Colour Q Retro Sketch Handbag...

Wow two posts in one afternoon!

I knew as soon as I saw this weeks Retro Sketch Challenge that I wanted to rotate the sketch 90 degrees and make a handbag style card - then when I saw this weeks colours at Colour Q with the cute Easter Basket inspiration, I just had to combine the two!

I have used some of this gorgeous paper from My Little Shoebox which combines all the colours from the challenge!  The rosette was created from teal cardstock and SEI paper using a Spellbinders diecut and Fiskars circle punch, then pop-dotted to the card - with the added bonus of the top flap of the handbag being able to be tucked securely in place behind the rosette.  I love this sentiment from Skipping Stones Design.

I decided that the end of my pennant needed more definition and backed that section with the teal cardstock too (see the third photo) - works a treat!

Let me know if you would like more details about how I cut the shape - mine was just make it up as you go, but there are plenty of great patterns on the web and I think there may even be special die cuts available.

Hope you have a wonderful day!

The Things that Dreams are Made of, Rosettes, Cardabilities and Pink Elephants too!

  Butterflies Challenge

This card was inspired by this stunning Rosette Colour Trends Challenge at Embellish Magazine, and drawn from this gorgeous Cardabilities Sketch, first time I've played along at both these sites, and I couldn't resist joining in at The Pink Elephants Butterflies Challenge too!

I created these gorgeous roses using My Favourite Things Mini Rolled Roses Die Cuts in hot pink felt.  I discovered that you can create larger roses by die-cutting an extra rose (or more if you need to!), and continuing to wrap it around the outside of the rose to create exactally the sized rose you want - so I was able to use two die cuts to make three different sized roses - perfect!  I was inspired by all the circular elements in the Rosette Colour Trends Challenge - so all the papers (from SEI and Making Memories) are spotted, and I have repeated the circular elements in the scalloping and the Kaisercraft pearl bling too. I created a double frame around my card to reflect the frame from the photo too.  The gorgeous butterfly die cut is from Spellbinders.  This beautiful sentiment is from Verve Always on My Mind, stamped in Versa Colour Opera Pink and Orchid.

Hope your dreams come true today too!

Paper Smooches Easter Joy...

Inspired by this fortnights gorgeous photo from Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge, I love the cute felt bunnies and the saturated colours.

I tried something new by stamping images from Paper Smooches Spring Fling onto felt to achieve a light outline to use as a stitching guide.  I found the best option was to stamp them using Distress Ink. I used Victorian Velvet, but any light colour could achieve the same effect (although Spun Sugar was too light to see the outline). The outline was then highlighted by using 3 strands of embroidery thread - the usual 6 strands did not produce a fine enough line.  I used DMC Embroidery Thread in 704 (green), 3806 (pink) and... yellow whose code has fallen off!  The papers are from Alison Ellis Design and Rose Moka - although you could be really creative and make your own ;)  The egg shape negative cut was achieved by enlarging the Paper Smooches Spring Fling image on a photocopier, then cutting out the shape using a craft knife.  The Spring Fling sentiment is stamped using Versa Colour Lime, and I love the subtlety of the sentiment in the midst of all the saturated colours.

To adhere the egg and bunny to the card, I used Provo Crafts Terrifically Tacky Tape (also known as red tape). The best thing about Terrifically Tacky Tape is that it is terrifically tacky, the worst thing about Terrifically Tacky Tape, is that it is terrifically tacky - so you have to be extra careful - once it sticks, it stays!

Today is a gloriously sunny day - hope you are enjoying Spring / Autumn wherever you are!

A CAS-ual CASE of Growth...

As soon as I saw the gorgeous card in this weeks CASE Study, I knew I wanted to make a card with a tape measure running down the side of it - to match the "grow" theme of the card.  I added polka-dots and pastels to follow the theme of the card and the added black highlights made it perfect for this weeks The Bold and The Beautiful Challenge at CAS-ual Fridays. 

The gorgeous giraffe is from Paper Smooches Zoo Crew - stamped in reverse using Paper Smooches Dude Block (with LOTS of practice!), and the sentiment is stamped using Paper Smooches Alphadots. The tape measure paper is from Little Yellow Bicycle, the yellow spots from Carolees Creations and the green spots and yellow checks are from SMiRK Love and Friendship Pad.

Hope you enjoy learning and growing today :)

Freshly Made... in Pursen

I love this sentiment stamp I was lucky enough to win from Skipping Stones Design, and couldn't wait to use it.  This weeks Freshly Made Sketch was the perfect inspiration :)  The lovely purse images are from Crate Paper, and the background papers are from Basic Grey and MME. The purses and the top two layers of the card are pop-dotted, just a bit difficult to see when photographing at night!  

Wishing you a wonderful Purseday, whenever it may be!



A CAS-ual Easter with There She Goes and Skipping Stones

I've joined in this weeks There She Goes Easter Animal Challenge again - this time featuring these cute chick and sun images from There She Goes Under The Weather stamps with Paper Smooches sentiment (which I triple masked to change from a square sentiment to a rectangle one to suit the card).  The sketch for this card was based on this fantastically versatile sketch from Skipping Stones Design.  Believe it or not the yellow polka dot paper from Carolees Creations is actually lemon - so fits in perfectly with The Bold and The Beautiful Challenge this week over at CAS-ual Fridays.  The paper punch I have used is a cute scalloped edge from EK Success.

Hope you have a wonderful day in your corner of the world :)

Liebster Award :)

I was recently nominated for this blogging award by the lovely Ardyth!

This award is given to up-and-coming bloggers who inspire you and have less than 200 followers. The Liebster award takes its name from the German word meaning "Beloved, Dearest or Favourite".

