ATCAS #56 Hugs and Kisses

Hello! How are you?

Over at Addicted to CAS we have a brand new code word for you to play along with. Deepti, the ever talented card maker, is your hostess this week.

A great code word for the upcoming Valentines Day or just to make a card for someone who is sick or needs some cuddles. 

Here is my DT card -

A very simple and quick card to create. I die cut the xoxo from the SU! Thinlits Circle Card pack. I popped them up with little foam pieces for dimension onto a die cut panel using my Lil' Inker Stitched Rectangle die. 

We have tons of inspiration for you over at the challenge blog including our Guest Designer, Julia, who has joined us for the month of January. Thanks so much for your amazing cards!

Our sponsors for this challenge are Eureka Stamps and Scribbles Designs who are each offering 3 digis to our winner. Thanks so much!

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

Time Out - Valentines (no optional hearts this time)

Stampin' Royalty - Love/Valentines

Miriam's Crafting Blog - Mostly White

Thanks so much for looking xx

So Proud!

Hi there everyone, I hope you are well.

I really love making cards for my nieces and nephews for their birthdays but I also love making them encouragement/congratulations cards. It could be because they made the school choir, the cheerleading squad or because their school report came back with heaps of A's for their efforts.

I have some brand new stamps and dies from Whimsy Stamps and I couldn't wait to ink them up.

I have used the latest photo at ShowCASe your Style as my inspiration. I didn't use hot air balloons but used the colours in the photo for my card.

I loved this set the moment that I saw it. It is called 'Say What?'.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges

Whimsy Stamps - New Beginnings (my stamps and dies are new)

Addicted to Stamps and More - CAS - (DT)

Red Rubber Inspirationals - CAS

Tip Top Tuesday - Something New

Thanks so much for looking xx

Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday!

Another post from me today - just a quick one.

Using a new word die from Whimsy Stamps, I have created a card using watercolours (again!!).

This card is actually made by using 'scraps'. I had die cut the word a number of times for another card and wanted to use them up.  The middle 'Happy' was die cut from watercolour paper that I had used the Saturated Watercolouring Technique by Loll Thompson.

The words have been popped up using little foam squares that I have cut into pieces.

Inside the card -

When you do the Saturated Watercolouring Technique, there is always plenty of ink to soak up with pieces of card. This panel was one of many that I now have in my stash to use.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges

CASology - Birthday

Melonheadz - CAS

Inkspirational - Ombre

Thanks so much for looking xx

ATSM Challenge #129 - CAS

That's right! Welcome back because over at Addicted to Stamps and More it is CAS week! We want clean and simple projects!

I have made a couple of cards today using our sponsor's stamps. STAMPlorations is kindly giving away a $10 gift certificate to our winner.

Here are my DT cards -

My first card was created by cutting a piece of watercolour card to 4" x 5.25" and then heat embossing the sentiment in white. I masked off the word 'Mother' so it didn't stamp as I wanted to make this a more generic card that could be given to anyone. I love the words on this set. It is called Mom Subway Art Builders #3 - Quiet Strength

Once the embossing was dry, I used Stampin' Write markers to scribble onto the card and then used water and a brush to dilute the colours. Once that was dry, I decided to die cut my piece with a Lil' Inker Stitched Rectangle die. 

The little hearts are from a new set of mine called 'Say What? Speech Bubbles' die set  from Clearly Whimsy Stamps. I was lucky enough to win a challenge over at ShowCASe your Style a few weeks ago and had a gift certificate to go shopping. I ordered a few goodies and I will be inking up my new stamp set soon.

The hearts were used to fill the space where the word would have been.

I would like to enter this card into the challenges at

Time Out - Valentines with optional Hearts

STAMPlorations - Anything Goes Challenge

613 Avenue Create - I nearly made it with the optional challenge but couldn't pick something from Column 5 :(

Happy Little Stampers CAS - Watercolouring (a DT card from me as a reminder to all of you)

For my next card, I went with the Blackboard Technique but not using the usual supplies. 

I found a pot of Blackboard paint the other day and in my divine wisdom I had to buy it. Why? I dunno, but I did ;)

I slapped on some paint onto white card stock and once it was dry, I embossed straight over the top using another Subway set from Stamplorations. I would also usually mask the word 'mom' and swap it for something else as I use the word 'mum' but I really like the font and decided to keep as it is.

