Materials:

Stamps: StampIt UM, Kaiser Clear Stamps

Card: Bazzill, White Gloss

Inks: Adirondack Alcohol Inks, StazOn Black

Other: Black Brads, DSFT, Ribbon

I am off to town today as soon as I am rescued! I went to start the car a little while ago and hubby had left the key turned slightly on! (Yes, it WAS him, coz the first thing I did was move the seat forward to accommodate my little legs...bit deficient in that area, I am!) Hence, the battery is flat and I am waiting for a decent time of day for one of the men around here to come and rescue me and kick start the car with jumper leads. ( Hubby, of course , is nowhere to be found. He went fishing at 3.30am!) (I had been up really early to take myself and my puppy for a walk...I like to go near dawn to try and beat the heat!)

I found a scrap of alcohol ink background yesterday, sequested myself in my dungeon (aka art room) and quickly made this little number up. I wanted to try out my new Xmas stamp set from Stamp It....found here http://www.stampit.com.au/view/20070509144925/ which I recently ordered in for my little business. I also was keen to try out the Kaiser Clear Stamp Set... http://www.kaisercraft.net/au-nz/images/embellishments/clear-stamps/hi-res/CS721.jpg the first I have ever bought (as previously their wood mounted stamps were well below par in quality and I stepped away from them) TEST results: They seem to be on par with other clear stamps and the one I used stamps very clearly!

The Butterfly Award

I have been awarded this award by the lovely Erin http://chickswithtape.blogspot.com/ who is a grand stamper. Please wander off and have a peek at what she achieves. You WILL NOT be disappointed!

I must choose 10 blogs for your viewing pleasure ...so here goes!

1. Jo http://marking-the-occasion.blogspot.com/

2. Susan http://susansstampingblog.blogspot.com/

3. Rob http://creativspirit.blogspot.com/

4. Mel http://melstampz.blogspot.com/

5. Francis http://stampowl.blogspot.com/

6. Jane http://ozartattack.blogspot.com/

7. http://www.cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com/

8. http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/

9. Tosh http://www.stamptalkwithtosh.blogspot.com/

10. Cheryll http://wickedinspirations.blogspot.com/

These are some of the regular viewing points of mine. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Blogger 3 Challenge 2 Voting

Good morning ladies,

Want something pretty to look at? Then head on over to our Voting page and take a peek. We would love it if you voted whilst there!

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB228KH6ZMKJW

Blogger 3 Challenge 2

Materials
Stamps: StampIt UM Holly Swirl 3878E, TAC wording
Card: Kaiser Double Sided Patterned Paper, Bazzill Card
Other: Brad, White Grosgrain Ribbon inked with Chalk Pad, Kindy Glitz, Diamantes, Nestabilities Circles, Creative Memories Circle Cutting System

Oh whacky tabacky it IS BUSY!

I have just been able to sit for the shortest space of time to whiz this little card up for our challenge. This little flap card is just so simple to make and will come in handy for all the strip stuff we get left over when cutting down 12 x 12 sheets of card. I could not locate my circle coluzzle template...Now scratching my head as to where it could be, so tried with the CM circle cutter...Not the best result but better than leaving the underflap a straight edge.

It is soooo hot here again today. My aircons are working overtime and I actually begrudge having visitors coz it means I have to surface from the cool air rooms! Maybe we will get another refreshing storm!!!!

Cheers everyone!

Materials:

Stamps:Hero Arts E4509 Warm Wishes Motif

Inks: Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue

Cardstock: Bazzill and Nopa White

Other: Prima Flowers, Brads, Kaiser Pearls

Afternoon ladies,

I have been as busy as this week. Magella, my eldest moves tomorrow into Sarina, all going well. I have been to town a couple of times and each trip means a day of no stamping. Of course, on the weekends, the hubby usually wants to have a barbie or three...

Today, it is slightly less chaotic...The pest lady is nearly done...No more ants, cockies or spiders for a while...Bliss!!!!!! She also redid the termite bases, as a top up measure.

While she has been hard at work debugging my home, I made this little number up.

Cheers, Michelle

Please Vote in Our Challenge

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB228K8VPGHK8

This is the link to vote. Please come along and see the great variety of talent and vote by clicking on the green box next to the card owner's name. You get one chance only with this survey site, so be careful!!!!

Cheers,
Michelle

Clearing Out Stuff

I am having a major cleanout. All stamps are brand new, come from a smoke free and are dead cheap compared to normal retail price...

http://community.webshots.com/user/shellpole1


Postage is extra but exactly what it costs to send. Keep a lookout...I will be putting more stuff up yet!

Xmas From Scraps 2

Good morning everyone on this fine (unfortunately) morning! We did not receive the promised storm over the weekend...Hubby is out setting up the irrigator for the cane again this morning.

I did do this quick card up using scraps again, late yesterday! I did get caught up yesterday on the phone and having to go out to have Sunday arvo drinks, so did not achieve what I had in mind to achieve...But today is another day, they say!

Materials are basically the same as yesterday's post.

Xmas and a Sale

Materials

Stamps:Stamp It sisrt006lk Xmas Plate

Inks: Encore Gold

Cardstock: Bazzill, Unknown Patterned Paper

Other: Gold EP, Gold Brads, Pricker and Pricking Guide

Afternoon ladies,

Just a quick card for now. I am currently playing around with my scraps to see if I can come up with something really quick for making some Xmas cards for my kids to use. This is what came out of playing in the last couple of hours.

I have also made a webshots album, specifically to sell off some of the extra clutter I have laying around. If anything is of interest, please feel free to contact me on shellpole1@bigpond.com

The link is below...I will have lots more but this is the start!

http://community.webshots.com/album/568989843VXTLvD

Talking about my email addy...It does look like changing again in the next few weeks as I am changing plans...I think!

Pretty New Camera

Good morning all,

Well, I have been playing with my birthday prezzie and photoed my challenge card again. I have reloaded it in the challenge post and now much more of the detail can be seen....In fact, the photo is now passable!!!!

I think I am going to try and stamp today...given no unsuspecting events happening!

SCS Blogger Challenge 1

Ok...Tis the 28th, so here is my entry for our first challenge.


I have used the bleach tech with this card, with Prisma pencils and H2O's to highlight the over- colouring. I swiped all the pieces with StaZon Black to create a shabby chic look (well as much as one can with orange and yellow!)

Agapanthus Mania

Materials:

Stamps: Stampendous D140 Agapanthus Bloom, P107 Agapanthus Cluster (Thanks Judy!), SU Warmest Regards Set

Cardstock: Scrap of who knows what!

Inks: StazOn Black

Other: Big Brads, Cuttlebug and Nestabilities Long Rectangles

I just adore the two Agapanthus stamps from Stampendous. They always make a card look good with little effort! I am waiting for some watercolour expressionist sheets to dry, so thought I would upload this fellow whilst I wait.

I may get back here tonight, but doubt it, as I am holding a meeting at my place for a community function coming up and have to organise my family in the meantime.

Good news today!!!!!!!!!! By the time the fortnight is out, Neil and I will be the only ones living at our home! Magella received word today that the house she applied to rent has been approved! She is doing the little happy dance (as is mum, who thought it was never going to happen!)...Mind, after a week, I will probably be looking for her to have a spat with! But I can also see so much less work to do!!!!

I am also losing our extra body, back to his grandmother at least until Xmas. He has a desire to return to America by Xmas and the work we had for him here has now dried up.

Looking forward to a new era!

Flower Day 2

Materials

Stamps: StampIt Antique Flower Trio 2161E

Inks: Colorbox Chestnut Roan, StazOn Black, Brilliance Graphite Black

Cardstock: Bazzill Brown, Unknown

Other: Brads, H2O's Golden Sand, Midori Melon

And continuing! No freaking out...Michelle with two posts in one day! Sit down! Take a breath! It really IS for real!!!!!!!!

Well I got to using this stamp again as it is so pretty. I was going to add ribbon but did not have the exact colour either in the ribbon or in the ink as the base card. Didn't want to wreck it, so let it be!

I quite this one even though there is no technique whatsoever involved with it!

Flower Day 1

Materials:

Stamps:StampIt Antique Flower Trio

Cardstock: Kromecote Gold, Bazzill Blue, Gloss

Inks: Gold Encore Metallic

Other: Best Wishes Sticker, Gold Embossing Powder, H2O's-Wild Blueberry and Rich Cobalt, Alcohol Inks, Gold Cord

Hi there everyone,

I have been playing with my alcohol inks today and have made up a couple of samples with the results. I certainly have a few ready made backgrounds good to go for the future as well! The flower colouring is much more true to form IRL. Unfortunately, the colours do not scan all that well.

Double Kreativ Blogger Award

Many thanks to Jennie (from SCS BLogger Group 3 )who has nominated me for this Kreativ Blogger Award. I feel most honoured that some people think I am going in the right direction! Here is a link to Jennie's blog...always worth a little visit! http://stampawaytheday.blogspot.com/

And also thanks to Tina (also from SCS Blogger Group 3) who has also nominated me! Aren't I the lucky one? I certainly think so!!!!! Please take a trip over to Tina's blog to check out her lovely work. http://stampinwithtina.blogspot.com/

Fancy being doubly honoured. Way cool!

Rules for the Kreativ Blogger Award are:
1.The winner may put the logo on their blog.
2. Put a link to the person that sent you the award.
3. Nominate 5 blogs.
4. Put links to their blogs.
5. Leave a message for your nominees.

***************************************************************************
Here is my list of nominations:
http://wickedinspirations.blogspot.com/
Cheryll has just begun her blog, but I have inside knowledge and have had the great pleasure in seeing her work (literally) (the doing and the end product). Her stuff is great people, so keep tuned!
http://stampowl.blogspot.com/
If I want to do cute, I visit France’s blog for inspiration. I think she is the queen of cute!
http://jaspere-jaspereslittlecorner.blogspot.com/
I have only recently been introduced to Japere’s site, but I think I will be enjoying it for a long time to come.
http://melstampz.blogspot.com/
oh you just have to see what she has compiled with the Cuttlebug! But she does other cool stuff too!
http://www.cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com/
Since the Cuttlebug is one of my favourite toys, I really like this site just to see what others are doing with the machine too!

For those I did not nominate, I was trying to steer clear of those already nominated in the last little while and also trying to introduce some "different" ones, ones you may not have seen before, so please do not be offended I did not choose yours!

Card Art/Challenge Report

Materials

Stamps: Hero Arts K4911 Card Art Thoughts

Cardstock: Pink Bazzill, Green Unknown

Inks: Brilliance Graphite Black, StazOn Black

Other: Kaiser Bling, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Grosgrain Ribbon

Good morning to everyone,

I thought I would post this little fellow before heading out to the physio this morning. The card art series of Hero Art stamps is just gorgeous. This is one stamp from the collection and I think I am going to treat myself to a few more from my sales stock as they are so easy to work with.

I have embellished the flowers with pale pink Kaiser bling...not terribly noticeable unless you click on the image to get a bigger view and then they appear to be clear! The cuttlebugged piece is one I had already prepared earlier, so the actual card did not take me very long at all.

In the meantime, I have finished my very first challenge for SCSBlogger3. I have never ever participated in a challenge before! The biggest challenge turned out not to be the card but the actual scanning/photo-ing! It took an age to get something anywhere close to the colours I actually used to come up on the computer. I might try again to see if I can capture the colours a bit better...My scanner is saying it hates the brights, so I will be forced to learn to use the new camera a wee more!!!

Have a good day everyone!

Spread Your Wings

Materials
Cardstock: Bazzill, Red (unknown handmade)
Inks: StazOn Black, Timber Brown, Adironack
Stamps: Rachel Grieg, Amazing Creations
Other: Ric Rac, Gesso, Dragonfly Brads, Cuttlebug Long Rectangles

Happy birthday to me,

I had great plans of spending the day peacefully in my dungeon (aka stamping room), but between phone calls, visitors and a septic which has decided to give up the ghost on a weekend day, I really have not achieved very much at all. This is it and will be it for the day, as I am off to a barbie in another hour!

