Saturday 29 June 2013

Totally frustrated!!!!!

Got home yesterday to find my laptop had crashed..... and it started a factory default restore..... so I lost all my applications and files.  Totally EVERYTHING went.  So I've been spending the day trying to find things.  I have not been as good as I should have with backing up.... last one was in April!!! I've started to restore by 4 hours later and only half done!  Some files are there, some are not!  All my bookmarks in Firefox are gone and lots of my latest downloads of purchased images.  Yuck.  I was luck to find my product key and am in the process of reloading Office10.  And found the disc for Adobe Photoshop Elements so that can get added again. 

Got the internet up and running and slowly added back my favourite sites.  It's all the silly little adjustments I've made that need (and are taking time) to restore. 

So if I don't get time to visit and comment this weekend, it's because my time is being spend just getting back on track!

Cheers
Dawn

Thursday 27 June 2013

You're Fan-tastic

Tomorrow one of my work colleagues at work is having a birthday.    I decided to make her a card to celebrate.

Fan-tastic

I used a La-La Land digital image.... yes you can get some of the stamps from La-La Land in digital form.  For me, this is awesome as I have not seen the rubber stamps here in NZ.
I found some Chiyogami papers on the Canon Creative Park site  ~ I resized it once to tiny size and printed then printed the digi stamp on top to paper piece.   I then printed some paper at normal size to use for the bottom of the card.  I printed the sentiment onto the card and then printed out some of the flowers.  The sentiment and flowers came with the digi stamp.  The branch was cut  with a Memory Box die.

I have entered this into the challenge at Simon Says Stamp - it's anything goes this week. 

I had my nails and toes painted today.  My delightful children and their partners gave me a voucher to have them done.  They look great.   I chose of pretty red/maroon colour.  And when I got home my prize from Penny Black had arrived....can't wait till I have some time to play....

enjoy the rest of your week... Friday at my place in the morning.... yeah. 

Wednesday 26 June 2013

What's cooking?

Today is my day to share over at Little Blue Button Stamps blog.  I chose to use Miss Lilly Chef from Olga's June release. 

Miss Lilly Chef

I printed and coloured Miss Lilly with Copics and die cut her with a Spellbinders die.  I added a Memory Box die cut frame.  The PP came with a magazine I got last year.  I have left the card without a sentiment at this stage so I can choose to add one when I used it.

And in a few day, Olga's July release will be available at Little Blue Button Stamps.


Monday 24 June 2013

Vellum Flowers.

I recently saw a video by Nichole Heady ( Make it Monday) where she used PTI inks to colour some heavy weight vellum.  I don't have any PTI stamps or inks so couldn't make a card for the challenge.  But really wanted to try the technique.  My vellum is a bit lighter than what Nichole used.

Vellum Roses


I stamped two lots of a Hero Arts Rose with Versamark ink and white embossed.  I then used a sponge tipped make-up Qtip to colour with Distress Inks in Spun Sugar, Pickled Raspberry and Mowed Grass.  I was really pleased how they turned out.  I attempted to make a card base like Nichole's.  I used a Spellbinders die, but when I went to put my flowers on, they were just too transparent.  So onto plan B... use a Cuttlebug embossing folder to make a background.  I embossed the sentiment onto vellum and cut as a banner.  This is a lovely technique that made a very elegant card.

I had the day at home today... woke with a bad headache so spend most of the day in bed, sleeping and resting.  Feeling better now thank goodness, just hope that I can sleep tonight.

Thanks for visiting.  I do appreciated all my visitors.

Sunday 23 June 2013

"Going Digital" @ Red Carpet Studio

 
This week's challenge over at Red Carpet Studio inspired by the all the digital challenges made to movies and the entertainment world over the past couple of years, so our challenge is to make a card using a digital stamp!  




Our sponsor this week is The Paper Nest Dolls and they are offering 3 Copic Markers to our random winner.  And they kindly gave us some digi stamps to work with.  



I used Copics to colour.  The sentiment is computer generated and coloured with Copics as well.  Added lace and a Martha Stewart edge punch.   

I also made another digi card earlier, before we got our digis from The Paper Nest Dolls... so I'll share it here as well



I made this for my friend to give to her older brother for his birthday at the beginning of June.  The beagle on the bike is an old one (no longer available) and I teamed it with a computer generated sentiment.  PP from Graphic 45 (my go to paper for masculine cards)  I used a Cuttlebug alpha die set to cut the 70 5 times from black card and layered together

So dig out the digis and join us for this challenge. 


Saturday 22 June 2013

Simon Says Stamp ~ Summer Fruits....


