Special Treasures

I have one of those 6 x 6 paper pads of Basic Grey Marjolaine - dont you just love those? I love the way the patterns are smaller than the 12 x 12 version and they are perfect for card making. Plus, these are two of my favourite images at the moment - Fiona and Peter from CC designs. They look so cute together. I had a few try outs with my Copics to get that matching colour combination and in the end I used B91,93,95 and 97 for the blues and YG00,01,03,93,95 and 97 for the greens. Or were those 'try outs' just a good excuse for me to colour in? Maybe - I'm not telling.

I have entered this card in the following challenges:

Southern Girls have a dry embossing challenge #11

Totally Papercraft have a One for the Kiddies challenge #51

Wild Orchid Lets get Sentimental challenge #15

Paper Play Layer it up challenge #4

Craft Your Days Away have a Love challenge #12
Paper Sundae have a Valentine challenge #54

Always Playful

I love all the images from Lili of the Valley and they are just perfect for colouring in with my copic markers. Here I have used YR12,15,18,E40,41,43,44,47,49,50,51,BG93,95 and 97.
I have been practicing my Copic shading - you know the whole "where the light source is coming from" stuff. Marianne Walker has recently released a book all about it and I cant wait to get my hands on a copy. 
Lili of the Valley have a sketch challenge no. 81 that I might just get into if I post this quick enough.
Allsorts challenge no. 87 have asked us to make cards for males/boys.
Paper Sundae have given us a challenge no. 53 to "Distress" and once I had that distresser thingy in my hand - I couldn't stop. (Even my shopping list for tomorrow is looking a bit jagged around the edges. LOL)

You make me SMILE

Copic markers, CC Design image, a new Hero Arts word set and dotty paper - I couldn't be happier.
Then I had to work out a style for the card. So.... there was lots of turning stripes around and cutting up bits of dot paper and re-tying ribbon - okay so the happiness was lost there for a little while.
But in the end this little image did "make me smile". And if I have made YOU smile then I have achieved my goal today.
Thank you to Cupcake Inspiration for their challenge #94 using these great colours.
Luckily, Stamp Something have asked us to stamp something 'Cute' and
7 Kids College Fund have asked us to challenge ourselves for challenge #13 (did I mention the turning, the cutting and the tying)

Perfect Pair

Susan over at Stamp on Me inspired me to get out my scissors and attempt paper piecing. That's fun! You should hop on over to Susans blog and see her gorgeous image of Anya.
I had just planned to have a girl image on this card but I neeeeeeded to colour with my copics more. (Have I mentioned my obsession?) So I added a boy and all of a sudden I have a Valentines/Engagement card. This will come in handy if I ever need one. LOL
Paper Sundaes are letting us choose a technique from one of  last years challenges to help celebrate their birthday and so I chose 'paper piecing'.
Bizzy Becs Creatalicious have a Ribbon/Love theme
 Southern Girls have a Totally Loved Up theme
and Cute Card Thursday have a 1,2,3 recipe (1 flower, 2 people and 3 ribbons)
This year, I am sure that my partner will plan something really special for Valentines day. ( I wonder if  it will include me?) LOL

A 'me' day.

 

At last! A day to sit at my cluttered desk and clutter it up a bit more with a new card. I was planning on making a New Years resolution this year to tidy up after each card - thank goodness I didn't put that in writing! I said "I WAS planning ...".
A friend of mine made a resolution last year to 'eat chocolate every day'. Now that is what I call an achievable resolution.
School holidays keep me pretty busy with who needs to go where and when and who needs to be picked up from where and when. So, today was a 'me' day. I lost myself in my copic markers and patterned papers and came up with this card to enter into the following challenges.

This week Lili of the Valley are having a "Things with Wings" challenge #80.

LOTV are also sponsoring the Paper Sundaes challenge of "Circles" #51.

Cupcake Craft have asked us to use "Something New" #124. 

(That wasn't hard seeing that I haven't had a chance to get to my recent stamp purchases yet)

Stamp Something gave us an "Anything Goes" option.

I also did two loads of washing, some ironing and made the beds. I think that I need a review of that "me" contract. LOL.
I am thrilled to pieces when I receive each and every one of your lovely comments. A new follower means that I am able to see more amazing creations and I'm truly inspired by you all. 
Thank you for visiting me.

Summer is here!

 

We are having Summer here in Melbourne! But ssshhhh! Don't tell anyone just in case it goes away. Summer means 'stone fruit' to me. Yes, I said stone fruit. You know - plums, apricots, nectarines, peaches, mangoes and of course, cherries. The sort of fruit that you can eat and drip over the kitchen sink. Yummmmy! It is my second addiction while the chocolate is melting in the cupboard. Come to think of it ... cherries dipped in chocolate - now that would have made a mess of Tilda's dress.
I am entering this card in a number of challenges.
Wild Orchid #14 have given me the sketch to follow
Cupcake Inspiration #92 have some very inspirational colours
Magnolia Down Under #77 are giving gifts
Bizzy Becs #January only need 3 flowers, 2 buttons and a ribbon
Southern Girls #9 say that Anything Goes
7 Kids College Fund #12 say that I can choose hot or cold (guess which one I chose? Sssshhh)

Stylish Bloger Award

I popped over to one of my favourite sites and was so surprised to see my name there. Lovely Sue from My Inner Reflection has given me a Stylish Blogger Award. Wow! Thanks heaps Sue! I am thrilled!

These are the rules for accepting the award...

You must:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this (No problem, I can do that.)

2. Share 8 things about yourself  (8! did you say 8)

3. Pay it forward to 8 bloggers that you have recently discovered (Easy)

4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about their awards (Love being the bearer of good news)

 

Here goes:

• I am left handed
• I like things to be straight - some might called it an obsession
• I love driving by myself so that I can listen to my CD's and sing
• I cant sing
• I love warm weather
•  I love going out for dinner with my partner, Rich
• I love colouring with Copic markers
• I find it really hard to write 8 things about myself

And now - to the people who I think deserve this award for their inspirational blogs
Jenny at http://stampspencilsandpaper.blogspot.com/
Sue at http://suesstampingstuff.blogspot.com/

Kristel at http://creative4fun.blogspot.com/

Joe-Anne at http://jojoscraps.blogspot.com/

Blanca at http://stampinchickab.blogspot.com/

Valerie at http://luv2cricut.blogspot.com/

Wanda at http://cullen-arycreations.blogspot.com/

Lysa at http://lysaq.blogspot.com/

 

Thanks again Sue.

Happy 2011!

It is hard to believe that all the Christmas festivities are over. Although, in January, I am planning to catch up with a few friends, so it looks like I might have to force down another glass or two or three of champagne. Oh well! if I must.

I have a new look blog in case you didn't notice. I was very jealous of seeing all of the Christmas blog backgrounds so I set to work to change mine. The best and easiest instructions I found (cause they really had to be easy) were from Leelou blog designs and hey presto! a new blog background. Now I can hardly wait for Valentines day and Easter just because I think that I am so clever LOL!  So in honour of the new look and the new year I made a card to match my blog using a By Lori Designs image, some My Mind's Eye paper and of course, those copic markers.

Also, I have decided that my 'word' for this year is ENJOY.

So I really hope that you all enjoy 2011 and thank you for visiting me.