Once nominated, you then:

• Acknowledge the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them
• Give the award to 5 other bloggers, who have less than 200 followers and let them know through a comment on their blog
• Post the award on your blog

I LOVE that the world of blogging takes you around the world without leaving your home.  My nominees are from around the globe:

American - Kimberley
Australian - Al (east) and Gayatri (west)
Dutch - Judith and
German - Anni

Please take a minute to visit these ladies and leave a comment for them - we bloggers LOVE comments!

Happy travels and hope you are inspired too!

Colour Q - Hope Perches on the Soul...

Inspired by this weeks gorgeous combination of blue-greens and purples by Colour Q.  This gorgeous bird on a branch die cut is by Marianne Design, the scalloped circle is a Marvy punch, papers by Authentique Gathering, MME On the Bright Side - Two, and a special Australian Papercraft paper by docrafts.  This gorgeous sentiment stamp by Verve has been stamped in Versa Colour Violet - as much as I love this colour, makes me wish I had a few more Stampin' Up ink colours.

We can always live in hope :)

Mojo Monday on a Saturday Afternoon...

Inspiration from this weeks Mojo Monday, tipped over!  Papers are a mix from My Mind's Eye On the Bright Side - Two, Authentique Gathering and Kaisercraft Devonshire Collection, the little pearls are from Kaisercraft too.  The nested frames are from Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Rectangles, and the scalloped edge from My Favourite Things.  I love this sentiment from Verve Stamps Blue Skies.  Even though my style leans more towards CAS, I do enjoy playing with pretty papers, layer upon layer upon layer - and it gives me a chance to practice my sewing too :)

Hope your dreams are safe today too!

PS.  Linky tool is not working on Mojo Monday site at present,

hoping to load this up when it gets fixed.

The Alley Way Herd you're Moovin'

Inspired by this fortnights gorgeous inspiration photo from The Alley Way Stamps.  I love the shutters opening on the verandah, and designed a gatefold opening card.  Love the way the barn turned out stamped on MME On the Bright Side - Two paper.  Stamps are from The Alley Way Get Moovin', Ei-ei-o and Chatterbox (used the "in" from "dream in colour" sentiment and the "Moov" from "Moove").  Grass die cut is from My Favourite Things and the fence die-cut is from Marianne Design.  Sentiment inside reads "Herd you're MOOving". 

Loved it so much I created a second version - this time I added "We are" from The Alley Way Chatterbox and pop-dotted the barn, cow and pig.  The barn was created using Pink Paislee paper, and as much as I loved the old timber look of the first barn, I think I prefer this second barn on the card :)

Hope you have a wonderful day today.

This added to my Wonderful

Hop Hop Hooray for a Paper Players Playdate...

I couldn't resist playing along this week at The Play Date Cafe - look at this gorgeous colour combo!  As my button collection must be the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere, I couldn't resist adding a few buttons for the Paper Players Challenge too.  This gorgeous buuny stamp is from Stampendous, the wider grosgrain ribbons are from Kaisercraft, the top two are from my stash, acouple of the orange buttons are from Basic Grey, and the teal is from My Minds Eye.  I hand drew the balloon strings and the sentiment - which could either be a Birthday or Easter sentiment.  There She Goes has a weekly challenge of incorporating an animal into your Easter card so I'll hop on over and enter this card too :)

Hope you are having a hoppy day too :)

PS. Hop Hop Hooray for this too :)

Get Krafty and Smooch...

Inside front of card

Paper Smooches March Inspiration

Inspired by this gorgeous floral wreath hanging from this fortnight at Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge, I created this cloud wreath card, featuring Paper Smooches March free digi download squirrel and the clouds, kite and sentiment stamps from Paper Smooches Sunny Side Up set.  There is a lot of pop-dotting in the cloud wreath!  I cut out the centre of the wreath from the card so that when you open the card, the back of the kite reads "Thanks for the Lift". I was tempted to change the Hi to High, but decided to leave it ;)  The images, apart from the digi-download were stamped in black Momento ink, and coloured to highlight the pinks and greens from the inspiration photo using Copics Rose Mist (R83), Yellow Green (YG03), Sepia (E37), Sand (E33), and Barley Beige (E11).  With all this kraft this card is perfect for this weeks "Get Krafty" Challenge over at The Pink Elephant too.

Hope your spirits soar today :) 

A Home-grown CASE of Inspiration

Gorgeous CASE card from Laura Bassen

Love the stunning simplicity and colours of this weeks CASE Study card by Laura Bassen.  Inspired me to create my own home card using My Favourite Things die-cut negative alphabet, and the sentiment is stamped using Paper Smooches Alphadots and A Little Lovin, with a little Doodlebug twine.

This in turn inspired me to create a second home card, this time a Welcome home card - which could easily be added to to create a Welcome to your new home card.  Created using the same My Favourite Things die-cut negative alphabet, and the sentiment is stamped using Paper Smooches A Little Lovin too. The key is a very old one from my stash, I think from memory it was Karen Foster Design, but then again.

Thought I'd add these to my collection for Paper Smooches April Guest Designer Challenge too!

Many thanks for stopping by, much appreciated!

Pucker Up... Paper Smooches April Guest Designer Search

Pucker up... there's a lot of Smooching going on here!  I thought I'd put my best foot forward for the Paper Smooches April Guest Designer Challenge.  So I've collected a few of my Paper Smooches creations I have made in the past couple of months here in one spot to make it easier :)  You have until March 21st to enter, the best thing is you can even use Paper Smooches free digi download stamps to create your cards to enter!

Bee Happy - details here

So Proud - details here

U will be Missed - details here

I adore you - details here

What's Up - details here

Hangin' Out - details here

Congratulations - details here

Time for Adventure - details here

Welcome - details here

Gnome Time - details here

Happy Anniversary - details here

Over the Moon - details here