An Announcement.....

Psssst....did you see it? On my teaser photo above? Go on...take a look....I'll wait. Yup....new watermark because....I'm a My Favorite Things Designer!!!!

I am SO beyond excited to join the fantastic MFT team! I love love love MFT Stamps and Die-namics, they truly are my favourite stamping things and I feel so fortunate to get to design with the most wonderful products out there.

By far the best thing about being asked to join the MFT team is the team itself. These girls are hilarious, talented, kind and so welcoming - I'm so going to enjoy working alongside them. Teasers for the July release start tomorrow - I told you it was going to get busy (and inspiring!) around here. There are some AMAZING products coming out this month!

Alright, enough gushing, on with the card! I've used this week's WSC 26 sketch and the newly released à la modes - You Are Unrepeatable set. I love my iPod, I use a little square nano so this set made me squeal with happiness!

I've coloured with copics and drew in a little ground. My favourite Pretty Posies Die-namic makes an appearance with cork for texture. The papers are Upcycle from Cosmo Cricket.

Inside I've punched out part of the image, and curved the sentiment around the accent panel. I like to do this by placing my clear block on my desk and gently shaping the stamp the way I want it.

Here are the Die-namics I've used on this card:

Thanks so much for sharing in my special news, I can't wait to start bringing you sneak peaks of all the delicious new stamps! 

Stamps: à la modes - You Are Unrepeatable (MFT Stamps) Cardstock: Soft Suede, Whisper White (SU) Paper: Upcycle (Cosmo Cricket) Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento) Dies: Dizzy Doily, Pretty Posies Die-namics (MFT Stamps) Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders) Other: Pearls (Kaisercraft) Copic Markers, Lace (Prima), Cork (MFT Stamps) Twine (MFT Stamps) Button (Cosmo Cricket)

Winner!

Congrats to Penny of Penny Token's Stampin Spot - you have won your choice of the new release templates from Creations by AR! Please email Adela with your choice of template.

Thanks to everyone who entered!

I'll be back later this afternoon with a card and some FUN news! 

Creations by AR Blog Hop!

It's time for another gorgeous template release from Creations by AR! This month there are three new templates on offer and they are available now! 

I've created a gift-set using the Elegant Sole and Gift Card Purse templates. Also available is the Tray Chic template. I've used papers from Basic Grey Wisteria again and decorated with die cuts, ribbon and pearls.

Inside the purse is a great little slot to stick in a gift card, cute right?

Want to WIN a template from the new release? Leave a comment on this post telling me what your favourite type of challenge is - Creations by AR will have challenges starting in July! The winner will be randomly drawn, entries close June 29th, 12:00 noon Pacific Time.

Make sure you visit all the designers for more chances to win! Happy hopping!

Adela Rossol

Amy Park

Lisa Somerville

Magdalena Cortez

Mandy Gill

Maria Bell

Stamps: So Happy (Verve Stamps) Cardstock: Very Vanilla (SU) Paper: Wisteria (Basic Grey) Ink: Lovely Lilac, Basic Gray (SU) Dies: Pretty Posies, Faux Crochet Border (MFT Stamps) Other: Pearls (Kaisercraft), Piercing Tool

Baby Card with Riley

After a wonderful weekend away celebrating Shan's birthday, it's time to get back into the blogging swing of things. It's been quiet around here but that is about to change! It's a VERY exciting week coming up, stay tuned for a bunch of fun happenings!

Today is Riley challenge day. The lovely Joy has asked us to use dies or punches on our Riley creations.

I've used Moose in the Moon to create a soft baby card. Pretty simple, some distressing, inking of edges and Riley as always is coloured with Copic markers.

The papers for this card are from the Wisteria collection by Basic Grey. We'd love to have you play along with the challenge, if you upload to an online gallery please use the keyword Riley1311. Don't forget to check out the other Moose mate creations - links are in my sidebar. Have a great day!

Stamps: Moose in the Moon (Riley and Company) Starlight Starbright Remixed (Verve Stamps) Cardstock: Kraft, Barely Banana (SU) Paper: Wisteria (Basic Grey) Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento) Old Paper Distress Pad (Ranger) Dies: Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders) Punches: Small Oval (SU) Other: Vanilla Ribbon, Brads, Piercing Tool, Distressing Tool (SU)

We Want You!

Hi everyone - I hope you'll forgive me for starting this post with a HUGE wooooohooooo! I've finally come to the end of my first semester back doing university study full time, and I couldn't be happier. Two blissful weeks off before I do it all again! It's been very tough at times, and there was a meltdown or two, but I persevered and the two weeks vacation feels all the sweeter! Of course, all the things that have stacked up while I focused on assignments will have to be taken care of, but I'll be sure to get some fun crafty time in as well.

It's time for a wooohooo for you too! This week at OCC I'm your hostess and we're having a design team call! The theme is "Your Style" We want to see a card that best represents your own personal style! I'll be leaving the OCC at the end of July after a wonderful almost two year stint. One of the things I have enjoyed most about this team is the diversity in stamping styles. I really hope you'll take on the challenge of showing us your style!

My style can change with my mood - I do like a broad range, but I think this card best sums up my 'main' style. Modern, bold colours, paper piecing, lots of layers and the ever present sentiment flag - it's all me!

This card uses the current WSC sketch from MFT Stamps. I'm also submitting it to RCC for their colouring challenge. I bought this Who's That Geek Guy stamp set, oh gosh, a year ago maybe, specifically to make a card for my darling hubby, who works on a computer all day. We're both kinda computer geeks, so I couldn't resist. This is his birthday card (and we're going to celebrate this one in style, next year is the big 3-0!)

Inside I've used sentiments from the Just my Type stamp set. The papers are from the Crate Paper Toy Box collection. I've also used the Dizzy Doily Die-namic and a star punch for a little something-something.

Don't forget to head on over to the OCC to see the design team creations and to show us your style - don't be afraid to try out for the team - we want to see what you've got!Have a wonderful weekend, I hope it involves some crafty time, and maybe a little cake - I know mine will!

Gratitude Journal

Hi everyone! Things are a little quiet here on the blogging front and will be for a week or so - I'm busy working on my final assignments for the first semester of the year. It's keeping me very busy! But I wanted to stop by tonight and share a little fun news and a cute project I stamped a month or so ago.

First, the news.... I'm joining the Scrappin' Patch design team as an Off The Page designer! Scrappin' Patch is a great scrapbooking store here in New Zealand and their forum is a great place for scrapping and stamping enthusiasts to hang out. I've been buying all those gorgeous papers you see on my cards at Scrappin' Patch and I'm excited to share some new ideas and products with everyone.

So it seemed only fitting I share an off the page project tonight, and this one is quick, easy, and customisable to your style!

Kristina Werner had this adorable gratitude journal project on her blog a month or so ago - complete with a printable for the pages. I made mine squarish by cutting a little off the printed sheets before making my book cover.

The stamps come from My Favorite Things awesome Own Your Story set which seemed perfect for my book. I've also used the Notebook Edge Die-namic - and tore it up a little Jody style. The paper is from October Afternoon and the brad was in my stash from years ago.

I used the paper clip stamp and a row of stars on the inside pages. I didn't add that many pages - I thought it would be fun to make one of these every so often.

Time for some dinner and to hit the books again - I'll try and pop back soon if I can make a little creative time, if you don't hear from me you know I've got my nose buried in textbooks!

Stampin' Up! Sale...

Just a quick note for my readers in New Zealand and Aussie...

For the first time EVER *sob sob* I'm selling off some of my Stampin' Up! stamp sets (and punches). That means I have a lot of sets that are very hard to find from my early days as a demonstrator and a lot of sets that were hostess only. Sets are selling FAST, especially those with matching (and retired) punches. In almost all cases, the buy now is the same as the reserve, so grab yours before someone else does. You can find all the sets on Trade Me here.

I'm cutting my collection roughly in half, so there are were 100 or so sets to choose from.

If you're international and see something you absolutely MUST have, send me a quick email - postage from New Zealand isn't cheap but I know what that "gotta have it" feeling does to us crafty types!

In the coming weeks I'll be raiding my craft room and listing many more stamping/scrapbooking items...keep an eye on my twitter account, I'll try and update that when I list something new.

Riley Buttons and Bows

It's Riley challenge time again at the Riley and Company blog, and this week Frances has challenged us to use Buttons and Bows! I love a good button topped bow and this was a great excuse to ink my favourite Riley ever, Under the Tree!

Yes, I'm still addicted to using embossed kraft cardstock, I just can't seem to stop! Riley was coloured with Copics and the edges of the focal layer were sponged with Soft Sky ink, then distress ink. I tied a big old chocolate bow and topped it with a Cosmo Cricket button and some twine.

The sketch for this card comes from Jen's SFYTT for June. 

A little more paper, twine and ribbon finish off the inside. We'd love to have you play along with the Riley challenge. If you upload to an online gallery please use the keyword Riley1211. Visit the moosemates via the links on my sidebar for even more Riley eye candy!

Stamps: Under The Tree (Riley and Company) Heartfelt Phrases, Fluttering By (Verve Stamps) Cardstock: Vanilla, Kraft (SU) Paper: Lime Twist - Life of the Party (MME) Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento) Espresso (SU) Old Paper Distress (Ranger) Dies: Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders) Other: Chocolate Ribbon (SU) Dew Drops, Copic Markers, Button (Cosmo Cricket) Crochet Lace, Twine (MFT Stamps)

OCC Inspiration Challenge

Yippee - it's the weekend! I have a quick post for you today - it's time for an inspiration challenge at OCC and Lori has given us this image to work with...

When using the inspiration photo we were to choose two elements that inspired our card - I choose to use all the polka dots and that gorgeous round ruffle pillow.

As you'll see, I ignored all other aspects of the photo and took the colours in a completely different direction...

I made a clean and simple card, focusing on my large created embellishment. I picked up some Glubers from Cosmo Cricket this week and used one to turn strips of ribbon into my focal point. The center of my embellishment is an antique brad topped with a small rhinestone.

Inside is just as clean and simple. The papers are from Emma's Shoppe by Crate Paper and both stamps are from the Well Worn Greetings set by MFT.


Head on over to OCC to see what the fabulous team has for you this week!

Wednesday Stamp Club...on Thursday

It's sketch time again in the MFT forum - I got mine done nice and early this week, yippee! Of course, it helped I had my PI girl all coloured and "dressed" already - sometimes it's fun to just sit and colour/paper piece so I usually have one or two ready to go.

I kept the sketch somewhat clean and simple by not matting my layers. I cut out my girl and the letterbox so I could layer them slightly.

This card is also for WT325 to use die-cuts. I used nesties and one of my fave die-namics, the jumbo open scallop. Inside I used the sweet stack label and well worn greetings die-namics. I LOVE mixing all the die-namic shapes to create new combos!

How fun are these Lime Twist papers from My Mind's Eye? They are producing some awesome lines right now! I got a big paper order yesterday, so I'll have some new (to me) goodies to show you soon!

Stamps: PI - Happy Mail and Flurries of Love (MFT Stamps) Cardstock: White (SU) Paper: Lime Twist - Fly a Kite (MME) Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento) Dies: Well Worn Greetings, Jumbo Open Scallop & Sweet Stack Labels Die-namics (MFT Stamps) Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders) Other: Copic Markers

Message For You...

Hi everyone - I thought I'd take a break from the essay I'm writing to share my card for this weeks WSC in the MFT forum. If you don't know - every week there's a new sketch and you can win at least $15 to spend at the MFT store, sweet right?!

I pulled out the awesome Just My Type stamp and die set again and made a slightly shabby card using papers from the Stella and Rose Mabel collection.

It's cloudy here today, so the image looks black, but is actually stamped in Early Espresso. All the edges are sponged in kraft ink. I added a little something to the Open Scallop Border Die-namic by running it through my crimper - admit it, you have one of those stashed in your craft room somewhere too right?

I've lightly stamped the image and a sentiment inside. Love that XOXO stamp! Have a wonderful week! 

Stamps: Just My Type (MFT Stamps) Cardstock: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla (SU) Paper: Stella and Rose Mabel (MME) Ink: Early Espresso, Kraft (SU) Dies: Just My Type, Open Scallop Border Die-namics (MFT Stamps) Other: Piercing Tool, Distressing Tool, Crimper, Ribbon (SU)  Pearls (Kaisercraft)

So Sorry...

Happy Sunday! We're in the middle of a long weekend here in New Zealand - yippee! Yesterday was gorgeous, we spent the day out in the country then grabbed dinner and saw a movie, don't you love the days you just don't come home till it's time for bed?

Today I thought I'd pop on and share a card I made during my Guest Designer month at MFT. I still have a couple I haven't shared with you yet! This one uses the adorable Crazy for Daises PI girl.

I've used Stella and Rose papers from My Mind's Eye and one of my favourite die-namics, the Faux Crochet Border.

I love that all the sentiments in the PI sets work well together and make it easy to mix and match. I hope you have a great weekend, I'm off to cook a traditional Sunday roast - yum!