I'm a sad Wha wha tonight :(

Hi all,

Well no crafty things to share tonight. I'm just going to write about my gorgeous baby girl, who isn't a baby any more :(. I can't believe that Em is now 3 yrs old!!! Where oh where did the time go? One minute she was a new born & the next she's having her 3rd birthday.

Tomorrow she starts her first day at Preprep. I am so happy that we have finally gotten her into daycare, but at the same time so very sad. Stupid isn't it, I didn't think that I would be as upset about this exciting time in my daughter's life as I am. I can't wait for her first day to be over & for her to tell us all about it. I really do think Em is going to have a blast, goodness knows she's been ready to go for awhile now :D.

We went to her daycare/preprep school last Tuesday for orientation & Em was chomping at the bit to get into the thick of things. Doug was really surprised, I think he thought she would be clingy. I knew that Em would be off & into the action as soon as she could. We had to contend with a tantrum on the way home as Em wanted to stay longer than the two hours.

So I guess that I will have to be happy on the outside & a little sad on the inside so Em doesn't think that school is a bad place. Nothing worse than a sobbing mother when your on your first day at school ;). Have a great week ahead every one & thanks for all the lovely comments that you leave - TTFN

PS This is my new favourite pic of Em helping me make cupcakes on her b'day & Wha wha is her nick name for me :D.

Just a share

Hi all,

I just thought I'd share this quick & easy card that I made. I think the hardest part was the cutting out ;D. I really love how this card turned out & the best bit I made it up as I went along. This card I made in 5 minutes. All I did was ink the edges of a white card base with Tim Holtz Distress ink in Frayed Burlap, after that I applied a little bit of Tattered Rose in some places around the edges. Then I used Worn Lipstick on the flourish. The tag has Peeled paint on it, I did also use Antique Linen on the tag (Dots & flower Background stamp) but it didn't show up so well. The centres of the Dots & flowers stamp I used my white gel pen. The flower I stamped with a Stampin Up stamp on some left over mini misting experiment (gotta love that). The leaves I stamped on more scrap paper that has a subtle pattern on it. Added the ribbon, pearls & gems.
White card base
Tim Holtz Distress Inks in:
Antigue Linen
Frayed Burlap
Tattered Rose
Peeled Paint
Worn Lipstick
Versafine Spanish Moss
Versafine Vintage Sepia
White Gel Pen
Stampin Up Flower
Hero Arts CL298 Scattered Leaves
Scrap paper in Pink
Kaisercraft pearls
Kaisercraft Gems
Pink Ribbon

Thanks for looking & leaving your lovely comments. Have a great day & TTFN

Card Patterns Challenge - "Bling it On" ;-P

Hi all,

This is what happens when you let a demented crafter (ie me)loose with bling :D. I really enjoyed myself doing this card, maybe too much but what the hey. This is my version of Card Patterns latest challenge. I love the way this has turned out. I used a chipboard negative to make my heart, & a template for the flourishes. The background I did with my mini misters & re-inkers, I so love the backgrounds you can get with them. I think they are my "mostest favourtiest" things at the moment :D.

White card base
Vivid re-inker Aqua
Vivid re-inker Spring Green
Ranger Mini Misters
Kaisercraft bling
Kaisercraft Pink Pearls
Hero Arts CL272
Stampin Up flower (sorry don't know the code)
Paper flowers
Pink Ribbon
Red Metalic paper
Chipboard heart (template)
Flourish template
Versafine Vintage Sepia ink

Have a great night & thank you for your lovely comments, they are very much appreciated :D. TTFN

A card for my sister.

Hi all,

I have been totally inspired by the lovely Dawn & her two cards here & here to make this card for my sister. I decided to use up more of my scraps from my last card. I've had this butterfly set from http://www.stampit.com.au/view/home/ for at least a year now but very rarely get it out & play with it. Although of late I have been geting better at spreading the love amongst my stamps.

