Wishing You all the Best

You probably have already heard the news that with great sadness 2 Sketches 4 You is stopping. They have provided us with the most gorgeous and easy to adapt sketches over the past two years. I was on their very first design team back in Fall 2008, and thoroughly enjoyed creating along their sketches.

For their very last sketch Laura and Kazan asked all the current and past designers to contribute. As usual it was a breeze. I'm sure their trusty 2S4Y weekly sketch will be missed, but don't fret as they will keep all their past sketches available. So next time you're looking for some inspiration, you can always visit and choose from one of their previous sketches.

I wish Laura and Kazan good luck and success with their new endeavours. Here's my card based on Kazan's sketch:

Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper | Patterned Paper: October Afternoon (The Thrift Shop) | Clear Stamp: Papertrey Ink (YOF Sweet Peas + Vintage Labels)  | Butterfly + Border Punch: Martha Stewart | Button | Ribbon | Thread | Rhinestones: KaiserCraft | Ink: Staz'On (Jet Black), Papertrey Ink (Chamomile)

I'll be back soon with a layout.

Kazan's Sketch 36

Isn't this a treat... I managed to play along with 2 Sketches 4 You two weeks in a row. This week it was Kazan's Sketch 36. Clean and simple, right up my street. This is what I created last night.

Supplies: Frosted card: ShortCuts Sheetload, Patterned Paper + sticker: Three Bugs in a Rug, Border Punch: Martha Stewart, Corner Rounder: Woodware.

Typing the supply list I'm realising how little I used to create this card and yet it looks perfectly balanced.

Thank you for all your sweet comments. Happy Saturday!

Laura's Sketch 35

It has been way too long the last time I played along with one of the sketch sites. Besides having a little less time, as I put exercising higher on the priority list, I haven't really been in the mood to do a lot. I have some fantastic ideas in my head, but I'm afraid that's where it's staying at the moment. We are having some big changes ahead of us again, as we've decided to move back to Australia. One of the things I would like to achieve before we go again, is make another mini album recording this house. We want to let our house, so we won't be getting rid of it, but all the furniture will be coming with us.

Anyway, today I decided that it was time to play. I chose Laura's Sketch 35. The papers I chose for this card are probably the oldest ones in my stash, but I still like them.



Supplies - Cardstock: Bazzill Basics, Patterned Paper: Scenic Route, Flower: American Crafts, Clear Stamp: Hero Arts, Ink: Staz'On (Timber Brown), Chipboard Butterfly: Cherry Arte, Glitter: Stampin'Up, Paint: Making Memories, Chipboard frame: Maya Road, Rhinestone: Kaisercraft, Border Punches: EK Success + Fiskars, ribbon

It felt good playing again.

Laura's Sketch 27

Good afternoon from a sweltering Epsom. It's still quite comfortable inside though. I've just finished my card along Laura's sketch 27, which kicks-off the Ultimate Card Showdown. It will run all through the month of June. As the weather is hot, I decided to make a Summery card (and I was desperate to use my Hibiscus Sizzix die, lol).



Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock | SEI 'Mimosa' patterned paper | SheetLoad Shortcuts clear card | Martha Stewart border punch | Sizzix Die Hibiscus | ribbon | My Mind's Eye button | Hero Arts clear stamps Great Flourish | Staz'On ink Jet Black | baker's twine

Make sure you stop by 2S4Y and play along as you could make it to the Top 30 and advance to the next level. Make sure you read all the rules to ensure your card is eligible for entry. Have fun!

Baby A. + Two unpubbed cards

This afternoon I went to photograph baby A. She is only 12 days old and so petite. She was very restless and really only wanted to be held by her mummy, until it was time to go pick-up the kids from school when she was completely spaced out. I wasn't on my best form either, but this is my favourite shot:

I'm not going to share any more, as I didn't ask her permission to publish them.

