Guest Blogger: Sally Rice with “Springtime Hello”

The very talented Sally made this gorgeous card as a swap for an upcoming 2014 Seasonal Catalogue Swap.

Sally featured the beautiful stamp set “Springtime Hello” on her card, and used the “Painter’s Tape” technique.

I just ♥ the little bee hovering over the flowers, so cute!

 

 

 

Sally’s tip, if purchasing the clear Mount set, that you can cut the words in two, so instead of having a single stamp saying “hello spring!” you can then have two stamps, one saying “hello” and the other “spring!” {which can also be put back together again to say “hello spring!”}, which make this stamp set all the more versatile.

This can also work with any other worded Clear Mount stamp set - thanks Sally!

“Springtime Hello”

#133415 Clear Mount NZ$22.95

#133412 Wood Mount NZ$28.95

 

 

"Scalloped Tag Topper Punch"

#133324 NZ$47.95

Recipe Ingredient List

Stamp Set: "Springtime Hello"

Cardstock: Naturals White, Pool Party, Crumb Cake

Ink: Stazon Black, Pool Party, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Crushed Curry (Stampin’ Marker), Crumb Cake (sponged)

Punch: Scalloped Tag Topper

Embossing Folder: Needlepoint Border, Honeycomb

Other: Summer Starfruit Stitched Satin Ribbon, Linen Tread, Envelope Punch Board (used for corner rounding)

Stampin’ Up! Sale-A-Bration 2014!!!

The best time of the craftin’ year has just started, it’s Stampin’ Up! Sale-A-Bration 20141!!!

For all orders placed 28^th January 2014 till 31^st March 2014, earn FREE Sale-A-Bration gifts when you spend NZ$110

I have already earnt the “Banner Blast”, “You’re Lovely”, and “See Ya Later” stamp sets {In Clear Mount of course!!!} to add to my 70+ stamp sets!

PLUS the Banner Punch … ALL FOR FREEEEEEEE!!!!

 

 

 

For the dets check out my Stampin' Up! website ...

 

 

Plus today is the start of the new Stampin' Up! Occasions brochure "Celebrate The Everyday", which is jam packed full of AWEsome Stampin' Up! goodies, + all purchases of NZ$110 qualify for a Sale-A-Bration reward, please see above.

To view the new brochure online, please go to my Stampin' Up! website

 

What with 3 brochures to order from, now is the time to get craftin'!!!

 

 

 

Two Weeks And Counting …

These Summer Holidays must be the loooongest on record!!!

The kids finished school 20^th December, and Reilly who is at Intermediate {Middle School} doesn’t go back to school till Monday fortnight – that’s the 10th of February, that’s 7 weeks of holidays!!!

Yesterday’s adventure has spilled over into today, and got even bigger!

The kids yesterday turned our open plan Kitchen/Dining Room/Family Room into a huge Hutt/Fort!

 

 

They grabbed their duvets, mattresses and sheets and draped them over the Pool Table, and any other furniture they could drag in to their Hutt.

 

 

They used piles of books as {paper}weights to help keep their creation from disintegrating.

 

At present they are having a sleepover with a friend, under the Pool Table, which is {somewhere} under the white duvet cover.

 

 

Last night they did the same, and I didn’t know they were in there, as the room looked like a huge patchwork quilt.

 

 

I went into the kitchen at midnight to do the dishes and clean up after dinner, when a small voice said “Mum what are you doing?”

I was very surprised to hear Reilly, as I thought the kids were in their rooms fast asleep!

Well, I wonder how late tonight the chit chat will be, as it is already after 11pm and I can STILL hear little voices coming from under the Pool Table, I mean the Hutt!!!

Best $6 Ever Spent … “THE Chocolate Fountain”

My daughter JorjaRose had saved her pocket money up {she gets $3 a week!}, and our local department store had a sale on, AND we came across a Chocolate Fountain for $6!!!

Looooong story short, I encouraged her to buy it {not for my eating pleasure of course!!!}.

So far we have tried Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate and Cadbury White Chocolate, both were extra yummy!

I cut up healthy strawberries and bananas, and not so healthy marshmallows!

The best ever were toasted marshmallows {toasted on the gas cook-top}, then dunked in delicious chocolate … mmmmmmm Heaven with a capital H!

We also tried toasting the bananas, which caramelised them a bit, and the strawberries too!

 

 

 

 

 

My top tip is NOT to melt the chocolate in the microwave, as the instruction sheet says!!!

Tis what {unbeknownst to me} JorjaRose did, I woke up to the house smelling rancid, as the first block of chocolate was burnt to a crisp and the whole house was stunk out!

Instead, place water in a pot on the cook-top, place a bowl on top of the water, melt the chocolate and cooking oil in the bowl, stirring occasionally.

I used way less cooking oil than the instruction sheet said, which is much healthier too!

 

 
Calories wise, my rule of thumb is, there only as many calories counted, as time spent on the stick.

Therefore each gorgeous morsel is worth 5 calories!!!

 

 

 

I may just have to limit this treat to once a week, instead of every second night!

A New Dress Needs New Jewellery Of Course!!!

I recently became the proud owner of an Annah S Chameleon Dress called “Little Miss Daffodil”.

AnnahStretton makes these gorgeous dresses, called “Chameleon’s” as they can be worn 10 different ways, they are multi-sized, so that a Medium will fit a size 10-16 .

The "Little Miss Daffodil" Chameleon Dress is in gorgeous hues of brown with taupe patterns, yellow, purple and lace. The yellow almost verges on chartreuse.

 

 

Well as soon as I received my dress, I had to design a piece of jewellery to go with it.

This is my first jewellery line, which I plan to market at $35 for the necklace and earrings set.

 

 

Each piece is unique, as I utilise all of my many arts and crafts and beauty supplies to create the gorgeous and unique patterns.

I have had so many positive compliments whilst wearing my new dress (and jewellery!), and even the ladies at Silvermoon made comments!