I got to think of something to use my pretty fastenater staples with that three of my friends Cheryll, Grace and Jacqueline) sneakily bought me for my birthday. I also got a fab stamp of some African Trees, some pages to store my UMs, a nestabilities doodle die set, a lingerie voucher from my daughter Magella, a bottle of Mateus Rose from my friend June (it is to her house the barbie is at...I think I had better take the Mateus with me!), some flowers from HER daughter and a camera from my son, Ashley (who is due any time soon...He has been off sunning himself on Brampton Island for the weekend with his girlfriend for her work Xmas party...I feel I have missed out....no school I ever taught at had boozy parties on tropical islands!...which I didn't pay for!!!!

Anyway, hope you like the poor offering for the day. The nestabilities long rectangles are really great for a different perspective on a card! I hope I can now sell a few.

Calendar Page

Hi girls,

It has been a very busy few days for me. Our crushing (the season in which the sugar cane is cut and crushed) is over, hence it is end of season partying time! On top of this I thankfully had my mate, Cheryll come down for the weekend from Airlie Beach to help me with my Xmas ATCs I had to get done asap. On top of this, I had my daughter and her mate doing invites for the mate's 21st in January. Oh, and let's not forget I had a morning doing alcohol backgrounds with some friends too. So, you see, the tank has been hellishly full!!!!

I have managed to finish off these calendar pages for a swap due at the end of this month. I have been wanting to try the Michelle Zindorf style of brayering and sponging, so Cheryll and I sat and tried to perfect the style. I was sooo worried about the straight line mark that the brayer gives, but once you sponge, you no longer have that definite line! Yes, I quite like this style now! And many thanks to Cheryll for sitting to experiment with me and help me with the pages to boot. The only other hassle was the really long and skinny palette that I had to work with. This was a sizing I had not encountered before, so was testing to say the least.

What do you think of the page?

Smacking Acetate

Materials
Stamps: PSX K023 Rosa, E2423 Special Place, Hero Arts B624 Just For You
Cardstock: Unknown
Inks: Ancient Page Refills, StaZon Black Ink
Other: Acetate Sheets, Gloss Card

Hi all,

I am cheating a bit here. I wanted to post my alcohol ink creation....but the jolly stuff is drying really quickly! It is mega hot here today, so have decided to put the aircon on and try again when my room gets cooler. Look for the card later on.


In the meantime, here is a card I did a while back using acetate and inks. Working with acetate and inks means you always get a different effect even if you use the same ink colour combination, so I really enjoy working with this technique just to see what I will end up with.

Black and White Lady

Materials
Stamps: Oxford Impressions Times Past Plate, Paper Bag Studios Dream Notion Plate
Inks: StaZon Black
Cardstock: Bazzill, "Yes" White
Other: Stamp Positioner, Ribbon, Diamantes, Stampin Up Punch, White Brad

Well, I thought this would be a simple task! No, oh no. I kept mucking up the positioning with the stamp positioner. Once I got the aligning right, then I decided they weren't balanced enough so started again. I think I have stamped these ladies out half a dozen times before I got this lot. But, it was a case of I was NOT going to give in!!!!

I tried scanning this card as is, but it did not actually showed the white card base at all well, so I scanned it on a piece of black card.

Being Melbourne Cup Day here, I thought it appropriate to have an elegant lady in a hat! For those not Australian, it is a big deal today for ladies to dress to the nines and if at the races there are always fashion competitions etc etc!

I did not go in to the races this year 1. Hubby is out working the ground, and 2. No way did I want to be anywhere where someone could knock my recovering shoulder. If someone did, I am sure the scene would not be pretty!!! So best I stay at home!

Cuttlebugging

Materials:

Stamps: Stamp It These Boots 2818E Elizabeth, Leave Memories MM Divas 250604

Inks: Encore Ultimate Metallic Pink, StaZon Black

Cardstock: Puce Metallic Unknown Origin

Other: Prisma Pencils - PC996, PC929, Scrapbitz Bling, Bazzill Brads, Cuttlebug and Embossing Folder, Stampin Up Oval Punches

Afternoon all,
Well a discovery of sorts when playing around with the metallic inks! If you swipe Metallic Pink on pink card it comes out quite "pucey"...No, Cheryll...I did not say "pukey!"

I love this Stamp It stamp of the boots. It seems to be the perfect size a lot of the time and I have used it heaps since I acquired it. It has been coloured with mainly a Black Grape Prisma pencil (just a touch of Pink) and accessorised with little bling.

