Monday 28 June 2010

An embarrasing moment....

happened to me today.... just before lunch I had to use the bathroom and on zipping up my trousers... the zip caught in my pantihose and got stuck... so gave it a big tug..... and the puller came off in my hand!!!!  There I was with the back of my pants gaping open!!!!  ( it was a back zipper)  I didn't even have a long top on to pull down to hide it... so walked back into the office holding the back of my jumper down over the space.  Quickly put on my coat... which is a long winter coat, and told my boss I had to take an early lunch... and quickly took off to the shops.... I was wearing 3/4 pants and of course, this being mid winter.... not many shops had 3/4's in stock.  At the third shop I found a pair of black denim-y 3/4's that fitted so walked out of the changing room wearing them and asking the assistant to cut of the price tag.... turned out even better when she rang them up as they were on half price.... $22.49 - but of course when I took the broken pair in for a replacement zip - that's going to cost $23
Still I didn't have to sit around sweating in my coat all afternoon!!!!

Now onto some more male cards I made yesterday.... I really was on a roll... but using the Graphic 45 papers made it so easy 

These all used papers by Graphic 45, the last one the dotted paper is the reverse side of some Webster's Pages PP.  Couldn't resist putting some black gems on a couple as well...
and finally I made a tag for Karen's Tag Tuesday Challenge 

I made the tag out of glossy card stock and used HA Old French writing in Aged Mahogany distress ink.  Distressed the edge with Vintage Photo ink and used Shabby shutters and Aged Mahogany to stamp the Time Flies image from Stamp-It.  The challenge was "postal" so I used a stamp that came on one of my Chain challenge cards from the States.  I also added an image from the Graphic 45 papers as well as the pocket watch from the same pad.  I am thinking I will add the tag to a card - but not too sure yet.

Thanks for stopping by.  Wishing you all a great week... now June is almost finished and the shortest day past.... summer is on the way!!!!!  ( Well that's the general idea of course.  Still a bit of winter to go yet)

Sunday 27 June 2010

June CCC

I have had word from Janet in Mauritius that my card to her arrived safely and yesterday I received the most wonderful parcel from Barb - a wonderful card, some buttons and flowers, some sparkly gems and some lovely blank card bases and envelopes...   Look at the card and goodies:
Isn't the card just so pretty.  I just love the whole thing!!!  Wasn't Barb so generous. 

And this is what I sent to Janet:
One of the challenge ideas was the theme of Friendship.  I thought the words fitted this theme.  I also sent her a book mark - but forgot to take a photo of it...

I've already signed up for July's challenge.  If you haven't taken part so see Deborah's blog here with the details.  It is so much fun and you never know where you will get a card from!!!!

Notice the sun was shining when I took the photo of Barb's card... well 10 mins later the rain was pouring down,... been like that the rest of the day... sunny then raining.  A real pain in the behind as I can't get the washing dried.

thanks for looking.... off to make more cards for the boys... that page has sooo many cars on it,..... more car cards coming!!!!

Saturday 26 June 2010

Cards for the Boys....

are always so difficult.... no frills and frippery, not flowers or butterflies...
So when I saw some lovely male orientated cards in an Australian Simply Cards magazine, I knew I had to get some of the Graphic 45 papers they had used and make some cards....
So far 4 cards done.... sneaked off this afternoon to stamping at Helen's place.  Knew I couldn't do all day but got a couple of hours in....
This one is for my Dad ( don't look Dad).  I had seen this one by Lucy - which inspired me to computer generate the sentiment.  I used PP from the pad and cut and matted the car from one of the pages.  Used Old French writing for the background.
Again used papers from the pad or this.  The stamp is by Stamp-It.  Lots of distressing to give it a vintage look, added some brads and layered everything.
 this whole pad of papers is great for male cards... the car on this one is at the bottom of the page because I stamped the Fleur de lis first and noticed it was crooked.  So covered it up with the car and put the sentiment at the top.  I borrowed the sentiment stamp from Sandie - it's by Stampin' Up!
And finally
another quick and simple one again using the car and PP from the pad.  Added little black gems to the corners of the car and added the sentiment and all done.  I'm going to do more the same to stock up on male cards- I often get requests for male orientated cards so having a few on hand will be good.

