ATSM Challenge #100

WOW WOW WOW! I am so excited today and have lots to share with you. Today is our 100th Challenge! Not only that but it is our 

2ND BIRTHDAY!!!

Geez louise, where has the time gone? What a wonderful challenge blog ATSM has become due to the amazing followers we have and the ever-inspiring Design Team. Thank you all so very, very much for your support. I love my challenge blogs and without you it certainly wouldn't be possible. 

I have met so many wonderful friends. It is such an amazing community to be a part of. 

I love this community so much that to try and give back to you all, I have created a brand new community just for us. A brand new craft forum is at your fingertips. Become a member and introduce yourself, take part in the discussions, try a tutorial and join in on competitions. What more could you want?? (well there is a suggestion box just in case, lol). 

Click on the image above to take you there!

Onto the birthday celebrations! We have a photo for your inspiration today -

 

You may like to create a birthday card using the photo as inspiration!

Here is my DT card -

 

This is a birthday card especially for my niece who just turned.... well, I think you can figure it out ;)

There is absolutely no stamping on this card except for the inside where I used a Happy Birthday stamp by Paper Smooches.

The dies are from Lil' Inkers. I love them!!!!! The number 1 is a chipboard piece that I covered with DSP.

We have a wonderful sponsor for you this week with a prize pack of 3 images up to $10 from their store!

 

I would also like to enter my card into the following challenges -

Tuesday Throwdown - Celebration

Cuttin' and Stampin' Challenge - Birthdays

Love to Create - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for looking and please don't forget to pop on over to

Thanks so much for looking xx

STAMPlorations Sketch #14

Hello everyone! How are you? Today I have a card to share with you as we have a brand new sketch challenge over at STAMPlorations for you to play along with.

Let's have a look at the sketch -

When I was creating my card, the lines at the top of the sketch sort of turned into the bottom of my card. So with that, I turned the sketch upside down, lol

Here is my DT card

I am just a little in love with these stamps! They are part of the new release for July. There is a pre-release sale on now!

6 new stamp sets are coming to the shop in a few weeks, and we're celebrating the release with a birthday blog hop that begins on June 26 because STAMPlorations turns one this month!

A birthday blog hop? Yep, we are celebrating in style!

 

The birthday hop will start on the 26th of June and run through until the 2nd of July. Save the date because there will be LOTS of goodies to be won!

 Off you go to the challenge blog and join in with this fun sketch!

I would also like to enter this card into the following challenges -

Mema's Craft - Only Men Allowed

Inkspirational - CAS

Creative Corner Challenges - Just for Boys

Thanks so much for looking!!

Addicted to Stamps - Challenge #99

Hellooooooo! How are you all? I hope you are well wherever you are in the world. 

We are well into winter here in Australia and things are cooling down particularly in the states further south of me. Here in Queensland, it isn't too bad. The temperatures are still very civilized but we have very cool and gusty winds at the moment which makes it feel a lot cooler than it actually is. Still, barefeet and t-shirts so I can't complain :)

Onto our new challenge over at Addicted to Stamps and More. This week we have our

CLEAN AND SIMPLE 

challenge. You can create anything you like but remember to keep it CAS.

Here is my DT card -

This little cutie is a freebie from Christine over at Create A Smile. I have coloured him in with my Spectrum Noir's, cut him out and popped him up over a stamp from the Gorgeous Grunge (SU) set. The sentiment is from Paper Smooches. The little stars are from my stash.

I think he looks a little like a superhero :)

We have a fabulous sponsor and prizes this week

who are offering 3 digis from their store for our winner!

I would also like to enter this into the following challenges

Inkspirational - CAS

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes / Best Friends

One stitch at a Time - Use a Digi

Lia Stampz - CAS

Card and Scrap - CAS

Thanks so much for looking xx

Watercolouring for beginners

Hi there everyone! I hope you are well and being crafty today.

After I created my card for the current challenge at ATCAS (I used watercolouring), I sort of got the watercolouring bug and today I have been playing around. I had also remembered that Shery from STAMPlorations had shared a video so I went searching for it. This technique is so easy. I have never done anything like this before, so if I can do it then you can too!

 

 

Here is my card -

 

 

 

 

I simply used a watercolour pad (postcard size) and went to town with my SU inks and brush. The effect is pretty cool and I loved this considering it was my first attempt. 

 

The sentiment is from Inspired by Stamping called Everyday Greetings. As this set has never been inked up, I would like to enter my card into the brand new challenge being held over at DJKardKreations where Darnell is hosting a challenge for NBUS.

