Merry Christmas

I can't believe it is so long since I updated my blog. Life has definately got in the way over the past month, what with Jess' dancing concert, Sam's graduation from preschool, school finishing and all the catching up with friends for christmas, not to mention gift buying and generally getting ready for the big day, I haven't had much time to get onto the computer.

So I have decided to cut myself some slack and take a break from blogging until school goes back at the end of January. I mean seriously, do I think I am going to get 10 mins to myself in peace and quiet to update my blog with a 6.5 and 5 year old in the house - you must be kidding. David also starts his holiday today as well, so I can imagine it is going to be somewhat hectic around here.

I would like to wish all my wonderful blog readers a very Merry Christmas. I hope Santa brings you everything on your wish list. Have a great festive season and Iwill see you back here at the end of January.

Happy Holidays.

xx Nicky

Just believe birthday set

Hi all, we have a very busy day today with Jess' dance concert this afternoon so it will be a quick post, before hair and makeup must be attempted. Trying to get a child to sit still while putting eye makeup on - not an easy job!

Today I am sharing a card and bag I made for a special friend. It uses the just believe stamp set which I inked up using my markers. I have used the top note squared technique to make the white base for the stamped image. It is a really easy technique, but very effective. If you would like to know how to do it, drop me an email and I will be more than happy to share. Next up is the bag, which I made with the fancy favour box for the big shot - love this as it is so very versatile, think children's party goody bags, friends birthday presents, easter baskets and lots more. I have made a handle for it and attached it to the side of the box with a medium brad.

Here is a picture of the two together. I was really happy with how they turned out. What do you think?

Well that's all for me today, I will be back later this week to share some more gift sets which I have made. Have a fabulous Sunday.

Keep on creating.

xx Nicky

Sam's birthday

As promised, I am back to share some of Sam's birthday goodies with you.

I am very fortunate to have made friend through Stampin' Up! who just happens to run her own cake decorating business on the Central Coast of NSW, so when I mentioned I was having a pirate party for Sam, she kindly offered me the use of her cake tin. Well how easy was that - she even gave me her scrummy "no fail" chocolate brownie cake recipe - thanks so much Amy. If you want to order a cake, or even have a look at her creations, this is her website.

I can't believe my baby is 5 already - I'm not sure where the last 5 years have gone. Here is a photo of him with his cake. I also made "pirate goody bags". This is what they looked like.

And a close up of the topper I put on the cello bag.

All the kids were very excited when they received them, I think it was the chocolate coins in there.

Thanks for stopping by, til next time ...

Keep on Creating.

xx Nicky

MIA

Wow I can't believe it has been over a month since my last post, things have been CRAZY around here and doesn't seem to be looking any better until December rolls around. In the next week and a half I have Stampin' Up! regional training, Jess' dancing rehearsal and concert, not to mention 3 birthdays!

I have "misplaced" my camera cord so I am not able to share any new projects with you today, but I am going to turn the house upside down this weekend and try and find it.

I will be back next week with regular posts, including Sam's birthday cake, some birthday cards and gift packaging I made for some special friends, and (hopefully) my swap card for regionals. Although since I haven't even designed it yet, I'm not sure whether it is going to be even remotely achievable between now and Saturday. I will see how I go.

I hope the rest of your week goes quickly and you all have a fabulous weekend.

Keep on creating.

xx Nicky

Sam's Pirate Birthday Invitation

As promised I have Sam's birthday invitation to show you today. I let Sam choose the colours for his invitation and much to my delight he chose marina mist and wild wasabi. I am loving both of these colours, they are so clean and crisp when teamed with white. Here is the invitation. I knew I wanted to make a pull out invitation so started off by making the cover. I stamped the treasure chest and pirate on scrap card and coloured them with my blender pen and markers before attaching. I ended up printing off the invitation in matching colours and attached these pieces to a piece of marina mist card and placed the pirate on top of that. You just pull on the pirate and the invitation piece comes out.

Here is a picture of the cover.

I was really pleased with how they turned out and Sam loved them. I have made a pirate cake today and just have to ice it tomorrow and make some goodie bags (oh and I guess I should make him a card!).

We have a whole weekend of celebrations planned so I will be back next week to share the goodie bags, cake and card.

Keep on creating.

xx Nicky

Supplies:

Stamps: Ahoy matey (retired)
Card: Marina mist, wild wasabi, whisper white
Ink: Marina mist, wild wasabi

Other: blender pen

Pirate # 1

Sam had to go to a pirate party for one of his friends last week. It must be a popular theme for 5 year old boys from his daycare because when given the choice of cowboy, superhero or pirate for his party which is on Saturday, he chose Pirate. I was overjoyed as I knew I had the ahoy matey stamp set in the cupboard and doing invitations was going to be oh so easy.

