Sandy Toes Challenge.

I saw a challenge on Michelle Grant's facebook group to use certain items....stapler, glitter, decorative scissors, clay, eyelets, and gloss varnish and I also had a sketch from the Mackay Project Lifers to do something with as well, so I combined the two.

  Unfortunately I couldn't use the clay, gloss varnish or the decorative scissors on this card.

The rope paper from Kaisercraft Sandy Toes 6 x 6 paper pad was perfect for what I had in mind - a male, distressed, boat card.

The base is Kraft card stock with a layer of Island Indigo.  All the edges have been sponged with Island Indigo.  This range of paper has a 12 x 12 piece filled with 3x4 images so I used a blank one with an anchor to tie in with the them.  I stamped the ship onto it in Black Archival Ink. Then the scalloped border was added and the banner piece after that.  The eyelet went through all the layers so it was good and sturdy.  The banner looked a bit bare so I stamped the Happy Birthday on it towards the bottom.   To use the stapler, I pushed in a tab collectable and stamped the word storm onto it.

  

Because the rope reminded me of a big cargo ship, I stamped some label stamps onto the side and added a compass point and north to the bottom.  Then to give the look of salt encrusted rope, I drenched the whole card in Distress Clear Rock Candy Stickles.   The bottom photo shows the look I wanted.

String has been tied around the top and to the anchor collectable and through the jumbo eyelet.  To finish off, I added the charms.

The stamps I used came from a set by Marianne Design called Eline's Beach House.  Love these stamps and being acrylic, I could stamp them a bit blurry to imitate the look of stamped wooden crates.

I don't know if I've explained it all very well but I'm very happy with the resulting card.

Have a very happy Monday everyone.
 

Salty Toes Case.

While doing my search for ideas using the Kaisercraft Salty Toes range of papers I came across some fabulous cards.  Well I couldn't help myself.  I had to case them.  This is one the I just absolutely loved. I did add an extra layer to my card and inked the edges with Lost Lagoon and Gathered Twigs inks.

The bits and pieces to make this card are all Kaisercraft except the base layer of Naturals White and Lost Lagoon card stock by SU.  I used the sticker sheet, collectables, 6 x 6 paper pad and a couple of Kaisercraft mini blooms.  Many thanks to Alison Bevis on the Kaisercraft design team for her fabulous card.

This range of papers I believe has been hugely popular and really it's not surprising, it's just perfect.

A very big happy birthday to my friend Jean whose birthday it is today!!!

Thanks for visiting today.

 

Life Is Better In The Summer!!

I have been playing with Kaisercraft's paper range called Sandy Toes.  Love it.   After making two cards, I had some scraps.  I looked at the Deconstructed Sketch #187 and the scraps seemed to fit it perfectly.  So off I went.   The card base is Kraft oops sorry Crumb Cake with a layer of Lost Lagoon which is the perfect colour match to these papers. I added some neutral mesh and a piece of Kaisercraft string for some added interest.  The thongs, starfish, shell and "take me to the beach" are out of the matching collectables.  The sequins and Relax flair are from a package of sea themed goodies from D-lish Scraps.

I mounted the Life is better in the summer oval which is out of the 6 x 6 paper pad onto a scallop die cut out of Lost Lagoon card stock.  All the edges have been sponged with Lost Lagoon.

I think that's it.   I'm really happy with the way this card turned out.  It certainly came together easily.

My next class is a week away so I had better start designing and prepping cards.  I'm trying to keep my life uncluttered this year.  June to the end of last year (2014) was absolutely ridiculous.  I was doing far too much and running myself ragged.  This year I decided to do something for me....in the exercise line.  There was an advertisement for Deep Water Running at the Sarina pool.  So I went for the first lesson on the 13th January.  Well I haven't missed a lesson since.  The classes are twice a week now, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and I love it.  The pool is local to me, Sarina is only 15/20 mins drive from Koumala.  Usually things are held in Mackay which is 40 miles away..one way and it's not really feasible petrol wise to be travelling in there twice a week.   I'm doing a bit of walking too and I know I've lost weight.  It definitely feels good to be a bit lighter. lol

Thanks for visiting today.

 

Mr & Mrs

Well it's a Saturday morning here.   Today is Queensland State Election day.  So I have voted and now have the rest of the day to myself.

Yesterday was my card class in Mackay with my five ladies.   Joyce needs a few wedding cards to have in stock so I cased the card that is in the current occasions mini catalogue.  I added an extra layer of Sahara Sand underneath the vellum.  In real the colours of the flowers are a better match to the blushing bride card stock than is showing in this photograph.  I also substituted white bakers twine for the silver and natural one used on the sample card.