I didn't get to do much today as I had to go into Sarina for parts for hubby, so did the groceries as well. I am not going to the Melbourne Cup this year, so perhaps tomorrow will be THE day!

Miscellaneous

Materials:

Stamps: Lucy's K1158

Cardstock: Prisma, Bazzill

Inks: StaZon Black

Other: Unknown Ribbon, Scrapbitz Diamantes, Tiny Black Ric Rac, Bazzill Black Brads, Prisma Pencils

- PC923,PC1013, PC903, PC928, PC945, PC919, PC909, PC913, PC942, PC997, PC927, PC992, PC1025, PC929,

Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

Hello Everyone,

I have been missing in action this week as family and medical stuff ruled for the entire time. I finally sat down this morning and managed to get this card done.

I always find red and black very sophisticated and am quite pleased with the outcome. The colouring of the lady actually took the most time! There are also little diamantes on some of the flowers.

It is beginning to really get humid here. Hassling the young adults in my house to clean air con filters (with the lovely threat of no cool air until it is a done deed!) Pity I cannot blink and be back in autumn!!!!

Oh Baby Not Again!

Materials:

Stamps: Stampin Up Baby Firsts, Stamps by Judith Square, Unknown Wording

Inks: StazOn Black

Cardstock: Bazzill

Other: H2Os Blue Ice,Indian Copper, Gold Dust, Golden Opal, Blue Grosgrain, Bazzill Brads, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Stamp Positioner, PostIt Notes

Afternoon all,

Just a simple little one today. Well the concept was simple...the doing was more a pain in the butt! No way could I simply stamp six squares onto the white. No, oh no! I had to rule it all up first so I had a chance of getting it somewhere near even! Of course, the very first square I stamped came out with a big blob in the middle of it. Bugger! That meant tearing up the ruled card. Out came the scissors and I gave that stamp a haircut on the spot. Back to ruling up another piece of card. I had planned on a lighter Cuttlebugged piece but the colouring of the babies dictated I change my mind pretty smartly! I distressed the bottom edge of the green by rolling the edge slightly. I have decided I need a few more baby related stamps. I am now officially over the Stampin Up set I DO own (straight after I make my quilted one I want to do)! Don't quite remember why I bought that set in the first place. Ok going out to dinner in a little while, so I suppose I ought to see if there are sets of clothing we can wear (the fairies having visited and polished off the washing and ironing! ) Dream on, girl!!!!!!!

Baby Card

Materials:

Stamps: Stampin Up Baby Firsts, Fern Gully Wording, Unknown Baby Bottle

Cardstock: Bazzill, Prisma

Inks: StaZon Black, Colourbox Chalk Orchid Pastel

Other: H2Os Cherry Sorbet, Pearl Ex Duo Blue/Green, Flamingo Pink, Rectangle Nestabilities, Pink Grosgrain Ribbon, White Gesso

Hey people,

Since I had to make a couple of boy baby cards, I thought now would be a really good time to make just a few to have in reserve, so here is a little girl one. I thought I would try the baby theme with one of the Pearlised Gesso backgrounds I made back in July, just to see if an arty background would go with the decidedly very cutesy Stampin Up stamps. I have seen a card similar to this a while back, though I do not now remember who made it, but I have changed lots of the elements to come up with my version. What do you think?

Baby Blues

Materials:

Stamps: SU Baby Firsts, Hero Arts B3835 It's A Boy, Hero Arts C1121 Congratulations

Card: Bazzill, Spectrum, Die Cuts with a View Glitter Paper

Other: Nestabilities Circles (Plain and Scalloped), DSFT, Unknown Footprint Ribbon White Gel Pen, Crystal Glitter Glue (for the bubbles)

H2O's -Dreamsicle, Fairy Plum, Egyptian Gold, Oyster, Tahitian Blue

Heaven forbid. I made a baby card. For those who know me well, I do not make very many of these! But a good friend of ours had a baby boy last night, so really I just had to. No more excuses. I have to make another for yet another bub ...But I am already a week late for that one (and am ready to blame the postal system...lol....not really!),so a few more days will not hurt! Nestabilities are such a great aid to card making. I don't know what I would do without them now when making the conventional style of card.

