JAI#44...Colour Challenge & It's going to be quiet on the blog front...

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Hi there ~

A quick little post to let you know my modem died a few days ago and I'm having a few dramas with the courier company who is to deliver the replacement! In the meantime I've been absolutely lost without my beloved internet so I purchased a portable broadband USB modem - ahem I can tell you it's SLOWER than dial-up! Pages continue to crash and it's not even worth thinking about checking in on my favourite blogs! Soooo disappointed in it.

Hopefully I can at least upload my JAI submission. This week was a colour challenge ... and challenge it was for me! Individually I like all of these colours, but together I had a hard time making them work. Anyway here it is ... hope you like.

The boxes are Lauren Meader's 'tucked away'. So versatile and perfect for giving little treats at this time of the year. The larger box holds 5 Lindt balls perfectly while the smaller holds 2 - I always line my boxes with tissue paper! Head over to Just Add Ink and check out what all the other DT girls have come up with this week - look forward to seeing them myself!

If you have any questions about items used do shout out and I'll get back to you at some point over the next few days. To those of you whose blogs I follow religiously forgive my lack of comments ... I'll have plenty of catching up to do soon :o)

Take care!



PS: This post took about 30 minutes by the time the silly portable modem uploaded and saved! Pathetic!!!

Colour Throwdown #118

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Yay it's Saturday ~

I've had a busy few days and today is no exception unfortunately. Late last night I wanted to make a quick card because I knew I'd have limited time over the weekend. While checking in on my regular haunts I came across a really great colour combo over at Colour Throwdown - check it out!

I really loved this layout of Danielle's so followed that ...

... the only thing I wish I'd done differently was perhaps thread some ribbon or twine behind the flower to add a little something. It's a bit flat I think despite my love of all things CAS. I also wish that I could colour better! I can't seem to get the shadowing right and put the depth in the right places - if that makes sense lol.

I stamped my rose on watercolour paper and coloured using my aqua painter. I've popped the layers up on dimensionals. If you have any questions please feel free to ask :o)

Have a terrific weekend!

A Catch Up, A Card From BFF - and a CASE

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Wow, Thursday already ~

I said I would tell you all about why last week was so busy for me. On the Wednesday my beautiful BFF flew down from Brisbane for a few days. We went to dinner at Hogs Breath in the City (gorgeous kid's choice) and pigged out totally. BFF has piccies but I made her swear never to share - you know that massive dessert for two (8 scoops of ice cream, mud cake ... you get the picture) suffice to say we did NOT look so good digging into that. And I'm complaining about my weight gain ... go figure.

Friday night we had planned on crafting together but after a spot of shopping we decided to vege in front of the tv in our pjs! Bliss!

Saturday morning I headed off to Sydney with another friend for the Jersey Boys show that night, while BFF stayed in Canberra for a wedding. The fun started with us arriving at our hotel in the City with no wrong turns, it was a perfect trip through the mad Sydney traffic - which incidentally I love. Cracked a couple of bottles of bubbles, went out and did the girlie thing and had our hair done. Dressed ourselves up beautifully and headed off to The Ivy for dinner before the show.

Bit of excitement now ... heading out of one of the bars or restaurants near The Ivy, or perhaps The Ivy itself was Ronan Keating. We three girls stopped and chatted with him. He was very gracious and looks and sounds exactly as he does on tv - he's quite a small guy. So dinner was had then off to the show. WOW - it was great, terrific story, fabulous music, love love loved it. If you get the opportunity to go then do! I highly recommend it.

A wee tad more excitement on Sunday, whilst shopping near Pitt Street my friend and I literally bumped shoulders with Guy Sebastian. He was trying to look very low key I think - he had that knitted beanie thing happening, daggy baggy trackies ... we didn't stop him for a chat :o)

Now back to reality ... today I'm off to have an MRI on my wrist. Not looking forward to it at all, but it has to be done. Next week I see my fracture Dr for the results and where to next. I'm noticing less pain less often now that the weather is warming up. It does feel strange on rainy days though, and normally that wouldn't be much of an issue in Canberra but we've had more rain than usual this year - that's a good thing of course.

Bit of show and tell now ... BFF made me this lovely card and inside wrote the most beautiful words - as she does.

I rather liked the simplicity of her card and CASEd it in different colours. I don't think my bow is nearly as neat lol. This bright and cheery card is going to a lovely friend who took care of my pets while I was away last weekend.

That's about it, I'm sure you're over reading all my news :o)

Have a happy Thursday and I hope to be back sometime soon with something else to show you. Take care!

Just For Fun - JAI ... Sketch #42

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Happy hump day peeps ~

Last night I told you I had no plans when I sat at my desk yesterday afternoon ... and I didn't. That's the beauty of a hobby, you can come and go, pick it up, put it down ... while I was doing a nice CAS card for the CASE Study Challenge, I did a second CAS card for this weeks JAI sketch.

I've had my cute little Owl punch out again. He's layered on Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake and Soft Suede. Again, very self explanatory. I've put my sentiment on the inside of this one :o)

Today a dear friend of mine is celebrating her birthday. Happy happy birthday Fiona!

My Swaps

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Good Tuesday morning ~

If you've been reading any of the JAI design team blogs lately you'll know that we participated in a 'swap' recently. Paula made the suggestion and I'm soooo glad she did because yesterday I received all my cards and they're totally fab!!!

Here is a quick pic of mine all packaged up ready to go back in September - it was a last minute decision to photograph them so there is a bit of shine from the cello bags - I was too lazy to take them out again :o) You can't see the detail in them but hopefully all the girls are happy to have received one.

I've shown you these little gift card holders before here and here.

I've got a busy line up today so best be running... have a fabulous Tuesday everyone! If you've taken a little punt on the horses today, hope you're a winner.

My First Monster

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Good morning ~

Blah I'm not very impressed that it's Monday, but I suppose the only thing to do is make the best of it!

Here's a bright little guy to do just that. The Make A Monster set was the first I ordered when the new IBC was released back in September and this is the first time it's seen ink! I now have a few little images cut, coloured and ready to make into cards one day.

I coloured him with copics and layered him on Daffodil Delight and Peach Parfait c/s. Using a few of my circle punches and some scraps of Poppy Parade and Pear Pizzazz and my white gel pen I made that bright background. The sentiment is from Fun & Fast Notes.

Super simple and when the right kiddie birthday comes up I think I'll add a big number to the inside.

Enjoy your day!

A RAK & a Swap

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Happy Sunday ~

I'm hoping to hit the craft room some time today. It's been raining overnight so is the perfect weather for it. In the meantime let me show you a couple of cards I've received from two of my JAI design team friends...

The first I received back in August from the beautiful Tania Gould - can't believe I haven't posted this until now *I'm hanging my head in shame Tan*. Don't you love her colouring, it's such a gorgeous little image. You can't see it well in the photo but the little girl is 'popped' up on her chair - there are lots of lovely little details on this card. The message inside was lovely also, but I'm not sharing that one :o)

This next card is a 'swap' I received from the lovely and talented Bronwyn Eastley just last week. We JAI dt girls decided to do a swap amongst ourselves and Bron sent hers separately thinking she was super late ... turns out I received her card first and I wonder how Bron knew I loved her Choc Chip and Crumb Cake colour combo the best - very clever and thoughtful Bron - thank you!!!

If you want to make one of these gorgeous scallop easel cards, made famous by Bron over recent weeks then visit here for her tutorial.

Hope to be back with more soon - hmmm let's see if I can do another week of daily posts. Best be showing some Christmas cards soon given it's almost that time of year again :o)

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Good Saturday morning to you ~

I've finally broken out my Owl punch! Well a few weeks ago now actually ... a lovely girlfriend (waving George) came over one Saturday afternoon and we sat chatting and crafting for hours. George was making her Christmas cards and they were so so fun, lots of colourful owls happening. She inspired me to get my little guy out and this is what I made - a shameless CASE from Pauline over at The Pursuit of Stampin'ess . I love Pauline's creativity and they do say that CASEing is the most sincere form of flattery :o)

It was my first time cutting into the Elegant Soiree dsp too. Crumb Cake is the base, then Soft Suede and Very Vanilla with just a hint of Baja Breeze. Imagine the possibilities with the Owl punch ... just by placing the eyes differently you can get so many different looks. I'm sure there are lots around the Net if you go looking.

Hope you've all got a fun weekend lined up. I'm planning a quiet one as I'm off to Sydney next weekend for dinner and the Jersey Boys show so will kick up my heels then. Tell you all about it next time.

Night of Navy Wedding a la Tania Style

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TGIF ~

Recently the son of a dear friend married and she needed a card - actually she needed three that week! Must be wedding season again :o)

In my craft room I have a cork board hanging on the wall above my desk and pinned to it are lots of gorgeous cards and RAKs that I've received from the beautiful friends I've made through this crazy craft and blogging thing we all do. On it is the lovely Pale Plum card (below) from Tania Gould. My friend spied this and wanted it. She wanted exactly that, no changes, just exactly the same but in Navy to match the bridal party. So I got Tania's permission to replicate her card exactly and fortunately she was flattered and gave the okay.

I've layered Very Vanilla on Night of Navy c/s, stamped En Frances b/g, Baroque Motifs and Tiny Tags + its matching punch and some VV taffeta ribbon. I forgot to photograph the inside of the card, but it does follow the same theme - of course!

As you can see I couldn't quite 'crinkle' my VV c/s as much (but it is crinkled irl honest) - just isn't my style lol. It's quite difficult to see the detail of the little rose buds because they're quite dark here, but irl they look the part and my friend was thrilled.

Thanks Tania for being so gracious as to let me CASE your card exactly, you made one proud mum very very happy!