What you need to know for April

***Sticky Post Please scroll down for new entries***

• 2009-2010 Catalogue is here check it out online or contact me (zjgould@gmail.com)to buy your own for $10 pick up (+$5.95 if you want postage)
• Terrific Techniques April Class: "Pastel Perfection" 3.30pm 18/4/09 $25 for 3 cards using Stampin' Pastels.
  
• Retired SU! Products for Sale - First in best dressed so check out the list and email me to reserve your sets
• $77,889.63 donated to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal!! Read the announcement here
• Cards for Sale on etsy.com - You can see my shop here
  

I have decided to put a sticky post at the top of my blog every month telling you all the info you need. So please remember to scroll down for new entries

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Welcome Benjamin

Justin's cousin had her baby boy last week and this was the card that I made for them. I got the idea for the faux stitching on the elephant from Heather Summer's Blog.
I inked up the elephant in versamark before I inked it in Baja Breeze so that I could emboss it with Clear embossing powder to give him a little shine.
Stamps: Wild About You, Short & Sweet, Polka Dot Background
Ink: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Versamark
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Baja Breeze 1" DS Ribbon, Not Quite Navy 1/4" Grosgrain, Styled Silver Hodge Podge, Clear EDP, Full Heart Punch

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

My first little boy page!

Here is my first ever little boy layout! I've never scrapped for a boy before and considering my really really girly stash (might have to fix that hehehe) I think I did an alright job.
The papers are from Tea Party, one of the most girly DSP's in the new catalogue but I found that the Almost Amethyst worked really well, it's one of those chameleon colours, pair it with a pink and it looks purple but put it with a little yellow and green and you've got yourself a cute blue, so versatile!
I kept the page simple because I figure that's best until I get the hang of this boy thing, and I used a sketch I found over on Sisterhood of Scrap while Checking out their 50's challenges (still 2 days to get entries in if you haven't checked it out yet). I also resisted the urge to include a picture of his little boy parts, although at the time that they got that shot during the ultrasound I actually said "there's one for the scrapbook" and I think the radiographer's jaw almost dropped through the floor lol
Stamps: Short Order Alphabet, Seeing Spots
Ink: Versamark, Mellow Moss
Cardstock: Mellow Moss, Tea Party DSP, So Saffron
Accessories: Clips Assortment, Lots of Letters On Board, Styled Silver Hodgepodge, Clear EDP

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

One stampers trash is another stampers treasure...

The other day Nancy Riley posted a few cards on her blog that weren't quite worthy of the bin but definately weren't her favourites either, well I absolutely fell in love with the black and red one in the middle, I love how she used the Scallop Square punch in combination with the circles (it drives me crazy that we don't have a punch that fits better, the 1 1/4" just doesn't sit far enough in for me...) I didn't have any of the papers or stamps that she used so I decided to CASE it using what I had.
Stamps: Bugs & Kisses
Ink: Basic Grey, Certainly Celery
Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Almost Amethyst, Very Vanilla, Tea Party DSP
Accessories: Certainly Celery 5/8" Grosgrain, 1" & 1 1/4" Circle and Scallop Square Punches

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Sisterhood of Scrap Rock Around the Clock - Challenge #1

Deanne posted this photo as inspiration for the first challenge on the Sisterhood of Scrap's Rock Around the Clock online crop. It looked like too much fun and I just had to play along! Here is what I came up with:
I took inspiration not only from the colours in the photo but also the polka dots on the skirt (Don't you just love that skirt, I seriously think I was born in the wrong generation!!) and the scarf around her neck (for my choice in ribbon).
The challenges are still open for entries until the 30th, so if you want to play along you still have plenty of time.
Stamps: Together Forever
Ink: White Craft Ink
Cardstock: Basic Black, Pretty in Pink, Tea Party DSP
Accessories: Sticky Cuts Letters, Pink Taffeta, Supernova Super Fine Glitter

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Poppin' Pastels

This was the 3rd Pastel Perfection card we made last Saturday at Terrific Techniques, and can you go past a Pastel Class without including Poppin' Pastels??? This basic technique is one that every stamper should try! You get such a soft almost out of focus feel to the stamped images when you use it, the key is just to pounce the pastels (with a cotton ball or dauber) onto the image rather than rub them.
I don't have Upsy Daisy or Inspired by Nature yet to play with but those sets are absolutely perfect for this technique.
I should also mention that this card is a (very loose) CASE of a card I saw on SCS, I didn't keep the link but if you stumble across this and it's yours let me know and I'll give credit where credit's due.
Stamps: Organic Grace, Sincere Salutations
Ink: Mellow Moss, Versamark, Certainly Celery
Cardstock: Lavender Lace, Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Stampin Pastels

