I am so cold…

Last night I went to my gorgeous friend Kirsty’s house for a bit of a card making, which always ends up more in talking and colouring some images than anything else, and it was so nice to catch up with her. I will have a few cards coming over the next couple of days to show you using the images I coloured.

While I was there I picked up my new coriander fairy by Sweet November Stamps. As it is cold wet and rainy outside and I am up-to-date with my washing and housework I thought I would sit down with a cuppa and play with my new stamp. The card I ended up making  is based on the sketch at Papertake Weekly this week. As you all know I am a huge fan of Dawny’s sketches they always seem to inspire me. 

 

 

Today I took on some advise from Kellie  ( she got from Kristy Young)  which is to make your card first before adding the image. This is the second time I have done it and the cards have comes together so much quicker, I have found that I am not so tormented. 

While I am reasonably happy with my card I am not sure if it is missing something. I have coloured the image using my watercolour pencils, added kaisercraft flowers and rhinestones, lace and ribbon, October Afternoon paper, glitter to the wings and smudged edges with brown ink.

I am also entering this card into:

- Oh Alice - What’s Your Muchness – faux stitching and ribbons/lace

-Cupcake Craft challenges – Dazzle Us – glitter on Wings

Tomorrow afternoon is our first Lil Lolita Boutique challenge, be sure to tune in to see what we all come up with I can assure you that you will not be disappointed.

Until next time xoxo

My last GDT Papertake Weekly Guest card

Hi there after getting two posts in one day lat week I did not manage to get back again. As I mentioned it was Elizabeth’s birthday on Thursday and then the rest of the week and the weekend was spent catching up with everyone for her birthday and mothers day. If you are in Australia and I think also the US I hope you had a wonderful mothers day and that your kiddies (big or small) managed to make you feel special.

Today I am bringing you my last card as a Guest Designer at Papertake Weekly   This weeks challenge at PTW is “Shiny, Sparkly & Special”. I have used lots of bling on my card but in subtle ways:

(The photo has actually picked up the glitter heaps it does not look so harsh in life)

The actual card base is metallic cardstock, you should also be able to see that I have added sparkles to the dress, one of the borders and some gems as well. Here is a closer look at the dress:

This dress, by B Line Designs, I picked up from Heaven Scent Crafts last year and I have to admit have been used a couple of times and then laid neglected.  I used my watercolour pencils to colour it and then I cut it out and mounted it to make it pop from the page before adding some glitter to the lines so it shines ever so lightly (almost like a chiffon layer on top, well at least that is the effect I was going for!). I have also used some ribbons that was in my drawer, faux stitching together with some Pink Pirouette, Basic Grey and Pretty in Pink cardstock from Stampin Up.

So there you have it my last card as GDT at Papertake. I have had so much fun and would like to thank Dawny and the other DT members for their lovely comments and of course to all of you who managed to pop by and have a look too.

I better dash going to get the kiddies into bed and sit back with a nice cuppa.

Until next time xoxo

Papertake Weekly – Sketch Number 40

If anyone can tell me where the last week has gone I would be very grateful. I had great intentions of getting stuck into some challenges last week but time just got the better of me. I have been running around to appointments with my son and then the weekend went by in a flash with sport Saturday morning and Sunday watching my darling husband play football.

I have however managed to do my 3rd DT card for Papertake Weekly. This week we are sponsored by Sassy Studio’s and were given a few digital stamps to play with. There was no way I could make this weeks card without using one!! The fabulous Dawny has provided another superb sketch for this weeks challenge:

 

Did you notice no patterned papers? I know I was quite chuffed with myself for not using any!!! It is different to what I would normally do, perhaps a little sexy as my husband has told me. Not sure who or for what occasion I could give the card but oh well I had fun making it.

I have used some black and red cardstock I had laying around. For the top layer of the black cardstock I used my Pokka Dots embossing folder and then gently rubbed over the top with some white acrylic paint to bring out the dots, not sure if you can really see this in the photo. I have also used my copics for colouring, the hair for some reason has come out a lot harsher in this photo (in life the light bounces are a lot softer and more natural looking), ribbon I had in my stash, kaisercraft rhinestones, sparkly Prima Dynasty flower centre has been applied to knot of ribbon tie. The image was cut out and then mounted with some 3D tape. I think I have managed to get it all in.

It is my baby girls’ birthday on Thursday and she is turning 8 so I have been busy this afternoon making cakes to take to netball training tomorrow night and chocolate crackles to take to school on Thursday. Tomorrow I better sit down and make her a special card, she sees everything that I make so she would know if I have not made one especially for her. So all going to plan I will be back tomorrow to show you what I have done.

In the meantime be sure to pop over to Papertake Weekly and look at the other DT’s cards and if you have time pop by their blogs and see what they have been doing.

Until next time xoxo

 

Papertake Weekly – Something Different

I have all my days mucked at the moment and forgot when I put my last post up that it would later today that I could put up my card for this weeks challenge at Papertake Weekly. The challenge this week was to make something different. Now I have to admit that I can be a tad lazy with my card making and would normally look at a challenge like this and move straight along without giving it a second thought. So as you can image I was sweating it out a bit wondering if I could actually come up with something different that would be good enough to show. I know I could have taken the easy line and just used different colours to normal but I actually wanted to challenge myself.

I ended up deciding on making a tent card. I have seen a tent card somewhere lately but when I needed to try and find it for a  hopeful link to a tutorial I could not for the life of me remember where I saw it. So google became my best friend (after splitcoast not actually having this tutorial as yet) and I found a great tutorial here.

Here is my card:

 

So what do you think? I was rapt with how this card came out. You can see that I have sponged the sky, clouds and grass in the background.  The image which is a Swiss Pixie by CC Designs  has been coloured using my copics, then cut out and stuck onto the swing (which was also a stamp from CC Designs which I have also cut out and used some string to join together)  DS paper from Cosmo Cricket and the cardstock is from Stampin Up. I have also applied some faux stitching and a sentiment.

As I mentioned I am rapt with how this card came out as I actually challenged myself to go beyond what I am comfortable with doing. Who knows maybe I might inspire you to challenge yourself.  Please be sure to pop over to the blog and check out the other DT’s great work.

Hopefully will be back in the next few days with another card for you all, there is a great sketch over at Anyone for Anya that I am wanting to do.

Until next time xoxo

Papertake Weekly GDT Spot

Oh my gosh I have some exciting news that I can finally share with you all. I was selected to be a GDT at Papertake Weekly for a month, insert squeal of delight LOL! I love this blog as the gorgeous Dawny always seems to come up with great sketches and challenges each week.

Thank goodness my first challenge to do was a sketch challenge:

 

 I sat down and started on this card straight after Dawny sent me the sketch so that I would not be rushing (and in my mind have plenty of time to scrap it and come up with another card in time) and got to about halfway before I hit a wall. After about an hour worth of deliberation, and nearly throwing the card in the bin, I decided to turn the sketch on its side and was much happier so I stuck it all down before I could change my mind. Here is the result:

 

Not bad hey! So I have used one of my favorite images from Lili of the Valley, water colour pencils for the colouring of the image, the DS paper is by Designs Galore (cant even remember where I got it from it has been sitting in my stash for so long),  lace border punch from Fiskars, flowers I also had in my drawer, kaisercraft pearls, sentiment and cardstock  from Stampin Up and I have also applied some faux stitching.

So there it is my first card for Papertake Weekly as a GDT. Please dont forget to stop by and look at the other DT Members creations.

Until next time xoxo

 

 

 

 

Papertake Weekly & The Sugar Bowl

Hi everyone just a quick one today it is nearly time to pick up the kids and go off to netball training.

I have some exciting news but I can’t share it with you just yet. I promise as soon as I can I will let you know.

School is back here in Melbourne and I have to say it has been rather nice! Although I miss not having to rush in the mornings and not having to nag the kids to get ready the peace and order of the house is bliss.

Robbie’s birthday party on Sunday (29 kids) was a great day and seeming they all appeared to have fun I can call it a success. I am so pleased we decided to have it at the school as it poured with rain and there is no way I could have managed with that many kiddies in my house.

On Monday my darling husband took me to the movies to see The Blindside. Oh my gosh what a movie! I was tearing up within nearly the first 15 minutes and did not stop till the end. It was such an uplifting story and so well portrayed. If you have not seen it yet then make sure you do I am sure you want regret it.

Today’s card is for two challenges, this fortnight’s sketch over at The Sugar Bowl and Papertake Weekly (cutie pie). I have not done a sketch challenge over at The Sugar Bowl for so long, not because I have not wanted to but because I seem to be running out of time to do all my favorites each week. The “Cutie Pie” theme over at PT means you can make anything you think is cute/sweet. I have therefore used my Windswept from Sugar Nellie as I think this image has a real innocence to it.

 

 

 

There it is my card, I am pleased with the result (considering I had to include flowers, something I have been struggling to do lately). I have used as mentioned the Windswept from Home Grown Sugar Nellie range, watercolour pencils for colouring, ribbon, flowers and pearls that I had in my stash. Faux stitching and doodling have also been added.

Well as I said in a bit of a rush better dash.

Until next time xoxo

Papertake Weekly

Robbie finally had his 6^th birthday on Tuesday and he was so excited that at 5am he was waiting for his presents! It took me back to being a little girl and remembering how long that week before your birthday is and then that sleep before is the worst constantly waking up hoping that you can see the sunlight start to come through the curtains only to be disappointed and having to try and get back to sleep. Finally when the day arrives it goes by in a flash and then the countdown begins for the next one. He had such a good day and we had a good dinner with my family. He resisted sleep as much as he could but he finally flaked it around 8:30 in the lounge room on the floor (head resting on a pillow which was on top of his new skateboard).

Today after being shopping with Robbie (birthday money to spend) and picking up Elizabeth when we came home I decided it was time to sit back and make a card. It was such a hard decision on which sketch to follow, being there are so many great ones out this week, but I finally decided on the Papertake Weekly Sketch.

