So what else I've been up to???

I have to be honest and say, I'm really struggling to find time to make what I enjoy the most.  Making cards.  I struggle each day to find time and even the energy to sit at the table and create.  It's not from a lack of want or desire, just lack of time in the day.

I hope things slow down soon and I can return to my normal creative self.  I've even packed my craft table and all its contents away in preparation for our Christening on Sunday and having all our friends and family over for lunch afterwards.  But I am creating.  Just little things I can do while sitting on the floor next to my kids who want my attention.  They kind of get attention, while I look down occasionally at my needles and threads or crochet hooks!!

One of the things I've made lately, is this embroidered felt brooch I made when joining a local Brown Owls group.  It's really cute and I've already started on my second!

So I will be back soon with more cards and projects.  We're currently organising Stamp Camp.  It's gonna be great, you'll love it!!

Congrats

A friend of mine recently was promoted, and often (like a lot of things) it's been because a little bird told me. So the early little bird got in with some news which I was so pleased to share with my friend!!  Of course, I just had to make a card with a bird on it!!

With lots of bright colours too, I really hope this card brightens here day.  Here's a little secret by the way, this card is from one of my Stamp @ Home kits from 2010 but it's still available if you would like to try :0)  A sampler of this class featuring the 'Cheep Talk' is below.  So if you would like to try this one - be sure to contact me!  It's a versatile class that you could adapt with many different stamp sets and colours!

A New Little Someone - JAI59

I have to admit, I do love babies and adore making things for babies.  They're so cute, who wouldn't!!  So it was with much delight and pleasure that I made a baby card for a friend who had a sweet little boy last month.  Yes, I know, I still haven't sent the card, but I do have it ready to go for tomorrow when it's payday and I have money for postage!!

So, I pulled out an old favourite (and now retired set) - A New Little Someone and used the Just Add Ink - Sketch Challenge 59 for inspiration.  I then used the absolutely gorgeous new Stampin' Up! colours of Marina Mist and Daffodil Delight, combined with a touch of Bashful Blue.  I love blue and yellow together.  One of my all time favourite colour combinations!

I used my water colour pencils for this one.  I LOVE colouring-in so therapeutic and of course did a bit of sponging on the edges here and there!  The sketch layout was great and I'll be using this one again!

So here's what I used:

Stamps: A New Little Someone (retired) and Little Angel
Inks: Bashful Blue, Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist & Soft Suede
Papers: Whisper White & Marina Mist CS, Marina Mist DSP
Other: Daffodil Delight Satin Ribbon, punches, water colour pencils & sponge daubers

More ATC's

The other day I showed my collection of ATC swaps for the theme of Valentine's Day (February 2011) which made me realise that I had neglected to show my collection of Dress Form ATC swaps that I had participated in months ago.  And I do mean months ago!!  September 2010 to be exact!! 

So I wanted to show you these dress forms that I was lucky to receive:

by Kaeren Sutherland & Pam Fuda

by Dawn Barratt & Kath Hobson

by Sue Gregory & Chris Ward

Just amazing aren't they!!  So now I had better get into the swing for creating my April month ATC swap.  I've been thinking about it for a few days now .... I have a few ideas now!

And if you're wondering, this was my Dress Form ATC Swap for September 2010:

Spring Blossom Challenges - SC320

This card has been a week in the making.  Seriously!!  Our Avid Inkers group have been participating in monthly challenges.  I love colour challenges, but I'm not so good with the sketch challenges!!  If the sketches are simple, well not so bad but the more elements included, oh the harder it is!!  So to give myself a headstart, I used some beautiful flower photos from the Stamping Mathilda blog.

Image source: http://stampingmathilda.blogspot.com/2011/03/spring-flowers.html

These photos are so beautiful.  The crisp white and green, and I used some of the background colours for inspiration too!  This is the sketch challenge that we had to use:

Looks simple, maybe, but I really struggled.  I tried different colour combinations, different backgrounds and different pieces of the elements.  Arranged them and then rearranged them and ended up with my card using the Easter Blossoms stamp set (a current favourite of mine!).

 Although I've just realised, I haven't remained true to the sketch as I overlaid my strip of element 2 over element 3, instead of the other way around.  Oops.  Too late to change though!



