A new idea!

Tags

Party This Way, Soccer Card

Hi bloggies!

The great thing about stamping … is there is always something new to try. A new technique … a new way to add a ribbon … a new colour combo … etc etc. I sat down to create a birthday card for a 13 year old boy on Saturday … and came up with a couple of neat ideas! (I am sure it has been done before by some clever person … but they were new & original ideas for me!)

Luke is Sandy’s best friend … and the two of them are soccer MAD! So … I went online to find a background picture (free wallpaper) to print out. I resized it in Publisher … and printed in black/white deliberately … because Luke’s (& Sandy’s) favourite team is Real Madrid … and apparently black/white/gold are their”kit” colours! I also designed the letters for the flags in Publisher … added a star frame around each and punched them out with a circle punch. (When punching copy paper … make sure you fold the paper so you have two layers to punch through. The helps to create a smooth cut.)

“Boring Alert!” Feel free to skip the rest of the post! Well … as you can see … my time is a little full at the moment. This  new programme is looking good … but it is creating more work for me … and less for Gav … in a sense. This is the result we wanted, though … to enable Gav to do a few more reviews each week. So … I am going to need more hours for work tasks … which will mean less time for stamping and blogging! While I am learning … the data entry is a little slow … but I am sure that with time I will get quicker at my tasks. So … with this busy time of the year approaching … I am a little nervous about how I am going to manage all I have to do. (I still haven’t finished my Christmas Cards … and need to post them out!)

I guess that it is “that time of the year” for everyone! I popped by this morning … and found 1 comment from my faithful bloggie, Lynda! I can’t complain … because I have been a little busy … and haven’t done a huge amount of blog hopping, either. So … I do understand that it is rather difficult … at the moment … but that 1 little comment did look rather sad and lonely!

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Oooh … just had to share this pic … that I found in my search for the pics that I added above! Isn’t this a fab idea??? I will be back as often as I can. I am sooo addicted to my blog friends! I miss you when I am not here!

Stitched Stockings Scallops

Tags

Short & Sweet, Stitched Stockings

Hi bloggies!

Well … obviously I didn’t get back yesterday. Stace & Jono and little Bree were here in the afternoon after church … and stayed for dinner. Bree is such a delight … and I managed to somehow get some lovely cuddles. (That’s the benefit of “passing”  on the card playing — a fun family activity … but I would rather have cuddles!) I just had to share these gorgeous photos … Bree having her first swim with Stacey in our pool. After a shaky start (the water was pretty cold) … she took to it like a duck. Our little water baby! Yes … she is a little ‘nude nut’ … but look at those gorgeous brown eyes!

Here is the card I promised on Saturday …

In my blog travels recently … I learnt that different countries have different “traditional colours” for their Christmas Cards! Not every country follows the trad red/green/white/gold combo. I have also been reading that many card makers are embracing the ‘non trad’ colours. I imagine that perhaps one day … we may not have what we call a traditional colour scheme for Christmas???? Well … I do like to spice things up a little … and enjoy experimenting with other combos for my Christmas Cards. This “Perfect Plum / Certainly Celery” combo worked really well … don’t you think? A simple card … and so quick to put together!

Oooh … goodie! Bree (& Stace) have just arrived! I am babysitting while Stace & Ree go to the gym!

And then … I am off to do some work! You won’t believe it … but Gav is checking out some new programs for his medication reviews. He is quite keen on one … and is trialling it at the moment. BAD NEWS …. If he decides to go with a new one … the 200+ reviews that I have done all the pre-interview bookwork for … will all need entering into the new system!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!! That is going to take hours and hours! And … so near to Christmas!!! I imagine I am going to be snowed for a while! But … I have some cards from my stamping day on Saturday … so that will keep me blogging for a little while! BUT … I am not sure when I am going to finish my Chrissy Cards!!!??? Yikes! Plus I have Gav’s 50th to organise (his b’day is the 13th Dec). So … please please forgive me if I am a little tardy blogging at times … because it really isn’t that I am being lazy!

Hope you all have a nice day! After torrential rain Friday night / Saturday morning (actually … a few days before, too!) … it is a lovely sunshiny day here. Beautiful spring breeze! Hugs xx

A Lovely RAK!

Tags

Fiona Harrison

Hi bloggies!

I think you need to congratulate me! I haven’t managed to blog for a couple of days … and I didn’t stress about it! Yes … I am learning not to let my blog control my life! So … I had a PILE of cards that needed to be made for some special events coming up in the next couple of weeks. I was determined to get them all done … and spent yesterday afternoon & most of today … stamping! I have gotta say … it was wonderfully satisfying to get so many finished!

So … I have heaps to share with you all … but do need to prepare card recipes for each of these before I can post them. In the meantime … I wanted to show you a fabulous card I got in the mail last week from my blog buddy Fiona. She sent this with a little package … what a sweetie! (The card is too!!! )

I have one Christmas card left to show you … so I will try and post that tomorrow … if I get the chance! And … then … hopefully I can share some of the new creations with you! I am pretty thrilled with most of them!

Hope you have a great weekend! Hugs xx

A day at Leonie’s!

Tags

Leonie Newman

Hi bloggies!

Leonie had invited me to join one of her classes yesterday. I wasn’t sure I would have a car … but when I realised there was one for me … I made an impulse decision to pop down and join in the fun.

I met a lovely bunch of Leonie’s “girls” … and it was nice to share a few giggles and STAMP!!! Yes! I did finally make a couple of cards! I actually made 6!!! Thanks Leonie, for a wonderful day!

The first was a pretty ornament card using Concord Crush as the main colour. We added some Dazzling Diamond Dust to the background of the main panel. You can see the sparkle in the close up at the beginning of this post!

The second was a great folded front with the new ornament stamp set called “Merry & Type”. The phrase is also from this fab set. (Nope … I don’t have this set … but boy … I am so tempted now!!!)

The third is a pretty “Snow Swirled” embossed card using the Square Lattice embossing folder. A little touch of silver scalloping across the bottom is a pretty accent.

Well … I hope to get some stamping done tomorrow. I DO have some urgent cards that I need for special occasions. So … perhaps I will show you something new tomorrow???

Take care everyone! Hugs xxx

Gingerbread gift card holder

Tags

Best Yet, Gingerbread Punchart, Short & Sweet, Snow Swirled

Hi bloggies! Hope you are having a great day!

I have a super cute project to share with you today. Kim Score had designed a wonderful treat bag with these precious gingerbread people for her project over at INK4U! I didn’t have any bags to use … so I tweaked the design to make a gift card holder instead … added the gingerbread couple and … this is what I came up with!

You can see how the note card slips in behind the gingerbread couple. They are glued to the inside of the front part of the pocket. You can add a gift card here … and hide it inside the pocket. Kim had used the ric rac die and cut her accents from cardstock. But … I didn’t have the die … so I went rummaging in my ribbon stash … and found some REAL ric rac! The “look” of the project is similar to Kim’s … but the actual basis of the design is different.  If you want to know how to do the original project ( a really ‘neat’ gift bag) … then you can still register for INK4U! Christmas 2011 and have access to Kim’s design.

Well … I have lots to do this morning … and then the girls and I are going out for lunch with my mum later! So … I had better get moving! Hugs xx

Summer Fun Flair

Tags

For You Flower, French Flair, Sunny Fun

Hi bloggies!

Where have the last few days disappeared to? I don’t even remember being that busy … but … I do feel very un-energetic at the moment. I wonder why??? I mean … it’s not like it has been a tough year … after all!!!??? (NOT!) I am feeling like the kids always do … as the end of the school year approaches! Only 3 more weeks of school … and holidays will be here! Yikes!

