My blog is moving…..

I have decided to move my blog over to Wordpress, revamp it and my website and also host it on my website.

So all posts after this one will now be posted to http://nicolestalker.com.au/blog/ so if you are a regular visitor of have my blog bookmarked you will need to update your link.

If you go visit the new blog you will see I’ve gone with a colour change although I’m still to update the rest of my website but that will be done over the next few days. There is still some tweaking to do but all should go smoothly with any luck.

 

Happy stamping

It’s on again!!!!

What’s on again??

Our Giant Craft Sale.

Back in May we had our 1st Giant Craft Sale and it was such a success we decided to hold another. We’ve cleaned out our cupboards even more and will have lots of Craft Goodies that need to find new homes. There will be stamps,both Stampin’ Up!(retired of course) and other brands, scrapbooking supplies, ribbons, embellishments and lots, lots more. We will also be selling handmade cards & gifts which will be perfect for Christmas.

Everything will be priced to sell, so come along and grab a bargain! We’ll also have some Lucky Door Prizes to be won.

WHEN: Saturday 24th October

TIME: 9am – 1pm

WHERE: The Church Hall
Blacktown East Presbyterian Church
Cnr Heffron Road & Gallop Grove, Lalor Park

Hope to see you there.

Nikki

Embrace Life

Here’s another set that I haven’t inked in ages but I also decided to play with some retired colours.

I’m using that layout again that I’m really liking at the moment and did create 3 cards but I’ve already given one away and didn’t realise my photo hadn’t downloaded to my computer correctly so I can only share 2 of them with you. I might just have to recreate the other again….

Just briefly about computers, it seems mine is finally fixed and working correctly (I’m touching wood while typing this so I don’t jinx myself) and it turns out to have just been an updated driver required for my Vista laptop. I’m sure the company wish they had of tried this first before replacing USB’s, RAM and a Graphics Card. Oh well I guess that’s for all the problems I had to put up with……

So back to the cards.

I pulled out my retired Ginger Blossom DSP and some River Rock and Groovy Guava cardstock from last years In Colors to make these. I love this years but I still miss last years and seeing how I still have plenty in my stash I guess I should use some of it.

This card was actually the second card I made. Card 1 was the one I gave away.

For this card I’ve started out with a base of Ruby Red, scallop edged a piece of River Rock and then added some Ginger Blossom DSP in a Groovy Guava print onto the River Rock as shown. This was then is adhered to the main card.

Next I created my Scallop Edge Medallions in River Rock and a slightly smaller one in Ruby Red. This is layered onto the main card using Stampin’ Dimensionals. I’ve then stamped the flower onto Watercolor Paper using Stazon Jet Black ink and watercolored using an Aqua Painter and inkpads in Groovy Guava & Ruby Red. I have then cut out the flower, used a white gel pen on the stamens, added a white half back pearl to the centre and attached to the medallion using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

The final step was to stamp the sentiment onto watercolour paper using Stazon Jet Black and punch out with the Word Window Punch. I’ve daubered the edges with River Rock and again attached to the card using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

 

 

The next card is the same layout just using a different piece of Ginger Blossom DSP and changing the colours.

 

 

So for this one I started out with a Groovy Guava base and used Ruby Red for the scallop edge piece.

The medallion is Ruby Red and Groovy Guava. I coloured the flower image again using the Aqua Painter and inkpads this time using Groovy Guava, Cameo Coral and Ruby Red. The stamens have been coloured with a Ruby Red marker and I’ve added a vanilla half backed pearl to the centre this time as the DSP has more of a cream feel than a white.

The sentiment is done the same again but this time I daubered the edges with Ruby Red.

 

 

 

 

So do you miss last years In Colours? Maybe you have some left too and hopefully I’ve inspired you to play with them again. Feel free to leave a comment and a link to your latest creation using some retired items.

 

Happy Stamping
Nikki

Friends 24-7

This stamp set was one of the first I had to have when the new IB&C came out in April. I think it had more to do with the fact that I loved the coordinating wheel but I did like the stamp set too. Unfortunately it hasn’t been used all that often. Another wonderful thing about this set is it’s one of Shelli’s Signature Collection sets which are new this year.

