Thursday 31 October 2013

WPlus9 plus Hero Arts = Perfection

That is so true with this Christmas card I recently made.

Christmas Wreath

I have seen a number of stamped wreath cards and with the arrival of my new  Fresh Cut Florals stamps I thought I'd give it a go.

I started by drawing a circle on my card front and using one of the leaf stamps stamped around one side then using the opposite shaped stamp, did the other side, meeting at the bottom.  Added some little little flowers and berries from the set and added some gems and pearls and a little green bow.  

This is one of a number of cards I made over the long weekend.  The weather was superb and while the others worked out in the garden and backyard, I set myself up on the deck 


I got quite a few cards done, lots of colouring and some watercolour backgrounds made.   Hubby did some tiling on a patio for our friends





We had breakfast out on the patio on Monday morning.    Then we decided to have a picnic lunch at Te Ari Point.  I even paddled my feet in the sea.   Too cold for me to swim...... although Hubby and Mike did!


It's Halloween tonight.... very quiet here this year.  Only one lot of visitors so a few sweeties and chocolates still waiting to be eaten... but NOT by me.  I'm taking part in "The Biggest Loser"  at work.  13 of us have put $10 each into the kitty and at the end of 6 weeks who ever has lost the highest percentage of weight will win $80, $30 to 2nd and $20 for 3rd.  So far after the first week I've lost 1.05kgs (2.3pounds) and that was with a long weekend away!  Plus had good results at the doctors today.... Blood Glucose levels the lowest they have been for years!  BP perfect 120/80 and cholesterol at low levels as well.... Want to keep that up.  

Happy Halloween!

 

Thursday 24 October 2013

A Cute Little Kitty

The week seems to totally flown by.  The cards I made this week are for design work except this little cutie.  This was a card I made for a friend's little boy who turned two over the last weekend.

Kitty Birthday

It is a very CAS card that came together when I needed a quick card.  The Kitty stamp is from Rubbadubbadoo, a NZ stamp company.  I coloured with Copics, cut and matted the panel.  The sentiment is from Hero Arts.  I coloured the sentiment and then added some white dots.  

This weekend is Labour Weekend so we get Monday off.  Hubby and I are heading off to the beach with our friends.  I'm going to take some crafting goodies with me to do some painting and colouring and hopefully get some more Christmas cards made. 

Thanks for visiting me today.  Hope you have a great weekend.



Monday 21 October 2013

Embossed Christmas Cards

I here today to share a couple of embossed Christmas cards.  I got  a pair of Couture Creations embossing folders cheaply and a tree die as well.  I used some dark green card for the base on both cards.

Glittery Tree

First up I used the Holly background folder and then added the tree cut from gold foil card.  I added lots of gems to add some bling.    I added this to the challenge at Crafting When We Can ~ Make it Sparkle.  

Chalk board Tree

For my second card, I embossed the green card.  Then I rubbed some white chalk over the card.  I had bought a $2 pack of white children's chalks just a week ago and was very impressed on how this turned out.  I stamped the Kaisercraft sentiment in white ink and once it had dried, I sprayed the card with some cheap hairspray to set the ink.  I rubbed a little gold ink on the star.  

Our weekend went well.   Our friend's service was very special as he was one very special man.  He was interned on Sunday at the cemetery near where he grew up.  The day was stunning, and it was a very moving grave side service.   Farewell my friend... RIP.

 

Friday 18 October 2013

A sympathy card.

To start, I want to say thank you to every one for all your lovely comments on my post yesterday.  I really do appreciate every single one. 

This afternoon, I went to a craft fair and amongst other things I got a couple of stamps to make a card for my friend's family.  The stamps are from Rubadubado

IMG_7489

The image was stamped with Hero Arts Wet Cement ink and coloured with the same ink, some distress ink and a Jenni Bowlin ink.  

We are heading down to Te Puke in the morning for the funeral.  We'll have to leave here by 8.00am as the service is at 12.00.  We'll stay with hubby's sister in Papamoa so it won't be too long a day.  Had to cancel the cat's vaccine's for a couple of weeks as next weekend is Labour Weekend and we are heading up to the beach with our friends.  

Have a great weekend all

Dawn

Thursday 17 October 2013

Cancer SUCKS!

Life has a way of hitting you in the guts sometimes.  Today I learnt a very dear friend of ours passed away yesterday.  He was only 61 and such a fantastic person.  He had prostrate cancer and despite having it removed late last year and undergoing chemo and radiation, he succumbed to this viscous disease.   This is an day we won't forget as it was hubby's birthday.  

We had been down to visit Mark in April and were dismayed to see how unwell he was.   He lives about 2 1/2 hours south of here.  For weeks we have been saying we really should go visit... but now it's too late.  We will travel down on Saturday to his funeral to say our goodbyes.   

This really has made my day feel sad.  So I came home from work and did what makes me happy.... make some cards.  I did some water colouring as that always makes me feel better.

