Your'e Tie-rific Dad!

This is my second post today!  Please scroll down for Party Time Tuesdays #71

On Monday I purchased 7 Sets of Digital Images and Cutting Files which were part of the Cyber Monday Sale at The Cutting Cafe.  These sets were all Father's Day and Masculine related given in the USA they celebrate Father's Day this month.  I couldn't resist using them to create a card today simply for fun and playing along with a few different challenges.

Digi Image and Sentiment :  The Cutting Cafe For My Tie-rific Dad Set

Paper/Cardstock:  Stampin' Up!, Time to Create, Ink/Colour:  Tria Markers

Other:  Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Circle Punches, Circle Spellbinders Die and Button

The sentiment and tie image is from the set called For My Tie-rific Dad.  The tie image in the set is actually of 8 ties, but I cut this down to suit my design and used only four.

I am entering this card into the following challenges.

Sentimental Sundays:   Challenge #105 Show Me Your Spots (& Bonus Sketch)

Dynamic Duos:      Challenge #5 Bold & Sassy Colours (Real Red & Island Indigo)

Cards for Men:  Challenge #12 Fathers Day

Love to Create:  Challenge #18 Fathers Day or a Special Guy in your Life

Here Come the Boys:     Challenge #28 Anything Goes

Pile it On:     Challenge # Put a Button on Father's Day

What's Black, White & Yellow, has lots of Polka Dots and High Heels?

I asked you yesterday 'What is Black, White & Yellow, has lots of Polka Dots and High Heels?

The answer is my card I am sharing today.....hehe,  which I have made combining a couple of Challenges together.

Firstly I have used the current Card Sketch over at Frosted Designs

Card Sketch #19 to be exact which I turned and twisted.

The Dynamic Duos - #3 Black Tie Week with Desert Option  

The Paper Players & Glitter Geeks both want to see Polka Dots

and lastly being a card which every girl can relate to I am also entering the Crafty Catz - #133 Girlie Time and Simply Create Too - #13 Mother's Day or Feminine Card Challenges.

I love yellow and black together however I don't use this combination often and there is definitely lots and lots of Polka Dots from the 'If the Shoe Fits' Itty Bitty Stamp by Unity, to the Echo Park Paper and even my flower.  I have used my Tria Markers to color the shoe.  Its quite a sunny yellow which I am wishing for in the sky today given I have just done a couple of loads of washing.  Why is it I always seem to choose the worst day of the week weather wise to do it?

I hope you don't have too much housework holding you back from your crafting today!

Platypus Creek Digitals Challenge #7 - Colour Inspiration

This week sees the start of another great challenge over at Platypus Creek Digitals which is a Color Inspiration Challenge.

We want to see you create a card combining the three colors pictured above which I will call dark teal, purple and olive green.

Digi Image:  Sakura by Platypus Creek Digitals

Cardstock/Paper:  Stampin' Up!

Other:  Various Sakura Punches, Embossing Folder, Bling and Tria Markers.

Here's is my card using the closest thing I had to these colours and the delightful Sakura Image from Platypus Creek.  I punched various Sakura Flowers to match those on her dress, and used one of my Oriental Themed Embossing Folders and a little Bling.

Be sure to pop over and check out all the other wonderful creations from my fellow DT Members over on the Platypus Creek Digitals Blog, as we all normally end up using different Digis and Cutting Files so their is a great variety of inspiration to be found.  And of course you will also find all the details about how to enter our fortnightly Challenges.

Other Challenges I have entered this card include

Cute Card Thursday - #217 A Touch of Sparkle

Card Makin Mama's - #45 May Flowers

A New Challenge with Unity Stamps

After being in bed sick for a couple of days I was longing to get back into my craft room and create so I decided to check out some new challenges and play along as it has felt like ages since I have been in my craft room.