So seeing how I hadn’t used it much I decided it need to be inked up again. I love the sample cards in the IB&C for it so decided to recreate something along those lines but make it my own too.

I ended up making 4 cards very similar looking, 2 portrait orientation and 2 in landscape orientation, and changing the sentiments.

The colours I’ve used are Kraft, Close to Cocoa, Baja Breeze and Whisper White.  I really like to softness to these cards.

Here they all are individually for a closer look. 

                    

 

   

           

Supplies:
Stamp sets: Friends 24-7, Oval All, En Francais
Card: Kraft, Close To Cocoa, Whisper White, Baja Breeze Patterns DSP
Ink: Close to Cocoa & Old Olive Markers, Versamark & Baja Breeze inkpads
Accessories: Whisper White Taffeta ribbon, Scallop Oval, Scallop Circle, Large Oval, 1 3/8” & 1 1/4” Circle Punches, Matt Pack and piercer, Button Latte Designer Buttons, Sponge Dauber, Stampin’ Dimentionals, Hemp Twine.

Happy Stamping

Nikki

Family Birthdays Part 3

This is the last October family birthday I have to share with you. As I mentioned yesterday this time it is for my step-mother.

On Saturday 3rd October I held my World Card Making Day event. You may recall those that attended made a Chocolate Holder and a matching little handbag which contained 3 love note cards and envelopes.  Well I ended up with 3 sets in total, my original sample and then 1 each from the 2 sessions I had. I decided to use 1 set as part of my step-mothers gift. I had also purchased her a Gift Card so made a matching gift card holder and then of course I needed something to package it all in.

Here’s a picture of all the items.

 

This is the box all finished ready to present.

I made a little gift card to match and wrapped in Baja Breeze ribbon. I decided to use the reverse side of the dsp on the sides of the box just like in the chocolate holder I wrapped the chocolates in alternate sides.

My step-mother was wrapped. At first she wasn’t going to open it till her birthday but as my girls hadn’t seen the gift card holder yet she opened it. Then it all went back in and ribbon tied up again ready for her to open on her birthday.

Well that’s it for family birthdays for now. I do have a few others before Christmas but most of those will just be cards which I’m sure you will see when they are done.

I’m on a bit of a roll at the moment so hopefully it will keep up and I’ll be posting a lot more regularly. I have a few more posts lined up for this week already and if Monday went as planned with getting the house back in order now that school has gone back I hopefully have created more to share with you.

Don’t forget if you are within driving distance to Lalor Park we are having another Giant Craft Sale this Saturday with lots of bargains. I’ll be clearing out my Carl punches, Punch tool, some scrapbook paper holders, storage draws and lots, lots more.

Till next time…..

Happy Stamping

Nikki

Family Birthdays Part 2.

Next Saturday is my dad’s birthday and I wanted to make a little something for him. I always struggle making things for males as it’s not something I do all that often. I found a wonderful project from UStamp Fall 09 which I thought would be perfect for him.

The Windsor Knot DSP pack is ideal for male items and I was really happy with how this turned out. The image is from the Pun Fun stamp set (thanks Leonie) and the sentiment is a retired Rub-on.

 

and the inside looks like this….

I haven’t known my dad to drink coffee so I’ve put in hot chocolate sachets with some Ferrero Rocher Chocolates. I actually gave this to him last Thursday went we went to visit (my dad lives 2 hours drive away) and found out he does drink coffee but only 1 a day. At least I know for next time. 

I wanted to make his birthday card to coordinate so have again used the same patterns from the Windsor Knot DSP pack but chose to use the Party Hearty stamp set. I’ve created faux brads by punching out 3 chocolate chip 1/4” punches (retired) and then adding some Crystal Effects over the top. Now I really should have used the new 5/16” chocolate chip brads available in the Spring Mini Catalogue till 30th November (Neutrals pack) but I’d already adhered the DSP to the front of the card and didn’t want to have the brads showing on the inside of the card.

It’s a pretty simple card but I think it went well with the gift and he liked it which is the main thing. I also bought a t-shirt to go with this handmade gift.

