Saturday 31 January 2015

Winnie and Walter - 1st Birthday Bash - Colour Combo Challenge with Heather

I've always been a person to leave most things to the last minute. I was always like that with my school work, studying the night before or writing out that essay. And it would seem that idea has carried on to my card making....


The Winnie and Walter birthday party has been going on all month, with many different challenges to take part in. I've linked a couple of cards already but wanted to enter as many as I could, as I love their products so much!! And the challenges finish tomorrow!!

I really wanted to enter the Colour Combo Challenge with Heather because not only am I a huge fan of hers but the colours she chose are some of my favourites.  Her combo consisted of: white, silver/gray, mint/aqua and blue.
 


I die cut the circle from white CS and used a diagonal line stencil with some distress ink, to create a soft pattern. The sentiment was heat embossed with silver. I popped the circle on some foam tape and glued on the die cut hearts. Just love all that sparkle!!

The sentiment is from W&W 'The Big, the Bold and the Happy'. The large heart die is from CAS-ual Fridays and the small heart dies are from Paper Smooches 'Tiny Hearts'. The glitter paper is from DCWV 'Glitzy Pastels Stack'.

Will also link this to the Fusion Challenge where their theme is:
 

And I'm also going to enter the Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge where their theme is 'Anything Goes'.

And lastly, will link to the Simply Create Challenge # 78 where their theme is 'Happy Valentines Day or use hearts'.

Off to bed now. Having a sleep over in Phoebe's room tonight and watching Modern Family on DVD until we fall asleep. Kids are back at school on Monday and even though I'm looking forward to it a little, I will miss spending time with them all day. Although they must be a bit bored with me by now.......

Take care
Shona

Cure for the Monday Blues # 41

Finally, a chance to use my neon ink pads!!! As you know I'm not really one for bright colour on my cards. Last year I was lucky enough to win some Neon Pigment Ink pads and to be honest, they have always scared me! I've never been quite sure how to use them until now.....

Look at those magnificent colours! As soon as I saw this photo for the Cure for the Monday Blues challenge this week, I knew I had to give it a go. Talk about totally out of my comfort zone!!!



I started by cutting a piece of black CS the same size as the card front and die cutting the rectangle. I marked out where the rectangle would sit, so I could stamp in the area that would show, and went to town with the stamps and inks. I glued a piece of acetate to the back of the rectangle, then added lots of foam tape. 

On top of the bright stamps, I made a pile of sequins and then placed the black window piece over top. The 'happy' was white embossed on black CS and fussy cut, then popped up on foam tape. While the rest of the sentiment was embossed straight onto the card.

The sentiment stamps are from Winnie and Walter 'The Big, the Bold and Happy' and the fireworks type stamps are also W&W 'Big Bang Bling'. The sequins are a mixture from Pretty Pink Posh and Neat and Tangled.

Since this card became a shaker, I'm going to enter this into the W & W 1st Birthday Bash - Shaker Challenge with Julie.


Will also link to the Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge where their theme is 'Anything Goes'.

It was another dreary day here today as rain tried its hardest to pay us a visit. The kids just wanted to stay at home, so I managed to spend the afternoon making four cards! Unbelievable I know and it was so nice. Can go to bed early(ish) tonight!!

Take care
Shona
 


 

Friday 30 January 2015

Just Add Ink Challenge # 248

I can't believe its time for our second challenge of the year at Just Add Ink.  
Last weeks blog hop was fantastic and we had some gorgeous entries. This week we have a colour combo for you:





Such a beautiful combo and of course the possibilities are endless for designing projects with these colours.

I'll be honest, I never use Navy on my cards or any beige (apart from kraft cardstock) so this was a fun little challenge for me.  Luckily I had a design rattling around in my brain that was perfect:



Oh how I love dies with the stitching detail and wish I had more of them. Especially those new dies from Simon Says Stamps that put the stitching on the die-cut piece and the negative space left behind.....amazing!! Will have to tee up a few more gardening jobs to save up for those.....

