Tying Up Christmas

The promotion for December is a great one! Stampin' Up! have taken 20% off the price of all sorts of great Christmas or gift themed products when you spend $20 on regular priced merchandise:

Item #	Page #	Description	Regular Price	Discount Price
108790	27	Festive Favorites stamp set	$45.95	$36.76
108772	28	Crazy for Christmas stamp set	$39.95	$31.96
110244	29	Snow Flurries stamp set	$20.95	$16.76
108930	43	Tag Time stamp set	$53.95	$43.16
108869	111	Many Merry Messages stamp set	$64.95	$51.96
103604	133	12" x 12" Days-to-Remember Calendar	$20.95	$16.76
104144	133	6" x 6" Days-to-Remember Calendar	$18.95	$15.16
109663	138	Winter Bright Simply Scrappin'T	$36.95	$29.56
112670	143	Three for You Punch Box	$85.95	$68.76
109055	146	Very Vanilla 5/8" grosgrain ribbon	$14.95	$11.96
109050	146	Certainly Celery 5/8" grosgrain ribbon	$14.95	$11.96
103372	147	White Square Aluminum Metal Edge tags	$7.50	$6.00

Remember, once you spend $20 on regular merchandise there is no limit to the products you can purchase at the reduced price!


Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Jingle Shells

Yesterday afternoon I was lucky enough to teach a lovely group of 7-8yr old girl guides to make Christmas cards. I kept the card simple but with lots of punches, and some glitter to keep it fun. You'll have to excuse the rough colouring job on my sample card, the girls were using coloured pencils and I couldn't find any when I was designing the card but I wanted to see what the card would look like with some colour on Mr Crabby.
Stamps: Crab & Co
Ink: Old Olive, Basic Black,
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Real Red, Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories: Photo Corner Punch, Designer Label Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Tombow Multi-Adhesive, Chunky Glitter

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Ginger Blossom Notebook

I found some little notebooks at Go-Lo for $1.50 for 5 and I thought they'd be perfect to alter for Christmas gifts for some of my good customers and hostesses. This is what I came up with for the first few, I have used the new Ginger Blossom DSP to cover the front and to make it a little bit durable I have cut the DSP about 1/2" larger on the 3 sides and wrapped it around running my bone scorer along where the DSP meets the notebook before folding it over to keep the edges neat, Then I've neatened up the inside by adding a piece of plain Cardstock (slightly smaller than the size of the book) to the back of the cover.
As it's the wrong size for our Spiral punch I used the smaller punch on my Crop-a-Dile to punch out the holes then I snipped a little slit into each hole to slip it over the spiral binding. The slits are hidden by the binding.
Stamps: Best Friends Lower Alphabet
Ink: Ruby Red
Cardstock: Ginger Blossom DSP
Accessories: River Rock DS Grosgrain, Pewter Hodgepodge.

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Marker Promo extended!!!

Due to the fantastic response from the Marker Promotion SU! have decided to extend it until the 14th of December!!
This is a fantastic opportunity to replace any Markers that you may have lost or the ones that are looking a little too loved...


Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Cardinal Stampers Challenge #4

Finally, here is my entry for Chenoa's Challenge over at Cardinal Stampers, we have had such horrible weather that I haven't been able to get a decent photo, I'm still not 100% happy with the photo's I have taken but it's been way too long and I really have to upload them!
Chenoa's challenge was to use a sketch to make a LO for a guy in your life other than your children. I decided that it would be a perfect opportunity to scrap these photo's of the boys in our bridal party.
The circle swivels down to reveal some hidden journalling which reads; "The guys scrubbed up really well... unless you don't count Chris's faux pas of White Socks with Black Pants". We have brilliant white socks showing in some of my favourite photo's and I was so annoyed when we got them back. I'm over it now but I like to tease him about it at every opportunity and what better way to tease him than to leave it in a scrapbook album for the future generations? hehehe
Stamps: One of a Kind
Ink: Pixie Pink
Cardstock: Basic Black, Green Galore, Whisper White
Accessories: Pretties Kit, Eastern Elegance, Perfect Day & Cherished Memories Rubons, Accents & Elements On Board Chipboard, Photo Corner Punch

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Kit Kat Slider by Sharon

A while ago at one of my Christmas Club classes for the 3d project I taught a Kit Kat slider, one of my lovely ladies, Rae, showed her daughter Sharon the instructions I had typed up and Sharon decided to make one for a teacher gift.
This is what Sharon came up with, isn't it cute? She improvised a little as she didn't have jumbo eyelets so she used some Hodgepodge instead and the piece with the trees opens up for the gift card, you just spin the little photo bracket to open it up.
Anyway, just thought I'd share it since I have nothing new of my own to share (we're finally painting our bedroom, yay!!!) and thanks heaps to Sharon for sending me the picture and letting me share it here, I love when people like something I've taught them enough to pass it on or take the time to have another go and make it their own!

