Happy 50th Birthday Chris!

One of our dearest friends celebrated his 50th birthday on Australia Day (26th January)

Here is the card I made for him.  He is a keen photographer, hence the theme of the card.

CraftROBO has been used to cut all elements of this card.

I used the font Bauhaus 93 for Title, Arial for 50. 

The camera was a clipart image from the net, which I traced using RoboMaster.

I wanted to incorporate some fireworks on the inside, but that didn't pan out, but I did use the stars from a fireworks GSD file by einnej

Publisher was used to create the montage of photos (photos are from 1979 through to 2009)

I can't remember where I got the Birthday greeting or the negative strip from - if anyone knows, please let me know - it would be from either craftrobomegastore or one of the wishblade forums??

EDITED:  Thanks Cheryl! - The negative image & birthday greeting are from the SkatKutz disc that came with the Robo!

I also made a gift card holder - he is hoping to start a vegie garden and will need some supplies so we have given him a Bunnings voucher.

I have made this gift card holder with the CraftROBO as well ;-)

 

Cuttlebug used to create white background panel, cut with deckle edge spellbinder dies and embossed with 'Victoria' folder.  The wheelbarrow & broccolli were from the yahoo groups wishblade forums http://www.gsdfiles.com/

Gold heat embossed streamers

I am really pleased with how these items turned out and we are looking forward to catching up with the Birthday Boy this weekend.

I am going to submit the birthday card for BizzyBecs Creatalicious Challenge #6 - No Stamped Images

Happy Birthday Kathy!

My friend Kathy is having a birthday today!

Here is the card I made for her.

As soon as this card came together, I just knew who it was going to be for!

Penny Black image hand coloured with water colour pencils, kindy glitz added.

Stamping Vacation - Build a Sketch - new monthly challenge

I have come across a wonderful idea over on Stamping Vacation

they have announced a new MONTHLY challenge - BUILD-A-SKETCH.... and here is what you can do....



First find a container that is about 6 x 5 or so. This is what you will keep your sketch pieces in as we grow. For this first month, cut a piece of black cardstock 51/2" x 4 1/4". This will represent your basic card. Now you'll need to cut a piece of gray cardstock 5 1/4" x 4". You will need a piece of white cardstock in a 3 1/8" square. Cut one black piece 2 1/2" x 1 1/2" and a black 2 1/2" circle or scalloped circle. These are your first 5 pieces. Save them. We will add some each month.


Now, what to do with the pieces? PLAY! Put them together any way you wish on your basic black card piece. You can use them all or just a few, whatever you wish. Move them around, rearrange, until you like what you see. But by playing with them, you just be able to BUILD-A-SKETCH that you can use for a card. Do not glue your pieces. You want to be able to use them again and again!

Posting? You can post your sketch idea AND/OR the card you made with it! Have fun with this. And be sure to keep all your sketch pieces in your container so eventually you will have lots of pieces to play with! I will select some of the sketches and/or cards to showcase on Stamping Vacation on February 5th! Try this. You will come up with some unbelievable ideas!

Well, I have had a bit of a play, and this is the sketch I came up with

I think this is a great idea and look forward to using the same principle next month.

Cardstock/Papers: Bazzil cardstock, kaisercraft DP Duchess Collection

Stamps/Inks:  Stamps - unknown, SU Choc Chip ink, clear embossing

Embellishments:  gold peel-off stickers

Whiff of Joy GD - Take Two

I wanted to have another go at the sketch for the Whiff of Joy Guest Designer Call  ;-)  I was actually tidying up my craft room and found myself playing with paper combinations instead of tidying up!

Wedding Carriage stamp hand coloured with combination of watercolour pencils and Stampin' Up inks highlighted with kindy glitz.

Edges of Kaisercraft DP distressed and bling added to paper flowers.

Silver peel off sentiment added to number plate.

circles, squares & fleur de lis border cut & embossed with spellbinder dies using cuttlebug. 

This one I am happier with, but I managed to muck up the number plate on the carriage at the very end ;-(

Whiff of Joy GDT and Stamp Something Blue & White

Hi everyone, another bright sunny day here in Adelaide - it is so nice to open all the doors and windows and let some fresh air in!

Whiff of Joy are holding a Guest Designer call and I thought I would submit a card in the hope of being considered ;-)  Going on the lovely cards submitted by others, I have no hope, but I figured I would give it a try anyway.

I have kept the Stamp Something of blue and white and I have used the Whiff of Joy sketch

Here is the card I am submitting for the WOJ GDT - I think I am happy with it  ;-)

 

Willow with Todler hand coloured with water colour pencils and highlighted with kindy glitz.  Mini bling flowers added to hair.  Image panel sponged lightly (I am unsure about the sponging here)  Circle & other rectangle panel edges have been sponged, circle cut and embossed with cuttlebug.  Spellbinders fleur de lis strip has been highlighted with bling.  The beautiful blue paper flowers have been in my stash for a while and I was really glad of the opportunity to use them.

Stamp Something and Stamping Vacation Pick 3

My stash of 'male' suitable cards is somewhat depleted, so here is a male card, sans glitter, bling & flowers ;-)

The current stamp something challenge is blue & white

and my pick for the current stamping vacation pick 3 is patterned paper, sentiment and sky blue

the more I worked with this card, the more I thought it might be suitable for a 21st (hence the key charm)

Image hand coloured with watercolour pencils and attached with 3D mounting tape, sentiment heat embossed with fine silver, patterned paper from stash, peel off stickers added to corner, charm added with silver ribbon.

