Secret Sister « Nicole Stalker

July Secret Sister gifts

For the second month of the Secret Sister swap over on Stampin’ Up! in Oz I was just as spoilt as the first. For this month the requirements are the same as the first. 2 handmade cards and a small gift between $5 – $8.

I ended up receiving 3 cards. 2 separately during the month and then one with my gift. My gift was above the minimum too which of course I appreciate but it really isn’t necessary. I just hope my Secret Sister doesn’t feel she needs to just because she’s been paired with the group owner…..hahaha. If you are reading this Secret Sister I do thank you but please don’t feel you have to go above and beyond.

So would you like to see all the cards and gifts she sent me??

Silly question. Of course you would.

Here are the 2 cards I received during the month.

Aren’t they both lovely.

Now for the wonderful gifts I received.

Up the back is a Fancy Favor box made out of clear window sheet which has then been lined with the Sweet Always DSP. Inside is a cello bag full of mini Milky Ways & Mars Bars. I’d actually forgotten they were in there as I have all these items displayed on my cupboard. I know what I’ll be eating later…..hahaha.

Next to this is a little bag which I think is from Timeless Templates and inside was a handmade beaded phone charm. Just gorgeous. Sorry I don’t have a picture to show you.

Now in the front on the right of course is the gorgeous coordinating card using lots of Big Shot things. My Secret Sister has used the Polka Dot textured plate on the white background layer, the Top Note die for the main piece and of course the Little Leaves die as part of the main image. Just gorgeous.

Lastly is this gorgeous box which contained a packet of Stampin’ Dimensionals and a 2-Way Glue Stick. I wonder how she knew I had almost finished my 2-Way Glue stick and I really need to order a new one. Don’t have to worry about that now, not for a while anyway..

Thank you again Secret Sister. I’m so loving your items I’m receiving and can’t wait for the reveal during August so I can thank you properly.

Till next time……

Angel Gift

You may recall, that is if you have been reading my blog for a little while, that a few months back I was participating in my 3rd Round of Secret Sister in ESAD. I was very spoilt by my Secret Sister and I’m pretty sure the demo I sent to was happy with her gifts also but sometimes these swaps don’t always go according to plans. Be it life, unexpected illness or some other unexpected event, sometimes people don’t meet their commitments. This unfortunately was the case with some demonstrators and therefore their partners did not received all they were entitled to. The lovely organiser of the group therefore called on some other players to become Angel Sisters. I was happy to offer to send an extra gift to one of these ladies and today I’m going to share what I sent.

In her questionnaire she listed that she liked the stamp set “A Rose is a Rose” so I decide to use it before it retires. I teamed it with the Bella Rose DSP and coordinating cardstock, ribbon & ink colours.

Here’s the whole set (and I must apologise in advance for the photos as I forgot to snap some at home before going off to mail them so rather than come back and go out again I took them in the car on my phone…..lo)

Unfortunately you won’t be able to tell in any of the pictures but all the large roses and leaves have Dazzling Diamonds glitter in highlighted areas too.

First up I made the little ‘Tucked Away’ box from Timeless Templates.

Inside this box I placed a 1/2 dozen or so 2m lengths of some Stampin’ Up ribbons.

Next up I made a Chocolate Slider.

This of course contains a family sized Kit Kat chocolate bar.

The next item I made was the gift box.

Inside the gift box I packed a lot of consumable items – Stampin’ Dimensionals, snail refill, hemp twine, linen thread, brads, sanding blocks and sticky strip. I think these always come in handy and is usually what I always list on my questionnaires. I hope the recipient feels the same way.

And last of all came the card.

I was really happy with the end results and so hope the recipient enjoyed them too.

Till next time….

Secret Sister June

Over on Stampin’ Up in Oz we’ve started another round of Secret Sister. This round goes from June to August. In case you were wondering Stampin’ Up in Oz is not a demonstrator only group its a group for anyone who loves Stampin’ Up and lives in Australia.

I received some lovely cards and gifts from my Secret Sister last month which I’m going to share with you now.

This is the first card and an extra gift I received. This gift was over what was required this month anyway but it was mentioned in the card that this wasn’t my months gift it was something extra as it was my birthday earlier in June as you may have read on a post a few weeks back.

Isn’t this just gorgeous. I so love the colour combination used on this card, the layout and of course the stamp set. I haven’t used this set, Embrace Life, in ages but must pull it out real soon. I also now have my own ‘special’ pair of snips that no one will be able to mistake as theirs……. This is a great way to use up some of those full glass beads and pearls from the Pretties Kit that I know I tend to always have left over.

So what did I receive from my 2nd card and actual June Gift???

All this…..

Wasn’t I spoilt?

I received a gorgeous card, chocolate slider, pillow box filled with some Antique Brass hodgepodge (retired) and a card wallet containing 3 cards complete with decorated envelopes.

Aren’t they lovely. I love Rich Razzleberry and am so happy that it will be a permanent colour after September 1st along with Soft Suede, also used in this ensemble.

Thank you again Secret Sister.

Of course I’ve also made some goodies to send to my Secret Sister but I can’t show you those until September after the reveal has been done.

Till next time……

Secret Sister gifts sent for May

This is the main gift & card that I sent my sister, Kerri Donsky, for May which is the final month.

I made, what I’m calling, a desktop caddy for Kerri which has a compartment in the back section to put some On Board Chipboard. Hopefully Kerri has room on her desk and will put it to use.

The drawers all contained some goodies to play with too.

The top drawers had Flower Fusion, Flower Fusion Too and Die Cut Blooms.

The middle drawers had Linen Thread and Square Metal tags.

The bottom drawers had Taffeta ribbon and Hemp Twine.

I originally wanted to put some Rhinestone Brads into one of the drawers but the container wouldn’t fit so I made this mini pizza box for those.

I couldn’t send her final gift without including some more Lindt Chocolate so I made this Chocolate Slider to coordinate.

Here’s a closer look at the card that completed the whole set.

and the inside

Of course there needed to be a second card for the month to complete my commitment and here that is.

I’ve gone with one of my favourite sets for this card, Fifth Avenue Floral, but have used Chocolate Chip and Pink Pirouette that Kerri likes. I’ve also thrown in some Regal Rose.

Some finishing touches to the inside.

So that’s the end of Round 3 Secret Sister in our demonstrator group ESAD.

Till next time….

Secret Sister gift sent for April

For April I decided to send the gift with the first card. I chose to use the gorgeous Raspberry Tart Designer Series Papers (it’s one of the DSP’s available for the Deal of the Week this week) which is one of my favourite.

Yes I made her one of those lovely handbags which I then ended up making for my daughter Lauren’s Birthday Party gift bags. However I did not put the same things inside…..lol

I wasn’t too sure about this card when I started it as I could not find a sentiment stamp that I thought fit. Then I had a brainwave and remembered that I’d only just purchase the Alphabet die set for my big shot. I think the ‘hi’ ended up finishing off the card really well.

Now what did I put inside the bag. Well there was lollies but of the Chocolate kind.

I filled up a medium sized cello bag with Lindt White Chocolates and made a matching bag topper to coordinate with the handbag & card using the Top Note Die (so loving my Big Shot). There was a roll of 1/4” grosgrain ribbon and a pack of Build-A-Brads. Just a few things on her Wishlist.

I just hope she’s been using them……

For the second card this month I used another of her favourite stamp sets and that is Pocket Silhouettes. This was one of the first sets I had to have when the IB&C was released last year but I must admit I haven’t used it a great deal. I think that’s an indication not that I don’t really like it but that I have too much stuff……. Is there such a thing??