MerryMade Crafts etc ...

Time for a catch up post.  Over at Craftmad our December swap was all about fancy folds.  These are the two cards I sent to my partner.  I fell back on my favourite fold card - Joy Fold.  I love all the layers and how easily it comes together.  Out came the Stampin Up papers and card stock as I know that they will all work together.  I pin pricked around the edge of each panel and finished with this wonderful wooden Santa shape I found in my stash. The inside I added a tag also found in my stash. For the second card I thought I would try something new which was this centre step easel card.  I found this through Pinterest posted by Amanda over at The Craft Spa and she has a wonderful tutorial .  This is a fold I will be doing again and again. More Stampin Up papers and card stock makes this card go together easily.  The sentiment is a rub-on I have had for a while and finished with a present sticker to hold the easel open. ...

Happy Australia day to all the Australians.   No special celebrations for me but a day at home with my husband.  I will be finishing off new curtains for my craft/computer room.

Over at Craftmad this month our swap was two cards using this Tic Tac Toe board. For my first card I went diagonally with Stitching, Pearls and Glitter.  I had a fun time paper piecing this lovely image (by Ruth) using blue glitter paper and colouring her with my copic pens.  I did some faux cross stitching down the side of the image and used my new word stamps (a christmas gift) on the edge of the card. This card I selected the first column of the Tic Tac Toe board - Stitching, Embossing and Buttons.  The patchwork of square papers is another of my attempts to use up my scrap paper stash, so you will see a couple in the near future.  I am following in Beccy's steps…..click here to see her inspiration.   I punched out the squares and attached them to a piece of scrap cardstock….a colour I don't use as it is all hidden.  Then I ran it through an embossing folder.  Did a little faux stitching around the edge.   I really liked h...

My cousin's parents recently celebrated their 55th Wedding Anniversary - Emerald and mentioned how hard it was to find an appropriate card.  How could I not offer to make one for family.  Now green is not my thing but I am really happy with this card and it was so nice to put papers and card into use that rarely get looked at.  I layered up green and cream card stock added some vellum with vines, a piece of glitter card stock, cut out the word anniversary with my new letters die.  The flowers and leaves I also cut from die.  For the flowers I used crepe paper that I had played with many years ago to create this wonderful light and dark effect.   I think we added different food colourings to white crepe paper.  The card layout and inspiration came from this card by SisterSandie on Splitcoaststampers. Its back to work for me, so things may slow down again in bogland.   I hope not as I have really enjoyed catching up with everyones crafting ...

This is my take on the Craftmad January Sketch Challenge. It was great for using up some of my Stampin Up patterned paper scraps.  Sorry can't remember the set but it is a bright and cheery on. Finished with a row of purple bling and a white Happy Birthday sticker. See other takes on this sketch here at the Craftmad Sketch Challenges .

 Our computer no longer reads my cameras SD card since an upgrade, finally I bought a card reader.  I am surprised at how many photos I have to share and now seeing the blurry photos taken on my old camera very happy with the new camera my husband gave me for Christmas.  So today I thought I would share all my Christmas photos.  I had a production line going for the cards above.  Made 20 all up and loved being able to use my bling.  The stamp is Festival of Tress from Stampin Up and I bought the matching punch.  I used four different embossing folders for the backgrounds of all these cards.  Best bit was I proved I was only human with these cards and I am sure gave some people a smile. I stamped the sentiment on the front and thought I might as well do the inside at the same time.  I then completed the front of the card and attached it only to find when I opened the card to write inside I had attached the front to the wrong si...

Yes it's our daughters 20th birthday today.  Yes, I am still trying to get my head around the fact we no longer have any teenagers and that our baby is 20. :-0  We don't get to celebrate with her as she is working hard down in Brisbane….so I hope the customers are all in their happiest of moods for her. I made her a starburst card (told you would see a few of these while I use up my scraps).  I have dragged out my sewing machine and added some straight stitching and zig zag to the joins.  Finished with a touch of bling. Since we couldn't be there with her and she lives in a room by herself I thought I would send a birthday party in a box. I have crammed in decorations, water balloons blown up, chips, chocolates, lollies, party hats, whistles that unfurl when blown, bubble blowers, popcorn, a miniature game of Trouble (like Ludo) and birthday confetti.  I tried to find some form of cake/cupcake sealed in a package but no luck.   Have a...

This is our Flame tree with the last of its flowers. Our Poinciana is a little slower that others around, finally some flowers. This is the whole reason for me sharing these flowers.  I bought this bush mainly because of the name. "RazzleDazzleBerry", how could you go past that plus the flowers are pretty too and as you can see the bush is full of flowers. A closer view of the RazzleDazzleBerry. :-) A pink Ixoria Some more Fire Balls.   The Allamanda is flowering also. The last of the lillies Have a great day.

This is what all my patterned paper folders looked like earlier this week.  Until my wonderful husband brought me home a label maker. Tadah! a little tider, although I have run out of Dymo tape so the last couple have to wait a week or so.  I have slowly been spring cleaning the house, even though it is middle of summer.  Three rooms done and a million more to go.  I making the craft room last as incentive to finish the other rooms quickly. It's hot and humid here today promise of showers.  Hope you all have a great weekend.

Our first day of 2016 was filled with fun celebrating my husbands birthday.  Everyone home, presents opened, relaxing in front of TV, a game of Monopoly.  This is the card I made for my husband, it's the start of many star/sunburst cards you will see this month.  Yes, I am going to try my hardest to get my paper and card supplies in order and use up the scraps.  So will be on the look out for any card designs that help me do this.  This style of card is quite fun and I have made four with another 6 cut out and ready to be put together.  Brilliant as it covers all my birthdays in January. This is the birthday cake I made….a bit of flop, although it tastes nice.  For the past year we have been really reducing the sugar we have and I have been baking with rice malt syrup in lieu of sugar.  So thought with all the extras we have been eating over Christmas I would try to bake a slightly healthier cake.  This is a Vanilla Cake made with...

Happy New Year everyone.   We had a wonderful start to the year having an amazing viewing area for these fireworks.  Our son booked an apartment for the night directly across the road from the Cairns esplanade.  So we visited for a couple of hours and had this view above the trees without the crowds.  The weather held out too, no rain. Now it's time to celebrate my husbands birthday and the last day of the kids being home before they head back, one to Brisbane and one to Townsville.