Craft Retreat/Fusion Card Challenge

Some of you may know, I was lucky enough to be included in a Craft Retreat with an amazingly talented group of crafters - Joy Taylor, Iwona Palamountain, Cecilia Hsieh, Lyndal Higgins, Michelle Lupton, Teresa Xanthos, Debbie Pamment, Angelique Kelly, Jenny Dix and Suzanne Kohler!!!!!

We went to the most beautiful place - Bright Vic and the house was just so perfect for a group of crafty ladies! I was a bit worried I wouldn't be able to create, being surrounded by so much talent, but once we got the stamps,paper,inks and dies out, it was easy!

You should have seen how many stamps and dies we had the opportunity to play with (mostly Joy's) - it was like dying and going to Crafty Heaven!!!

This is the 1st card I made, which amazingly didn't involve any stamping! It is based on the sketch from the Fusion Card Challenge.

The paper is from Kaisercraft. I can't remember which die I used for the sentiment,
but I used a L'il Inkers die for the oval (I seriously need to buy these).
The wooden bird was a gift from Cecilia.

Case Study Challenge / Autumn Leaves

Hi just a quick post with a card I made for the latest Case Study Challenge. Joni's card is absolutely stunning and I thought it was  serendipitous, because it is Autumn in Australia and I'm at a craft retreat in Bright, which is renowned for it's beautiful Autumn colours.

I've used dies and distress inks to create these leaves and had lots of inky fun in the process.

Case Study Challenge

A very quick post, due to a deadline. I have made another card for the Case Study Challenge, based on Joni's card, but I was also influenced by the picture at a jewellery store near us ( I will try to get a pic).

The flower image is from Clearly Besotted Stamps. 

Papertrey INK Mim / Stamp & Paint Techniques

Hi, I'm back with another card, this one is for the Make it Monday, inspired by  a video by Melissa. We had to use Papertrey Ink products and 3D Paint in some way on our project.

I don't have a PTI impression plate (yet), so I used an embossing folder and blue paint on Desert Storm card, to give a weathered wood effect.

I was trying to work out where to put the sentiment, when I thought it would look cute tucked in, like a card in a bunch of flowers from the Florist.  The other thing I like is mixing rustic with B & W.

Case Study Challenge #183

Hi, I can't believe it's Monday and another week is behind us! This year seems to be flying!

Today I have a card for the Case Study Challenge. We have another incredible card to case from Joni. You should go on over to Case Study to look at the new card Joni has made and the amazing inspiration from the design team!

The stamp was a freebie from a magazine. I have stamped the image on Vellum and then coloured the back with Copic markers. I backed the vellum with white card.
The sentiment is from Taylored Expressions and I cut the banner with the Silhouette Portrait.
I was also influenced by Kristina Werner's video in the OCC on Creative Colouring Day 7, where she showed us how to use Copics on Vellum.

A Little Birdie Told Me

Yes, a little birdie (aka Shirley) told me that a very special gal - MARIA -is celebrating a very special birthday today! A milestone in fact! The BIG 50! So the lovely Shirley has organised a surprise birthday card linky party for her. Check out all the other cards here.

I've have long admired Maria's  style, which is sort of arty and always unique! Another thing I love about Maria is her friendly, fun personality, which is apparent through her blogging at  Riesling Mama and in the lovely encouraging comments she gives to others!
Happy Birthday Maria!!!! I hope you enjoy your special day with your family and friends and that you get spoilt rotten!

I decided to make 2 cards for the occasion ....

I used Twinkling H2Os and the cute Sketchy Bird Stamp from Dina Wakely in this card. 

I used distress ink to create the watercolour butterflies and Windsor & Newton watercolour paint for the background.
The doilie stamp is from Penny Black  I used Memory Box dies to make the leaves and butterflies.

Feather - Watercolour Play

I've been trying to paint watercolour feathers like Jennifer Rasza showed us in the OCC Day 7. I haven't been satisfied with my results yet, but hopefully practice will help. Anyway, this is one of my first attempts.

