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Waving a big hello to my "followers" old & new!!

Just in case you weren't aware, Google Reader will be closing it's doors from today - June 30th, and any new blogs are apparently unable to attach a Google Follow Me button.

Whether you choose Feedly or Bloglovin' as your new preferred streamed post source, just click on the "Follow Me" buttons below, or in the right hand column of my PC posts, and you can make sure you don't miss a post :)

In case you are having any problems linking up your blog to Feedly, the lovely Kim has a fab write up here.

Don't forget, today is the last day to link up your projects to Let's Get Trendy Now! 3 too!

Oh Snap...

Second post of the day... scroll down for FUSION post!

Teenagers and neons - the perfect match???  I thought I'd have a play on the bright side of life with this teen (belated) birthday card - are they always late, or is it just that they sleep in LOL?!?  I thought this The Alley Way Stamps Framed camera and sentiment were just right for a teen card, paired with Amy Tangerine's Sketchbook papers, Lil Inkers Stitched Polaroid frame and some Neat & Tangled Sequins.

Playing along with this weeks Addicted to CAS Teenager, 

Let's Get Trendy Now! 3 Neon,

Let's Get Trendy Now! 3 Sequins and
Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes too!

A Whole Month of FUSION...

Time for some more fabulous FUSION inspiration, and this week is extra fabulous because as it's Summer Vacation in the Northern Hemisphere, you have until JULY 24th to play along with this FUSION Challenge!  Just a quick reminder of how you can play along...

PROCEDURES:
1. Play with just Jackie's sketch challenge.
2. Play with just Lesley's inspiration photo challenge.
3. Or you can create FUSION by combining BOTH challenges into one card.
4. Use the challenge graphic and link back to Fusion in your post.
5. Please read the other considerations on the Experiment Page before playing along.

Focusing on this weeks FUSION inspiration, I love the negative white images on the little stack of birdies, and the first one that caught my eye was the little yellow birdie whose markings reminded me of my Memory Box Chloe die-cut.  This weeks sketch is perfectly suited for die-cuts, so I thought I'd also challenge myself to play along with Catered Crop So Shapely and create a card using only die-cuts - because I LOVE them!  So in addition to my Chloe stem die, I added my Paper Smooches Thanks and Fishtail Flag and Lil Inkers Stitched Squares, to create this die-cut only card. The Thanks and Chloe were both negative cut from the central Stitched Squares panel.  I then added a positive cut of the Chloe, and the Fishtail Flag in Fancy Pants paper.  I love the white and yellow pops against the neutral Bella hexagon cardstock.

Check out the rest of the Design Team for even more FUSION inspiration

Allyson  Anderson  / Amy Tsuruta / Deanna Jean / 

Kelly Griglione / Stacey Schafer

Paper Smooches Sparks Picture Perfect

Playing along with  Catered Crop So Shapely,

Paper Smooches Picture Perfect,

Let's Get Trendy Now! 3 Stitching Challenge and
Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes too!

A CASual CAS(E) of Smooching on the Farm....

Just because I'm loving the texture trend at the moment & had fun incorporating textured papers - wooden, burlap, lace and gingham - for this neutral-on-neutral card.  The row of crayons in this weeks Paper Smooches Sparks Picture Perfect Challenge reminded me of wooden fence pickets, and after spotting this weeks gorgeous CAS(E) this Sketch, I thought I'd turn the sketch on its side and cut a peep hole front and back across which I laid two Maryanne Designs die cut fences end-to-end.  I thought it was perfectly fitting that CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge #33 has three repeated elements, and I stamped three gorgeous Paper Smooches farm animals, Very Sheepish from Party Posse, and the Nanny Goat and Moo Cow from Green Acres, and created the barnyard sentiment using Alphadot.  Happily playing along with CAS-ual Fridays Over the Edge too - because you would have to agree, this card is a little over the top LOL!

Paper Smooches Sparks - Picture Perfect

Playing along with Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes too!

This made me smile...

In the Mood for Monday...

So many GORGEOUS cards over at WPlus9 this fortnight, I thought I'd join in the fun at WPlus9 Monday Mood Board, with these gorgeous Blanket-Stitched Blooms and Simply Sentiments, paired with Lil Inkers Stitched Square frames.  Stamped using Hero Arts Shadow Inks in Cop O' Joe, Butter Bar, Green Hills and Bubble Gum. Waving a big hello to Cecilia and Jenny too - lovely to meet you :)

WPlus9 Monday Mood Board

Joining in the fun with with Let's Get Trendy Now! 3 Stitching and 

Drunken Stampers #133 Edward Scissorhand Sewing Challenges.

A Little ConFUSION...

Welcome back for another fabulous week of FUSION inspiration!  What will inspire you this week - this fabulous sketch from Jackie?  Or this fabulous inspiration photo from Lesley - with it's bright bold elements? Or a FUSION of both???

This week I was particularly inspired by the gorgeous teal background, the combination of bright bold colours, the owl theme, the wooden table and flowers.  I stamped my There She Goes owl trio onto a combination of lightly patterned papers - woodgrain for papa owl, floral for mama owl and chevrons for baby owl.  I love that these little guys look so shocked in response to the Lil Inkers sentiment LOL! I created my stripes by pop dotting the top layer of white cardstock, creating negative space for the teal background paper to peep through.  Unusually for me I actually used patterned papers from just one collection today, Echo Park Here & Now.

Why don't you stop by the FUSION Design Team blogs for even more inspiration!

Allyson  Anderson  / Amy Tsuruta / Deanna Jean / 
Kelly Griglione / Stacey Schafer

Playing along with There She Goes Anything Goes too.

A Dashing Farewell...

9 Minutes and 15 seconds later...

I'll still be playing along for fun, but for now this is my final 10 Minute Craft Dash as part of the Design Team.  The lovely Paulina invited me to continue for another term, but I thought it was time to let someone else take a turn to inspire you - plus now I'll be eligible for some of those fantastic prizes, like this weeks Denami Design Gift Certificate LOL!

With such a fantastic colour combo matching these gorgeous My Mind's Eye chipboard flowers and sentiment, I thought I'd try and do a super quick card this week, but the best laid plans don't always go to plan!!  I completed this card at a friends house, and used her Big Shot rather than my more familiar Cuttlebug, and lost almost half my dash time trying to work out the correct "sandwich" for the Big Shot - ooops!!!  I love the added texture achieved by using this fabulous textured material paper from Gina K Casual Friday, paired with the weathered wood paper from Simple Stories Vintage Bliss, and the faux stitching from the Lil Inkers Stitched Rectangle die cut.  To add to the texture, all the elements are pop dotted for added dimension.

10 Minute Tips

• Ready-made chipboard shapes and/or sentiments are a great go-to for timed challenges.
• If you are using unfamiliar equipment, or a technique you have not used for a while, make sure you have all your tools together and know what you are doing BEFORE you start the timer LOL!

Play along for your chance to win this fabulous Denami Design Gift Certificate!

Playing along at Lets Get Trendy Now! 3 Textured Layers Challenge too.

In CASE of Travel...

After having so much fun with my CASual Fridays Mapquest Challenge LIFE Map card yesterday, I thought I'd have a play and do another using the same October Afternoon Thrift Shop paper.  This time I combined it with a dollop of inspiration from Lisa Spangler's gorgeous CASE Study card, using plenty of hexagons for the Less is More Hexagons Challenge and Shopping Our Stash Geometric Shapes Challenge. Cut the map hexagons using Cheery Lynn Honeycomb Frame die, and enlarged the shape to create a template for my cork hexagon. The gorgeous wood veneer plane is from Studio Calico.  The fab world map is from Paper Smooches Space Cadet.  The sentiment is a cardstock sticker from My Mind's Eye, wrapped in The Twinery Solid Natural twine and pop dotted - 'cause you know I need to LOL!

Lisa Spangler's gorgeous CASE Study card

Also playing along with Catered Crop For the Boys Challenge 

The Twinery Anything Goes Challenge, Online Card Classes Summer Card Camp 2,

Simon Says Stamp Transport Challenge and Let's Get Trendy Now! 3 Textured Layers.

