Monster Birthday Card

Following on from my last post..

James had his birthday in Melbourne and he had been eyeing this stamp set off for a while in the Catalogue, so while I had some spare $$ I bought it knowing that it would make his day seeing a birthday card for him with these images on them.

He aboslutely LOVED his birthday card, and said it was the best one that he received. Gotta love 6 year olds.

I made the card using the colours of his Favourite Football Team (Adelaide Crows - Red, Blue, Yellow) and threw in some purple just to finish it off.

Owl Thank you Cards

While I was in Melbourne for my Son's surgery I had plenty of time to sit and craft.

Because he was having a small Birthday Party on one of the weekends with some people that we had never met (All from a parenting website whom I have known for about 7 years) I felt the need to make up little Thank you Cards to put inside the kids party boxes.

This is what I came up with, again I've used the Owl, I LOVE this little stamp set.

Sorry they're not very clear... I only had my mobile on me that day and that was the best I could get. I did blue for the boys, and pink for the girls. They all loved them, and James had a WONDERFUL birthday party with some lovely new friends.

Card Organizer Revisited.

Today I had a day where I could just sit and play all day. I decided to make today a day of finishing off projects that I'd started but never finished. Well this Card Organizer was one of those things.

Do you remember this post back in Jan of this year, I made it up for a friend. Well I really wanted one for myself as well, and started making it, and then of course life got too hectic for me to spend any real time in here finishing it off. So TODAY was that day. I'm quite pleased with the way it's turned out.

10 years today...

I know it's not a crafty entry but I just wanted to wish my darling Husband

A HAPPY 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!!!

I can't believe that we have been together for 10 years today.. Where have those years gone. We've had a LOT of up's and down's as most couples do, but no matter what we have stuck by each other to get to where we are today.. I know this past year has been HELL on both of us with what we have been through with James, but we WILL come out on top and make at least another 10 years..

I LOVE YOU!!!! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY.

Non traditional Christmas Card

New Stampin' Up 2011-2012 Catalogue goes live today!! Whooo hooo!! There is soo much in there that I want to get my hot little hands on...

So with the new Catalogue due out, I decided to sit down and try my hand at a Christmas Card with Non traditonal colours. Not just for something different, but because we have a few friends who don't celebrate Christmas.

So this card is one that I can send, without it having to have Christmas sayings on it.

It also uses the new Just eat Cake DSP from the brand new Stampin Up! Catalogue, and the new Tags till Christmas Stamp set.

Thank You Card

This card was made after we got home from Melbourne.

I wanted to make a little something to say "THANK YOU" to James's teacher for the letters and presents that she continually sent to James while he was in hospital. I really wanted to let her know that we really did appreciate what she was doing.

Again I used the owl stamps, I think they are just gorgeous, and used the Celebrations DSP, which kind of gave off the desired "Schooling effect" that I was after. A bit of twine, the tag punch and a thank you stamp finished it off nicely for me.

And I can safely say that his teacher liked it. She thought it was wonderful.

Sew Suite.

This card was just a play around with the Sew Suit set. I do realise that most of these sets are now retired or retiring, but I just hadn't gotten around to showing any of them.

I've used the sweet stitches dsp as well as tangerine tango, daffodil delight and pumpkin pie card.

Father's Card.

I did managed to get something OTHER than birthday and thank you cards done. I did a few of these "Dear Father" cards.

I'm still deciding if I should give it to my other half for Father's Day this year, or wait for his Birthday. We shall see. I made about 4 of these in an afternoon, and donated 2 to the Ronald McDonald House (as well as a few others that I'd made) for them to sell and keep the proceeds.

Before I'd even got to donating them, one of the girls on the desk had a look and bought 4. She absolutely LOVED them and wanted them for herself. I felt quite proud after hearing that.

This card used the Sail Away a-la-carte and the well scripted stamp sets. The jumbo eyelets were a last minute inclusion, that I think sets that card.

Island Oasis Happy Birthday.

Don't you just love the colours of this card..

This card was made using the Island Oasis DSP, Whisper white, and Rose Red.. I layered the Whisper white and Rose Red and on one of the layers used the big shot and polka dot embossing folder and embossed. I've also used scallop circle punch to punch out my shapes and stuck them together with a brad.

A VERY special gift..

Last Thursday I took my hubby and both my boys to the Botanical Gardens in Adelaide for a family photo shoot. The only difference to this one compared to others, was that we had a professional photographer do the photos for us.

With my youngest having Cancer we were directed towards a web page called Heartfelt. Heartfelt is a organization who with the help of some WONDERFUL photographers Australia wide, offer free photo sessions for Families who are suffering from the loss of a child, or whose children have terminal or serious illnesses. Once we found out that we were eligible we arranged with a photographer from Wild Lilly Studios. Carol is an absolutely AMAZING photographer and I'm in love with all her work, not to mention she is a wonderfully friendly and bubbly person. I really can't wait to see our photos when we get them sent to us.

Anyway, as my way of saying THANK YOU to her for her time and effort I made her a little gift. I found the most gorgeous little Stationery Box set Here. So set about making it. I'm pleased to say that after dropping it off to her yesterday she LOVED IT!! I'm sure I saw a tear or two come to her eyes, although I could be mistaken. I also just want to say if you're reading this Carol - that I'm so glad your little girl isn't as sick as first thought.

Box from outside.

Close up of scallop circle with pearls on front of box.

The inside of the box.

Gift cards with matching envelopes

Gift tags

Normal sized card plus also had matching envelopes.

The 2nd design of the normal cards again with matching envelopes. 

Strength and Hope Stamp Set

Another birthday card - this time for one of the girls in the Ronald McDonald house that I became quite friendly with. Her daughter was turning 9 while we were there and she loves butterfly's. I knew this stamp set would be perfect for her.

This card uses the Strength and hope set that was in the mini catalogue raising fund for Breast Cancer research. I'm thinking of making another one but in pink's. I think it would look lovely.

Left over Card design #3

Here it is.. The last of 3 cards in the competition that I was in .

I didn't win, but had fun making them up anyway, and the best bit was, we got to keep them after judging had been finished.

Left over Card design #2

Here is the 2nd card that I designed using the kits I was sent.

We were able to add extra's to the cards if we liked, but weren't allowed to remove anything. Everything that was in the kit had to be used in some way or another..

With this one, I added the chipboard letters and re-inked them in Chocolate chip and So Saffron to made the DAD

Left over Card design

Back at the end of July I took part in my uplines "left over Card kit" competition.

Those of us who entered were sent out 1 or in my case 4 of her left over card kits (from different classes that she's had over the last 12 or so months) and we had to design a card based on what was in that package. I have 3 to show but as I did with the wedding cards last month will show them 1 at a time.

This is what I came up with.
Card #1

Mojo Monday

This card I'm extremely proud of. So proud in fact that I even submitted it for the Mojo Monday competition.

Usually I would just play along and then hide my card away never to be seen by anyone other than myself and whom ever I might pass it along to.

This card however was completely different. I just fell in love with the way it was coming along, and I think the Jolly holiday DSP and Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive card stock just set it off. Hope you enojy it as much as I do.

And so it starts..

... the annual Christmas Card stack..

Every year I make all my Christmas Cards, and this year is no different.

This design came from the Mojo Monday Challenge it's a little old, but I was just sifting through them and came across it. It also uses the soon to be retired Jolly Holiday DSP - which was one of my Favourites in the old catalogue. But all good things must come to an end.

Over the next few months there will be odd posts here and there with Christmas cards more than likely featuring this paper, Ive stocked up big during the end of catalogue sale.

Scallop Birthday Card

Here is the birthday Card that accompanied the Wedding cards.

It was a Mojo Monday card sketch. And old one granted, but I thought I'd give it a go.

I was asked to use Purples and Butterfly's on this card, but apart from that I had free reign of the design. I hope that the person it's for will like it as much as I do.

Wedding Card #3

Here is the 3rd and Final Wedding Card.

I should note that the Stamp set was kindly lent to me by my Upline Nicole Derendorf.

I just love the simplicity of this card.. I stamped the flower as a background image with versamark, and then used Stazon ink for the big black bold image. I've also used some Black satin ribbon (again thanks to my upline) and the decorative label punch. As with all my cards, I've co-ordinated the inside of the card as well as the envelopes.

Wedding Card #2

This is the 2nd of 3 Wedding Cards that I said I'd show.

This one was made using Very Vanilla Card stock, the Manhattan Flower Embossing folder, Very Vanilla Ribbon, the decorative label punch and a piece of brushed silver card stock. 

I think it looks quite elegant for something so simple.

Wedding Card

I have been commissioned to make 3 Wedding Cards and 1 Birthday card for an old school friend. I have 3 weeks to get them done, well yesterday I managed to have an afternoon at home in my Craft room. The first for a long time, and so managed to make up 3 of the 4 cards.. 

The first I'm showing today, and the rest I'll show over the next few days. This card uses the Fifth Avenue Floral and Curly Cute stamp sets, as well as Whisper White and Brushed Silver card stock, and Very Vanilla ribbon. I added a few pearls in there just to finish it off and make it more like a Wedding Card. 

What a few months..

.. we have had in our household..

First of all sorry for not having posted in AGES!!! But I have been quite busy with my eldest son for the majority of this year. Back in Feb, he was diagnosed with Liver Cancer, and we have spent the past 6 months going back and forwards to Adelaide/Melbourne and our home town. Things are on the up now though, and he only has another 12 weeks of Chemo to go and then that *should* be the end of it..

On the upside to that I have had PLENTY of time to craft, especially over the 8 weeks that I was in Melbourne. I will slowly show each and every creation of mine that I've done, and will hopefully be able to get back to regular posts now that life is slowing down.

Mini Tool Box

How gorgeous is this little mini tool box. I found this one while searching the net one night, looking for a male type box to use for some chocolates and a gift voucher. I came across this site Kari Hughes, and saw the most gorgeous little box. Once I'd got the directions and printed it out, I set about making up the box. The most time consuming part of it is the cutting out of the box, once that's done, it's simple to put together, and is to die for.

What do you think???

Male Card #2

As you can see I've been a bit busy the last day or two with make Male themed cards. I have an influx of male birthday's over the next month or two, and thought I should probably start making them now, rather than being late as I usually am. 

This card was inspired by one of the many that I saw doing a google search. I probably should have clicked on it to find out who made the card originally but once again with my 4 year old in the room it was a little difficult. 

I'm still quite proud of the way it turned out, even if I did end up using 1 retired coloured card stock. 

Tune in tomorrow for a gorgeous little 3D project that fits in well with the male cards!

Male Card.

Male birthday cards are the one card that I have trouble with constantly. I don't know if it's because I only have 2 sets of "male" stamps but I can never come up with anything remotely "nice" on my own.

So yesterday afternoon while I had some spare time, I went in search of male designs on the net. I came across this blog Teneale Williams and found a gorgeous male card, using the tool set that I have.

While I have copied the design almost exactly, I did leave off the ribbon/bow, as I know the male that this is going to, won't appreciate that what so ever, and I left off the brads, as I completely forgot to put them on. (I was trying to work while entertaining my 4 year old)

I'm quite impressed with how this has turned out, so thank you to Teneale for the inspiration!!

New layout.

Ok so the pink layout that I had, wasn't quite what I was after, but now I've found this template I think I'm happy with it.. For now at least. It's a little more "crafty" which is what I want it to show.

I've been fairly busy today, and have made 2 cards and a gorgeous little 3D project, but they will come up over the next few days! Trying to space each and every post. So you will have to tune in tomorrow to check the first one out.

Card Organizer

Hopefully by the time this post goes live, my beautiful friend Leah will have received her birthday present. So I can now safely say what it is and show photos.

I found a project for a Card Organizer HERE  and thought what a brilliant idea that would be. It started off being only for me, but the more I made this organizer the more I decided that it would be a wonderful idea for a birthday present. Something that can be used day after day, year after year. So I decided that Leah would be the first recipient of this awesome organizer. 

As you may remember I posted a sneak peak the other day, and lucky for me her favourite colour is pink, so that was a major relief for me. I sent it off on Tuesday, and am hoping she got it yesterday (wednesday)

These are just a few photos of the organizer. 

Robot Card

I'm not quite sure I'm happy with this card, but still it's nice. I think if I use it, I'll make a few changes, but for now it's ok. My boys both love it, I'd say because it has Robot's on it. Master 5 has asked if he can have it for his birthday card this year. so we will see...

New Craft Room

As I said in an earlier post, just before Christmas last year, Hubby and I did a huge rearrange in the house. And due to that I now have my own craft room. *yippp-pppie* I'm soooo happy to actually have a room in the house where I can come and create, and then NOT have to worry about tidying up straight away if I haven't finished. It's small and cozy, but it has everything in here that I need. I only want to put 1 more cupboard in here, and that will be to display what ever it is that I make up and don't send away. But that will have to wait to come in here, because of having one of my 2 best friends coming to visit me in 19 days time. So I'll have to pack away part of my craft room for her and her partner to sleep. Oh well.. Plenty of time between now and then to get crafting. 

Butterfly card.

Here is a card that I made up while playing around. I'd received the Butterly die for the Big Shot quite a while ago, but forgot that I had it. You know how it goes, way too much stuff not enough time to play around with what you have. So when I was cleaning up and moving everything into my new craft room (another post) I found this little die, and was determined to have a play around with it. This is what I came up with.. A gorgeous female birthday card.

School Christmas Presents.

I know Christmas is over and done with, but due to my lack of blogging lately, I completely forgot to put these up.

I made 31 of these little milk cartons, 1 for each child in Master 5's school class, and a few left over.

I also made a little Christmas Card to go with them. 2 of the boxes weren't done in Christmas colours, due to 2 of the girls in Master 5's class not celebrating Christmas. So I did 2 little pink boxes, and made them a flower card, instead of christmas card. Which of course I forgot to take photos of. 

I'm quite proud of the way they turned out, and inside I filled them with smarties, and little love heart candies. The kids absolutely loved them. 

Sneak Peak birthday present....

Here I am again.

Sorry it's taken soo long to get back into blogging.. I seem to go through phases where I will and won't blog, so while I'm in a "blogging phase" here's a little sneak peak at a present I'm making for a really good friend.

Over the past few years, (12 months especially) Skip has been there for me through thick and thin. Lets me just completely rattle off ANY problems that I have without asking for anything in return. So as a little guesture to say thank you, I've made a birthday present for her, all-be-it a little late. There are just a few more things that I need to complete this present, and hopfully they will be done next week when I get paid again. So fingers crossed by this time next week I should be able to reveal the entire project as she will have received it by then.