Hero Arts...Yet Again

Hi there everyone,

Another very simple card, also fashioned after a card I saw in the current Hero Arts catalogue.

The flower is stamped on various coloured card, cut and layered, with each petal being fingernail distressed and layered using very fine DSFT. The stem I made from a scrap bit of black card. Having the Cuttlebug layer underneath was really necessary to lift this card.

I nearly always tie bows, or knots where you see the ends, so I really like the look of this particular way of presenting the ribbon. I love different!!!

Rustic Flowers

Good afternoon all,

This card was fashioned after a card I saw when flipping through the current Hero Arts catalogue.

The flowers, come from one of the Hero Arts clear sets and is proving to be quite versatile. Add string, buttons and a strip of card which I ran through the corrugator and the top part of the card is done. I loaded the base card into the Cuttlebug so the entire front was embossed.

Simple, yet appealing.

A Hint of Spring

Hi there on this miserable rainy day!

Here is the same Hero Arts flower which I used yesterday. This time I stamped it up on a brayered piece of gloss card, cut and raised it. The centre of the flower has mini micro beads.

The Martha Stewart punch makes an excellent fence, don't you agree? I punched the fence from a scrap piece of a background I made some time ago, using salt, dye inks and gloss card. Pearls were added to give it some pizzazz.

The flower is backed by a Cuttlebugged piece of Bazzill which I have swiped with Brilliance Ink. To finish it off, I attached a few SU butterflies with little diamantes.

I know the quality of the picture leaves something to be desired. Please bear with me on this. I will endeavour to grab my camera as soon as I can. I figure I best give my poor old blog some love and attention, so scanning is better than nothing.

Black, White and a Touch of Red

Hello all,

Not the best of scans here. My daughter still has my camera, so I scanned it. Being dimensional it hasn't done so well, but hey! Better than nothing!

This is such a simple card but I like it!

The wording is by Stampin Up and the flower is by Hero Arts.

Sailing Adventure

Hi there,

I have been away for a little stamping sojourn with my mate Cheryll. I did come home Monday, but have been helping my daughter clean a rental house in order for her to have her bond returned. On top of that, I have a new computer with only half my stuff set up on it. I DO have the printer/scanner/copier working, but NO Photoshop.

Here is one of the cards I made with Cheryll. This is her design which she was doing in class. I have darkened mine somewhat. I tore the card with the mask when removing said mask. So then, I had to stamp the sails out twice, watercolour twice and layer ...just so I could cover the tear. The other things I did a wee differently....I burned the ends of the twill and attached them with brads and furred up all the edges in a big way and inked the top layer up.

A Lifetime is Not Enough

This has turned out to be a really lovely sympathy card. I do hope I don't have to use it any time soon!!!!

The stamps used are by Stamp It Australia and were stamped with StazOn black ink. All card throughout is Bazzill (the lemon, brown and vanilla base).

So Hot!

Well, it is heating up in my neck of the woods and with the coming of summer, this card seems to be quite appropriate.

It is a photoscape using a Stamp It Australia stamp. The sentiment is by Darkroom Door. Both were stamped using StazOn black. The scape was mounted on lemon, black, vanilla and finally to a black Bazzill base. I finished it off with a few black blings.

Shining Day

Good morning to all,

Here is another photoscape, this time using a Stamp It Australia stamp with the sentiment, of course, from Hero Arts.

Think I have hit upon a system to these. I scanned and then went into Photoshop to tweak it. It is pretty near to being true, now.

I have mounted on to purple Bazzill and then on to black with some pink DP before mounting the lot to a pale cream base. All stamping was achieved using StazOn black.

I love the colours in this...very me.

Create Your Own Journey

This is yet another photoscape where all Stampscapes were used for the main image. The wording and trail of dots are by Hero Arts.

The photoscape was mounted on to yellow Bazzill and then to black and finally to a pale cream base. All stamping was done with StazOn black.

This one looks way better IRL. I struggle to capture the correct colourings with these. I spent a good deal of time outside in natural light, inside under the day lamps and finally settled on the scanner.

Hope you like it!

Long Absence

Hi there folks,

Long time, no see. The whys and wherefores of my absence I will not post online, but I am hoping to stay tuned this time.

This is a card I made for a wedding I attended last month. The only stamping was the sentiment in the lower right corner which did not photograph easily or well.

Peaceful Sunset

Hi there,

Here is another photoscape, using Stampscapes stamps, of course!

Z Card in the Vertical Orientation!

Hi there,

It has been an interesting few days for the Walpole family, to say the least! It isn't much fun when your billylids fall ill, even when one of them is 20!

