Tassie Bridge in Green

Good afternoon all,

Well, I have finished having my wee melt down! It was fair giving me the willies using up bulk time looking for a stamp, so I downed tools and rearranged my somewhat vast stamp collection. Not sure how long this new system will last, but it sure has to be better than the last one....except, I have run out of storage space...but that is another drama to deal with. I probably would like things a whole lot better if I would just put things back where they belong once in a while!

So now you know where I have been the last couple of days! I have been immersed in rubber...just not using it!

Ok...on to the card....I seem to be entrenched in simple mode, but am taking it where it leads me and not stressing. This is another Tassie bridge, this time stamped on an alcohol ink background. It sure does give off a totally different mood to the Pearl Ex one done in blues!

Booked for camp at the end of the May today. I will stay longer and wander around to the wholesalers I deal with as well. I feel quite good about it all now it is set in motion!

Materials Stamps: Lucy's Bridge, TAC wording Inks: StazOn Black Cardstock: Bazzill and Unknown textured green Other: SU Label Punch, Brads, Alcohol Inks and Accessories

Very Male Birthday

Afternoon all,

I am off to a 50th birthday party tonight. Alexopolous is the surname of the party boy, and of course, that is way too long for any self respecting Aussie, isn't it? He is much better known as Zop....say the long version quickly and you will HEAR it.

Zop is a no nonsense sort of person, so the card I made for him had to be pretty clear cut and without fuss. Zop hails from Launceston in Tasmania and so I thought it fitting that I use this lovely stamp by Lucy of a Tasmanian bridge.

The technique used is gesso resist and I think really suits this stamp. This is so much MORE IRL...a photo doesn't show all the lovely shine from the PearlEx. I so love my PearlEx!

Hope you like it.

Materials
Stamps: Lucy's Bridge, Hero Arts Its Your Day
Inks: StazOn Black
Cardstock: Bazzill, Generic White
Other: Gesso, PearlEx, Brushes, Cuttlebug and Argyle Embossing Folder, Large Blue Brad, 1" and 1 and 1/4" Punches

Oh So Bright

Evening all....

Hope you have your sunnies on for this one...A bit bright it is!

Ok, this is a card made up with one of my Reverse Joseph Coat's pieces from the other day. I used the Nostalgic Kaleidacolour for the brilliant colouring. I only attached a small greeting...on purpose, so I could see as much of the background as possible.

I regret playing with that particular Nesties set with it though, as the border is bigger than what I am normally comfortable with. I wish they would make an interim set with this shape so you could have the "skinny" border happening! Once I had cut the pretty piece I was more or less obligated to cut the layer too... (I think I am not at all happy with the outcome and I think it is the use of the Nesties which has me offside with the results.)

Read on if you are interested in the tech...

****Firstly, I brayer my colour on to white gloss card.
***Then I stamp my image with Versamark which I clear emboss....(Pretty important to remember to anti static the piece here before stamping!!!)
**After that, I run the black Adirondack pad over the top.
*I use paper towelling to wipe off the excess and to buff.
And there you have it!

Materials
Stamps: Lucys Scribble, Hero Arts Wording

Cardstock: Bazzill, White Gloss Card
Inks: Kaleidacolour Nostalgia, Adirondack Pitch Black, Versamark
Other: Clear Embossing Powder, Brayer, Buckle, SU Window Punch, Orange Grosgrain

Resist Butterflies

Good evening everyone,

Well, obviously, I didn't get back to the computer last night, and I have just come home from a very LONG day in town with my husband. (This is NOT a recommended activity for the women of the world!), so today has been a no play day for me...How sad is that?

I did finish this little resist project late last night. (The reverse Joseph's Coat is still there but not ready for upload!). I stamped the butterflies with Versamark and then brayered over the top with the Nostalgic Kaleidacolour. When brayering this time, I just bumped the brayer here and there in all sorts of directions, so the result is bits of colour all over the place. Then I overstamped a few of the butterflies with StazOn.

Materials

Stamps: Hero Arts Clear Stamps CL140 Thinking of You Messages, Hero Arts CL115 Designer Butterflies

Inks: Versamark, StazOn Black, Kaleidacolour Nostalgia

Cardstock: Bazzill, White Gloss

Other: Brads, Brayer

Oh Dear Day!

This is my gorgeous little puppy. Isn't she beautiful?

Ok, I have been playing with the Reverse Joseph's Coat technique today, but had a wee mishap putting the final thing altogether....As in, the dratty fascinater staple gave me grief and now my whole piece is wrecked. I will post one of the other samples as soon as I can get it layered up on card. Hopefully, I can do that in the next few hours.

Bubble Bella

Good afternoon everyone,

I have a pretty little Bella card for you today. I bought my one and only Bella in July of last year whilst in Canberra...and I only have the one coz it was so darned expensive....Never before have I paid over $20 for one UM stamp....Which is why I only bought the one, too, I can tell you. Guess I should get some work out of it, so it can pay its way, eh?

Anita...the vino may just be in the vase...or maybe the bath! We do not have a bath here. Well, that is not strictly true. It is now a fish pond...I can just visualise tipsy little goldfish swimming in circles!!! I thought having just the shower would save a little bit of housework...and I really do not miss the bath!

