JAI#28 - Just Add Manliness & Colour Combo

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Woo hoo nearly the weekend ~

This week over at Just Add Ink you'll find another fun challenge. It's all about the men in our lives, with a colour challenge thrown in for good measure. Fortunately Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze and Kraft are some of my fave colours!

I have to admit to being slightly stumped initially. The only 'man' in my life is gorgeous kid. Now had the word 'manliness' not been in the challenge title I would have tried to be really sneaky and made it for a young male - how easy would that have been lol. On with it...this is what I came up with, hope you like.

I've popped the Kraft section up on dimensionals, along with the little Baja hearts as well. Kind of nice to use a colour other than red for 'love'. A teensy little bit of a 'knot' of choc chip ribbon and a great little sentiment from the Fun & Fast Notes stamp set. It reads 'thanks for sharing you with me'.

When I purchase sets with images and sentiments on the same piece of rubber I cut and separate them into two stamps, using two sides or ends of the same block. It becomes much more versatile and I don't have to fiddle with markers or masking when I just want to use one or the other. A great time saver. Give it a try if you haven't already.

To join in the fun head over to Just Add Ink and see all the other fabulous inspiration ideas the design team has created for you. Enjoy your weekend!

Something Missing - a sentiment maybe?

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Hi and happy Thursday ~

I've been out all day and only popped into my craft room to check emails when I got home. I certainly didn't intend staying long enough to put a card together lol. I've had these flowers sitting on my desk since Keesh's Inkspiration Colour Challenge a couple of weeks ago. I didn't end up finding time to put them on a card, so I still have some Saffron and Regal Rose to use too.

This card uses Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla c/stocks, Choc Chip grosgrain ribbon and half back pearls from the Pretties Kit. I also used some Craft white ink on the outer edges. Looks a little plain at the moment because I've intentionally left the sentiment off so that I can add it later.

If you'd like to know how to make the flowers I've used on this card leave a comment and I'll get back to you.

It's very dull and overcast here right now, we've had a bit of rain off and on so I've taken this pic on my desk under my OTT light. Not the best, but certainly not as bad as some I've taken in the past :o)

First Christmas Card - phew just made it by end of July

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Hey everyone ~

It seems everyone but me had made a start on their 2010 Chrissie cards. Ha well now I can say I've got one made and ready to go...in December.

Using my all time fave set Season of Joy and a whole lot of Old Olive (including a little Cottage Garden dsp) here it is. I've added a little interest by using my corner rounder punch and popping the centre piece up on dimensionals, as well as the holly in 'joy'. Not my best ribbon tying effort - didn't notice how bad that was until looking at the photograph now. Best fix that before the card gets sent...

Hopefully getting started on Christmas cards in July will inspire me to keep going and have a great collection ready to send out come December.

Remember those yummy (I mean that literally) stamps that arrived on my door step yesterday, well I inked a few up last night and sat in front of the tv colouring them. Such cute little images. I'll make them into cards really soon and share here :o)

I'm off to help a friend with some housework and errands. She had surgery a fortnight ago and isn't able to lift or stretch yet. Enjoy the rest of your day!

Baby cards

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Happy Wednesday ~

BFF told me she's been missing my posts. I didn't realise it had been so long. I haven't been crafting much lately - had a nasty head cold last week and a busy weekend which hasn't been conducive to achieving much in my craft room.

I had a little time late yesterday afternoon and put together 5 cards! I was on a bit of a roll, they're all reasonably CAS but I'm fast working out that's my preferred style. I'm not much into fussing with lots of embellishments, although you've probably worked that out for yourselves already :o)

These two cuties were made with Pink Pirouette and Bashful Blue c/stocks, the 1 inch circle punch and the BS Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder. I used an image from Nursery Necessities, popped it up and smothered with Crystal Effects so it's nice and glossy and firm. Looks good close up.

Much earlier this afternoon I had some strange gremlins in my computer - it definitely needed the tech Dr. Firefox stopped working on me and Ive been struggling with IE for days (really not fond of it at all). I started this post hours ago and got so frustrated with my formatting going haywire I just packed it in. So tonight while we girls watched Farmer Wants a Wife (via mobile phone between Canberra and Brisbane) BFF's wonderful partner T did some fancy long distance access to my computer and now it's all fixed. Sooooooooooo happy! Thanks T!!!

Oh and I nearly forgot to tell you I got some happy mail today - yummy new stamps and dsp from the US! Can't wait to ink them up and have a play.



