Raspberry Tart Flower

This card is soooo different from my normal style but I love it! I have been wanting since forever to make some of my own flowers a La Dawn McVey, but I haven't gotten around to it, anyway, I needed to make a card for a friends 18th and while I was surfing around for a cardsketch to use I found this sketch (top row 2nd sketch) and thought it would be the perfect card to try out one of these flowers.
The tutorial calls for 4 layers, but I wanted mine nice and big and chunky so I used 7. It is a really heavy little embellishment so I have attached it to the card using Tombow multi-adhesive. The little leaf was just hand torn then folded in half and rolled up and attached using mini glue dots along the centre so it would have a bit of dimension too.
You can see just how much dimension the flower and leaf have in this pic:
Anyway, I hope you like it, I can't wait to do some more of these flowers!
Stamps: Short & Sweet
Ink: Rose Red Ink & Marker
Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red (for the base), Raspberry Tart DSP
Accessories: Button Bouquet, glue dots, Tombow Multi-Adhesive

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Candy Lane Hippo

Friends of ours had a beautiful baby girl the other week and I wanted to send them a card. This is what I came up with. I used the Mojo Monday sketch from week #88, I love using card sketches, I always like my cards so much more when I use them.
Stamps: Pun Fun, Baroque Motifs
Ink: Stazon, Pink Pirouette
Watercolouring: Aquapainter with Ink pads; Pink Pirouette and Riding Hood Red
Cardstock:Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Candy Lane DSP
Accessories: 1/2" Circle Punch, Riding Hood Red Taffeta

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Makeesha's Sketch Challenge #9 - 5th Avenue Floral Watercolouring

ETA: the lovely Allison has included this card in her list of "Me Likey's" among some fantastic way out of my league cards, I feel very honoured to be able to add this badge to my post

It's been forever since I've had the chance to do one of Makeesha's challenges, and this one was so much fun to do! I decided last weekend that I was going to stamp "for me" rather than making something off my to-do list and I really enjoyed it, I've had so much more motivation to not only stamp but also to get other stuff around the house done too, I think it was just the relaxation I needed.
I decided to have a go at the 5th Avenue Floral watercolouring technique that everyone is doing lately (well not everyone, I was informed via facebook the other day that I wasn't in fact the last person to try it out hehe) and while I was trimming down the roses I decided that it was such a shame to be throwing away the scrap cardstock from the edges as it had quite a pretty pattern where the colour had run, so I decided to do another set, but this time to do a pattern and deliberately colour the background as well as the flowers...
I hope Makeesha doesn't mind but I have taken a few liberties with her sketch, instead of putting a strip behind the big tag piece I decided to use the overlapping flowers and I also moved the buttons so they are side by side instead of one above the other (that change was more because I made my tag too big, but shhhh don't tell, ok?).
For the "thread" through the buttons i have just used some strips of pink pirouette cardstock. I couldn't find the perfect piece of DSP for my behind my tag so I decided to make my own with some clear embossing powder and the Lily (?) stamp from the 5th Avenue Floral set. I'm not sure if I will cut the flowers down to square with the card or not, I think it will depend on what I end up doing with the card, if I need to post it I probably will trim them to fit in an envelope.
Stamps: 5th Avenue Floral
Ink: Versamark, Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze & Kiwi Kiss Reinkers
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
Accessories: Filigree Designer Brad, Button Bouquet, Pretty in Pink Taffeta, Pink Pirouette Striped Grosgrain, Clear EDP, White EDP

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Thank Ewe

Sorry for my silence last week, I've been too tired to do much stamping, but I am feeling better this week so hopefully I will be more productive.
This is a quick love note card I whipped up the other day for a friend who organised some firewood for us. I stamped the sheep on Confetti Cream (if you aren't adding heaps of colour it works as a watercolour paper substitute) and I was intending on leaving the sheep's body white and just colouring his arms legs & face, but I realised that it wasn't going to work properly with the cream cardstock after I coloured him I picked up some white craft ink with my aquapainter and blended that over the top.
Stamps: Pun Fun
Ink: Stazon
Watercolouring: Aquapainter with Ink Pads; Whisper White Craft Ink, Going Grey, Basic Grey, Tangerine Tango
Cardstock: Tangerine Tango, Kiwi Kiss, Confetti Cream
Accessories: Clips Assortment

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Parkes (not-so) Mini Bridal Expo

As most of you know I had the Bridal Expo on this weekend and so many of you wished me luck that I thought I'd share a few photo's of my display and let you know how it went.