Materials
Stamps: Stamping Bella- kbe70 Bubble Bella, Hero Arts CL 140 Thinking of You Messages
Inks: StazOn Black Ink
Cardstock: Bazzill
Other: Tombow and Marvy Markers, Aqua Brush, Unknown Ribbon Source, Kindy Glitz, DSFT

Vase of Flowers

Evening everyone,

I am more than late with today's card and by necessity it is just a very quick one. Hope you like it!

Materials

Stamps: Stampendous Q116 Bouquet Montage, Hero Arts F4861 Small Line Dots Border, Hero Arts CL140 Thinking of You Messages

Inks: StazOn Black Ink

Cardstock: Bazzill

Other: Ribbon Unknown Source, Bazzill Black Brads, Paper Flowers, EK Success Stamp Positioner

Ophelia

Good afternoon everyone,

Just a quick card today with no special technique happening! Ophelia is one of my oldest stamps and I still think, one of the prettiest photo art stamps there is around! Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

Materials

Stamps: Stampsmith Ophelia, Inque Boutique Monarch (Flourish), Lucy's (Wording)

Inks: Colourbox Chalk Dark Brown

Cardstock: Bazzill

Other: Kaiser Pearls, SU Oval Punch, Bazzill Brads, Paper Flowers, Unknown Ribbon Source

MM Wine

Good afternoon everyone,

Well, this is the last of my....hic!...wine cards for now!...hic! ROFL!

This one is my least favourite of them all, but I will show it nonetheless. The background, this time, was created with the use of Marvy Metallics. I love making these backgrounds, but this particular image does not do it justice...IMHO...

And no...that isn't a drop of wine on the card, Anita! Tis a raindrop. It still hasn't stopped raining here, but the best place for photos is still the back verandah!

I do love the fact that the elongated rectangles from the Nestabilities range are big enough to create a base card. Yes! Very cool!

Well, I hope you enjoyed this series of cards. I would love to hear what you think!!!

Stamps: Inkadinkadoo 97121P (Wine), Hero Arts C4070 A Happy Hello

Inks: StazOn Black Ink

Cardstock: White Gloss Card, Gold Card and Black Bazzill Base

Other: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities Long Rectangles, Gold Cording, Bling Brad (Unknown Source), Gold Brads (Bought Many, Many Years Ago)

Brayer Bounce Wine Bottle

Good morning everyone,

The fourth in this series is back using the brayer. (Yesterday's was NOT using the brayer, nor the one immediately prior, as a few people have believed.)

A simple brayer bounce this time and with colours very cheerful. Guess you would be seeing the bottle cheerfully with rose coloured glasses if you swigged it all...ROFL!

Is everyone bored yet with my wino series? One more to go tomorrow.

Today, I have to see if I can finish off my SS thing for Sassy Stampers. Have a good day everyone.

Materials

Stamps: Inkadinkadoo 97137DD (Background Wording), 97121P (Wine), Hero Arts CL139 Birthday Messages (Happy Happy Tag)

Inks: StazOn Black Ink, Kaleidacolour (unsure which one)

Cardstock: White Gloss Card, DCWV and Bazzill

Other: Gold Buckle, Red Grosgrain, Small and Large Black Brads, Red and Yellow Paper Flowers

Alcoholic Wine (My Favourite)

Good morning ladies,

Today's wine features an alcohol ink background. Another one, I could easily give to a number of blokes I know. The photo does not show up all the subtle metallics so well, but you get most of it. I like this one so much, it may have to remain as part of my show pieces! DH has already spied it and is thinking to whom he can give it .... Not happening boyo!

I always find it amazing with alcohol inks that the piece you make can sometimes look yuck....until you stamp something on it...and then the WOW factor settles in.

I am really enjoying showing this stamp in so many different lights (....even if the photo stage is poxy. My camera does NOT like gloss card!) I still have two more to go. DH is disappearing to play blueball for the arvo! Sweet!

I am wondering if Gracie has spied these yet? Where are you Grace? Know you are there somewhere and even in my time zone now you southern states are done with daylight saving!

Materials
Stamps: Inkadinkado 97121P Wine Bottle, SU Terrific Tags
Inks: StayzOn Black Ink, Ranger Alcohol Inks
Cardstock: White Gloss Card, Bazzill for the rest of it
Other: Cuttlebug with border dot and chevron embossing folders, blue grosgrain ribbon, white metallic cording, Pop Dots, Nestablilites Rectangles

Wine Bottle CC

Good morning people

Today, I am sharing another wine bottle creation displaying the credit card technique. This card was extremely hard to photograph. All the shiny bits were giving my little camera a very hard time! I have limited time this morning. Visitors are arriving by smoko time to have a day of playing cards and other games.

This card is really, really pretty IRL. I think it would be perfect for males of a certain age ;). The background was achieved using just el cheapo black cardstock and applying various paints over the top using the credit card. Found the perfect sentiment in the drawer to go with it, too!

How different is this from yesterday's? Tomorrow's has an even different appearance. Hope you can come back to check it out!

