3x3" Thank You and an exciting Announcement!!

I've been neglecting this blog a little lately, sorry about that but I think you'd agree that I have a good excuse... I've been trying to post every week but I missed last week, so I'll start over and try again.
This is a little card I made up to go in a parcel I sent away yesterday, I love this little love note style, such a great way to use up scraps of DSP! And very quick and easy, especially if you use a couple of Big Shot dies, which brings me to my exciting announcement:

The BIG SHOT is COMING!!!

SU! never, ever comment on what will be in a mini catalogue before the demonstrator preorder starts, however this time they were kind enough to announce that when the Fall/Winter mini catalogue is released in April 2010 they will also be including the Bigshot and some SU! exclusive dies... At this stage there are no more details about price or what dies they will be releasing etc all we know is that it is coming along with a few SU! exclusive Dies. The butterflies on this card were made with the SU! exclusive Bigz Die "Beautiful Butterflies" that my gorgeous sister-in-law was kind enough to send me from the US and I'm hoping that it will be released here with the bigshot as it is such a gorgeous die that I know you will love!
Anyway between now and April I hope to tempt your crafting tastebuds with a few bigshot creations so that when it is available here you will already be inspired and ready to create.
Stamps: Short & Sweet
Ink: Bashful Blue
Cardstock: Kraft, Bashful Blue, Walk in the Park DSP
Accessories: Button Latte, Very Vanilla Taffeta, Word Window
Bigshot: Beautiful Butterflys Bigz Die

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Some Cards for Jack

I don't know if I've ever told you this, but I think the thing that got me hooked on cardmaking has to be the fact that I love getting cards, so I love to show people I care by giving them. I've kept practically every card I've ever received, and that's not an exaggeration, I have this Disneyland gift bag that friends of ours gave me a present in when I was about 3 or 4 and I kept the postcards I they sent me from their trip in it and then started keeping every card and letter in it that I got for about the next 10 years.
...Anyway, the point of this story is that, I love getting cards and since I'm not sending many out right now I thought I'd share some of the beautiful handmade cards we've been given for Jack (we've been given heaps of storebought cards too which I love equally as much, but that's not why you come to the blog so I won't share them)
This first card is by the lovely Marcia, it's hard to tell in the photo but the J is actually like a blue coated chipboard piece which she has sanded back to reveal the white, so cool! You can check out the details of the card here, I love that "congratulations" stamp she used, it's such an elegant font.
This next card was made for us by Kathy Tanner, as far as I know she doesn't have a blog, but I met Kathy through SCS and you can view her gallery here. Kathy is an SU! demo in Tassie so if you're down that way be sure to look her up.
And last (but by far not least), is a card made by the gorgeous Krista! Krista is one of my customers who has become a good friend (I love this job!). She does the coolest, non-traditional shaped cards.

So, anyway, thanks girls for these beautiful cards! I love them and will keep them in Jack's keepsake box for him to look at when he's older (that's if guys do that kind of thing lol).

My Baby girl is 2!

Charlotte's 2nd Birthday is today and I can't believe how fast the last 2 years have gone. This is the card I made for her. I used last weeks mojo monday sketch for the card. The rhinestones are rhinestone brads, but I didn't want the chunky silver around them on this card, so I pulled them apart and used some tombow multi to attach them to the card with.
I was thinking the other day about how much I loved getting those cards with badges when I was little and was a little disappointed when I realised that would mean I'd have to buy a card, but then I got so excited when I found "birthday girl" badges in the party section at Coles and decided to attach it to the card... I used the package it came in as a template for the spacing of the holes.

Stamps: Pun Fun, Short & Sweet
Ink: Stazon, Elegant Eggplant
Watercolouring: Aquapainter w/ Watercolour Wonders - Pink Passion & Elegant Eggplant
Cardstock: Elegant Eggplant, Pink Passion, Patterns II DSP (Basic Grey)
Accessories: Elegant Eggplant 1/4" Grosgrain, Fire & Ice Rhinestone Brads

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Happy Birthday to Nick!

My brother-in-law got given a first jump course for his 30th birthday last month, and since there aren't exactly any parachute stamps in the SU! catalogue I had to improvise, so I used the All in the Family and added a harness and parachute, by hand. Don't look too closely at the drawing, there's a reason that I use stamps...
This card is very late since I was in hospital with Jack (the first time) on Nick's birthday, but since it is so late, I was able to colour the little dude to match. Here are some pics of Nick's jump (courtesy of my Father-in-law, Bob).
Nick coming into land...
Getting ready to go up for his first jump, loving the attractive orange learners overalls (ha!)...
Stamps: All in the Family, Birthday Wish
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Stazon, SW Markers: Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Grey, Basic Black
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Patterns II DSP, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Accessories: Jumbo Brads, Distresser Tool (cutter kit)

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

The Rejects lol

One of the cardmaking magazines I read had a publication call for childrens party project sets and since Charlotte's birthday is coming up I decided to have a go. Unfortunately for me they didn't get accepted but that's a bonus for you since it means I can share them now instead of waiting for months until they get published :)
The set I created includes a little party blower topper, invitation and bag-elope favour bags that all match. I won't be making multiples of the favour bag or party blower (I normally would since they were quick and easy to make but just not enough time with a newborn).
They're all pretty straight forward, the 2 only things worth mentioning are:

• Bag-elope tutorial is here, only thing I changed was I cut a circle then scored and folded it over to make a flap, it is held shut by tombow multi adhesive on the back and velcro dots for the opening.
  
• To get quick and even coverage of glitter on the balloon (off the party blower) I ran it through my Xyron sticker maker and pressed it into the glitter.
  

Stamps: Pun Fun, Calender Alphabet, Family Phrases, Crazy for Cupcakes
Ink: Stazon, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink
Watercolouring: Invitation; Aquapainter w/ Watercolour Wonder Crayons, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink. Favour Bag; Aquapainter w/ Inkpads, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink
Cardstock:Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Patterns II DSP pack
Accessories: Trio Flower & Scallop, 1 3/8", 1 1/4" Circle Punches, Soft subtles Brads, Bashful Blue Taffeta, Dazzling Diamonds, Xyron, Tombow Multi Adhesive

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

World Cardmaking Day 09

World Card Making Day is 3 October, but Stampin’ Up! is celebrating all month long! From 1-31 October, when you purchase Rock Star or Flower Power Simply Sent Card Elements, you’ll get 20% off the coordinating stamp set!
Buy one of these 2 kits for $30.95:
112028 Flower Power Card Elements
112021 Rock Star Card Elements
and get the coordinating Stamp Set for 20% off (were $24.95 now $19.96):
116779 Wow Flowers
116777 Starring You
Click here to view the flyer.


Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Join SU! AND make a difference to those affected by breast cancer, what could be better?

For over 20 years, Stampin’ Up! has helped women make a difference in the lives of others by simply doing what they love to do—sharing creativity. Become a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator between 1 October and 31 December 2009 and start making a difference!
For every person who joins, Stampin’ Up! will donate $5 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (AU) or The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.
Plus, until 31 December 2009, we’ll add a free pack of Raspberry Tart Designer Series paper and a Pretty in Pink Classic Stampin’ Pad to your starter kit!
Click here to view the flyer.


Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould