Three T-Rexs

Hello again!

Apologies for the lack of postings again - I am seriously in awe of those of you who have two or more children and still manage to find time to indulge your passions :) I have managed to squeeze in some time over the past couple of days to finish some long overdue projects.

Today I have used the latest Sweet Sunday Sketch to make a card for my godson (not sure if I'll get it in for the challenge on time though....) HAD to use Dinoroar for him and of course his age is an important addition at three! I pulled the colours from the DSP, used the new 1" square and postage stamp punches for the dinos and faux sueded some Baja Breeze for the panel.

Thanks for visiting
Hope you have a great weekend!

Super Cool

I guess there is an advantage to playing the waiting game at home on maternity leave, and that's being able to have a bit more time for crafting (in between naps and being a SAHM again that is!). This 6x6" page allowed me to play along with two challenge blogs I love but have not had the time or energy to play along with for SO long - Just Add Ink and Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.

This page is for Paul and I used the lovely cool colours of this week's JAI challenge to complement the "Super Cool" title and the layout from SSSC was perfect - thanks! I love this photo of Paul and Luana. They were playing around with their sunnies one day, being "Super Cool", hence the title!

I kept it quite simple - I don't like 'crowding' my little pages and the sparkly thickers accents worked well I think. I was thinking there needed to be something in the bottom left corner, but after a few days, I think I'm happy with how it is... After all, a very wise crafter once said "if you keep fussing with a project, leave it!" (thanks Karen G!).

Have to do the preschool run in a bit, but hopefully I'll get a bit more done at my craft desk before then.

Thanks for visiting!

Stamps: Tidy Alphabet (retired)

Card: Baja Breeze, Perfect Plum, Pear Pizzazz Patterns DSP, Whisper White

Ink: Perfect Plum, Baja Breeze

Other: Scallop Edge Punch, Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon, Thickers Alphas (non-SU), paper piercer

Curtain Call Colour Challenge 42

I'm slowly making my way through the backlog of cards I need to make, and tonight the Curtain Call Colour Challenge and the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge helped me make my sister's birthday card :)

This was a great colour combo to work with, but I substituted Pumpkin Pie for Peach Parfait, Certainly Celery for Pear Pizazz and Chocolate Chip for Early Espresso as we don't have these colours in Australia yet - and I'm really looking forward to playing with them soon!! Our new catalogue starts in 2 weeks!!

Karen provided another fabulous sketch this week too which is so versatile!

I pulled out a few retired bits and pieces for my sister's card, but also inked up Cottage Garden for the first time; I am quite pleased to see it staying in the new catalogue. I used a bit of masking and stamping off, and added a half pearl from the Pretties Kit to finish it off.

Thanks for visiting and I'm planning to get through a few more cards this weekend, so hopefully will have some more posts for you soon.

Stamps: Cottage Garden (Autumn-Winter Mini), Happy Moments (retired), Itty Bitty Backgrounds (retired)

Card: Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla

DSP: Au Chocolate (retired)

Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip

Other: Certainly Celery Grosgrain Ribbon, Pretties Kit

Pearls and Flowers

A super quick post today as we're heading out to the Show again. Thanks Karen and the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge for the inspiration for this one!

Thanks for visiting!

Warm Wishes with Roses

I love the fact that there is so much in Stampin' Up! that coordinates, so it makes it quite easy to put together effective projects without too much stress! I had this rose from A Rose is a Rose floating around as a UFO when the box it was originally on did not survive the move. Put it together with some Bella Rose DSP, add a few half pearls and a greeting and you're done!

Plus have great sketches to work with helps too - thanks Karen and the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge!!

Thanks for visiting!

Stamps: A Rose is a Rose, Cheer & Wishes

Card: Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, Bella Rose DSP

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss

Other: Pretties Kit

Curtain Call Act 28 plus some

Just a quick offering again today. I was so tired last night I sat down in front of the tv and actually watched some AFL... so I whipped up this little card this morning in between dance and basketball using this weeks Curtain Call Colour Challenge, Sweet Sunday Sketch and ABC Challenge - T is for Thank you, as the are all such great inspiration this week I couldn't let them pass.

I wanted to keep it simple and not too many layers.. Both the challenges featured above are SO versatile - thanks ladies!!

Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend!

