State your State Challenge

Morning all....another card to put in my card folder for my MIL.

A nice simple one this time that I will be entering into the State your State Challenge over at Stamping Vacation.

This challenge, Denise names a US state and then gives a suggested list of things that represent that state for you to use on your card.  I chose the butterfly.

I started with a white gloss card base.  Then a strip of Stampin Up design paper which I ran my scissors along the edge of to destress it and tore in a couple of places.  Next a strip of Stampin Up Really Rust.  To this I added three lovely flower stickers and had to add bling to their centres.  This stamped image I received in a swap over at Craftmad.  I coloured it up with my watercolour pencils and then topped with Dimensional Magic.  Finished the card with the 'Thank You' sticker from Sticker Store.

Remember only a couple days left to be able to go into the November Prize draw for Four (4) December Sneek Peak Christmas Stamp Sets from Mark's Finest Papers and ....... yes, and..... a $25.00 gift certificate from their store... (Mark's Finest Papers)

Whiff of Joy Card - Willow with Champagne

Another card for my card set to give to MIL at Christmas time.

I have used a Whiff of Joy Image that someone kindly stamped up for me.....this is Willow with Champagne.

I started with white gloss card for the base card then a layer of blue card which I ran through my Victoria embossing folder.  Rounded the two top corners.  Then a layer of Stampin Up design paper.  The image I coloured with my water colour pencils and aquabrush.  Out came the Kindy Glitz which I added to her dress to give that glittery effect.  I also used a gold pen on all the swirls on her dress.  Dimensional Magic was added to the glass of champagne.  I finished the image by rounding the corners and using one of my flourish stamps from my Stampin Up Priceless set I went around the edge of the image.  Finished the card with white ribbon and a bow.

SALE - Christmas Digital Stamps

Yes, Jenni over at Cardmadfairy Creations has really gone mad....  :-0

Jenni has reduced the price on all her Christmas Digital Stamp images to 0.50p each.

The owl above is one of those fun images.

Here is another.  Be sure to check out the Holly Tree which I haven't had a chance to play with yet but fun.

Click here for Inspiration

Snowbaby

Challenges and Prizes

Thought it was time for an update for the Stamping Vacation Challenge Blog.

There are a couple of prizes up for grabs and the closing dates are fast approaching.

This lovely card above is part of Denise's new game called Inspiration Tag.

The plan is that I have seen this card and take two or three elements of the card and create mine. 

Which I did and this is what have created.

See I took the homemade flower and the animal.

So TAG your it.

You are now to look at my card and take two to three elements and create your card.

Post about it on your blog and invite your followers to do the same with your card.

But the important bit....be sure to go to Stamping Vacation Inspiration Tag and link to your creation.

So that you are in the draw for a voucher $25.00 to the store of your choice.

You have until the 5th of December to enter.

****A little secret.....currently the odds of you winning are very very good.  Seven entries but only three eligible. ;-)

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Now the prize draw for November is approaching quickly.  Prize drawn 1st December.

This month a challenge entrant will be chosen randomly to win from MARK'S FINEST PAPERS our sponsor.  4 (yes, four) of the December Sneak Peek stamp sets and there will be a $25.00 gift certificate to  MARK'S FINEST PAPERS store as well! 

So here are a couple of challenges you may like to enter

Click the links for inspiration and extra information.

Here's the Challenges!

• Name That Card due Dec 27th! (Snowy Christmas Wishes)
• Clean and Simple due Dec 26th! (Use Kraft and Red card stock and a touch of lace)
• White Space due Dec 25th! (white card base, white die-cut with stipple edges)

Have You Tried due Dec 24th! (use ribbon as a candle)

