Sweet Cherries for You

Just a simple card tonight using Inkspiration's lovely colour challenge and Taylored Expressions' fabulous sketch. I'm quite a fan of the multiple-square sketches - I find they are good to work with especially when the mojo has decided to take a break for a bit, and it's a fabulous way to use up small pieces of DSP.

This card was really born out of this weeks Pile It On Challenge - Make it Sweet. My first thought was cakes... maybe because of the gorgeous cupcake logo this week. But, being a dietitian, I then thought 'cherries are sweet too' so decided to use them paired with the Summer Picnic DSP, which suited Keesh's colour challenge perfectly too. Gotta keep the everyday foods front of mind :)

The cherries have a little bit of sparkle on them, and the greeting has been popped up with dimensionals in the middle, but taped down at either end to give a banner-type effect. The Whisper White circle under the cherries has been sponged with Bashful Blue to soften it.

Thank you for visiting again!

Stamps: Tart and Tangy, One of a Kind

Card: Real Red, Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Whisper White

DSP: Summer Picnic (retired)

Ink: Real Red, Old Olive, Bashful Blue

Punches: Scallop Square, Scallop Circle, 1 1/4" Circle, 1 1/4" Square

Other: Blooms Die Cuts, Dazzling Diamonds

Vintage Eggplant

When I think Vintage, I think browns and sepias, soft images and edges and distressing. Not generally my forte! However, I think this scrapbook page may qualify as vintage (it does use the Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel after all) even though the only brown tone is a little bit of Sahara Sand... As you can see, there's lots of distressing, and even though the photo doesn't show it, the edge of the sentiment was sponged in Old Olive to 'take the edge off'.

Even if Vintage isn't your thing, hop on over to Just Add Ink and check out the entries for this week's Vintage challenge - they are awesome.

Thanks for visiting.

Stamps: Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel, Whimsical Words (retired)

Card: Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive, Sahara Sand, Whisper White

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive, Sahata Sand

Other: Old Olive Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware

Colour Q plus

This weekend so far has been great; lots of cuddles/sleeps/watching movies together on the couch with my girl (Toy Story 1 and 2 have been on Playhouse Disney), a bit of housework, coffee with friends and plenty of opportunity to stamp! I have finally made a few cards that have been on my list for a while, and will be in the post Tuesday (we have the Anzac Day public holiday tomorrow).

I always have intentions to play along with Colour Q each week, but the best intentions don't always come to fruition... this week is different! And to make the most of it, this card also fits in with three other challenges: ABC Challenge - S for Sparkle, KWernerDesign - one layer and (again) Pile It On - Is Spring Finally Here? Four challenges in one project is a record for me (I've only managed it once before).

Gee, one layer cards are a challenge indeed!! I did lots of masking with this one and added a border with some scoring. Dazzling Diamonds added the sparkle in the middle of the flowers - I'll try to take a better photo in the sunlight tomorrow to catch the sparkle a bit more.

Another card I'm quite pleased with this weekend! Let's see what tomorrow will bring.

Thanks for visiting.

Stamps: Embrace Life, Cheer and Wishes

Card: Whisper White

Ink: Tangerine Tango, Bravo Burgandy, Yoyo Yellow, Green Galore

Other: Dazzling Diamonds

Bella Rose Mother's Day

One of the best things about Stampin' Up! DSP is how projects can fall together so nicely because it all coordinates! I knew I wanted to do something 'pretty' for my grandmother for Mother's Day, and the Bella Rose DSP teamed with this weeks Sketch 'n' Color sketch made it so easy! I didn't realise until I pulled it out that this is the first time I've cut into any of the pages other than the Chocolate Chip spots though....

I am so happy with how this turned out! The hardest part was fussy cutting the little rose bud.

If you haven't already, head over to Sketch 'n' Color to check out their weekly challenges - they are a lot of fun to work with.

Thanks for visiting.









Stamps: All Year Cheer II (retired)

Card: Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss
DSP: Bella Rose
Other: Vintage Brads

Curtain Call Act 26 with Sweet Sunday Sketch 65

Another quick post this morning using Stacey's Curtain Call Colour Challenge with Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch; now that Karen has extended the submission date to Friday, I might be able to play along a bit more often. I don't know about you but time during the week seems to disappear at an amazing rate for me.

I have subsituted Marigold Morning for Crushed Curry as it's that bit brighter that More Mustard.

I find it quite hard to work with yellow, particularly the 'duller' hues, so I spent a bit of time pondering over this card, which will be making it's way to my mother-in-law for Mother's Day soon.