Materials
Stamps: Inkadinkadoo 97121P Wine Bottle, Stamp It Australia2922D Perfection
Inks: StayzOn Black
Cardstock: Bazzill Bling, Artee Burnt Gold, Cheap Black Card Unknown Source
Other: Jo Sonja Paints: Blue, Silver, Gold, Burnt Gold Brads, Cuttlebug, Bubbles Embossing Folder, Nestabilities Rectangles DSFT

Water Brayered Wine

Good morning everyone!
Tis and has been pouring rain in these parts. Good for the cane! Good for wives to disappear into their dungeons!

OK...Over the next few days I will be showcasing the same stamp with different treatments. I received these two gorgeous stamps as part of a present from my good friend Grace. We do like to have a small tipple when we get together, so the stamps are very appropriate!

Again, this is a brayered background. Isn't it divine? I love the look personally. I love to make backgrounds! Oh, and I so love the fact I don't have to do any colouring in...Sweet! Just a note...the smudgy, dotty stuff on the green stamped layer actually should be there...they are part of the stamp. I haven't smudged...lol!

Materials
Stamps:Inkadinkadoo 97137DD (wording), 97121P (wine)
Inks: Kaleidacolour (not sure which pad...sis a whole pile at once!), StayzOn Black Ink
Cardstock: Bazzill, White Gloss
Other: Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Fun Embellishment (Unknown Source), Black Cording

Life Legacy

Afternoon all,

This card was very hard to photograph. Seems I am selecting stuff with a challenge to it lately. Gave up trying to get my last alcohol ink one anywhere near viewable. Like so many others, I have to sit, read and implement the directions which come with my new camera. Sometimes, I wonder why we bother buying swishy stuff when we don't investigate all the great things that stuff can do...sigh!

I will come back in and edit in the credits a little later. I do not want to sit too long here as I will get waylaid...again...I want to stamp the drizzly old afternoon away.

Simple Flowers

Afternoon all,

Very dismal here today and I am thinking I am so glad I ditched the camping idea. I could barely see the highway for the rain, going into Sarina for supplies for the long weekend. Crikey, every man and his dog were at the shops this arvie.

I haven't stamped at all in the last three days...what with going back and forth to Mackay. This simple card was done last week but I hadn't shared. Thought I would today...coz no stamping will be done today either. Hubby is due home any time. We are off to the pub for tea and for him to put his footie bets in.

Hero Arts is the manufacturer of this beautiful stamp which was stamped with Coral Chalk Ink.

Have a good one everybody!

Nostalgic Tea

Afternoon all,

I am working with monochromatics this week, it appears. I know the background paper looks white which would preclude it being monochromatic (but it is really a very pale, pale green).

This card is simple but pretty and I so love working with photo art stamps. This particular one had been previously unloved and uninked, but now its plight has been rectified. Hope you like it!

Stamps: Oxford Impressions Afternoon Tea Plate
Inks: Ancient Page Pine Cardstock: Bazzill
Other: Kaiser DP, Kaiser Pearls, Cuttlebug and Cuttlebug Floral Folder

Bonsai Moon

Good morning all,

I am early with today's post. This is another brayer creation. To get this wonderful effect is so surprisingly easy!

Load your brayer with one of the colours, mist and brayer immediately onto the white card. Repeat the procedure with the second colour! Voilà! As you can see on the image layer really well, you can create washes of colour, or more splotty effects as in the layered background. It will all depend on how much water you mist and how quickly you brayer!

I did try all sorts of embellishments, but quickly came to the conclusion that I wanted to focus on the backgound. Therefore, I have ended up with a very uncluttered card.

I am quite enarmoured with this background. What do you think?

Materials

Stamps: Rubber Poet Don Blanching DB - 12 - F

Inks: Adirondack Denim and Lettuce

Cardstock: Bazzill and Generic White

Other: Brayer, Water Mister

Wedding Card Number 2

Afternoon all,

Silver card is dodgy to photo. This is the best shot out of like 20 in all sorts of scenarios. I do have some funny sounding stuff on the camera menu which would most likely be what I want, but have lost interest in wading through all that stuff! I so do have to sit and fiddle with this new camera so I can see what it does!

I have cased my own card for our Rubber Bombshell's Challenge. I had to change two things...so colour and the way the ribbon was attached. See my pretty bow? I hate making bows. They never turn out...yeah....yeah I can hear you say. Well, this is one I recycled off the candles I picked up at the supermarket the other day. The bow was already done. ROFL!...but I can pass it off as my own now ;)

The materials list is the same as yesterday, apart from the silver card and that - I have no idea where I snaffled it!

I have done my daughter's order now, but still have to make me one to take to the wedding, myself...better make that two....I have a son who will think about it like two minutes before we get into the car!

Wedding Card Number 1

Afternoon everyone,

Ok ....I have been practising these punched circles. I saw this great tutorial on Becca's blog

http://www.amazingpapergrace.com/circle-frame-tutorial/

and immediately thought I would love to try that myself for a wedding card.

Now, am somewhat anal retentive and I can see some of my friends furiously nodding their collective heads! (cows...you know who you are!!!!)...Oh yes, back on task...so I had to fine tune the process after watching the video. Instead of placing the punch inside each set of lines, I lined up the inside tip of the heart and the bit where the heart dips in the centre at the top with the pencil line of each sector. This made each heart always the same distance apart. (I so don't like the near enough is good enough thing. I tend to not like the thing coz I KNOW it isn't quite right!)....as I said...anal!