I have shown you my published cards from Cards Only 6 over the last week, but there were also two cards I submitted which didn't get published:

Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock kraft | October Afternoon Night Light patterned paper | Autumn Leaves Talking in Circles 2 clear stamp | VersaColor ink Neptune + Pinecone | Spotlight buttons | Ellison Design Stars #2 die | ribbon

Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock | Basic Grey Bittersweet patterned paper + chipboard + button | Autumn Leaves Gypsy Style 2 clear stamp | Cuttlebug embossing folder | Stampin’Up ink chocolate | Fiskars Water Treading border punch | American Crafts LAX alphabet glitter stickers | Spellbinder Nestabilities Labels one | Karen Foster floss | Vandoros ribbon

Finally, don't forget to stop by 2S4Y as today is the kick-off of their 1st Annual Ultimate Card Showdown, with lots of prizes to be won. You don't want to miss it.



Have a great week!

Color Inspiration #52

Today when I was creating my next catch-up card along Kazan's sketch 24, I used Kristina's color inspiration #52.  I might have actually used a few more colours than required, but that one patterned paper just happened to have all the colours in there (plus a few more, lol).

Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock | Sassafrass Lass patterned paper | Crate Paper patterned paper | Making Memories patterned paper | Autumn Leaves clear stamp | Prima Marketing flowers | Martha Stewart butterfly punch | Martha Stewart starburst punch | Papertrey Ink clear stamp | Staz'On ink Timber Brown | Fiskars border punch Uppercrest | Button SEI | twine

Paula Pascual contacted me yesterday whether she could feature my Spring Clean Monday posts on her Crafty Storage blog. I love that blog, it has such great ideas for storage and it features many different studios from well known scrapbookers, so I was happy to say 'yes'.

Today I'll be posting my first layout which will be published in Scrapbook Inspirations magazine. Last month Shimelle contacted me whether I would be interested in contributing. My first assignment was to create a layout along a sketch. Unfortunately I won't be able to show you anything until the issue (#56) is on the newsstand, and this won't be for another couple of months.

I've changed my mind

I was browsing the 2S4Y blog the other day and realised that there are far more sketches I haven't played with than the days in the countdown. Rather than showing you my old DT cards, I've decided to create a card a day along one of the past sketches. Today, I've created a card along Laura's sketch 24:

Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock | Creative Imagination + Love Elsie + Scenic Route patterned paper | Vandoros ribbon | American Crafts embellishment | Papertrey Ink clear stamp Damask Designs | Martha Stewart border punch | Staz'On ink Timber Brown.

All patterned paper I used on this card came from my scrap drawer. Only 12 days until the Ultimate Card Showdown. Until tomorrow.

Laura's Sketch 26

13 Days and counting... are you getting excited yet? Last night after 24 (series 7)... I created my card along Laura's sketch 26. Since this week's sponsor is ShortCuts I decided to make a clear card as well. And by clear I mean clear... take a look:

Supplies: Sheetloads ShortCuts clear card | American Crafts, Creative Imaginations + Basic Grey Patterned Paper | Basic Grey button (pink) | My Mind's Eye button (pink flower) | Fancy Pants crochet flower | Hero Arts clear stamp | Heidi Swapp clear stamp | Staz'On ink Jet Black + White | cord | Martha Stewart border punch | ribbon local haberdashery | Spellbinder Nestabilities Labels four.

I only put a piece of patterned paper behind the die-cut shape on the inside. I struggled a bit with the white stamp on the clear card as it's quite slippery. In the end I pressed the card on top of the stamp, rather than the other way around to avoid it from slipping.

Have you made your card yet? See you let's say... tomorrow?

2 Sketches 4 You First Annual Card Showdown

Have you heard the news already? 2 Sketches 4 You is celebrating it's first birthday in a big way. Everyone's invited, including you:

It all starts June 1st and the Grand Prize is worth over $500. Curious? Keep your eye on 2 Sketches 4 You and get ready to play along.

All the designers of 2 Sketches 4 You, current and past will be counting down until June 1st. While I'm counting down the days, I'll be taking you back down to memory lane and repost my cards that I made as a DT member of 2S4Y on alternating days. On the odd days I'll be creating a new card along one of the sketches that I haven't played along with in the past. Sounds like fun? Up today is my card I created along Kazan's sketch 6:

Now I'm off to create a card to post tomorrow ; ). Thanks for stopping by.