With the flowers, I think this card can also qualify for the Pile It On Challenge - Is Spring here Yet? In Australia, no, we're in Autumn (and it will be my first Winter this year for 4 years) :) but I don't mind playing with flowers at any time of the year.
I was also a Top Scoop over at Pile It On last week with this card - many thanks girls!!

Must go. Thanks for visiting!





Stamps: Bud Basics (retired), Wonderful Favourites
Card: Basic Grey, Going Grey, Marigold Morning (retired), Whisper White
DSP: Basic Grey Patterns (Level 1 Hostess)
Ink: Basic Grey, Marigold Morning
Other: 5/8" Jumbo Brads, Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon, Word Window Punch, Scallop Edge Punch

Rustic Rooster

I have had Rustic Rooster for a few weeks now and keep trying to find the right way to use him without much luck, but this week I pulled him out for the lovely browns in the latest Sketch'n'Color Colour Challenge. I really do like the way browns and blues go so well together.

I stamped the script in second generation Close to Cocoa on Creamy Caramel, and stamped the rooster in Chocolate Chip directly on top. This was layered on Close to Cocoa, then Bashful Blue - all distressed. I felt this card needed to be quite simple (I'm quite good at the KISS principal I think, hence loving Stampin' Royalty's challenge this week!) so as not to lose or overpower the rooster. A little bit of ribbon and some background stamping did the trick.

I also featured the rooster on the inside of the card; Whisper White edged in Creamy Caramel on Bashful Blue.

I'm think this rooster might just find his way to my Grandpa for his birthday; after all, we did have chooks on the farm for years.

Thanks for visiting and hope you had a great weekend.

Stamps: Rustic Rooster (Level 2 Hostess), Sanded

Card: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Bashful Blue, WhisperWhite

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel

Other: Chocolate Chip Wide Grosgrain Ribbon

Never More than a Thought

Whimsical Words would have to have been my favourite of the Sale-a-Bration stamp sets that were available this year. The sentiments are so lovely and versatile. Living so far away from family and many friends, one in particular means more to me than the others.... "You're never more than a thought away"

I made this card for a friend and hostess who requested a Mother's Day card for her workshop - this was one of the options I offered her. Not strictly Mother's Day-ish, but I thought it could pass :) I wanted to keep the card quite simple too as there were a few people BRAND new to stamping joining us. Thus, it fits the current 'Keep It Simple, Sweetie' Challenge happening over at Stampin' Royalty. To make it even simpler in the workshop, I had planned to swap the Very Vanilla card for Whisper White and use the Pink Pirouette striped ribbon instead of card stock behind the sentiment, but this wasn't the chosen card.

As the sentiment is the focus, this card also fits the current challenge over at Pile It On, (which I discovered this week) 'No Images as Focal Point', plus using as many other challenges as possible. I have only teamed it with one other challenge, but it's a start :)

Thanks for visiting.




Stamps: Whimsical Words (SAB retired), Fifth Avenue Floral
Card: Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla, Pale Plum
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum
Other: Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch

Curtain Call Act 25 with Inkspirations Sketch 21 - It's Bright!

Just a quick post this morning as I have to take Luana to her first dance class of the term.

This week the Curtain Call Colour Challenge is a tribute to a few Bold Brights that are being retired, but it hasn't turned out as lary as it could have :) I'm not totally devasted that Only Orange is leaving (it is a useful colour at times), but it's a different story about Pixie Pink. I use it quite a bit, especially for Luana projects. Makeesha's latest Inkspirations sketch (only released yesterday - can you believe I've made a card for it already!) provided the sketch for this card for a friends upcoming birthday.

A close up of the flower for you. I sponged a strip of Whisper White with Yoyo Yellow ink for the band, and the top flower is stamped off with sections highlighted using a Stampin' Write Marker. I curled the petals around my paper piercer to give them a touch more dimension.

Must go and get this girl to dancing!

Thanks for visiting again.

Stamps: Eastern Blooms, A Little Birthday Cheer

Card: Pixie Pink, Yoyo Yellow, Green Galore, Whisper White

DSP: Kaleidoscope (retired)

Ink: Only Orange, Green Galore, Yoyo Yellow

Other: Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon, 3/8" Jumbo Brads

Soft Suede Debut

This is the first time I have actually used Soft Suede. I tried to use it a few weeks ago for a scrapbook page, but it just didn't work. But today I think it worked so well as part of this weeks ColourQ Challenge.