• Occasion Oasis due Dec 23rd! (Christmas Morning)
• Watch This due Dec 22nd! (It's a Wonderful Life)
• Sticky Situation due Dec 21st! (Santa Hat)
• Fountain of Youth due Dec 20th! (Christmas Stocking)
• What a Guy due Dec 19th! (Masculine card with twine)
• For Your Amusement due Dec 18th! (En JOY for Holiday)
• Start Here due Dec 17! (red glitter)
• To Who? due Dec 16th! (to someone who needs prayer)
• Animal Applause due Dec 15th! (any animal that could have black and white on them)
• Extra! Extra! due Dec 14th! (The Mountain Between Us)
• Home Sweet Home due Dec 13th! (Swedish Style)
• No! No! Challenge due Dec 12th! (No traditional Fall colors)
• Monochromatic Creations due Dec 11th! (Reds)
• Embellish It due Dec 10th! (corner adornment)
• Special Month due Dec 9th! (Aviation, Child Safety, Good Nutrition, Model Railroad, Peanut Butter, National Adoption)
• Clear as Mud due Dec 8th! (Turkey)
• Very Vintage due Dec 7th! (Rose, Moss and/or Cream)
• Color Combo due Dec 6th! (Hunter Green and Rust)
• Inspiration Station due Dec 5th! (Tropical)
• Build a Sketch due Dec 4th! (sketch)
• When I Grow Up due Dec 3rd! (Farmers)
• Sketch Therapy due Dec 2nd! (sketch)
• PICK 3 for the month of November! (words from holiday song, orange ribbon, any button, tag, green paper, anything with a feather, image that starts with a T, popdot, corner punch)
• Lots of Paper due Nov 30! (Paper with snowflakes)
• Get the Music in You due Nov 29th! (Winter Wonderland)
• State Your State due Nov 28th! (Utah-Great Salt lake, Ute, Beehive, Cherry, Blue Spruce, Elk, Topaz)

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Still with me as there is still one more prize up for grabs.

We are offering a $20.00 gift certficate when we reach 300 Followers! The winner will be chosen from the Followers.

Stamping Vacation Challenge Blog

Gladioli (Gladdy) Card

Morning all.....it is a rainy dismal day here.  Thinking of my son and all the other year 11's on their last day of school for the year.  They are meant to be heading south to a place called Etty Bay... click here for a picture on a sunny day.  They are a bunch of teenagers, I am sure they will have fun.

Well I have moved away from the Christmas card theme at the moment although still have Christmas in mind.  I have decided to make my MIL a card folder with some cards in as part of her Christmas present this year.  So here is card number one.  I received this lovely Gladdy Image in a swap....pretty sure it was from Cathy.

I started with a white gloss card....then some Stampin Up design papers I won a little while ago.  Sorry don't know the name of the set.  I coloured the image with my blender pen and Stampin Up inkspots so that I could match the colours of the paper and card.  Cut out the image with my Spellbinders and added a gold sticker border.

The sun is trying to shine through....so maybe not that bad at the beach after all.

Before I go I have to let you know that I have come to the decision that I won't be in much for December.  Mojo seems to be waining, kids starting school holidays until end of January next year.  We have travel plans and best of all I will be catching up with my penpal of cough cough 30 plus years.  So a busy time.  I will post a couple more cards early next week but no promises after that I am sorry.  However, I will schedule my Design Team cards.

So the countdown is on....4 more days you will see me online until January. :-)

So wishing you all a very Merry Christmas....and a wonderful New Year.

Thanks for all your lovely comments throughout the year and I so have loved coming in every day to see what everyone has created.  I shall return. :-)

More Flippin Christmas

Morning everyone, well it's a soggy morning for us this morning.  I think it has been pouring down all night.  Our seasonal creek is flowing and this doesn't normally start until end of December early January.  Makes life cooler though until the sun comes out to suck all the rain back up and then life if very humid. Today, I have the remainder of my Flippin cards to share with you.  :-)

Thanks for everyones lovely comments yesterday.  Also thanks to Cathy and Annmaree for your suggestions of putting the greeting on the back of the card.  Thanks too to Aussie Loz for suggesting to turn it in to a bauble.  I like these ideas and I get to use the cut outs from the acetate windows.

Hope you enjoy these cards as much as I enjoyed making them.

Remember you can find these die cuts over at La Pashe.

I had the rub on that said 'Festive Frolics'.  Couldn't help but add it to this card with the added 'Santa's' rub-on.

I thought this sentiment was apt here as Santa is holding a cup of coffee in his hand.....I bet he drinks a lot of this on Christmas Eve.

Flippin Christmas

Hi everyone, this is what I have been busy with the last couple of days.  These are Flippin Christmas die cuts from La Pashe.  I was very lucky to win an entire set of these from the lovely Jak Heath but they arrived too close to Christmas and I only used two of them.  I love the characters in all of them and love the fact that they are all pre-cut and you just have to push them out of the sheets.  I am not a cutting out person.  The only minus for me is that the images are bigger than what I normally work with.  However, I think they they work well on these 14cm x 14cm white gloss card.  I cut the centres out of the front with my scalloped edged Spellbinder and then added acetate which I covered on the inside with a matching colour panel.  The fronts I added extra details in stickers and bling and an appropriate rub-on sentiment.  Inside I cut the matching background panel down to size so you can see this through the acetate.   Still not sure where I am going to write on these cards.   May have to be the back.  lol

Don't you love the dog snowman to the right.

Doesn't this scream.....eeeeewewwwww! Not sure who will be the receiver of this card yet.....someone with a good sense of humour.

See Mrs Claus is a crafter too.   I have added lots of sparkles to the front of this card....also Dimension Magic to her glasses.

This girl is too cute.  The Kindy Glitz was brought out to attack all the snow in this card.

Now if anyone has any suggestion on where I should write my christmas message to the recipients I would love to hear from you.  If you think of a little detail to add to the inside of the card too....I am all ears.  Thanks for visiting and looking and I love reading all the comments too.

How to tie a Bow.....

This morning in my inbox was a link to Stampeleinmaleins from my crafty friend Helen.  :-)  Sharing this wonderful blog full of tutorials and tips.   These lanterns are spectacular.  Be sure to scroll to the end of the tutorial to see what the DT have made.  Now I couldn't help but click to see what else was on this terrific blog and I discovered this.........

How to tie a bow using a fork.  I can normally tie pretty good bows but when I require little ones for cards they tend to get a bit fiddly.  I have had a plan of buying one of those little bow tying gadgets but now I think I can save that money for other crafting items. :=) I have a fork or two in my house.  Still have to try it out though but thought you all should know.

Stamping Vacation DT - Sticky Situation Challenge

Monday again, here is another Design Team card for Stamping Vacations Sticky Situation Challenge.

This month Denise has challenged us to use Santa Hat Stickers.  You have until the 21st December to enter....as many times as you like.  

**** Please note you can enter for an entire month.  However, if your entry falls between 21st November - 30th November you will be in the November prize draw.  If you enter between 1st December - 21st December you will go into the December prize draw.****

The prize drawn at the end of November is from MARK'S FINEST PAPERS our sponsor. They will be giving away 4 (four) of the December Sneak Peek stamp sets in addition there will be a $25.00 gift certificate to their store! The winner will be randomly chosen on December 1st! We will be showcasing their stamps throughout the month. 

I started with a white BE card then a layer of green handmade paper, topped with the fun green and white spotted paper.  I had a card scene in my head and googled but couldn't find just what I was looking for.  I  thought I would have a try at drawing something myself.  Sometimes I do this and it is just rubbish but I really enjoyed sketching this guy and colouring him in with my watercolour pencils and aquabrush.  I added a little Kindy Glitz to the furry bits.  He is meant to be a child (his face looks a bit old) trying on a real Santa outfit that is way too big for him......that is what was in my head.  So not a Mo Manning...  I found this wonderful Christmas present/box sticker in my collection which I could slide the Santa Hat stickers in underneath so they look like they are all falling out.  These wonderful Santa Hat stickers are from the Sticker Store....they are Silver Holographic Stickers. I added the red with my Sakura Pen.  Finished the card with this lovely rub-on saying.

In the EYES of children

We find the JOY of 

CHRISTMAS

In their HEARTS

we find it's MEANING

Have a wonderful Monday everyone. 

Stamping Vacation DT - Fountain of Youth Challenge

Morning everyone, here is another Design Team card for Stamping Vacations Fountain of Youth Challenge.

This months challenge is all about the Xmas Stocking.  You have until the 20th December to enter....as many times as you like.  

