Apr 27, 2011

Sew Suite Dress Forms

It isn't often I make a card I really like...but I do like this one...the Sew Suite set is fast becoming one of my favourite sets just because of all the fun things you can do with it. I have made the punch art flowers with Boho Bossoms adding a few pearls here and there. The colours I chose are Wild Wasabi, Bashful Blue and Perfect Plum

Apr 26, 2011

Brayered Aussie Card

I hate this card, it looks like a cheap souvinir you would buy in Surfers Paradise lol...But it's for a challenge on Late Night Stampers...a patriotic card...and since I have no patriotic stamps I had to think outside of the box. I drew a rough map of Australia and cut it out and used the negative space to brayer the background with Marina Mist for the sky and Cajun Craze for the red soil. I then stamped the trees from Lovely as a Tree in staz on...this card has already found a new home..one of my regular class ladies snagged it out of the bin and  is sending it overseas...whew! lol

Apr 25, 2011

Punched Poppies Centre Step Card




Since it's ANZAC Day I thought it would be fitting to do something with poppies which are associated with rememberance. I totally winged this one by looking at  a photo of a poppy and trying to create one with circles...this is how I did it if you are interested..
Start by roughly cutting out three circles with a diameter of approx 2 inches. Spritz the circles on both sides with water then one by one roll them up, unroll and then rub each one between the palm of your hands. You rub them until you can carefully seperate each circle into two pieces..you will end up with 6 circles, enough to make two poppies. Punch a one inch circle from black card and snip all the way around  creating a fringe.


Layer three of your large circles with the black circle in the middle then pierce a hole in the centre of all the layers and attach a black brad. Then you just "fluff up' all the layers. To finish my card I hand cut some stems, buds and leaves..Lest We  Forget.

Awash With Flowers....again!

Another plain and simple card using this set...I went bright using Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight and Marina  Mist on a white background...love these three colours together...the stamp a ma jig gets a real workout with this set!

Apr 24, 2011

Awash With Flowers

I was lucky enough to earn two free stamp sets during Sale a Bration and since Awash With Flowers has been on my wish list FOREVER it was the first set I chose. There are so many little bits and pieces in this set, so much fun to play with! For this card I used Bridal Blush and Pear Pizzazz. I stamped the leaves wrong twice!! Pays to check if the stamp is the right way up lol

Apr 21, 2011

Baby Boy Card

Can you tell  I love the bonds suit from the "A Slice of Life"set?...I should have let my colouring dry before I applied the crystal effects...the red hearts have bled a little..never mind...kinda cheeses me off though, when the last thing you do to a card is the thing that buggars up the whole card!

Apr 20, 2011

Sew Suite

To be honest, when I saw this set in the mini catalogue I had no intention of buying it...don't really know anyone in to the whole sewing bizzo...but I caved (pfft! don't I always!!) and now I think its AWESOME! I loved playing around with this card, so many fun elements ..and the Sweet Buttons Embosslits go so well with it...I showed this card to some customers who said they would have never considered this set but it's now on their wishlist...the only bummer is I don't have any stamps that say "sew" so I had to write that bit by hand...but it was SEW easy..lol! And that pom pom trim???? Yes please, I want it in Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie as well!

Apr 19, 2011

Slice of Life Baby Card

The little Bonds suit in the "A Slice of Life" set (mini catty level one set) is soooo cute!! For this card I embossed the base with Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder. I sponged the circle in pretty in pink and stamped the suit with Staz On which I then coloured with a pretty in pink marker, then applied Crystal Effects. A satin bow and some punched flowers and leaves finished it off...blue one next!

While you are here I received a Leibster blog award from Debbie Lamb from Deb's Stampin Style. Debbie is from NZ and has a fantastic blog which you really need to visit...so may beautiful projects...I have never been to New Zealand but if I ever get the chance I shall pop in and say hi...I don't eat much lol! Thanks for thinking of little old me!
The idea behind the award is to draw attention to new blogs, or blogs with fewer than 300 followers. I had to choose just three and pass the award along.. it has taken me ages!!!!!!!!!
So here are my three
Helen Williams...  she sent me some lovely brayered cards when I was collecting for the Agape Childrens Home! Thankyou Helen
http://www.craftyhelen.blogspot.com/
Kris Mc Intosh...she has left some lovely comments on my blog, thankyou Kris. Please pop over to Kris's blog she has some amazing stuff
Angie Brown...my upline..and now responsible for my addiction!

