Simply Wonderful

Wow there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day anymore!  I am spending less and less time in my craftroom lately and I miss it!  So this afternoon I decided that I would make some cards regardless!

My first card is my first play with texture paste.  I have seen this on scrapbooking pages and a few cards - however most are using stencils and I don't have any so I wondered if I could use stamps to create a little texture.  Knowing that the paste, when dry, goes hard so I thought as soon as I have stamped the background on the paste I should wash the stamp to remove the paste!  I also found that spraying the stamp lightly with water enables the stamp to come away from the paste better.  I also used an acrylic stamp - then I could wash it under running water. Here is the result ...

 and a close up ...

 I have based my card on the following sketch from CAS(E) this sketch #120

I would also like to submit it for the challenge at Cute Card Thursday - Clean and Simple.
materials - Co're Dinations rouge cardstock, smooth white cardstock, Arches watercolor paper; Grant Archival Grace Taylor butterfly stamp, Kaisercraft grid texture stamp; Staz On jet black ink; Versa fine onyx black ink; Watercolour pencils; Aqua brush; Francheville enamel dots; natural cord.

You're how old?!

Hi there, I was so excited when I managed to secure the crazy birds set of stamps from Tim Holtz ... I say this because they are as rare as 'birds teeth' here in Australia!  Whenever I had a look they were always sold out but alas I got the last one in one of the online shops I shop at and was jumping for joy when they came in the post.

I am not a big fan of Tim Holtz stamps but I saw this set and fell in love with the birds - they are super funny and quirky.

Here is my clean and simple card ...

 I followed this weeks sketch from CAS(E) this sketch #116 

materials used - smooth white cardstock; Tim Holtz crazy birds stamps, Stampendous typwriter alphabet stamps; Staz On black ink; Prismacolor pencils; Francheville yellow enamel dots; black fine tip pen.
thanks for looking!

'Hatty' Birthday

Hello, hope yorle having a great weekend so far ... it is pretty cool and miserable here in Melbourne so I spent the morning in the craftroom.  

Since I have just spent the last 5 months in NZ (keeping an eye on my mother!) I hardly got to craft at all and I remember as soon as I got there everyone asked if I had any birthday cards in stock .... ah considering I had previously spent the last 6 months wandering the outback on the push bike I didn't get the chance to craft at all!  So I knew that once I got back to Oz I would start stocking up on birthday cards ... thankfully the pile is getting highter so that should satisfy the family.  

This morning I had a ball and really enjoyed making this card and here is the result ...

 following this weeks sketch from Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge blog ...

 drawing inspiration from this months challenge over at Scrapbook Boutique (so loved the hats on the little cupcakes!)

and also following the challenge at Papertake Weekly Challenge blog - A cut above - a lot of fussy cutting and a little die cutting!
materials used - white cardstock; Kaisercraft sunshine cardstock; Echo Park a perfect summer papers; Paper Smooches stamps - Alphadot, green acres, streamers; Versafine onyx black ink; Paper Smooches wise dies borders 1; Prismacolor pencils.
Thanks for looking.

D'lish Scraps - forever

It has been such gorgeous weather here in Melbourne that we have been out and about cycling, walking and kayaking that I hardly have a moment in the craft room!  This is the best time of the year down here in Victoria!

I played along with this months Caribbean Skies Inspiration Board over at D'lish Scraps blog.  

I was really inspired by that delicious looking wedding cake and just had to make a card based on that ...

 the flowers are a Memory Box Primula die and to make them involved a lot of die cutting and to curve the petals I used an embossing tool and applied a circular motion to the back of each flower (there were lots of them!) flipped them over and again a smaller circular motion to the center of each flower.  The circular motion makes the flower curve up.  Here is a closer look at the flowers ...

Materials used - Bazzill light corduroy, crystal blue cardstock; Echo Park - a perfect summer papers; Memory Box stitched squares and primula flower dies; Ranger white opal liquid pearls; embossing tool; Creative Creations tied together embossing folder.
Thanks for looking and enjoy your weekend.

happy birthday bicycle

I love everything about this card ...

... the colours, the bicycle! the stripes, just everything!
I have followed the sketch from Retro Sketches #155

 I am also entering this for the Top Tip Tuesdays challenge use an action image (bicycle) and use Diecuts and Punches for the challenge over at Cute Card Thursday #363.
materials used - Kaisercraft bluebell carstock; Simple Stories DIY boutique papers and chipboard stickers; Spellbinders classic oval small nesties; Cherry Lynn Designs little pink bicycle die; Paper Smooches wise dies alphawhimsy; Annabelle Stamps shape it up stamps; Versafine onyx black ink; Kaisercraft ice blue rhinestones; black journalling pen.
Thanks for looking.

Happy Birthday CAS(E) this sketch

Continuing on with my CAS birthday card stock pile I followed this wonderful sketch from CAS(E) this sketch #113.

Also for the anything goes challenge over at Papertake Weekly Challenge blog and here is my card ...

I forgot I had this color wash stamp set from Pink Paislee! In fact it was so quick and easy to make this card that I made another ...

materials used - smooth white card, Kaisercraft cheddar, peacock, tomato cardstock; Versafine onyx black ink, Color Box turquoise, marigold and scarlet inks, Versa Color green, fresh green and lime inks; Paper Smooches wise dies hearts; Kaisercraft birthday cards rub ons; Ranger glossy accents.

Thanks for looking.

Happy Bird-day

Well it is great to be back home and back in my craft room, I did have some supplies with me in NZ but it is not the same as having your entire craft room at your finger tips!
I didn't get to do many cards while in NZ and so I have set myself a challenge to do a few birthday cards for the stock pile.
Following this weeks sketch from Mojo Mondays #387

 and also for Paper Smooches SPARKS anything goes challenge ...

and also Party Time Tuesdays anything goes challenge #196, I made this adorable birthday card!

I think when you need a few birthday cards in a hurry it is best to keep it clean and simple!
materials - smooth white cardstock; Simple Stories DIY Boutique papers and chipboard stickers; Paper Smooches chuby chums and alpadot stamps; Staz On ink; Renoir 3D alphabet stickers; black journalling pen; Spellbinders standard circles large nesties; Carl corner punch; Prismacolor pencils.
Thanks for looking and enjoy your weekend.