A Few Birthday Card

Today I've got a couple of birthday cards to show you. The first one is for James, who is turning 11 today. I made this card on the same day as I made Louie's card, and used the same papers.

Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics | Patterned Paper: Bella Blvd 'Pack Your Bags' | Ribbon: John Lewis | Alphabet Chipboard Stickers: American Crafts | Brads: Making Memories | Button | Clip: Smiggle | Tag: Newsagent | Clear Stamp: Papertrey Ink 'Star Prints' | Border Punch: Fiskars 'Uppercrest' | Star Punch: Fiskars | Ink: Staz'On 'Timber Brown'

Another friend who's celebrating her birthday today as well is Danny. On this card I made the box flower for the first time, which I referred to in this post. I also dug out some goldie oldie papers for this one, ones that I still love.

Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics | Patterned Papers + Brad: Amy Butler by K&Co. | Border Punch: Martha Stewart + EK Success | Clear Stamps: Papertrey Ink 'Background Basics Retro' + 'Fancy Flourishes' + 'Signature Greetings' | Ink: Staz'On 'Timber Brown' + Archival 'Moonlight White' + Palette 'Ocean Tides' | Pearls: KaiserCraft | Corner Rounder: EK Success | Ribbon: John Lewis | Glitter: Stampin'Up

Lastly, when I was updating my Flickr account and iPhoto library I realised I never posted a card I made for another Dutch friend, whom celebrated her birthday last month.

Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics | Patterned Paper + Brad + Rub-on: American Crafts | Ribbon | Border Punch: Martha Stewart

Thanks for stopping by. Until next time.

Curtain Call Colour Challenge: Act 23

Yesterday I was going through my Bloglines clicking past all the new posts and saw this adorable card on Lea Lawson's blog. I noticed it was for a Colour Challenge on Stacey's blog. Totally in love with the colour combination, I decided to play along. This is the colour combination for Curtain Call Colour Challenge: Act 23.

And this is my card:


















Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Cardstock | Patterned Paper: Basic Grey 'Lilykate' + Creative Imaginations | Clear Stamps: Papertrey Ink 'Damask Designs' + 'Signature Greetings' | Ink: Staz'On 'Jet Black' + Archival 'Moonlight White' | Button: Papertrey Ink | Butterfly Punches + Deep Fan Punch: Martha Stewart | Ribbon + Lace: local haberdashery | Border Punch: EK Success | Pearls: KaiserCraft Twine: supermarket

I really enjoyed this colour challenge and might play along more frequently once I'm back from our holiday.

I was updating my Flickr gallery last night. This is what my card collection looks like...

I thought it looked very colourful and just wanted to share with you. Besides my card collection you can also find my layouts, mini albums, party bags and more.

Happy Sunday and thank you for stopping by.

For Sale at Be Inspired

For a very long time lots of people around me have been asking me whether I would consider making cards to sell. Generally my answer was that I can barely keep up with making cards for all my friends and family throughout the year and I want to make sure it remains a pleasure of making them rather than becoming a chore.

On the other hand I would love to just make cards and be able to sell them, or to make cards on request - which I've already done occasionally even though I have not asked for anything in return.

Beth, our babysitter and good friend works in a gorgeous little shop called Be Inspired on Maling Road. They sell all sorts of stationary, ribbons, paper, etc. I'd asked her before if the shop would consider selling any of my cards, and she said definitely.

Last night I made three cards with matching lined envelopes inspired by the beautiful and super talented Betsy Veldman and took them to the shop this morning. I'm curious to find out if they will sell.

Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics | Patterned Paper: Amy Butler by K&Co. | Clear Stamps: Papertrey Ink 'Turning a New Leaf' + 'Damask Designs' + Technique Tuesday 'Whispy Gigs' + Melissa Frances '1000's of Combinations' | Brads: Amy Butler by K&Co. + Basics Grey | Corner Rounder Punch: EK Success | Ink: Staz'On 'Timber Brown' + Archival 'Brilliance' | Ribbon: Be Inspired | Lace | Glitter: Stampin'Up| Scalloped Circle Punch: Marvy Uchida

How to make the flower design I discovered on Cosmo Cricket's blog. You can also watch the video tutorial on YouTube. I just love how easy it is to make it and yet it looks very intricate. I used a larger version of this flower on a card I made the night before, which I'll post in a couple of days. I've also made a couple and attached them to a hair clip. They looked really cute in Renee's hair and would look fabulous on any hat. You could even make them out of fabric.

...5678[9]101...

Today Louie is celebrating his 9th birthday. Louie is my hubby, David's best mate Dave's son, if that makes sense. Unfortunately we aren't able to congratulate him in person, but we will be seeing him next week in Orlando, Fl. as we'd already booked our holidays last year, before we knew we were going to be moving back to Australia. We'll just be flying round the world the other way. And to celebrate Louie's and Ruben's birthday we'll be having a character breakfast at Universal Studios.

For now Happy Bithday, Louie! This is the card I made for him:

Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics | Patterned Paper: Belle Blvd | Ribbon | Number stickers: American Crafts | Star punch: Fiskars | Tag: newsagent | Clear Stamp: Papertrey Ink | Ink: Staz'On (Timber Brown) | Border Punch: Martha Stewart

The children will be finishing their day an hour earlier this afternoon and then we've got three weeks holiday. One week more than anyone else, due to our booked trip to Orlando. Not sure how much I'm looking forward to the 26hrs trip.

Teacher's Birthday Gift

Tomorrow is already the last day of term 1. During the Easter break it is Renee's teacher's birthday. One of the class reps thought it would be nice to do a card for her. I offered to make the card, but thought the logistics of getting the card round to the whole class for the children to write something, I'd thought to make her a little birthday book with artwork from the children.

Last week I quickly cut up a few sheets of cardstock in 4" x 4" squares and passed them onto the parents for each child to create something for their teacher. We will be giving the birthday book to the teacher first thing in the morning.

All the children have done their own little artwork, but in the photo collage below I've just shown Renee's creation as I didn't ask for permission from any of the other parents to post their child's.

Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics | Patterned Paper + Alpha Stickers + Die-Cut Stickers: Bella Blvd | Scallop Die: Papertrey Ink | Ribbon: Paperchase | Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts | Tag: Making Memories | Corner Rounder: EK Success | Button | Label Die: Spellbinder Nestabilities (Labels One) | Marker: ZIG EK Success| Label Stamp: 7Gypsies

I really enjoyed making this little book from scratch and I'm pleasantly surprised how sturdy it is. Let's hope she'll like it too.

You Make My Heart Flutter

I have another layout to share with you. For this layout I was inpsired by a layout featured in February's issue of Scrapbooks Etc.

Supplies: Cardstock - Bazzill Basics | Patterned Paper: Teresa Collins | Border Punches: Fiskars + Martha Stewart | Alphabet Stickers: Making Memories + Pink Paislee | Heart Punch: Fiskars | Button: Basic Grey | Corner Rounder Punch: EK Success

That's all for now.

World's Best Job

In the March issue of Papercraft Inspirations was my last lay-out published which I created a few weeks before we left. The theme was Mother's Day.

Supplies:

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics

Patterned Paper + Alpha Stickers - October Afternoon

Tissue Paper

Ribbon: John Lewis

Butterfly + Border punch: Martha Stewart

Lace

Pearls: KaiserCraft

Corner Rounder punch: EK Success

Being on the subject of Mother's Day, here's the belated Mother's Day card I made for my mother-in-law.

Supplies:

Cardstock - Papertrey Ink

Book page

Clear Stamps: Papertrey Ink 'Fancy Flourishes'

+ 'Background Basics: Diamonds' + 'Mega Mixed Messages'

Glitter: Martha Stewart

Lace: John Lewis

Scallop Die: Papertrey Ink

Ink: Palette, Staz'On

Pearls: KaiserCraft

Label Die: Spellbinder Nestabilities 'Labels One'

Until next time.

Double Digits

Today is a very special day... my little boy turned 10! Not so little anymore... Even though our day in Melbourne is almost over, he'd officially only be 10 three hours ago, as he was born at 2.32 a.m. in Portland, OR. I still remember the birth very vividly.

My waters broke around 4.15 p.m. on the 18th. We went straight to the hospital as I didn't want to create a mess at home. The contractions didn't start until around 9.00 p.m. I dilated rather quickly, but not fully. All the medical staff (too many if you ask me) kept telling me that I wasn't allowed to push as I had a little rim which could cause swelling if I would push.

Assuming that they informed the gynaecologist, I'd accepted it. Minutes became hours and they even put me on a drip, which didn't make any difference. After every contraction (which had been pushing contractions for the past couple of hours) they wanted to check me internally, which really started to annoy me.

At one point all staff but one nurse left the room. While she was checking for any progress she asked me to push and Ruben shot out like a rocket. From nowhere to be delivered any time soon, half his head was born. Next thing I know, the nurse tells me not to push. Yeah right! I'd had to wait for the gynaecologist to come in just in case there were any complications with delivering the shoulders. It turns out he'd been asleep the whole time. I did push out the head completely and then obediently waited until the gynaecologist walked in, put on his apron and gloves and said 'push for the shoulders' and that was it, Ruben was born.

Here's a picture I snapped of Ruben just before going to school:

Ruben's had a great day for the most part. It started of with family ringing from England this morning wishing him a happy birthday. It was free dress day at school, and Friday's also the day that the kids have lunch order at school. All very important when it's your birthday.

After school when we got home, Ruben was still outside and when he was just about to open the door Renee wanted to open it from the inside, which led to the corner of the door cutting into her little toe. We ended up taken her to the emergency room as the cut looked pretty deep. Thankfully the cut wasn't too bad. After the doctor cleaned the wound and bandaged it, we could go home again. For dinner we went to TGI Friday's where the staff sang for him.

Back home we also made sure we lit the candles on the cake that Beth (our babysitter) baked for him.

This is the card I made for him:

Supplies:

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics

Patterned Paper + Alpha Stickers: American Crafts

Border Punch + Star Punch: Fiskars 'Uppercrest'

Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug

Corner Rounder: Woodware Craft

Button

I wish everyone a great weekend.

For My Dad + UK Mother's Day

Today my dad is celebrating his birthday. Congratulations papa, I've already spoken to you on Skype. I hope you have a great day and I love you. These days are tough ones being so far away from my family, but I'm there is spirit. I was late sending him his card, so it won't turn up for another couple of days, but this is it:

Supplies:

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics (Kraft)

Patterned Paper: October Afternoon (Road Map)

Clear Stamps: Papertrey Ink 'Signature Greetings' + 'Borders & Corners Circle'

Ribbon: John Lewis

Border Punch: Fiskars 'Uppercrest'

Star Die: Ellison Design

Button: Basic Grey

Ink: Staz'On (Jet Black)

The paper coordinated very well with the occasion as my dad is turning 68 today. I initially stamped the sentiment straight onto the card, but as the circle was black as well, I didn't feel it stood out enough. I then stamped the sentiment again on patterned paper and put it on pop dots. I also punched half a circle from the patterned paper to still make the number visible. Not perfect, but a satisfactory solution. I added the ribbon last to get the right balance.

Today it is also Mother's Day in the UK. Last year I wrote that they must pick the date randomly, but in fact it is always supposed to be on Middle Sunday, or the fourth Sunday of Lent (which lasts from Ash Wednesday to the day before Easter). This has been celebrated on that particular Sunday since at least the 16th Century. So, I take back what I said before. It changes from year to year but you can work it out.

I ordered some flowers for my mother-in-law on Sunday, but unfortunately I've not made her a card. I feel bad, but with all the unpacking we've been doing I just didn't have the energy to create. I will however still make her one. Better late than never, that's my motto!