I have raised both the scalloped circle pieces, added pearls in the spaces around the hearts and threaded ribbon through the bottom. This is a truly momochromatic card being only shades of purple.

I am actually quite chuffed with how it turned out and I am sure our niece Carly will love it, as Magella, my daughter asked me to make it for her to give her cousin. Both Carly and Magella are purple mad!

Materials

Stamps: Hero Arts CL268 Warmest Wedding

Inks: Adirondack Brights Purple Surf

Cardstock: Bazzill

Other: EK Success Heart Corner Punch, Cuttlebug and Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Kaiser Lavender Pearls, Purple Grosgrain and Purple Ribbon, DSFT, SU Ribbon Punch, Nestabilities Circles Scalloped and Straight

Celestial Twins

Hello everyone,

In a mad dash this afternoon as it is my DH's birthday and I am arranging a very special dinner for two. Typical....He has just rung to say he will be late. That extra bit of tractor work just has to be done today! Sigh!

I would like to share this little card using Rubber Poet's Celestial Twins. I have made the backgrounds using the bleeding tissue technique. When wetting down the tissue, I used gold Pearl Ex in my water spray, which gives a very subtle sparkle to the whole card. To keep the sparkle there, you do have to remember to spray the lot with workable fixative (otherwise it will merely wipe off!)

I gold embossed Penny Black L509H ...A Better One over the top of the dried tissue paper background. The twins are stamped in StazOn black and just for a little added interest I added two gold stars.

I tend to have a wet day every now and again and make a pile of these backgrounds, so I have plenty when I want to make up something quickly. I have learned also to make at least TWO lots of the same colour combinations...so you can stamp the image but also have a piece which could be used for layering purposes.

Aren't my twinnies gorgeous?

Double Embossing Engagement Card

I saw this great idea whilst checking out Split Coast today and just had to try it. Double embossing using the Cuttlebug folders. Yeah, Ok....It has been around, but I haven't really taken notice until today. It was interesting to try out and the results are actually really pretty! One thing I did do though, is to run the second embossing folder through the machine twice as I felt it wasn't distinct enough from the first pattern with just the one run through.

My card is a direct case of Susie B

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1229879?what=keywords&si=engagement


in that I have used the same folders and added pearls to the design. I have changed the colour scheme, ribbons and how the sentiment was attached.

My I just had the worst time trying to upload that photo!

Stamps By Judith Floral Hello

I so love playing with my Stamps by Judith stamps. Got a new lot in the mail last week. Seeing as I was seeing road lines in my sleep (with the endless trips to and from Mackay), I have not had a real chance to play with them....yet!

These ones I have had since I first saw her delightful interactive stumps being demoed at a stamping convention. The poor lass who was demoing them must have heartily become sick of my friends and I because we kept annoying her to do more, more, more...LOL!

All stamps used in this card apart from the wording are SBJ stamps. I used the bent leaf, the tiny flower and the dots to make up the card. I have no idea who manufactures the wording. I used Kaleidacolour Spectrum as my ink...Beautiful pads those. I thoroughly recommend ALL of them. The card is actually layered on to a white base...not that you can see it!

Best Blog Comment Award

It is really lovely to discover you have been bestowed such an award. I must thank Tenia

http://jazzypaper.blogspot.com/

who is a very inspiring stamper. Tenia is one of those ladies I really admire. I call them superwomen in my head coz they seem to get so much achieved whilst trying to manage a whole host of other activities. Anyway, Tenia's blog is more than worth the visit!

I would like to bestow this award on a couple of ladies who are always so encouraging and who regularly comment on nearly every card I post (I always look and really enjoy reading the comments!) I cannot link you all...as I have quite a few lovelies who do comment regularly. Please don't be offended if I miss you this time.

Jennie http://stampawaytheday.blogspot.com/

Stephanie http://stephaniesstampinspot.blogspot.com/

Christyne http://handstampedfromtheheart.blogspot.com/

Dawn http://mystampingthyme.blogspot.com/

Joanne http://sleepyinseattlestamps.blogspot.com/

Yuki http://xiumaiyuki.blogspot.com/

Scor Pal Play

Good morning everyone,

Here's a deceptively simple card for the day. I had good intentions of posting once every day this week, but my goal has been shot in the foot...or, shall we say, knee. DH's knee is the size of a football, causing us to spend yesterday in town chasing its problem. We have to return at lunch today for more tests.

Anyway, back to my card. I was playing with my Scor-Pal this morning, scoring up some backgrounds for future use, as one does. There are some lovely things out there using this great product and I am so excited that a metric one will soon be available to me. I actually DON'T use it to score my base card, as our card dimensions are slightly different to the US. I do, however, use it for a myriad of other things...like scoring this simple background.

I also used it to create the frame around the image. I reckon it jazzes up the card just nicely. The colours are ever so bright and cheery. I took this photo with my new camera outside in the blazing sunlight...Cool, eh?

Materials
Stamps: Hero Arts LL229 A Great Big
Inks: (Hey not one whiff of StazOn!) Stampin Up Taken with Teal
Other: Stampin Up Ribbon Punch, Paper Flowers, Large and Small Brads, Unknown Ribbon Source, Clear Diamantes

Paper Lantern Geishas

Evening everyone,

I have had a fine afternoon to myself, with DH having to attend an annual meeting. So, I revisited some of my Oriental stamps and played with the Paper Lantern Technique. The image is crimped after all the colouring is done. I think the crimping is a tad hard to see unless you click to enlarge the piccie.

