Thinking of You

Thanks for dropping by - today sees Adelaide much cooler with a few showers after our scorching weekend it is a great relief. Last night we went to a wooden boat meeting and the speaker was a sail maker - he had lots of slides of very majestic sailing boats, so I was inspired to use my left over paper from a previous challenge to make this card for a couple we met on our cruise last year - we used to have after dinner drinks in the Schooner Bar and this stamp just fits the bill.

This card is my entry in this weeks 

Less is More Challenge 56  -  Don't Scrap It

The recipe is to use some of those leftover bits and pieces we all tend to keep.

I had used two of the stamps in the SU set The Open Sea to cover an A4 piece of paper to make a backing piece for another challenge - this piece was from the left overs. I sponged around the edges and then mounted it onto a scrap of SU Marina Mist, I then stamped the schooner image and 3d it to the card.
Sentiment is from TPC in SU Marina Mist

Sunday at Shirley's

After yesterdays stinking hot day it was a nice relief to wake up to a much cooler albeit still in the low 30's day. We had a lazy morning and then went for a BBQ lunch with friends - which lasted until early evening - a very pleasant way to spend the day. I hope you have all had a great weekend too.

As promised here are the cards I made at Shirley's yesterday. If you would like to see these and other inspirations please check out Shirley's blog.

Card 1:

Card 2:

Card 3:

Anchors Away

What a stinker of a day - 41 degrees - Emma has just left for a wedding which is outside - hopefully there will be plenty of shade - as there are only seats for the oldies! I've had a lovely afternoon at Shirley's and I will share the cards we made in a later post - nice and cool at her place - no gopher trip for Doug this afternoon as it was too hot. We chatted and made cards and finished with a cup of tea - it's amazing how refreshing a cup of tea is even in the heat.

I came home and decided to make a card for this weeks Annabelle Stamps Blog Sketch Challenge.

Base card and ink are SU Marina Mist
Stamp Set - SU The Open Sea - I stamped the maps onto SU Whisper White, then over stamped the anchors and sponged around the edges and the gaps.
Sentiment: SU Teeny Tiny Sentiments
SU Punches - small and large ovals and scalloped edge.
Kitchen Twine used to make knot.
Blue Rhinestones from stash.

Crafty Thursday

Another great day and warming up again - 37 degrees C tomorrow. Hubby gets home tomorrow night so some tidying up will need to be done! A big group at craft today - we even put the extension in to the table to let us spread out some more. Our crafty coordinator Sandy  (in the pink) had us making tissue box covers - four of us made them and Joyce and Sylvia made cards - there was lots of chat as we measured, cut, cuttle bugged, glued and sponged - see our messy table and the finished project below! Sandy also brought some yummy scones hot from the oven - so we had afternoon tea before we started - not that it stopped us having another nibble at the end!!

Hard at Work:

Sponging the embossed side piece

The finished product:

Just Because

I'm having a great week, and now work is over it's really just beginning! I won Annabelle Stamp's Red White & Black Challenge  and Dawn nominated me for a blog award, hubby is away fishing and I can spread out my crafting stuff - mess everywhere - however I do need to clean up a little before craft tomorrow afternoon! Does it get any better?

Tonight's card is for this weeks Less is More Challenge

Week 55 - Theme

Punches or Die Cuts

I've used two punches from Stamping Up with black and white card from stock.

Hot Pink Rhinestones (not scanned to well)

Sentiment from TCP

Love to You

Quiet night at home tonight, Emma is at work and John is still away, so I've watched a bit of TV, played Words with Friends on the iPad and made this card for this week's Annabelle Stamp's Challenge. Needless to say the dishes aren't done, the dining room table is covered with card making gear and I don't really care!!!!

Annabelle Stamps Challenge - Say It With Background Stamps

Tag ac064

I've scanned the card on to a black mat to define the edges.