 

 

 

I would also love to enter this card over at TIME OUT challenges. I haven't had a chance to play along at this awesome blog yet. The theme there for this fortnight is Summer with the optional twist of flowers. I love my roses and I love summer. 

 

Over at The Kraftyhands Challenge blog, they would like to see Floral Fancy! Last but not least, at Live & Love Crafts the theme is Summer Garden.

 

I'm off to find different flowers to create and see if I can teach myself how to do the foliage a bit better ;)

 

Thanks so much for looking xx

 

 

ATCAS #40

Yay, Happy Saturday everyone!

We have a brand new challenge over at Addicted to CAS and we hope you will join in.

The ever so talented Karen is your hostess and here is the code word that she has chosen for us to create with this fortnight -

I grabbed out an old SU set that I LOVE but don't really use that often. Why is that?? It is called 'Loads of Love'.

Here is my DT card -

I have stamped straight onto watercolour paper and used SU inks and a paintbrush to colour the image. The bits and pieces in the back of the ute are from the Loads of Love Accessories set. I have used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to place the stamps where I wanted them.

I know someone who has just moved to a new home so this will be popped in the mail for her.

We have a wonderful sponsor again this fortnight -

The prize is 5 digis to Kathryne's store!

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges

Creative Corner Challenges - use an old stamp

Stampin for the Weekend - Anything Goes

Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for looking xx

 

STAMPlorations June Challenge

Happy Friday everyone! We have a brand new challenge starting right NOW over at STAMPlorations! 

It is our monthly challenge where we are asking you to use

 

We also have wonderful prizes for you -

June Challenge Winner:

If you use our stamps, you will win 2 stamp sets of your choice. If you don't use our stamps, that's ok, you will win 1 stamp set of your choice. Everyone is eligible to win!!

Here is my DT card -

 

I have used very earthy tones for my card. I thought it would be perfect for a man. 

This card came together so easily. Once I had decided which stamps to use, it was a matter of choosing colours and just repetitive stamping. 

Jute string was the finishing touch.

Well! I hope to see you playing along with our monthly challenge. Don't forget we also have our fortnightly sketch challenges too. If you play along in ALL our challenges for the month, you will be in the running to win 

 

Awesome!!!

And updated - My good friend Sandie directed me over to CAS-ual Fridays for their current challenge



They are looking for male cards with no kraft and some sort of ribbon (I hope my twine qualifies) :)
 

Thanks so much for looking xx

IBS - Combining new releases with the old

Hi there everyone! Today I am back to share with you my DT post for Inspired by Stamping.

Over at the challenge blog, you will find wonderful inspiration provided by the DT. PLUS our current challenge has this amazing photo for you to play with -

Choose one of the photos or combine them both to enter the challenge!

For my card today I have gone with a very neutral palette, concentrating on using white, brown and pink.

Here is my DT card -

I have used something new and something old for my card. The new release includes the wonderful Fancy Labels 3 set with co-ordinating Dies. These dies also co-ordinate with other IBS sets.

I have combined this new release set with some other beautiful IBS sets. The script that you can see in the center panel is from the Spring Lilacs set and the Washi tape stamp is from a set called Washi Tape.

The flower is from IBS and can be found here to purchase

I hope you will join us over at Inspired by Stamping for our challenge this month. There is still time to play along!

.

IBS - Happy Birthday

Hi there everyone! I am back today to share with you a card I have made using lots and lots of Inspired by Stamping goodies. 

This is a birthday card for a friend of mine. I love the colours in this card.

Here are the supplies I have used -

Fancy Labels 3 stamp set

Spring Lilacs stamp set

The Sky's the Limit stamp set

Vintage Crochet Trim

Daisy

Fancy Labels 3 Die

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges -

I have taken inspiration from the photo at the House of Cards. The flowers and the earthy tones are gorgeous.

also Card Mania would like you to use flowers and Fresh Brewed Challenge would like flowers and lace.

Thanks so much for looking xx

Post Holiday Depression - ATSM Challenge #98

Good morning everyone! How are you all?

How am I? I am sooo depressed! Why you may ask? It is just over 2 weeks since I got back from my epic holiday in London and Spain and I want to go back!!!

I miss all the girls (and Callum & Freddie) that I met while over there. I have so many amazing memories and wonderful photos of my journey. My mum asked me the other day if my holiday was just a distant memory now. I said no way!! I think of it every day, lol!! 

Over at ATSM our challenge this week is HOLIDAY.

So, I have created a card for ALL my friends that I met on the way.

