Friday 30 July 2010

Play Date Cafe Challenge #40 - Take Two

I really like the colour challenge that Play Date Cafe have this week. Black and White are so good together and then that touch of Green.  I was chuffed to see that Hero Arts Twitter'ed yesterdays card.  It is nice to be recognised...
Anyway I still have a couple of ideas with this colour scheme and this was one of them
I started by stamping the Hero Arts Dots and Flowers background stamp onto white card and layering onto black.  Next I stamped the Star in versamark and embossed with a dark green powder.  I used square nestibilities to cut out the white and black card and rounded the corners.  Both the star and the sentiment are from a set by Rosie's Studio.  Added a couple of gems at each end.  Another one I'm also entering into Moxie Fab World - this time Clean and Graphic

Am pleased the weekend is here now... being sick has made this a bit of a funny week and I can do with the weekend just to get back on my feet.

Appreciate all the lovely comments people make and thanks for taking the time to visit me.

Thursday 29 July 2010

Play Date Cafe Challenge #40

As soon as I saw the Play Date Cafe colour challenge and the wonderful DT examples my mind went into overtime.....
The challenge is Black, White and a touch of colour = GREEN.
This afternoon - prior to seeing the challenge- I had picked up some lovely green ribbon from the $2 shop, simply because the colour was great.
So this is what I was inspired to do -
I started by stamping the lace stamp from Kaisercraft in rows on the white card stock. I matted it onto the black with the ribbon across it.  Next I stamped and embossed the lace  in white and cut it into a circle and matted onto the white scallop.  Notice I altered the direction of the lace - for a bit of focal difference  ( not really, just didn't take much notice of what way I cut the circle!!!)   For my butterfly I stamped one of the butterflies from the Hero Arts Antique Engravings set onto lime green Bazzil and cut out.  Next I stamped it again on Acetate and cut out.  Layered the two together and added some gems.

This is what it looks like close up... really pleased how it turned out.  Have also entered this into Moxie Fab World - Classy and Elegant and Paperplay's - anything goes challenge

Off to do some more in this colour scheme- have drawn myself a couple of sketches - something I have just started doing.

Health wise - my cold is finally getting better and I've had two days back at work.  Only one more then the weekend again - yeah!!!

Thanks for stopping by -

Wednesday 28 July 2010

Let the Journey Begin!

Just three weeks till the Journey begins for Hubby and I.... our big trip to England and Europe (Paris, Venice and Rome).  I decided that I need to keep a journal to remember where we had been and what we had seen...  so I bought a little 4 1/4 by 5 3/4 inch note book.  Of course I had to alter the cover!!!! - to make sure it fitted the theme properly....
I started by printing out a background from this kit by Vinnie Pearce.  A fabulous freebie at 2peas.  I then used a number of the stamps from the Hero Arts set called Travel Journals. I filled in the "Where" and "When" and "Going Places"  The camera in the corner is a small set by Inkadinkado.

Inside the journal I have stamped a few of the stamps on some of the pages as well and added some plain pages with folded up edges to put ticket stubs and the like.  This size is just right for popping in my little travel bag -

So finally something to enter for Hero Arts Travel/Food and bookmaking challenge this month!

So now just counting down the sleeps till we go.........21 to go!!

Tuesday 27 July 2010

Inspiration from others....

I love going through the Hero Arts Flickr photo group as there is just so much inspiration there... As I am still suffering my cold ( now had Thurs, Friday, half of Monday and today off work!!!) and despite having lots of part done cards.... not much mojo going on.  Been sleeping lots during the day as coughing most of the night... so a visit to the photo stream for some inspiration.
I came across a whole pile of cards by Terry.  She made a couple of cards ( here and here) where she used distress ink on the Poppy Background and spritzed it with water.  I liked this technique so gave it a go.
I started with a piece of cream textured card stock and inked up my stamp with Forest Moss and Tumbled Glass inks, spritzed with pearlised water.  On the texture it looks a bit like canvas.  I then spritzed again and added some clear EP.  Quite a bit blew off but some stuck and enhanced the textured look.  I coloured in the poppies with a mixture of distress inks and water coloured pencils.  My matted background looks blue but in real life is more greeny.   So a big thanks to Terry for setting me off on this path.

