HAPPY BIRTHDAY DH ♥

It was my darlings Birthday yesterday - won't say how old he was though.  Needless to say - there was a GST increase.  Making cards for him is hard.  I had a choice of Motorbike or boat.  I don't think he has ever been anywhere near a bike, so that kinda narrowed it down!

I went with a fun fold this time.  THE Bron Heslop gave me a gorgeous sample of a fancy fold she had done recently and I was really taken with it.  So here is my version:

I used my sponges on this card, so I could get more detail on the small space I had to work with - a brayer would have had a hard time!  I have popped the sails up with Dimensionals and put hints of Dazzling Diamonds in the water.  It really does sparkle like moonlit water!  I will leave you with a close up:

JAI #73 A SKETCH FOR YOU!

Over at JUST ADD INK this week, we have a sketch challenge for you:

And a challenge it was for me, since I had my weeks all mixed up and didn't realise I needed to submit this week!  Oh dear, what a panic I got myself in!

In the end, I decided to keep it simple - which is actually another challenge in itself for me!  My first thought when I saw the sketch, was to put a length of ribbon on the card, but not everyone has ribbon available, so again, I challenged myself to only use cardstock - hence the punch hearts.  I think they go perfectly with the sentiment and I couldn't help but add a bit of sparkle to a few of them with the gorgeous Stampin' Up! fine glitter.

Pop on over to Just Add Ink to see what the other Design team members have put up for your viewing pleasure.  We would love it if you joined in too!

FRENCH FOLIAGE

I finally got to play with my new set "French Foliage"!  After borrowing it from a friend, I just had to get it for myself.  Such a lovely, versatile set.  It also suits the nature kind of cards I love to do.  This time however, I have taken a leaf (excuse the pun) out of Teneale Williams book. 

I love her style and wanted to create something along the same lines.  I love how this card has turned out - thanks for the inspiration Teneale!!

INLAID FOR YOU

A quick post this morning to show you some Inlaid Embossing cards I recently taught at one of my classes.  Such an easy technique to do.  Have Bigshot - can do!

I have used the Lattice embossing folder on one and the Petals a Plenty on the other, just to see what they would look like!  I have kept these simple by just using two small dies - little leaves and the Beautiful Wings embosslits.

How to:

1.  Select you die cuts and cut your peices out.
2.  Using Tombow Multi Adhesive lightly adhere the pieces on your card stock.
3.  Insert your carstock into your embossing folder of choice and run through the Bigshot.
4.  Adhere with Dimensionals to you card base.

It is that easy!  If you don't own these embossing folders or dies and want to add them to your collection, I would be more than happy to order them for you.  Email ME to place an order today!

QUILT - HOW TO

I promised a tutorial on how I do my Quilt cards and here it is!

The instructions are for this particular card, but of course, you are only limited by your imagaination!  This is my take on a traditional Quilt block called "Log Cabin".

1.  Cut a mat of cardstock measuring 8cm x 8xm for your base.  You will be sticking DSP (Designer paper) to this, so old cardstock is good!  We are going to hide it :-)
2.  Choose three or four contrasting DSP's and cut strips 1cm wide, and at least 6-7cm long.  For the centre peice you wil need a 2cm x 2cm square piece of DSP.
3.  Using a pencil, draw across the diagonal of your cardstock, to find the centre.
4.  Experience has taught me that Anywhere Glue stick works the best for this technique.  It gives you slipability (new word?) and allows you to correct mistakes if you need to!  I used tape in this picture, but that doesnt allow you to move the strips if you stick them down crooked.  I make the mistakes so you don't have to!

5.  Cover the entire card backing with the Anywhere Glue Stick (just $9.25 for a pack of two - bargain!)
6.  Stick your 2xcm x 2cm peice of DSP down over the centre, matching the corners of the DSP to your drawn diagonal lines.  This will ensure your first piece is straight!
7.  Adhere four strips of DSP down each side of your centre piece.

8.  Continue to add your DSP in the same direction on all four sides, alternating the colour in each round until your have covered the entire card base.
9.  Turn over and using the edge of the card base as a guide for your scissors, carefully cut away the excess DSP.

