Wow, 4 posts in one week!!!

Hi there.

Don't faint, I just thought I'd better get all these cards that I've been making onto my blog. Andrea won't believe her eyes *waving*!

As you would know if you'd wandered past here recently,  I have been up to ears in birthday cards. I don't remember July-Sept being this crazy before, maybe I've just been more diligent in making & sending cards, I'm not sure. Anyway, every spare minute seems to have been spent making cards. It has been fun, especially with the release of the new Catty & thus new goodies to play with :-)

My cousin Mikki had a birthday in August and she is very creative. I decided to use the new 'Newsprint' DSP as I thought it was a bit arty. Here is her card:

I had seen a tutorial for this accordion flower on Mary Fish's blog & decided to have a go using our scallop circle punch (the US now has a larger one as well, covet!). It was really easy to do. I added a 'Build-a-Brad' and then stamped some images from 'Artistic Etchings' in black & Rich Razzleberry.

Next, Mikki & Adam's son, Byron, turned 3. I used a sketch of Keesh's that I'd wanted to play with ages ago but ran out of time. I had this cute non-Su paper and combined it with 'Lots of Bots'.

The papers co-ordinated well with my SU cardstock but I used some non-SU ribbon I had lying around. I used the Timeless Type sizzlet for the '3' and covered it in glitter popping it up on a star that I punched out. The silver star brad was the finishing touch. The sentiment is from the new 'Party this Way' set.

I had one more card to make on this day so decided to stick with the same sketch. My good mate Ian was also having a birthday and he is a mad 4WDer. He & his family are planing a trip around part of Oz next year so I figured the map paper from the 'Newsprint' DSP would be appropriate, and added the music notes as he has a great voice and works on the Church sound desk. I added the 4WD image from 'Just Beachy' (ret) and some twill tape, distressing it with some sponging to keep it 'blokey'. I hope he liked it.

Thanks for calling by, I think that's all for now,

Love Fi xox

Keesh Sketch 39 take two, and this makes 3 posts in one day!!!

Here is my 2nd play at Keesh's latest sketch challenge.

 I wanted to make a card that fit the sketch more closely. I decided to make the 'suede effect' flower on page 2 of the new catty. I went looking for my new 'Fancy Flower' punch but couldn't find it. Turns out that I didn't order it LOL. I must add it to my next order. I had to resort to a non-SU punch that I had. I 'sueded' some baja Breeze CS and punched out 3 flowers and put them together with one of the beautiful new Antique Brads (yummy), then cut some Pear Pizazz leaves using my Sizzlet die & Big Shot. The DSP is from the new set, "Greenhouse Gala' which I also love. I didn't have any thin Baja Breeze ribbon so popped some CS through my crimper. Finally the sentiment is from one of the new Level 3 hostess sets, "Occasional Quotes". One advantage of being a demo is that we can purchase some of the hostess sets that we are unlikely to otherwise be able to get.

I must admit, I was pretty happy with how it turned out. I have a friend with a b'day this Sunday (I know, there has been no end to birthdays for about 3 months!!!).

I really enjoyed playing with this sketch, and hope to have the time to keep doing them.

Thanks for popping by,

Cheers,

Fi xox

Finally, time for some challenges.

Hi There,
I have really missed playing my fav challenges like Keesh's and Sweet Sunday. I finally took the time to have a play.

Keesh's latest sketch challenge, #39, (can you believe it?) is very cute and I have had 2 plays (I know, shock, horror). Firstly, here is the sketch:

My first play is a Birthday card for my friend's son who is turning 7. I have been hanging to get my hands on the new fab 'Celebrations' DSP as it is perfect for boys. I've been wanting to combine it with "Lots of Bots" and figure that would be fine for a big 7 y.o. boy. So, the image isn't a flower but figure challenges are all about poetic licence. I love the paper with the numbers, so used it & the cut out an extra '7' and popped it up on dimensionals and added Crystal Effects. I coloured the bot with my inks and a blender pen as it is a bit more subtle than straight markers.

 ETA: I realised that I need to put the next card in a separate post so that I can link both with thumbnails.

Cheers,

Fi xox

Another go at Keesh's Colour Challenge

Hi again,

I had to make a card for a male friend's birthday & was wondering if I could make the gift stamp from the SAB set 'Happy Moments' look a bit blokey. I searched through Splitcoast & found this card. I figured with a change of colour (thanks to Keesh that took no thought) it would make a good birthday card.

I bought a 'Cuttlebug' embossing folder a while back that looks like metal plate, so used that on the Brocade Blue & Mellow Moss CS instead of the dots, and used B.B. DSP from the hostess gift pack again. I added a Jumbo Eyelet as they always give a blokey feel. I coloured the image with my markers and stamped a sentiment from the set 'On Your Birthday'. I'm not sure if it is really blokey but I'm quite pleased with how it turned out.

