Jawing Birthday - Just Add Ink #188 - Just Add Grunge

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Happy Saturday ~

After not getting my card up in time for the last challenge over at Just Add Ink, I decided to get in nice and early with this one.  This week we need to add 'grunge'.  I find it a little difficult to 'dirty' up my cards so I took inspiration from Nikki and did a little chalkboard technique with my cute skull guy.  You'll notice a couple of other similarities to Nikki's card - I did say I would CASE hers one day.  It's the first time I've used my snazzy new chevron border punch too - pretty cool!

It's very sunny here today and a little dull indoors so I took my card outside - I'm no photographer so you'll just have to excuse the shadows and over exposure *blush*.

My colour combo is Basic Black, Smoky Slate and Calypso Coral.  Now if I didn't live in Australia (where we don't traditionally celebrate) you could mistake this for a Halloween card.  I have this in mind for a cool dude turning 14 in a few weeks.  

Thanks for visiting today.  Hope you're enjoying your weekend wherever in the world you are!

Sending Sympathy - JAI & JUG Challenge

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Wow, good morning, happy Thursday ~

Don't fall off your chairs.  I honestly cannot believe it's been so long between posts - in fact I'm really stretching myself just remembering how to create a post (okay not really but it has been a looong time).  Not even sure if any of you are still with me...

A lot has been happening in my crazy life over recent months, one most significant is moving house.  I'm not a hoarder by any means, but when you have a child in your life you sure do accumulate 'stuff'.  The move was at times stressful, but it's all done and dusted now, everything is sorted and settled and we love our new space.

I've been making some minor changes, putting up shelves, toiling in the garden, sorting and throwing....you know how it goes.  Gorgeous Kid started high school this year, and here we are in term 4!  I was a little, actually a lot, apprehensive about the big change from primary school.  Needn't have been.  He loves it.  His grades are good, the teachers love him and he has a really nice bunch of friends.  I'm one happy mum!

Last night I finally found time to give my new craft room a whirl.  I've been desperately wanting to get in and 'make' something.  Having not crafted for some time I was at a bit of a loss as to where to start.  Thank goodness for fabulous challenge sites.  First port of call was of course my favourite ladies over at Just Add Ink - I've wanted to play along with their challenges since I finished up on the design team earlier this year.  I cannot believe this is the first time I've achieved it!  They have a lovely sketch challenge this week JAI 187.  Next was over to Just Us Girls for their colour challenge #211.

Colour combo is Early Espresso, Soft Sky, Marina Mist, Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla - yummo.  I broke out my Colour Spritzer for the first time too - why has it been sitting in my drawer for so long?  The flower has a little sparkle to it as well, although the pic doesn't really show it - I never want my Champagne Shimmer Mist to run out!  This card is going to a lovely lady who lost her dear dad last week.

That's it from me.  I hope it won't be so long between posts, but I've decided it's silly to make promises...thanks for stopping by today, hope you like my first card in so long, I'm a little rusty but plan on searching out some more challenges later...

ETA - rusty alright, I didn't even get my card over to JAI in time.  The sketch challenge has already closed - one would think I should have known that!  To top it off I managed to stuff up my link to JUGS as well and didn't choose an image.  Perhaps I should go back to bed now lol.

Secret Garden - birthday and engagement

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Hello!

Goodness me I really didn't mean for it to be so long between posts.  I'm surprised I have any followers left...so glad you stuck with me.  I've had an awful sinus infection the past two weeks.  I'm on my second course of antibiotics and the Dr says I should only have another week or so and I'll start feeling better.  I've been miserable so it can't come soon enough.

I've hardly been near my craft room the past few months, however, a few days ago I really needed to get a couple of cards made.  So tissues on hand I set to it...I ended up with four of the same in different colour combos, but only have two to share today because the others are already in the post.  I have absolutely no creativity in me at the moment so these are CASEd from the lovely Narelle Farrugia over at Stamplicious.  I love all of her work!

