Sending You Birthday Wishes

Today my niece, Fleur who lives in Holland is celebrating her 11th birthday. We won't be there to celebrate her birthday with her, but we'll see them very soon when we're visiting family and friends in England and the Netherlands.

I know my card arrived on Saturday, which isn't always that easy as the post seems to always take a bit longer at this time of year. Happy Birthday Fleur, I hope you have a wonderful day. I will call you later today on Skype.

Supplies: Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (Cream) | Patterned Paper: Crate Paper (Random Collection) | Ribbon: Vandoros + Twine (The Twinery) | Circle Punches: EK Success + Fiskars | Butterfly Die: Sizzix exclusively for Stampin'Up | Clear Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Sending You) | Ink: Stampin'Up (Chocolate Chip) | Buttons

And here are some detail shots.

In case you've missed I posted a blog post earlier today on how to make your own Christmas art here. Enjoy your Monday!

Got Sketch? Twelve Days of Christmas: Day 7

Today I'm sharing my second contribution to the Twelve Days of Christmas over at the Got Sketch? blog. My layout is based on sketch 131.

If you're into crafting at Christmas time, you might like this idea of creating your own Christmas art which you can display each year during the December month.

Here's my layout. Initially I chose a red background, but I really wanted to keep it light and fresh and opted for a white background instead. I added the colours red and green in the patterned paper and the ribbon. As you can see I still included a title, but did not do any journaling as I framed the layout to be hung on the wall and didn't feel journaling was necessary. I did however ad the date and place when it was taken.

Here's a few close-up shots of the layout. I added glitter to the picture on the main parts of the snow. I cut the title with my Silhouette Digital Cutter using the Café Aroma font. I also cut the snowflake and the star with the Silhouette. Before I cut the title I stuck the card stock down on a self adhesive sheet. That way I avoided fiddling with it after it was cut to try and adhere it to the ribbon.

And finally here's a picture of the layout after I framed it in a frame I purchased at IKEA months ago. It's the perfect fit. To make it even more festive you could hang it on the wall using a large ribbon.

Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper + Papertrey Ink (Poppy Red) | Patterned Paper: Making Memories (Mistletoe Collection) + October Afternoon (Good Cheer Collection) | Ribbon: The Ribbon Man | Font: Café Aroma cut with Silhouette Digital Cutter | Snowflake: Silhouette Digital Cutter | Glitter: Martha Stewart | Tag Die: Papertrey Ink (Journal Tabs) | White pen: Kikki.K | Circle Punch: Fiskars | Transparency: Making Memories

Maybe you've got a favourite picture that you could turn into your own unique artwork and will grace your walls each year.

Got Sketch Catch-Up Three

If you would go with what I've posted on my blog, you would think I'm not up to much. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Three's a charm, so here's another Got Sketch? blog catch-up.

Here's sketch 128

Sketch 129, which was also featured on the Scrapbooks Etc. blog here.

Sketch 130: I absolutely love this line from October Afternoon and have already created several things using this collection.

Sketch 131: This one was also featured on Scrapbooks Etc. blog here. I wasn't very with how this turned out and I might revisit this sketch in the future.

Sketch 132:

Sketch 133, which was again featured on the Scrapbooks Etc. blog:

And finally sketch 134:

To save time I won't include any supply lists, but in case you are wondering you can either find them on the Got Sketch? blog or just leave a comment. Thank you for your visit.

Got Sketch? Twelve Days of Christmas

I'm so far behind on my blogging, that I actually don't know anymore what I have and haven't blogged. Not that I'm too worried about it, maybe eventually I'll catch up, and maybe not.

Since yesterday Valerie has started Twelve Days of Christmas on her Got Sketch? blog. And Day 1 is something that I created. Curious, go and check it out. Here's a little sneak peek.

I hope you enjoyed my post over at the Got Sketch? blog. Let me know what you think. Be sure to check back everyday for the next eleven days for more great ideas for some holiday crafting.

Until next time.

Got Sketch Express 2

Last month Valerie ran another sketch class. This time it was Got Sketch Express 2. This meant two sketches a week for four weeks. In no time you would have made eight layouts along her always easily adaptable sketches. She'd asked her regular designers if they could provide layouts as inspiration for the class.