The night was a huge success they had over 200 brides through the door (plus friends, family and 'sight-seers') which for our town of only about 12k or so people is a big event, it originally started out as the Services club wanting to show off their newly renovated function room and putting a call out in the paper for expression of interest from wedding related businesses. By the time the mini-expo rolled around there were 36 exhibitors! Considering how quickly it blew up into something huge I think the girls who organised it did a fantastic job (and I have a thank you card on my to-do list for this week to tell them so)
Anyway, here are some pics from my display:
I kept the display really simple, had my portfolio open for people to browse and a few brochures lucky door and business cards. If anyone is looking for a banner like that I actually got mine through Vistaprint designed to match my business cards, you do need to be careful that you don't tick (or untick if necessary) the "give me more offers" button because they will send you emails every day without fail if you leave it ticked (and the unsubscribe button is broken most of the time so it takes a month of daily unsubscribing to find the random day they let you unsubscribe!). But apart from their email marketing strategies they are a great company to deal with, the prices are pretty good, where they do "get you" is postage but even the 21 day slow option only takes about a week so I've never opted for any other option.

My lucky door prize bowl is just a cool candle holder I picked up for a few dollars at The Reject Shop and the business cards with the lollypops were just normal cards punched with a hole and the lolly pop threaded through.

I laid out my portfolio with each of the sets I've been showing you (still have a handful to photograph and share) on a 12x12 black page, I clear embossed up the sides with the "It's Beautiful" wheel to give a bit of interest without detracting from the designs. (Thanks to Marcia for suggesting I use this format!)

At the other end of the table I had my brochures and a candle just to make some interest, the mirror is a glass tile I stole from my sister-in-law left over from their wedding.

As well as doing my display I was talking to one of the organisers and she suggested that I do place cards and bonbonniere for the display Bridal table, but they wanted them simple in White & Gold so these are what I came up with. I was also able to get Gold embossing onto a candle by using the normal Stamping on Candles technique but with an embossed image, it makes quite a cool illusion, the gold flower looks raised but because of how you get the image onto the candle it is completely smooth with the wax.
The Bonbonniere were an easter egg pouch pattern that I stole from my upline Lisa. They were super quick and simple to make, You can see here how they fit together:
The chocolate is lightly glued in with a small strip of snail and the pouch is held shut with velcro dots.


Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Simple DL Invitation

This set was probably the hardest of the sets I designed for my portfolio, I used the colours from my wedding (Pink Passion & Kiwi Kiss) and because of the colours I decided to keep the theme fun & simple. The set includes an Invitation, RSVP card & Bonbonierre pouch that doubles as a place card.
Stamps: Scribble, Flight of the Butterfly
Ink: Versamark, Pink Passion SW Marker
Cardstock: Pink Passion, Kiwi Kiss
Accessories: Eyelet Border, Double Slot, Full Heart & Heart to Heart punches, Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Heat & Stick Powder, Cosmo Fine Glitter, Dazzling Diamonds

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Terrific Techniques - Embossing 101

These are the 3 cards the Terrific Techniques girls made last month for our Embossing 101 class. We covered the Faux Metal, Cracked Glass & Stained Glass techniques. The next class will be on the 27th of June if you're interested in joining us. The girls are great and we always have fun.
Faux Metal
Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly, Eastern Blooms, Short & Sweet
Ink: Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant, Rose Red SW Markers; Elegant Eggplant, Rose Red, Versamark
Cardstock: Elegant Eggplant, Rose Red, Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories: Silver EDP, Silver Brads, Word Window, 3/4" & 1" Circle Punches
Stained Glass
Stamps: Bloomin' with Beauty, One of a Kind, Weathered Background
Ink: Regal Rose, Rose Red, Always Artichoke SW Markers; Elegant Eggplant, Creamy Caramel, Versamark
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Elegant Eggplant, Going Grey, Vellum
Accessories: Black EDP, Silver Brads, Small Oval, Large Oval & Eyelet Border punches; Regal Rose 5/8" Grosgrain, Sponge
Cracked Glass
Stamps: Best Yet, Embrace Life
Ink: Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery, Pale Plum SW Marker, Versamark
Cardstock: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Candy Lane DSP, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Clear EDP, 1 3/8" & Scallop Circle Punches

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Gate Fold Invitation

I have to give a huge shout out to the lovely Chrissie for this set! I was starting to lose inspiration for colour combo's and put a shoutout on SCS which Chrissie generously answered with not only the colour scheme from her wedding but she also shared pictures of the beautiful invitations she created for the big day. So, Chrissie, the C & K on this invitation are for you!
This set includes a Gate Fold Invitation, Thank You notecard & Reception Menu. One trick my friend Em shared with me once was since the Metallic Cardstock is pricey for doing large projects with, if you emboss in Silver EDP and then use the Going Grey cardstock the embossing will give the cardstock a more silver look and you've saved yourself a fortune!
Stamps: Enjoy Every Moment, Short Order Alphabet, Baroque Border, Together Forever
Ink: Versamark, Riding Hood Red
Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Riding Hood Red, Going Grey, Whisper White
Accessories: Full Heart & Heart to Heart punches; Riding Hood Red Striped Ribbon, Silver EDP, Stamp a Majig

