MerryMade Crafts etc ...

Morning everyone, hopefully a quick post today as we are loosing power at 8am and I can here the trucks going up and down the street in preparation.  :-0 I have had fun with my sewing machine creating these wonderful Fabric Tags for our September Sewing Swap over at Craftmad.   I have used a pattern from the Make It and Love It blog .  Actually I was very pleased with myself as it only took me a short time with the easy to read instructions.  11.30 am I was checking out the online instructions and at 3pm my two fabric tags were enveloped and driven 1/2 hour  and put in a mailbox for my partner. So I think I will be making a couple more of these real soon. Happy Thursday everyone.  Think of me with no power for maybe 6 hours and two teenagers on holidays in 30C temps.  

Morning everyone, thought I would share with you the fact that my friend Stacie from the US has just opened her own online store.  Yes, it's called Startistic Designs ............. great name hey!  Stacie is offering Candy to help celebrate the opening of her new shop. So be sure to visit and enter the candy here .

Yes, the huge list of winners is here.   Congratulations to all the lucky winners and thanks again for taking your time to visit all our blogs.  If you are a winner of my blog please send me an email if I have not contacted you yet.  Thanks. FINAL LIST OF WINNERS JOANNE GILCH of "Cardology Etc"  wins the  grand prize  of a gift certificate to the store of her choice!  Joanne visited every blog so she will receive a $50.00  gift certificate! From Stamping Vacation (Denise) : NEETI of "Potpourri of Art Decor " wins the prize from Ooh-la-la! From Crafty By Nature (Danielle) Andrea -   http://andreajbpiecesofmine.blogspot.com/   Prize from Little Claire Christi Hicks -   http://www.blogger.com/profile/02932957085115574069   Prize from  the Cutting Cafe Pat -   http://pgarvin.blogspot.com/   Prize from SkyBluePink From Dreaming And Creating (Karen) Stampsmith Gift Certificates go to: Ira of Ira...

Morning everyone,  the day started with a light sprinkle but the sun is out now.  Daughter is off to the beach and son out for a bike ride with mates.......school holidays. :-) Today I have an acetate card to share with you.  Our swap theme this month over at Craftmad was two acetate cards.  Now this card should almost be on my partners doorstep and fingers crossed she doesn't visit here before opening the envelope.  Otherwise.......Surprise!!!! Beth this is what one of your cards looks like. I have never made an acetate card before or very rarely use it on a card.  So this was a real challenge.   These cards always look so clean and simple.  Hmmmm....not!  It was a challenge for me to remember where the tape would show through on the other side of the card and how to cover it up and line it up.  In the end though I am really happy with this card.  Dug out this cute bird stamp from Stampin Up Good Friends set.  I inked him ...

Hi everyone, just wanted to let you know that the Homemade with a Hop is now closed.   Thanks so much to everyone that took the time to HOP around all the Design Teams blogs.  I really appreciate all your wonderful comments and I think I was beaming all weekend. :-) Wanted to let you know that all the names are now going in to hatS for random draws on the appropriate blogs and for the major prize.  We will all be posting winners at the same time which is 8am Central US time.....which means for me (Aussie) tonight, Tuesday, 28th September 11pm. So fingers crossed everyone. So now you have seen all the fun that we have as a Design Team don't forget to see what we come up with in the various challenges for Denise over at Stamping Vacation .  Post a photo of your creation into the appropriate challenge to be in the running for the monthly prize.  REMEMBER you can enter as many challenges as you like as many times as you like. This month (and only two days left...

I almost forgot, I did these ages ago and my friend Mandy turned them into a topper sheet which you can buy here. Yes, be quick and join all the other wonderful people that have been by to visit all the Design Team blogs as part of Homemade with a Hop.  Less than an hour to go as I post this.  So many wonderful homemade embellishments.....my 'To Do' list has definitely grown.  Remember to be in the chance for any of the prizes you must leave a comment on the appropriate Design Member blog or for the Major Prize leave a comment on all ten blogs to be in the running for a $50.00 gift certificate to the store of your choice. Good luck but be quick. Before I go.....I just want to say thank you so much to everyone for their beautiful comments.....very appreciated. :-) For details on the hop....go to my post here or start at the Stamping Vacation here.

