Verve Release Challenge Number 1

My niece Kaia (pronounced Ky-ah) is turning 1 year old next week, so I decided to use another of the Verve Release Party Challenges to make a card for her. This little girl was premature and had a bit of a rough start to life, but is now doing very well......thank God!!
I started with a light green base, matted with white (pierced of course!!) and then matted with pink that has been embossed with 'Swiss Dots' embossing folder. The large rectangle panel is a piece of Urban Prairie paper by Basic Grey, matted with white and green. The princess is from Lizzie Anne Designs, has been stamped in black and coloured with markers and cut out. It was then stuck onto a Label 4 die cut that had been cut out of white, embossed the edge and sponged some pink onto it while still in the die so that it has a pink background and white edge. The horizontal slot punch was used on the side to add some ribbon and a clear rhinestone. Finally the circle has been stamped from Verve's 'Fairy Tales' set in green and cut out. The '1' has been stamped using the Just Rite Special Occasions Font and the whole circle has been popped up on foam tape.
That's two challenges down and two to go!! :) Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!! :)

Verve Release Challenge Number 3

Today's card is for the Verse Stamps April Release Challenge (VSAPR3) and the details can be found on SCS here . This card is going to a friend of mine having her birthday on Sunday. :)
I started with a white base, layered with some blue bazzill and layered again with one of my favourite papers by Little Yellow Bicycle (Delightful range). The horizontal layer is the reverse side of the same paper matted with the same blue bazzill and the edge punched with the Fiskars 'Lace' punch (that I got at ABSA). The square panel has been cut using rectangle nestabilities, the smallest square has been stamped using SU's Pocket Silhouettes in Tempting Turquoise (stamped off once), added a butterfly punched out with the Martha Stewart Royal Butterfly punch and some pearls for the body. (I really liked the look of this on my last card and decided to do it again for this card.) Finished off by adding some white grosgrain to the square, silver brads to the corner and a simple birthday sentiment to the bottom.
I just realised that this card is also suitable for the Flutter by Wednesday Challenge to use a butterfly or fairy and punches or die cuts!!! :)
That's all for now, thanks for visiting!! :)

Featured Stamper - **INGE**

It's time for the Featured Stamper Challenge over at SCS!! This week the honour goes to **INGE**! Congrats Inge!! I've chosen THIS CARD to case.
I started with a base of Very Vanilla, layered with some pink Bazzill (pierced of course! :) ) and layered again with this yummy 'Bittersweet' Basic Grey paper. Then (shock, horror!!) I actually got out the sewing machine and zig zag stitched around the edge!! I added some of my favourite corner embellishments (Provocraft 'Vintage' dies) and the sentiment (from SU's Occassional Greetings, or All Holidays if in North America). I found the idea for this stunning Filigree Medallion at Becca Feeken's Blog - she has the most amazing ideas for punches and dies and her card designs are stunning! I used the 'Floral Accent' die set by Spellbinders to cut out each piece and then glued them together to make the medallion, then I added some 'Blush' pearls by Kaiser craft. The panel it sits on is the Label 4 die set - I cut the largest one out and then cut the middle with the next size down. Underneath that is some vellum so the paper shows through. I finished off by adding some ribbon to each side.
Once again for the Aussies, the Bazzill, Spellbinders Dies and Provocraft cuttlebug dies are available through my friends at ABSA - click on 'craft' on the left hand side. They are slowly updating their website, so if you can't find what you are looking for contact them via phone, fax or email and they'll be more than willing to help.
I know I made this all sound easy, but honestly this card took FOREVER and nearly drove me insane trying different things. I'm sending this card to my Mum for Mother's Day, as another cardmaker, I know she'll appreciate it!! :)
That's all for today, thanks for visiting!! :)

SFYTT Butterfly 40th

I am so, so late doing this week's SFYTT challenge - so late the next one is almost due to be posted. I really wanted to do this a bit earlier but with school holidays and Easter, time really got away from me this week. This one is for a good friend of mine having her 40th Birthday this week! :)
I started this card with a Very Vanilla base, layered with some teal cardstock I found somewhere (world win papers) that was pierced and layered again with this pretty paper by DCWV (Nana's Nursery - Boy). The rectangle layer is from the same paper pack, matted with more teal and punched the edge using the Fiskars 'Lace' Border Punch and tied with some ivory satin ribbon around it. The small squares are VV, matted with more teal and stamped using SU's 'Pocket Silhouettes' in Versacolor - Celadon. The butterflies have been punched using Martha Stewart's Royal Butterfly punch (you still can't buy MS anywhere in Australia :( ) and embellished with some Kaisercraft 'Blush' pearls. Finally the main panel has been cut using the new Label 3 dies by Spellbinders - I pierced the curves and put some pearls in the corners and popped it up. Then I used the Circle Nestabilities to cut the floral circle. The sentiment has been made using the Just Rite Stampers - Small Letter Set and Special Occasions Font. I love that the Just Rite Stampers co-ordinate perfectly with the circle Nestabilities!!! I did punch out the '40' using a 1 1/4in punch so that it didn't obscure part of the sentiment and popped it up.
For the Aussies - the Spellbinders, Just Rite and Fiskars products are all available through my friends at ABSA , if you can't see what you are looking for contact them and they'll be more than willing to help!!
I guess that's all for me today. I wish you all a very blessed and happy Easter!!! Thanks for stopping by!! :)

A Pink Confirmation

I can't believe I've gone so long without making anything!! Today I got some new toys to play with, so what better to get that sluggish mojo going!! :)

Today's card started with a pink Bazzill base, layered with white (pierced of course!! :) ) and then layered with this cute paper by Pebbles Inc. The main panel has been cute using my BRAND NEW Label 4 die set by Spellbinders!!! I have been waiting for these for ages!! I used the largest die to cut a piece of pink and also a piece of white. The white was then cut again using the next size down to make it into a frame and embossed the edge. The edge was popped on foam tape and embellished with white Kaiser pearls. The cross is by Rubber Stampede and was stamped three times in Versamark on white and heat embossed with silver embossing powder. Then I cut them out in layers and popped them up. The sentiment was stamped using the Rectangular Stamper, Small Letter Set and Special Occasions Font by Just Rite, cut out with the Ribbon Tags Trio (by Spellbinders) and attached using some pink satin ribbon.

For my fellow Aussies, all the Spellbinders, Bazzill and Just Rite products are available through my friends at ABSA .

I have to say it was great to get back into the craft room and create again!!! That's all for today, thanks for visiting!!! :)

An Award!!!!

Today I had the honour of being selected for an award on Chris' Blog . What an awesome surprise!!! Chris is so talented and her generous, uplifting comments know no bounds! Thank-you so very much Chris!!!! I know I've been out of action for a few days (thanks to those who've been asking about me) - I've had a big week-end, you know the kind that remind you that you aren't as young as you used to be!!!! On top of that school holidays have started for Easter, so kids are home. I really need to kick my mojo into gear and get creating again!!!!

If I had to pick 10 of my favourite blogs to award it would be really hard, but I will do my best (I would name you Chris, but that would seem a bit weird don't you think??!! LOL!!)

Amy is one of the most talented people I've ever seen and I am constantly inspired by her amazing creativity!!!

Angella who I only discovered fairly recently who has the most awesome flair and has such a kind, generous heart!

Laurie who probably doesn't even know who I am. She was one of the first designers I discovered when I started out and have been following her blog ever since.

Julee who is so talented and has an amazing following.

Holly who not only is so creative, has the greatest sense of humour!!

Sita who has such flair and all her designs are so classy!

Becca who does the most extraordinary things with Spellbinders products (and you all know how much I love Spellbinders).

Denise I love her clean, simple and fun style!

Michelle who is simply amazing!!! I love her style, her fun personality and she gives me such encouragement.

Edna my BFF!!! We've known each other almost 20yrs and it's her fault (I mean because of her) I started cardmaking in the first place. Her friendship and creativity never cease to encourage and inspire me!!!

There are so many people who constantly inspired me, I'm sorry I can't name you all!!! Please visit all these amazing, creative ladies and leave a comment - you'll make their day, just as you always make mine!!!

{HUGS}

SC222 - Brother Birthday

It's the dreaded MAN CARD!!! Am I the only one that struggles with cards for men? I've decided to use this week's Sketch Challenge over at SCS to make a birthday card for my brother who is a very handyman/earthy kind of guy!
I started with a base of brown bazzill, topped with some Very Vanilla (pierced of course!) and then some dark green bazzill that I embossed with 'Distressed Stripes' embossing folder. Across the bottom I've added some paper by Heidi Grace, stamped the sentiment from SU's 'Occasional Greetings' (All Holidays) and then put copper brads in each corner. The main image is from SU's 'For Father' that I stamped in black on white card and coloured with markers and a blender using the same green and brown tones and then the edges were sponged with Creamy Caramel and Close to Cocoa. It was then layered on some green and brown bazzill, punched the side and added some ribbon and more brads.
That's all for today, thanks for visiting!!! :)

A Sage Wedding

Today I had to make a wedding card. The colours for this special occasion were white and a green that was VERY close to Sage Shadow I went digging to see what I could come up with.
The base is some gorgeous Bazzill from their 'Wedding' collection - it has a soft sheen like satin and has a very soft stripe through it. Then I topped it with some silver card. I used some foam tape to pop the whole square layer on top of that - a layer of Sage Shadow and some more Bazzill from the 'Wedding' collection - this time it still has that soft sheen, but it is covered in embossed butterflies!! Around this layer I've added some 1 inch white grosgrain ribbon, some sage satin ribbon and then this gorgeous sage and white rose braid that matched perfectly!! Then I tied some white organza ribbon into a bow and added some silver cord and a white rose bud. The main panel I stamped using the Just Rite Stampers - the Brayton Font and the Rectangular Block - in black ink. The '&' is from SU's 'Together Forever' set and stamped in Sage Shadow. (Thanks HEAPS to my BFF Edna who let me borrow her set!) It was cut out using the Label 1 Nestabilities dies and then it was glued to some Sage Shadow card and I hand cut a fine edge around it. Finished off by adding some white Kaisercraft Pearls to the corner!
If you are in Australia - the Nestabilities, Just Rite Stampers and Bazzill cardstock are all available through my friends at ABSA .
That's all for today, thanks for visiting!!! :)