STAMPlorations - Monthly Challenge #3

Hi everyone!!! 

Happy New Year. Here were are now in 2014, wow. My year has already started off with a bang as I was lucky enough to be chosen by Shery for the new Design Team over at STAMPlorations. I have been busting at the seams to let everyone know and now we are up to our first challenge for the year.

This challenge will run for the month of January and you will need to follow the theme of Stamps and Feathers.


CHALLENGE TWIST -

Each month, we host 3 challenges: 1 monthly challenge that starts on the 1st Friday and 2 bi-weekly sketch challenges that start on the 1st and 3rd Monday. Those who participate in all 3 challenges for the month will be in the running to receive a prize package from our sister shop, All About Scrapping. We'll randomly pick one winner and announce who that is the following month before the next monthly challenge starts. Remember, you must participate in all 3 challenges that month for a chance to win a prize.

You should check out all the stamps on offer over at the shop. Excellent prices are on offer and there is also flat rate shipping! Very affordable!!

I have made a CAS card for this challenge and have used the gorgeous little set called Trendy Feathers.

Here is my DT card -

The first thing that I started with for this card was a small piece of Very Vanilla Cardstock. I snipped off some of the edges with scissors and then crumpled it up completely.

I then used Vintage Photo ink with my blending tool to age the paper. I added extra ink around the edges. I then crumbled up the paper a few more times.

I then stamped the 'script' stamp from my French Foliage set with Chocolate Chip ink. I used double sided tape to adhere my aged paper to the panel but didn't put it too close to the sides so the edges would be curled up.

The feather has been embossed with Gold powder and cut out. I have popped it up with some small dimensionals. 

The sentiment is from the same set as the feather (Trendy Feathers) and has been stamped with Chocolate Chip ink.

Thanks so much for looking xx

ATSM Challenge #76 - Anything Goes

Good morning! I hope this Wednesday finds you all well.

We are up to our Anything Goes challenge over at Addicted to Stamps and More and it is also the last challenge for 2013.

I would like to personally thank all the followers over at ATSM and my amazing past and present Design Team members. Without them, the challenge blog wouldn't be where it is today. They are all amazing and I hope you will all stop by and check out their blogs.

Anything Goes? Create anything you like! Just remember to check out the challenge rules over at the blog to make sure you are in the running for our prize!

Here is my DT card -

I have used a beautiful image from our sponsor from the Now and Forever set. I have coloured it with my Spectrum Noirs and once cut out, I popped it up on dimensionals.

I have used Natural White cardstock from SU and embossed the top panel with a Retro Swirls folder. I used a square die to cut out the middle and backed it with black cardstock.

No sentiment on this one but I think it would make a nice card for just about any occasion. 

Our sponsor this week is

who is offering 3 digi sets as a prize!!!

Now it is over to you so go and check out the challenge blog for more inspiration from the DT.


I am going to enter this card into the MUSE challenge. I have followed this blog since it started but this is the first time I have been able to enter!!

Here is the Muse (Marion Vagg) card to draw inspiration from -



Inspiration - flowers and aperture in the card

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!

Thanks so much for looking xx

ATSM #75 - Photo Inspiration

Hi there everyone. 

Wow, it's getting close to the big day. I can't believe it's nearly 2014!!

It's been a big year for me personally within the blogging world. I would like to thank you all for participating in my challenges at ATSM and ATCAS. I love seeing all the entries and your support is so appreciated. The ladies that I have on my DT's are so wonderful - I love them all! Thanks girls!!

Onto our latest challenge over at ATSM -

LOVE this photo! Take what you want from it as your inspiration and enter it over at the challenge blog.

Here is my DT card -

I used the Christmas theme in the photo to create one more Christmas card for the year. I have used my Thinlits Circle Card die again and this time added a band to hold it all together once folded. They have a habit of not sitting quite how you want them. 