Materials
Cardstock: Old Oriental pack from Way Back
Stamps: Stamp In Style Three Geishas
Inks: StayzOn Black, Archival Black
Other: Oriental Coin, Gold Cording, Paper Crimper, Prisma Pencils

CAS 03

Good evening!
Hello everyone,

I would like to share my very first challenge piece (not including stuff we do within the Blogging Groups, of course!)

I decided to give the Clean and Simple Challenges a whirl. Thanks to Maria

http://theinkystamper.blogspot.com/

for setting me along this path of creative encouragement! CAS makes you really think about your stamping and is a wonderful exercise in putting something together for maximum effect whilst using little material!

Beautiful cards can be achieved without zillions of layers. I believe I might visit with this challenge thread a fair bit in the future!

Materials
Stamps: Crafty Individuals CI148 Adele, Judikins Bolio
Inks: Colourbox Chalk Inks Creamy Brown & Dark Brown, Adirondack Cranberry, Encore Metallic Gold
Cardstock: Unknown Source
Other: Collections Stars, Unknown Ribbon Source

Previously Uninked Rubber

I was about to say good morning but glancing down at the time stamp on the computer says it is 12.11 on Sunday afternoon! Now where did THAT time go?

Ok, I had a little mission to use some uninked rubber for Sassy Stampers. I should not have opened that particular Pandora's box! I have so much rubber I need to make friends with soonest!

Anyway, here is a cheerful, summery card. It still feels like summer here, though we began autumn on the 1st of March. The days are still very hot. I have my air con on. I can only imagine how hot the ladies were back when they had to wear all those layers and they had no air con. My hubby says we don't breed them tough anymore. I say...Thanks very much, I prefer now!

Materials
Stamps: Wording from Impression Obsession Summer Fun Plate, Image from Pink Cat Studio Beach 1 Plate
Inks: StazOn Black
Card: Bazzill
Other: Prismas 917,1033, 929, 927, 913, 1016, 1040, 994, 1009, Odourless Mineral Solvent, Cuttlebug and Embossing Folder, Nestabilities Dies, Unknown Ribbon.

Jennie Case

Evening all,
I have completed one of my tasks set by the Sassy Stampers Blog Group I am on.

I had to case a card from another in our group. After much deliberation, I chose to case Jennie's Pink Digital Girl which she posted on Thursday 12th March

http://stampawaytheday.blogspot.com/

Jennie does such lovely work and I was totally inspired by this card even though I do not have any MFT stamps myself. The paper piecing was lovely as was the simple but very effective embellishments!

This Whipper Snapper stamp I recently made into an acetate card, looks totally different here paper pieced!

I do hope you like it Jennie!

Stamps: Whipper Snapper MW592 Umbrella and Slicker
Cardstock: Bazzill
Inks:StazOn Black Other: Prisma Pencils:- 943, 922, 923, 1040 and Odourless Mineral Solvent, DCWV Adhesive Paper Prints, Paper Flowers, Dimensional Magic, Liquid Pearls:- Petal Pink, Unknown Ribbon, Nestabilities Long Rectangle, Cuttlebug

Chalked Scene

Evening everyone,

Not the world's best piccie here. Tried scanning and it wouldn't show up the pretty gradients of colour. This photo is a teeny better. It really does look pretty IRL. Maybe nightime photography is not on?

I have made the background using pastel chalks and stamped Stampscapes Lakescene over the top along with the birds also from Stampscapes. I also put some black card through the Cuttlebug, punched the frames from it and attached it to the main image using the orange brads.

The technique was something I taught a lady very new to stamping this morning. I wanted something really easy to achieve and which won't cost her an arm or a leg to repeat when she gets home. I think that the lesson went over very well.

Enjoy and have a good one!

Flowers anyone?

Evening everyone!

Simple and sweet. This is a very OLD PB stamp....I have had it for quite a while now. I do not get it out much as it is fairly intensive in work. It takes a jolly long time to colour in!

I have used Prisma pencils with Odourless Solvent to colour and added some Kindy Glitz to the centre of the opened flowers to add a bit of zing.

Hope you like it!

Sundown in the Bush

Afternoon all!

I am still in the container of found UFO's. I brayered and stamped this image up whilst at Grace's House(waving to Gracie!) last year and it was duly lost until the other day! I love the way the brayering looks like the sun going down.

I am not really sure which Kaleidacolour pad I used and the stamp manufacturer is unknown to me too. The background stamp on the pink card is Lucy's Ageing Block 710LM (at least I know something, eh?)

I have raised the main image which looks much better IRL than having every part of the card flat. Isn't brayering a lovely way to infuse colour quickly into your artwork?

Serviette Rose

Afternoon ladies!

Here is another something I found whilst tidying! I had the serviette to the paper done but nothing else...Sad...so sad!

I had made the paper years ago and I am sure you will be able to see the texture if you click on the image! I have used Modge Podge to attach the rose serviette on the top of the paper and added a fine layer of Modge Podge on top of that to give it some real shine.

