MY Challenge Card

The long awaited card. There is a bit of a story behind as to why this has taken sooo long and why I have changed the sketch just a teeny bit. I had intentions of using my new SU scallop punch. Yeah! Right! Not gunna happen, she says! The punch is a dodgy one. It does not punch out clearly, so I am waiting for a replacement. But, it was that punch I had in my mind's eye when I was scribbling out the sketch. So, now my sentiment is a long little rectangle!

This is one of the scenes I was practising when I was in Canberra earlier this month. I was pretty chuffed with how it turned out in the end. The colours are so vibrant. I am learning to work with the orange hue a little more as time goes by and will be a happy little camper if my orange forays turn out like this one.

Ok then, I give up...for now....I have tried scanning...nuh! I have tried every setting on my camera that I can think of in all sorts of light and all sorts of backgrounds....nuh! This card just will not scan with the gradients of colours showing. Even shoving it between two Ott lights didn't help to show up the yellows.....sigh!...I am going to have smoko and try again. For now, though, it just gives you an idea of what I did.

EDITED: I have replaced the photo with one Judi Maddigan from SCS photoshopped for me. Thanks very much Judi.

Ladies Ink Challenge

Oh...The long awaited sketch. I thank my good friend Cheryll for making my scribble something lovely to look at. I haven't made up a card yet for my own sketch...Tis coming, tis coming!

So Ladies, Ink....What can you come up with? I have an idea in mind. I just haven't sat at the stamping table to make it a reality! Have fun girls.

Me, I am off to Mackay to pick up my new oven, cooktop and rangehood. How exciting!

Scor-Pal Peek A Boo BoxBox

I did get to play with my Scor-Pal for a bit over the last little while, but won't again until I rescue it from Grace...since I carelessly left it in Canberra! That's sad that is, when you can't even clean up after yourself....mmmm.....maybe Gracie kidnapped it!

I found the directions for this Peek a Boo Box a bit off....but then that could just be me reading them! (I don't think so, though, as I was the second person in the crowd to cut it incorrectly. ) Please cut a dummy one before using your good stuff!

I do love the finished piece. It will make a great little gift down the line. I know I bought this little stamp off Phillippa Barr from Lime Tart, but can neither find the stamp, nor remember who made it! It was coloured with Derwent Pencils with Odourless Mineral Solvent and blending stumps. The centre of the flower has been microbeaded.

Some Stuff Made At ACTSA Camp

This was one of the classes done at the recent ACTSA camp. We ALL made the same under instruction, so these are NOT my own ideas. That credit goes to Julie Van Oosten, our tutor for the weekend.

There is a lot of altered chipboard in use with all three of these cards. I enjoyed working with the colours especially as the colouring in all three really appeals to me.

Something different. What do you think?

Captain Shell

Captain Shell it is folks.

Yesterday, I went and did my boat licence. Why?????? Just coz I could! Never know when it could come in handy!

I had a great day with my son, Ashley and his partner Melissa...We are all captains now ;)

I didn't drown anyone....and didn't tip the boat at high speed. This is promising!

Secret Sister Haul

Here is the beautiful array of goodies received in my recent Secret Sister Challenge with my old Sassy Stampers Blog Group. I was very fortunate indeed to have Carmen http://stampingaddiction.blogspot.com/ as my SS.

The extraordinary array of cards was great, but then I came to all the OTHER stuff...Yummo. Carmen knows I am quite chuffed with the matchbox die....so she very kindly sent me a dozen to do myself and an already made one, complete with Werthers! How lucky is that? I also scored a mini magnetic post it note holder, a little journal, a wee bag decorated in flowers, some Zots, microbeads and a gorgeous stamped and coloured butterfly in a frame.

I would like to publicly thank Carmen for her fabulous gifting. It was a real pleasure to receive...and I am having continuing pleasure every time I go through the pile of stuff!

Ladies Ink Challenge

Today, I feature Cathleen's sketch http://crookedcardcreations.blogspot.com/ . I am still with the Stampscapes. Working on gloss card with a stylus and Marvy markers you can come up with the most amazing colour work.

I must get brownie points for keeping pretty much dead on with the sketch, eh? The sentiment, made by ??? is just perfect for this card.

Ladies Ink Challenge

Today, we showcase Kristin's sketch http://kristinshappy.blogspot.com/ again featuring Stampscapes but this time using Kaleidacolour inks to create a soft Madras brayered background. In the sketch, the red should go all the way across. I altered the sketch a tiny bit by making the orange part of the sketch extend to the sides. Had to, coz the image proved to be a mite large!

Ladies Ink Challenge

Hi there,
Continuing on with the challenges with our Blog Group....I am sincerely happy there are only a dozen of us at this point! It is a challenge in itself to get all these cards done, as I am not known for working very quickly when it comes to card making! I have given myself until the 31st to complete this mission. Now, it will be interesting to see if I fall off the perch!