Stamps: One of a Kind

Card: Kraft, Whisper White

DSP: Urban Garden, Raspberry Tart

Ink: Rose Red

Other: Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon, 5/8" Jumbo Brads, Fashion District Rubons (retired), paper piercer

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

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

A Touch o' the Irish

It's St Patrick's Day tomorrow!! I love St Pat's Day; when I was at boarding school, our chef was Irish so we used to have Aussie-Irish day and everything was green or green and gold; kangaroo for breakfast, green iced doughnuts for recess, Aussie BBQ for lunch and traditional Irish Stew for dinner. I read somewhere that it is the day EVERYONE claims to be {a little} Irish!!!

In the spirit of St Pat's Day, I have joined in with the latest Stampin' Royalty Challenge - GREEN - and paired it with this gorgeous Sweet Sunday Sketch:

I actually wanted to use the Heart to Heart punch to make 4 leaf clovers, but couldn't quite make it work. As it is, I think this card still needs a little something.... You can't see it in this photo, but I've added some sparkle to the rock'n rolled butterfly wings.

Also, I wanted to share with you this card I made a while ago, 'cause it's GREEN!!!

I made this for our gorgeous godson who's grandfather is Irish, and I wanted him to know it's important to be proud of his heritage. And how could he not be with such a strong Irish name!! You can bet your boots this young man and his family will be celebrating tomorrow!!!

May the Luck of the Irish be with you tomorrow and all year through!!

So Kind Card

Stamps: Priceless

Card: Green Galore, Glorious Green, Whisper White

DSP: Kaleidoscope

Ink: Green Galore, Glorious Green

Other: Dazzling Diamonds

Lachlan Patrick

Stamps: Polka Dot Punches (retired), Pure and Simple Upper Alphabet (retired)

Card: Green Galore, Glorious Green, Whisper White

Ink: Green Galore, Glorious Green

Other: Paper Piercer

Return of Bold Butterfly

Do you have a favourite stamp set that has been retired for a while, but you still can't resist reaching for it? Mine is Bold Butterfly. It was one of the very first sets I bought, with the coordinating Flitting By Jumbo wheel of course, and I just LOVE it! Looking at Makeesha's Inspiration Challenge, and pairing it with the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 57, I just had to pull it out again.

I thought I'd keep the 5 panels on the sketch quite basic for this one and just scored Whisper White card. I also played a bit with ribbons and adding the sentiment as a tag on this one. I'm thinking the wings may need a bit of Dazzling Diamonds though.... I'll post a better photo tomorrow too.

Must be off as I have a couple projects to finish for my boss's 30th birthday.

Stamps: Bold Butterfly (retired), Short & Sweet

Card: Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink

Ink: Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red

Other: Rose Red 1" Double Stitched ribbon, Turquoise Grosgrain ribbon, Word Window punch, Sherbert Designer buttons (Summer Mini), Circle Scissors Plus

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 56

Yay! I haven't run out of time this week to play with Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge!! I tell you what, I don't like how much time I don't have to stamp now I'm working full time again :)

For a change, I decided not to use a colour challenge with a sketch challenge. I wanted to make a card for my 'Boss' who celebrates her 30th next week. Trying to figure out what colours to use for her was a bit of a challenge, so I decided to go with black as a starting point as she had black bridesmaids dresses for her wedding and wears a lot of black to work. I think this sketch is a great oppotunity to work with DSP, so chose Urban Oasis, which was also the basis for my additional colour choices. Without too much convincing, I reached for Fifth Avenue Floral, and just the right greeting was found in the current SAB set Vintage Labels.

Thanks for such a versatile sketch Karen. I have a few more ideas I'd like to play with using this one.

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Vintage Labels (SAB)

Card: Basic Black, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Kraft, Whisper White

DSP: Urban Oasis

Ink: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss

Other: Circle Scissors Plus, 3/8" Jumbo Brads

Purple Rose

This week I've started playing with a new challenge blog - Stampin' Royalty; what better way to start off the colour challenges than with the regal colour of purple?! Those of you who have been following my blog for a while know I love purple, so of course I had to play along. As with previous recent colour challenges, I have substituted Perfect Plum for the Rich Razzleberry as we don't have it here in Australia :(

As usual, Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch is gorgeous, and (as she suggested) the perfect way to use up some DSP oddments (although I only used one piece).

