Christmas Trees

I'm adding another Christmas card to my very small stack of cards so far! This is for a few challenges. The design is based on the current Retro Sketch #141, the inspiration is from Muse Challenge #101 (Marion Vagg) , the concept is for the Moxie Fab World Challenge - Tree-mendous Trees and since I'm using a Simon Says Stamp die, I'm adding this to the Flickr Group Challenge#6. So nice to be able combine so many challenges into the one card! The stamp set is an old one from Hero Arts and the sentiment and die is from Simon Says Stamp. Thanks for dropping by!

Another Card for Virginia's View Challenge

Some good news to share - my baby Kingsley card for CASE Study #186 challenge got Top 3! Yay!

I normally don't jump into a new Craft trend so easily. During our craft retreat, I got to try out a few stencils and I'm starting to embrace this new trend! When I came back, I realised I don't have many stencils at all until I went through the goodies bag Joy gave me and found a butterfly stencil in there. So here is my first inking with this stencil. After sponging with distress inks, I overstamped with Hero Arts Leafy Vines in black before removing the stencil. I added the sentiment in black, matted with a black card stock, added some accents with a gel pen and matching sequins. I'm adding this card to Virginia's View Challenge #2 Stencil.

Ingredients:
Card - Neenah Solar White, black cardstock
Stencil - Heidi Swapp
Stamp - Hero Arts CG509 Leafy Vines, CL498
Inks - Tim Holtz Tumbled Glass, Shaded Lilac and Picked Raspberry, Ranger Archival Jet Black
Others - The Twinery Twine, Sequins, white gel pen

Four Cute Houses!

I have two friends who recently moved into a new house and I thought this stamp would be perfect for the occasion! After I made the two I needed, I decided to do two more in different colours to make a set for A Blog Named Hero's Game Set Match challenge. I used a combination of alcohol and water based colouring for the house as I wanted the house to have that colour wash look. I'm also adding these cards to Moxie Fab World's Colour Media Challenge, and Simon Says Stamp Stamptember challenge.. The patterned papers I used are from Basic Grey Cut and Paste which I got in a paper exchange from Judy in Texas! I'm glad I'm finally putting the papers into good use! Thanks for dropping by!

Ingredients

Neenah Solar White, Black cardstock, Basic Grey Cut and Paste 6x6, XPress It blending card, Hero Arts G5430 House with Plant and CL574 Say it all. Copic W3 W6 E25 E29 YR07 YG06, Distress Inks Scattered Straw, Broken China, Bundled Sage and Peacock Feathers, Momento Tuxedo Black, Versamark, White Embossing powder, Papertrey Tag die, seam binding, hemp from Hemtique, white gel pen.

Magical Magnolias

It is now Spring in Melbourne and it is the most wonderful time of the year with the weather warming up and blossoms on our fruit trees blooming and new leaves appearing. We recently planted two Magnolia trees in our front yard, but they have not bloomed yet, we may have to wait until next year. This card was inspired by all the spring flowers. The card was stamped with Archival Brown ink and coloured with distress markers and misted with Perfect Pearls. I'm sharing this card on Moxie Fab World Handmade Cards - Colour Media Challenge. I also have a photo of some lovely Magnolias I photographed at a recent trip to a Nursery (Yes, I bring my camera to the Nursery!) As both these stamps are available from Simon Says Stamp, I'm linking up to SSS Stamptember Challenge.

Ingredients

Ranger Specialty Stamping paper, Neenah Solar white cardstock, Tim Holtz Kraftcore Nostalgic collection, Hero Arts S5471 Large Flower pattern, Hero Arts CL497 Find Joy, Ranger Archival Coffee, Distress markers – Wild Honey, Spun Sugar, Victorian Velvet, Scattered straw, Worn Lipstick, Shabby Shutters, Peeled paint, MFT Fishtail Banners STAX, Hemptique Hemp, Seam binding, Kaisercraft rhinestone, Ranger Perfect Pearls Mist

Birthday Washi Roses

Have I ever mentioned that I love washi tape? One of my favourite techniques with Washi tape is die-cutting. Here is my card using two tapes and the Spellbinders Rose Creations dies. I'm submitting this card to Moxie Fab World Handmade Cards Week -Stickers and Tape Challenge and Rockwell Designs - Pantone Poppy Red Card Challenge. Look out for my card in Handmade Cards! Thanks for dropping by! As both these stamps are available from Simon Says Stamp, I'm linking up to SSS Stamptember Challenge.

Ingredients

Neenah Solar White cardstock, Hero Arts CL497 Find Joy, CG509 Leafy Vines, Hero Arts Red Royal,

MT Washi Tapes, My Minds Eyes Decorative Tape, Kaisercraft Sparklets, Spellbinders Rose Creations Die Set, Glossy accents

Stripey Birthday Card

When I saw the Make It Monday video on PTI Capture the Moment, I wanted to try it but had to wait until the weekend until I had  a bit of time to experiment. I didn't want to do it the same way as Betsy Veldman as I thought it would be too messy with Post-It notes. I used double sided tape with pre-cut lines before I embossed. Afterwards, I just peeled off the tape layer by layer. I also used a technique shared by Jennifer McGuire for the sentiment die (3 layers of cardboard). The background stamping is done with my new PTI Super Stripes stamp set. The extra colours are added with markers and gel pens after stamping. The sentiment was originally stamped with Delicata gold pigment paint, but I had to quickly emboss this in gold as it didn't quite stand out against the stripes. I left this card unembellished as this will be a card for a male. As I used gold embossing in this card, I'm also submitting this for Moxie Fab World All that Glitters is Gold challenge, Simon Says Stamp Embossed Challenge and Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger In Transition. Thanks for dropping by!

A close up to show the extra layers of die cuts and the embossing.

MFW TT - In Transition

 Ingredients
Neenah Solar White card stock, Basic Grey Cut and Paste 6x6, PTI Super Stripes and Wonderful Words-Birthday, PTI Birthday Die, Hero Arts Pool, Delicata Gold, Copic YR07, YG06, B06, Gold metallic paint, Gold and White embossing powder.

Gold Washi Tape Card

I made this card a while ago for a washi tape publication submission. Needless to say, it never made the 'cut'. When I saw Moxie Fab World's 'All that Glitters is Gold' challenge, I decided to showcase this card. This card has no stamping (a sentiment can be added inside later) and is all made with Washi Tape or MT Masking Tape. Previous cards I've made with washi tape have been blogged here (my second most popular all time post) and here. Thanks for dropping by!
Edited - this card will also be submitted to Moxie Fab World Handmade Cards Week - The Stickers and Tape Challenge.  I can't wait for this magazine to come out as I have a card in it!

Ingredients

Neenah Solar White, Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles and Rose Creation Dies, MT Tapes, Gold Brad and Twine from The Twinery.

Spring Flowers

I only managed one card this weekend. I have two more planned, but they will have to wait for another free night this week. This one is for the current Paper Smooches Trend Watch Flowers challenge. I've been dying to get into my craft room to do this all weekend! Here is my card using the current Retro Sketch 80 with the Reflections stamp set and matching MT Masking Tapes.
Edited to Add - Moxie Fab World Handmade Cards Week - The Tapes and Stickers Challenge.

It is also Spring in Melbourne (the weather has suddenly warmed up and the blossoms are in bloom) and I would like to share some photos taken on the weekend in our backyard. Thanks for dropping by!

Ingredients:

Neenah Solar White, Paper Smooches Reflections and Sentiment Sampler, Ranger Archival Jet Black, Hero Arts Pale Tomato, Red Royal and Green Hills, Tim Holtz distress ink Mowed Lawn, Twine from  The Twinery, Hero Arts Fancy Felt Buttons, MT Masking Tape, Enamel Dots from My Minds Eyes.

Christmas in August?

Is it too early to start on Christmas cards? I guess it is never too early to start so that there is no mad rush towards December! There is a Christmas card challenge at Moxie Fab World and I would like to submit some cards that I have made. These never made it for a publication call. Yes I know, for every card that gets published, there are some that never made it to fame and glory. Never mind, they will get showcased here! I'm also linking this up to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes. Thanks for dropping by!

Ingredients:
Christmas Postcard

Neenah Desert Storm, Basic Grey True Love paper, Red textured card stock, Tin Holtz Tattered flower die, HA Big Postcard, HA Leafy Vines, HA Aspen Holidays, TH Tea Dye and Gathered Twigs, HA Red Royal, Ranger Archival Jet Black, Brad, Raffia ribbon, Hemp, AC Brad

Christmas Carol

Neenah Natural white cardstock, Kaisercraft Turtle Dove 6x6, Kaisercraft Turtle Dove Collections, Tim Holtz Christmas Carol stamp, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Gathered Twigs, Kaisercraft rhinestone

Today and Always

This has been a really busy weekend catching up with friends from overseas. I did manage to sneak into my craft room (after all the housework was done of course) to get this card done for the Fusion Card Challenge. I missed the deadline for the last challenge! Boo! I love the chalkboard technique which I used for the first time here. The difficulty with embossing on black cardstock is that you have to pick one that is not too absorbent. The first time I tried this, the embossing was terrible! Then I tried different card stock (the backing paper for scrapbooking) and got a lovely effect. Recently I was at the local Art and Craft store and spotted a stack of pre-cut papers for $3 and there was a lot of black cards in the stack. I was hoping that it would work and it did! Phew! My card is below with the Fusion trigger below that. I'm also submitting this card to Moxie Fab World Birthday card challenge, City Crafter's Polka Dot challenge (Thanks Lyndal!) and Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Make the Cut.. Thanks for dropping by!

Ingredients:

Neenah Desert Storm and Solar White, Black cardstock, My Minds Eyes The Sweetest Thing Honey, PTI Boutique Borders Birthday, PTI A Sweet Life, Versamark, Versamark white chalk ink, HA Bubblegum, PTI Plum Pudding, White EP, MFT DieNamics Fishtail layers STAX, Hemp from Hemptique, white gel pen (Molotow)

Postcard Birthday

I've got good news to share. I recently submitted a few cards to Paper Crafts's Stamp It Techniques V2. Mind you, I had been very busy and only managed to make one sentiment card using one of the techniques I learnt from the Online Card Class Summer Camp 2. I also submitted a few other cards including the one below which were previously made for other publication calls. The sentiment card got accepted. Yay! ... for Step-Outs... I think this means that they want step-by-step instructions on how the card was made. This magazine will come out in January 2014!
For this card I used  my favourite Big Postcard stamp from Hero Arts and added my other favourite flower and butterflies stampset. I'm adding this card to Moxie Fab World Birthday card challenge, Tuesday Trigger - It's Completely Collagical and Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Airmail. Thanks for dropping by!

MFW TT - It's Completely Collagical

Ingredients:

Neenah Natural White, Basic Grey Serenade 6x6, Hero Arts Big Postcard, Antique Flowers and Butterflies and Find Joy, Ranger Archival Jet Black, Tim Holtz Gathered Twigs, Kaisercraft rhinestones and seam binding

Sunset card

Quite a few of my friends know that I like a good sunrise or sunset photo. Whenever I see a great sunset or sunrise, I have to take a shot. When we were in Phuket last year, I woke up before 6am on several mornings just so that I can get a great shot! So when the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge photo was posted this week, I could not resist. The card was already done, in my head. Here is my card and also my photo of sunrise over Phang Nga bay in Phuket. I'm also submitting this card to Moxie Fab World Birthday Card challenge and Simon Says Stamp 'Celebrate' challenge. Thanks for dropping by!

Paper Smooches Picture Perfect Challenge

Sunrise on Koh Yao Island, Phang Nga Bay, Phuket, Thailand

Ingredients:

Neenah Solar White and Desert Storm, Black card stock, Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles, Paper Smooches Calico and Sentiment Sampler, Tim Holtz Distress Inks - Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon and Barn Door, Ranger Archival Jet Black, Kaisercraft pearls

PTI July Blog Hop - Fruits of Summer

A last minute card for the PTI Fruits of Summer Blog Hop. I had stamped a few roses a few nights ago and had not finished my second card for the Blog Hop. My first card has already been posted here. Thank you for all the lovely comments so far! This card is made using this week's Retro Sketch. I'm also submitting this to Moxie Fab World Birthday Card Challenge. Check out the PTI Blog Hop, there are some really beautiful cards there!
I had a fun day at the Craft and Quilt Fair yesterday and attended a 2 hour workshop in Freeform Fibre Art with Prudence Mapstone. I will blog more details another time.
Thanks for dropping by!

Ingredients:

Neenah Solar White card, My Minds Eyes Indie Chic Saffron and Sweetest Thing Honey, Sizzix Tim Holtz EF, PTI A Sweet Life and Boutique Borders, Hero Arts Bubble Gum, Green Hills and Field Greens, PTI Plum Pudding, Strawberry Twine from The Twinery, Kaisercraft Gems, MFT DieNamics Fishtail Layers STAX and PTI dies.

Hey There!

This is another card I made for the Moxie Fab World Birthday Sketch. Although I don't have a 'Birthday' sentiment on the card, it can be used as a birthday card. The crochet flowers were made by me along with the clay flowers in the centre. I recently got some moulds from Natalie from HappyDaks and had fun making flowers from FIMO clay. Since all the flowers were handmade, I'm submitting this card for The Less is More - Make Your Own Flowers challenge.

Ingredients:

Neenah Solar White card, Kaisercraft Tigerlilly, Tim Holtz Embossing Folder, MFT DieNamics Fishtail Layers STAX, PS Sentiment Sampler, HA Bubble Gum, Tim Holtz Peacock Feathers, Twine from The Twinery, FIMO, Flower moulds.

Paper Smooches Cool Shades

I managed to make up for time loss during this week last night. This CAS card is a combination of two challenges for Paper Smooches July Cool Shades and the sketch is from Moxie Fab World Birthday Sketch challenge. I recently purchased this PS stamp set and it has been on my wishlist for a long time now. I just love it! Here is my card, thanks for dropping by!

Ingredients:

Neenah Natural White card, PS Reflections, PS Sentiment Sampler, HA Soft Granite, HA Red Royal, HA Navy, Spellbinders Nestabilities Square dies, MME Enamel dots

Cardabilities Sketch 78

I love the Cardabilities Sketch this week and wanted to make a card with Basic Grey Serenade. I decided to add a tag to the card so that I can submit this to the Moxie Fab World Birthday Tags and Wraps challenge. I've also used the colours from Play Date Cafe and The Simon Says Stamp and Show A Little Stamping challenge this week. I also added a felt flower that I got in my Hero Arts warehouse clearance sale. Thanks for dropping by!

Ingredients:

Cardstock - Neenah Desert Storm

Paper - Basic Grey Serenade 6x6 and Snippets

Stamp - Hero Arts CL661

Ink - Ranger Archival Jet Black, Tim Holtz Gathered Twigs

Dies - MFT DieNamics Fishtail STAX, Open Bracket Border and You're It Tag

Ohters - Hero Arts Fancy Felt, Studio Calico Gem, Doily from Ellen Hutson

Retro Mixy Matchy

I love the Retro Sketch this week and couldn't wait to make a card with it! I wanted to step a little bit out of my comfort zone and picked some bold patterns, inspired by Moxie Fab World Mixy Matchy Style challenge. I picked two old favourites, BG pb and j/Picadilly and the HA Antique Butterflies for the A Blog Named Hero Fave Stamp challenge.

Ingredients:
Cardstock - Neenah Solar White
Paper - Basic Grey pb n j and Piccadilly
Stamp - Hero Arts CL661, Antique Flowers and Butterflies
Ink - Ranger Archival Jet Black
Dies - MFT DieNamics Layered Labels, HA Antique Flowers and Butterflies
Others - White gel pen, enamel dots from My Mind's Eyes

Saturday Sketch in Tangerine

This is my first ever entry for Chupa's Saturday Sketch and it happens to be her 100th sketch! As I have been following her on FB, she announced that she will be posting her sketch on Saturday night, so I decided to play along. I wanted to use the colours from Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger Scene in Tangerine, this will be my second card, the first one was blogged here. I decided to mask the card before stamping and used my PTI roses. Here is my card and thank you for dropping by!
PS - I'm also adding this card to ColourQ challenge#197!

Ingredients:
Cardstock - Neenah Solar White
Stamps - Impression Obsession Gradation, Papertrey Ink The Sweet Life and Boutique Borders Birthday
Inks - Hero Arts Butter Bar, Green Hills and Field Greens, Tim Holtz Distress Inks Ripe Persimmon and Spiced Marmalade, Ranger Archival Jet Black
Dies - PTI The Sweet Life
Others - Enamel dots from My Mind's Eyes