Here is a Z fold card which stands alone as you can see in the first photo. The stamps are an unknown factor (they belonged to Grace!), apart from the sentiment, which is a Hero Arts clear stamp.

I have used a torn edge to make my waves and added Kindyglitz for the surf at the crest of the waves. The main image is layered on to black, which is then mounted with DSFT, so there is room for the card to slot under the circle tab....enabling the card to "stand".

This card is destined for a children's hospital in Canberra and was part of a challenge. The challenge was to make a child's card, and incorporate the wording "Happy Birthday" on the front.

No time today!

I am going to have to post two cards tomorrow as today has evaporated into the mist!

I have been helping move equipment to and fro for the men planting, then off to the doctor's , which turned out to be quite the trip! After that to town to dump my phone for repairs, recoup some money from all the medical stuff happening lately, hand in signed papers for the accountant and finally, grab stuff for tea as I had the billylids coming .. After that, back home to move more heavy machinery. (Anyone familiar with heavy machinery, knows this isn't a five minute job!)

Once home and ready to cook, I retrieve a text to say my youngster is at the hospital. Arrggghhh! Well, he is home at the moment...sent home as there was no doctor in attendance.

Needless to say, photographing and posting my card is down my list until tomorrow! I am in worry mode.

Fishing By the Falls

I had such a hard time trying to capture the colours of this card with the camera and also with the scanner. The teals are not looking tealish...to me!

Anyway, this was a lesson of Kevin's over at the Stampscape site. I had brayered the background ages ago and half stamped it at the time. When in Canberra, I decided to finish it off. That of course meant, a lot of working with the stylus tool, Marvy Matchable inks and the white gel pen as well as spraying it with a gloss sealant. Today, I mounted it to card, finally.

The sentiment is by Hero Arts.

Photoscapes! StampIt Sunset

Hi there,

Here is my first Photoscape for show and tell!

I lurrrveee photoscapes! Once you play with them for a while you begin to "see" which photos will work better than others. This sunset was a photo downloaded from the net and printed at a photoshop.

If you are going to try this, remember to look only for high resolution photos. You are wasting your time with anything else, as they are too pixelated when developed.

The gorgeous image was stamped a couple of times with StazOn black ink and is from Stamp It. I distressed all the edges of the layered card, but left it at that....on purpose. I did not want to burden the card with anything else. Rather, let the image say it all.

What do you think?

The Prettiness of Pearl Ex

Hi there,

Soft and pretty mode! I stamped this old favourite from Stamp It with Versamark and added colour using Pearl Ex. It looks so beautiful IRL, because of the wonderful shimmer Pearl Ex has. Unfortunately, the camera does have a bit of difficulty picking such things up.

The sentiment is by Hero Arts. Isn't it funny when you have a clean out as to what you find? I found the centre piece half mounted and ready to go....Finally, the poor piece has a home!

Moody Night

This card is going to be winning me a lotto ticket...Thanks very much Miss Judy! This IS my card.....Miss Judy didn't believe that her secret sister card was not made by me, so the bet was made. In truth, it wasn't...but I DID make one very similar and here it is!

I love this card. It has attitude...all dark and gloomy. I just love the Stampscapes. You can make them as simple or as complicated as you like and they still look great.

It is almost midnight here, so no waffling on. My son and his partner have been for tea and have just left. I had quite forgotten to post and don't want to spoil my good record, so had to pop this on before the day turns into Sunday.

Flap Fold Card in Pink

Closed

Open

Hi all,

Here is the Flap Fold Card done in pinks....which, in my opinion, is so much prettier than the purple! I guess, though, given the right circumstances, both would suit really well.

The little sentiment is by Hero Arts. Hero Arts have some wonderful stamps out there, at present. I am so glad they are keeping up with the other big leaders in stamping.

I scrounged this paper off Cheryll...again...I took Bazzill with me...Just didn't think to take DP too.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Metric Flap Fold

Open

Closed

Hi there,

I am a wee late posting today, as I was called away to help move equipment to the next farm for planting. This took ages...Like half the day!

Anyway, here is a little Flap Fold Card I made using the instructions on the Scor-Pal site. Naturally, this can be made without the aid of the Scor-pal, but, again, I wanted to see if it was easier. You know, it is! The biggest draw card is that you don't need to get out ruler and pencil to measure everything. I tell you, this cuts a fair swag of time off construction part.

The only stamping with this is the sentiment on the front! The DP, I scrounged off Cheryll :)

(And I know she does not like this one. I liked hers the best!)