This card ended up completely different to how I initially pictured it, which was a baby card for my cousin's brand new baby girl (I decided the Elegant Eggplant was a bit heavy for such a card). I rotated the sketch and instead of the square I have used the rose from Fifth Avenue Floral which was stamped 3 times and paper toled. I sponged the edge of the Enchante DSP (retired) with Pale Plum and the card base with Elegant Eggplant to soften the edges a tad, and pulled out the white organdy ribbon to provide the softer finish than grosgrain or ric-rac.

I'm not quite sure what occasion this card is for yet, but I'm sure it will find a home soon.

Don't forget to pop on over to these two talented blogs to check out the latest challenges.

Stamp: Fifth Avenue Floral

Card: Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Whisper White

DSP: Enchante (retired)

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Pale Plum

Other: White Organdy Ribbon (retired), Scallop Edge Punch

Curtain Call Colour Challenge Act 12 with SSSC #51

While we were on holiday in Adelaide we received news that my godmother's mother had passed away. She was a lovely woman and I feel fortunate that I was able to see her about 14 months ago (she lived in country South Australia), and that she was able to meet Luana. Although Stacey's latest Curtain Call Colour Challenge is classic romantic colours, I thought they would work with the latest Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge for a sympathy card for my godmother and her family.

I wanted to do something straight forward, but classic, just like Mrs J was; she was quite the gardener too, so the flowers from Embrace Life were the way to go. I used a blender pen to pick up some Pretty in Pink ink to add a bit of colour to the centre of the Rose Red flower. The Very Vanilla panel was sponged and edged with Pretty in Pink, before mounting on the same card stock, the bottom half of which had been stamped with the smaller flowers from Embrace Life. This panel was mounted on Chocolate Chip, before being finished with ribbon and brads and mounted on the Rose Red base.

Celebrating a wonderful lady; may your legacy live on in your beautiful daughters and grandsons.

Stamps: Embrace Life, Warmest Regards (retired)

Card: Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Chocolate Chip

Other: 3/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, 5/16" Jumbo Brads

A Little Bit More Christmas Cheer

I am finding it really hard to believe we are already in December, and only 3 weeks away from Christmas. I still haven't made my Christmas cards (!) but did take the photo of Luana tonight that I will use... I think cards will be arriving after Christmas yet again! There are decorations up everywhere around the hospital (we'll wait until after my birthday to do ours at home) and Kid's Ward even had their Christmas Party with Captain Starlight today.

Although I had every intention of making a birthday card with Keesh's latest colour challenge, I have made a Christmas card (better photography to come):

I love both the colour combo this week and the Sweet Sunday Sketch - they are so versatile and I'm thinking I'll use them for quite a few projects in the near future.

We used Season of Joy at the Christmas Stamp-a-Stack I held over the weekend, and it was calling me to be used for this card. I added a bit of sparkle (hard to see) onto the swirls of the tree. The edges of the circles are distressed to add a bit more dimension and have been mounted in Sweet Always DSP. The background is So Swirly wheeled in Taken with Teal on the same, and a little bit of double ribbon finished the sketch.

I will try to photograph this before I head off to work tomorrow morning to get a better pic!

Thanks again girls for the inspiration, I'm really enjoying being able to sit down and stamp again!

Stamps: Season of Joy, Best Yet (Level 1 Hostess), So Swirly Jumbo Wheel

Card: Taken with Teal, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White

DSP: Sweet Always

Ink: Taken with Teal, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red

Other: Real Red 1 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds

Thank you Flower

Wow! Two posts in two days!! I'm really enjoying being able to do some card making again and I found my rub-ons last night - yay!

I made this card especially for my Mum as she was a FABULOUS help in the lead up to and during our recent move - she even flew all the way up to keep me company on the long drive down. THANK YOU MUM XXXXX

Inspiration for Mum's card came from Dawn's latest Raspberry Suite Colour Challenge:

and Karen's latest Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge:

Must go, but hope you enjoy this offering!

Stamp: Friendly Flowers (retired)

Card: Chocolate Chip, Orchid Opulence, Mellow Moss, Whipser White

Ink: Pixie Pink, Soft Sky (retired), Orchid Opulence

Other: Light Orchid Grosgrain ribbon (retired), Fashion District Rubons, Flower Designer Brads

Thinking of Grandad

I'm back! We're slowly getting ourselves organised, but are still a little ways off yet. I'm still taking over the dining room table after dinner (some nights), and the laptop is sitting on a packing box!!