"Welcome to your third stop of 10 on Stamping Vacation's first blog hop: Homemade with a HOP! Here is my Homemade Embellishment for you ....... a Tear Bear Present Topper.  Great for Birthday or Christmas. Keep scrolling to the end if you are wanting details of the next person to hop to. Remember to leave a comment to be in the draw for one of the two $25.00 gift certificates from   and a   £ 10 voucher from and also to be in the running for the Grand Prize of up to $50.00 gift certificate from a store of your choice. How to create this card.......I started with a blank white base card.  Then used all these fabulous reducing star stickers from the Sticker Store to decorate the front of the card.  Note....that some of the stars I have cut in half and attached to the front of the card to make the stars look like they continue over the edge.  I have also added a black 'Happy Birthday' greeting to the final card and small gold sticker star s to...

Yes, that right not long now until Homemade with a Hop starts. 9am Central US Time 25th September to 9pm 26th September Aussies that is: Midnight 25th September (tonight) to Noon Monday, 27th September. Go to Stamping Vacation to check out the incredible list of over $300 worth of prizes. and I will have on offer when you leave a comment on my blog hop post..... not this post . Two $25.00 gift certificates to and a £ 10 voucher to P.S. If anyone knows how I can add a pound symbol could you let me know.  Thanks and see you all there.

I just had to share these cards with you as I thought they were brilliant.  This month over at Craftmad our Card Swap was two cards using Acetate.  My wonderful partner HuggiesCrafts came up with these fantastic cards. Be sure to check her album here for more wonderful creations. This first card I am pretty sure uses Stampin Up papers and baubles.  I just love how she has wrapped the front of the card with embossed acetate.  Such a clever idea. Now I can tell you that this photo does not do the card justice at all.  It is just stunning in real life.  I so love how she has used the Christmas Tree die cut and then embossed the tree.  The jewels and the gold thread finish it perfectly.  Now the background paper I have been eyeing off and to see it in real life it is truly on my want list.  It is Alison Ellis Design Paper  the gold swirls are beautiful.  The buckle along the bottom is actually gold board....not the brown it looks...

This card I have made for the wonderful Denise over at Stamping Vacation .  It is a time that she needs a couple of hugs.  The card also fits nicely into one of her many challenges over at Stamping Vacation be sure to check them all out. This card is for the ' To Who Challenge' which asks for a card for ' Someone Who Needs a Hug '. I used my Aquamarkers to colour this cute little image that someone was kind enough to send to me.  I had fun trying to blend the purple and the pink.  Still need practise but having fun along the way. The background paper is from a paper pack called 'Something Special.' So sending hugs and thinking of you and your family Denise.  Take care Remember everyone to check out all the details for the Homemade with Hop over at Stamping Vacation .  Over $300 worth of prizes on offer and I will have 2 gift certificates worth $25 each from the Sticker Store to giveaway as part of the Hop.

One last book to share...this was my daughters favourite.  She kept picking it up and feeling the embossed glitter on the swirls.  She also kept reminding me that I have made books for friends, nieces, and other family but not for her.  Guess, I now have something that I can give her for Christmas.  Now to choose the paper.  :-) The paper I have used is a beautiful Birch Haberdashery Paper.

A friend got me motivated last week as she had asked for two books to made so she could give as Christmas Presents.  I decided to make four so that she had choices.  While in the process of making these books another friend rang (who's husband owns the bindery I helped out at) and during conversation mention they were going to a Book Fair.  So I thought why not make a couple more so he has more on his table.  So dragged out the rest of my board and had enough for seven journals.  As always I had so much fun creating them.  I wonder why it takes me so long to get my act together.   For this book I have used a sheet of Anna Griffin, Mackenzie, Lime Paisley Design paper.  The back and spine are covered in a gold buckram cloth.  Some lovely white ribbon, a bit of bling and this wonderful 'Dreams' metal word I found in my collection. I think this is my favourite....I just love the colours. I have used wonderful Design paper that at this mo...

Morning everyone.....Monday here and a wet one it is.  Well it has been raining but now I believe the sun is coming out to soak up all the rain and make it nice and humid for us. :-| Here are the last four cards that I will be sending off to Tracey Hanshaw to pass on to our Aussie Troops serving overseas so they can send back to their families at Christmas. I enjoyed going through my scrap box of papers once again picking out all the red and green scraps.  I cut them into 3cm squares.  Some pieces already had a lovely texture or pattern.  Other I used my Swiss Dots, Victoria and Diamonds in the Rough embossing folders on.  The green squares above I decorated with holly leaf, clear border and star stickers.  Each card also used these fantastic Merry Christmas sticker greetings. I had fun with this card.  Cutting out all the squares and triangles to create the little street scene.  I then added this silver Santa sticker so that he looked like...

Ruth over at Passion for Cards has a set of 12 Promarkers to giveaway.   Now that I have tried the Aquamarkers how can I not enter for a chance to try out the Promarkers.  See you there. Closes 25th September

Yes, two more cards today from my scrap box which will be heading to Tracey Hanshaw and then to the Aussie Troops overseas.  This time I have collected all my purple strips to create a background for this cute little image called Michua and his Christmas Tree.  Sorry I don't know where I found this but if you do please let me know as I would like to link to the owner.  I have coloured Michau with my Aquamarkers and aquabrush.  To make it more Christmassy I have added some Kindy Glitz to the edge of the tree and to her hat.  Finished the card with a couple more layers of card and a silver Christmas Greeting sticker from the Sticker Store . This bright and cheery Christmas card was fun to make.  I dug out the pink and purple scraps and ran the pink through the Swiss Dots embossing folder.  I added little silver sticker stars and holly bunches to the corners.  Then I used this terrific clear Christmas tree sticker.  Firstly I peeled it from...

Morning everyone, I have two more cards created from my scrap paper box to send off to the Tracey Hanshaw for the Aussies Troops overseas.   This card I started with the blank white pre-scored card.  Next punched out four blue circles from any blue scrap paper I could find.  I then adhered them in rows with my double sided tape.  Next I printed off this wonderful digital image by Jim Harker called Little Soldier.  I have coloured him with my watercolour pencils and gold gel pen.  Finished by adding a touch of Kindy Glitz. Now this is not my best card but I like the idea.  I will have to play a little more I think.  Once again started with the plain white pre-scored card.  Went around the edge with my fine tip black pen dotting and dashing.  Next I dug out my Octagon Spellbinders and cut five green baubles and five smaller red baubles.  Layered them up and finished the baubles with these lovely snowflakes stickers ( Sticker S...

Hi everyone, I just remembered I can share this card with you now.  I created this for Stacie as a Belated Birthday Card and now I know she has received it.  I dug out my Tilda which I haven't used for a while and coloured her in with my Aquamarkers and aquabrush.  I really liked the way the blue shaded on her dress.  I cut her out and attached her to the swing with 3D Foam.  Then added some layered up punched out flowers.  Finished with a rub-on greeting from Letra-set.  I have used black leather craft card for the base card and Stampin Up Design Paper  (Goodmorning Sunshine). Before I go today.....as I forgot to add to my post yesterday.  I would just like to say a big Thank you for everyone that takes the time to come and visit me.  Then to the people that click and say that they will follow my blog.  When I started I was happy to be sharing my cards and creations with my friends/family and a couple other people who came to v...

Morning everyone,  I just spied this on my blog wander this morning and thought it was really worth a mention.   Tracey Hanshaw has just announced that Stampin Up as kindly given her some supplies so that people could make Christmas Cards for our Aussie Troops that are serving over seas to send back home to their families.  The only catch is it is at Maitland (NSW)....26th October.....too far for me. :-( Just click here for all the details.

On the weekend I sat at my desk and looked at my overflowing scrap box.  Thought I had to do something with all that but didn't want to toss a scrap of it.  Then I remembered the wonderful request over at Tracey Hanshaw's Blog .  They are asking for 1000 handmade Christmas Cards to send to our Aussie Troops serving overseas......so they will have at least one card to send home at Christmas.  So I set myself a challenge.  I grabbed ten blank white pre scored cards and the only paper I could use on my cards was from the scrap box. This first card I dug out lots of green strips of card and paper and arranged them into a fun background.  I then printed this wonderful image onto a piece of scrap white card.  Coloured her with my watercolour pencils and added a touch of Kindy Glitz on the hem of the dress and her hat.  Finished with the perfect black sticker greeting. Supplies:  Image - Inge Harding Design Sticker Greeting - Sticker Store No...