For those in the UK have a great Mother's Day and for everyone else enjoy your Sunday!

Just 6 More Boxes...

After 6 days straight of unpacking boxes I hit a wall on Wednesday. I'm almost there, but I didn't have the desire to finish it. Most of the house looks tidy, but my scrap space is a complete mess (I'll spare you the pictures). I'd like to see it finished, but this weekend it is going to be nice and I might prefer the pool over unpacking my last 6 boxes, because that's all there's left. At least the end is in sight, right?

I have a few cards to show you. The first one was a almost a complete lift of a card by Maile Belles. You should check out her blog, as she makes beautiful things. This card I made for David's granny.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics

Stamps: Papertrey Ink

Corner Rounder: Woodware Craft

Ink: Staz'On (Timber Brown), Palette (Ripe Avocado)

Ribbon

Border Punch: Fiskars

Brad: American Crafts

Glitter: Martha Stewart

The next card is for Mike, he celebrated his birthday last Sunday.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics

Patterned Paper: October Afternoon

Stamps: Papertrey Ink

Corner Rounder: Woodware Craft

Ink: Staz'On (Timber Brown)

Twine

Border Punch: Fiskars 'Uppercrest'

Buttons: Making Memories

And finally this card I made for Lauren, Rebecca's best friend who turned 12 yesterday. My Papertrey Ink stamps turned up just in time. This card was inspired by a card from Michelle Wooderson that I saw on the Papertrey Ink blog.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (Aqua Mist)

Stamps: Papertrey Ink 'Butterfly Dreams' + 'Dot Spot'

Ink: Palette (Aqua Mist, Ocean Tide) + VersaColor

Corner Rounder: EK Success

Rhinestones: KaiserCraft + Me and my Big Idea

Ribbon

I understand the weather in Europe is getting a little bit better, but that it's still cold. We had a freak storm last Saturday with hailstones the size of tennis balls, but this weekend it will be all sunny and warm. Have a great weekend!

For Dave

Yesterday was Dave's birthday. Dave is my hubby's, best mate in the UK. I've been cutting a bit fine lately with making and posting cards. I was convinced that this one was going to be turning up late, but it seems it made it on the first flight out and got their in two days. Yeah for fast postal delivery.

Hope you had a great day, Dave and that you liked my card?

Supplies:

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Cardstock

Patterned Paper: American Crafts 'Junior'

Alpha Stickers: American Crafts 'Letterman'

Star Punch: Fiskars

Border Punch: Martha Stewart

Buttons: Making Memories 'Paperie'

Ribbon: Morgan & Finch

Corner Rounder: Woodware Craft

Ink: VersaColor 'Pinecone'

Tomorrow I'll be temporarily putting my scrapping supplies back in a box, as our shipment will be delivered on Thursday. I'm looking forward to receiving our own things again, but I'm most definitely not looking forward to unpacking it all. Before they arrive though, I need to make a few more cards for upcoming birthdays.

Have a great day!

First School Friend's Birthday Party

Yesterday Renee had her first birthday party of one of her friends in her class. It can be quite intimidating for her, but she took it in her stride this time and was quite happy to go and to be left on her own.

I'd had bought a cute silver beaded bookmark for Holly on Friday at a craft market, which was only wrapped in tissue paper. As it was a small gift, I'd decided to make a bag to put it in rather than wrapping it again in gift wrap. I also made a matching birthday card to go with it.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Cardstock

Patterned Paper + Die-Cut Alphas: October Afternoon 'Farm Fresh'

Border Punch: EK Success

Corner Rounder: Woodware Craft

Buttons: Making Memories 'Paperie'

Clear Stamp: Papertrey Ink 'Giga Guide Lines' + 'Mega Mixed Messages'

Ribbon: John Lewis

Tag: Newsagent

Die: Spellbinder Nestabilities 'Scalloped Circles'

Bag Template: Funky Bag 2

Thank you for visiting my blog and I hope you are having a good Monday.