My first stamps from the new SU catty

There are some lovely stamp sets in the new NZ/Aust Stampin' Up catalogue but I think these two sets are my favourites.  Had great fun yesterday making these cards and love how they have turned out. Think my creative urge must have returned.

This card has been made using the new Upsy Daisy set.  Isn't it just gorgeous and I keep envisaging different ways of using it - so keep watching, you are sure to see a few different versions on this blog.

 

The second new set I got was Inspired by Nature - a double sided set.  In this card I have used the large grasses stamp and combined it with the bird and greeting from another favourite set of mine, Carte Postale.

Have also bought some more gorgeous SU double sided designer papers.  I now have a cupboard full of these so must start using them more - not just getting them out to ooh and ah over and then putting them back again because I don't want to use them up!!  Another thing I bought was Stampin' Up pastels, so watch out for some cards using these.

Easter holiday special

Our grandson Tyler came to stay with us on Easter Sunday through until the Tuesday afternoon.  Just check out the cute Easter bunny he made for me using a white sock, pipe cleaners and other accessories.  The bunny is a hand puppet and he was holding an Easter basket with some yummy little Easter eggs in it.  Neat eh!!  Don't you think he is a clever boy?

          

In the photo on the right you can just see the Easter basket sitting underneath the bunny.

While he was here Tyler and Pop built a kitset plane:

 

 

 

On the right is the finished plane.  It flies great however, I'm not quick enough with a camera to catch it in-flight.

 

 

 

On the Tuesday I met up with a friend who was also minding her grandson, Milan who was born a day or so before Tyler in the same hospital - coincidence eh!

Here's a photo of the two of them enjoying themselves at an adventure playground.  Tyler on the left, Milan on the right.

Tyler's due to come and stay again on Saturday night with big brother Sam while Mum and Dad have an evening out.  In the meantime I think I need to put these photos in a scrapbook page.

A Blog Candy winner has been drawn

Using a random number selector the number 29 was drawn, meaning that the very last comment posted was the winner.  So congratulations to Angie from the United Kingdom.  As soon as I get a mailing address her blog candy will be winging its way to her.

Thank you everyone for all the lovely comments and I'm sorry you all can't be winners.  Perhaps another time.

Two (quickie) male birthday cards

Had 2 male birthdays on consecutive days, so was a bit lazy and made 2 quick versions of the same card.  Doesn't matter I guess as one lives here in NZ and the other in Aussie so they will never know!

 

Card #1 for Josh

These cards were so easy to make.  Just roll on the Stars wheel and cut out the raised stars using the star punch.  Both Stampin' Up products.

 

Card #2 for Barry

Come & win some blog candy

Have finally got around to sorting through my huge stash of goodies in my craft room and as there is more there than I'll ever need have put together some blog candy for you to win.  All you have to do is leave a comment on this post together with your email address before 5 pm next Wednesday, 15th April (New Zealand time).  For a lot of my overseas visitors this could probably work out to be the Tuesday night so check the comparable time in your time zone here - http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/

By the way, does anyone know why the above link refers to the site as wwp instead of the normal www?

I will use a random number selector to pick the winning comment.

Anyway here are the goodies I have picked out for you:

Everything is new and unopened except for the unmounted clear greeting stamps which I was given but only ever used one of the stamps (the rest are all brand new).  I have found that I didn't need these as I already have all the greeting stamps that I would ever need so hope they will find a good home.

Decided to do this for several reasons:

1) As a thanks for all your support over the last months
2) To celebrate my blog having over 1500 hits since I inserted the counter on Jan 3 this year.  Can't believe that so many people would want to read this.
3) Just because  ....  !!

Sarah's special day

My friend Sarah is having her birthday today.  I don't think she wants me to reveal her age but this is a milestone birthday for her.  I can tell you however, that she is younger than me - isn't everyone!!  Sarah has the best of both worlds.  She works and lives on Waiheke Island - for non-New Zealanders this is located about 40 minutes by ferry from Auckland city.  Waiheke was originally a holiday destination as it has lovely beaches and drop-dead gorgeous views of the Hauraki Gulf with Auckland in the distance.  It has now evolved into an up-market (well out of my price range) place with multi-million dollar homes, boutique vineyards, restaurants, and unique art and craft shops.  Sarah was lucky enough to have bought there before the property values went sky-high.  She works as a real estate agent on the island and seems to have a great social life.

Happy Birthday Sarah  ...  with many more to come.

This is the birthday card I sent her.  Think I could have perhaps used stronger colours as I feel it is a bit pale.  Even though I did get an invitation to her party, unfortunately the difficulty in getting there (and home again late at night) has meant that I am going to miss out.

Card recipe:  (All supplies from Stampin' Up)
Cardstock:  Whisper White, River Rock, Soft Sky
Inks:  River Rock, Soft Sky, Pretty in Pink
Other:  Scallop Edge Punch, Rhinestone Brads

A special birthday for Karen

Yesterday was a special birthday for Karen, my talented friend and a Stampin' Up demonstrator.  She turned 50 years young!  Happy, happy birthday Karen and I hope that despite having your Mum in hospital you were able to enjoy your day.

 

Here's the card I made for her using her favourite (& mine also) SU Bodacious Bouquet set.  Hope she liked it though I would imagine she received many lovely cards from her stamping friends.