An Award

I received this award today from Jenny over at...

Stamps Pencils and Paper

Thank you soooo much Jenny.xox

I got some great inspiration from each one of these blogs and so I would love to pass this award onto....

http://kardsbykatiekreations.blogspot.com//

http://annakarinspyssel.blogspot.com/

http://craftycatscards.blogspot.com/

Make sure you check out these blogs as well as Jenny at Stamps Pencils and Paper.

A Valentines dilemma

So what sort of a card do you give your partner for Valentines day? I have a cute Magnolia stamp holding a heart - another image blowing hearts - some sweet mice floating with heart balloons and a gorgeous teddy hugging his heart. Funnily enough, none of these images seemed to say "that would really suit your 48 year old policeman partner". What a dilemma! So, my solution -  I bought the chocolates, he booked the restaurant and this card is for all of you. Have a very happy Valentines day and I hope the chocolate fairy comes to visit.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
CES #22 Red and Romance
Cupcake Craft #128 Seeing Red
Cupcake Inspiration #97 Photo inspiration
Stamptacular #97 Hearts gone wild
Craft your days away #13 Photo inspiration
Totally Papercraft #53 Clean and Simple
Allsorts #89 Love Love Love
Stamp with Fun #97 Love
Stamps R Us #14 Valentine/Love

Love is in the Air

I recently bought a few images from 'My Favourite Things' Pure Innocence. Well, six images actually - that is a few isn't it? It is according to my definition of the word. How many chocolates did you eat? Just a few. How many friends are coming over? Just a few. How many ribbons have you bought lately? Just a few. I looked up the meaning of the word "few" in the dictionary and it says - not many, some, not none.  I like that - "not none". I figure that can mean anywhere from one to about 100. So next time I order goodies and have a parcel delivered and my partner says - How many things have you got in that bag - I will honestly reply:
"Not many - just a few". LOL
I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Craft us Crazy #1 Anything Goes (Yes it's their first challenge -
Check it out!)
Simon Says Love is in the Air
CES #21 Bold and Bright
Stamptacular  #96 Whateva!
Bizzy Becs Creatalicious #18 Love and Ribbon
Paper Sundae #54 Valentine
Paper Play #5 Stamp it out
Craft your days away #12 Love

Thanks for visiting and for all of your lovely comments.

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.

Snow much fun

Snow much fun? I don't think so. I am having 'snow' much fun that I am heading off to the beach for a few days. Finally!!! Melbourne is having summer or at least a few continuous days of hot weather that we know of. But, if you know anything about Melbourne weather then you will realise that although I am going to the beach, I will probably pack some track pants and a jumper - just in case. It is not negative - just realistic. I am sending this card off to Calgary in Canada - not just randomly ... I do actually have friends there that just may have missed out on a Christmas card this year. But before I do, I would like to enter it into a challenge or two. (or four).

• Thankyou to Stamptacular for the title of this post and also for their challenge #91
• 7 Kids College Fund always inspire me with their varied range of stamps #11(I couldn't resist this Penny Black image)
• Tickled Pink helped me out by providing me with a sketch #8
• and Challenge up your Life gave me my colour scheme #34 (plus, those little silver things are buttons, I just snapped the backs off them)

So... I hardly had to do anything. LOL.   

Clever reasoning?

This gorgeous image is from Lili of the Valley. Today, I think that these little girls are saying "thank you for being my friend". I love the way that a stamp like this can be used for so many reasons - 'happy birthday', 'you're so special', 'we must catch up' or 'just because'.

Funnily enough, that fact hasn't stopped me neeeeding more stamps - it just makes me feel better about buying them because I know how versatile they all are.  Clever reasoning huh? lol!

I coloured this image with Copic markers and used Basic Grey Marjolaine paper (love that paper) and have decided to enter into the following challenges:

• Lili of the Valley has a sketch for us to follow 
• Cupcake Craft Challenge 122 is all about saying Thank you
• and both Crafty Emmas Store and Mad for Markers are each having an 'Anything Goes' challenge.

Happy Christmas

It's Christmas Eve and all the gifts are wrapped, the lamb is ready to cook, the pre-lunch dip is done and the chocolate slice is made. Everything is ready to take to Mum and Dads house in the morning. All I need to do now is to paint my finger nails in a nice Christmas colour and then drop into bed and look forward to spending tomorrow with my family.
I have really enjoyed 'blogging' this year and I am still learning new things every day. I even know where the on/off switch is on the computer without having to look :)
I have been amazed by all of the wonderful creations that I have seen by so many talented people who give me inspiration every day.
I wish you all a very happy and safe Christmas and look forward to 2011 

One tiny flaw!

My plan this year was to have all of my Christmas cards made early - ready to either hand out or post - easy - nice and relaxed. I have plenty of paper, some new Christmas stamps arrived in the post, a few digi images have been purchased and some layback afternoons of just colouring with my copic markers were set in the diary. But ... there was one tiny little flaw in my plan - I didn't expect the unexpected! It is very hard to make a card ... or 30 with a pounding head, a hacking cough and a body that is saying sleeeep sleeeep. So these cards were thrown together  (lovingly of course) about an hour before our staff dinner. The snow glitter was barely dry and I am just hoping that I took all of the double-sided tape off :-)

I found a cure!

This is sure to cure any illness - or at least it made me feel better for awhile.  I recently won a $75 voucher from 7 Kids College Fund Challenge No. 8 and my parcel of goodies arrived today. I had such fun going through their store and deciding which items I would like and it was even better today when I was able to unload all my treasures. Just imagine the fun I am going to have when I actually get time to use all of these products. They have such great things over at the 7 Kids store you should definitely have a look. Thanks again for a fabulous prize.

Go Rockin' Robin

A sick child, a sick partner and then a sick me - all one after another. I know that Christmas is meant to be the time for sharing but that is ridiculous. So far, other child is okay and the dog is healthy so I am keeping my fingers crossed that I wont be paying anymore towards the pharmacist and our doctors retirement plans. I am a little bit out of the loop in regards to what challenges are going on at the moment but I did see that Cupcake Craft are having a Red Robin Challenge and this little bird is one of my favourite Penny Black images. (Okay, so I just happen to have 1,384 favourites - they are still all special) Plus Challenge up your life are having a Christmas challenge so I couldn't resist that either.

"Fall"ing for you

I was tidying up my desk and some stamps and I found a stamp that looked way too clean. You know what that means dont you? Perhaps it has never been used. What! I have bought a stamp and not used it! I bet that has never happened to anyone else before :) It also means that the desk did not stay tidy for long - if at all. Stamptacular are having a "Fall"ing for you Challenge and both Totally Stampalicious and Top Tip Tuesday are having Anything Goes challenges

I'm just not ready

I am just not ready ... not ready for Christmas. I am definitely not getting one of those countdown thingys on my blog. Way too depressing! I have got birthdays that need to happen before Christmas so once they are over with - then I will start to get ready for Christmas. My kids know that when the Advent calendar finally comes out of its box on the 10th of December - they have a few lollies to eat to catch up. I never hear them complain. Thank goodness Cupcake Craft have a "Light it up" challenge going at the moment which gave me inspiration for this birthday card.
So Happy Birthday to all those fellow Sagitarians and December babies.

So lucky

I have been so lucky this week to receive an award from lovely Leah. Leah gave me the "I got the Attitude Blog Award". Now I have to tell you three things that make me - "me" and then I can pass this award onto three worthy bloggers of my choice. I found this really hard to do so I asked my family.

My partner said that I have "an attention to detail". I know that he means that I can be a bit anal at times but he is too nice to say that. My 15 year old daughter said "Whatever, who cares" and my 17 year old son was on his laptop so I didn't go there. So, here are my three things:

Number 1: I have an attention to detail

Number 2: I believe that life is too short to be angry (lucky for my 15 year old hey!)

Number 3: I am working on my "everything needs to be straight" problem

Phew! thats done and now I can pass this award onto three very worthy winners who all make terrific cards. I hope you girls don't have as much trouble as I did with those three facts about yourselves.

http://stamponme.blogspot.com/

http://craftingdaydreams.blogspot.com/

http://sueashspot.blogspot.com/

Click on the links to visit these sites and also check out Leah's blog here and you will surely see some amazing cards and be inspired.

So excited!!!

How excited am I you ask? WOW! Soooo excited! Cause I won the prize over at 7 Kids College Fund Challenge "Give thanks". The prize.... wait for it .... is a $75 voucher to use at their shop. How generous is that!!!!!  Thank you thank you thank you 7 Kids - I cant wait to shop.

Not so Christmas?

My first Christmas card!!! Well not exactly. If you dont count the 7 Christmas cards that I have made to teach in classes this term or the 18 cards that I had to make before I was happy with the final 7 cards  - then it is my first christmas card! And... I chose a non traditional style so that I could enter it into the Mad for Markers Challenge and also the Copic Oz Christmas with a Twist Challenge. I have used papers from the Kaisercraft 6" paper pad Devonshire Collection and of course, Copic markers to colour in. I am also going to enter this card into the Stamp and Create Tis the Season Challenge, probably amongst lots of traditional coloured Christmas cards. 

Its a Girl!

'Charli Ann' has joined our family. My cousin and his wife have had a baby girl and that makes three. Congratulations to you all! I can't wait to catch up with family at Christmas and have that little bundle in my arms. I made this card using a cute Tiddly Inks image, some October Afternoon and Thrift Shop papers and Copic markers R20, R21, R22, R43, RV10, YG93, E50 and E51. 

Luckily Stamptacular have a great sketch for Challenge No. 85 so I was able to use their sketch to make my card and then enter it in their challenge.

She has arrived!

My CC Designs Fairy Tales Fiona stamp has arrived (in a parcel with a few other stamps as well - how does that happen?) I just love this cute image and couldn't wait to colour her in. I found a few challenges to enter her into. 7 Kids College Fund are having a Give Thanks theme
Lili of the Valley says that Anything Goes and
Crafty Emma Store are telling us to Think Pink

We don't celebrate Thanksgiving here in Australia but I do think that it is always nice to acknowledge kind acts from friends and family and what better way to say thank you than with a handmade card.
Thank you for visiting me today.

It's the little things

Have you ever had weeds ... uh ... I mean flowers picked for you by your children? Well that's just what this gorgeous Tiddly Inks image reminded me of. That priceless look when they are so proudly presented to you - seems to instantly turn any we.. flowers into a dozen red roses.  This week, Crafty Emmas Store is having a Forever Autumn Challenge and Cupcake Craft have a sketch to follow so with these Autumn colours and the sketch turned a little bit around - I thought that I would enter this card into both challenges.

Unlikely combo

When I saw that Tiddly Inks was having a 'Colour me Olive, Purple and Mustard' Challenge, I thought that they had gone completely mad. I searched through my patterned papers and came up with..... nothing! So my challenge to myself was to create a card with only cardstock (and my trusty Cuttlebug) oh - and did I mention a few Copic markers too (that goes without saying). So with this unlikely combo of colours and a gorgeous image from Tiddly Inks, I then put together a quick card to enter into their Challenge. I really enjoyed making this card and now I am going to check out the back of my wardrobe to see if I can find those mustard coloured pants and my old purple corderoy jacket. Dont worry I am not going to wear them. Not in public anyway. LOL!

Hide and Seek

So I had an afternoon spare and decided to drive to my not-so-local scrapbook shop just so that I could aimlessly browse at their fantastic range of patterned papers. I had no intention of buying anything. Yeah right!!! I always say that it is like going to the supermarket to buy milk. Who ever comes away with just milk? So.... some glue, some flowers, a paper pad, six different styles of patterned paper, some fancy pins and I am done. On my way home I have to nick into the supermarket. Uh-oh. Lucky they dont sell stamps.

The Copics that I have used are C1, C3, C5, C7, G82, G85, G94, G99, Y32, Y35, Y38, YR04, RV000 and Spica orange. I am entering this card into three challenges: Stamptacular are having a Hide and Seek Challenge, 7 Kids College Fund are having a Birthday Challenge and Bizzybecs are having a Cute and Sweet Challenge for November.

Beary Cute

Lili of the Valley are having a sketch challenge this week so it was a good excuse for me to use one of my new Lili stamps and to colour in with my Copics - (as if I really need a reason to do either). The colours I have used are R08, R46, E33, E35, E37, YG05, YG06, YG13 and YG17 plus some glue and snow white glitter. Lili have new stamps due out soon and I will neeeeeed one of each - they are so cute.