Here's what I used:

Stamps: Easter Blossoms & Tiny Tags
Inks: Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride & Crumb Cake
Papers: Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake, Whisper White & Blushing Bride
Other: Vintage Tag, White Brad, Sponge Daubers and punches
Big Shot: Big Shot & Floral Fusion Sizzlit

Now this card is off to a little girl by the name of Emma.  I came across the story of Emma in facebook and she's fighting a tumour.  Friends of Emma have asked for bloggers to send her stickers (she's a big collector of them) and maybe a handmade card.  So that's what I'm doing.  Click here for more information.

Happy Mail!!

Don't you just love HAPPY MAIL!! You know the sort - the mail without BILLS!!  And hooray, I received my February ATC swaps this week.  It's so lovely to open the mail and see beautiful pieces of work instead of bills!!

You might remember, I am part of a Yahoo group called Stamp Happy and I joined in on the February ATC swap.  I made a cute little ATC (that I'm still proud of) way back in January.  To read about it - click here.

Anyways, this is what I got in return.  Hooray!  Thank you to all the lovely senders!

Valentine by Gwenyth Zwaan & Pink Love Hearts by Ann Lawton

Hearts/Valentine by Rikki Showell & Pink Love by Theresa Kamp

Pink Hearts by Jenny Hubbard

And just in case you were wondering - this is my ATC that I made, aptly titled 'Amour'.

Amour by Carolyn McPherson

Hmm, I've signed up to do the April ATC swap, so I had better get my thinking cap on!!

Christening Invites

Well, I think I can safely reveal the invites I made for Jessica's Christening for later this month.  I'm so proud of these little invites as they're cute and I even managed to stay away from pink!!  So now that everyone SHOULD have their invites, I can now show you what they looked like:

Yep, I made cute little dress cards.  I used Vellum cardstock for the overlay, which had been embossed through the Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dots die.  I used my Scallop Circle nestabilities to cut the front collar, added some pearls and some 'stitching' detail and the cards were done!! 

 I used So Saffron and Apricot Appeal which were perfect contrast to the white!  With matching DSP collars, I had to make one just to keep for myself!

So, the church & minister is booked, invites finished and sent.  Now I just have to collect my RSVPs and order catering for a light lunch afterwards.  Easy, I hope!!

Here's what I used:

Papers: Whisper White CS, Vellum CS, Apricot and So Saffron DSP

Other: Big Shot, Polka Dots Embossing Folder, 3/4" Circle Punch, Signo White Gel Ink pen, pearls, Nestabilities (Scallop Circle) and adhesives.

Calendar Pages

Just popping in with a few more calendar pages, that I unbelievably haven't already shown!!  It's hard to fit time in sometimes, so maybe that's it.  It sounds OK, so I'm gonna stick with that excuse.

Both of these calendar pages match up with the Stamp @ Home classes for the corresponding month, so while March in Australia is not Spring time, it's nice to be reminded of Spring!  Although I do love Autumn, Spring in Canberra is even more beautiful!

 

March uses the gorgeous Easter Blossoms set.  I added a bit of interest to the page by colouring in selected areas with the Signo white gel ink pen.

Stamps: Easter Blossoms
Inks: Rose Red & Soft Suede
Papers: Pear Pizzazz and Pretty in Pink
Other: White Gel Ink pen

February of course, is all about love.  So lots of hearts on this page!




Papers: Riding Hood Red, Crumb Cake, Basic Black & Whisper White, Love Letters DSP
Other: Small Heart Punch & Heart Border Trim Punch

Stamp @ Home - Easter Blossoms

Introducing my March Stamp @ Home class, using the beautiful Easter Blossoms stamp set, currently available in the Summer Mini Catalogue!

March 2011 - Easter Blossoms

In this Stamp Class, use your Easter Blossoms stamp set to make four beautiful cards just in time for Easter.  Don't need Easter Cards?  Change the sentiments to suit the occasions.  Make a matching box too - perfect for hiding little chocolate eggs inside!

Last month of Sale-a-Bration 2011

Can you believe it?  The calendar has already ticked over to March.  Another month went by so quickly and as we say goodbye to February we also had to say goodbye to summer.  Where did that summer go?  Come to think of it, wasn't much of a summer with all the rain (and floods) we had!  But I love autumn so I won't complain.  Funny though one of my favourite Sale-a-Bration sets this year is Sweet Summer!

Copyright Images Stampin' Up! 2011

It's not too late, you've got another month to earn your FREE Sale-a-Bration stamp sets.  Which one will you choose?

To see the Sale-a-Bration catalogue and all of the current Stampin' Up! catalogues - click here!