Are You Swapping?

Are your ATCs ready for the next Darkroom Door ATC swap?    Hosted by Rachel (owner of Darkroom Door), every month there is a new theme for us to interpret, all the information you need is HERE.

I sometimes include a thank you card with my swaps, but for this month I went with a tag (I wrote my thank you on the back)

And this is a sneak-peek of my ATC for this swap...

I hope you are able to take part...i'ts great to receive fun mail rather than just bills!
Thanks for stopping by, see you again soon : )

Swapping Much?

I've just mailed this month's Darkroom Door ATC swaps (you can find all the details for the current swap HERE) and as usual, I forgot to take a photo of the actual ATC!   But I did remember to take a photo of the Thank You card I included...

I haven't played with Stampbord tiles in a long while, so I went ahead and used one as the centrepiece for this card.

I covered the tile with StaZon ink (teal) and stamped the flower from THIS set of Darkroom Door stamps, and the sentiment from THIS set.   I then used my scratch tool to add the highlights to the images, and then gave the tile a coat of DM for the glossy finish. 

I then used some Distress ink (vintage photo) and the splatter image from THIS set of stamps, and stamped it onto my base card to create the background.
I just love the new WEBBY RIBBONS from CRAFT QUEEN, so I used some of it to anchor the image to the front of the card.    The butterflies were punched out of wc paper and text using THIS punch.

I so enjoy making ATCs and receiving the beautiful returns, it's a great way to share your own creativity, and a fabulous way to see how others use the beautiful images... If you get a chance, why not take part?     Thank you for visiting, I hope you come back soon   : )   

Happy Mail Day

Yesterday was a very happy mail day for me. Not only did I receive the puzzle pieces I`ve been waiting for from MARIE for THIS swap, but I also took delivery of my prize pack from INKURABLE STAMPERS (a gorgeous UM stamp, an Archival ink pad & a set of slide mailers from CRAFTY INDIVIDUALS) as well as a lovely & very generous RAK from SARAH (just for participating in every challenge since the blog came to be, time flies when you`re having fun, hey!) & one of her beautiful "Thank You" cards.

Here`s my prize pack:

& here`s the RAK from Sarah (thank you so much)

& here`s her beautiful card, it`s hard to see in the scan, but each flower has a little bit of bling...

Next up is the gorgeous swap (sorry about the dodgy photo, I added the 20 cent coin for size reference)

I want to get started on those puzzle pieces asap as there are 10 pieces to alter...but I wanted to show you just how gorgeous the whole thing is, can`t wait to see it all finished...& How cute are those tiny little lady-bugs?????

So there you have it, that should keep me busy for a while LOL, so if I don`t post for a few weeks you`ll know it`s because I`m too busy playing LOL. Thanks for visiting (& for commenting, if you do so) B4N :)

1st Lay-Out For The Year & Some ATCs

Well, after the last few days being 43ºC +, it`s a relief to have a somewhat cooler 30ºC day LOL. I know the Northern hemisphere is freezing ATM, but it is so much nicer to craft during Winter :)

As the weather was much more agreeable yesterday, & DD started back at school, I had a bit of time to scrap...I`m embarrassed to say it`s my very first LO for the year, but I`ve had the photos for a while & the actual LO was in my "to do" list, so I headed over to SBT50 where Victoria has a 45 week challenge happening (I missed the 1st week, but want to do the actual challenge, so I may come back to it if I have time)

The actual challenge was to use either a red, orange & dark purple colour combo, or a dark green, black & blue one...& work with 3 photos, I chose the brighter option, & I`m very happy with the results :)

I`ll have to add another page, as there are a couple of other photos I wanted to add, but I ran out of time...
Last week I swapped ATCs with Barb (TSQ herself) & made these little beauties for her...

The last one has dangly legs LOL, I hope Barb liked them :)

& here are the gorgeous ones I received in return...lots of texture, & great colour too, thank you Barb ( notice how I USED my sewing machine for my LO above??? LOL) & while you`re visiting Barb, don`t forget to enter her giveaway! She`s taking part in the One World, One Heart blogging extravaganza (I don`t know how else to describe it LOL), & what a great idea this is...I would have loved to have joined in the fun, but I just don`t have the time : ( There`s not much time left to join, so go & have a look quickly & see if you`d like to give it a go...it`s a great way to put yourself out there in blog world, & a fantastic way to "meet" other like-minded bloggers :)

I just LOVE those Stampotique images...they are so quirky & grungy, don`t you think? I know they may not be everyones cup of tea, but they are a favourite of mine ATM. Speaking of quirky, Sarah over at Inkurable Stampers, has the new theme up for this month, & it`s SOOT (!) Now, I`d never heard of this technique (I know, I live in a very sheltered world LOL) but she has a fab tutorial with very clear step-by-step instructions, AND she has used some Stampotique images in her gorgeous samples...So go check it out, you know you want to : )

Meanwhile there`s another ATC/Card swap happening over at the Darkroom Door blog , visit their blog & get the details... I`ll be joining the ATC swap, will you?

Long Time No "C"

Yep! It`s been a while between Creations, but DD had the great idea of challenging DH, as well as herself & yours truly to "make something" with the bits & pieces she chose for us...I forgot to take any "before" photos, but we were all given the same things: 1 glass jar, 5 buttons, 3 length of wire, 2 tissues, 9 puzzle pieces & a length of cardboard tubing...

The rules were simple enough, we had 3 hours to make "something", but we had to use EVERY ITEM, so we got to work...

We had a lot of fun trying to come up with different ideas, & even DH joined in...& it`s given me an idea for this month`s challenge over at Inkurable Stampers LOL, just have to work out a few details & set aside the actual TIME!!!

Anyway, the top photo is my DHs work (titled Planet Bug) using all the bits & pieces he was given plus some extra bits & some magazine cut-outs. Next, my DDs lovely bee creation, she covered the wire with the tissues (for the wings) & don`t you just love the crown...(Oh, to have the imagination of a child, I think we would all be better off, don`t you?), & the last photo, my attempt...it`s hard to see, but I painted the puzzle pieces, stuck words on them, attatched them with the wire to the tubing (which I covered with 1 tissue & painted, the other tissue I used to clean up LOL) I threaded the buttons (& some beads) onto wire & stuck some newsprint to the jar. I`ll be back later with a beautiful gift I received from DH ( made by him!!!) Enjoy your day, & don`t forget Sandie`s swap! Today is the last day to join :)

Welcome 2009

Welcome 2009, I hope you all had as much fun ringing the new year in as I did...complete with the hangover to prove it : #

I received some new stamps I`d ordered from PaperForestDesign & had a play with a couple of them...I can only show this one though, as the others are for a swap. This is a quick card I made for my parents` wedding anniversary, I used the "clock woman" from Diva D`Este (isn`t she gorgeous?!), coloured it with chalks, covering the clock face with DM, & adding the corners cut out from paper painted with TwinksH2Os, they loved it :)

On another note, my DD has found a great new use for my Signo gel pens... She did this all herself, & I just had to take a photo (with my phone though, so excuse the quality, or lack there of LOL) I do love her drawings...

BTW, I just read the new theme for this month over at Inkurable Stampers & already I have a couple of ideas (wonders never cease!) & don`t forget to check out SBT50 for their challenges as well. & if you`d like to take part in a journaling stamp swap, head over to Sandie`s blog & sign up, it`s open to overseas swappers as well, & it sounds like she has a little surprise planned ; ) Thanks for popping in, TTFN