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

 

ATSM - Challenge #93

Hi there everyone! I am back again this week simply because I had the opportunity to create with Sandie while I was in London. It was so much fun crafting. We had lot's of laughs and realisations. The realisations were that, yep, she also talks to herself while making a card....

Over at ATSM, we have a brand new challenge and we are running with the theme of 

HOLIDAY

Well! Right up my alley right now. I am just about to begin my 3rd week of holidays in Europe.

Here is my DT card -

 

This is a card I made for Sandie while crafting with Sandie. Sneaky, huh? Sandie and I had so much fun and I wanted to make her a card thanking her for everything she had done (like putting up with me, for example). 

So, everything here has been used from Sandie's stash. From memory the stamp and co-ordinating dies are from Papertrey Ink and called City Scene. The red bus (I loved them) has been popped up with foam tape. 

Our sponsor for this challenge is 

 

and you have the chance to win 3 digis from the store!

Head on over to the challenge blog and check out the amazing inspiration from the rest of the DT!

I am now a lady of leisure with Florence in Spain. In 3 more sleeps we will be graced with the presence of Marie - look out!!

I have seen so much already and I think I have already exhausted Florence with another two weeks to go....

Card making with Florence

So, I have been playing with Florence in her craft room. I have had so much fun and came up with a card using her beautiful Chocolate Baroque stamps.

Here is my card -

The background stamp was inked up with Archival ink and stamped onto matt cardstock. The butterfly was stamped onto glossy cardstock and coloured with jumbo markers. Then it was popped up with foam tape.

I then decided to stamp the background stamp again so I could cut out a couple of the flowers and pop them with foam tape too.

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

Crafty Calendar Challenge - Things with Wings

Suzy Bee's Bloomin Challenge - Wings

Savvy Handmade Cards - Wings

Stay tuned for more photos of my adventure's in Spain!

Thanks so much for looking xx

 

ATCAS #37 - GRUNGE

Hello there! Another post from me - what in the world is going on?

While in London I was very lucky to have a craft day with Sandie. We made a few cards between us and one of them was one especially for the new challenge at ATCAS.

Well, I am the hostess for this challenge so it was lucky that I was able to even create something :)

Here is the code word I have chosen for you -

I hope to see over at the challenge blog playing along.

Here is my DT card -

 

The only details you have for this card (as far as cardstock, stamps and ink goes) is that I made it with Sandie using Sandie's stash ;)

Our Sponsor for this challenge is 

 

and the prize up for grabs is 7 digis from the store!!

We also have the pleasure of welcoming Anita back as our Guest Designer for this challenge.

Right, more photos - now from Spain.

I touched down in Spain on Tuesday afternoon and received a huge welcome at the airport from Florence and Freddie. 

Wednesday I was treated to a tour of the village -

 

Yep, that's me having a hot chocolate

 

 

this is just one of the cute streets we passed

 All my old mates outside the supermarket

 Another gorgeous street

Town Hall

The view of half of the village from a hiking trail

Then Thursday was a day trip to Torre Del Mar - a pretty town on the coast

 Starting off at the markets

 I have my own shoe line (wink wink). I couldn't believe how many shoes were called 'Kylie' lol

 Me and not so bad looking police officers (mmmmhmmmm, snap!)

 The boardwalk along the beach

 Gorgeous view!

 The marina

 The gorgeous sheep along the road as we wound back up the mountain

A spectacular view back down the mountain

Tomorrow there is a local market in the village for us to have a look at. Then we will be having a couple of relaxing days around the house. I'm a bit worried that Freddie is going to put me to work in the garden.... at least the sun has been shining and the weather stunning during the day. 

Adios Amigos!

Thanks so much for looking xx

Just checking in with some photos

Hello!! It feels like forever since I have posted. I was so busy moving house and then, of course, I just had to go on this really boring holiday over to Europe... Boring? No way!

I spent 32 long hours travelling from my home in Australia to the home of my gorgeous friend, Sandie in London.  Sandie and her husband showed me all the sights and spoilt me rotten!

We went and saw Jersey Boys at Picadilly Theatre in the West End. Have you seen it? It was amazing. We loved it so much.

Here is Sandie and I in our VERY best shoes....

While in London, I also had the privledge of meeting other ladies from my DT's over at Addicted to Stamps and Addicted to CAS. Wow! We had an amazing lunch together and it was like we had known each other for years. Here are some pics -

First up is Monika (ATSM) and myself

 

Here I am with Sue (ATSM)

  

And Val (ATSM)

   

Next is Sylvia (ATCAS)

  

and we had the pleasure of meeting Marina from Inkspirational!

and now me and my London bestie

We had so much fun. Thanks so much to all you ladies for taking the time to come and see me while I was in London. It was a very special day for me and one I will never forget xx

Sandie took me to the Covent Garden markets which were so cool to look around. I had to have a photo with the red telephone box ;)

 

Thank you Sandie for taking such good care of me. I miss you already, my friend. 

Last night I touched down in Malaga, Spain where I will be spending the next 3 weeks with Florence. More photos to come once I have seen the sights of Spain.

Thanks for looking xx

7 sleeps to go until.....

Hello dear friends!

I have been MIA for a bit due to lots of different things going on. Moving house being one of those things. Hands up those who love moving!! No one?? Really?? LOL. I HATE moving but I am finally down to just the unpacking side of things. Have you ever had to move your craft room? Geez Louise... that was a major feat in itself ;)

I have some very exciting news that I would love to share. In only 7 more sleeps I am going on a big trip overseas. Not only am I going to Europe but the main reason of going is to meet other wonderful ladies from blog land. How cool is that?

My first stop is 5 days in London where I will be staying with Sandie of London Days. 

We will also be meeting up with other ladies from the UK - Here are the mugshots of my partners in crime fellow crafters I will be meeting while in London -

Sandie (ATSM / ATCAS)

Sue  (ATSM)

Monika (ATSM)

Sylvia (ATCAS)

Marina - from over at Inkspirational

Isn't this so exciting? I can't wait to meet all these lovely ladies!!

But! Wait!! There's more...

Once I leave London, I am jetsetting over to beautiful Spain!

And who will I be spending a glorious 3 weeks with?

The wonderful 

Florence

I hope Florence knows what she is in for (and her poor husband). I can't wait to meet her and have an absolute ball seeing the sights of Spain. 

And then we will have a visitor coming all the way from Greece to meet us. 

Marie

Can you believe the 3 of us together? God help Spain!!!

The time has flown so fast since everything was organised last January and I am so very excited to be going. 

I just cannot wait to meet all these wonderful people and have a chat (chin wag), giggle and lots of food and drink together. 

See you soon!! xx

Inspired by Stamping - Gift Card Holder

Hi everyone!

Over at Inspired by Stamping we are still having fun with the New Releases and being National Craft Month, we have a theme each week to inspire you.

This week we are creating Gift Ideas. I have created a cute Gift Card Holder box (tutorial from SCS here) that is perfect for any occasion. I have concentrated on making something for Mother's Day and have used the New Release items from IBS.

The image is from the gorgeous new Sweet Peas set. This adorable image stamps beautifully and is so easy to colour (I have used Spectrum Noir pens). I die cut the image and backing with circle dies and popped them up with dimensionals. I have also incorporated the New Release set with a set from the last release just to show you how easy it is to combine these sets. I stamped the Vintage Tickets and fussy cut them out. With one of them, I used a marker directly onto the stamp just to get the outline of the ticket. For this one I actually combined two stamps from the Mother's Day Bouquet set. I used my marker to just ink up 'To my wonderful' and then stamped 'Mum' beneath it to create a different sentiment.

Don't forget that you can do that with ANY of your sentiment stamps from IBS to create personalised messages.

Here is the Gift Box in the open position -

The inside panel was folded in half and then I used the Fancy Label Dies 2 to create the 'holder' and then the entire panel was adhered to the inside of the box.

This Gift Box has two sections – one to hold your Gift Card and another to pop in a small gift of chocolates or earring etc.

Below you can see that I have used Seam Binding Ribbon along the edge of the box.

Here is a close up of the top – the small panel of card that you see is from the Spring Lilacs Paper Pad.

Thanks so much for looking today. I hope I have inspired you to create a Gift Card holder for your Mum for Mother's Day. Don't forget, this is perfect for ANY occasion!