This week's challenge at Simon Says Stamp is "Summer Fruits"  ~ a hard task for me as we have been having some of the coldest weather of the year over the past week.  A huge storm front has past over the entire country.  The other afternoon on my way home it was only 7 degrees C.  Auckland is usually quite temperate, but need the winter woollies that day.

Still playing with a Mo Manning image last night, made me think of summer and having fun. 

Summer Fruit

This cutie is available at Mo's Digital Pencil and I used the picture as my example for colouring her.  I used Copic markers and once she was coloured, a Spellbinders oval to cut out.  I used a Scalloped oval for my matting.  And then I put both on top of a Memory Box oval die, so you could only see a few bits sticking out.  The PP was from a pack I picked up at K-Mart for just a few dollars.  The colour seemed to be fit my theme.   

I'm sitting in my lounge room with the heater going as it's got very cold again.  My craft room is on the dark side of the house and it's COLD in there just now.   We are heading out for dinner this evening with our son and his girlfriend...to celebrate Mel's and my birthday's.  Her's was earlier in June too.  

Hope your weekend is fun (and maybe warmer than mine!)


Wednesday 19 June 2013

Show your Lovely.....


That was the challenge this week at Saturated Canary (finished in less than 9 hours)  - Anything goes using the image called "Lovely"


Isn't see beautiful!  I had fun making this card for a friend's birthday

Lovely
I printed out the image once and cut with a Spellbinders Floral die and then again to colour and fussy cut.  I layered the fussy cut image over the die cut piece.   I found the PP in my stash... from a pack that came with a magazine, so not too sure of the maker.  Added a flower and some die cut leaves and a Peelcraft sticker. 

We've had some wintery weather and the forecast is for a big storm working it's way up the country from the south... snow down south and some wind and cold rain where I am.   There's been lots of rain over the last few days and on Sunday I had to make my way out in it as my vacuum cleaner died.... so thanks to Fly Buys I now have a new cleaner.   It's awesome.... so much better than the old one.  

thanks for stopping by today...all your delightful comments are much appreciated. 


Sunday 16 June 2013

Mini Album box class

Warning.... picture heavy post

Yesterday I went to class run by Scottie Crafts.  It was a mini album box. Something quite outside my comfort zone...

I sat next to my friend Sue (aka Scrumplecrunch) I haven't seen her for ages, so I was happy to be sitting with her.  And of course, the class was right up her alley.  She gave me lots of hints.

Our box started life as a Cricut cartridge box which was gesso-ed for us to use.  It got covered with sticky backed canvas and some muslin and textured paste we used with a handmade stencil, cut from cardstock with a Tim Holtz brick die.

We also made a few tags to put in our box, using a variety of background techniques using Distress inks, stains and paints.

so here's a few photos

This first one is the box gesso-ed awaiting the finishing staining/painting

unpainted box


and here it is finished

Front of Mini Album box


and a view of the back and sides

And here are the tags.... some ended up double sided, some single sided.


(Entered this tag into the challenge at A Blog Named Hero)



All the tags used Distress inks, stains, paints, as well as some with texture paste, and other embellishments.  The printed sentiments are on acetate which I painted the back of, so the words could be seen.

I had an awesome day and finished off the box today with the stains and paints.  A big thanks to Wendy for a great class and to Janice who helped her out. 

Hope your weekend was a much fun as mine!


Friday 14 June 2013

Happy Birthday to Me....

yes today is my birthday.  And I've had a great day which started very early as hubby was heading off to the Agricultural Field Days down at Mystery Creek just out of Hamilton.  The alarm went off at 5.30am and he greeted me with a box of chocolates and a card (which he took from my stash of cards!!!!)  Well at least, as he said, I'd like it!!!!!  My real present from his is the class I am going to tomorrow at Scottie Crafts  It is a mini album ~I'm trying to step outside my CAS usual genre.  I am so looking forward to this.  4 hours of fun.  Then we are heading out to dinner.

Had a lovely lunch with my work mates who had spoilt me and then came home early to potter around.

 Now I am sharing with you a card I did for using a La-La Land digital stamp

Sail Away

This was so much fun to colour with Copics.  Lots of open space to try out my colouring techniques.  The banners are from a Kaisercraft set that I stamped onto the coloured papers and paper pieced.  I entered this into three challenges
I'm just waiting for my son to arrive... he's coming after work to visit.  Already had a good long chat with my daughter so am a happy Mama (aka Mother Duck as my son calls me!)

Edited:  Entered into the Craftin Desert Divas challenge ~ red white and blue *thanks for the heads up Tara

Hope your day is going as well as mine

Wednesday 12 June 2013

Little Blue Button Stamps/Counterfit Kit Challenge Summer Blog Hop

Good morning, afternoon or evening my friends!

