Let Your Dreams Take Flight

I am back from down south and visiting with family and am somewhat pleased to be back to slightly warmer weather.  The wind down there was freezing and went straight through you, which didn't help my cough which has come back a bit for the worse.  But I am now warm and comfy in my own home catching up on things, even the stuff I don't enjoy like house work.    

Anyhow this month Altered Pages are teaming up with the Leaky Shed who specialise in chipboard embellishments. And today over on the blog I am sharing a journal page I created using their delightful kites 3 piece pack and lots of products you can buy from Altered Pages.

To see my journal spread in full and all the details of what I used to create it, you will however have to pop over to the Altered Pages Blog here.

I hope you have a day!

Celebrating Life with Altered Pages and the Robin's Nest.

Hi Everyone I hope you are enjoying your Wednesday.  This week I have been playing catch up, trying to gets all sorts of things done, but feeling like I'm accomplishing very little.

I got some happy (e)-mail in my inbox recently from Jean which was titled a 'Silly Collage for You' so I just had to open it straight away!  I wasn't disappointed either as on it was the most adorable picture of spring colored chickadees.  I knew straightaway I would have to make a card using this image.  As you are already probably aware we are teaming up and cross promoting with the Robin's Nest this month over at Altered Pages so once again I reached for their gorgeous Sorbet Glitter Papers which I used on my last AP Project here.

Here's a sneak peak of my card today.  Aren't those chicks just the cutest?

To see it in full you will have to pop over the Altered Pages Blog here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cards in Envy - Through the Window

Don't you just love it when a card has a mind of its own and just evolves.  Well that's what happened for my latest card for the Cards in Envy's Through the Window Challenge.

I was immediately drawn to a Music Stamp Set from Kaban Crafts I hadn't used yet that I brought last year and thought of using the music score to be seen through my window and the piano keys sitting across it.  So I began by cutting a circular window in a black card base and adding my Music Score.  Then I was in two minds about the front of the card and the circular window was just not doing it for me.

Here is how it evolved, I kept to my music theme or should I say musical theme and it was like all the elements just materialized in front of me.

My main element is the wonderful collage image from the Operetta Collage Sheet from Altered Pages. There is also a Ticket Stub, A small tag, and I ended up stamping my piano keys twice and layering them across my card.  I kinda love how this turned out with such a random combination of elements all working together.

Anyway if you want to see through the window for more wonderful inspiration be sure to pop over to the Cards In Envy Blog.  We'd love it if you played along.

Cards in Envy - Tag You're It

Well I promised I'd be back crafting this week, so I have my latest DT Card for the newest Cards in Envy Challenge.  This fortnight the theme is Tag You're it, and we are asking for you to include a tag on your card.

I recently purchased the Christmas Reindeer Stamp Set from Darkroom Door so used this for my very quick and simple card today.  This year Green and Red have been my go to colors for Christmas unlike previous years where I have been drawn towards other non-traditional colors.

Be sure to check out all the other fabulous cards from the DT over on the Challenge Blog and I hope to see you playing along too!

31 Days of Halloween Blog Hop

All this month the Altered Pages Team  is playing along with the 31 Days of Halloween Blog Hop bringing you 31 days of Halloween and Day of the Dead Inspiration.

As some of our Design Team Members are Halloween Junkies they have signed up individually as well  for the 31 Days so I can assure you there is going to be a wonderful array of spooky creations to admire and inspire throughout this fabulously fun hop.

We don't really celebrate Halloween here in Australia so I was in need of some inspiration, and found it on a poster on 'Alex's wall which reads 'Stay Calm and Kill More Zombies'

I got to use a left over piece from a Gelli Print, my tombstone die and a few other supplies from Altered Pages combined with the Anatomy Hand 101 Digi Stamp from Smeared Ink.

To view my full creation you will have to head over to the Altered Pages Blog and while you are there be sure to check our new Design Team Member Melodee's adorable Voodoo Dolls Project from yesterday.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Cards in Envy - A Little Bit Retro

Good Morning Everyone!  It's time to get a Little Bit Retro for the latest Challenge over at Cards in Envy.

Here's my card, using a wonderful vintage lady stamp from the Just my Style set by Darkroom Door and papers and sentiment from the For the Record Collection by Echo Park and my Water Color Pencils.

Retro is classed as "old fashioned style'.  Generally anything from the 50's through to now the 90's is considered retro. For more ideas of retro be sure to visit the Cards in Envy Blog and see the other inspiration provided by my fellow Design Team Members.

