Wishing you a fantastic 2019 - See You Later

This is a photo of our last evening of 2018 and what a beautiful one it was.  We have had torrential rain for the past week and a half. It was so lovely today to see sunshine and hang the washing out to dry and get that sunshine smell. Also terrific  for my husband to mow today and have nothing to do tomorrow on his birthday other than enjoy the manicured lawn and possibly watch the rain fall. 

Happy New Year everyone.  I wish you the very best for 2019. 

Thank you all for your visits throughout the year although my posts and visits to your blogs have been sporadic.  I've decided to re-open my card store on Made It (smaller Australian version of Etsy) - www.madeit.com.au/MerrymadeCards My thinking is that this will allow me to sell cards that I  create after being inspired by others through Pinterest. Ultimately, I'm trying to reduce my stash which seems impossible as my Mum and an elderly friend also think they should reduce their stashes and have been passing crafting items on to me. I will miss blogging and although I have tried for the last couple of years since commencing full time work to continue blogging I find that now that I work on computers all day I don't want to be on them when I get home.  You will be able to find me on Pinterest.....link is over there to the right where I share from time to time what I have been creating.  I  will no doubt also be browsing through the many creations stored there for inspiration for my next project. 

So its not goodbye, but see you later when I have more free time in at least five years.

A special thanks for you visits and sticking with me as posts got thin - I have always appreciated your visits and comments. Monica, Brenda, Loz, Janette, Kaye, Gail, Cathy C, Sandra H, Lorraine (cold waters), Mrs A, Linby, Dr Sonia, Judy S.

Merry Christmas everyone

Wishing you all the very best Christmas, I hope that it all goes according to your plans with some relaxing,  family, friends with a touch of fun and of course yummy food.

Sharing the cards I sent out this year the last couple are on my craft desk now ready to be completed tomorrow.

Graphic 45 Paper Challenge - Cathedral Window

I spied this design in Pinterest ages ago and have always wanted to give it a try with my scrap papers.  So I used my scraps from the Graphic 45 paper pad while doing the challenge.  This card took a little longer than I first thought it would.  First punching out the required number of circles, amazing how many you can fit into such a small area.  Then folding each circle in on four sides to create a square.  I scored the lines using my scoreboard no measurements just purely by sight.  Next I thought easy….I will just pick up a circle as it is all random but no I wanted to make sure that the patterns and colours were evenly spread on the front of the card.  So that took a bit of sorting then I adhered each circle and found some bling, buttons and flowers to embellish the card.

Thanks for passing by.

Graphic 45 Paper Challenge - Pink Flowers

Another card I made for the Graphic 45 paper challenge I was part of.  I really do love the end result of this card.  The images I have had had stamped up and waiting in my stash for a couple of years ready for that right moment.  I have coloured them with my Copic Pens added a touch of bling to each flower and raised the leaves with 3D foam tape.

These are all the colours I used for these images.

I have now given this card to my very good friend from school years on her birthday at the start of December. 

Graphic 45 Paper Challenge - Birthday Candles

I do like adding birthday candles to a card, such a fun way to use up scraps of paper.  Inspired by this card from Pinterest. All these candle papers are from the Graphic 45 paper pad - 'At the Races'. The flames are created by punching out a heart and cutting that in half.  I have added some clear Wink of Stella to each flame, if you squint you can see on the second candle. :-)

Fancy Fold Christmas Card

Another Christmas card….I'm so loving the feeling of Christmas this year to have a couple of cards already made and in my stash.  I used to be organised like this about 10 years ago and it is a good feeling. I made this card for a Craftmad Sketch challenge earlier this year.  

To me the papers are everything Christmas - green, red and gold.

The card all folds down to this lovely compact size ready for mailing.

Thanks for visiting.

Mums Birthday

Yes, I'm doing a bit of catching up as this year winds up, I thought I should try and share all my creations for the year before the end of the year. :-)  Mum's birthday was way back in March but I don't remember sharing this at the time so better late than never. :-)  I coloured this peacock die cut from Blue Edge Crafts with my Copic Pens then added some shimmer chalk and bling.  Found this perfect background paper in my stash.

Mum turned 81 this year and I think she has helped raised some wise cracking children.  My brothers gifts to her her were the tiara and the 18 today which he asked her to wear upside-down as it then says '81'.  From me Mum received the 'Jar of Nothing'.  For the last few years when her birthday and Christmas roll around and I ask what she would like she says "Nothing".  So this year Mum got what she had asked for and was so happy and couldn't wait to show the ladies at church the following week. 

A jar of nothing.

Have a terrific day.

Christmas Tree Card

I have used Graphic 45 paper for the background of this card.  The christmas tree is a die cut from Blue Edge Crafts which I layered on top of some lovely green glitter card stock.  Finished with some die cut borders and the Merry Christmas wording.

Have you got your decs up?  I'm keeping it simple this year as my husband are visiting our son and girlfriend for Christmas.  I have put the tree up with lights and decided that I will make a few paper ornaments to put on it as well as a garland or two.  A homemade Christmas decoration year. 

Daffodil in Purple - Thank You

A friend of mine recently had a clean out and passed on her crafting items to me as she no longer makes cards.  The majority of this card is from her stash….the purple base card, the beautiful purple fabric type textured background and the shimmery lilac card stock.  The spotted paper is from Stampin Up.  I have adhered the daffodil sticker to some white Xpress It card stock and coloured this with my Copic Pens.

Happy Tuesday everyone.

Paper Teapots

I made 30 + of these paper teapots for the Biggest Morning Tea function that we held at our local High School back in June.  I spied the design on Pinterest where people had used Stampin Up frame-lits - Keepsake Box.  I don't own any frame-lits so I went in search on Pinterest (again) for a template to use and viola……I then started hand cutting these cute little boxes.  The handle is just a strip of paper approx 8cm x 1.5cm and the spout I cut from my own hand drawn template.

The papers are from a Kaiser Craft pack which Kaiser Craft kindly donated to occasion.  Inside each teapot we placed a cupcake for the guest from the local retirement home could take home with them.

The rest of the decorations ready for the Biggest Morning Tea guests

The guest in all their refinery……the theme for the day was to where your best Tea Party hat.  The lady in blue forgot hers and adapted her serviette for the event. :-)

Have wonderful day.

Mother's Day

A bit of a blurry photo and yes, I'm doing a catch up with my cards.  I made this for Mum who just loves butterflies.  I used some new papers from Cocoa Vanilla.  They are so pretty and it was nice to play with something new.  Have a great day.