The Something Lacy background stamp is stamps and embosses beautifully.  The sentiment is from the stamp set For The New Two which also stamps and embosses well.

Well that's it from me today.

Have a good one. 

 

Australia Day And A Tractor

Good morning.  Here in Australia we are celebrating Australia Day.   It also happens to be my Dad's birthday.  He's very happy with his $50 gift voucher from Tackle World and the card that I gave him which was that last one the ladies made on Saturday in their class.

I saw a card on pinterest that used a fabulous sketch, simple but effective for a male card.

I wanted to use a new stamp from Deep Red called Rusty Tractor.  So I mixed some retired SU papers called Parker's Patterns with Botanical Gazette, added some linen thread, metal bits and bobs and die cut gears....voila....a card that the ladies really liked.  

The metal pieces and die cut pieces were given a rusty look using Copper Gilders Paste by Baroque Art.  Absolutely fabulous stuff.  Love it.  Works a treat on metal and card stock.

I embossed the Not Quite Navy panel with a gears embossing folder and added three screw head brads.  There isn't a greeting on this card because I wanted the ladies to be able to use it for occasions other than birthdays.

Dad looked at the tractor image and said it was a Fordson Major.  I said fair dinkum, I didn't know what sort of tractor it was but that I knew he had never owned one.  He said no, but he'd driven on one that had been converted to rubber tyres.  This particular tractor was used to load the cane onto the lift at Ilbilbie.  It had a wooden platform at the back and standing on that you could operate the clutch and gears.  

It's good to hear some of Dad's memories from time to time especially as he doesn't talk about the past much.  He's always said that it's gone and better get on with things now. 

Have a wonderful day everyone. 

 

Blue Vintage Springtime

Good morning all.

Here is the next card the ladies will be making on Saturday in their class.  I wanted to use up some of these Vintage Springtime papers which Stampin' Up put out some years ago.  I love them and bought a few packs, but it's time to start using them. lol   I chose the blue papers to make this card which is a case of LeAnne's card here.

Base card is cream linen card stock with the next layer being Baja Breeze which is retired and a great pity.  The pleated ribbon is also SU Baja Breeze.  Among my collection of stamps is a butterfly set by Stamp It.  I purchased these stamps years ago and mounted them but only ever used one.  So out it came and I stamped the greeting with Not Quite Navy ink (yep also retired - sigh) on card stock weight vellum.  This was left to dry overnight to make sure it wouldn't smudge.

  

The large butterfly was done with a base of Baja Breeze stamped with a lace background stamp then die cut.  The top layer of the wings was die cut then embossed using Stampendous Frantage Shabby Blue Embossing Enamel.  I love the colours in this range of enamels....beautiful and vintagey.  I was going to add a sprinkling of enamel to the vellum panel but decided against it. A shabby rose completed the look I wanted.  Another couple of die cut butterflies layered with a pearl and the card was finished.

The whole card came together very well and I'm very happy with the end result.

Many thanks to Jean for her valuable assistance.

We've had lots of rain here and everything is beautiful and green.  Love it.   I was in Mackay yesterday and the rain absolutely bucketed down.  By the time I had finished getting the groceries to the car, I was saturated.  Oh well, the joys of living in the tropics.  lol

Have a wonderful day everyone.

 

Welcome 2015!!!!

Well I had no idea it was so long since my last post.   The end of 2014 was an extremely busy one for me, consequently, my blog was neglected.  I was still making cards, doing card classes and all the thousand and one things that one does leading up to Christmas.

My first class starts on 24th January with 7 ladies.  So to keep in line with my resolution this year (at this stage anyway), I'm prepping early.  This is one of the cards the ladies will make.  

I saw this card on Chat's blog and had a light bulb moment.   It was perfect for my dilemma.  I have one lady in my class who wants to do a 50th Wedding Anniversary card, one who is happy to do wedding cards and the others who aren't!!!   So I decided to case Chat's card and change the papers, colours and greeting.

All the products are Stampin' Up except the doiley and greeting.  For the anniversary card, there is an extra tag with 50 on it to hang with the other greeting.  I'm happy with the way the card has turned out and I feel it can be used for a number of occasions, not necessarily wedding and anniversary.

Thanks for visiting and many apologies for the long absence.

 

Creative Scrappers Sketch #278

Good afternoon everyone.    I have another page I'm sharing today using a sketch from Creative Scrappers.

I was all enthusiastic and suggested to Jean that we do some scrapbook sketches.   Mmmmm well once again, a wee bit over ambitious!!!!    The photos I've used aren't gorgeous scenes, or wonderful days at the beach etc, just pictures of what I was taking to a friend's place for a day's sewing. lol    For some reason, I'm not very good at travelling lightly.    I try but end saying 'Oh I better take this or that in case I need it!'. 

So before I unloaded the car, I took some photos of exactly what I did have with me and this is the resulting page using the sketch.    This page nearly didn't happen because I thought people want to see scenes etc but after some more thinking, I decided that it's all about MY pages and MY way of scrap booking.

One thing that is fairly awesome, is that I've managed to do some sewing on this page without any problem at all.  The letters, flair and extra bits are from the Scrappy Canary August kits.

Thanks for visiting today.  Keep well.

 

Scrappy Canary September Sketch Challenge

Good morning everyone.  Yes, I know.......a very neglected blog.   My apologies.    I have been making cards and doing some classes but life has been hectic lately.    Once again, I'm trying my hand at scrap booking.    Did you notice I said 'trying'.  I can make cards, work out what's right and what's not right with them but when it comes to this sort of work......I am stumped.   The best I can do is follow a sketch, well try to anyway. lol

Last month for the August sketch challenge at Scrappy Canary, I won it.  Random draw....I couldn't possibly have won it on my work. lol

So here I am again, entering September's sketch challenge.

I used another photo from the same selection as the last two lay outs.  That way they'll all match, I hope. 

The end result is the second time around.......the first attempt, well, most of it is in the bin.   I kept the top section and changed the base page.  All the bits except the base page are from the this kit and this one.  The backing paper is Stampin' Up from the SAB dsp pack this year.

It's a miserable day here today.   Overcast, coolish and wet.    I personally don't mind BUT we are in the middle of the crushing here and goodness knows when the cane will get cut now, all the paddocks will have to dry out.

I'm going to try another sketch today....Creative Scrappers sketch #278.   I also have to do my teddy box.....here.   It's so cute.

That's all from me today.   Keep well everyone. 

 

Scrappy Canary August Sketch Challenge

This is the second page I did for the Scrappy Canary Sketch Challenge. I really enjoyed doing both pages.  The other photos I have that were taken on the same day will be pocket scrapped.  So the two full pages will fit in quite well.

Once again I used mostly items from the Scrappy Canary kits with a few bits from my stash.

Thanks for visiting. 

 

Scrappy Canary August Sketch Challenge

I recently subscribed to an Australian business, called Scrappy Canary who supplies monthly kits for scrap booking.   This month they have a sketch challenge.   Now I haven't done a full scrapbook page since 2009 so I am extremely out of practice but this is what I came up with today.

I used the bits and pieces that came in the three kits I subscribed to and some extra things that I had in my stash.

Actually I'm quite pleased with my efforts.  

Thanks for visiting today.

 

Sailing In To Say Hello.

Good morning.   I have another card to share today.  

This one uses Pion Design Shoreline Treasures papers. These are fabulous papers and I love them all.  I paired the papers with Marianne Dies.  The greeting is from a set by Joanna Munster, Inspired By Stamping.

The net is some of the linen cast net that I was given and the shells are from a packet I purchased at a DIY craft shop here in Mackay.

Thanks for visiting today and hope everyone keeps well. 

 

Join Me For A Coffee?

Hello Everyone.

I'm back!   My computer had to go in for immediate and urgent repairs.  Fortunately all good now AND I have a new photo program......Photoshop Elements 12!!  Yaaaayyyyyy. lol

I managed to edit this photo with my new program.  There certainly is a lot to learn about it.

Anyway on to the card.  This is the first card I made with my new Maja Design papers called Coffee In The Arbour.   These papers are absolutely gorgeous.

Also on this card, I used some other new toys.   The metal corner has been embossed with Stampendous Shabby Pink Embossing Enamel.  The teacup, saucer and spoon is a new Marianne Design die set. The pretty, pretty lace is new too.  The ribbon is some I've had for years.  The frame is called Tiffany by Memory Box.

Thanks for visiting today and I'm pleased to be back with my large computer screen where I can see everything.  

 

McAleese Lookalike!!

Good morning everyone.

I'm back this time with a card that I made especially for a friend's brother's birthday.

He used to drive McAleese semis so Lex wanted a semi trailer in McAleese colours on the card.

Here is the result.   The inspiration for the layout and embellishments are from this card by Ans Gilbert.

At first this card just wouldn't work but once I coloured the darker blue stripe with a bit more Island Indigo, I forged ahead. 

