A Little Christmas FUSION

I am not sure what our endless fascination with snow at Christmas here is in the Southern hemisphere. Maybe we dream of it whilst melting in the sun by our BBQs, or perhaps it is just that because we do not have to deal with the reality of it, it will always keep its little bit of magic. Whatever the case, this fortnights FUSION inspiration is sprinkled with that same magic!

I flipped the gorgeous FUSION sketch on its head this fortnight, and saw the four panels as my window frame, peeking out to see the reindeer fly over the rooftops. Patterned paper is by Bo Bunny, stamps from Mama Elephant's Believe the Magic, and diecut Poppystamps Small Madison Window, Papertry Inc Merry, and Studio Calico Christmas. 

Head on over to the FUSION blog for some more super inspiration from our fabulous Design Team...Betty J. - Jeanne Jachna - Jen Mitchell - Karren Johnson - Linda Callahan - Michelle LeoneMichelle Lupton - Michelle Williams - Wanda Cullen

Hope you can join in the fun this fortnight @ FUSION.
Can't wait to see what you create!

Also playing along with 

Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge (optional Snow)

Simon Says Monday B is for Blue

Challenge Me A Christmas Card with Michelle Lupton...

 

So thrilled to join in this year with the fabulous Challenge me a Christmas Card with Michelle Lupton. My challenge was for her to create a card with Alcohol Inks and Die Cuts, although looking at some of her gorgeous recent posts I don't know how challenging it actually was lol. You can check out Michelle's gorgeous creation here.

As Yupo paper can be a tad on the expensive side, I created a themed set of 4 gift cards from one A5 sheet of Yupo paper. The Alcohol ink background was created by randomly dripping combination of Alcohol inks in a variety of shades of greens, mine include Pinata Rainforest Green, Arto Teal, Tim Holtz Limeade and Turquoise with a touch of Pinata Mantilla Black. While the ink was still wet I moved it around the A5 sheet of Yupo paper by tilting the paper in the direction I wanted the inks to run, and the Yupo paper was then blotted with a scrunched up sheet of A4 copy paper in a diagonal pattern. Once the inks were dry, the sheet of Yupo paper was cut in half. One half of the Yupo sheet was used to make the first two cards. 

Onto the second half of the Yupo sheet I also added some Pinata Claro Extender, to reactivate the base layer of inks, together with Tim Holtz Pearl Mixative and Pinata Old Gold. This layer was also blotted with some scrunched up A4 copy paper to create the background of cards three and four.

The first three cards feature the Merry Christmas Holiday Frames photo frame die by Simon Says Stamp, paired with one of the Deer Trio by Simply Dies. The final card once again features one of the Deer Trio by Simply Dies, together with Memory Makers Countryside Circle, and Avery Elle Seasons Greetings sentiment. The American Crafts glitter paper in gold helps to add a little festive sparkle.

I hope you are inspired to challenge yourself and join in the fun of creating with Alcohol inks and die cuts!

Card #1

 Card #2

Card #3

Card #4

Perfect set of gift cards for playing along with Simon Says Stamp & Show

and Simon Says Anything Goes 

Also joining in the fun at Muse Christmas Visions

and the Jingle Belles Christmas

A Little Fun with Alcohol Inks and Die Cuts...

Having a play with my alcohol inks and Simon Says die cuts to create this simple Christmas card. Love when you add white or pearl ink and extender over the blue ink on Yupo paper base, you can then scrunch a sheet of A4 paper into a ball and dab the Yupo paper to remove some of the ink and create an almost crystal effect, to mimic the snowflakes.

Playing along with Simon Says Baby Its Cold Outside

Simon Says (Monday) Let It Snow

Darkest Nights, Brightest Stars FUSION

I LOVE this fortnights FUSION inspiration even more so than usual! 

Focusing on the FUSION inspiration photo, I was inspired to create my very first alcohol inks on Yupo paper background, using blues, black, white and silver, and adding silver foiled paper, silver sequin stars and this perfectly gorgeous MFT Shining Stars diecut in silver glitter paper, and Mama Elephant Shooting Star sentiment in white embossing powder on MFT fishtail banner, topped with MFT stitched diecut frame.

Hop on over to the FUSION blog for some more super sized inspiration from our fabulous Design Team...

Betty J. - Jeanne Jachna - Jen Mitchell

Karren Johnson - Linda Callahan - Michelle Leone

Michelle Lupton - Michelle Williams - Wanda Cullen

PLUS Claire Apostoloff - Guest Designer 

Hope you can join in the fun this fortnight @ FUSION.

Can't wait to see what you create!

Also playing along with 
Creative Artiste Mixed Media Anything Goes
We Love 2 Create Anything Creative Mixed Media Goes
More Mixed Media Challenge Anything Goes - Optional Brights
Simon Says Monday Challenge Blog Sprinkles and Splatters
Double D Moon and Stars, and The Male Room Wild and Free 
because that's how it felt when I was creating!

FUSION - Gratitude

Have you seen a missing week - I hope you have because I lost one! Sat down to do this fortnights FUSION card and realised that somewhere between last fortnight and this, I lost a week! May have something to do with hubby's new job, daughters final exams at highschool and sons birthday perhaps! Regardless, here is my card for this fortnight's FUSION. I do hope you can play along!

Taking inspiration from this super versatile sketch and gorgeous inspiration photo this week, I re-purposed some background paper I had originally created for my last FUSION card to cut out some more gorgeous Autumn leaves from Lawn Fawn Stitched Leaves set to create an Autumn wreath. This is paried with a gorgeous Sweet Stamp Shop stamped greeting and Winnie and Walter diecut Thanks atop some super cute patterned paper from my stash. 

Hop along to the FUSION site to play along, and while you are there make sure you check out some more fabulous inspiration from the FUSION Design Team...

Becca Cruger - Betty J. - Carol Mayne - Jeanne Jachna - Karren JohnsonLinda Callahan - Michelle Leone - Michelle Lupton

Hope you can join in the fun this fortnight @ FUSION.

Can't wait to see what you create!

Also playing along with Allsorts Colours of Autumn,

 Double D Feeling Fallish, 4 Crafty Chicks Give Thanks

Simon Says Stamp and Show Thanks, DiesRUs Anything Fall.

Happy (Aussie) Day @ FUSION...

A HUGE thank you to Christine @ Create a Smile for her generous support of the FUSION 3rd Anniversary celebration. So many fabulous creations in the FUSION gallery!

On to another celebration this fortnight @ FUSION. 
Loving the green and gold inspiration for Australian Day on January 26th! Looking forward to Australia Day as a great opportunity to chill out with friends and family and 'throw another shrimp on the barbie!'.
Created a simple card using a super cool Studio Calico Australia map diecut, together with diecut 'Happy' and 'day' (cut from 'birthday') sentiments from Winnie & Walter, to deliver a card that is fair dinkum Aussie mate!

Hope you can join in the fun this fortnight @ FUSION. 

Can not wait to see how you are inspired! 

Hop on over to the Design Team blogs for more fantastic inspiration:

Becca Cruger - Betty J. - Carol Mayne - Jeanne Jachna - Karren Johnson

Linda Callahan - Michelle Leone - Michelle Lupton - Michelle Williams

Also playing along with
Simon Says "Chill Out",
MUSE, CASology Cut

FUSION Rebooted - You Make Me SMILE!

So happy to be back after a winter hibernation (for us in the Southern Hemisphere anyway!) to welcome you to a rebooted FUSION challenge! A few things have changed while we've been away. We now have a fab new look, some lovely new teamies and the link up process is slightly different too - but as always you will still find the same fabulous FUSION inspiration!!

Had so much fun creating this happy card - it does make me smile! 

This fortnight I combined inspiration from the sketch - by flipping it up-side-down - and the fabulous colours from the FUSION inspiration photo. This super gorgeous Reverse Confetti Later Alligator was fussy cut on green patterned paper and the teeth on white cardstock - making it easier to add his "false teeth"! Paired with the Reverse Confetti Bring on the Merry sentiment, Lawn Fawn die-cut alphabet and MFT Die-namics Mini Monarch Border. Papers are from Kaisercraft and American Crafts.

Love to see how you are inspired by FUSION photo, sketch or both!

Hope you get a chance to play along!

Hop on over to FUSION to see some more super inspiration from

 our amazing new Design Team too:

Becca Cruger - Betty J. - Carol Mayne - Jeanne Jachna - Karren Johnson

Linda Callahan - Michelle Leone - Michelle Lupton - Michelle Williams

Also playing along in Simon Says Stamp and Show - Stamp It and

Simon Says Stamp - Stamp It

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!

Traditional Christmas FUSION.. with Glitter!

Can you believe it's almost Christmas!!!

I don't know about you, but I seem to be short on my Christmas card stash again this year! So I've decided to celebrate the last FUSION of 2015 with two Christmas variations on a theme.

The first card is inspired by this super versatile FUSION sketch, rotated 90 degrees to create a Christmas shaker card. Created this super glittery shaker card using silver and gold glitter paper, diecut with Lil Inkers Stitched Snowflakes and Stitched Oval shaker opening, together with Winnie and Walters Joy sentiment. Added a sheet of clear acetate to the cardstock piece to create the window. Finally some fabulous glittery star and circle sequins from Winnie and Walter, then created the walls of the shaker with double-sided foam tape and adhered to the cardstock card base.

