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Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays to all who have now finished Term One!  Time is flying by so quickly .... too quickly. The wind has been whistling around here of late hasn't it - sorry!  I thought I'd post this lovely Poppy Parade card - another of those quickie ones.

Now I am not on holidays, but in between work and the kids I have been creating .... so watch this space ... I've nearly caught up with my commitments and then I can show you what I have been doing.

Have a fun day - and all you Melbourne people - wrap up warm :)

Nikki

x

Happy Birthday Tess

Yes the littlest of our Sadler-Petrie family celebrates her birthday today.  Happy Birthday sweetheart.

 We hope you have a lovely day with your family and look forward to our Sadler-Petrie event.

Love the Sadlers

x

No Time To Make a Card?

So you think you don't have time to make a card?  Well think again!

Conversation goes something like this ...

Olivia says 'mum could you please make a card for my friend's birthday?'  

I smile thinking that is so cute - she wants me to make a card for one of her friends .... I say 'of course sweetheart when do you need it for?'

Olivia says 'in about ten minutes time - its for the party you are just about to drive me to!'

I was going to say .... ten minutes, I can't make a card in ten minutes .... but thought what the heck - I like a challenge (and a kid who asks me to make them a card LOL). Big Shot here I come, one Top Note die cut, embossed though the Elegant Bouquet embossing folder, small snippet of Concord Crush patterned paper to make the Beautiful Wings embosslits butterflies, Perfect Punches for the sentiment and a Tiny Tag cos I can't make a card without one of those on it ... hey presto!

Just call me Super Mum :)

I love Stampin' Up! - matching papers, punches, ribbons and embellishments - just what you need when you need to create in a flash.

Love Nikki

x

Thank You Cards

I always have lots of Thank You's to write at this time of year and so I made a few of these - so quick and very easy to do ... the Big Shot and a couple of punches are all you need to make a few lovely cards in no time at all - I think it took me longer to write them :)

I like to keep a few cards in reserve for those times when I want to send a quick note and time is of the essence ... so I think I will making more of these in different colours.

Great way to use up little pieces of designer series papers.  I use the 1 1/4" square punch and the sentiments from the Perfect Punches set - and the little Embosslits Beautiful Wings makes the most gorgeous little embossed and die cut butterflies which I have jazzed up with some sparkly jewels. 

 Easy peasy :)

Nikki

x

Perfect Punches

Does this card look familiar?  It was made using the bits and pieces left from the card for my friend.  It almost looks as though that little birdie has a really feathery tail doesn't it.

This is the card I sent to a fellow team member who celebrated her birthday this week - I have set myself a little challenge to send birthday cards to all my  friends - that's if they tell me it is their birthday of course :-) 

So you want to go on the list then leave a comment and let me know your birthday - I'm motivated to create when I have a reason to send a card ... you will be helping me out!

Thank you.

Nikki

x

 

Happy Birthday Beautiful Friend

Now I know she reads my blog ... so I know she will read this.  I have a very beautiful friend; one I can share anything and everything with.  We chat, we laugh, we chat some more, we cry, we chat a lot more, we laugh a whole lot more .... she 'gets' me.  There is nothing we can say or do that will alter our friendship - our children believe our families are related to each other - she is my BFF, she is Tracy of course :)

I struggle to make a card every year for my friend .... I want it to be extra special ... this card was no exception.  It evolved in rather an usual way ... I knew I wanted to create a card using the Concord Crush and Pear Pizzaz combination and used the Colour Coach to add in Peach Parfait.  So I created the scallop square border, ribbon and little tag (I must stop using the little tags on everything don't you think) and the little sentiment .... almost like a border and then pondered for hours before I created the middle bit!  

Perfect Punches is such a beautiful set ... and the little pearls are fast becoming one of my favourite embellishments.  I don't usually make cards this way round but I am pleased and know that Tracy will love it.

Happy birthday sweetheart - I do hope you have a fabulous day, thank you for being my BFF.

Love Nikki

xxxx

Happy Birthday Christian

My nephew celebrates his birthday today ... how I wish I owned the new range of teenage style stamps but not yet ... so I got creative with the lovely Deisgner Series papers, Celebrations.

Because the design was so simple I thought I'd alter the card base, so I folded the card to open in the centre - there's probably a special name for it .... but it escapes me right now LOL

and because I had lots of scraps left over it was so quick to make up another card at the same time - its great paper - really bright and the Perfect Punches stamp set is fast being my favourite sentiment set - so quick to stamp and punch.  What did I ever do without my Top Note die?  I have a new one the Scallop Square from the new Summer Mini - can't wait to give that one a try out soon too.

So Christian, we hope you have a fab day.

