Balloon Celebration + Shine On - Stampin' Up! Artisan Blog Hop

On the eve of the New Year,  I'm so excited to bring you a sneak peek of some of the fabulous products coming up in the new Occasions Catalogue. We have stacks of goodies in our first Artisan box to share with you. Such fun!

Remember every month we will be having two Artisan blog hops. This is our 'anything goes' project and next time our projects will be themed around a selected group of products. Stay tuned and enjoy the ride! :)

Follow the Artisan Design Team on Pinterest *here*.

Tips for this card:
Sponge Daffodil Delight in circular motions onto the Shine On Designer Paper for a sunny glow.
Get the watercolour cloud by running an Aquapainter over your inked stamp and then stamping onto watercolour paper.
Use a Daffodil Delight marker to make subtle sun beams.

Next up on the hop is the amazing Valerie Moody!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Sunburst Sayings, Balloon Celebration

Inks: Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Tangelo Twist 

Papers: Shine On Specialty Designer Series Paper, Whisper White Thick Cardstock, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Watercolour Paper, Pink Pirouette

Accessories: Balloon Bouquet Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Silver Metallic Thread, Basic Black Baker's Twine

As Shepherds Watched Their Flocks... - Stampin' Up! Artisan Blog Hop

Welcome to another year full of inspiration from the Stampin' Up! Global Artisan Design Team!! I'm so excited and honoured to be representing New Zealand again. Join us for two blog hops each month and prepare to get crafty!

A bit about me:
I'm a stay-at-home Mum of (almost) four. Due to pop in January! I've been a demonstrator with Stampin' Up! since 2009 and I love all the connections I have made with many talented people along the way. Before I go any further - thank you to all those who have supported me thus far and a big HELLO if you're new around here :)

Here's a little table inspiration for December 25th. Sheep are sort of a national icon around here and of course part of the Christmas story so I made this flock of place name treats with my kids.

These sheep are my own take on a few different ones from Pinterest. To make yours you'll need the following punches:
1 3/4" Scallop Circle
Cupcake Builder
1 1/4" Circle
3/4" Circle
Word Window

We also sponged a bit of Smoky Slate around any white edges.

Don't they look cute together? I used Tip Top Taupe, Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand and Smoky Slate for the base colours. This Curvy Keepsake thinlit never seems to get old. Such a perfect size and shape.



This year on the Artisan Design Team are 20 amazingly talented ladies. Check out our blog list below and make sure to follow us all. Google Translate will come in really handy ;)

Follow our brand new Pinterest board *here*. 


Allison Okamitsu – http://nicepeoplestamp.blogspot.ca/
Amy O’Neill – http://amyoneillblog.com/
Chantal de Kaste - http://www.loveforstamping.blogspot.nl/
Cindy Schuster - http://www.nutmegcreations.blogspot.com/
Connie Collins – http://www.constantlystamping.com/
Inge Groot - http://patternedpapercrafts.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Frost - http://www.jenniferfrost.blogspot.com/
Jessica Williams - http://thepapercaper.com.au/
Jessica Winter - http://kunterbuntestempelwelt.com/
Joyce Fowler - http://www.craftwithjoyce.ca/
Kimberly Van Diepen - http://stampinbythesea.com/
Krista Frattin - http://www.stampindolce.com/
Marisa Gunn – http://dzinesbymeg.typepad.com/
Michelle Long – http://stampin365.com/
Rachel Grandin-Torchet - http://dontworrybecrafty.com/en/
Shannon Lane - http://crushoncolour.blogspot.com/
Steffi Helmschrott - http://stempelwiese.de/
Sue Plote - http://thispinkrooster.blogspot.com/
Susan Wong - http://stampingsusan.blogspot.com/  YOU ARE HERE
Valerie Moody - http://stampingwithval.com/

Next up is my new friend Valerie Moody!

Products used in today's project:

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As You Wish Events - 12 Days of Christmas

I'm so excited for this little collab with my talented and dedicated event-planner cousin over at As You Wish Events. Check out Nadine's blog **here** for my special guest post.

The Oh What Fun Tag Project Kit in our Holiday Catalogue is perfect for dressing your own gifts but I've divided the kit into three equal parts and have boxed them up ready for my daughter's kindy teachers. Best thing yet? The Oh, What Fun stamp set is fun and versatile enough to use anywhere including the packaging which doubles as a luminaire with a little faux candle included.

To make this box (supplies below):
1) Using a 12x12" sheet of Kraft card, follow the instructions on the Gift Box Punch board for a 4x4" box.
2) Measure 1/2" in from the score lines on one of the squares. Cut out using craft knife and steel ruler.
3) Stamp your chosen sentiment using White Stampin' Emboss Powder on a 3 3/4" square of vellum card.
4) Flatten vellum for a while in a book then adhere to the inside of your box.
5) Use Tear & Tape to stick the inner flaps to make up the box. Take care not to stick any over your vellum!
6) Tie off with Silver Cording Trim, Snowflake Elements and a little jingle bell.

