D-Dazzled Scraps

FWF - Sweet, Kind, Nice, Wonderful

2012-02-10T17:39:00.000+11:00

Boy has this week flown, I've literally been all over the place this week both physically and mentally and didn't get much crafting done apart from attending our Terrific Tuesdays Craft Group's first day back for the year and making a Baby Card for a last minute order yesterday. Following a morning of shopping and because I am on dinner duty tonight I wanted to get a quick card made and catch up with all my Unity Friends for their Friday Friends With Flair so I have another CAS Card for you this week using the Inlaid Embossing Technique.

A QUICK HOW TO - CRAYON RESIST BACKGROUND WITH STAMPING

For my Inlaid Embossed Card I started with 3 Die Cut Hearts, a Piece of White Cardstock (as my backing piece) and the "Entangled" embossing Folder. You can use any punched or die cut shape, paper scraps or even stamped and coloured images to create your inlaid piece with your chosen embossing folder.

I simply positioned and stuck down my die cut hearts where I wanted them onto my white cardstock piece, and then ran this through the big shot machine using my Entangled Embossing Folder.

My 3 Die Cut Heats cut from floral paper positioned on the backing piece

Placing my piece in the embossing folder ready to emboss with the Big Shot

That completes the inlaid part.

To complete my card today, once embossed I took some red ink on a sponge dauber and highlighted the embossed pattern on my hearts, this covers up any white showing from the papers core that I used for my hearts that has been exposed by the embossing process. I then simply mounted this white piece to my red cardstock base and added my stamped sentiments.

The circular words for my sentiment - 'You' and 'Are' are from my Unity November 2011 SMAK Kit whilst the 'Sweet, Kind, Nice, Wonderful' is from the January KOTM which I just received in the post yesterday.

There has been some exciting new stamp releases over on the Unity Site lately including some just being released today, so be sure to take a look and for more Unity Inspiration be sure to visit their blog and view the other FWF Creations this week.

I also created this card with the following challenges in mind.

365 Cards - Day 346 Spread the Word Challenge
Paper Sundays - #106 Clean and Simple
Cards for Men - Seeing Red

PTT#54 Valentines

2012-02-07T18:29:00.001+11:00

This week we want you to join the party and create a Valentine's Day card or project for someone you love.

Image: Digi Doodle Shop

Papers: Stampin' Up!

Flourish Rhinestones and Flowers ZVA Creative

Other: Computer Generated Sentiment, Heart Rhinestones

There has been lots of love given this week at Party Time Tuesdays with four fabulous sponsors joining the fun. ZVA Creative provided our Party Planners with the most beautiful rhinestones and flowers whilst Wee Stamps and Digi Doodle Shop allowed us to showcase some of their adorable images. So be sure to stop by the PTT Blog to see all the wonderful and inspiring creations from the team and for further details about this weeks wonderful sponsors.

I hope you will join us as I just know that I am going to love seeing all the wonderful love themed entries for our challenge this week.

Magical Monday - For Someone You Love

2012-02-07T11:00:00.000+11:00

It's another Paper Cupcakes Magical Monday and with Valentine's Day just around the corner we want you to join us in creating a Card for Someone You Love (ie. Husband, Children, Sister) using the Colours Pink and White and one other colour, but that colour cannot be Red (because that would be too easy......right?).

Obviously your image can include some other colors if needed. My other chosen colour for my card this week was orange and The Paper Cupcakes DT got to play with the delightful image 'Enjoy the Moment". This is the monthly freebie which Nina so generously offers her followers, and it can be yours for free for the next 48 hours (until Wednesday) by simply following the link on the TIMITA Blog.

I used a couple of different shades of both the orange and pink with minimal white, for my card. I did add a bit of other colour however for my image with my Tria makers. I can't honestly say that I don't think I have combined these two colours before but with the splash of blue I am kind of liking the contrast and the way it all came together.

So now its your turn to play along, and I can't wait to see what you create.

Paying Tribute in my own way to Mum

2012-02-06T16:42:00.000+11:00

I decided to play along with the latest challenge over at Colour Combo's Galore this week and found myself not only creating a scrap page but writing a poem. You see as well as the colour combination their inspiration part of the challenge was to Pay Tribute to a Very Special Female in your Life.

Stamps: Unity Dec & Jan SMAK Kits, Papers: Stampin' Up!

Ink: SU Riding Hood Red, Tattered Rose and Pumice Stone Distress Ink.

Other: EK Success Heart Border Punch, SU Eyelet Border Punch, EK Success Photo Corner Punch,

Sizzix/Tim Holtz Tattered Flowers Die, Assorted Flowers from Stash, Rhinestones.

I didn't have exactly the same colours, but used the closest I had to them

The page is about my mum. As some of you may know my mother is in the early - mid stages of dementia and nine months ago we had both my parents move from Brisbane to Casino to live with us. Knowing that each day we are losing my mother little by little, this page/poem was a way for me to express my current thoughts and feelings when it comes to my mum battling Dementia. Making everyday count with her is now more important than ever.

My poem reads:

The fog is slowly coming in, invading the walls of your mind.
Effecting all your memories, it's now just a matter of time.

I have seen the spark go from your eyes, acknowledging you can't comprehend
Yet still in life you participate, with routine your only friend.

For your loved ones it is hard to bear, as we watch you slip away
To lose more and more of the one we love, each and every day.

Dementia is hard to understand; how it randomly effects the brain
Stealing memories from moments before, whilst bringing others to life again.

I cherish the time hearing of days gone by as you sit and reminisce
Triggering my own wonderful memories of my mother who I already miss

And although there is probably many years ahead, to grieve and let you go
This journey until your eventual death, will for me be greatly painful and slow.

Flashback Friday - Black and White

2012-02-04T14:27:00.000+11:00

Today whilst visiting and leaving comments for all my Unity FWF Friends I followed a link to where Jen from Jen's Cup of Creations is guest designer over at Flashback Fridays. This is a challenge blog where each challenge is set and you are asked to find a creation you have done in the past (your first creation to be exact) that fits into the criteria. How fun is that?

As guest designer Jen chose a Black and White Challenge and is asking us to join in the fun and revisit our very first Black and White Project with all the girls over at Friday Flashbacks. On going back through my old posts I discovered that the above pictured card was my very first Black & White Card, which I created for one of the Tangled Up in Creativity Challenges in August of 2010, you will find the original post here, the criteria of this challenge was to create a CAS Card using either a single stamped sentiment or image. I had just at the time purchased these tiny wedding ring embellishments, I used them for the first time on this card.

Do you know that I couldn't remember the last yet alone the first Black and White Creation I had made so it was fun having to search back through my old posts and I look forward to doing this again with the Flashback Friday girls soon.

One lucky FFC blog hop participant will win this fabulous prize

Ooooops! I almost forgot to mention - that as part of their 20th Challenge Celebrations some of the Past Guest Designers and Amy (FFC Blog Owner) are conducting a Flashback Friday Blog Hop with a fabulous prize (pictured above) to we won by one lucky blog hop participant. So be sure to check out all the details over at Flashback Fridays and see how you can join in the fun and be in the running to win. Or better still join in the fun of the blog hop and the challenge and revisit your first Black and White Creation.

More Crayons, Colour and Challenges with FWF

2012-02-03T17:41:00.001+11:00

I can't believe its the end of another week already. It's been wet here this summer which has meant cooler weather, but trying to get the washing done in between showers has been a challenge. But I am not complaining, at least we are one of the lucky ones not having to be evacuated from our homes, which is happening at present to many people in other parts of NSW and Queensland. The wet weather is set to remain with us for some time as I just heard the forecast that in February 21 out of the 28 days are expected to be wet. It's great weather for ducks and frogs and need I say crafting!

Whilst having my crayons still on hand from yesterdays post where I showed a quick how to on doing a Crayon Resist Background, and with Valentine's Day just around the corner, I thought I would use a Resist design (using some of my new Unity Stamps) and link up all my Unity Friends over at the Unity Blog for Friday Friends with Flair (FWF). Today's post for FWF not only links you up with the wonderful creations of lovers of Unity, but also showcases some wonderful new stamps by Christy Tomlinson that I've just added to my wish list, so be sure to check it out!

For my CAS looking card today I started out using the Sketch over at Paper Players, Challenge #80 using my resist piece. Once I had completed my design and used my crayon I sponged around the stamped hearts with red ink to reveal the resist and then used my Red Tria Maker to colour in a couple of the hearts, finishing off the design with a punched heart and a rhinestone in the centre of one of these hearts. These fabulous newspaper print hearts and the sentiment are from the 'We Treasure You' Stamp Set by Unity which was an end of year gift sent to their Kit of Month Subscribers. They are just perfect to make a Valentine's Day Card for my hubby who is not really into all the cutesy stuff.

I am also entering this card into a couple of other challenges I play along with from time to time but this will be the first time in 2012.

Cards for Men - Challenge #3 Seeing Red
Paper Sundaes - Challenge #105 Valentines

I hope everyone has a Fabulous Weekend.

Crayons, Colour and Challenges

2012-02-02T12:01:00.000+11:00

I love making my own backgrounds so today I got out my white crayon and used a resist technique to create a quick and fun background to use for a card I made combining a couple of different challenges.

This card combines Day 335's Super Sketchy Sunday, Sketch over at 365 Cards and the current colour combination Challenge #177 at Colour Throwdown of Melon Mambo, Black and White.

I used lots of my Stampin' Up Items for this one. Its been a while but for my background I used one of their Wheels, along with their square punch, heart punch, and scallop trim punch. The inks and cardstock are also Stampin' Up. The sentiment is however from Unity Stamp Company.

I love how it all came together and I love playing with my stamps and this fun technique.

A QUICK HOW TO - CRAYON RESIST BACKGROUND WITH STAMPING

Firstly stamp a design on a piece of cardstock, this can be gloss or normal cardstock. For my stamped design I used a Stampin' Up Wheel.

Once your design is stamped and dry, take a white crayon and randomly draw/trace over parts of the design. I couldn't show this step as white crayon doesn't show easily on a white background.

Once you are happy with your crayon design take a sponge and ink pad and sponge colour over the entire piece.

You will see that where you have used the crayon the colour does not cover. This is the crayon resisting the ink. It works perfectly with alcohol inks also.

Once you have covered entire piece take a soft dry cloth and rub over your design like you are polishing to remove the excess crayon and reveal your design further.

The above photos show the resist done one a piece of gloss card on the left and normal white cardstock on the right.

Your background is now ready to use as desired.

This ATC was created using the Crayon Resist Technique with Alcohol Inks,

for my background, I added further colour over the top using my Tria Markers and some Kindy Glitz.

So why not try this fun method for yourself. Try stamping in different colours and then coloring over the top, use different stamps, use alcohol inks or forget the stamps and simply draw on the surface of your cardstock with your crayon and sponge with different colours to see what happens.

S.W.A.T. February Sketch

2012-02-01T09:23:00.000+11:00

Good Morning and Happy 1st Day of the Month (sending you all a cyber pinch and punch......lol). Its time for the February Sketch to be revealed over at Sketches with a Twist, but first can I just say what amazing entries we had for January. It's going to be a hard decision to vote for just one winner and I can see by the amazing talent that is out there, that it will be a tough choice in the coming months also. Can I also put a call out for card makers to try this one out too!

Here is February's Sketch.

Janice has excelled again with another fabulous Sketch .......and this month the twist is to have green somewhere on your layout.

Don't you just love banners........here's my card using this sketch.

Stamps: Darkroom Door (Butterflies), Unity Stamp Co (Sentiment), Hero Arts (Alpha - Happy)

Papers: Echo Park, Other: SU Ribbon, XL Bird Punch (Leaves), Scallop Trim Punch,

Roses, White Paper Cord (Banner) and Rhinestones

I have been using Echo Park papers a lot lately..........you might recognize the green paper from yesterdays card. The beautiful rose design is the backside of this same piece of paper. The butterflies I have coloured with my Tria Markers.

If you are thinking of using this sketch for scrapping, be sure to check out all the gorgeous scrap layouts the other S.W.A.T. Team Members have created to inspire you over on the Sketches with A Twist Blog and whilst there, have a look at the amazing entries we had for January too.

Looking forward to seeing what you create and another inspirational month ahead.

PTT#53 - Anything Goes

2012-01-31T18:59:00.000+11:00

Anything Goes is our theme this week at Party Time Tuesdays and I got to play with some Treemendous Stamps from our Sponsor 'There She Goes Clear Stamps'.

Stamps: Treemendous Stamp Set by There She Goes Clear Stamps

Paper/Cardstock: Echo Park/Stampin' Up!

Ink: Stampin' Up Soft Suede, Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz, Pixie Pink and Marina Mist

Other: SU Taffeta Ribbon, Oval and Scallop Oval Punches, Rose.

I fell in love with this stamp set the minute I saw it. It has so many wonderful possibilities with all the wonderful extras you can add to this tree's beautiful branches and it also includes some lovely sentiments. Inspired by the Frangapani's in my garden this tree has lost all its beautiful flowers and they now carpet the ground.

Our second sponsor this week is:-

Crafty Sentiments Designs

So are you up for another fabulous Anything Goes Challenge? If so head over to the PTT Blog for all the challenge details, info on our sponsors and some wonderful inspiration which has been provided by our fabulous Party Planners.

A Sweet Birthday Card

2012-01-31T11:10:00.000+11:00

I am leaving things to the very last minute, but chose to play along with the latest Card/Tags & Off the Page Challenge over at Colour Combos Galore using their Inspiration Board 216.

The cake slices and bow/ribbon in the inspiration photo had me reaching for a cake stamp, embellishing my cupcake with a button and bow along with using my Martha Stewart Ribbon Loop Punch. To finish I chose a sweet Birthday Sentiment!

It gave me the opportunity to use some of my new stamps in the December Unity SMAK Kits along with my favorite cupcake and sentiment from the June 2011 Unity KOTM.

I love my Unity Stamps, and if you haven't seen these Monthly Club Kits you really should check them out, they are exceptional value for such a fabulous assortment of quality rubber stamps.

Liebster Blog Award - Spreading the Love

2012-01-28T08:28:00.001+11:00

Yesterday I was given a lovely surprise when I discovered that I had been awarded the above blog award by Jen over at The Sparkle Within. Jen is a fellow Unity Lover and usually every Friday we catch up in blog land sharing our love for Unity by linking up with the Friends with Flair Post over on the Unity Blog. When you visit Jen's Blog you will find it is filled with lots of wonderful Unity and Ippity Goodness to inspire you. THANK YOU Jen for the lovely surprise and the acknowledgement.

Liebster is German and means 'dearest' or 'beloved' but it can also mean 'favorite'. The idea of the Liebster award is to bring attention to blogs with less than 200 followers. So, in the spirit of good fun I am passing this award on to five other bloggers. Please stop by and visit them.

The Rules are:
1. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
2. Reveal your five picks for the award and let them know.
3. Post the award on your blog.
4. Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the blogshare-other bloggers.
5. Finally and the best rule of all..........have fun and spread the love!

So my Five Picks are:-

1. Julie - Time to Create
2. Holly - Through the Looking Glass Crafts
3. Nina - Having an Art Attack
4. Laurie - A Page In Time
5. Lizzie - Crumbs of Creativity

These ladies are wonderfully talented and I so enjoy visiting their blogs, I know you will too!

FWF - Watercolor Wash Take 2

2012-01-27T17:19:00.000+11:00

If you saw yesterdays post I shared with you a quick 'How To' on how to make your own watercolor wash backgrounds using a plastic protector sleeve, your felt tip markers and water. In that post I created my background using colours of similar tonings eg. all Yelllow/Oranges and then stamped over the top of these designs with a darker colour in the same tones to achieve a unique background for the thank you cards I made.

Today I am using this same technique however I have used different contrasting colours. (Pink and Green which is my favorite colour combo).

The overall result I achieved today is a much softer look compared to yesterday cards, this has a lot to do with my choice of colours and embellishment. I embossed my background with my Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder from Stampin' Up! and teamed this with a fabulous sentiment from the Unity December KOTM and some sewing themed die cuts from K & Co (Amy Butler Lotus Tea Box Die Cut Cardstock Emphemera).

The blue is not part of the card but the background I laid the card on to take this picture. Given pink is often hard to photograph in good light, let alone the miserable weather we are experiencing here at the moment, this gave a much better result than the white background of my white photo box.

Aswell as showing you another take on the Water Colour Wash Technique, I have created today's card to join in the fun over on the Unity Blog for their Friday Friends with Flair Link Up. Be sure to pop over and check out all the other wonderful Unity Goodness there and don't forget if you leave a comment on my blog or any of the other blogs participating in this link up you have a chance to win some Unity Goodness for yourself.

Thanks for stopping by.

Watercolor Wash Backgrounds

2012-01-26T20:25:00.000+11:00

This morning I was asked by a close friend to make some thank you cards for her to use to send to those people who have been sending her and her family lots of love and support during a difficult time. I jumped at the chance to be able to help her out and immediately knew what I was going to create.

Daffodil Card - Used Dark Room Door Stamps, SU Sentiment & Cardstock, SU Ribbon and Small Oval Punch,

Clear Embossing Powder and Brown Archival Pigment Ink.

Butterfly Card - Uses Unity Itty Bitty and KOTM Background Stamps, SU Sentiment & Cardstock,

Black Archival Pigment Ink and Purple Chalk Ink

Both Cards Backgrounds were created using SU Markers and Ink Pads

This gave me the perfect excuse to play and I made the background papers using a Water Colour Wash with Felt Tip Markers Technique. This technique will give you a totally random and different result every time you use it, and it is quite a quick, easy and fairly mess free one to try.

A QUICK HOW TO - WATER COLOUR WASH WITH FELT TIP MARKERS

To start you need a Plastic Page Protector Sleeve that you use in your Ring Binders/Folders, and some Water Based Markers. I have used my Stampin' Write Markers. For my backgrounds for today's cards I have chosen colours similar in tone. Eg various purples and various yellow/orange tones. But playing with mixed colours etc will give you totally different effects.

I have put a white piece of cardstock behind my plastic sleeve to enable better viewing of this technique in my photos. The second step is to randomly scribble and colour all over the plastic sleeve with your chosen colours.

Once you are happy with your scribble, using a spray bottle, spray some water over your design on the plastic sheet. Again experiment with different amounts of water to achieve different effects and results.

Once you have sprayed the water, its time to take your piece of paper/cardstock you want to create the background on and press it face down over the wet design on the plastic sheet.

Keep pressing into the wet design until you have covered all your piece of paper/cardstock, you may even like to scribble and repeat the process to add further interest/colour.

You may like to use your piece of paper/cardstock like this, but for today's cards, I went one step further by taking out my Re-moldable Rubber Stamp, which I had some designs already pressed into it saved.

This side had been pressed into chicken wire.

This side was pressed into the seed pods of a plant

Using a darker colour in the similar tones of my water wash background piece I randomly stamped over the surface to achieve the following effects.

Using the side of the stamp that had been pressed into chicken wire

This was using the side of my moldable stamp that had been pressed into the back of a rattan chair

This was using the side that had been pressed into the seed pods of the plant.

This Watercolour Wash Technique is one of my favorite background techniques. I use it often, and adding to it by random stamping over the top truly does give you infinite possibilities. You should try it.

PTT#52 - Picture Inspiration and Colour Challenge

2012-01-24T20:08:00.000+11:00

Tuesday has come around once more (doesn't time just fly?) and this year replacing our once a month Sketch Challenge at Party Time Tuesdays we are going to have a Picture Inspiration and Colour Challenge. This Month we have a fabulous Winter Themed Photo and Colours.

For my card I was given the adorable image Skating-Donita from Digital Delights who is one of our two Sponsors this week to feature.

Image: Skating Donita from Digital Delights, Paper: Momenta ATD Seasons Paper Pad

Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento, SU Markers and Tria Markers

Other: Stampendous Frantage Fragments, Spellbinder Tag Die, Small Square Punch, Doilley (skirt) and Rhinestones

Joining Digital Delights this week our second sponsor is Paper Pretties.

You can read more about both these companies by visiting the Party Time Tuesdays Blog.

So will it be the stunning winter landscape or the cool climate colors that have you joining the party with us this week, or maybe it will be a bit of both, whatever way I can't wait to see what you create.

PS. I almost forgot to mention - the products from last weeks sponsor Stampendous didn't arrive in time for me to create a card in time for our Birthday Challenge, so I owe you all a card featuring their wonderful stamps. Because they arrived as I was finishing of my card for this week, I used their a product I hadn't seen before - Frantage Fragments. I used them to cover the half circle at the bottom right corner of my card. They add a nice element of texture and colour don't you think?

Magical Monday - Picture Inspiration Challenge

2012-01-24T11:00:00.000+11:00

Its time for some picture inspiration for our Magical Monday Challenge with the Paper Cupcakes Team this fortnight, using the deliciously sweet photo below.

Nina has also released some wonderful new Images over at the Paper Cupcakes Store, so be sure to swing by and check them out. I am actually using one of these images on my card today which was inspired by the shape of the lollipops and the colours of this photo.

The image is called Up Up and Away, isn't it just adorable. I teamed it with some bold striped paper from Echo Park, some hand cut clouds and punched elements, including my favorite border punch the Ribbon Loop Punch from Martha Stewart.

So what part of this photo will inspire you? I do hope you will play along, as always the randomly chosen winner of each challenge gets there choice of two delightful Paper Cupcake Images.

FWF - Orange the Colour of Hope!

2012-01-20T17:57:00.000+11:00

If you haven't visited my blog for a while, you may notice that its gone Orange and for today's Unity FWF Post my card is also orange. This is in honor of little Allie Robinson who is currently battling Leukemia and it comes with a special request!.

Stamps: Unity Oct KOTM, Unity Generations Stamp Set

Cardstock: Stampin' Up!, Ink: Black Memento and SU Markers

Other: Martha Stewart Ribbon Punch, 3 Girls Jam Ribbon, K & Co Rhinestones, Brad

Allie is the two year old grand-daughter of my dear friend Toni and she was diagnosed with Leukemia two days before Christmas which also was one month after her grandfather John (Toni's husband) had passed away following a very short battle with Cancer. As you can imagine the world of my friend Toni and her family has been turned upside down. Treatment locally is not an option, so since Allies diagnosis, her immediate family including Toni have been living in Brisbane (2.5hrs away). This is putting all sorts of financial strain on them not to mention huge emotional turmoil given how soon after John's passing this has all happened.

John & Allie

LIVE LAUGH LOVE - is the Duncan/Robinson Family Motto

and is also the Motto for Leukemia Awareness

On the 28/29th of April I will be joining a team consisting of Toni's Family and Friends to walk in the Cancer Council's Relay 4 Life. This is a fundraising event to raise funds for Cancer Research, Awareness and Prevention, we are calling ourselves the Purple People Eaters after two of little Allies favorite things, (the colour Purple and Monsters) and will be relaying in support of Allie and in memory of John.

However I want to do more, I am wanting to raise further funding to directly assist Allie and her family, so I am hoping to hold a couple of additional fundraisers throughout the coming months. My friend Toni and I both share a passion for scrapping and card making so with this in mind I was thinking of ways I could connect herlove for paper crafts to raising these funds.

The ways I am planning to do so are listed below.

To hold a Blog Hop in little Allies Honour, to do this I am:-

Approaching Paper-craft Related Companies and asking for support in way of special products to be sold for a set period of time with proceeds going to the cause, and promoted during the blog hop. This could be include digital images, selected existing product ranges. The other way companies could support this idea is by donating products to be used as prizes for the event.
Having a special image in honor of Allie designed as the center focus of the blog hop (with out giving it all away it is being designed after two of her favorite things (The Colour Purple and Monsters). I will be asking my blogging friends, such as you to be part of the blog hop. You would need to create a project in honor of Allie using this image and post at a set time to your blog promoting the cause and the blog hop.

I am also looking at setting up a Crafting for Allie Community/Forum where anyone wanting to support Allie throughout her treatment can come and be kept up to date with her progress as well as participate in lots of crafting fun and inspiration. Attached to this forum would also be some paid access areas, which would allow users access to some exclusive tutorials and projects. The proceeds from the paid access areas would then go back to the cause.

For this idea I would be looking for support from fellow crafters who would like to provide a tutorial with full instructions on how to make a particular project, allowing it to be used to raise funds as part of the paid access area of the forum.

In order to ensure these efforts are successful, I need help! So my special request today is for Expressions of Interest. Are you be able to help me? Is it possible for you to help me to support Allie and her family/raise funds for vital research, and awareness programs? If you think you could assist by being involved in the blog hop, or providing a tutorial I would love to hear from you. I still have a few things to be organised before I can definitely go ahead with these plans but my aim would be for both of these events (for want of a better word) to be up and running by March.

To express your interest to help could you please send an email to dmay4stamping@gmail.com with the Heading: Crafting for Allie and detailing how you would like to assist.

I would also ask that you keep Allie and her family in your thoughts and prayers.
I really appreciate you taking the time to read my post today, thank you.

PTT#51 Its a Birthday Bash

2012-01-17T20:23:00.000+11:00

Hi there party goers, this week we are having a Birthday Bash in honor of two very influential men from history. Martin Luther King was born on the 15th of January 1929 whilst Benjamin Franklin would have celebrated his 305th Birthday today if he was still alive.

So without further ado it's time to bring on the party and for you to show us your wonderful birthday cards and projects.

I actually don't have a card to share with you yet, but didn't want you to miss out on the start of our weekly party nor the fabulous inspirational and I have to say absolutely gorgeous creations from all our other lovely party planners this week. This week they are showcasing wonderful images from Stampendous.

This week we are also joined by two other fabulous sponsors Wild Rose Designs and Whisker Graphics.

Sneak Peak at Holly's Card This Week

To tantalise your taste buds, here's a sneak peek of Holly's beautiful card this week.......to see this card in full and the other creations by our DT you will have to visit the Party Time Tuesdays Blog which is where you will have to go to link up your entry anyway.

Words to Live By - Colour Combos Galore #215

2012-01-16T13:36:00.001+11:00

Its raining here today, which spared me from doing most of the washing and gave me some time to play with the ideas I had for another site I found recently which looked to have some great inspirational colour challenges - its called Colour Combo's Galore. Their Putting on the Ritz Challenge/Inspiration Board #215 is a combination of a colour challenge and photo inspiration challenge.

The colours and the hat cakes in the photo immediately had me thinking of Easter with Easter Bonnets and Spring Colours (so I broke out the Echo Park Spring Time Papers). The cakes sitting on the tray immediately had me thinking of circles and a sketch based on a layout by Janine Kaye, I had seen in a Magazine called Scrapbooking Lifes Special Moments. Thinking of Easter also reminded me that it signifes New Beginnings and hence I came to thinking about the New Year and Resolutions. I don't so much make resolutions but each year I have Words I want to live by, all of which signify ways I want to improve myself (improving oneself could be classed as Putting on the Ritz) or my life in the year ahead. This layout which will be a daily reminder of what I want to achieve in the year ahead.

Every Year I start with Live, Laugh, Love - I want to do more every year. Be Thankful is a reminder to appreciate all that I have and to appreciate others for who they are (2011 was full of reminders to do just this). Create is simply to do what I enjoy more, whether it be papercrafting or creating opportunities to enjoy life more, such as time with family and friends or little holiday escapes. Capture is a reminder that I want to take more photos and scrapbook more of life's everyday moments and make the most of opportunities that may present themselves. I have had a couple of these already this year. Consolidate signifies a few different things for me - firstly to consolidate our debts our goal is to finish doing up our old house and sell it. I also have to reign in my spending..............my craft spending needs to be halved at least. Consolidate also means to strengthen what you have, so in this instance I want to be a better friend, a better wife and better daughter to those I love, and lastly Explore is to try new things, explore new opportunities and to start planning our holidays for February 2013 when Rod is taking long service leave and we are planning a two month road trip to see more of this great country we live in.

I find that when we set goals or at least identify what it is we wish to achieve it is more likely you will suceed, so I am thinking a 12 x 12 Shadow Box Frame next to my bed may be just the place to put this layout.

What words do you live by?

A Scrappy, Stamping Sunday

2012-01-15T18:45:00.000+11:00

I'm back with another post and this time it is a scrap layout. After 17 years I still haven't finished my scrapping my Wedding Photos, so I took the opportunity to do one of my wedding photos playing along with 'The Colour Room's' Challenge today. I don't have the exact colours but given it is my favorite colour combo of Pink & Green I couldn't resist, and I sort of followed the sketch too whilst getting to use some of my yet to be used stamps.

There is no designer paper, just lots of stamping on this layout, all though you may not be able to see it all as my camera hates the colours pink and purple, and never shows them true to colour. On enlarging this photo you will see the result of lots of editing in Photoshop to try and get the colours and clarity of this photo somewhat presentable for you.

I used some light pink chalk ink and stamped my Stampin' Up Baroque Motifs Flourish in the bottom left hand corner, and under my image and ribbon on the right hand side I used my So Swirly Wheel. I embossed both of these with clear embossing powder. In a darker pink Ink I used my Unity Smak Kit Photo Strip over my flourish in the bottom left corner and stamped the sentiment 'all because two people fell in love' under the photo. My Beautiful Day Title was stamped in green ink on a white strip of cardstock and added to the bottom of my photo and I also used one of my doilley flower stamps from the Unity Generation Kit, sponged with green ink and punched them out with my circle punch to layer under my photo. Then it was simply a matter of raiding my flower stash, adding a strip of ribbon and there you have it.

It really was a beautiful day and this photo was one of the professional photos we had taken in the Park opposite the Royal Brisbane Hospital.

This is now my second scrap layout for 2012.....I think I might be on a roll.......lol.

I Miss Seeing You

2012-01-15T07:25:00.000+11:00

I am back with just a quick post today using some more fun images from the Unity December KOTM which I just received late last week.

This card I created for the Colour Challenge over on Splitcoast Stampers this week CC357 which was to use the colours Blushing Bride (Pink), Riding Hood Red (Red) and Baja Breeze (Blue). I chose to team these colours with white and go for a CAS look.

FWF - Filled with Love

2012-01-13T17:49:00.000+11:00

Today I am Filled with Love and Joy because yesterday my December KOTM from Unity arrived which meant I got to play with these new stamps in time for Friday Friends with Flair. This whole set is Filled with Love literally ........with lots of wonderful images and sentiments relating to love......but the stamp I was most looking forward to receiving was one of a Jar.

Yes that's right a Jar. Why a Jar you ask.....well its because you can fill that jar with just about anything your heart desires and because I love making ATC's and can't draw for quids, it means I can now participate in the 'In A Jar Swaps'.... over at ATC's For All.

But this is really getting off the track, because today I have two Cards, Filled with Love, using this fabulous Jar and a couple of other stamps from the December KOTM to share with you.

For this first card I made a piece of crayon resist patterned background paper in my chosen colours to coordinate with the cardstock and add some interest by making a small colour block panel to go behind my jar. The same crayon resist piece was used for a punched strip down one side of the card also.

For this second card I used the zigzag stamp from the December KOTM with my Kaleidocolour Ink Pad and Brayer to give a multi colour effect and filled my jar with hearts in the same colours. Purple is one of my favorite colours however similar to pink it doesn't photograph that well or that true to color unfortunately.

I just love my December KOTM and can see that it will be one I reach for often. It is filled with love just like my post today. So in ending if you Love Unity, are looking for Love-ly Inspiration be sure to pop over to the Unity Blog.

I am also entering these loved themed cards today in the Paper Players Challenge #77 - All You Need is Love!

Beauty in All Things

2012-01-12T21:17:00.000+11:00

Yesterday whilst trying to stay cool I spent some time surfing the net and found some wonderful challenge sites. One which really took my fancy was "The Colour Room", which is actually a Ning Forum with a regular Colour Palette Challenge and an optional sketch for both layouts and cards to use too. Their gallery has some absolutely stunning creations to inspire and admire and this weeks palette really caught my eye so I couldn't help but play along.

Here's what I came up with, using one of my favorite Stamps from the Unity Stamp Company - Beauty in All Things.

The cardstock colours and Inks are from Stampin' Up! and the Paper is from Cosmo Cricket. I used my Sakura and a small daisy punch to create the flowers, my Stampin' Up Scallop Punch and finished with some Blue Dragonfly Rhinestones.

If you love Colour Challenges than you really should check out the Colour Palettes and the wonderful inspiration at The Colour Room.

PTT #50 - Use a feathered friend for Save the Eagles Day

2012-01-10T20:14:00.000+11:00

In the United States, January 10 is Save the Eagle Day - so in honor of this fine creature, Party Time Tuesdays theme this week is to use a feathered friend on your creation. Don't forget if you wish to play along anytime with our challenges be sure to include our PTT Logo on your sidebar to be eligible to be in the running to win a prize from our sponsors.

Image: Digi Doodle Shop, Ink: Image coloured with Tria Markers, Paper/Cardstock: Echo Park, Stampin' Up!

Other: Martha Stewart Cherry Blossom Punch, Sizzix Cherry Blossom Die (Leaves), Crochet Flower (just purchased on Ebay), Rhinestone

Here is my card using a sweet image from the Digi Doodle Shop one of this weeks fabulous sponsors.

This week our sponsors are:-

The Party Planners were all excited to work with the adorable images from our wonderful sponsors, so for some fine feathered inspiration be sure to pop over and check out all the fabulous designs and images.

Other Challenges I am entering this card in include:-
Cute Card Thursdays - Challenge 198 What's New (New Digi Image, and New Crochet Flowers)

Paper Cupcakes - Magical Monday - From the Heart

2012-01-10T10:33:00.000+11:00

Welcome to another week, its hard to believe that we are already well into January. You might remember that in November I was the Guest Designer for Paper Cupcakes, well I am back creating with the girls as a New Member of the Paper Cupcakes DT for 2012 after being contacted during the holidays by Nina (Paper Cupcakes Owner) offering me a spot. Of course I jumped at the chance.

A couple of changes have been made to the challenges at There's Magic In the Air - instead of weekly the challenge will now be fortnightly uploaded on Monday Night US time which is Tuesday Morning here in Australia. Nina will still offer a Freebie Image each Month which will be available for 48hrs from the time of the challenge being posted - Monday to Wednesday of that week.

Image and Sentiment: From the Heart by Paper Cupcakes, Papers/Cardstock: Echo Park, Stampin' Up!

Ink: Image Coloured with Tria Markers, Other: Ribbon, Heart Rhinestone, Photo Corner Punch.

So without further ado,we are kicking the year off with a challenge that is "from the heart". We would like you to use an image that has a heart in it and your overall card has to be some kind of thank you card or card of encouragement.

The twist to this challenge is after you have created it you are challenged to send/give it to someone who has touched your life with some type of kindness over these last several weeks or someone that needs some type of encouragement/lifting up.

I am sending my card to my dear friend Toni, who in November 2011 lost her husband to a short battle with cancer and just two days out from Christmas was informed that her 3 year old granddaughter (first grandchild) has leukemia. I thought this cute image she could share with her granddaughter and the card would be another way of letting her know she is in my thoughts and to stay strong and positive because all things are possible including surviving cancer/leukemia.

This challenge theme, brought one of my favorite quotes to mind.

'Kindness comes in many forms, but always from the heart!'

And speaking of kindness, Nina has provided this sweet image used by the DT this fortnight as your freebie for the month so you can get it by following the link on There's Magic In The Air Blog. Don't forget however that it is only available for free for the next 48hrs only. Whilst visiting the T.M.I.T.A. Blog you will also find some some fabulous inspiration from the team, and all the details about our From the Heart Challenge this fortnight.

I look forward to seeing all your creations From the Heart!

FWF - Imagine Dream Fly

2012-01-07T09:37:00.003+11:00

Imagine anything is possible, Dream Big, and Fly is a positive way to start the New Year right?...., and its also the perfect sentiment for a Card for the First Friday Friends with Flair over on the Unity Blog.

This card uses an image and sentiment from the Unity October 2011 Kit of the Month. The cute papers with birdies and flowers is from the Springtime Collection from Echo Park and I have teamed it with Rich Razzleberry and Melon Mambo two fabulous colours from Stampin' Up!

I have used the stamps from the October 2011 Kit of the Month (Faith, Hope, Love .......live by it.) quite a bit lately especially with some of my ATC's for a recent Art A Thon over on ATC's for All Forum. Here's a couple of them I created.........using this kit.

So as you can see it is jammed pack with lots of wonderful sentiments and images of a positive and encouraging nature and a great kit to begin crafting in the New Year with.

Lots of other Unity Goodness is showcased every Friday with the FWF link up so be sure to pop over to the Unity Blog and check it out.

A Christmas Tradition

2012-01-05T13:17:00.000+11:00

My family has always had the tradition of Ham and Eggs on the Barbie for breakfast on Christmas Day. This year it was the meal that broke in Rod's new Barbeque that he won in a raffle at the butchers two days out from Christmas, so yes photos had to be taken to mark the occassion and record his win.

With photo's also comes the scrap layout right?........so this one is my first for the year, hopefully not my last - I am on a mission this year to firstly take more photos (I always forget the camera/to take photos), and to scrap them. Mind you I still haven't finished our wedding album from 17 years ago.

Papers/Sticker Embellishements: Echo Park, Inks, Ornament Stamp and Punch: Stamping Up!

Title Alphabet Stamps: Hero Arts, Embossing Folder, Zing White Embossing Powder

My journalling is hidden on the tag behind the Ham and Eggs. The sun wasn't in the best spot when I was taking these photos.....but sometimes you have to work with what you have as they say. With the Barbeque also came two Aprons from the Meat Company, so the boys of the house (including our dog Elwood) had to pose Apron's and all for the camera. Elwood however was I think more concerned about when he was going to get fed.

Another photo I am planning on scrapping from Christmas is this one I took of Rod's Mum and Dad who joined us for Christmas Day.

I really love this photo of them both as it captures them both smiling and looking happy. It was a most enjoyable and relaxed day.

I am quite chuffed as we are only one week into the New Year and I have already done a layout, that is a good start for me. Now just to keep the momentum going!

PTT #49 - Something New!!!

2012-01-03T21:03:00.000+11:00

Happy New Year Party Goers......its that time of the week again! Something New for the New Year is our theme over at Party Time Tuesdays and we want you to share with us something new on your project. We have something New to share with you this week too, not only our cards. We kick off the New Year with a new Design Team. Some faces you will recognise but we would all like to welcome Cely and Holly to the team and officially welcome Jacqui our New Sponsorship Coordinator who has been doing a lot behind the scenes for a little while now and I must say is doing a wonderful job.

I am sure you are just going to love what we all have in store for you this week and this year at Party Time Tuesdays. So without further ado - this week my card was created with Something New - Prima Flowers fresh out of the packet, I tried something different using ribbon on my card, and of course a new adorable image from The Wax Fruit Company!

The Wax Fruit Company along with Crafts and Me are our two major sponsors this week.

So what is Something New for you! It may be a new paper, ribbon or embellishment, it may be your new goals for the year ahead, it may even be a new addition to the family.......I do hope you play along and share with us. As always be sure to read all the challenge criteria over on the Party Time Tuesdays Blog, and whilst there you may like to leave a welcome message for our New DT Members !

Happy Creating!

HAPPY!!!!

2012-01-02T18:03:00.000+11:00

Some say Happy is a state of mind, whilst others spend their lives searching for who or what will make them Happy. For everyone HAPPY is different and unique, so just what makes you happy?

One of the things that makes me happy is being able to spend some time in my craft room each day creating, which is what I have been doing lots of lately, and yes I have a wonderfully supportive husband.....lol.

Stamps: Darkroom Door and Ippity by Unity, Ink/Colour: Black Archival Ink and Tria Markers, Papers: Basic Grey and Echo Park

Other: Embossing Folder, Martha Stewart Ribbon Loop Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Ribbon and Rhinestones.

Creating makes me happy, making for others and sharing my creativity makes me happy. This past week I have been overly Happy!

I had an order for a Birthday Card requiring delivery for today, I wasn't given much to go on other than they weren't overly into pretty or flowering things. So 'HAPPY' became the theme of this Happy Birthday Card. A yummy chocolate cake, bright colours, fun patterns, a little bit of texture, and just a touch of pretty, are all things that would make me HAPPY, so I was hoping that this combination would work for this card and make the recipient Happy Too!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CRISTINE!

Some other creations that have made me overly happy this last week have been the many (33 to be exact) ATC's that I made as part of the ART-Athon over at ATC's for All. I now have 24 cards to bundle up and send to 14 traders throughout the globe, and I can't wait to recieve my trades in return. I will try and remember to take a photo to share with you all once they all arrive. The other part of being creative which makes me happy is all the wonderful new friends you make along the way. I have made many this past week during the Art-Athon.

Here's a peek at a few more cards I made for these trades:

Spread your Wings - Brayered and Perfect Pearl Background, with Stamping and Embossing

Seahorses - Brayered and Perfect Pearl Background, with Stamping in Gesso

Enjoy Good Times - Stamping and colouring with Distress Inks and Tria Markers

Siren of the Sea - A Golden Morn, - Paper Collage

Fairy Kisses - Stamping and Coloured with Watercoloured Pencils and Twinkling H20's

Love Birds - Stamping and Punches Collage

I am looking forward to being Happy for the Rest of this week with more creating on the cards after a little bit of housework is done. Including some scrapbooking, doing more scrapping is one of my goals for 2012. Have you set yourself any creative goals this year? I have set a few which I will share with you all in another post.

Until next time........tommorrow actually cos it will be time for another Party Time Tuesdays post, I hope you get to do something that makes you Happy.

Say S.W.A.T!!

2012-01-01T09:07:00.001+11:00

Happy New Year to you All! Not only is today the First Day of 2012 but it also means that the S.W.A.T. Team are now officially in operation and the very first Monthly Challenge over at the new Sketches With A Twist Challenge Blog is ready for you to play along with. If you are looking for some wonderful inspiration for both scrapbooking and cards you are going to love this site.

Here is the January Sketch by S.W.A.T Sketch Designer - Janice Daquila-Parda.

The Twist this month is to use a Title made up of Two Different Fonts. Here is the card "Friendly Thoughts" I designed using this sketch. My sentiment showcases this month's Twist.

Stamps: Flowers + Friends = Priceless from Ippity by Unity

Papers: Basic Grey and SU Cardstock

Other: Martha Stewart Punch, Spellbinder Dies, Ribbon from my Stash

The sentiment on the Pull Out Tag I did on the Computer

The Tag pulls out to reveal another Friendly Thought.

So what do you think? Are you up for a New Year and a New Monthly Challenge? This sketch has so many wonderful possibilities and I urge you to pop over to the S.W.A.T. Blog and check out all the Design Team's wonderful examples and interpretations. You won't be dissapointed.

To be in the running for a fabulous prize from our sponsor The Scrapbooking Hut, all you need to do is link up your entry which can be a scrapbook layout or a card. You will find the link in the sidebar on the blog. You have until the 31st of January to do so.

Don't forget you can also follow us on Facebook and join our forum.

I am loving this sketch so much I may just have to do a scrap page using it also, just for fun!
.

It's Official - I'm Addicted!

2011-12-30T12:24:00.000+11:00

My new found love for making ATC's is somewhat out of control........lol. I am addicted to the things. This week over at ATC's For All they are having a Art Athon which is basically a opened themed trading period where everyone makes whatever they like and posts pictures to the gallery to trade with others. Its so much fun and I so love making these tiny pieces of art.

Here are some that I have made so far......most of which I have traded.

The two collages have been done on Brayered Ink and Perfect Pearl Backgrounds

Hand Stamped on Watercoloured Background - These wonderful stamps are from Unity!

Stamped Chalk Ink Background with Paper Pieced Bird and Stamped Sentiment

(All stamps used here are from Unity Stamp Company)

A Photo of one of my Frangapani's on some

handmade/painted and embossed Tissue Paper which I recieved in a Christmas Package.

Another Brayered and Perfect Pearls Background

with a Fish (Darkroom Door Stamp) Stamped with Gesso and Sponged with Colour.

This cute elephant was part of a stamp set I got for Christmas - he is on a watercoloured background.

Another Handstamped and Embossed ATC using the Just My Style Set from Darkroom Door.

So I think you will agree, it's official! I am addicted to making ATC's ........and to think the ART Athon still has 4 more days to go.

PTT #48 - Anything Goes to see in the New Year!

2011-12-27T20:59:00.002+11:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, I had a totally relaxing day with my family, which started with my DH cooking our traditional Christmas Day Breakfast of Ham and Eggs on his new BBQ which he won 2 days before Christmas. Apart from a very strong wind the weather held up quite nicely unlike the storms that we experienced today, which has lead my hubby to adding cleaning out the gutters to his ever growing list of things to do whilst on holidays.

Did you realise that today is the last Tuesday of 2011? And that this means it is the last challenge of the year for Party Time Tuesdays so it is very fitting that our theme this week is Anything Goes!

Once again we were joined by our Month Long Sponsors of My Mind's Eye Papers and 3 Girls Jam who's products I have used today to create my card along with the cute Cookies and Milk Doggie image from 2 Cute Rubber Stamps who are one our weekly sponsors this week. The sentiment is from Unity Stamp Company and I have used my spellbinder dies, Tria Markers and a button from my stash to to complete this card.

Sadly the end of the year also means it is time to say good-bye to a couple of our Design Team Members - Jackie, Mary, Peggy and Suzanne who will be greatly missed. Its been an absolute pleasure working with them all.

Its also been an absolute pleasure having you check in with us each week and for your continued support throughout 2011. For your last chance to win this year be sure to check out all the details over at Party Time Tuesdays for this weeks Anything Goes Challenge and we look forward to you all joining us next week for our first challenge of 2012 and when we will introduce you to some wonderful new faces joining our Party Planners.

FWF Friday - Remembering Jester

2011-12-23T13:48:00.000+11:00

A month ago today we said goodbye to our beloved cat Jester. He was our baby and had given my hubby Rod and I many years (13) of unconditional love and joy. There is a void in our lives since his passing and there isn't a day that goes by where I don't think of him and expect to wake up to him running me to his food bowl, jumping up and curling up next to us on the bed or simply being somewhere nearby, his playing with the Ornaments on the Christmas Tree at this time of year is sorely missed. Thinking of him yesterday lead me to scrapping my favorite photo of him. This photo captures his two most favorite pasttimes, sleeping and playing with ribbons.

In November I joined the Unity SMAK (Scrapbooking and Mixed Media Artist Kit) Kit Club, and was yet to use the stamps I had received so far, so given this was my first scrap layout in some months I immediately reached for them. All the wording on this layout is from the November SMAK Kit and the cat themed images are from a set by Outlines Rubber Stamps that I hadn't used in quite some time.

Because I have used Unity Stamps and because its Friday I have linked up this layout to the Unity Friends with Flair Post so be sure to pop on over to the site and check out all the Unity Goodness from all the Unity Friends who play along this week.

Jester is now buried under the Grevilla and Climbing Red Rose at our new home a spot which is frequented by lots and lots of birds, particularly the rainbow lorikeets. As he was a indoor cat he could only ever watch the birds from a distance, so it is fitting that he have them overhead and so close to his grave.

In the last months of his life Jester along with our dog Elwood, had brought a lot of enjoyment to my mother who suffers from dementia and who with my father now lives with us, so as a family we decided that we would get two new additions to our family for twice the love and joy.

I contacted the breeder we got Jester from, knowing we would have to wait for a new litter to be born etc and just last week we had some good news that with a bit of juggling around, she has a boy and girl born last month available for us.

Aren't they are just adorable? I love the lighter shade of grey that they are, now we just have to think of names for them. We hope to bring them home in February next year once they are old enough and have been desexed, it gives us all something to look forward to in the New Year.

A New Challenge Blog and a New DT

2011-12-21T06:44:00.000+11:00

Hi Everyone, today I have some exciting news!

There is a new Sketch Challenge Blog in Town (who doesn't love a sketch challenge?) which is for both Scrappers and Card Makers alike and I have been lucky enough to be selected onto their Design Team as one of their Card Designers.

The site is Called "Sketches with a Twist" who will kick off with the first Challenge January 1st.

The New Design Team consists of:-

Janice Daquila-Pardo (Sketch Designer)
Aki linuma
Kirsten Michelsen
Laurie LaRiviere
Lisa Brooks
Lizzie Crust
Raechelle Bellus
and of course me! :)

The DT are all excited and are busy working on our first design for the first sketch of 2012. I do hope you will join in the fun and perhaps follow us all over at 'Sketches with a Twist' where there is bound to be lots of fabulous inspiration aswell as a fabulous sketch for you to play along with and use each month.

PTT #47 - Use Ribbon

2011-12-20T22:33:00.001+11:00

Its a great yet simple challenge to play along with this week over at Party Time Tuesdays because all you have to do is to incorporate Ribbon somewhere on your project.

Our month long sponsor 3 Girl Jam kindly provided our Design Team Members with a selection of wonderful ribbon to use. Perfect timing for a Use Ribbon Challenge, don't you think?

Image: Bugaboo Stamps, Paper: My Mind's Eye

Ink: Tria Markers, Ribbon: 3 Girl Jam

Along with 3 Girl Jam we also have My Mind's Eye, Bugaboo Stamps, The Greeting Farm and Crafty Sentiments sponsoring this week all of who have provided some great prizes for our winners.

For all the details pop over to the Party Time Tuesdays Blog which is where you will also find lots of inspiration from our Party Planners and some very special and talented Guest Designers this week.

FWF - Inspirational Gift Giving

2011-12-17T09:30:00.000+11:00

It's yet another Unity Friends with Flair Friday! My how the weeks are speeding by.

Well if I haven't said it enough I will tell you again I love my Unity Stamps! As well as great images they also have some wonderful sentiments and quotes. One Set that took my fancy was their Quote Bundle Pack which has five inspirational quotes which are not only perfect for cards and scrapbook pages but make a wonderful gift idea. With a touch of decoration and a coordinating frame they become a wonderful Inspirational and rather inexpensive Gift for a friend.

Knowing my love for butterflies, you no doubt knew I couldn't go past using this particular quote.

As well as using your creative skills there are a huge variety of cheap frames available at your dollar discount stores so the possibilities are endless. You may like to use a more basic frame and decorate it aswell to make your gift even more unique and one of a kind.

Don't forget Unity Stamp Company is having a Huge Inventory Reduction Sale leading up to Christmas. Right now this Quote Bundle Pack along with 10 other best selling sets of 2011 can be yours for $11. And if you buy all 11 Sets they can be yours for $100. There are many other fabulous savings to be had so be sure to check them all out on the Unity Website.

Hello Kitty ATC Swap

2011-12-15T15:36:00.000+11:00

Here's another couple of ATC's I have made for a swap over on 'ATC's for All' forum. This one is a Hello Kitty Swap. The Hello Kitty Character is a japanese cartoon cat that's a huge craze all around the world at the moment.

I actually had to draw for this one.........and believe me when you see some of the fantastic hand drawn ATC's in the AFA Gallery you will see my drawing skills leave a lot to be desired.

Hello Kitty - Beauty Queen

Hello Kitty - Halloween Fancy Dress

Hello Kitty - Underwater Swim

I have used a combination of my hand drawn Hello Kitty's with various stamped, watercolour and collage backgrounds and a bit of paper piecing too!

PTT#46 Red & Green for Christmas

2011-12-13T18:12:00.002+11:00

Happy Tuesday Everyone, its time for this weeks Party Time Tuesdays Challenge. We want to see lots of Red & Green (after all it's Christmas). Simply create a Christmas Card or project using these traditional colours.

The party planners this week got to play with some fabulously fun images from the Paper Shelter. I have to say I just love this image, and I made some of my own Christmas Cards with it this year. It puts a bit of a humourous spin on the Big Guy in the Red Suit. I wonder if he washes his colours with his whites.......Red is usually a shocking colour for running.

For the month of December we are very excited to have

As month long sponsors.

PLUS for this week we are also joined by

Circle B Enterprises

Please be sure to check out all the inspiration from our Design Team who's cards this week are showcasing images from The Paper Shelter, Papers from My Mind's Eye and Ribbons from 3 Girls Jam. And remember for this week, lots of Red and Green need to be seen, think Christmas and be sure to follow all the PTT Criteria outlined on the Party Time Tuesdays Blog for your chance to win.

Other Challenges this week I have entered this card in:

Allsorts Challenge Blog - Week 133 - It takes Two

Paper Sundaes - Anything Christmas Challenge

Happy Creating!

The perfect way to give a little something

2011-12-13T10:30:00.000+11:00

Today I am heading out to have coffee with the girls.......my lovely crafty friends who I share my passion of papercrafts with and also lots of fun and other adventures.

Recently one of them discovered a lovely new little coffee shop called 'Just Grinds' and we have been there a few times now. They have a wonderful back courtyard which has lovely shade trees and garden, a water fountain and the most beautiful mural of a rainforest painted on the walls. It's such a pleasant place to enjoy a good coffee and good company.

Sizzix Die, Echo Park Papers, Stampin' Up! Ornament Punch, Red Satin Ribbon, White Paper Shred.

Without going overboard, I have a little something to give each of them today to wish them all a Merry Christmas and as my way of thanking them for their friendship and support throughout the year. I was wanting something to dress these small gifts up a bit so I reached for one of my Sizzix Dies and made these cute little gift bags.

They really are so easy to make and you can jazz up one side, both sides or the whole bag if you want. You can leave them open, shut them like a lunch bag or in my case add a handle. They are also another great way to use up those left over paper scraps.

I am thinking I might even make some more to add to each place setting this year at the Christmas Table and personalise them with each guests name stamped on the Christmas Ornament.

Other than my coffee date today, I have lots to look forward to this week. My sister who I haven't seen in well over a year is coming to visit. An old friend may be paying us a visit tommorrow and on Friday my DH starts three weeks holidays and we have lots planned.

I hope you have lots to look forward to this week too!

Wishes from Our House to Yours

2011-12-10T10:19:00.001+11:00

This morning when I woke up and was visiting some of my blog friends (Paige) I saw a post that triggered both a happy and sad memory for me. It took me back a few years ago to happy times scrapping with my best friend Toni and showing her how to make Wine Bottle Tags for her husband. Her husband John worked in Real Estate, so it was customary for him to give a bottle of wine to his customers when they purchased or sold their home.......my thoughts then immediately came to John who sadly passed away just over a fortnight ago following a very short battle with Cancer. It just felt so right that I make a Wine Bottle Tag this morning for my post to share with you for Friday Friends with Flair.

I immediately knew which stamps I would use from the November Unity KOTM, and that it would be another great project for using up some Christmas Paper scraps left over from my card making.

I enjoy the odd glass of wine as do my family and friends so it is no suprise that wine is often part of our Christmas Gift Giving and I think these tags would make a wonderful personal touch. The saying Drink & Be Merry comes to mind as I write this post, but I would also be sure to tell you not to drink and drive.

Now because this is a FWF post it means that over on the Unity Blog you will find lots of other wonderful inspiration using Unity Stamps, and the Friday $5 Feature, which again this week is actually two stamps at less than $5. But the even more fantastic news is that a Huge '3 Week Inventory Reduction Sale' is now on over at the Unity Stamp Co Website, with over 150 items up to 45% off. So be sure to check all this Unity Goodness Out!

PTT#45 - A Holiday Greeting Card

2011-12-06T20:17:00.001+11:00

Our Party Time Tuesdays challenge is a simple one this week, we want to see you create a Holiday Greeting Card. How's that, you can get on top of your Christmas Cards and play along with our challenge all at the same time.

The Design Team received some fabulous papers from My Minds Eye and this adorable image from Paper Make Up Stamps to create with this week. I love the fun colours and patterns of these Christmas Papers and the Sentiment 'There's snow one like you' also from Paper Make Up Stamps matches the cute image perfectly.

We are joined this week by five fabulous sponsors (My Minds Eye, Paper Makeup Stamps, House of Gilli, Stitchy Bear, and 3 Girls Jam) and as always have some great prizes up for grabs. For all the details be sure to check the PTT Blog, where you can also find lots of wonderful inspiration from our Party Planners.

Let the Party Begin!

Elephants, Dogs and Butterflies

2011-12-06T07:56:00.001+11:00

I have some more ATC's to share with you today. The swaps I participated in are:

Magnificent Elephants - Mixed Media Collage - using a Acrylic/Acetate Smash Background

Colourful Butterflies - Mixed Media Collage - Using a Crayon Resist with Alcohol Ink and Tria Marker & Glitter Glue Background

& Dogs - Mixed Media Collage - with Rubberstamping and Collage Papers

Cards I am currently working on for future swaps are: - Lady Bugs, Animals Came Two by Two (Noah's Ark) and Hello Kitty.

Finding the Joy - More Christmas Creating - Challenges x 3

2011-12-05T18:09:00.001+11:00

It's not often that I do this, but this is my second post today. You see the weather hasn't been the best today it almost feels like its reverting back to winter......which is very strange following the absolutely glorious summer's day we had yesterday. So because of this I stayed indoors, neglected the housework and chose to participate in a combination of challenges to use up some scraps left on my desk and a couple of items I have had sittting in my stash for a while now. I decided to Find the Joy by doing something I enjoy! Creating!

From my last few posts I had all my Unity Christmas Stamps still sitting on my desk, along with my left over bits of Echo Park Merry Christmas Papers, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to create something for our November Tangled Up in Creativity Challenge being hosted by Julie over at Time to Create. Julie challenged us to create using left over bits we had from other projects. The stamped image Find the Joy I had stamped to use on a card but wasn't happy with the look of this with the paper I was using, so I have used it here instead. The stamped flowers are a few I stamped out using the smaller stamp from the Unity Generations Set which I used in my earlier post today. The dotty paper and red die cut scallop strips are left overs from this card aswell.

I had almost half a piece of Holly Patterned Paper from the Echo Park Merry Christmas Collection from the second card I made earlier today so this was a perfect choice to create something with for the current Holly Challenge over at Inkurable Stampers.

And the project I wanted to create was using the K & Co MDF Door Hanger that I purchased a few months back on sale for $1.

I am hoping that this will qualify me for the $ Dollar Store Makeover Challenge over at All Things Unity.

I do hope you Find the Joy not just at Christmas but all year round in everything you do, because life is too short to spend it any other way.

Thanks for stopping by.

Everywhere to be seen is masses of Red & Green!

2011-12-05T14:12:00.001+11:00

Have you noticed that because Christmas is just around the corner, there is masses of Red & Green everywhere you go. I have to say I love using these traditional colours on my Christmas Cards and today I have done just that making two cards with lots of red and green.

The first one is using none other than Unity Stamps and the second is a card made with no stamping but using one of my Favorite Paper Brands - Echo Park.

For this card I have used a stamp from the Unity Set - Generations (not a Christmas Set) and the Sentiment is from the Set - Christmas Bough. The papers are from the Echo Park Merry Christmas Collection.

The design was inspired by this Sketch which is one of this weeks Sketchy Sunday Challenges over at 365 Cards. I have flipped it on its side and the tab was inspiration for the half flowers I added to the card, instead of a scallop I have used a Ric Rac Die Cut Strip. The Holly Leaves and Brad are from Making Memories. Because I have used some Unity Stamps for this project I have also included this in the Unity Stamp Co Christmas Project Challenge on their facebook Page.

My second card is one not using any stamps simply papers and elements from the Echo Park Merry Christmas Paper Collection and a button and some paper cord from my stash.

I have slowly been making a dint in my Christmas Card List, and will be back to share lots more Christmassy Projects over the coming weeks.

Until next time Happy Stamping!

My 2011 Favorite Projects revisted!

2011-12-04T07:15:00.001+11:00

Before I start to bombard my blog with Christmas projects I thought I might go back and revisit some of my favorite projects of 2011.

Design Team Projects:

My favorite scrapbook layout (ScrapLounge CT Project for Monthly Sketch Challenge)

This is one of my favorite photos of my mother when she was younger.

Easel Card for Party Time Tuesdays Challenge

A get well card I made for my DAD when he had to have surgery.

Colour Combination and Shape Challenge for Papercupcakes

I loved these colours together which I wouldn't normally use.

Favorite Unity Stamp Co Project:

CAS Thank You Cards

I love butterflies and loved using chalk inks to create the backgrounds

Favorite Techniques

Acrylic Smash

Tags again featuring butterflies.

Crayon Resist with Alcohol Inks

ATC featuring non other than a Butterfly.

Anyway back to my Christmas Card Making.......have you got all yours done and posted?

FWF - Sending Wishes

2011-12-02T15:34:00.001+11:00

Remember in my last post I told you I had just recieved my Unity November KOTM and it had the most adorable snowman. Well I don't just have to tell you because today I am going to show you just how cute he is.

When I saw him I knew he would give me the perfect excuse to use the last of my favorite Bo Bunny Christmas Papers from Last Year and to make a card for Unity's Friday Friends with Flair Link Up and yesterday I discovered he would also be perfect to use to play along with the Unity - Let It Snow Challenge currently running on the Unity Blog aswell.

As I don't have any Tria Markers (my now absolute favorite thing to colour in with) in the colours of my chosen papers, I reverted to using my Stampin' Up! Markers, I sort of roughly coloured him in and then went over this with the fine end of my marker in a cross hatch motion to give his jumper and beanie a woven look. For the snow I used my Viva Decor Ice White Pearl Pen. I have found this is good for adding layers of snow not just snow flakes as it doesn't flatten out.

To continue with the snow theme of my card. I punched out more snowflakes and added purple rhinestones to make them glisten and I repeated my sentiment of Sending Wishes, and punched them out with my circle punch to replicate more snowflakes.

The layout for my card was created using this weeks sketch #142 over on the Inspirational Card Sketches Challenge Blog where you will find lots of fabulous sketches to inspire your creativity and cards.

So do you agree is this little snowman the most adorable you ever did see?

Well that's it from me today. Don't forget to follow the link to the Unity Blog for more fabulous inspiration and to check out their Friday $5 Feature Stamps which for this week is actually featuring four different sets two of which are only $3.

Other Challenges I have entered this card:

Fab & Funky Challenges: #101 Anything Goes

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend.

Unity Kit of the Month Sketch Challenge

2011-12-01T10:07:00.001+11:00

Yesterday I got happy mail! You know the kind that you wait for with excited anticipation and when it finally arrives it makes you really really smile. It was my November Kit of the Month from Unity Stamp Company packed full with lots of Unity Goodness, including the most adorable snowman you ever did see. It arrived just in time for me to make this quick card this morning (instead of mowing - which I couldn't do because it is raining here) for the Unity Kit of the Month Sketch Challenge.

Stamps: Unity November KOTM, Cardstock/Paper: Stamping Up! & Basic Grey

Other: Tria Markers, Black Memento Ink, Cuttlebug Divine Swirls Embossing Folder, Rusty Hinge Distress Ink,

K & Co Rhinestones, Ruffle Ribbon and Flower with Pearl all from my Stash.

The thing I love the most about these kits, is the great variety of stamps you receive each month, not to mention the quality. They would have to be one of my favorite stamp brands to date.

Be sure to pop back tommorrow to see another Unity Creation when I link up with Unity Friday Friends with Flair. If you hop to all the blogs linked up and leave a comment by the set date you have a chance of winning some Unity Goodness for yourself that I know you will just love.

Dabbling with Darkroom Door

2011-11-30T07:34:00.001+11:00

You can never have too many stamps I hear you say........well I think you can and you realise this when you haven't used particular ones for ages and start to run out of storage space. On the other hand I find myself always on the look out for new stamps, I seem to be wanting more, desiring more, needing more, falling in love with more, so I guess it's true you can never have too many......lol.

I have a couple of favorite Stamp Companies one of which is Darkroom Door, I own quite a few of their sets but also have just as many on my wish list. They have lots of beautiful nature inspired stamps and delightful realistic images including a fabulous array of Vintage and Destination Themes some of which have come in handy of late for my ATC addiction, and they are the perfect choice for lots of cards for all occassions.

Here's a couple I have made over the last few days whilst dabbling with my Darkroom Door Stamps.

A Birthday Card Using the New Birthday Cake Photo Stamp which is my latest DRD Purchase.

Image Coloured with Tria Markers and Sentiment by SU.

A Sympathy Card using the beautiful Collage Daisy Image from the Viva La Flora Vol 2 Set

Image Coloured with Tria Markers and Sentiment by Unity Stamp Company

A Card for Baby using the totally adorable Teddy Bear from the Hello Baby Vol 1 Set

Image coloured with Tria Markers, Distressed Stripes Embossing Folder, Ribbon, Cardstock and Paper from my Stash.

Another totally sweet Birthday Card using the Cupcake Image from Sweet Treats Vol 1 Set

Image Coloured with Tria Markers, Sentiment from SU, Martha Stewart Ribbon Loop Punch, Paper and Cardstock from my Stash.

Luckily for me I am good friends with Julie from Time to Create who sells these stamps and she has allowed me to play with some of her Darkroom Door Class Sets when I was there last so some of the images I stamped at her studio I have used for a couple of the cards I have been making. These sets are on my ever growing wish list. For more beautiful Dark Room Door Inspiration be sure to check out Julie's Blog or the Darkroom Door Site.

I hope you have a great day......I know I will because I am joining some of my crafty friends this evening for a Christmas Break Up.

PTT #44 - Loving Wishes and Fairy Kisses

2011-11-29T19:34:00.001+11:00

Happy Tuesday Everyone! Yep you guessed it, its time for a new Party Time Tuesdays Challenge and being that its the last week of the month means its time for Anything Goes! It also means its the last week for our fabulous month long sponsor Viva Decor. I have loved using some of their products which I hadn't tried before and found them all wonderfully easy to work with.

This week I chose to play with the delightful fairy image called Birth of Twilight from Crafts and Me, and found the perfect sentiment to go with it too!

I have used my Gold Viva Decor Glitter Liner for the detail on the fairy's dress and also the inside of her wings. The extra finishing touches of flowers were done with the Vintage Vogue Stamp Set and XL Bird Punch from Stampin Up and the Sentiment is from the Almond Blossom Flower Fairies Friends Stamp Set by Crafters Companion. The cardstock and paper are all from my stash of scraps, which I am slowly working my way through.

We are lucky to have four fabulous sponsors along with four fabulous prizes for four lucky winners this week so what are you waiting for?

Be sure to check out all the Challenge Details over on the PTT Blog and while you are there you may also like to check out the details on the Party Time Tuesdays Design Team Call.

A Vintage Christmas Card for Papercupcakes latest Challenge!

2011-11-28T22:13:00.001+11:00

I am starting to get on a roll with my Christmas Card making this past week, and this weeks Paper Cupcakes Challenge over at There's Magic In the Air has helped. The challenge for this week, which is my final week as Guest Designer is to create a Shabby Chic or Vintage Christmas Card. November has just flown by and I want to thank Nina and all the Papercupcakes Design Team for allowing me the opportunity to join them each week throughout November and showcase the many wonderful Paper Cupcake Images.

This delightful christmas decoration image is called Mary and Jesus Bulb and is of course from Paper Cupcakes. To give my card the vintage look I chose traditional Christmas Colours, I have distressed my background paper using my SU Distressing Tool and Pumice Stone Distress Inks. I have also included some vintage lace, ruffled ribbon and a hand made flower with button centre. The patterned paper is one from the Echo Park Merry Christmas Collection, and I have coloured in my Bulb Image with my Tria Markers and a bit of Glitter from my Viva Decor Glitter Liners. All in all I was happy with the vintage look and how this card turned out.

If you would like to try your hand at a Vintage or Shabby Chic Christmas Card you will find some wonderful inspiration and ideas over at There's Magic In the Air. I can't wait to see what you create!

FWF - Christmas Thoughts

2011-11-26T09:55:00.001+11:00

I hope all my friends in the States had a wonderful Thanksgiving and no doubt you have all started to think of Christmas. With only four weeks to go I have finally started to give serious thought to Christmas and late last night and this morning finally found some time to make a couple of Christmas Cards to link up with the Unity Friday Friends with Flair. I am also pleased to report that with only four weeks to Christmas, yesterday my husband and I got the majority of our Christmas Shopping done.

Technique: Direct to Rubber with SU Markers

Stamps: A Beautiful Sight by Unity Stamp Company

Paper/Cardstock: SU Real Red and Hunter Green Cardstock, Echo Park Merry Christmas Paper

Other: Kaisercraft Ribbon, SU Antique Brad, Rhinestone and Flower and Leaves from Stash

Technique: Direct to Rubber with SU Markers, Sponging, Coloring In with Tria Markers, Crayon Resist, and Paper Piecing

Stamps: Christmas Bough by Unity Stamp Company

Paper/Cardstock: SU Hunter Green and Riding Hood Red Cardstock, Echo Park Merry Christmas Paper

Other: Buttons, Paper Cord, from Stash

The stamp I used for my second card is available today over on the Unity Blog for just $5 to the first 25 Customers so if you like it you will have to be quick not to miss out.

My wish for everyday and especially at Christmas is exactly the words contained in the first cards sentiment. PEACE LOVE & JOY!

Thanks for popping by.

PTT#43 Snow Us What you have Got!

2011-11-23T06:20:00.001+11:00

This week at Party Time Tuesdays we want to see some snowy projects. So if you card or project has "SNOW" then it needs to be in our challenge!

For my card this week I really wanted to play with all the fabulous products from Viva Decor and I was also thinking that a Snow Storm might cool things down here a little as we have been averaging 30 degrees Celcius for the last few weeks, Spring is well and truly preparing us for a hot Summer ahead.

So I got out my Elina Doodles Stencil which has lots of swirls, to use with the Viva Embossing Cream.

I found the Viva Decor Embossing cream a bit like a texture paste, you smear it on with a palette knife or in my case a paddle pop stick and then once you remove the stencil hit it with a heat gun. It puffs up and gives a lovely embossed/textured look.

This close up shows the texture and detail of the Viva Decor Products on the card.

The snowflake is a Unity Stamp Company Stamp.

I then decided that some of the finer detail I would also highlight with my Gold Glitter Liner and add some Pearls with the Pearl Pen to create my swirling snow background. These pens were also used to go over my three snow flakes. The glittery gold and mix of colours was to represent the snowflakes glistening in the sun.

Anyway that's enough of my day dreaming coming to life, instead I think I will cool down by going and jumping in the pool.........lol.

Our Sponsors this week are:

For all the details about the Challenge, Our Sponsors and the fabulous prizes on offer this week simply head over to the PTT Blog. As always you will also find some wonderful inspiration by our lovely Design Team aka the Party Planners. So come on what are you waiting for - Snow Us What You've Got!

Give Thanks - A Paper Cupcakes Challenge

2011-11-21T21:48:00.001+11:00

Today I was met with the sad news of a friends passing and so today's Paper Cupcakes Challenge over on the There's Magic in the Air Challenge Blog to Give Thanks really strikes a cord. There are many things in life we should be grateful for, and one is our good health, our family and friends. My deepest sympathy goes out to my dear friend Toni and all her family.

This week the challenge has been set by Gloria and she would like to see you incorporate the colours Brown, Orange and Yellow into your projects as well as wording or images representative of 'Giving Thanks'.

For my card I chose the Autumn Splendor Image from Paper Cupcakes and simply used the word "Thanks" as my sentiment. I coloured my image with Tria Markers and also added some Yellow Viva Decor Pearl Pen to emboss the sunflower and Viva Emerald Glitter Liner to highlight the leaves and the stem of the pumpkin.

I do hope you can play along with the challenge this week. Don't forget for all the details and for some wonderful inspiration from the Paper Cupcakes Design Team be sure to head over to the "There's Magic In the Air" Blog.

My Very First Postage Stamp Athon

2011-11-17T06:21:00.001+11:00

On the weekend I was introduced to a wonderful concept known as a A-thon which is where you make ATC's or other tradable Mail Art to a set theme or style. It runs for a set period of time during which people come and go when they have spare creative time, make items and trade with others.

The past weekend I joined in what is known as a Postage Stamp A-thon where you create ATC's using/around Postage Stamps. You can make people, using a stamp with a face and then collage/paint/draw their bodies etc, or you can simply create a scene to tie in with your stamp.

Here are some that I made and traded for others over the weekend. I am finding these so enjoyable and relatively quick and easy to make.

Some of these cards are on their way to the US whilst others are making their way to Finland and the Netherlands. There were a number of participants over the weekend all of whom had so many different ideas and techniques to share, Everyone was so friendly and it really was an inspiring event. I look forward to participating in more of these in the New Year.

Here also is a couple of normal ATC's I made in the last few days aswell.

PTT#42 Sketchy Tuesday

2011-11-15T17:00:00.000+11:00

Its time for another Sketchy Tuesday at Party Time Tuesdays and we want to see those Thank You Cards.

The design team this week got to choose their own images to work with so you will see a wide array of designs this week, but all of them will be using the fabulous products from our Sponsor Viva Decor, be sure to check them all out on the PTT Blog.

.
For my card this week I wanted the images, sentiment and Viva Products to really stand out so I didn't use any Patterned Paper. With Thanks Giving just around the corner I of course used this for inspiration for my Thank You Card. The wonderful fall cardstock colours are Stampin' Up!, the images including the leaves and the fabulous quote sentiment are all from my Unity KOTM Stamp Collections. I have used the Viva Decor Gold Glitter Liner Pen to highlight the veins on the leaves and also to frame the fabulous turkey faux postage Stamp. The three pearls on the scallop border have been created using the Viva Pearl Pen. For something different I rounded the corners.

We have three fabulous sponsors and three fabulous prizes up for grabs this week. They are:

VIVA DECOR

Viva Decor world headquarters and production facilities are located in Bad Salzuflen, which is situated in the eastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Here new ideas are born, new products are developed, tried and tested and delivered to the international market. Our wide product range includes colors and modeling materials for home decoration, for product design, and accessories for all types of craft projects. Viva Decor is managed by Ingrid Pott and Andreas Franken. For them creativity and innovation build the basis of the company. They have built Viva's reputation on product quality and reliability, combined with ongoing development and improvement. All viva products are crafted with the customerâ€™s needs in mind. Viva Decor products can be found at craft and art supply retailers throughout the world. All America Supply DBA Viva US is the exclusive US distributor for all Viva products. Viva US provides the Viva Decor product line with domestic US Inventory, shipping, and packaging from our large climate controlled PA warehouse. Viva US provides customer service, support and product education nationwide from our Philadelphia location.

Prize: 2 pearl pens, 2 glitter pens, and 2 embossing creams

GILLI STAMPS

anaRydesign is a design house of scrapbooking and craft products. It is also the home of the ‘Gilli’ line of deep-etched rubber stamps. ‘Gilli’ is a collection of rubber stamps for you to make your own. Endless creativity is in your hands! Bring Gilli with you on your journey into the imaginative and artistic world of paper crafts and let her join in on the fun!

Prize: Gilli Goodie Bag

STITCHY THE BEAR

Hi my name is Stitchy and I am Co-Owner of Stitchy Bear Stamps...we started this store April 1st, No Fooling haha..I live in upstate New York with my husband and two TEENAGE adults haha, I do say that loosely as they think they run the show here, NOT...

I been creating stamps for a little less than a year now and I am totally addicted to the craft..I started about 4 years ago making digital scraps and I knew there was much more out there, so a friend of mine introduced me to digital stamps...and the rest they say is history...I look forward to seeing all the beautiful creations come through...good luck everyone..stitchy xoxox"

Prize:

Like the sentiment on my card says - There is always something to be grateful for, so why not make a card to acknowledge this and enter it in this weeks challenge. As always for all the details of our Challenge be sure to read them on the Party Time Tuesdays Blog.

Thanks for stopping by

Papercupcakes Colour and Shape Challenge

2011-11-14T22:00:00.000+11:00

Time is certainly flying at present and if you asked me what I did yesterday I probaby wouldn't remember. But what I did remember is that it's time to share with you all the card I designed for this week's Challenge over at There's Magic in the Air.

This week it is a colour and shape challenge. the Paper Cupcakes DT wants to see your Orange, Brown and Blue Creations which also incorporate a semi (or half) circle into your design.

My card uses this months free image from Paper Cupcakes. Its certainly a great image for this time of year. The cute ticket is also from Paper Cupcakes.

So if you want to play along be sure to check out all the details over at There's Magic in the Air.

FWF Friday ........is Ir-resist-able!

2011-11-11T19:01:00.001+11:00

Yes it's Friday, which means its time to share some projects I have created using my Unity Stamps. Don't forget to check out all the other Unity Projects linked up to Friday Friends With Flair over on the Unity Blog. You will really find some wonderful inspiration if you do. FWF is also a great chance to grab a fabulous Unity Stamp Set for just $5.

This week both cards I am sharing are highlighting some resist techniques aswell as using some of my embossing folders. I do love playing with crayons and embossing powder.

The first card is using the Embossing Folder Crayon Resist Technique with Alcohol Ink.

It uses various Unity KOTM Stamps.

This card uses the emboss resist technique, the Butterflies were stamped and heat embossed in White and then Blue Ink was sponged over the top using my Label Spellbinder Die as a stencil. I then cut out the shape with this die and ran through one of my embossing folders face down so the debossed side was on the side of my image.

This image is from the October KOTM.

This anniversary card is for me to give my hubby as we celebrate 17 years of marriage tommorrow.

Last year we were so caught up with other things happening in our life, that we almost both forgot. It was only when my dad mentioned it that we remembered.......luckily he mentioned it early that morning......lol. I know for a fact that niether of us will forget this year.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend what ever you are up to!

What's in My Garden and Colourful Birds ATC's.

2011-11-09T13:04:00.000+11:00

I have been participating in some wonderful ATC Swaps of late, these latest cards are now on their way to the Swap Host in New Zealand.

The themes were 'What's in My Garden" and Colourful Birds.

For both sets I have used my rubber stamps and coloured with my Tria Markers.

For the What's in My Garden Series I used masking and sponging techniques taking some inspiration from what is happening in my garden of late aswell.

Of late in my garden have been lots and lots of beautiful butterflies

particularly ones with lots of rich tones of brown.

The butterfly is the Stampin' Up! All A Flutter Image and the background is the En Francais Stamp.

The most recent addition to our garden has been a beautiful hyrangea. As my mother's alzhiemers progresses we find her reminiscing more and more and the hyrdrangea was all throughout her mothers garden, it holds fond memories for us all.

The Hydrangea Image is a Stamp from the Because I Care Hostess Set by Stampin' Up! and the Background is the En Francais Stamp.

Each morning we awaken to the garden full of joyful song from all the birds preparing for their busy days ahead.

This little fellow reminded me of the Blue Splendid Fairy Wrens that I just love.

The bird is part of a Crafty Individuals Stamp and the Background is the same as my others in this set.

For the Colourful Birds Set of ATC's I used the Crayon Resist Technique with Alcohol Inks The whimsical type bird stamps I used for this series are all from one set, I have misplaced their packaging but I think it is a set from Inkadinkado. Again I have taken inspiration from the birds I have seen in and around our garden.

For this bird it is all about the tail..........he so reminded me of the Wrens and Willywag Tails we have frequent our garden. I chose the colours of the wrens in our garden to use for this fine fellow.

The racous of the Lorikeets and King Parrots feeding can be heard constantly

in our garden when the Bottlebrushes and Grevillas are in flower.

Quite often we have caught a glimspe of a shadow of an Owl in the Moonlight.

His colours remain somewhat of a mystery but you don't miss his big bright eyes.

Our lovely host in New Zealand is also hosting a Magnificient Elephants Swap and a Beautiful Butterflies Swap so I am looking forward to hopefully joining in the fun of these ones as well in the coming months. This all depends on well I get on top of my Christmas Card Orders I have from a few regular customers and my own list of cards to send.

PTT#41 Bling it On!

2011-11-08T20:38:00.000+11:00

Bling It On is our Challenge Theme this week over at Party Time Tuesdays. So pretty much anything goes as long as your creation includes glitter, rhinestones, glass beads etc. We want to see your projects sparkle!

To do just that this week I used the Viva Decor Gold Glitter Liner and Ice White Pearl Pen on my card. The Pearl Pen made the perfect accents for my punched snowflakes whilst the glitter pen added shine to the candlestick holder and the golden voice singing Christmas Carols.

For added sparkle I also used a stripe glitter cardstock for the background, some red rhinestones and a dazzling gold glitter ribbon on my tag.

So with out futher ado, lets meet this weeks sponsors and see what prizes you could win by playing along with our Bling it On Challenge.

Viva Decor

Viva Decor's wide product range includes colors and modeling materials for home decoration, for product design, and accessories for all types of craft projects. There products can be found at craft and art supply retailers throughout the world.

Prize
2 pearl pens, 2 glitter pens, and 2 embossing creams

______________________________________

Sparkle Creations

Yes...Sparkle is her real name. She has been crafting since she was a child, but seriously started crafting when she was 16. Sparkle started as a scrapbooker, though over the years she has turned into a cardmaker. Brent (Sparkle's husband) and Sparkle opened SparkleCreations Rubber Stamps in July 2010, and they are selling cute and whimsical rubber stamps of little boy and girl images. Aki, their wonderful artist, has done a great job at making their characters come alive and have their own personalities.

Prize

Scooter Chloe & Charlotte with a Rose Rubber stamps

______________________________________

Circle B

My name is Veronica Baker thou I am known in the Scrapbooking world as Just A Pac Rat. I am the owner of Circle B Enterprises Scrapbooking and more store and Spur's Computer Cures in Webb City, MO.
I used to have around 4000 Scrapbook related items listed on Ebay for almost 10 years, but about 8 months ago I decided to go strictly my own website and store front. This decision was mostly made because of Ebay's new price increase. I like to keep my prices low (presently 50% off retail prices) and just couldn't afford to do it on Ebay anymore. I am slowly but surely getting all my inventory listed online at http://www.circlebenterprises.com

I hope you will come visit my little store often and watch it grow! Also visit me at my creative blog http://circlebenterprises.blogspot.com where I show what I have created for challenges and Operation Write Home!

Prize

$20 Gift Certificate to Circle B

______________________________________

The Paper Shelter

If you are looking for fun, cute and lovely digi stamps for your paper-crafting or web design projects, The Paper Shelter is your one-stop boutique! This growing catalog of high-quality digi stamps with many different kind of options offers a multitude of themes such as everyday items, holidays, special occasions, children, adorable characters and creatures. Stamps are available in standard black and white line art, as well as in pre-colored format. Images are wonderful for coloring and make perfect additions to greeting cards and scrapbook albums.

Prize

______________________________________

We really do have fabulous sponsors who go above and beyond in providing us with fabulous products to make our inspiration projects, aswell as offering wonderful prizes for our challenge participants so be sure to check out all the Design Team's creations by visiting the PTT Blog.

I do hope you like them and can't wait to see your sparkly creations!

Other Challenges I have entered this card"

Cards for Men - Challenge 23 - It's Nearly Christmas
Paper Sundaes - Challenge 94 - Rectangles

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas...Card!

2011-11-07T22:00:00.000+11:00

Remember a few weeks ago I gave a bit of hint of what I would be doing in November, well today I can finally reveal to you all that I am joining the girls over at "There's Magic In The Air" Challenge Blog as Guest Designer for the month of November. I am so excited because I love Paper Cupcakes Digital Images and have been playing along with their challenges on and off for a while now when time has permitted.

Today's Challenge is a White on White Challenge, where we want you to design a card/project that is all white except for your image which may be coloured. All other elements such as Cardstock, Paper and Embellishments are to be white.

Here is my card for this challenge. I have used the image "A Merry Little Christmas" from Paper Cupcakes. Don't you just love this adorable snowman? I do that's why I chose this image, aswell as needing to get a start on my Christmas Cards........lol.

I have printed this cute image on gloss card and cut out around the design with my Circle Spellbinders. I than coloured using my Tria Markers and for extra dimension I have used green rhinestones for the snowman's buttons and leaves on his hat as well has cutting our a fringed piece for each of his sleeve cuffs. The star he is holding is coloured with Gold Metallic Pen.

For the rest of the card I have layered my image over an embossed card background which is then layered on a textured white cardstock base. I smooched my embossed design with Pearlescent White Ink and have punched out stars from White Shimmer Cardstock to add a bit of sparkle and shine, finishing off with some pearls, and White Tuelle Ribbon.

Be sure to visit the "There's Magic in the Air" Blog to see all the Design Team's Creations for this week's challenge which are sure to inspire you. I can't wait to see who plays along with this one and am looking forward to all the challenges ahead this month and playing with the fabulous images from Paper Cupcakes.

PTT#40 - A Photo Inspiration Challenge

2011-11-02T09:26:00.001+11:00

Good Morning All, its time for another Party Time Tuesdays Photo Inspiration Challenge. We can't wait to see what inspires you from the wonderful photo below.

We are also very excited this month to welcome a fabulous month long sponsor today. VIVA DECOR! and for this week we also have our friends over at Crafty Sentiments letting us show off one of their adorable images.

VIVA DECOR

Viva Decor products can be found at craft and art supply retailers throughout the world.

Crafty Sentiments

Here is a little bit about Crafty Sentiments designs. We are a small online based company selling both digital, clear and exclusive rubber stamps to cardmarkers and scrapbookers, started in October 2009 by me (Suzette), we offer a wide range of exclusive images as well as some lovely sentiments, with some essential crafting products including punches & soon to be released exclusive die-cuts!

Now whilst the majority of the Party Planners got to play with the Viva Decor Glitter Liners, Liquid pearls and Embossing Creme this week, my products hadn't arrived in the mail from the US, so I went and visited my good friend Julie at Time to Create and had a play with some of her Viva Decor Products that I have used with her for Multi-media Projects. These products are from their Colour Range and are mainly designed for Home Decor Items so I was interested to see what they would do when used on a card.One Lucky Winner will receive 4 digis of their choice!

Taking inspiration from the photo, firstly the colour and secondly the sparkle and shine of the gem, I chose to use bronze and copper tonings. I firstly coloured my Crafty Sentiments Image which I had printed on glossy photo paper with my Tria Markers. Leaving the scarf uncoloured I wanted a textured look so I used some of the Viva Ferro. Ferro is a fine grained medium that delivers a real metallic finish to your projects and is perfect to use with stencils. On my card I painted it with a fine brush so that my scarf had a woolly and metallic look.

I wanted a smudy background look for this piece so I decided initally to edge my die cut shape I had my image on with some of the Viva Inka Gold. Inka Gold is an elegant shimmering colour paste that you apply and polish to your desired surface. I simply took a small amount from the jar, and rubbed around the edge of my die cut with my finger.

Lastly I decided I wanted to add further colour and shine to my background so I used the Viva Precious Metal which is a liquid metal effect colour paint. I used the bronze shade and applied sparingly to create the smudy background to match the swirly background paper. I also painted my sentiment piece with this product. To finish the card I added some brown ruffled ribbon and a glitter prima flower in coordinating shades.

So it really was a bit of an experiementation and lots of fun with these products this week, and thanks to the inspiration photo I used colours I don't always tend to reach for.

I am so looking forward to seeing what our challenge participants come up with. Be sure to check out the Party Time Tuesdays Blog for all the Challenge Instructions and Criteria and whilst there be further inspired by the fabulous designs from the other Party Planners.

Pink and Black Colour Challenge

2011-10-31T09:34:00.000+11:00

Hi everyone, we have been having some fabulous and not so fabulous weather here of late, hot days with sunshine, perfect for a swim in the pool, overcast days with rain and last night a spectacular storm circled overhead for a good few hours. The light show was fantastic.

Whilst being kept inside due to the rain earlier last week I thought I would play along with the latest challenge over on the There's Magic in the Air Challenge Blog. This blog showcases Paper Cupcake Stamps and a few months back I won one of their challenges and recieved some of their fabulous digitals stamps as my prize. The image I am using today is one of those stamps. It is called Moss Topped Birdhouse, which is kind of appropriate for this time of year at our place because we have lots of birds nesting in our gardens.

The challenge was a colour challenge - to use Pink and Black to create your card. I have coloured in the image with my Tria's and sponged the background with pink ink.

This week I finally also purchased a new Watermark. Lisa Arana over at Dahlhouse Designs has a range of these to choose from, available in three colours which she then edits with your details. She has various styles so there is something to suit all tastes and at just $2, they really are a fabulous price too!

Anyway I am off now on this wet and overcast Monday to go and finalise my paperwork to go to the accountant tommorrow. I am hoping our tax returns will have some extra money for us to put towards our Christmas Spending.............lol.

I hope you all enjoy your week.

PTT#39 - Anything Goes!

2011-10-26T07:05:00.000+11:00

Can you believe it is the last week in October!!! This week over at Party Time Tuesdays is their once a month (last week of the every month) Anything Goes challenge!

Digi: Kenny K

Paper/Cardstock: Stampin' Up!, Echo Park Lifes Good Papers

Other: Unity Argyle Stamp, Martha Stewart Ribbon Loop Punch, EK Success Ric Rac Punch,

Assorted Bling, Paper Flower, Kindy Glitz

This week we are sponsored by the famous Kenny K:

Digi and rubber stamps from KennyK are a fun and edgy way to add the perfect dose of atitude and style to all of your creations! The creator, the artist, the man: KennyK is a NYC-born professional illustrator who has brought his funky-but-slick, urban-influenced look to the cardmaking and papercrafts world. His signature style can be seen throughout his various collections of sexy pinup babes, sweet 'n sassy girls, cool rockin' dudes, kid’s stuff, retro characters and more at KennyKDownloads.com . I’m ElenaK, the woman behind the man. I am an event planner and crafter at heart. KennyKDownloads.com is a collaboration that combines both of our respective skill sets and allows us to create together – and there is nothing better than that!

Our second Famous Sponsor for this challenge is: Paper Shelter

Each week we see some fantastic projects....but we cannot vote on them due to our rules not being followed!!! Please ensure you visit the Party Time Tuesdays Blog for all the details and rules of entry.

Please don't forget ONLY 2 ENTRIES PER PERSON!!!

Be sure to checkout all the other Party Planners Creations over on the PTT Site too!

Delight in the Simple Things

2011-10-24T15:15:00.001+11:00

I don't know about you but I do find that it is often the simple things that give me great pleasure. When it comes to cardmaking, I so enjoy coloring in. This morning I got out my Tria Markers, printed some digital designs from Paper Cupcakes and started colouring.

I got lost in the penstrokes, dotting, layering and adding more colour.

Digi Image: Tulip Bunch from Paper Cupcakes

Digi Image: Crocus from Paper Cupcakes

Wanting to keep it simple, CAS Cards were on the plans so I reached for my embossing folders to add the finishing touches. Here are two Sympathy Cards I made with the floral images I had chosen from Paper Cupcakes.

Black, White and a Bit of Colour

2011-10-22T08:12:00.000+11:00

Yesterday was my FIL's Birthday so it is kind of fitting that my post today is a birthday card, which is something I haven't done a post of in a while. I have used two of my favorite Unity KOTM Stamps, the sweet birthday cupcake image and the harlequin background.

Athough it is Saturday here in Australia, it is Friday still in the states so this is also my post for Unity Friends with Flair, a weekly post and link up where you will find lots of other Unity Lovers showcasing their work and Unity Stamps. I just love visiting all the other crafters blogs.

Stam

There was a little bit of technique involved - Masking, Embossing, Punching, Colouring and Popping Up for Dimension. But overall I found this quite quick to make.

We are celebrating my FIL's birthday today with a birthday lunch and here is what we are giving my him as a present.

You may remember last month I did a Steam Punk Class at a Retreat I attended. The interactive layout (all the cogs/wheels turn) we did at the class was designed to sit on a stand and has a photo of my FIL with his first grandchild. Luke (grandson) is now 18 so it is quite fitting that this layout features a flying clock as Time Really Does Fly.

Thanks for stopping by.

PTT#38 Totally Spooky on a Sketchy Tuesday!

2011-10-18T18:05:00.000+11:00

It has been a frightfully scary month this October over at Party Time Tuesdays and we are going to continue being spooky this week! For this weeks challenge we would like you to show us your Spookiest Creation and/or use our sketch!

This week we have two Frightfully Fantastic Sponsors!!!!

Please welcome Whimsie Doodles:

Whimsie Doodles is so excited to be sponsoring the new challenge! In March of 2009 Melyssa Connolly, artist and owner, began turning her whimsical hand-drawn images into digital files for sale online. Whimsie Doodles' digital stamp line features images that range from cute little boys and girls, to punny stuff, and everything in-between. We enjoy sharing lots of samples on our company blog, where we also post challenges and tutorials.

One Winner will receive:

$10 Gift Certificate to Whimsie Doodles Online Store!

Our next sponsor is Karen's Doodles:

Karen's Doodles creates whimsical digital images and rubber stamps for crafters. Owned by Karen Johnson, an artist and animator. Visit her website at karensdoodles.com"

One winner will receive:

3 digital stamps from Karen's Doodles!

Thank you to both of our sponsors for allowing the Party Planners to use their digital stamps!

I've fallen in Love

2011-10-17T18:17:00.000+11:00

You may remember a few months back I started dabbling in creating ATC's and participating in some swaps. I have to tell you I have absolutely fallen in love with creating these tiny pieces of Art and recently found a fabulous site for all types of ATC artists to swap and trade their work. The inspiration to be found in the gallery alone is mind blowing with all media's covered from photograhpy, handdrawn, collage and mixed media pieces.

The site is called ATC's for All and I would encourage you to take a look at their gallery even if you have no inclination for making ATC's as I am sure any papercrafter will gain inspiration and enjoy admiring these wonderful tiny pieces of art.

The above series of 3 ATC's was created for a Butterfly Themed Swap

They have been created using Dark Room Door Stamps, Distress Inks, Tria Markers, Glossy Accents, Gold Marvy Metallic Markers, Kindy Glitz.

The Butterfly ATC's above I have created for one of the swaps on the site and I have to make special mention of my friend Judi who gave me the inspiration for using the distress inks and Dark Room Door Leaves on these cards.

I am finding myself looking outside of the box for ideas to create backgrounds etc for this tiny creations and over the coming months I will no doubt be sharing more of my ATC creations with you.

Its a CAS, CAS, CAS

2011-10-16T13:06:00.001+11:00

I so love Clean and Simple especially for Sympathy Cards. So today that is exactly what I have to share with you two CAS, Sympathy Cards.

Using one of my favorite Stampin' Up! Sets Lovely as a Tree I have chosen two images and stamped these in black onto White Cardstock along with my Unity KOTM Sympathy Sentiment. I have them embossed them with Black Embossing Powder and then simply taken two tones of chalk ink (green and blue) and lightly sponged coloured over the image. To finish I have added a ribbon and bow.

I made these yesterday during one of the storms passing over. Today the weather is a complete contrast to yesterday. The sky is blue and clear and the sun in shining and packing a punch. I have just been for a swim and am hoping to get into my craft room a little later this afternoon.

I do hope you are all enjoying your weekend and fine weather. Thanks for stopping by.

Unity Friday Friends with Flair

2011-10-15T12:19:00.000+11:00

Its been a while since I shared any Unity Projects with you so I thought being in time for their Friday Friends with Flair Link Up I would share this card I made playing along with their October KOTM Sketch Challenge and the Falling Leaves Unity Challenge which are all over on the Unity Blog. A Unity Triple Play so to speak........lol

For the Unity Challenge you have to create something with Leaves on it - hence the Autumn Leaves Papers from Stampin' Up! and the Leaves using one of the stamps from the September 2011 KOTM. Which therefore qualifies me for the KOTM Sketch Challenge aswell. This sketch is so versatile and you can change it up in so many ways.......I think I will play with it some more. The sentiment which I just love is also from the September KOTM.

Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget for more Unity Goodness be sure to check out all the challenges and FWF Link Up on the Unity Stamp Company Blog.