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Chalk Highlighting

This is the 2nd Pastel Perfection Card that we made for our Terrific Techniques Class on Saturday. In this card I have used a technique I nick-named Chalk Highlighting. Basically what you do is stamp an outline image in a pattern on white cardstock then go over the pattern with a cotton ball and Stampin' Pastels, then take a pencil top eraser (you want something nice and fine) and erase the parts of the pattern you want highlighted. So simple but so effective.
It doesn't show up well in the photo but on the white square I've actually lightly rubbed lovely lilac over the cardstock and then erased along the sentiment.
PS I want to give a little shout out to Debbie, she has a great blog candy to celebrate her 15,555th hit on her blog! While you are there make sure you check out her awesome creations, she does an amazing job.

Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly
Ink: Basic Black, Pink Passion, Lovely Lilac
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Pink Passion, Lovely Lilac
Accessories: Basic Black 1/4" Grosgrain, Stampin' Pastels

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Sock Hops, Drive-ins & Soda Shops

Sisterhood of scrap is turning 2, so to celebrate they will be posting a week of challenges! There are prizes to be won and fun to be had so why not think about stopping by to check them out??

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Happy Birthday to You

At today's Terrific Techniques class the girls decided they'd like to learn more about Stampin' Pastels so I designed a class called Pastel Perfection.
This is the first card we made, using Stampin' Pastels & Blender pens to colour the cupcakes image. I find that cartoonish sets work best with this method of colouring as it's not as easy to keep the colour even.
You might recognise this card, it's a CASE of a card I made a week or 2 ago which I knew would be perfect for this method of colouring. It doesn't show up very well in this picture but we used Dazzling Diamonds to give the icing a bit of shimmer.
Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes, Cupcakes Wheel
Ink: Basic Black, Versamark
Cardstock: Lavender Lace, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, Pretty in Pink 1/4" Grosgrain, Chocolate Chip 1" DS Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds, 2-way glue, Stampin' Pastels, Blender Pens

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Double Pocket Wedding invitation plus an exciting Announcement!!

This is the invitation I made for my brother in law & his beautiful fiance's wedding. I used the Diagonal Double Pocket tutorial from SCS and changed it up to make the measurements fit Australian cardstock. The bride & groom wanted to invite children to the wedding however they only wanted adults at the reception so we got around it by using the 2 pockets with the first pocket holding the invitation to the ceremony on 1 side and a map on the other, the 2nd pocket held the invitation to the reception with the wishing well poem on the reverse side.
I have been meaning to share this for a while but I wanted to make sure all of the guests have received their invitations first, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to share them when I announce that my 2nd blog, Zarna Gould Designs is officially open for business!!!
I will be putting all of my creations up on this blog, however stuff that relates to the "Zarna Gould Designs" part of my business will be appearing on both.
Stamps: Always
Ink: Versamark, Real Red
Cardstock: Basic Black, Real Red, Vellum
Accessories: Gold EDP, Gold Brads, Basic Black 1/4" & Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Just have to share!

Just had to share some exciting news! So I've been slack and haven't officially announced it online here but I think most of you have heard by now anyway that I'm having another baby (due middle to end of september). Meet our "Bubba":We went to have the ultrasound today and everything is perfect, I have placenta prevaria (or something like that) again but it's apparently very common as a full bladder can deceptively make it look like you have it and all it means in most cases is that I'll get another ultrasound at 30 weeks to make sure it's all good, and the radiographer who did the ultrasound (best one in Australia in my opinion) - says not to worry about it, that the doctors like to get a 30 week scan done but medicare doesn't allow for it unless there's good cause so the doctor will use this as his reason for needing it but realistically he just wants a better guage on the size of the baby etc than what you can get at this stage. Like I said I had it with charlotte and there wasn't a problem at all.

So anyway that's not the most exciting news of all, the most exciting news is this: Not sure if you can see it but let's put it nicely: That photo means the "it" is a "Him".

I feel a bit bad because I was telling everyone I'd love a 2nd little girl (and still would but not sure if we'll have 3 get the 2nd one here first lol) but when I saw that pop up on the screen there was not an ounce of disappointment just alot of nervousness, I've been pretty laidback about this pregnancy thinking I can do this again, no problem but now I'm a bit nervous, boys are uncharted territory, I feel like I've done girls, I know girls, but what do you do with a boy? lol


Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Cute as a Bug Love Notes & Gift Box

I went to a baby shower and as my gift for the mother to be I decided to make a little pack of thank you notes she can use after the baby is born and a little origami box with belly band to hold them. She knows that she's going to have a boy so I made them appropriate for a little boy.
I will get a little something else like a cute outfit for the baby to take to the hospital when she has him.
Stamps: Bugs & Kisses
Ink: Old Olive, Brilliant Blue
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Brilliant Blue and Old Olive & Brilliant Blue Prints DSP (Retired)
Accessories: Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain, 1 1/4", 1 3/8", Scallop Circle punches

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Kwernerdesign.com - Colour Inspiration #49

Here is my entry for Kristina's Colour Inspiration challenge. As soon as I saw this fabric I knew I had to give it a go!
When the other entries started popping up around the place I was wishing I'd bought Petal Pizzazz (a set I didn't really look at twice but now have to have thanks to that damn internet!!!) but then I figured, how many times can Kristina look at the same set without going insane? So I decided to pull out a set that I thought still felt like the fabric and used "Enjoy Every Moment" I stamped the big flower in a rough pattern over the base cardstock and clear embossed it and built the card up from there.
I kept with a fabric-y kind of feel and used the eyelet border and gingham ribbon even though they didn't relate exactly to the material in the inspiration photo.
The finished product is something that is probably a bit 'busy' for my normal style but I'm happy with how it turned out.

Stamps: Enjoy Every Moment
Ink: Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red
Cardstock: Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Raspberry Tart DSP
Accessories: Trio Flower, Designer Label, Large Oval, 1" Circle & Eyelet Border Punches, Build a Brad, Black Gingham ribbon, Rich Regals Brads, Clear EDP

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Hope your day is as happy as happy gets!

Another card using some of my new goodies! I used the new Tea Party DSP, Flight of the Butterfly stamp set & Build a Brad for the middle of the flower.
Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Almost Amethyst, Basic Grey
Cardstock: Almost Amethyst, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, Tea Party DSP
Accessories: Build a Brad, Scallop Edge & 5 Petal punches, Basic Grey Taffeta

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Zarna Gould Designs on etsy.com

I'm excited to announce that I have opened my own etsy shop. I am selling some of the cards that I have shown here on my blog, I will also take custom orders and all the special order info is on my etsy shop under "alchemy". There isn't much there at the moment but I have about another half dozen to upload this weekend so make sure you check it out, you can find me at http://zjgould.etsy.com

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Happy Easter!

Just want to jump on and wish everyone an early happy Easter! For all of you that were lucky enough to receive your orders in time, Happy stamping, and to those who are travelling, please stay safe!


Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

New Goodies to play with!!!!

I got my new goodies to play with!! This was the first card I made and I'm so happy with how it turned out!
I love this Crazy for Cupcakes set!! The sentiment is a bit hard to see in the photo (having glitter on a card makes it really difficult to photograph) but it reads "Hope your day is the sweetest ever". How cute is that??
I have also been working on a scrapbook layout but you'll have to wait to see that one as it's for the May reveal over at "Just My Sketches" I will tell you that I'm loving the Raspberry Tart DSP and the Sticky Cuts Letters!
My order turned up just in time to round out my week of cards celebrating the new catalogue, and I'll go back to scheduling my posts for every few days again.
Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes
Ink: Basic Black, Baja Breeze, Pretty in Pink, Barely Banana, Certainly Celery & Pretty in Pink SW Markers
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Aquapainter, Baja Breeze 1" DS Ribbon, Pink Taffeta, Eyelet Border Punch, 2-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Strawberry Thank You

Another card using a resurrected stamp set (Hopefully I'll have new catalogue cards to show you soon). I love Tart & Tangy and was so happy to see it make the new catalogue! I was sad however to lose the Summer Picnic DSP that matched :( ... But I decided to make the best of a sad situation and use it as an opportunity to try out new colour combinations with the set. Before I had always just stuck with the DSP combo's of Bashful Blue, Real Red, Old Olive & Pumpkin Pie, so I thought with this card that I would soften it up and use Pretty and Pink with Certainly Celery for the strawberry and the rest just came from there.
To keep with the soft feel when I stamped the sentiment in Close to Cocoa I stamped off onto scratch paper first so that the colour wasn't as dark.
Stamps: Tart & Tangy, Think Happy Thoughts
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Close to Cocoa
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, Whisper White
Accessories: 1 1/4", 1 3/8" and Scallop Circles & Scallop Edge Punches, Certainly Celery and Pretty in Pink 1/4" Grosgrain, Certainly Celery 5/8" Grosgrain

