Pick 3 Challenge - Stamping Vacation Blog

I have been following Denise's blog 'Stamping Vacation' Denise has these challenges where she lists six items and you pick three to create a card. I have been itching all week to have a go as Denise puts a new list up each day. Finally, yesterday I had the time to play and this is what I came up with.

So I all I had to do was PICK 3! I have highlighted what I chose to use.

1. Any kind of metallic paper
2. Torn edge
3. Vellum
4. Circle tag
5. Anything with wheels
6. Anything with wings

For my card I used a pre-folded card, pink and lilac Majestic Shimmer Papers all from Blue Edge Crafts. I then dug out my heat gun so that I could gold emboss the flourishes. Haven't done that in ages. I then stamped the butterflies on to the card and again on to white card using SU Soft Subtles inkspots. The stamped images are from the SU Priceless set. I cut out the butterflies that I stamped on the white card, folded up the wings and stuck the bodies over the top of the butterflies I had stamped on the card. Then added kindy glitz to the butterflies. I rounded the bottom corners of the card and two corners of the greeting tag. Finished with a Thank You sticker greeting.


For the card above I all I had to do was PICK 3! I have highlighted what I chose to use.

1) Two stamps with the same theme - such as in my card example - FIRE
2) Vellum with a tint to it
3) Red card stock
4) Any corner adornment
5) Anything that starts with a D
6) Chalk

I have used the SU In Colour range of card for this card. The green card I ran through the cuttlebug using the Swiss Dots embossing folder. I stamped up the rose and the rose bud from the SU Both Way Blossoms set. Coloured using my aqua brush and watercolour pencils. I rounded two of the toppers corners. To finish I used orange tinted vellum which I also ran through the cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots embossing folder. Attached it to the card with four brads.

I am really happy with both of these cards and will definitely be trying out more of Denise's challenges in the future.

Licorice Allsorts - I won

I am having a wonderful lazy day today. Hubby went off cycling with a mate, kids cleaned up their messes, did some of their chores and homework while I ironed. Hubby returned, son headed out fishing with mates. Then my brother and his family came for a visit. Scruff the dog was exhausted by our two nieces 5yo and 3yo. Time for lunch and then a snooze. Daughter has been in the kitchen creating Russian Caramel...yum. Thought I would check my emails while still blurry eyed and I had an email from Rachel congratulating me on winning these wonderful books. How lucky am I. :-) Be sure to visit and scroll through Rachel's blog she has created amazing books. Rachel's blog posting has slowed down just recently but when she posts they are always a great read. This is one of my favourite books Rachel has created - Lego's.

Wedding Card and Gardening

I created this Wedding card yesterday when the computer thought I should not be online. I used a Bazzil Bling Card for the base card. Rose patterned vellum along the bottom with a 'Congratulations' sticker greeting and a wavy clear glitter sticker border along the top edge of the vellum. For the topper I used my first ever inchie which I created for the Black and White theme (I originally posted here) over at Craftmad. I covered the inchie in a piece of sheer material which has gold flecks through it. Layered in onto Gold jak paper and rose patterned vellum.

After the card making I had some breakfast. Computer still wouldn't let me online to see what everyone had created so I decided it was a beautiful day and headed outside to tidy up four of our gardens. Totally enjoyed it. The photos below were taken by my 13yo daughter......her version of gardening. :-)

This photo shows an orchid that has decided to grow in one of our bottlebrush trees. Don't you love surprises in nature.

Orchid up close.

Bottlebrush flower up close. Beautiful...the lorikeets, honey eaters and Cairns Birdwing butterflies were totally enjoying them.

My daughter found a friend..... not!!!

Had to share this as Scruff is once again too cute.....this is his version of gardening.....running around like a mad chook.

Craftmad August Sewing Swap

I am a bit late posting today as my computer decided that I should not be online first thing this morning. grrrrr! Maybe it was right as I ended up creating a wedding card and tidying up four of my gardens before it got too hot.

This is my cushion cover for my partner in the Craftmad Sewing swap for August. All except the black and white material I had received from other Craftmad members when we were doing a fat quarter swap. I added three of my crochet flowers to finish off the cover.