 

I mentioned my dad’s birthday is next Saturday 24th, well it’s his wife’s, my wonderful step-mothers birthday on the 27th. Tomorrow I’ll show you the gift I gave her last week. Some of it you have seen but I’ve expanded with a few more coordinating items.

See you tomorrow.

Happy Stamping

Nikki

Family Birthdays Part 1

I hope you have all enjoyed seeing the wonderful Secret Sister gifts that I received and also those I sent to my Secret Sister over the last 2 weeks or so. I really wish I could share my recent items I made for this new round of Secret Sister but alas they will have to wait till January so I don’t spoil my Secret Sisters surprise just in case she happens to visit my blog and see them.

I do however have some things to show you over the next few days and that is items I’ve made for recent or upcoming family birthdays.

The first one will be my 2nd daughter’s birthday which was today and she turned 11. The birthday girl, Courtney, loves the colour blue. I made her lolly boxes just like I made for 2 of her sisters back in September but instead of being pink hers were blue. Baja Breeze to be exact.

 

 

Don’t they look great. And guess what? One of her friends didn’t show (we hadn’t received a reply so we weren’t real sure either way) but I’d made one just in case. You know the way it works. If I didn’t make one she would have come so I thought I’d be prepared. But don’t worry it wasn’t wasted, I got one……lol

I’m so glad Marelle Taylor shared the instructions for these Seven’s Boxes as I have now used them for 3 of my girls birthdays now. My other daughters birthday was back in May and I made her little handbags designed by Makeesha Byl.

Guess what? I also made her card before her birthday. Well I guess technically it wasn’t but it was before she woke up…..hahaha. I had a late night/early morning (2:15am bed) finishing off the lolly boxes, wrapping her presents and making her card. However, I was determined to have them all done before I went to bed so then I didn’t have to rush around in the morning.

Would you like to see her card?

Again I followed the Blue theme and also used the Great Friend stamp set. I’m really going to miss this set when the Spring Mini end at the end of November. I truly hope it makes it into the next big IB&C in September 2010 but it will be a long wait to find out.

 

I’ve used Not Quite Navy as my base card, some Walk in the Park DSP which is a Baja Breeze print and for the 3rd colour I went with Whisper White.

I can’t remember where I saw this layout but I really like it at the moment and the double layer Scallop Edge Medallion really sets the card off. I’ve been meaning to try this for a while and last month Kirrily Matthews took some great Christmas Cards using this to Marelle Taylor’s team meeting for show & tell.  After seeing her cards I knew I had to give it a go sooner rather than later. I had already printed the SCS tutorial to do this but had put it aside until Kirrily’s reminder.

If you pop back tomorrow I’ll show you what I made for my dad’s birthday which is next Saturday.

 

Happy Stamping

Nikki

What did I receive…..September Part 3

As the end of the month was drawing near and other participants where thanking their Sisters I was getting very anxious. I’d received all my items and wanted to thank my Sister. I asked on group for her to please let me know but no replies.

Well I found out why a day or 2 later.

It was because of this.

My wonderful, generous and very creative Secret Sister had one more parcel on it’s way to me.

Isn’t it gorgeous. If you’ve read my blog before now you might remember that the Raspberry Tart DSP is one of, if not, my favourite DSP pack in the current IB&C and my new favourite stamp set is of course ‘Great Friend’ from the Spring Mini.

So would you like to know what I received? I’ll go clockwise again starting from the front.

A Days-to-remember calendar for me to decorate, on top of that is a lovely crystal handmade angel (which my girls have already informed me could go on our Christmas Tree this year…..lol),  a lovely card purse which inside contained the personalised Post-It Note holder (also the Angel and card where packaged in there too), then up the back is another wonderful bag which when you untie the ribbon the front and back fold down to reveal a little box which contained 2 little christmas cross-stitch kits (super idea and must make sure I get them both done before Christmas), next is that gorgeous box (there’s a close up of that coming) which inside contained some SU product including ribbons, clips, heat & stick powder, dazzling diamonds, Stampin Dimensionals and a Quickie Glue Pen, then there is the card. I love how Kylie used the leaf stem to create the background and I also love how she used half backed pearls on the butterflies.

Here’s a close-up of the gorgeous box with the paper ruffle.

