Confessions of a Cruise Chick Part 2 - and a Card!

Hello! How is everyone today? I've got some more photos and stories to share with you of my recent Cruise to the South Pacific and Fiji. So, a bit of a warning - this post will be photo heavy but if you are just here for my card, just keep on scrollin' to the end ;)

First I would like to share the card that I just made which was inspired by the challenges over at Less Is More and ShowCASe your Style. The card is a little tribute to my friends and family who came on the trip with me.

Here is my card

all stamps and dies are from Whimsy Stamps.

I used the sketch at 

and the colour theme at Less is More - predominately black

My card really sums up the trip and cannot wait to plan the next one.

Ok, onto the photos.

Lautoka, Fiji

This was a special day for us Cruise Chicks. My mum had organised with the Fijian Embassy in Australia for us to visit a village which was for single mothers and their children. Mum organised all us girls to bring stuff with us that could be donated - toys, clothes etc. 

So, here are the photos from that visit. It was simply amazing (just like my mum) and they made beautiful garlands for us to wear, a yummy lunch and sang and danced for us.

Our transport to the village. Yep, hop in the back and hold on for your life lol

The kiddies waiting patiently for their presents

Dancing, smiling and having fun :)

My sister and mum handing out goodies 

Playing soccer with the kids. They loved the new balls, bats and toys that mum brought for them

After we spent a number of hours in the village, we went back to town and did a bit of sightseeing. Then it was back to the ship. Next stop Suva.

Suva, Fiji

Today we hopped off the ship and had photos with our 'Bulla Men' as we called them. Then organised a tour to see the city and visit the Colo-I-Suva Forest Park to see the rainforest and swimming hole/waterfall

yep, me with the 'Bulla Men' :)

Our tour guide was very happy to have photos taken (my idiot sister photo bombed it, though lol)

walking down, down, down to get to the water

Wasn't as big as we thought but it was beautiful. There was a young lad who went swinging off a rope into the water doing all sorts of acrobatics. Crazy!

Peta-Marie had a go. There she is letting go of the rope. Even my mum had a go which scared the crappa out of me....

Ok! There is part 2 done and dusted. More photos will come and maybe even some incriminating ones... if you are lucky ;)

Thanks so much for looking xx

ATSM Challenge #139 - CAS

Morning everyone! How are you?

Today marks the start of a new challenge over at Addicted to Stamps and More!. 

Our theme this week is

CLEAN AND SIMPLE

Please make sure that you stick to the rules that can be found over at the challenge blog.

Here is my DT card -

Our sponsor this week is

and you have a chance to win a $10 gift certificate!

Using my new brushos again with the starch and cling wrap, I created this sunny background.

The daisy is from our sponsor in a set called Bloom Sketches

The sentiment is from the Inspired by Stamping Aster Set (one of my favourite IBS sets)

Once my panel was dry, I embossed the image and sentiment with white powder. A few little sequins finished it off.

Please pop on over to the challenge blog to see all the amazing creations by the Design Team. You WILL be inspired!

Edit : I was given a heads up about the challenge at

so I would like to enter my card over there :)

Thanks so much for looking xx

Tulip Bouquet

Hi there! While I was away, there was a massive new release over at Inspired by Stamping. I really hope that you got a chance to have a look and maybe even win some prizes. 

Today we are concentrating on floral cards so I have inked up the Tulip Bouquet set for the first time.

I started by stamping onto watercolour paper. Once my image was dry, I used my watercolour markers (SU) to squiggle onto my craft sheet and then picked up the colour with a small wet brush.

I used a larger brush for the background.

The sentiment is from the Teeny Tiny Greetings set which pairs so well with the Fancy Labels 3 Die set.

This bouquet is so pretty!!

Thanks so much for looking xx

Brushos, Starch and Cling Wrap - Who knew?

Hi! How are you all today? I'm back to business now I am back from my holiday. Stay tuned for some more photos in the next couple of days.