After deciding the order of my colours, I die-cut the curves, all at slightly different angles to give a bit of interest. I trimmed each piece so they all sat at the right level and then adhered them on top of each other, starting with the navy CS. I die-cut the 'love' twice from the pink CS and stuck them together. This was glued to the card, along with the small die-cut hearts (from the same CS).

The stitched curve die is from Pretty Pink Posh. The 'love' die and 'Tiny Hearts' dies are from Paper Smooches.

Will link this to the Uniko Studios Challenge # 17 where their theme is 'Love and Friendship'. Promise this is my last entry Bev!!!

And will also link to the Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge where their theme is 'Anything Goes'. This is my third entry.

You have until Wednesday 4th February 10pm (AEST - Australian Eastern Standard Time) to link your projects. I really hope you have the chance to join in as I can't wait to see what you do with these colours. And if you need any inspiration, please visit the Just Add Ink blog to see the gorgeous designs by the rest of the Design Team. Hope to see you there!!!

Take care
Shona

Thursday 29 January 2015

TIME OUT Challenge # 23 - Reminder

We are already half way through our TIME OUT challenge, hard to believe I know!! So this is a quick reminder that you still have a week to link your entries.

The theme for this challenge is:

                       Valentines Day with the optional twist of hearts

I totally overdosed on the 'optional hearts' for my card this week:



I don't know why my designs always end up so fiddly but I'm usually happy (and exhausted) at the end!!

This took quite a long time because there are only one die each for the three different size hearts. So I did one size at a time, die cutting them from the front card panel. I then added up how many hearts I had cut in each size and cut that number from red cardstock. After adhering a piece of white CS to the inside of the card front, I glued the red hearts into their corresponding holes. This way the card is all inlaid. 

For the sentiment I simply die-cut a small rectangle and stamped the sentiment in red. This was popped up on foam tape. Talk about heart crazy!!!!

The heart dies are from Paper Smooches 'Tiny Hearts' and the sentiment from Rosies Studio.

I'm going to link this to the Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge where their theme is 'Anything Goes'.

And will join the Fusion Challenge where their theme is:

 

Will also link to The Card Concept Challenge # 27, my card would fit in with 'Clean and Graphic'. Their theme is:


And will also link to the Uniko Studio Challenge # 17 where their theme is 'Love and Friendship'.

You have until next Wednesday 4th February 5pm to link your projects. The entries so far have been incredible and would love to see your one there too!! Take a look at the other DT cards too if your needing some inspiration, they have made some stunners!!!

Take care
Shona

CASology Challenge Week # 131

Do you ever get obsessed with a new craft purchase and can't stop using it?? Last week I purchased the Paper Smooches 'Tiny Hearts Dies' (which contain 3 different size hearts and an arrow) and the hearts seem to be popping up everywhere in my designs. Thank goodness its getting close to Valentines Day, so they will definitely come in handy!!


For the CASology challenge this week they are looking for birthday cards. I saw an amazing card (here) by Pamela Ho where she used the biggest 'Tiny Hearts Die' and I thought it looked incredible. It inspired me for this idea:




I started by die-cutting the heart shape from some photocopy paper and used washi tape to hold it against the card front. I then did a quick blend with Distress Ink 'Peacock Feathers', being careful not to make it too dark. 

Now for the fiddly part. I die cut the 3 hearts from the set (goodness knows how many times) from light blue glitter paper (from DCWV). I then set about playing with the hearts until I could fit them all in the shape. Very carefully I picked up each heart and cut out teeny tiny pieces of foam tape and popped them back in the same place. It took forever but was watching tv at the same time. A very simple sentiment (from Winnie and Walter 'The Big, the Bold and the Happy') and that was that!

I'm going to link this as my second entry to CAS on Sunday Challenge # 50 where their theme is 'Stencil it'.

Will also link to the House of Cards January Challenge where their theme is:


And will join in the fun at Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge where their theme is 'Anything Goes'.

