JAI#98...Just Add Sparkle

Pin It

Good morning friends ~

Over at Just Add Ink this week we're adding SPARKLE! Yum. I'm kind of over Christmas cards so I went with a big glittery, glossy cupcake for my niece who is having a birthday this Sunday.

I've used some of the new Glitter Paper (you can find this in the Summer Mini), added Crystal Effects to my cherry, some bling to my icing and to finish it off I've liberally sprayed the entire card with Champagne Shimmer Mist. How's that for sparkle?

There is lots of delicious sparkly inspiration from the rest of the design team so head over to JAI to get your creative juices flowing. Hope you can join us for some sparkle this week.

JAI#97...Just Add an Inspiration Pic

Pin It

Good Saturday morning ~

Whoooooops, I'm super late posting this - can I blame it on the silly season? Not sure if I'm Arthur or Martha lately lol.

Over at Just Add Ink this week Jo gave us this gorgeous inspiration pic. It stumped me a bit, not having a lot of time lately to give it much thought.

I ended up making a recessed window card using the Itty Bitty flower images in Lucky Limeade, Melon Mambo, Pool Party and Poppy Parade. I added a bit of bling - the photograph is Tiffany & Co afterall - and some all over shimmer, which you can't really see in the photograph unfortunately. It's finished with some gorgeous twine that is an exact match to Melon Mambo.

I should confess that I had originally made this card with a Whisper White & Pool Party (closest to Tiffany & Co colours) base, and although it looked good, it was a bit wishy washy, mind you the flowers in the centre did pop a bit more. Anyway I'm not thrilled with my entry this week so will just have to do better next week instead :o)

For lots of gorgeous inspiration from the design team pop over to JAI, hopefully you will be inspired enough to join the Challenge this week. Thanks for stopping by today. Have a wonderful weekend!

An Award

Pin It

Happy hump day friends ~

Well the busyness that is this time of year has certainly ramped up for me in the past fortnight. School assembly performances, liturgies, parent teacher meetings ... I'm starting to feel a little (okay a lot) stressed at how behind I am compared to previous years. Christmas really snuck up on me this year. It seems time is passing so very quickly these days. I want to stop for just a little while and catch my breath. I have no doubt there are many of you feeling exactly the same way.

That is why I've chosen this very minute to just stop. I'm taking a few moments to post this gorgeous little Blog Award that the ever lovely Mel sent my way some week or two ago now.

This little Award spreads love to those who love to leave comment love - say that really fast three times lol. So I am going to pass it on to three (not entirely sure of the rules here) bloggers that love to leave comment love for me:

Trishie

Christine

Theresa

Thank you sweet friends, and a huge thanks to all of the lovely people who leave me comments and feedback. It's really nice to know that people do actually stop by to visit, and that you take the time to leave a note for me to read. It really does make my day. I absolutely love the crafting community and the friends I've made along the way.

Until Friday ... I'll be back with my JAI post.

PS: Guess what? I actually feel somewhat calmer for having stopped for just a few minutes. I love it when I 'forget' to stress.

JAI#95...Bah Humbug

Pin It

Hi lovelies ~

TGIF! I'm tired this week. Have been headachey and really just want a day to chill. Good weather for it here in Canberra too as the temps have dropped and it's feeling a lot like Winter again.

The challenge over at Just Add Ink this week is to make something for Christmas, using non traditional stamps, colours, papers ... whatever you want. As you can see I didn't even use a stamp on this one. Can you believe it's not square and it doesn't have flowers? Lol!

I had lots of fun (and a couple of sore thumbs) folding all these medallions using the gorgeous new Spice Cake designer paper (being released on 1 Dec). I added a little touch of Real Red dsp to bring it all to life. There are a few different embellishments to decorate - antique brads, rhinestone brads, jumbo brads, and a retired corduroy button (which I coloured with the Pool Party marker).

Once I had enough to layer on my cardboard circle (underneath) I used my hot glue gun to adhere them all securely, adding a few dimensionals here and there where I needed the height. I added some leaves, which I ran through the crimper, to fill in the 'gaps' and finished it off with the big striped grosgrain ribbon bow - I don't have any Soft Suede so I improvised and used the retired Espresso.

This is going to look so cool hanging on my craft room door - it's just a little delicate to go outside on my front door *smile*.

Do pop over to JAI and check out the other design team inspiration. Hope you can find a little crafting time this weekend to join us - before all the craziness of shopping begins.

Take care, and thanks for stopping by today.

JAI#94...Just Add A Sketch

Pin It

Hello & happy Friday ~

My post is a little late this morning because I was at the Cold Chisel concert last night. Fabulous! They played all their old favourites. I had a great time. Might even have a pic or two to share with you later.

This week over at Just Add Ink beautiful Bron set us a sketch challenge. I had my friend with breast cancer in mind when putting this card together. I am off to the hospital to visit this morning and this is the card I'm taking to her.

I've layered some Island Indigo dsp on a white base, then used my Nesties to cut the Pool Party Blossom. I heat embossed my flowers using the new Irridescent Ice embossing powder. It gives a lovely glossy glittery finish. The flowers are Pretty in Pink and Rich Razzleberry, and Lucky Limeade for the leaves.

Pop over to JAI and check out the design team inspiration. Hope you can find some time to get inky and join us this week!

This afternoon we are off to Gorgeous Kid's school twilight fete. It's always huge as they have the big rides, and dunk the teacher! It's a hot one here in Canberra so I'll be happier there once the sun goes down.

Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by to visit.

Thinking of you!

Pin It

Hi there and happy Tuesday ~

A dear friend of mine is once again battling breast cancer. She found out only a few weeks ago and goes in for surgery tomorrow. I made her this card to let her know I'm thinking of her.

You'll recognise the layout as one of my 'go to' styles. It's also a 'square' card, of which I'm very fond lately. I went for a black base as a way of acknowledging her 'bad' news, and pink embellies for 'breast cancer' of course. Not sure of those pearls but I know she loves them so I had to include them somewhere.

JAI#93...Just Add A Colour Challenge

Pin It

Good Friday morning friends ~

This week the ever lovely Kim has given us a very pretty Colour Challenge over at Just Add Ink. I've been making lots of square cards lately and this one is no exception. I've kept it fairly clean and simple which is my usual style I think most would agree.

I finally got to break out my new In Colour 2 ruffled ribbon and Printed brads! Loving the new Button Buddies set too. Why don't you join the Challenge this week? Head over to JAI and check out the awesome design team inspiration to get you started.

I've got a girlfriend visiting from Brisbane this weekend so I'm sure we'll be up chatting and giggling half the night. I'm so looking forward to it. Then next week my lovely Aunty Marilyn is visiting from New Zealand...hehe I'm hoping she doesn't mind child sitting duty while I'm seeing Cold Chisel. Bit cheeky huh.

Have a fabulous weekend and thanks for stopping by today.

A 40th Birthday

Pin It

Hi and happy hump day ~

We're having a bit of a thunder storm here in Canberra right now. It literally just started so I had to run around the house and close all of the windows. It was sunny and bright earlier. Poor Lilli is running about the place barking and panting. She doesn't like the thunder at all. It'll pass by just as quickly as it started I'm sure. Meantime it's great for the garden.

Here is a card I made for a friend turning 40 next week. She doesn't read my blog so it's safe to post here before sending off. It's very similar to the card I made for BFF back in September. I'm loving square cards at the moment.

Guess what I'm doing next week? I'm off to see Cold Chisel!!! My all time favourite band and this show sold out within about 45 minutes of tickets going on sale. I wasn't missing out! Fortunately I've got a good friend with VIP status. Yay for us.

Hope you're enjoying your week so far.

Catching Up

Pin It

Wow, November already and I haven't posted in weeks!

It's actually been a really busy time, both socially and work-wise. Gorgeous Kid went on his very first school camp. Four days away and mum got to have a bit of fun. I went out to dinner, met friends for drinks, finally checked out the Dendy Cinema (love love love) and worked much longer hours than usual. I did manage one quiet night at home, enjoyed a huge plate of vegetables with no complaints, gave myself a pedicure and thoroughly enjoyed the silence. Bliss!

This past weekend we've both been unwell so it's been rather uneventful, however, I've finally photographed some of the cards I've made over recent weeks. Which to show first ... actually I have a belated JAI (#91 Colour Combo) card that never actually made it to publication because I didn't get it photographed and submitted. Bad bad design team member!

The colour combo was Cherry Cobbler, Blushing Bride and a neutral of choice, mine being Very Vanilla. No stamping on this one. I dabbed some Craft White ink across my raised embossed layer and sprayed with Champagne Shimmer Mist. I made my flower following this fabulous tutorial by Joanne Leddy.

That's it from me tonight. I'm up later than usual due to all the rest I've been having whilst unwell, but I'm feeling fatigued at the same time - if that even makes sense.