This is such a simple card to make. All I did was heat emboss the flourish in white on the black c/s down the open edge. Then I layered the pink rectangle on the non embossed side, then I stamped the butterflies & message directly onto the pink dot c/s. The ribbon is placed on the pink edge & folded over to the back. Where I covered it up by placing another piec of pink c/s that I had scalloped with my threading water punch. I also stamped the butterfly image onto white c/s & then cut out the largest butterfly & glued the body down & curled up the wings. I placed some kasiercraft black bling down as well. On the inside I stamped the butterfly image in Memories white onto black c/s after layering it onto white c/s. I inked the edges of the white c/s in Tim Holtz Distress ink Worn Lipstick.

Black C/stock
Pink Bazzil Dot C/stock
White C/stock
Memories White ink
Tim Holtz Distress Ink Worn Lipstick
Versafine Onyx Black ink
Versamark Embossing Ink
Velvet cream ribbon
Kaisercraft black bling
White Embossing Powder
Stamp-it Siset010
Hero Arts Cl272 All Occasion Messages
As always thank you for visiting & commenting. One day I will learn how to leave a nice message in my comment section for you all :D. TTFN

One card - Two challenges

 

Hi all,

This is my card for the latest Caardvarks challenge & the latest Card Patterns challenge. I was a little out of my comfort zone with this card. I don't normally use Hot Pink that much. This card is made using scraps. I cut the pink bazzil dot so that it measured 4 1/8" x 4 1/8" finished. I then layered on the black cardstock that I had spritzed with a mini mister of yellow ink & gold perfect pearls (you don't see the yellow but the gold looks really pretty). I then layered white dot bazzil, the smaller pink dot bazzil with a white label nestie #1. Inking Worn Lipstick distressing ink on the white. Then I stamped the flower onto the bazzil & then again onto white c/s & green c/s. The butterfly I stamped & then clear sparkle embossed, cut out & glued down. I used black kaisercraft bling to make the body & embelish the flower. I also cut out after stamping the message, which I then heat embossed with clear sparkle embossing powder. I added a pop dot behind the message.

Bazzil Dot Pink c/s
Bazzil Dot White c/s
Bazzil Black c/s
White c/s
Green c/s
Tim Holtz Distress Ink Worn Lipstick
Versafine Black Onyx
Brilliance Pigment Ink BR-34 Pearl Orchid
Prismacolor Pencils - Deco Pink, Blush Pink, Process Red
Kaisercraft Black bling
Velvet ribbon Cream
Hero Arts Clearsparkle embossing powder
Hero Arts CL272 All Occasion Messages clear stamps
Bella AC36 Impressions clear stamps
Perfect Pearls Gold
Posh Rainbow Ink Beach Ball Yellow
Thanks for visiting & any comments as they are greatly appreciated. Have a great weekend. TTFN

CPS Sketch 129

Hi all,



This is my card for the latest CPS Challenge. I have not followed it faithfully as you can see, so I hope that it is ok for the challenge.

For this card I have used my new mini misters from Ranger with Vivid Reinkers Corn Flower & Aqua on the background. I am loving the effect that I get with them. The largest Birdhouse is from Kaisercraft's Loire Valley range. I stamped it out three times & then paper pieced it back together & raised it up on the card. The rest of my stamps are all Hero Arts which I stamped onto scraps & then paper pieced back together. The two smaller birds are raised up as well.

White card base
Vivid Aqua
Vivid Corn Fower
Vivid Spring Green
Ranger Mini Mister
Kaisercraft Rhinestones
Basic Grey Porcelain paper
LV129 Kaisercraft clear stamps
CL173 Simple Messages Hero Arts
CL177 Hello Birdie Hero Arts
CL189 Home II Hero Arts
CL272 All Occasion Messages Hero Arts
H4946 Long Branch Hero Arts

Wishing you all a great night & thank you for your comments - TTFN

Untraditional Christmas

Hi all,

I just thought I would share another card I made with those wonderful My Mind's Eye Laundry Line papers :). I don't normally stray far from the red/green when doing Christmas cards. Lately I have seen a lot of beautifully made christmas cards in different colours & they look just beautiful. So I was inspired to make this card. In a funny sort of way I think the blues/browns actually suit where I live. Have a great day & thank you for any comments :D TTFN