Apr 17, 2011

Extreme Guitar Spotlight

I am actually supposed to be cleaning up the monumental mess in my craft room...but instead I  have been playing around with my brayer again...not there yet but on my way lol

Apr 16, 2011

Punch Art Ballerina Mouse

I was asked to make a card for a little girls 4th birthday. She loves dancing so I went with that theme..this started out as a teddy bear but it  looked more like a mouse so I added a tail lol..very simple to make using 1 3/8 circles punch, word window, 3/4 circle punch, 1/2 inch circle

Easter Bunny Punch Art Treat Card



I wanted to make an Easter card for each of my three little grand daughters using these cute chocolate carrots I found at the shops...the punch art bunny was inspired by some Easter packaging on some other Easter goodies I bought... I have used 1 3/4 circle punch, small, large and wide ovals and 1/2 inch circles for the eyes...don't think the carrots will last long!
To make the bunny
The head is a 1 3/4 circle punch. To make the ears punch two large ovals and trim them so they are narrower at one end. Punch two small ovals in pink and trim  them so they are also narrower at one end. layer the pink ovals on the large ovals behind the top of the head. To make her arms punch two wide ovals. Trim a little off the bottom of each one and trim each side making it narrower one end. Add pen detail. Stick one of the arms behind the bottom of the head (wide end at bottom). Punch another wide oval for the body and stick it behind the head and the arm. Use a template to cut out an oval then use scissors to cut jagged edges across the ovals width. Place the punch art bunny behind the oval leaving his arm to hang over the sides. Use glue dots to attach the chocolate carrot (or a punch art one) then glue the second arm behind the carrot wrapping it around to the front and attaching with another glue dot. His muzzle was made using a one inch circle punch trimmed top and bottom, rounding the corners. I used a stamp for his mouth but you could draw that by hand. The nose is the heart from the Owl Punch. The eyes are 1/2 inch circles punched in white with 1/4 inch circles punched in black for the pupils. The eye lids are 1/2 inch circles punched in half. I have added lashes with black pen. The colours used are naturals Ivory for the bunny with Blushing Bride for the pink bits. Everything was inked before assembly. Clear as mud!

Apr 14, 2011

Extreme Surfer Brayered Card

As I mentioned yesterday, I am trying to master the brayer. I tried to case this extreme surfer card by Sharon Field here but mine was looking nothing like it! However when I look at it today it really doesn't look that bad..apart from my horizon line being too high, the sunrays too wide and too long, the bodgey fingerprint in the top corner that I tried to cover up with a naff looking sun, the wave behind the surfer which resembles a big blue blob, and my waves too pale...but apart from that lol....I will NOT give up, I am going to practice til I wear my brayer out!

Brayered Motorcycle Card


I had another go at brayering yesterday...I need to practice, practice, practice because I just can't get it to look right...this is the motorcylce stamp which is in the new aussie mini catalogue...First I brayered the background with So Saffron at the top and Always Artichoke along the bottom. Then I made a large circle mask and sponged around it with Peach Parfait. I tore some paper and rebrayered the bottom with Early Expresso. The motorbike was stamped with Versamark and embossed with black powder. I highlighted the chrome with a white gel pen. I added the bliss stamp in the top corner...buggared that up , it should have been higher.

I coloured the mudguards with a More Mustard marker, added some white gel pen accents and gave it a coat of crystal effects. I guess it's ok...Before I made this one I had a go at casing one of Sharon Field's cards but it looked nothing like hers! That's when I decided I was better off just trying to come up with my own simple design. One day I vow to get the hang of this lol...How about you, have you had a go at brayering yet?

Apr 12, 2011

Concord Crush Floral Card

Just a simple card today...I just got one of the 6 x 6 designer series paper pads (level one hostess set). The papers are so pretty and since I have all the level one sets now I will be stocking up on these from now on. The stamp set I used is Hello Again?? eek not sure about that and my catalogue is out in my stamping room and I can't be bothered to check...anyways it's a simple card that takes under 5 minutes...my kind of card lol

Apr 11, 2011

Fancy Flower Punch Card

I made this card for challenge 116 over at Late Night Stampers...this weeks challenge is to use flowers. I have punched three XL Fancy Flowers and spritzed them with water, scrunched and crumpled them then added a brad to the centre. The bud was made by using just one flower and after spritzing it I just rolled it up. The small leaves are from the XL Bird punch and the larger leaves are hand cut. The white background was embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder and I have added a row of pearls under teh designer paper (level one hostess set). The quote is from the stamp set Every Moment.

Apr 9, 2011

Angels For The Forgotten

I first heard about this charity when my niece Bec put a link on Facebook. I went over and had a look and thought maybe our stamp club could do something to help. For those who don't know Angels For The Forgotten are dedicated to making a real and tangible impact in the lives of the thousands of children who live in out-of-home care or crisis accommodation each year, through provision of special care packages, resources, information, services and support. Please take a look here
I contacted Melina Skidmore who is their CEO, to ask if they would like some home made cards for the kids and she said yes please...so that is how our little collection started. Stampin" Up! kindly donated supplies and we had a charity card making day. Unfortunately I chose a lousy day as most of my class ladies had things to do on that day (it was short notice) but our small group still managed to make over 200 cards on that day...thankyou to Katrina who travelled all the way from NSW  to come and help, Christine, who also spent many hours helping me prepare card packs, Brooke, Emily and my daughter Ebony who helped out in the afternoon...thankyou so much ladies, the cards are beautiful...and here they are

I will arrange another card making day when time permits. We also set up a collection point for if any of my class ladies would like to donate some items for the care packages...wowsers..I never expected such generosity...we only have around 25 in our group so to receive so many items in such a short time just astounds me. Thankyou to each and every one of you..to those who brought along items, to a certain few shop a holics (won't mention names, you know who you are), to family members who also donated items, to my sister in law Nic who sewed a box full of little skirts and shorts, to Joan who made beautiful drawstring bags, to my brother who sacrificed all the toys he won in skilltester machines (lol, he's nearly 60 but it was hard to let go!) to the ladies who have knitted and will be knitting for future donations, to my daughter Jodie who is arranging delivery of the goods and to Cindy and the girls at Kaisercraft Robina who held their own charity card making day...thankyou thankyou thankyou. !!! Below are a few pictures of other donated items



Art, craft and school supplies..colouring books, sketch books, crayons, pencils, felt pens, diaries, glue sticks, stickers, glitter etc

toiletries and personal hygeine products...toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, roll on deoderants, sanitary items, brushes, combs, hair ties, pocket tissues etc


new clothing...sox, jox, pajamas, hand made skirts and shorts, singlets, slippers, tea shirts, thongs (that's flip flops if you are from overseas lol)
Teddies and cuddly toys...sooo cute!
baby items...bottles, dummies, sippy cups...the CUTEST Pumpkin Patch outfits, hand knitted jumpers, creams, lotions, wipes etc
Drawstring bags...Joan made all of these..the charity needs these on an ongoing basis so if you are a sewer, 40 cm x 40 cm or 20 cm x 20 cm..they pack the care packages in them
I will be packing this stuff up next week and sending it on its way but will continue to collect...once again if you would like to help this worthwhile cause click on the link above...thanks everyone!

Loads of Love Birthday Card

I am not really that fussed with this card and I nearly binned it but my class ladies liked it and wanted to make one..I have used the car from Loads of Love and the balloon from Crazy for Cupcakes..the puffs of smoke are from Boatloads of Love

Apr 6, 2011

Side Step Baby Dresser Card

I remember when I first saw Jackie Topa's side step dresser card I was blown away how anyone could think of something that darn clever!! I have followed her tutorial here to make the side step card. I decided I wanted a big teddy to go on the side so I had a go at making one myself (albeit a very simple one lol)..using only different sized ovals and circles. The card itself was made from Naturals Ivory Card stock which I stamped with Early Expresso ink on the Woodgrain stamp. For the teddy I used the 1 3/8 circle for the head, 3/4 circles for ears, 1/2 inch circles for inner ears, wide oval for body, large oval for belly, small ovals for arms and feet. For the feet I shortened the ovals on one end and squared them off a little bit. The feet pads are also small ovals which I trimmed to fit. You can't tell from the photo..since I didn't remember to do a close up..that I used my distressing tool to "fuzz" the edges of all the punched pieces to make him look fluffy then lightly inked them.

Tea Bag Holder

This is a remake of a teabag holder I made a while back minus the bellyband. To make this cut a strip of cardstock 21 cm x 8.5 cm and score at 4.5cm, 13.5cm and 14 cm. 

With your cardstock in the vertical position use the scallop edge punch to edge the longer flap across the 8.5 cm edge and use the wide oval to take a bite out of the bottom flap. Use sticky strip to glue the side edges of the 4.5 cm flap to create a pocket for your teabag. I use the kettle from the Morning Cup set to embellish the front. Quick and easy..you could whip these up for the kids Mother's Day stalls at school...speaking of Mother's day stalls, I remember a few pressies I have received from my kids class stalls over the years. My eldest daughter gave me a lovley coffee cup one year wrapped in torn cellophane where she had dipped in and eaten the chocolates...my middle daughter gave me a packet of padlocks??? and my youngest gave me a vinyl shower curtain..she questioned me a few months later why I wasn't using it and I had to point out we had glass shower screens lol!

Apr 5, 2011

Morning Cup Case

The other day while blurfing, I came across this cute card idea by Lisa Young. I have changed the colours but the rest is pure case. I have used  Regal Rose designer paper on Pretty in pink card stock and the teapot and cups were stamped onto watercolour paper and cut out....a few pattycakes and this would make a cute invite for a High Tea!

Apr 4, 2011

Aviary Suspension Card

'scuse the wonky angle...if you tilt your head a little to the right the photo will look straight lol. I have certainly gotten my money's worth from the Aviary set, I LOVE it to bits! You can't tell so well from the picture but the birdcage sits in a hole punched in the card front and it spins. This is called a suspension card if you would like to google for instructions..I just winged it..pardon the pun! I have used the new designer label punch to stamp the sentiment and used Punch Potpourri for the little flowers which are stamped in Rose Red.

Apr 3, 2011

Twisted Easel Chocolate Bunny Card

I have made one of these for both my mother and mother-in-law for easter. I  used Chocolate Bunny which is retired but too cute to pack away. These are very simple to make..if you would like to make one yourself just google "Twisted Easel Card" ..I found heaps of tutorials  (which would explain it much better than my waffle lol) The colours are Peach Parfait and Very Vanilla with Old Olive leaves.