Bushfire Appeal update

I just want to thank all of my wonderful customers for ordering from me during the last 2 weeks while I was donating my commission to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal.
Thanks to your generosity I was able to donate $100 to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal, and because of the generosity of Stampin' Up! my customers have also contributed $99.40
of the whopping $34,653.80 raised to date through SU!'s Bush Fire Appeal. That brings my customer's contributions to a total of $199.40 which is huge considering I am a relatively small demo with a small customer base!
There is still time to order your bushfire sets however some of them will be on the retiring list and won't be available once sold out so make sure you get in fast!


Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Another Embrace Life & Ginger Blossom Card...

I set myself a little challenge to use every last piece of this sheet of DSP from the Ginger Blossom pack (not that it's a hard challenge it's just so pretty) so you'll be seeing just a *little* bit of it over the next little while, I have used a bit of it recently so hopefully you won't be too bored of it by the time I've finished lol.
The flower in the centre is made with the stained glass technique & coloured from behind with Groovy Guava, Ruby Red & Cameo Coral.
Stamps: Embrace Life
Ink: Cameo Coral & Ruby Red SW Markers, Groovy Guava, Chocolate Chip & Close to Cocoa
Cardstock: Kraft, Ginger Blossom DSP, Vellum Cardstock
Accessories: Versamark, Black EDP, Blender Pen

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

08/09 In Colours Running out fast

I thought I would be making all the retiring list announcements on Sunday when the list is released, but it has just come to my attention that the 2008/09 In Colours are Running out the doors of the SU! Sydney warehouse at an amazing rate, and as such several of the items are now back ordered.
What does this mean for you? Well basically what it boils down to is the fact that any of the "to be retired" items that are sold out on the 1st of March will be considered permanently sold out and not available for order, however, any orders for these items placed prior to 1/3/09 will be honoured as a back ordered item.
So you MUST order before 10pm 28/2/09 if you want any:

• Inkpads
• Re-inkers (a must if you have ink pads)
• Cardstock (Textured 12x12, 12x12, A4)
• Double Stitched Ribbon

In the colours of Purely pomegranate, Groovy Guava, River Rock, Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky & Blue Bayou.
Call me 0418 650 294 or email zjgould@gmail.com to place your order and make sure you don't miss out!

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

5 petal punch flower

When i saw this tutorial I knew I had to give it a go. I decided that rather than sponging the flowers I would use the Sale-A-Bration polka dot punches flower.
I'll be demonstrating this technique to my Terrific Techniques girls on Saturday as it is our Punch Art 101 class.
Stamps: Happy Everything, Polka Dot Punches
Ink: Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink
Cardstock: Berry Bliss, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose
Accessories: Fairy Tale Ribbon Originals, Fire Rhinestone Brad, 5 petal punch, Spring Bouquet Punch

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Bushfire Appeal

**I will be making this a sticky post until 23/2/09 so please scroll down for new posts**

We have all been shocked over the past few days by the devestation and tragedy caused by the Victorian Bushfires, I would really like to do something to help out but since I'm terrified of needles (and therefore can't give blood) and I'm not close enough to deliver clothes or blankets, I have decided that I want to donate 20% of all SU! orders placed through me during the next 2 weeks (9-23/2/09) to the Red Cross for their Victorian Bushfire Appeal.

So if you have anything that you need to top up or something on your wish list that you want to order why not place your order with me over the next 2 weeks so that you can help out at the same time? You will also still be eligible for sale-a-bration sets for orders over $100.

You can contact me by email (zjgould@gmail.com) or phone 0418 650 294 to place your order.
ETA: Stampin' Up! are also running their own fundraiser which can be used in conjunction with my personal donation. See here for all the details.

***I understand that not all of my readers are my customers and some of you may already have a demonstrator so please know that I'm not doing this to gain customers so if you already have a SU! demo please let me know and I won't add you to my mailing list or contact you past this one order if you do not wish.***

Images © Red Cross Australia

Sale-a-Bration ends this Saturday!

This week is your last chance to get in & get FREE stamp sets for every $100 spent! These stamps are exclusive to Sale-A-Bration 09 and will never be available again!
Call me on 0418 650 294 or email zjgould@gmail.com before 9pm Saturday 28/2/09 to place your order and earn your free sets!


Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Embrace Life

My upline Lisa lent me the gorgeous Always set out of the Spring Mini catalogue for a project I needed to do and I thought I should send her a little thank you card when I sent back the set.
I used the Embrace Life stamp set with the matching Ginger Blossom DSP and using Ruby Red & Old Olive Markers I coloured direct to rubber for the flower, then I used a blender pen & my Groovy Guava ink pad to lightly shade some areas of the blossoms.
Because I was mailing the card in the parcel rather than sending in an envelope I decided to play around with a different sized card & used a Matchbook Fold covering the staple on the flap with the reverse side of the DSP used for the front.
Stamps: Embrace Life
Ink: Ruby Red, Groovy Guava, River Rock, Earth Elements Markers
Cardstock: Kraft, Ginger Blossom DSP, Cameo Coral, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Blender Pen

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Mr & Mrs, Together Forever

We attended a wedding on valentines day & their colours were brown & pink so I decided the Berry Bliss DSP would be perfect for their card. There is actually a Together Forever stamped down the bottom corner but the flash screwed with it so you can't see it.
While the wedding was absolutely beautiful & romantic, but I wonder if the bride realised that by picking another date she could have had an extra bunch of flowers & box of chocolates per year?? lol Hopefully he's a any occasion kind of flower giver so she makes up for it, but if it was me I *need* those 2 days to be separate to have some chance of even 1 bunch per year lol
Stamps: Together Forever
Ink: Versamark, Pretty in Pink
Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink, Berry Bliss DSP
Accessories: Gold EDP, Pink Taffeta Ribbon

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Ride On

I love the Bali Breeze DSP! Every time I use some on a project it becomes my new favourite project lately. For this layout because the colours I chose are so bright I wanted the photo's to stand out by not being colour if you know what i mean?
I also did this layout in reverse, I was playing around with some scraps of DSP and came up with the layout then had to go looking for some photo's to use it with
Ink: Taken with Teal
Cardstock: Basic Black, Bali Breeze DSP
Accessories: Rose Red 1" DS Ribbon, Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain, Scallop Edge Punch, Photo Corner Punch, Lots of Letters On Board Chipboard, Flower Fusion, Pretties Kit Rhinestone Brads

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

My first DT position!!

I am really really excited to announce my first Design Team position!! I have been accepted as one of Deanne's Layout DT members for Just My Sketches. I really love using Deanne's sketches (I'm sure you've seen a few layouts with them on here before) so I feel really honoured to have been offered this position.
I am on layout team #1 which means that you will see my layouts on the 1st of each month (North American time so here it will be the 2nd).


Images © Deanne Burton, Designs © Zarna Gould

Ahoy, Birthday

I made this card for a special little birthday boy! I decided to paper piece the pirates clothes with Prints DSP, The rest of the pirate was coloured with a blender pen & Stampin' Pastels.
Stamps: Family Phrases, Ahoy Matey
Ink: Brilliant Blue, Basic Black, Creamy Caramel
Cardstock:Brilliant Blue, Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla, Brilliant Blue, Rose Red & Certainly Celery Prints DSP
Accessories: Jersey Shore Ribbons Originals, Crimper, Jumbo Eyelets, Stampin' Pastels, Cutter Kit

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines day or as some of my single friends like to call it "Singles Awareness Day". Have a great day and take the time to not only appreciate the romantic relationships but to tell your friends how much you love them as well.


Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

So sorry...

But due to an influx in spam comments (I've had like 8 in the last hour) from some loser who has no life I have had to implement word verification on my blog posts...
I really hate to do it because I hate to comment when they have it but at this stage it's all I can do, I will leave it up for a few months to hopefully get my blog off the spammer's list of blogs without it and then we will see if we can remove it.
I'm so sorry to do it because I know how annoying it is and I've managed without it since 2005 (before I knew how to make cards and my readers had to listen to my babble about my life every post lol) but you can all thank the loser who wants to use my blog to sell knock off designer handbags!!!

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Stampin' Up! are doing their part for the Bushfire victims

Stampin' Up! today announced that until 31 March 2009 they will be donating 50% of the Retail prices of the following stamp sets to the Red Cross Appeal for the Victorian Bushfire victims. Combine that with the 20% commission I am personally donating over the next 2 weeks and that will make a huge 70% of your purchase to the Red Cross Appeal!
The sets Stampin' Up! have included are:

Stamp Set	Item Number	Page Number in Catalogue	Retail Price
Priceless	112312	105	48.95 AUD/57.95 NZD
Seeing Spots	108909	89	29.95 AUD /35.95 NZD
Baroque Motifs	112380	98	39.95 AUD /46.95 NZD
Live Your Dream	114261	3 (Summer Mini Catalogue)	55.95 AUD /66/95 NZD
Looks Like Spring	108864	76	58.95 AUD /68.95 NZD
The Snowflake Spot	108934	27	39.95 AUD /46.95 NZD
Bodacious Boquet	108756	80	58.95 AUD /68.95 NZD
Polka Dots & Paisley	110247	46	35.95 AUD /42.95 NZD
G'day Mate	111973	115	35.95 AUD /42.95 NZD
Be Happy	108744	51	39.95 AUD /46.95 NZD