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Onstage Auckland + Go Wild Designer Paper

What a blast we had on Saturday at Onstage Auckland celebrating the upcoming release of the new Occasions and Sale-a-Bration catalogues! It was the first whole-day convention of its kind as we stamped and learned new things with demonstrators at many locations across the globe. Well, as much as time zone differences allowed!

I'd love to take someone new with me in April! Join our team and be part of the fun.

My lovely upline Heather (wearing 'Coastal Cabana') and the Stamping Crafters that could make it.
{Baby belly - 31 weeks!}

A significant moment for me was the honour of being selected for a second Artisan Design Team term!! From chatting with some of the new Artisans, I can already tell this is going to be a great year filled with lots of inspiration and talent. I can't wait to share more with you but for now thank you to all those who have been so kind in their congratulations. Your support is heartwarming.

Here are a few samples I put together for display at Onstage. There is a lot of versatility to be discovered in the Go Wild Designer Paper Stack! Seriously, it's a little undiscovered gem in the Annual Catalogue. Get some!

The main products for these projects are listed below.

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Stampin' Up! Artisan Blog Hop Treasure Hunt Winner - NZ!

Thank you to ALL our Artisan Treasure Hunt participants across the globe last week. It was so fun to see over 200 entries rolling in.

The winner for my area (New Zealand) is Melissa Saunders-Loder! CONGRATULATIONS!!

I will be emailing you soon to arrange shipping. These guys are all yours!!!

Want to see some of the other lucky winners and more inspiration along the way?
Hop across to Allison next.

Sparkly Seasons & Seasonal Frame Thinlits ~ Stampin' Up! Artisan Blog Hop Finale

Boohoohooo.... it's the last blog hop of the Artisan 2014-15 team! What a great year+ it has been. These gals are actually incredible. Check out our farewell Treasure Hunt competition below...

This week we're going out in sparkly style with the Sparkly Seasons stamps and Seasonal Frame Thinlits dies. You can get them in a bundle for 15% off at NZD$92.50. I'm sure we're going to see lots of versatility with them this week.

Here's my notecard (again with the notecard size - just so convenient). I was planning my daughter's 5th and had ice cream on the brain when I noticed the snow for the dome also looks like sprinkles! FUN.

I used the snow dome base stamp to create a bit of 'texture' on the cone. I stamped off first on scrap paper to give a lighter image.

Hey hey, it's the Great Artisan Treasure Hunt! 

Be in to win when you collect all 12 clues! 

This week is our very last blog hop as the 2014-15 Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team. We've set up a global Treasure Hunt as a little thanks to you for following our adventures. 

Here's how to play:
1) Collect the names of 12 Stampin' Up! products by clicking through our blog hop this week.
2) Fill out the entry form below. 

Here's my clue: 2" Circle Punch

And these could be all yours if you're in my area! Get playin' New Zealand!

• Cheer all Year photopolymer stamp set
• Jolly Christmas clear mount stamp set
• 20 sheets 6x6" Merry Moments Designer Paper
• Cherry Cobbler Ribbon
• Old Olive Thick Baker's Twine

Please note: One winner will be drawn per Artisan according to their geographical location. 

Entries close 9pm, Wednesday 4th November Eastern Time (US); (That's 2pm Thursday 5th November for us, Kiwis.) 

Winners will be contacted week beginning 9th November 2015. 

These prizes are a bit of love from us to you and are not sponsored by Stampin' Up!

Next on the hop is Teneale! Thanks for stopping by. Go find some more clues!

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Jolly Christmas ~ Stampin' Up! Artisan Blog Hop

All I can think of when I see this stamp is the smooth sound of Michael Buble singing 'Have a Holly Jolly Christmas...'. Not going to complain about that!

I played around a lot with this Jolly Christmas stamp set. These fonts are loud and fun. Here's a notecard I came up with using Smoky Slate and Pool Party.

I can't wait to see what the other Artisans have come up with using this set! Love the deer.

This Artisan Team is almost at a close with just the last week in October to go. I hope you'll follow and continue to watch our blogs for more great inspiration. xo

Let's go see what my friend 'across the ditch' has made. Teneale, you're up!

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Thankful Forest Friends ~ Stampin' Up! Artisan Blog Hop

The Facebook showcase this month is our last one as the 2014-15 Artisan Design Team. We have just a couple of blog hops left before we disband and then of course welcome the new Artisans. How amazing this year has been!! How happy I am to have gained so many wonderful friends near and far - including you - my readers. How fun it has been to fill your lives with Stampin' Up! inspiration each week. Before I get more soppy or overdramatic....