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Friend-Ship

While I was still waiting for my new catalogue goodies to arrive I decided to pull out Boatloads of Love and have a play, I love colouring with this set but I don't use it very often. This time I decided to use it for a girly card and I kept it really simple to keep focus on the main image but it was a challenge not to add a bit of ribbon or hodgepodge...
The card is slightly shorter than a regular card to make the watercolour paper fit just right.
Stamps: Boatloads of Love, Loads of Love
Ink: Stazon, Lavender Lace
Cardstock: Lavender Lace, Pretty in Pink, Watercolour Paper
Watercolouring: Aquapainter with Watercolour Wonder Crayons

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Didn't know if I should post this one or not...

Wasn't sure if I should post this or not because I had it all the way I wanted, then stamped the sentiment crooked (when will I learn to just get out the stamp a majig???) and then I was so ticked off at myself for making such a rookie mistake that I wasn't paying attention and stuck the whole top layer on the base card crooked as well!!! I eventually decided to share it as I think it's easy to gloss over things with a blog and only share the successes, but sometimes you need to be honest about the failures too.
...Anyway I made this little Love Note sized card to show off some new in colours (Baja Breeze, Pacific Point with a touch of Pretty in Pink to balance it all out) and a set that I am happy is making a comeback from the Spring Mini! I used the emboss resist technique and sponged over the top in Pacific Point & Baja Breeze, keeping the Pacific Point nice and light, then I (crookedly grr) stamped "for you" in Pacific Point over the top. The centre is a small round stamp from the same set stamped in Pretty in Pink and punched out with the 1/2" circle and mounted using a dimensional.
Stamps: One of a Kind
Ink: Baja Breeze, Pacific Point
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Glossy White
Accessories: Sponge, Ice Rhinestone Brads, Pretty in Pink Taffeta

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Driving by with a birthday 'Hi'!

Card #3 for our Watercolouring Terrific Techniques Class... We used the gorgeous Loads of Loves set (so glad this one is here for the long haul - pun intended, sorry) with some new In Colours; Pacific Point & Riding Hood Red. The watercolouring technique we used for this card is Blender Pens & Ink Pads. The other 2 cards for this class were pretty girly so I decided to make something suitable for a boys birthday.
Stamps: Loads of Love, Loads of Love Accessories
Ink: Stazon, Pacific Point
Cardstock: Pacific Point, Old Olive, Riding Hood Red, Watercolour Paper
Accessories: Jumbo Eyelets, crimper, 1 1/4", 1 3/8" & Scallop Circle Punch
Watercolouring: Blender Pens & Inkpads; Riding Hood Red, Pacific Point, Old Olive

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

SU! Bushfire Appeal Final Amount

Stampin' Up! made this announcement on the demonstrator website this morning:

"In mid-February, we launched the Bushfire Appeal in response to the tragedy that affected so many lives in Victoria and across Australia. We're pleased to announce that with the sales of the Bushfire Appeal sets, our final donation amount to the Australian Red Cross Bushfires 2009 Appeal will be $77,889.63!

We greatly appreciate your efforts to encourage customers to participate in this cause. We also recognise your sacrifice to make this appeal so successful.

Thank you. Your worthwhile accomplishment has truly made a difference."

Thank you again to everyone who took the time to order from the Bushfire Appeal, I know there are families out there that will be touched by the generosity of strangers

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Gumnut Thank You

Do you ever have one of those days where you can't get anything straight? This card has crooked stamps, embellishments & layers all over it lol
I made it as another of our Terrific Techniques cards for the Watercolouring class. We did 3 cards with each card focusing on a different watercolouring technique. We meet on the last saturday of the month (most months) if you are interested in joining us, the girls are a lovely group of ladies and we all have a blast!
Stamps: Bloom Away, Short & Sweet, Weathered
Ink: Basic Black, Stazon, Whisper White Craft Ink
Watercolouring: Stampin' Write Markers with Aquapainter; Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Certainly Celery, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Watercolour paper
Accessories: Mellow Moss Tafetta Ribbon, Certainly Celery Brads,

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Retired SU! Products for sale!