Creating a Hyperlink

Craft_Princess asked me how do I put a hyperlink in my posts. So I thought I would share a link on how to do it here. I was going to right it out here but I can not figure how to show you the code with out it turning into a link.....lol.

So if you Click Here you will find a great explanation on how to do this.

If you have any problems please ask away and I will try to answer or I will find someone who can answer.

Just remember to type the HTML code exactly as they have without any extra spaces, don't forget the equal signs or quote signs.....because it just won't work. Been there done that. Have fun!!!!

Two wonderful awards - Thanks

Thanks so much for your kind words and this wonderful award Cathy. I really do appreciate it.

I am passing this award on to five blog owners that I find very inspiring:

1. Jak Heath of Crafters Kitchen. Jak always creates beautiful cards and shares some wonderful tips from time to time and freebie downloads.

2. Claudia Rose of Pretty Pressings. Claudia does the most amazing colouring in and always amazes me at how many embellishments she can add to a card.

3. Jeanette of Happy Thoughts & Inkspots. Jeanette another talented person who creates beautiful cards. Most of her cards I would say are Simply Elegant.

4. Ruth of A Passion for Cards. Ruth has created a wonderful range of stamps is such a clever artist quite often drawing her own images on her cards.

5. Nellie of Nellie's Needles. This lady amazes me at what she can create from scraps of material. They are works of art (and love).

Thank you so much for this lovely award Laura. I really appreciate you coming to visit my blog and your wonderful comments. I also love visiting your blog Mi Sello Personal.

Ok, the rules with this award is to list five things that you like to do in a day and pass the award on to five friends.

Things I like to do each day:

1. Wake up and have my cuppa tea before everyone else wakes up.

2. Catch up with all my internet friends and see what they have been creating.

3. Walk the dog and see what is happening outside.

4. Chat with the kids at the end of their school day and hear what they have been up too.

5. Sit back and relax at the end of the day with hubby when the kids have headed off to their bedrooms.

Five friends in no particular order:

1. Cheryl of My Cardmaking Haven. Thanks for visiting often and leaving lovely and often helpful comments. I have been inspired by lots of ideas you have posted on your blog....e.g. nestie TV characters.
2. Cathy of Cathy's Creative Corner. Who often comes to visit with beautiful and positive comments. Another great blog to visit especially for the cuttlebug embossing folder uses. Lately to see Cathy's amazing colouring of images.

3. Nilla of Live it - Scrap it! Nilla is always creating beautiful cards even when she was on holidays in Sweden. Thanks Nilla for always visiting and checking out my blog and leaving such lovely comments.

4. Craft Princess of All Things Crafty! A lady who has just joined blogland and sharing her card creations also any candy that she runs into.

5. Angie of Handmade by Lilacanglia. Who creates an amazing amount of cards and other papercraft creations in one day. Thanks Angie for taking time to visit my blog and offer tips along the way.

How do you store your Nesties?

Mine are still in their clear plastic container they came in with a couple of strips of double sided tape for them to cling on to. The reason I ask this question as I was blog hopping again and discovered this wonderful idea on Die Cuts R Us blog. The clever lady over there has used a small binder with sheets of magnetic paper attached to chipboard for each page. The nestie just sticks to the magnet....so neat and easy to carry with you.

I only have two sets at the moment but I think this will be a growing collection. So...... I am thinking I might buy a cheap CD holder and maybe a magnetic strip to put in each sleeve. Does anyone know where you can buy magnetic paper (in Australia if possible)?

TV characters made from Nestabilities

Aren't these the cutest. I have made them up for a little boy that hopefully will know who they are. Not sure what toddlers watch on tele these days. I spied these characters over on Cheryl's blog - My Cardmaking Haven. Then spied them on this blog - Stamping Designs by Heather. So just had to try them. I used my Stamping Up card and Spellbinder Scalloped edged and plain circle Nestabilities. The eyes have been created using the smallest nestie circle for the white and a normal hole punch for the black.

P.S. I have started up a new blog that I will post all my Craftmad creations on. http://merrymade.craftmad.com.au/blogs/

Butterfly and Male Inchies

Finally, I have caught up with the Inchie weekly challenges I have been setting over at Craftmad. The butterfly inchie I sort of had a plan from the start. I really love the clear butterfly stickers I get from the the Sticker Store. I always stick a butterfly to what I am creating and then another to coloured paper which I cut out and layer on top of the first butterfly sticker. The flower stickers I was lucky enough to receive in a Candy giveaway when I first started blogging.