The base is SU Naturals White with a layer of Island Indigo.  In my recent stash buying, I bought this dsp by Kaisercraft called Base Coat Cracked.  It's actually a picture of a brick wall that has been rendered a few times.  I picked out a corner that looked like bitumen coming off road base....which I might add is what quite a few of our roads look like.  lol

Then a piece of Silver Foil Sheet was run through the Tim Holtz Diamond Plate embossing folder.  I matted this onto Basic Grey.   For this card I had the wonderful opportunity to use my new Gilding Paste.  Love this stuff.  It smells like shoe polish.  I rubbed Black Gilding Paste over the checker plate, gears, number and had a marvellous time with it.  rofl

 My semi trailer is a Stamp It stamp coloured with Prisma Colour pencils with the dark blue stripe over coloured with Island Indigo ink and blender pen.  For the background of the semi, I stamped the World Map stamp after stamping off first.

Tyre tracks from Rev Up The Fun have been stamped on the Smokey Slate layer and to clean my stamp a bit, I stamped randomly over my checker plate piece.

The grid paper is from Soho Subway and then with my old spiral punch I made it look like paper from a notebook. 

Enjoy The Journey seemed appropriate for the card and this has been stamped onto another piece of Soho Subway dsp.

Black photo corners, screw top brads, gears, paper clip, an age number and ticket provided embellishments for the card.

I had a wonderful time distressing, gilding, stamping and embellishing this card.

Lex loved the card and she is positive her brother will too.

The rest of today will be spent in making a couple of cakes and two potato bakes.  I also have to cut up kabana, cheese, heat up cheerios, butter bread rolls and worst of all, cut up onions. sniff, sniff.

My son is having a 21st birthday party here tonight.  Eeeeekkkk!!!!

Wish me luck! lol

Enjoy the rest of your day and keep well.

 

Dare To Dream.

Good morning.

I'm showing today one of the cards that my Saturday ladies made in their class yesterday.

The inspiration for this card came from this one by Stamping Shanni.

I used a stamp from a new Stampin' Up set called Traveller.  The Australian/New Zealand new catalogue goes live on the 1st July.  

The base is Crumb Cake, next layer, Midnight Muse, then Crumb Cake again.   I stamped the World Map with Soft Suede onto Very Vanilla twice.  The join from stamping twice is under the ship's log piece which has been stamped on Crumb Cake and layered onto Midnight Muse.

To tie in the Cherry Cobbler that I stamped the ship with, I used some mesh that I bought from Sharon at the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.

The edges of all the layers and the banner have been distressed and inked lightly with Soft Suede.

The rope around the image is from Sharon too.  The anchor, which is from The Open Sea, I stamped in Midnight Muse then cut out. Along the rope on the anchor, I glued the frayed string and then threaded it through the hole, knotted it and tucked the end up under the oval.

The banner was die cut and then 'Dare To Dream slightly bent to the curve of the banner and stamped using the stamp-a-ma-jig.

Hemp twine and a button made a wonderful nautical embellishment.

A very fine line of Multi Media Matte around the oval so my knotted rope would stick and a compass charm completed the card.

Hope you have a wonderful day or night as the case may be.

Keep well.

 

The Big Catch!

Can you see it?   The big fish?? lol  I had a lovely time designing this card because I was having a chuckle all the while.  This card was inspired by a card made Cootje - here.

I used a base of Stampin' Up Early Espresso.  On to that I layered a piece of creek pebble dsp that I purchased while I was away at camp in March.  The image is from Joy Crafts Fishing Fun paper block. I chose this particular image because I felt that it was more of a creek or dam than the ocean and would go with my 'pebbles' well.   The green layer is Wild Wasabi (I think) and the hessian paper is one out of the Kaisercraft Base Coat range.

The woven jute ribbon is from Linda at the Funkie Junkie Boutique.  This jute ribbon is fabulous BUT it is interwoven with nylon, like fishing line so it's a bit of a nuisance to try and fold. The grass die is Impression Obsession and I use it a lot.  The man in the boat silhouette and fish dies are from Joy Crafts.  I die cut the smallest fish out of silver card and added a bling eye.  The fishing 'line' is some hemp twine.  The Big Catch stamp is from one of the matching stamp sets in the Joy Crafts Fishing Fun series.  Unfortunately I cannot purchase the other one. It's mostly in Dutch but I just love some the images and words in it.  Pity.

Last but not least, is my Gone Fishin' sign.....an old stamp by Stylish Images.  Love it.

The ladies in class who made this card were thrilled with it and they had a chuckle too. lol

Thanks for visiting my blog.

 

To The Beach!!

Well I'd love to go but unfortunately it's a busy day here in my household. lol

Please excuse the quality of the photo, a. it's a very grey murky day here and b. the camera wouldn't keep still (yep, I was shaking).

I have another class on Friday with my ladies from Mackay.  

Due to the fact that I love beach themed papers and embellishments, there will be quite a few beach/boat/fishing themed cards in the coming weeks. I only hope the ladies won't get tired of them.

This card uses Graphic 45 By The Sea range of papers and stamps.  The sketch is from LOTV ideas to inspire sketch. I started with a base of Stampin' Up Naturals White.  The blue layer is retired Not Quite Navy.  The check out of By The Sea is gorgeous.  I added two panels of the starfish/anemone paper as per sketch and that's where I went off on a tangent.  The finished card looks nothing like the sketch.  Oh well, so be it.

The sign and wording 'To The Beach' are stamps which match the Graphic 45 By The Sea range of papers.  The birds and grass are Impression Obsession dies and the umbrella is a Memory Box die. The birds have been sponged with Weathered Wood distress ink.  

I added shells, fussy cut from the papers, I think there is a check on the other side.  Then a piece of fishing net with some actual shells attached finished off the card.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog.

Hope you like my card.

Cheers,

 

Treasured Memories.

Do you remember going to the beach and looking for shells along the high tide mark?  I do.  I loved the beach when I was a kid and still love walking along the beach when I get a chance.

This card was inspired by this card by Primia.

I love it.  Thanks Primia.

OK, I started with a base of  Stampin' Up Naturals White.  Next layer is Night Of Navy.   The dsp is Fab Scraps which I purchased from Charlotte's Web and Daisy Chain Scrapbooks.

I used three different papers of the same range.  Love them.   The image is from the Nellie Snellen Vintage selection.

I layered the image onto Kraft card stock then Night Of Navy.  The hessian and cheesecloth are from Linda at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.  'Treasured Memories' are a Kaszazz stamp set.

I then arranged some different flourishes and flowers at the side of the image to mimic the colours of the seaweed and ocean.  Also to give a bit of a lift to the arrangement, the apricot flowers and glass spray highlighted the little girl's hair.  A cluster of pearls with some little shells and my card is finished.

The photo doesn't pick it up but there is Clear Rock Candy distress stickles on the ocean and dry Clear Rock Candy distress glitter on the sand.

The sketch I used is from Lili Of The Valley Ideas To Inspire Blog sketch #11.

The ladies will be making this card in class tomorrow.  I'm pretty sure they'll like it.

Thanks for visiting today and hope you like my card.

 

Twin Boys.

Well I'm back again with another card that I made some time ago.  A friend of mine needed a card for twin baby boys so this is what I came up with.   I think there was a card some where that was my inspiration but 

I'm sorry, can't remember where.

The image is from Doodle Pantry and can be found here.

The papers I used are Kaisercraft with textured Stampin Up card stock.  A bear at each end of the 'clothes line' added a cute little touch.  All up quite a simple but effective card I thought.

Thanks for visiting today,

Enjoy your crafting.

 

Beware Of Trains!!

Well once again, I'm behind with my blog.   I have plenty of made cards but haven't put any on here.

Well I'll make a start with this one.   

I have a class next week and a number of card orders.  One of the orders is for a male in his early twenties who works for Aurizon (what we used to call Queensland Rail).  So I combined his card with my class. I'm sure my ladies will like this card.

OK, on to details.  I started with a base of SU Early Espresso with a layer of Cajun Craze.  The dsp is retired SU Well Worn.  I love these papers, so perfect for the images I'm using at the moment.

My train, which is an image from Studio Light, has been layered onto Not Quite Navy, then Early Espresso.

I have distressed the edges of my image and layers but didn't ink them.  Inking them, sometimes, make the card too dark and in this case I didn't want that sort of look.

My pointing finger is a stamp by Deep Red.  Deep Red make some fabulous stamps and I've managed to collect quite a few. lol

My railway lamp and sign are also images from Studio Light.  I attached some Antique Brass brads to the sign. Oh I forgot to say, that the sketch I've used is  Deconstructed Sketch #146.

I had chosen some other gear type charms for my wheels but wasn't really sure so I sent a photo of them to my Train Driver OH, who gently indicated that perhaps the teeth around the gears I had chosen weren't really suitable for train tracks and that the wheels should be a smooth circle!  pmsl  He did approve the lamp though!!!

So with a little banner punched from some of the dsp to match my Not Quite Navy layer and my toothless gears to represent wheels, my card is finished.

Thank you for visiting my blog today.

Enjoy your crafting everyone.