Weekly deals

This week we have some very special deals. Check these out... 

Perfect print Number dies $32.21  ! Project life dies $32.21, silver buttons $10.46 and a hole punch $11.96, or the scallop border punch $20.96. 

Which ones are your favourites?

A challenge with Washi tape feathers.

Each month our Stampin' Up team (The Inksomniacs) have a challenge to keep the creative juices flowing and to inspire us. This month we have a card sketch to use as inspiration.

 

My creative process starts usually with colours, stamp images and then i design the layout.

So this is what's challenging for me, to start at the end and work backwards.

I have been working with Christmas colours lately like real red, old olive and gold ribbons so that was my base.

I added washi tape to create the horizontal element on the background and ran the whole card base through the big shot and dotted embossing folder.

I also like to repeat the colours in the images that I stamp... But I hadn't stamped anything yet!

I was experimenting with putting washi tape on different cardstock colours. 

Gold on elegant eggplant and blue on shimmer white cardstock.

To make it more interesting I die cut some feathers and they came out quite well so I stuck them on the card on an old olive Apothecary art Framelit.

Tied on some gold bakers twine and gold ribbon as per the card sketch and now, all it needs is a sentiment. It's no longer a Christmas card so maybe Birthday, A thank you or thinking of you?

Weekly deals

This week's deals from 15th to 22nd of October are:

See the pictures clearly in the store: 

http://www3.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ItemList.aspx?categoryid=955

The doily thinlits die for $32.21

Envelope liner dies $34.46

Floral Framelits $34.46

Label card thinlits die $41.96

Moustache die $10.46

Wood mounted Truly grateful stampset $36.71

To place an order you can go to the online store and select Nerida from NSW as your demo or,

Send me an email at nerida_carter@hotmail.com and I will add yours to my next order.

The creative blog hop

This week I was invited to be part of The Creative Blog Hop by the talented Linda Higgins.   This is a fun way for bloggers to "pass the baton" and help showcase the blogs of other's whose work we admire.  Lots of different people both here in Australia and also overseas have taken part in the blog hop.

Part of the task involves answering several questions that let you know a little more about my work.  So here we go...

1. What am I working on now?
Stamping and crafting with paper and ink is one of my favourite ways to relax and zone out from all the realities of life. So I am often working on several projects at once. My dining table is usually covered in unfinished objects, piles of cardstock and half finished cards.

Right now I am working on several Project Life pages featuring photos from the recent school holidays. I love how easy and instant PL recording can be. Just print a bundle of photos, slide them in with a  journaling card, maybe add a sticker or two and you've finished your page. I am planning and designing my projects for upcoming classes and of course making Christmas cards and birthday cards to give, donate and sell.

2.    How does my work differ from others in my genre?

From my perspective, My style changes gradually from season to season, year to year depending upon the trending styles, stamps and products available. I like to dip into different genres. Some crafters have a very distinctive style that you can pick at a glance. Please let me know if you find mine. 

My cards are mostly very simple with very few layers. Sometimes it's a matter of knowing when to stop and my mantra is "less is more" but I don't always abide by it!

3.      Why do I create what I do?

I often ask myself this question. It's an obsession. I have to create, i need to share my creations and it is my time to myself. 

I create because I enjoy the process and the result. I make cards to donate to charities, markets, shops, family and friends. I love giving my cards. Especially the pleasure you know that a handmade card or gift can bring to the person who opens it. I appreciate all things handmade. It has a sense of time well spent, a small gift of oneself which is something to keep and enjoy. 

4.      How does my creative process work?

I do enjoy flicking through paper craft magazines, catalogues and Pinterest on line. I am often inspired by a colour combination in a shopwindow, fabric or home ware. I get home and I just have to create something with that style or colours in mind. My inspiration often starts with a product, tool or colour that I want to feature in a class, but just as often it is a birthday celebration approaching that I need to make a card or present for. When I am presented with a blank canvas I usually go to my Stampin up catalogues and get inspired by a clever layout and combination of products used, then I tweak it up with my own colours textures and stamps. 

Ok.. so now I get to introduce you to another blogger that I admire. Felicity Hawkins. Felicity's blog is called "Felicity's Craft corner" and you can see it here: Felicity.

Felicity  and I met when we both signed up as Stampin' Up! Demonstrators back in 2008 and attended a training event at Darling Harbour. We exchanged email addresses and swapped handmade cards. We've been to several Stampin' up! conventions together and I always look forward to team training events so we can catch up and stamp together. Felicity's stamping style is so pretty, elegant and inspirational and her work has been published regularly in print magazines. I love her work and you will too.