I am beginning to run out of things to show you at the moment. This was a card I made during the time my computer was out of action. It was a Stamping 411 sketch challenge … and obviously I have missed the deadline! But … it was a fun challenge … so I thought I would share it with you anyway! I dragged out my “old” French Flair Background stamp. I just couldn’t part with it … when it was retired! I’m not sure if you can see the ribbon along the bottom of the image panel? I have twisted the seam binding to create a rolled ribbon effect. Kinda nice … but not too obvious!

I popped up to the local shopping centre this morning … and managed to ALMOST finish my Christmas shopping! Just a couple more pressies and I am done! Then … I need to finish my Chrissy cards … and work out food and timing for all the family events that are happening. For now … I have bookwork waiting … so I had better stop being so self-indulgent!

Ghosting & Ornaments!

Tags

Challenge Winner, Delightful Decorations, Ghosting Technique, Just Us Girls Challenge, Snow Swirled, Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge, Warm Words

ADDED MONDAY 21ST:  SUPER EXCITED!!! I JUST POPPED BY THE ‘JUST US GIRLS’ CHALLENGE BLOG TO DISCOVER THAT I HAD BEEN CHOSEN AS THE ‘CHIC OF THE WEEK‘ FOR THIS CARD! WOO HOO! WHAT A LOVELY SURPRISE … THANKS SO MUCH LISA!

Hi there bloggies!

I hope you are having a great day. Remember yesterday when I asked what would win … “Work or Stamps”??? Well … I am happy to say … STAMPS WON!!! My desk was messy with craft stuff anyway … so I thought I may as well take the opportunity to do another card. After finding a great technique challenge over at HSS for yesterday’s card … I was tickled to find another at JUGS (Just Us Girls) challenge blog. I thought I would team this challenge with a sketch … and found the perfect one over at “The Sweetest Thing“. I had heaps of fun putting these together!

The “Ghosting” on the main image was the new technique for the JUGS challenge. This is basically the same as “Emboss Resist” … except you don’t emboss! Want to know more??? Here is a link to a tutorial over at Splitcoaststampers. I have to confess that this is actually my 4TH attempt at this card! The first time … I didn’t read carefully enough and used normal white card instead of GLOSSY WHITE. Believe me … you do need Glossy White for this technique to work. Another HINT: Don’t press your stamp “hard” onto the glossy card because it will slip. Place it really lightly & carefully onto the card and then press harder without sliding it. Yes … I tried 3 times before my images didn’t slip!

I hope you enjoyed the two new techniques I have shared over the last couple of days! It has been so much fun to do some challenges … after being so snowed over the last few weeks. Yayaya! C U all soon!

Bargello Christmas Tree

Tags

Bargello Technique, Challenge Winner, En Francais, Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge

ADDED WED 23RD: WOO! HOO! ANOTHER HAPPY DANCE … BECAUSE I WAS CHOSEN AS AN ‘ARTIST PICK’ OVER AT HAND STAMPED SENTIMENTS FOR  THIS CARD. I AM SO THRILLED AND THANKFUL! 

Hi there bloggies!

Well … after catching up on my bookwork this morning … I was determined to do some stamping. After all … it has been nearly 2 weeks since I have picked up a stamp. Feeling a little rusty … I went browsing for a challenge to get me inspired … and I found this one over at Hand Stamped Sentiments. The challenge was to use the Bargello Technique on your card. I was excited to find an idea popped into my head … straight away!

If you would like to learn this Bargello Technique … Splitcoaststampers has a fab tutorial. This would probably be a little more effective if I had cut the strips so they didn’t look like squares … but I am kinda tickled with the result. Yes! I have some of the new glimmer paper … my friend Madeline from INK4U! sent me some 4″ samples! How kind! Did you notice the RED rhinestone jewel on the star??? My stamping buddy, Jenny, gave us a super hint on Monday. You can colour the clear Rhinestone Jewels with permanent markers! How fabulous!

So … Gav has just arrived home with a big pile of new patient requests … just when I thought I was on top of things! Now that I have picked up my stamps … though … I am keen to do some more! I wonder what will win??? Work … Stamps????   Hugs xx