We're featuring the Thankful Forest Friends and Into the Woods suite this week! These little forest animals are seriously the cutest. With my project I challenged myself to think out the square and went for a Christmassy polar bear and completely different colour combo to the one so well put together in the catalogue. Without further ado, here's my creation. 

Now let's go see what Teneale has made! Can't wait to see...

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Acorny Thank You ~ Stampin' Up! Artisan Blog Hop

Acorny Thank You was such an easy set to get going with this week - school holidays and all! It has the perfect balance of cute images and sentiments. Here's what I made...

'Nuts About You' seemed pretty baby appropriate to me so I made a 6x8" page first. Goodness me they grow up fast don't they?! He's fast approaching two.

And for the card makers out there here's a 3.5x5" notecard for you! Same design and literally took a few minutes to whip up. I stamped the acorns on watercolour paper and I like the soft look it gave.

Tip: I used a method I saw on Krista Frattin's blog for the splashes of Pumpkin Pie. Flick the brush end of your marker outwards from the inner rim of your lid. Tap out excess ink before replacing the lid. Easy peasy!

Next up is the amazing Teneale Williams!! Happy hopping everyone...

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Project Life Seasonal Snapshot 2015 ~ Stampin' Up! Artisan Blog Hop

I might have gone to town on this great new Project Life card collection, Seasonal Snapshot 2015... But only because they've made it so easy for us! So much to share!

Hope you get inspired to try something new on our Artisan Blog Hop this week. As always, thanks for stopping by. 

{Psst - As a busy Mum of three (and a half??) I'm feeling pretty amazing after managing to sort though, print and pocket all of my 2013 photos. I really am sold on Project Life!! Are you?}

Let's go see what Teneale has created!!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Project Life Seasonal Snapshot 2015

Inks: Watermelon Wonder, Project Life Journaling Pens

Papers: Seasonal Snapshot 2015 Card Collection, Everyday Chic Designer Series Paper, Pool Party, Gold Glimmer Paper, Watermelon Wonder, Notecards and Envelopes

Accessories: Seasonal Snapshot 2015 Accessory Pack, Project Life Photo Pocket Pages (12x12 Variety Pack 1), Gold Metallic Thread, Basic Black Baker's Twine, 1 3/4 Circle Punch, Confetti Hearts Border Punch, Medium Star Punch

Among The Branches Christmas Gift Set ~ Stampin' Up! Artisan Blog Hop

Welcome to another week of inspiring projects from the Artisan Team. We're featuring the Among the Branches stamp set and Woodland embossing folder. Hope you have fun hop hop hoppin'...

Here's a little gift set I made. Slip the cards inside the bag for a gift as it is or use one of the card designs and pop a present inside the bag. Super easy and super fun. Don't you love our Balloons Framelits as baubles?? The Dazzling Diamond Glimmer paper was great for that!

These cards are made to fit our notecard size envelopes, by the way.

Next let's check out what Teneale has made!

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A Little Something Double Slider ~ Stampin' Up! Artisan Blog Hop

Here's a fun way to use the Square Pillow Box Thinlits! The size and shape of the pillow box had me sold from the get-go AND as it turns out I love it just as much when it's flat.

I made a Christmas party invitation with a fun twist. Those of you who've been around for a while might remember the double slider trend?? Well I'm breaking it out again with fresh new products...

Hello to friends who've clicked through from our September Artisan Facebook Showcase :)

Want to make your own? Here's how...

You will need:

Two pillow box cut outs - Smoky Slate

One inner mechanism - Thick Whisper White 3 15/16 x 4 7/16"

Two sliders - Whisper White 3 7/16 x 4"

1) On your inner mechanism piece cut along black lines as shown. They're 1/2" down from top and 1/4" in from side. Add a strip of plastic bag through the slits and tape to make a plastic loop. Not to tight not too loose. 

2) Attach your sliders. One will attach at bottom and one at top on the reverse side as pictured.

3) Stick pillow box together on one egde. Adhere white insides to the Smoky Slate at very edges of the long sides only. Test that it slides and then close remaining pillow box flap. Decorate.

Let's go see what Teneale has made!

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Altered Sweet Hauntings ~ Stampin' Up! Artisan Blog Hop

We're in the second week of September and therefore the second week of showcasing lots of cool new products from the Holiday Catalogue! Hope you're enjoying it as much as I am!!

This week as you blog hop, feast your eyes on lots of inspiration with the Sweet Hauntings set. I've made an everyday card using our Note Cards and Envelopes pack. I love how versatile the Happy Haunting papers are too. This card sort of became like a rocket flying past the moon in space!

Let's go see what Teneale has made! 

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