Isn’t that gorgeous. I’ll be trying this out soon.

So that’s it for all the wonderful items I received. I was totally spoilt beyond any expectations. If you are reading this Kylie, thank you so much for being a fabulous Secret Sister. I sure hope I get to meet you in person one day to thank you properly. Maybe Convention 2010????

Now even though I’ve shared all the items I sent and those that I received I will have something else to show you tomorrow and hopefully on a more regular basis too.

Happy Stamping

Nikki

What did I receive……September Part 2

Today is what I thought was my final card and item for the swap. Kylie had met all her requirements and now I just had to wait for the reveal as it didn’t happen in this card. Boy waiting to find out was hard. I so wanted to personally thank Kylie for being such a wonderful Secret Sister.

I so love this card and never would have thought to do this.

 

Hopefully you can see all that sparkle over the card. Isn’t it wonderful. It looks even better in person. I really love the colours used too which are Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip and Pumpkin Pie.  I haven’t played with this set in so long I really should pull it out again. I’ve definitely been playing with my Dazzling Diamonds more of late though.

Until tomorrow….

Happy Stamping

Nikki

What did I receive…..September Part 1

As you have seen by the last few days Kylie is such a talented lady and this month is certainly no different.

My first item to arrive for September was another large parcel. This was my final gift with only a card to follow. Well so I thought…… To me I’d already received the $ requirement in my gift for August so all I was anticipating for September was handmade items.

Well I certainly received that. Look at this wonderful array.

Clockwise from front left: A handmade heart pin cushion which says ‘Home made is best’, Chocolate Holder (which I CASED and posted here), little box containing 3 love notes (card shown) and envelopes (another item I’ve CASED here for World Card Making Day) a gorgeous decorated shopping list pad (that’s what I’ll be using it as anyway) and pen, and finally the card.

Don’t you just love how Kylie has coordinated everything to make such a fantastic gift. Obviously seeing that I have already CASED two of the items I was very very happy to have received this. Seriously though who wouldn’t love to receive something like this??

I’ll let you in on a little secret….. There’s 2 more posts to go.

Happy Stamping

Nikki

What did I receive….August Part 2

My final item for August was another gorgeous card using the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set along with ….. you guessed it, some Kiwi Kiss.

If you haven’t seen this style of card before it’s called a Criss-Cross card. If you pull out the insert by the little Kiwi Kiss tab you will see this….

 

If I haven’t already said so, I’m so glad I went in this swap and of course that Kylie was my Secret Sister. I not only received lovely items just for me but it’s given me lots of inspiration too.

See you tomorrow…..

Happy Stamping

Nikki

What did I receive….August Part 1

On the day this arrived my parcel delivery man arrived just before I went in to pick my girls up from school so I had to put this rather large box aside till I came back home. I was so excited when opening it up and my girls were all standing around eagerly watching too.

I’ve mentioned we filled out questionnaires but there were only so many questions and I didn’t really fill out a whole story for each answer but Kylie really picked well with this next colour scheme as my favourite of the ‘orange’ would have to be Pumpkin Pie and my favourite ‘pink’ is definitely Regal Rose.

What do you think? Isn’t this just wonderful.

What did I receive? The lovely decorated cellophane bag contained some Petal Punches, Flower Fusions, Ribbon, Filigree & Flower Designer Brads. This was in the box at the back along with a couple of Whisper White Greeting Cards and Envelopes tied with some more Regal Rose ribbon and also the ‘Three Little Words’ stamp set. Then of course there is the Chocolate Slider and coordinating card.

Was I spoilt, or what???

See you tomorrow for some more of Kylie’s items.

 

Happy Stamping

Nikki

What did I receive…..July Part 2

The second and final card for July is just as lovely as the first. This time Kylie used some of the Flower Fusion II felt flowers which I must admit to having but still not used. (Note to self – use them…..)

This is a simple but very effective card. Maybe I should just CASE Kylie’s……

I was very happy with the items I received for July but it gets even better. Pop back tomorrow to see what I received next.

 

Happy Stamping

Nikki

What did I receive…..July Part 1

I can finally reveal that my wonderful Secret Sister was Kylie Robinson. Kylie was such a generous Secret Sister and I sure hope she had a wonderful partner too. I was spoilt rotten by Kylie and I’m about to show you, over the next week all the wonderful items she made and sent to me.