Cracked Glass Landrover

Materials:

Stamps: Amazing Creations Old Timer, StampIt Australia Landrover 3321E, Artee Ancient Script AS561H

Paper: Bazzill

Inks: Adirondack Butterscotch, Chalk Pads- Dark Brown & Chestnut Roan

Other: Crafty Kids Embellishments, SU Window Punches small and large, Clear Embossing Powder, Grsograin Ribbon, EK Success Wavy Cutter

Hello there,

Today, I revisited the cracked Glass technique...mainly because as soon as I picked up the Landrover stamp, I thought this was the technique to do for the day. Sometimes it is a bit of a drama to get the card to crack and I believe it is because I live in the tropics and the humidity comes into play. I have discovered if I stand at the freezer with my hands inside and do what needs to be done quickly, then all is well and I get a good crack going. I don't do "male" cards too often and need to really bolster my stash of them. This is a good start, I think!

Thanks for looking. Remember to click on the image if you wish to see more detail.

Micro Beads

Materials Used:
Stamps: Non Sequitur Bathing Beauties Plate
Card: Bazzill
Other: Gesso, Pearl Ex- Turquoise, Brilliant Yellow, Duo Blue/Green, Tiny Ric Rac, Kwik Clear, Double Sided Foam Tape, Brads

Today, I have resurrected my microbeads. The really superfine variety (over the main part of the image) are just gorgeous and give that watery look which certainly compliments a beach theme. I used the ordinary sized green microbeads to frame the image. The background was done using Pearl Ex and Gesso. I think the technique is called Pearlised Gesso? It gives a great texture not witnessed in this scan and the colours are shiny as you would expect with Pearl Ex...but not all over, making the tech interesting as the wetter parts of the gesso kept the Pearl Ex colour but dulled it.

Please click on an image to see more detail!

Cute Snake

Materials Used:
Stamps: Whipper Snapper Designs Inc. MY842 Coiled Snake, Hero Arts LL165 Happy Everything Greetings
Paper- Unknown
Other: StaZon Black Ink, Ancient Page Primrose, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder; Lime Green Brads; Bright Pink Grosgrain Ribbon; Double Sided Foam Tape; Prisma Colouring Pencils with Odourless Solvent and Paper Stumps, Paper Piercing Mat and Tool

Well, it has been a long time since I have made a "cutesy" card. I guess it helps that I need to have one! I might do some more up so I have some on hand and don't have to go do the panic thing. It is very relaxing to sit and colour and was the one thing I could do over the last couple of weeks. The odourless solvent is a must in my book. It takes away the "streaks" left by using the pencils and gives your colouring a very professional look.

I got a parcel from Kaisercraft today and boy oh boy, the Xmas papers and matching brads are just exquisite. So many, I don't know where to begin.

Cuttlebug Highlights

I am not happy with this scan. I might try a digital photo of the card coz here it is hard to see the highlights of gold that I have over the wording. I finished this off this afternoon after I finished doing the accounts for the farm. Having paid the PAYG and BAS for another quarter, I can merrily forget about all things accounting! But for now the shoulder more than needs to rest!

This card actually has the Cuttlebug Smoosh thing happening ... sort of...The ink was a little dry, so it only just came out. I decided to highlight the wording instead with gold. It is subtle I must say, but any more gold and it would be overkill. The wording is raised from a second piece of card treated in the same manner.

Madras Stamping Continued

This one is much more subtle as the Kaleidacolour really softened heaps overnight. I am unsure of the stamp manufacturer here as it was a borrowed stamp used in a stamp session at another stamper's house! It is wonderful to be able to have the opportunity to have sessions such as these, though they are quite rare for me due to me living in the sticks!

Madras Stamping

How's the new look? I love it! I haven't finished tweaking it yet but it is ever so interesting to watch it all evolve! I have always thought two columns was such a waste of space. Many thanks to Libby Dyson for steering me in the right direction!

Today, I would like to share some Madras stamping. For those of you who do not use their brayer, you truly are missing out on a great tool and heaps of super effects.

It was effortless to achieve this lovely sunset look with the Printblocks African Tree perfect for the image. I hummed and harred about adding embellishments with this one but decided I wanted to showcase the colour...not take away from it.