I've been wanting to make a card for my Grandad, who is going through chemotherapy at the moment, for a few weeks now and thought this weeks challenges from Makeesha and The Sweetest Thing were just the motivation....

We found our Grandad had cancer not long before Paul moved down here to Alice Springs, and he started chemo around the time Luana and I moved down. Times like these it is really hard to be so far away from family, but I just wanted to let him know he is always in our thoughts.

Rustic colours, like Keesh has challenged us to use this week, always make me think of Grandad, and I just really like the tilted panel in this weeks sketch from Karen. I've just used Circle Circus with a bit of masking and the good ol' Stamp-a-ma-jig for the Close to Cocoa panel, and the greeting is from Trendy Trees. A little bit of piercing just finished the job.

Must go and finish writing my job application - I'm in a locum position at the moment and am applying for permanency. Keep your fingers crossed for me, and please send positive thoughts to my Grandad. I can't wait to see him again.

Cool Rock'n Roll

Despite being surrounded by boxes I have managed to make a couple of cards over the past few days - some people have said I should be packing, but I reckon I need time out too!! I actually only set out to make one card (for my Godmother) but ended up making 2 (the other for Paul's Auntie). Both using Keesh's latest cooling colour combo and one using the latest Sweet Sunday Sketch (a little abridged). Like many others, I think Keesh's colours are perfect for masculine cards, but I wanted to give girly cards a go with them.... Love the colours together!!

This was the second card I made and is actually one of the cute little Love Notes - love that size! I rock'n rolled the butterflies from Great Friend in the Spring Mini, tore a bit off the Love Note and swiped the torn edge in Not Quite Navy, and paper pierced the coloured parts for a bit of interest. This was very much an evolving card and turned out quite different to the initial plan...

This card was made for my Godmother who celebrates a birthday this week. I have used the very sweet Flowers in Silhouette stamp I was lucky enough to win in one of Stacey Schafer's Jewellery Colour Inspiration Challenges (with this card), rock 'n rolling again - I really like the effect of the Not Quite Navy on the Old Olive. I distressed the edges on the two large panels, and sponged the edges of the Very Vanilla with Chocolate Chip. I didn't have any ribbon the right width, so have just used some Chocolate Chip card along the bottom of the panel and finished with some retired Antique Brass Hodgepodge Hardware.

I'm quite happy with the result and can't wait to pop it in the post.

Butterflies For You

Stamps: Great Friend (Spring Mini)

Card: Very Vanilla (Love Note), Not Quite Navy, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Old Olive, Not Quite Navy

Other: paper piercer

Flowers For You

Stamps: Flowers in Silhouette, Great Friend (Spring Mini)

Card: Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, Chocolaye Chip, Very Vanilla

DSP: Haiku

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip

Other: Antique Brass Hodgepodge Hardware (retired)

Bright Celebration

Second post tonight!! I think I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things, but we'll see how the next couple of months go.... I think this is also the earliest I have EVER made an entry for the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge (and I've missed the last few weeks too...).

I teamed this sketch with the latest Scrapmaster's Paradise Colour Challenge:

Once again, I've had to substitute colours - Pixie Pink for Melon Mambo and Tempting Turquoise for Bermuda Bay.

I quite like this colour combo - I actually used Pixie Pink and Tempting Turquoise for Luana's First birthday invites, and for her second Christmas cards (wasn't into cardmaking for the first). Have never thought to team it with Orange though...

I rotated the sketch and used a flower for the dreaded circle - I really should invest in a circle cutting system - any recommendations? I will have better access to papercraft supplies soon...
I put this card together for a friend who has a birthday coming up. Really quite simple tonight - two different Tempting Turquoise DSP's from Pink Flamingo, and a few petals and centres from Pick-a-Petal. I inked just 'celebrate' on one of the greetings from Sweet Little Sentiments (Level 1 Hostess Set) with an Only Orange Stampin' Write marker and stamped it discretely in one corner. Done! I love straight forward cards.


If you're up for some blog candy, head over to SPCC and become a follower for your chance to win! Samantha puts together great colour combos, with great prizes to boot!








Stamps: Pick-a-Petal, Sweet Little Sentiments (Level 1 Hostess Set)
Card: Only Orange, Whisper White
DSP: Pink Flamingo
Ink: Only Orange, Pixie Pink