 

I have had this designer paper sitting in my stash for ages and have pulled it out so many times to make a card but have never been able to make it work so have put it back. Today though I managed to use it and am happy with the result. You will have to excuse the bad lighting in the photo but we have had an overcast day up here but I knew that if I waited for a better day I might never get it posted in time as things have been busy here lately.

 

The image is a Miss Anya from The Greeting Farm, this is the first time she has been inked up and I think I got this set at least 6 months ago. Thought it was quite fitting though as we have been having rain up here today. Copics have been used for the colouring, faux stitching, lace, ribbon, hair pin, spacers and beads, greeting from Kraftin Kimmie Sentiments, and there is a bit of paper tolling on it too.

I am also entering this card into both Anya Ink and Anyone for Anya as they both call for “Anything Goes” this week.

Another clean card which is what I am enjoying at the moment. I am sure I will get back to wanting to use flowers etc again soon, at least I hope so as I have a draw full of them, LOL!

 I hope you all enjoy the rest of your week.

Until next time xoxo

papertake weekly #37

My dear friend Kirsty son Dylan is turning 5 and as we have brought him a fishing rod for his birthday I thought the card I have made for him today suits.

The image I got from Lilly of the Valley and have held off using it as I was not sure how to actually use it (I brought it after my husband saw it and insisted that I buy it, how can a woman say no!). I coloured the image using my watercolour pencils last night and put it aside feeling very unmotivated. Then today I looked at this weeks sketch over at Papertake Weekly (they always seem to have the great sketches) and got to work right away:

 

 

 

I have had the papers (Cosmo Cricket) sitting in my stash for a while now but thought they suited the image of this card well. The card is very basic but I think the colours and they layout together with a little bit of faux stitching was all it needed. The colouring is ok think I will need to play around with this stamp a little more to get the right shadings etc.

Today is a wet and overcast day up here so I think I may play a little more before the mayhem sets in this afternoon, Elizabeth has netball training after school and then after dinner I am off to a committee meeting so between training, dinner and the meeting I have 2 readers to do, 2 lunches to make, bathing of two grubby munchkins and then getting them off to bed for my mum who has kindly given up her evening to come and watch them. 

Until next time xoxo

A mixture of things….

Hi again. I know it has been over a week since my last post but I have had NO ENTHUSIASM to make cards this week. Not sure what it was but I would sit down with every intention to make a card and that would be as far as it would go. Admittedly I have been busy, having coffee with friends, LOL!

Friday Kirsty, Dee the boys and I went for a drive out to Paper 2 (about 1hr trip, one way) and I picked up some more papers. As I mentioned previously I love the cosmo cricket and October Afternoon papers at the moment. I think it is the patterns and colours that are appealing to me.

Yesterday I went to see Rob Thomas at Rochford Winery. He was fantastic and what a way to see him out in the open air. Now I am sure the ladies out there will agree with me when I say aaahhhh what a spunk!

So onto the card I have for you today. I ended up making this card with the paper I got on Friday and by following this weeks sketch over at Friday Sketchers and challenge at Papertake Weekly (use checks or gingham).

 

I am happy with how the card came out although I did struggle. With my enthusiasm of wanting to use the papers and Chester I forgot how hard male cards are to embellish!! I think I managed to pull it off though!  

What have I used? Paper from Cosmo Cricket, Lil’Man: Handsome Henry (both sides), Chester from Kraftin Kimmie, Copic markers, Spellbinders Nestabilities, sentiment from C.C. Designs Spring Kit purchased at All that Scraps, wire and buttons. You can see that I have also applied some faux stitching.

Well that is it for me today about to head out to my Mum and Dads for our family Sunday night dinner.

Until next time xoxo

Papertake Weekly Sketch #34

Hi all I hope you are having a great weekend.

Just a quick post today as I am about to head off with kids to see my Dads trains. My dad is part of the Gauge 0 Guild Club which meets monthly rotating between member’s homes and tomorrow is his turn. He has spent the last week setting up his track (half remains set up permanently in the garage and the other half is comes down, so they can actually park in the garage) and getting it all running in preparation for tomorrow. It is really impressive as it goes out the windows along the side of the house and then back into the garage again. He has spent many hours over the years building it and it is still a work in progress. They kids love it hence why I am taking them down to see it all running. 

So this morning after my typical raving and ranting at the kids (does anyone esle seem to do this) and getting the uniforms washed, shoes polished and house cleaned I decided to sit down and play. I have been feeling uninspired lately but when I saw this weeks sketch over at Papertake Weekly I thought to myself “that’s a nice and easy sketch not to complicated by having lots of layers” so off I went. I ended up surprising myself and thought outside the square with this card! Without further ado here is the sketch and my card:

 

 

 

 

What do you think? I am really happy with it in fact I think I can say that I am loving it!!!

So the swing, toadstools, grass, image and sentiment all came from the C.C. Designs Spring Stamp Kit Limited Edition set which was an absolute bargain. I cant wait to use more out of it. Mixture of October Afternoon and Cosmo Cricket papers have been used together with some lace I had it my stash. I have also added some faux stitching and distressed and rolled the edges of my patterned paper. Watercolour pencils have been used again.

So there you have it maybe my mojo is slowly coming back!

I hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend and hopefully I will be back soon.

Until next time xoxo