I first package was a card and gift. Kylie was told that one of my favourite stamp sets was Fifth Avenue Floral and that I loved Kiwi Kiss. Well she used both to these in this lovely card.

 

Along with this gorgeous card Kylie sent this lovely little handbag which doubles as a Post-It Note holder.

 

Isn’t this just gorgeous. Kylie has used the Faux Alligator technique (one I must try soon) on this item along with a Filigree Designer Brad and some Clear Rhinestone Brads.

Tomorrow I’ll share the 2nd gorgeous card I received for July.

Happy Stamping

Nikki

September Part 2

 

 

This was the last gift and card I sent to my Secret Sister in which I revealed who I was. I have used the lovely Sweet Always DSP, coordinating cardstock, ribbon, etc along with the Always stamp set. Not Bold Brights but still reasonably bright and cheery in real life.

 

 

Inside the box was some Darrell Lea Chocolate Bullets, 3 Embossing Powders, a mixture of the new Flower & Filigree Designer Brads and a few more samples of ribbon this time the 1/4” grosgrain.

The box is one of Becky Roberts wonderful tutorials which I altered a little to suit my needs.

 

 

 

 

And here’s a closer look at the card:

The sentiment used on this card is from the ‘Taking Care of Business’ stamp set. 

 

Well that’s it for my cards & gifts I sent my Secret Sister for Round One. I have signed up again for Round Two which is from October – December so once the reveal is done in December I’ll share the Round Two items with you.

Happy Stamping

Nikki

September Part 1

As this was the final month for the Secret Sister swap I sent a card first and then the final card & gift for the reveal.

For this card I used a stamp set I hadn’t played with yet called ‘Playful Petals’. I was really happy with this card and I even managed to use Bold Bright colours.

The colours I’ve used are from the Colour Coach again. This time using Pink Passion, Lavender Lace, Green Galore & Brocade Blue. I’ve also used a Rhinestone Brad for the centre, layered the flower and also added some Dazzling Diamonds on the dotted part of the main flower centre.

 

Here’s a closer look:

 

 

So do you think I’m getting better with the Bold Brights?

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Stamping

Nikki

August Part 2

My second card and final item for August I used Bold Brights and the wonderful Great Friend stamp set from the current Spring Mini Catalogue. The card is a CASE of one of Marelle Taylors cards we did at a recent team meeting. I loved the layout of this card.

I’ve actually made this card in a few combinations and even though I’m not a ‘Bold Brights’ person I was very happy with this card.  

 

Happy Stamping

Nikki

July Card 2

Well I’ve gotten out of order as I thought I’d already posted this card. Never mind I’m sure you’re just happy to see things.

This was the second card I sent for July. I used one of my Secret Sisters favourite stamp sets called Flight of the Butterfly. I have used a colour combination for this one and not used any Bold Brights.

 

 

 

 

The colours I’ve used are Mellow Moss, Regal Rose, So Saffron and Brocade Blue. The Regal Rose DSP is from the Level 1 Hostess set Patterns Pack II DSP.

I wasn’t 100% happy with this card but I’m not sure if it was because it was out of my normal ‘comfort’ zone or not. I wouldn’t normally pick these colours to go together but it was a combination from the Colour Coach so I gave it a go.

 

 

 

 

Happy Stamping

Nikki

August Part 1

In August I sent my gift first again. My Secret Sister had mentioned that Ribbon was something she was lacking in so I decided to send her some to play with. For presentation I decided to use one of the DVD tins I had purchased a little while back and was yet to put to use.

I mentioned how my Secret Sister liked Bold Brights so I chose to use the Raspberry Tart DSP. There is only Real Red from Bold Brights in this DSP but it is nice a bright so I was hoping she would like it. I also used Sweet Stems and Basic Phrases stamp sets.

 

 

       This is the front of the decorated DVD tin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and this is the inside.

The left side contains a length of each of the Taffeta ribbons and the right side has a length of each of the 1/2” Striped Grosgrain Ribbons.

This is the coordinating card that was sent along with it.