Edited to add: now something strange is going on with my signature, this little box doesn't usually appear - hmmm that one can wait until tomorrow :o)

Noticed a few changes lately?

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Good Monday evening ~

I should have made this post a few weeks ago, very remiss of me not to tell you all about my new Amy Water's blog banner. At the time Amy was extremely busy with lots of gorgeous teepee orders (can I just tell you that they are fantabulous - gorgeous kid LOVES his), yet she made the time and designed a funky new banner using my all time fave dsp Bella Rose.

NOW how special do I feel ... BFF, who is super talented and manages to turn her hand at everything she tries - sent me the banner below! She made this for me as a surprise - wow, I love it! So me! More Bella Rose dsp and crochet flowers too. It's so great, thank you Trishie xox mwah xox

I hope you won't be too surprised if you find a different banner from time to time and think you may be visiting the wrong blog :o) Now that I have two I can switch them around as I please (because I know how to do that now - just a wee tad excited about all this). Yayayay for clever friends.

I've been making little rose buds this evening ... and now it's almost bed time for me so I'll say good night from Australia, sweet dreams!

Fifth Avenue Gift Set

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Happy Saturday ~

Lovely blue skies here in Canberra! Gorgeous kid is off riding his new bmx bike ... he has been in Coffs Harbour these school hols having a great time with his cousins, aunt, uncle and grandparents on their rural property. His great grandma is also there so it was real family time for them all. I've not been away from him for so long and have to say I missed him like crazy. It was really nice being able to come and go and do my own thing, but I missed his company big time! He's a great little mate.

He took lots of photos while he was away so I'll share a couple here when they're downloaded. He went fishing, caught something good enough to cook and eat for dinner that night - how special for him. All the kids did a basketball clinic for a couple of days and GK got player of the day and won himself a drink bottle and t shirt - he was extremely pleased with himself. Apparently the biggest highlight was a huge "as big as two cars joined together mum" pile of sawdust the kids played in - and my laundry now has it's fair share too lol.

Anyway I'm really here to show you a little card gift set I put together using the all time classic Fifth Avenue stamp set - it's perfect for this type of project.

I made my folder with textured Pink Pirouette c/s tying it together with the matching PP striped grosgrain ribbon.

Inside I've put four matching note cards (item 101950) and envelopes. I've clear embossed my image, cut it out and used the bleach technique to get the different colour effect. They are then 'popped' up on my WW and PP c/s layers.

As usual my photography is point and snap - no fancy editing program so no enhancements here unfortunately. The lighting is slightly dull - one of these days I'm going to find the perfect spot for taking my pics. But if I wait until that day to take pics I'll have no one here reading my blog lol.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Just Add...Embossing

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Hi and Happy Friday ~

Today I get to show you my first official Just Add Ink design team submission - it's all quite exciting but I have to say I'm a tiny bit nervous too. This week it's all about embossing... I chose to go with heat embossing, however, you can dry emboss too.

Embossing would have to be one of the most difficult to photograph, the gloss and texture just doesn't show unfortunately.
My card base is Glossy White and I've layered Very Vanilla on top, along with White Taffeta Ribbon and a half back pearl from the Pretties Kit. I used the very popular stamp set Baroque Motifs, first inking with Versamark then sprinkling with Clear Embossing Powder before heating.

The centre is popped up on dimensionals and punched with the scallop circle - to get the 'pinking' look I then added a 'handle (aka a scrap strip of c/s)' to my scallop punchie and inserted back into the punch turning slightly and punching again. Hmmm that isn't a very articulate explanation, but I hope you get the idea :o)

Make sure you take the time to go over to JAI and check out all the great inspiration ideas from the rest of the design team.

Another lovely welcome

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Yay it's Friday ~

Oh my goodness I can't believe I haven't posted this lovely card sent to me by Chantell yet. I took a pic of it days ago...hopelessly distracted is my excuse :o)

It's rare these days to receive happy mail in the letter box, so I was really surprised to find this waiting for me earlier in the week....this is another warm welcome to the JAI design team, from Chantell Randall - how thoughtful and kind. Thanks Chantell you made my week!!!

Celery Scallop

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Hi there ~

I've been on a roll with these quick CAS cards. This is using my much loved Big Shot Scallop Circle Die - soooo great for a pretty little card.
I used Kraft c/s and Certainly Celery dsp (got this lovely colour combo idea from Alison at Stampin Alley) and softened the edge by daubing Craft White ink gently around, then I used my puffy paint for the little white dots on the scallop edges. That cute little 'no tie brad bow' came from Andrea over at EnchantINK. And of course after I'd seen Andrea's gorgeous 'rock n roll' Vintage Vogue flowers I had to do some too - can't wait until the Crumb (replacing Kraft) ink is here!

I'm ducking out to do a few run around chores, but plan on hitting my craft desk a little later so I should have more to show you in the coming days. I've also got a fair few orders for my little crochet flowers - how exciting! The sun is shining in Canberra today and it's just lovely, have a terrific day.

Another Clean & Simple card

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Hi everyone ~

I made this super quick 10 minute card yesterday. I pretty much flipped the JAI#24 sketch (okay so I raised the sentiment as well), added some Little Leaves and a tissue flower and voila too easy.

I used my Blossom nesties and cut 12-14 layers of red tissue paper, pierced a Filigree brad through the centre, scrunched a bit and attached over top of my Cottage Garden dsp Little Leaves. This is a great die (and inexpensive too). I often cut a few extras when I have it out, makes whipping up a quick card really easy. I also used my Eyelet Border punch, Ruby Red ink and my Well Scripted contraband stamp set from the US :o) love the curvy text of that set, shame it doesn't have a thank you stamp included.

This style of card has become my 'go to' when I've got nothing else, it's just so simple yet I think it looks the part...well I hope it does.

Something Crafty at long last :o)

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Well I'm back with something to show you - finally!

I'm not sure the colours are showing up well in this pic unfortunately. I made some little pink and chocolate crochet flowers and found a thread close in colour to Kiwi Kiss so made the little leaves also.

I followed the JAI#24 sketch this week. As much as I love CAS and lots of white space, I'm still not sure about this one.

I've layered Bella Rose dsp on Choc Chip c/s. I sponged the edges of my whisper white c/s with Pink Pirouette ink and then stamped one of the Stem Silhouettes (retired) images and sentiment. I put a clear rhinestone brad through the centre of each flower before 'popping' them up on my card front. I used the same Bella Rose dsp to pretty up my envelope a little too.

Some trivia - Stem Silhouettes was the very first SU! stamp set that I purchased and I still love it as much as I did back then :o) Can you remember your first stamp set purchase?

A 'Fabulous' Welcome

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Good Wednesday morning ~

It's been a little too long between crafty posts and I'm feeling rather bad about that. Will try to rectify that today!

It's been a busy week or two here...school holidays have started and that means lots of extra activities and fun stuff to do. Plus I've had all the excitement and buzz of behind the scenes 'getting to know' all the lovely DT members over at JAI. I'll be submitting a project every fortnight, and my first is due next week for JAI#25. Pop on over and check it out then.

In the meantime the lovely Bronwyn Eastley has sent all the DT members a gorgeous welcome with this Fabulous Blog Award. Thank you so much Brownyn, you are all making us feel very welcome over at JAI!

I believe the rules are to pass this Award forward and tell you 10 things about myself. There are so so many blogs I love to visit regularly, it is too hard to choose just 10... so I'll go with just a couple of special mentions and you can check out some of the blogs I visit via my sidebar.

1. First and foremost to BFF for getting me started with all this blogging and DT stuff - she pushes me out of my comfort zone and it's a good thing!

2. A huge welcome back to blogland to my dear friend Karen go over and check out her new look!

As for 10 things about me... I'm sure you're not that interested, but if you are leave me a question and I'll try to answer truthfully :o)

I will be back with something 'completely craft' later today! Enjoy your day wherever you are and whatever you're doing!

SU! July Promotion!

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Another promotion? Oh yes, SU! are giving you 20% off the following Two Step Stamping Sets. This offer is available from 1-31 July. No limits, no minimum purchase.

Loads of Love $39.95...NOW $31.96 (pg 39)
Big Bold Birthday** $53.95...NOW $43.16 (pg 41)

A Rose Is a Rose** $66.95...NOW $53.56 (pg 78)

Playful Petals** $52.95...NOW $42.36 (Pg 86)
Cheep Talk $47.95...NOW $38.36 (pg 98)
Wonderful Favourites $39.95...NOW $31.96 (pg 115)
Tiny Tags* (wood-mount) $38.95...NOW $31.16 (pg 14)
Tiny Tags*(clear-mount) $28.95...NOW $23.16 (pg 14)
Cottage Garden* (wood-mount) $32.95...NOW $26.36 (pg 31)
Cottage Garden* (clear-mount) $24.95...NOW $19.96 (pg 31)

* 2010 Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue
** Retiring stamp sets

Don't forget this other fabulous offer SU! has until the end of this month.