I'm also going to join the Happy Little Stampers - January Sketch Challenge where their sketch is:


And poor Bev will be passing out because I'm going to link this to the Uniko Studio Challenge # 17, where their theme is 'Love and Friendship'. This is my 2 billionth entry.

A very dreary day today as its trying very hard to rain. We've only had 2.8mm of rain this year and everything is so brown. I gardened yesterday for 4 hrs and the dirt was even too hot to touch!! I actually really miss having the odd rainy day to craft. Fingers crossed the rain will finally come and visit!!

Take care
Shona 

Monday 26 January 2015

Winnie & Walter Birthday Bash - In Rotation Technique Challenge

For the month of January Winnie & Walter have been celebrating their first birthday with:


They have quite a few different challenges to join with different techniques, mood boards etc to choose from. I really want to join in as many as I can, as I'm a huge fan of their products (and the prizes are amazeballs!!).

One of the challenges (by Kelly Griglione) is to take a W&W stamp and do a 'rotation' technique. This is where you basically stamp, rotate it a bit, stamp again etc until you've come full circle. I thought this made such an incredible effect and really wanted to try it out.

I only have mainly word stamps by W&W and lots of people had entered amazing cards using these. So the only other one I had is the 'Big Bang Bling' set. After an hour of horrible disasters, I finally came up with a card:


One of the stamps in this set is a line of 7 sequins and I found they rotated into a pretty good pattern!

I started by die-cutting the circles in a piece of white CS and trimming it into a slim panel. I used washi tape to hold it over the card front and stamped the shapes into each circle using red ink, then dark pink, followed by light pink for an ombre effect. The panel was then popped up on foam tape. I used some vellum to die cut another circle and heat embossed the sentiment in white. I applied tiny spots of glue behind the words and glued to the card. A few coordinating enamel dots and it was finished.

The sentiment stamps are from W&W 'The Big, the Bold and the Happy'. The enamel dots are from Papervine.

One of the other W&W challenges is a Gradient Challenge with Vanessa where they are wanting you to make a card with a gradient change in colour or ombre look. So will link to this one as well.

Will also link to the Inkspirational Challenge # 74 where their theme is:


I'm also going to link to the Craft Stamper - Take it Make it Challenge where their theme for January is to 'Take a stamp'. This is my third entry.

Another challenge to link to is the Little Tangles Challenge # 52 where their theme is:

And finally I will link to the Uniko Studio Challenge # 17 where their theme is 'Love and Friendship'. This is my billionth entry....

I'm off now to catch up on some blog commenting and see what everyone has been up to. One more week of school holidays so must make the most of late nights and late mornings while I still can!!

Take care
Shona

Sunday 25 January 2015

Merry Monday Challenge # 142

I must say, I'm loving these Christmas Card challenges. I really enjoyed making my cards this past Christmas and didn't want to stop, so very excited to carry on the theme.



This week at Merry Monday they are looking for a Christmas card that involves 'houses'. I love house stamps and dies (just wish I had more....), so was very excited about this one!!!



Luckily I knew exactly what I wanted to do with this card. I started by die-cutting the houses thru the white CS, which was cut to the size of the card front. I adhered the blue/white splattered paper to the card front. The sentiment was stamped in Versamark Ink and embossed in silver. I then spent forever cutting tiny pieces of foam tape for behind the houses and stuck them over the blue paper. Three little silver stars for the night sky and done!

The house dies are from Simon Says Stamp 'Village'. The sentiment stamps are from Winnie and Walter 'The Big, the Bold and Merry'. The patterned paper is from Dear Lizzy 'Polka Dot Party' and silver stars from Papervine.

I received a comment from Bridget Larsen telling me about the Christmas Cards All Year Round Challenge and for January their theme is 'Anything Goes'. Thanks so much for this Bridget and this is my first of many entries!!

Update: Have just received another comment, this time from Hazel of Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge Extra. She asked if I could enter this card into her challenge too. More than happy to do that and thank you Hazel for the invitation. Her theme is 'Anything Goes - as long as its Christmas', so definitely need to follow this one!!

