Perfect pastime on a VERY hot day

 The plan had been to attack some much needed gardening and general outdoor maintenance this week, but the weather here has conspired against us.  All around Australia, there are some very serious bush fires happening, we have had record temperatures fanned by high winds and low humidity. And there seems no respite in sight.

So, I couldn't think of anything nicer to do than attempt some challenges, particularly a new one on the scene.

I think I will just make the Dynamic Duos challenge deadline.  Island Indigo isn't a colour I have used much of but I do like it and now that it is out of the packaging (read languishing on my desk), I will endeavour to use it more.

What you need
Cardstock - PTI white;  SU Melon Mambo, Island Indigo
DSP - SU Brights Collection
Stamps - MFT Lovey Dovey Sentiments
Ink - SU Melon Mambo
Die - PTI hearts border
Gems - Kaisercraft


Now for the newbie - what avid card maker isn't going to love this one.  And what an endless source of inspiration.  I didn't think I would refer to it as much as I do, for all sorts of things.

The ideas I particularly liked on this card, and there is a fair bit of decoration going on,  are the colours and polka dots.  While I don't have a stamp set with several different circles, I did have one with stars so went with that.

What you need
Cardstock - PTI white, black
Stamps - HA Year Round Sentiments
Ink - Memento Pear Tart, Sweet Plum, Bahama Blue, Rose Bud, Tuxedo Black
Gems - Kaisercraft

Case Study #80 and For Your Inspiration #25

It's been awhile since I have done a Case Study challenge, not intentional, just life gets in the way of creativity at times.  But one of my favourite card makers is this months muse, so had to join in.  Laura Bassen has a lovely clean style that I very much admire and aspire to.  

Here is my take on her card.  I have stayed with the heart motif and most of the colours (just couldn't fit blue in).  

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white

Patterned paper - PTI 2008 Bitty Dot Basics

Stamps - PTI Heart Prints

Ink - Memento Rich Cocoa;  SU Lucky Limeade, Regal Rose, Peach Parfait

Gems - Kaisercraft

For my second card I deliberately went CAS and when you see the photo you will know why.

So impossibly beautiful and serene.  So, for me, I have chosen predominantly white with a touch of blue and pink

What you need

Cardstock - BB textured white;  SU white, ? Pacific Point

Stamps - PTI Turning a New Leaf, Mega Mixed Messages

In - Memento Bahama Blue;  PTI Melon Berry

Punch - SU

Gems - Kaisercraft

February 2012 PTI Blog Hop

This month's theme:  Interactive Cards

This is a take on a card I did for a past PC Submission.  It took a bit of thinking about, ie where to attach the embellishments so that the jigsaw still broke up.  Couldn't use patterned paper either as I would have had to cut around every piece - too much hard work for me (I like hand cutting but not that much).

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white

Stamps - PTI Sweet Love, Heart Prints, Text Style

Ink - SU Real Red, Regal Rose and markers

Die - Spellbinders

Gemstone Flourish and Rose - Prima

Bag - PTI

Other - Peg, lace, ribbon,jigsaw from craft supplies

Looks like another wet-ish day in Brisbane - a good day for cleaning, or perhaps cardmaking

PTI Fifth Birthday Celebrations - Days 5 - 7

OK, so things haven't quite turned out time-wise as I would have hoped.  BUT I do now have an almost fully functioning craft room, YIPPEE!!  Just afew little tweaks, some pictures on the walls, and a coat of paint can wait till winter.  My final card is very loosely based on the first two challenges

 Challenge Day 5 - Pinterest Inspiration

This site would have to be the biggest time waster - I think I spent more time looking for and deciding upon an inspiring photo than actually making the card!  There are so many beautiful images (and recipes to download) and ideas that make you think "why didn't I think of that...."

So here is the photo I have chosen, it is just so beautiful and my favourite colours

ajpscs via Blue Peublo

Forest Spider Lilies, Saitama, Japan

Challenge Day 6 - Sketch

Could have picked any of the sketches, really liked them all.

Challenge Day 7 - The theme of Hearts

Just in time for Valentines Day, and my husband really does deserve a huge thank you for all the work (read flat pack assembly) and a fair degree of frustration whilst redoing my room

What you need

Cardstock - PTI black, white, Raspberry Fizz, Pure Poppy

Stamps - PTI Heart Prints

Ink - SU Real Red, Melon Mambo;  Memento Tuxedo Black

Dies - PTI Mat Stack 4; Hearts

Impression Plate - PTI Circles

Glitter - Fire Engine Red

Less is More - Week 11

Theme - Acetate

I had a couple of ideas for this challenge but have just run out of time, so I pulled out a card I found in last weekend's clean out that I thought would suit the purpose.  Not very CAS nor very new and unusual but it brings a smile to my face.

As the acetate was flaring abit in the late afternoon light I have photographed it flat.

What you need
Cardstock - PTI Acetate;  SU white
Patterned Paper - American Crafts Warm Wishes
Paper flowers and pearls - Kaisercraft
Buttons - PTI Sweet Blush
Ribbon - PTI Vintage Cream
Lace - ? Maya Road

I LOVE Roses ....

I think I have just managed to get this card in for Waltzingmouse Sketch challenge #33.  It has been an enormous week for us, but hopefully things will calm by the weekend.  I had a couple of packages arrive today including my lovely WM parcel (I won my order and am delighted - more to spend on the next order).  Darkroom Door were having a warehouse cleanout and were selling packs of assorted stamps, paper, film and wordstrips, you get the idea and I am delighted with what I received.  They also have this beautiful rose paper which I have wanted for a long time so decided to treat myself.  And who can resist these yummy colours from CR84FN14

So, maybe this is the card for my husband

What you need

Cardstock - SU Early Espresso, Pixie Pink, Pink Pirouette, white

Patterned Paper - Darkroom Door Pink Roses

Stamps - Waltzingmouse Fancy Phrases

Ink - SU Pink Passion;  Memento Rich Cocoa

Ribbon - PTI Raspberry Fizz Satin

Buttons - PTI Sweet Blush

Gemstones - Kaisercraft

This could get complicated ....

I have probably left posting my challenges far too late so my photos etc may end up getting confused, add to that one very busy Saturday morning (ballet, jazz, grocery shopping, returning library books, you know the drill), ready for a little rest now.

OK,  first card

This is for Card Patterns #100 challenge sketch.  I have had this colour combination in my head for quite some time, so thought this classic sketch lent itself to something elegant.
What you need

Cardstock - SU white, black, grey;  PTI Lemon Tart
Stamps - PTI Mat Stack Collections 2 and 3
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black;  Brilliance Sunflower Yellow
Ribbon - PTI Black Twill
Pearls - Kaisercraft

Second card

We are having such humid weather at the moment, and it was very hard to stamp the block of colour, should have picked something simpler.  Still too girly for my husband, he might be lucky to get a card in 6 months time.  This card is for Tuesday Trigger (just want to have the photos on my blog) and Wee Memories #41.

What you need

Cardstock - SU Very Vanilla;  PTI Pure Poppy

Patterned Paper - Echo Park Be Mine

Stamps - PTI Sweet Love

Ink - SU Rose Red;  Memento Rich Cocoa

Die - MFT Scallop

Mini Roses - Taylored Expressions

Pearls and Gemstones - Kaisercraft

2 cards ...... 2 challenges

A quick post tonight as it's later than I anticipated I would be posting ie the Australian Open is on, and I have a few to get through.

Colour Throwdown # 126 - I don't have Marina Mist and not exactly sure whether it is a sky blue or alittle more subdued than that, so opted for a sky blue colour.

I maybe getting slightly closer to a Valentine card for my husband,  pity he has seen it.

What you need

Cardstock - SU Early Espresso, white
DSP - SU Kiwi Kiss
Stamps - PTI Heart Prints
Ink - Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue;  SU Early Espresso, Old Olive
Ribbon -  SU Early Espresso Striped Grosgrain
Pebbles - Candy Dots


Really wanted to have a go at this and it is very last minute.  I am not very familiar with uploading onto Splitcoast but I'll give it a go.

It was such a lovely card from friends in Melbourne and I thought if you didn't look too closely the holly wouldn't be that obvious on an anniversary card, well at least I hope my parents won't care too much

What you need

Cardstock - SU black, real red, white
Stamps - Flourishes Let them eat cake, Fanciful Flourishes (sentiment)
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black;  SU Real Red
Die - Spellbinders Labels 5
Ribbon - SU Real Red
Gemstones - Kaisercraft 

January PTI Blog Hop

The January Blog Hop theme is to use a stamp set that may not have seen much ink lately or not seen it at all.  Damask Designs was my first PTI set which has been used alot but mainly as a background, not really as a feature, so I thought I would include these cards in this blog hop.  I made this set for a publication call which I guess we can safely assume wasn't taken up.

What you need

Cardstock - Textured white;  SU white, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive
Stamps - PTI Damask Designs;  SU Elegant Thank you
Ink - Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive and markers
Gems - Kaisercraft

But wait ....  there's more ....

Another card!!!!

I am still in search of an appropriate card for my husband,  still too girly I think.  I used the latest sketch from Mojo Monday (175) as my inspiration and finally used Heart Prints, which I finally got at Christmas.  It's hard to see, but I have stamped xoxo on the banner (thought I should put abit more effort into the stamping aspect.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI Kraft, white;  SU Early Espresso, Real Red
Patterned Paper - 2008 Bitty Dot Basics
Stamps - PTI Heart Prints
Ink - PTI Pure Poppy; Memento Rich Cocoa
Die - PTI Double Ended Banner
Martha Stewart Lace Tags
Prima flowers
Ribbon - craft supplies
Gemstones - Kaisercraft

CAS #123

Nice to be back in the swing with CAS challenges.  I have been doing ALOT of stitching on cards a la Niki Estes (great inspiration) so it had to appear on a creation of my own.  Alittle labor intensive as I don't have a sewing machine (of the automated kind) but I found it very therapeutic.  Also, on my quest to use my patterned paper, alittle bit more has been added to a card.

Apologies for the photography, light at the moment is alittle unpredicatable

What you need

Cardstock - PTI Kraft, white
Patterned paper - Cosmo Cricket Honey Pie
Stamps - PTI Sweet Love
Ink - Memento Rich Cocoa;  SU Choc Chip, Real Red
Bookprint
Gemstones - Kaisercraft
Dark brown DMC embroidery cotton

Waltzing Mouse Challenge - Valentine

This is my first Waltzing Mouse Challenge (hopefully the first of many), but I have been watching and admiring for along time.  Unfortunately I don't have a set (limited at this point but determined to fix this problem) remotely resembling a valentine set. So, with this in mind I used the half scallop from Vintage Labels 10.

What you need

Carstock - PTI white;  SU Real Red
Stamps - Waltzing Mouse Vintage Labels 10;  PTI Heart Prints
Ink - SU Rose Red; Versa Colour Opera Pink;  Memento Tuxedo Black
Die - Spellbinders Labels 10;  Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
Ribbon - SU grosgrain Real Red
Gemstones - Kaisercraft

Paper Pals Arts #72

This is such a pretty collection of photos, I just had to have a go at this challenge.  I would have preferred a slightly lighter shade of  brown, but you have to go with what you've got, and I do like the result.

The layout is based on a Mojo Monday sketch from last year (26/10/09), with a couple of changes, and the plan was for it to be a Valentine's card for my husband.  Two problems with this, I don't have any valentine stamp sets (an oversight that is being rectified) and it is alittle too girly.  Will have to come up with something else - plenty of time.

What you need

Cardstock - American Crafts white;  SU Close to Cocoa, white
Stamps - PTI Year of Flowers:  Roses, Text Style;  Hero Arts heart (I think)
Ink - SU Close to Cocoa, Choc Chip
Pins - Maya Road
Ribbon - Cristina Re
Flowers - Prima
Stickles - Diamond

OLW # 15

    "Unexpected Colours"
I love this idea - when it comes to Christmas I try to pick colours other than the traditional red, green etc.  Last year for a work colleague I chose white, black and  SU Sahara Sand.  The black provided framing for the black swirly Christmas tree, it did look good.
Anyway, navy would be one of my top colour choices, so I thought, why not on a Valentines card.  Wish I had embossed the flourished heart but will know that for next time, and not a gemstone in sight.

What you need

Cardstock - SU Whisper White
Stamps - Flourishes Fanciful Flourishes;  PTI Damask Designs (sentiment)
Ink - SU Night of Navy;  PTI Fresh Snow