Life Is....

Evening all,

Just a quick post tonight showing a gorgeous image and sentiment from Darkroom Door.

The background behind the bike was made with alcohol inks on gloss card.

The striped piece at the back is the waxy Cuttlebug technique.

I have my new camera. Now to work out how to use the jolly thing! so...NOOO...I won't be showing off world class photos ....just yet...It's a wee daunting to tell the truth, but I am determined to master it. I almost had conniptions today when checking out how much I needed to transfer over to wipe out my CC for the month. I saw this figure from Harvey Norman...and thought!...Wait...I haven't bought any big ticket items from Harvey Norman...What the heck is this??...Then the penny dropped...I bought the camera....Phew! BEFORE I rang the bank! That would not have been pretty...Image of Michelle trying to crawl back out of the embarrassment hole....

All booked to go to stamp camp now. Looking forward to a weekend with Jeanette Trappett as the tutor. (Best pack lots of wine!) Looking more forward to annoying my mate Grace for a whole two weeks...And looking forward to having my hubby join us, albeit, for one weekend.

Drunk Flowers

I found a scrap of background, so quickly whizzed this gorgeous Hero Arts stamp on to it and layered it up.

Still falling into the CAS range, I think.

The scan seems to make it look like it is smudged, bit IRL it isn't.

Having a few shadow stamps on your collection is great for showing off pretty backgrounds. I think this one lends itself to the alcohol inks just nicely. What do you reckon?

More Non Traditional Xmas

Good morning people on this fine, hot Monday!

Here is another non traditional Xmas card I had almost finished for the last couple of days! I have used an alcohol ink background, stamped in StazOn over the top with one of Stamp It's gorgeous Xmas range (with the little wording from TAC) and buffed to a shine using Judikins Micro Glaze. (I love that stuff!)

The background stamping is using one of the fabulous Darkroom Door stamps from Rachel's Reindeer set (This set is sooo versatile!)

I ended up having to take the piccie on the side as my camera has conniptions when trying to take gloss card, but I am sure you still get the idea of the card, even so!

Ladies Ink Challenge Non Traditional Xmas

Hello everyone!

Here is my challenge card for November...I DID have it done Sunday, but life intervened and I couldn't get it up here on to the blog sooner.

Our mission for November was, as suggested in the title of this post, to create a non traditional Xmas card....meaning in particular....NO RED OR GREEN.

Here is my effort....I used alcohol inks to create the background, stamped one of the gorgeous Stamp It Xmas stamps in StazOn over the top. I used micro glaze over this which I buffed off to give the shiniest finish.

The dry embossing was achieved using an Impressibilities die with Brilliance Gold swiped over the top. Finishing elements are a diamante brad from Finishing Touch Ideas and the tab at the side punched from a SU punch and stamped with a TAC tiny stamp.

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.

House Mouse Happy Birthday

Afternoon all,

Today, I have a House Mouse Birthday card to share with you. I have coloured the image with Prisma pencils and blended them with Odourless Mineral Solvent.

The really yummy background you can see is made with alcohol inks and glossy cardstock....very more-ish! The little sentiment was the thing which gave me grief with this card, as I had trouble deciding on one which was the right size for the card AND which also would fit in the word window punch by SU.

And you can see I have located my distressing tool...which meant I HAD to use it. I have now taken to hanging it from my work chair. I will just see how long it takes me to misplace it!

A Card Kit

Hi ladies. I am back into the swing of things today! I finished off a card kit begun at the Paperarts Expo in Brisbane a couple of weeks ago.

These were all stamped up in an absolute flurry in an hour's class by Michelle of Michelle's Cards and Stamps (NOT me) http://www.michellescardsandstamps.com.au/ . I finally put them all together this morning....not quite as per instructions, but near enough.

Now, I don't normally finish off stuff half done in classes but I was quite taken with the stamps from Darkroom Door http://shop.darkroomdoor.com/catalogue/c4 (Reindeer Set).

I had just attended a camp with the owner of Darkroom door as the tutor, so I felt it was a natural follow on to make these up :). They are a great set of cards using a fabulous stamp set.

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

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

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

Flower Day 1

Materials:

Stamps:StampIt Antique Flower Trio

Cardstock: Kromecote Gold, Bazzill Blue, Gloss

Inks: Gold Encore Metallic

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

Hi there everyone,

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