Makeesha's Inspiration Challenge #1

Here is my entry for Makeesha's Inspiration Challenge, I am loving these Challenges, they are so much fun with lots of different types of challenge to keep it interesting! I will be sending this card to someone who I am pretty sure will read this so if it turns up in your mailbox just pretend you haven't seen it before ;o)
I actually had another card in mind for this challenge but I got half way through and made the little scalloped piece (I didn't use the scallop square punch just another, smaller, one of these) and it didn't work on the card I was making but it looked so cute I had to use it straight away so it didn't get lost in the bottom of the scrap box. Anyway, this is what I came up with the use the square.
I have the Kraft base purely because I wanted to use the Kraft Taffeta as it reminded me of one of the cushions on the bed. The flower is stamped in Stazon on Whisper White Cardstock and coloured using my aquapainter with Bashful Blue & Soft Sky Ink pads. I went over the tops of the little stamen's with my white gel pen. "Embrace Life" is stamped with Craft Ink.
Stamps: Embrace Life
Ink: Stazon, Soft Sky, Bashful Blue, Whisper White Craft Ink
Cardstock: Kraft, Soft Sky, Whisper White & Bashful Blue
Accessories: Kraft, Whisper White & Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon, Soft Subtles Brads, 1 1/4", 1 3/8" & Scalloped Edge Punches, Aquapainter

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Kwernerdesign.com - Colour Inspiration #30

Here is my entry for Kristina Werner's Colour Inspiration Challenge #30. I took advantage of the challenge to get another birthday card made.I have embossed the blossoms with black EDP then coloured with my Certainly Celery & Old Olive Markers (Don't forget about the individual Markers available this month only), and used my Aqua Painter to blend. I know green is a slightly unconventional colour to make blossoms but we have this tree in our yard that flowers about the same time as the cherry blossom tree and the blossoms look almost like cherry blossoms but then at the last minute they get this beautiful green in them so when I decided to use the new Embrace Life set with this colour challenge I knew I had to do green blossoms.
The square was made using my Scallop Edge Punch & this tutorial from SCS. It was great as I wanted scallops badly and the scallop square punch was too small for what I wanted it for, and as I don't own any die-cut machines (holding my breath for the big shot) I have no easy way of getting larger scallop squares or rectangles.
Stamps: Embrace Life, Short & Sweet
Ink: Old Olive, White Craft Ink, Versamark, Old Olive SW Marker, Certainly Celery SW Marker
Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Sahara Sand, Whisper White
Accessories: Aquapainter, Black EDP, Colour Spritzer, Certainly Celery 1/4" Grosgrain, Beachfront Ribbon Originals

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Make a Wish

First I have to say I LURVE this card!!! (and I don't say that often because I'm my own worst critic) It is another birthday card I've made for the many birthdays we have coming up over the next month.
I absolutely love the clear Acetate cards I've seen around but I haven't had any Acetate cardstock, this week's MACM over on Kristina Werner's blog pushed me over the edge, I had to go buy some overhead transperancy sheets so I could try it out.
I decided to take advantage of both sides of the "cardstock" so I put the Chocolate Chip rubon on the inside of the card and the "Make a wish" centred over the flower on the front and the white flower on the front. The keys to creating with Acetate are to make sure that the adhesive is hidden and that you have somewhere hidden from the front where you can write on the card. Here is the inside of the card, I have doubled the length of the front DSP piece and folded it around so that it covers the adhesive both sides of the card and hides the adhesive that hold it on. This doubles as the hiding place for the greeting. I've also wrapped the ribbon all the way around the cardfront by cutting a small slit on the spine to thread the ribbon through. I added another lighter piece of DSP to act as the space for the greeting to be written and double as a background for the cardfront as well.
Cardstock: Acetate, Ginger Blossom DSP
Accessories: Hidden Garden & Eastern Elegance Rubons, Chocolate Chip DS Ribbon

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

How Cute is this costume? Hope I win!

Nordic Bo Peep and Long Lost Sheep Costume GIVEAWAY!!!!



Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Wishing You a Bright & Happy Birthday

I have a few birthdays coming up over the next month so I decided I better get a start on them (so if your birthday is coming up this might be yours - I know who it's going to be for but I'm not going to say in case they read my blog), I have made this card using some of my yummy new stuff including the Hidden Garden rubon in the corner, the Hidden garden set is actually Chocolate Chip and White instead of Black & White. I can see myself using these alot more as I find I don't use much black at the moment.
Stamps: Eastern Blooms
Ink: Versamark
Cardstock: Rose Red, Old Olive, Kraft, Bali Breeze DSP
Accessories: Kraft Taffeta, Flower Fusion, Earth Elements Button, Scallop Edge Punch, White EDP, Hidden Garden Rubbons

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Embrace Life To-Do Board

I saw this idea on Di Gibbs' blog, she had used a normal photo frame and turned it into a gorgeous white-board and as soon as I saw it I knew I had to steal... umm I mean CASE that idea!
I got this great frame from Target (who by the way have 35% off frames until Wednesday) and I have used the gorgeous Ginger Blossom DSP from the Summer Mini with a touch of Cameo Coral Cardstock to match. I used the coordinating Embrace Life set in Chocolate Chip to match the frame. I added the rubon from the hidden garden rubons to the inside of the glass, I wasn't sure how it would go backwards but I think it turned out well, I didn't want it on the outside of the glass so that I can still write on that area if I have to. Have I mentioned that rubons are 20% off at the moment?The great things about this idea is that you could scrap a photo and put that inside, or any time you get a little bored you can just change it up with some new DSP.
Stamps: Embrace Life
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Ginger Blossom DSP, Cameo Coral
Accessories: Beachfront Ribbon Originals, Scallop Edge Punch, Hidden Garden Rubons

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Lollypop lollypop ooh lolly lolly pop...

I decided to take a break today from my summer mini previews, so here is a lolly jar that I have decorated using Summer Picnic DSP, Tart & Tangy stamp set and Perfect Day rubons. I have also used my Real Red & Old Olive SW Markers (available as single markers this month only!) to colour the cherry.
Here is a close up of the Rubon, see how well it goes onto glass? They will go onto virtually any smooth surface! (I only say virtually because while I haven't found a surface I can't use them on yet I'm sure if I say "any surface" someone will tell me they can't go on something). Oh and have I mentioned that there is 20% off rubons this month too?
Stamps: Tart & Tangy
Ink: Real Red & Old Olive SW Markers
Cardstock: Summer Picnic DSP, Bashful Blue, Real Red, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Perfect Day Rubons, Scallop Circle Punch

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Rub on Some Happiness!

Do you love rubons? Then you'll love our Rubon Promotion! Never tried them? Then now is the perfect time to give them a go!From 10-30 November 2008 You will get 20% off rubons when you spend $20 on Stampin' Up! Products!!Our rubons are fantastic quality (as all SU! merchandise is of course) going on really easily and you get 2 huge sheets of rubons (1 white 1 black - perfect for those times when you want to use a particular rubon but only have it in black and you need white or vice versa) and the rubons coordinate perfectly with our stamp sets (Because we all know the thing we love about SU! is coordination).Contact me today for more information or to place your order (zjgould@gmail.com)

Images © Stampin' Up!

Being Single Never Looked So Good!

Well we asked (and asked and asked) and Stampin' Up! have listened!!!

For 10-30 November only, SU! are offering our very versatile, dual-tip Stampin' Write Markers INDIVIDUALLY!!!!!! for only $4.95 (plus p&h).

How cool is that??? SW Markers have been available individually in the US market for a while now but they have never before been offered in the Australian market as anything other than Colour Families.

This is such a great opportunity to stock up on your favourite colour that might be running low, or to replace that marker that the dog/kids/cat got into and destroyed without having to replace a whole colour family, or you just might be like me and only like one or two of the colours in a certain colour family and not want to buy a whole pack just for the 1 colour you do love.

You can buy any colour from all 4 of the main colour families as well as Sahara Sand and Basic Black.

This is a limited time offer and it is our chance to show SU! that we have the market for individual markers (which would increase our chances of getting them permanently) so make sure you contact me (zjgould@gmail.com) to take advantage of this great promotion!

Images © Stampin' Up!

