Destiny's Flowers

I spent a lovely day yesterday at Jackie's classes. She held two separate ones throughout the day. This is one of her cards I made whilst whiling away my day happily crafting.

I love the all the browns in this one. I think the shades make it rather eyecatching! I know the flowers are off an Autumn Leaves plate, but I cannot remember where the words were from. The main panel, of course, is a Nesties. You gotta love those things!

We are just about to leave for Stamp Camp....Yippee!!!!!

Hello From the Gold Coast

Hello everyone,

I am sitting here up in the hills overlooking the Gold Coast on a gorgeous sunshiny day. We are off to a stamping day this morning, so hopefully tonight I will have a meek offering to share with you. I was busy travelling and settling in yesterday and Wednesday, so could not post.

Camp is tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday and I am getting excited about going.

Lots to learn...limited time to learn it all. but I sure I will have a thousand new things to try out by the time I get home (The 10th June).

Good Morning..NOT!

Afternoon all,

I am experiencing a very frantic day, as I always do before I fly away! Still a few things to be done! I have used yet another of the waxed papers I made the other day as the patterned strip under the image. Th Adirondack dye inks are wonderful with this technique. I especially love the Eggplant, as used here.

I am sure I would like this if I drank tea in the morning! Though, I am pretty sure she does not DO frantic! Definitely a CAS card...and IF I get time today, I will make something to prepost whilst I am travelling tomorrow.

Have fun!

Stamps: All Night Media 648G Inks: Adirondack Eggplant, StazOn Black Cardstock: White Gloss Card, Bazzill Other: Ribbon, White Gel Pen, Cuttlebug and Stylised Flower Embossing Folder and Nestabilities Ovals, DSFT

Tagged and Awarded

Please note, my card for the day is in a separate post under all of this one.

Hi, I have been tagged by Linda http://muktownecraftroom.blogspot.com/.

In this tag, I must tell the world 6 fascinating things about myself. Like all the others in my blogging group, I huffed at the fascinating bit and am opting just for 6 points about moi. No particular order to this silliness!

1. Family: I have been married to Neil for (what seems like forever) 23 years almost 24. We have two gorgeous children:- a girl baby, Magella (21)...and a boy baby, Ashley (19). I couldn't imagine NOT being married. My maiden name was Michelle Doherty.

2. Career: I am a trained teacher, though I do not teach anymore. I mainly taught the littlies:- Grades 1-3 but the last couple of years I taught Grades 4 & 5. I resigned in 1998. I am totally NSW educated and only came to Qld to teach way back in the 80's because the NSW Government removed the bonding clause from the scholarship programme. As I was on a scholarship, that meant I WAS NOT guaranteed a job after they paid to train me. Like many others, I flew the coop to Qld. (I like NSW weather better...but perhaps not this week with all the flooding!)

3. Interests: I love to stamp. It is an all consuming passion and has been for many, many years. First stamped in the early 90's when I went to a Stitches and Craft Show in Brisbane. Just stamped and embossed, really, until I discovered Yahoo Groups at the turn of the century...Then it just exploded for me. STAMPING rules (with real stamps too...no phoney digital image stuff).

4. I do not scrap. I am not interested in scrapping.

5. Businesses: I have my own small business called Inkspurts and I now teach stamping and card making from home. Together, my husband and I have a sugar cane farm.

6. Other: I have been published (x 2) and only after the Editor hounded me for like months.

Oh look! I got to six , no worries! I thought that would be hard as!

Ok then I was awarded the Sweet Award by Yuki: http://xiumaiyuki.blogspot.com/ See on the LEFT sidebar.

To continue this award on, here are some lovely blogs so visit:
Chris http://twinklesglow-glowbug.blogspot.com/

Jennie http://stampawaytheday.blogspot.com/

Joanne http://sleepyinseattlestamps.blogspot.com/

Cathleen http://crookedcardcreations.blogspot.com/

The Clean and Simple Stamping Blog http://cleanandsimplestamping.blogspot.com/

Waxing Attitude

Good Morning everyone,

Here is yet another waxy creation. This card is meant solely as a little joke! (And, I know to whom it is being given, already!)

I have married up the Waxy Cuttlebug Technique with the Madras Brayering Technique. I think the results speak for themselves. I like it and will be marrying them up more often, now! I found the greatest stamp amongst my collection to suit this image....PROBLEM! It was way, way too big. SOLUTION! I needed another little embellishment anyway, so I stamped it on shrink plastic to make the little disc you now see hanging off the grosgrain.

Please feel free to click on the image in order to see what the disc says!

Stamps: All Night Media Ms Raspberry620F, Leave Memories MM Divas no. 250604 Inks: Kaleidacolour Royal Satin, Black StayzOn Cardstock: Bazzill, White Gloss Other: Brayer, Shrink Plastic, DSFT, Big Brads, Purple Grosgrain, Shite Organza Ribbon, Cuttlebug and Embossing Folder, Prisma Pencils and Odourless Solvent, Iron, Waxed Paper, Heat Gun, Paper Towelling, Hole Punch, Shrink Plastic

Waxy Boots

Afternoon all,

Here is another waxy creation. This time I have used a Cuttlebug embossing folder to create the background. I taught a lovely one on one class today using waxed paper and this is another of the samples I did up yesterday for it. Such a lovely way to spend the better part of the day!

