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.

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.