I am back... for now...

Hi all,

I know it's been a little while since my last post, but I have been super busy and crafting has taken a back seat for a little while. Inkspirations 4U commenced it's Fall session this week and it has really given me the boost I needed to get into my craft room....

This adorable sketch challenge was put together by Andrea Lowcock. Isn't it just divine? You should check out her creation. It's even better than the sketch...lol!

I thought I'd also join this challenge up with the current Late Night Stampers group challenge, which is to use current in-colors.

I have been so busy that it took me three days to make this card... Ridiculous I know... but I had to grab the snippets of time as I found them. On the first night all I had time to do was stamp the images. Then I did some colouring during my lunch break the next day, cut them out that night after I got home from a late night CPR course. I finally got to put it together last night.


Card: Calypso Coral, Island Indigo, Pool Party
Ink: Calypso Coral, Island Indigo, Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder, Lucy Limeade, Basic Black
Stamp Sets: Morning Cup, Loads of Love, Elements of Style

Till next time, happy stamping...

The Final Gifts For My Secret Sisters

Well, I have certainly dragged this out, haven't I? Especially since the Secret Sister Programs finished at the end of April....lol!

For the final reveal, I went back to making some similar items for both sisters again.... I know that they are both unique, but I wanted to make them so much.... and it just made sense to double up on items. So basically all the members of their family received their own little test tube of M&M's. Genevra and Theresa also received a nugget tin, filled with six hand stamped tea light candles and a nicely decorated bar of smelly soap.

Then I started to make gift packets according to each sister. Above you can see Genevras gifts. She received an embossing folder, wrapped in DSP. I made a cute litte cover to house some 6" x 6" DSP that Genevra liked. I also decorated an Stampin' Store container and filled it with buttons and filled a cello bag with some of the new Pompom ribbon. Below are Theresa's gift. I wrapped a stamp set in some DSP for her.

Now I am sure that you'll agree that I must have used half the stock in my craft room to make these items, so I will not be putting all the ingredients up today.

Now just so that you know, I have enrolled in another round of Secret Sister which starts this month, so I may go quiet again for a few days at a time as I create.

Till next time, happy stamping...

Two SS - One layout!

Well, I know a little over a week ago, I promised to show you more of what I created for my Secret Sisters.... and I've been slack! But here is the actual first cards that I made for them. As you can see I have used the same layout for the card front...

...but different colours and stamp sets give a totally different look! The first one was for Theresa, who loves Pumpkin Pie (thanks for challenging me to the limit)! The second card was for Genevra! I personally prefer the striking boldness of the second card, although I think it might have been a bit too striking for Genevra.


First Card

Card: Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White
Ink: Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie
Ribbon: 1/4" Old Olive Grosgrain
Embellishments: Circle Ice Rhinestones
Stamp Set: Cottage Garden

Second Card

Card: Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler
Ribbon: 5/8" Black Satin
Embellishments: Rhinestone Jewels
Stamp Sets: Elements of Style, Happiness Shared

Till next time, happy stamping...

Unconvention Sketch

Well as I explained in an earlier post, we are having a virtual convention on ESAD for those of us who cannot attend the real thing. In order to share the load of organising, I was nominated to do a sketch challenge. So this is my sketch.
I was very good and designed the sketch first and then made a card... although it may have been easier to do it the other way around.

My initial thought was to have butterflies on the three half circles down the side... but again my logical and creative sides of my brain were not communicating.


Card: Blushing Bride, Wild Wasabi, Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla
Ink: Stazon Black, Blushing Bride, Peach Parfair, Soft Suede, Wild Wasabi, Certainly Celery, Pretty In Pink
DSP: Lap of Luxury
Punches: 1 3/8" Circle, 1 3/4" Circle
Ribbon: 5/8" Victoria Lace
Embellishments: Pearls, Regals Flower Brads
Stamp Set: Elements of Style

Till next time, happy stamping...

If you'd like to play along, I'd love to see your cards or scrap page.... Please link to Mr Linky below.

Black Bliss 411

Anyway this sketch is the current one for the Stamping 411 site. Isn't it just great? I decided to mix it with our weekly challenge at Stampin_Up_In_Oz, which is Black Magic

My formatting is misbehaving today, so I'll just stop at this and hope that tomorrow things improve.

Till next time, happy stamping...

I finished a challenge on time!

Actually I finished two challenges, although one didn't have a time limit! I managed to combine these two challenges. The first is a colour challenge put out to us over at Inkspirations 4U Spring and Easter session by the sensational Diane Oullette. I honestly think I've found my new favourite colour combo.


I've been trawling the net a bit of late and had noticed some wonderful Mojo Monday sketches about! I really like this one, but nothing was working for me! Until I decided to combine it with the colours above. So I have managed to finish it on time and can actually enter it! Yippee!

I know all this talk, when all you want to do is see the finished result. Well here it is! What do you think? Most cards I make are very feminine or masculine, but this one confuses me. I am leaning more towards masculine, but not overly!

Card: Pear Pizzazz, Basic Black, Very Vanilla

Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Basic Black, Not Quite Navy

DSP: Greenhouse Gala, Blueberry Crisp

Punch: Scallop Trim Border

Tools: Circle Scissors Plus, Mat Pack

Embellishments: Vintage brads, 5/16" brads (retired)

Stamp Sets: Sense of Time, Elements of Style

Till next time, happy stamping...

A Thank you to me and A Thank you to you!

Well firstly I'd like to say a super big THANK YOU to all those who have visited my blog over the last two years. I have just reached 25000 hits! I can remember when I started this blog thinking that I'd be lucky to get any visitors, however I have come to realise that there are many wonderful people out there who do pop in and visit. Some leave comments which inspires me, whilst others just look and learn! Either way, I am happy to have shown you something that hopefully inspires you!

Remember today is the last day that you can enter into the draw to WIN a FREE pass to Inkspirations 4U Spring and Easter session. Check out this post for more details. I will announce the winners tomorrow.

Anyway onto this next card.... Well I wish I could say that I made it, but alas I didn't! It was made by Andrea Lowcock for me! It arrived in a particularly nasty group of letters last week and it took all the sting out of the bills that arrived with it!

It was really hard to photograph, but the butterfly has the most beautiful sheen over it! I am assuming it's our shimmer paint. Which I haven't used yet!

Since it's early morning as I type, I am only guessing through my tired eyes as to all the ingredients. Hopefully I get them right, or else I am sure that Andrea will let me know which are wrong ;-)

Card: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Blushing Bride
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Close to Cocoa (retired)
Punch: Scallop Trim Border, Scallop Square
Ribbon: Bashful Blue 1" Double Stictched Grosgrain
Embellishments: Pearls, Shimmer Paint
Stamp Sets" All A Flutter, Elements of Style

Till next time, happy stamping...

This is a sweet card!

Well as I said in my previous post, I have to make a couple of sympathy cards. This is another one that I made.

I actually did this watercolouring before I left Queensland. I had just received my new order from the new Idea Book and Catalogue and was so busy packing! The only place that I could sit and not feel guilty was at the hairdressers. I like to do crafty stuff at the hairdressers, rather than read those gossip mags....


I wish I could tell you which watercolour crayons I used, however I had them all with me and didn't write it down. Sorry!

Card: Whisper White, Pretty In Pink
Ink: Stazon Black
Tools: Aqua Painter and Watercolour Crayons
Punches: Eyelet Border
Stamp Sets: Elements of Style, Great Friend

Till next time, happy stamping...