Happy New Year...

A fabulous garage sale find...

My gorgeous daughter using her time & some crop-a-dile left-overs in a very artistic way : )

A reminder to live life to the fullest : )

   A quick post and some random photos to share.
As 2010 comes to a close and the New Year creeps in, I hope that wherever you are in this sometimes huge, sometimes tiny world of ours, you are safe and happy, and that the New Year brings you and those that are dear to you, much love, happiness, health and laughter...   Thank you for your continued visits and lovely comments.     And don't forget to greet the New Year with a smile : )    Until next year, TTFN.

Stampotique Ornaments?

The current theme over at Stampotique designers challenge blog is punches and die cuts, so I've used a nestie shape to cut out my tree, & my punch is the small tag (which I made by first cutting a rectangle shape and then punching the scallop edge, and the hole for the ribbon)

I started by stamping the flourish b'ground stamp from Darkroom Door onto some red cs, and embossing with pewter EP, I then used my nestie shape, and cut the segments out, embossing all the edges.     I then stamped Prom Queen, Smile and Gooseneck onto some shrink plastic & trimmed them as closely as possible, coloured them in using wc pencils, and shrinking them with my heat gun.    I then "strung" them up along with some beads using some fine wire.      I then stuck the tree to my prepared cream stamped cs, added the glitter ribbon and the small tag with the sentiment and stuck the cream cs to my brown base card.

This card was sent to a special friend, who, like me, really enjoys a bit of quirky humour : )

I hope you have all enjoyed a very Merry Christmas, and if you braved the crowds on Boxing day, I hope you grabbed yourselves a great bargain (or two LOL)      Thank you again for your visits, and I wish you and yours a very Safe and Happy New Year...   

One Layer Wonder

That's the current theme over at INKURABLE STAMPERS this month, and boy, oh boy, it was so hard for me to do!     What can I say, I love the 3-D look, but I'm very happy with how this card turned out,  and I hope the recepient likes it too   : )

I started with a white piece of cs, onto which I stamped "Head"(from Stampotique Originals) with black Versafine ink, and clear-embossed him.     I then masked him, and then stamped the new Darkroom Door Flourish stamp (isn't it gorgeous!!!) using platinum planet Brilliance ink, and clear embossing powder.     I then put the mask back on Head, and stamped the "Merry Christmas" from THIS Darkroom Door set using some red Marvy ink, and sponged some Adirondack ink (lettuce) all around the white spaces.    I then used an edge distresser, sponged the edges with the red Marvy ink and added the green brads.      I stuck this to the green card base and added the glitter ribbon, using a green brad to hold the bow in place.    BTW, this particular glitter ribbon is fantastic, the glitter doesn't come off, no matter what you do with it, and it easily stays in place with some ds tape (a bit of info just for my friend Lyn)    
I'd just like to shout out a great big Thank You to those of you who've come to visit me lately, and have left me lovely comments, I know we are all pressed for time during the festive season, so it really means a lot to me to know you've taken the time to share your thoughts...Thank You : )

All Done...

View from the Top

Wooden Beads and Leather Cord



Back Cover



Front Cover

My INKURABLE STAMPERS Gothic arch book is finally finished, though as I took the photos I thought "I really should add the actual themes to each page...", but I'll see how I feel about that idea in a few more days LOL.      I used some A4 sized acetate sheets folded in half, and stuck all 24 arches using ds tape.     The leather cord and wooden beads started life as a belt (I pulled it apart ages ago, and had it stashed away waiting for the right project!)           For the front cover, I cut away a window from the orange cs, and layered that over a clear acetate sheet, stamping the words using black StaZon ink, and painting the reverse side with acrylic paint.   I also added some black German scrap.     Don't forget, you still have time to take part (arches are due by the end of this month)     For all the themes and information check THIS post in Flickr, or THIS POST in the INKURABLE STAMPERS blog  
I have really enjoyed this year-long challenge, and it has made me get reacquainted with some long lost images, which is always good, right?     
There is also the regular challenge at INKURABLE STAMPERS, which this month is "one layer wonders", so if you have the time, why not give it a go  : )     Thanks for your visit, and I hope your Christmas preparations are going well, not long now until Santa comes to town!

Final Gothic Arch for the Year

I know, I still haven't finished my Christmas cards, but I had to get this arch done, the theme for the current INKURABLE STAMPERS Gothic arch is MUSIC, and as soon as I read it, I knew exactly what I would do, it's not often that this happens, so I just had to go with the flow!

I used some HOTP pp which my darling daughter bought for me when she went to the Royal Melbourne show a couple of months back, and I also got to use the beautiful music ribbon she purchased at the same time (thank you my darling teenager)    The dancing couple is an image from Crafty Individuals  (CI-068, but for some reason I can't see it in their website, maybe it's been retired), the image was stamped and clear-embossed, then sponged with TH Distress ink, torn at the bottom, and stuck to an ATC-sized red card.    I glued an arch shape cut out of cs to the pp, then distressed the edges (edge distresser and ink) then added the KG.   I then stuck the couple in place with ds tape, and added the coordinating ribbons (all available from CRAFT QUEEN , HERE, HERE and HERE)    I then used some of THESE tiny alphas, they are just the best size for smaller projects (thanks Nicole) and the word "Melody" is from a Darkroom Door word strip.    The metal butterfly and the tiny red star rhinestone are also from CRAFT QUEEN.    And now that the last arch for the year is done, I'll have to work out on a way to display them all!    I've had heaps of fun playing along with these great themes, and I'm really hoping SARAH continues with the arches next year.    Don't forget you can still join in with the challenges...due date is the 31st of this month, so if you're looking for a fun project to do between now and the new year check out all the details HERE.    And don't forget to check out the fabulous Flickr gallery, there's lots and lots of yummy inspiration : )    As always, thank you for your visit, now I'd better get back to those Christmas cards!!!

Christmas Card Challenge Blog (part 2)

If you missed out on Hazel's first giveaway, just go HERE for as second chance at some beautiful pp,
I'm still trying to get my Christmas cards done, so I will be joining in with this next year!

A Craft Queen Giveaway

Have a look HERE for your chance to be entered into CRAFT QUEEN"S giveaway.
You will see how I made this card, and just by following the directions you will be in with a chance to win, best of luck  : )

Gothic Arch #23

 
Happy 1st day of the month of December...Has this year flown or what!?     Here is my Gothic arch for the INKURABLE STAMPERS Gothic Arch challenge.   The current theme is Zodiac sign, and as I didn't have any stamps relating to the signs of the zodiac, it was a true challenge in every sense of the word LOL.   I started by having a coffee break(as you do) and going through the local paper I came across the current horoscope, giving me the idea of using our (DH's, DD's and mine) current divinations as a starting point to my arch.     I cut an arch shape out of white cs, painted it blue with acrylic paint, and once dry, I used a TH embossing folder, some more (bronze) acrylic paint, & some modge podge to stick the newsprint to the arch.     I used the "enter here' from THIS Darkroom Door set of stamps, stamped directly onto the top of the arch using StaZon ink (jet black), I also used  the sun dial from THIS Darkroom Door set, which actually has the zodiac signs around the edge  : )       I then covered a small Collections bodyform in red paint, and added some crackle medium on top, the wings are also from Collections, painted brown with a coat of KG.  I added the red rhinestones & rubbed some Brilliance ink (cosmic copper) over some of the ridges : )     And there you have it, another arch completed.     Can't wait to see what Sarah has in store for the next, and final arch for this year, and I do hope she will continue the Gothic arches challenge next year (it sounds so far away, but it's really only 4 weeks now!!!!!!!!!!!!!)          Don't forget to check out the fantastic gallery HERE, there's still time to get them done...now I better get back to my Christmas cards.
Have a fun, and creative day, wherever in the world you happen to be, and thank you for your visit (and comments too)  TTFN.

Christmas Card Challenge Blog

Have a look HERE for detail to a great giveaway!   I think it's a great idea, especially since I've only done two Christmas cards so far  : )    I'm hoping it will help me get better organized for next Christmas...

Another Christmas Card

Have a look HERE to find out how I made this card.    How are your Christmas cards coming along?    Do you make them all the same, or do you make them all different?     I usually make them all different, but seeing as how I'm running out of time, I may just stick with one design & just change a few embellishments...

A Little Bird Told Me...

...that Nicole, owner of CRAFT QUEEN, has a little surprise in store for her blog readers.    Make sure you have a look HERE.
Cards using the new Darkroom Door Love Birds set of stamps, lace, and double-sided ribbon, the pp used for the "make a wish" card is HERE, all available from CRAFT QUEEN