I have decorated the card with the DSP from my Winter Frost stack, Festive Flurry stamp and co-ordinating dies, a retired set called 25 and counting and the Noel stamp from the Greetings of the Season set. The stars are dies that are included in the Thinlits Circle Card die set.

Here is a look at the inside -

I thought that having two white panels would be good to write more of a short letter to someone that you may only keep in contact with by writing.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges

Cuttlebug Mania - Anything Goes Christmas

Make My Monday - Frosty Theme

52CC Throwdown - Choose a previous theme

Thanks so much for looking xx

ATCAS #28 - SNOWFLAKES

Hi everyone from a beautiful day here in sunny Queensland. Earlier today, I was down with my dad and the family dog (Jackie Tan) at the water for a bit of fishing. Lot's of bites but nothing caught :(

Over at Addicted to CAS, we have our last challenge for 2014. Here is the code word which was chosen the the uber talented, Karen!

I do wish that I will see snowflakes at Christmas just once in my life. It is certainly on my bucket list. I was very jealous of the pictures that fellow teamie, Jaydee, posted the other day. It's funny, actually, because I HATE the cold. That's why I moved to Queensland in the first place. BUT, to see a white christmas would just be amazing!!

Here is my DT card for this code word -

(I even created a signature to use on my cards so I am feeling VERY clever at the moment, lol)

I chose a very monochramatic look for my card this time. I felt the silver and black were a nice combo for this Christmas card. See that snowflake? That is part of some card candy I was sent by fellow teamie, Loll.Thanks, Loll!!

I would like to enter this into the following challenges

A Creative Romance - Sparkle at Christmas

Crafty Hands Challenge - Seasons Greetings / Winter theme

YNS Challenge - Photo inspiration

So, now you need to pop on over to the challenge blog to enter your Snowflake creations. There is plenty of inspiration there from the amazing Design Team.

Before I go, I will share some pictures with you. This is how we roll in December here in Queensland ;)

My tootsies...

Our pooch - Jackie Tan (Jack for short)

I actually took a 'selfie'! (just in case you thought the dog was very clever!!)

Dad and Jack out in the water fishing 

Thanks so much for looking xx

Guest Designer at Sami Stamps!

Hi there everyone, I'm sure you are all happy that it's Friday!

I'm very excited about this post as last week I won a CAS challenge over at Sami Stamps and was asked to be a Guest Designer for today's newest release!

Sami has wonderful digital stamps over on her site. They are adorable. Her newest release is no exception with 'Christmas Joy'

Here is an image that I have had the pleasure to work with called 'Christmas Cheese'.

Now!! You can't get more adorable than this little fella!

I decided to make a circle card using my Thinlits Circle Dies from SU. 

I coloured my image with Spectrum Noir pens -

Mouse - BGR2, BGR3, BGR4, BGR5

Hat - DR3, DR5, DR7

Cheese - CT2, CT3, CT4

I also used a snow marker to create the puffy look once I heated the ink and then popped some stickles over the top.

A little bit of bakers twine, a star cut from glimmer paper and voila!!

I am also going to enter this into the following challenges -

Spectrum Noir - Food (love the piece of cheese!)

Inkspirational - Anything Goes

Victorine Stamps - Christmas with non-traditional colours (grey and yellow)

Pop on over to Sami's blog to see the rest of this latest release. You are going to love them!!! 

Thanks so much for looking xx

ATSM #74 - Clean and Simple

Hi there everyone! Hope you are enjoying your week so far.

A brand new challenge has just started over at ATSM and this week we are looking for your Clean and Simple (CAS) projects.

We also have a wonderful sponsor for you and you have to be in it to win it!

Our Top Addict will have the choice of 5 images from their store!

Here are my DT cards -

My 1st one has used a sponsor image called 'Candy Canes'. 

I have printed the candy canes onto blender paper and then coloured with my Spectrum's. Then they were cut out and popped up with dimensionals. I'm not sure if you can see, but I have paper pierced around the edge of the white panel. The sentiment is from my Petite Pairs set (SU).