The only stamping with this card comes with the sentiment from Stampa Rosa C11-2320 which has been stamped with StazOn Saddle Brown. I tore the edges of the sentiment and layer to be in keeping with the main layer.I could go on a mission for a week or two to finish UFOs....How embarrassing to have so many!

A Very Appropriate Card!

Good morning all....

Here is another acetate card. This one almost found itself chucked. It is now a top opening card. I messed it up by scoring the side crooked. Then I tried to cover that mistake up by tucking it into a strip of card and weaving ribbon up the side. Yuck! Total waste of time! So, then I cut the whole scored bit off and nearly had the underarm action towards the bin in motion when it hit me that I could try a top opener. AND here we are.

The image is a Whipper Snapper (MW592 Umbrella and Slicker)....I wasn't aware a raincoat was a slicker...You learn something every day! I coloured the image in Prisma Pencils and odourless Solvent and added Dimensional Magic to the raindrops, parts of the brolly and the ground puddle. Add a bit of ribbon top and bottom (the bottom one is threaded through the two little holes punch by SU, and add a line of pearls (by Kaiser) and it is all done!

I added exactly the same layout as the nesties on the front to the inside...now there is a challenge for you...Keeping everything perfectly lined up while you are taping the two parts of the card together!!! Inside has the wonderful verse from PB that reads...A misty morning does not signify a cloudy day.

Checking In

Good morning everyone,

Well that nasty cyclone just whizzed on by without too much harm in our region. We are most thankful it stayed out to sea!!!!

Here is a card made last time I visited my friend Jackie (McGee). I love the layout of it as well as the "wedgewood" feel. I don't know if it was Jackie's original idea or if she found it somewhere else, so can go no further with acknowledgements.

The stamp used is from Lucy's Stamps. The ink is Colourbox Chalk Inks. The patterned paper is from an unknown source (found scraps).

Guess what I did yesterday????? All day yesterday????? I have so much "stuff"!!!! I cleaned and tidied my "dungeon" aka my stamping room. (Remember I was on a de-moulding mission....No mould in my stamping room because I keep it closed off in inclement weather, but wanted to give the whole house a once over!). I still have to go through the mounds of scrap card, paper and images and try and put them in some sort of order in the hopes I might use them one day. Order will mean a better chance that this will happen!

Tidying up your stuff is always good because you come across stuff you had totally forgotten about. Not a bad exercise in all. I spotted something I want to play with later and found the rest of my alphabet moulds I was missing.

Battening Down

Hi everyone,

We are on cyclone warning here today! A wonderful day ahead! I think this one will probably pass. (Hope so anyway, as it is now category 5, the worst!) We are all hoping like mad, that the destructive winds will be at a minimum! Our cane is already extremely wet and it will not take much wind to lodge it (make it fall over).

I am so lucky! I have been honoured with another blog award by Tangii http://www.tangiink.com/ . I have popped the award in my sidebar on the left.

I would like to direct you to some great blogs:

Nancy http://southernyankeecrafter.blogspot.com/ Nancy does some really lovely stuff
Michelle http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/ oh such yummy brayering and sponging!
Janette http://stampinwithstyle.blogspot.com/ scummilicious
Jami http://jami.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/ oh so interesting

There are so many out there that are fine blogs, but these will give a fine start on the eye candy!

Wonder if I can sneak off and stamp....Better plant the idea into hubby's head that he would love to read the day away!

Cockatoo Alert

Materials

Stamps: Print blocka SMJ10 Cockatoo, Hero Arts LP121 Bird Greetings

Inks: Adirondack Eggplant

Cardstock: Unknown, Basic Grey Papers

Other: Prisma Pencil 917, Piercing tools, Nestabilities Rectangles and Ovals Sets, White Gel Pen

Afternoon everyone,

Just a quick card today, as I am still in cleaning mode. I found a stash of Basic Grey papers and decided to use those. Very pretty shades of colour in Basic Grey stuff! I bought these papers over two years ago in Melbourne, so really they were in need of snipping! The cockatoo stamp is one of my oldest. Cockatoos are all white except for the feathers on their head. A raucous bird but I like them! (Better than the noisy little kookaburras who sit on the electricity wires before dawn to entertain us!)

Celebrate the Day

Hi everyone,

I am sharing a card made a while ago with you tonight as I have not been stamping the last couple of days. I have, however, been gainfully occupied de-moulding our house now it has stopped raining! I am so over cleaning...but not even half way through! So wish I had a cleaning lady....oh that's right, momentarily forgot I am not rich enough for a cleaning lady...drats, drats, drats! Where IS that winning Lotto ticket when you need it?

Hero Arts stamps have been used throughout and also the fastenater! Lovely little toy, that one! Simple brayering (Kaleidacolour) with the image stamped twice, ending up with the middle bit raised. Diamantes adorn the floral border.

Hope you are all having a grand week!

Please Vote in Our Challenge

It would be lovely, if you have the time, to come on over and vote in our current challenge. The link is here http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=r3FoHiBqy9a4_2fgsqatTsGA_3d_3d . It would be great if we had lots of people from outside our group give their opinion.

Thanks for that!
Michelle

Blog Award

Hi there,

My apologies to Carisa http://ladyguineveresinkyfaeries.blogspot.com/ and also to Susan http://susansstampingblog.blogspot.com/ in taking so long to attend to the lovely honour bestowed upon me! Both ladies so kindly thought of this award for me!!! How lucky is that? I could say I am slack...and that would be part of it, I guess....but many other factors have come in to play as well. However, now I am fixing this up!

So here's how it works:
1. The winner may put the logo on their blog. Tick
2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award. Tick
3. Nominate 5 blogs. Tick
4. Put links to their blogs. Tick
5. Leave a message for your nominees. Tick

Here are the blogs I nominate in no particular order (hard to choose just 5):
1. Michelle http://sassy-n-sweet.blogspot.com/ I know it is a new blog but I think Michelle is a lovely stamper!
2. Louise http://www.punknscrap.com/ who lives across the ditch always has something pretty to gander at.
3.Becky http://www.sketchandstashchallenge.blogspot.com/ looks like a sketch blog that may be good to keep as a reference.
4.Linda http://lindaduke.typepad.com/ excellent in helping to learn to colour
5.Ilina http://ilinacrouse.blogspot.com/ always gorgeous work from Ilina. I don't know how she manages with all the study and being married as well! Hat's off to this young lady!

Sassy Stampers Acetate Challenge

Materials

Stamps: Inkadinkado 97633 Floral Flourishes, Darkroom Door DDRS004 Full Bloom Vol 2

Inks: StazOn Opaque Butter Cream

Cardstock: Generic White Card, Liz Zed Marbled Paper

Other: Acetate, Cream Brads, Cream Grosgrain, Crop o Dile

This card was made for the Sassy Stampers challenge. The base of the card is fully acetate. I have lined the inside with marbled paper and white generic cardstock. I scored half an inch in on the acetate and the marbled paper so the card would open freely to the white card where a sentiment can be placed.

I love stamping on acetate, especially with the StazOn Opaque inks. They are just so divine!....Not to mention, easy peasy!!!! Hope you like this card and come along to vote tomorrow! I will post a link to where you can see our efforts with acetate. It will be worth a look see, I am sure!

Birthday Book

Good evening all!

I finished off a birthday book which is destined to go in a parcel to my SIL tomorrow. This book was made from scratch and uses the Stampendous Agapanthus stamp which I adore!

I alternated grosgrain and coloured paper on every other page. Besides the date page which you can see, I also have added a sheet to the back of each tag which features bulleted notes.

For added strength, I used bookbinding cloth on the spine, which was a funny colour olive. I fixed that by inking it up with black StazOn.

I think these books make great little presents which should last for years to come.

What do you think?

Hope Your Day Shines

Hi all,

I haven't been able to stamp today, but thought I would share this one, made some time ago. I love this Hero Arts stamp. I steered away from cutesy colours just to see how it would turn out. I work so much with the maroons/pinks/purples that is sometimes nice to work outside the comfort zone. I was pretty chuffed with the way it all panned out!

All in Purple!

Evening people! I made this one up whilst watching CSI and CSI Miami tonight.

I love the colour purple!!! This is not quite monochromatic, but almost there! The image is one of the quirky ladies by Eclectic Images and the raised wording is from Stampin Up.

Hope you enjoy looking!

I Am Back!

Materials

Stamps:Hero ArtsE3742 Baby Bib

Cardstock: Bazzill

Inks: StazOn Timber Brown

Other: Prisma Pencils 1016 Pink Rose, 914 Cream, Odourless Mineral Solvent, Paper Stumps, Pink Brads, White Cord, Feet Embellishment, DCWV Text Prints - The Paper Stack, Magenta Pink Gingham, Kaiser Blushed P257 Devotion, Glitter Glue, Paper Piercer and Template

Well firstly, apologies for my absence. I have been fighting pneumonia. Not back to normal yet, but at least I am no longer in bed all day!

I owe a baby card to one young couple in our area who had their baby girl at the end of last month, so I thought that the baby one had to be first in my long line of things I have to make as of yesterday! I just had the dad in question come to the house, but no way was he getting the card before I scanned it in!

I have owned this little bib for yonks but have not used it. I am not really into baby cards as a rule. Though, it seems everyone around me is having babies, making me do them more often in the last twelve months than I have in the last 10 years!

Can't promise anything, but I DO hope to slowly get back into the swing of things over the next week.

Glittery Butterflies Again

Materials
Stamps: Stamp It siset010 Butterfly Sheet, Hero Arts CL139 Birthday Messages, Amazing Creations Shadow Rectangle
Inks: Kaleidacolour Riviera, StazOn Black
Cardstock: Prisma Green, Bazzill Black, Floral Green Vellum, White Matt Unknown
Other: Small Ric Rac, Glitter Glue (Crystal), Brayer, Cuttlebug Dots Embossing Folder, Cuttlebug, paper Piercer

Good morning people,

I am going to quickly post this card and then turn the computer off! Another slightly different version of my glitter card. Enjoy!

Glittery Butterflies

Materials

Stamps: Stamp It siset010 Butterfly Sheet, Hero Arts C3891 Best Girlfriend, Amazing Creations Shadow Rectangle

Inks: Kaleidacolour Riviera, StazOn Black

Cardstock: Prisma Green, Bazzill Black, Floral Green Vellum, White Matt Unknown

Other: Brads, Small Ric Rac, Glitter Glue (Crystal), Brayer, Stampin Up Tearing Ruler

Afternoon all,

It surely has been a sobering couple of days with the death toll steadily rising in Victoria from those dreadful fires. No way can I imagine the absolute horror of experiencing such a firestorm! It is heartwrenching to see that level of destruction and loss, both human and animal. The most devastating thing about the whole thing is that it was deliberately lit! One can only hope they catch the arsonist/s, tie them to an ant's nest and walk away!!!!

I decided to brighten the day with colour. Here is sample of a card I am working on for a glitter card challenge. I wasn't in the mood for all out glitter ...as it takes me weeks to eliminate just one little session of that stuff, so I resorted to the good old glitter glue. I used it to highlight the swirls amongst all the butterflies. I had to take the photo side on as the glitter was really flashing out the whole card...but trust me...it IS there!

More Simple Brayering

Good afternoon fellow stampers!

I will come back and edit the recipe for this card later tonight...but for now, I will just post the card.

Using the brayer one more time, I whipped up this very simple card. My daughter already wants to relieve me of it....I suspect because it features the colour purple. It is one of the first things I learned using gloss card, Versamark, Kaleidacolour and a brayer and still appeals to me many, many years later. I think it definitely would qualify for the clean and simple category! What do you think?

Brayer Bouncing

Evening all,

Just a quick post tonight. This card shows off the Brayer Bouncing technique using Kaleidacolour Flannel dye ink, with a Penny Black flower and Hero Arts wording. It is a quick and easy background made with gloss card. It is Saturday here and I have spent the day in the company of my daughter, Magella, shopping in Mackay. Am really tired now and looking just to blob somewhere in the cool! Catch you tomorrow!

Madras Stamping with one of My Favourite Stamps!

Materials

Stamps: Rubber Poet Mazza of the Moon, Lucy's Word

Inks: Kaleidacolour Blue Breeze, StazOn Black

Cardstock: Prisma Blue,White Gloss Card, Bazzill Blackberry and Unknown Mauve

Other: Teal Grosgrain, Teal Brads, Hardware, Cuttlebug and Swiss Dots Folder, Dimensional Magic, Ultra Fine Micro Beads, Kwik Sheets Sticky Paper, Brayer

Evening people,

Here is my card from last night, as promised. I absolutely love this Rubber Poet stamp. I have had her for many years, but she has always stamped superbly and is great for showing off techniques.

In this case, I have been playing with the brayer and using the Madras technique, which I think is a wonderful tech for getting pretty colour on your gloss card. I believe the brayer is an under-utilised tool in our armoury because it sure comes up trumps with backgrounds.

This one should really be seen in person as the photo doesn't show it properly. I have covered Mazza with a full layer of ultra fine clear micro beads, giving the whole thing a "wet" look. I also filled the embellishment up with Dimensional magic so it would have the "wet" look too!

I think I am pleased with how she turned out.

Mad On Yellow Part 2

Materials

Stamps: Hero Arts Clear Stamps CL140 Thinking of You Messages

Inks: StazOn Black

Cardstock: Prisma Yellow, Bazzill Raven, Yes White

Other: Ribbon, Kaiser Gems, Stampin Up Tearing Ruler Tombow 055 Canary Yellow

Afternoon all,

Here is another very yellow card. I don't normally work much with yellow, but I do love this lovely bright shade. I find it very cheerful and very eyecatching!

It is sooooo wet here now. Nearly bogged the car getting out of the driveway this morning! In this weather, one has to be super careful with one's stamping stuff. I close off my room. Windows remain closed and I keep the door closed too. The less moisture the better for all that cardstock and pretty paper. I am already half there as I keep the card in plastic bags...deters the dratty little geckos from pooing all over it!

Now, you can really feel the "dankness" in the air. It sure doesn't look like letting up any time soon...But hey, better the rain than the heatwave the poor buggers down south are copping!

Mad on Yellow Part 1

Materials
Stamps: Hero Arts Clear Stamps CL140 Thinking of You Messages
Inks: StazOn Black
Cardstock: Prisma Yellow, Bazzill Raven, Yes White
Other: Ribbon, Kaiser Gems, Tombow 055 Canary Yellow, 985 Orange Yellow, Marvy Markers11 Light Green

I have changed the image to a photo. It has come out better than the scan but IRL, it is really a canary yellow...very bright.

I love Prisma cardstock for its vibrancy and as a little change to the usual Bazzill I use. This card isout of 2008's Hero Arts catalogue. I just changed the colours and ribbon but the design remains very similar.

I have decided this set from Hero Arts is quite versatile and am very pleased I have it!...oh and now it is no longer in the uninked pile!!!! Brownie points for Shell!!!!

Must see Demo

I was visiting Louise's http://www.punknscrap.com/ great site when I came across a post referencing the sharpening of punches. Now sharpening punches has been a royal pain in times past, but this lady, http://lindastamps.wordpress.com/2008/11/09/stampbusters-sharpening-your-punches-with-soda-cans/ has an interesting way of attacking it! Worth a go if your punch is at death's door...Nothing to lose, and hey, it really does look like it works.

I have been blog hopping all morning doing some catching up since I had the busiest of weekends ...beginning on Friday, and intend to post something this afternoon!

Stay tuned.