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.

Got Sketch? Catch-Up

I haven't blogged very frequently lately, but that doesn't mean that I haven't been crafty. I guess I just feel I have no audience, so am reluctant to share. Anyway, Valerie just posted sketch 123 on the Got Sketch? blog, but I also have sketches 120, 121 and 122 to show you.

Let's do them in order. Sketch 120 was also featured on the Scrapbooks Etc. blog, which you can find here. Here's my layout which I created along the sketch.

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Little Yellow Bicycle, Jenni Bowlin, October Afternoon | Alphabet stickers: American Crafts | Clear Stamp: Autumn Leaves | Ink: Stampin’Up (Pretty in Pink) | Marker: ZIG | Felt Butterfly: Jenni Bowlin |Rhinestone Swirl: KaiserCraft | Circle Punch: Fiskars | Roses | Lace flower | Pinking Scissors

The second sketch, is sketch 121. I normally stick quite closely to Valerie's sketches, but with this one and really the previous one I wanted to angle to pictures a little to give it a less formal look. Also, on this one I chose to handwrite my journaling. As soon as I finished I regretted it, but decided to sleep on it and reconsider in the morning. I decided to stick with the handwritten journaling.

Supplies: Cardstock | Patterned Paper: October Afternoon (Rocket Man) + Making Memories | Clear Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Boy Basics: Simple Circles + Studio Calico | Letter Stickers: American Crafts | Ink: Stampin'Up (Riding Hood Red, Night of Navy, Marina Mist) | Dies: Papertrey Ink (Simple Circles Border, Seeing Stars, Banner Builder Collection) | Button | Marker: ZIG (Blue Jay) | Punch: Fiskars (Uppercrest)

Next is sketch 122, which was also featured on the Scrapbooks, Etc. blog here. Valerie asked if we could make something other than a card, so I created a gift bag. I'd had bought the gift bags a long time ago at the local arts & crafts store, but never put them to good use. I was quite pleased with the result, given this was my first gift bag I decorated.

Supplies: Kraft Paper Bag: Riot’s | Patterned Paper: My Mind’s Eye (Lost & Found Collection) | Punch: Martha Stewart | Ribbon: Vandoros | Clear Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Damask Designs) + Waltzing Mouse (Say It Loud) | Ink: Papertrey Ink (Vintage White) | Brad | Pearls: KaiserCraft | Lace: Spotlight | Die: Spellbinder Nestabilities Die (Blossom Two) used to make flower | Fabric: Spotlight

Lastly onto sketch 123. Valerie had given us a long lead time on this sketch. Although I instantly knew I which pictures I wanted to use for the layout, as it was a double one it took me forever to decide what papers to use. I ended up using cardstock as the backdrop on which I stamped some good old Autumn Leaves Big Swirl stamps. I decided to use October Afternoon papers for my patterned paper. Even though the colours of the papers aren't all present in the photos, it really give it some brightness.

Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper, Papertrey Ink (Hawaiian Shores, White and Spring Moss) | Clear Stamps: Autumn Leaves (Big Swirls), Papertrey Ink (Banner Builder) | Patterned Paper: October Afternoon (Farm Fresh, Modern Homemaker) | Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts | Dies: Sizzix (Hibiscus), Papertrey Ink (Banner), Silhouette (Sandcastle) | Ink: Brilliance (Moonlight White), Stampin'Up (Turquoise) | Label: Creative Imaginations | Markers

Now that I'm all caught up with my sketches for Valerie it's time to create a new one.

Happy Belated Independence Day

Right now it's the end of the first semester and the kids have got a very much needed two week break. So far, it's already been quite creative. Rebecca's been in the mood to make some cards. She asked me if I could please put them on my blog and also put her name on the picture.

Yesterday she made this card based on this colour combination:

And here's what she created:

Supplies: Cardstock: Papertrey Ink, Bazzill Basics Paper | Patterned Paper: Jenni Bowlin | Ribbon: Spotlight | Clear Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Fillable Frames 4, Birthday Bash Sentiments) | Ink: Stampin'Up (Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist) | Embossing Folder: Papertrey Ink (Circles) | Punch: EK Success | Rhinestones: KaiserCraft

This morning Rebecca decided that she wanted to make a card for the 4th of July, even though it was yesterday. As she was brainstorming with me about what to do and possibly what sketch to use for it, I'd already come up with an idea in my head. I pulled out some really old papers and told Rebecca to chose a border punch. I think the card was done within 10 minutes, besides the point that Rebecca argued with me that the stripes are red and the stars are blue, I just went in the opposite direction. I asked Rebecca to make me some 2D stars, which she knew instantly what I was talking about. I was quite thrilled with the result.

Supplies: Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (White, Poppy Red) | Patterned Paper: Little Yellow Bicycle, ScrapWorks | Ribbon: Vandoros | Border Punch: EK Success | Clear Stamp: Waltzing Mouse (Say It Loud) | Dies: Papertrey Ink (Seeing Stars) | Rhinestones: KaiserCraft | Ink: Stampin'Up (Real Red)

The weather is very cold and windy at the moment, the perfect weather to stay indoors and created. Besides cards, we're also working on bookmarks which will be sold during the school fair, which is taking place in November. I haven't photographed any of these yet, but will show you at a later stage.