2S4Y Laura's Sketch 25 + Card Patterns 13

Creating layouts is disastrous at the moment. What's in my head doesn't come out on paper at all. I've decided to let it rest and find renewed inspiration first. On the other hand making cards doesn't seem to be a problem. As I haven't played with any of the fabulous sketch challenges out there for a while, I decided to play along with a couple last night.

This week, Laura and Kazan introduced their new, once again mega talented 2 Sketches 4 You Summer design team. I made another anniversary card and along Laura's sketch 25:

Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock | Scenic Route patterned paper | Papertrey Ink clear stamps Heart Prints | ribbon | Staz'On ink Jet Black | EK Success punch Heart | Kaisercraft Rhinestone | Crate Paper chipboard element.

The other card I made is for my friend's son. For this card I used Card Patterns latest sketch 13:

Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock | Cosmo Cricket patterned paper + chipboard elements + ribbon | Papertrey Ink clear stamp Birthday Basics | Staz'On ink Black Jet | tag | twine.

The weather is dismal, but it's Friday (yeah!)... so I'm leaving you wishing everyone a fantastic weekend.

Kazan's Sketch 23

I've finally had some time to play along with 2S4Y this week. And Kazan's sketch as well. For some reason when I did play along, it was always Laura's sketch. Of course I didn't want Kazan to think I was being bias. I love both Laura's and Kazan's sketches just as much. So for Kazan's sketch 23 this week I created this:



Supplies: Shortcut Sheetloads clear card | Pepples Inc. patterned paper + die cuts Linnie Bell | Papertrey Ink clear stamp Heart Prints | button unknown | Staz'On ink Timber Brown | Bazzill Basics Cardstock brown | Fiskars border punch Upper Crest | Martha Stewart border punch Embossed Scallop | Spellbinder Nestabilities Ovals + Scalloped Ovals | Ribbon local haberdashery.

I'm planning to play along with this challenge too. I just need to find the time as I've got two sick children at home and one holiday maker. That's all of them!

This afternoon with the Spring sunshine in the garden, I had a little play with my 85mm lens, so I've updated my profile picture. Conclusion: My arms are way too short, LOL! (maybe I should have used my regular assistant this time as well).

2S4Y Bonus Sketch

This week Hanneke has provided a bonus sketch over at 2S4Y. I love the shape of the card, so I decided to play along.



Supplies: cardstock - Bazzill, PPs - Basic Grey (Mistletoe & Pear), ribbon - local haberdashery, snowflake - Making Memories, rub-on - Hambly, rubber stamp - Inkandinkado, ink - Staz'On white and VersaColor (Pinecone), transparency.

I also created a card along Kazan's sketch, but I won't be able to show you that one quite yet. Stay tuned!

Laura's Sketch 12 & Kazan's Sketch 13

I'm still here, I've just not been in the right frame of mind to blog. I also haven't done an awful lot of creating lately, although I'm working on several projects at the moment. And my head is spinning with ideas too. Only good that I've decided to sign up for Jessica's Stories in Hand. That what I can jot it all down and get back to it at a later date. I'm a little behind, as I haven't received my album yet. Hopefully it will turn up next week.

Some of the other things I'm working on are December Daily Album and Advent Boxes, all inspired by Ali Edwards. I considered to do Melodee's 31 Days of December again, but I thought there wasn't quite enough room for journaling. So, I'm doing a combination of both. I'm making it 31 days, as there always seems a lot happening between Christmas and New Year, but in Ali's format. With regards to the Advent Boxes, as I couldn't find any boxes to buy, I've decided to fold them origami style, like I did here last year.

Now on to the cards. I've had Laura's card from last week ready since last Friday, but never got round taken a photo, and each time I thought of it, the light was already gone. Right now, it's 3.08 p.m. and the light is already disappearing and we've still got more than a month to go until the shortest day. Yuck! Also, since last Friday all three of the kids have all come down with flu. Firstly, Renee, then on Sunday Rebecca started and finally yesterday Ruben had a fever too.

Here's my card for Laura's Sketch 12:



Supplies: cardstock - Bazzill Basics, PPs Pink Paislee, ribbon - local haberdashery, tag - newsagent, stamp - Autumn Leaves, ink - VersaColor

And this is my card for Kazan's Sketch 13:



Supplies: cardstock - Bazzill, PPs, rub-on, diecut border and alpha stickers - Basic Grey, ribbon - local haberdashery, staples, scallop square punch - McGill, bling - Prima Marketing, ink - VersaColor.

While Eric, Ingrid and the girls were visiting last month, Ingrid and I spent quite a bit of time making some cards together of which I've only shown you the pop-up card assignment for 2S4Y. Here are some of the other cards I made that week:

A Valentine's card



Supplies: cardstock and scallop edge - Bazzill, PP - Making Memories, ?, ribbon - Vandoros, clear stamps - Autumn Leaves, heart die cut shape - Sizzix, pearl - KaiserCraft.

My first Christmas card this year



Supplies: cardstock - Bazzill, PPs - Basic Grey, rubber stamp - Inkadinkado, ink - Staz'On, VersaMark and Rangers Distress, clear stamp - HeroArts, psychedelic embossing powder - StampWorld, felt ribbon - Crate Paper (I think), other ribbon - from Tarisota kit.

And then my second Christmas card



Supplies: bling cardstock - Bazzill, PPs - Scenic Route, snowflakes and brads - Making Memories, borders - Fiskars (borrowed from Ingrid), clear stamp - Autumn Leaves, ink - Staz'On, ribbon - ? (also borrowed from Ingrid, thank you), corner rounder - EK Success.

I've got one more. This one I'd already made before Eric and Ingrid's visit, and considered it for my bonus sketch for 2S4Y, but decided to make a different one.



Supplies: Cardstock - Bazzill, PPs and die-cut flowers - Basic Grey, tag - newsagent, clear stamps - Autumn Leaves, ribbon - Maya Road, ink - VersaColor, sentiment clear stamp - Melissa Frances, pearls - KaiserCraft.

That's it for today, I'll be back tomorrow with my card for Ingrid, as she'll be celebrating the big 4 0! Hopefully she'll receive my card in time, as I was awfully late sending it with everyone being ill. Fingers crossed.

Kazan's Sketch 12

This week is the last week for the Fall Design Team at 2 Sketches 4 You to submit their card. The past three months have gone really quick, but it's been tremendously enjoyable. The last sketch to make a card for is by Kazan:



Kazan asked us to make a Halloween card, or otherwise a Fall card. As I don't have any Halloween papers, I chose to make a Fall one:



Supplies: cardstock - Bazzill, PPs - Anna Griffin, Creative Café and Basic Grey, chipboard - Maya Road, journaling spot - Scenic Route, rub-on - Melissa Frances, ribbon - ?, marker.

I hope you enjoyed my cards for the 2S4Y design team as much as I enjoyed making them. I would like to thank Laura and Kazan for this great opportunity and inspiration. Good luck with your amazing sketches and the new design team.

Laura's Sketch 11 & My Bonus Sketch

Although I haven't shown you anything in the past week, I have been creating a couple of cards together with Ingrid, while she was visiting. One of those, was our card for 2 Sketches 4 You. The sketch was as usual, but we were asked to make it on a pop-up card from DeNami Designs, whom is this week's sponsor.

Even though I was a bit apprehensive about making the card, I'm surprisingly pleased with the outcome. Here's Laura's sketch:



And this is how my card turned out. I used the three-tiered pop-up card:





Supplies used: cardstock - Scenic Route, PPs - Scenic Route, ribbon - ?, pearls - KaiserCraft, border punch - Fiskars,  corner rounder punch - Woodware, clear stamps - Basic Grey & Melissa Frances.

Go and check out 2S4Y to see all the amazing creations by the design team.

Also, this week it was my turn to provide the bonus sketch and card:

Supplies: cardstock - Bazzill Basics, PPs - Making Memories, Sassafras Lass & Scenic Route, ribbon - local haberdashery, bling sentiment - Heidi Swapp, butterfly punch - Martha Stewart, clear stamp - Hero Arts, pearls - KaiserCraft, flower - Prima Marketing.

To be card of the week, you don't have to make a card along my sketch, but if you do decide to make a card along my sketch, please leave me a link in the comments, as I'm curious to see what you've created.

And lastly, in case you are interested to be part of the Winter Design Team of 2S4Y, you can apply here. I must say it's been fabulous to work with Laura and Kazan over the past three months and definitely worthwhile investing your time into.

Until next time.

Kazan's Sketch 11

Since Saturday, my brother, Eric and Ingrid and the girls have been staying with us. Ingrid brought some of her scrap goodies along, so we've been busy making cards together. It's nice to create with someone else. Today's card I already made last week, which is along Kazan's latest sketch over at 2 Sketches 4 You. Here's what her sketch looks like:



And this is the card I made:



Supplies: cardstock - Bazzill, PPs - Scenic Route, clear stamps - 7Gypsies and Autumn Leaves, ribbon - Vandoros, button - ?

Go and check-out the 2S4Y blog and see the other amazing creations by the other design team members. This week's sponsor is giving away some yummy Basic Grey goodies for the card of the week.

Enjoy your Monday.

Carla's Bonus Sketch

As I mentioned in Monday's blogspot, I would have a go at Carla's bonus sketch over at 2 Sketches 4 You this week to make a card for baby 'Faith'. This is what it looks like:






I used all paper craps for this card.

Supplies: cardstock - Bazzill, PPs - American Crafts, Basic Grey, Stampin'Up, felt flower - Quickutz Die, ribbon - local haberdashery, foam letter stickers - American Crafts, bling - Prima Marketing, paper frill - Doodlebug, punches - Marvy Uchida, EK Success and Martha Stewart, button - ?, rubber stamp - Stampin'Up, ink - VersaColor.

Psst, don't tell anyone, but it's Friday tomorrow... so close to the weekend. I'll be back in a short while with Thursday's observations and tomorrow I'll be back with another card too. Thanks for all your sweet comments.

Laura's Sketch 10

Hello Monday! Clean & Simple are Laura's words for this week's sketch and card. Her card is absolutely gorgeous. Besides Laura's sketch this week there is also a bonus sketch by my fellow design team member Carla. This is what Laura's sketch looks like:



I kept my card quiet clean & simple too:



Supplies: carstock - Bazzill Basics, PPs - October Afternoon, charm - October Afternoon, bling - Prima Marketing, button - Basic Grey, ribbon - local haberdashery, twine - ?, flower punch - Woodware, corner rounder punch - EK Success.

Let's see what your can create along Laura's and/or Carla's sketch. I think I'll have a go at Carla's sketch later this week to make a card for our niece, Charlotte who's just given birth to a baby girl, Faith.

I might be back later this evening with another post, or otherwise tomorrow.

World Card Making Day

Today is World Card Making Day. To celebrate this yearly event, 2S4Y has teamed up with Scrapbook News & Review with a challenge. To find out how to be part of the challenge, please read all about it over at 2S4Y. My part was to create a card along Laura's sketch, which looks like this:



And this is the card I created:



Supplies: cardstock - Bazzill Basics, PPs, die cut jounaling tag, charm - October afternoon, ribbon - local haberdashery, bling - Prima Marketing.

There are some great prizes to be won, so why not celebrate WCMD with us and make a card too.

Kazan's Sketch 10

I'm really having a hard time to keep with the time at the moment. The weeks go by so quickly. Another Monday, with once again a great sketch from Kazan at 2S4Y:



Not to mention another great prize for being card of the week. I really had to think a couple of days to see what I wanted to do with the sketch. I used a clear card last week. I had a little accident with the first one. As I was scoring it, and wanted to fold it in half it snapped. For this week's sketch I used one half of the clear card to put behind the openings and added rub-ons on top.



Supplies: cardstock - Bazzill Basics, PPs - KaiserCraft, embossing folder - Cuttlebug, bling swirl - Prima Marketing, ribbon - local haberdashery, epoxy stickers - Creative Imaginations, red marker, rub-ons - American Crafts.

Now let's see what you create with Kazan's sketch and you might be card of the week. Happy Monday!