Old and New...

Just a really quick post cause I want to get some more stamping done.

Here's a quick card that I've cased from Dorothy Gates from Splitcoast. It uses the brand new Great Friend stamp set that will be available in the Spring Mini Catalogue and will be available next month. I loved heaps of stuff in the catalogue and was really glad to see a range of stamp sets in a range of prices. And there's heaps of great accessories and papers to co-ordinate everything.

Recipe

Stamp Set - Great Friend (Spring Mini Catalogue)

Ink - Craft White, Purely Pomegranate (retired)

Cardstock - Craft, Purely Pomegranate (retired)

Accessories - Purely Pomengranate Double Stitched Ribbon (retired)

Potato Nuggets

We had these the other night and the girls loved them so I wanted to share the recipe. Not so good for the health concious though.

Potatos cubed approx 1cm

2 Tbsp oil

1 Tbsp butter

2 cloves garlic crushed or 1 tsp of the pre crushed stuff.

Chuck it all in a baking dish and into the oven at 190 Celsius for approx 45 mins or until golden brown. After 15-20 mins stir so nothing sticks and to make sure the potatoes are evenly coated.

Drain off the oil and serve.

These are really crunchy and yummy - and at least the garlic is good for you!

The Wild Westcoast

Have I been slack at blogging or what??

I finally got a card made - so far - 1 card, that's pretty slack as well.

So here's the card it's a case of Nichole Heady's. I kept the colours similar and the layout and just changed the stampset to an SU one. I've been hanging out for Fifth Ave Floral for ages, so it was great to finally be able to ink it up today - it's definitely going to be a favourite.

Recipe -

Stamps - Fifth Avenue Floral, Natural Beauty

Ink - Craft White

Cardstock - Craft, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze

Accessories - Rub Ons, Paper Piercer, White Pen, Dimensionals

We've had a quiet school holidays - I'm hanging out for my Annual Leave coming up in a few weeks. Baylee spent a week up north and on the way home from picking her up we stopped at Mokau beach, I managed to get a few photos, and Baylee managed to get wet.

Kids and Kittens

I didn't think I'd be posting so soon, but I just had to share this with you.

I thought it was strange last night when I went to bed that I hadn't seen our kitten Molly all evening but I figured she'd curled up somewhere in Baylee's room.

Then at 6am this morning Bella came into me telling me she wanted Molly in her room. We called her name, and looked for her but couldn't find her - but we could hear her.

So after dropping Baylee to school we hunted some more calling her name, checking the garden shed, the bathroom cupboards, the kitchen pantry etc...

Finally we've found her, in the closed bottom drawer of Bella's dresser, where she's spent the night. And Bella going "Oh Yeah, I forgot."

Luckily no accidents, until right now in the corner of the living room!

So much for last weekend...

I had planned on stamping, but with working full time this week I just haven't had a chance. Thank goodness I got today off so I could catch up with some stuff. I even managed a coffee in town with a friend and some shopping.

I did however manage to get my swaps for this months m&m meeting done. Unfortunately I missed the meeting last week - so I'll have to post them out. I also have my swaps from the month before.

Last month the challenge was to use a technique or fold that we'd never used. I have no idea what the technique I used is called. It's kinda a twist on emerging colour.

I stamped the image using versamark onto patterned paper, then heat embossed with clear EP. Then brayered over the image with a darker colour. Then cut the image out.

The second challenge was to do 2 calender pages. This way once we've swapped we'll each have enough for a calender.

Unfortunately I'm working the next three days and then only one off before working again. So it may be a while between posts again. Hopefully not.

To let you all know...

I'm come to the decision, that after the next quarter I'll no longer be a Stampin' Up! demo.  If would've been the end of this quarter but I've made the sales so might as well carry onto the next.

Between the girls, work, church and just life in general something has got to go.  

And I love creating but I've found over the last few months, by the time I've prepared for workshops and classes and swaps etc.. I've no time to stamp and scrap for myself - I want to get back to that.

I'll still blog, hopefully more regularly than recently and I'll still run NZSU (if there's anyone out there who would like to give me a hand, please let me know).

For the wonderful ladies who I've met over the last few months, if you wish to continue with classes please visit Michelle my Uplines blog, she has lots of wonderful creations and a variety of classes (and I got most of my ideas from her anyway!)

Mostly I'll miss the m&m's. You've all been a great team.  I've always enjoyed catching up at our meetings and the swaps and challenges and baking!

So that's it for now,  hopefully I'll be back with a creation this evening.  I'm planning on getting some stamping done once the girls are in bed for my last m&ms swap.

Take care & stay warm.

Snow in the Naki

Today we took the girls up the mountain.  It was a lovely day in New Plymouth.  We made it all the way around the Stratford side and up to the ski field.  Unfortunately my camera batteries died halfway up. 

It was Bella's first time in the snow since she was a baby and the girls had heaps of fun throwing it around.  So glad we had the girls snowsuits, it was quite cold with the wind but the girls managed to stay dry and warm.  

Some Scrapping

I haven't done a lot of card making lately let alone scrapbooking.  Last night Michelle and Sharlene held a scrapbooking class and I tagged along and did a couple of 6x6 pages.

I love the Bella Rose DSP and used it for my layouts taking the colours from the paper.  The flowers from the Pretties kit are all white which means that they can be died any colour to co-ordinate with your project.  This page I died it using a Riding Hook Red reinker.  Also the build-a-brads are perfect for making co-ordinating brads.

Because the flowers are so big I kept the pages really simple.  I've been wanting to use these big flowers for ages.

I should start getting ready for work now, it's almost lunch time and I'm still in my PJs.  Luckily the girls are occupied watching a DVD.

Health Update..

I'm running so behind already today.  It 8.20 and the girls and I are still in our PJ's eating breakfast.  I just didn't want to get up this morning, actually I don't want to get up most mornings.  I think it's because I work so late and don't get to bed until late usually between 12am & 1am, that's where my body clock is stuck.  And it didn't help that it's REALLY COLD!!! 

Anyway, I went to the gym yesterday and despite the chocolate cake, night shift and having to cope with sick children (Baylee's now recovering from a virus as well) I've managed to loose my first kg.  So Yay! that's one down, heaps to go.  And it's been a whole week without takeaways.

So for the next week my goal is, now that the girls are better to get to the gym at least four days and to stay within my points.  I managed that yesterday by being really careful and still managed a scoop of icecream for pudding.

So hope you all are having a great week, stay warm, I'm off to the wool shop today I want to knit myself a scarf and will hopefully get some stamping done this evening.

And BTW - stay away from New World Custard Squares! (they're delicious and huge and must be about 20 Points! )

Still Rolling...

I had hoped to post this last night, the photos wouldn't load up, so here it is now.

I figured while I had the stamp set out I might as well use it, so here's another card featuring Petal Pizazz and lots of cutting out.  I've left off the sentiment for now, I'll add it later, that means I can use the card for anything.

Stamps - Petal Pizazz

Ink - Rose Red, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise

Cardstock - Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White

DSP - Bali Breeze (Retired)

Accessories - Flower Fusion I, Fire Gemstone Brads, Dimensionals, Vintage Brads

BTW - Bella slept for 6 hours straight last night and is so much better now the antibiotics have kicked in.  Her fever has finally broken and her voice is starting to come back.  She's even managed some jelly for breakfast and is back to fighting with her sister.  And a big thanks to Tarsh whose going to look after the girls today so I can get out of the house for an hour to go to the gym.

Also I was doing so well yesterday with my points, was even on the way to having some left over, until my sister brought over dinner and dessert! Was yummy though!