Hope your week is starting better than mine has.... feeling a lot better though this afternoon ( even if I am still sitting here in my PJ's and dressing gown at 4.30 in the afternoon) - back to work tomorrow...

Cheers and thanks for popping by.

Saturday 24 July 2010

Tag Tuesday challenge #60 Faces

I thought I'd give Louise's challenge a go this week.  The theme is Faces... Wasn't sure what I wanted to do.

I had this vintage image on my computer. Not sure where I found it... but used Photoshop Elements to crop just the face and printed it out of photo paper.  I then distress the edge with Fired Brick ink.  My cream tag was sponged with Worn Lipstick, Fired Brick and a touch of Dusty Concord.  The Hero Arts Antique Background was stamped in Fired Brick.  Added a bit of Lace under the photo and a flower over the centre of the butterfly.  Think I'm starting to get this vintage/shabby chic thing!!!

Tonight our we are going to a neighbourhood dinner as a farewell to our neighbours of 15 years...  Robyn and Barry have lived across the drive from us for that long!!!  We've been in this house almost 18 years... There are 8 of us having a lovely dinner together at Natalie and Murray's place.  I'm taking the dessert... Lemon Meringue Pie and Fruit Kebabs.  I've got pineapple, melon, mango, kiwifruit and marshmallows.  Wrong season other wise would have strawberries.... The pie is almost ready to come out the oven.  I used fresh lemons off the tree round at my son's flat.  We got a whole bag full last weekend when we were round there for lunch.

Just shooed the cat outside as I've left the pie on the bench to cool.... last weekend I left a piece of pork on the bench to defrost and forgot it when we went out.... came home to find a corner chewed off.... Had to cut it off !!!!!  Was rather annoyed with the cat ( and myself)

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend.  Take care

Friday 23 July 2010

PaperPlay challenge week 29

One advantage of being home sick is that I can sit in bed and read the blogs!!!!!  I've got another head cold - but this time it's gone to the chest and I've got an infection!!!!  So a couple of days off work... ( even if I did sneak out to see the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra last night - which was amazing.  Beautiful music) I spend the morning in bed and got up early afternoon and made a card for the Paperplay challenge - Blue Cream and one other colour. 
I stamped the Dogwood stamp with Crushed Olive and Chipped Sapphire distress inks and then used the inks to colour it in.  Edged it with the blue ink and added to a card base that was embossed with a CB folder.  Added the cream ribbon.  It didn't quite turn out how I it pictured in it my head,  but it's okay.

Have also been playing round with some new stamps - lots of half finished cards - and stamped images.  Give me something to do over the weekend.

Thanks for visiting - appreciate your comments and thoughts

Wednesday 21 July 2010

All things Asian.........

that's this month's challenge theme over at Die Cut Divas.  Last night I had a tidy up of my Digi images and came across a little Geisha Girl which I got from Sliekje stamps.  I printed it out and made this card..
I coloured it with Copics and Bic Markers and then cut it with a Spellbinders Labels 4 die. Leaving the die on the cut out piece I lightly sponged with blue ink - leaving a white edge on the cutout.  I cut a piece of Washi paper to fit the card base and then added the piece of lime green bazzil to the side with some Washi Tape.  I used a Stampin' Up! sentiment - but didn't notice till I saw the photo that it was stamped crooked.  - Never mind... adds to the hand made character of the card!!!!  ( so says me!!!)

Well that's it more now.... thanks for stopping by. 
PS - 4 weeks today!!!!!   Bought new suitcases in the weekend... now just to make the list of what to take....

Tuesday 20 July 2010

Bright and Bold

Over the weekend I did some more buying... ( note to self: stop spending money!!!)  but couldn't help myself.  I saw these awesome stamps by a company called Heartfelt Creations.  The stamps fit into nestibilities.  I bought this set

and the matching Blossoms 2 nestibility.  I also got a new punch by Martha Stewart.  Together I came up with this card
The flower looks a bit orangey in this photo but is Fired Brick distress ink.  The daisy punched card is a red as well.  The leaves are from some die cuts that Betty sent me. The sentiment is Hero Arts.

Was rather pleased today to find out my Summer card, made for Barb, was on Cards blog today.  Amongst some very talented card makers. 

Well I'm off to bed shortly as it was another long day having to travel for work.  Again tomorrow and then on Friday. 

Take care and thanks for stopping by.

Monday 19 July 2010

July's CCC...

It's that time of the month again.... I've received some wonderful cards from Betty ... and the cards I sent to Barb have arrived....

These were what Betty sent to me....  aren't they just lovely.  In the package she sent them in were also included a pile of lovely old book pages, some of the die cut leaves ( like on her birthday card), some lovely old sewing pattern tissue, a sheet of the film for masking... such a lot of lovely goodies... most appreciated Betty.

Now I had to send a card to Barb - ( who by the way sent me a card in June's challenge)
I really didn't know what to do.... the sketch stumped me so I went with the theme... but couldn't choose which one.... so yes I did two ....

The first one is the Friendship theme.... I made the background purple in Alcohol inks and then embossed the Poppies in white over the top.
For the beach theme, I used Joy's technique with the distress inks, water and stamping with it.  I used Tea Dye and Wild Honey inks to make the strip and then did some masking to put all the shells together.

All in all, I really enjoy these monthly challenges... head over to Deborah's blog around the last Friday of the month and join in.... so much fun.

Off to do some blog surfing..... and to get some inspiration!!!

Take care and thanks for stopping by...

Sunday 18 July 2010

Welcome Lilly - Blog Hop

Hi all.... welcome to our blog hop for Paula and little Lilly "Bug"....

If you arrived from Helen you are on the right track... If not head over to Deborah's site to get the full list of blog hoppers...

Now as you might know Paula recently had a darling little girl - Lilly born June 4th 2010.  And I have had a pleasure of actually holding the little one and meeting her Mum and big sister Emma.
Have a look at this.....
and here is the card I made for Paula
Now my tip for Paula...
Get as much rest as you can when Lilly is asleep and Em's is a preschool..... Its amazing how tiring it is with two....

So now it's time to pop over to see Alice.
Don't forget if you want the full list of blogs to visit... pop over here 
Enjoy the rest of the blog hop and Paula.... all my love and congratulations on Lilly's birth

PS pop over and see tips from Karen and lovely cards from Lin

Saturday 17 July 2010

Be yourself heart and some faux silk....

Two projects today... I made a tag for Tag Tuesday ( on Louise's site here) - to start I did not like how it turned out.... but after leaving it overnight, it didn't look so bad...
I started by sponging the entire cream tag with Tumbled Glass distress ink.  I then stamped the hearts in versamark and clear embossed.  The sponged on some other distress inks, spritzed with pearlised water and then highlighted the hearts with Chipped Sapphire ink.  Next stamped the sentiment ( Inkadinkado) and the keys ( Theresa Collins)

My next card came from some blog surfing.  In amongst some flipping through blogs I came across a tutorial for Faux Silk ( here)- scroll down the post a bit-
I had a piece of card sprayed with blue glimmer mist ( from the delightful Paula) and I used this as the basis of my silk layer.  I stamped a lace doily (Kaisercraft - from the Tea at Elise's set) in Stormy sky distress ink, and layered the crumpled tissue paper over it,  Quite pleased with the outcome.  As you can see I managed to get the photo taken outside......  a lovely winters day... the rain stopped this morning although it is looking a little ominous just now.... much warmer as well.   Managed to get the washing outside for a bit!!!  All ways good in the winter months.  (Edited 5 mins later;  all my lovely almost dry washing got rained on!!!! didn't notice the rain sitting at the computer!!)

Don't forget to pop back tomorrow for something special... I'm part of a blog hop!!!!

see ya

Friday 16 July 2010

Play Date Cafe Challenge #38

As soon as I saw Play Date Cafe's wonderful colour challenge, I knew what I wanted to do.



I stamped and coloured the HA Hydrangea with Distress inks ( Dusty Concord with a dash of Chipped Sapphire and Shabby Shutters) and mounted it on a dark purple card. I spirtzed the whole piece with pearlised water, very shimmery in real life. I added the strip of lime green Bazzil and ribbon and the sentiment. My base card is the lilac ( looks a bit darker in my photo)

After nearly a week of lovely winter weather - cold nights and lovely day, it has been windy, wet and cold today... so the photo was taken on my window sill - at around 4.15pm so not the best.