Runway Inspired Challenge / Curtain Call / Card Concept

It's a very interesting photo inspiration in this week's Runway Inspired challenge. The background immediately spoke to me, but the colours of the outfit were a bit too bold and primary  for my liking. But guess what happened? I ended up basing my card on the skirt and coat, because I couldn't get passed the butterflies!

The colours of my card are also inspired by the Curtain Call card challenge.

And last, but not least, this card also fits the theme at the Card Concept - Birthday card (Clean and Simple). 

Yes, I've used my favourite Penny Black butterfly stamp again! There was so much colour in the butterfly that I decided to leave the rest of my card CAS. I've used twinkling H2os and black embossed the image. The leaves were also coloured with Twinkling H20s. Looking at it now, I wish I used a bit more red, but c'est la vie!

Thanks for visiting - have a great day!

OCC clean & simple 3 Homework Day 7

Another 3 wonderful videos today. I was inspired by them all, but I've started on the watercolouring cause I was in the mood after watching Jennifer Rasza's tutorial.

Here are 2 cards, using different methods.

In the first card, I traced the negative space of a Penny Black die with pencil and then used water colour paints. The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp. We have Bearded irises in our garden and I LOVE them! I found the shape of the leaves a bit tricky, so I need more practice there. 

In this card, I used a Kaisercraft stamp. I painted on to the stamp and then used a plain wet brush to fill in the image. Again, I need more practice, but I do find this type of card making quite relaxing!

Ps: I decided to mount this on green card so it is one layer!

Case Study Challenge #182 / Muse / InkMuse spirational

We have another beautiful card of Joni's  to case over at Case Study challenge - it's lovely and inky and cheerful. So I've been having lots of messy fun - trying to decide whether to use distress inks, gelatos or watercolours and the this is the result of one card. I found a new challenge - Inkspirational Challenge and I love their photo. I'm also entering this in the current Muse challenge.

MUSE CARD CHALLENGE

I used distress inks with lots of blending, then stamped a bit of script background . Next I spritzed it with pearlised water. When it was dry I embossed it, but then flattened it out by putting it through the bigshot between card stock. Then I stamped the butterflies and the sentiment and mounted the panel on a white card base.

Papertrey Ink MIM #155 Confetti

Happy St Patrick's Day everyone! It's my Mum's birthday today, but as it's only 6 weeks since my dad passed away, it is the first occasion she's had to celebrate without him. So we she all be there for her to make the day less sad.

I made a card this morning for the Make it  Monday challenge at Papertrey Ink. The theme this week is Confetti - Danielle showed us how to make confetti using dies.

I used a couple of stamps from the Rosie Posie set and a dauber for the circles. The confetti was die-cut from some old beautiful blooms dies - the centre of the daisies.

OCC Day 3 Optical Illusion homework

I decided to give the layered stamping a try. This is a style I really love, but struggle a lot finding the right combination of colours and stamps. I really had fun doing this, because I didn't over think it!

I am also entering this in the Scrapbook Boutique March challenge as I was inspired by their colours.

By the way, I was also influenced by a gorgeous sneak peek I saw on Joy Taylor's facebook page.

OCC Clean & Simple 3 Day 3 & Day 5 Homework - Masking and a Plaid Card

I've been having a bit of fun trying out the plaid technique , shown to us by the amazing Laura Bassen.
I used Distress inks and had to use masking tape as we dont have the Post it roll or anything similar here. I thought the masking tape my tear the paper, so I played with it to make it less sticky first.

The sentiment is from a local stationary store - Kikki K. It was a bit patchy when I stamped it, but yesterday I bought a Tim Holtz Emboss it marker so I was able to repair it!

My 2nd card is for Day 3 Homework using Jennifer Mcguire's technique of masking.

I had to use computer paper for the shading, so it was a bit tricky around the edges, but not too bad.

Scrapbook Boutique March Challenge

This will have to be a quick post, because I should be cooking dinner, walking dogs, cleaning up my mess and picking up my son! I'm so good at multi-tasking I'm going to do all that in record time after I finish here!

I recently acquired this Penny Black stamp set 2nd hand from Iwona and I thought it would suit the Scrapbook Boutique challenge very well!

I stamped the image repeatedly using a mask and then coloured with inktense pencils plus a touch of Wink of stella. The shading is done with a grey marker and Pan Pastels.

Cure for the Monday Blues #8 - First time Playing!

I've been meaning to have a play in Taheerah's challenge Cure for the Monday Blues, so today is the day! She always has great inspiration photos and this one is no exception.

I do apologise for the photo, it's  bright sunshine outside, so I chose the shade and am using an iphone - I must remember to charge the battery of my camera!

The background panel is loosely influenced by the triangle pattern and well the tags reflect the spring colours in the photo.

OCC Day 1 - Faux Letterpress

This is a quick post to show my last (?) card for day one's homework. This technique was demonstrated by Shari Caroll and I guess you could describe it as ghost stamping.

I found this blue card in my scrap stash and thought it was pretty and that the peach colour would compliment it. The butterfly stamp is from Darkroom Door and the sentiment is from Clearly Besotted Stamps.  I added the white card because both my white gel pens are clogged! Does anyone know how to fix them??? I am so annoyed at the waste when there is still plenty of ink, but it wont write!

The Card Concept take 2 - Record number of posts in one day!

I'm running out of things to say, so I'll just tell you that this is for the Card Concept Challenge - this time a Clean & Simple Card.

I made this because I wanted to test out my new stamp set from Simon Says Stamp - Flower Friend.
I've used Memento Luxe ink pads.

Well thats it from me!

And another one OCC Clean & Simple 3

I decided to use up a watercolour die cut I had in my stash, following Debbie's method again.

More Homework

This time I tried out the faux metal technique Kristina showed us. This card is just an experiment. I was trying to do something different from Kristina's card, so I used a butterfly stencil.

So, in my opinion the card looks average, but I quite like the butterfly, so more experimentation might be called for! I think I will do a close case of Kristina's card.

Online Card Class Clean & Simple 3 Day 1 - card 2

Hi again. this is my second card for day one's homework

This design was definitely more challenging and I lost a couple of little pieces , even though I was being super careful. So I had to die cut the word another couple of times and even cut a small piece down to fit. But it all came together in the end. 

Online Card Class Clean & Simple 3 Day 1

I was lucky enough to win a place in this class, although I'd already paid up - that was a bonus! Thanks Joy!  So today is day 1 and the videos were really informative and inspirational. I have made 2 cards, based on the technique Debbie Hughes showed us.

This is my 1st card

This one was quite easy, so I decided to have a go using 3 die cuts to challenge myself - you'll have to go to my next post to see the result.

The Card Concept 5 - Colour Inspiration

Well I can honestly say I have never used this colour combo before, but it was fun to work out how to combine the colours. My first instinct was to use more white and brown with a touch of lime, but I had this beautiful paper, so this is what I created...

Since I wanted to make this gorgeous foiled paper from Kaisercraft the focal point of the card, I went with the clean and layering style. The sentiment and labels are from Papertrey Ink.

I stamped the label twice, fussy cut one and then layered with foam adhesive for more dimension.
I stitched borders on the square panels for added texture and interest.
You can join in the fun at the Card Concept here.

Case Study Challenge Take 2

I love Joni's card so much, I decided to make another card for the Case Study Challenge. I just went with the flow on this card.

As you can see, I went with a much brighter colour scheme than Joni - it must be the extended Summer we're experiencing! I with embossed a white card with an image from kaisercraft. Then I used spray mist, but swiped it with a baby wipe for a more solid look and then sprayed a bit more. The chipboard flower image is also from Kaisercraft. The lace was a find at a local craft market. The sentiment is from Taylored expression. I managed to very subtly include some stripes!

Runway Insired challenge

Hi there, it's a long weekend in Australia, so I have more time to craft. This card is for the current Runway Inspired challenge - it's a very glamorous and a very skinny model!

The rose stamp is from Clearly Besotted stamps - it always reminds me of the logo for Beauty and the Beast.