Thanks for visiting... hope your weekend is going well.  I'm off to watch the 2nd half of the All Blacks versus Wales... ( rugby)  AB's winning so far!!!
Cheers from me...

Friday 25 June 2010

Two birthdays...

Today (25th June) two people I know are having birthdays...
Nicola who I work with and Glenda who I have meet through stamping....

Nicola loves PINK.... her desk is covered in pink things... even her calculator is pink!!!  so I made her a PINK card.... tempered a little with cream and purple...
I found a pad of cream coloured textured card at my local Bargain store.. about 50 A5 sheets for $2.50 and this is what I used for my base card.  The Tim Holtz die was cut out of pink card and I stamped the bird with a music stamp.  The sentiment is by Hero Arts ad the flourishes (stamped in purple) are by Rosie's Studio.  I added some gems, a flower and the daisy ribbon.  Nicola really loved it.

And for Glenda I tried out a new technique I found here. It is called Faux Mother of Pearl and is quite stunning.
I used the same technique on the computer paper and cut out some Dahlia shapes with Spellbinders to make the flower.  The sentiment is by Stamp It.  As the background was so stunning, a few black pearls finished the card off nicely.   Glenda is a very elegant lady so this card was perfect for her and she said she liked it and her day was "special"
So a very happy birthday my lovely friends!!!

I went shopping today.... spend some of the birthday money... got some Graphic 45 papers  - an 8 x 8 pad called "A Perfect Gentleman"  - 10 different papers all double sided and vintage male images.  Fantastic as I have 2 male birthdays and Fathers Day while I
am away in Sept so will make a start on them.  I also got some Pearl Ex and Perfect Pearls powders, two stamps from Stamp It ( male orientated as well) and some black glossy card.  Got lots of ideas racing round in my head for some male cards... Actually finished one tonight but will wait till the morning to photograph - if the weather improves!!!   Heavy rain all day.  Just horrid.

Well the weekend has started for me... lots of housework to catch up on... son's old room to clean and the upstairs lounge where he spend his time waiting TV... and maybe even some more card making!!!

Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by.

Thursday 24 June 2010

I got to meet Lilly "Bug".....

and of course her wonderful mum, Paula and her big sis Em....  It was very exciting to go and visit Paula and her two girls when I was over in Australia over the weekend.  I got a couple of photos..... nice one of Lilly ( but not of me!!!) and one of Paula and I together on her deck.  Plus the card I made for Paula and Doug to celebrate Lilly's birth
We had a very enjoyable afternoon visiting.  Saw Paula's lovely crafting area and got a few tips and hints from her as well as a lovely bag of goodies.... stamps, papers, some stickles amongst other stuff....  Thank you heaps Paula.  It was so cool to meet up with an "e-friend".  Paula also gave me directions to a couple of scrapbook/stamping stores... only got to visit one as the other was closed for stocktake!!!  I could have taken some stock of their hands!!!!!  Still did manage a wee spend up....

I totally enjoyed the break away...and catching up with my parents was a bonus.  The weather was nice- two of the days were very warm- managed to sunbathe at the beach and got a touch of colour!!!   Swam in the pool each day ( not as brave as hubby who swam in the sea)  The five days just flew by - now two days later feels like it was an eternity ago.  However 8 weeks and I'll be in England.... that's something to look forward to...

thanks for visiting.  Time to craft now....

Thursday 17 June 2010

Tag Tuesday challenge #56 - Men!

I love looking at all the wonder vintage/collage tags that people make so thought I'd give it a go for this week's Tag Tuesday. The theme was :Men" -

as this stamp is the nearest I have to a man, it had to do. It is by Inkadinkado. I stamped it onto white card with a Blue Memento Ink and then used Vintage Photo distress ink sponged over it and on the edges. I cut the tag by cutting a strip of cream card the width of the top of my spellbinders label, slip in into the label and cut the top only. I over stamped the tag with HA Old French writing and Music stamp by Kiwistamping.co.nz. Again I distressed the background with the Vintage photo distress ink. I also added some sticky grid which I had coloured with the blue ink, added a button and the gold swirly bit. Quite pleased with the outcome.

