the colours Chocolate Chip, So Saffron and Riding Hood Red.

I had to use these colours for my first Flower Pot card, of course I had to throw in a touch of Old Olive for the leaves.

I really enjoyed making this card.  The flower pots are so sweet, I wish I had've been more onto it for Mothers Day!

So to enter the challenge you can email me a photo of your card or if you have a blog you can add your link to it below.  Have fun and I can't wait to see everyone's creations.

Louise's Sneak peak

This is Louise Forsyth's card using one of the sneak preveiw sets, Good Friend. It also uses a couple of this years in-colours, Tangerine Tango, Baha Breeze & Pacific Point. You can check out her blog HERE

Keryn's Sneek Peek

Keryn's made this cute card, the Fresh Cut Notes co-ordinate perfectly with the Fresh Cuts stamp set.  For more of Keryn's creations you can visit her blog HERE.

Stevies Sneek Peek

I love this stamp set, it's one of the level two free Hostess Sets.  Stevie's done a beautiful job, I really like how she's layered the images.  Feel free to visit Stevie's blog Create with Stevie.

Sharon's March Challenge Entries

And here are Sharon's entries.  It's not too late to enter, if you've got any posts or photos of card etc made with retiring sets email me and I'll post them.

I love these cards and will definitely be casing the second two.  To see more of Sharon's creations you can check out her blog Lemon Delicious.

I'm off to work now and will be picking up my catalogue on my dinner break - who needs to eat when we've got new stamp sets to drool over!!

Karen's March Challenge Entries

Once again Karen has stepped up and entered more than once in this month's challenges.

I'm going to miss some of these sets.  See what Karen's been up to lately by visiting her blog HERE.

Trudi's February Entry

At the last minute I did this layout using the retiring Bodacious Bouquet.  I'll be sad to see this one go.  The layout is from the January issue of 'Impressions'.  You can visit my blog Made By Me.

Karen's February Entries

Karen' is fantastic.  She saw that there weren't many entries for the Bush Fire Appeal Challenge.  So she emailed me 6!  They were all gorgeous but I've posted 3 of my favourites.  Visit Karen's blog HERE.

Sharlene's February Entry

Here's Sharlene's entry for the Bush Fire Appeal.  If you'd like to see more of Sharlene's creations you can visit her blog Magpie Creates.

Rachaels February Entry

Here's Rachael's card for the Bush Fire Appeal.  You can visit her blog and see all the fantastic stuff she's been making HERE.

Punch Art

Good morning everyone,

I was filling in 10 minutes before I head out in the rain for some stamping with the m&m's and I came across this on Splitcoast.  There are three pages full of ideas on different ways of using the punches Word Window, Round Tab and Ovals.  Follow this link to take you there.

Web anyone??

Here's the update, although some of the web host places I checked out looked good.  I couldn't find one that would have anything similar to the blog roll.  And since the blog roll is the main feature here we definitely don't want to lose that.  So for now the blog will remain as it is, with the odd change/addition every now and then.

This blog is getting rather big and I was thinking it may be easier for me and everyone else if I changed it over to a web page rather than a blog.  Unfortunately I know nothing about running web pages and the only one I've really looked at is on my Mac using Mobile Me which cost $150/year.

Keep an eye out I may use their free trial and you can have a look at how it would look and work over the weekend.  I would really appreciate feedback on what you think.

If you know anything about webhosting etc please email me nzsublog@xtra.co.nz

Better late than never..

Here's Jenny's Cami card.  I really like how she's stamped the bird showing through.  And I so wish I'd ordered the Afternoon Tea DSP.  You can visit Jenny's blog Stampin by the Seat of My Pants.

Lisa's Cami Card

Here's a very sweet card, I'm sure destined for a very sweet girl.  Lisa's made this card using this months challenge, and like Tracey's card has taken me a few days to get it posted.  You can visit Lisa's Blog by clicking this link.

Tracey's Cami Fold Card

I'm a bit slow getting this card posted, sorry.  Tracey emailed me a few days ago with a pic of ths gorgeous card.  Loving the colour combo.  She's used the cami tri fold.  You can see what else Tracey's been up to on her Blog.

Inspiration - Faux Silk by Sharlene M

It's been a while since we had an Inspiration post.  I love what Sharlene has been doing with Faux Silk technique.  I must admit the first time I tried this technique, I used real tissues and not tissue paper, don't know what that technique would be called!  Here's the link to the Splitcoast Faux Silk Tutorial and here's the link to Sharlene's blog.

Blog Candy

Oops, I'm so sorry everyone.  With getting organised for school and swimming and everything going on I completely forgot about the blog candy which was supposed to be drawn last Saturday.

The winners thanks to my random number picker, aka - Baylee, the winners are Delys and Megan.

So Delys can you please email me at nzsublog@xtra.co.nz your postal address and I'll get your blog candy out to you in the next few days.

Better late than never!

Keryn's Cami Card

Keryn's made this lovely bright coloured card.  To see the inside visit her blog HERE.

Karen's Treat Holder

Karen used the Colour Challenge when making this cute treat holder.  You can see the rest of them on Karen's Blog including instructions.

Lisa's CC3 Entry

I wanted to quickly post this before I went of to swimming lessons with Bella.  Lisa Has made a card using the current colour challenge.  The paper piecing is very cool.  You can visit Lisa's Blog HERE.

Tracey's CC3 Entry

Tracy's always good at getting challenges in.  I love this one, it uses a very popular set, one of my favourites and the very first SU set I ever brought!  Visit Tracy's blog HERE.

Tracey's Entry - Just in Time

Tracey made this card, using a colour I'm loving at the moment - Red.  Tracey also used an Inkspiration Sketch Challenge.  Visit Tracey's blog A Stampers Touch.