I sponged a bit of white ink around the edge to give it more of a chalky look.

So, with this paint I could have actually used chalk and written something on there but the question is how long would it have actually stayed there lol. I'm sure there is a technique to make the chalk stay on... maybe hairspray or something?? Maybe I should paint a wall in the house.... nah, too much chalky mess to clean up ;)

I would like to enter this card into these challenges -

The Crazy Challenge - Embossing

Use your Stuff - Paint

Many thanks to Shery at STAMPlorations for being our sponsor this week! Our Design Team have outdone themselves using stamp sets and digital images on their projects.

Thanks so much for looking xx

HLS - CAS Watercolouring [Reminder]

Have you had a chance to play along with the CAS Watercolouring challenge over at Happy Little Stampers?

Here is a reminder for you that there is still time to play!!

I have used Loll's Saturated Watercolouring Technique.

I don't have any reinkers so I just use my Distress Ink pads to lay colour on my craft mat and then mist it all with water. I laid my watercolour cardstock straight onto the colour and got a beautiful mixture of colours to work with.

I die cut my butterflies from the pieces that I had and popped them up with dimensionals.

The inside of my card was decorated using more diecuts with more of my watercoloured off cuts.

This challenge runs until the end of this month. When you link up at the blog don't forget to also go to the forum and link up your cards at the appropriate challenge thread. If you do, you will go into the random draw for a mystery prize!

Thanks so much for looking xx

Shake it Up!

Hello from a very rainy day here in Queensland. Such a nice break from the heat and much more comfortable at the moment. The amount of rain we've had is a recipe for flash flooding so if you are on the roads, please take care.

Today I would like to share with you the shaker card that I have made for one of my nieces (I have 6 of them!). 

These colours are so pretty and perfect for my gorgeous niece. 

I have created this card using my Shakers and Sprinkles kits from Papertrey Ink. There are so many goodies in this kit - paper, dies, stamps, sequins. Everything you need to create a shaker card.

I die cut the 'Sprinkled' word twice - one in black to create a backing for the pink one. 

I also decorated the inside of my card

The sequins I have used for this card didn't come with the PTI kit but were ones I have in my stash and were the perfect colours.

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

Creative Moments - Anything Goes (I didn't use the optional sketch)

613 Avenue Create - my second entry 

Just Inspirational - Sparkle (my sequins)

Card Mania - make it Sparkle

Thanks so much for looking xx

IBS New Release - Tropical Paradise

Hi! Welcome back. Today I have a card for you that is using the Day 4 New Release stamps from Inspired by Stamping. 

This set is called Tropical Paradise.

Here is the brand new set that I used

The background was created using Distress Inks and then stamping in black ink. I used a square die to create my aperture and then popped the background up with foam squares to give it more dimension.

I've been making a lot of sunset/tropical scenes lately as cards to give to the ladies that will be joining me on my birthday cruise. 

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes w/out the optional twist

Thanks so much for looking xx

Quick Birthday Card

Hi everyone, a very quick post from me today.

I was making a card for my niece as it is her birthday soon. I am in the middle of making her a shaker card (which I will post a little later) and my dad asked me to make one from him. This is what I came up with and dad loves it.

I die cut this Birthday Background with a Memory Box die using PTI paper. Then glued it straight on top of my card. So simple and quick but really effective.

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

Stamping Sensations - Dies and Punches

Thanks so much for looking xx

New Release at Inspired by Stamping!

Exciting news for you IBS fans. The new release starts today and I am kicking things off by showing you the first set of the release

Flower of the Month: Pansy

Here is my card -

I love pansy's and always have them in my garden. 

I usually like to emboss when using flower stamps. I like the effect it gives and gives you a bit more control when colouring. 

This time I have embossed in white powder onto vellum. Once the embossing is dry, I flip the vellum over and colour in everything with my Spectrum Noir markers. 

I also embossed the sentiment with white powder. The white and the softness of the vellum is so pretty.

Once I finished my vellum panel, I was horrified that I hadn't thought this through... I wasn't sure how to attach my vellum onto my card without glue showing through. Glossy accents and some pearls to the rescue!!

I hope you are inspired by the team at Inspired by Stamping using the

Thanks so much for looking xx

Welcome Little Angel

Happy Sunday!

I had some wonderful news on Wednesday morning that a very good friend of mine had given birth to her healthy baby boy. Needing an appropriate card, I had to reach for my Inspired by Stamping: Big Notes III set which has the appropriate sentiment - Welcome Little Angel.

Here is my card 

I kept the colours nice and soft and kept the sentiment as the focal point. The banner was created using the Whimsical Banner set.

Here are the sets that I used

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges

Southern Girls - New Beginnings

Creative Moments - Anything Goes/New Beginnings

The Male Room - New Beginnings

Thanks so much for looking xx

We are back at ATCAS!

Hooray!! ATCAS is back for 2015! We have a wonderful code word for you this challenge which was chosen for you by the super talented Jaydee.

You can use the code word and interpret it to your liking just remember to keep your project Clean and Simple!

Here is my card -

This is a one layer and super CAS card. I have simply stamped the words from my Lil' Inker Snarky Sentiments set. The little pair of scissors are from a SU set called Tote-ally Tess.

I made a second card playing on the code word a little. I used an Inspired by Stamping sentiment from their Everyday Greetings set. Stars and friends are part of my world :)

The stars are Stitched dies from Lil' Inker as is the rectangle die.

I would like to enter this card into the challenge at 

Less Is More - Friends

I am so excited to announce that our sponsor for this challenge is Create A Smile (CAS!!!!!) which is owned by our ex-teamie Christine. I am so happy to have Christine on board at ATCAS. Welcome!

Christine is offering our winner one stamp set of their choice!!

A big welcome to our Guest Designer for January - Julia from Create with Me!

We also have some new faces at ATCAS. Don't forget to pop on over to the challenge blog and see the amazing creations by all of the Design Team!

Today is also a very special day for me - my son, Aidan, turned 20. We have been out at lunch overlooking the water with friends and family. Happy Birthday, son!!! xx (sobbing quietly because I no longer have a teenager...)

Thanks so much for looking xx

ATSM is back!

Woo hoo! ATSM is back for 2015 and we are kicking it off with a 

MAKE YOUR MARK

challenge. Get out your markers, pencils, paints, sponges or anything that will make a mark on your project!

Here is my DT card -

Using Lawn Fawns 'Life is Good', I have used a watercolour piece of card stock for my base. I used a paint brush to add my colours. I then popped on a previously coloured lighthouse on top.

I'm not really sure that combining the watercolouring and marker colouring actually works for me but it will have to do :)


If you are interested in how I coloured my lighthouse, you can see my video tutorial below



We have a fabulous new sponsor for ATSM!



The prize up for grabs is a $20 gift certificate to their store. Thanks girls!!

Off you go to the challenge blog and have a look at the amazing inspiration by the DT. I am really excited for the new girls who have just started :)



Thanks so much for looking xx

Swinging in the Snow

Welcome back. I hope everyone is well.

This morning I woke up very early (sparrows fart) to pelting down rain. I did a couple of household bits and pieces and jumped straight into my craft room.

I was inspired by the challenge over at Merry Monday. I haven't had a chance to play there for so long and having my new Lawn Fawn goodies to play with, I had the perfect recipe. 

Here is my card -

I had seen a couple of cards using a swing while on Pinterest so I decided to create my own little fun scene. 

The owl is from the Winter Owl set and the log and sentiment is from Joy to the Woods - both Lawn Fawn. 

The log was a little too short for my owl to sit on properly so I masked off one edge before stamping and then masked off the other edge and stamped it again to create a longer image.

Everything was coloured in with my Spectrum Noir markers.

My Swiss Dots embossing folder creating the snow background and I used a die from the Stitched Hillside Border Die set (Lawn Fawn) for my snow bank. 

Here is the inside of my card -

The challenges I am entering into are -

Thank you so much for looking xx

Embossing and Inspired by Stamping

Happy Monday everyone!

Over at Inspired by Stamping we are focusing on Embossing. 

Heat Embossing is actually one of my favourite techniques even though we have a love hate relationship. I don't like that the powder tends to go everywhere (user issue lol) but the end results are so fun.

I love this sentiment (from the Everyday Greetings set) - it always needs to be the focus when on a card in my opinion. 

I've embossed the sentiment with black powder.

The little stars are from the Teeny Tiny Greetings set.

Love this sentiment - did I say that already? Actually the Everyday Greetings is a really great set. It should be on your wish list! SHOP HERE for all your stamping needs!

Thanks so much for looking today xx