Rehabilitating

I am rehabilitating, so the cards I will be doing for the next 6 weeks will be a simple as possible as I have no wish to injure my shoulder again. I am on a mission to use up scraps. I have so much scrap that I could open a shop with it. I am going to try ever so hard NOT to cut into an entire new piece of card from now until Xmas...except for when my mate Cheryll comes to visit and then all bets are off!

This card is using the same set as the other day...Retros Fifties from http://www.pinkcatstudio.com/Stamps/Retro50s.htm Well...I still had all the stuff out so thought....why not? You cannot see but the scarf is glittered slightly with crystal glitter and there is a little bling dot holding her belt to the dress. The wording is raised ever so slightly. As always much prettier in hand than looking at a photo. She has been coloured with Twinkling H2O's as this colouring system had the exact matches to the pinks and browns!

I have had a busy few days! My sister in law arrived with her grandson who hails from America. He was born here and did not go over there straight away but you would not know coz he has no Australian accent at all left. I find it interesting that, say an Englishman can hold his accent here after 40 years, but us Aussies lose our accent almost totally within a certain frame of time.

The Drought is Over!!!!!

Yipppppeeeeee!!!!

The drought is over. I have made my first card since late August. I did take it slowly so as not to damage my shoulder, and I must say that I totally enjoyed puddling around. I was only up to the one of course and it did take a while coz of the little rests in between....but I was determined!


Main fact is of course, that I am going stir crazy! One dreams of just laying around and doing nothing but after the teeniest of whiles the polish gets rubbed off the idea and rust settles in! I am hoping sincerely the other shoulder never has to be operated on!

Ok...to my card! I have this fabulous set from Pink Cat Studios http://www.pinkcatstudio.com/Stamps/Retro50s.htm which I have owned for so long and finally used portions of it to do this card. I know it is a 50's theme but it always conjures up images of Olivia Newton John and the movie "Grease"!

Me!!!!

This is just for Grace!

I hate having piccies taken and am normally found behind the camera! But, at a very recent gathering I was caught on film and for once I actually don't mind how it turned out! So am sharing!!!!

Magella's 21st

Hi there,

I have been out of action for this month due to a very painful shoulder operation. I am now on the road of recovery and currently cursing the physio who is the harbringer of more pain apparently for the greater good down the track somewhere. I do hope the light at the end of the tunnel is nice and bright.

We celebrated the 21st of our beautiful daughter, Magella this weekend just past and I would like to share with you the signature book I made for her for the night. Since my scanner has a teenie problem with the colour purple, I decided to photograph it instead. Ok, now I am certain the colour purple is just a troublesome colour coz it isn't really the right shade of purple as in real life. There is a set of three keys dangling from the front of the book which you can just see if you are really good!

Here are Ashley and Magella. When looking at the party photos who was in 90% of them?....

Ashley!!!

He followed the photographers around and stuck his mug in every one he could. Toad! Must think his chubby cheeks are ready for Make Me A Super Model!

Here are Melissa, Ashes girlfriend, Magella and Carl. (Note: Ash WAS supposed to be in this one!)

The Dungeon

Hi...Today, I thought I would share with you my creative space. I have a dedicated area, commonly known as "The Dungeon!". It is a long, skinny room not good for much at all. Hence, I nabbed it for me when were renovating. I have taken piccies anti-clockwise from the door. The entire long side unseen is cupboards (floor to ceiling, so of no interest here!)

The craft cabinets you see in picture one are just delightful. You have no idea just how much stash you can cram into all these wonderful drawers and it makes the room look quite funky too. I retail these cupboards, but you do need to save up for them coz they are not cheap. In saying that, I have had mine for 6 months now and think they are the best thing I have bought yet! Why? Well hubby thinks I only have so much stuff....but tis very, very deceptive the amount actually there in those little cupboards!

Hubby also put up two cork boards so I could display a few of the many items found in the dungeon. The phone has now been displaced to another room...thank goodness! I used to have my computer in this same room, hence needed the phone, but now I have wireless broadband, so turfed the computer and the phone to elsewhere, freeing up oodles more space in here!

Because I also have a little stamping and papercraft business and because I do need to have lots of card on hand, I also bought the great paper shelving. The wire racks hold patterned paper but the big shelves are chokka block with Bazzill paper. Looks like a giant rainbow, doesn't it?