Card from Stock
Rose background stamp from my friend Shirley - stamped in SU Regal Rose onto pink cardstock.
Image from Hampton Art in SU Basic Black - 3d to card
Sentiment from Paper Pleasure in SU Basic Black
Rhinestones from stash

Liebster Blog Award

While reading through my follower comments last night I was thrilled to find that Dawn had nominated me for a Liebster Blog Award – an award that is given to bloggers that have less than 200 followers. This nomination is much appreciated, it is lovely to have such companionship from people all over the world. I have also been blessed to be nominated by Sandra ,Monica and Khusboo.

The LIEBSTER BLOG AWARD is used to show appreciation of smaller blogs (under 200 followers) and to help spread readership and joy.
As part of the tradition the award is to be passed along to five other blogs that have motivated and inspired me.
It comes from the German meaning Dearest or Beloved, but can also mean Favourite.

To accept the Award you must: 
1.  Link back to the persons blog who gave it to you, and thank them.
2.  Post on your blog.
3.  Give to five other Bloggers who you appreciate and value.
4.  Leave a comment on the five blogs you choose and let them know.

The hard part is next as there are so many of you with fantastic ideas and blogs.  These five ladies have great blogs and some great tips as well and it would be great if you could visit them and maybe join them too.


Jenni: http://jennisjems.blogspot.com.au/ started blogging last year and has already been showcased on LIM Challenge
Khusboo: http://wwwpile-of-craft-khusboo.blogspot.com.au/ - great cards and projects - lots of lovely embellishments.
Merry: http://merrymadecardscrafts.blogspot.com.au/ - great tips and cards - check out Merry's Copic Storage idea.

To Sandy and Shirley who give me inspiration every week at our craft get together's.
Sandy: http://joy-sandyscreations.blogspot.com.au/
Shirley: http://shirley-anne-stampingforjoy.blogspot.com.au/

Sunday at Shirley's

Welcome and thanks for dropping by, I am sharing the cards that I made at Shirley's workshop on the weekend tonight. We had quite a prolific afternoon, making cards, making card packs up for Tuesday, die cutting and I finished off some of the cards from last weeks class. Doug went off for a long ride on the gopher and another lady popped in to placed an order. After Shirley's I met up with a friend for dinner and a movie - our hubbies are off fishing in Tasmania so we had the night to ourselves, we had a nice cocktail and oysters at The Bar on Gouger (Anita had a voucher) then went next door and had some yummy Salt & Pepper Eggplant and a Chicken Dish at East Taste, before heading off to the pics - we saw the new Reece Witherspoon movie and really enjoyed it, finished off the night with  a coffee at the cafe near the cinema - so all in all a well rounded day! I heard from John tonight - he's caught no fish and managed to break a rod - so all is not well in the Apple Isle.

Please check out Shirley's blog here - if you would like some inspiration and to check out her cards.

Love Heart

Second post for today, I actually started making a card for Annabelle's Blog Challenge last Friday - but I made two and didn't like either,  so this was my original plan - I got waylaid by adding stamps from a new set  to the first two-  but they didn't work out so here goes! The edges haven't scanned all that well, I probably should have used a black mat.

Annabelle Blog's Challenge - Say It In Red, Black and White

Card from stock
Punches from SU
Sentiment from Paper Pleasure in SU Real Red

Pretty Maids All In A Row

Warming up again, a lovely afternoon for some crafting, five of us today + Sandy's little grand-daughter so the table was quite full and busy - both crafting and chatting. Joyce wasn't feeling so great so missed today - we hope she feels better soon.  I made a couple of cards for challenges and Sandy brought my card packs from Shirley's workshops that I missed so I'm going to be busy over the next week making them up! Luckily John is off fishing for a week from Saturday so I can make as much mess as I like!!!!

First post today is for this weeks Less Is More Challenge- One Layer Card - Theme - Stripes

Week 54: Stripes

 I have scanned card on a black mat to define edges.

Card from Stock
Stamp from Hero Arts
Sentiment fro TCP
Ink SU Garden Green & Concord Crush

You Touch My Life

At last some cooler weather - makes it much easier to sleep at night and not so costly on the electric bill with not having to run the air conditioner. Home alone tonight so I've managed to get my card made and scanned for an early post. I spent last night visiting blogs, so after this post I'll visit  some more for Less is More.