One more card to post and then I need to catch up on some blog commenting. I gardened all Friday afternoon, spent Friday night staying with my Mum with Phoebe and then another 5 hrs gardening Saturday. Today we spent most of the day at a big swimming hole, so not much time for blog surfing. Hope to catch up with all you've been doing over the next few days!!

Take care
Shona


Cure for the Monday Blues Challenge # 40

I'm starting to look like a prune...or maybe a sultana. It has been such a hot, dry summer that even though I have been covering myself in sunblock, my skin is so brown and dry. Thinking of investing in a bathtub full of moisturiser before I start looking like I have snakeskin!!! It has been the best summer ever, so I shouldn't complain but I'm starting to worry I will end up looking like that old woman in the movie Something About Mary (if you've seen the movie, you know who I mean.....).


I just missed out on playing Cure for the Monday Blues last week so had to make sure I was organised this week. I have really come to love the peachy colours around these days (and mint), so the big circle on the wall grabbed me straight away. I pulled out one of my favourite 6x6 pads and off I went:


I started by die-cutting the peachy paper into a circle. I then cut a strip of yellow patterned paper (which is very much like the chair fabric) and some mint paper. These were adhered to the card front and I popped the circle up on foam tape The 'love' die was cut with gold CS and then two of white CS and all stuck together. This was glued directly to the circle, along with some enamel dots and a small piece of white CS with the sentiment stamp.

The peach and mint papers are from Dear Lizzy 'Polka Dot Party' and the yellow paper from Echo Park 'Sweet Girl'. The 'love' die is from Paper Smooches and sentiment stamp from Hero Arts 'Year Round Sentiments'. The enamel dots are from MME 'Just Sayin'.

Since I seem to be creating yet another lovey-dovey card, I will link this to the Uniko Studio Challenge # 17 where the theme is 'Love and Friendship'. This is my millionth entry.......

We are into the last week of the school holidays. Need the kids to try on their uniforms tomorrow as I have a feeling they have both outgrown them. The uniforms are so expensive, might have to send them to school in their PJ's until I can afford new ones. And I need to pay $150 for their stationary and other bits and pieces on Tuesday. And Phoebe is going on camp in March which is costing around $220. So much for free public education..........might have to think about selling a kidney.......

Take care
Shona

Friday 23 January 2015

Just Add Ink Challenge #247 and Blog Hop

What a wonderful way to start the year, with my very first post as a Just Add Ink Design Team member!!! Super excited to be part of this team of incredible designers and looking forward to all the challenges.


The team decided to start off this year with a Blog Hop for our first challenge. You should have arrived here from Tina's blog (where I'm sure you had a fabulous time!). The theme for this weeks challenge is:

                                       Just Add Love and Tag Sketch # 247

The world is your oyster as you create a project with 'love' in mind and can either create a tag or have your tag as part of your project. Oh the possibilities.......

I've always love using tags on a card, so was super excited about this challenge. I decided to go a little crazy with colour (well, crazy for ME):


I started off by die-cutting the tag twice with white CS and gluing them together for added strength.  I then die-cut the rainbow from blue, pink and green papers. Then came the fiddly part..... I put strips of double-sided tape on some white CS and put each colour of rainbow arch on to it. Once all in place, I fussy cut around it till no CS was showing. This was put on to the tag with some foam tape.

The sentiment was stamped in pink onto a small banner of white CS and adhered over the rainbow. I glued the tag to the card front, scattered some sequins and added the wooden heart. Nothing like colour and love to start your day!

The rainbow die is from Paper Smooches and the stitched tag die from Pretty Pink Posh. The sentiment stamp is from Rosies Studio. The pink, green and blue papers are from Kaisercraft 'Happy Snaps'. The wooden heart is from Freckled Fawn and sequins from Pretty Pink Posh.

I'm going to also link this card to the Uniko Studio Challenge # 17 where their theme is 'Love and friendship'.