Your finished quilt block should look like this.

I have used mats of 8.5cm x 8.5 cm and 9cm x 9cm for this card.  The card base is half A4 cut down the length, then scored in half at A5 size.

Other samples of my Quilt cards can be found HERE and HERE.

There are so many Quilt Block designs available on the net to gather lots of ideas.  The sky is the limit with this type of card!  This is a great way to use up all those pesky little scraps you have lying around.

I hope your enjoy and use this tutorial often!!

NIGHT OF NAVY QUILT

If you have pesky scraps (and lots of them, if you are anything like me) then a great way to use them up is to put them to use on a Quilted card.  This is a great technique to help use up all those scraps bits of cardstock and DSP we all manage to aquire!

I have used Night of Nacy and Riding Hood Red for the card base and mats.  I let the DSp I used, choose those colours for me!  I have also used a traditional quilt block called "Log Cabin".

I have another quilt card to share with you, and if I can manage to get my act together, I will share a quick tutorial on how I do these.  Be sure to check back in a couple of days for that!

JUST ADD BLACK & WHITE #71

Join me this week at JUST ADD INK for a real challenge - Just add black and white only!  I thought it would be fun to leave all colour in the draw to see what we could all come up with. 

The design team have made some beautiful samples to share with you this week, so be sure to pop over and have a look.  Better yet - join in the fun with your own creation!

I had a lot of fun putting together this week card and as we speak - it is in the hands of fellow Just Add Ink Designer who celebrated her birthday yesterday.

I not only created the card, but a broach to be worn too!  Which is why I have kept the card pretty simple.  I wanted the broach to be the star of the show, with it's laquered look and bit of bling.  I have also added an insert, because these always finish a card beautifully.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY for yesterday Delys - I hope you got this in time and in one piece!  **MWAH**

FOR YOU, BABY

My baby girl turns 17 years old today!  Where has the time gone?  I wanted to share a quick post of the birthday card I made for her.  Those of you who know her, know what a huge fan of Michael Jackson she is.  I made a MJ card for her last year which you can see HERE.  After she got over her initial disappointment that it wasn't another MJ card, she did give her approval anyway!

Sorry about the photograhy!  It really is quite a blingy card, but the lighting just doesn't pick it up.  I took this late last night before I sealed the envelope!

ALTERED NOTEPADS

Sorry I have been MIA lately.  This working 5 days has really cramped my style!  I have been busy in the background working on some projects for classes and Stamp Club, but I can't show you those yet!

I did want to share a couple of cute Altered Notepads I recently made for my monthly craft fair.  The first is a Post-it-Note holder and pen set using French Foliage.  Now I don't actually own this set, but I did borrow it from the lovely Rhonda Imrie and I have to say I LOVE IT!  It is my new favourite set (like I don't already have enough favourites!).  I haven't used traditional Autumn colours here though.  Instead I have used Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand and Perfect Plum.  I have stamp the background using the smallest SU acrylic block to get the "brick" thing going on.

The second Note pad is a altered shopping list.  I got the cutest swap at Convention from Barbara Bicknell and just had to have a go at recreating it myself.  This was fun to put together and I have altered the pen to match too, by inserting the same DSP on the front of the pad, down the barrell of the pen.

I do hope to post a bit more regularly than I have been lately.  So please come back often to check and leave a comment - I do so appreciate hearing your thoughts on my projects!

MAY STAMP CLUB

I such such a fun weekend because I got to be a student for a change!  Diane and I held our monthly Stamp Club last Sunday and it was Diane's turn to teach.  What a fantastic job she did, although I had far too much to say, as usual.  (Note to self - keep quiet and listen!)  I have some photo's to share of the gorgeous projects she taught us, along with our Ladies watching every move she made.  Absolute dedication!

Diane itching to get started

Diane had everyone's total attention!

Of course, we had quite a few laughs along the way too!  But we didn't want to miss a thing!

I think the ladies were pretty thrilled with the projects!











I will leave you all with a close up of the lovely projects we made. 

 Thanks Diane for a fabulous day!