This is the card I made for Sam's friend.
I used not quite navy, real red and baja breeze for the colour scheme. I used the matching wheel with versamark on the background and stamped the ship on a scrap piece of card and then coloured it and cut it out. The number 5 was cut out with my big shot alphabet.

Here is a close up of the boat.

Next time I will show you Sam's birthday invitation.

Til then, keep on creating.

xx Nicky

Supplies:

Stamp Set: Ahoy Matey (retired) with matching wheel (not sure of it's name)
Card: Not quite navy, baja breeze, real red, whisper white
Ink: Stazon, versamark, not quite navy, baja breeze, real red
Punches: Scallop circle, 1 3/8" circle, 1 1/4" circle
Big Shot: Timeless type junior alphabet
Other: blender pen, dimensionals

Elmo

My nephew Joshua turned 2 a couple of months ago, so I decided to make him a big Elmo card. I had made a smaller version a while ago, and after i saw the bigshot scallop circle, I thought there was no reason I couldn't make a bigger version. Here is what I came up with. It uses all punches. The 1 3/8" circle for the eyes and nose, a 1/2" circle for the eyeballs and the extra large oval cut in half for the mouth.

I made the card out of confetti white card as it is a bit more sturdy than whisper white and stamped a no 2 all over it, then just pieced Elmo's face together and the card was finished. I was really pleased when Joshua actually recognised it as Elmo!

Well the school holidays are over now, so hopefully things will get back to normal around here. It has been lovely having the kids at home, but very noisy, and I do love my quiet time.

Til next time, keep on creating.

xx Nicky

Supplies:

Stamp sets: unknown number
Card: confetti white, real red, pumpkin pie, basic black
Big shot: scallop circle die
Punches: 1 3/8" circle, 1/2" circle, extra large oval

Cute by the Inch swap card

Today I have my latest swap card to share with you. I designed this card for a new catalogue swap with my INKlings team-mates. I loved the new level 2 hostess set cute by the inch as soon as I saw it and decided to use it with the matching punch as the starting point for this card.

To decide what colours to use, I used the new colour coach. It has some fabulous colour combos on it. This card uses marina mist, early espresso, tangerine tango and whisper white.
I stamped the marina mist piece with the new french filigree background stamp and embossed the tangerine tango piece with the vintage wallpaper embossing folder.

Having markers for all the Stampin' Up! colours is just fabulous, it means you can ink up all your stamps with whichever colour you need. I used the early espresso, marina mist and tangerine tango markers directly onto the stamp and then stamped it onto a piece of whisper white. I cut it out and then used the matching petal card punch to punch out some early espresso to make the flower piece.

Here is a close up of the flower piece.

If you fold the petals up, it looks really good. This is what it looks like from the side.

I was really happy with how my card turned out and will definately be using this colour combination again.

Next time I have my 2 year old nephew's elmo card to show you.

Keep on creating.

xx Nicky

Supplies:

Stamp sets: french filigree, cute by the inch (level 2 hostess)
Cardstock: early espresso, tangerine tango, marina mist, whisper white
Ink/markers: early espresso, tangerine tango, marina mist
Punches: petal card extra large double
Big shot: vintage wallpaper embossing folder

Christmas Card #3

After my last card didn't turn out anything like I had imagined, this was the total opposite and is exactly what I imagined. It has a card base of bravo burgundy with basic black and very vanilla. I started off by tying a knot in the gorgeous new 1 1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon and then hung the bauble off that with linen thread.
The sentiment at the bottom is from the new christmas greetings stamp set. There are two stamps in the set, the merry christmas and a really lovely saying for the inside of your card as well. Here is a close up of the bauble which I have matted on a cut out of the ornament from the holiday window movers and shapers moveable pieces. As this is a brand new solid stamp, the ink coverage isn't the best at the moment, and that is why it is a little blotchy, but after a bit more use it will stamp perfectly.
I am liking this version a lot and I think it is a front runner in my christmas card selection at the moment, I will have to see what else I can come up with, before I make my final decision.

Next time, I have my latest swap card to share with you.

Keep on creating.

xx Nicky

Supplies:

Stamps: delightful decorations, christmas greetings
Card: bravo burgundy, basic black, very vanilla
Ink: bravo burgundy
Big Shot: holiday windows moveable pieces
Other: 1 1/4" black striped grosgrain, linen thread, ornament punch

kimono kids

My very good friend Kylie's baby girl Emily turned one last week and she had a party for her on Saturday. Of course I had to make her a card, so I used the new Kimono Kids stamp set with some new in-colours. The card ended up being completely different to what I had designed in my head, but sometimes that it just how things work out. I used the new concord crush, peach parfait and pear pizazz for the card base and coloured the images with all the new in-colours and my blender pen.
Here is a close up of the lanterns. I stamped a "1" and placed it on the middle lantern.

