P.S. Adventure Awaits @ FUSION

This fortnights fabulous FUSION inspired this super cute nautical themed card. First stamped watercolour paper with Paper Smooches Wicked Nauticool waves and Summer Groves clouds in Versamark Watermark ink and heat embossed in clear. Added water base then coloured with Twinkling H2Os. Added paper pieced Paper Smooches Wicked Nauticool yacht and Polaroid die cut, stamped with Happy Travels "Adventure Awaits" sentiment, topped with Studio Calico wood veneer anchor.

This month at FUSION we are also lucky enough to be joined by special Guest Designer, Cris G so make sure you stop by for some extra fabulous inspiration from Cris and the FUSION team!

Betty J - Jeanne Jachna - Julia Aston - Katie Brooks

Karren J - Kimberly Wiener - Lynn Mangan - Michelle Folland

Michelle Lupton - Sandie Munro - Stephanie Severin

I would LOVE if you could join in the fun @ FUSION too!

Playing along with Color Throwdown,

CAS Mix Up and Simon Says Stamp Monday Emboss It challenges too!

Happy Falling for FUSION..

Even though it's warming up in our corner of the world, I still can't resist that gorgeous Autumn (or Fall!) foliage! This fortnight's FUSION inspiration photo is chock full of fabulous colour and texture. From the flowers, fruit and foliage, to the wicker, wood and woven blanket. How will you be inspired!!!

Leaves created using Glimmermist Sprays in golds, reds and oranges, with a Prima Tea Leaves and Primrose, using die cut leaves from Clearly Besotted. Wood veneer "Happy" sentiment from Heidi Swapp. Papers from Echo Park Everyday Eclectic die cut with Lil Inkers Stitched Polaroid frame and Stitched circles, and cardstock embossed with Couture Creations Royalty folder.

Hop on over for more gorgeous inspiration

from the rest of the fabulous FUSION DT

Betty J - Deanne K - Jeanne Jachna - Julia Aston - Katie Brooks

Karren J - Kimberly Wiener - Lynn Mangan - Michelle Folland

Michelle Lupton - Sandie Munro - Stephanie Severin

and WELCOME to 
Brandi Hall and Shannon Jaramillo

Hope to see you playing along, can't wait to see what you create! 

Remember you can play along by being inspired by 

the photo, the sketch or BOTH.

Please check the linky for the days left to play with us.

Playing along with the fabulous Color Throwdown and 

Little Red Wagon Embossing Folder Challenge 
and Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes (Clearly Besotted) too!

  

This made me smile...

Hooray it's FUSION...

 

Inspired by the gorgeous colours, flowers and celebration that is this fortnights FUSION inspiration! Tipped the sketch on its side to create this super cute birthday card. Papers from My Minds Eye and Lil Bee Designs, stamps are a combination of Winnie and Walter sentiment and balloon, and Mama Elephant's elephant and party hat.

Hop on over for more gorgeous Wedding Belle inspiration 

from the rest of the fabulous FUSION DT 

Amy Tsura - Betty J - Deanne - Deepti 

Jeanne Jachna - Julia Aston - Katie Brooks

Kelly Griglione - Kimberly Wiener - Lynn Mangan

Michelle Folland - Michelle Lupton - Stephanie Severin

Hope to see you playing along, can't wait to see what you create! 

Remember you can play along by being inspired by 

the photo, the sketch or BOTH.

Please check the linky for the days left to play with us.

Playing along with Seize the Birthday,
and Color Throwdown too!

Coffee Lovers Holiday Blog Hop (Thanks a Latte)...

Just wanted to say...

for playing along with the fabulous Coffee Lovers Holiday Blog Hop.

As a special Coffee Lovers Holiday treat, I have included the recipe for a special coffee flavoured eggnog cocktail - as we celebrate Christmas in the midst of Summer here!

Mocha Nog Punch

10 parts Kahlúa Mocha

5 parts Absolut Vanilla

20 parts eggnog

Combine ingredients and serve in a punchbowl with a floating ice block.

Hint: Freeze ice with coffee beans for decoration.