Last night I had a play with using a new technique that fellow member KathyK at Happy Little Stampers showed us. (You can read the post and see some examples HERE)

Here is my card -

Basically, you need the following items -

Cardstock - normal or watercolour

Brushos 

(or other waterbased medium - Pearl Powders, Distress reinkers, Glimmer Mists, Color Wash sprays)

Aersol can of Laundry starch (I bought mine from the local supermarket)

Cling Wrap

My card isn't really the best example for this technique. I need a little more practice. This was also my third attempt after epic fails on my first two. So on my last attempt I tried using watercolour paper instead of plain cardstock. 

Technique - spray your cardstock with the starch then sprinkle your brushos over the top. Spray starch again and then lay crinkled up cling wrap over your panel. LEAVE it for at least 30 minutes to allow the paints to go up into the creases of the cling wrap. You are trying to create a marble looking effect. 

The brusho colours I used here were Ultramarine, Turquoise and Purple.

I die cut the word Hello (from Whimsy Stamps) on a strip of white card and trimmed it down to size. I die cut the hearts out of scrap from my main panel (which was die cut using Lil' Inker Stitched Rectangle Die) and covered them with glossy accents.

I'm hoping to refine this technique as there are wonderful examples to be seen and mine just didn't quite cut the mustard ;)

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

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes (no twist this week)

Mema Crafts - Use a Die or Punch

Incy Wincy - Clean and Simple

Southern Girls Challenge - Punches or Dies

Thanks so much for looking xx

Confessions of a Cruise Chick - Part 1

G'day! Bonjour! Bulla!

I'm back from cruising around the South Pacific and Fiji! The three different greetings above were used at different ports of call and were used a LOT. What a wonderful experience I had with my 5 travelling companions. Would you like to see some photos? I will try and stick to my absolute favourites so this post doesn't get too photo heavy.

Day 1 - Sydney Harbour

After flying to Sydney from Brisbane, I was picked up at the airport in a private vehicle. Four of my travelling companions were already in the car and we were to meet up with one more lady at the cruise terminal.

From left to right - my sister Denise, me, my mum Maree, my step-mother Jenny, my step-Aunty Chris. Still waiting to meet up with Peta-Marie

The view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge from the back of the ship

My mum Maree

Selfie with mum ;)

Drinks in hand and ready to set sail! We found Peta-Marie - phew!

photo opportunity of another ship leaving the Harbour

And we are off - backing out of the Harbour with a great view of the Sydney Opera House 

First port of Call - Noumea, New Caledonia

New Caledonia is a French Territory hence the Bonjour at the beginning of my post as French is the predominant language. The currency is the Pacific Franc.

Sailing into Noumea

The old ducks waiting for our tour of the city

My sister and I

Stunning view of the marina

Another stunning view

Lifou, Loyalty Islands

Check out that water!

yep, another selfie lol

the local markets

on the tender to go back to the ship

that ship is huge!!

I hope I haven't bored you to tears! 

Now, as my title suggests there may be some confessions. Hmmm, not really. I can think of one off the top of my head. My sister and I started drinking alcohol at 10am on one of the sea days. Naughty!!!

Until the next installment.... See ya xx

HLS April Sketch Challenge

Wow, it is April already!! We have a brand new sketch challenge for you to play along with at Happy Little Stampers.

This is another scheduled post for me as I am still cruising around the South Pacific. Jealous?? Hehehe. I can't wait to share some photos!

Anyway, back to business.

Here is the sketch for you to take inspiration from

and here is my card

For this card, I cut a piece of watercolour paper to size and just used Stampin' Write markers to scribble my colour onto the paper. With a wet brush, I blended them together to create a rainbow effect.

Once it was dry, I die cut the word Happy out of the panel. I actually used that die cut on this card HERE.

I die cut the word a number of times out of white cardstock and glued them all into place on my card to create dimension.

I hope you will join us over at the challenge blog and don't forget that if you also link your card up at the forum, you will go into a draw for a mystery prize. 

Thanks so much for looking xx