Bizzy Becs Creatalicious Challenge #5 and Allsorts Challenge #34 and ABC and CCT

I have finally been able to do some crafting in my new room - it is such a pleasure having everything in the one spot!

The following card is for:
abc-challenge  L is for layers
creataliciouschallenges - something old, new, torn & blue.
cutecardthursday - new stamp

The new is my newest Sarah Kay stamp and the old, well it is also Sarah Kay ;-) 

Sarah Kay has been in my life for more years than I care to remember!   The following picture is the invitation I used for my 16th Birthday way back in 1976. 

The eagle eyed of you may have noticed the mirror on the wall in the pics of my new room that have been posted previously - it was a present from my sister for my 16th birthday.

The following card is submitted for three challenges:

allsortschallenge #34 with a digistamp from http://www.digistampboutique.co.uk/catalog/

abc-challenge L is for layers
cutecardthursday - New digital image

This digistamp was a freebie and was a pleasure to use.  I will definitely be going back to have a proper look at their other stamps.

The Red on the ladybugs has been heat embossed using red ink & clear embossing, but it does not show up very well ;-(

New Year, New Room

I have been keeping busy re-organising my room.  I used to have a separate craft room, but now I have been 'relocated' and I am now in the same room as the computer - heaven!

Hubby has been a huge help shifting furniture and putting up pictures, repairing/repainting walls.  He was also a great help when I banged my shin against one of the bookcases I was trying to move - he helped me hobble back to the recliner in the family room where I was promptly told to 'sit down, put some ice on it and raise that leg'.  In less than a minute, I had a lump about the size of a marshmallow on my shin.  My darling hubby then proceeded to finish the task I was in the middle of when I hurt myself.  It is still very sore, but at least the swelling has gone down.  All I am left with at the moment is a bit of broken skin and a hint of a bruise that is yet to come to the surface ;-)

This is what I started with back in 2005 - all my craft stuff fits on one small desk.

This is what I graduated to in 2008 - hubby divided the L-shaped lounge/dining area and I took over the old formal dining area.

This is my new craft room - now everything I need is in the one room - heaven!

All my cardstock and papers are on a nice big desk that has the guillotine ready to use.

Bits and pieces are stashed in bookshelves - I am still in the process of finding new homes for everything.

This is my work area - the small bookcase on the right has all my beading supplies - hopefully, with it all in one place now, I will get to spend some time beading as well!

The old craft room will now be known as 'the library' ;-) as it will have the large bookcase in it. The library will house my treadmill too and another small computer desk that hubby can use his laptop on when I am on the main computer.

So far, apart from the gashed shin, things are progressing nicely - the lounge has been used as a sorting area and currently looks like a bomb hit it ;-)

Christmas Cards (and pressies!) from my Friends

I thought I would share with you some of the cards I have received from my friends over at CraftMad.

From Ali

From Daisy

From Kaye

From Kerry

From Mandy

From Merry

I was so very spoilt by my friends this year - I received some lovely unexpected presents!

From Kaye - 12 days of Christmas

From Mandy - I am looking forward to putting this lovely angel on top of my tree next year!

From Mandy - such a wonderful unexpected gift - I was eager to have a play and will post some pics a bit later.

Last, but by no means least, here is my Secret Santa present from someone at CraftMad.  Each year we do a SS swap and we MUST wait until Christmas Day to open our presents!  I was so impressed with the wrapping, I took a photo!   I made it until Christmas Eve and just had to open them!

My SS sent me some lovely cardstock frames, gold leaf printed sentiments and some beautiful metallic/pearl type 3D images to use for paper tole, and some lovely silk type butterflies.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo when I opened it and am currently in the process of transferring everything from my craft room into the study (where the computer is) and cannot locate these goodies to take a photo just now.  I will post a photo later, when I will also post a photo of my new craft room.

I feel so very lucky to have such considerate and generous friends - I have only just recently met Mandy in person and have worked a lot with Kaye in putting together the CraftMad Journal (most recent journal here).  I have been part of CraftMad for many years now and have thoroughly enjoyed being involved with the group.  They are such a wonderful bunch of people!

2009 Cards - My top picks

I have noticed a few blogs listing their top picks for the year, so I thought I would do the same.

It was a very interesting exercise to go back over my blog and see just how my cards have progressed!

My first card to appear on my blog was my first challenge card - it was too late for the challenge, but it got me hooked!

The next card was trying a new technique - double embossing with the cuttlebug.

This card was made with one of my first sets of stamps from Stampin' Up and my early attempts at watercolouring.

This next card was made using a stamp I won over on Hero Arts - my first ever win!

The following card was my first ever flower pot card - I was so pleased with the end result.

My early attempts at colouring in Tilda follows.

Next is my first Sarah Kay Stamp - this one has to be my favourite of the whole year!

Next is my favourite of all the sympathy cards I have had to make of late ....

Another Sarah Kay card - this one was submitted for BizzyBecs Creatalicious Challenge

One of my first Christmas cards this year

I posted a lot of cards during December, but I couldn't ignore this one - I love the simple elegance of it.