You  should have came from ANGELA's blog

Summer is already here! Do you smell it? Do you hear it?

Hello Summer!



We’re so happy to welcome you on our fantastic blog hop with triple celebration!
First one - is we finally started producing Rubber Stamps!! Yey!!! We are partners of C.C.Designs and now they have our own rubber stamp line - image stamps and VINTAGE stamps as well!


Second - is to encourage our DT friend Steph! She had started her own blog Emchantedsteph ! Steph is a very talented young lady who amazes us with her famous scene cards and other wonderful projects! Go girl!
Third - summer is here!!! Isn't it enough for celebrating?

We gathered two design teams - Little Blue Button Stamps and Counterfeit Kit Challenge! Each dt member prepared a wonderful project using new released in June summer digital stamps from LBBS! Isn’t it fun? 


Be ready to get inspiration and new ideas!


Little Blue Button Stamps - is a company that produces and sells  beautiful and fun digital image stamps, sentiment stamps and printables of high-quality!


Counterfeit Kit Challenge - is a fun challenges using Kit Clubs as inspiration, but your stash as the base.


So let’s start!


There will be four winners:


1st prize: $20 for purchase digis or printables in LBBS store + two rubber stamps from LBBS



2nd prize:  $10 for purchase digis or printables in LBBS store + one rubber stamp from LBBS



3rd prize: 3 digital stamps or any printable designs from LBBS of your choice


4th prize: 40% discount for purchase digis or printables in LBBS store!




What you need to do to enter:


1. Here is a list (down below) of all dt members blogs which you should visit

2. Visit each blog and leave a comment on a blog hop projects of each designer.

3.  Your last stop is Little Blue Button Stamps blog where you must leave your last comment telling what you have done: commented on each blog hop post and maybe subbed to someone?


Also you could get additional  entry if you subscribe to each blog (if you’re not subscribed)!


Simple? Of course there are a lot of stops you should make but there are not enough of inspiration!


You have the whole day and night starting 
June 12th midnight PDT(Pacific Daylight Time) and ending June 13th midnight PDT!
So please set your alarm!=)


Winners will be announced June 15th in both blogs - Little Blue Button Stamps and Counterfeit Kit Challenge!

And now I would like to share with you my card



I used Miss Lilly Mermaid.  I made two background pieces with distress inks... one with greens and blues and one more blue than green. On the first one I printed Miss Lilly as well as onto white card. I cut out the bikini top and her tail from the green card and paper pieced it. The rest of Miss Lilly was coloured with Copics. I also used the green to make the grass and the frond with dies and punches. On the blue one, I added some circles from a CAS-ual Fridays stamp set stamped in Salty Ocean distress ink. I stamped a shell from a Hero Arts set, for Miss Lilly to sit on. Added Aqua stickles and some aqua sequins. All this was mounted onto a dark blue base embossed with the swirly background.

And your next stop is Jemma


Line up:




 Andrea 


 Angela

                   Dawn  <<<===ME

 Jemma  










We wish you fun and luck during hopping!

Monday 10 June 2013

"The Graduate" @ Red Carpet Studio

This week's card challenge at Red Carpet Studio is inspired by "The Graduate"........... so we want you to create a Graduation card.



I decided on a blackboard technique card.... the school theme coming through.  The stamps are from a set by Couture Creations which I white embossed on the black card. I smudged some white ink on the panel.  I stamped the heart in pink and cut it out and added to the panel.  I added the sentiment with my computer onto some patterned paper.  

And I have had some BIG news today..... I won the entire NEW EDITION stamps from Penny Black..... how exciting is that.  I 'm over the moon!!!!!  Hubby, though, no so!  He said I have too many stamps already - spoil sport.

Thanks for stopping by today


Sunday 9 June 2013

Some Monochromatic Inspiration

As  I've mentioned I'm a new member of the team over at Chalk N Stock and today I shared a Monochromatic inspiration card.  I have a few VersaMagic Chalk ink teardrops pads I got when I first started stamping and which have been sadly neglected for a while.   Yesterday I picked up a new Couture Creations stamp set.... They are only $6.99NZ (available HERE)  and I though it would look great done in a monochromatic look

Monochromatic

I pulled out my VersaMagic Turquoise Gem and stamped the flower corner.  I added the sentiment from the set with VersaFine Onyx Black.  Once I'd trimmed the panel I went looking for some card to mat it with.  But nothing I had looked good.  Light bulb moment.... use the ink to colour some white card.  The ink went on like chalk!!!!  sorry about that~ couldn't resist.  Truly it was so easy and went so smoothly.  And it matched perfectly.  So once I added it to a 13cm x 13cm base I decided that it didn't need any other embellishment. 

I am really pleased with the CAS look I achieved, and I hope I've inspired you to look at your chalk inks and give them a play with and join the challenge over at Chalk N Stock

It's a wintery rainy sort of day here so I'm spending some time in the craft room catching up with some DT cards and playing

Saturday 8 June 2013

Vintage Elegance




I recently got a RAK gift from Anita (Crafty Girl Designs).  It was this gorgeous Hero Arts background stamp called Flower Medley Background.  It's one I'd not seen before.

Golden Birthday card

I wanted to try something a bit vintage looking.  This reminded me of Vintage wallpaper.  I stamped with Delicata Golden Glitz ink and clear embossed it onto cream card.  I trimmed it to fit in the centre of a Hero Arts Latte card base.  I did some edging with the ink.  The sentiment was stamped with the Golden ink as well and trimmed with a Fiskars edge punch.  I added a little gold ribbon and bow.

I have entered this into the Pride and Prejudice challenge at City Crafters Challenge

Hope you are all set for a crafty weekend.  I managed to make a number of mini Thank you cards this afternoon.... and enjoyed a quick trip to the stamp shop ~ they had advertised a good special for an Envelope maker  but of course by the time I got there they were sold out :=(   Never mind, I've added my name to the next order.  I've been struggling to find small envelopes for my mini cards and was looking forward to making some.   I did pick up one little Couture Creations stamp set.

Well the second half of the All Blacks versus France rugby test has started - we are leading 17 to 10.

Thursday 6 June 2013

May CCC ~ sending smiles across the miles


I took part in Deborah's Card Chain Challenge  for May.  My card winged it way to Judy in Canada.  She has let me know it arrived okay.   So I can share it here.

May CCC

 My card is loosely based on Deborah's sketch
2014-05
 I flipped the sketch and centred the sentiment.  This card has NO stamping!!!  The PP came from a magazine as did the printed sentiment.  I thought it was appropriate for the CCC as I always send my cards overseas.

I very been really busy at work this week, so not a lot of card making got done, but I will share tomorrow a card I made with a Hero Arts Stamp that Anita sent me.  Thanks Anita...it is beautiful.



Wednesday 5 June 2013

A New Challenge and a Design team position for me....

Yes.... I've joined another Design Team.... Chalk n Stock  Tammylee, one of the co-founders asked me if I was interested in joining the team and of course I said YES!!!  And the challenge for me is to use Chalk on my projects!!!  I have a little box of chalks, purchased about 5 years ago, which haven't seen the light of day for a very long time.....

So here is my first inspiration card,


The design team got to work with Bugaboo digi's ( they are the sponsor for the June's Anything Goes challenge)  I chose this adorable little elephant with present.  I used chalk - yellow and green- for my background. The rest of the image is coloured with Inktense pencils.   Added some Glossy Accents to the balloons and the chickie's beak.  Finished with part of a Hero Arts sentiment stamp which I stamped in black ink and clear embossed.

I'm really pleased to join the team and play with my chalks and chalk inks.   Do pull out your chalks and join me over at Chalk n Stock

Thanks for stopping by.


Monday 3 June 2013

Boys and Men over at Die Cut Divas.

I've been away for a few days with NO internet :-(  Had withdrawal symptoms. 

And while I was away, Die Cut Divas started a new challenge.....The most talented Hannah has decided the theme Masculine cards.... for big or little guys!   And guess who we've got as our sponsor...  none other than the incredible Lawn Fawn


Hannah has interviewed the fantastic Kelly Marie Alvarez ~ see her interview HERE

I don't have many Lawn Fawn stamps but do have the "Say Cheese" stamp set and the matching die. So I decided to see what I could do....


As you can see I used the stamp and die to make the Polaroid frame.  I used a Sullivan's stamp for my unfortunate fisherman.   The "say cheese" sentiment is from the Lawn Fawn set, the "father's day" is from Stamp It and the "Happy" die is from Simon Says.  The PP is from a MME pack.   

I'm also entering this into A blog Named Hero's Mans challenge. 

So we'd love to see your Masculine cards ~ just remember to use your die machine... to emboss or die cut something on your project.

And I thought I'd just share how I spend Sunday afternoon...  a very pleasant early winter's day spent at Te Aria Point. 


Reading my Kindle laying on the beach

 watching a surfer heading out


and looking up at the Point...

We had a lovely long weekend at the beach with two stunning early winter's day.   Now it's back to work tomorrow.