28 February 2011

Blog Award

Even though I haven't blogged consistently in forever, 2 of my beautiful blogging friends awarded me this little lovely blog award!
Kathy awarded it to me as an encouragement to keep blogging and Louise (can't wait to catch up with you at Convention!!!!!!) awarded it to me for being inspirational.

As a condition of being nominated I have to pass the love onto 5 bloggers. I'm going to cheat and just nominate 5 rather than 5 per award given to me :)
I have chosen 5 of my favourite bloggers, you know the ones that when you open your google reader and see there is a new post you have to read it before you read any of the others? So here they are in no particular order:

  • Naomi - Naomi is a real life friend as well as a blogging friend and she isn't a stamping blogger (despite the blog name inkcrush) but if you love to read you'll love her blog, Nomes has a passion for reading (and goes through books like noone else) and she has never given me or recommended to me a book that I haven't liked yet.
  • Karen - As well as being a sweet person that I "met" on SCS Karen is one of the most dedicated stampers I know, some days I think she must enter every stamping challenge on the web! I hope one day I can catch up with Karen in real life!
  • Allison - Allison is another lovely person I "met" online, I can't remember how I stumbled across her blog but I'm so glad I did! I now consider her a friend and I was so excited to get a Christmas card from her last year, all the way from CANADA! Apart from having great taste in Girl's names (she has a Charlotte too!) she is a dedicated blogger with a new post (or 3) most days. If you like sketch challenges make sure you check out her blog, she has a linky program thingie set up that you can enter any sketch challenges that you find so there is a great consolidated list of sketches any time you feel that your mojo is waning.
  • Leonie - Leonie is one of my twitter/facebook buddies as well as a brilliant stamper. She even organised accomodation for my downline & I at convention even though we weren't part of her team and there's nothing in it for her (except of course Leanne's & my company!), for that I am very grateful and I can't wait to spend some more time with her in person!
  • Robyn - Robyn is another challenge enterer, and she makes some beautiful cards & I have a couple of favourited at the moment to copy later on down the track! I'm lucky enough to have "met" Robyn through my upline Lisa and hopefully we can catch up in person when I'm in her neck of the woods for SU! convention.
The list could go on and on and on so hopefully I haven't made anyone feel left out, but make sure you swing by the girls I nominated and check out their work!



Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

16 February 2011

Card Buffet #2

This is the other card I designed for the card buffet on Monday morning's craft day, I thought since it was on Valentines day that i would include a Valentines Day card for anyone who had forgotten, but at the same time make it a card that would suit any romantic occasion.
It's an unusual card for me and I love it, but considering my lack of mojo I'm assuming it's one of those "see it one day, forget the next but it sticks in your head just enough to make you think it's a new idea" kind of situations, so if you think I've stolen your design let me know and I'll give you credit lol!



Stamps: Love Defined
Ink: Pear Pizazz, Cake Crumb, Blushing Bride, Poppy Parade
Cardstock: Pear Pizazz, Cake Crumb, Blushing Bride, Poppy Parade, Whisper White
Accessories: Scallop Trim Corner, Mini Library Clip


Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

14 February 2011

Card Buffet

I'm having a craft morning today to celebrate the kids being back at school or preschool for the year this morning and the intention is for everyone to bring along their own project to work on, but if they don't have something in mind I've made up some card packs for a "card buffet" basically the girls can buy the card pack they want and make the project using the instructions included.
This is the first card I designed, I kept it fairly simple so that it could be easily made with just the instructions and while I will be around to answer any questions I won't have to demo the whole card for them. I'm hoping to do a few of these mornings this year, and I'll just add a couple of card designs to the buffet each time so there's a few to pick & choose from like a true buffet.
Because my mojo is still on Christmas vacation it is almost a direct case of this card by Jodie Oliver (but don't go and look because you'll see how much better her version is lol), I've just changed up the colour scheme and ribbon.

Stamps: Party This Way
Ink: Basic Grey, Pretty in Pink, Concord Crush
Cardstock: Lap of Luxury DSP, Basic Grey, Pretty in Pink, Concord Crush
Accessories: Victoria Lace Crochet Trim



Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

12 February 2011

Tanja & Adam

I was honoured to be able to make wedding invitations for a friend from work and her fiance, I love the design we came up with together! (Ignore the smudgey marks, I had to edit out the personal details for privacy reasons.) Simple but elegant and I think it suits what they are aiming for in their big day. The photo doesn't do justice to the shimmer white cardstock, it's beautiful and especially in case of wedding cards it justifies the little extra you pay for it.

Stamps: Baroque Motifs
Ink: Concord Crush
Cardstock: Shimmer White, Concord Crush, (non SU! silver paper from an invitation design store)

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

10 February 2011

Tropical Party Birthday

After Christmas I desperately needed to kick my mojo back into gear so this was my attempt to get back in the groove. I'm happy with the card but as it took me about 4 days to get it to a point where I was happy (and then I smeared the sentiment! argh) I think I'm not quite there yet.
I used the new Tropical Party Stamp set & Island Oasis DSP as well as Well Scripted, all in the Summer Mini and I love how bright & cheery it looks!
I stole the layout from this sketch over at Sketches by Tamara.


Stamps: Island Oasis, Well Scripted
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red, Old Olive
Cardstock: Island Oasis DSP, So Saffron, Shimmer White
Accessories: Mini Glue Dots (millions!) Dimensionals

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould