2012 - Year in Review continued ...............

Continuing on with my year in review ................... this post will cover my faves from May through to August.

May 2012 - Mojo 239 Round Card

One of my favourite monthly challenges is the round or square sketch posted in the first week of the month over at the Mojo Monday Blog.  I always choose to go round - love making these cards.  Here is my favourite this month:

You can see the original post here

June 2012 - The Shabby Team Room Terrific Top Three Winner/Terrific Top 2 at iSpy

This was both a sad and happy month in my life.  Sad because my dear father passed away.  He was the rock of our family, my guiding light and I miss him terribly.  Happy because I was made a Top # winner over at The Shabby Tea Room and I made the Terrific Top 2 at iSpy.  Here is the card

You can see the original post here

July 2012 - ISSC and Shabby Tea Room

 

This card was so much fun to make.  MFT die-namics released their mini doilies and this card showcased all of them!

 

You can see the original post here

 

August 2012 - Happy Birthday Bec

 

The gorgeous Bec from Scrappy Hollow turned 21!  Here is the card I made for her

 

 

You can see the original post here

 

Thanks again for dropping by - I'll be back tomorrow with the last review post.

 

 

 

 

 

ISSC44 - Happy Birthday

Hello, it's Friday again and that means it's time for another challenge at iSpy! 

This weeks challenge was inspired by Christine Okken  ( ChristineCreations at SCS) and is based on this card.

So here is the sketch challenge for this week -

This time of year I am usually madly getting my Christmas cards finished in time to post on December 1st however, I also have a few birthdays in the family and amongst our friends so I decided to break up my Christmas card making with a birthday card.

Here is the card I created -

 

 

I love the bright colours of this range of MME papers and picked up on the star theme and added some extra die cut stars to the front panel. 

 

 

I used a few pieces of double sided foam to raise the sentiment panel, solid stars, ribbon strip and the central panel on the card.

 

Materials Used:

Paper - MME Lime Twist

Dies - Marianne Design Happy Birthday/Congrats, MFT Stacking Stars

Punches - Marvy 2 inch scallop circle, EK success 1 3/4 inch circle

Other - Grosgrain ribbon by Birch, button and bakers twine.

 

 

So thank you to Christine for the inspiration!  It's so much fun to play along with our weekly challenge so why not join in this week.  Head over to our blog here and see how easy it is!

 

 

 





ISSC39 - Peace and Joy

It's Friday again and another iSpy challenge is up!  This week the challenge is inspired by Maureen Plut and is based on this card.  Thanks so much for the fabulous inspiration Maureen!!!!!

And this is the sketch put together by Kim over at iSpy:

 

I love this sketch as it is so simple yet allows you to play around a little with each component.  So here is the card I created:

 

I am so in love with the versatility and colours in this years Simple Stories Handmade Holiday collection.  Initially I made the card quite simply with the gorgeous patchwork style background.  For a quick Christmas card I could have  just stopped there.................. but then I decided to add some additional detail to the background so I cut some of the patchwork element out of an additional piece of paper and foam mounted them over the design to give the background some dimension.

The sentiment was also taken from the range and I added some glitter with a Gel Roll Pen to finish it off.  This was also foam mounted.  I also added some hand pleated co-ordinating paper to the front before finishing off with a seam binding and hemp bow.

Materials:

Paper - Simple Stories, Handmade Holiday 6x6 paper pad
Other - cream seam binding, Darice hemp twine, button, Gel Roll pen, TH Tea Dye distress ink and Heidi Swapp edge distressor.



 
Want to join in the fun with us at iSpy???  Head over to the blog and see how here.

Thanks for stopping by - can't wait to see what you create!!!!

ISSC37 - Happy Birthday to You!

Well it's Friday again and I am happy to say it's time for another iSpy sketch challenge!  This week we are spotlighting the talented  Jean Cross (naturecoastcrafter at SCS) and our sketch is inspired by this card

So here is the sketch:

I have been busy making Christmas cards over the past week and initially thought I would make another based on this sketch, however, I changed my mind and went with a birthday card instead.

So here is the card I created:

 

The papers I selected are some of my favourites.  I love the combination of the bright yellow, red and green in these papers.  They come from two different paper companies but I love how they work together.

I decided to make my circular elements different so one is a doily the other a simple punched circle.  Then I added the hearts and rolled flower.  Both the scalloped heart and rolled flower were cut from felt.

 

 

I wanted to create some layers and depth with this card so out came the roll of foam mounting tape. I really like the way each element can stand out with a little foam tape to differentiate the layers.

I decided to layer the tiny heart and stitched it down the centre.  Then I crumpled each layer of the heart.

 

 

Materials Used:

Paper - Simple Stories, 100 Days of Summer, Simple Pleasures
            Basic Grey, Hopscotch, playground/hop
Card - Kaisercard Vanilla, Envelope Solutions Kraft card base
Dies - MFT Mini Doily Circles, Hearts a Plenty, Dainty Lace Border and Mini Rolled Rose
Stamps - Verve Birthday Bash set
Other - Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distress Ink, Birch Ribbon, Punch Bunch medium leaves punch and EK 1 3/4 inch circle punch

So why not join in the fun and create your own take on the sketch.  Head over to the iSpy Blog.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

ISSC36 - Free For All Friday Sketch Rewind!

It's Friday and you know what that means ........ It's time for another sketch challenge over at iSpy.  I love the challenge this week as we get to revisit a favourite sketch - this is the challenge:

Now as sad as I am to admit it, I had not always had time to play along each week with the iSpy girls before joining the DT.  So for me this challenge was a chance to play along with a sketch I had missed in the past.

I decided to go back and play along to sketch no 20.  The iSpy guest that week was  Lori Boyd (3Bugs&Me @ SCS) and was based on this card. A few of the iSpy DT have had the opportunity to work with Lori on design teams and she's one very talented lady!

Here is the sketch:

 

And this is the card I created using Lori's sketch:

 

 

 

Now some of my regular visitors might notice my photos look a little different this week.  My darling hubby has made me a light box for photographing my cards so now I can photograph any time of the day!  He is such a sweetie!

 

The card was made with some of my favourite papers from My Mind Eye and Cosmo Cricket and the bingo card was from Kaisercraft.

 

The cute bingo cards come in a pack and have a bold black and white finish. 

 

 

 

But with some antique linen and tea dye distress ink, edge distressing and a bit of sanding I managed to give it that shabby chic feel I so love.

 

Of course I had to add in some die cut elements using my MFT die-namics.  The Mini Royal Rose has quickly become one of my fav flowers to create and it teamed up well with the Mini Doily Circles and the Triple Scallop border dies.

 

Materials:

 

Paper - MME Lost & Found Two Blush "Sweet" Bouquet,  Cosmo Cricket Odds & ends Remnant and Sampler, Kaisercard Vanilla.

 

Dies - MFT die namics - Triple Scallop Border, Mini Royal Rose and Mini Doily Circles.

 

Punches - Medium leaf punch from Punch Bunch.

 

Other - Kaisercraft Miss Match Collection Bingo Cards, TH Distress Ink in Antique Linen and Tea Dye, buttons from my stash, ribbon by Birch and vintage twine.

Now if you would like to join in the "Free For All Friday Fun" here is how to play:

• Create a paper crafting project (card, scrap book page or 3D item), based on the sketch provided. Post your creation on your blog or an online gallery and link it here with the inlinkz widget.
• Please provide a direct link to your post - not the generic link to your blog.
• A new challenge will be posted every Friday at 12:01 AM EST, and you have until noon on the following Friday EST to submit your entry.
• You may enter as many times as you like, but please provide a newly designed project with a new link for each additional project.
• We will choose the top 2 creations to be featured in our "Top 2 Winners" post every Sunday where we will announce who we have picked :) The winners will receive their very own iSpy Sketches blog badge!
• Don't forget that you may combine our challenges with others and use supplies from any company that you wish :)
• Have fun and we look forward to "spying" your creations!

Head over to the challenge blog here and join the fun!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

 

ISSC32

Hello and welcome to my first iSpy Sketch Challenge post as one of their Design Team members!!!! 

This week the challenge is a great one for using up your scraps of paper.  You will love playing along!

ISSC32 challenge is inspired by the talented Marie-Alice (ladybug91743 @ SCS) and is based on this card

So here is the sketch:

And here is the card I created:

At first I began cutting squares from my patterned paper scraps then I grabbed out my MFT mix & match banner dies and cut 3 of then to also add in.  I mounted these with foam to give them a bit more definition.

Of course I had no hesitation in distressing and inking all my edges - my favourite shabby chic technique!  The bow was tied with hemp twine and I had a matching button to add from my collection.  The fishtail banner embellishment was made from lace and I added pearls as well.

The rolled rose was cut from the same patterned paper as the banner pieces.  I love making co-ordinating flowers!  The Verve Birthday Bash greeting was stamped with Versa Color ink and the circle was also edge distressed and inked. I added some lace at the bottom of the card to tie in with the piece used on the top right and added some pearls to it too.

To add more interest and definition to the card  I mounted the cardstock panel with foam together with the mini circle doily.

Materials Used:

Paper - My Minds Eye, The Sweetest Thing -Bluebell and Kaisercraft card CD158 Sea Foam and a scrap of bazzil green.

Dies - My Favorite Things Die-namics Mini Rolled Roses, Min & Match Banner and Mini Doily Circles

Stamps - Verve Birthday Bash set

Other - Versa Color 154 Bark ink, Stampin' Up Chantilly lace, Kaisercraft pearls, button, hemp twine, edge distressor, and Tim Holtz Tea Dye distress ink.

Thanks so much for stopping by and taking a look at my first iSpy DT card.  I had so much fun and you can too!

So why not play along with me and the other special agents at iSpy!

Here is how to play:

• Create a paper crafting project (card, scrap book page or 3D item), based on the sketch provided.Post your creation on your blog or an online gallery (using a code ISSC30), and link it here with the inlinkz widget below.
  
• Please provide a direct link to your post - not the generic link to your blog.
  
• A new challenge will be posted every Friday at 12:01 AM EST, and you have until noon on the following Friday EST to submit your entry.
  
• You may enter as many times as you like, but please provide a newly designed project with a new link for each additional project.
  
• We will choose the top 2 creations to be featured in our "Top 2 Winners" post every Sunday where we will announce who we have picked :) The winners will receive their very own iSpy Sketches blog badge!
  
• Don't forget that you may combine our challenges with others and use supplies from any company that you wish :)
  
• Have fun and we look forward to "spying" your creations!

Head over to the challenge blog here and enjoy!

ISSC 31 - Happy Birthday!

Well I have finally finished work following the Paperific Show here in Melbourne.  The store is almost back to normal and I am home for the day.  What better way to recuperate than by making a card???

For this card I have played along with the iSpy girls using their ISSC Sketch No 31:

Here's what the iSpy DT said about the inspirational designer they spied this week - "This week, you are in for a treat!!! We are featuring Karen Dunbrook ( k dunbrook @ SCS) and is based on this card. Karen is the queen of CAS!!! If you check out her blog or SCS gallery, you'll need to grab a cup of coffee and a cloth because you'll be drooling over her fantastic work!!!"

 

And here is the card I made:

 

 

 

I loved the simplicity of this weeks sketch as it meant I could play with whatever theme I wanted.  I decided to play around with some paper quilting and machine stitching for this card to add interest to the back panel.  

 

 

Once I got started I decided to make the whole cards theme with sewing in mind.

So I added a mini spool, dress making pins and a dress makers dummy to the front.

The dress makers dummy was finished off with some hand made co-ordinating flowers.  I also added a button and some vintage lace from my stash.

Materials Used:

Paper: Echo Park For the Record (6x6pad)

Dies: MFT Sew Nifty, Mini Rolled Rose, Oval Decorative Doily Duo and Oval Stax 2

Other: Scrabble lettering tiles (Collections), button (October Afternoon), twine (Taylored Expressions), pins (Birch), Swiss Dots embossing folder (Cuttlebug), kraft card base (Envelope Solutions), tea die distress ink (TH/Ranger).

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

 



 

Thank you iSpy and Shabby Tea Room!!!!

After an exhausting weekend working at the Melbourne Paperific Show it was so nice to start the week off with some lovely accolades.

Thank you to The Shabby Tea Room for the Honourable Mention for the #129 colour inspiration.  You can see the announcement here.  This was the card I made:

 

And another thank you to the team at iSpy for the honour of becoming an iSpy winner for the third time!!!  I so love playing along with their weekly sketches.  They are so much fun!!!  Here is the announcement. This is the card I made:

 

 

 

 

 

ISSC - 30 "Thank You"

 

WOW! I know I say this all the time but where has the last week gone????? 

 

Time is flying by and I have been busy getting ready for the upcoming Paperific Show at the Melbourne Showgrounds.  Many of my cards will be on display at the show plus some OTP pieces, tags and die cut samplers made from MFT and Spellbinders flower dies that I just absolutely love to make.  So come on over and say "Hi" when you are at the show - I am on the Scrappy Hollow/Kaisercraft stand all 3 days.  I will also be posting pics of some of the samples etc after the show and I will have some other special news to share as the month of September rolls on so stay tuned!!!!!

 

Even though it has been a busy week I still managed to complete this weeks iSpy sketch challenge. I absolutely love playing along with the challenges they post.  Each weeks sketch is different from the last and I have so much fun making the sketch my own.  This week's sketch is from Jacquie Southas ( Jacquie J @ SCS) and is based on this card.  So thanks Jacquie and the talented design team for your inspiration. 

 

Here is the sketch:

 

  

 

Now Kim's advice over at the iSpy blog was - 'Don't let the diamonds scare you!!! They can be any shape!! Just make sure you have the stripes!!' and that's exactly what I did.  My shape of choice was a heart.

 

So here is the card I created:

 

The papers were from Cosmo Cricket's Tea for Two collection. 

 

The large heart was created with the MFT die-namics Layered Heart.  I stitched around the heart with hemp twine and finished it off with a matching twine bow, a small rolled rose and punched leaves.

 

The smaller hearts were also cut from MFT die-namics - the Notched Tag and Hearts a Plenty dies.  The sentiment was a Pebbles Inc rub on.

 

Each panel on the card background and heart was distresses and inked to add extra detail that mimicked faux stitching lines.  This is one of my favourite techniques when I am not stitching on the sewing machine.

 

I used some foam tape between layers on the card to create dimension and allow each element to stand out a little more than you would get from flat taping it to the previous layer.

 

 

Once again, thanks for dropping by.  Please leave a comment as I love to hear from you!