Bec's Stampin' Ground

Need more Thankyou cards...

2009-12-17T10:03:00.007+11:00

Hello, well I've had a few friends pop over desperately looking for thankyou cards...& as it turns out, I haven't got too many!

So my mission yesterday, while escaping the heat, was to make lots of thankyou cards...& I did!

Here is the first one I finished,

So as you can see, I literally can not fit another layer on this card!! Its a mojo monday sketch from last month that I missed, #113 & it was SO much fun to play with.

I made a couple more but blogger is giving me trouble at the moment so will post later when its more cooperative!
Till next time XX

Card recipe:
Stamps: En Francais, Frames with a Flourish & Elegant Thankyou
Paper: Ridinghood Red, Choc Chip, Kiwi Kiss & Whisper White C/S & Holiday Treasures & Urban Oasis DSP
Ink: Choc Chip & Distress Ink (tim holtz)
Accessories: Stampamajig, Dimentionals, Pretties Kit, Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Circle Punch, Circle punches.

Mojo #117

2009-12-15T23:48:00.011+11:00

Hello, how exciting we're only days away from the start of school holidays! Yay! I LOVE them, no more having to get up early to make lunch, the drive to school hoopla...its just SO wonderful. Plus I find I get more cards made when we have holidays, dont ask how this is possible cause I just dont know how having more boys home doesn't distract me...

Anyway, I made a couple of cards today, one of which was for Mojo Monday #117. I haven't played along in AGES & this was a good one...kinda like the ones I just showed in my last post so that was easy!

Here's the sketch...

& here is what it inspired...

I have to say I LOVE this DSP, its one of my old favourites! Any card I make with it turns out lovely (my opinion of course) I've also started decorating the insides & this is how it looks....

Tomorrow Allison is coming over with my gorgeous nephew Benjamin, we're hiding out from the heat...39 degrees for tomorrow apparently!! Im sure in that time we might knock up a few cards!

Well, I better go off to bedfordshire....once again its WAY past the blogging hour!See you tomorrow!

Card recipe:
Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral (thanks for the lend Jess), Best Yet & One of a Kind
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Basic Grey & Whisper White C/S & Urban Oasis DSP
Ink: Black Stazon, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze & Sahara Sand Ink
Acc: Eyelet Punch, Old Olive Ribbon, Crimper, Dimentionals

Baby Cards

2009-12-09T20:53:00.007+11:00

Hello! How funny, I post my new inspiring stamping space & then I dont make any inspiring cards!!LOL Actually I have been card making but haven't made anything worth posting...until now.

While in blog hiatus I still took the time to look around everyone else's blogs & found some cards that really got my creative engine humming again. I found a great card on Teneale's blog that deserved a CASE...& case I did!!

Here is my baby boy card...

Im so happy with how this turned out, kinda looks like a sheriff's badge & that was entirely by accident! I also decorated the inside...once you start, you want all your cards to have decorated inside!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Nursery Necessities, Friends 24-7
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White & Bashful Blue C/S & Good Morning Sunshine DSP
Ink: Bashful Blue, Pacific Point, Basic Black & Versamark
Accessories: Stampamajig, Crimper, Scallop Punch, Black Ribbon (non SU) Small Oval Punch, Large Square Punch, Dimensionals

Here is my matching girl card...

Its so pretty in pink! Here are a few tips to help you recreate this card heaps easier! The scallop oval is actually a thin strip of black cardstock punched along one edge with the scallop punch then run through the crimper, then you just slowly stick it down to the back of the white oval...doesn't it look like a big punch??

Also, the two points of the DSP are made by using a large Square Punch! How easy is that? How long did I try cutting it out with scissors only to find it crocked or not 'right'.

Card Recipe:
Stamp Set: Butterfly Prints, Friends 24-7, Nursery Necessities
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White & Basic Black C/S & Rasberry Tart DSP
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Rose Red, Basic Black & Versamark
Accessories: Stampamajig, Crimper, Scallop Punch, Black Ribbon (non SU) Large Square Punch, Dimentionals

Im going over to Werribee market on Sat with Kylie, Carolina & a few other crafty girls, to sell some of our cards, candles & papercrafts we've all made. If your in the area come & say hello, we're in stall no. 222, hopefully we'll be under my sun hut which is bright yellow! See you there! XX

My Stamping Space...FINALLY DONE!

2009-11-13T11:12:00.010+11:00

Hey there, well, it's FINALLY time to share my space with you!! Now i've been around blogland over the last few months to see how everyone else is doing it & I must admit, i'm totally jealous of all you lucky girls who have a WHOLE ROOM for your stuff! I, however, do not...I was allocated a small corner in our office & I really had to plan the layout of my craft table & how I would store it all... it was all very tricky! So for those of you who are like me & have to squeeze what you can where you can, this post is for you!!!

So, this is the view of the stamping space from the hallway going up into the room...boy I love that view...so inviting..

So, the first thing I got was the table & matching bookcase from Ikea...I LOVE THAT PLACE!! I could curl up & die happy there! If you haven't got much space they are Kings of storage solutions. I also got the railings for my punches & the hanging baskets for the ribbons from there & they were only $3.50 each, how cheap!

Do you notice that the rails are not actually screwed into the wall but a separate wall panel? I did that because I didn't want heaps of holes in the walls & I knew at some stage i'd probably change my mind about where I wanted everything, so I bought a panel of wood already covered with white from Bunnings for $30 & it goes right to the roof. So now im free to nail & screw whatever I want, without wrecking the walls. YAY me!

Oh, I also got my gorgeous red chair from there too, was a little unessesary but how cute is it??

I love being able to have my computer right at my desk too, before I had to move to our computer table to access my blog...& everyone else lol, but now all I have to do is grab the keyboard & off I go! I almost never have to move again! (I see trouble ahead...LOL)

There's my beautiful new lamp which just arrived yesterday...I only ordered it on Mon, dont you love it when you order something & you dont have to wait long?? I do! The lamp came from an online lighting shop. They have SO many to choose from & they are all really cool, different to what i've seen in shops i've walked into. Make sure you check them out!

Now for the storage solutions...I love the colours all together, I bought the green a little while ago from Officeworks, but when I went back to get more they had sold out & moved onto red, I thought 'ok, red works too' & it really does! Inside them I store my catalouges, spare paper, rub-ons, DSP, forms...anything really.

My stamp sets fit beautifully in the top right basket there, I clearly have 3 more to get...just got one to start with to make sure it was right & haven't had time to go back. They are from officeworks too. This is my lovely red clock from Big W, I bought it to even out the green things, & it matches my red chair!

Well, I think that just about covers it...My Stamping Space! I hope you enjoyed having a look & maybe got some ideas for your own space. I'd love to see what you've been working on!

Till next time XX

Stationary Box

2009-11-09T22:50:00.010+11:00

Hello! Sorry its been so long between posts....I've been a very slack little blogger! Thanks for your messages, both subtle & rather less than subtle, Kylie! LOL

I've been a busy little beaver getting my stamping space organised & im excited to tell you its NEARLY finished! I'll post pics as soon as the last piece arrives which is a lovely lamp I ordered from an awesome online lighting shop, they have HEAPS of really modern lamps & uplights, it was almost impossible to choose which one to order! Get a sneak peek of the one i chose...I cant wait till it gets here!

Well, I thought I'd better have something extra nice to show you since its been such a long wait, so I made a Stationary Box! Its got everything you need to write a card, or tag a present, all in the one box! Would make a nice handmade gift too! The idea for this box I got from Jackie Topa, in fact all I did was change the colours! Her tutorial is here

Here it is open, love the place for the stamps!

Actually there is a little handy space for everything!

& here it is all spread out, I really like how the colours all turned out together...I made one before this, but its still unfinished because the colours were not nearly as nice.

The little note cards..

& the gift tags

SO...what do you think? Fabulous no? lol Give it a try, its a whole lot of fun to put together!

Well, its WAY past blog o'clock & I better be off, will post again sooner this time!

Recipe:

Stamps: Cheep Talk, Best Yet & Sweet Little Sentiments

Paper: So Saffron, Baja Breeze, Ruby Red & Very Vanilla C/S, Urban Garden, Ridinghood Red, So Saffron & Sweet Slumber DSP

Ink: Black

Acc: So Saffron Ribbon, Rhinestone Brads, Stampamajig Sticky Strip, Dimentionals, Square Punches (both), Oval Punches (Sml, Large & Extra Large) & Pen

Something fun...

2009-10-24T14:20:00.010+11:00

I have something really fun to share with you today.

Lately a few people have said that they would love to get into card making & candle decorating but they are not 'naturally crafty'. Well I told those people that I didn't start off naturally crafty either, in fact, I wasn't particularly interested in papercrafts when I went to my first Stampin' Up party. It was something that came with practice. They didn't believe me, so I promised to show them my very first card I ever made all by myself! LOL...here it is!

LOL, look at the pink card behind thats EXACTLY the same as the one photographed...I wasn't particularly crafty AT ALL!

So anyway, it's a very simple card, as first cards usually are, but the difference between this card & some I made just a month later are dramatic. It really doesn't take long to get the hang of it. I used to find cards I liked on splitcoaststampers & print them off & CASE them (its called case but back then, I just plain copied them!! lol) It really gave me an idea of colours & layouts, punches & techniques that I would NEVER have worked out by myself. It was that practice that got me 'on my feet' creatively. Still now, every now & then, when I find myself sitting like veal at my stamping table, I still jump on SCS & get inspired by colour combinations or techniques I haven't seen before, it always gets my mojo flowing. Hope you enjoyed this overshare! lol

Happy stamping!

Oh before I go, I've started up a profile on Facebook. I thought it might be fun to have a forum thats a little more interactive than just the blog...bit more fun! Feel free to 'add me as friend'. See you there!

Decorating Candles Tutorial...ITS EASY!

2009-10-19T19:37:00.013+11:00

Hands up who thinks this is GORGEOUS!...Well my hand is in the air even if no-one elses is! I love this! It was easier to create this than it should be, what I mean by that is, for years i've bought decorated candles (& paid good money for them) thinking it had to be done when the candle was first made or something & now that i've done it myself with so few steps I see what a simple process it is.

Thought for fun I would photograph my efforts & show how simple it actually is. This is all from memory after seeing Simone Bartrum's presentation at Melbourne Regionals, have I mentioned I enjoyed it??

Ok, Step 1.
Stamp images & patterns on tissue paper in the way you'd like it to look on your candle. Note. you can emboss, add glitter, use markers, use any technique you like at this stage that the tissue paper can take...not sure how you'd go watercolouring...but you get the idea!

Step 2. Cut around the images & position it on your candle.

Step 3. Wrap the tissue paper pattern & your candle together with non-stick baking paper & hold tightly at the back.

Step 4. Get out your Heat Gun & warm up the paper over your image, you know your getting somewhere when you see the image go slightly darker, you can kinda see the top layer of candle melting slightly & spreading over the image. What you want is the tissue paper to 'disappear' on the candle, you can see it starting to happen on one edge here...

Step 5. Once your done with the Heat Gun you can gently peel off the baking paper & hopefully its stuck down all over the image..if not, you know what to do! Get out that Heat Gun & give it another going over!

Step 6. This is the fun bit...adding all your embellishments! Go CRAZY!

I made this set using my practice candle up the top, just changed the sentiment to make them a nice set. You'll notice the image has been reversed on the second candle to make them 'go together', I did that by flipping the tissue paper over, its so thin it looks the same on the back so is very easy to reverse. How simple is that?! The best bit is my hands smell like Jasmine after handling the candles so much, mmmm love that smell.

Ok, everyone go & have fun recreating that!!

Details:

Stamps: Great Friend, Friends 24-7

Ink: Ridinghood Red, Choc Chip, Old Olive

Acc: Candles, Tissue Paper, Baking Paper, Heat Gun, Choc Chip Ribbon, Bella Rose DSP, Stampamajig, Diamonties, Rhinestone Brads, Dimentionals, Dazzling Diamonds

Swaps I received...

2009-10-18T23:17:00.019+11:00

Hello...again! Well I thought while I was in such a chatty mood I'd take the opportunity to show you the gorgeous swaps I got back for my swaps.

So here they are, all lined up and gorgeous..

couldn't fit them all in, so here's the rest..

All those clever bunnies out there will notice there's only 33, that because I left one of my 35 on the stampin' up table at the regionals & the other one I accidently left at my sisters house when we were comparing swaps.

Thanks to everyone who swapped with me, I love all my cards & have looked at them so many times since I recieved them sat. Cant wait to try some of these new ideas i've found!!

Talk soon

Love Bec x

Melbourne Regionals

2009-10-18T21:01:00.020+11:00

OK, I uploaded the pics & surprisingly I have less than I thought I did! I realised I took HEAPS of pics on Ange's camera which is almost exactly the same as mine & my sis had my camera! lol

Anyway, i'll show you what I have!

So the day started early so we could get in & settled without too much fuss & before we knew it we were in & swapping all our cards, so much fun, all the flurry & excitement in seeing what everyone else had created...I have my fave's which i'll photograph & post up cause they are just gorgeous!

Once it got started we were treated to Aaron Scott showing us how to make a 'graffiti card' which was very cool & very 'manly' as my husband would put it lol. Here is a shot of him holding his creation...

Clearly my sister had the camera for this shot because i'm way too shy to ask a stranger for a photo op! lol. I really liked his presentation, he was interesting & showed how he'd started into card making with his fonts styled cards...very funny! Anyway, am glad to have something to show the husband...men do make cards!!!! LOL

I cant remember the order the presentations were in but one that I particularly enjoyed was Simone Bartrum's showing how easy it is to decorate candles. I think I gasped the whole way through & this afternoon I went & bought the materials to do it myself! I'll see if I can do a tutorial for you, so you can see how she did it too! Here is a pic of the finished product...

Isn't that candle GORGEOUS...& that happened right before my eyes! Im SO doing that!!

The rest of the day went VERY quickly, we were given projects to work on, but I was too distracted to do them, I was just so excited to be with everyone. I did start the box but couldn't concentrate! Might do them & show you the finished product...

Something else VERY exciting that happened was I won the door prize!! Its a new set from the yet to be released summer mini & its gorgeous! Its all about butterflies...thats the only clue i'll give you till the mini's out lol. You'll see it soon...

Here's the rest of the photos!

This is a pic of our team Ink Culture...

There are a couple of very welcome blow-ins lol, namely my sister Jess & my beautiful friend Tasharni, but this is our team (starting from the left) Me, Tasharni, Jess, Carolina (at the back) Angela, Kylie, Ange & Sue.

Above is Carolina & Kylie, they are such a blast to be with!

Here is the Very Sweet Kylie-Jo (or KJ as we call her! lol) Was SO much fun spending the day with her, she's awesome!

Me & 'the upline' lol Ange! I think we laughed the entire day! Next time they will have to sit us separately!! lol I love our team, we all get along so well & our team meetings are SO much fun I cant wait to hear the next date so I can look forward to it all month! I feel very lucky!

Here's a shot of Sue Madex & Ange getting ready for their presentations. Ange went first & showed us how to make paper flowers & she did an EXCELLENT job! Next went Sue & her presentation was how to do faux silk on your projects...we all had a 'gasp' moment when after VERY carefully stamping her images she then scrunched it up! So funny, cause we all know it was a part of the process but took us a second to process it LOL. She did a great job of that presentation!

All in all, it was a fantastic day! I even plucked up the courage to say hello to Marelle Taylor, I have followed her blog since the beginning & was very excited to see her there! I went home & pretty much described every minute to my poor husband who still cant run away with those crutches he's on LOL Ah I like to have my fun! LOL.

I've asked the other girls to send me the pics, so if they do i'll post some of those too!

Thanks for reading, i'll be back shortly with my efforts of candle decorating!

Bec x

Swaps for Regionals

2009-10-17T22:48:00.004+11:00

Hello, well what a day I've had today! The day started actually from the night before because I couldn't get myself organised to finish my swaps & ended up staying up till almost 2am cutting tiny flowers & affixing them to my cards. So here it is, the finished product...

& here is the pile I made to give out at Regionals, intended to make 50 but settled for 35 when my hand could cut no more...

I had THE BEST day today, I have HEAPS of things to share, including pics, swaps & stories from our day spent at Crown! Will save it for tomorrow's post as I have quite a few things to sort through...see you tomorrow X

Card Details:
Stamps: Trendy Trees, Frames with a Flourish, Pocket Sillhouettes
Paper: Baja Breeze, Real Red & Whisper White C/S, Ski Slope & Baja Breeze DSP
Ink: Black Stazon, Old Olive Marker & Real Red Marker
Acc: Dimentionals & Stampamajig

Inspiration Challenge #13

2009-10-05T01:30:00.008+11:00

Hello, well, after the teeth pulling excercise that was the last card (see post below) this card was one that 'made itself'. I was really feeling this inspiration, the colours together are beautiful & crisp, Love your inspiration Keesh!
So here's the inspiration picture...

& here is what it inspired..

Think I may have gone a little OTT with the Baroque Motif & CLEARLY with the crystal effects, but once I started I just couldn't stop!! lol. Am loving these colours together...may even attempt another go at this one cause it was a whole lotta fun!

Oh PS. How nice does the sentiment look?? Well I stumbled upon the best idea I think I've ever seen! I have always loved the Friendly Wheel. From the very first time I saw it I wanted to use it for this exact purpose, but when I got it & tried to use just one sentiment I found it incredibly difficult...even using the markers to colour just the one I wanted didn't work cause I couldn't line it up properly. But then I saw a tutorial from Teneale Williams that is simply brilliant! CUT UP THE WHEEL! I had such a 'doh' moment when I saw it, of course cutting it up is the perfect soloution. Thanks Teneale for sharing that tutorial, my wheel is headed for such a workout since I cut it up!!

Card Details:
Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Friendly Wheel
Paper: Whisper White, Sahara Sand & Real Red CS
Ink: Versamark, Black & Real Red
Acc: Real Red Ribbon, Stampamajig & Crystal Effects

Will keep busy & post again soon X

Fabulous Friend for Mojo#107

2009-10-07T23:14:00.005+11:00

Hello, I finally finished the card I was working on yesterday & I cant wait to show you. Its for the Mojo Monday challenge & what a good one it was to work with!

So here is Mojo#107...

& here is what it inspired...

Think i've played with these colours before, but I love how they complement each other! I've also used a new set I just got, Eastern Influences, I LOVE it! Like pretty much everyone else, I felt the need to watercolour the images & I was pleasantly surprised by how great the colours came out. Might see a lot more watercolouring from now on...although I did say that about brayering & I dont think i've used it since LOL.

Card Details:

Stamps: Eastern Influences & Oval All

Paper: Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss & Whisper White CS, Urban Garden & Ridinghood Red DSP & Watercolour Paper

Ink: Ruby Red, Old Olive, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Ridinghood Red & Black Stazon

Acc: Earth Elements Markers, Aqua Pen, Pretties Kit, Crystal Effects, Sponge Daubers, Stampamajig & Dimentionals

Have found some more Challenges over on Splitcoast I'm eager to give a go, so will have some more to show soon. X

Crazy for Challenges! #C4C4

2009-10-06T13:26:00.010+11:00

Hi, as promised I have been very busy making some new eye candy! I've been checking out some new challenges here & there to give me some ideas & i've found some really good ones...like this one called Crazy for Challenges! How good is that? All challenges All the time! My kinda blog! So here is one of their challenges...

& here is my entry..

'Sigh' isn't she pretty? Im really stoaked with how this turned out because I am trying to use colours that I dont usually use...I think you can see by now I like strong, bright colours, Soft Subtles dont usually grab my attention, so that was my challenge for yesterday. Admittedly I didn't LOVE this card till I added my lovely red flower & the fern frond, made it a little less boring.

I've also been playing lately with different flower shapes & how to make them look more real by layering them or by pressing on the back of them to make the petals round instead of flat. What I did with this flower was stamp it in Ruby Red with Organic Grace flower on Pretty in Pink CS then cut it out & sponged it with more Ruby Red, concentrating on the outer petal as well as colouring the flower. Then the tricky bit, I turned it over & with a embossing tool (you know the one with the small ball on the end??) & I gently rubbed each petal until it curled up a little on the edges. When I flipped it right side up I did the same thing to the middle to make each petal stand up a bit...does this make sense (it does in my head but that doesn't always translate lol) So the finished product will look like it had rounded petals & are slightly lifted off the page. If in doubt see the close up!! LOL

Card Details:
Stamps: Organic Grace, Frames with a Flourish & Friendly Words Wheel
Paper: Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla & Old Olive CS
Ink: Perfect Plum, Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Old Olive & Versamark
Acc: Old Olive Ribbon, Stampamajig, Emboss Tool thing with the ball lol, Eyelet Punch, Pretties Kit, Sponges, & Dimensionals

I've got a couple of hours till I have to get Jack so will finish off a card i've been working on... XX

Mojo#106 & a box of new goodies...

2009-10-04T21:46:00.010+11:00

Hello! Well, it has been a little while between posts!! Any excuses?? Well...sortof. With the school holidays being on & a still on crutches husband, I haven't found myself creatively motivated of late. Even the arrival of a whole box full of goodies on Friday couldn't move me....I was soooo excited though, that I just sat & looked at it all for 2 days straight. lol

Well, enough of that! Time to make myself make SOMETHING! Of course first stop was Mojo Monday, love that blog for inspiration.

Here is this weeks sketch... & here is what I came up with...

This baby took me AGES to complete...the colours...weren't right to begin with, I eventually sorted that out, the size was a bit of a problem too, dont ask why, just couldn't get it to look 'just right'.
So after about 3 hours of pulling apart & sticking back together, I finally have a card to show! Sometimes a card just about makes itself....& then we have the days when a card is about as easy to make as pulling teeth. Yes, I had one of THOSE days...lol

Anyway, as you can see, it's not exactly like the sketch, I kept trying to add the square box on the right, then I tried adding a flower instead, but it felt like 'too much', like it was overdone or something. Im in a simple mood today. You cant tell from the pictures but I also mounted the saying on Dimentionals to lift it a bit, loved it even more once that was done!

Well, I had heaps of fun playing with all my new stamps, paper & embellishments, oh, & I have to show you my new stamping space. Yes! I got my own DESK...& a BOOKCASE!! Woohoo! Actually, that has also taken a lot of my time this past week too, probably should of mentioned it while I was making my excuses....anyway, we got it from IKEA on Tuesday & I've been having SO much fun putting everything in its new home. I still have a few more co-ordinating boxes to buy, to store it all & mount my railing for the punches (EVERYONES doing that nowadays & I didn't want to be the only one left behind LOL) so when its all done i'll take my pics & post it all! With school going back tomorrow I plan on churning out some more cards to post....lets see how I go hey?? X

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Frames with a Flourish & Three Little Words
Paper: Chocolate Chip & Very Vanilla CS & Ski Slopes DSP
Ink: Black Stazon
Acc: Choc Chip Ribbon, Stampamajig & Pretties Kit

Rockets Away...

2009-09-27T00:43:00.004+10:00

Hello, SUPER quick one today cause it is well & truely past my bedtime! Must also apologise for the picture quality...of course it was taken mere seconds ago & the care factor isn't high!! lol

First time my Pun Fun set has seen any ink & was LOTS of fun to colour in!

Am awaiting big new order of goodies so will have heaps to share soon!

Stamps: Pun Fun & Nursery Necessities
Paper: Basic Grey, Going Grey, Taken with Teal, Real Red & Whisper White C/S
Ink: Versamark, Real Red, Summer Sun, Tempting Turquoise & Pumpkin Pie
Acc: Bold Brights Markers

Till next time X

Sweet & Fresh

2009-09-19T22:37:00.005+10:00

Hello, im back with another card. This one is all about the stamp set, I borrowed it from my mum & sister since they are underusing their stash of stamp sets...this one had barely seen ink!!
Well, I love it! So much fun to work with. There's a lot happening in this one, what do you think?

I started out by stamping it in Black Stazon because I had an idea of colouring in the flowers with Red ink using the Aqua Pen...well I did & it was a little blah, so I restamped it again & coloured in the flowers with the Ruby Red Marker from Earth Elements set, MUCH better! So then I had the painful task of cutting out the main flower & putting it on top of the original flower using the Dimentionals...still following??

Well, anyway, it looked heaps better & a lot more interesting that way so I did them all! You can see in the close up picture how thin the colour was to start with but how strong the colour from the markers was. I thought about also colouring in & cutting out the swirly design but then thought against it...TOO MUCH WORK! lol It looks good enough in just the lighter colour!

Am really enjoying my crafting atm & will keep going...im trying to get good at making flowers. I've seen some awesome flowers in my travels around the blogworld & would love to perfect the art! Practice, practice, practice!

Card Recipe:

Stamp Set: Fresh Cuts

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black & Ridinghood Red C/S & Ridinghood Red DSP

Ink: Black Stazon, Ruby Red, Garden Green, Eggplant & Ballet Blue Ink

Acc: Earth Elements Markers, Mat Pack, Ribbon Originals

Till next time XX

WINNER!!!

2009-09-19T22:22:00.003+10:00

YAY! I won something! How very exciting is that!?...well, VERY! I still feel like such a novice at cardmaking (papercrafts in general in fact) so to be a winner of something...anything really, is very cool.
The post below has the inspiration challenge & it was a good one! Thanks Makeesha for picking my card!
Thanks heaps for all the awesome comments! As my flashy blinky says I LOVE comments, so thanks to everyone who left me one!
Once I come down off my high, I'll post a card i've nearly finished, so watch this space!! XX

Inspiration Challenge #12

2009-09-16T23:53:00.003+10:00

Well, here I am again, burning the midnight hour, but I do have something hot off my table to share with you!
I've seen in my travels, many a card challenge, but this one from Makeesha's blog really made me sit up & pay attention...something about the pattern on the quilt interested me & I instantly thought of pulling out my circle circus set! Of course i've since checked out everybody else's card & it seems I wasn't alone in my brilliant discovery!! LOL Still it was alot of fun to play with & I enjoyed myself...which is really the most important thing hey?

The pattern turned out exactly how I thought it in my head, trust me, that doesn't happen very often! Of course I used my trusty Stampamajig to keep the whole thing centered & straight...things I dont assume anymore! Also the colours I found a bit of a challenge, the yellow I used was very strong, so I found the less of it I used the better balanced the card came out...& HEY, has anyone noticed I didn't use ANY DSP??? Thats gotta be a first?!

Anyway, that was fun! Cant wait for the next challenge now!

Card Recipe:

Stamps: Circle Circus & Inspired by Nature

Paper: Whisper White, Summer Sun, Baja Breeze & Pacific Blue C/S

Ink: Baja Breeze, Pacifi Blue & Summer Sun (bit of sponging)
Acc: Stampamajig - ALOT!!

Till next time X

Green Mojo

2009-06-10T21:41:00.013+10:00

mmmm...does this colour story look a little familiar?? Well if it does, raise your eyes about 3 inches north & you'll see my inspiration! Yes, my very own blog header! lol....I was having a colour block 'moment' & started looking around for ideas & my eyes fell upon this & I thought 'hey..why not?'
So here is the Mojo Sketch Challenge#90...
...& here is my entry...

What do you think?? Its my first upload to any blog apart from splitcoast so was fun to try & come up with something different but with the same layout...preeeety much just leaves us with colour changes lol!

Im loving the greens at the moment, I find it very agreeable to my eye & as soon as the baroque motif was embossed in black it looked even better!
Paper: Black, Glorious Green, Real Red & Whisper White C/S, Certainly Celery DSP
Ink: Black, Glorious Green & Real Red
Accesorise: Clear Emboss Powder

This will be my last post for a little while cause we are off to Phillip Island on Friday for 8 days! Im SO excited! We're meeting my good friend Sharni & her family down there for a hopefully relaxing time. I say hopefully cause there will be 6 boys inc husbands! LOL. So I'll be back end of next week & I really am hoping I might have had time to create....Im even thinking of attempting my first scrap page!!! yikes.

See you all soon X

Phillip Island & Mojo#91

2009-06-19T22:51:00.018+10:00

WOW...two whole post's in the one day, I need to get my head checked!! Well, the holiday to Phillip Island was fantastic! 8 days of chatting, movies, laughing, card/scrapbooking...it just had it all!

& now...reality! lol. It really was just what the doctor ordered, some time away from the hum drum of life & go where it was freezing out but warm in. The hot chocolates flowed during the day & the red went down nicely at night! Our boys had the best time with their friends, they are both exactly the same age to within a few weeks of each other & just loved being together, they hardly fought at all, we were in heaven! & Tasharni & I got to 'play' almost all day, everyday making cards & I actually made a double page scrap page!!! I'll post it later, cant do 3 posts in the one day!! lol

So this here is where the 'magic' happened...& that pic was taken after we had tidied up LOL

& the card posted above is one of the cards I made for Sharn. I am so in love with the Rasberry Tart DS paper, but being surrounded by boys I hardly ever have an occasion to pull it out! But I thought a card for a girlfriend..well I don't need any further encouragement!!

The Card recipe for the above card is:

Stamps: Friendly wheel, Friends 24-7

Paper: Rose Red C/S, Whisper White C/S Pink Pirouette C/S & Kiwi Kiss C/S, Rasberry Tart DSP
Ink: Rose Red, Pink Pirouette, Choc Chip, Kiwi Kiss & Versmark

Accessories:Old Olive Ribbon, Crystal Effects!

Here is my 'little' boy Caleb, looking as gorgeous as ever, what a pose...& with very little direction I might add...

& here is my 'big' boy Jack...he stood there very cautiously for the photo then spun around to make sure none were coming to eat him LOL

& here are the only 2 girls of the families...me & Sharni!

Mojo#94 - Sunnies Please!!

2009-07-09T16:21:00.009+10:00

Hi again, hope you're having a good day! I know I have! Got to spend the day making things, some of my time I spent making baby shower gifts & the rest of it I spent on this little baby...

Its bright huh? Well, Pink Flamingo DSP certainly isn't for the faint hearted thats for sure. I made this card for Ange (send a card for no reason) & while I was at it I thought I might make it using the mojo monday layout#94.

Card Recipe:

Stamps: Upsy Daisy & Its a Loop Thing

Paper: Cameo Coral, Tempting Turquoise, Summer Sun, Whisper White & Real Red C/S & Pink Flamingo DSP

Ink: Choc Chip & Black Stazon Ink

Acc: Eyelet Punch, Crafters Tool Kit, Vellum, Markers & Dimentionals

My Favourite Sister In Law

2009-07-15T15:10:00.007+10:00

Ooo...did anyone think I was starting something by saying I had a favourite Sister in Law?? Actually, I only have 1 sister in law so its allowed!! lol

Just a quick one cause im not feeling crash hot today, I just had to make this after I saw a glitter butterfly made on Amy Rysavy's blog & it looks awesome! I think my dragonfly looks pretty cool! Check out here the video tutorial about how it's made...its really cool!!
Ok, im back to bed...
Card Recipe:
Stamps: Wonderful Favourites & Bugs & Kisses
Paper: So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Ridinghood Red C/S & Washington Apple DSP
Ink: Pacific Point & Black Stazon
Acc: Acetate Paper, Crystal Effects, Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon & Glitter

A Man Card for my Husband & Mojo#95

2009-07-14T23:15:00.013+10:00

Hello, hope its been a good start to your week. Mine started off promising but last night I went to bed with the driest, sorest throat. All night it was bothering me & when I woke this morning I found I could hardly swallow! I've been downing fishermans friends all day (on advice from my good friend Pam) & surprisingly it works. I cannot stand them otherwise but I found it to be less foul than usual & actually numbed my throat for a good half hour. So there's a tip for free!

Anyway, on to my card. Every now & then I attempt a masculine card...& everytime I have, my husband disagrees & points out how its still a feminine card (stamp is too girly/flowery or the sentiment is too much) However, I seem to have struck a note with his 'very manly taste' & when he first saw my card on the table said 'wow, thats a nice masculine card, I like the colours, the green & browns & the dark blue, its very manly' lol....So what do you think?

Well i'm pleased to have pleased the husband! I should mention of course the layout gets it's inspiration from Mojo#95 & what a good layout to work with!! I also pulled out my Good Morning Sunshine DSP which I have looked at many times but have yet to use on a card. I like it, its just...I find it a bit specific...I dont have the trendy trees set or the cheap talk/good friend sets which seem to match it so well. Maybe the catalogue has me too well trained!!
Card Recipe:
Stamps: Best Yet, Pocket Sillhouettes & Wonderful Favourites
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Choc Chip, Pacific Point & Summer Sun C/S & Good Morning Sunshine DSP
Ink: Choc Chip, Pacific Point & Summer Sun
Acc: Eyelet Punch, Old Olive Ribbon & Stampamajig
Talk Soon X

Mojo#99

2009-08-13T00:17:00.009+10:00

Hi there! I've had such a great day today, got to go shopping in the morning, then spent the afternoon with my VERY pregnant Cousin-in-law making thankyou cards & having a general play with paper. I took the opportunity to make a card for mojo #99 cause I haven't in ages & thought it'd been enough slacking off! I had heaps of fun with this sketch, took me a while to work out which colours & patterns go where, but once it came together it looked GOOD! Tell me what you think??

Cool colours together hey? Cant go wrong with DSP...has anyone else noticed how much I LOVE DSP? lol Hope this isn't something else i'm gonna have to cut myself off! Here's the recipe:
Stamps: Best Yet
Paper: Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze & Basic Grey C/S & Urban Garden DSP
Ink: Black, Baja Breeze & Kiwi Kiss (sponging)
Acc: Brad, Dimentionals & Ribbon (not SU)

Ali's coming back again to play with me tomorrow, thats if she doesn't go into labour cause tomorrow is also her DUE DATE!!...yikes, hopefully tomorrow is not too eventful, don't let her hear me say that cause she is SO ready for him to come out!...I remember that feeling, & then I gave birth & woulda given anything to put him back in for a night of unbroken sleep!! LOL ah newborns...
I have another card I made today but will leave it till tomorrow! XX

Pretty Flowes & Pearls (Mojo 104)

2009-09-15T11:28:00.007+10:00

Hello, Wow...has it really been THAT long?? Boy, time passes quickly when you're having fun! Joe is still home with his knee injury & I must say its been great to have him here, he comes in most handy at school drop off & pick up time LOL. The only thing is, he is most distracting from card making & i'm only just getting back into making things as my table became the general dumping ground for letters, bills & newsletters! Well, all cleared up & I went searching for some inspiration...went past Ang's blog...nice flowers, might use that....Mojo Monday...Yep done! & here we are with thanks to the above 2 blogs LOL

I love the colour combination, not one I would ordinarily think of putting together but the Stampin' Up colour chart said these colours go & who am I to argue?? The flower is from the Urban Garden DSP, just cut it out a few times & layered it up a bit, then placed it on scallop punched out Ginger Blossom DSP, to bring out the blue a bit better.

Will try VERY hard to make some more cards & keep this creativity going...if not...well you know who's fault it is!!! LOL

Card Recipe:

Stamps: Best Yet

Paper: Basic Grey, Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss & Ruby Red C/S, Urban Garden & Ginger Blossom DSP

Ink: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss & Ruby Red (sponging) & Versamark
Acc: Pretties Kit, Eyelet Punch & Scollop Punch

Till next time X