The prize drawn at the end of November is from MARK'S FINEST PAPERS our sponsor. They will be giving away 4 (four) of the December Sneak Peek stamp sets in addition there will be a $25.00 gift certificate to their store! The winner will be randomly chosen on December 1st! We will be showcasing their stamps throughout the month. 

I started with a white BE card then a layer of bright green paper.  Next this lovely glossy red patterned paper that I think has come from a crafting magazine.  Next I coloured Stamping Dragons wonderful fireplace digi image. I used my watercolour pencils and aquabrush.  Added these wonderful holographic stocking stickers from Sticker Store.  Backed this image with red paper which I cut along one edge with my decorative scissors and then punched random holes.  Finished with this terrific xmas rub-on and a touch of Kindy Glitz.  Oh can't forget the red square bling on the corners of the topper.

Gordonvale Now and Then

Just had to share this wonderful idea that someone told me about as he had posted a couple of photos of the Gordonvale area.  They have been entered into a project online run by ABC Open.  They ask you to grab a very old landscape photo and to go to that destination and match it up to the location now and take a photo.  That is a photo of your old photo framed my the area as it appears today.

Check out these great photos.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gordonvalehub/5181094582/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gordonvalehub/5180496317/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gordonvalehub/5181095222/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gordonvalehub/5181094916/

Ladybug Hugs

Hey everyone,  I made this fun card for the Weekly Inspiration Challenge over at Craftmad.  Yes, I set the theme after I learnt what Ladybug Larvae look like.... click here to see.  I also used the layout of the card that was set for last weeks Weekly Inspiration at Craftmad.

Started this with a BE white gloss card.  Found some lovely glossy red paper and this wonderful ladybug paper that I have had for ages waiting for the special card.  I ran some white card through my Swiss Dots embossing folder to add as a panel on the card.  Thought this green paper looked like a lovely leaf or grassy field.  I cut the edges with my Clever Cut paper trimmer using the wavy edge blade.  The greeting I printed out on the computer which I am tending to do more and more.  Why I haven't used the computer more in my card making I don't know.  The ladybug made it's way into my collection at some tome through a friend in a swap.  Isn't it so cute.  I used leftover pieces of black sticker to create the little trail.

Aspiring Creativity Giveaway

Be sure to check out Dana's giveaway over at Aspiring Creativity....it is just amazing.

This giveaway will end November 30th at 11:59pm MDT. Comments will be closed at that time. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced sometime on December 1st.

Craftmad November Card Swap

Remember this card?  This is the card I sent off for our October Card Swap at Craftmad.  This swap carried over to November.  As well as sending a card to our partner in October we had to send a matching set of bits and pieces that made up that card.  So that in November........

Our partner could return all the bits and pieces in their own card creation.   This has been so wonderful see what everyone has come up with when using the same material.  The card above is what my parnter 54Christie did with all the bits and pieces I sent her.   Isn't this just wonderful.  I love how one square is actually chipboard wrapped in the design paper which makes it sit out.  Such a wonderful layout.

This is the card that 54Christie sent me in October with all the matching bits and pieces.  Isn't it a stunning card.  I so love how she does the layouts to her cards.  If you would like to see more be sure to visit 54Christie's Gallery Album here.

This is the card I came up with using 54Christie's bits and pieces.  We were allowed add one extra item and I thought this image Rubber Romance fitted perfectly.  I am sure I received this from the lovely Stacie. I have coloured the image with my watercolour pencils and aquabrush.

Yes, it's an easel card.

Thought you might like to see this.  My daughter does Rangers (Guides) and they were busy making these last night to give to the kids in the children's ward at the hospital.   They are chuppa chop lollipops.  Isn't it such a fun idea.

Stamping Vacation - Inspiration Tag Game

I am a bit slow with this post.  I should have let you all know yesterday as that was the start of this game but having power off between 8.30am to 3.30pm sort of stops Internet time.

The game is called Inspiration Tag and it is new to Stamping Vacation.  

Denise uploaded a card at Stamping Vacation where she has tagged all her followers to play along and take that card and use two or three elements of the card as inspiration for their own card.

This new creation is posted on your very own blog with a post listing the two or three elements you used....in this post let all your followers know they have been tagged and a suggested list of elements they could use from your card for their own card. 

 Also link your creation over at Stamping Vacation to be in the running for the terrific prize of a $25.00 gift certificate to the store of YOUR choice.

A name will be randomly drawn from all the links for the Inspiration Tag Game at Stamping Vacation on the 5th December.

Now I am tagging all my followers.....please join in.....here is my card for you to choose two to three elements for your own creation and enter over at Stamping Vacation.  I chose to use Distressed edges, an animal and a homemade flower from Denise's card.

Suggestions of elements you could possibly use are distressed edges, homemade flower, robin image, paper with writing on it, red, etc.   Have fun.

I must tell you this cute little image came from the talented Ruth over at Passion for Stamps.   I have bought a couple of other images in her Christmas Digi images too.... hope to use them very soon.

Lastly......thank you for all your kind words yesterday.

La

Snow Globe Dasher

Tuesday morning already. 

I have two card to share with you today.

I have started both cards with my reliable pre-scored white cards from Blue Edge Crafts.

I added to my first card a lovely embossing that a friend has sent to me.  I added bling to some of the snowflakes and used a Stampin Up greeting.  Next I decided to stamp another Stampin Up Dasher and punch him out with a circle punch so that I could create a snow globe.  I have seen a few snow globes around the place so had to have a try.  I went over Dasher with Shimmer Paint with a touch of blue ink then covered the circle with Dimensional Magic.  I cut the brown base free hand and inked the edges with versa mark.  I am really happy with finish of this card.

Second card, I ran a piece of Stampin Up Old Olive through my Swiss Dots embossing folder and added to the front of the card.   Topped the card with a torn piece of Stampin Up Jolly Holiday design paper.  Stamped the greeting on the strip of white board and edged it with gold card that has been put through a border punch.  Used my fun Stampin Up Dasher stamp and added a gold strip sticker for a collar.

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Well today has a touch of sadness for me as yet another person around my age has passed away due to Cancer.  Nasty thing!  This lovely lady was only 47 yo and we were on the same Administrative Office TAFE course straight after school.  Of course we went our separate ways but we happen to end up with our families in this lovely Gordonvale area.  Sally was always a happy and positive person with a twinkle in her eyes -  a pleasure to know.  But life in the last few years did not deal her a nice hand.  She was returning home from a school athletics day a few years ago and somehow did not see the approaching train.  Sadly, the family lost a son that day and the other son is now in a wheelchair with learning difficulties.  However, the family went on, thanks hugely to the community support from their little town.  Sally went on to have two more children a boy and a girl.  Then, Sally, was diagnosed with cancer and although she put up a huge and brave battle she lost the fight last Tuesday 9th November.  Her funeral is today.

So my thoughts today are with her family and all the friends that have helped them through their very rough times.

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Learnt something this weekend

I was out gardening like I planned.  I managed to weed four of our eight gardens, so very happy.  Then yesterday arvo it started raining and is still again today.......so my plants are happy too.  I found my four watermelon plants in the weed/vegi garden.  A couple of them are flowering already.  So maybe some watermelons in the not too distant future.

As I was putting the hose away from having the sprinklers on ...... yes I brought the rain on by watering my garden. lol.  Anyways, I noticed these white fuzzy bugs and thinking they just had to be bad for plant I squished a few.  Well last night I decided to google and.............

Now I am a little sad as those white fuzzy things are apparently the larvae of a ladybird (ladybug, ladybeetle).  Big time oops!!!  I have never thought before how a ladybird came to be.  I think I assumed there were eggs laid they hatched as ladybirds.  If you would like to see a few more ladybirds and learn a little more here is a great site all about the ladybirds in the Brisbane area of Australia.

Psst......there is a new game coming soon

Hi everyone....just letting you know a couple of  little details.  There is a new game heading to Stamping Vacation.  Starts on the 15th November and a random winner drawn the 5th December.  Just click here for a few more details.  Hmmm....there is a prize involved too and a terrific one it is.  Denise is offering a $25.00 gift certificate to the store of your dreams.  Yes, you get to select where you shop.  How brilliant is that!