Hi all,

Well as you can see I've been busy making cards for this week's challenge over on the Hero Arts blog. I didn't intend to make all four cards or to make them using the same materials, but I am pleased now that I did. I think they have all turned out well. Especially sketch #4 :). I really love the way it just seemed to flow from my head to the papers. I used the technique of highlinghting with prismacolor pencils that Lisa showed in last week's blog. I think it really adds that bit extra with out going over the top. I am not sure what I am going to do with these cards, as I love them all so much. I have a party to go to today so might give them away as part of my gifts. Well thanks for stoping by & for any comments as they are greatly appreciated :D TTFN

Distressed Sketch #2

Distressed Sketch #2
Originally uploaded by pajalu (Paula)

Hi all,

Well as you can see I'm at it again ;) I am loving these sketches. I think I like them because finally my mojo seems to be coming back & let's face it I need all the help I can get ;P.

The Houndstooth paper is from My Minds Eye's Laundry Line collection. The rest are Kaisercraft Dutchess & brown bazzil. I made this card with some left overs from yesterday's card. The houndstooth is the negative of yesterday's circle.

I went Scrapidoo today to pay some money off a layby I have there, so I thought I should at least look around while I was there. I was naughty, as I brought some more paper from the Laundry Line collection. What can I say execpt that those colours are wonderful & the glitter already on them is just yummy!!! It takes about half an hour to get to this shop, so I'm gonna make it worth my while going there if you know what I mean *wink*. Em & I had a great time looking around. Em got really excited when I brought her a duckling cut out as it reminds her of our next door neighbours' duck Cherry Blossom.

Have a great weekend & TTFN

Distressed Sketch

Distressed Sketch
Originally uploaded by pajalu (Paula)

Hi all,

Well I've been itching to get my fingers inky for the last two days now *sigh*. So finally tonight I did just that, but maybe I went a lot over board with the distress inks ;-P. I've gone all out & tried something new for me. I inked up my artistic window stamp from Hero Arts with Tim Holtz Faded Denim Distress Ink & then spritzed with water. I am pleased with the look. I have gone over most of the papers with two to three different distress colours, Vintage Photo, Faded Denim & Old Paper.

I just love these papers I brought recently - Kaiser kraft "Duchess Collection" with two other papers that have glitter on them (the houndstooth & the gingham) I can't remember what papers they are sorry :(. I orginally brought them to do male cards with, but as with the best of laid plans I have yet to make some guy cards. I'm not complaining as I am really happy with this card.

I used Shari's sketch 1 from this week's Hero Arts Blog. I am hoping to do some more of Shari's sketches before this week is up. I must say that there are some fabulous cards in the flickr pool. All I can say is I'm so glad that I don't have to do any of the judging.

Well I'm off to bed as it's nearly midnight & my dd will no doubt be up early in the morning so for now - TTFN

Stamped Applique

B'day bear tablecloth
Originally uploaded by pajalu (Paula)

Hi all,

Well I've been busy over the last few days with my patchwork & quilting. Shock horror I know, but it has been great to finally feel like getting back into my fabric stash & creating. I decided while making Em's fairy costume that it was about time that I finished off some of my patchworking projects & start some new ones.

This teddy bear being a new project. It was fairly easy to make as I made a tablecloth so there was no batting/backing/quilting involved. The hardest part was making sure the checks didn't wander off the edges. That & remembering which way the needle went when I satin stitched around the applique pieces on my machine. I am not a huge fan of sewing by hand. I admire people who can do it, but it's just not for me. I am not even fond of hand sewing down the binding, I think it's because I want the projected finished now. Impatient sod aren't I *grin*.

