A New Home

Some friends are moving into a new home, so I just had to make a card!

 

David is a friend I met through my camera club way back in 2011 and his wife Carol is a quilter!

 

Suffice to say, I knew what type of card I was going to make.

 

 

I found a great tutorial online to follow, and the card came together very quickly.

 

The longest and hardest part was choosing the DSP - which was from my stash of 6" DSP I have had for quite some time.

 

I made the cardfront using 210 gsm, and cut up several strips of DSP, and following the tutorial, placed the strips accordingly.

 

Picking which embossing folder to use for the 'quilt block' was fairly easy, the one I chose has some 'double wedding ring quilt' inspiration ...

 

I ink blended the edges of the cardfront to add further dimension & interest, then added a strip of DSP.  The 'quilt block' was added to cardfront with foam tape.

 

The sentiment was printed on computer, and foiled with my Mini Minc in gold foil, then mounted to the front of the card using foam tape.

 

To finish, the cardfront was added to a 300gsm A6 cardbase.  

Linking with the following Challenges

Can You Handle the Pressure - use embossing folders 

Neglected Stuff Challenge - DSP

TicTacToe #268 - middle row - Any colour/Free/Embossing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.

Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Happy Birthday my incredible friend

Another crafting session, and another birthday card for an incredible friend.

Using the Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms die set, I cut out a number of elements in white and ink blended using blue to add interest and dimension to the flowers, and ink blended with green for the leaves.

 

 

I played around with the layout and layering of the flowers until I was happy with them, and then added them directly to the 'Leathergrain' cardbase.  To finish off, I placed a lucky 'ladybird' on a leaf and some gems randomly around the cardfront.

 

I couldn't decide which sentiment to use, so I ended up with none, but I did write a birthday message on the inside.  

 

Linking with the following challenges:

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge - Anything Goes - Optional Mood Board (I picked the 'blues')

 

Cut it Up Challenge #320 - anything goes

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.

Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Good Bye & Good Riddance 2022!

2022 has ended with a thud with the news of another very dear friend passing away.

 

My friend Gary, who I have known since 1975 passed away on 16th December 2022, he was 62 years old. Far too young!

 

I really struggled to make a card for Janine (his wife and also my friend), as I wanted it to be perfect!  I also wanted to write a letter and include it in the card ..... that took a moment or two to collate my thoughts.

 

 

 

I had made up some backgrounds and hand stamped elements earlier in the year using the SU Hand Penned Petals stamps.  So I just had a play around with combining different elements and settled on this final layout.  

 

Background was made by stamping multiple times in the pink, the border section on the left was stamped multiple times using the two-step feature of the stamps. The feature element was die cut and mounted on 3D foam dots, with some gold twine circled underneath, then highlighted with Kindy Glitz.

 

 

Linking with:

Cardz for Galz #189 - choose your fave challenge from 2022.

My fave challenge from 2022 was the June 2022 - die cuts

the card I submitted for that particular challenge is HERE (the flower in the top right hand corner is the element I used for this new card)

 

Items Used

Cardstock:  White 250gsm, purple scraps

Inks:  Distress Inks, Kindy Glitz

Stamps:  SU Hand Penned

Tools: Cuttlebug, dies

 

 --00Ooo--

 

Sadly, I couldn't physically attend the Memorial Service as it was too far away, but I was so very thankful for modern technology which meant that the service could be viewed via Zoom.  It was such a lovely service too, so 'Gary' like ..... the music selection was very moving and my heart nearly burst when one of my old photos came up on the screen

there we were, back in about 1976... I can still hear us all laughing and giggling... there are so many good memories of our teenage years.  We often chatted via Messenger and I am so thankful to have been able to catch up with them in 2017 and make a few new memories.  I will treasure each and every one of them.  

 

--ooOoo--

 

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.

Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Thinking of You

Another sympathy card for my friends.

Randomly stamped flowers on cardbase with VersaMark and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  Stamped a white card topper with two step stamps from SU Heartfelt Thanks.  Sentiment is from Ultimate Crafts Ooh LaLa - Happy Lives.

Items Used

Cardstock:  SU Cardstock

Inks:  SU Cameo Coral & Olive Green (I think), VersaMark, StazOn Black

Stamps:  Stampin' Up Heartfelt Thanks & Ultimate Crafts Ooh La La - Happy Lives

Tools:  Edge Distresser

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.

Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Heartfelt Sympathy

Another Sympathy card - this one for a friend to give 

Sandy coloured Cardbase was randomly stamped with flowers from Stampin' Up Heartfelt Thanks, once with VersaMark then again with SU Really Rust.  White Card topper two step stamped with Stampin' Up Really Rust & StazOn black.  Edges distressed, then a ribbon tied up then mounted onto darker brown cardstock, then layered onto front of card.  Sentiment stamped with StazOn black.

A fairly monotone card ..... shades of brown, with simple black & white features/details added.

Linking With the following challenges:

Color My Heart Color Dare: shades of brown

AAA Challenge #227 Anything Goes

ITEMS USED

Cardstock:  SU Cardstock

Inks:  SU Really Rust, VersaMark, StazOn Black

Stamps:  Stampin' Up Heartfelt Thanks & paperCraft sentiments

Tools:  Edge Distresser

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.

Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Just for you Sweet Friend

One of my friends is going through a bit of a rough patch - they say it hits in 3's and for her it has.  She recently lost two old friends close together and she is now facing a health issue herself.  

I feel there is not a lot I can do, but I can let her know she is in my thoughts and I am here if she needs me.

I am still experimenting making my own backgrounds and on the CAS Colour & Sketches challenge blog, the colours for the current challenge really appealed to me.

It's not exact colours, but close ... sort of .. Stampin'Up Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa Candied Coral

The background was made using 3 colours with a wide stroke of a paint brush giving them an 'ombre blend'.  The Dandelion and sentiment have been stamped in Ganache by StazOn.  Mounted with 3d foam onto a black cardbase, with just a touch of bling added.

I kind of like it :)  

Linking with:

CAS Colour & Sketches - #468

Happy Little Stampers - Blend (Ombre Blend)

Addicted to CAS - #219 Friendship

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.

Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Thinking of You + Deepest Sympathy

Sympathy cards are the hardest to make ...... especially when they are for family & friends .....

It just goes to show how small the world is, Adelaide in particular!  

My Nephew married the Niece of an old school friend, Rossi, so I always maintained that it made us 'Aunties In-Laws'  LOL

We all went to Taperoo Primary School and here is a photo from our very first School Reunion in 2010 - in the Barossa

LtoR Front:  Di, Sharlene, Rossie
Back:  Anne, Diana, Me, Bronny, Kaye

and one of our School Reunions in 2012 in Victor Harbor ....

LtoR: Debbie, JulieO, Me, Rossi, DebbieC, Sharlene, Anne, Diana, Bronny

it seems like they were yesterday and forever ago .... both at the same time :(

Here we are in 2022 (those that could attend the funeral)

LtoR:  Me, DebbieC, Kaye, JulieR

RIP Roslyn Margaret Harrison - no longer in pain, reunited with loved ones.

BLUE CARD:  White cardfront, sponged/blended blue background with right side masked off.  Kaisercraft 'Flutter' and 'Thinking of You' Sentiment stamped in Black StazOn.

black hearts & silver gems added on white section.  Kindy Glitz added to butterflies and cardfront edges defined with blue ink, cardfront mounted onto white card base.

PURPLE CARD:  White cardfront, sponged/blended purple background with top & bottom masked off.  Kaisercraft 'Botanical' and 'With Sympathy' Sentiment stamped in Black StazOn.

black hearts added on white section, Kindy Glitz added to butterflies and cardfront edges defined with purple ink, cardfront mounted onto white card base.

I find I keep going back to these Kaisercraft stamps - I have had them for as long as I can remember :)

Linking with:

BLUE CARD:  

Shopping Our Stash Weekly Challenge - 466 Spread Your Wings

PURPLE CARD:  

Retro Rubber - #RRCB178 - Anything Goes (stamp older than a year)

TicTacToe Challenge #152  - shades of purple/CAS/Sympathy

Cheers everyone .... stay safe and tell your family & friends you love them!

A little pick-up

Time to do some crafting!

Some friends have moved after having their home on the market for quite some time, and as is the way of 2020, things did not go smoothly :(  but they eventually got where they were going and the unpacking is finally underway!

I got inspired to make a card - while I was tidying up, and ended up making more mess!  LOL  You know how it is, right?

Anyway, here is my card:

I have some really old Stampin' Up stamps "Loads of Love" (2004 according to SU) but I can't recall ever using the "Loads of Love Accessories" that I managed to find in an Op Shop.  I always figured it would be a good set for 'moving house' cards :)

Image was stamped and using the "The Stampers Buddy" I was able to line up the accessories stamps.  Image was coloured in with Copics, highlighted with clear & Silver embossing and a splash of 'Kindy Glitz'.