Here is a bit more about Felicity in her own words...

I’m Felicity and I live on the Central Coast of NSW (Australia). I am a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.
I started making cards 14 years ago with my daughter. I then discovered scrapbooking and have enjoyed all types of papercraft since. My first introduction to Stampin Up was a party I attended with Linda Higgins as the demonstrator.  When I arrived home and spent hours looking through the catalogue I knew I wanted to join, as I wanted everything in the catalogue. I have made so many wonderful, lifelong friends through my journey with Stampin Up. It is so nice to have something I can call mine. Something I enjoy and I create with my own two hands and to share with loved ones.

Thank you for visiting my blog today as part of the Creative Blog Hop. I am always interested to know what kinds of cards and projects you'd like to see more of so feel free to comment below.

 Don't forget to visit Felicity's blog next Monday too! 

The busy woman's Christmas card collection.

Happy World card making day! 

Most people wouldn't know that 4 October is celebrated world wide for card making. It's an opportunity for us all to make a few cards to give away and share the love.

To help us celebrate Stampin' Up! is offering a great special for WCMD, its a good excuse for us to get some great products at a discount to celebrate the day! 

And hopefully you'll get a chance to make a card for someone, too.

This is a quick sale - it's only available until Monday, October 6th! 

To celebrate World Card Making day, we are offering various specials. 

There's 15% off all Classic inkpads - all colours! 

Also 15% off mixed cardstock A4 packs, Whisper White cardstock, envelopes and Fast Fuse Adhesive.

Even better, there's 20% off 5 different stamp sets. !!!

To see what's on sale, the best way is to look at the online shop, on the website here.

 You can order directly online or if you prefer email nerida_carter@hotmail.com and let me know what you'd like and I can organise it for you.

Ok so where's the card you ask?

I've just realised its like October and I am very short of Christmas cards which I like to start sending out in November.

Solution: create a bundle of cards that can be made up at night in less than an hour.

It must have fewer than 5 steps. ( stamp, punch, cut, and stick).

Here's my first attempt. 

Step 1. Emboss the lost lagoon cardstock with polka dots embossing on lost lagoon cardstock.

Step 2. Punch a tag top onto a 2" piece of whisper white CS. 

Step 3. Stamp "Holiday Home" in Mossy Meadow and trees, reindeer, snowman in Lost Lagoon ink.

Step 4. Cut strips of silver glimmer paper for the chimney top, roof and base of tag.

Step 5. Cut ribbons, attach and glue it all together with Tombow liquid glue.

You could easily make ten or more of these cards in a night and be well on your way to a nice pack of Christmas cards to send out to friends and family next month.

A work of art with Festival of Trees

 This is a card I designed for a stamping party last week. I really enjoyed creating my little landscape inside the photo frame. It reminds me of the instamatic photos my mum used to take in the seventies.

I think you can get a retro modern version these days. You take the picture and it develops before your eyes.

Such a simple design. 

I've "painted"my clouds with the smaller "work of art" stamp in Soft Sky and hills with pear pizazz.

The Festival of trees is photopolymer so you can bend the words to shape your sentiment to fit into a smaller shape. As I did on the label punch accented with a glimmer paper star.

The cherry cobbler frame is one of the "on Film" Framelits.

Give me a call if you'd like to book a party and make some miniature works of art.

Nerida 0468877125.

Celebrate, stamp, Stock and save!

Did you know World Cardmaking Day is on the 4th October? 

So, to celebrate Stampin' Up! is holding the Stamp, Stock, and Save Promotion from 1-6 October. 

For this very limited time, you'll be able to purchase ALL Classic Inkpads 15% off! 

Thats right All Ink pads are: $8.46 each!

Select cardstock, envelopes and adhesive 15% off! 

Mixed cardstock packs are $10.16 and whisper white card is $12.71

Oh yeah, lets stock up!

Plus 5 great stamp sets are 20% off! 

It's the perfect opportunity for us to stock up on some Stampin' Essentials.

Click here to see the flyer.

Here's the list of stamps on sale at 20% off

Big News (Clear)

Was $55.95

Now $44.76

Playful Pennants (Clear)

28.95

Now $23.16

Choose Happiness (Clear)

30.95

Now $24.76

Petite Pairs (Clear)

Was $39.95     Now $31.95 So Very Happy (Clear)  Was $30.95 Now $24.76

Choose Happiness now $24.76 ( in clear ).

To take advantage of this offer, just email me at nerida_carter@hotmail.com and I am happy to place an order for you. 

But hurry - this offer ends on Monday 6th October.