I used a Hero Arts stamp (an old one) that my friend Helen lent me to stamp images for Em's upcomming b'day. I decided that the stamp would be perfect to turn into an applique so stamped it & then scanned it into my computer. I then printed it out on an A4 paper, took it to my local newsangency & had it blown up about twice the size. Then I traced out all the individual pieces onto iron on interfacing (can't remember what it's called) then ironed that onto the fabric. After cutting out the fabric on the lines I took the backing paper off the fabric, ironed it into place & satin stitched around all the edges in matching threads. I think this bear has turned out well, considering he started out life as a stamp the size of my palm & now is about 10 times bigger :D. Well I'm off to bed so TTFN

Thank you Hannah :D

Hi all,

Well this is a catch up post. About a week & a half ago Hannah sent me a card & two photos as a thank you for sending her some of my unused scrapping stuff. It was a lovely surprise to get these in the post. The photos Hannah took herself at a local park near where she lives. I just love the scenery & that Tulip is an amazing colour don't you think :D. I also love the butterflies that Hannah used on the card. I think they are just beautiful (they are a discontinued Hero Arts Stamp). I have put Hannah's card on my cube bookcase. It is keep great company with the cards I have recieved from Lucy, Helen & Judy. I keep them out as a constant reminder of my friends. I just have to find some way of displaying the two photos, to do them justice. I am sure if I put my brain to it, I will eventually do them justice. Plus it will give me something to blog about right?

Well I suppose I have to go & make about five cards for 3 year olds. My brain is not working well with this. I am still struggling but at least I have until Saturday to get a few done. So for now TTFN

An award & my day at a class

Hi all,

Firstly I have recieved the Lemonade Stand Award from the lovely Miss Hannah :D. Which has inspired me to add my awards to the sidebar of my blog. I just want to thank Hannah for the award & to remind you that each week Hannah has a sketch for any one interested in doing them. I find they are really helpful, but unfortunately I haven't been able to play along of late :(.

Today I went to a Kaszazz class today Held by the lovely Nora English & enjoyed it very much. I learnt a new technique, which is what I really wanted out of a card class. Today's class involved using the Tim Holtz Mini Misters, Vidid Reinkers & Perfect Pearls. I was impressed with how they worked so well together. I really like the effects that you can create with the Mini Misters. So I thought I should post pictures of 3 of the four cards I made in the class (the fourth may never see the light of day ever again I stuffed it up so badly). Everything was supplied & Nora was a great teacher answering any questions we had. So now of course I'm eagerly awaiting my order of Mini Misters (3pk) & three inks. I decided against the perfect pearls as they where nearly $50 for four of them. Plus I have my H2O's so I guess I could create some shimmer with them. I hope to do some lovely things with them. Well that's enough from me today so for now TTFN.

Em the Fairy Tiger Princess

Hi all,

Well as you can see I'm the proud Waa Waa (my dd's nickname for me) of a Fairy Princess Tiger. Em was invited to one of her friend's b'day party. Which had a fairy theme. So after checking out a few places I made her costume up myself. Due to the fact that the costumes either where to small or way too expensive. I didn't use a pattern for this dress. I just made it up as I went along. I got Em to choose the fabrics for her outfit. We went to Lindcraft for the tulle & then through my fabric stash for the rest of the fabrics. The top of her dress is made using "Fairy Frost Pink" & the yellow material on the bottom of her outfit is left over from a quilt that I'm making her. The last photo is from a few days prior, when we had another bit of a party for the same little girl at a local park with all the kids from the Mother's group Em & I are a part of.

They also had a professional face painter there to paint the kids faces. So of course we looked through the book of ideas & Em spotted tiger faces & wanted one. Doug (dh) thought that maybe the orange tiger would clash with the fairy outfit. Luckily for everyone's sake (Em tantrums aren't pretty or quiet) I found some pink/purple tigers & we settled on one of those.

Em is always pretending to be some sort of animal. Today for example she's a dolphin. Execpt for a short time this morning when she decided we should go back to her little friend's place so she could become an orange tiger. Luckily for me she's been good about the fact that her friend isn't having a party today so we can't go.

Thanks for stopping by :D TTFN