2 challenges - 1 card

I had so many things I should have been doing yesterday, but being the master procrastinator that I am, I made some cards instead! I had so much fun doing Makeesha's challenge last week, so thought I'd join in again this week & I incorporated it with the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge.

Stampsets: Eastern Blooms, Circle of Friendship

Inks: Sage Shadow, Regal Rose, Rose Red

Cardstock: Sage Shadow, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Whisper White

Accessories: Pewter Jumbo Eyelets, Rhinestone Brads, Sage Shadow Grosgrain, Pretties Kit, Mat Pack & Paper Piercer

Punches: Scallop Circle, 1", 1 1/4 ", 1 3/8" Circles, Scallop Edge

Not much chit chat today - I have to catch up on all the things I didn't do yesterday :-)

Bold images on coloured cardstock ........

Bold images on coloured cardstock do not stamp properly! YOu can test it out if you like, but no matter what you do, the image will never be as clear & crisp as when you stamp on Stampin' Up! Whisper White or Very Vanilla Cardstock. Do not despair, as you can see below, there is a way to get around this problem.

Simply stamp your solid image onto Whisper White cardstock, wait a short while for the ink to completly dry & then use a brayer to dye the card whatever colour your like. You can see the difference above - the image on the right has been stamped using Basic Black ink onto Groovy Guava cardstock & is not very clear, while the image on the left has been stamped in Basic Black ink onto Whisper White cardstock & brayered over in Groovy Guava ink. I had never thought to do this - I actually saw it the other day on Georgina's blog while doing a little blog surfing.

Here is the finished project that I attached the tag to - I've been trying to use up some of my rub-ons so have removed the labels off some handwash & decorated it with Urban West rub ons.

Pictures for Mum

Wouldn't you know it - I just found my camera!!! Of course it is now too late to take any photo's of the projects I've been working on, so you will have to wait until tomorrow.

While you wait I thought I'd quickly put up these photo's of my little girl on her birthday so my Mum can have a look.

She loved her doll house (thanks Mum) & had to hold her cards while I took this photo. It was all her idea, so I guess that means she liked the card I made her, although was upset that she couldn't find the Wiggles card Mum sent (I found it under the lounge today & Josie wanted another photo in front of the doll house with it LOL)

Josie wanted a Dolly Varden Cake, which I thought would be easy enough, but nearly ended in disaster when I took it out of the oven too soon (way too soon - there was cake mix running out of the centre when I tried to turn it out of the pan!) Anyway, I'm sure I committed a cooking sin by shoving it back into the oven, but am pleased to say it still held the right shape & was even edible :-)

Cute x 3

I had plans to post a mini tutorial on my blog today, but have left my camera in town *roll eyes* Sometimes I'm sure I'd forget my head if it wasn't attached!! Anyway, I searched through the pics on my computer & found these 3 that I made for an Elite Challenges sketch challenge awhile back - as you can see I had fun paper piecing the cute little all-in-one suit.

Stampset: Big On Spring

Cardstock: Spring Fling DSP, Pretty In Pink, Whisper White

Ink: Black Staz On

Accessories: Rhinestone Brad, Wide Celery Grosgrain, Pretty In Pink Stampin' Write Marker, 2-way Glue, Dazzling Diamonds

Stampset: Big On Spring

Cardstock: Rose Red, Regal Rose, Whisper White, Bali Breeze DSP

Ink: Black Staz On

Accessories: 1" Double Stitched Rose Red Ribbon, Rhinestone Brad, Regal Rose Stampin' Write Marker

I wasn't real happy with this last one, so it didn't get a close-up!

Stampset: Big On Spring, Rough Texture Jumbo Wheel
Cardstock: Purely Pomegranite, Textured Close to Cocoa, Pretty In Pink, Whisper White, Afternoon Tea DSP
Ink: Black Staz On, Versamark
Accessories: Double Stitched Pomegranite Ribbon, Pretty In Pink Brads, White Gel Pen

A Challenging Challenge!

It is my daughter's birthday today & I realised last night that I'd been a slack mother & hadn't made her a card yet! I thought I'd use Makeesha latest Inkspirations Sketch Challenge, only problem was that I had left all my inks, punches & most of my tools at my mother's house in town - I was even hard pressed to find a pair of scissors .... eek. I couldn't not give Josie a card, so set myself the challenge of a stampless, inkless card & this is the result.Stampsets: NONE!
Inks: NONE!
Cardstock: Pretty In Pink, Purely Pomegranite, Whisper White, Berry Bliss DSP
Accessories: On Board Ginormous Pieces, Rub Ons, Rhinestone Brads, Pink Gingham & Pomegranite Satin Ribbon.

Summer Mini SAB Party

Want to learn how to make this cute Pop Up Card? Then come along to my Summer Mini SAB Party on Saturday the 31st Jan 2009. This will be one of the 3 Make & Takes that I will be demonstrating & you will be making. The beauty of this fun card, is that it folds flat so can easily be sent in the post.

Have you seen the gorgeous felt flowers in the Summer Mini Catalogue? They come in an assorted tin with the three colours shown - Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie & Old Olive.

The party starts at 1pm, so come along to check out & play with some of the new products that are available in the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Catalogue. Along with the Make & Takes, there will be specials, prizes, freebies & more, so email me if you would like any more information - alana@aussiebroadband.com.au

Sale-A-Bration One Sheet Wonders

Mel has a challenge on her blog this week to make a One Sheet Wonder, which I have never done before, so thought I'd join in. If you haven't heard of a One Sheet Wonder before, it is simply one sheet of cardstock that you have stamped all over, then cut/punched to use on cards. I have used the Sale-A-Bration stampset called Botanical Blooms that can be yours for FREE, by simply spending $100 on Stampin' Up! products before 28th Feb 2009.


Generally you would stamp a whole A4 sheet, so would be able to make up quite alot of cards, but here I have only used an A5 sheet.


This card has been CASEd from the very talented Teneale - I don't think I have seen one card that she has made that I haven't LOVED!


I have CASEd this one from Sue - I love her innovative use of stamps.


And lastly this one has been CASEd from Beate - who is a German demonstrator & really makes me wish I could read German as she has some great projects on her blog.
Stampsets: Botanical Blooms, Yummy, Fast & Fun Notes, Short & Sweet
Cardstock: Sage Shadow, So Saffron, Pretty In Pink, Whisper White
Inks: Sage Shadow, So Saffron, Pretty In Pink
Accessories: Pink Taffeta Ribbon, Scallop Square Punch, Scalloped Edge Punch, Small & Large Oval Punches

I had so much fun that I thought I'd make up the same cards in a different colour theme & really love how this lot turned out so made a matching card folder.

Here is the folder opened, I also stamped some matching envelopes. You can find the instructions for the folder on Makeesha's website.

Stampset: Botanical Blooms

Cardstock: Old Olive, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Apple Cied DSP (retired)

Ink: Old Olive, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Chocolate Taffeta Ribbon, Vanilla Wide Grosgrain Ribbon

Punches: Scallop Square, Scalloped Edge, Large Oval, Small Oval

Punch Art ATC's

Just before Christmas I participated in a Punch Art ATC swap & thought I'd share my effort with you today. Sadly I can't take credit fot the super cute idea of turning the scallop square punch into a baby's blanket as I CASEd it from Splitcoast Stampers.

Stampsets: Boho Backgrounds, Cheer & Wishes

Cardstock: Mellow Moss, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Blush Blossom, Whisper White

Inks: Mellow Moss, Versamark

Accessories:Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Black, Blush Blossom & More Mustard Stampin' Write Markers

Punches: Scallop Square, Scallop Edge, Word Window, 1" Circle, 1/16" Circle Handheld, Corner Rounder

SALE-A-BRATION

It's on again! From 1st January until 28th February 2009 you can earn limited edition Sale-A-Bration stamp sets for FREE - read on to find out how.

Customers: For every $100 you spend you can choose one of four Sale-A-Bration (SAB) stamp sets. There is no limit, so spend $200 & recieve 2 FREE SAB sets, or spend $300 & recieve 3 FREE SAB sets along with a FREE level 1 hostess set & an extra $30 to spend.

Hosts: When you host a workshop that has orders over $600 you will be able to choose a SAB set for FREE (along with all other normal hostess benefits)

New Recruits: Join the Stampin' Up! family & become a demonstrator during Jan or Feb & you will be able to choose an additional set from the main Idea Book & Catalogue up the the value of $79.95 for FREE

If you would like to check out the limited edition Sale-A-Bration stamp sets, just click on the picture of the SAB Catalogue on the right, or send me an email & I will either email or post you a copy - alana@aussiebroadband.com.au

Oops, it's been awhile.....

... my excuse is that I have been on holidays :)
I was planning on posting afew things while I was away, but my computer was struck by lightning during a storm. Luckily it only affected my modem, however that was enough to prevent me from getting onto the internet. I will be back soon with some craft related pictures, but thought I'd share some from our holiday first.

Here we are dining alfresco at the resort (aka my parents place)

This pic of the kids & my MIL was taken at Fingal Head - 2 days later a man was bitten by a shark at the same beach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mum & Dad got the kids tickets to Wet 'n' Wild & Seaworld for Christmas - I think it was the best present they got, as we had lots of fun. The above pic is Sam & I on the Kimakaze at Wet 'n' Wild - the look on his little face was priceless & had me in stitches the whole ride!

At Seaworld our favourite thing was the Dolphins show, it was amazing

We also loved the Viking's Revenge Flume Ride - I love this picture & the looks on all our faces :)