Can you guess what it was?

Hi all,

Well, we spent our day in air conditioned buildings again. This weather is meant to stay like this until Monday now so we will be quietly melting until then.

If you have read my blog before, you may know that I like to use recycled packaging in my cards if it fits, so I used the card from a pack of Daisy's glitter glue. I also decided to use an old belt I had kept from a pair of trousers I used for decorating in and then threw out. I don't wear belts so wouldn't use it as is, but loved the material, so I cut the part with the eyelets in and used that on my card. I thought this great image from Charmed Cards went well with it and will use it for one of my cousin's son's birthdays as they all love skateboarding.

I would like to enter this into the allsorts challenge - saving nature

Just for you

Hi all,

I had a real urge to tidy out my craft cupboard today, so I went a bought new storage. Once Martha got to sleep, I really did try to sort things out, but I got sidetracked by some of my new birthday and Christmas stash, so I made this card and did no more tidying. Ooops! I've been wanting to make a card different from the normal square one for a while, and the challenge at allsorts -fancy folds made me finally do something. I found the tutorial for this swing card here and found it wasn't really all that difficult. The paper is by Little Yellow Bicycle and the pink heart card is the packaging from Daisy's doll's house furniture. She has learnt that I keep most things, because as soon as she opened her birthday presents she put all the paper and packaging into my craft cupboard! The butterflies are from my EK Success border punch (I can see it getting lots of use) and the flowers are Wild Orchid. The image is one of my new Penny Black slapstick stamps. I love this image. I would also like to enter this card into Penny black at allsorts - All you need is love.

A bit of what you fancy

Hi,

Well, it's Tuesday and time for another challenge at Creative Craft. The theme is anything goes and as usual runs for two weeks, so I hope you will have a chance to join in. This week, we are sponsored by:

who are giving a $10 voucher for their store, and also by:

who are giving away an everyday selection of ribbons.

Now, onto my makes. The first is a gift bag, which uses the image Bah Humbug by Stitchy bear.

Isn't the image great? I think Santa must have delivered most of his presents as he is looking
rather fed up and as though he wants to go home.

I also made this card:

I was a bit self indulgent with this one, as I used a lot of my favourite things at the moment (no doubt they will change soon!) - purple, wild orchid flowers, lace and my distress inks. The images and sentiment are by Penny Black and I inked the lace to tie in with the colour scheme.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges: Allsorts - Anything goes and Penny black at Allsorts - Beauty is in the eye of the beholder (I have many of my favourite things here and so beautiful to me).

I still have a horrible cold, so I'm hoping I'm not going to give it to anyone else as it won't be fun being ill over Christmas. Daisy is starting to get excited and wants the Christmas tree lights on all day, which is fine but as it is sunny here, you can't see them very well. It's quite hard for her to understand that there won't be snow here on Christmas Day and that we may go swimming. Even I can't quite get my head around that!

How many days until Christmas?

Hi,

We had a lovely few days away. We went to a town called Kiama, about 2 gours drive south of Sydney. The weather was gorgeous. I was a bit worried, as it had rained for a whole week beforehand. We rented a cottage, which had a great view of the beach. Daisy loved playing in the sea and Martha even had her first paddle, but it was still a bit cold for her. My inlaws enjoyed it too. They are going home tomorrow and the time has flown by. Daisy loves having them around and Martha is now getting used to the extra faces and is smiling at them all the time.

On Saturday we went to carols in the park. It started at 6.30pm. We took rugs and food and sang carols with at least 2000 other people. The girls enjoyed it, but they've only just got over the break in their routine. I'm not really in the Christmas spirit yet as I can't equate 30 degrees heat with this time of year, but I'm sure it will come.

On to my card. I still haven't finished all my Christmas cards, so the challenge at Allsorts - last minute Christmas - is great for me this week. I have used paper that was free with Crafts Beautiful magazine and the image and sentiment is from Holly Day Critters by penny black, although the teacher in me has a little problem with there not being a capital H!

I think I hear Martha so had better stop waffling. I hope you have a good day.