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Mojo Monday #89

My entry for Mojo Monday #89, I'm loving the Mojo Monday sketches lately, they really are perfect for getting the mojo back!
Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes
Ink: Stazon, Close to Cocoa
Watercolouring: Inkpads with Aquapainter - Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Close to Cocoa, Going Grey
Cardstock: Candy Lane DSP, Riding Hood Red, Close to Cocoa, Pink Pirouette, Confetti Cream
Accessories: Scallop & 1 3/8" circle, Eyelet Border and Heart to Heart Punches

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

8 things

I was tagged by Marcia to do this quiz, and it's more evil to a pregnant brain than it looks, hope everyone else is having a great Wednesday...

8 Things I Look Forward To

1. Meeting my son
   
2. The Bridal Expo
   
3. Bedtime (I'm sleepy today)
   
4. Renovations being finished
   
5. Monday Night's Settlers of Catan game with Shona & Deb
   
6. Some Good Cardmaking time with mojo intact
   
7. Wearing jeans without elastic in the waist
   
8. Being able to drive long distances without screaming children in the car
   

8 Things I Did Yesterday

1. Bought Charlotte a Banana Milk
   
2. Watched assorted ABC kids shows
   
3. Won a game of Settlers against real people (and not the computer lol)
   
4. Avoided doing the dishes
   
5. Don't remember
   
6. Seriously, I don't remember any more about yesterday than that, Pregnant Brain!
   
7. Nope still don't remember...
   
8. they call it a pregnant pause for a reason...
   

8 Things I Wish I Could Do

1. Sing in tune (stole that off Marcia but it applies, like seriously applies lol)
   
2. Be organised
   
3. Keep our house tidy (would probably help if i could do #2)
   
4. Convince Charlotte that if she didn't pull the wheel off the pinwheel then I wouldn't have to put it back on...
   
5. Remember things I wished I could do!
   
6. Not be so vague
   
7. Be one of those pregnant women with the little tiny baby bump instead of the mountain
   
8. Click my fingers and have everything in my house the way I want it
   

8 Things or Shows I Have Watched Lately

1. Charlotte "playing" Ring-a-ring-a-rosey
   
2. Playschool
3. Charlotte showing where her nose is - it involves a finger being twisted
   
4. GNW
5. Masterchef - to learn all the recipe's I'll never use
   
6. Seriously can't remember what I watched last night, this thing is hard!
   
7. I am planning on watching Marley & Me soon - am I allowed to use what I'm planning on watching
   
8. The Simpsons - with a million episodes a week I'm sure I've watched it recently

I'm supposed to tag people but this thing was hard and I already cheated on the answers so I'm not going to tag anyone, but if you want to have a go feel free :)

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Happy Stinkin' Birthday

This is the card I made for Justin's dad, it's not a manly man kind of card, but I really wanted to use the little skunk from Pun Fun as the last time they were in the US he picked himself up a Skunk Skin Fur Hat that he loves, so I thought it was appropriate. I man-ed it up by keeping black a prominent feature and colouring the flower with Brocade Blue.
The skunk actually has the saying "I stink you're sweet" but when I mounted this set I separated the sentiment from the image by double-mounting it on the end of the block. This way I have a bit more flexibility with how I use the stamps.
Stamps: Pun Fun, Think Happy Thoughts, Short & Sweet
Ink: Brocade Blue, Stazon, Basic Black, Brocade Blue & So Saffron SW Markers
Cardstock: Basic Black, Tea Party DSP, Brocade Blue, Watercolour Paper, So Saffron, Confetti Cream
Accessories: Aquapainters, Brocade Blue 5/8" Grosgrain, Basic Black 1/4" Grosgrain, 1 1/4", 1 3/8" & Scallop Circle Punches

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Just My Sketches - Nick & Carmen

It's the start of a new month so that means another DT layout for Just My Sketches. I think Deanne did a great job with the sketch this time.
Do you see something on this page that I haven't used before??? I finally caved in and bought myself some thickers! I'm loving this font but I've remembered the downside to alphabet stickers, this layout used both of the "N"'s from the pack...
The thickers were actually white, but I've lightly inked them up using a sponge dauber and Close to Cocoa ink to take away from the starkness of the white next to the Vanilla in the Sweet always DSP.
Be sure to check out what the other DT girls have come up with and if you want to play along here is Deanne's sketch:
Stamps: Best Yet, Totally Tabs, Warm Words
Ink:Close to Cocoa, Pink Pirouette
Cardstock: Sweet Always DSP, Close to Cocoa, Confetti Cream, Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red
Accessories: Clips Assortment, Vintage Brads, Sponge Dauber, Round Tab, Flower Trio, Scallop Edge, Scallop Circle, 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" Circle Punches
Other: Root Beer White Thickers

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould