Trick or Treat!

Hello, how is everyone today?

I'm pleased to report that the sun shone yesterday and praise be there was no wind.......Our house was a bit like a Chinese laundry though!

Walshie and I are celebrating our 31st Wedding Anniversary today......not sure where the time has gone seems like yesterday!

My card today is another digital illustration from Mo Manning. I have to tell you that before I came to Australia I never really bothered about Halloween. The kids in the UK weren't into trick or treating...though that might have changed now.

I always get caught out without sweets or as the Australians call them lollies. This year because the shops have everything stocked well in advance I've been buying bags of sweets.......problem is Walshie and I keep eating them! Now I learn that I have until the end of next month (it helps if you keep the dates for these occasions ah!)

So onto my card...... I printed the image onto white card and cut it using a Nestability square die. I used my Copic markers to colour this one.........how brave am I. The green scalloped background is from SU Kiwi Kiss.

My base card is also SU Sahara Sand and to this I added a layer of GKD Pumpkin Spice that was embossed with Swiss dots. At the bottom of this layer I added a strip of Digital paper from GKD with some ribbon across the join.

The image was attached using foam tabs and I attached a spellbinder tag and the computer generated sentiment with a copper swirl.

Hope you like this one and thanks for taking the time to drop by.

I'm working towards a card to post for World Card Making Day......can't decide what to do but I better get to it.

Till next time.........

EDITED NOTE: HOT OFF THE PRESS: Mo Manning has released 10 of her popular images as Photopolymer clear stamps. These are available now for pre-order from

Stampavie!!!!!! Check it out here

Very Merry Baubles.....and Perfume gift bag.

Good Morning,

Two projects today!

Thought I'd share this card today. I've been joining in on the Back To Basics on PCP and this week's lesson was on embossing.

For my card I started with white card layered with Wine coloured card from Artarama by Celebrations of Australia. It has a gold tint in it, which works well for my card. I dry embossed it using my new Spellbinders Impressabilities die 'Flourish'. I should say that I rounded two of the four corners of both these layers.

A strip of Wassail from Basic Grey came next with some gold thread wrapped and knotted round.

I mixed some American Crafts Zing opaque finish white embossing powder with a small amount of Martha Stewart crystal course glitter.

The stamp is Bauble Flakes by Stamp-It and I used VersaMark ink to stamp onto a scrap of gold card, then embossed with my made up mix. Now IRL the image has a beautiful sparkle but sadly you can't see this in the photo.

I matted the stamped image to some plain white before adding it to the card.

The sentiment is from SU and attached to gold card. To finish I added 3 gold brads.

This was a simple card to make which is ideal if like me you have lots to get ready quickly, and still look a little more than ordinary.

My second project is a little gift bag.

On STV this week Lynn is hosting the Potluck Friday challenge and she asked us to pick something we love be it bags, shoes, jewelry, whatever and use it for our project. Well there are a few cards with bags, some T shirts, Shoes etc. and I commented on Mary Anne's one of the ladies who submits gorgeous cards, saying that as my thing was Perfume I wouldn't be able to join in. I didn't have the right stamps and I did look when I shopped on Sunday.

Ha ha.......... Mary Anne to the rescue with a couple of images that I have used here ......what do you think?

I've made the little bag that you will have seen here before, covered the front with some dp from SU. The images have been coloured lightly with Copics, cut out and adhered to the front of the bag. The tag is a stamp from SU - Oval All, that I stamped in Baby Blue onto white card. I've used some ribbon threaded through the top of the bag and the tag and tied off in a bow.

I took the picture with 'some' of my perfume in the background.

Thanks so much for dropping by today, I hope you have a good day.

Till next time.............

Alice.

Happy Monday all,

This is Alice, in case you didn't recognise her...... Alice is a digital illustration from Mo Manning. I've joined a list of people who have fallen in love with Mo's images, she draws so well and her illustrations are a delight to play with.

I used my Copic markers to colour Alice and am reasonably happy with the outcome.

I printed her out onto 120grm computer paper not card this time. Used an oval nestie to cut her out and a scalloped oval in Teal American Craft card .

The base card is White . To this I added a layer of the teal card followed by white card that was embossed through the Cuttlebug with Swiss dots. All these layers had two rounded corners.

The dp is from Cloud 9 Design - Alyssa's Garden, not sure if you can see that this has a bit of sparkle in it. I wrapped some white satin ribbon around the dp and tied a small bow before adding it to the page.

Alice was attached with foam tape to pop her up and to finish I added three Kaiser pearls in Teal.

Hope you like Alice, I'm off to colour another image..... so, take care

Till next time..............

Coffee anyone?????

Hi!

How's your week end going? On Saturday evening Kerrie and I were talking on Skype with Olga and Connie, blogging friends from STV. It's always good to catch up with them we have lots of laughs. It's Sunday evening here and it's been blowing a gale all day!!

Walshie thought we should try to get a walk in ....I wasn't too keen.....I hate the wind it makes me feel uneasy. Don't ask me why.. still said yes but after we pay a visit to the one and only specialist shop for stamping goods close by. Actually closer to Kerrie than us but the only one so off we went. I spent a happy hour looking around and walked away with a new Spellbinders Impressabilities a Basic Grey eskimo kisses paper pad (so much for not using dp for a while!) and some kindyglitz . I actually wanted a clear glitter pen but they don't have them so this was, according to the sales assistant the next best thing.......we shall see. I also picked up a couple of other smaller bits you can't live without......

Anyway from there we drove up to Palm Beach, which is the top of our peninsular (for those who don't know). I did get out of the car.... the sea was a quite rough, lots of white caps and not too many people in the water. Then a gust of wind blew sand in my face and that was it......back to the car for me........what a wuss!!

So I came home and tried to catch up on emails and blog visits.

Last night I started making this card for Jessica's sketch challenge over on STV...... so I finished it off what do you think?

• Stamp GKD - signs of autumn and the sentiment is GKD thanks a million.
• Ink ColorBox Paintbox fluid chalk autumn pastels.
• Card GKD Soft Sand, American Crafts caramel and butterscotch, DP Heidi Grace Reagans Closet.

My base card is GKD soft sand. I started with one layer of butterscotch, which I pierced. To this I attached another layer of soft sand. Next came the four panels two of Caramel with some piercing in top right and bottom left corners, (not sure if you can see that here) as well as the striped dp.

The image was stamped to some soft sand card twice, one cup was cut away to be added with a foam tab later. The second image was then cut using a Spellbinder labels one die and sponged whilst still in the die with the same ColorBox chalk. This was attached to a larger label die cut from the butterscotch card. I also pierced around the edge of this piece. Two buttons were added with dmc embroidery thread tied through the button holes.

The inside of this card was also decorated using the card left after cutting the larger label and some of the striped dp punched into 3/4" circles with buttonholes punched in the centres.

The sentiment was stamped to complete the card.

Thanks for taking the time to drop by, enjoy the rest of your week end.

Till next time........

Windy Saturday!!!

Hi,

Had to let you know that the play was good! I couldn't quite work out how they could condense the story for the stage but I have to say it worked very well. All the characters were strong... but my favourite was Clairee played by Jennifer Hagen.

Today we woke to strong winds once again which has blown the red dust about making it less than pleasant. What we need is some rain....... Busy day though, so no card to share It's 7pm and I've just sat down so I'm going to work on a couple of challenge cards.

Hope your week end is going well and that you manage to get some crafting time.......

Till next time........

Just another Day in Paradise......

Hi,

Another busy day in paradise today! Cleaning up after the big blow that hit not just Sydney but most of the East Coast from well South of us up to Queensland. Finally sat down to make this 'quick' card for Gina's technique challenge over on Stamp TV. Ian was out with an old colleague so I had the afternoon to play.

Well let me tell you this was one of those cards that just wouldn't come together........The image was easy peezy I stamped and coloured it sat it on some GKD Apple Green (gorgeous) card cut into a scalloped oval. Then the fun started.... I tried three different layouts before this one. Different card, different dp embellishments you name it. In the end this was the result, can't say I'm thrilled but it was the best of the bunch.

I used more of the Apple green as the base layer then some pale lemon punched with the SU lace border punch and embossed with Swiss dots.

I attached a strip of pale lemon double satin ribbon down the centre and the stamped image using foam tabs to pop it up. Spent ages getting the bow right and attached that to the top with a glue dot. Phew done! I'm typing this at 10.57pm stopped only long enough for dinner.......

I actually took some pictures of my work desk to show you the mess I made making this card only to find I'd left the memory stick out of the camera!!! So you don't get to see it I cleared it to take photos. Just one of those days I think.

Tomorrow evening I'm off to the Theatre with friends to see Steel Magnolia's which should be good. I'll let you know.

Thanks for stopping by and listening to me rant.

Till next time...............

Happy Halloween.......

Hello,
Here we go again - another little digital image from KLM Digital Stamps this time. This card is for this weeks Copics Buzz Challenge over at PCP. I really enjoyed colouring this one and might just go make a matching gift bag to go with it!!!

I've used GKD Soft Sand as the card base. The dp is another digital one also from GKD and I sat this on some white card. The next layer is Pumpkin Spice heavyweight card from GKD which I ran through the Cuttlebug with a Pumpkin embossing folder.
This cute image is printed on white card which sits on another piece of soft sand before attaching to the background with foam tabs.
The sentiment is computer generated and attached with an antique copper ring.

Walshie and I spend last night cleaning up red dust!!! I was almost besides myself cos it was everywhere. I had to be restrained from stripping of quilts for washing..... just as soon as the weather settles down though they'll all get done. Hey ho .....onwards!

Thanks for dropping by, sorry to be a moaner.

Till next time...........

Say Hello to Eldon......

Hello from a wind blown and very dusty Sydney.......

We woke this morning to an eerie light.....it was orange....very weird, and blowing a gale, couldn't see across the valley at all. It seems we've inherited tons of topsoil from Wagga Wagga!!! It's everywhere a fine layer of red dust covering every surface in the house...... I've been going round like a demented woman first with the vacuum and then with a duster.... all to no avail. I think tomorrow will be a major clean through, ah well so long as the roof stays on we'll be fine!

When I checked my computer this morning I found a new post from Curt who introduced Eldon. Eldon is a digital image from Nina over at There's Magic In The Air, he's free.... to a good home.... but if you take hime you should submit a card in their weekly challenge.

So Eldon came to live at my place cos I think he's a bit of a cutie (Walshie's not so sure.....but what does he know!).

I coloured him with Copics, I'm really trying to get a handle on these (at last) used a label nestie to cut him out and sat him on a split label in red.

My card base is white and I've folded it not quite in half. I embossed a layer of Bazzill pale blue/green card with the Cuttlebug and Swiss dots.

To the bottom half of the card I attached some Basic Grey striped card (oops I know... I couldn't resist though) along with the red ribbon. The image was then attached so it sits just off the front of the card.

The sentiment, attached to the bottom was hand written and mounted to a scrap of the bazzill card. Easy peezy!!!!!

So that's Eldon... what do you think? I think he's a keeper I'll use him on lots of cards.

Thanks so much from dropping by and thanks also for all those who leave me comments I really appreciate it.

Till next time............

Oriental Friends.......

Morning.......

I've a busy day today so rushing a quick post for this little card........ and please note no dp!!!

This is another card for Bizzy Becs challenge over at cratalicious challenges. I've used the little girl in kimono digi image from Mo's Digital Pencil again, it's so cute I love it. I bought some more of Mo's illustrations at the week end and have started to work with one of them so I'll have that up this week all being well!

I kept this very simple using corrugated paper, American Craft Card in Olive and Rouge with a piece of Olive satin ribbon. The base card is pure white, and the image was coloured with Copics.

Better run, thanks for dropping by.

Till next time.......

Aqua Wedding Celebrations

Good Morning, pretty busy week end. In the garden for most of it so we're looking quite tidy. Wonder of wonders we got some rain late on Sunday ....not nearly enough but it was good to see. Start of another week and I actually got to make this card for the Potluck Friday challenge on STV. It's Lee's challenge this week and she calls it "one plus one" that's one colour (as many shades as you like) plus one neutral. Now, in case you didn't know this I'll own up.... I love designer paper ! I'm challenging myself to try to use less for a while....oh I shake just thinking about it. I didn't even open the drawer that holds my dp when I sat down for this card I had an idea in mind after seeing a card made by the very talented Kathy. Go take a look, think you'll see what I mean.

• Stamp: Wreath of Wishes GKD.
• Ink: VersaMark and American Craft Zing white opaque embossing powder.
• Card: GKD Pure Luxury heavyweight pure white, American Crafts Aqua and for the white flower petals 120grm computer paper.
• Embellishments: Kaisercraft self adhesive pearls.

The base card is layered with aqua card that has been embossed using Cuttlebug Swiss dots.

The image and sentiment were stamped onto Aqua card with VersaMark and embossed with White Opaque finish embossing powder. I used a Spellbinders circle die for the image and also to cut a scalloped circle in white. After attaching the Aqua circle to the white scalloped circle I pierced around each scallop before attaching to the background with foam tabs.

I punched both sides of a strip of white card using my SU lace border punch. Three Aqua square dies were cut using Cuttlebug's Vintage Die set and attached to the middle of the white lace strip. The flower petals were punched using EK Success Retro flower punch medium and small, assembled with a small pearl in the centre then added to the centre of each square with double sided tape.

I added the two larger pearls on top and bottom left side to finish off.

So no dp in sight and I was quite happy with this one finished - hope you like it.

Thanks for dropping by.....

Till next time,

Sweet Circles in Burgandy, Green and Pink

Good Morning,

First of all just had to tell you Tropical Lime, my card from yesterday won the challenge over on PCP!!!! I was thrilled especially as it was the first challenge I'd taken part in with them. Kerrie won the sketch challenge on STV this week so she was excited too. Perhaps we should buy a lottery ticket!!!

OK, today's card Sweet Circles is my card for Bizzy Becs challenge which was to make a project using Burgundy, Pink and Green. I've used this week's sketch challenge on STV for the layout.

This is one of those cards you make and they don't really turn out quite as you expected they would !

• Stamp: GKD Elegant Post.
• Ink: VersaColor gold and Copic markers.
• Card: GKD Pure Luxury Heavyweight in pure white, American Crafts in rouge and olive, the dp is Basic Grey sugared and Grace Taylor for Grant Archival.

Pure White is the base card and I've covered this with a layer of Olive followed by the Grace Taylor dp.

The centre strip is olive and BG sugared with the corners rounded. I secured the ribbon loops before attaching this layer.

The image was stamped in gold (I think this is the ? for me) onto more PL card ,then coloured with Copics. I used a Spellbinders circle die to cut this out and added the gold brad.

I've attached the image to scalloped circles of olive and rouge card stock.

The flowers, top and bottom are made up of three layers of card starting with a rouge small die cut circle that I embossed with Swiss dots. Next layer is made from the Grace Taylor dp using the medium retro flower punch from EK Success. The top layer is a pretty 5 petal flower from GKD that comes in cream but will take the colour from any Copic's marker (and still retain a satin sheen). I gave these a spray of gold shimmer mist before adding the centre which is a gold spacer set with a pearl. These were attached to the background with double sided tape and the centre circle was then added with foam tabs to raise it up.

Thanks for dropping by till next time.........

Tropical Lime...

Hiya,

Happy Friday everyone!!!

My card today is a nice bright Spring card - it's Spring here after all and in Sydney the weather has been gorgeous.

The sketch I used is for Carol's sketch fun challenge this is Carol's sketch I like the double ribbon element but as I only had the narrow lime ribbon I punched some lime card to add the extra width for the left hand side of my card.

I've also entered this card in Melanie's farewell challenge on PCP. The challenge there was to make a Best Wishes or Good Luck Card.

Hope you like this one.

Oh and guess what I got the answer to my linking question from yesterday's post. Yeah I know how to do it and will put it to the test to link this card. Thank you Kath in Scotland, Lorraine in UK and Theresa from STV oh and Susanna from PCP!!!!!! what am I like? I had everyone in on this. Sorry all but I hate to be stumped. Anyway enough twittering on it's after midnight I might post this then go to bed!!!

Thanks for stopping by.

Till next time........

• Stamp: GKD Tropical Windows
• Ink: Versacolor Lime and Memento Tuxedo Black
• Card: Ivory Linen Base card, American Crafts Cricket and DP Basic Grey Lemonade.
• Embellishments: Lime double stitched ribbon, Copper self adhesive nail heads (GKD) and copper charm.

JustRite Thinking of you 1

Hello,

How are you today?

I was talking to some friends at the week end about buying gifts for young girls. We were laughing and saying that these days you can't go wrong if you choose the colours pink and purple. I remember my youngest niece always picked these coloured pencils first when colouring in. She still likes pink!!! It got me thinking back to when I was young (ages and ages back!) and loved to play with crayons or paint and my favourite combination was purple and yellow very deep purple and very bright yellow!!!! Yuk. I had this in mind when I made this card.

I think I've mentioned that I bought two new JustRite stamps from Joan Fricker of Joan's Garden's in America. Well the large oval set called 'Thinking of You' had been on my wish list for a while so today's card uses one of the images from this set. I thought I would use a more 'mature' version of the colours I loved as a child!

• Stamp JustRite Thinking of you.
• Ink Memento Tuxedo Black, Martha Stewart sweet pea and Copic markers.
• Card GKD PL heavy base weight pw, Grant photo mat stack lilac, Bazzill Pale lemon, Basic Grey Wisteria dp.
• Embellishments 2 buttons from my button jar and some DMC embroidery thread.

My base card is GKD pure white.

My next layer is the Bazzill pale lemon with a strip of Wisteria that has the embroidery thread tied around. Beneath this I ran a narrow strip of wisteria with an even narrower strip of the pale lemon attached to it. Two lilac buttons were added to this with some more of the embroidery thread knotted through the button centres.

When I stamped the image I inking the centre and the outer ring at the same time which was a bit of a fiddle as I spent extra time cleaning the edge of the rubber stamp before I dared put stamp to card!!! My blogging friend Selma used a colouring pen on one of her outer circles and just gave the stamp a light spritz with water before stamping - so I might give that a try next time. Her card looked perfect.

So next - I used Copics to colour the centre image and then using a Nestability oval die I cut this out. A scalloped oval was also cut using a nestie and the stamped image was adhered to this. I attached the completed oval with foam tabs to pop them up.

Thanks all those who commented on my recipe card yesterday. I hope you get the chance to try it. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

I have a question for you blogging clever clogs out there: - I would love to know how when you visit someone else's blog you can type a work ie 'here' and attach a link to a specific post on your blog?

We all know how to use Mr Linky but what if there is'nt a Mr Linky? I've seen where people do this and I have no idea how they do it in the comments section of someone's blog!!!!!

Help if you can......please.

Till next time.......

It's good to share......

Hiya,

I'm into Oriental cards it seems! Simon Says Stamp Challenge blog got me started with their challenge. After I made my first card I was looking through Mo's Digital Pencil Too Blog - have you found it yet? I know a couple of you have tried the digital images. Mo calls these illustration's, which is fair enough in my book they are beautiful!!

I've picked one illustration to play with and decided to combine it with the Mojo sketch 104 for this week, so this little card will go into two challenges - yeah.... one day I might be lucky!!!

• Illustration: Mo's Girl in a Kimono
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic Markers.
• Card: GKD Pure Luxury for the base card, Gold craft card, SU pretty in pink and bashful blue and Yuzen Chiyogami Washi (Japanese Paper).

I started with a layer of gold card and followed this with the bashful blue that was embossed with a Cuttlebug Swiss dots embossing folder. I lay a strip of Japanese paper followed by a finer strip of pretty in pink that I dry embossed using a bone scorer.

Once the image was coloured with Copics I used a Spellbinder circle die to cut it out. This was then adhered to a circle of gold card.

The Sentiment was computer generated, cut with a smaller die and sponged with pretty in pink whilst still in the die. This was also adhered to a circle of gold card and attached over the larger circle with foam tabs. Three small gold brads were added and the completed panel was attached to the base card.

I'm really pleased with the way this card turned out - I was worried the gold might be a bit much but I think it works quite well with the Oriental theme. What do you think?

Don't forget to call in on Mo I think you'll enjoy the visit if you have'nt already that is!

I'm off to bake a cake.... Walshie will be working from home tomorrow and he takes over the kitchen so better get organised today!!!

Edited Note: I baked a coconut slice using a recipe given me by one of the craft girls (Le girls). As this post is about sharing I thought I'd share the recipe with you it's quick and easy and turns out well every time!!

Just went one step further and took a picture and then........ played with Elements.... you'll have to click on the image to read the recipe though.................... so here it is .....enjoy!

Till next time.........

Simon Says - Oriental Mosaic

Hi,

Today's card is for the Simon Says Challenge Blogs latest challenge which was to make an Oriental (ish) card.

• Stamps: Hero Arts 'Christmas Dolls', GKD Inspiration Mosaic.
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic Markers.
• Card: Black Bazzill, Red and White Rice paper (from my stash), SU Riding Hood Red, White Card, Yuzen Chiyogami Washi.
• Embellishments: 3 Kaisercraft red gems, gold thread and handmade butterfly.

The base card is black Bazzill followed by white card then the red and white rice paper.

The Mosaic was stamped onto Riding Hood Red card in black ink - for this card I only stamped 3/4 of the block and flipped it to sit on my 5 x 5 inch card.

Two of the blocks are covered with the Japanese paper with a third covered with a piece of black card that the red gems were adhered to.

The image was stamped in black onto a scrap of white card then coloured with Copics. I used a Spellbinders die to cut this to size and attached it over another of the Mosaic blocks using foam tape to pop it up. Gold thread was wrapped around one long side before attaching the mosaic to the rice paper. I made the butterfly from a small piece of the same Japanese paper and attached this to the top right hand corner to finish.

Thanks for taking time to visit my blog today I hope you'll leave me a comment so I can come visit you.

Till next time

Edit note: I've just been blog hopping and found Kath's blog over in the UK - amazing lady go check her blog if you have a moment. She has Blog Candy too...... but the blog is a not to be missed!!!! Oh I love what she calls her cubbyhole!!!! I want one too..........

City Life.....

Good Morning,

Well the smoke's cleared and we can open the house up again! What a week end still I made two cards so not all bad.

I laugh when I see kids rushing around on what in my youth we called Scooter's. A couple of my brothers had them (Vespa's) and they thought they looked very cool! Ian made me laugh when he saw this card and said he had one and would ride one today!!! Oh what a sight that would be.

• Stamp are we there yet? by Rupa Shevde for GKD.
• Ink Memento Tuxedo Black.
• Paper GKD Pure Luxury Ivory, Bazzill chocolate and pale lemon, GKD Digital paper Sunlit Summer.

My card base is GKD Ivory with a layer of the digital Sunlit Summer. I tucked some pale lemon satin ribbon around before adding the next layer of pale lemon that was cut using a Spellbinder label die then embossed with Swiss dots.

The scooter image was stamped onto the digital paper and cut out. A second label cut shape in brown was also embossed using Swiss dots and the scooter was attached. This layer was attached to the background using foam tape to pop it slightly. To finish I tied a bow and attached it with a glue dot.

I was talking to my Mum in the UK and she asked me to send her a picture of the 'new' wall at the front of our place. She came to visit about 10 years ago!! and remembers me trying to get plants to grow in the old timber sleeper retaining wall - what a nightmare. I think she might approve of this one (not my yellow hedge though!!! it should come good now - fingers crossed).

She never saw the Wisteria in bloom either and likes to see pictures so I took some to send her and thought I'd post a couple here.

Till next time.........

Christmas Weave!!!

Hello at last!!

Thanks so much for all your messages and good wishes, It means a lot to me.

What can I say it's been over a week since I made a card and posted to my blog!!! I'm so sorry but I've just not felt like it at all. My flu symptoms became more like Hay Fever (which I've never had before). We're into Spring here and the weather has been glorious everything in the garden is flowering and the bees are about!

I've got wattle, honeysuckle and wisteria in the garden which are all, or so I'm told by my friends, bad for Hay Fever sufferers!!!! Trust me!

It's been like a mad house for the past couple of weeks. Now Ian's working for three days a week only he's decided to get the house up to scratch. I need for him to get a hobby!!!

He's gradually getting the exterior of the house painted before it gets too hot. Then we've had some men working on a rock retaining wall at the front of the house (so that's sand and cement dust to deal with). They've finished now so the next thing is to get the brush fence fixed up down the side boundary!!!! See what I mean about mad, it's playing havoc with my crafting time!!! Yesterday the temperature reached 29 degrees and guess what - the fire brigade had scheduled a huge back burning operation in our area (not our valley but the next one) the smoke was so thick yesterday afternoon and during the evening I was watching burning embers falling in the back garden!!! They're still at it today I can hear the helicopters now they're water bombing. Oh don't get me wrong I'm all for hazard reduction and I've got my fingers crossed that they will do our valley this year - I have nightmares about what we'd do if a fire came through it's just that my eyes are so sore at the moment and I just want to get back to normal!!!

OK that's it, no more whining from me - I'm sorry I've not posted but I had coloured this little stamp so made a quick card with it today. Dee Marie is hosting a challenge on STV and she wanted to see cards using paper weaving so thanks Dee I haven't done this with paper and thought it might be a fun card to get me started again.

• Stamp JustRite Christmas Treasures
• Ink Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers
• Card GKD PL Heavyweight pure white, Grant Photo Mat Stack green. Bazzill Chocolate, Red, Basic Grey Wassail.
• Embellishment Twine, Four Red Gems by Kaisercraft.

I cut my strips of brown, red and the Wassail card into 1/2 inch strips before weaving them 6 x 6 strips. These were attached to the background green card.

I stamped my image in two steps, first the centre bird and birdhouse was stamped onto pw card using tuxedo black and coloured with Copics. I used a Spellbinders circle die to cut this out and doodled the outline.

The outer circle was loaded with the sentiment and I stamped this onto red card using tuxedo black ink. The two sprigs of Holly were coloured with Copics. I used a larger circle die to cut out beyond the sentiment then changed to the die I used for the bird and birdhouse and cut the inside away.

I attached the red sentiment circle to the woven background using fine foam tabs then the centre was attached with a thicker foam tab to pop it up further.

I tied the twine around the card a few times and finished with a bow. Then just added the four corner gems before attaching the green card to the card base.

I showed Ian when the card was finished and he said not one thing is straight on this card!!!!

He's right of course - I need to work on that!!!

Thanks so much for dropping by I hope you've had a good week end - I'm off to make another card before I make dinner!

See you soon.......

I've got the flu AGAIN!!!!!

Hi,

sorry to say I'm sick again with the flu!!!! I sat with "Walshie" in the doctors surgery and a few days later this!!!!! My friends know I have a real problem going to the doctors for this reason. I can't understand why they don't use something on a daily basis to kill the germs in the surgery!!! Enough, I've said my piece!!

I received my new JustRite stamps this morning so am really keen to play with them if I can keep my head out of a tissue long enough that is, and get rid of this headache!!!

Hope to have a card to share tomorrow,

Till then........

Happy Birthday Heidi!!!!

Hello,

How's your week end? hope you manage some crafting time. I sat and made this card for the challenge over at Simon Says Challenge Blog. It was Heidi's Birthday on the 3rd (I think) so a sketch challenge was set out and it's hoped to get 200 entries!!

I've used this Tilda stamp that I won (would you believe, me who couldn't win an argument!). It came via Bev's blog but from Simon Says, so I thought it appropriate.

I stamped and coloured with Copics. The Paper is from Basic Grey - Lemonade and I've used some ribbon roses sprayed with glimmer mist (1st time I've done this!). The ribbon at the bottom actually sits just above the bottom of the card but I used batting to sit the card on to photograph so you can't see this. The sentiment is from Nina Brackett's Elegant Post set.

Thanks for dropping by, why not pop over to Simon Says Challenge blog and make a card for Heidi. I think you'll love the winners prize!!!!!

Till next time....

New Adventures.....

This is the second card I made with the JustRite stamps. It uses the largest of the oval stampers

the Harmony Classic ll 2 1/4 x 3 1/16". Quite a quick card today using the gate fold layout.

Stamps: JustRite Harmony Classic Oval Stamper ll, GKD - are we there yet? by Rupa Shevde

Card: Pale lemon craft card, SU bashful blue,GKD PL layering weight pw, DP EK Sucess - Christopher stripes and circles.

Ink: Versamark, Versacolor baby blue and narcissus, Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic markers.

I used both sides of the two sided dp mounted onto bashful blue. Then using the machine stitched a zig zag stitch all around before attaching to the front of the card.

The small stars and sentiment were stamped from the JR set onto pale lemon. These were then clear embossed and cut using an oval Nestability. This was placed over the scalloped blue oval with the blue and lemon star attached with a foam tab. Double sided tape was used to attach the oval to the left front of the card.

The sentiment inside the card was computer generated.

I've stamped the Motor Home from Rupa's set onto pw card then cut it out added some colour then clear embossed the whole image to give it some shine. This was added to the inside as my card is for a couple retiring and planning a trip around Australia.

Thanks so much for dropping by today, I hope you all have a great week-end.

Till next time........

Precious and few.....

Good Morning,

I have this card to show you today and I know it's another of my pink and brown cards! I love Basic Grey and Bittersweet is all pink and brown so what do you do!!!

Kathy, who is on the DT of JustRite stamps, asked me how I was going with my new (not so new now!) JustRite stamps and I had to say that so far I had just played with them only. So yesterday I sat down and made this card ready for a friend who has a Birthday later this month. It's not 100% and after I made it I thought that next time I use the set I might sit my computer mouse pad under the card when I stamp. I'm used to stamping with the deep etched rubber stamps and JustRite are not. I tend to loose some of the finer detail. It's me I'm sure, I WILLl master them!!! Practice makes perfect.

STAMP: JustRite Harmony Classic (3 1/4" circle).

INK: SU pretty in Pink, Martha Stewart pink carnation, VersaColor brown.

CARD: SU Sahara Sand, Bazzill Chocolate, DP Basic Grey Bittersweet.

EMBELLISHMENTS: Kaisercraft self adhesive pearls and grossgrain ribbon.

Sahara sand is the card base followed by a layer of Bazzill brown. Bittersweet makes up the next layer with the ribbon to cover where the two papers meet.

I stamped the image inking the inner sentiment with brown ink and the outer edge with pink carnation. I used Spellbinder dies to cut the circles one plain and one scalloped.

I added some light sponging around the outer edge while the card was still in the die.

I'll confess that I did this because I lost the edge of some of the image!

This was then attached to the brown scalloped circle and then the card using foam tabs.

I added the three corner pink pearls. Punched a butterfly using a Martha Stewart punch, to sit on the edge of the circle. Then just added the four small pearls.

On the inside of this card I just added three fine strips of the dp and I plan to stamp a birthday message too.

Have you used JustRite stamps? any helpful tips you can pass on would be gratefully received. I ordered a couple of new sets earlier this week I'm committed to them just need more practice I think.

That's it for today, Friday has started out as a dull day. We must have had rain in the night the ground is wet. Some rain will wash away the dust which is good.

We're having a stone retaining wall built at the front of the house - it replaces a timber sleeper retainer which was rotten. I've enjoyed seeing the construction - it's a bit like making a patchwork quilt.

Thanks for stopping by till next time........

Buttons and Bows....

Hello,

Today's card is for a challenge over at Tuesday Taggers, Buttons and Bows. I have to own up and say that I follow the blog site and keep an eye on the challenges but so far have only entered a couple!!! I'm bad, cos it's over in the UK which is where I'm from and I love to keep up with all that's happening there in papercraft.

So Pink and Grey were my colour choices, to fit in with a colour challenge this week at Stamp TV.

STAMPS: GKD Elegant Post by Nina Brackett, Heart swirl by Art Stamps Australia

PAPERS: GKD Heavy weight PL in pure white, Grey Bazzill, DP Basic Grey Bittersweet card pad and Heidi Grace- Oh so loved (stripe).

INK: Memento Tuxedo Black and SU pretty in Pink.

EMBELLISHMENT: Three heart buttons, Pink Grosgrain ribbon and two tiny pearls on the butterfly that was punched with a Martha Stewart Punch.

I used a Nestibility oval die to cut the grey bazzill then punched the side with a SU lace punch. The ribbon was added to the spine side before attaching to the white card base 1cm forward of the fold.

The pink dp was added to the inside of the card before stamping the basket of flowers. I've used the base of the Elegant post and stamped it (upside down) for the basket to sit on. No colouring of this image - if you look closely it's such a detailed stamp I think I get away with leaving it on this pink DP. The striped dp was also punched with the lace punch and added beneath the post.

To finish I added the punched butterfly which has the two small pearls attached and then the three small heart buttons.

That's it for Buttons and Bows - hope you like it and thanks for stopping by.

Till next time.......