Love from Auntie Nikki, Uncle Paul, Olivia, Kieran and the dogs xxxx

 

Christmas Blog Hop

Did you know it is .... XXX days until Christmas?  No I haven't forgotten to fill in the XXX; I just didn't want to scare both you and I by actually putting it into writing just how many days there are until Christmas .... I haven't bought one single Christmas present which is very unusual for me!

Welcome to a little festive blog hop that will hopefully inspire you to create a little something for a friend or two.  If you are already travelling through the hop you will have flown in from Christine Blain's blog - if not .... grab a cuppa and hop on board.

So with XXX days to go,  I thought I had better make a list of presents and that had me thinking ... I know I am not the only one to be working against the clock to have some little things prepared for the loved ones in our lives who help us through the year ... teachers, friends, neighbours, work colleagues ... just a little gift and a handmade card is often more appreciated than an expensive shop bought item.  

So I have created two easy little treats that are inexpensive and quick to rustle up.  This little basket is made from an 8 1/2" by 8 1/2" square of cardstock - a few folds and a couple of holes punched with the crop-o-dile and hey presto a jazzy little box that holds a few lollies - a great idea for a teacher's gift perhaps.

The little gift tag is made from the Perfect Punches set, stamped twice in both Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive, punched out with the scallop circle, the 1 1/4" circle and layered using Stampin' Dimensionals onto a 1 3/4" circle.  So simple!

Now once I had started I couldn't stop LOL .... I had some gold coins and thought these would look a bit more special if they were packed up into a little bag.  

These are so easy to make - in fact I have to confess that Olivia helped me (thanks OJ) as I was running a little late with my project.  Wouldn't these make a fun pressie for school mates?  A great way to make a few extra special gifts without breaking the bank ... perfect for this time of year right?

If you'd like the template for the little box leave me a comment and I'll email one to you.

Right off you hop for yet more festive ideas from the lovely Kristine Thompson.

Have fun and see you another day for more Christmas ideas.

 

Happy Birthday Olivia

It's our daughter's 15th birthday today .... I remember thinking a couple of years ago that 15 was so old. But here we are with a girl who is growing up so fast, about to start Year 10, there's talk of VCE's, driving cars, piercing tummy buttons and sometimes even BOYS eeeeekkkkkk!  

So I thought I'd make a more grown up card - don't you just love these little cakes - there is a little bit of dazzling diamonds on the cakes - doesn't matter how grown up you are does it .... everyone loves a bit of sparkle :)

Olivia received her birthday present a couple of weeks ago - a new iPhone ... instant squeals of delight followed by floods of tears ... I think she was excited and pleased :)  So I was thinking of a little something for her for today.

I went to the Melbourne Stampin' Up! Regionals last weekend .... and a lovely demo showed us how to make these cute bird houses ... I knew Olivia would love one so I made this one for her and filled it with her favourite chocolates - Lindor Lindt.  

The little roof has been cut using the Top Note Die .... and then embossed using a new Lattice folder - yes the new Summer Mini will be released in a few days time ... with lots more yummy things to whet your appetite.

Well I am off for a day filled with cup cake making, school fete (I'm serving popcorn, candy floss and ice creams can't wait) and then a house full of girls for a sleepover ...

Happy birthday Olivia!

Love from Mum xx

 

 

It's another Making Merry Monday and a JAI Challenge

Shall I scare you and tell you that there are 10, yes TEN, more Making Merry Monday's before Christmas ..... OMG!  

So now that I have been mean, I thought I'd show you a very quick and easy card. Marina Mist is the new blue in the Subtles collection and perfect for the latest Just Add Ink challenge to 'just add blue'.

I ran the Very Vanilla cardstock through the Big Shot using the Vintage embossing folder.  I then sponged the edges with Marina Mist ink and a dauber, ran the Two Way glue pen around and dipped them into some Dazzling Diamonds.

Perfect Punches (page 93) is such a versatile set - I am finding it very handy for easy and quick sentiments.  I stamped the image twice and punched one with the scallop circle punch and the other with the circle punch - layering the two together with a Stampin' Dimensional - too easy as they say!

The lovely striped grosgrain ribbon is lovely and soft - so you can 'pinch' it together with a brad - here I have used a Filigree brad and a Rhinestone brad to match the blue theme.

That's it from me today - if I have scared you and you are thinking you must make a start on your cards and fancy coming to a class - sign up for the newsletter ... I'll be setting all the dates for the classes between now and Christmas - November's newsletter will contain all the details and all the sneak peeks - and don't forget to check out the Dress Up for Christmas promotion if you are wanting to buy a new festive stamp set (click on the link in the side bar on the left hand side for more info).