These colours scream masculine to me, and I guess the gorgeous jacket in the picture helps that thought! One of my initial ideas was to use these for a boys card with lots of stars. But this is what eventuated. Simple and clean lines. No sponging as has been the case more often than not recently. The large flower from True Friend was stamped in Night of Navy and Tangerine Tango and fussy cut. The Tangerine Tango centre was popped up with dimensionals, and the whole flower was attached to the card with the same. This is the first time I've pulled out Chit Chat rubons too, which were in the Summer Mini.

I really like these colours together. I just might have to pull them out again...

Thanks for visiting.

Stamps: True Friend

Card: Soft Suede, Whisper White

Ink: Soft Suede, Night of Navy, Tangerine Tango

Other: Tempting Turquoise Grosgrain Ribbon, Vintage Brads, 5/16" Neutrals Jumbo Brads, Chit Chat Rub ons (retired)

Welcome Tayah

The girl I used to job share with had a gorgeous little girl a few weeks ago, and I finally sat down to make her welcome card today using this weeks Sketch 'n' Color Challenge as inspiration.

I have been stalking Sketch 'n' Color for a few weeks now as one of the creators (Andrea) is one of the very talented members of the Curtain Call Crew over at Stacey's Stamping Stage, which is how I came upon the blog. Now, my German is VERY bad, so I don't understand very many words of what is written, but I guess that's one of the great things about craft is that it transcends language :) There have been some lovely colour challenges and this is the third sketch challenge, but the very first one I've participated in.

As you can see, I've rotated the sketch and used the butterfly wings (Pale Plum rock'n rolled in Perfect Plum, plus sparkle) as the 'bow'. I wanted a pretty girly colour combo, and this was one I was playing around with a few weeks ago with some Mother's Day cards.

This card also meet the criteria for the current Caardvarks challenge - a baby card - another blog I found blog hopping recently.

Thanks for visiting.

Stamps: Defining Alphabet, Garden Whimsy

Card: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Very Vanilla

Ink: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Pretty in Pink

Other: Eyelet Border Punch, Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds, Soft Subtles Brads

Curtain Call Colour Challenge Act 24 Plus Just Add Ink Sketch

Although I try to play along with Stacey's Curtain Call Colour Challenge each week, I have missed the last few... oops, sorry Stacey. But not this week!! Although the colours were a little challenging, I've made something in time! And it's using another favourite, retired stamp set, Terrific Tulips. I've kept it quite simple again, just a bit of two step stamping, some more glad/cling wrap background stamping, some light sponging and some distressing.

I'm not quite sure why the colours were such a challenge this week... Maybe it was the combo of Tempting Turquoise and Garden Green?? From having a squiz at the other great creations, I'm not the only one who was stretched. But that's why we play along, isn't it!

As I was working out how to play with the layout, I remembered the VERY versatile sketch challenge over at Just Add Ink this week. Just the thing!

Thanks for visiting. Have a great weekend.

Stamps: Terrific Tulips (retired), Fresh Cuts

Card: Tempting Turquoise, Kraft, So Saffron, Whisper White

Ink: Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron, Garden Green

Other: Hemp Twine

Circle Circus Celebration

Circle Circus is one of those sets I love. I have stages where I'll use it heaps, then it has a little bit of a rest, then it gets pulled out again for a workout. I'm in one of those using it heaps again phases!!

I love the bright colours in Luana's dress in this photo, so wanted to pull them for the page. The Chocolate Chip and spots come from my dress. The Circle Circus elements fit with Taylored Expressions latest sketch too!! I've rotated it, adjusted it a bit and replaced the circle with the photo though... I know it's not a card, so I hope Taylor doesn't mind :)

This is one of my favourite photos, and I'm so happy with how this turned out.

Thanks for visiting.

Stamps: Circle Circus, Sweet Serendipity (retired)

Card: Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Summer Sun, Pixie Pink, Green Galore

DSP: Bella Rose

Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Summer Sun, Pixie Pink, Gable Green

Punches: Scallop Circle, 1 3/4" Circle, Slit

Other: Filagree Designer Brads, Vintage Brads

Getting Organised for Mother's Day

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter break. We had a great, but busy weekend with family which was wonderful. I started back at work today, so a super short week, but not one without it's challenges!!

After packing EVERYTHING away before Easter (much to Paul's delight), I pulled a few bits ad pieces out tonight to play along with the latest Inkspirations Colour Challenge from Makeesha and the latest Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.

Yet again, the colours Keesh has challenged us with are just gorgeous together, and I'm not so scared of circles now I have the Circle Scissors Plus!!

