I'm back & getting a photo tent!!!!

YAY, although very few people visit my little blog, I am going to make a huge effort in the new year to blog more and my improved photos of my projects should make a big difference - I hope.

I am getting a photo tent for christmas.......I have drooled for ages at the wonderful presentation of photos on everyone else's blogs! I would love to 'plug' the company I am getting it from, but as I am in Australia it won't be very useful. Hope to see you all soon........

Wedding Invitations done........

Not the best photos, but was in a rush to get these out. Ran a week over as the printer played up. Like all things, they looked superb in real life.
The inside was 3 layers, you can probably make this out......

For my handyman....

My fiance is a handyman, so I thought he would love this for his birthday - and he did! The tools are solid, some sort of tin/alloy metal making them very realistic.....

Happy 80th...

Made this for a friend's father who turned 80 years old last week. He was a sailor in his younger days and loved scrabble. Was so happy with the end result.....

Another 20th....

This was for my stepdaughter. Oh so much easier than a boy's card. I had to stop myself from over doing the embellishments... Just loved the end result....

Son's 20th card

Simple, but hoped it was effective. With all my girly stamps, I wasn't sure what to make for my son...

More christmas

This card turned out beautiful in real life as it sparkles too. Thanks to my US friend for the gorgeous flocked spot paper.

Christmas in July...

Oh I can't believe it!!! I have been stamping for about 10 years and FINALLY I have made christmas cards!!!! Yes I have taken note of everyone else on their blogs and started in July making the cards. I am so happy with the gorgeous pattened papers I found from Kaisercraft. I am very lucky to live near their factory outlet and bought up big as they donate nearly all the money spent at the outlet to charity :) Now that make my heart sing, buy craft, donate at the same time..........................Now I cut a 2" circle (yes with my cricut) in Papertrey Ripe Avacado and put a thin strip of paper across the centre, then stamped in Papertrey Vintage cream and the floral design from Papertrey With Sympathy onto the circle. Drew two lines with White Signo pen also. Layered the papers on card base, punched a small hole and tied white crotchet cotton through and tied a simple bow. Then used double mounting tape to attach circle. Oh so simple, but I think it turned out fantastic. Here is another version:-and a close up of the circle....

My Papertrey Butterfly...

Another friend had a birthday and I really wanted to use Papertrey Dark Chocolate and Aqau Mist together. This is the result and I was so happy with it. The stamps are Papertrey, except for the flourishes (don't have the Papertrey ones yet :( , the ribbon from my stash. The butterfly was again cut with my cricut and overstamped with Damask Designs stamps. Enjoy.......

Girlfriend's Birthday Card

This photo didn't come out very well and doesn't do the card justice. (If you click on it opens a large pic). I have been giving my girlfriend birthday cards for years and she said this is the best one yet! The white card base was stamped with Papertrey Polka Dots1 and the Papertrey cardstock is Sweet Blush and Papertrey patterned paper is Pink Patterns. The Papertrey Ribbon is also Sweet Blush and the stamp Happy Birthday is Papertrey too! The butterfly was cut with my cricut and dry embossed with polka dots with cuttlebug folder. The Dew Drops were a beautiful gift from a special friend over in the USA.......thanks Sandy!!! :)

The Stamping Addict Poem.....

(by a man about his wife)

She learned to stamp on Monday,

Her embossing was quite fine,

She forgot to thaw out dinner,

So we had to go out to dine.

She brayered backgrounds Tuesday,

She says they are a must,

They really are quite lovely,

But then she forgot to dust!

On Wenesday it was birthday cards,

She says the chalking’s fun,

Shading, blending & watercoloring,

But the laundry was not done.

Her card swap was on Thursday,

Using green, blue and red,

I guess she really was engrossed,

So she forgot to make our bed.

It was shaker cards on Friday,

Using techniques she just adores,

But she never seemed to notice,

That we had crumbs all over our floors!

I found a maid on Saturday,

My life is now complete,

My wife can stamp the hours away,

And the house will still be neat.

Well it is already Sunday

And my forehead’s feeling damp,I

I cursed, I raved and I ranted

The Maid has now learned to STAMP!!

Oh what a hassle.........

Hi, sorry no card, just want to say that I decided to change my header.....make it a bit more "professional"...then I decided to play with everything else and lost all my blog list, clock, counter, feedjit visitor counter...........oooh spent an hour I could have been making cards - to fix all my damage........sad thing is I am usually very computer savy!! Well I hope I get lots of visitors to my site and that you like the small changes.......... :)

Goodbye Charlie......

Sorry this is a bit of a sad posting.........

A dear friend passed away (although he had cancer) suddenly. Just a few days prior I made these cards for him to give to some medical staff who had been a big part of his life for the previous month.