 

Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla and Sahara Sand.

 

Black and Very Vanilla, with a touch of Pear Pizzazz.

I made a card each in Pool Party and Elegant Eggplant as well.  This is the card I CASEd from Narelle - as you can see I didn't stray far from the original.

I really hope to be back soon to show you more - I have birthday cards for nieces and nephews due, and of course Gorgeous Kid has a big milestone birthday next month!

Thanks so much for stopping by today and I hope you're enjoying a relaxing, crafty weekend.  

It's been a very long time...

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...between posts.

Hello, hello, is anybody out there?  A friend reminded me today just how long it's been since I've been here and posted, so here I am with a card I put together some months ago now!

I've had a whirlwind couple of months, life has been extremely hectic, and good at the same time.  I haven't had time for crafting or reading books, or doing a lot of the things I used to.  I'm going to try and remedy that in the coming weeks and months and MAKE some time.

The sad news is that I had to make the decision to step down from the two design teams I was on.  I felt I was over committed personally, and I really didn't want to let any of the lovely girls on each of the teams down.  I had an awesome time with the Just Add Ink girls over the past few years, and they really are like family to me.  I'm fortunate enough to have met most of them in person and I know they're all just a text or email away should I ever need them.  I'll see you all soon I'm sure.

Kylie over at Addicted to CAS has become a friend, and lucky for me she has her own family in Canberra so gets down (from sunny Qld) to visit from time to time so I know I'll be seeing more of her.  I'll miss each of the lovely ladies from around the world that became friends too - although I'll get back to blog hopping soon enough and visit you that way ;)

Other news is that I spent a four day weekend up in Brisbane last week.  Beautiful BFF Trishie married her prince.  It was a lovely garden wedding, small and very intimate with just family and close friends.  Gorgeous Kid had a wonderful time dancing with all the ladies - I was so impressed with his confidence.  He was well and truly in his element and the life of the dance floor until I took him home to bed!  Sadly believe it or not I did not take any photos.  There were a ton of cameras snapping away though so I'm sure there will be piccies galore when Trishie returns from her honeymoon.  Must also share...there wasn't a dry eye that afternoon.

That's it for this evening.  I really do hope to be back again soon with something to share.

JAI#158 - Just Add a Sketch

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TGIF ~

Woohoo another weekend is here!  I've had a busy few days ... Gorgeous Kid is off at his first high school camp.  I celebrated a birthday, and was well and truly spoilt by many.  Promise to photograph some of the beautiful cards I've received and come back to show you soon.

This week over at Just Add Ink we've got a lovely sketch challenge for you.  Mine is fairly self explanatory but if you have any questions please feel free to shoot me an email.

Be sure to pop over to JAI and check out the lovely design team inspiration.  I hope you find some time to join the sketch fun this week.

I know I haven't been around much lately, and have lots of catching up to do, blog surfing and comment love to leave.  I hope to have more time to get back to normal programming soon.  Thanks for stopping by today, have a fabulous weekend whatever you have planned.

JAI#156 - Just Add a Colour Challenge

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Hi lovely blog friends ~

Yay it's Friday and it's a long weekend here in Canberra as we're celebrating our 100th birthday!  Gorgeous Kid and I are off to Culburra Beach with our dear friends for some sunshine and relaxation.  The weather is forecast to be perfect.

Over at Just Add Ink this week our super lovely Christine set us a colour challenge.  Yummy colours - Early Espresso, Raspberry Ripple and Bashful Blue.

I made this little gift box for a special person in my life - can't reveal the contents just yet though :o) as I haven't passed it on.

I decorated one of the gorgeous Kraft Gift Boxes on pg 161 of the current SU catalogue using the In Colour Designer Series Paper Stack - Raspberry Ripple.  It's tied closed with some retired Early Espresso ribbons and a little tag from the Hearts a Flutter set out of the current Seasonal.  Love that set and the matching Framelits.  Makes crafting and cutting a breeze.

Do pop over to JAI and check out the design team inspiration.  Hope you'll join our challenge this week.  I look forward to seeing all your gorgeous creations.

Thanks for stopping by today and have a wonderful weekend!

JAI#154 - Just Add Pop-Up Cards

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TGIF ~

I had a rather rotten start to my week.  I managed to pick up a vicious tummy bug and spent two days sprawled on my bathroom floor.  Just as I started to recover Gorgeous Kid got a dose.  Needless to say food is still a dirty word in our house.

Delys chose our challenge over at Just Add Ink this week and it's pop-up cards! Because I was not at all prepared to lose a few days I had to make my card while I was still recovering.  As such it's fairly CAS (which is what I tend to do more these days anyway).

I made a spiral for the inside and attached some butterflies.

 

Sorry it's not more exciting.  You can see I was feeling pretty crud and it was so hard to get inspired and come up with something totally cool and awesome.  I'll do better next challenge for sure.

The Royal Canberra Show is on this weekend so I'm thinking I might take GK and show him a fun time after our yukky sick days.  Plus we've got a very special first birthday party to go to for twins - double the fun!!!  It's going to be a good weekend.  Hope yours is too.

Thanks for stopping in, lovely that you did.

Addicted to CAS Challenge #6 - CANDY

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Happy Saturday evening lovely friends ~

I've scheduled this post because right now I'm at the National Multicultural Festival eating, drinking, laughing and dancing my way around the world.

It's time for a new challenge over at Addicted to CAS.  Shana is our host this fortnight and her chosen code word is CANDY.  In Australia we call candy lollies so I went for the obvious and created a little lollipop for my card today.

I've used a base of Concord Crush with some of the Lime Twist papers (love love love these and I'm down to scraps now).  For my little lollipop I heat embossed one of the images from the Trendy Trees stamp set and punched with my 1" circle, layering on a larger circle to help it stand out.  I cut the end of a lolly stick I had in the pantry and wrapped in cello, tying off with a little twine.  The sentiment flag was made with my Rough Type alpha set (retired) and wrapped around my 'candy' stick.

We have a terrific sponsor this week.  Beverley from Uniko Studio in the North East of the UK.  Uniko Studio specialises in surface pattern design and clear stamps.  Beverley has been kind enough to offer a fabulous prize - digis from her store!  You can find her awesome selection HERE. 

Hope you're going to play along with us this fortnight!  Be sure to read our rules so you're in the running for the prize.  Let your imagination run wild and remember ... keep it Clean and Simple (CAS).

Fab Friday Birthday

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Happy Friday, yay for the weekend ~

I made this card on Wednesday but I'm pretty slack when it comes to taking photos - half the stuff I put together in my craft room doesn't make it to blogland.  Since this is for the Fab Friday 11 sketch I thought I'd better get a wriggle on and upload it.  There is a lot of lovely inspiration on their blog so be sure to head over and check it out.  It's fast becoming one of my faves.

 

I imagine many of you are groaning at my use of the Sweet Life stamps agaaaain.  I can't get enough, just love 'em.  The colour combo I've used this time is Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose and Real Red.  I'm trying to increase my stash of birthday cards so they're the sentiments you'll be seeing plenty of in coming weeks.

Other news - Gorgeous Kid has completed his first week at high school and absolutely LOVES it.  So grateful.  Phew.  I hope he continues to love it.  Funny thing...last year he was happy to have one sandwich (or similar) and a fun bun from our local bakery included in his lunch.  This year, however, he's a big boy and has asked me to drop the fun bun and include two sandwiches.  He makes me smile.

Vintage Vogue - Still AddINKtive Style

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Hi bloggy friends ~

Thought I'd surprise you all with a mid week drop in.  I've had a little time to potter with a couple of challenges which is unusual for me - both in time and that I don't often play along with challenges despite good intentions. I do love to look at many of the challenge sites in blogland and I'm going to try and play along more often I've decided.  Let's hope that lasts!

Two lovely friends of mine started a fabulous new challenge site last month and I've been wanting to join the fun since they launched.  It's sketch and colour time at Still AddINKtive - rather delicious colours ladies, thanks.

I had so much fun playing with Vintage Vogue - love that set.  I'm thinking this card could probably do with a few leaves now that the photo has been taken.  I did mean to do that earlier and completely forgot between finishing the card, making some lunch, getting sucked into a bit of daytime tv and coming back to photograph lol.

Thanks for visiting today!

Addicted to CAS Challenge #5 - HEART

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Happy Australia Day to all you Aussies!

I hope you've had an extra special day doing extra special things that mean something to you and your loved ones this Australia Day.  I thoroughly enjoyed the concert last night - I always enjoy Jimmy!

It's challenge time over at Addicted to CAS.  Lovely Loll is our host this fortnight and her chosen code word is HEART.  Such perfect timing with Valentine's Day coming up.  And for those of you who don't celebrate maybe you could send a friend a reminder of how much they mean to you?  I always make a card for Gorgeous Kid and hide it in his lunch box - hmmm given he's starting high school this year maybe I'd best not do that.  I'd hate to embarrass him in front of all the 'big' kids.  Lol.

A layered mat of Crumb Cake stamped with the retired Linen b/g stamp, on CC card base.  A Very Vanilla Nestie circle.  A luscious sparkly red heart and a little Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding and CC Button/Twine and voila a CAS Valentine (or whatever) Card.  I love CAS!

Our wonderful sponsor for this week is Annabelle Stamps.  Andrea will be awarding our CAS Perfectionist a $10 gift voucher. If you'd like to play along with us this fortnight please be sure to read our rules so you're in the running for the prize.  Let your imagination run wild and remember ... keep it Clean and Simple (CAS).

JAI#150 - Just Add a Sketch

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Happy Friday friends ~

It's a long weekend here in Australia, with it being Australia Day tomorrow.  Although the holiday is actually being recognised on Monday this year.  I'm looking forward to the concert being held on the lawns of Parliament House tonight.  Jimmy Barnes is playing, woohoo!  Lots of fun to be had.

Over at Just Add Ink this week we have a sketch for you to play along with courtesy of Mae.  This is what I came up with (I look a few liberties).

I've been wanting to use this framelit since I got it and I free handed the paper piercing - not a bad job if I do say so myself lol.  The base is Sahara Sand - sorry about the dodgy pic, it was taken at night because I didn't organise myself very well.  Despite being back at work for a couple of weeks I still feel like I'm in holiday mode.

Make sure you pop over to JAI and check out what the other girls have come up with - there are some lovely cards for your inspiration.  We hope you can join our second challenge of the year.

Gorgeous Kid has been off in New Zealand for a couple of weeks.  He's having an awesome time!  For me the house is sooooo quiet and I can't wait till he gets back next week.  There will be lots of cuddles and I imagine he will scrunch his face after a bit and tell me to stop being such a smooch.  I've taken next week off work so we can hang out together lots before he heads off to high school for the very first time.  Sniff sniff.

Thanks for popping by today!

JAI #149 - Big Shot Blog Hop

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Yay it's Friday ~

The Just Add Ink design team have a special treat for you today.  We're kicking the new year off with a Big Shot blog hop.  Woo hoo!

You will have hopped here from Jodene's blog.  There are 12 stops on our blog hop, and it's set up in a loop so it doesn't matter where you start.  All you need to do to follow along is click on the JAI blog hop button at the end of each post and you'll be taken to the next stop!  If you get stuck just head over to the JAI blog to find all the links.

I've created a shaker card using my big shot to cut all the necessary 'frames' required for this type of card.   I used a combination of Framelits and Nestabilities, and even my flower embellishment has been die cut on the big shot.  My colour combination is Raspberry Ripple, Pink Pirouette and Whisper White.

If you'd like any further info on my card please shout out and I'll be happy to help.  Thanks for stopping by today.  Now click on the button below to visit Kim's super cool creation!

Sweet Life Sympathy

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Good Monday morning friends ~

I'm back to work tomorrow after a lovely long Christmas break.  I'm making the most of today by spending much of it in my craft room.  There are plenty of outdoor garden jobs I could be doing ... have had to put those off because it's been far too hot over recent weeks to leave the comfort of air conditioning.  Today there is a lovely breeze but I don't want to waste my last day of hols ... sound familiar?

While I was away in NZ last week attending my Gran's funeral, the mum of two very dear friends of mine passed away suddenly.  Quite a shock to come home to.  I made cards for each of the sisters.

 

My photographs aren't good enough to show that I've used the two sides of PTI's Linen Impression Plate, one on each card.  There is also a little shimmer to the flowers - I'm so loving this gorgeous stamp set.

If you have any questions about these cards feel free to shoot me an email.  Enjoy your day ... even if you're already back at work.

Addicted to CAS Challenge #4 - EMBOSSING

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Hello there ~

I'm back from my whirlwind visit to NZ to attend my gran's funeral.  It was a rather bittersweet time ... on one hand sad to say goodbye, on the other a lovely opportunity to catch up with family members I haven't seen in many years.  I visited lots of places from my childhood and a particular highlight for me (one that I didn't think would ever happen again) was to take a walk through my dear Pa's homestead.  It is owned by a different family now, and they were kind enough to let me take a wonderful trip down memory lane.  It brought tears to my eyes ...

I'm here to show you my first Addicted to CAS card for 2013 today.  The delightful Karen is our host this fortnight and her chosen code word is EMBOSSING.

As you can see I've used both heat and dry embossing here.  I used Gumball Green and Summer Starfruit with clear embossing powder on my butterflies.

Our wonderful sponsor and guest designer this week is Beverley from Uniko Studio in the North East of the UK.  Uniko Studio specialises in surface pattern design and clear stamps.  Beverley has been kind enough to offer the gorgeous digital collection English Country Garden AS WELL as your choice of three digital paper collections!

You want to play along with us this fortnight?  Be sure to read our rules so you're in the running for the prize.  Let your imagination run wild and remember ... keep it Clean and Simple (CAS).

Yellow Roses

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Hello lovely friends ~

I'm on my way to New Zealand today.  I'm looking forward to taking a trip down memory lane as I haven't been back to the north island for many years.  I have a number of stops on my list and hope to share some piccies with you when I return.

Here is another card I made recently.  It doesn't show well in the photo but I've used the PTI linen impression plate for a little texture on my CAS card.  Love the splash of colour the roses give.

Although it's never nice to attend a funeral, particularly of someone very dear like my gran, I am looking forward to seeing a number of my relatives.  Many of us are scattered about the world these days and so don't have the opportunity to get together often.  Always the way...weddings and funerals.

Lovely of you to stop by today, thanks as always for your support and generous comments.

Happy New Year & all that...

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Hello hello ~

Bet you thought I wasn't coming back!  It's been ages I know...and I've been having a lovely time holidaying and enjoying the festivities of Christmas and New Year.  I hope you and your families have enjoyed this time also.

My physio suggested I get back into my crafting hobby to help my wrist along and so I've spent a little bit of time lately (not a lot, don't want to overdo it lol) playing.  This card is for a friend who has her birthday in the early weeks of January and I'm quite confident she doesn't look at my blog so I'm sharing here before I post it off.

One of my grandmother's passed away on the first day of the new year.  Although sad, it's a blessing as she has suffered dementia the past couple of years and her quality of life was greatly reduced.  I like to think she's in a better place now.  I'll be heading off to New Zealand this weekend for a few days to attend her funeral.

Thanks for stopping by today.