And a close up of the girls.

I was really happy with how the card turned out and had a lot of fun making it, as it had everything I love, cutting out and colouring! This was the first time I had used the new in-colours and I think I will be using them a lot more.

Keep on creating.

xx Nicky

Supplies:

Stamp sets: kimono kids
Card: concord crush, peach parfait, pear pizazz, whisper white
Ink: black stazon, concord crush, peach parfait, pear pizazz, blushing bride, poppy parade
Other: paper snips, snail

No cards to share today ...

I have made quite a few cards in the last couple of weeks but when I sat down today to do a post I realised that I haven't photographed any of them. I don't even have them in the house to photograph as I left my display board at my last workshop, which had to be split over two nights. OOPS. However, I will have my board back tomorrow night and promise to do a post on Wednesday.

xx Nicky

Christmas Card #2

As promised, I am back with the christmas card we are making in my workshops this month. It is another really easy card to make, but looks like you have spent ages on it. I have used heaps of new items on this card, as I had just received my order from the new catalogue and was itching to play with everything. The stamp set is the fabulous delightful decorations which is just great. It has four ornaments in it, including one that you could use for gift tags on your presents and the best thing about it, it has a matching punch! Cardmaking is so much quicker when you can just punch the shapes out.

The colour scheme is wild wasabi, rich razzleberry and whisper white. I stamped the french filigree background stamp in versamark on the wild wasabi base, used the scallop trim border to punch out either side of the rich razzleberry piece and ran the whisper white piece through my big shot with the vintage wallpaper embossing folder. I stamped the ornament in rich razzleberry ink and then punched it out and attached it to the card with dimensionals.

This would be a great card to make in bulk if you are like me and have a lot of christmas cards to make.

Keep on creating.

xx Nicky

Supplies: delightful decorations, french filigree
Card: wild wasabi, rich razzleberry, whisper white
Ink: versamark, rich razzleberry
Big Shot: vintage wallpaper embossing folder
Punches: ornament extra large, scallop trim border
Other: dimensionals

Birthday BMX

When I saw the BMX stamp set was retiring, I decided I should probably buy it as we have a lot of little boys to make cards for, and I thought it was a little more "grown up" than the ones I currently have. Boy am I glad I did, as we have had a rush of bike park parties the last couple of weeks.

I made this card for a very special little boy who turned 5 a couple of weeks ago. I started off with a brocade blue base, which I stamped with the sanded background stamp and then randomly stamped "happy birthday" and the number "5" all over it. I cut out a square in chocolate chip, so saffron and pumpkin pie and used the sanded background on them too. I then added brads to the corners and adhered them all to the card front.

I cut out an oval with my big shot and then used my best friend (my stamp-a-ma-jig) to place the bmx in the middle of the oval. I then placed the oval onto some chocolate chip card and cut around it with my scissors to make a mat and adhered it to the card with dimensionals.

Next time I have another christmas card to share with you. It is the make and take I am doing in my workshops this month. If you would like some great ideas for christmas cards, why not get some friends together and have a workshop .. I still have some spaces left.

Keep on creating.

xx Nicky

Supplies:

Stamps: sanded background, teeny tiny sentiments, bmx (now retired) unknown number
Cardstock: brocade blue, chocolate chip, pumpkin pie, so saffron, whisper white
Ink: brocade blue, chocolate chip, pumpkin pie, so saffron
Big Shot: ovals original die
Other: silver brads, stamp-a-ma-jig, dimensionals

Perfect Punches

This was another of the cards we made at the catalogue launch. It uses the new stamp set perfect punches. There are six stamps in it and each of them fits one of our punches. It is a great set.I wanted to use some new colours for the cards, but I hadn't received any of them so I had to make do with what I already had (so saffron and not quite navy). I ran the so saffron piece through the big shot with the perfect polka dots embossing folder and then sponged the edge with not quite navy ink. For the sentiment I inked it up with so saffron first and then used my not quite navy marker to colour in the blue bits.

I love using my big shot embossing folders, they add another level of dimension to a card.

Next time I will have a bmx card to share with you.

Keep on creating.

xx Nicky

Supplies:

Stamp sets: upsy daisy, perfect punches
Cardstock: not quite navy, so saffron, whisper white
Ink: not quite navy, so saffron
Big Shot: perfect polka dots embossing folder
Other: dimensionals, sponge

For you

This was one of the cards we made at a recent catalogue launch.It uses the new for you flower and matching punch together with the vintage wallpaper embossing folder. With all the punches it was a really quick card to make and is really pretty.