I love this boot stamp. It seems to have attitude! I just bought a divine pair of Diana Ferrari just the other week which remind me of these totally.

I am totally going back to good old StazOn (except for alcohol ink stuff, of course) after this card! The archival black took forever to dry...I smudged it twice, having to clean it off and restamp no less than three times. Guess I am lucky it actually wiped off the gloss so I COULD go again!

Stamps: Stamp It Australia 2818E These Boots, 3301C If the Shoe Fits, Hero Arts (Unknown Code) Inks: Adirondack Cranberry, Archival Black Cardstock: Bazzill, White Gloss Other: Kaiser Pearls, Cuttlebug, Divine Swirls Embossing Folder, Nestabilities Rectangle Set, White Gel Pen, Prisma Pencils, Odourless Mineral Solvent

Turtle Wax

Afternoon all,

Here is a tech I have not visited in a while, but one which I will be teaching tomorrow. The waxed paper technique is so very simple and is really pretty. It is also about the only time I like to iron! The longest part of this card was the colouring of the Whipper Snapper image.

Stamps: Whipper Snapper CY882 Turtle and Frog, SU Taggers Dozen Inks: Kaleidacolour Carribbean Sea, Archival Jet Black Cardstock: Bazzill, White Gloss Other: Ribbon, Silver Cord, Large Black Brads, DSFT, Prisma Colour Pencils, Odourless Mineral Solvent

What I did with my weekend

My son Ashley and I

My In Laws: Ricky, Alison, Katie, Dan and Amanda Crichton

Hubby (Neil) and I

My Pretty daughter Magella and her partner Carl

Let's not forget Brett and Carly Gatti (née Crichton)

Home safe and sound from the wedding. It is a long, long drive to and from Cairns and it is thankful I am we got there and back in one piece! The wedding itself was great and it is lovely to catch up with people and family you don't see very often. It is also wonderful to see such love and joy with the bride and groom. Very sweet!

After the wedding we toddled off to the casino where I won $235 playing Blackjack! As soon as I busted 3 times in a row, I quit the table and cashed my chips in! I DID give Neil his stake back too...so it was a good win, I am thinking! I did not end up with a headache for the trip home. I was such a good girl and just had a couple of drinks!

Got some paperwork to do, but hope to be back card blogging by Thursday.

You Make Me Smile

I bet you won't envy me today...We start the long haul back to Koumala from Cairns. Ten hours in the car is NOT my idea of fun. I so hope I don't have a headache! I am requesting that we make it in two days and not one, just so my shoulder doesn't really spit the dummy!

This card is made with Hero Arts stamps and is totally cased from one of the catalogues...cept for the colours used I think.

Antique Friend

Just a simple little male oriented card for today. I have used StampIt stamps and some gorgeous DP of old instruments...very in keeping with the planes, I thought.

Well, today, as you are reading this (insert...very hopefully, if Michelle has set it all up correctly!)I am hobnobbing in Cairns and having fun at a family wedding. DH will not be having fun....poor sod! He is the MC and gets all worked up about his duties. He has been MC heaps and heaps but this does not stop him from squirming.

Carly's Wedding Card

And here is MY card for my niece's wedding!

I am thrilled with how this turned out. Carly loves the colour purple. What young lady doesn't these days? She is having it in her wedding party. Hence, I have made all three cards with different shades of purple. (Magella's card for Carly was published a few weeks ago using the corner heart punch to create a circle)

This card has an acetate overlay which is pretty hard to see in the photo. The acetate overlay has been stamped with StazOn Opaque ink for the flourishes and in Black StazOn for the sentiment, with the rhinestones in opposing corner regions. Everything else is underneath.

Wedding Card Again

Here is the card I made for my son to give to his cousin this weekend. I know Ashley and Carly will both love it, but is sure is not my thing! Far too much bling on there for this little black duck.

All stamps are by Hero Arts.

Secret Sister Haul

I was very fortunate to play a round of Secret Sister with my fellow Sassy Stampers Blogging Group recently. I have been champing at the bit to reveal all, and now finally I can as everyone has their special parcels!!!!!

My SS was the wonderful and seriously talented Jennie Harper http://stampawaytheday.blogspot.com/ . I was over the moon with my gorgeous array of cards. We had been given particular tasks over a 6 week period, after which we were to pack them all up and send them on their way.

Can you match them up? (Yes, there is no tropical one, we know! But, I did get a gorgeous card in its place.)

1. Create a card using a stamp you haven't used yet.

2. Case something from someone in our blogging group.

3. Make a treat for your sis.

4. Create a card using a non-traditional fold.

5. Make a card in a tropical theme.

6.Free Choice

Aren't I just the luckiest girl? I also LOVED receiving the Top Note Die Cuts as I cannot source these myself! The sheet of clear stamps is welcomed into my home and the tea will come in handy.

I am so pleased I went in this swap and I thank Jennie for treating me with such great kindness and generosity!!!!