After all this though, I'm thinking I might make a different card for my mate as he loves music & plays in the church band, & I have a great (non-SU) guitar stamp. Oh well, back to the drawing board...

Cheers,

Fi xox

Keesh's Inspirations #17

Hi there,

Its challenge time again. I now wish I'd made a masculine card as just realised my mate's birthday get together is this Sunday at lunch time & I'm working up until Sunday morning. Duh!

Keesh's latest challenge is an Inspiration pic:

I really had no clue what to do with this one. Thought of using the wine glasses from 'Cheers to You" but then didn't know what else to do. Then the branch & orangey stripe caught my eye. Looked through stamp sets with branchy themes & came upon "Cheep Talk". The rest is a result of just playing around. It is a very simple card. The bottom 'weathered' panel is inspired by the table.

Anyway, here it is:

I should be in bed so will have to came back & add the details later.

TFL,

Cherrs,

Fi xox

Keesh Colour Challenge #13

I've made 2 cards again. Was going to do as 2 separate posts but I've been called in to start back at work a night early :-( so will have to do one quick post now. This is a colour challenge, Chocolate Chip (CC), Not Quite Navy (NQN), Old Olive (OO) & Very Vanilla (VV).

I was going to use some DSP from the Ski Slope pack that had a lovely pattern in Choc Chip & Old Olive, but it had a white background, not a vanilla one. This had already started me thinking 'Christmas', so I continued with the theme. I used the gorgeous new set 'Snow Swirled' and stamped the swirly tree in Old Olive & Versamark. I stamped it onto VV then covered the image with heat & stick powder & Dazzling Diamonds. Love the glittery effect. I added NQN brads as I wasn't quite sure how else to incorporate the colour. I made a trunk or pot shape out of CC DSP (from the Ski Slope pack). I added small snowflakes in CC & mounted it onto CS. I had stamped a variety of the Snow Swirled snowflakes in OO onto Old Olive CS & added a smattering of Dazzling Diamonds.

Of course I had to have another play. Couldn't get this bird, from the Friends 24-7 set, out of my head after seeing Keesh stamp it last week in virtually the same colours, it just wanted to come & get inked (1st time). I cased the card from the IB&C, otherwise known as the main catty (p81). I also used the beautiful Friendly Words jumbo wheel and paper from the Bella Blue DSP set. The button is a cute flower from the latte set. It is quite self-explanatory. I was quite pleased with how it turned out.

Sorry I've raved, typing in a hurry. must go get some shut eye before work tonight. I'm such a sucker, can never say no! Not only was I not due to go back til tomorrow night, they've asked me to start at 7 tonight & do 2 hrs overtime. The things we do to look after our women & fellow staff!

Catch you soon,

Fi xox

Keesh's latest inspiration

Just a quick post as I'm seriously sleep deprived. I've had a go at Keesh's latest challenge. Go here to check it out & find links to the other entries. As you can see by the photo, its a bit of a tough one.

I decided to go with the theme and colours. I chose 'Close to Cocoa' & 'Very Vanilla'. I also wanted to get a sense of the glass splash back. As such, I decided to use the new white Stazon ink (yep, another Spring Mini item) on acetate. I used my PTI teapot stamp to echo the kitchen theme. It didn't quite turn out like it looked in my head (my cards rarely do) and if I had more time I'd have another go. As it is, I know a young lady having a Kitchen Tea soon, so this might do as the card, though I think I'll re-do the background. If I get time to do it today I'll re-post it.

Thanks for looking. I'd better head off,

Cheers,

Fi xox

Keesh's Inspiration Challenge #10

Its time for another challenge by Makeesha, the inspiration pic is below.

I figured it is almost time to start making Father's Day cards, and the pic seemed quite masculine. However it didn't turn out quite as well as I'd imagined, I think these images are better left uncoloured. This is the first time I've inked up this set, new to this year's catalogue. It is fabulous for men's cards. Each image has a sentiment attached but it is easy enough to leave the sentiment un-inked as I have done here.

I'm hoping to have time to another go at this challenge, I have a bit of an idea in my head, just not sure how it will go on paper.

Also, I had a lovely lunch with my family and was well spoiled, receiving a handbag and card holder (I think I have a loyalty card for half the shop in Westfield), lovely candle holder and yummy chocs from Mum & Dad, & a gorgeous scarf in mauves/blues (my colours) & Maeve Binchy novel from my Aunt, What a spoilt girl.

Thanks for looking, hope to get the other card done (if I can get brain working).

Cheers, xox

Recipe:

Stamps: Totally Tool, Occasional Greetings

Paper: Basic Grey, Taken with Teal, Basic Black, Whisper White CS, Windsor Knot DSP

Ink: Basic Grey, Basic Black Ink, Markers

Accessories: Jumbo Eyelets, Crop-a-dile, Dimensionals