Sweet Sunday Cased

Hi Guys,

I saw this card on Splitcoast & wanted to CASE it. I really liked the white embossing on kraft & thought the main image would go well with Karen's Sweet Sunday sketch. I then realised that Kraft was in this week's 'Just Add Ink' challenge, so I combined the lot. I'm still not sure about the card as a whole, the background stripes really stumped me, but I like the part I 'stole', the embossed birdcage.

First the sketch & colour challenge:

And what I did with it:

I used Close to Cocoa, Cameo Coral, Blush Blossom & Kraft CS & (sadly now retired) Parisian Breeze DSP. I used the Birdcage image and 'For You' sentiment from the fabbo SAB set 'Happy Moments' (& it was a Happy Moment when I first saw this set in the SAB catty). I stamped them onto the Cameo Coral & Blush Blossom CS & also white embossed them onto the kraft CS. Think I can see myself using white embossing on kraft again, I really like the effect. I draw the chain using my white gel pen. The button is from my stash (thanks to Lee-Anne Barry who thoughtfully gave me a stack of lovely buttons).

Also take a look at Sarah-Jane's blog, she used the same sketch & colours with a much better outcome!

Well, my plastering is done, now to see if it stops raining long enough for the roofing guy to come on Thursday. These early morning starts are great for getting things done but I think I feel a nanna nap coming on :-)

Thanks for popping by,

Cheers,

Fi xox

First attempt at Ustamp challenge

I joined up for this round of Ustamp. There are some fabulous projects but this is the first chance I've had to have a play. I had a plasterer here from 7:15 so was up way early (esp for me). I did a few loads of washing & then made bunny boxes. These cute boxes are the brainchild of Kirsty Brown.

Kirsty's template is for the larger of the two bunnies but I decided to make a smaller one too. I made a few alterations, namely because I realised, once I sat down to create, that I didn't own any 12" Chocolate Chip CS. I made do with Bravo Burgundy and pretended that I wanted a more 'milk chocolate' bunny. Kirsty used a woodgrain BG stamp which I don't own, so I used 'Weathered', which does give a bit of a hairy chest appearance LOL. I also added front paws. It was fun to make, the most fiddly part was the sticky strip and punching the little hearts. I will take the large one into work (it is filled with a variety of Cadbury eggs, mmm). The smaller of the two might go to my cousins. Thanks Kirsty for a fabbo project.

Cheers,

Fi xox

Jord's Birthday

Hello there,

I'm pretty sure that my cousin never reads my blog so feel pretty safe in publishing her birthday card before I give it to her. I wanted to use 'Cheers to You' & searched Splitcoast for an idea. I liked this one.

Here's my attempt:

I've used the lovely (though only available in the US) 'Sweet Pea' DSP. It claims to use 'Pretty in Pink' but I thought it looked like it would go well with 'Pink Pirouette'. I've also used Old Olive CS & marker. I've added some dazzle with pink 'Fine Supernova' glitter applied with my 'Two-way Glue pen' and also added some 'Crystal Effects' to make it look like glass. A 'Flower Fusion Too' flower & Old Olive Brad finished it off. The punches I've used are the large oval, scallop oval & wide oval for the (non-SU) sentiment & the (US only) scallop trim border. I've finished off with Pink Pirouette ribbon. I really like this colour combo.

I was really wanting to play with Keesh's latest challenge, it is such a gorgeous inspiration pic. Keesh always seems to have the best challenges when I have the least time, bummer!

Have a great day,

Love Fi xox

ETA: I actually wrote this post & set it to publish the next day, I then found time to have a go at Keesh's challenge, thus it makes no sense!

Another Sweet Inspiration!

Hi There,

This is a rushed post. I have to work tonight & still need to grab some groceries. Fancy me putting up 2 posts in 1 day, a miracle! I quickly had a play with Keesh's latest challenge, a gorgeous inspiration pic, and, as layouts are ,my downfall I cheated, again, by using Karen's latest Sweet Sunday sketch.

Here are the pic & sketch:

And my card:

Can you see my Autumn mini sneak peak? Here's a closer look.

I have to run, will try & come back soon to list all the materials that I used. It will take a while!

Thanks for calling in,

Cheers,

Fi xox

Peas in a Pod

Hi Again,

One of my workmates gave birth to gorgeous twins last week, Angus & Stella. I wanted to make a cute pea card & found a great tutorial here by the fabulous Andrea Walford. I wanted to make two peas for the twins. I called it '2 peas in a Pod' although, really, it is several peas in 2 pods. Oh well, can't let accuracy rule over creativity LOL.

Enough rambling, here's my card:

I've used Certainly Celery CS for the peas, sponging the edges with Old Olive ink. The faces are Blush Blossom CS sponged with Rose Red ink. You use the Wide Oval and 3/4" punches. The background image is the flourish from Baroque Motifs. I've used Flower Fusion felt flowers & silver Vintage Brads. The sentiment was done on the computer. If you go to this blog, you can access all the RGB values required to print SU colours, way cool! I hope Angela likes the crad, just need to buy a gift now to go with it.

Have a great day,

Cheers,

Fi xox

Sweet Inkspirations

Hi there,

I've cheated again and combined two challenges. The Inkspiration Colour Challenge #19, hosted this week by Chantelle & Karen G's Sweet Sunday Sketch #60.

First the Inkspiration colours:

Then Karen's sketch:

And finally, my creation:

I found these colours a bit challenging but fortunately I had my lovely goodie box (see this post) and the Sweet Pea DSP has Taken With Teal papers (and Choc Chip, but, sadly, none with both colours on the one page). I've also given a sneak peak of some of the gorgeous new stamps that will be in the Autumn mini cat, so exciting!!! I've also used Chocolate Chip CS & Grosgrain ribbon, TwT CS & 'sprinkles' & rhinestones that are non-SU. I used markers to colour some parts of the right hand image. It took a while but I got there in the end.

Is anyone out there in the blogosphere going to Convention? I'd love to hear from you if you're going. I'm so excited about it. They are bringing in a new rostering system at work so I even took a week of annual leave to ensure that I would have the time off, yippee! Hopefully I'll see some of you down there :-)

Thanks Chantelle, for hosting this week.

Cheers,

Fi xox

Pressie in the Post

I am so excited, look what the postman brought me today!!!

My gorgeous friend Lavonne, who is the mother (& MIL) of my beautiful friends Kev & Bec (Kev of guitar card fame), lives in California. We have met several times over the years and really got to know each other well on her last visit 'down-under', enjoying visiting when I was over at Bec & Kev's, & going for coffee. She very patiently listens to all my ramblings. It was sad to see her go back. I keep telling her she should bring the rest of the family & move to Australia.

The box contains several of the 'Extreme' stamps (extreme surfer, skateboarder, guitar & elements), Matroyska dolls (my brother lives in Russia, so see these being very useful!), a gorgeous sentiment set 'Well Scripted', Choc-chip satin ribbon (yum), a paper piercer, the new 'Sweet pea' paper pack, the US in-colour markers and the new Scallop Border punch!!!! How happy & blessed, am I (doing a little jig)?

Thank you Lavonne, you are wonderful. Can't wait for your next visit down under (or maybe, if I stopped shopping, I could save up & visit the USA & stop by for a visit). MWAH!

Pity I have to work tonight, all my new rubbah, incl the gorgeous sets from the pre-buy, are calling me. (Sshh, mustn't listen, hands-held-firmly-over ears).

Catch you soon,

Love Fi xox

Hi Again,

Thought I'd share some pics of the project I did with the Glenrock Scrappers. I was really unsure about what to do. As I'm not a scrapper I didn't want to do a scrap page, figure these ladies could teach me more than I them! As I perused various blogs I came across this post by Dawn Olchefske. I loved the little mini wallet and thought it would make a great project. I quickly bought the instructions & thought about how best to fit it to a workshop. My aim was to demonstrate how easily SU products lend themselves to making scrapbooking embellishments. I focussed on the build-a-brad, jumbo grommets, felt fusion, fleurettes and punches. I also demo-ed the stamp-a-ma-jig as so many people don't know what an indispensable tool it is until they see it in action. I also made the album without the wallet to save on time, I just made a belly-band for mine. The ladies thought a velcro-dot would also work well.

Here is the front of the album, it is about 4" square. I've used papers from the 'Simply Scappin' kit Sweet Nothings plus a sheet of Bella Rose DSP (once again SU products co-ordinating perfectly!) I've dyed a white fleurette with Pink Pirouette re-inker in some water.So easy & works so well.

Here is the album when it is first opened:

Opened fully:

Finally, the back of the right hand side flap. I wanted to show how the jumbo grommets can make cute mini frames.I used the 1.3cm punch to cut out some DSP, topped it with a clear disc from the build-a-brad set & then placed a grommet over the top. One of the ladies just popped a completed build-a-brad through her grommet, just as effective.

The ladies made their's out of either Bella Rose or Urban Garden DSP. They did a fabulous job and we had lots of fun. Even better, I can now justify going to Convention!!! I made a rule that I was not allowed to go to convention unless I'd held at least one workshop. As the ladies were generous enough to not only pay for the class, but also purchase product (the b-a-b, s-a-m-j and grommets proved popular) I can now go. I'm so excited. Am hanging to register when it opens tomorrow. I have been saving for it.

Thanks for dropping by. Have a great day,

Love Fi xox

Scrap Camp

Hi there,

Just a quick note to say I had a fabulous day with the Glenrock Scrappers, thanks ladies for your wonderful hospitality, I would love to come back anytime.

I'll post a pic of the project we did as soon as I get organised. What a great way to spend a day off!

Cheers,

Fi xox

2nd card for Kev

As I said in this post, I decided to make a different card for my friend Kev. I have an Inkadinkado guitar stamp set that is really cool & I wanted to play with it again. As usual, I when to Splitcoast Stampers to search for inspiration, & I wasn't disappointed. I found this card and had to CASE it. I wanted to try out the 'checker plate' embossing folder on silver CS, so this gave me a starting point. I love silver & navy together, so there was my colour scheme sorted.

Here's my card:

The blue didn't come out as dark in the photo, it really stood out IRL. I hope Kev liked it.

Have a great day,

Fi xox

Keesh's Inspirations #18

Hi, how's things?

I've had a, rather dismal, attempt at Keesh's latest challenge.

If only I could find a way to translate the ideas in my head to paper!! I thought this was such a cute image but I couldn't come up with anything much. Probably because work is presenting a few challenges of late and, finally, I'm getting ready to do my first ever workshop type event (its only taken me 11 months *blush*). A lovely nurse who works in anaesthetics/recovery has invited me to present at the Scrap Retreat she & her friends hold every year. Just a way to show some of SU's latest goodies & trends. My ex-upline used to do it but she has just had a gorgeous baby girl & is a bit tied up. I'm a bit nervous, but am hoping it gets me moving into doing workshops.

Anyway, enough excuses, here's my card:

There is little SU in this card. I've used Pink Pirouette & Rose Red CS & the Butterfly Punch out of the Summer mini & Regal Rose ribbon. The sentiment is from the SAB set 'Whimsical Words' (actually there is more SU stuff than I realised LOL). The paper is from mixed pack I've had for years & the rhinestones are Kaisercraft. The little butterflies are made with a punch I've had for ever, from SU DSP. I must admit, since discovering SU, my old papers and accessories rarely get a look in.

Must run, need to some shopping before heading back to work tonight.

Have a great day,

Fi xox

A Sale-a-Bration Card

As I've mentioned before, I just love the free stamp sets available in this year's sale-a-bration catalogue. I thought I'd show you a card I made for a workmate who left recently. She is moving house so I thought 'Good Neighbours' was appropriate to use. (I've wanted a set that I could use for moving house & house-warming cards, so was thrilled when i saw this set!). I CASEd this card made by 'ink bug' which I first found by perusing Splitcoast. Forgive the poor photo, although maybe the images were as crooked as they look, I had to quickly put it together before work *blush*. Thankfully, Judith really liked it.

I used Very Vanilla CS for the base and punched squares out of V.V, Old Olive and Chocolate Chip CS. I stamped the images in C.C & O.O. inks, using my trusty stamp-a-ma-jig to place the images. I then stamped the sentiment from 'Whimsical Words', another very useful stamp set.
Finally I added an Old Olive button decorated with a strip of C.C CS. I really liked the simple look.

Thanks for stopping by,

Fi xox