Now the male theme for inchies really was stumping me until I discovered the background paper. Then I had fun cutting out the little sailing boats. The top two boats sails are using marbled paper I created ages ago. The marbled paper on the right was created using shaving foam and food colouring. The other marbled paper was created with marbling paints.

I have been enjoying all the challenges lately as I am finally getting use some of my stash that 'one day it will be handy'.

Craftmad Merrymade

Happy Puppy

Just had to share......the last two days I keep an eye on Scruff when out in the yard and then my attention lapses for a split second and he is gone. He has had fun because he comes back smiling and very pleased with himself. Covered in seeds. Yesterday he had a bath, today a comb, and tomorrow he is just not going out of the house. I must admit though his smile is just beautiful.

Blue Inchies

Fingers crossed today I will be creating a few Inchies. I started a weekly challenge over at Craftmad and I am three behind. Pretty sad when the challengee can't keep up with her own challenges. So this is the blue challenge and I can't believe I was so lucky to find these baby stickers in my stash. I printed the letters out from the computer. Off to do Male and Butterflies. Might even get a head start on next weeks challenge.

An Award from Laura at Mi Sello Personal

Morning everyone, I have received this cute and cheery award from Laura over at Mi Sello Personal. Thanks so much Laura for thinking of me.

Laura, if you happen to read this it was the words on top of this award that I was wondering if you could tell me what they are in English. Thanks again. :-)

Kellie's Sketch #2, Magnolia Down Under Challenge #20, Crafty Creations #29

If you click on the picture you can see the bubbles much better.

Thought I would try a challenge today and ended up doing two and now have a card for my Dad for Father's Day. Brilliant.

I made this card using Kellie Winnell's Sketch #2 turned on it's side and the theme to the Magnolia Down Under Challenge #20. Which is a Father's Day card using a least one Magnolia Stamp.

I used SU Not Quite Navy for the base card. Found some paper with bubbles or circles all over it, a strip of SU Really Rust. Then I used my nesties to cut out the circles and the scalloped edged circle. Stamped DAD using some stamps I picked up ages ago from the $2 shop. Coloured in the Magnolia Robin with my aqua pen and water colouring pencils. Made a little tag up for the bird to hold saying that Dad is my hero. Just had a thought with the tag I may be able to scrape this into another challenge...how cool! It may be tiny but it is a tag with a huge saying. So I am going to put it in at Crafty Creations Challenge #29.

Happy Thirteenth Birthday

This card is for my friends son who turns '13' tomorrow. I have used black leather craft card as the base card. Then using my circle and scalloped edged nesties I cut out circles stamped using Stampin Up stamps. Also used a Happy Birthday sticker which I have coloured with black permanent marker to match. To finish off I added three $1.00 on top of embossed paper circles.

This is what the card will look like when the coins are removed.

Here is the remaining money of the $13.00 for each year. I spied a little pocket like this when googling.

Selling Cards????

Morning everyone, sorry no photos this morning as my daughter is keeping me too busy to get to the craft desk. Yesterday was school athletics followed by Touch Footy at night time. Today it's setting up and working in the kitchen for the Guides Cent Sale. This is our biggest fundraiser for the year...huge day but everyone has a good time.

I had a question from Donna in Kansas and was wondering if anyone visiting could help out with ideas. If you could just post a comment with you ideas that would be wonderful. Thanks so much.

Donna enjoys creating cards as I am now aware by blogging that lots of people in this world love to do. Donna was wondering how to go about selling cards?

For me....I have had success on eBay but nothing to live off. Enough to cover the costs of the materials that went into the cards, not the time. That makes me happy though because then I can go out and buy more materials and start all over again. :-) I have tried markets and they are a bit hit and miss I think. Just depends on the weather and the people that wander on through. Our last lot of markets were brilliant and now I am keen to try again. Our (myself and two friends) first three tries were a bit disappointing with us selling about two cards each. I also sell my cards at Craft Auctions which has free listings. But I find it a bit like the markets...lots of people looking and then going home and creating the ideas themselves. Hey!, I am guilty of that myself. Another place I have sold cards is in a friends small bookshop. I see a lot of people use Etsy!

So any tips for Donna or me for that matter much appreciated.

Nestablities Circle Card with 3D Paper Tole

I have made this card for a friend who isn't feeling too well. Hoping to brighten her day for just a little bit at least. I have used my scalloped edge and plain circle nesties, the Swiss Dots cuttlebug embossing folder and Stamping Up card. The 3D paper tole is from Blue Edge crafts which my wonderful Mum cut out and layered and then gave back to me. Isn't she brilliant.

Father's Day Cards

Father's Day is coming up in September for us here in Australia. So I thought I would get to and make some cards to sell. I had fun with my circle nesties on these cards. I used black leather craft card as the base card. Added a sticker greeting. I have a collection of pictures cut from magazines that my Mum gave to me when my kids were toddlers. They are now 13 and 15 years old. This collection of pictures I think was happening when my younger brother was at home to help with his school projects. See, keep things long enough and you will find a use for them. So I found pictures I liked and cut them out with a nestie. Then I went through my Stamping Up card collections and found some coordinating colours that matched and cut them out with the nesties. Some of the circles I inked around the edges. Enjoy!

Let's Hear It For The Boys - Latest Issue of Craftmad Journal

It's here the latest Craftmad Journal. This issue of the Craftmad Journal is male themed....just in time for Father's Day in Australia. There are wonderful cards and project ideas. I love the games box and the business card holder. Also partial to the Cricket Diorama card as I created that. :-) It is 4.9mb but a great read in the 22 pages.

Oz-sometstamps sketch #83, a prize and an award.

I received this lovely award from the amazing Laura over at Mi Sello Personal. Thanks so much for thinking of my Laura. The card below is one of Laura's wonderful creations that she creates from scratch. Check out the detail in the people and the certicates on the wall. Amazing!

Yesterday, I had just sat my crafting table ready to create a card for my Craftmad Swap partner. We are swapping two cards with inchies on them. I had searched and found a sketch to help me out and was just choosing papers when........ In drove the post lady with my prize from Jamie over at Crafty Creations Challenges. Aren't all the papers lovely and the frames on top are bling which I have never had before. Thanks so much Jamie.

This is the sketch I found over at Oz-sometamps Monday Card Sketch #83.

This the card. I had the birthday inchies ready to go. I saw this paper in the pack I recieved and it reminded me of the cuttlebug embossing folder I had, so that is how the card came together. I used SU Night of Navy for the base card. The paper and the topping backing card came from the pack I had won which was 'My Reflections' Tinkerin. I embossed with the Cuttlebug embossing folder Bloom Dots and added a gold sticker border. Inchies were cut from a Cornflakes packet and covered in yellow paper. I then added scraps of paper for presents and embroidery thread for ribbon.

Wildflower Waterfall Card

Hi there, I went missing in action yesterday. I had to head into town (Cairns) to run a few errands for everyone. Today a bit of gardening has been getting done but the weather is warming up right now so time to stay indoors for a little while. Thought I would have another go at a Waterfall Card...again with the Wildflowers. I think they are so pretty and would love a garden full of them.

This time too, I have a second photo to hopefully show how the waterfall card works. When you pull the ribbon this flips the top three images up and reveals the 'Best Wishes' tab below. Have a wonderful day everyone.

Don't you love that.....clicked on the spellchecker and it came back with no mistakes. :-)
Lucky they don't have a grammer checker.......

Fun day at the Markets

Finally a markets that we came away from feeling satisfied. Yes, we sold more than one card each....lol. We always have a lot of lookers but not many buyers but yesterday they were in a nice mood. I must admit I am guilty of just looking and sucking up ideas and going home to create. We set up at 7am and finished at 5pm. Then there was Grand Parade of about ten floats....not huge but because they are all locals on the back of trucks fun to stand and wave to everyone you know. Then we had something to eat and hung around for the fireworks at 8.30pm.....a brilliant show. I haven't sat and watched fireworks since the kids were toddlers...so much fun to watch the colours erupt in the sky. Kids enjoyed them too. My head is still spinning as my daughters Guide unit were operating a small kids merry-go-round there. I volunteered for a couple of stints and after operating the merry-go-round for about a half hour each time ended up with a sea sick stomach. My head today, feels like I have been out in the boat on the reef all day. Don't think I will be creating cards this morning. Have a great Sunday everyone.

Gone to the markets

Morning everyone! Won't be in today as I am off to the markets at the 50th Annual Pyramid Race. It should be a long fun day. Hubby may race in the bike race at the start and then my friend and her hubby are racing up and down the Pyramid....mad mad people. Then for the first time as the weather has been really lovely we plan on hanging around for the fireworks and the parade at the end of the day. So I may not be in until Monday as Sunday may be a recovery day. Although, I will return.

Happy Birthday Butterfly Wibbly Wobble Card

Eileen from over at Ikki's Cuttlebug Cupboard suggested I have a try of her Wibbly Wobbly Card for the market stall. So I for the first attempt I thought I would try it out on my friends daughters birthday card.

This is such a fun card....shame I don't have a video to show you the butterfly moving backwards and forwards. I have used SU card and the Cuttlebug embossing folder 'Bloom Dots'. Some pretty pink wire that I have had for a while which I rolled into a spring and then flatten. This is then sandwiched in between to Nestie circles which I have decorated with butterflies. The other end of the wire is overhooked on the background and stuck between the background and the base card. I finished off with some flower letter stickers and a silver border sticker.

Festive Frolics Fan Fold Flower

I was looking at different blogs this morning and saw a pretty card here at 'Mainly Flowers' created by Joanne. I just had to try the flower out and decided to 'case' the card as well. I think I may have found a Christmas card to use. All the papers are Stamping Up. Above the red strip is a Letraset rub on 'Festive Frolics'. I used my nesties...brilliant things. The flower is a 30cm x 3cm strip of paper which has been fan folded and then trimmed along the edge with fancy scissors.

Papertake Weekly Challenge

I found Papertake Weekly Challenge....Dawny's Sketch #21 this morning and thought I would give it a try. I used SU Bashful Blue for the base card and then used SU papers in Certainly Celery and Almost Amethyst. A strip of SU Lavender Lace down the centre. I machine stitched around all the edges which I liked at the time. Now I look at the photo I wished I done a couple more borders. Live and learn! I layered the image on SU Pretty in Pink. I received this image in a swap over at Craftmad....isn't it pretty. Sorry I don't know the name but if anyone does I would love to know. Thanks. I coloured the image with my aqua pen and SU Soft Subtles inkspots. The saying is a SU stamp. And the eyelets across the top I used my friends crop-a-dile that she has lent me for a play. I thing that may just go to the top of my Christmas list. They making setting eyelets so easy.

These are my crocheted flowers all packaged up and ready for the stall on Saturday.

I received this bright and cheery award from Cheryl over at My Cardmaking Haven. Thanks so much Cheryl for thinking of me....I always love seeing your wonderful creations. Very inspiring.

My Bamboo is Buzzing and Flowers are out.

Please click on the photos to see a larger image.......sorry I forgot to change the size thingy.

This is the reason my camera came out to the garden with me. I spied it under the ferns...I love little surprises like this when gardening. Aren't orchids amazing just growing all by themselves and then sharing a wonderful flower.

This is where I have been working at raking up leaves and other bits and pieces. This is our bamboo a clumping variety. Our bamboo is literally humming at the moment which I have not known it to do before. I didn't really think of bamboo having a flower but it is in full bloom and the bees are busy.

This feather part of the bamboo is the flower...nothing spectacular but the bees are loving it.

If you squint and stand on one leg you can see a bee near the arrow. Tried to get more but me and the camera are not that good.

Since I had the camera out I thought I would share some other flowers around the house. We have two and a bit more weeks before it is Spring here but it always tends to arrive at this time of year. A bit confusing actually. The flowers are out for Spring....the weather feels like it is on the edge of Summer and the leaves are falling like you see in Autumn in other parts of the world. This is one of our bottlebrush trees which the bees are also loving but they have to share this with honey eaters and lorikeets.

This is one of my ground orchids with a new azalea in the background.