First up was Sandie & Callum, Monika, Sue, Val, Sylvia and Marina. I met all these lovely ladies from our blogging community in London. I still can't believe that happened!! Sandie had to put up with me for a week.... poor thing :)

Then off I went to Spain where my hosts were Florence and Freddie. Wow! I love them to bits and cannot thank them enough for putting up with me for 3 weeks! THEN, we were graced by Marie's presence in Spain for 5 days. Marie came all the way from Greece to meet us (although I beat her in travelling time. It's a bloody long way from Australia to Europe!!). 

Here is my DT card which is for all of you!

 

 This is a very CAS card but there is heaps of inspiration from my holiday on here. 

Firstly, the thongs (ok, flip flops). I bought numerous pairs of shoes while in Spain and most of them had lots of bling on them. The bling on my die-cut thongs are actually from a packet that I bought in Spain.

While wearing a pair of these blingy thongs, Marie stood (fell) on my foot after we had copious amounts of.... um... water to drink. I have a scar now...

See my enamel dots? (My inspiration for these have come from Sandie.) They aren't enamel dots but ones that I have made myself. I went to the hardware shop (aka Bunnings) the other day and headed for the paint section. You know all the little colour samples they have for you to look at? Those swatches make awesome little additions to your craft room. The thongs have been die-cut from one of the swatches (the thickness of the swatch is perfect for die cutting and leaving you with a very sturdy die). I chose three other colours and used a hole punch and glossy accents to create my own little enamel dots! Easy peasy!

I think it's time to get the big camera out again as my little point and shoot isn't cutting the mustard for my cards. It was a fantastic camera to take away on holiday, though. Everyone loved my photos.

Oh the memories - London: red buses, the tube, the open bus city tour, the theatre, sushi, cocktails, chinese take away, freezing my bum off, lunch at the pub, crafting with Sandie, the sights, cocktails, the cobblestones ;), lunch with all the gorgeous ladies, cocktails, celebrating Callum's birthday, omg the list goes on and on.

Then Spain - the scenery, the goats, the chooks, Florence, seeing the African coastline, the Butterfly Farm, Freddie, Alcazaba, the Roman Theatre, Marie, dipping our toes in the Mediterranean Sea, freezing my toes off, the shopping, lunches, Lake Vinuela, Apple Crumble, Picasso Museum, The Venta (omg that was the best!), all the bloody bars we went to (loved it!!!), sitting on a cannon (umm ahhh), and this list goes on and on and on.

I printed off my first holiday photo to put in a frame today. I bought this frame at one of the many souvenir shops in London and thought it would be perfect for....

this photo of Sandie and I just before going in to watch Jersey Boys at the Picadilly Theatre. It was AWESOME!!

Holy cow, this is my longest post in history! Sorry to bore you....

Back to business at ATSM -

We also have the wonderful Kathryne as our sponsor for ATSM this week -

The prize on offer is 5 digis from her store!!

Just before I go - the dies that I have used on this card are from Lil' Inkers. I am a little obsessed with them right now. I bought about 4 sets not long ago and am only having a play with them now. I have always loved the stitched rectangles and just had to have them!

I would also like to enter my card into the following challenges -

Curtain Call - Something Simple

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for looking xx

STAMPlorations Sketch #13

Hi everyone!

Second day of winter here. It got a little coolish overnight but I can't complain - still in a t-shirt and bare feet. Love our weather!! lol

 I am so happy to be back designing for STAMPlorations after my big holiday overseas. Shery is the best boss and let me take annual leave! Thanks Shery!

Over at STAMPlorations, we have a sketch for you which you have a fortnight to play with.

Here is my DT card -

I have used another technique new to me. Can you guess what the colourful panel is? It is foil! I glued a piece of household foil to a piece of cardstock, embossed it with my Vintage Wallpaper folder, covered it with gesso, dripped alcohol inks over the top, blended black ink over the top and then sanded it down a little. I found this technique on Pinterest (via Vicki). It is pretty cool! You can watch it HERE on youtube.

The flower die is a new one (I have actually just purchased a number of new dies and can't wait to share the rest of them with you!). It is from Memory Box and called Tilth Floral. I have 3 die cuts on there. The little gem is from a packet I bought in Spain.

We are also very lucky to have a Guest Designer! Monika has made a beautiful card for you to drool over!

The gorgeous little sentiment is from the STAMPlorations Patchwork Frenzy: Graphic Squares set.

I hope you will play along this fortnight with our sketch!! There are prizes to be won for the month of June -

Thanks so much for looking xx

ATSM Challenge #97 - MAKE YOUR MARK

Hi there everyone! How are you all?

Today we have a brand new challenge over at ATSM where we want you to Make your Mark.

What does this mean? Well, you can use markers, pencils, crayons, paints and brushes etc on your project. 