Trying to Post

Oh Yuck.

I am trying to post the bag we stamped at camp and it is not doing well. The photo does not show the pretty Lumière paints at all well. It is quite pretty IRL. All stamps used are My Stamps by Cathy Daulman, who was our lovely instructor for the weekend. Unfortunately all the frayed overlapping bits are a wee hard to see too....Darn It!

I might try again in the morning and edit it back into this post.

Wonder what else I have photographed ready....Now is not a good time to take piccies...They never look good when I take them at night!

Cheers!

Deer in Forest

This scene does come from one of Kevin's tutorials on the Stampscapes site, but doesn't look like his much at all anymore. He is so magnificent doing them...

One day!

In the meantime, I am aspiring to those heights!

All Stampscapes this time...No wording. We decided this one did not need anything along that line. The sketch is not my own. I have seen it around and most recently in the gallery of Stampscapes.

On The Beach

Hi there,

Wow! It sure doesn't take any time at all to go through all your reserves! I see I am already up to where I preposted everything last week!

Here is another Stampscapes scene. This one I really DO like, which is no mean feat for me, as I am my own worst critic.

It makes me smile....and today is not a smiley day!!! I have already been on the phone to Telstra for over an hour and just got hung up on! Grrrr!!!!

Sending Smiles

This is the card Closed

Fully open laying flat.


And standing.

Hello there,

We go on a little break from trees...Phew, you all say!

This horizontal Z card was made using the Scor-Pal and instructions from their site. I can make them without those directions, of course, but I wanted to see how efficient the tool was. I am happy to say that I quite like it.

In effect, this is a really simple card, but becomes a little special because of its orientation, I think.

I tried it in olive as well, and they both set quite a different mood.

Take a Walk on the Wild Side (3rd and Last in the Series)

This is the last in the series of the "forest" look using the Stampcapes tree. I found it interesting to challenge myself to actually make all three attempts up into cards! I see so many Stampscapes scenes online, but a great deal of them are not carded, which is a shame.

The extra bits of stamping and wording are by Darkroom Door and of course the tree is Stampscapes, as I have previously mentioned.

I do hope you have enjoyed my forests!

Adventure (2nd in the Series)

G'Day everyone,

This is the second in the series of the "forest" look using the Stampscapes tree. The wording is from Darkroom Door. As with the first scene, Marvy Matchables were used and a water spritzer.

It was helped out a bit by various punches and the Cuttlebug. I don't mind how it turned out when put to card.

Dream (1st in the Series)

This is the first in the series of the"Forest" look using the Stampscapes tree. I was trying to achieve a watercolour effect, but alas, with the paper being used, just wasn't getting it to the stage where I was liking it.

I was using Marvy Matchables and they were fading quickly. Overstamping in the black has rescued the whole thing and now I am thinking it is not bad after all.

What do you think?

Back From Canberra

Hello All,

I am now back in the land of little or no winter and have a swag of things for show and tell.

My time in Canberra was wonderful and rejuvenating. Between the three of us, this time, as a couple of others could not come, we spent a lovely week prior to camp stamping up a storm. I did spend quite a deal of that time working on perfecting the Stampscapes scenes, but in between I managed to do some construction cards.

This is one of them. This is called a hidden message card. I found the directions over at the Scor-Pal site. One of our varying missions over the course of our visit, was to try out some of the wonderful tutorials Scor-Pal has to offer. I have both the metric and imperial boards, so it was a good excuse to get into it.

One thing I found I did not like, was that the message pulls straight out. I have "fixed" this by putting stoppers underneath.

I have used Grace's (Grace being my gorgeous hostess for the last 12 days!) stamps, some of her papers and her watercolours to achieve this card. The backing card is my own Bazzill.

I am so very tired now all the excitement has disappeared, but am really pleased to have spent some time with my mates Cheryll and Grace and to have had the opportunity to meet up with lots of other lovelies from Canberra. Judy in particular...and others...too many to name!

Another Easel

Hi there folks,

I am back from playing in the dirt, way out at Rubyvale. I did not find very much of note, but my lovely hubby bought me two rings....two...because I just could not decide between the two!

I meant to post this as an auto-post for when I was away, but, alas, I ran out of time.

This is a card I made for an online Yahoo group and is a secret sister card. I tried to photograph it from a few angles so the dimensional aspect can be seen. The jury is out on how well I managed that! By now, she will know who gave it to her, so all is sweet.