Have been very busy doing some induction training ( only 3 months after starting the job) with the latest set of recruits. This involved travelling 30 kms each day to get to the Manukau office ( and 30 kms back again in the evening) so a couple of long days...

Have done some cards this week but haven't taken photos.  Mainly copies of stuff I already have made - people have seen my Flickr and asked to have the same one!!!!

Busy weekend as well... 50th party to go to Sat night, lunch Sunday at son's new flat.. and having a friend round for dinner Sunday night.... 

Plus a little something special here later in the weekend.... Please do pop back as I think you'll enjoy...

Have a super weekend all

Monday 12 July 2010

An invitation or two!!!!

On Friday my daughter arrived around to drop of an invitation for me......
An invitation to a girls shopping day... to look for an outfit for moi... to wear to her wedding!!!!  ( I need all the help I can get!!!)  Isn't this just the most amusing little ditty on the front!!! 

and then on Saturday afternoon she called round to drop off the wedding invitation,...  she is getting the overseas ones sent off in the next week... the others a bit later in the year...
She designed and made these invitations herself...
They are so beautiful and elegant.  She has done a wonderful job getting them all together.  Lots of cutting and adding gems and then putting the brad in the corner to hold it all together.  Even the envelope was beautifully decorated with a brocade label with the address on.   My daughter is so organised - ( not like her mum~) and has the plans for the wedding well under control.  I am very proud of her.

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you enjoy viewing these goodies..

Sunday 11 July 2010

Creative Saturday.

(Just a warning... long post!!! but would love to have you visit)

I have been busy reading blogs and just pottering so there have been no posts for a few days.. Did have a nice surprise on Friday morning when I found out I had been on Hero Arts blog Social Thursday ( see here - my card is the last one) Was pretty chuffed I can tell you!!!  Did a wee ya hoo in the office when I had a look!!!

Yesterday ( Saturday) was my stamp group at Stamp'n'create and what a fun day... we did lots of talking and stamping and again the most amazing lunch... fantastic soup from Sue B, awesome potato and seafood salad from Sarah, asparagus rolls, ginger slice, banana cake...
anyway I had a very creative day.... knew there were a few things I wanted to try/do...starting with some distress resist,
Gina K had this on Stamp TV - here - stamping in versamark, clear embossing and adding distress inks and then some black around the images to make them pop...
here's my take... a bit softer looking but I am very pleased with the result
I used some cream Bazzil to give the appearance of linen, used Crushed Olive and Broken China, with just the littlest bit of Black Soot round the butterflies.    Finished with a Peel craft sentiment coloured with black Copic.  Used my old favourite Heart winged Butterfly... needed inking up again!!!

My next card is because I have a friend turning 50 this week.... I have always loved the Stella images by Bugaboo Stamps... ( here they are) so bought the over the hill one on Friday ...
Isn't it a hoot!!!  Great for colouring in.  I just printed it out, coloured and then used one of my long rectangle nesties to cut out.  Just got the Martha Stewart lace punch so used it.

My next two cards came about as I had bought Issue 78 of Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine and the freebie this issue was a pack of designer papers ( 6x6) by Kate Knight.
It is really lovely.  I used the ideas in the magazine for my inspirations of the following two.
This one I changed the position of the sentiment, made it an oval and used a Hero Arts sentiment - Don't you just love HA clear stamps... this one was one long sentiment, which I cut in half to get it onto the oval - The original had a tea bag folded medallion on it, but I liked the simplicity of the papers.
This one was fun to make as Sue B and I both decided to use some of this paper and the idea in the magazine but our cards turned out a bit different.  Sue used a normal A6 card and I used a square card,  We both cut out and put the birds on a scalloped oval - her was smaller than mine ( her card was landscape).  We used different ribbons, I added some silver stickles to mine... so it was fun to start with the same paper and design and to see the differences. I still have to decide on a sentiment

Well thanks for taking the time to read this... I realise it was a bit long... but I like to share my creativity.  I always have such fun stamping with friends and Judi does such amazing demo's and make and takes at Stamp'n'create stamp group days~~~

Wednesday 7 July 2010

Summer Tag - Tag Tuesday challenge.

Thought I was too late for Louise's Tag Tuesday challenge, but luckily it is a two week challenge with the theme being Summer.
I had some left over background PP that I had made for an card - I used Joy's technique of smooshing the ink onto the craft sheet and spritzing with water ( in this case pearlised water) and using it as the stamp-pad... I used Tea Dye and Wild Honey distress inks and the conch shell from a Hero Arts set.


I used my Tag spellbinder to cut out a tag.  I added a couple of shells in Rich Cocoa for contrast, added some lace hearts and the Cosmo Cricket little letters.  The bathing beauty image was located at The Graphics Fairy blog.  I printed it out at 30% onto some photo paper and used a pair of scallop scissor to make it like a stamp.   I was rather pleased with the outcome.

Feeling much better today... the pain seems to have mostly gone.  And having my hair cut made me feel like a new woman!!!  I am in the process of growing it a bit... at that horrid stage - not long enough and not short enough... but will work through it. 

Thanks for stopping by.. hope the week has been going well for you... nearly the weekend!!! 

Tuesday 6 July 2010

A busy weekend...

tidying up my crafting room.... I had a major clean up and out on Saturday afternoon, reorganising my space.  ( not that you would notice now as I've been crafting for a couple of hours today) Still it is much tidier and a bit easier to find things again.  Long may it last!!!!

I didn't do much crafting over the weekend but did manage to make my little grand-niece a wee pair of itty bitty slippers....  I had seen a pair Tilly had made here and got the link to the website here.
Didn't they turn out cute.  My sewing machine is still round at my daughters so sewed these by hand and used baby wool to do the blanket stitch round the top.  Hope they will fit Chelsea.

I did make one quick card to add to a parcel I was sending off overseas...
I had used my new Starburst stamp and new Wild Honey distress ink.  I had a small strip of cardstock left over from something else so made a little mini card.  I wrapped the satin ribbon round the card and then made a bow ( with the assistance of my bow-easy) and used some glue dots to add it.  The little sentiment is by Stampin'Up!

Today I am home from work as I woke with a stiff neck and headache.  My neck has been sore since Sunday but this morning was really paining me.  I stayed in bed most of the morning with a wheat bag on it and then this afternoon I have a scarf wrapped around it and have been crafting... making my card for July's Card chain challenge.

Well take care everyone and thanks for stopping by.

Friday 2 July 2010

A slow week......

It's been a slow week - lots of cold weather, rain and not many cards made... been so busy catching up on blogs and surfing the net.  Been deciding on what tours to do while we are away in Europe.... got most of them booked now and the trains are all booked as well.... roll on 18th August!!!!  ( less than 7 weeks now)  Can you tell I'm getting excited!!!!

I did manage a couple of cards this week... one I can show now and the other one I'll hold off till I know the recipient has received it.
I saw a wonderful card on Flickr which I CASED... then I couldn't find it again... but luckily the talented creator recognised her work and let me know... so thanks to the uber talented Linda W ( ScrappinBari) for her inspiration here.   As you can see I copied it almost identically.  I used my computer to print the sentiment.  I used some PP by Rosie's Studio to stamp my butterflies on.   The big butterfly is by Hero Arts and the small one from a set by Rosie's studio.  This was for Diane who retired from work on Thursday after 24 years!!!!

Yesterday and today I did some shopping... spend the last of the birthday money.Yesterday got a new stamp by Hero Arts- the little Starburst...Today's purchases were from a new shop I found... called Scottie Crafts.  Has some awesome prices on their products.  Go check it out on-line.  I picked up some Distress inks very reasonably priced.  (Now half 18 out of the 36 colours)  Now just to tidy up the craft space and find space for all the new bits and pieces!!!!  Maybe tomorrow.....

Well thanks for stopping by. Have a great weekend and to all my American friends... Happy 4th of July... hope it is a very special day for you all.... and for my Canadian friends hope your Canada Day was special as well.   Take care