**Some of these sets will be on the Retired List in March so they will only be available while stocks last so don't leave it until last minute to make your purchase**

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Spring Thank You

Don't really know if I like this one, it started out as a masculine thank you card but I think it ended up too girlie.
Stamps: Seeing Spots
Ink: Bashful Blue
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Spring Showers DSP
Accessories: Soft Subtles Buttons, Linen Thread, Metal Edge Tags, Hemp Twine, Bashful Blue 1" DS Ribbon, Hidden Garden Rubons

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Jack

A friend of ours had a baby boy the other day and this was the card I made for him. I decided to use the gorgeous "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Do You Know How Loved You Are?" stamp from the "In the Stars" stamp set available in the Summer Mini Catalogue.
Stamps: Big Deal Alphabet, In the Stars, Linen Background
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Blue Bayou
Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Blue Bayou, Wild Wasabi
Accessories: Large & Small Star Punches, Pewter Jumbo Eyelet, Bashful Blue Taffeta

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

I've been tagged...

I've been tagged by both Natasha & Marcia to do this photo challenge, you have to go into your pictures folder and upload the 6th picture to your blog and explain the story behind the photo, I have all my pictures sorted into photos and the 6th photo in the 6th photo was really random and I don't think there's a story, if there is I can't remember it so instead I went into the 6th folder of the charlotte folder and found the 6th photo in there.
This is Charlotte in June last year, I don't think there's much of a story except that she was sitting under her high chair playing with her ball for ages.
I'm supposed to tag some more people to play but I've seen these popping up everywhere so if you've already done it feel free to ignore.

• Carol - a fantastic stamper & lovely lady
• Robyn - a great lady who always take the time to comment
• Lisa - The best upline a girl could have
• Sam - She always makes the most fantastic cards for the CSCC
• Debbie - another great stamper who always makes my days with her comments
  

Flower Power (warning: contraband)

The lovely Marcia surprised me with a RAK of some stamped Bella images (ooh ah contraband, better report me to the SU! police lol), and as soon as I saw this one I knew the perfect recipient, I (lovingly) call my friends mum the Old Hippy as she lived in the Blue Mountains during the 70's and occasionally gives out a bit of a hippy vibe so I had to make her a card.
I decided that the Flower Fusion flowers were perfect for a little flower power & I inked up the peace from peace hope joy in the So Many Sayings Hostess set for the greeting.
Stamps: Hippy Bella, So Many Sayings
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Soft Subtles, Rich Regals & Earth Elements SW Markers
Cardstock: Kraft, Whisper White, Bali Breeze
Accessories: Flower Fusion, Rich Regals & Earth Elements Brads, Fire Rhinestone Brads

Images © Stampin' Up! & Stamping Bella, Designs © Zarna Gould

My little stamper!

On Saturday I had my first Terrific Techniques class and I was lazy and didn't clean up the table straight away, then yesterday I noticed that I hadn't noticed Charlotte lately and found her in the kitchen sitting at the stamping table pretending to stamp. (Can you see the empty tupperware drawer to the left of the picture? that was what she had been doing...)
She was picking up the stamps and pushing them into the grid paper pretending to stamp. She loves having all the stamping girls over, she gets cuddles and all sorts of attention before she goes out with daddy to see her Nanna & Grand-dad.


Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Charlie

Charlie was born in early December and I've only just got his card in the mail a week ago, what sort of cardmaker am I??? I decided to pull out Big on Spring, I've tried to use it a few times with no success but I kept seeing beautiful samples of it all over blogland so I knew it was possible and I was determined to make it work for this card!
I've used some paper piecing (as opposed to paper *piercing*) on the little onsie. The little "Charlie" tab at the bottom was made with the linen background stamp first and then the name stamped over the top in the same colour (bashful blue).
Stamps: Big on Spring, Rough Edges Alphabet, Linen Background, Polka Dot Background
Ink: Old Olive, Certainly Celery SW Marker, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery
Cardstock: Certainly Celery Prints DSP, Bashful Blue, Very Vanilla, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Hodge Podge Pewter, 1" Bashful Blue DS Ribbon, Certainly Celery 1/4" Grosgrain

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould