Merry Christmas!!

Hello all! I hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas!! :) Mine was awesome, spent with family and with lots of food. Mmmm. And big news!!! I bought myself a Cricut Expression and have been busy spending time with it. Happy birthday and Merry Christmas to meeeee!!!

Apologies for the lack of blogging over the past month, but I was frantically finishing off Christmas cards and making Christmas presents. I made cards of two sizes this year with the smaller 10cm × 10cm card given to those I don't know as well (such as my colleagues) but still wanted to give cards to. This year's card was inspired by this card (about half-way down the post) created by Nichole Heady who is the awesome co-owner/creator of my fave craft store, Papertrey ink. Seriously, I think I mention PTI in every single post. :) The smaller tree was punched out using a Martha Stewart punch. I dragged out my mother's sewing machine and taught myself to use it (the user manual is great!) and I think sewing on cards can get quite addictive!



And this is what a pile of ~46 odd Old Olive die-cut trees looks like. That's a lot of crankin' through the Big Shot!



I also made calendars for my friends using PTI's calendar page die, which also meant more cranking through the Big Shot. 6 calendars (including one for myself) and one cover for each = 78 calendar pages. I was really, really bored by the time I finished die-cutting them! Here's what they look like, all bound with my Bind-it-all! The one at the end was the prototype, hence the wonky-ness. All subsequent calendars (and the original) were reinforced using re-purposed cereal boxes. :D I love how they turned out. Well worth the time spent stamping and trying to figure out stuff. I haven't made mine, though. Ran out of time. :)







I used the same stamps for each calendar, but mixed up the order so no two calendars are identical. I also embossed half the pages and nearly toasted my fingers in the process! I still haven't started on my own calendar yet as I ran out of time, so hopefully I have it done before 2011 rolls around. :D

I have yet more photos of cards etc., but I'll leave them for the next post. Before I go, I'll share this photo I took of 60 (of the 78) die-cut calendar pages, arranged by month. So pretty!



Thanks for stopping by!!

FTL 117

It's really warming up here in Adelaide, with the temperature today at 32 degrees. Here comes summer! Anyway, here is the latest Clean & Simple sketch.

I used some of the fabulous PTI vintage cream felt for the flowers and what makes PTI felt awesome is it's so thick, soft and velvety. *swoon* I've been hoarding my stash of PTI felt, but it's high time I used some. Still, it did hurt a bit when I cut into the roll. ;)

Hope everyone is having a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

Inkspirations sketch challenge #47

Makeesha has another great sketch challenge up on her brand new challenge blog!





I flipped the sketch and made a card for a friend who is taking her driving test next Sunday. It's a bit early, I know, but I'm confident she can do it! It was also a perfect opportunity to use my brand new Enjoy the Ride set from PTI. :) I tried colouring in a bit of shadow under the car to stop it "floating", but I didn't too well. I also grabbed the wrong marker at one point, which is why there is a darker grey blob on the left. Anyway, I really love this stamp set, it's so cute!! Thanks for stopping by!

FTL #113

It's been ages since I took part in a Clean & Simple sketch challenge! Apologies for the crummy photo, I haven't the time to take another until later in the week but I'll try for a better one.





The flowers were stamped in Whisper White ink and coloured in using copics, an idea that came from Nichole Heady (3rd card down). I originally planned on using PTI's Linen & Canvas impression plate, but accidentally used one that was already on the Big Shot from a previous card. I only realized it was the wrong plate when it was about half-way through! D'oh! There wasn't time to make another, so I stuck with it. Thanks for stopping by!

One layer card

Hello everyone! Apologies for not updating the blog for a while, I've been a bit lazy! However, I've made lots of stuff, and I'll slowly start posting them.

I absolutely LOVE some of the new Stampin' Up! colours, notably Daffodil Delight and Peach Parfait. I still think the names are corny, though. :) I teamed Daffodil and Peach with Pumpkin Pie to make my first ever one layer card. Go me! This is the 4th (or 5th?) version of this card, and I really like how simple it is. And did I mention I love the colours?



Let me just say that I found the stamp-a-ma-jig absolutely essential! I tried stamping without it, and it was a disaster! I'd really like to try this with more colours, but I have to sit down and figure out which monotone colours go well together. Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch challenge #41

Makeesha has designed another awesome sketch, and with Christmas coming soon I decided to try and make a Christmas card.





I wanted to add a touch of colour with copics, but the cheapie acrylic stamp didn't take memento ink well. And I completely forgot to emboss the base with the polka dot folder, even though I had everything out and ready to go. Oops. Anyway, thanks for taking a look! :)

Welcome, baby

A friend has just had a baby boy (Congrats, Julia!) and I had to make a little baby card using PTI's Night Night Moon paired up with Card Patterns Sketch #65.



I've just started using the sewing machine to stitch on cards, and I'm in love! I'm still learning though, and the stitching on this card went slightly wonky on both sides. Thankfully, the stamped panel hides the odd-looking parts, but I really need to figure out how to keep the cardstock straight! And perhaps get a smaller needle. Thaqnks for looking!

Inkspirations sketch challenge #39

Hello all! It's been a while since I participated in an Inkspirations challenge, so here is the sketch for the latest challenge over at Makeesha's blog.



I sat down to make a card on Friday, and it really didn't work. It's boring, blah and bleargh. Not happy.



So I tried again using a technique I've been meaning to try, Versamark and chalk! I used a gorgeous set of chalks from Kaisercraft that have a pearlescent sheen to them. Love them!



If you've been visiting my blog you'll know I love bright colours, especially rainbows! I tired taking a photo of the shimmer, but you can barely see it on the stamped flowers. I would've loved more flowers stamped on the card, but I found it difficult to stamp on the CS using clear Versamark! Case in point, the off-centre circle in the middle of the orange/yellow flower. Still, I love the rainbow and I can't wait to try this technique again. Thanks for stopping by!

Beautiful blooms II

Just a super quick post today as I've been really busy over the past week. The room swap happened last weekend and I'm now busy sorting out stuff and giving items a new home. It boggles the mind how much stuff I've accumulated!



Things I've learnt from making this card are to stamp before sticking the flower on (the button prevented a nice even stamp) and to stamp before using the impression plate. And I'm still addicted to Beautiful Blooms II and the matching dies. PTI rocks!

For Nichole

Divine felt

Ahhhhhh......I love PTI wool felt. It's so gorgeous and dies cut through it like a dream! I have to admit I'm a bit of a hoarder with some of my craft supplies, and I think PTI felt will be one of those things I won't break into as often. That is, unless I have a spare roll of felt handy. I really must break this habit. Any suggestions? :)

Enough rambling and on to a card. I used a past FTL sketch (#101) and my new Beautiful Blooms II dies.





Thanks for stopping by!

Did I mention...

that I'm addicted to PTI's Beautiful Blooms II dies? I've only used one of the three die sets so far and without any of the matching stamps. But I loooooooooove them!



Apologies for the crummy photography, but I didn't get a chance to photograph the card in natural light. Now for exhibit #2.



Some people think that black is an unlucky colour to use on a birthday card, but it really makes the colours pop. Thankfully, the person I gave it to didn't care. I'm so addicted to PTI, they're awesome and I can't get enough of their products!

Can't get enough of.......

Beautiful Blooms II dies from PTI! They're so addictive, especially paired with the leaves/stem image from Four of a Kind. My mojo has been missing for the longest time, so it feels awesome to make something that I'm happy with. I know I'm a bit late for the FTL 103 sketch, but I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon anyway. Their sketches are always fantastic, and this one really got my brain working.





Ahhhh.....I revel in the joy when you love a card that you've made, especially after a long break from stamping. This card makes me happy!

Where are you, Mojo?

Hello everyone! Apologies for the shocking neglect of my blog, but it's been really crazy at work and at home. The good news is that I'm getting a new bedroom/craft room that is bigger and will have more storage space! It's taken a lot of planning (about 4-5 months) and effort but I'm nearly there and about ready to move in, give or take a few weeks. Basically, my weekends have been spent cleaning, buying furniture, varnishing wood furniture and organizing a time for tradies to come in. I'll have plenty of photos uploaded when everything finally comes together!

I haven't had much time (or mojo) to make anything, but I CASEd an awesome card that Becky Carafa posted on the Clean & Simple blog.



My version isn't as glam as Becky's is, but it didn't turn out too bad. I had to change the colours as I didn't have any of the PTI inks that she used, but I should have stamped the middle stripe with pale plum ink instead of perfect plum. Oh well.

Hope you're all staying nice and warm or cool depending where you are! It's a chilly and windy day here in Adelaide and I'm very thankful for my column heater. Thanks for stopping by!

Linen & canvas

Greetings and salutations! I made a card last night, which is very similar to this one from a few weeks ago. I tested out my brand new Linen & Canvas impression plate from PTI, and I'm in love!! This plate is just awesome!!



I have the Canvas background stamp from SU!, but this plate is just so much better. I can't stop ooh-ing and aah-ing over the texture on the CS. However, it was only after I adhered the black strip on the card that I realized my stamped panel was upside down! D'oh!! I really didn't have the heart to pull it all up, so hopefully it's not really all that noticable. Wishful thinking. :)

Baby argyle

Just a quick post (2nd post today! Shock!!), a baby card for a colleague who is expecting a little girl next month. I used PTI's Argyle impression plate and matching stamp set as well as their Star Prints set.



TTFN!

FTL 94

Since Crab & Company was still sitting out on the table from this card, I thought I'd use it together with the latest FTL sketch to make a birthday card for a friend.





Must dash, thanks for stopping by!

Crab & company

I thought I'd break out Crab & Company for Makeesha's latest sketch challenge, seeing as it hasn't been inked for a long time. I took a leaf out of Chantelle's book and flipped the sketch, and I really like the way it looks.





I love how happy and colourful the crab looks, but it was such a pain masking him (or her?) before rolling on the background with Versamark. I also like how colouring with Copics turns out of Kraft CS. Must try more if this in the future. Thanks for looking!

FTL 93

Have you ever looked at a sketch and fallen instantly in love with it? I fell for FTL 93, and I think it's da bomb!





I broke out my brand new Turning a New Leaf set from PTI as well as a sentiment from this year's anniversary set. After several weeks of crafter's block, it was a lot of fun to make something and enjoy the process. I'm tempted to use the same sketch with Fancy Flourishes next. Thanks for looking!

Missing mojo

Hi all! Apologies for the hiatus in posting, but my mojo went on holiday and neglected to give an ETA on when she's coming back. I did, however, try to forcefully bring her back by participating in the latest Inkspiration challenge but to no avail. Hopefully she returns soon, I miss her. :(





On a completely different note, I'm moving into a bigger room which means I get more space to better organize my craft stash. Yay! We've been cleaning the house out and getting rid of things we no longer need, it's amazing how much stuff you accumulate in 10 years! I'm really excited about changing rooms, but it's a lot of work getting things cleaned up and I also have to get blinds put in as well as a new door. Fingers crossed I manage to get it finished without breaking the budget. :)

Anyway, that's enough waffle from me, thanks for stopping by!

FTL 88

It seems to be raining birthdays here, and this is a card I made using the latest FTL sketch.





I seem to have unintentionally CASEd the sample card (which is gorgeous!), even using the same sentiment from PTI's Birthday Basics set. Speaking of PTI, their stuff is just wonderful and you should check them out. Be warned, it's addictive. :)

Thanks for taking a look!

Taylored expressions sketch challenge #110

This is my first ever entry for a Taylored Expressions sketch challenge! Yay! I've been wanting to try them for ages, but never found the time. Make sure you stop by her blog and have a look at her awesome creations!





I'm so in love with SU!'s Urban Garden DSP, both the designs and the colours are gorgeous! Plus, it can be used for both masculine and feminine cards. I was going to leave the grid on the navy CS but it looked plain weird, so I put a mat of black CS under it. The black really makes the colours of the DSP 'pop', in my opinion. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope everyone is having an awesome weekend!

Addicted to ink

Hi all! I was scrolling through the photos on my phone when I came across a photo of a card I made in Feb. I forgot to take a proper photo before I gave it away, so apologies for the poor photo quality.

All I did was use a SU! roller with Versamark and then brush Ranger's Perfect Pearls over the top. I think I used 3 different colours, but I can't remember which ones.

On a completely different note, I'm having a lot of trouble with the SU! craft stampin' spots I bought from the States. They're really dry and I can't emboss with them because there isn't enough for the powder to stick to. Plus, the colours look washed out because the pads are dry. I bought them so I could be all matchy-matchy (to quote Susan), but they've been dry since I got them. GRRR!!!! They're not available in Aus, so I can't get the reinkers unless I ask someone in Canada or the States to post them to me, but that will not be a cheap exercise. I'm sorely tempted to buy Tsukineko Versacolour cubes and it's so frustrating to have all the spots but not be able to use them. *sigh* Still, it feels much better now that I've gotten that off my chest. :) Thanks for taking a look!

Sketch challenge #21

It's time for another awesome sketch challenge from Makeesha!




The PTI design team have been giving tips on making cards for guys and I thought it was high time I made some, seeing as there aren't very many that I've made! I used a pair of fancy scissors to cut the strip of rick rack and the two SU! star punches. Just for kicks, I flipped the sketch and made an identical card.


So now I have not one, but two masculine cards! Sweet. :)