I'm going to enter this card into the following challenges -

Festive Friday

52 CC Throwdown - Pick a previous theme

CASology




Spectrum Noir - Food (yummy candy canes!!)

Here is my 2nd card

Here I have used the Natural Composition Paper from SU which was given to me by the ever so generous Phillipa when I was down in Canberra.  It's so lovely with the embossing already on the paper. I've just added some layers of lace and ribbon and finished off with a hemp twine bow and Antique brad. I made this card for one of my lovely ladies who attends my card classes. She loved it!

So there you go - two very different cards but kept very CAS.

I hope I have inspired you to take part in our challenge.

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


CASology

Make it Monday - Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes with optional twist

Thank so much for looking xx

ATSM Challenge #73 - HOLIDAY

Hi everyone! Welcome to hump day! Not long until the weekend again. 

Over at Addicted to Stamps and More, we have a brand new challenge and a brand new theme this week.

We used to be up to our 'Colour' round but I made the decision to scrap the colours and go with a theme instead. So, now we would like you to come up with something that depicts

HOLIDAYS

This could mean the holidays that everyone all over the world celebrate like Christmas or Easter for example. This theme could inspire you to use a favourite holiday destination as the basis of your project. You may even choose to create about a public or National holiday that you celebrate in your part of the world.

Our wonderful sponsor this week is 

I have two cards to share with you today both using Christmas as a theme.

Here is my 1st card -

I have used this gorgeous image from our sponsor called 'Let it Snow'. I printed Mr Snowman onto blender paper and then coloured him with my Spectrum Noir markers. I cut him out and then prepared the rest of my card. 

In my desk I found rulers that I had bought about 10 years ago and had pretty much forgotten them. They are by Fiskars and have those different funny edges on them (I'm sure this isn't the technical name for them!!). So, I used one to tear my cardstock along to give the effect of snow banks. I added stickles to the edges and put it aside to let it dry.

The background paper is from my Winter Frost DSP stack and the Frostyville Border is one of the dies that my beautiful crafty partner in crime, Phillipa, sent me some time ago. The sentiment was inked with pool party and is from the Greetings of the Season set (SU).

Once my stickled snow banks were dry, I used heaps of dimensionals to pop up just about every layer.

Now I look at my creation, I really should have added a touch of snow to the trees. Nevermind, lets imagine that it was shaken off somehow ;)

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

Spectrum Noir - Christmas/Winter

Come and Get it Challenge - Anything Goes but must use a digi

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge - Show us some Snow

Now onto my second card -

I have bought the new Thinlits Card Circle die. This was a bit fiddly cutting the DSP to fit in with the panels but it all worked out in the end.

I've used the Festive Flurry bundle and a never before inked set called 25 and Counting. This has long been retired but I always wanted it and when I saw it on ebay for a great price, I couldn't resist. I've had it for months though. It will be perfect to create an advent calendar!

This turned out very pretty. I love the Island Indigo and the silver together.

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

Festive Friday have their last challenge for the year and you can choose from their previous challenges. I chose this one -

Stampin' Royalty have a photo for inspiration. I took the colours for my inspiration - (I must have missed this challenge by a whisker!)

And over at Make My Monday they would like to see Contemporary Christmas Creations.

That's it for me today (well, you never know with me... I may be back).

Pop on over to the challenge blog. There are amazing cards over there for inspiration.

Thanks so much for looking xx

Christmas Tree with Bling

Hi there everyone. Happy Sunday!

Just a quick post from me today to share with you a card that we will make on Thursday's card making class.

I went with very non-traditional colours as one of the ladies really likes pink so I am hoping she will love this card. Keeping it very CAS also allows the pink to dominate the card but not overpower it.

Here is my card -

I have seen a few of these folded Christmas Trees on Pinterest and thought I would give it a go. They are very easy to make. You start by cutting out a circle, cut it in half and then fold it to create the tree shape. 

The DSP I have used on my card is retired but I still like it! The sentiment was inked with Rose Red and is from my Express Yourself set. 

I die cut the star (out of silver glimmer paper) and banner using the dies that are included with the new Thinlits Circle Card dies. I didn't have any 'Christmas' sentiments that would fit into this banner so I adapted. I think 'Celebrate' is most appropriate.

The finishing touch was stickles on the tree.

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

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes with optional twist

Thanks so much for looking xx

ATCAS #27

Woo hoo, it's Saturday! Yay.

This can only mean one thing.... a brand new challenge starting over at Addicted to CAS.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Anniversary Challenge. Celebrating our First Anniversary was SO much fun. Thanks also to our sponsors and my Design Team over there. They are a crazy bunch but I guess someone has to put up with them... ;)

Onto our new challenge! Here is our code word chosen by the wonderfully talented Vicki.

I decided to use a very cute image from our sponsor called - Kitten Have a Ball

Here is my DT card -

Isn't this little critter just adorable? I printed the image with my own computer generated sentiment directly onto blender paper so I could colour in with my Spectrum Noir's.

Here are the pens that I have used -

Cat - EB1, EB2, EB3, CR3

Ball - BT1 BT2, BT3, BT4

Shadow - BGR1

Our sponsor for this challenge is 

who are offering 5 images of your choice from their store!

And now it's over to you! I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Thanks so much for looking xx

IBS Blog Hop - Summer Flowers

Hi there! 

Just a quick post for me today.

I ordered a couple of beautiful sets from Inspired by Stamping and would like to share one of them with you.

I've also been wanting to try the Alcohol Ink technique (that I did on glossy cardstock) on Vellum. So, I dotted my transparency sheet with a few drops of ink, misted them with alcohol blender and pressed my sheet of vellum on top of it. 

Here is my card using this technique -

Once I had the vellum 'coloured' I stamped these gorgeous flowers and leaves with versamark and then heat embossed with white powder.

This is definitely one of those cards that look so much nicer in real life because the colours are so lovely.

I have used Wisteria Wonder and Whisper White for my cardstock. One panel of Wisteria Wonder was embossed with a honeycomb folder. The silver ribbon and bow was a pain to attach but I won this battle!

I am entering this card into the IBS Blog Hop Challenge

I was also inspired by a couple of the WHW Tutorials that the wonderful DT over there put together each week.

The first was Leah's card made with these flowers (I just used alcohol ink instead) and then Colleen's card showing us how to create these bows. Thank you, ladies!!

Thanks so much for looking xx

ATSM Challenge #72

Good morning!! We have a new challenge for you starting today over at Addicted to Stamps and More.

This week's challenge is to MAKE YOUR MARK.

That's right - get out your markers, crayons, pencils, watercolours... anything to Make your Mark.

Here is my DT card -

Ages and ages ago, I did one of those online classes which was all about die-cutting. You may remember my Partial Die Cutting card that I made? 

I was going back over the class notes and printed out the PDF's that came with the course. I saw an idea which is how I came about the side hand panel.

I have die cut with my puffy cloud's to create the aperture. Two left over clouds were popped on top.

I used a retired Stampin' Up set that I really should use more often - Up, Up and Away. I fussy cut the balloons and popped them up with dimensionals.

I have used my markers directly onto my stamps. LOVE the versatility of markers.

Now, you should pop on over to the challenge blog and give the DT some love and say hi.

See you there!

Thanks for looking xx

Joy Christmas Card

Hi everyone. Hope you are well.

I'm steadily getting the Christmas card list crossed off. Here is another one that I have made.

I have this new 'Joy' die from Memory Box that I hadn't used and wanted to use it more for an aperture rather than using the die cut word itself.

Here is my card -

I love the white space on this card. The designer paper is soft enough not to overpower anything either. I used a sentiment from my 'Express Yourself' set which I heat embossed with white powder. I used my Itty Bitty Banner dies and used glossy accents to attach them to a Frosted Finishes Embellishment. The white panel has been popped up with dimensionals.

This card was made for these challenges -

Less Is More - use Designer Paper in a CAS way

Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog - Use Metal (real or faux) - my second entry

Dream Valley Challenges - CAS - my second entry

Thanks so much for looking xx

Copper Leaf

Good morning everyone! 

A few weeks ago, I received the blog candy that has been donated for the current challenge at ATCAS from our wonderful friend, Loll.  Little did I know but that sneaky, but oh so generous, woman sent me some sheets of her copper metal that she uses on her cards from time to time.

We were talking yesterday about the copper. I hadn't had an opportunity to use it (and my goodness it is sharp!).  So, I was asking all the right questions about how to use it, can you stamp on it etc etc. Loll gave me some great ideas.

I decided that today was the day to pop it through the Big Shot and see what the results were.

Holy Cow! I think it looks amazing, but you can be the judge of that ;)

Here is my card -

Look at those colours!!! I am blessed to have exceptional natural lighting where I craft and I must say that for once, the photo has done my card complete justice. I used a sheet that Loll had already heated for me and the colours that were produced were just perfect for an Autumn leaf.

I nearly squealed with delight when I saw the current challenge at

and also these other wonderful challenges -

Robins Fetish Challenge blog - Challenge #186 - Use Metal (real or faux)

Dream Valley Challenges - Challenge #70 - CAS

Make it Monday - Anything Goes

I have used a woodgrain folder on the Whisper White panel. I haven't added a sentiment to the inside yet until I decide who the recipient will be.

So a big thanks to Loll for sending me these copper sheets!

Thanks so much for looking xx

Christmas Grunge - Take 2 - One Layer

And now it's Sunday! Hi there everyone. Have you enjoyed your weekend? More Christmas cards have been crossed off the list for me. 

It's become dark and stormy here right now. Nothing new - we've had at least 2 storms a day for nearly a week. We had hail yesterday morning around 6am which was a nice wake up call (not). It didn't last very long which was good. In some parts of QLD there have been photos of hail stones the size of tennis balls!!

I made a very quick and easy card today. One Layer stamping is fun and creates such a nice CAS feel.

Here is my card -

Yesterday I made a card using my Grunge set and I really liked it. So, today I used the same stamps and added another for interest.

I used my markers directly onto the pine cone stamp (from Special Season set) - Chocolate Chip and Garden Green were the colours. The Grunge stamp was inked with Chocolate Chip and the sentiment (from Greetings of the Season) with Real Red. 

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

52CC Throwdown has a recipe for us. 

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes

and last but not least over at Stampin' Royalty I will enter my second card for their challenge to use no embellishments on your holiday cards.

I hope you have a lovely rest of your weekend.

Thanks so much for looking xx

PS - Here is a picture of the hail stones that were shown on last night's news.

Gorgeous Grunge Christmas Style

Hey there everyone. Enjoying your Saturday so far?

There are a number of challenges that I saw on my blog roll that provided me with inspiration for this card.

Firstly, here is my card -

Let me just clarify the colours I have used on this card in case they seem darker like they do to me - The bottom panel is Chocolate Chip cardstock and the Grunge stamp was inked with Chocolate Chip.

This card was made for the following challenges -

I used the Gorgeous Grunge stamp for my stripes and Chipboard Hearts that I covered with Glimmer Paper.

Curtain Call and Cas-ual Fridays have teamed up this week with this wonderful photo for inspiration.

The JUGS girls may be looking for my 'Kraft' component. My chipboard hearts are Kraft but I covered them... I hope I still qualify :)

I wrote and addressed a heap of Christmas Cards last night and have made a few more so the list is getting smaller! Yay!

I was a little anxious about adding hearts or stars to my card but I like the look of the hearts. I really do like the Grunge stamp too. It all comes down to your imagination! The sentiment is from my Greetings of the Season set and inked with Real Red. 

Thanks so much for looking xx