MerryMade Crafts etc ...

Hi everyone, I really love this card I am sharing with you today.  Shame it is for such a sad occasion.  My pen pal from school, father passed away just recently. I have used Stampin Up card and a Stampin Up stamp set called Organic Grace.  I so love the way the flowers came out.  I printed the greeting off the computer and added the crossgrain white ribbon bow. Short and sweet today as I am busy getting my day and stash organised for a cardmaking weekend with two of my friends.  Yes, we are taking ourselves off this afternoon to a place called Kurrimine Beach with no kids or hubbies.  We will be cardmaking all weekend which some of my other friends thought was odd and sounded like work.  I reminded them how much I enjoy playing with paper and they thought fair enough. So have a great weekend everyone and see you Monday.

This month for our sewing swap over at Craftmad we are making Breast Cancer Bags to be donated to Breast Cancer Clinics in hospitals around Australia. The reason for these bags are that currently patients who have had a mastectomy and are sent home with drains in situ. Usually they are discharged with two drainage bottles in a hospital pillow slip . So this would make life more pleasant for the ladies by having these bags to carry the drainage bottles in. They are often in use for 2 - 3 months, and as there is about 3 of these operations per week. The pattern we have used came from the Online Quilt Magazine which you can subscribe to for free and receive the pattern to help out too.  Or email me. I am hoping that these bags are not too bright and standoutish.  When I was cutting the first bag out I realised that I had enough to material left to cut another two bags...so three all up.  These two bags I have completed and the spotted flowers just called out for a ...

Hi everyone, this card I have created for Elise.....a lady I do not know but is need of a few smiles.  Cheryl over at My Cardmaking Haven has a post telling us how Elise has just been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. I can only imagine the impact on her life and her families.  So if the least I can do is send a card to help her through.... I there. To create this card I have used this beautiful flower image from Cardmadfairy's Creations.   I used my water colour pencils added some pearly bling for the centres.  The background paper is from a magazine giveaway.  I have rounded the corners on the background paper instead of the card which I think is very effective.  A tip I learnt from Denise over at Stamping Vacation . I then added this beautiful lace from Scrap Therapy , a white ribbon and a Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon that had been punched out for me.  I used a metallic alphabet rub-on to spell out the word 'Smile' which is what I hope the car...

Good morning everyone on this lovely sunny Tuesday.  Today I have the card I made for the Craftmad October Card Swap .   We had to create one card using Pinks and/or Purples to send to our partner.  Along with the card we had to send all the elements that went to make up this card.  So in November our partner creates a card using the same materials and returns to their partner.  I can't wait to see the different versions that are created. I dug through my Stampin up design papers and card to create this card.  Sort of cheating as I know using Stampin Up everything will match.  I have used cream paper flowers with retro flowers I punched from design papers.  Two layers of ribbon across the centre.  A wonderful white greeting sticker from Sticker Store .  I also created this charm using a tip that I spied somewhere in blog land.  I have always had troubles attaching charms.  The tip is to add extra links and also a clasp at th...

Morning everyone, the sun is shining today and everything is so beautiful and green since all our rain in the past week.  A terrific start to the week. Today I have card that I have made for the Weekly Inspiration Challenge over at Craftmad .  This week we are to draw our inspiration from the Sewing Room.  Sew.. :-) I dug out my Stamping Dragon Design  digital images and coloured them in for this card.  I used my watercolour pencils, aquabrush and metallic pens. Then did some faux stitching around the edge of each image.  Found some lovely scrap paper that reminded me of fabrics.  Printed out the words Thanks and Much and punched them out with my Stampin Up oval punch. I attached them with 3D foam. Lastly, I printed out the word 'Sew' and with a needle made holes along the outline of the letters then sewed with my pink embroidery thread. Now this next photo was on my camera and I just have to share as it is very Halloweeny (my word) to me.  I ...

A blog I follow created by Linby ( Craft Linby) has been posting about this challenge and I thought it would be fun to enter.  It is called Flashback Friday and the idea of the challenge is to go in search through your blog posts to find a creation that suits the challenge.  So yes, you and everyone gets to revisit old creations.  This challenge asks for your first ever Christmas card that you blogged about.  Well I had these three cards in my original post which you can find here  back at 20th November, 2008.  Actually, seeing these cards again inspires me to dig out my holly embossing folder for another play. Yes, there are prize up for grabs on this challenge too.  I think it runs an entire month. One thing you must remember though you can't link to your original post you must repost your creations.