And for those of you wishing to play along just a reminder that our challenge is designed for cards that you would easily fit in an envelope to mail, so they should be A2 in size and shape, and flat with minimal embellishments.

I'm looking forward to seeing the wonderful entries this fortnight for this fun theme.

WOYWW #223

Hi Everyone!  I am coming to you very late on Wednesday afternoon here to join in with my fellow deskers in linking up to the wonderful Julia's What's on Your Workdesk? Wednesday.

Again this week, I have spent more time on the computer than crafting but in saying that my blog has been neglected.  I think this is the first time in a long time I have not done a single post in 7 days.

I do have a good excuse though, I have been working hard on a new creative project which kicks off officially for me in October, unofficially it has meant a lot of time glued to the screen, sending emails, and all sorts of other computer related activities.

Craftwise I have been working towards the completion of one Design Team Project as inspiration grabbed me and because I can't share the project just yet......I really can't show you my desk, but thought I'd show some of the products I have been playing with which are currently on my desk.

    

  

You will find Gel Medium, Black Paint and Punchinella, a Weathered Background Stamp, some Chipboard Pieces and some German Scrap Scroll Corners that I have given a makeover to in order for it to blend in with my project.

It really hasn't given too much away now has it?.....lol. 

This past weekend we all helped out 'A's Scout Group with a BBQ fundraiser on Election Day and on Sunday we had to empty out, sort out and move a shed full of junk (my hubby doesn't call it that) from our old house which we have just recently sold after completing renovations and the new owners are wanting to rent it from us prior to settlement.

The highlight of the past week, was finally having a chance to go on a date night with my hubby last night.  It was only for the duration of whilst 'A' was at scouts but it was so nice to dine out and get some alone time.  

Finally I thought I'd leave you today with a picture of a desk, just not mine.  Its where 'A' does his homework and his best mate Felix likes helping him, especially with his maths.

I hope you all have a wonderful week!


PS.  There's still time to enter my Birthday Blog Candy Giveaway (check it out on my sidebar).

Faux Cloisone Keyring For Unruly Paper Arts

Hi Everyone, August is 'Take a Powder Month' over at Unruly Paper Arts and all month my fellow Unrulies have been sharing various methods and ways of using powders such as embossing powders.

Today it's my turn!

I am sharing over on the UPA blog a technique known as Faux Cloisonne which uses both embossing powders (UTEE) and mica powders such as Pearl-ex and Perfect Pearls.  I have used this technique to make a keyring for my tutorial but it is also a a wonderful way to make pendants for jewelry and embellishments for all your other projects too.

I do hope you pop over for a closer look.

Cards in Envy - For the Birds

Hi Everyone, we are flying into Monday with a new challenge at Cards in Envy today and it really is for the Birds. We simply want to see a bird somewhere on your card.

For my card today I put my Big Shot to good use, firstly I took one of my handmade (sop up the excess mist) backgrounds and cut out my bird with my Sizzix Die.  Then taking a yellow Gelato I filled in any white space left on the bird and added a rhinestone for his eye.  Two different embossed patterns a rounded corner and a piece of twine framed him perfectly and I have then layered this onto a white card base and stamped a Unity Sentiment to finish.

Just wait to you see all the other fabulous winged inspiration from the Design Team, why not fly on over now and take a peek and if you have time we'd love it if you played along too!

Cards In Envy - Rev it Up

I'm back again for the second time today, as it's time to share the latest challenge over at Cards in Envy. This fortnight we want you to REV IT UP, and create a card showing anything that has an engine.  It may be a car, truck, plane, boat or anything in between.

My card uses a number of bright and colorful paper scraps that I had left over from other projects and thought the cute row of houses (Echo Park) would be a perfect backdrop for my Stampin' Up Image from the Loads of Love Stamp Set.

For more REVVING inspiration be sure to pop over to the Cards in Envy Blog and see the rest of the Design Teams Cards.

I do hope you will play along.

Other Challenges I am linking this card up to include:-
Card Crafter's Circle - #86 Dotty for Spots
Creative Corner Challenges - Polka Dots
Allsorts Challenge - #218 Photo Inspiration (Bright Colors)

Unruly Readers Art Quest 2 - August

This month over at Unruly Paper Arts we are featuring all things Powder from Embossing Powders to Pearl Ex and both Reader's Art Quests for August are now up on the blog for you to be inspired and play along. Whilst RAQ 1 looks at probably the most common powder used in our crafting Embossing Powders, RAQ 2 looks at one that is often forgotten in our toolbox.

For RAQ 2 we want to see you break out your chalks and put them to good use.

I must admit that up until recently (a card I made) I hadn't used my chalks in years, so when I saw this theme I thought I would play along for the challenge and to give my chalks some more use.  Here's my example. It's a simple scrap page using Chalk in three ways.

For my background I have used the Popping Pastels Technique where you stamp an image with a watermark/embossing Ink Pad such as Versamark and then apply the chalk over the top, then I simply Blended/Rubbed some color around the background to soften it some more.

The Third way is using the Chalkboard Technique which is done with a darker cardstock (black in my case). I decided as a contrast to frame my image and use this technique.   You use White Ink (I used Stampin' Up's Whisper White) to stamp your image and then apply your chalk colors over this.

Be sure to check out the other inspiration pieces over at Unruly Paper Arts and with that in mind, ask yourself if you are up to the chalk challenge or looking for an excuse to play with them.  If so then this month's RAQ 2 is just for you.  Come on and be Unruly with us here.

Unruly Paper Arts - Postcard Parade

Hi Everyone, today over at Unruly Paper Arts is my first contribution to my Color Me Happy Column and this month the theme for your inspiration is Postcards.

Having just returned from a fabulous few days in Melbourne last month and spending two of those days creating up a storm with my online crafting friends from ATC's for All, I decided to create a postcard to send to them all to let them know they were in my thoughts and I couldn't wait until we got together to do it all again.  We have another get together set for next year in New Zealand!

Here's a sneak peek.  My postcard incorporates some of my favorite things, Gelli Printing, Butterflies, & Doodling.  To see it in it's entirety along with a step by step on how it was created you will have to pop over to the Unruly Paper Arts Blog.

And whilst there be sure to check out the other articles for further postcard inspiration or play along with the current Reader's Art Quest Challenges.

Oriental Dreaming!

Are you a lover of all things Oriental. I am! There is just something about the tranquility, wisdom and beauty of this culture that draws me in. I collect Oriental Themed ATC's and today thought I would share with you a couple of Note Cards I have made using the wonderful background collages and oriental inspired images from Altered Pages.

The Altered Pages Collage Sheets I have used for this include

AP-2118 Year of the Dragon

AP-2205 Chinese Cherry and Bamboo

AP-460 Japenese Text

AP-314 Geisha

AP-1724 Collage Backgrounds Oriental

Japenese Yuzen/Washi Papers and Graphic 45 Papers from the Birdsong Collection have also been used on these cards. I had the Japenese Papers already in my stash, but Altered Pages sells these also in their Asian Dream Pack here.

Cherry Blossoms and Dragonflies are one of my favorite things related to this culture. To the Japanese the Cherry Blossom symbolizes the transient nature of life whilst to the Chinese it represents feminine power beauty and love. In most cultures the Dragonfly represents Good Luck, Renewal/Change/Rebirth and the power of life.

Here's a look at some of the Oriental Themed ATC's I have collected from crafters around the globe for my collection.

Hope you are having a Peaceful Week!

Cards in Envy - Lots of Layers Challenge

Hi Everyone! I promised I would be back with a second post today!   It's now time to reveal a new challenge theme for Cards in Envy Challenge Blog which starts today!

This fortnight we want to see Lots of Layers, 3 or more just to be sure.

I have combined this theme with the current Card Sketch for the July Unity Be Inspired Challenge over on the Unity Stamp Co Blog also.

I have stamped my chosen Unity Stamp onto an ivory colored die cut circle which I then added further color to the background with my Antique Linen Distress Stain.  The Papers are from Echo Parks For the Record Paper Collection which I thought had a cheerful, somewhat homely feel to them and I have distressed these a little with my distressing tool and inked the edges with my Distress Stain.  My flower image and hello sentiment are colored with Water Color Pencils.  The big button is from my ever growing button stash and I finished the card by adding some faux stitching around the main image.

For lots more layered inspiration be sure to pop over to the Cards in Envy Site and check out all the beautiful work from my fellow design team members.

Cards in Envy - Stitched Up Challenge

Hi Everyone!  I hope you are all doing well.  My house at present is full of sick people (myself and the two boys) compliments of our trip to Melbourne I am sure.  I have spent most of today in bed and had to cancel an appointment with the Real Estate Agent about the sale of our other house.

Today I have a card for the latest challenge at Cards in Envy.  This fortnight's theme had me totally out of my comfort zone as the theme was to use Stitching on your card.  I so don't sew, (well only if I have too) but given I have had a bit of practice on the sewing machine of late taking up lots of  'A's trousers, I decided to use it on my card, as well as some faux stitching.

Whilst away in Melbourne , I purchased some new stamps so I just had to ink up this adorable cat by Stamp It!

Christmas is just over 6 months away so starting on my Christmas Cards now is probably a good thing as I am usually playing catch up late in the year.  I have colored in this cute kitty with my Inktense Water Color Pencils and I just love the way he turned out.  

The rest of the DT have some more fabulous stitching inspiration for you so be sure to pop over to the Cards in Envy Site and check all their cards out too! 

This card was also created with the following challenges in mind:

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - June Challenge - Christmas Ornaments

Really Reasonable Ribbon - Challenge -  #74 I'm Seeing Dots and Ribbon Theme

Crafting Musketeers - #2 Must use a Stamped Image

Card Crafters Circle - #79 In Stitches
Stamping for the Weekend - #Cute
Winter Wonderland - Christmas Card - #Spots and Stripes

Mixing it Up with Gelatos!

Hi everyone!  As you read this post I will be most likely settling into our Hotel in Melbourne for a couple of days R & R.  I am here for a two day art get together with my fellow Australian/New Zealand AFA (ATC's for All) Members and then some time out with the family.  It will be A's first time in Melbourne and saying he is excited is a little bit of an understatement.

In May I was due to design a kit for Altered Pages, and as I love my Faber Castell Gelatos I was thinking of a way to introduce others to how easily and versatile they are to use.

This kit is simply called it Mixing it up with Gelatos and the contents of this kit enables you to create and personalize your own canvas board using Gelatos and other Goodies from Altered Pages.

The full instructions included with the kit details numerous ways to use these Gelatos to create rich color, full textured backgrounds and to coordinate your elements to suit.  You will be water coloring, layering, blending, finger painting, and drawing your way to a wonderful mixed media piece which you can personalise with your own stamps/quotes that have meaning for you.

You will find this kit for sale at Altered Pages here.

I hope you all have a great week!

Time Flies and my DT Term is at an end!

Hi Everyone!  This is my second post today and sadly my last post as part of the Robin's Nest Design Team.   Time surely does fly, I can't believe that I have completed two terms already.   It has been a wonderful adventure and I have made so many wonderful new friends along the way.

July sees the start of a new Design Team Term with some old faces returning and some familiar faces being added to continue inspiring you with their fabulous projects all of which incorporate the wonderful products from the Robin's Nest.

The featured product for June is the Diamond Dew Drops which you can see are a very subtle addition (just for a bit of sparkle and texture) to my card today, but fear not, they are also available in a full range of bright colors too.

My card today features:

Black and White Glitter Border Swirl, 

and Seashore Glitter Papers

Black Cardstock

Aquamarine, Clear and Moonstone Diamond Dew Drops

Time Rub Ons

Cards in Envy Background Challenge

Hi Everyone, it's time for another challenge at Cards In Envy.  This fortnight we want to see you create your own backgrounds.

Earlier today I shared a card I made for my mum and dad's wedding anniversary which was done with my Gelli Plate and the Damask Stencil by Donna Downey.  I have used it again for my card for this Background Challenge but this time rather than applying paint over the stencil, I used it to lift paint off the plate which gives a totally different look.

There are so many wonderful ways to create your own backgrounds and my fellow Design Team Members projects this week share just a few, but as always are sure to inspire you to try something new.  So be sure to pop over and check them out!  We'd also love it if you played along too!

Delighting in the Little Things

I was browsing through some of the Collage sheets from Altered Pages when I came across this adorable collage image on the Vintage Chicken Collage Sheet. 

It reminded me to delight in the small things in life which as a child came so easily, but as an adult not so much.  I couldn't resist making this card using it.

You can read more about what other items I have used for this card such as the paper and embellishments by popping over to the Altered Pages Blog.

Cards in Envy - Things with Wings

It's time for a new Themed Challenge at Cards in Envy and this fortnight the chosen theme is Things with Wings.  We want to see anything with wings, be it a bird, a plane, butterfly, fairy but no not superman.

I've been time poor this past week with heaps happening here, so I came up with a quick CAS card for this using some leftover scraps and a rub-on.

Hope you like it and don't forget for more great inspiration pop over to the Cards in Envy Blog and check out all the other Design Team Creations.