Layout was sort of inspired by Sketch Saturday #650 (with a slight change to proportions) using Spellbinders Squares & Circles.  

The As You Like It challenge asks us for 'our fave way to cut' - I do a bit of fussy cutting around special images, but when making a layout, I just love the precision of using dies versus hand cutting, especially when using the 'nesting' sizes.

Linking with the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps & More #400 - Die Cuts

As You Like It - Fave Way to Cut

Anything Goes - with Dies

NBUS - #24

Sketch Saturday #650  

(I was a bit late to link my project, but will include the link anyway :) )

It was good to be crafting again :) but now I really need to do some sorting & tidying up, as I made such a mess rumaging through my stash - most of the card was made with off-cuts from my stash.

Cheers for now!

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Happy Birthday .....

..... Gorgeous

I quite enjoy the process of stamping and fussy cutting - but I don't do it often enough!  I love the way this turned out - simple but refined ..... well I think so!  LOL

Linking with:
Case this sketch #358
Daisy Chain Challenges - For the Girls


A close friend turned 60 ........

I love the combination of stamping and die cutting - gives the card a whole other dimension!

The 'records', needle arm & music notes were die cut, but the 'peak meter indicator' was stamped and heat embossed with orange & red.  Traditionally, these peak meters go from green to yellow to orange then red to indicate 'exceeding levels' ....... I just went straight for the orange & red LOL

Linking with:
Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with dies

On Your Wedding Day ...

Congratulations Mr & Mrs Dallow!

Long time friend Roger married his sweetheart on Sunday :) such a lovely day!

Here is the card I made

I am loving working with paper flowers again - and even though I stab myself every time, I love making the tendrals :)

Metal embellishments that have been in my stash for such a long time.

I even made a presentation box to protect the card :)

All wrapped up in a gold organza ribbon!

I am usually drawn to pinks/purples when I craft, but I have no idea why, maybe because Purple has always been my favourite colour since I was a teenager  LOL

Linking with:
As You Like it Challenge - Fave colours - Pinks/Purples (cool)
Dream Valley Challenges - Love

You can see the engagement card I did for them HERE

And for those that love weddings, and I do, here are a few pics!

I caught a lovely tender moment between them!

Then it was all smiles after the ceremony was done!

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

2019 ..... not a good start :(

Hi there to my fellow blog readers :)

Happy New Year to you all - 2019 has started with a heat wave here in Adelaide!

Sadly, one of the first cards I needed to make for the year was a sympathy card.

My friend Sue's husband Keith died after a short battle with brain cancer - such a terrible disease!  I have known Sue and her brother Roger since my days of St Clair roller skating the 70's.  We have caught up quite a few times in recent years, and it was such a shock to learn of Keith's diagnosis.

I find some sympathy cards difficult to make - but this one came to me very easily!  You see, Keith was a musician and was in several bands here in Adelaide, most recently "Hot Chisel" a Cold Chisel cover band.

Vale Keith White 

10.7.1960 - 1.1.2019 

In Rock We Trust 🎶

White cardstock embossed with Cuttlebug, notes highlighted with Kindy Glitz, layered on black cardstock, sentiment 'with sympathy' die cut (glued 3 layers together).

Linking with:
Daisy Chain Challenges:  #26 add some sparkle
As You Like It Challenge:  Anything Goes



Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Congratulations, Laurel & Roger

My very dear friend from way back in my teenage years has become engaged to a lovely lady, named Laurel.

Here is the card I made for them.

The inside image is a lovely digital stamp from Mo Manning - I thought it suited the verse beautifully!

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Happy Birthday Joy!

It was my friend Joy's birthday during last week and we arranged to go out for tea on Friday night.

Locals (South Aussies) will know that Friday, was a pretty hot day with a top temperature of  38.7C - that was just so very hot!!!.  Unfortunately, Mr Fixit does not do well in the heat, neither does Mrs Fixit if I am honest, so we begged off driving 45 mins in the heat, and arranged to get together another time.

Anyway, I was all prepared with birthday card and present, but Joy will have to wait until I next see her for her goodies :)

Linking with 2 Crafty Critter Crazies challenge - anything goes (must include a critter)


Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

RIP my friend, Big Al

Sadly, I was in need of another sympathy card - a very dear friend passed away after having serious health issues for quite some time.

His wife's favourite colour is purple, so that is where I took my inspiration.

RIP Big Al, you will be missed!

I hope you are up there with Sue (left) - you look after her!

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.