LIFE... Enjoy the Journey

Love this piece of October Afternoon Thriftshop Map of London paper I had been hoarding saving for a special occasion, and thought it would be perfect for this weeks CASual Fridays Mapquest Challenge.  I printed LIFE in 190pt Showcard Gothic, onto a sheet of white cardstock, then hand cut the letters (I hope this counts for this fortnights Keep It Simple Negative Diecutting Challenge!)  I brought this stamp way back when I was only doing scrapbooking, as part of my travel stash - it has long since lost its packaging, so I don't even know what brand it was, but it's easily the stamp I've had the longest, for the Shopping Our Stash Oldest Stamp Challenge, and I thought I'd play along with the Sweet Stamp Shop: Use What You Have Challenge too.  Added a Studio Calico wood veneer bike to make the journey more enjoyable, and for playing along with Simon Says Stamp Transport Challenge!

Thanks (bunches) for Smooching...

I had some fun with this weeks Paper Smooches SPARKS Designer Drafts Sketch, created using Paper Smooches Needle Little Love blooms and leaves, with the sentiment created by combining Simply Said and Vegtastic, and hand drawn brackets around the bunches.  The Paper Smooches Duo Die 2 die cut frame with its negative centre was perfect for playing along with this weeks Keep It Simple Negative Die-cutting Challenge.  Papers are a mix of Crate Paper, Echo Park and Basic Grey, and I thought this combo of colours & patterns would be fun for playing along with Moxie Fab World Mixy-Matchy Style Challenge.  Don't forget there's a few days left to link your Paper Smooches July Guest Designer cards up too!

Check Out This FUSION Baby...

LOVED seeing everyone's FUSION creations this week - especially the sea-themed ones - I do love to be beside the seaside!!  Time for some more FAB inspiration this week.  Will you choose just the sketch - with these four panels open to WIDE interpretation, or this gorgeous collection of ties - just in time for Father's Day for some of you - or a FUSION of both.

Jackie's gorgeous sketch reminded me of this gorgeous die-cut window, and I honed in on the pink and yellow checks of the third tie from the right for my colour and pattern inspiration.  I repeated the window dressing checks with papers from Authentique on the Mama Elephant teddy's tummy to tie the design together.  I love the way the stitched teddy ties in with the stitched rectangle from Lil' Inkers.  I thought black ink would be too stark for a baby card, so I stamped the Mama Elephant sentiment using Hero Arts Cuppa Joe.

I can't wait to see what you create over in the FUSION gallery this week, and don't forget YOU get to vote for your favourite creations each week too!

Why don't you stop by the FUSION Design Team blogs for even more inspiration!

Allyson  Anderson  / Amy Tsuruta / Deanna Jean / Kelly Griglione / Stacey Schafer

Playing along with Southern Girls Diecut Challenge too.

A CASE of Little Tangles...

I LOVE the combination of colour in this weeks CASE Study, and am playing along with Little Tangles Just Say Hello Challenge too.  I know, you're wondering where the gorgeous Neat & Tangled stamps are hiding - I tucked them inside the card for safe-keeping!

Die cut hellos from My Favorite Things, with a mix of patterned papers from my scrap box including Echo Park, Basic Grey and Authentique, with stitched square from Lil Inkers.  Neat & Tangled Just Saying Hello is the sentiment inside...

Inspired by Lisa Spangler's gorgeous CASE Study card

Hey!... You're Cute as a Bug

 

First up toady is a card combining this rather literal interpretation of this cool CAS(E) this Sketch with the gorgeous colours in this weeks Color Q (some of my favourites!)  I had started off using a peacock feather, but I just couldn't get it to work, so I broke out my feather dies from My Favorite Things, combined these with a range of chevron papers from Echo Park and My Minds Eye and this cute wooden speech bubble from Basic Grey, together with this fab stitched rectangle mat from Lil Inkers.

 

Next up I dug deep into my stash of chipboard to find inspiration from this tag, flourish and three leaves to play along with this weeks Use What You Have over at the Sweet Stamp Shop (photo of my stash below).  I glued the chipboard pieces together before covering them all with Gesso.  Once the Gesso had dried, I oversprayed with Dylusions Vibrant Turquoise and Fresh Lime.  I stamped the Sweet Stamp Shops You're Cute as a Bug! then decided it needed some extra shimmer so I oversprayed with Heuys Calico Shine.  (Note to self - stamp last as the added liquid tends to make the sentiment run LOL).  I went a bit overboard with the Calico Shine, so once it had dried off I grabbed my Distressed Ink Mowed Grass, and highlighted my flourish branch and leaves, before adding extra shine with Dimensional Magic.  The cute as a bug Sweet Stamp Shops ladybird was stamped in black over red cardstock before adding Dimensional Magic to its wings.  I attached my tag to some black cardstock to make the colours pop - and to play along with this weeks Keep It Simple Black Background Challenge, and Shopping Our Stash No Patterned Paper too!

Chipboard Stash

A Welcome FUSION...

So many GORGEOUS creations in the FUSION gallery again this week - THANK YOU so much for playing along :)  Are you ready for some more FUSION inspiration???

So much inspiration to choose from this week - will you be inspired by Jackie's fabulous sketch?  Or Lesley's gorgeous photo, with its wooden elements, natural textures, colours, themes of beach, home or stars?  Or like me a FUSION of both???

I was initially going to use this sketch to do a row of three beach huts by the sea, but I couldn't find any stamps or shapes in my stash that were the right size - they were either way too big or way too small - and not a Goldilocks in sight!  So I changed tack and drew my inspiration from the weathered wooden house, and rummaged through my scrap drawer to find the perfect papers (Simple Stories and some almost antique Sassafras Lass) to piece together this gorgeous Simon Says Stamp house and street. I love that the house is in three layers, reflecting the three shapes in the sketch, and I love that blue rows of stitches look like a little road leading past the front door!  The simple Paper Smooches Welcome sentiment means the card can be used for a Welcome to the Neighbourhood, Welcome Home or You're Welcome Anytime card.

I can't wait to see what you create over in the FUSION gallery this week, and don't forget YOU get to vote for your favourite creations each week too!

Why don't you stop by the FUSION Design Teams blogs for even more inspiration!

Allyson  Anderson  / Amy Tsuruta / Deanna Jean / Kelly Griglione / Stacey Schafer

Playing along with Craft-Room Challenges Use Your Scraps and

Let's Get Trendy Now! 3 Stitching Challenge too!

You're Never Too Old to Craft Dash...

9 minutes and 16 seconds later...

This weeks 10 Minute Craft Dash colours with its red, butter yellow and pale blue, reminded me of a day by the seaside, so what was more perfect for a day by the sea than this gorgeous boat!

This week I die cut my Paper Smooches flag from some Crate Paper cardstock, then stamped it with this gorgeous Verve sailboat and sentiment.  Next up I stamped the same images directly onto the card base, then stamped just the boat and waves onto red stripped and yellow polka dotted Echo Park papers. I fussy cut the waves, the boat and the sails before using a glue pen to adhere the boat and sails to my card base.  I positioned a strip of double-sided tape on my card base across the "you are" on my sentiment, and used this to secure the twine wrapped twice around the card, before adding pop-dot tape to the back of the sentiment flag, making sure they were positioned above and below the level of the twine (rather than at the same level as the twine), and adhering the sentiment flag. The two bottom corners of the card were rounded using a corner punch (yes, I forgot to do this before I stuck down my sentiment flag, so I had to lift it out of the way before rounding the corner, then stick it back down again LOL).

10 Minute Tip

• Plan to do all your die cutting at once, all your stamping at once, all your fussy cutting at once and then assemble and adhere everything as the last step - not swapping back and forth from one to another saves TIME :)

There's 10 days to enter, and in case you need any more motivation, there's a gorgeous prize up for grabs from Timeless Twine too!

Playing along with the Paper Players Summer Holiday Challenge,

Cupcake Inspirations At the Beach Challenge,
CAS on Sunday Make it Masculine Challenge.
Simon Says Stamp Masculine / Father's Day Challenge
and Paper Crafts July Nautical Card Challenge