I know Rebekka is taking the month of August off, but please keep in mind a little visit to her blog http://diamondintherough24.blogspot.com/ as her work is always lovely. It is Rebekka's sketch which is the showcase for my card today.

This is way over the top cute, but I DO like the Sarah Jane image. I coloured with an aquabrush and Tombow markers. Isn't she cute?

Ladies Ink Challenge

Here we are again with another sketch challenge. This time I am doing Michelle's http://inkyscraps.blogspot.com/ and I have continued to play with the Stampscapes stamps I bought at the Canberran Craft Show from The Stamp Trap http://thestamptrap.com.au/Index.htm

The watercolouring is a direct copy of what Jeanette was demoing at the show...well as close to it as I could manage anyway! I have used Lyra Crayons and an Aquabrush, with the man and beast along with the wording stamped with India Ink.

I am pretty pleased with how this one turned out!

Ladies Ink Challenge

Ok...Today we feature Christyne's sketch which you can find on her blog...
http://handstampedfromtheheart.blogspot.com/ This card really IS as bright as it looks. It is as close to the sketch as I could manage. Hope you like it. This has been stamped with India Ink but I do not know the manufacturer of the stamp. Sorry!

Ladies Ink Challenge

Hello there! I am home from my holiday and now I have a bit of catching up to do. For the next wee while I will be showcasing the August challenge from our Blogging Group. I do hope you like my interpretation of each sketch. I am actually working in reverse order here, doing everyone's challenge whilst I think up something for my own....

Welcome to Ladies, INK Challenge 2.

This one is two-fold:

Step 1 - Create a sketch (it can be hand drawn and scanned, computer generated...whatever, but it must be YOURS - please don't copy from one of the sketch sites) and make a card based on your sketch.

Step 2 - Visit all the OTHER Ladies, Ink blogs and make a card based on their sketch! . When you post a card based on another Ladies, Ink sketch be sure to link back to the blog from which you used the sketch in your blog post.

I am starting off with Paige's sketch, which you will find on her blog, here... http://shewhomuststamp.blogspot.com/

I have used Stampscapes throughout and gained colour through the use of a stylus tool and good markers.

ATC Opals

Hello again,

I am still away, but when this should post, I will be winging it back to the tropics!

Here is the last of the ATCs I have to make for my monthly swaps this year. I used Opals to do the body of the art doll which I then stamped with Encore gold using a Stamp It swirl stamp. I have used all sorts of bibs and bobs then to decorate her, including some Kindy Glitz on her wings. The background papers are by Kaiser.

ATC Xmas

Hello Everyone,

I am trying to prepost this one, so hopefully everything turns out OK.

This is the third in my group of ATCs I have to do for a swap. It is one a month, but I have completed the rest of the year, so I can tick that job off my list!

The background is made using alcohol inks overstamped with Darkroom Door stamps in StazOn black. I distressed the edges and whacked a few bits of bling and voila, tis done.

ATC

Good morning everyone,

Here is another ATC I have completed in the last couple of days. Yesterday we did not ink up a solitary thing because the Canberra Stitches and Craft Show was on. We knew The Stamp Trap would have a booth there, so we had to go and watch Jeanette demo Stampscapes yet another time and bought heaps!!!! I so love scenes and we are determined to get HER way of creating the colour down pat today. Tis our mission. (We did spend the majority of last night mounting it all up on Ezy Mount so we would be prepared for today.)

This little ATC was made with the theme of brayers in mind, so I did the brayer spritz technique. All the stamps are by Hero Arts with the addition of pretty clear ribbon, bling and brads. (The piccie is at an angle because it was really hard to photograph...it really is 3" x 2" ...and I am NOT going outside where there is no central heating!)

Grid ATC

Hi there,

I have been making ATCs this afternoon and this one is for a future swap for grids. As I brought my Scor-pal with me, I felt the need to make a little grid using it. I have used SU stamps which Grace owns and a combination of Colourbox and StazOn inks with a little bling at the bottom to give it lift.

It has been so much fun catching up with lots of other stampers. We have different visitors each day and feel very lucky we know so many talented and lovely ladies.

Tomorrow we are off to the Canberra Stitches and Craft Show where we have sussed out a number of papercrafting places we would like to visit. We are also after a few textile type things, so hopefully we will get that list we have been merrily making ticked off.

Journal Book

Good morning everyone,

What a fine morning it is here in Canberra.

Today, I am sharing with you the journal we made at stamp camp over the weekend just gone. Julie Van Oosten from Collections was our very gracious tutor who kept us hopping all weekend. Us out of staters were given our very own little gift of Collections stuff for making the long trip to camp! Julie specialises in working with chipboard, ephemera and bibs and bobs to come up with the most stunning olde worlde projects.

This was our major project for the weekend and we sat up to midnight on Saturday night in order to finish it. I think it is pretty cool. I have just photoed some of the main pages in the journal to give you a feel for what we were playing with. What do you think?

I am going to become a retailer of Julie's as soon as I get the paperwork in order, as well :)