This card is my entry into this weeks LIM Challenge - Week 53  Colour - Aqua

Happy First Birthday to The Less Is More Challenge Blog & Chrissie & Mandi

The colour hasn't scanned too well but the closest to aqua that I had was SU Marina Mist,

Card from stock

Image and sentiment SU Set Sail

Image distressed around edges and 3d

With Love

Post 2 tonight is also a Valentines type Challenge.

I am entering this card in two challenges:

DigiDarla's Challenge #2 - Very Valentine's & A Sponsor!

Welcome to our newest addition to Digi Darla's!! Rules are simple: no back linking, please use either the FREEBIE provided with each challenge or a Digi Darla image you already have - ENTRIES MUST HAVE DIGI DARLA IMAGE. You may link up as often as you wish, unless there's a giveaway. Also, join as many challenges as you can!! Remember to grab your freebie because once the challenge ends, it goes back to the store!! You'll receive a FREEBIE with every new challenge! Come on out and join us!! Can't wait to see what you create. There is also the chance to earn an extra Freebie with this challenge.

Entry 2: for Come and Get it Challenges: Theme - Love 

We look forward to seeing your creations and how you define "Love".

Red & white Card from stock

Image - Freebie for this Challenge from Digi Darla

Cuttle Bug Embossing Folder - Very Valentines

Sentiment from Paper Pleasure

SU and Marvy Markers for colouring.

Hearts from stash

Heart on Dress topped with SU Crystal Accent

Pink Sparkle pen used on highlights on dress

Love & Hearts

Well the itches are all but gone and I think the tablets are actually helping my back too- here's hoping. I got home to find that Emma had started clearing out the cupboards in the study - so soon I should have a home for my craft stuff - besides the floor!

Tonight I have two posts - both for Valentine's Day themed challenges. I was punching out some hearts and decided I that I liked the negative, so I have made my card using it and a couple of smaller die cut hearts.

I am entering this card in two challenges:

Annabelle Stamps Blog: Say it With Hearts

Come and Get it Challenge: Theme - Love

We look forward to seeing your creations and how you define "Love"

Card from stock

Ink - SU Real red

Big Shot Heart Die

SU Heart Punch

Sentiment from Paper Pleasure

Saturday at Shirley's

Well we certainly had a productive afternoon making four cards - only I went yesterday as Sandy was unable to come (usually we go on a Sunday). Lots of chatting, Doug was out on a marathon gopher ride to the Linear park, and another friend of Doug & Shirley's who likes card making also dropped by. I had the itches last night - drove me crazy so I had no sleep, scalp, eyes, body ears so I went off to the dr this morning, she thinks I am developing an allergy to the antibiotic I have been on so she has given me some strong tablets and prescription cream to try and reduce it until the antibiotic clears my body - here's hoping it works soon. Last night we went to see Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy at the movies with friends, with dinner first - thank goodness for dinner the movie was very slow going and quite a few younger people walked out and didn't return - we kept waiting for it to get better - it didn't!

If you would like to share some of Shirley's Inspirations like some of the cards we made below - please follow the link to her blog here.

I've posted them in no particular order but I do like the sailing one - I love this SU set.

Butterfly Blues

Second post today - I am off out tonight so I wanted to get this card entered before I go as the challenge finishes tomorrow. It is another Sketch Challenge and is for this weeks
Annabelle Stamps Blog Challenge.

Card, Ribbon, Pearls and DSP from stock

Spell binders Die

Bo Bunny Stamp

Ink - marvy marker

Best Wishes

Busy morning and then a lovely afternoon crafting with the girls, catching up on all the gossip over crafting and tea and scones - we didn't meet last week as it was our Australia Day Public Holiday last Thursday.

Tonight's card is for this weeks Less Is More Challenge - Week 52: Sketch
The butterflies are only adhered by the body, I have put up a second photo to show this.

We would like the card to be

• rectangular
• in landscape orientation
• with the band remaining in a vertical position 

As it's a very simple sketch,  we would like it to remain as is without any rotation of either the card or the vertical band.

Card from stock

Butterfly Punch

Sentiment from Stamp It

Ink - SU Rose Red