I have also used a slightly different interpretation of this challenge due to the fact that I am still away from home and have limited supplies with me right now. I have had to improvise and you will soon see how :)

Here is my DT card -

As I don't have any markers with me (like I usually like to use for this challenge), I decided I could 'Make my Mark' a different way.

I grabbed a household sponge that has a silver cover on it (it makes it into a scourer). I used it to create the dotty background on this card. I decided I was making a mark and therefore this technique was perfect for the challenge ;) The bottom panel was sponged with the same household sponge but I cut away the silver cover first.

The stamp set I have used is a free set from Indigo Blu that I received in a magazine. Unfortunately there is no name on this set so I can't tell you what it is.

Our sponsor at ATSM this week is

The prize on offer is 3 digis!

Please pop on over to ATSM where you will find amazing inspiration from the DT!

I would also like to enter this card into the following challenge -

Indigo Blu #16 - Monochromatic

 Craft-room Challenge - Things with Wings

Lady Bug Crafts - Monochrome

Deep Ocean Challenge - Wings

Thanks so much for looking xx

IBS - Altered Photo Frame

Today I have created something a bit unusual for me for my DT post at Inspired by Stamping. 

While in Spain, I was so lucky to see Florence at work in her craft room. The altered books, frames, LP's etc are just incredible. Flo gave me some great tips when it came to painting a frame and giving it a distressed look. Thanks Flo!

 I haven’t altered a frame before and I am sure I have much to learn. But, here is my attempt.

I have used the new Basket of Flowers stamp set to create my picture for my frame.

I bought a frame from a local craft shop, covered it with gesso (yes, Flo, I bought gesso!). Once dry, I painted it with a brown acrylic paint and then pvc glue. While the glue was still ‘tacky’, I painted over it with white acrylic paint. This gives you a wonderful distressed look (thanks Florence!!!)

A few splatters of paint and twine finished off the frame.

I stamped my image and then coloured it with acrylic paints too. Using a very small brush, I was able to control the paint very well.

I wasn’t very neat, I just painted using different strokes to create texture on the flower pot.

This project was actually quite easy. The time consuming part is the preparation of the frame and the drying time between painting. With practice I hope to become as good as my mentor!! lol

IBS - Swirling Pinwheels

Hi everyone! 

I am back for my first DT post for Inspired by Stamping since being away on holiday. So much as happened at IBS. There are a heap of new releases so you should pop on over and check it out!

Today I am sharing a card that I have created using Swirling Pinwheels. This set is so much fun and very versatile!

I have used all three of the pinwheels and fussy cut them out (don’t forget that we have co-ordinating cut files for these stamps. You can find there HERE). I used small foam squares to pop them all up on top of one another.

When I saw the pinwheel handle, I knew it would be a great stamp to use for backgrounds. For this card, I thought that the three stamped handles in the same colours as the pinwheels would be perfect.

Isn’t that sentiment just perfect? This set is perfect for any occasion or gender. LOVE it!

Here is a close up of my pinwheel. A sparkly gem in the middle was the finishing touch.

Thanks so much for looking xx

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SANDIE!

How excited am I! Today is the birthday of my London Bestie, Sandie from London Days. I was so lucky to have visited with Sandie last month and had an amazing time that I will never forget.

Nonni and Lynn have put together a Surprise Birthday Linky Party for Sandie and everyone is invited to play along.

When this post goes live, I will have been back in Australia only for a few hours. I have scheduled this post while in Spain. I was lucky to have some crafting time with Florence so I was able to put something together especially for Sandie.

Happy Birthday Sandie. I hope you like my card!

 

The background stamp is from Chocolate Baroque. I wanted to make 'London' stand out (to symbolise my time spent with Sandie) so I masked off that word with a piece of post-it note and inked up the stamp in black. Then I removed the masked and inked up the word with red. 

See the London bus all popped up in its glory? That is a beautiful stamp which is part of a set that the gorgeous Valerie gave me when we (Sandie included) met up in London. That day was so wonderful meeting all those ladies from around our blogging community.

If you would like to join in on the festivities, you can pop on over to Nonni's blog where the link up is provided. I'm sure Sandie will LOVE to see your cards!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY FRIEND XX

ATSM Challenge #94

Hi everyone!

I have another card to share for you that I was lucky enough to create with Sandie.

It is for the challenge over at ATSM for our CAS challenge.

Here is my DT card -

 

This was a thank you card for Callum for zipping me around London when I was there.

This is all one layer except I decided to pop up the red bus. Gotta have a red bus!!

I would like to enter this into the following challenge -

Cardz for Guyz - Bingo (I chose Die Cut, Image and Sentiment)

Thanks so much for looking xx