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Stamping

Nikki

You may have guessed….

that I finally have my regular computer back after 2 weeks of being in for repairs. This time they replaced not only what they determined the error to be but also an extra part just in case. They didn’t want me having to take it back yet again. So far so good but I’m still going to cross fingers, toes, legs, etc for a few more days.

What will this mean?

Hopefully some more regular posting and also now that the Secret Sister Swap I was in for the last 3 months is over and the reveal is done I have all my items I made for that to share with you.

The swap rules were that each month (July, August & September) we had to send at least 2 cards and 1 handmade gift with the final month being a gift containing some SU supplies as it was run only with fellow Australian Demonstrators.

I had a wonderful Secret Sister and I’ve shared the odd thing with you that I have CASED from her items she sent me. I do know who it was and will email her to see if she is sharing these on her blog and/or whether she is okay with my sharing them here of course giving her full credit.

At the start of the swap we received a questionnaire which we completed and sent back to the organiser who then forwarded them to our partner. This gave us some information about the stamp sets, SU colour family they liked along with some other information. Now my partner was a challenge in regards to colour family as her favourite was Bold Brights and if you have been reading my blog for a little while you will know that it is my least used colour family. At first I stressed about this but in the end decided to just go with what I liked but try and make things bright (using other colours or mixing them) and using some of her favourite stamp sets too.

I won’t be showing you everything in one post otherwise what would I show you tomorrow and the day after…..lol So I will spread them out over the next week or so.

As we had no particular order in which we had to send (i.e. we didn’t have to send Card 1 and then Card 2 and gift) I decided to make my first item a card & handmade gift.

When sending my gifts I coordinated the cards using dsp, cardstock, ribbons, etc.

This was the first card I sent:

 

 

With this card I used a Mojo Monday Sketch, one of my SS favourite stamp sets (Priceless) and I have used Real Red, Kiwi Kiss and Pink Pirouette cardstock & inkpads. A Real Red brad and some Real Red grosgrain ribbon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Along with the card I sent this gift:

 

 

This is one of Lauren Meader’s Timeless Templates called Lolli-Pop Along. There are no lollipops in mine so the insert is just a base and for the cover I have used Vellum and wheeled the So Swirly Jumbo wheel using Whisper White Craft Ink over it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s a side view:

 

 

Inside is of course my gift. My gift for this month was a jar of Embossing Powder (something on my SS wish list) and a handmade Post-It Note holder.

Tomorrow I’ll show you card 2 for July.

 

Happy Stamping

Nikki

Bored Children???

I don’t know about you but I don’t often recall as a child saying I was bored. The few toys I had would keep me occupied and as I got older I would keep myself busy by reading, listening to music, playing with friends, having fun outside roller skating or playing at the park, knitting or some other craft.

Why is it that our children have so much more than we did but they can still come out with the “I’m bored” comment? Is it just me or do your children do this too?

Well I heard this comment from a few of my girls ( I have 4 of them) last Sunday so I gave them something to do.

Jayne Mercer posted a message on her blog on the 8th September about how she and some of her team have started volunteering at Play Therapists at Westmead Children’s Hospital. On her last visit one of the staff was punching out shapes for the children to use in their art activities. Jayne asked if they could use some punched shapes which of course the answer was YES so now Jayne has put the word out to readers of her blog and fellow demonstrators to see if they can also help with this.

So as you can see by the picture above my ‘BORED’ girls went to work with my scrap cardstock and some punches (both SU and some old Carl punches) and we ended up with this bag full of different shapes to donate. I did help too but most of them stayed at it and I think for the next 1 1/2 – 2 hours there were no bored comments.

If you can assist with this also it would be much appreciated I’m sure. You can either send your donation of punched shaped directly to Jayne (her address is in her post mentioned above) or you can forward them to myself and I will hand deliver them to Jayne on November 21st when I catch up with her at Stampin’ Up Regionals. If you would like to send them through to me my address is 134 Frederick Street, Lalor Park NSW 2147. If you are local then feel free to drop them off.

P.S. I will be selling off my Carl and non-SU punches at the next Giant Craft Sale on 24th October so if you are after some punch bargains be there early.

 

Happy Punching,

Nikki