Feeling blue

Hi,

Martha and I picked up my in laws from the airport this morning. They had a good flight, but a day's travelling takes it out on you, so while they and Martha are having a nap, I thought I would post this card I made for Daisy. Her 4th birthday is in January, but last year she didn't get a card from us (I know, it's terrible). We were in England for Christmas and I was going to make her card when we got back before her birthday. Unfortunately, snow played havoc with our travel plans and we ended up in Northumberland for Daisy's birthday. By the time we got back here, it was a bit late to make her a card. Anyway, I didn't want that to happen again, so I'm early with it. Daisy's favourite colour is blue (I think that's because she loves Thomas the Tank Engine!) and she is going through a pretty dress and princess phase, so I put both together. The stamp is a fab one from Kraftin' Kimmie called Marie Antoinette. I am entering this into the Allsorts challenge - monochrome.

Having a play

Hi,

I've been desperate to have a play with my new stash, so here's the result. I've distressed the edges of the card and the paper. The paper is by prima. I then used Victorian Velvet and Antique linen distress inks for a background and stamped an image by Tim Holtz. I also used crackle paint around the edges. The lace is by Wild Orchid and was inked with Victorian Velvet. I'm entering this into Allsorts - lace, ribbon and a charm.

It's been a lovely day today so we were invited to a friend's house for a swim. I can't quite get my head around 31 degrees in November though.

A bit more purple

Hi all,

The sun has been shining today, which has been good as I finally managed to get some washing out. It's been quite wet and stormy this past week, which is odd for spring here normally. I went training this morning and we did some boxing, which I have never done before and quite liked, as long as I never have to hit anyone. Daisy was at nursery today and had her photo taken there. She chose one of her pretty party dresses to wear and I was just hoping it would stay clean enough for the photos as she seems to attract mess, like most 3 year olds.

Anyway, enough of my waffle. I managed to make a card while Martha slept. I used a fab sketch from the challenge at allsorts this week. I've had the paper for ages but just found it while I was sorting out ready for my new stash. The stamp is from the Daisy and Dandelion range and the flowers are from Wild Orchid. I bought a few of these flowers, so expect to see more. I bought the white ribbon a couple of years ago and haven't used it before.

Yes - it really is another Christmas card.

Hi,

I know, three posts in as many days. What is the world coming to? I have decided I really should make a determined start on my Christmas cards. This one uses a digi stamp by in style stamps which I love. The paper is by Basic Grey and Making Memories, which I have inked with green.

I am entering this into the allsorts challenge - Twas the night before Christmas, as this reminds me of the line - The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.

I'm getting fed up of the weather as we have had storms most nights since Saturday. Hopefully summer will be nicer.

Not so simple.

Hi,

Yes, I am around, but it's been one of those weeks where I haven't had a lot of time to myself. I then decided to make a simple card, but that was easier said than done. I find it difficult to keep things plain and simple and had to do a lot of thinking for this and I'm still not sure I've done it justice. The stamp is a fab one from Kaisercraft. I'm entering this into allsorts - plain and simple.

Autumn is here

Well, for many of you Autumn has arrived. Over here it is Spring and pouring with rain!

We had a busy weekend as Daisy was invited to two birthday parties (she has a better social life than me) and so I had to make cards and find suitable presents. Daisy is in kindy today so I took the opportunity to craft while Martha slept.

On to the card. I have used a stamp by Kraftin Kimmie. The papers are by Hot off the Press and I love the leaves one. I am entering it into two challenges: Allsorts - Colours of Autumn and Incy Wincy Designs - Autumn colours.

Just a little one

Hi,

I love trying out new shpaes of cards and I saw this in a magazine so had a go at it. It is only 9cm square when tied up so smaller than I'm used to, but just right for these PB stamps I bought last week. The paper is from the DCWV garden party pack. I'm entering it into allsorts - take inspiration from a park or garden and Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Summer Lovin'.

Hearts and flowers

Hi all,

I haven't been on here as my camera somehow managed to crash my computer and then it wouldn't work. Luckily, hubby sorted it all out and it is now back to normal. I was a bit worried using the camera again but it seems to be ok, so here is one of my cards.

I'm still impatiently awaiting the arrival of babyB, but it won't be much longer than a week now at most.

The theme at allsorts is July love - you need a heart on the card somewhere. I made a heart from fimo and stamped a flower on it. I used another of the fab lace flowers and some great papers given to me in a RAK - sorry I don't know where they are from.

Yes, I am here!

Hi, sorry I've been AWOL, but a few days ago I woke up feeling extremely dizzy and couldn't move my head without the room spinning. I spent the next few days doing very little and am only now feeling like I can do some crafting and as Daisy is in kindy I thought I would take advantage. However, I am thinking maybe I should slow down a little bit as I think it is my body's way of saying a heavily pregnant lady should rest more! Babybee is due on Friday but as Daisy kept me waiting for 10 days, I'm ready for a long wait!

Anyway, onto the card. I had fun with this one as I used two blue ink pads and one silver one to make the background (although it is quite difficult to pick out the shades in the photo). I have then used one of my fabby new Kraftin' Kimmie stamps, called Daphne, and paper pieced the dress. The fuschias are from a woodware stamp set and the butterfly is one I got free with a magazine. I'm entering this into Allsorts - create a scene and Crafty Cardmakers -inky fingers.

Let them eat cake!

Hi,

Daisy is in kindy today, so I took the time to have a play. Allsorts have the theme embossing. I don't have a machine that embosses, unfortunately, so I have used some ready embossed card. The image is one of my new stamps from Kraftin Kimmie called Marie Antoinette. I also used a french script stamp from SU to clear emboss behind the image and then used distress inks to create the background.

Sketch

Hi, Daisy has been in kindy all day, so after grocery shopping and doing a few jobs, I had time to make a couple of cards. This one uses some K and Co papers I bought ages ago and haven't really used, but I quite like the effect. The image is from a RAK so I don't know where it is from - I must ask. I've used a great sketch from allsorts which is quite deceiving as it looks simple but took me ages to line up all the squares.

Distressed

The flood has now been sorted and the pipes in the bathroom have been unblocked. My lovely hubby has spent ages disinfecting the bathroom and it is now all sparkly again.

Over at allsorts the theme is lace and/or buttons. I bought some gorgeous lace flowers a couple of months ago and thought this would be a perfect time to use one. I experimented a bit with distressing this card as I thought it went well with the lace.

Yum!

Over at allsorts the theme is strawberries and cream and there is a mouthwatering picture to give inspiration. I have used the colours from the picture and used a fab Sarah Kay stamp.

Daisy has been at kindy all day, so I decided to do a bit of crafting. It was good to finally have a play and see what happens. I also had an interview for a tutor position. I'm hoping to start in September as babybee will be nearly a couple of months old by then (if it arrives on time) and I can choose the times to suit me. After nearly a year out of teaching, I'm missing the interaction with children and the chance to make a difference to someone.

A card for two challenges

I've been a bit of a bad blogger lately. Sorry, but life has got in the way a bit. Also, I've not been in the mood for crafting (awful I know) and had a bit of a confidence crisis. Anyway, I have decided to get back into things and make a card for two challenges. Allsorts are asking for black, white and 1 other colour. I chose red. Over at Sir Stampalot the challenge is punch it. There's a fab prize of a big stash of punches on offer. So, I grabbed the few punches I have - a border one from SU, two scalloped circles and three flower punches and had a play. The stamp is a Tilda I bought a while ago, but don't use very much.

Finally a card

Hi,

I've just popped on here to post a card I want to enter into two challenges. Over at Allsorts they are celebrating their first birthday with a blog hop and challenge to make a birthday card. There are many fab prizes on offer, so go and have a look!

This card is also for Sir Stampalot challenge which this month is butterflies and blossoms and the prize is a huge stash of Tim Holtz goodies.

Anyway, to the card. I saw this technique in a craft mag about a year ago and stashed it in my brain for future use. I've used a wonderful dimension fourth stamp my Mum brought me when she came to visit. I stamped it once with no colour and then coloured another in and cut part of it to stick on with 3D foam pads. I then cut out the flower again and used glossy accents for the centre. I have used a glimmer mist background with paper from the KandCo Amy Butler range. The butterfly is a kaisercraft stamp.

Now I'm off to go places with my parents again.

In stitches

Over on the allsorts challenge blog, the theme is to include stitching or faux stitching. As my sewing machine is still in England, I drew faux stitching around the image and the green paper. I was given the image a while ago but just found it hidden in my paper stash.