My other life as a crazy crafty Mum!

Hi Lovelies,

I thought that I would share with you all what I've been doing in my "spare time".  This is a picture heavy post!  Emsy's school is gearing up for their end of year Celebration night.  Which meant they needed volunteers to help out with making props & things.  So far I've become a sheep mask maker, a throne repairer & star maker.  Plus on the day I'm helping to set the stage as well as setting up my Christmas Tree so the school doesn't have to buy one.

Here are the sheep masks we made for the play.  This is a reject which Lilly loves because she can be just  like her best pal Baa Baa (her toy sheep).  I've discovered that as good as I am with cutting, gluing, punching (holes).  I'm the absolute WORST at laminating things.  So I got out of doing that part lol.  Three of us Mums got together at the school & it took us two days to put these together.

This is Herod's Throne.  I was asked if I could fix it up, as it was starting to fall apart & the stickers where coming off & there was a mile of sticky tape holding it together.

After I pulled all the tape, stickers & old jewels off.  I repainted every thing including the bird.  Then I hot glued the gems on.  Added some dowel to the back of the chair cover to give it strength.  All I have left to do is add the material & then it's onto stars.  Yes I have about thirty stars that have been cut & laminated that need to be threaded with fishing wire so the kids can wear them around their necks.  I am planning to try & get this all done by tonight so I can have it back at school tomorrow.   Wish me luck ;).

New November challenge at Die Cut divas

Hi Lovelies,

Where has this year gone?  I can't believe we are in November already! Which means it's time for a new Challenge for November over at Die Cut Divas.  Like the last few years we have a challenge running over November & December.  This November/December challenge is Celebrations & Holidays.  We have two sponsors.  For November we are being sponsored by Crafty Sentiments designs.

I added the sentiment inside the card for a change.

I've been so busy with getting ready for a party where a friend & I are hosting an open day at her house to sell our wares.  I'm selling cards & she is selling toys.  I'm also involved in making props/costumes for the Preps - Year 3 end of year school play.  Busy times are ahead for all of us I suspect.  But if you can spare the time we'd love to see you over at Die Cut Divas.

Try Stampin' sketch #142

Hi lovelies,

Today I am on time & have access to the internet (dh & family used up all our time last week).  So here is the latest sketch from Try Stampin' on Tuesdays & my card.

The twist this week is to use orange.  For those of you that know me, know I don't do orange (very well).  Although I have been getting better at using it of late.  I really love this gorgeous sketch.  As it can be used for lots of different cards & themes.  Today I chose to make a "girly" card just because I had this image sitting on my desk with only her hair coloured in.  So I went with the teal/orange scheme &  put this card together.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Please stop by Try Stampin' to see what else the lovely DT members have come up with.  Happy crafting every one.

Wise old owls(s)

Hi Lovelies,

Today I have a share & a sneaky peek.  Firstly the sneaky Peek of my card I made for Die Cut Diva's latest challenge that can be found here.

I hope that you can pop over & check out all our entries & Divas' creations, they are amazing.

Now onto my share card.  I made it up in about 10 minutes the other day.

I brought some red felt the other day to try with my Die-namic rose dies.  I was really happy with how it turned out.  I used some leftover chicken wire die off cut just  for something different.  The clouds are washi tape that I matched up to make a wider strip.

Happy crafting every one

Try Stampin' on Tuesdays

Hi Lovelies,

I am back to being a DT member of Try Stampin' on Tuesdays again (I'm so happy about that!).  After a few months break I'm finally able to give Try Stampin' the time it deserves from me.  So here is the sketch -

What a fantastic sketch!  I love it.  Mind you I decided to flip it as the stamp I wanted to use went the other way.  I also used the theme "To give thanks" as well on this card.  

I used pp as my base & then clear embossed over it with one of my fav Hero Arts stamps.  Then applied some Distress inks.  I really like this effect, as it just gives the card some more interest.  

I hope you can join us this week & play along.  Don't forget to pop over to the TSOT blog & leave my fellow DT members some love.  Happy crafting everyone.

Colours of Autumn - Die Cut Divas

Hi Lovelies,

The gorgeous Hannah is our Diva of the month over at Die Cut Divas.  I am really enjoying this month's challenge & I am loving the entries so far.  

Today Hannah has provided us with a colour scheme to help get our creative juices flowing.  

I was so inspired I just had to make up a card to share with you all.  I've used every colour bar red!  How could I forget red.  What a great excuse to make another card ;P. Anyhoo here is my card inspired by the colours.

I used Distress inks to colour my "panel" then ran each side through my cuttlebug with a honeycomb embossing folder.  I then die cut a scrap of white c/s with my Die-namics Chicken wire Die.  Cutting out extra bits before inking it up.  I fussy cut around the stamped images before sticking them down.  Once again I was also inspired by some cards from Pinterest.  If you want you can check out my cards boards here, here, here & here.

Please pop over to Die Cut Divas to see what else the other Divas have created.  Happy crafting everyone.

Inspiration for you - Sneaky peek

Hi Lovelies,

 Today I have a Die Cut Diva & Pinterest Pin inspired card to share with you all.  I combined an idea & a theme to come up with this card.   

If you would like to see more of this card please pop over to Die Cut Divas.  Thanks for visiting & happy crafting.