Under the TV is a very heavy A4 cupboard being hidden in the piccie by a rainbow piece of material. The desk belongs to the same craft cabinet range and is absolutely the greatest idea. With this desk, you can load up all the essentials in the one and two inch drawers and know you don't have to get up every five seconds in pursuit of yet another something necessary in the creative process! In the tall plastic containers next to the desk, I hold most of my inkpads.

The shelves, I had to be extra patient in waiting for, but eventually hubby gave in....after.....I bought the ready made equipment and propped them up against the wall with the comment I was going to try and do it....Well, that got the ball rolling and he finally put them up for me. The extra long table I have had for squillions of years and comes in handy for drying wet work, major cutting projects and using the die cutter and embossing machines.

Under the table are 6 long boxes where I hold stock (plus lots in the cupboards, unseen)...Stuff I am not allowed to get into!

I know it is always great to check out somone else's space, so I hope you have enjoyed looking at mine!

This one is my favourites...Must be the bling and colour coming to the fore! Just shows that the card can be presented in both horizontal and vertical formats. Penny Black, StampIt Australia and Vamp Stamp stamps were used. Prisma Colouring pencils and H2O's were used to enchance the colour.

The stamps from Coronado are just fabulous and always stamp well. I think adding a charm to the knot at the bottom would further enhance the card along with the merest shading of the sails and the sea! All in all, though, it doesn't look half bad as is! As I was visiting another stamper at the time, I did not want to use up all her resources.

Well, I saw something very similar online for this card. Four of us experienced stampers tried to make it from directions we had found, but found there were mistakes. Starting from scratch and checking out one made as a RAK (only smaller), we finally came up with a formula that we could all live with. And....Here are the results! Firstly the card is presented closed and then secondly, opened, after you pull the cord at one end. The GanGangs (from Coronado Stamps) need no further colouring!

Well, here is trouble.... x .....5! Where is Judy?? We should have trouble ...x .....6! Anyways, here is (from the left....Cheryll, Helen, Jackie, Grace and myself as we were packing up after the Clayton's Camp in Canberra late July 2008. As you can see from the gear we have on, it was mighty cold! Smiles all round, though, as there always is at a stamp camp....No husbands or kids annoying us for two whole days. Bliss....Mega Bliss!!!!

I recently got in the monochromatic olives so had to play with them. Stamps used are Hero Arts Flower and Verses Sympathy Stamp. Everything was stamped and aged using the good old Black StaZon pad. The scanner doesn't do the colours justice, I must say!

This card uses a variety of companies...Stamps by Judith Dragonfly, Stamp It Wording, Stampendous Agapanthus and Hero Arts Wavy Sentiment. The tags were created using the Bigshot Scallop Dies (Medium). All stamping was achieved either with White Brilliance or Black StaZon inks. Torn vellum breaks it up in one of the layers.

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These two cards were the other half of my stamping day today....The other half were two of the boots below. I had 12 people attending which was very heartening indeed, certainly as it has come at a time when I was debating continuing with my classes and my little business.

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Now I have to put some effort into making 40 odd ATC's for the camp I am attending in Canberra at the end of July. Before I know it, it will be upon me and the jolly things won't be done! I thought...grand plan this...that I would begin after class today! Yeah, right! Famous last words! Wonder if I can report back this time next week with a progress thing??

Hope you enjoy looking.

Michelle

Continuing on with the "Boot" theme here! I used the Diecut with a View glitter paper for the patterned part of this card. The beads and glitter were adhered using that very, very, very tacky tape. It was a little tricky to lay it exactly where I wanted it, but worth the effort in the end. It is simple, this one, but looks really lovely IRL. I was going to add more stuff to it, but left it overnight & I now feel it is just right.

Another boot...well fancy that!

I used the DTP technique and ironed it out to get the pretty part of the boot here. Adding the boot trimmings really set this card off.

What? Another boot! Ok...Last one for a while. I may have gotten them out of my system for a while...

This one was made using Jo Sonja paints and the Faux Leather technique which I just adore. The little embossed flower was just the thing to finish the card.

Enough of boots now. They were lots of fun to make and are for someone who likes something just that little bit different.

Post Note: No looking Leigh!