Good Try ????

I'm not too sure if this really is a 'good try' as I'm not real happy with it. I've been trying to use my Just Rugby stamp set & it's been giving me some grief. I used last weeks Mojo Monday sketch to help abit......

Stampsets: Just Rugby, Good Friend

Card: Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow, Windsor Knot DSP

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Library Clip, Twine, Metal Edge Tag, Silver Brads, Crimper

Now I just need DS8 to score a try at footy so I can give him the card - he's a fairly laid back player, so it could take awhile :-)

A Flower For All Seasons

Once I finished my card for Keesh's challenge using A Flower For All Seasons I couldn't stop. To save my mind from having to think too much, I used the same layout & just changed the colours :-)

Stampsets: Flower For All Seasons, Best Yet

Card: Riding Hood Red, Creamy Caramel, Kiwi Kiss, Watercolour Paper

Ink: Black Staz On, Basic Black, Sahara Sand, Summer Sun, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Creamy Caramel

Accessories: Red Tafetta, Button Bouquet, Eyelet Border Punch, Aqua Painter

Not too sure about this one! I didn't have any Summer Sun cardstock, so instead inked up some Whisper White with Summer Sun ink using my brayer.

Stampsets: Flower For All Seasons, Short & Sweet
Card: Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, Kraft, Watercolour Paper
Ink: Black Staz On, Basic Black, Sahara Sand, Summer Sun, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Creamy Caramel
Accessories: Kiwi Satin Ribbon, Eyelet Border Punch, Aqua Painter

I love the little frog in this image - it is sooo cute!

Stampsets: Flower For All Seasons, Best Yet
Card: Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango, Kiwi Kiss, Watercolour Paper
Ink: Black Staz On, Basic Black, Sahara Sand, Summer Sun, Tangerine Tango, Kiwi Kiss,
Accessories: Tanhgerine Striped Grosgrain, Eyelet Border Punch, Aqua Painter

I'm rather challenged in the photography taking department at the best of times, but thought I'd show you the extra challenge I faced today.....

Someone got abit jealous - I was paying more attention to my cards than her!

Inkspirations Challenge #7

I've been wanting to join in one of Makeesha's challenges for ages, but just never seem to find the time. Well this afternoon I found 10 mins & whipped up this card using some of the colours in the gorgeous inspiration photo.

I've had this set since Convention & thought it was about time it saw some ink ........ now I just need to ink up the other three images.
Stampsets: Flower for All Seasons, Short & Sweet

Card: Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze, Watercolour

Ink: Basic Black, Creamy Caramel, Sahara Sand, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette

Accessories: Button Bouquet, Red Tafetta, Eyelet Border Punch

Scrapbook Challenge

One of the demonstrator groups I am a member of is going to have monthly scrapbook challenges & as soon as I saw this month's sketch on Mandy's blog I knew I wanted to play along. These pics are of my sister & son taken a few years ago ....... aren't they cute. Sandi will probably choke me when she's sees them :-)

Stampsets: Life Definitions, It's All Good (retired), Retired Alphabet

Card: Sahara Sand, Basic Gray, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Urban Oasis DSP

Inks: Basic Gray

Accessories: Kiwi Kiss Striped Grosgrain, Metal Edge Tag, Filigree Brads, Circle Ice Rhinestones, 1' & 1 3/8" Circle Punches

A Step Back in Time

I had planned to post some more cards & I even finished a couple of scrapbook pages, but am having trouble photographing them, so instead I thought I'd share some pics from the weekend. Our local Ag Show was held on weekend & it included a 'Step Back in Time' parade down the main street - I couldn't make it to the parade, but my husband took the kids down & I returned home just in time to see this coming down the street. This is my BIL, Nephew, Daughter Josie, Husband & Dolly the horse! They'd just finished having billy tea & fresh damper at the show ....... I'm abit upset I missed out :-(

Here is Miss Josie all dressed up - she looked very cute, if I do say so myself. Her outfit was made by my Mum & worn by me in a similar parade when I was little.

Hope you enjoyed this little diversion, I will try & take some descent pics of my scrap pages tomorrow to share.

More Circle Circus CASEing

I've been making some more CASEd cards - this time I used this card for inspiration to create this fun little set. These cards are really simple & took no time at all to whip up - they can also be used for just about any occassion.

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE the new buttons? Of course I couldn't resist adding a strip of cardstock to them also - I 'm sure I did warn you that you would be seeing this alot :-)

Stampsets: Circle Circus, Best Yet (Level 1 Hostess)

Cardstock: Kraft, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze

Inks: Close to Cocoa, Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze

Accessories: Button Bouquet, In-Color Striped Grosgrain

Circle Circus CASE

As soon as I saw this card I knew I had to CASE it. I had planned to change the colours, but it was my Mum's birthday on the weekend & her favourite colour is pink. Circle Circus is one of the sets that all demonstrators who attended Convention were given. It's a great set with 10 circle themed stamps that fit inside our many circle punches, including one that fits the scalloped circle.

I have once again used a strip of cardstock threaded through the button & this time tied it in a knot.

Stampsets: Circle Circus, Short & Sweet

Cardstock: Kraft, Pink Pirouette, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White

Inks: Close to Cocoa, Pink Pirouette

Accessories: Pink Pirouette Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, twine, retired button (only becouse I haven't got Button Latte ....... yet :-))

INKlings Cyberstamp

Last week we had a team cyberstamp & the first challenge was to use some Double Sided Papers on a card. This is my effort, using Urban Oasis DSP - you could also create the same card using the gorgeous Fifth Avenue Floral stampset (it's on my huge wishlist!)

I'm not too happy with the one little bit of stamping - really should have dug out the trusty ol' Stamp-A-Ma-Jig! I'm really loving the new buttons & a fun thing to do is cut a thin strip of cardstock to thread through the holes ....... I think you may be seeing this alot!

Stampsets: Upsy Daisy (for sentiment)
Card: Basic Gray, Urban Oasis DSP
Ink: Basic Gray
Accessories: Button Bouquet, Gray Taffeta

There was also a scrapbook sketch challenge, which I am still working on ........ I think I could be the slowest scrapbooker ever!!

May Specials

The month is half over so you will need to act quickly if you would like to make the most of the two fantastic promotions that Stampin' Up! are offering during May Who doesn't love FREE things! Until 31st May when you buy 3 packs of Double Sided Paper, you will receive a 4th absolutely FREE. This great offer applies to all the new papers except Sweet Slumber Specialty & Patterns Designer Series Prints.

Stampin' Up! has made it even easier & cheaper to become a demonstrator, with the scrapbooking starter kit. If you would like to know more send me an email & I'll send you a free information pack - stamping@alanagalagher.com

Oh My ....... it's been awhile!

Oh My..... I don't even know what happened to this post - it was supposed to show up last night!

I have been such a slacker & can't believe how long it has been since my last post. I have been busy (not just slack!) - I have moved house (may have only been 25km, but still not something I want to repeat anytime soon), travelled to Canberra for the Stampin' Up! Convention (had heaps of fun & learnt lots) & in general been busy running after the kids & keeping the tax man happy doing Business Activity Statements!

Anyway, if you are visiting, I'm sure it's not to hear my excuses. Here are the two swaps I took to Convention

This one was abit of a pain to mass produce - but I love how it turned out.

Stampset: Good Friend

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Good Morning Sunshine DSP

Inks: Tangerine Tango, More Mustard, Choc Chip

Accessories: Vintage Brads, Wide Choc Grosgrain, Scallop Edge Punch

This is not my exact swap, but is fairly similar. It is a crimped envelope - you can see a tutorial here.

Stampset: Inspired By Nature
Card: Whisper White Envelope
Inks: Rose Red. Markers - Rose Red, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Choc Chip
Accessories: Crimper, Lace Edge Border Punch, Pretty In Pink Striped Grosgrain, Spritzer

I'm hoping to be back on a more regular basis now that we have settled into our new house - it definately won't be another month before I post again :-)