Til next time,

Keep on creating.

xx Nicky

Supplies:
Stamps: for you flower
Cardstock: black, regal rose, whisper white
Ink: black, regal rose
Big shot: vintage wallpaper embossing folder
Punches: 1 3/8" circle, 1 1/4" circle, fancy flower extra large
Other: dimensionals

Join my Team

If you have ever thought about becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, now is the time to do it.

The demonstrator starter kit has been reduced in the new catalogue to only $289 and if you join between now and 15 October, you will receive for FREE a complete set of InColours - that's ink pads, markers and an assortment of cardstock - all absolutely FREE. The starter kit has over $515 worth of stamping and business supplies. Add to that the 30% discount you receive on your first $300 order placed within 45 days of joining and there really is no better time to become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.

If you would like to learn more about becoming part of my team, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Keep on creating.

xx Nicky

Happy Father's Day

I hope all you fathers out there are having a fabulous day.

This card is another case from Amy. As soon as I saw it I knew it would perfect for my Dad's fathers day card.

It uses the lovely as a tree stamp set, which has been inked up using old olive, garden green and chocolate chip markers. I have inked stamps with markers before but had never thought of doing it with this stamp set. I think the result is stunning.

We used baja breeze, bashful blue, certainly celery and old olive to sponge the background. A few buttons along the bottom tied with linen thread, a piece of ribbon and the happy fathers day sentiment and it was finished.

I was really happy with it and hope Dad likes it too.

Keep on creating.

xx Nicky

Supplies:

Stamp Sets: lovely as a tree, teeny tiny sentiments

Card: crumb cake (kraft), chocolate chip, garden green, whisper white
Ink: garden green, old olive, certainly celery, bashful blue, baja breeze, chocolate chip
Punch: word window

Other: chocolate chip ribbon, linen thread, sponges, buttons

Christmas Card #1

There were so many very talented people with amazing cards at our weekend away that I case'd quite a few cards. I found I got a lot more done and it was a great way of getting heaps of samples together for new catalogue products. Here is a card I case'd from Amy Anderson, you can check our her blog here.

This card uses the new stamp set called Contempo Christmas. It has this beautiful bauble in it, which has a matching punch - how easy is that!

We used rich razzleberry and the new (old) wild wasabi. Some of you might remember wild wasabi was an incolour from our 2008-2009 catalogue. There is a new punch used behind the merry christmas, it is called the modern label punch and I love it too. It layers beautifully with the word window punch. This card was so quick and easy to make, I think it would be a great one to mass produce.

Amy is such a "bling" girl that most of the cards she made on the weekend away had dazzling diamonds on them somewhere, with this one being no exception. It has a fine (well mine was a little thicker than hers) line of dazzling diamonds along the top of the wild wasabi piece.

Thanks Amy for a fabulous design.

Next time, the Father's Day card I made for my Dad.

Keep on creating.

xx Nicky

Supplies:

Stamp sets: contempo christmas, teeny tiny sentiments

Card: rich razzleberry, wild wasabi, whisper white

Ink: rich razzleberry, wild wasabi
Punches: ornament, modern label, word window

Big Shot: perfect polka dot embossing folder

Other: 2 way glue pen, stampin' dimensionals, dazzling diamonds, mat pack

The much longed for new catalogue is here ...

And what a beauty it is. There are heaps of new products including 60 new stamp sets, 7 new punches, all new scrapbooking kits, card kits, ribbons, accessories and so much more. If you would like to view the new catalogue, please click on the image to the right of this post, or if you are like me and need one to hold in your hands for $15.00 I can post one out to you, just drop me an email.

I have already placed my first order and I can't wait for the Australia Post man to come knocking on my door so I can play with all the new goodies.

I have another card to share with you tomorrow, so until then ...

Keep on creating.

xx Nicky

Father's Day #1

I am back, as promised! The new catalogue has so many amazing cards in it that when I saw this one, I knew it would be perfect for David's card. It was really simple to do, and uses the star jumbo wheel. I rolled it out in pumpkin pie and then did a so saffron, real red and garden green one, cut the stars out and mounted them on dimensionals.

The sentiment is from the teeny tiny sentiments stamp set (which I love) punched out with the word window punch.

Our new catalogue goes "live" tomorrow and I can't wait. I have my "must have" list all written out and I will be placing my order as soon as I can. If you would like to receive one of the new catalogues please email me at nickyadamson@ymail.com.

I have a christmas card to share with you next time ... using a brand new christmas stamp set.

Keep on creating.

xx Nicky

Wheel: Star jumbo
Card: Tempting turquoise, whisper white, real red, so saffron, garden green
Ink: Tempting turquoise, pumpkin pie, real red, so saffron, garden green
Other: Large and small star punches, word window punch, stampin dimensionals