I was slightly concerned whether I was going to be able to keep up with two sketches a week, but I managed to make seven out of eight. I had to miss out on one as we went on a little road trip to South Australia.

Here are the layouts that I created for the class.

As you can see two of the sketches we're double pages. I wasn't looking forward to them, as I'm always struggling to find enough patterned paper to make them, but after I finished them they ended up being my favourites.

Valerie recently has also made some changes on her blog. One of the things she's added is a page where you can find all the sketches that she's done on her Got Sketch? blog. It's a great source if you would like to find a sketch. Each sketch links back to the page, which also gives you some great examples. She has also added a Design Team page to her blog, of which I'm proudly part of.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Finding Inspiration

I love reading other people's blogs and finding inspiration. The following cards have all been inspired by someone else's creations.

This first card was inspired by Dawn McVey. I started off with a lot bigger card, but decided to make it smaller, which turned out to be a bad move. Live and learn I suppose.

The next one was inspired by Betsy Veldman:

Than this baby card was inspired by Melissa Phillips:

This one was inspired by the multi-talented Nichole Heady:

The next one was inspired by a card out of the Stampin'Up catalog:

And finally another card inspired by Dawn McVey. I actually created this with the Mat Stack 5 Die as I didn't have the Half & Half dies at that point.

It's amazing the inspiration there is to be found online and with the fabulous site Pinterest, it's very easy to pin what inspires you and keep it organised. In case you haven't got a Pinterest account yet, you should most definitely sign up, you'll love it. Promise! In case you need an invite, send me an email and I'll send you one.

Once again, if you have questions about any of the supplies I've used, let me know.

Got Sketch Catch-Up Two

It seems I managed to fall behind on posting my Got Sketch? blog creations once again. This time I owe you two cards and a layout.

First my card for sketch 124. I used the new Authentique papers for this card.

Secondly a layout for sketch 126. For this one I used the new My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Two line. I've hidden the journaling inside the Maya Road envelope.

Journaling: I'm not very brave with new hairdresser's as I'm always afraid they're going to cut it too short. Last week however I'd reached boiling point and it was time to find a new hairdresser as my regular hairdresser is a little too conservative.
Peter, the new hairdresser didn't cut anything off the length, but he must have cut half my hair off to get rid of the bulk and create balance. I walked out enlightened and love my new cut!

And finally my card for sketch 127. For this card I also used some new My Mind's Eye papers. I love the houndstooth and that deep rich pink colour. After I finished this card, I was in love and actually based Rebecca's card on it too.... with a slight twist.

My desktop is getting more and more empty... I'll be back with more tomorrow morning.

Man oh Man

Once you start to fall behind, it seems there's never a way to get caught up unless.... you actually take action, sort things out consolidate them and move on. My husband was pointing out that I was slowing down my computer by cluttering my desktop, so here's step one. Out of the 42 items on my desktop here are all masculine cards I've created in the past six months roughly.

For Mike:

My dad:

My boy:

For Louie:

For Andrew:

For school mates:

For our neighbour who turned three:

And finally this one which is sent to my brother, who celebrated his birthday last week:

I won't bore you with complete supplies lists, but if you are wondering about anything I've used on any of the cards just ask. Hope you've found some inspiration.

Thank you for your visits and your much appreciated comments.

It's Official: She's a Teenager!

Today Rebecca turned 13! She's been dreading it and kept telling us in fact she was turning 12 and a half, as she thinks 13 is unlucky. Maybe so, but she did really turn 13 today, and is now officially a teenager. If we would go by the actual time she was born she wouldn't turn 13 until 00.12 a.m. (since Australia is 8 hours ahead of the Netherlands).

We had a lovely day, her best friend came over in the afternoon and we went to her favourite Thai restaurant for dinner.

Here's the card I made for her. A close-up...

And the whole card. I really love the new lines of My Mind's Eye. They have a lot of detail and quite a bit of glitter too. I particularly like the turquoise colour and so does Rebecca.

Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper | Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye (Lost & Found Collection) | Chipboard frame: Tattered Angels | Ribbon: Spotlight | Butterly: Jenni Bowlin | Circle Punch: EK Success | Clear Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Enjoy the Ride) | Ink: Stampin'Up (Chocolate Chip) | Lace: Spotlight | Border Punch: Martha Stewart | Die: Papertrey Ink (Double Banner)

I hope you all have had a great weekend. Enjoy (if you've got a few hours left of it)!

Echo Park Spotlight

A couple of months ago, Echo Park announcing their 'Fresh Faces' Monthly Designer Call. Now I thought that's what I call a 'fresh' idea. And since I've bought a few of the Echo Park lines already and like to look of some of their new lines as well, I thought... Why not?

I'll start off with a card and a layout that I created with the 'Be Mine' collection, which is one of my favourites. I love the swirls, colours and patterns.

This card I made for my friend Beth, who celebrated her birthday almost two months ago already. I chose grey and pink for her card, as they are her favourite colours.

Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper (white) | Patterned Paper: Echo Park (Be Mine collection) | Clear Stamsp: Waltzing Mouse (Say It Loud), Papertrey Ink (Butterfly Dreams) | Pearls: KaiserCraft | Roses: Spotlight | Ink: Stampin'Up, Papertrey Ink (Tea Die Duo) | Die: Papertrey Ink (Butterfly, Mat Stack 4) | Ribbon: Vandoros | Lace: Spotlight

Next is a layout which was featured on the Scrapbooks Etc. blog as well as on Valerie's Got Sketch? Blog for sketch 125. I did use a strip of brown October Afternoon paper on this layout, because the 'Be Mine' collection didn't have any. They compliment each other really well.

Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper | Patterned Paper: Echo Park (Be Mine Collection), Papertrey Ink (Fly a Kite Collection) | Alphabet Chipboard: American Crafts | Clear Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Calendar Basics), Creative Café | Dies: Papertrey Ink (Butterfly, Large Scalloped Border) | Punches: Fiskars (Heart), EK Success (Circles), Martha Stewart (Deep Fan) | Twine: The Twinery | Buttons | Ink: Stampin'Up

The following two cards I created using Echo Park's Springtime Collection. They are both for girls that celebrated their eighth birthday.

Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper | Patterned Paper + Bunting: Echo Park (Springtime Collection) | Dies: Papertrey Ink (By The Numbers, Parisian Lace Doily, Angled Labels, Love Lives Here), Spellbinder Nestabilities (Scalloped Circles, Circles) | Ink: Stampin'Up | Felt | Clear Stamps: Fillable Frames 3

And last but not least...

Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper | Patterned Paper: Echo Park (Springtime Collection)| Dies: Papertrey Ink (Angled Labels) | Ink: Stampin'Up | Ribbon: Vandoros | Rhinestones: KaiserCraft | Border Punch: EK Success | Clear Stamps: Birthday Bash Sentiments)


I've got one more Echo Park card to show you, but I'll save that one for next week, as it's in the post en route to its recipients right now.

Have a fabulous day.

Celebrating 14 Years

Yesterday David and I celebrated our 14th Anniversary. Last night we went for dinner at The Press Club, which owned by George Colombaris who is one of the presenters of Masterchef Australia. We've hadd a fantastic meal which consisted of eight courses. I ranged from veal, to salmon, duck and venison. I only substituted my chocolate dessert for a pumpkin pie dessert, as my body doesn't tolerate chocolate very well at the moment.

Last week while David was away on business in the US I made him this card.

Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock (Kraft, Smooth White) + Papertrey Ink (Poppy Red) | RibbonL Vandoros (Dark Grey) | Pinking Scissors | Dies: Papertrey Ink (Parisian Lace Doily, Tiny Tags) | Punch: Fiskars (Heart) | Twine: The Twinery | Rubber Stamp: DeNami (I Love You) | Clear Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Background Basics: Sheet Music, Tiny Tags, Damask Designs) | Ink: Stampin'Up (Real Red, Basics Grey), Versamark, Papertrey Ink (Vintage Cream, Tea Dye Duo)

By the way this card was heavily inspired by this card by the super talented Maile Belles.

David quickly made me a card Monday morning as well, as he'd only got home on Sunday from his trip. What I loved about it, is that he used exactly the same stamp as me.

Thank you for your visit.