Just a very quick post tonight so I can get this into the challenge.  I still have to pack my bag and then it's an early night as the shuttle is arriving at 4.30am to pick us up for our 6.55am flight to Brisbane.  So I'll be away for a few days and won't be able to comment unless I can sneak out to an internet cafe!!!!  so everyone have a great rest of the week and a great weekend --- I will!!!

Wednesday 16 June 2010

Birthday Bird,....

Why is it that when you have money to spend you can't find or see anything you want and when you don't... there is so much you NEED!!!!  Today I went out to spend some of my birthday money .... and :-(  nothing much I liked the look of!!!!  Did buy one Hero Arts cling... Bird in a circle.  I've been eyeing it for a while.

So I inked it up this evening to make a card for my dear friend Kathy who's birthday is on Monday ( while I'm away)
Just a quick card.  Did some layering of the flowers and bird for dimension.  I used two scraps of card on my desk for the matting.... hence the two tone look, which I followed through with on my colouring of the circle.  Because I did all that first without realising it was too wide for an upright card, it had to be a top folding card.... and hence the sentiment that goes down the side.  Not too bad for something quick.  I don't have enough time tonight to do all I want.... and haven't packed for the weekend away yet!!!!

Tonight my baby left home..... it will seem strange to be just hubby and I - after 24 years of having kids around.  Kieran has gone flatting with his girlfriend and 3 other guys in a large house... luckily not too far away so I can keep an eye on him!!!  Still quite a moment when the last one leaves!!!!  But it is time for him to stand on his own feet.  At his age we were married!!!!   Time marches on....

Thanks for stopping by .... won't get time to post tomorrow - so till next week, enjoy life to the fullest.

Monday 14 June 2010

It's my Birthday... and a Winner!!!!

So with out further ado..... the winner is

BARB
 Congratulations.... I will be in contact to confirm I have your address.... and a huge thanks to all of you who left me such lovely comments... I wish I could sent you all something....

And yes today is my birthday... 53 years young!!!! and loving every minute of it.  Having a lovely day - read all the lovely comments on Flickr Hero Arts group.... thanks everyone.  Did have to do a fasting blood test this morning.... upside of which was a lovely fresh fruit salad and a hot chocolate on the way to work....Got a lovely card from Hubby  ( one I had made myself and which he found in my work space!!!!) as well as some delightful cards from my stamping friends here in Auckland and a really special one made by my Mum and Dad
Isn't that just so special.  I am so looking forward to catching up and spending the weekend with them.  They are kindly picking us up at Brisbane airport and coming with us to Mooloolaba for the Friday to Tues...and then dropping us back at the airport on Tues evening.  

I've been working on some cards but no time to show them yet....the weather here has been atrocious.. lots of rain today.  
Take care everyone... and many thanks again for all the wonderful people who follow me and leave such nice comments.

Sunday 13 June 2010

One of those days....

when my Mojo was on a break..... Yesterday was stamping group at Stamp'n'create.  Usually I have a great day - but for some reason ( maybe was too tired after the trip south) I struggled to get motivated or inspired.  Even seeing all the lovely things the others were doing didn't really get me moving...  Still I did manage 4 cards for the day....
I started by using some of the watercolour backgrounds I had made using Joy's technique - basically copied a card I had already done but this time in blue rather than purple.
Next I decided to try making some flower embellishments I had seen in my Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine.  It involved using punches and cutting the petals down the middle, splaying them apart and then putting 6 large and two small together.  Quite pleased with the results despite how fiddly it was.  Once I made the flowers I followed the design in the magazine to make the card.
I did have a bit of a hitch.... first off I embossed the lines upside down and they ended up at the top of the card!!!!  So put that one aside and started again.  Still have to decide on what sentiment to use and how to put it on the card,

I needed to use the card I had the embossing at the top of, so I made a very simple card.  I trolled through my stash I had with me and found a butterfly I had stamped onto some pink vellum.  I stuck it onto a piece of alcohol inked card I found and cut it out.
Added some ribbon and the butterfly and the sentiment which is from a Stampin Up! set.  I think this will make a nice sympathy card.

And then I finally put together a card with a piece of acetate I had stamped and coloured iwth alcohol inks a few weeks ago,  NOT AT ALL HAPPY with the result.... just couldn't get it how I imagine it....

So this is going to be a sample card!!!!  Just to show the technique.