Here is a funny story for you:- (Though, I would have been hopping mad, had it happened to me!)..... One of the girls received her secret sister card...neatly addressed, stamps attached, in an neat space of time. The weird thing was, that it was also neatly slit across the top and the envelope was empty....minus the card! How cheeky is that????

Six ATCs down, forty to go. I think that may have to be my mission tomorrow!

Out of Africa ATC

Morning all,

Just about to head out for the gemfields and awaiting Neil to come home from the irrigator.

I have remembered I didn't post this yesterday...one of those chores I had in my head to do. It isn't the best of piccies, but here is my ATC for camp....46 of them have to be done. I have decided to mat them with white...which I have done...but I packed the camera and no time to take another piccie...As soon as the old man gets home, he will want to get going.

Stampscapes stamps all...except for the elephants which are TAC.

Yet Another Stampscape

Are you getting sick of these yet? I am not!!!!

This one was on a postcard sent with my order. Other than that little detail, I can tell you no more as all the postcards are now in Canberra awaiting my arrival!

The little lakeside cove stamp I have owned for a very, very long time and is one I do not tire of. It is such a pretty stamp.

Now yellow is not a favourite colour of mine, but my lovely daughter, Magella, tells me the yellow in this is just right. What do you think?

In the Moonlight

Hello again!

Here is the lesson entitled Moonlit Ledge given by Kevin at www.stampscapes.com

As usual, Kevin's is just gorgeous, but I think this rendition is not too shabby either. I have to say, that moonlight on the rocks took a fair while to achieve!

I love working with the shades of blue. Next time, however, we will have a total colour change. Stay tuned!

(It is D-Day...Tuesday! Workmen here....I am stressed!)

Back from my Hiatus

Here I am again. As I begin to pack things to go to Canberra in early July, I have the delightful feeling of returning mojo.

For the last few months, I have been totally embroiled in trying to have a new kitchen built. Easy, one says???????? NOT in this case. I have been physically without a kitchen since the 15th February and to this point in time, I still do not have a working kitchen. I have rued the day I decided on the choice of builders. Not one thing has gone in the right direction, but it is a most comforting thought that they will not make a penny from my job. Just one point...the laminate top in one section has had to be redone 3 times!

....For the first time in a very long time there is light upon the horizon. I am not willing to get my hopes up too much, but come Tuesday, my kitchen should be finished...well the part that the kitchen people deal with anyway....I can then return to a normal life....without having bits of my stuff all over my house. Anyone who knows me, knows that having stuff all over the place is driving me nuts. I am an " in its place" person and anally neat.

Okie dokie....I must apologise sincerely to my blog followers and to my blogging group for my absence. I sincerely hope I can stay on track now. (This is, of course, dependent on Tuesday!)

This card is another rendition of a Stampscapes Card entitled "Snowy Cabin", which was stamped by the brilliant Kevin Nakagawa....see www.stampscapes.com I could not find this on the site, but when ordering recently, I was sent a postcard with this scene and just had to try it myself.

The only thing I was not happy with, was the misting, which was supposed to be achieved by white pigment ink. I used Crafters, but will try this misting with Brilliance next time, to gauge if there is a vast difference between the two. Pity Kevin didn't name the brand, coz I would have it ordered and living here by now!

This style of stamping is so rewarding....I have a few more over the course of the next few days to share with you.

Cheers, Michelle

Adventure By The Lake

Here is another Stampscapes scene. Aren't they just gorgeous?

The little wording comes from Darkroom Door Wilderness 2 Plate. I have used, again, a Kaleidacolour pad to brayer the base. Not seen really well in the photo is the swishes of Marvy light blue which I randomly swiped through the water.

I am loving this adventure, myself, and am really enjoying playing with these scenes!!!

Always Friends

I have had this image stamped since going to Canberra in July last year!

Seeing as my room is topsy turvy awaiting the men to replace bricks in the wall from the old aircon which was ripped out last night, and also the installation of the new split system (tomorrow, fingers crossed!), I have delved into my little "half finished" container and came away with this pretty scene.

The stamp manufacturer I have no idea of, but if Grace sees this, she can enlighten us, since it is her stamp! The technique is Brayered Madras, which uses the Kaleidacolour ink pads once more. I really get good purchase out of all my Kaleidacolour pads, eh? I have never regretted buying these pads, as there are just so many things you can do with them.

To finish off, I Cuttlebugged a layer piece using one of the bigger new embossing folders. I love the bigger folders, they are just right for card makers! The main image is raised with DSFT and a wee Hero Arts wording stamped in StazOn black. I felt it didn't need any more fuss, as it tells the story quite nicely, as is.