You have until Wednesday 28th Jan 10pm (AEST) to join in the fun. If you need any inspiration, please visit the Just Add Ink blog to see the fantastic creations by the DT. I hope to see you there!!

Your now off to visit the fabulous Rochelle, enjoy!

http://rochelleblok.blogspot.com/2015/01/just-add-ink-247-just-add-love.html

Take care
Shona 

Thursday 22 January 2015

CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge # 106

Its been a while since I joined in with a challenge at CAS(E) this Sketch , so when I saw that my wonderful bloggie friend Michele from I Card Everyone had been invited to join their Design Team, I just knew I had to play. Michele is an incredible designer and I really encourage you to visit her blog!!


I was blown away by the cards the CAS(E) this Sketch Design Team created with the above sketch (you really should have a look!!)

I had an idea evolve when playing with some die-cuts last night. This is the end result:

 I lost count of how many heart die-cuts I ended up with after doing this card but I'm well stocked for Valentines Day!!

I actually started by using distress inks on some white CS to create an ombre effect but it turned into a bit of a disaster. So searched thru my 6x6 paper pads and came across an ombre coloured paper. I used a heart die to die-cut hearts from different sections of the paper. 

After arranging the hearts over the card, I glued between the hearts where they touched (incredibly fiddly!!!). Unfortunately I then sat on the carpet and cut out millions of tiny strips of foam tape but was able to talk with Max about life in general (he is 8yrs) at the same time. These were attached to the back of the hearts, wherever they wouldn't be seen from the front and pressed on to the card. I stamped the sentiment in black, a sprinkle of sequins and voila!

The heart die is from CAS-ual Fridays. The sentiment from Rosies Studio. The tiny pink sequins are from Pretty Pink Posh and the larger one from Neat and Tangled.

As usual, I've got a few challenges to link this card too. First up is the Inkspirational Challenge # 74 where their theme is:


Next I will join the Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge where their theme is 'Have a heart'.

I will also join the Uniko Studio Challenge # 17 where their theme is 'Love and Friendship'. This is my third entry.

And finally, I'm linking to the CASology Challenge Week 130 where their theme is:


I have two friends that I thought of when I made this card, one lives oversea's and the other in a different part of New Zealand. I think about them both every single day and wish we had a chance to talk more often and see each other. Might have to use some of my leftover hearts to make a similar card, so I can send a card to them both. Nothing like getting some love by mail!!!

Take care
Shona


 

Time Out Challenge # 23

Haven't these first few weeks of the year flown by so quickly!! Seems like it was Christmas just yesterday and now there is only just over a week till school starts again. Must make the most of our sleep-in's and staying in our pj's till lunchtime while we can, before the school morning rush returns........

The theme for this TIME OUT challenge is:

                       Valentine's Day with the optional twist of hearts

You can make any sort of mushy, lovey-dovey project you like, with the option of using hearts. Its only a few weeks till Valentine's Day so the perfect chance to get started on some cards!

Our Guest Designer for this challenge is Valentyna. Her cards are so pretty and she has the most amazing designs. Would be lovely if you popped by to visit her blog, you won't be disappointed!

I decided to try out something new with my circle dies for my card and managed to keep it mainly white (which I love):


I was playing around with my circle dies the other day and came up with this idea. What a shame I didn't have an arrow die or stamp to go with this!!

I started by cutting a piece of white CS the same size as my card front. I die-cut the largest circle from this piece. I thought it would be best to stamp the sentiment and small hearts on at this point, as would be tricky after all the circle pieces were stuck together.

I die-cut the rest of the circle sizes from separate CS pieces. The fiddly part was adhering them all together behind each other, so that the circles had even spacing in-between. The whole panel was then stuck to the card front. I stamped the heart in the centre and covered with Wink of Stella. Very fiddly but so worth it!!

The circle dies are from Couture Creations. The sentiment is from Winnie and Walter 'The Big, the Bold and the Happy'. The smaller heart stamps are from Lawn Fawn and the larger from Hero Arts 'Year Round Sentiments'.

I'm going to also link this card to the Uniko Studio Challenge # 17 where their theme is 'Love and Friendship'. This is my second entry.

And will also link to the Happy Little Stampers - January Sketch Challenge where their sketch is:


This TIME OUT challenge runs for two weeks, so hopefully that gives you plenty of time to join in. And if your needing a boost of inspiration, please visit the blog to see the gorgeous creations by the Design Team and our Guest Designer. I hope to see you there!!

Take care
Shona 

Wednesday 21 January 2015

Addicted to Stamps Challenge # 128

This is such an exciting post for me, my very first post as an Addicted to Stamps and More  Design Team member!!!! I've joined this challenge so many times over the past twelve months, it will be very strange not playing along but how exciting to be on the other side and visiting so many incredible blogs. And being in a team with so many well known and amazing designers is pretty fabulous too!!!

So here we go! The theme for this weeks challenge is:

                                                       'HOLIDAY'

This means you can make a project based on anything to do with 'holidays'. Whether it be a vacation or a recognised holiday like Christmas, the choice is yours. The sponsor for this challenge is Deedee's Digis and we have Kathy and Faith from Deedee's Digis as Guest Designers this week. Their cards are super cute!

We are still on 'school holiday' time here in New Zealand, which we tend to call the 'Christmas holidays', so I couldn't help but make yet another Christmas card.


I was extremely lucky to win the latest Christmas release stamps from Uniko Studio before Christmas and they arrived last week, so was dying to try them out!

I'm not good at masking straight lines with tape, so die-cut a rectangle from printer paper to help me out. I placed this over the card front and taped down with washi tape. I used my mini blending tool and Distress Ink 'Peacock Feathers' to create the background, graduating from dark to light. After drying, I stamped the tree with Versamark Ink and heat embossed in silver. The same was done with the sentiment. I tried for ages to add in some sequins etc but nothing worked, so a simple CAS card it is!

As I've created a one-layer Christmas card, I'm going to also link this to the One Layer Christmas Card Challenge # 2, where their theme is:


I'm also going to join the CAS on Sunday Challenge # 50 where their theme is 'Stencil it - use masking or stencil'. 

You have one week to join in the fun at Addicted to Stamps. If your needing any help with inspiration, please pop over to the blog to see the gorgeous creations by the Design Team. I hope to see you there and look forward to visiting your blogs!!

Take care
Shona

Sunday 18 January 2015

Muse Challenge # 100

We still have two weeks of the school holidays to go. The kids and I have had a lovely time in the sunshine these past 5 weeks but its been extremely hard to fit in any craft time. So please bear with me and in a few weeks you will be so sick of all of my cards!!!


I've already entered a card in the Muse challenge this week but I didn't feel as if I did Michele's inspiration card any justice. I kept it in mind while I made a card for my Mum's 75th birthday (which was today....well, it was actually yesterday as its now 2.27am Sunday morning....). I wanted to do something soft, pretty and modern.


I cut a panel out of white CS slightly smaller than the card front and die-cut the heart. I stamped the sentiment in soft grey and then die-cut the heart again from pink glitter paper. I popped the white panel up on some foam tape and then did the same with both of the glitter hearts. Simple, clean and my Mum loved it!!!!

The Muse challenge was about using a negative of a die-cut, which I've done by placing things inside the large negative heart die-cut. And to use a word or line from a song. Because of this I've been singing the Stevie Wonder hit 'Happy Birthday to ya' all day, which actually isn't a bad thing as its quite a catchy and 'happy' wee tune.

The heart die (which cuts the larger heart and graduating smaller hearts all at once) is from CAS-ual Fridays. The sentiment is from Uniko Studio 'Flower Power #2'.