I have joined a new challenge over at Stamping Vacation called Sticky Situation ....yes it's all about using stickers, so right up my alley.  This months theme is to use a Pumpkin Sticker.  Now this was tricky for me as I live in Australia, I just don't do Halloween or Thanksgiving.  So pumpkin stickers is not something I have.  Luckily, we went to visit a friend who is also cardmaker over the school holidays and she has a stash of Halloween stuff as she has grandkids living in America.  She kindly let me have this wonderful pumpkin sticker. A nice easy card.  I started with a white BE card then a layers of textured card from my DCWV Adhesive mat stack - Neutrals.  I dug out a 'Happy Halloween' stamp that I have won in a blog candy at one stage (pretty sure it was from Angie).   I stamped the words all over the green card to create the background I needed.  Finished with a yellow ribbon. Now I am sure that you have a better collection of ...

Morning everyone, this was a fun challenge.  This card is for the  Fountain of Youth Challenge  over at  Stamping Vacation .  Denise, has us remembering kite flying during our younger years and has asked for a creation that includes a kite.  I didn't have any kite stamps so headed off to Google.  I found some wonderful kite instructions which I resized and printed out on blue card to create the background for my card.  Next I cut out the kite shape from my scrap papers added a tail of kitchen string and scrap bits of ribbon knotted at end.  Once again used the computer to print out my greeting which I have attached with 3D foam. Now it is your turn. .....I would love to see what creations you can come up with.  Be sure to enter them over at Stamping Vacation as I  will come and visit you all.  As if that is not enough...a visit from me......lol.....  there is a monthly prize on offer.    Yes, the prize for Oc...

I think 50 is the 'in' age as this is the third 50th card I have made in about four months. :-)  I think I can be patient and wait though before I reach that number. Yes, I think this may be the end of my Joy Fold card series for a couple of days.  This card is all about the paper which sadly is the last of my stash of this  Heather Bailey  design paper.  I have used it down to the last little piece as it is so pretty. The topper on the card I printed out a '50' on my computer and added lots of bling and these lovely silver corner stickers from Sticker Store . This card my daughter created for one of her friends 14th birthday.  She has used the fun 'Dudley with a balloon' image that I acquired as a freebie from Pollycraft .  Sorry he is not a freebie anymore but they still have a couple of digi's on offer. My daughter coloured him in with watercolour pencils and finished with touches of Kindy Glitz which in this photo are not dry yet.  She ha...

I made this card for my SIL who's birthday was on the weekend, she loves purple and cats.  Yes, I am having a phase of Joy Fold cards at the moment.  These so much fun and a great way to use a whole heap of patterned paper.  The paper I have used this time is from Kaiser Craft - Be Mine - Besotted.  Also some bazzill card.  The left purple panel I have run through my 'Happy Birthday' embossing folder.  The inside purple panel I used one of my daughters old stamp pens.  The paw print was perfect.  This wonderful cat image (freebie) I found over at Dawn's blog ages ago and finally found the right card for it.  I have coloured it with my Aquamarkers and added some Kindy Glitz.  I pinpricked around the edge of the topper and joined it with black lines for faux stitching.  Cut a circle of black card and wrapped it in black thread which I thread through the last two holes.  So now the cat has a ball of wool to play with. I would ...

Here is a card I made for my friends son who turned '9' last Wednesday.  My friend was telling me how her son was saying he really liked my cards.....I thought she was being very polite. :-)  When I gave her son the card and pressie it was the card that was opened first and he just loved it.  He thought it was very funny and went back to looking at it after he had opened his present.  Yes, I am still smiling. What better praise is there than a nine year old boy admiring your card. :-) I started with a white BE card and then layered it with Stampin Up Taken with Teal.  Found this wonderful paper in my stash that has come from a magazine at some stage. Printed out the greeting on the computer and used my new punches from Stamping Up - oval and scalloped edged oval.  Finished with some brown crossgrain ribbon.  The image is so much fun....that cat is such a tease.  It is from Michelle's Scrapbooking & More and is a Pixie Cottage image called...

Good morning everyone, I have a few photos to share with you today.  Firstly, the wonderful JOY Fold card that I really enJOYed making for my friend Joy's birthday.  I have used lots of Stampin Up Design papers - sorry don't know the names.  Also embossed with my Victoria embossing folder and the inside with my 'With Love' border embossing folder.  The image is from CardMadfairy's Creations .....and was so much fun to colour with my Promarkers.  Add the finishing touch of bling across the petals of the flower. I wasn't too imaginative with my friends present this year and ended up with Scratchies and Chocolates but who doesn't like a chocolate. So I needed something special to hide the Scratchies in so I remembered the Totally Tote Bag that Huggies Crafts had shared with in her album over at Craftmad ....so much better than my attempt be sure to check it out. Anyways, it is a pattern from Splitcoast Stampers and I tried to make it match the card.  Rea...

The lovely Cathy over at Cathy's Creative Corner  had a birthday recently.  Here is the card that I had fun making for her.  I added lots of bling as I know she enjoys glitter and sparkles when making her cards. I used a white BE card  then a layer of SU Bordering Blue which I ran through the Victoria embossing folder.  Added a strip of  SU Perfect Plum also run through an embossing folder - Swiss Dots.  Printed out the '50' on my computer and added lots of bling.  Layered it up with matching SU Ballet Blue.  I also punched out some medium sized retro flowers form the SU Ballet Blue and topped them with these lovely purple paper roses that someone was nice enough to send to me.  Finished with this beautiful lace I found at Scrap Therapy .

Now that I have all the male cards out of my system for just a little while.....I know I have one more to make.  I have gone very girly today.   This easel card is for my nieces birthday at the end of this month.  I just had to use the lovely Sparkle and Sprinkle image - Dani's Swing again. I have used my watercolour pencils and Promarkers to colour her in.  Cut her our with my spellbinders.  I can't think what they call the technique but I have cut around the flower so that it appears outside of the spellbinder circle. I have added 3D foam behind the flower so that it does pop out.  I added some lovely pink flower buttons to the top of her swing.  Dug into my stash and found these wonderful papers that have come free from a magazine at some stage.  A strip of Bazzill Bling  which I topped with some bling. The greeting is a lovely huge silver 'Happy Birthday' sticker from Sticker Store .  The inside of the easel card, I used more str...

Three male cards in a row...... such a novelty as they are really not my strong point at all.  This card, however, was a must as it was for my little baby brother's birthday last Sunday. What a date that was as he was born '77 and turned 33 on 10.10.10 aren't they great numbers. :-) I did go in search for a funny digital image to do a card for him but just not find one that suited.  So spied this layout in my search and thought I would just keep it simple or 'boring' as my daughter says. lol  So started with the normal white BE card  blank and then found this wonderful paper collection. Sorry can't remember the name but I do remember that it was my first ever blog candy I won which was from Cardmaking Galore .  So used three different pieces for the front then printed out my brother's initial and layered it up in matching paper.  Finished with the 'happy birthday' rub-on.  Wishing you all a terrific Tuesday.

I just had to show you one of the images I purchased using a certificate I won from Denise over at Stamping Vacation when we did the blog hop.  Yes, the Dream Team had a little challenge too in the background and I was lucky enough to win a $25.00 gift certificate to Michelle's Scrapbooking and More . I opted for some Digital Images to save on the hassles of posting to Australia.  So I now have 8 new Pixie Cottage Digital Stamps in my collection. :-)  Today I have used Mike on Trike by Artish . Isn't he cute. To start this card I have used the sketch from this months Sketch Therapy challenge at Stamping Vacation . The colours were decided by the Weekly Inspiration Challenge over at Craftmad which is to use Primary Colours (Red, Blue and Yellow). I started with a white BE card  then started digging through my stash.  The blue background paper I have had for ages and no idea where it has come from.  I used my Herringbone embossing folder on the red card. C...

Hi a bit late with my post today.  I had this card already to go this morning but of course the battery in my camera had run out of charge.  This meant I had no time to photograph before leaving this morning. I am really happy with card as it has caught me up with so many things.  Firstly, I had fallen behind in the Weekly Inspiration Challenges over at Craftmad .   This is really sad as I am the one that sets them.  lol  So I have caught up on the Transport, Use a Ribbon and something starting with 'L' ... Layers Challenges.  I have also been wanting to use this love sailing boat Digi Image that I won from Ruth over at Passion for Stamps .   So much fun.  My daughter coloured one up for her Father's Day card . I am also entering this card into the Southern Girls challenge #3 which asks that you use three or more layers of patterned paper.  This I have done and is probably two more than I normally use. :-)  But really love the ...

Hi everyone, I have a card here that I made for my cousin's birthday yesterday.  I just hope it was not too girly for her.  I just had to use my new stamp it is so pretty.  It is a Sparkle and Sprinkle  - Dani's Swing .  So I inked her up with my brown Staz-on ink and then coloured her in with my water colour pencils and aquabrush.  Layered the image up on the pink and green card.  The lovely flower background paper is from a pack called Something Special ...such pretty papers.  I made up a hat pin using beads I found in my stash and the lovely white organza ribbon.  Punched out the layered ovals and added the white Happy Birthday greeting sticker .  Finished with three paper flowers with orange circles punch for the centres. Take care and have a great Thursday. I would like to enter this card into the following challenges. Stamp Something - Celebrate ends 8th October Crafty Calendar Challenge - 1st Birthday Challenge ends 4th Novem...

Morning everyone, these cards are all my Mum's creations.  Yes, she has been my inspiration for crafting for a very very long time. :-) Mum decided to create and collect a few of her left over cards to send off to the Aussie Troops serving overseas so they can send them home at Xmas.   Go here for more details. The thing I admire most about Mum's creations is the fact she recycles so much.  All of her cards are created using items that you receive free with crafting magazines, or shapes punched from magazines.  Mum always puts a little picture on the back of her cards too....I never think to do this.  Oh, and the insides all have a little computer printed verse.  The rear of the cards are either stickers or pictures cut from magazines or catalogues. Have a wonderful Wednesday.......my plan is to do a bit if creating today.  I have been so busy booking a holiday in this last week I haven't been near the craft desk at all. :-0  Withdrawals bi...

Morning everyone,  I was so ultra busy yesterday.  Last day of school holidays and madly rushing around with other errands I didn't get a chance to post. However, I am back today with my Design Team card for the Build a Sketch Challenge over at Stamping Vacation.  This is such a fun challenge where you can design you own sketches.  This month Denise has introduced us to piece number #15.  So, there are #15 different shapes that are listed and each month Denise gives us five of those pieces to use.  This month we can use pieces numbered 1, 2, 11, 12, and the new piece 15.  My first photo shows you the sketch I came up with using those pieces and the second picture the card I came up with using that sketch.  So be sure to share your creation over at Stamping Vacation as I so would love to see it and you will go into the monthly draw for a $15.00 voucher to Stamping Dragon Designs. For my card I started with a blank white pre-scored card . ...

Hi everyone, looks like a wet weekend for us.  Just have to find something inside to do, maybe near the crafting desk. :-) Today I have my Stamping Vacation Design Team card to share with you.  This is for a very fun challenge called Pick Three .  Denise gives us a list of 10 or so items to use on a card and we can pick three.  Can't wait to see your creation.  All entries go into the monthly draw to win a $15.00 gift certificate from Stamping Dragon Designs The list:  - any embossing powder,  Anything with a sunflower,  Cherry paper,  mini bag or envelope,  anything calico ,  something scary,  black ribbon,  torn edge ,  any diecut . I used: Anything Calico, Torn Edge, Any Diecut I had another reason for creating this card too. This is my second card for the September Card Swap over at Craftmad ...the theme was acetate.  So I have started with an acetate base.  Then I have coloured this fantastic ima...

Morning everyone!  Well we survived Thursday with no power and two teenagers on school holidays. lol  The power was off at 8.15am and back on about 1.45pm.  Easy solved though, teenage son goes off bike (bmx) riding with his mates.  Teenage daughter and I did a painting project then visited my parents. Who happen to be looking after my young nieces (6yo and 4yo) and little nephew (11months).  So it was great to catch up with them.....also played on Mum's and Dad's Wii.  Yes, my arm is sore today. Today I have a Design Team card for the Lots of Paper Challenge over at Stamping Vacation .   For the challenge this month Denise has asked us to use paper with more than one leaf.   The best thing about this challenge is that I am sifting through all my papers finding the right piece.  Along the way find lots of papers I have forgotten I own.   I would so love to see your take on this challenge. I finally found this lovely piece o...