Second card is a more traditional Christmas card, inspired by the theme and colours of the FUSION inspiration photo, together with the sketch. Created using the same die-cuts, with the addition of Memory Box Pine Branches, all cut from Kaisercraft and Basic Grey patterned papers.

As usual, you can play along with FUSION using either this gorgeous photo inspiration, or this fabulously versatile sketch, or a combination of both.

Pop on by the Design Team blogs for some more super FUSION inspiration:

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

Karren J - Kimberly Wiener - Lynn Mangan - Michelle Folland

Michelle Lupton - Sandie Munro - Shannon Jaramillo - Stephanie Severin

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

Card number 1 also playing along with

Virginia's View All About Glitter and 
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Just a Pinch (of sequins)

 

Card number 2 also playing along with 

Jingle Belles Happy, Happy Holidays

FUSION Field of Poppy Dreams...

Welcome to another fabulous fortnight of FUSION inspiration!

This week I broke out my new Unity by Donna Downey poppy stamp, embossed in gloss black over a Twinkling H2O background of Poppy and Egyptian Gold. This gorgeous background paper is by Collections, and the Heidi Swapp wooden Dream was covered in black embossing powder then red glitter embossing powder.

As usual, you can play along with FUSION using either this gorgeous photo inspiration, or this fabulously versatile sketch, or a combination of both.

Pop on by the Design Team blogs for some more FUSION inspiration:

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

Karren J - Kimberly Wiener - Lynn Mangan - Michelle Folland

Michelle Lupton - Sandie Munro - Shannon Jaramillo - Stephanie Severin

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

Also playing along with this weeks gorgeous Muse Challenge by Tracey,
inspired by the flower and sentiment combination and framed card,
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Throwback, 
Using a Favourite Technique I used two of my favourites, 
embossing over watercolour background and fussy cutting, and 
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge Anything Goes.

 

FUSION... bowTie the Knot

I think my mojo has officially packed up its bags and gone on a vacation! 

Never-the-less I had fun with this fortnights FUSION, combining the bowtie theme and colours, with this fab sketch for a tie-the-knot card. Foxy flair and sequins bowties are from the Freckled Fawn, stamps from Paper Smooches and Studio Calico ampersand in a speech bubble. 

The Design Team have some more 

FABULOUS creations to inspire you

Amy Tsura - Betty J - 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.

Also playing along with Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes Monday Challenge

PS Happy 4th Anniversay - Hogs & Kisses...

Happy Fourth Anniversary Paper Smooches

I thought I'd try and kick myself out of my mojo lull by joining in the fun with Paper Smooches Sparks Anything Goes, this very cool Freshly Made Sketches and Addicted to CAS Hugs and Kisses. Don't forget the Paper Smooches Designer Challenge is on at the moment too!

Created the large heart by using the small Paper Smooches Hearts die cut, enlarging on the photocopier by 400% and using this as my template to fussy cut the large heart. Cute little hog is from Paper Smooches Green Acres, and the sentiment is from Paper Smooches We Connect. Papers are from Kaisercraft, including the gorgeous red embossed paper for the hearts, the little hog is stamped onto Gelatos on watercolour paper then fussy cut, with die cut alphas from MFT.

Also playing along with 

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge H is for Hearts, Hugs, Hogs...

AAA Cards Love, Love, Love, Happy Little Stampers Embossing,

Crafty Cardmakers Love, Love, Love,

Inspired by Stamping Colours & Hearts

I'd LOVE it if you could play along with this months 
Mixed Media Card Challenge - LOVE too!

This made me smile...

This made me smile too...

Do the things you never thought you could do...

 

Inspired by the The Color Room and CASE Study colours and use of thread, Wida's CASE Study offset angles, teal blue sentiment and large stamped image, and the Take a Word "Book" Collage Challenge. I so wanted to add some machine stitching to this collage, but my machine didn't want to play, so I went with a flight line of thread instead.

In case you are interested, the process went something like this (with drying in between each step):

• Used gel medium to stick down the old fairytale book pages;
• overlaid with whitewash;
• gel mediumed the Cosmo Cricket Junk Drawer strips;
• laid the Tim Holtz mask letters in place and spread a layer of modelling paste over the top;
• stamped this gorgeous Darkroom Door butterfly on tissue paper and gel mediumed in position; 
• once dry, repositioned the masked letters before overspraying with Prima spritzes in soft gold, soft teal and soft red;
• coloured the butterfly with the soft teal spritz then decided it needed a deeper colour;
• infilled the butterfly and "Fly" letters with gelatos; and
• added the thread butterfly trail.

Playing along with All Crafts Challenge Anything but a Card 

and Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge The Artsy Stamp too.

This made me smile