I'm also going to link this to the Virginia's View Challenge # 11 where their theme is:

I also wanted to show you one of the presents my children and I had been working on for my Mum (or Nana as the kids call her). Last year I saw a jar shaped project on my friend Kim's blog and told her how much I liked it. She very generously had the jar shapes cut out for me, as well as all the labels etc and posted them to me from her home in the U.S. I decided to make a book about her and all the things we love about her. So the kids helped me pick the photos and the papers and then wrote notes to her on each jar. She loves it so much and I can imagine she will be looking at it often.





Take care
Shona



Thursday 15 January 2015

Reminder: TIME OUT Challenge # 22

Well, we are already half-way through our latest challenge at TIME OUT and the entries linked so far are incredible!!


This is the challenge inspiration photo. I wanted to try out a different shape with the design for my second card but of course that big, red 'hello' just had to shine somewhere:


This time I focused a bit more on the paisley cushion. I loved the swirls and mix of colours, so thought my new wreath die would help me out!

I started by using the metal die to cut 3 wreaths out of the floral paper. These were then stuck together with glue for height. I then used the wreath die on the green paper but only wanted the negative from the inside of the wreath shape. I glued the floral wreath to the card front, then added some adhesive to the back of the green piece and pushed it inside the wreath. It was a little bit tricky because I had to match it all up so it would fit.

This now mean's that because the floral wreath is made up of 3 layers, it sits proud of the inner piece, which gives fantastic dimension. I die cut the 'hello' from red CS and glued them all together. This was then adhered to the green paper. No embellishments seemed to work (no matter what I tried), so it remains floating in a sea of white.

The wreath die is from Papertrey Ink and the 'hello' die from The Crafters Workshop. The floral paper is from Chickaniddy Crafts 'Scrumptious' and the green from Kaisercraft 'Happy Snaps'.

I'm also going to link my card to celebrations over at Muse Challenge # 100. They are celebrating their 100th challenge, which is so fabulous!!! I really enjoy entering as much as I can because their inspiration cards are so divine! For this challenge, the wonderful Michele from I Card Everyone is hosting. She is asking for you to design a card 'accentuating the negative' and to include a word or line from a song. Well, I used the green negative of the wreath die to add to the middle and 'Hello', who could forget the classic Lionel Richie song. Congratulations Muse!!!!!

And will also link to the Virginia's View Challenge # 11 where their theme is:



You have until next Wednesday 21st January, 5pm to enter the TIME OUT challenge. I really hope you have time to join us, would love to see you there!!!!

Take care
Shona

Sunday 11 January 2015

Merry Monday Challenge # 140

Oh how I love Blogland!! I especially love all the bloggers I follow and all the tips and ideas they share with us. During the holidays I was leaving a comment for someone about their card and mentioned how I will miss making Christmas cards. She told me to enter one of the Christmas card challenges and told me about the Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge. Why didn't I think of that??? Thanks so much Bonnie for your suggestion and here is my very first entry!

This looks so delicious! This week they are looking for cards with snowflakes on them. This is what my tired brain came up with:



I started by die-cutting a circle out of some scrap CS and putting it over the card. I stamped my snowflake with Versamark all over the circle, removed the stencil and then heat embossed with white. I did the same with the sentiment stamps too. It needed something sparkly so added some aqua sequins to the middle of each snowflake. I really love how it turned out, as I've been trying to think of a design all week!!!

The snowflake stamp is from Simon Says Stamp 'Presents and Ornaments'. The sentiment stamps are from Winnie and Walter 'The Big, the Bold and the Merry'. The sequins are from Avery Elle.

This was my first time using the Winnie and Walter stamp set, so I'm entering the Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge where their theme is 'Something New'. This is my third entry.

Will also link to the CAS on Sunday Challenge # 49 where their theme is 'Christmas'. This is my second entry.

I'm also linking to a new challenge for me, Happy Little Stampers - January Sketch Challenge, where they have this fantastic sketch:


Will also make this my second entry to the Craft Stamper - Take it Make it January Challenge where their theme is 'Anything Goes but you must use a stamp'. 