Winner over at Die Cut Divas!

Hi Lovelies,

Today is the day that the winner is announced over at Die Cut Divas for the month of September.  Can you believe it we've had over sixty entries this month!  Arlene has done a fantastic job as hostess for September. I really am blown away by the amount of entries we received as well as all the amazing creations you all did.  I'm only sorry I couldn't comment on all of them.  Trust me I tried!  Once again a huge thank you to our sponsors Dreamweaver Stencils.  I really loved playing with these high quality metal stencils & dies.

  

So please pop over to Die Cut Divas to see who won!  Have a great day & happy crafting.

Die Cut Divas New Challenge for October

Hi Lovelies,

I'm back today to introduce Hannah's new Challenge over at Die Cut Divas.  This month is all about Animals & Autumn.  What a great challenge Hannah.  I can't wait for you to see what the other Divas have come up with.  Here is a sneaky peek at what I did.  If you want to see all of it, I suggest you pop over here.

All I can say is wow my fellow Divas rock!  Happy craftig everyone.

Thank you Dreamweavers Stencils

Hi Lovelies,

Well our challenge with Dreamweaver Stencils over at Die Cut Divas is coming to an end.  

Having never used stencils before I was a lot bit daunted as to how to use them & die cuts/embossing.  But now I know how easy they are to use & can see them being used a lot in the future.  I especially love how versatile they are.  For example you can use parts of these larger stencils or all of them.  I love how you can add "extras" as well.  I also like that they can be used with so many different mediums.  Thank you Dreamweavers for being so generous & having such fantastic products.

Please stop by Die Cut Divas & check out the other Thank you cards & entries to this month's wonderful competition.  Happy crafting every one    

Retro sketches & a puppy

Hi Lovelies,

I have finally got my self caught up, sorted out & to some extent organised.  It's been way too long since I've made a card for one of my favourite challenge blogs Retro sketches.  So since I've just finished making about fifty Christmas cards for an up-coming event I'm a part of.  I decided a change was in order.  So I checked out the latest sketch from Retro Sketches - 

It is such a simple sketch, which I followed mostly ;).  My angles are a bit off & I added an extra droplet to my card.

This card is such a departure from my usual style.  I have really pared my style down lately.  I guess having to make fifty cards in three days will do that to you lol.  Also I gave away all my cards to my dd's school fete so now have absolutely no cards.  Which is kind of refreshing, as it has let me give myself permission to do new things.  It's strange how having cards from two & three years ago can keep you from moving forward.  

Well lovelies my youngest & I are about to make her Papa a birthday card from her & his new Red Healer puppy which the girls have called Nipper.

Thanks for stopping by today & happy crafting everyone.

Owl Canvas

Hi Lovelies,

I 'm back to share with you all something that I've been working on for a little while.  It's a canvas that I created using Dreamweaver stencils, Twinkling H2O's, Die-namics & Joy Craft (Noor Design) Die.

I started by misting ink & water all over the canvas.  Then stencilled the Black eye Susans onto the corner adding extra vines & flowers.  I wrote the verse of Viva live on Mars (Robbie Williams) on the board & then misting over it & wiping it off.  Just so it was faded. 

I then added the Gecko (near the owl's feet), zentangling it again.  I then drew the owl & used the Cogs stencil on the owl's body.  I coloured the owl in with Twinkling H2O's.  I then added to the background with Twinkling H20's in greens.  Using the darkest green along the edge of the owl & then watering it down further out I went.  I added three small hearts.

Lastly I added some die cut elements. I used vintage book pages for the flowers & clouds..  I  & added pearl centres to my flowers. 

Here is a close up of the stenciling I did.  I hope that you are inspired to play along with us & don't forget that there still a week to go .

Yellow flowers

Hi Lovelies,

Today I'm back to share another Dreamweaver Stencil.

On this card I used Dreamweavers LJ902 Black eyed Susan stencil.  It matched my dies perfectly & I couldn't resist combining them to make this card.  I used a black Copic multi-liner & then  coloured the images with Copics. 

Dogs & Cogs

Hi Lovelies,

Today I'm back with another card made with Dreamweaver Stencils.  

So what do you think of this cute guy?  I used two stencils & one die from Dreamweavers.  I just love how the background turned out on this cute card.  I figure it would be perfect for that special guy in your life.  I used the dog stencil to draw where I wanted the dog to sit.  Then I used the Dog die & coloured him in with Distress inks.  I did cheat & use Copics on his collar & the "wheel" as well as a gold gel pen.  I'd love for you to go on over to Die Cut Divas & check out what my fellow Divas have done with their stencils & dies.

DCD Challenge with Stencils

Hi Lovelies,

It's been awhile since I last posted.  Things have been hectic around here.  But I have managed to get some crafting done & want to share with you all what I've been doing with Dreamweaver Stencils.

I have been eagerly awaiting my stencils for ages.  I think my postie was on a go slow as I didn't get them until last week.  

So far I've made a few things, but can see that I will be using them a lot in the future.  Today I want to share with you my first ever Zentangle card.  I tried a very simple zentangle on the Gecko.  I also embossed the flowers with my Cuttlebug, then coloured them with Copics.  I am eventually going to put this panel on a card base.

I'd love for you to all visit Die Cut Divas to see what my fellow Divas' have done with stencils.