Papertrey supplies, Berry Sorbet cardstock and ink and buttons from my "stash". This was inspired of course by July's release "Everyday Buttons Bits".
This was for the reception staff













Same card in Summer Sunrise, but added a little bit of ribbon too....this was for the Radiology Staff....














This male card was for the gorgeous, polite and very decent Dr. Mario - who is a credit to his profession, making my friend Charlie feel like a cared for person, not just another patient.

Basic Grey Blog Candy..........

Oh please everyone rush over to the Basic Grey Challenges Blog to get a chance to win some AWESOME prizes!!! Oh wow I would just love wrap my arms around all that yummy paper and embellishments

A Get Well Card......

I made this in about 15mins for an aunt who we were to visit in hospital. I just love the pale blue colours and combined with white. The bottom layer has white polka dots. I was so excited when I gave this to her, as her husband said "Oh what a work of art!!!", well I'm not exactly Monet - but I was so so happy to hear it :)

My friends ETSY shop....

No card today, just a 'plug' for my dear friend in the USA who has opened an ETSY shop here:
Sugar Pug Paperie http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7712373

Please take a look, she has some nice cards and cards sets you might like!

RECIPE WRAP.....

I don't have many "friends" to give handmade things to, so sadly I don't buy any of the gorgeous My Timeless Templates (maybe some day?) So I thought I would at least try a free sample.....this was for a dear friend I met through Papertrey forum who was an angel and GAVE me a anniversary set!! Considering she lives in the USA and I live in Australia - this is real "spreading love around the world".
This is the front cover.




I "cased" Dawn McVey's wonderful idea and made embellishments. This photo shows two of the six pages.








This photo shows all 6 panels of the wrap....... I made in Plum Pudding, Lavender Moon, Spring Moss & Ripe Avacado.

PS this was so so easy to make and I was so very happy with the end result. Highly recommend these templates to anyone.

ATG GUN & A WAY TO HANG THEM....

This is my new ATG and I decided prior to it arriving that I would like to find a way of hanging it, so to keep it out of the way when not in use.

Well the thought I had of making two holes in the lower handle turn out fantastic. I had hoped the plastic was sturdy enough and it was.



I used the tip of my craft knife in a little indent I found at the bottom on both sides. I then just swiveled my knife around quite a few times ( you will get some plastic shavings). When I was happy with the size of the hole, I repeated on the other side.

If for some reason you don't have these "indents", you could always measure and draw a dot either side with a marker. I then threaded a large needle with crotchet cotton (double) and threaded through the two holes and tied in a knot.


Here it my ATG gun hanging under my craft table on a plastic coated cuphook, which has been "pulled" open a bit so it's not quite as much of a "hook" and it makes it so easy to get the "gun" on and off quickly.

I really hope this little idea helps anyone reading and as it uses "thread/string" you probably have it is incredibly CHEAP.....meaning more money for craft stuff!!!

PLEASE PLEASE leave a comment if you could.......would be so nice to know this will help others out there :)

This is a white gift bag I decorated for my mum, the second photo shows close up the tag I made with Papertrey stamps.

My Mother's Day card for my mum, was so happy with this colours, design, stamps etc..... :)

A few babies joined the family - luckily not my direct family - been there, done that. I used a favourite Stampin Up baby here, as I didn't have Papertrey Bitty Blessings at the time. Did use my borders & corners - circle though.....

this was a quicky background with my Papertrey Guide Lines 1 set, was so very happy with how quick the background was to make and yet the end result looks so professional :) Birthday card for my future son in law.

Long time between posts.........This is a card I made for my dear friend in the USA that I email with...we met on the Papertrey Forum.

Twins 2nd birthday cards....

HANNAH....


OLIVIA....

Made these 3 years ago (of course they are 5 now). I made these back before there was a thing called a Cricut, so I used paint and the Making Memories foam stamps....turned out nice I think. Like the colours I chose.

Twins turn 5.....

Oh sorry the photo isn't too good. I was in a rush to get to the birthday and I FORGOT to take a photo before I left....... This is taken with phone camera in bad light. These are for my SIL twin, who were born very premature, so it is amazing to see them turn 5. I do enjoy making 2 matching cards and I try to always make them mirror imaged. Enjoy...

SUPER BIG CARD!

Yep I make 'cards' in all sizes. Found this photo on my hard drive. My son was going to an Alice in Wonderland birthday a few years ago...funny if you realise he was 16 years old at the time! Thanks again to my cricut it turned out like a real playing card. Oh cutting those corners round with scissors was painful. P.S. anyone know where I can get an envelope????

BABY SHOWER

I can't believe at 'my age', that this was for me to give at my very first baby shower!
My partners cousin is due in a few months. I had so much fun making it for a little girl (they know the sex of the baby before the birth (now a days). Finally got to use my New Arrival cartridge on my cricut. I had wanted to do more, but wet glue on the day wouldn't have been too good.