Makeesha's Colour Challenge #1 - Welcome Baby

Makeesha's Colour Challenge this week was perfect for a baby girl card I needed to make this week. I also had to use her sketch from last week as it was a really cute sketch and I didn't get the chance to play along when it was still current. I took advantage of Chocolate Chip being included in the challenge to use the new Chocolate Chip 1" Double Stitched Ribbon. (Isn't it so pretty???).
I have recreated the shaker card here (so it's a CASE of a CASE lol). You can find a really good tutorial for shaker cards over at the Stampin' Academy, however she used microbeads which we don't have in the Australian catalogue, so I used the Chunky Glitter from the Summer Mini and I think it was a nice replacement as the card still makes a soft rattle noise when you shake it. (I had to use vellum instead of acetate so the glitter lost some of its shimmer, but as soon as I remember to buy myself a pack of Overhead sheets I will be able to try out all these cool transparent cards that I keep seeing around the place lol)
Stamps: Short & Sweet
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery Prints DSP
Accessories: Scallop Circle & Edge Punches, 1 3/8", 1" & 1 1/4" Circle Punches, Chocolate Chip 1" DS Ribbon, Certainly Celery 1/4" Grosgrain, Beachfront Ribbons Originals

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould
ETA: I have had to crop this picture so you can't see the roll of ribbon and the pot of glitter, apparently we aren't allowed to show them on our blogs yet. The real deal will be back in December.

Journal

I am loving Bali Breeze!!! I actually made this on Friday but I'm trying to pace myself with Mini Catalogue posts so you don't get bombarded all at once, but I'm telling you the Bali Breeze Colour combo is really getting my creative juices going! I covered the journal using the basic principles of this project by Kristina Werner. I used a piece of Rose Red Cardstock on the inside to cover up the ribbon and all the bits and pieces that had to be folded over.
I know I keep going on about it but these new products have really got me excited about creating again! I love being an SU! demo but sometimes it's really hard to create on command and this stuff has definately helped me get my groove back!
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Bali Breeze DSP
Accessories: On Board Lots of Letters & Art Journal, Chunky Glitter, Rose Red DS Ribbon, Flower Fusion, Linen Thread, Earth Elements Buttons, Scallop Edge Punch, Tombow Multi Adhesive, Spiral Punch

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

I call this card...

"How many new products can one fit on a card?"
Can you tell I got my new Summer mini catalogue goodies today? I have used Bali Breeze DSP (mmm it's so delicious!), Rose Red 1" Double Stitched Ribbon, Flower Fusion, Hidden Garden Rubons & the Scallop Edge Punch. I didn't use any of my new stamps because I knew Charlotte wouldn't be asleep much longer and wanted to finish a card while I could.
I will be mounting my stamps in a sec and playing some more when she has her afternoon nap so keep an eye out over the next few days for lots of yummy goodies! It has been a while since I have had new products that are just so easy to create with!
Stamps: For a Friend
Ink: Basic Black
Cardstock: Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie, Bali Breeze DSP
Accessories: Rose Red 1" DS Ribbon, Flower Fusion, Hidden Garden Rubons, Scallop Edge Punch, Ice Rhinestone Brads

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Dear Santa...

Stamping is something I LOVE to do,
So I’m making a little list, just for you!
With rubber stamps in my hands & ink pads in the drawer,
The cards and gifts I create are ones you’ll adore.
I’ve been extra good this past year,
And I’d really love some Stampin’ Up! gear.
Clothes are nice and diamonds too,
But is going to the shop what you really want to do?
If you listen to my suggestion,
You’ll avoid all the holiday congestion.
No need to leave the comfort of home,
Just contact my friend, Zarna, by Email or phone.
Sit back, relax, and worry no more,
She will even gift wrap, just like the store!
So look below to see my list,
Zarna will be delighted to assist!

Do you have people asking what they should get you for Christmas? Have you considered registering your SU! Wish List with me?
I will wrap the presents and keep track of your wish list and do my best to make sure that there are no double ups (I can't make guarantees for purchases made through other demonstrators). I can even deliver the gift to your tree if the giver is unable to be there in person.
All you need to do to register is contact me with your wish list, then I can either email you the list with this cute poem attached to hand out as you wish or I can email it to your friends and family if you would prefer (please note that the only contact I will have with them will be regarding the wish list and there will be no pressure from me for them to use the list).

Dates & Deadlines:
Register your list by 15/11/08 to give your friends and family time to purchase.
Purchase by 10/12/08 for guaranteed Christmas delivery, purchases will be accepted after this date but I can't guarantee that they will be here before Christmas.
Delivery by 20/12/08, or earlier depending on SU! warehouse ordering.

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould