Festive Flurry

Hi there everyone!!

I am very late with my DT post for Addicted to Stamps and More!

I was able to put something together very quickly last night and would like to share it with you now. This card is also one of three that will be made at my craft class next Wednesday morning.

Over at ATSM, we are asking you to create something Clean and Simple.

Here is my card -

I was finally able to use my new Festive Flurry stamps and dies. They are so beautiful!! I also love this non-traditional colour combo for Christmas. 

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

Stampin' Royalty - Anything Goes

Make it Monday - Anything Goes

A Creative Romance - Add Metal

Thanks so much for looking xx

Supplies Used -

• Cardstock - Basic Grey, Whisper White (SU)
• Stamps - Festive Flurry (SU), Greetings of the Season (SU)
• Ink - Pool Party, Smokey Slate (SU)
• Dies - Festive Flurry Framelits (SU)
• Silver Glimmer Paper, Frosted Finishes Embellishment (SU)
• Embossing Folder - Perfect Polka Dots (SU)
• Accessories: Glossy Accents, Dimensionals

Christmas Wreath

Hi there everyone! Hope you are well. I hope that you are enjoying your part of the world wherever you may be.

Today I have a card to share with you that I was inspired to make thanks to two challenge blogs.

I have been able to have a play with my new goodies and couldn't wait to get started. 

Here is my card -

I am loving my new dies! I've actually got quite a lot of new things to play with, I'm having trouble deciding on what to use. Life is good, lol.

My Christmas Wreath has been popped up on my Fancy Fold Card. I followed a tutorial over at Split Coast Stampers.

Here is a close up of the wreath.

This is actually my second card that I have made with these dies but the first one will be shown for a challenge that starts at the beginning of the month.

These cards are very, very fiddly having to build the wreath but I love the end result and the time taken is worth it. To assemble the wreath, I have cut out the Twig Wreath and then lots of the Pine Sprig Cluster. I shape all the pieces by rolling them on a pencil or pushing them into my paper piercing mat with my stylus. 

I put a blob of glossy accents onto my silicon craft sheet and using tweezers, I pick up a sprig and dip the end into the glossy accents. I place it onto the base wreath and use my paper piercer to place it. Then I just go around and around and fill it all in.

The two challenges that provided me with inspiration for this card are -

and

Thanks so much for looking xx

Supplies Used:

• Cardstock - Very Vanilla, Wild Wasabi, Garden Green and Pistachio Pudding (all SU)
• Stamps - Greeting of the Season (SU)
• Ink - Real Red (SU)
• Dies - Twig Wreath and Pine Sprig Cluster (Impression Obsession)
• Accessories - Silicon craft sheet (SU), Paper piercer (SU), Stylus (SU), Paper piercing mat (SU), Glossy Accents, Dimensionals

ATCAS Challenge #25

Hello everyone! And we are back to Saturday!!

Time has flown for me this week as I have been helping out a local business on the island while the owners are away on a cruise - lucky ducks!!

I haven't had much time for craft, which I am not happy about, lol. I've received some new goodies from the Ellen Hutson shop over in the US and have been going a bit crazy with my Stampin' Up orders too. Now that the weekend is here, hopefully I can get everything sorted out and ready for a play.

Right, onto this fortnight's challenge over at Addicted to CAS.

I am the hostess this week and here is the code word I chose -

One Layer - pretty self explanatory. No other layers, just your card base.

We are sponsored by

for this challenge and you have the chance to win 5 images of your choice from their store!!

I have used a sponsor image for my card. It is called Summer Block.

I chose this image as the weather is so hot here right now (It's cooler in the more southern areas of Australia). The beach, sun and ice-cream cone are just perfect for me right now.

I printed the image directly onto my cardstock and coloured everything in with my Spectrum Noirs. I didn't really bother with blending or anything. I thought that the colours would be nice and bright just colouring in. Who doesn't just love colouring in?

In the end, this card was very easy and quick to make.

I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with for this challenge!

I would also just like to ask you all to save a thought or prayer for the people who have been affected by the devasting Bush Fires in NSW right now. Lives, homes and livestock have been lost. Also, a shout out to those many, many fire fighters who are risking their lives to save others. Many of those fire fighters are volunteers and having been a volunteer in a Rural Fire Brigade myself, I wish them all the best and to keep safe.

A man who was flying a helicopter and dropping water on the fires has lost his life while doing so. My thoughts are with his family and friends.

Thanks so much for looking xx

ATSM Challenge #68

Happy Wednesday everyone!

Over at Addicted to Stamps and More! we have a brand new challenge for you today.

We are up to our Colour Challenge. This is actually the last time we will be having the Colours so keep an eye out for the new challenge in a few weeks.

Here are the colours to inspire you -

I decided that these colours were perfect for a Halloween card. I don't usually make cards for Halloween as we don't celebrate it here in Australia. Each year, though, more and more children seem to like the idea of dressing up and going trick and treating. My neices and nephews being those children, lol.

So, I decided to just send them a card each. This is the only one I have made so far, so I will have to get cracking.

Here is my DT card -

The colours look a little odd on my computer monitor but hopefully you can tell that I have only used the colours provided for inspiration (apart from a little brown on the broomstick and hair).

This little image is from Mo's Digital Pencil and called Trick or Treat. 

I have coloured it with my Spectrum Noir pens. The DSP is retired from SU and called Frightful Sight.

The sentiment and little spiders are from Inspired by Stamping and from the sets - Halloween Labels and Halloween Tags.

Over at ATSM we have a wonderful sponsor for you -

The prize for our Top Addict will be a $20 gift voucher!!!

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

Inspired by Stamping - Customer Gallery

Digitally Sweet Challenges - Halloween

Totally Papercrafts - Too Cute to Spook

I hope you get the time to play along over at ATSM! See you there.

Thanks so much for looking xx

IBS October Challenges

Hi again, everyone! 

I have been busy over the last few days creating cards to be entered over at Inspired by Stamping. There are so many challenges to choose from with so many different themes, colours and sketches. It's like a smorgasboard!!!

I've really been trying to take the time to start participating in my favourite challenges again. I have made three cards which I will share with you today. Each one is for a different challenge over at IBS.

This first challenge I have created for is a colour challenge.

 

As soon as I saw the colours, I knew I wanted to try another shaped card.

This is the first time I have used the stamp 'Welcome little Angel' from the Big Notes III set (IBS). The fussy cut butterflies are from the 'Butterfly Wings' set (IBS) and the pennants are from the 'Whimsical Banners' set. The cardstock is from SU and are Strawberry Slush, Old Olive and Whisper White.

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Here is the next challenge - (there are 4 sketches to choose from!)

I have used the Whimiscal Banners (IBS) again, my bubblewrap embossing folder, Sketched Birthday stamp (SU) and some bakers twine. Colours used for Cardstock - Wisteria Wonder, Pool Party and Whisper White. For the banners, they were inked with Strawberry Slush, Pistachio Pudding and Pool Party.

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And the last challenge -

I have never tried this technique before so when I saw the challenge over at IBS, I decided that now was a good a time as any!

Here I have combined two IBS stamp sets - 'Elegant Christmas Sentiments' and 'Floral Love'.

Cardstock used is SU and Basic Black, Pool Party and Whisper White.

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I hope you like my collection of cards today. Thanks so much for looking xx

ATCAS Challenge #24

Hi there everyone! Happy Saturday.

We have a brand new challenge over at Addicted to CAS starting right NOW.

Christine is your hostess this week and she has chosen a doozy of a code word for us!

When I started thinking of what I would like to do, I was thinking to use either vellum or a transparency sheet. I actually did make a card using vellum but didn't really like it in the end. I decided to have a go at making something with the transparency instead.

Here is my DT card -

Once I had decided that I wanted to create a pair of glasses, this started a bit of a conundrum for me as I have no dies or stamps that have glasses. So, what do you do in this case? Make your own!

I drew my frames and cut them out so I could have a template. I wanted to cut at least 3 pairs to make them a bit thicker. Once I had glued them all together, I covered them with versamark and embossed them with Cherry Cobbler powder.  I added the transparency behind them and a few jewels for bling.

THEN, when I had made my cool red glasses, I had no idea what to do with them. I didn't have any punny stamps or anything! All I could think of was to use 'Congratulations' for being a smarty pants... I don't know if it works but there it is. I actually used some DSP from my Festival of Prints stack which is really for Christmas but the tartan print reminded me of a school uniform.

The reflection you see in the 'glass' are the palm trees outside my window, lol.

We have a wonderful sponsor for you this challenge -

Our CAS Perfectionist will be awarded a $20 gift voucher to the store!

I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with, but first, you really should check out the amazing inspiration from the other DT members. They are incredible!!

Thanks so much for looking xx

Supplies Used:

• Cardstock: Whisper White (SU), Real Red (SU)
• Ink: Basic Black (SU)
• Stamps: Express Yourself (SU)
• DSP - Festival of Prints Stack (SU)
• Accessories - Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder (SU), Versamark, Basic Jewels (SU), Heat Gun, Dimensionals

Anything Goes at ATSM

Goodmorning everyone! Are you ready for Anything Goes? Over at Addicted to Stamps and More!, that's what the new challenge is for you.

I have two cards to share with you today - I was able to get my printer working just in time and have wanted to make a card for ages with this image from our sponsor at Nicecrane Designs -


Here is my 1st card -

This butterfly is from a sheet called Garden and Orchards. It contains 10 different coloured images.

I have used Chocolate Chip cardstock for my base. I have distressed the edges and curled them over on my First Edition Print DSP (can you tell the writing is all about butterflies?). The oval frame is another from my gift from Phillipa (aren't they getting good use at the moment?). The flowers are from Inspired by Stamping. The sentiment is from my Banner Greetings set and inked with Baked Sugar.

I would like to enter my 1st card into the following challenge -

Inspired by Stamping - Customer Gallery
Make it Monday - Always Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create - Always Anything Goes (no twist this week)


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Here is my 2nd card -

This card that I one that I saw at my mum's while down in Canberra. It was something that was made at one of the classes held by Kim Badelt. Kim kindly sent me through the instructions on how to make it. Thank you Kim!!

This is a bit different for me! I have created a shaped card... I fell in love with the card that I saw at mum's and I hope I have done Kim justice. I have changed a few things as I didn't have some of the supplies that Kim used. 

Here are those little punched flowers again. This time I embossed the Leafty Vine die with my Perfect Polka Dot folder to give it more texture.

Can you see that gorgeous background stamp? I love it - it's called En Francais.

And, now below you can see the inside of the card. The spiral is simply a circle and then you cut from the outside edge and work your way to the centre to create your pop up. 

I had so much fun making this card. There were a lot of things to cut out and stamp. I enjoyed using so many butterflies on one card!!

We have a great sponsor for you this week -

You have the chance to win a $20 gift certificate!!

There is plenty of inspiration over at the Challenge Blog so make sure you pop over and say hi.

I would also like to enter my 2nd card into the following challenges - 

• 613 Avenue Create - Always Anything Goes (no twist this week)
• Delicious Doodles - Shaped Cards
• Paper Creators Crafts - Dies or Punches
• Make it Monday - Always Anything Goes
• Victorine Stamps - Round and Round

Thanks so much for looking xx

Supplies Used for 1st Card:

• Cardstock: Wisteria Wonder (SU), Pool Party (SU), Whisper White (SU)
• Stamps: En Francais (SU), Itty Bitty Banners (SU), Papillon Potpourri (SU)
• Ink: Wisteria Wonder (SU), Pool Party (SU)
• Dies: Framelit Circle Collection (SU), Bitty Banners (SU)
• Punches: Itty Bitty Shapes (SU), Elegant Butterfly (SU), Bitty Butterfly (SU), Leafy Vine (Fancy That)
• Accessories: Basic Jewels (SU), Basic Pearls (SU), Dimensionals

White on White Poinsettia

Good morning dear followers.

I have been lucky enough to make some cards lately that aren't related to my DT responsibilites. I really need to get my skates on and just start concentrating on my Christmas cards. You can never have too many of them!

Here is my card -

I have used another frame die sent to me by Phillipa. It is called 'Victorian Frame'. I used my Layered Poinsettia die on white cardstock and then embossed it with my Square Lattice folder. Using my stylus, I have shaped the petals and then used glossy accents to assemble. I popped a pearl in the centre. Then I inked part of a stamp from Hero Arts which had three different words on it. I had decided that 'Joy' was just enough for this card.

I am entering this into the following challenges -

 - the theme at Less is More is White on White but must be a Christmas card

Over at Christmas Card Challenges - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for looking xx

Supplies Used:

• Cardstock: Whisper White (SU)
• Stamp: Merry, Merry Christmas (Hero Arts)
• Ink: Smoky Slate (SU)
• Dies: Victorian Frame (?), Layered Poinsettia (Spellbinders)
• Embossing Folder: Square Lattice (SU)
• Accessories: Glossy Accents, Stylus (SU), Dimensionals, Basic Pearls (SU)

Thank you Phillipa

Happy Friday everyone. I'm sure you are all glad that the weekend has just about arrived.

This card that I am sharing today was made for someone in particular who follows my blogs. You may remember that I had received a lovely package of die cuts in the post from Phillipa. Well, I decided I would make a thank you card with one of the dies that she had sent and also included some of my own die cuts for her.

Phillipa has text me today thanking me for the package which means now that she has seen the card, I can post it! Yay!

Here is the card -

The die cut that I received from Phillipa is called Palace Oval Frame. Isn't it just lovely. I have used some of my favourite colours at the moment from the new In Colours by Stampin' Up. My favourite stamp set at the moment HAS to be Papillon Potpourri. I LOVE these butterflies with their co-ordinating punches. The flowers are from Inspired by Stamping.

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

House of Cards - Photo Inspiration (this is my 2nd entry). I have once again used the lovely colours from the branch of flowers and the white chairs in the background.

It's been a while since I have been able to link up with Flutter by Wednesdays and I am lucky enough that they have an Anything Goes challenge (#255) this week.

Happy Campers challenge #22 is to show your flowers.

As I have used my roses that are from Inspired by Stamping, I will link this card to their Customer Gallery for October.

So, once again I would like to thank Phillipa so very much for her pressie. I used the Frostyville Die that was sent in my package for a card that I entered at 52 CC Throwdown and it won Top Honour! You can see the card HERE.

A quick shout out to my other favourite stalker, Trudi!! Hello, toots!!

Thanks so much for looking xx

Supplies Used:

• Cardstock: Crisp Cantaloupe (SU), Pistachio Pudding (SU), Whisper White (SU)
• Ink: Crisp Cantaloupe (SU), Pistachio Pudding (SU)
• Stamps: Papillon Potpourri (SU), Itty Bitty Banners (SU)
• Dies: Palace Oval Frame (Memory Box?), Bitty Banners Framelits (SU), Leafy Vine (Fancy That)
• Punches: Elegant Butterfly, Bitty Butterfly
• Embossing Folder: Fancy Fan (SU)
• Flowers (Inspired by Stamping)
• Accessories: Dimensionals, Basic Jewels (SU)

Spring Window

Hi there everyone. This is my second post for today.

I made a card yesterday that took me quite some time so by the time I had finished it was too dark to photograph. So, I finished up this morning and wanted to share with you.

I saw the photo inspiration over at the House of Cards and thought it was so lovely!

I decided to take the colours and flowers as my inspiration. I know that computer monitors can trick you with colours so I hope I have come close to the mark.

From the photo I decided to use

Baked Brown Sugar (the hessian bag), Strawberry Slush (the flowers), Crisp Cantaloupe (flowers) and Pistachio Pudding (leaves) as my main colour inspiration. 

Also at 613 Avenue Create I have used Column 2 (die cut, paper punch, embossing) for this card

Here is what I have come up with -

I have been making these little flowers over the past couple of days. I have another project that is coming up in next weeks Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge where I have used them too. They are really simple to make.

I have used my Itty Bitty punch to puch the flowers in Strawberry Slush and Crisp Cantaloupe. I then lay them on my paper piercing mat and use my stylus to push down in the centre. This gives them an instant flower shape. Then I added pearls to the centre. I didn't have a branch die to use so I drew a branch myself onto white cardstock and cut it out. Now I have covered it with leaves and flowers that it can't be seen too well, lol. I used my Leafy Vine die and cut it into pieces for the foliage.

With the window die, I have cut it out 3 times and glued it together to give it more oomph and then I covered the whole thing in versamark ink and embossed with white powder. It gives it that painted look that windows and doors should have. You can't tell in the photo but it is nice and glossy.

Tip for Heat Embossing - I was sick of trying not to burn my fingers while heat embossing. I have cut a flap off a cardboard box and covered it in foil. I then attach what I am heating with a peg and just hold the cardboard panel while I do it. With this window die, I just placed it on the foil without using the peg and embossed.

I popped the window up with dimensionals and used some DSP and lace for the inside.

This was very fiddly and time consuming... not something I am used to. I have to say, though, it is so much fun making your own little flowers and scenes. I guess I will be trying these more often!

Hope you like, and thanks so much for looking xx

Supplies Used:

• Cardstock: Whisper White, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Strawberry Slush, Baked Brown Sugar (all SU)
• DSP: Flirtatious (SU)
• Ink: Baked Brown Sugar (SU), Versamark
• Punch: Itty Bitty Shapes
• Dies: Grand Madison Window, Leafy Vine
• Embossing Folder: Brick Wall
• Accessories: Lace, Basic Pearls (SU), Paper Piercer (SU), Stylus (SU), Heat Gun, White embossing powder (SU), Glossy Accents

ATSM Challenge #65 - Photo Inspiration

Goodmorning everyone! It's Wednesday so that means a new challenge over at Addicted to Stamps and More.

We have a photo for inspiration for you -

You can take ANY of the elements from this photo to create something of your own.

Here is my DT card -

Now, you may be thinking how did I get this 'spring' looking card out of the photo inspiration? I decided to use the flowers that are in the photo as the main elements for my card. As it is Spring here in Australia, I thought it was nice and colourful for our season.

I have used some retired DSP for the background and then used my Blossom Punch on white cardstock which I popped up using dimensionals. I punched out some smaller flowers in Old Olive and Melon Mambo, used my paper piercer to add in a brad and then used dimensionals to pop them up too.

The sentiment is from the Simply Sketched set and inked with Wisteria Wonder.

Pop on over to the challenge blog for more wonderful inspiration from the DT. We also have some new team mates to welcome. I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Thanks so much for looking xx

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Mixed Bunch (SU), Simply Sketched (SU)

Cardstock: Old Olive (SU), Whisper White (SU)

DSP: Flirtatious

Ink: Strawberry Slush, Wisteria Wonder

Punch: Blossom (SU). 1" circle (SU)

Accessories: Mini Brads (SU), Brights Glimmer Brads (SU), Dimensionals

Lets get Inky!!!

Hi there everyone! 

My post tonight is for a challenge that is being hosted by my good friend, Nonni. She has put together a Design Team to help inspire you to create Christmas Cards.

The challenge is called - Lets Get Inky: Stamp a Happy Christmas

Here is what Nonni would like to see you do for this challenge -

"Let's create Christmas cards with stamping playing the main role! You could use fun techniques like masking and combine background stamps with smaller stamps... Or how about using non-Christmas stamps for Christmas and playing with some embossing powders? Or stamping with watercolors? Or tone on tone stamping maybe? The possibilities are endless... Let's get inky and creative! You can choose any style from CAS to vintage, what ever you like the best... You can use embellishments too -just don't cover up your fabulous stamping completely!"

This challenge runs until the 24th December so there is plenty of time to get heaps of cards made and entered!

Here is my DT card -

I am having a little card making class on Wednesday and it is the first time that I will be hosting something like this. I've decided on making 3 different Christmas cards. This is one of them.

I have used my Lovely as a Tree set which really should be used more often. Focusing on stamping, I inked up the pine tree with Gumball Green and used my stamp-a-ma-jig for placement. Without re-inking, I then stamped again. I repeated this process a couple of times.

Then I got out the dreaded glitter.... (Oh dear, I really love glitter but hate how it ends up everywhere, lol. Later in the afternoon after I made the card, I was outside helping in the garden and with the sun shining bright, you couldn't miss me! I had glitter on my feet, legs, arms and face. I would have been the perfect extra for the Twilight movies...).

Using my Tombow pen tip applicator, I just squiggled glue over the trees and added the Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

The sentiment is from my Petite Pairs set.

So there you have it.

Nonni has a wonderful prize up for grabs from this wonderful sponsor.

The prize on offer is It's All About YOU Stamp Set

So, now it is your turn to join in. Pop on over to Nonni's blog for more details on the challenge and link up your inky Christmas cards.

Thanks so much for looking xx

Supplies Used:

• Stamps - Lovely as A Tree (SU)
• Cardstock - Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Pistachio Pudding, Whisper White (all SU)
• Ink - Gumball Green (SU)
• Accessories - Dazzling Diamonds (SU), Tombow Multi Liquid Glue (SU), Stampamajig (SU)