Card created using Kaisercraft papers, and this gorgeous Verve sentiment stamped in Rich Cocoa (what else!) on a Mama Elephant cup diecut. Inked with Distress Ink Vintage Photo and layered on two MFT Dienamics heart diecuts. Verve are joining in the fun as one of the fabulous hop sponsors, check out the links below and on Amy's blog.

How YOU can play along...

• Everyone that links up with newly created holiday coffee/hot holiday drink project is eligible for one of the fabulous prizes from the sponsors below (No back linking). The Inlinkz will be available on Amy's blog until 11:55 pm Pacific Time on Friday, December 12th to link up.
• There are also random 5 prizes for people that comment on ALL of the linked blogs (see list on Amy's blog) before 11:55 pm Pacific Time on Sunday, December 14th.

EXTRA BONUS GIVEAWAY if you comment on this post, this post or this post (my Coffee Lovers Holiday Blog Hop posts), you will also be in the running to win a FABULOUS Winnie and Walter The Big, the Bold and the Merry stamp set.

A BIG THANK YOU to our fabulous sponsors:

17 Turtles, Add A Little Dazzle, a●muse studio/Chris Franco

Butterfly Reflections Ink, Color Cast Designs, Create a Smile

Hero Arts, Kraftin' Kimmie, Kreative Kymona

Latina Crafter, Neat and Tangled, Newton's Nook

Paper Smooches, Pickled Potpourri, Poppystamps

Reverse Confetti, Stamp Academy, Stampin' Up/Veronica Zalis 

STAMPlorations, SugarPea Designs, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps 

The Alley Way Stamps, The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store, Two Paper Divas

Verve Stamps, Whole Wild World, Your Next Stamp

Also playing along with Mojo Monday, Color Throwdown and
Virginia's View All Things Distressed (I even distressed the edges!)
and Verve Favorite Things Dare.

 

All Hearts Come Home for Christmas...

Are you like me and ought to have all your Christmas cards done by next Christmas LOL! There's so much inspiration out there I'm finding it hard to keep up!

I do love the idea of double-tagging on cards, as featured in the current Muse (Caroline) and Tag You're It! (Maureen) challenges. Christmas tag card created using Lawn Fawn papers, Paper Smooches Bookmark die cut, (shortened by die cutting just the fishtail end a second time to remove the excess length), My Favorite Things sentiment embossed in Silver, Prima wood veneer house, heart sequins from the ArtShed and twine from Annabelle's Stamps (now closed).

Playing along with Color Throwdown, Muse and Tag You're It!

Twinkle All the Way...

After creating this card for last weeks Less Is More, I thought I'd have a go at making a one layer card version. I die cut two stencils from clear acetate sheeting, one with the negative space from Lil Inkers Stitched Square and the other with Making Memories Country Landscape, then taped them together to use as my mask for inking. Inked up with Distress Ink in Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean and Dusty Concord, moving upwards to the deepest colour. Stamped with Mama Elephant Believe in Magic star cluster and Winter Wonderland large star in Momento Luxe Wedding ink embossed in white embossing powder then added Mama Elephant Merry Greetings sentiment in black, and Wink of Stella Clear Sparkle to the night sky. It felt like it needed a little extra boost, so I created a hand drawn outline in black fine-liner for added depth.

Playing along with Less Is More One Layer Starry Starry Night, Mama Elephant and Me Holiday Cards and Tags, Color Throwdown, The Pink Elephant CAS and City Crafter Christmas CAS.

Inspired by Online Holiday Card Workshop Homework Day 4.

This made me smile...

P.S. Keep It Simple with No Stamps...

Keeping it Simple No Stamps, just die cuts! What will you use? Die cuts, stickers, paints, paste, stencils, mixed media? 

Created using patterned paper scraps from my stash and Paper Smooches Flowers and Get Well sentiment die cuts. 

You can catch some more FABULOUS DT No Stamps inspiration over at 

Keep It Simple.

Anni

 

Carolin

Tanja

Tenia

I can't wait to see what you create!

Playing along with Paper Smooches Sparks Picture Perfect, 
Clean and Simple Sketch, Catered Crop Good Medicine Challenge, 
Color Throwdown and Curtain Call Wishing Well (emphasis on well!)

  

A Blog Hop with a Difference...

First up my card for the day:

Created to play along with AEI{heart}U Clean & Simple Challenge, Color Throwdown, Seize the Birthday and CAS(E) this Sketch. Using Distress Inks in my favourite combination of Squeezed Lemon, Spiced Marmalade and Picked Raspberry (believe it or not!), double die cut with Paper Smooches fishtail flag and Memory Box Dahlia butterfly, combined with this cute birthday sentiment from Avery Elle.

I'm also participating in A Blog Hop with a Difference, where you answer a few questions about yourself, then nominate others who inspire you to do the same. I was nominated by the lovely Jenny Martin at My Paper Epiphany, my Mixed Media Card Challenge teamie, and lucky for me, she lives just five minutes away!

What project am I working on right now?
I'm currently working on projects for my next Winnie and Walter Leading Lady post, and my next FUSION post, and getting easily distracted with challenge inspiration from the blogsphere, as you can see from today's card!

How long does it take you to create a project? 
I am generally a slow creator. I challenged myself to improve by joining the Design Team for the 10 Minute Craft Dash - but the only way I made the deadline was to have all my supplies ready and EVERYTHING planned out in my head before the timer began. I could NEVER create that quickly from scratch - it would take me at least that long to think about picking the papers LOL!

What are my fave things I like to create with at the moment?
I must admit have been enjoying working with Add A Little Dazzle metal sheets lately, and am trying to source a local supplier!

How does my creative process work?
I overthink it! I usually find I need a combination of Challenges to narrow down my options, and I like to add a little unexpected twist. 

How do I become inspired and stay inspired?
I let my fingers do the walking! With so many challenges out there, looking at everyone's fabulous creations, I can't help but be inspired. If I'm running low on creative energy I just go wandering through blogland or pinterest til inspiration hits - and if that doesn't work I'll look for a technique I'd like to try and just have a play :)

What is my signature style?
I love colour, I love die cuts / fussy cutting, I love combining challenges, and I love experimenting. Just wondering, is "Clean, Colour & Cut" a style, or a trip to the hairdressers LOL!

One random fact about me
Both my kiddies were born on repeating dates - the days and the months are the same numbers.

Now it's time to nominate 2 people who inspire me. I have cheated a little and chosen just one as my other nominee was unavailable. 

In case you haven't already had the pleasure, I'd like to introduce you to Kasia, who can be found at "The Nature of Crafty Things".  I first discovered Kasia when she was working her magic with Paper Smooches stamps, I just LOVE her style. She was one of the founding Design Team members of one of my very favourite sketch challenges, Retro Sketches, and is on the Design Team of two of my favourite companies, The Alley Way Stamps and Avery Elle. Kasia works magic with their images, and makes CAS look easy, which is a very difficult thing to do!!! I'm also inspired by her non-crafting pursuits as she has recently participated in her first Spartan race - how AWESOME is that!

See what I mean!!! Kasia works MAGIC!

 

 

Addicted to CAS and Geometric - August Guest Designer

So happy to be back Guest Designing with the fabulous 

Addicted to CAS team this fortnight!

With the Addicted to CAS code word Geometric, 
I had so many ideas I ended up making two cards today!


Winnie and Walter Pennant triangle stamps are FABULOUS for this challenge! 
The sun was created by stamping the pennant triangles in Dandelion and Morocco Momento Luxe inks, with a die cut circle as the centre, stamped with this very fitting Verve sentiment.

The second card uses this gorgeous geometric giraffe and crazy sentiment by Altenew, stamped in Versamark Watermark and heat embossed in Zing Pewter, and randomly filled with these three fabulous bright Color Throwdown colours. The triangle chunks were cut by snipping the card at a right-angles to the side, then cutting along the top half of the triangle, and flipping that cut piece over as a mirror reverse template, to make ensure the larger triangle ended up equilateral.

Remember to visit the Addicted to CAS Challenge blog for some more 

gorgeous Geometric inspiration from the team!


Card 2, playing along with Color Throwdown,
Virginia's View Shaped Cards,
Seize the Sketch and Less is More Animal too!