I found a new Challenge which asks for you to use Unity Stamps so I couldn't resist.  The Challenge is over at the Craft A Lot Blog.  Craft A Lot is an Australian Site/Store which sells Unity Stamps and is the exclusive Distributor of their KOTM here.  The Craft A Lot Challenge was to use any Unity Stamp and Bling.

I also decided to incorporate the colors from the latest Paper Players Challenge which are Baja Breeze, Poppy Parade and Daffodil Delight

Plus play along for the first time with the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge which is to pick a letter of the alphabet and use three things on your card which start with that letter.  I chose the Letter R - for Red, Roses and Rhinestones.

For this one I have used the gorgeous rose stamp from the Unity March 2012 KOTM and the Sentiment is from the Unity Stamp Set 'My Thoughts are with You'.  

I randomly stamped the rose in Poppy Parade onto the Daffodil Delight Cardstock and then took my Water Brush and very roughly coloured the rose in using Poppy Parade and the Baja Breeze.  Because its on the yellow the Baja Breeze sort of looks more green. I then took my White Gel Pen and went over some of the outlines of the stamp (similar to the Bandana Technique but without the Stazon Ink).  I also swirled some of the Baja Breeze Ink left on my waterbrush between my stamped Design.  

My sentiment I simply stamped with Poppy Parade on White and then punched it out using my SU Large Oval Punch and layered under the image.

Finishing with my rose embellishment which I simply stamped out again on the yellow and coloured but did not highlight with the white gel pen.  A few punched leaves layered underneath the rose, a eyelet scalloped border underneath the image panel and some bling and there you have it. 

I am going to send this one to a friend who has been a bit down of late to let her know I am thinking of her.

Challenges used for inspiration:

Craft A Lot - May Unity Challenge

The Paper Players - Challenge #95

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday - Challenge #169

       

PTT #64 - Colour/Picture Inspiration

This is my second post for today!  Please scroll down for my Magical Monday Post with Paper Cupcakes.

After undergoing two days of further medical examinations/procedures following his experiencing of chest pains, I am pleased to report that the results have come back clear for my hubby and they are showing no signs of anything seriously wrong with his heart.  He now has to follow up with his GP and may have to undergo some further tests to get to the bottom of it all, however the doctors have indicated it may have just been the result of the stressful few weeks we have just been through with the sudden death of his father and it may all settle down again after a few weeks. 

Anyway on with today's post!

This week at Party Time Tuesdays we have a fabulous color combo and photo inspiration for you all to play along with.  

Digi:  Ava Flowers by Bugaboo Digi Stamps, Sentiment:  Stampin' Up! Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Papers:  Echo Park, Stampin Up!, Colour/Ink:  Memento Black Tuxedo Ink and Tria Markers

Other:  Ribbon by Stampin' Up!  Petaloo Flowers, Roses from Stash, Circle and Scallop Circle Dies, XL Bird Punch by Stampin' Up!

I made a circle card, for Mother's Day inspired by the colours and the flowers to one side of the path in the inspiration photo.

The image 'Ava Flowers' which I used for my card today is from:

Our other sponsors joining us this week are:

To see the creations from all the Party Planners and for all the challenge details visit the Party Time Tuesdays Challenge Blog.  I do hope you will join us!

PTT #60 - Photo Inspiration Challenge

This is my third post for today - Please scroll down for Paper Cupcakes Magical Monday and/or Cute as a Button (Colour Combos Galore Inspiration Challenge #220)

 

It's time for another Colour/Photo Inspiration Challenge at Party Time Tuesdays.  This week we are taking you away to a tropical paradise escape, and bringing you the enticing colours of 

Sea Foam, Brown Cream and Buttercup.  

We are once again joined by our Month Long Sponsors Spesch Stamps and Robin's Nest and for this week only Digi Stamps 4 Joy and Digital Delights.

My card uses Paper and Dew Drops from Robin's Nest, and the Celebration Cake Image from Digi Stamps for Joy.  I have colored the image using my Tria Markers, the sentiment and colored cardstock except for the base card is from Stampin' Up!, as are the oval punches whilst my all time favorite Ribbon Loop punch is from Martha Stewart.  The ribbed card base is from a Card Pack I purchased last week from my friend Julie at Time to Create.  You will find a link to her blog and store on my sidebar, she has a extensive range of paper-crafting supplies which includes her own range of beautiful handmade embellishments.

 

Cute as a Button!

I am loving the color combos over at Colour Combos Galore so couldn't pass up playing along with another one.  This is actually their challenge #220 from February however they were running late with posting it so it is open for entries until the end of March.   I so love the combination of pink and green so I actually made two cards using this inspiration board.

Flower Image - Unity KOTM, Sentiment - Stampin' Up!

Inks, Paper, Cardstock and Buttons are also from Stampin' Up!

Other:  Tria Markers to colour in petals and leaves.

Flower Stem Stamp from Stampin' Up, Ink:  Black Memento, Colour Tria Markers,

Paper:  Echo Park, Buttons from own Stash, EK Success Photo Corner Punch

Using similar colours I also took inspiration from this photo from the stem of the glass holding the flowers to use a flower stem stamps on both cards.  The tonal light and shade of the pinks of the flower petals on the first card and the green mat underneath the glass, translated into my sentiment panel at the bottom of the flower and the framing of both the sentiment and image with green on the first card and the grass on my second card.

Buttons and a CAS Design are all criteria from the challenges over at Stamptacular Sunday's and Paper Players this week hence these elements are also included in my cards today. 

Challenges Entered:

Colour Combos Galore - Inspiration Board #220

Stamptacular Sundays' - Challenge #155 Cute as a Button

Paper Players - Challenge #87 CAS with Buttons

Colour Combos Galore #222 - Friendship Card!

Its Card week over at Color Combos Galore, so I decided to play along using their Inspiration Board #222 and also combined a few other challenges with this to come up with today's card.

Stamps:  Stampin' Up! Vintage Vogue, French Script and Tiny Tags

Paper:  Stampin' Up and Echo Park

Other:  Sizzix Die, Button, Rhinestones.

The colours on my card were the closest I had in my scrap pile to match this challenge and the inspiration part of the challenge was to use the initials from your name to decide which elements to use on your card.  For mine I used:

D - Die Cut Large Ric Rac (Sizzix Die)

A - Alphabet Letter F

N - Nine different pieces of paper/cardstock (not including the card base)

I - Ink and if that's a bit too obvious then it can stand for International Flair (required for the other challenge I used)

E - Embossing (Dry embossing used on the Ric Rac)

I used this week's sketch - Day 18 Super Sketchy Sunday from 365 Cards and by using the French Script Background I am playing along with the CCEE Stampers current challenge CCEE1211 which is to add some international flair to your card by using language, image or element.  I sort of loved the idea that Friendship is a universal language particularly now with all the different social media applications such as Facebook.  Staying in touch with your overseas friends has never been more easy.

I have to apologise for the quality of my image, I may take this photo again in the morning.  It was another   wet day here and it was late in the day when I took this, so the lighting wasn't the best.

PTT#56 - Colour and Photo Inspiration Challenge

I say this every week but as you get older it seems time goes quicker and here we are at Tuesday once again.  That means its time for another Party Time Tuesday's Challenge.  This week we have a fabulous photo and color combination to inspire you.

For my card today I am using the 'Girl and Heart image' from Jelly Park and the Sentiment Tickets from Crafty Pad, both of who are two of our sponsors for this week.

Image:  Jelly Park, Sentiment:  Crafty Pad

Papers:  Echo Park and Stampin' Up!

Colour:  Tria Markers, Other:  Bling Flourish and Flowers by Zva Creative.

All our sponsors for this week include:

What will inspire you?  What will you create?  I can't wait to see!  Don't forget for all the details and more inspiration pop over to the PTT Blog.

Sketchy Sundae's Topped with Cream

Today's card is combining the Day 349 Super Sketchy Sunday's Challenge over at 365 Cards and the Paper Sundaes Sundae Bar Challenge #107 where you have to use at least two of the following to create your card -  Cream, Blue, Distressing and Pearls.

I thought the four options from the Paper Sundaes Challenge together would make a wonderful wedding card, and I got to use these cute as a button cream ribbon flowers I purchased a while back.  The Cardstock is Stampin' Up!'s Very Vanilla and Baja Breeze whilst the paper is from Echo Park For the Record Collection.  The Dove Stamp is from Paper Pleasure Plus, the Sentiment is from Stampin' Up! and the Brackets Stamp is from my stash of lots of different clear stamps that I no longer have the packaging for.  I have lightly distressed all the paper/cardstock edges with my scissors and inked with Tattered Rose Distress and what every combination of darker colour was left on my sponge.  I have used Not Quite Navy and Marina Mist inks from Stampin' Up to stamp my sentiment and sponge the background of my die cut oval and brackets.

Thanks for stopping by.

.

FWF - Sweet, Kind, Nice, Wonderful

Boy has this week flown, I've literally been all over the place this week both physically and mentally and didn't get much crafting done apart from attending our Terrific Tuesdays Craft Group's first day back for the year and making a Baby Card for a last minute order yesterday. Following a morning of shopping and because I am on dinner duty tonight I wanted to get a quick card made and catch up with all my Unity Friends for their Friday Friends With Flair so I have another CAS Card for you this week using the Inlaid Embossing Technique.

A QUICK HOW TO - IN LAID EMBOSSING

For my Inlaid Embossed Card I started with 3 Die Cut Hearts, a  Piece of White Cardstock (as my backing piece) and the "Entangled" embossing Folder.   You can use any punched or die cut shape, paper scraps or even stamped and coloured images to create your inlaid piece with your chosen embossing folder.

I simply positioned and stuck down my die cut hearts where I wanted them onto my white cardstock piece, and then ran this through the big shot machine using my Entangled Embossing Folder.

My 3 Die Cut Heats cut from floral paper positioned on the backing piece

Placing my piece in the embossing folder ready to emboss with the Big Shot

  

That completes the inlaid part.

To complete my card today, once embossed I took some red ink on a sponge dauber and highlighted the embossed pattern on my hearts, this covers up any white showing from the  papers core that I used for my hearts that  has been exposed by the embossing process.  I then simply mounted this white piece to my red cardstock base and added my stamped sentiments.

The circular words for my sentiment - 'You' and 'Are' are from my Unity November 2011 SMAK Kit whilst the 'Sweet, Kind, Nice, Wonderful' is from the January KOTM which I just received in the post yesterday.

There has been some exciting new stamp releases over on the Unity Site lately including some just being released today, so be sure to take a look and for more Unity Inspiration be sure to visit their blog and view the other FWF Creations this week.

I also created this card with the following challenges in mind.

365 Cards - Day 346 Spread the Word Challenge
Paper Sundays - #106 Clean and Simple
Cards for Men - Seeing Red

Magical Monday - For Someone You Love

It's another Paper Cupcakes Magical Monday and with Valentine's Day just around the corner we want you to join us in creating a Card for Someone You Love (ie.  Husband, Children, Sister) using the Colours Pink and White and one other colour, but that colour cannot be Red (because that would be too easy......right?).

Obviously your image can include some other colors if needed.  My other chosen colour for my card this week was orange and The Paper Cupcakes DT got to play with the delightful image 'Enjoy the Moment".  This is the monthly freebie which Nina so generously offers her followers, and it can be yours for free for the next 48 hours (until Wednesday) by simply following the link on the TIMITA Blog.

I used a couple of different shades of both the orange and pink with minimal white, for my card.  I did add a bit of other colour however for my image with my Tria makers.  I can't honestly say that I don't think I have combined these two colours before but with the splash of blue I am kind of liking the contrast and the way it all came together.

So now its your turn to play along, and I can't wait to see what you create.

Paying Tribute in my own way to Mum

I decided to play along with the latest challenge over at Colour Combo's Galore this week and found myself not only creating a scrap page but writing a poem.  You see as well as the colour combination their inspiration part of the challenge was to Pay Tribute to a Very Special Female in your Life.

Stamps:  Unity Dec & Jan SMAK Kits, Papers:  Stampin' Up!

Ink:  SU Riding Hood Red, Tattered Rose and Pumice Stone Distress Ink.

Other:  EK Success Heart Border Punch, SU Eyelet Border Punch, EK Success Photo Corner Punch,

Sizzix/Tim Holtz Tattered Flowers Die, Assorted Flowers from Stash, Rhinestones.

I didn't have exactly the same colours, but used the closest I had to them

The page is about my mum.  As some of you may know my mother is in the early - mid stages of dementia and nine months ago we had both my parents move from Brisbane to Casino to live with us.  Knowing that each day we are losing my mother little by little, this page/poem was a way for me to express my current thoughts and feelings when it comes to my mum battling Dementia.  Making everyday count with her is now more important than ever.

My poem reads:

The fog is slowly coming in, invading the walls of your mind.
Effecting all your memories, it's now just a matter of time.


I have seen the spark go from your eyes, acknowledging you can't comprehend
Yet still in life you participate, with routine your only friend.


For your loved ones it is hard to bear, as we watch you slip away
To lose more and more of the one we love, each and every day.


Dementia is hard to understand; how it randomly effects the brain
Stealing memories from moments before, whilst bringing others to life again.


I cherish the time hearing of days gone by as you sit and reminisce
Triggering my own wonderful memories of my mother who I already miss


And although there is probably many years ahead, to grieve and let you go
This journey until your eventual death, will for me be greatly painful and slow.

More Crayons, Colour and Challenges with FWF

I can't believe its the end of another week already.  It's been wet here this summer which has meant cooler weather, but trying to get the washing done in between showers has been a challenge.  But I am not complaining, at least we are one of the lucky ones not having to be evacuated from our homes, which is happening at present to many people in other parts of NSW and Queensland.  The wet weather is set to remain with us for some time as I just heard the forecast that in February 21 out of the 28 days are expected to be wet.  It's great weather for ducks and frogs and need I say crafting!

Whilst having my crayons still on hand from yesterdays post where I showed a quick how to on doing a Crayon Resist Background, and with Valentine's Day just around the corner,  I thought I would use a Resist design (using some of my new Unity Stamps) and link up all my Unity Friends over at the Unity Blog for Friday Friends with Flair (FWF).  Today's post for FWF not only links you up with the wonderful creations of lovers of Unity, but also showcases some wonderful new stamps by Christy Tomlinson that I've just added to my wish list, so be sure to check it out!

For my CAS looking card today I started out using the Sketch over at Paper Players,  Challenge #80 using my resist piece.  Once I had completed my design and used my crayon I sponged around the stamped hearts with red ink to reveal the resist and then used my Red Tria Maker to colour in a couple of the hearts, finishing off the design with a punched heart and a rhinestone in the centre of one of these hearts.  These fabulous newspaper print hearts and the sentiment are from the 'We Treasure You' Stamp Set by Unity which was an end of year gift sent to their Kit of Month Subscribers.  They are just perfect to make a Valentine's Day Card for my hubby who is not really into all the cutesy stuff.

I am also entering this card into a couple of other challenges I play along with from time to time but this will be the first time in 2012.

Cards for Men - Challenge #3 Seeing Red
Paper Sundaes - Challenge #105 Valentines

I hope everyone has a Fabulous Weekend.