Gum Drop Lake

Gum Drop Lake is also a lesson form the Stampscapes site. ummmm.....This end result isn't like the lesson at all....lol!

I wanted to put "curtains" on the sides but alas, I did not have the right coloured netting. I envy the girls in the US who can access that stuff by the roll! It was a firm design plan which I am disappointed can not be implemented! I had this thought that the card should have the sense of looking out the kitchen window.

If I come across that netting stuff, I am going to revisit and finish this off. I reckon it would look really cool. I was pretty chuffed with the actual scene though when completed.

Get Lost

Hi all,

Here is my second attempt at the Fall Forest lesson from the Stampscapes site.

All the same materials were used as stated yesterday (although I did forget to mention I micro glazed the scene on completion!).

I tried this one again as I was not happy with how dark my second line of trees was. Being new ink pads, I should have realised two stamp offs would not be enough. I stamped off no less than 4 times to get the right tone. But, this time, I stamped off the final layer in the background one too many times and it is just that bit too light now! I can see them on the real card, but it is hard to see that final row of trees in the photo! Oh well! Live and learn!

I love that wording!

Change

Afternoon all,

Here is another Stampscapes scene. This time I was trying out the Lesson called Fall Forest. It isn't the same as the lesson as I did not have and Big and Juicy ink pads. Instead, I have used the Kaleidacolour pad I had on hand.

I felt I did not stamp the middle layer of trees off enough, but it is seeming to tone down a little today and the double darkness is not quite as noticeable.

The wording is from Darkroom Door, but all the scenic stuff is Stampscapes. I have layered on to black and then used DSFT to raise the central image. I popped a little butterfly in the corner with a brad to tie it all in with the wording.

Cheryll....This was my first attempt...Attempt number two I will show tomorrow.

Simplescapes!

Hi everyone,

I received my Marvy inks in the mail today and have finally settled with enough supplies to try some of the lessons more fully from the Stampscapes site. Mind you, I didn't end up using the ink pads for this one...lol!

I have used Stampscapes stamps throughout, aided and abetted by India Ink and Pine Needles distress ink (I don't own the Ocean Aqua actually used in the sample, so improvisation was called for). I followed closely....well sort of closely the lesson found here http://www.stampscapes.com/lessonset.html (Scroll down the left side till you get to Simplescapes, and then choose Lake Aqua Blue). I did like the moody effect and love the outcome. I think it would look good using other colours also, and am thinking of trying them out.

I finished the scene off with buffing it up with Micro Glaze and adding gel pen highlights here and there. This time, I added the gel pen after the glaze, coz last time the stuff just rubbed straight off!

Hope you like it.

Hope Your Day Shines People

Pretty, pretty, pretty!!!!

Basically cased from the Hero Arts new catalogue. I am so pleased I stamped this up because it looks really cool IRL!

I have used Hero Arts stamps throughout, Colourbox Chalk Inks and Bazzill cardstock. I stamped, sponged and cut out a flower and attached it over the main flower with a button and string.

Please note I put the sentiment on a tilt...Yep...right away from my comfort zone....I almost didn't. I was sitting there with the DSFT on the back, moving it horizontally and then tilting...back to horizontally ....back to tilting. Aren't I a woosss?? I do not do crooked very well, so it is a major achievement that tilting won the day!

I have to say, it is brilliant to actually stamp something! Wooooo Hooooo!!!!

Hi all, Miss Me?

Card is closed up here.

Card is fully opened here.

This is the back of the card.

Regular followers of this blog must be wondering if I have fallen of the face of the planet???

No, but I have not had a functioning arting area for quite some time and the hubby and I have been renovating. Enough said!

I found this partially completed card when I was moving all my junk....aka...stamping stuff, to its new abode, and finished it off this afternoon.

MFT stamps are the focus but the flourishes belong to Kaiser, I think. I have used Kaiser papers throughout (with the paper piecing as well!). I tackled the back feature with all different sizes paper punches and added Kindy Glitz to the flourishes. A little grosgrain ribbon and it is complete. I love to make cards which have different orientations and this one has turned out quite well, I am thinking.

Tomorrow and Saturday morning my kitchen is being put in. The old air con has to be removed from my new art studio and bricks replaced...coz it was a box air con, and then my new (split system)....very quiet, air con has yet to be installed. Basically, most of the stuff is in the room, but there is no rhyme nor reason to it. And as those who know me well can attest to...I am finding that quite the trial! I will have time from the weekend on to set things straight and to get back into serious stamping. Shell is not much fun when her beloved stamps and stuff are beyond her reach!!!!!