Thank You

Hi there,

I am trying out a delayed post. The colours have not photographed really well. It is a really yukky day here today, but if all goes to plan I will retry the photo part this afternoon. Edited: I retook the photo. Whatever I did to delay the post didn't work so I still have some learning to do in that area!


Stamps: Hero Arts K4912 Card Art Flower Thank You Inks: SU Sage Shadow Cardstock: Bazzill Other: Silk Flowers, Large White Brad, Kindy Glitz, SU Eyelet Border Punch, 10mm White Grosgrain, DP- Crate Paper Samantha Collection Ivy.

Fishing Tree

All stamps are Stamps by Judith and so is the basic idea of hanging stuff off the tree. I found another stash of card packs hidden away from previous lessons and have been doing a few of them up. I have not stamped at all this weekend as I have been helping my DD, Magella, clean her rental house.

Deep Thought

Afternoon all,

A simple offering today. I quite like it as the browns are soothing and thought provoking which is in keeping with the image.

It is drizzling rain which will not make DH happy. He has been trying to plant cane and is being thwarted by the weather. He just rang through to say he will stop if another shower comes across.

Friday afternoon it is here so I am looking forward to a glass of wine...after I help unpack more stuff at Magella's new house, I guess!

Oops...Better do the credits...Stamps: Timeless Images H8 Monique, Non Sequitor from the House of Belong Plate 62C Be Who You Are Cardstock: Unknown Inks: Colourbox Dark Brown Other: Cuttlebug, Texture Textile Embossing Folder, Paper Flowers, Brown Brad, Heart Charm, Unknown clasp embellishment.

Marvy Day

Good evening all,

I am totally exhausted from a very hectic couple of days!

Yesterday was a write off coz I had to go into Mackay for the day .

Today was good but tiring too. I had a one on one class today and the lovely lady who came noticed some cards upon my display wall featuring this beautiful technique. She did ask if it was difficult as she is a brand new stamper. Of course I said no (because it really IS one of the easiest forms of creating marvellous looking backgrounds around!) and off we went making lots and lots of samples. I didn't make mine up into a card, but my lady did! I ended up doing some more when she left to use up as many of the almost empty markers I had laying around!

After that I had a call from DD to come and help her move some of her gear into her new abode. I have just come back from that mission and am almost ready to hit the sack! Have a good one!

Here are some of the three dozen pretty backgrounds I now have all using the Marvy Metallic with Glad Wrap (Saran Wrap) technique. Please click on the image so you can see the detail in the backgrounds.

Colour Magic Card

Afternoon Everyone,

Here is my colour magic card, completed as a challenge for my Rubber Bombshells Blogging Group. I wasn't happy with the front piece, but it IS going to a little girl who loves flowers so it will appeal to her, if not to me.

I haven't made one of these for ages so it was fun to revisit the construction. I do mine slightly differently to what you will find online, as in I anchor my image so it cannot be pulled free of the card itself. I didn't like the instructions where this happens...so I had to change them. Fancy me changing things!

Stamps: Print Blocks Girls, SU Upsy Daisy Wording Inks: StazOn Black Cardstock: Bazzill Other: Acetate, DSFT, Paper Flowers, Brads, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities Long Rectangles, Gold Peel Offs, Stamp Positioner

The Art of Being Beautiful

Afternoon all,

Here is a little something using my gorgeous The Art of Being Beautiful plate by Stampsmith. I think it has a bit of the olde worlde feel to it, don't you?

No special techs today. I spent yesterday collecting furniture from town...which now has to go back because it is not what I ordered! We also had a new computer to set up, so that basically sucked up all the time for the day. The new computer has now been taken home by the youngsters and I have my computer desk, modem and printer back.

Stamps: Stampsmith The Art of Being Beautiful, Hero Arts Sentiment Inks: StazOn Black Cardstock: Bazzill Other: Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, SU Oval Word Punch, SU Eyelet Border Punch, Felt Ribbon, Black Organza Ribbon (which was gold but I StazOn-ed it), DSFT

Daisy Blues

Afternoon all,

After an extremely hectic day in Mackay yesterday, I haven't really come up roses today. I have been uber slack....

But, hey!!!! I received my Secret Sister parcel all the way from America!!!!!! I cannot say too much as yet, because not everyone has received theirs. Now, how hard is it going to be to keep mum about it!!!!!!!!!!!?????????!!!!!!!! I can say I have been so very fortunate to have such a highly talented young lady bestow some of her brilliant work in my direction. Way cool, in fact....So cool, I totally forgot I had a second parcel in the mail until late this arvo!

Here is another Upsy Daisy card. This time, I have used Piñata Inks, which were the forerunners to the alcohol inks you see around the traps today. Unfortunately, you do not see any of the lovely gold highlights on the blue piece in the photo, but know they are there, full of subtlety, and really do make the card zing a little.

Stamps: SU Upsy Daisy, Hero Arts LL249 You Sparkle Inks: StazOn Black, Piñata Inks- Baja Blue, Sapphire Blue Cardstock: White Gloss Card, Bazzill Other: Gold Krylon Pen, Kaiser Bling, Unknown Ribbon Source