ANOTHER BABY CARD
The first card was for my daughter to give and this was the card that I gave out. Now I love this stamp to pieces, but can remember for the life of me the maker....it's a clear stamp yay! Very quick and simple.

BABY BOY CARD:
Made this for someone in the family who just had a baby boy. The teddy is a rubber stamp I think from Cornish Heritage Farms....very rare that I don't use clear stamps or Papertrey now a days. Oh the alphabet is Papertrey!

ENGAGEMENT THANK YOU'S


My daughter and future son in law didn't have an actual engagement party, so they only needed a few thanks you's for the gifts that they actually received. This is the first time I got to use my Papertrey Heart Prints set.....wow love it to pieces!!

HERE'S THE SAVE THE DATE CARDS....
Wow, can't believe I got them done...and this picture doesn't show all them. I made 40 in all. Now looking at them they look terribly simple...but when you make them you see that there are just so so many layers to put together....I said previously I think I might go 'loopy' when I make the wedding invites, they have four layers and double sided printing....oooh poor me.... ;)


Here's a close up of one:-
I hope you enjoy looking..........So thrilling to see so many people from around the world looking at my blog! THANKS :)

ENGAGEMENT CARD
Sad as this looked so much nicer in real life.....I was trying to keep it clean and simple and was very happy with the end result. This was for my daughter and future son in law.....no I can't be old enough!!!! I think the LOVE stamp is among the first stamps I bought over 10 years ago!

ANOTHER FISHING CARD...

Oh I am quite proud of this one. I created a fish background on the computer (Powerpoint) and printed in a soft green. The cardstock base is a very dark olive green. I then typed the "fishing" dictionary verse several times in Microsoft word and printed out on vellum. I used a inkjet printer and allowed it to dry (carefully). Cut the two printed layers to the same size and glue together with vellum spray adhesive. Put two eyelets on the side and some 'rope', then dangled two fish beads on the ends. Last of all layered a happy birthday for the bottom corner. The recipient was a guy and he was suitably impressed.....

Papertrey Digital Card

I have been so busy making Save the Date cards for my daughter's wedding in January next year...
Oh mass producing can get so boring......... I only had to make 40, dreading the 50 invitations that come next! They are much more intricate.

Anyway hope you like this Papertrey card. Nichole made some pattern papers and other digital images available awhile ago and I saved them and made this card. Very happy with the end result........

This was a card for a family friend who LOVES fishing and was turning 60...he was very impressed and even knew the fish stamp was of a barramundi.

I taught card making classes for a couple of ladies, a few years ago...sadly it didn't continue. I loved their enthusiasm and amazement that they could copy what I made, for themselves. This was one of the sample cards....

This was a card I made for my fiance birthday. He is a cabinet maker, so uses tools all the time. He was very happy with this creation. The tools are quite solid, made of some type of metal - not plastic.

Here's another one using the same layout, but paper flowers and different colours.

Made this awhile ago, still love the layout. I made it up myself, but I am sure someone else has made a card like this before. The rose buds are real too.

Surprise for me....I just found this on my computer and I don't remember making it! Do I really make that many cards??? Well you can guess that it is another...Papertrey! The patterned paper is from Everyday Blessings, the cardstock is Spring Moss and so is the satin ribbon. The flower is from Beautiful Blooms and stamped once onto Spring Moss and once onto white cardstock and then cut and mounted. This time I used a crystal/rhinestone for the centre. Happy Birthday sentiment from Birthday Basics. Enjoy.....

Birthday Card for my mum...
All items are from....yes Papertrey! On the front of a 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" white card, I scored a line along each edge as a frame. I cut a square out of the centre and glued a piece of vellum on the inside. I then cut four 1" squares from Pink Patterns patterned paper and mounted onto the vellum. Cut 2 slits into the left side of cards and threaded Berry Sorbet Polka Dot ribbon. The sentiment is from Birthday Basics and the large flower from Beautiful Blooms was stamped twice, once on Berry Sorbet cardstock and once on Sweet Blush cardstock and cut with fine point scissors. Then repeated for the smaller flower. Then just layered on top of each other and finally onto centre of card, with a half pearl to finish it off nicely!!

Yet another Papertrey card. I used Papertrey Berry Sorbet to stamp 'leaf' background around card edge, this stamp and the 'verse' are from the Papertrey Spiral Bouquet set. Cardstock background Papertrey Berry Sorbet and patterned paper from Papertrey Pink Patterns. The ribbon is also Papertrey Berry Sorbet in Twill. The flower is not a brand, just my stock, but matched perfectly.

Quickie card....
This was made printing off the Papertrey sample of Guidelines patterned paper. I used Papertrey Plum Pudding cardstock for the mount. I then used Papertrey Lavender Moon Satin Ribbon and a Prima flower. The only stamping is from the Papertrey Out on a Limb sentiment set.