I also found another new Christmas Card challenge thru my friend Nonni, One-Layer Christmas Card Challenge # 1. Their theme is 'Anything Goes with the optional twist of Red'. 

And last but by no way least, I'm entering my first birthday challenge at Winnie and Walter. Its the One Challenge with Shay and she is looking for cards incorporating one i.e. one colour, one stamp, no. 1 etc. My card is one layer, one embossed colour and one embellishment. They have quite a few challenges so you will be seeing many more W&W entries from me......


I'm off to bed. We reached 32 degrees celcius today (89.6 Farenheit), was very hot no matter what we did. So off to the pool we went at 3pm for 2 hrs and Phoebe and I went for a swim at 7pm. We had the pool to ourselves and the water was divine. So off to bed we all go, ready for more swimming tomorrow.......

Although I must mention, I've done so much swimming my togs are getting very baggy, thin and see thru. Must do something about getting new ones (worst thing to shop for ever!!!) before I have an accident. My old togs were like that and I was putting them on at home (thank goodness!!), bent over to put my shoes on and the backside ripped apart. Do not want that happening in public!!!!!!

Take care
Shona


 

Cure for the Monday Blues Challenge # 38

January seems to be a very popular time for birthdays. In New Zealand January/February are our hottest months and all I can think about is all the poor expectant mothers melting in the heat (Phoebe was born in February so I know how heat and pregnancy don't mix!!!).

Over at Cure for the Monday Blues Taheerah is having a huge celebration. Its her birthday this week and she is also the January Leading Lady over at Winnie and Walter. Of course you will have heard that Winnie and Walter are also having their 1st birthday and having a huge party with lots of challenges and prizes. I really suggest you check it out!!

Winnie and Walter are sponsoring each of the challenges at Cure for the Monday Blues this month and giving away a $30 gift card for each challenge. Yippee!! With all this birthday happiness going on I totally had to get in on the party.



Isn't this inspiration photo sprinkly and delicious??!! I love the pink shade of the icing and all those colourful sprinkles, so I went sprinkle crazy:


Dave said this looks like an explosion in a candy factory, which is exactly the look I was going for!

I started by stamping the little starburst stamp in different colours and sizes. I tried a new technique (I've forgotten the name) where you stamp once and then again without re-inking. Was so happy with the change in colour, its awesome! 

After die-cutting the heart, I glued it straight to the card front. I stamped the 'happy' with Versamark and heat embossed with gold. I then tried something new again and fussy cut around it. Have seen a lot of people do this with sentiments. I need more practice to make it neater but will do it again definitely!

The 'happy' was popped up on foam tape. I heat embossed 'birthday' in gold as well, cut the CS into a rectangle and put on foam tape too. A million sequins in similar shades to the ink and it was done. A happy sprinkle explosion!!

The sentiment stamps are from Winnie and Walter 'The Big, Bold and the Happy'. The little starburst stamps are from Winnie and Walter 'Scenery: Big Bang Bing'. The heart die is from CAS-ual Fridays, with pink paper from American Crafts 'My Girl'. The pink and yellow sequins are from Pretty Pink Posh, the teal from Avery Elle and purple from Neat and Tangled.


Will link to Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge where their theme is 'Something New', which is the two techniques I tried and first time for 'happy' stamp.

Linking to Simply Create Too # 76 where their theme is 'Let's Celebrate'.This is my second entry.

Also linking to Darnell's NBUS Challenge # 3, this is my third and final entry.

I found a new challenge last night, thanks to a post by a bloggie friend (thanks Kymona!!). Its the Take it, Make it Challenge for Craft Stamper Magazine. This month is 'Anything Goes' but you must use stamps somewhere on your project. The prize is HUGE, you really must check it out!


Well, thats enough blabbering from me! Its extremely hot here today. Need to take the dog for a walk and then it will be straight into the pool with the kids. Off to have dinner with my Mum tonight and the school pool is right across the road, so might even sneak in for a quick after-dinner swim too. Gotta love the school holidays.........

Take care
Shona