I stamped the large circle after cutting it out, using the Stamp-a-ma-jig to help with the placement of the words. The edges of the circle were sponged in Creamy Caramel, and I 'stretched out' a few scallop circles to frame the circle. The smaller flower was stamped in Creamy Caramel, then rock'n'rolled in Brocade Blue and finished with a half pearl from the Pretties Kit. I also used a hat pin from the same kit for the first time ever!! To soften the Creamy Caramel panel, I 'sponged' it with the same ink using scrunched up glad/cling wrap. I really like the effect it gives.

Not sure who this one is going to yet... Mum's a fan of green, so I'll probably make another card for her.

Stamps: Wonderful Favourites, Baroque Motifs

Card: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Brocade Blue, Very Vanilla

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Brocade Blue

Punches: Scallop Circle, 1 1/4" Circle

Other: Pretties Kit, Circle Scissors Plus

Urban Suite

This weeks challenge over at Just Add Ink is an open one, Oh my goodness!! What to do?! I need more direction than that! I thought I'd share with you the present I made for my manager's 30th.

I wanted to make something that she could use, and had the option of using to help 'remember' the big event.

The card I made her was the inspiration for the colours and stamp set - her bridesmaids wore black, and the Urban Oasis DSP provided the additional colour palette of Kiwi Kiss and Baja Breeze. I wanted everything to co-ordinate too. I made this card using the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 56 - see the entire post and recipe here.

I made photo boards (inspired by Makeesha) for Paul's birthday a few years ago, so thought this would work for this occasion too. I hadn't yet added the little clip at the top to hold the photo when this was taken. The bottom Baja Breeze flower is not completely taped down, so the photo can slip under it to be held in place. The Kiwi Kiss lily has been paper tolled to add some dimension.

Lastly, I made a squash book to hold her memories of the night. These are such great little books and not too hard to put together - a tutorial can be found over at Splitcoast Stampers.

And here it is open - plenty of space to put in photos and/or write about the birthday bash. Another great thing about these books is that you can make them longer if you need to, just add an extra couple of pieces of card.

Hope you've enjoyed these projects!

Happy Easter!!

The reason for my lack of blogging lately is I have been working on my Easter cards and finishing Mum and Dad's calendar (Paul's is still a work in progress....). I wasn't planning on posting my Easter cards just yet, by the Stampin' Royalty challenge this week is EASTER, so I thought, why not.

I send Easter cards with a photo of Miss Luana to immediate family and godparents each year, as I figure then they at least get semi-regular photos of our princess. As I make quite a few, I like to keep them simple! The gorgeous striped ribbon from the retired Sweet Shop Ribbon Bundle provided the inspiration this year - but I didn't have enough to make all the cards, so I pulled out the Certainly Celery from the Ribbon Bundle that was available last year. Not a bad substitute, but I did like the stripes... You can't see it in this photo, but the strip of Almost Amethsyt DSP on the inside of the card has been punched with the scallop edge punch.

Here are the cards that Miss Luana made for her grandparents (with very little assistance):

And check out the Easter page I made a few weeks ago here for an Inkspirations Colour Challenge - it made the special mention group!!

Wishing you a wonderful Easter with your families - can't wait to see mine!!

Stamps: A Good Egg

Card: Apricot Appeal, Almost Amethyst, Whisper White

DSP: Almost Amethyst Prints (retired)

Ink: Apricot Appeal

Other: Sweet Shop Ribbon (retired) Certainly Celery ribbon (from Ribbon Bundle - retired), Scallop Edge punch, Soft Subtles brads

Title Page

I was looking for some inspiration (late) last night to make the LAST page for Mum and Dad's very late calendar. Mum's favourite colour is green, so Kelly Jo's Colour Chef Challenge of White, Light Purple, Light Green and Light Pink fit the bill! It has been AGES since I played along with a Colour Chef Challenge.

The light this morning hasn't picked up the colours real well - still trying to find *that* spot in the house! I thought I'd try my hand at button flowers, which I have been seeing everywhere recently, and keep the page super clean and simple; after all, it's barely going to see the light of day with the calendar pages stealing the glory!! All of the edges were inked in the corresponding colour too, but it's hard to see.

Thanks for the inspiration! The calendar is finally finished!

Stamps: Live Your Dream (retired), Best Friend Numbers (retired)

Card: Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White

Ink: Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst, Pretty in Pink

Other: Sherbert Buttons (Summer Mini - retired), Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon