Calendar Page 2012

MMmmmmm...I couldn't capture the crisp white of the card!

Inspiration for this came directly from the Hero Arts DVD. Not a bad get if you are interested in presenting your stuff in different ways.

There are a variety of stamp companies used for this:

SU- Sanded, Sense of Time, Hero Arts- CL 476 (Flower),

Stamp It- siset007mc, Unknown 52001 Monarch Flourishes

Inks: Hero Arts Shadow Ink- soft Purple

Hero Arts Chalk Ink - Iris

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.

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!

Traditional Xmas

Hello there,

Here is a more traditionally coloured Xmas card!!!!! I think if you click on it, you will see it better. I had troubles again because of the glittering...with the H2O's and glitter glue. I will have to investigate a way around this problem, though I do not have the time nor energy to do so right now.

Stamps Used: Stamp It Holly Swirls 3878E....and I am guessing the wording is Hero Arts?? It is a clear stamp and belongs to a set. I had thought PB, but could not find the set online....Doofus, I am!

Am still loving the Cuttlebug and its great versatility! The Nesties are a dream come true for getting proper shapes without trimming the card to nothingness and their best selling point to me is that I can use them in the Bug!

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.

A Little bit of the old Xmas Feeling

Hi all,

Here is a little card based on something I saw in a Penny Black catalogue.

The holly is by PB, the sentiment by Stamp It Australia and the berries by me....I punched it out of left over rubber coz I couldn't find anything small enough to do the job I wanted it to do!

The little shadow stamp I have had for many years and do not remember where I acquired it...sorry! I used Colourbox Chalk Inks and StazOn Black for the colour and jazzed it up a little with Hero Arts bling.

Blue Joy

Hello everyone,

I made this little card on Sunday, but as yesterday was filled with a great day teaching Xmas cards, I haven't been able to upload it any sooner!

The stamp used is a Stamp It stamp, once more. They have sooo many gorgeous stamps to choose from and are a firm favourite with me. Card used is Bling by Bazzill and some vellum... an unknown source, I am afraid. I have added the two binding pieces to anchor the vellum as I find vellum spray adhesive as useful as tits on a bull in these parts...the humidity does it in really quickly and your vellum parts ways with your base card quicker than greased lightning! I also anchored the featured embossed wording with a beautiful bling brad...wasn't going to allow the piece to detach, no matter what!!!!

I am currently learning how to create a website and that is eating up a fair bit of my time...and will for the next couple of weeks. I am trying to keep abreast of everything!!!!! Please bear with me....funny saying that, when you think about it!

Xmas Acetate

Evening all!

Here is a very quick Xmas card. I have used a Bazzill red base card with a Kaiser Paper overlay and finally an acetate layer which has been stamped in black StazOn ink. PHEW!!!!!! Say that three times backwards! Studio G stamp...hohoho....was stamped in Cotton White StazOn on black Bazzill and used to cover the acetate join to the DP. The main image is a Stamp It stamp...from one of their UM Xmas sets.

Here's hoping you all had an enjoyable day!

More Xmas Traditional This Time!

Remember me?

What a blitz of a week. I came down with a migraine on Monday afternoon which has ruled everything since then. Definitely no stamping done in that time.

But I am back on deck after calling everything quits for the rest of the time.

I am playing with my new Photoshop Elements 7. I am going to need lots of encouragement to keep having a go at this. Christyne...You PROMISED it was easy! I am going a bit ga-ga here.

I have managed to get this one uploaded, though, so brownie points to Shell! (It is an awfully BIG file ... like over 900kb)

I am hoping the next week will bring lots more production from me...fingers crossed!

Secret Sister Card for September 2009

Hi there,

This is my very first picture through Photoshop Elements 7 !!!!!!!!!! I think I have a ways to go in the learning curve but I couldn't resist trying it out.

This card was made for a Secret Sister programme (I am pretty sure the intended recipient does not know about my blog!). The requirements were to use one or more of the following: paisleys/swirls/flourishes....monochromatic....and/or a piece through the Cuttlebug. I had great intentions of doing all three just for the heck of it...but as I was constructing ....I felt I had to stop before getting to the Cuttlebug.

I have used the gorgeous Stamp It stamps for the flourishes and swirls on the background piece and for the butterfly and worked with tones of blue throughout. The wording is from Hero Arts. I thought the little bit of ribbon with the swirl pattern suited pretty well so I added it too....raised the butterflies with pop dots and added a few diamantes for effect.

I have spent most of my day becoming up to date with the farm accounts. Tomorrow we are going to town to pick up my new double oven, check out the kitchen plans and maybe pick out the cooktop and rangehood. Tuesday, I have designated to stamp...so nobody better interrupt that thought pattern!!!!!!

Have a good one!

September Challenge for Ladies, Ink Part 3

Here is the third and last challenge for my blogging group this month!

This card is very similar to one I found in one of the Stamp It catalogues. I wanted to see if it looked as good IRL as in the catalogue, mainly because with a little tweaking it could become a good base for all my Xmas cards! The stamp used, of course, is by Stamp It. The cardstock is Bazzill and the DP is Kaiser.

My apologies for my absence. I have been taking time out camping with my family. September is such a lovely time to camp....read here....1. In September I do not usually get carried away by sandflies, so I don't mind going....and 2. The oppressive heat hasn't quite settled yet.

Again, we saw some whales breaching and playing in the shallows not 600 metres away from our little tinny. It is quite special to see these glorious animals in the wild. Also saw heaps of huge sea turtles, a few sharks on the end of our lines and a few good sized grunter ....yum...yum! We only scored the one mud crab......I have a couple of photos of where we went, but I do need to do some stuff around the house before I can sit to edit and upload.

September Challenge for Ladies, Ink Part 2

Good morning everyone,

Here is my second part of the September Challenge. I have used the same stamp as yesterday - Stamp It Xmas stamp (Christmas Round 3681F) as the focus. This time, I pulled out a very old technique, so simple as to be silly!

Did you think I MADE that background?.... Well, I did...but NOT how you might think!

NOPE! I merely put rice paper on to cold laminate (on the sticky side, of course!). ...AKA The Cold Laminate Technique...anyone remember this one, from years ago?? Then I stamped the image with StazOn black ink. I did stamp the image three times, to get all the layering done and added some Kaiser diamantes to the middle.

Again, I have ventured away from the "normal" Xmas colours and really, I am enjoying the trip. Now, the question is....Will I do a traditional one for tomorrow??????

September Challenge for Ladies, Ink Part 1

Good morning everyone,

Here is the first part of a three part challenge for September with the Ladies, Ink Blogging Group. This month we are to make 3 Xmas cards......So, here is my first one! Very non-traditional. I reckon this one would look pretty in the usual Xmassy colours too, but I wanted to try it in something different!

What do you think?I have used a gorgeous StampIt Xmas stamp here (Christmas Round 3681F) which I have stamped multiple times in order to get all the layering. The Merry Xmas in the middle is raised with dimensionals. The paper is by Kaiser as are the fancy brads and the little buckle by Finishing Touch Ideas. The grosgrain ribbon, I think is SU. The rest is Bazzill. I laid the card on a blue background so you could see the white base card clearly, just for the photo opportunity!

For anyone who is interested and cannot source any of these things, I do sell them :). Just whizz off an email and I can see if I can help you out.

My Trial Wallet

Evening ladies,

Well, I tracked down the magnetic tape so I could finish off my trial wallet here. Now I am confident in the process, I will make another couple. I really like them....probably because they are just that something a little different to the norm.

This wallet features faux stitching...lots of faux stitching (using a glitter gel pen)! I have stamped StampIt Dotty Mesh as the background and Hero Arts A Great Big Hug as the wording on the front of the wallet. Everything was stamped and sponged using Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue.

What do you think?

Blinky Bill

Morning ladies,

Bright, early and a little chilly here.

Here is an image (Blinky Bill from Stamp It Australia)I found all neatly coloured in with gel pens which I finally mounted to card last night during my "free" time. The distressing tool used on the layers really does suit Blinky Bill, don't you think and gel pens are just wonderful with cork. I have tried lots of other things but gel pens rule!

The little sentiment is from a great set made by TAC. It is great because all the wording is little which is sometimes a bit of a hard job to find.

Antique Friend

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

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

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.