4

Thanks so Much (Paper Smooches)

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Hi Everyone,

You know that feeling when you stand up close to a piece of art hanging on a wall to see it in detail and it doesn’t really look all that special? Then you take a few steps back and suddenly you see the magic? That’s a bit like how I feel about the card I am sharing today. lol I’ll get back to that in just a minute. :)

When I first saw the Inspiration Photo (see below) for this weeks Paper Smooches SPARKS Challenge I knew I wanted to use the Crystal Clear stamp set. I had a very clear image in my mind of my design, colour scheme, even the patterned paper I would use. Unfortunately, there was a *tiny* little problem! I didn’t own this stamp set! An emergency order was placed with a local supplier and I crossed my fingers and hoped it would arrive before the weekend. And it did! Yay!

I eagerly ripped into the stamp set and stamped up my design on a scrap piece of paper and I was still pretty chuffed with my design. Then I tried it “for real”. Uh oh! The cardstock I have used is not really suitable for watercolouring and I did intend to shade the mason jar with distress inks. Nevertheless I persisted. And here’s where we return to my opening comment…up close my card isn’t as pretty as I hoped it would be. From a distance it looks pretty cool though. So take a few steps away from your screen before you view my card. lol

Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge Blog

Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge Blog

Paper Smooches: Inspiration Photo - January 2015

Paper Smooches: Inspiration Photo – January 2015

Here’s the card I am entering into the challenge…

Thanks So Much Materials used: Stamps - Crystal Clear (Paper Smooches); Cardstock - KaiserCraft, Unknown; Designer Paper: 6-1/2" Paper Pad - Bow & Arrow (KaiserCraft); Distress Ink; Linen Thread (Stampin' Up!) and Wink of Stella.

Thanks So Much
Materials used: Stamps – Crystal Clear (Paper Smooches); Cardstock – KaiserCraft, Unknown; Designer Paper: 6-1/2″ Paper Pad – Bow & Arrow (KaiserCraft); Distress Ink; Linen Thread (Stampin’ Up!) and Wink of Stella.

Oh, and I do have a tip of the day…I loaded up my paintbrush with ink to spatter onto my design as it just needed a little something. I *may* have forgotten to put my card in a box, or at least protect nearby surfaces before I started flicking paint around. Let’s just say I’m still finding things which have lovely little brown spots on them. Oopsy!

I am thinking I might just try this design again – perhaps put glossy accents over the mason jar and just tie the twine around the jar not the whole page. I think it would make a lovely sympathy card too. I’d also like to try it with pastel colours. I love this set!

Happy Stamping!

12

You’re Awesome (MFT)

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Hi Everyone,

When I heard of the launch of the new My Favourite Things Card Challenges blog, I knew I wanted to play along with some of their challenges this year. As soon as I saw the Sketch Challenge, I knew exactly what I wanted to do and that was to grab the Birdie Brown You’re Super stamp set and create a little scene.

MFT Sketch Challenge

MFT Sketch Challenge - MFTWSC210

Here’s the card I am entering into the Sketch Challenge…

You're Awesome Materials used: Stamps - Birdie Brown You're Awesome (My Favourite Things); Dies - Die-Namics Blueprints 5 (My Favourite Things); Designer Paper - Party with Amy Locurto "Boy" (Pebbles Inc.); Distress Inks and Copic Markers.

You’re Awesome
Materials used: Stamps – Birdie Brown You’re Awesome (My Favourite Things); Dies – Die-Namics Blueprints 5 (My Favourite Things); Designer Paper – Party with Amy Locurto “Boy” (Pebbles Inc.); Distress Inks and Copic Markers.

I did make another card before this one but I felt it fell a little flat in a few areas. I’m going to share it though because it shows a few different ideas. I do plan to play around with this idea a little more over time.

Here’s the card…

Have a Super Day Materials used: Stamps - Birdie Brown You're Awesome (My Favourite Things); Dies - Die-Namics Blueprints 5 (My Favourite Things); Designer Paper - Party with Amy Locurto "Boy" (Pebbles Inc.); Distress Inks and Copic Markers.

Have a Super Day
Materials used: Stamps – Birdie Brown You’re Awesome (My Favourite Things); Dies – Die-Namics Blueprints 5 (My Favourite Things); Designer Paper – Party with Amy Locurto “Boy” (Pebbles Inc.); Distress Inks and Copic Markers.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you are all having a wonderful day!

Happy Stamping!

8

So Many of My Smiles…(TGF/KaiserCraft)

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Hi Everyone,

I had a break from my blog enforced by Mother Nature. We’ve been in the middle of a rather warm patch and then we had a bit of wild weather which resulted in my power being off for the better part of two days. Turns out that crafting in the dark is not easy, who’da thunk?! lol Also turns out that I *love* air-conditioning! A LOT! lol In typical Melbourne fashion we have gone from hot, hot, hot weather with a fierce storm only yesterday to a cold dreary day today when I’m (almost) tempted to put the heater on. Ah, Melbourne, how I love thee!

Before I lost power for two days I did have another card waiting in the wings featuring the lovely “Honey” from The Greeting Farm. Once again, I opted for the cute look so covered up the little skull in her hair ribbon. I also decided to play around with her hair colour a little bit too. I didn’t have three colours which worked beautifully together but I made do. I’m quite happy with it but I do think I need to go shopping. ;) lol I’ve also stayed away from the “typical Kylie” card again which is a bit of fun.

Here’s the card…

So Many Of My Smiles Begin With You Materials used: Stamps - Blue Bay (KaiserCraft), Honey SSSC No. 012 (The Greeting Farm); Dies - A Birdie Told Me (Lawn Fawn), Die-Namics Blueprints 4 (My Favourite Things), Documented, Photo Love (Sizzix); Patterned Paper - Unknown; Cardstock - Knights Smooth, Unknown; Copic Markers; Sparklets - Fern (KaiserCraft); Ribbon (KaiserCraft) and Wink of Stella.

So Many Of My Smiles Begin With You
Materials used: Stamps – Blue Bay (KaiserCraft), Honey SSSC No. 012 (The Greeting Farm); Dies – A Birdie Told Me (Lawn Fawn), Die-Namics Blueprints 4 (My Favourite Things), Documented, Photo Love (Sizzix); Patterned Paper – Unknown; Cardstock – Knights Smooth, Unknown; Copic Markers; Sparklets – Fern (KaiserCraft); Ribbon (KaiserCraft) and Wink of Stella.

She’s so cute! If you’d like to see another take on this gorgeous stamp, please visit my amazingly talented friend Elle’s blog. Elle colours images in the most beautiful way and the most creative way too. Her blog is a visual feast for the imagination!

So, that’s me done for today. Think I’m going to plonk myself down in front of TV and watch the Big Bash (cricket) for the first time in two days. lol

Happy Stamping!

8

Bon Voyage (TGF/Lawn Fawn)

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Hi Everyone,

I’m going to switch things up just a little bit today by using one of the other images which came in my Super Secret Stamp Club subscription from The Greeting Farm. As soon as I saw Honey I thought how cute she would be as an air hostess or in a diner from the 60’s. (I did have to cover the little skull which featured in her hair ribbon as that didn’t quite fit in with the images I was picturing). I do keep hunting for some diner style stamps to go with her – stools up at a counter; a blackboard menu in the background – so cute! Or her standing by a window with planes lined up outside. lol Since I don’t have any stamps like that I went with a travel theme for my first card (yes, first card, I have coloured this image in quite a few times…still have three of the images waiting to find a card for them to live).

Here’s the card…

Bon Voyage Materials used: Stamps - Bon Voyage (Lawn Fawn), Honey SSC No. 012 (The Greeting Farm); Designer Paper - 6" Paper Pad - Pack Your Bags Collection (Kaiser Craft); Cardstock - KaiserCraft, Knights Smooth; Copic Markers; Shadow Ink Mid-Tone Cup O' Joe (Hero Arts); Sparklets - Crystal (KaiserCraft); Dies - Die-Namics Blueprints 6 (My Favourite Things) and Wink of Stella.

Bon Voyage
Materials used: Stamps – Bon Voyage (Lawn Fawn), Honey SSC No. 012 (The Greeting Farm); Designer Paper – 6″ Paper Pad – Pack Your Bags Collection (Kaiser Craft); Cardstock – KaiserCraft, Knights Smooth; Copic Markers; Shadow Ink Mid-Tone Cup O’ Joe (Hero Arts); Sparklets – Crystal (KaiserCraft); Dies – Die-Namics Blueprints 6 (My Favourite Things) and Wink of Stella.

It’s a little different from my usual style but I thought I might try and expand my repertoire – at least until I find those elusive diner stamps. ;) lol

Thank you for stopping by today! Hope you are having a wonderful day!

Happy Stamping!

4

You Make Me Smile (The Greeting Farm/TGF)

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Hi Everyone,

My fun with The Greeting Farm’s stamps continues! Today I’m sharing the last of the cards I have created using “Lavender”. I think I’ve saved the best until last. This card is certainly my favourite.

For this card, I decided to go with the “sweet” Lavender look so covered up the skull with a little enamel dot. I didn’t have a dot which matched the card so just coloured over it with my copic markers. Voila! Now it matches! There’s nothing too complicated about this card – it’s just a sweet little card.

Here’s the card…

You Make Me Smile Materials used: Stamps - Lavender SSSC No. 011 (The Greeting Farm), A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted), A Birdy Told Me, Joy to the Woods, (Lawn Fawn); Copic Markers; Distress Ink; Cardstock - American Crafts, Knight Smooth; Patterned Paper - Snow Day Petite Paper Pack (Lawn Fawn); Dies - Spring Showers, Stitched Hillside Borders, (Lawn Fawn); Sugardot Stickers (Prima) and Wink of Stella.

You Make Me Smile
Materials used: Stamps – Lavender SSSC No. 011 (The Greeting Farm), A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted), A Birdy Told Me, Joy to the Woods, (Lawn Fawn); Copic Markers; Distress Ink; Cardstock – American Crafts, Knight Smooth; Patterned Paper – Snow Day Petite Paper Pack (Lawn Fawn); Dies – Spring Showers, Stitched Hillside Borders, (Lawn Fawn); Sugardot Stickers (Prima) and Wink of Stella.

Whilst I have finished playing with Lavender (for now!), I still have two other stamps from my Super Secret Stamp Club subscription from The Greeting Farm to play with so watch for some more new cards coming this week.

Happy Stamping!

6

Thinking of You (The Greeting Farm/TGF)

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Hi Everyone,

Today’s card is another variation using “Lavender” from The Greeting Farm’s Super Secret Stamp Club from last year. You can view two other cards created with this same stamp here.

While the little hairbow on Lavender features a skull, the design is otherwise cutesy. Simply by covering the little skull you could use the stamp in many different ways – so that is exactly what I did. Isn’t she darling!

Here’s the card…

Lavender Materials used: Stamps - Lavender SSSC No. 011 (The Greeting Farm), A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted), Snow Day, (Lawn Fawn); Copic Markers; Distress Ink; Cardstock - American Crafts, Knight Smooth; Dies - Snow Day, Spring Showers, Stitched Hillside Borders, (Lawn Fawn), Die-Namics Blueprints 4 (My Favourite Things); Sparklets - Princess (KaiserCraft) and Wink of Stella.

Lavender
Materials used: Stamps – Lavender SSSC No. 011 (The Greeting Farm), A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted), Snow Day, (Lawn Fawn); Copic Markers; Distress Ink; Cardstock – American Crafts, Knight Smooth; Dies – Snow Day, Spring Showers, Stitched Hillside Borders, (Lawn Fawn), Die-Namics Blueprints 4 (My Favourite Things); Sparklets – Princess (KaiserCraft) and Wink of Stella.

So that’s my sweet and simple take using Lavender – nothing scary or halloween-y about her now. Love a versatile stamp!

Hope you all have a happy day!

Happy Stamping!

6

Happy New Year!

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Hi Everyone,

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a very merry Christmas and that 2015 brings you good health, happiness, love and lots of crafty goodness!

I’ve had some time off work over the Christmas/New Year period and managed to squeeze in some creating time which has been WONDERFUL! I’d love to retire and create full time! How amazing would that be! Anyway…

Last year I signed up for The Greeting Farm’s Super Secret Stamp Club for October/November/December. Being an international customer meant that my stamps would ship as one but not until November. Unfortunately this meant that when they finally arrived it was AFTER Halloween (all three stamps featured a girl with a skull hair ribbon) and right in the middle of the lead up to Christmas. No time to play! So it was very exciting when I sat down earlier and got to pull out these new stamps. I had never used The Greeting Farm stamps before but have admired them for a while.

First up was “Lavender” (SSSC No. 011) and I stamped her a few times and just coloured! I started with fairly traditional colours and then branched out a little with the hair colour. When designing the cards, I made two which worked with the skull in the hair bow but then decided I need to make the most out of the stamp and to use it in a different way. You know I love to create a scene card too and “Lavender” just cried out to be placed in a number of different settings. I’ll share some of my other designs in the next couple of days.

Here’s card one…

I grabbed the image I had coloured last – one with unusual hair colouring and decided to place her in a dark woods. I decided against a sentiment as it doesn’t really need one. I can always add it later if the need arises. I also added an extra bow and only secured it in the centre – looks very cute! The skull and all of the trees are coated with glossy accents. Love this look!

Lavender Materials used: Stamps - Lavender SSSC No. 011 (The Greeting Farm), Happy Haunting (Lawn Fawn), Autumn Groves, Hooties (Paper Smooches); Copic Markers; Distress Ink; Cardstock - American Crafts, Knight Smooth; Glossy Accents (Ranger) and Wink of Stella.

Lavender
Materials used: Stamps – Lavender SSSC No. 011 (The Greeting Farm), Happy Haunting (Lawn Fawn), Autumn Groves, Hooties (Paper Smooches); Copic Markers; Distress Ink; Cardstock – American Crafts, Knight Smooth; Glossy Accents (Ranger) and Wink of Stella.

Here’s card two…

I wanted to vary the above design just a little. I left the moon off, added a rocky path and went with the blue haired Lavender. No sentiment again this time but it can always be added later.

Lavender Materials used: Stamps - Lavender SSSC No. 011 (The Greeting Farm), Texture Clear Stamp Rocks (KaiserCraft), Autumn Groves, Hooties (Paper Smooches); Copic Markers; Distress Ink; Cardstock - American Crafts, Knight Smooth; Glossy Accents (Ranger) and Wink of Stella.

Lavender
Materials used: Stamps – Lavender SSSC No. 011 (The Greeting Farm), Texture Clear Stamp Rocks (KaiserCraft), Autumn Groves, Hooties (Paper Smooches); Copic Markers; Distress Ink; Cardstock – American Crafts, Knight Smooth; Glossy Accents (Ranger) and Wink of Stella.

So, they’re more than a little late for Halloween (or super early! lol) but I do think that they could be used at anytime…for the right person! I’ve coloured up another dark background and now I’m tempted to go and make another “Lavender” card. lol

Happy Stamping!