I didn't really feel happy with any of these.... but I did have a great day chatting and catching up with the others.  And I did manage to get a couple of stamped images from one of Sue's lovely stamps - for a special card.

Hope the week is good for you all.... Going to be awesome for me... My birthday tomorrow and then on Friday ( very early) hubby and I are off to Australia for 5 days - a mini break-.... meeting up with my parents and going to spend a few days in Mooloolaba.  This is where we are staying.... but before then I will be drawing the winner of my giveaway... stay tuned tomorrow.

Friday 11 June 2010

A little bit of snow....

On Tuesday I was wondering if we would be able to make down to Levin to attend our friend's funeral as the main highway through the Desert Road was closed for most of the day due to snow and ice.  However Wednesday dawned a reasonable nice day and although the road has been closed overnight it was due to open around 8.00am.  As it takes around 4 hours from here to there I knew we would be okay.  And what a lovely sight it was too....
These were taken out the window of a moving car so excuse the quality
It was a real winter wonderland.  This had been the first big snow dump on the Desert Road this winter.  The snow in places was right to the edge of the road.   However all that snow did mean it was quite cold down in Levin.   Today travelling back along this road - NO SNOW-  it had been raining so it was all melted.

Glad to be back home in the warmer climes of Auckland and catching up on all the wonder creations people have done.

The wonderful Kathy is having a giveaway for her first year of blogging and it is a BIGGIE - see my side bar and go visit her blog... you will just love it... she is SO talented!!!

Well I'm off to pack the stamp kit up for stamp group tomorrow.  Have to get hubby to drop me off as the car still won't go :-(  Have to get the AA out tomorrow to have a look.  So with him taking me I have to par down what I take!!!!  Have a couple of ideas in mind as I have a birthday or two coming up, some challenges I want to enter.... and with going away for 5 days next Friday need to get the A into G and get them finished!!!!
Hope everyone has a great weekend. - and please enter my giveaway by commenting here.

Tuesday 8 June 2010

250th post give away-

This is my 250th post...so I thought I'd have a little give away

The above plus a couple of other bits and pieces - a bit of a surprise~

Here is the info on how to win...

You can comment on this thread, If you blog about it, add the link and comment again, you get another chance to win..

I will be keeping it open till Saturday night ( will do the draw on Monday NZ time so as to cover the time zones)
                      ********************************************

Now onto a card I made yesterday.... ( did lots of crafting over the long weekend)
Tiffany's Doodles are having their first challenge.... a great sketch by Jenyfur- and to incorporate an image from Tiffany's Doodles.  Tiffany has a whole heap of freebies to get you started!!!!
I started with some of the Grant Archival paper I used the other day on my tag and this is what resulted

I used this image - the butterflies and printed them out and coloured with aqua crayons.  I cut two label 4's on the CB.  Stamped the craft one with a Hero Arts cling stamp and Antique Linen distress ink.  I edged them all in the distress ink.  The sentiment is also from Hero Arts.

Well that's it from me till the weekend.... and Saturday is my monthly Stamp Group at Stamp'n'create, so that's something to look forward to.

Hope everyone has a great rest of the week. Thanks for visiting.

Monday 7 June 2010

Farewell dear friend......

It was with great sadness that we learn yesterday morning that my hubby's best mate passed away....  I am so glad that hubby got to spend some time this past week with him.  He was in intensive care in Auckland but on Saturday was transferred back to his local hospital in Levin.  At least he was home ( sort of anyway)  We will travel down on Wednesday for his funeral on Thursday and then back home on Friday.  It is an 6-7 hour trip down to Levin by car.

I quickly managed to get a sympathy card made for his partner and his brother and sister and the families.

I saw a card by Terry on Flickr   and it was my inspiration for this.  I stamped the Silhouette Grass onto wheat coloured card and embossed it in clear EP.  I then used a number of distress inks and sponged them over, finishing with Aged Mahogany.  I edged the top and bottom of with a gold marker.  I stamped the sentiment onto a piece of the wheat card in the Aged Mahogany and added brads to secure it.  Finished with a little dragonfly stamped in Aged Mahogany onto gold vellum and secured with a glue dot.
( a big thanks to Hero Arts who tweeted the card on Flickr- much appreciated)

Today we had our friends Michael and Yvonne round for lunch to finalise some of the plans for England.  Michael heads over in about 2 weeks - and as he is the chief organiser of the canal boat trip we needed to get everything organised.    After they left I managed to put together the card I started yesterday.  I've done a pile of watercolour backgrounds using Joy's technique... this one used one of the shell stamps from Hero Arts 
Used two colours of the distress inks on my craft sheet and stamped the shells all over the background.  Then stamped the shells onto white card and cut out and matted with black.  Sentiment is embossed - it's from a set by Sullivan's - made in Australia. The base card is a lovely olive green.  I had to take the photo in my window ledge as we have had rain and more rain all weekend... I waited for a break to get the photo taken but it was too wet to go outside.  Tonight poor hubby had to go out into the torrential rain as a drain has block - water from the two downpipes out the back were overflowing as it is blocked somewhere under the house.... calling a plumber tomorrow!!!!

Well thanks all for stopping by... take care and hope you all have a great week.

Sunday 6 June 2010

Music Tag - Tag Tuesday challenge

This week Karen's Tuesday Tuesday is Music....I was inspired by tags by Jacqueline and Suzz to have a go,... must admit my tag is much more simplistic than the masterpieces these two create...
I started with the patterned paper by Grant Archival. - incorporating my favourite butterflies with the theme of music. I cut out a tag with a Spellbinders die, centring the butterfly music. Added the stamping from a Hero Arts sparkle set - ( stamped in Versafine Vintage Sepia ink) and a couple of butterflies cut from the rest of the paper and a piece of music sheet, added a couple of pearls and the ribbon.

Our weather has really packed in and has become very wet and windy ( not too cold though) but a good excuse to stay indoors and craft and blog hop.  I've been working on some cards for this months Card chain challenge - plus I also made a card for someone who's feeling sad at the moment... ( will post once I know she has it)

thanks for stopping by...

Friday 4 June 2010

Loving the colours....

of all the lovely distress inks and what you can do with them.  I had some fun trying out the distress inks dabbed onto my craft sheet and spritzed with a mixture of water, PVA glue and gold Pearl Ex  and then smooshed onto cardstock.  I made an A5 sheet with a mixture of blue, red, green, orange and purple...Once I had all the colours on and dried I used my Ranger blending tool to add some extra colour to the sheet and then gave it another quick spritz with the mist.  I then cut it into ATC sized pieces and stamped on them with the Dandelion Frame and some sentiments.
As the watercolour paper is slightly lighter weight I mounted it onto the black card for stability.  You can see where I spritzed the mist.  For real these are very glimmery.  They are available for trade ( or just if anyone wants one- first in first served)  

Just want also to send my best wishes to Virginia who's father passed away in the last few days - hugs and prayers being sent your way and also to Paula... who was going in to be induced with her baby... I pray all went well for you.

This weekend is Queens Birthday weekend for us in New Zealand... so we get an extra day off on Monday.... and boy do I need it.  The last two days at work have been hectic... did an 11 hour day on Thursday  and was at work at 7.10am this morning.  Both days at a workshop over the other side of the city ( 30 kms from work) - making my way home Thursday night at 5.00pm in peak hour traffic!!!!!   Glad I don't do that every day that's for sure!!!!

So have a great weekend all.

Wednesday 2 June 2010

WOO HOO........ I've been published,.....

Doing a happy dance today.... I am so excited... I have had a card published.  First time I have ever submitted a card and it was accepted and today there it was.... It is in Scrapstreet.com -- an on-line magazine.  Pop over and there I am on page 50.  If you haven't seen this magazine, you really need to.  It is just like a paper magazine - full of interesting articles and lots of lovely scrapbook layouts, cards, digital and hybrid, and they even have a free giveaway each month.  This month it is lovely papers, elements and overlays all to do with summer.

And added to this, I am running the June challenge over at the Die Cut Divas Flickr group while the lovely Paula takes some time to have her baby.  It is a fun group so come over and join us.  This month's challenge is "Shades of Blue"- anything goes as long as there is some blue and you use a die cut machine on your project.  And there is a prize pack
Just a few wee goodies that will go to a random contributor.  I'll draw a name out of the hat at the beginning of July.  So please come and play!!!!

Well that's it for tonight.  I've got a set of ATC's to finish off... and a new stamp by Stampendous to play with.

Thanks for stopping by...