Inkurable Arch # 22

The theme for INKURABLE STAMPERS' Gothic Arch #22 is mythical creatures, and there's so many creatures to choose from, but I decided to create an arch with one of my favourites, a mermaid, as the main feature.   The actual mermaid image is a PSX stamp and  the image was given to me by my good friend LYN a couple of years ago(!) in a swap we both took part in (Thanks Lyn)   Luckily for me, she included 3 images...I used one as my base, and a second one as my main image, which I coloured in with wc pencils and KG, then cut out the mermaid and fish, and used ds foam tape to add more dimention.    I've also used a cb frame from CRAFTY INDIVIDUALS, which I dry-embossed with a TH folder, then painted with acrylic paints, adding some KG. to the grooves.   This was all added to my arch, which was made by painting a sheet of canvas(stuck to some stiff card) with some Twinkling H2Os, trimmed with deco scissors, and hand-sewn with beads.   The sentiment is from THIS DARKROOM DOOR set.    Only two more arches left!    Don't forget this is an ongoing challenge, and you have until the end of the year to take part, for more details visit the Flickr gallery HERE.    Now I'm off to upload  : )    Thanks for your visit, and don't forget to CREATE.

Christmas Card(s)...

My first Christmas card for the year...and it's also my entry to this month's shabby chic theme over at INKURABLE STAMPERS.    I wanted to do all of my Christmas cards at once, but as it's always the case, real life has other plans for me LOL, but at least I got to try out a technique which I don't think I've ever tried before.    Can you tell what it is?     Kiss stamping!    I wanted to use THIS Darkroom Door set of stamps, but I wanted to get a different look, so I thought I'd try out the deer image combined with THIS b'ground stamp, some white cs, and some Brilliance ink (coffee bean) and I'm very happy with how it turned out : )
I also used some white bias binding (dyed with some GM), some KG (on the antlers and the string) cotton string, and a TH Alterations die.    Now I just have to work out a quick way to make a few more of them...

November Already!!!!

 It's November, and here are some photos of this month's CARD KIT from CRAFT QUEEN.
As always, NICOLE has put together a great kit to play with, complete with a cute set of stamps from Studio G by Hampton Arts.        There's more photos HERE.    Thanks for visiting : )

Inkurable Arch # 21

A few weeks ago I was asked to be a guest designer in Sarah's INKURABLE STAMPERS GOTHIC ARCH challenge, and I was very excited when I found out the theme would be "spooky"  (Sarah, I think you know me too well LOL).      So, here is my arch...
I started by covering my arch shape with a coat of black acrylic paint, and adding a piece of printed paper from THIS BG 6" pad , distressing the edges before sticking it down.
 I then got to work on my tree by getting a lenght of wire, twisting it into shape and covering it with masking tape.     I gave it a coat of brown acrylic paint and then dry-brushed some black paint to add dimention.     I used a sizzix alterations die to cut the fence, sanding it back around the edges, and trimming as necessary to fit around my tree, using black foam tape to stick it in place. 
 I used one of my favourite stamps, Head from HERE stamping him with black Versafine ink and covering the image with clear emossing powder, I then trimmed the image and coloured it in with wc pencils (I added the black circles around his eyes too) using ds tape to fix him to the fence.      I also stamped Gibi 's head, using black Versafine ink & clear embossing powder, trimming the image, adding a bit of wire (to hang from the tree) and sticking in place with foam tape.     Smile was actually rescued from my scraps box, & I think he had been stamped with brown Stazon ink.
 I printed out the sentiment onto white cs and trimmed the words using some decorative edge scissors, using some more foam tape for dimention.     Once everyone was in place I got some red nail polish and did some decorating of my own.     So there you have it, a Gothic arch just in time for Halloween : )
Don't forget this is a year-long challenge, and you can join in at any time.    You'll find all the details HERE, and while there, don't forget to check out the fantastic gallery.

Stampotique Challenge # 17

I haven't had the time to play along for a while, but I had to come up with a gift bag for my niece's 12th birthday present yesterday, so I got some GM, some red acrylic paint, THIS, THIS, and THIS  Stampotique Originals images, and the bird images from THIS Darkroom Door set  and created this fun bag : )

There's still some time left to join in with this challenge, so what are you waiting for, go forth and create : )

Gothic ATCs...

A while ago, SARAH asked me if I'd like to do a Stampotique Goth kids swap (and a kind of pouch/container to put them into) with her, & of course I said YES!      These are the ones I made for her...some funny, some creepy & some that I forgot to take photos of!  LOL.    HERE are the ones she made for me, they look stunning!       It only took her 4 months to get hers finished, but boy, was it worth the wait!!!! : )   I just hope she liked mine as much as I love hers....but next time we swap, I might just take my

 time LOL : )              Don't forget to come back tomorrow to check out INKURABLE STAMPERS GOTHIC ARCH # 21, which I had fun creating : )   But in the meantime, have a look HERE for some information on yours truly (I didn't realize I used LOL so often!)   LOL (sorry, just couldn't help myself  : ) Thank you for your visit, and I hope you come back soon...