Well it's that time again, the time of year where I send my retired products to new homes where they can get a little more inky love.
*Click the product name to see a photo
*Where I have noted "Well Loved Condition click for a picture of the underside of the stamps, this normally indicates heavy ink staining on the wood blocks, however the rubber is still in good working condition.
*Where sets coordinate with other sets or wheels for sale I have made a note

Stamp Sets

• Oh, So Lovely (Level 1 Hostess) - New $35
• Oh, So Lovely (Level 1 Hostess - Excellent Condition $25 now listed on ebay
  
• Party Punch (Level 1 Hostess) - New $35
• Party Punch (Level 1 Hostess) - Excellent Condition $25 now listed on ebay
• A Little Bit of Happiness (Level 1 Hostess) - New $35
  
• For a Friend (Level 1 Hostess) - Excellent Condition $25 now listed on ebay
• So Many Sayings (Level 1 Hostess) - Excellent Condition $25 now listed on ebay
• From the Garden (Level 1 Hostess) - Excellent Condition $25 now listed on ebay
• Polka Dot Punches (Sale-A-Bration) - Very Good Condition $15 now listed on ebay
• Wonderful Words - Very Good Condition $30 now listed on ebay
• Carte Postale - Well Loved Condition $25 (Matches Leaves A La Carte) now listed on ebay
• Expressive Flexible Phrases - Excellent Condition $60 (click for catalogue images) now listed on ebay
• Office Accoutrement - Good Condition $30 now listed on ebay
• Everyday Flexible Phrases - Excellent Condition $60 (click for catalogue images) now listed on ebay
• Crab & Co - Well Loved Condition $25 now listed on ebay
• Merry, Merry - Well Loved Condition $25 (Matches All About Christmas Wheel) now listed on ebay
• Polka Dots & Paisley - Very Good Condition $25 (Matches Polka Dots & Petals and Petals Wheel) now listed on ebay
• Polka Dots & Petals - Very Good Condition $25 (Matches Polka Dots & Paisley and Petals Wheel) now listed on ebay
• Cheery Chat - Very Good Condition $40 now listed on ebay

Stampin' Around Wheels

• All About Christmas (Jumbo) - Good Condition $10 (Matches Merry, Merry) now listed on ebay
• Petals (Jumbo) - Good Condition $10 (Matches Polka Dots & Petals and Polka Dots & Paisley) now listed on ebay
• Leaves A La Carte (Jumbo) - Very Good Condition $12 (Matches Carte Postale) now listed on ebay
• Basics Outline (Jumbo) - Good Condition $10 (Matches Bud Basics)

I'm willing to sell to any Australian resident, however postage is additional and at your expense. I can accept paypal and bank deposit. Email (zjgould@gmail.com) or call me (0418 650 294) anytime to reserve your purchase. First in Best Dressed.

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Just My Sketches - Love You

Here is my April reveal for Just My Sketches. The heart shaped photo's were actually meant to be circles but I think Deanne will forgive me as they are something other than your regular 6x4's...
This layout is a little bit of an inside joke, the photos are of Stefan & Charlotte when we were in Albury recently. Stefan is Sarah & Mark's son, Sarah is probably the closest thing I have to a sister, she has known me since I was alot younger than these 2 are and it doesn't seem to matter how far away I go (because I'm the one who moves, she has stuck around, now she literally lives around the corner from where I grew up lol) we always keep in touch and we can always just pick up right where we left off and hang out as if it hasn't been over a year since the last time we saw each other, so we were really really excited to find out that we would be having our first child at around the same time (there are about 3 1/2 months between Charlotte & Stefan) and then we were even more excited when I had a girl & Sarah had a boy (neither of us found out ahead of time what we were having) and we decided the day Stefan was born that he would have to marry Charlotte so we could be related! Because of all this I thought it was only fitting that the journalling should read "Charlotte & Stefan - True love forever..."
The funniest part of the whole thing is that these photo's were probably the loviest they acted towards each other the whole weekend, when you have 2 only children under 18 months they don't tend to share very well and we had a few little barnies lol
I have used the Stained Glass technique for the flower in the top corner & I have cut out another heart from the love you in DSP and popped it up on a dimensional.
If you want to have a go of the sketch here it is:
PS I have just realised that by the time this post goes live the Ginger Blossom DSP & possibly the stamp sets will be retired, so I am really sorry about that, I try to publish only current products on my blog so that if something inspires you the products are still available.
Stamps: Big on Spring
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Versamark, Earth Elements SW Markers
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Ginger Blossom DSP
Accessories: White EDP, Black EDP, Sewing Machine

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould for Deanne Burton