IMG_7482

I printed the Tiddly Inks image onto some new Tim Holtz water colour paper.  I used a Copic to colour her face and then Derwent Inktense pencils for the rest and then a water downed Gelato for the background.  The red panel on the card was embossed with a Couture Creations Christmas (not that you can see much of it!)  The corner is a La La Land die.  The sentiment was part of the digital image.  I finished with a little poinsettia.  Entering into the challenge at Simon Says Stamp

Thanks for taking the time to visit.  I really do appreciate it.  Take care

Dawn


Monday 14 October 2013

Feathery Fun

Feathers are quite on trend at the moment so when I saw this awesome set at WPlus9, I knew I wanted it.
http://cdn2.bigcommerce.com/server500/b0f41/products/210/images/1601/wplus9_fancifulFeathers_4x6__61600.1375887266.350.350.png 

To get an idea of how to use I went onto the WPlus9 Design Blog and found lots of great inspiration which I promptly added to Pinterest, so I'd have some ideas.

So here's what I came up with... both cards very CAS

First one uses Iced Spruce Distress ink

Feathered Birthday

I used a 2mm calligraphy pen to make the frame around the card, giving a look of matting.  The sentiment is from a Hero Arts set.  I used the matching sentiment inside 

Inside of the card

and decorated the envelope as well

Feathered Birthday

My second card used Golden Glitz ink with a very similar design
Feel Better

This one is a get well card for a friend who came off his bike recently and is in the Acute Brain Injury unit in Porirua hospital doing some rehab.  He is very lucky to be alive and is making good progress.  

The weekend was very full on with the family.  Our nephew's 21st birthday party was on Saturday and we had some of the family staying the weekend.  So I'll finish with a pic of the nieces and nephews ( the younger 6)

My son is the last one on the right.

Thanks for stopping by today, I appreciate you visits.



Dawn




Thursday 10 October 2013

A challenge to use chipboard or cardboard..............

Last month I joined in the challenge at Creative Craft Cottage and was lucky to win the lovely prize of beautiful hand crafted crochet doilies which arrived today and an email from Eileen asking if I would like to join the DT.  Now this little challenge blog is run by New Zealanders so how could not say YES.

This month's challenge is  "Chipboard or Cardboard".  I have a couple of cards to share using chipboard and cardboard.

First up is a card I made a while back using a chipboard angel.


and my second card I just finished tonight that uses a cardboard sticker from My Mind's Eye.  It's from their chalkboard collection


I white embossed the sentiment from Kaisercraft and used a white gel pen to go over the edging and scroll and around the word "Christmas"

I'm adding the bottom one to the Moxie Fab World Sticker/Tape challenge

Our challenge runs till 12.00pm on the 31st October (NZ Time) so there's plenty of time to join us.  All are welcome.



Dawn



Tuesday 8 October 2013

In the Pink......

The latest challenge is up at Chalk'n'Stock... and here is my sample card.

Pretty in Pink

I started with some pink chalk ink and a Hero Arts background stamp.  I love the creamy look this gave.  I printed off my Bugaboo image and coloured with Copics.  I matted both with some deep pink card stock and then used some of the same card to make the rolled rose.  I computer generated the sentiment and draw around it with a fine pen.  I die cut a doily and coloured it with the same chalk ink.  

Our challenge at Chalk'n'stock is "anything goes" as usual, as long as you use chalk somewhere on your project.  Would love to have you join us.

I have also entered this into the "Pretty in Pink"  challenge at Red Carpet Studio

And if you are interested I posted some Halloween cards over at Little Blue Button Stamps ~ here


Monday 7 October 2013

A Tiddly Ink Christmas for WCMD...

My Australian Simply Cards magazine this month had a free set of Tiddly Inks stamps and some Christmas papers.  We got home around 2.30pm on Sunday afternoon and once I had unpacked and tidied up I headed to the craft room and got started on using the stamps and papers and the magazine for inspiration.... 4 cards later......

Holly Jolly Christmas

Holly Jolly Christmas Puppy

Fairy Merry Christmas


Using a number of Spellbinders dies together with the free papers.  A really cute stamp set.   I had so much fun playing with this set and I'm sure I'll being using it again.  There is still lots of the papers left to use.

Entered the last two cards into the Anything Goes at Tiddly Inks -challenge  

Thanks for visiting today. 

Thursday 3 October 2013

Tuesday Trigger


This is a lovely photo that is the  Tuesday Trigger over at Moxie Fab World.   The tines of the comb looked like woodgrain to me so that was one of the inspirations for me on this card.

Thinking of You ~ Tuesday Trigger

I used some Simon Says Woodgrain card for my base and used some distress ink to colour.   I used a Cherry Lynn flourish die cut and snipped into pieces and then added some paper flowers.  A touch of green with the ribbon and a little tag.  Finished with some faux stitching.  

I entered this into the Stitching challenge over at the The Paper Shelter as well as the Tuesday Trigger challenge.  This card is on it's way to a friend who is having her birthday in the weekend.  

At the last minute we have decided to head up to the beach for the weekend.  We'll take off after work tomorrow and just relax for the weekend.  I'll try and get some images printed and stamped and take my pens and paints with me.  Plus my Kindle and I'm set.  But no internet for 2 days :-(  

Thanks for visiting and a big thanks to all the encouraging comments that you leave... they are much appreciated.