My Paper Valentine

2012-01-12T01:31:00.001-08:00

Christmas 2011

2011-12-20T01:20:00.001-08:00

My latest..

2011-12-04T02:48:00.001-08:00

Don't you love it when you salvage a card at the last minute and it turns out?

This card was really giving me grief and I needed it within the hour.

Under pressure I was truly regretting using the bird house die - it just wasn't

working.

Finally I added another colour to the lilac. Lemon.

I used another punch (the birdie) and an old paisley

background stamp in lemon. Voila!

Stamped and punched up some flowers to add to a bag

and it worked wonderfully.

My girl turned 8 this week and was having a rainbow themed

birthday. I used a page from an old Golden Book. She was pretty chuffed.

measured flight

2011-11-05T14:34:00.001-07:00

The sweet details

2011-10-17T03:26:00.001-07:00

Wise old Owl for a wise old owl

2011-07-08T17:58:00.000-07:00

My Uncle turned 70 this week and for that I made him a wise old owl card

2011-04-27T14:28:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day 2011

2011-04-15T16:28:00.000-07:00

Easter 2011

2011-04-09T15:34:00.000-07:00

Easter Cards with a little embossing, punching and stamping

An 80th Birthday Card

Arun on clean and simple cards (CAS)

2011-02-20T12:28:00.000-08:00

My sweet girl turns 7

2010-12-10T13:50:00.000-08:00

I made this card for my beautiful daughter Martha who turned 7 on the first day of summer.

I cut the ballerina using my new die, the 7 is a wooden number from the bargain bin at Spotlight.

I had a little packet of charms that contained the ballet slippers (hoarding pays!) diamente stickons

grace the dancers' tutu and a 5x 7 cuttlebug embossing folder was used for the background.

Clean and Simple

2010-10-26T13:05:00.000-07:00

I borrowed a scor pal and it is fun!

Here is a quick card using a scored but simple detail

I 'm a little cagey about my absence

2010-08-16T22:28:00.000-07:00

I know, it has been a while. I got distracted with crocheting and sewing, you can see my exploits here
on my other blog : Miss Prudence Knits; a life of charming moments. This blog I keep for my cards.
Anyway, I finally made some cards. I have had this set for over six months and haven't used it yet! "shame on me! I really enjoyed making them, so I guess I am back into cardmaking. So see you at some challenges!

Father dear father

2010-06-25T04:09:00.000-07:00

Here are some Father's Day cards that I am making to be sold my the children's music group "Mainly Music" at my church, prior to returning to work I used to lead the group and had so much fun doing it. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would do ANYTHING remotely musical. The group is as popular as ever and I am glad I can contribute in small way even though I have been long gone.

Just a few quickies

2010-06-21T04:41:00.000-07:00

Annabelle Stamps

2010-06-17T04:15:00.000-07:00

Annabelle Stamps is an Australian stamp company. They run challenges and a community that I have recently joined and am about to start collecting their stamps. They are about to launch a new release VERY soon and I for one am really keen to see it.
Why not hop on over there and sign up for a challenge, check out the stamps and meet the loveliest stamping community on the blog! Guaranteed you will be glad you did!

Say it in Pink and Green

2010-06-17T04:06:00.000-07:00

After making the card I realised that I could enter this into Annabelle Stamps say it in Pink and Green.
So here is my contribution to the challenge, these colours are just so perfect together aren't they?

Currently from the scrap box we have....

2010-06-17T03:57:00.000-07:00

Still on my crusade to use up my scraps, I made these cards. I cannot believe what I was finding in those boxes, one I haven't even looked in! I can only wonder what lies in there.... It is fun though, I have a little game I play: "scrap lucky dip". I put my hand in the box blindly and pull out a handful of scraps. What ever comes out I have to use up in that card making session. I do have some rules, after pondering a few ideas, I am allowed to have another scratch around in the scrap box to find co-ordinating papers etc. I am also allowed to use new embellishments and stamps from what I already have.

Boy Card

2010-06-16T15:40:00.000-07:00

These card titles are getting more basic and obvious huh? Boy cards are always a little more of a challenge - well ones for older boys 11 and up and I hear this opinion being sighed all around card blogs everywhere. This card is for my son's friend who actually is a BMX championship rider - he will be 12 and I think he will be pretty happy with it.

Baby Cards

2010-06-13T20:05:00.000-07:00

Say it in white

2010-05-15T04:09:00.000-07:00

At Annabelle stamps has asked "what can you do with white?

My God Daughter made her confirmation this evening and I thought what an excellent opportunity to try and come up with something that could provide an answer to the posed question - meet the challenge. I kind of used the current layout and used white with just a little embossed gold. I guess my answer laid in textures, white looks wonderful in textures. I also used that little swallow die cut from sizzix (i am so in love with it)....what do you think?

Tully's Birthday card

2010-05-13T01:27:00.000-07:00

My beautiful second boy Tully turned 9 on Mother's day. Tully is robot mad and he LOVED this card. I used Cosmo Cricket paper (*sigh* I love cosmo). A cuttlebug folder and a wooden T i found laying around helped (remember I am using up scraps and stuff lying around).

The stamp was part of a cheapo set I bought from the reject shop (!!!!)

Happy Birthday Darling Tully xxxxxx

I am using this card for the Annabelle sketch challenge, they are the sweetest girls over there and I had soooo much fun last time, not to mention the wonderful encouragement from the gorgeous Annabelle design team girls....Hope it fits!

Using up the scraps

2010-05-02T02:37:00.000-07:00

I am sure everyone has a box or two full of scrap card stock. I have three! I made a pledge this weekend that I use these up, if it meant casing my old cards (which were probably cased anyway LOL), making basic cards or getting really creative, I would rise to the challenge. Yesterday I made a heap but I can only show you two as a visitor last night left very happy clutching a handful of these cards. I now have 2 boxes and can't wait to get into these as I have promised myself as a reward some new goodies!!!!

These are using my new swallow die and some "stuff" floating around. The colours are pretty neutral using Stampin up Riverock, whisper white....I have reserved these for my friend who might want to use one of them as a Mother's Day card. Hope she likes them!

Mother's Day II

2010-04-29T23:39:00.000-07:00

Annabelle Stamps: Say it with Pearls Challenge : This card is for my Mum, so it had to be special like her. I used two different cuttlebug embossing folders one of the new 5x7 size. I used Spellbinders labels and a die cut of a letter M. I used a stamp from the SU Carte Postale set and SU whisper white and bashful blue CS. Stick on pearls and a Martha Stewart embossing / border punch. The inside has a little pocket for a gift card and the writing area is lined and bordered.

I am pretty happy with how this turned out and hope my mum loves it.

Mother's Day

2010-04-29T02:24:00.001-07:00

CPS Challenge 164This for my MIL. I used a cuttlebug embossing folder, spellbinders scalloped rectangles, A stamp from the now defunct Australian Stamp Company Orange Jelly, SU lovely lilac CS and ink, Martha Stewart Butterfly punch and white ribbon.

My new sizzlits

2010-04-10T03:45:00.000-07:00

oday a bag of goodies I ordered from Scrapbooking Boutique with the lovely Evelyn arrived! I ordered some sizzix sizzlets around $9 each so great value.

I made this card and was so happy with it I have decided to make six of them and give them to my sister as a note set.

T

CPS challenge 161

2010-04-09T00:45:00.000-07:00

Here is my submission for the challenge. I really enjoyed doing this one.

Supplies used: Stampin' Up CS : pumpkin pie, certainly celery and bashful blue
American Craft Stamps, momento ink black, SU punches, Embossing folder, Big kick machine, black satin ribbon, dimmensionals

what i have been up to

2010-04-01T01:56:00.000-07:00

My First Card Challenge

2010-03-29T15:32:00.000-07:00

I have NEVER done a card challenge before but I see fellow card makers networking and making friends and I just sit back with mild envy...I would love to make some card friends. So I have joined a challenge not just to try my skills but to network with card makers and make some friends along the way!

This is my entry for the CPS #160 card challenge. I hope it stacks up with the other card makers.

A Werner case

2010-03-21T04:55:00.001-07:00

Hooley Dooley it's 2010!

2010-01-18T15:40:00.000-08:00

These are my first cards for the year after a well deserved break. I felt a bit rusty at first so I tried a tutorial for a "Triangle Trifold Project by Beate Johns on Split coast. I was a lot smaller than I expected and I messed up the first one ( hey metric girl don't ya get measurements in inches! LOL) but I salvaged it into a card of sorts.

Then I made a birthday card for my Aunty Joan. This just a cheap little stamp I picked up at Spotlight and I can't remember the brand. I used my new Martha Stewart punch and am VERY impressed with it (I can talk about all these brands now I am no longer tied to SU ) it punches and dry embosses: wow! I very lightly sponges the image with Bashful blue and a palest pink, made my own embellishment and there you go. A bit fussy but it is for an older lady who will love it.

Then I played with my Forest friends SU set. I thought I might get rid of this awful blue but with other "in-colours" it looked really good - hey what do you know! LOL. SU do great in-colours yeah? Simple but groovy I think.

Then I played with a few sets to make a few cards to sell at my Church's kids music group, but I wanted to make some faith kind of cards that looked cool and fresh. What do you think?

Butterflies are free

2009-12-13T01:52:00.000-08:00

I am not even going to make reference to how long it has been since I blogged a card!
This is using that gorgeous little Martha Stewart punch that is quite popular at the moment. I was under pressure to make a card in a flash and this punch provided, a few little bling flowers and voila! Pretty card for my little niece!

Liquid Pearls

2009-09-26T20:19:00.000-07:00

I wasn't too sure about this product, but I am sold completely! This will save me a bundle on stick on pearls. Excellent!

The new desk is here!!

2009-09-24T16:14:00.000-07:00

My new desk is now installed in my craft room. Unfortunately I am dying with flu so much so I can hardly sit without falling off my seat with giddyness, but an addiction is an addiction and I thought it might distract me from being sick, but all i got were these very average cards BLUCK!

Just a few before I get my craft room back

2009-09-14T14:41:00.000-07:00

No place to craft!

2009-09-06T03:48:00.000-07:00

My craft room has been packed up for about a month, so no cards!!!!! Finally I couldn't take it so I climbed over stuff and dug out the bare essentials and made a few cards...These next cards were not my favourite colours but were made with people in mind and were received well.

Forest Friends

2009-07-31T14:57:00.000-07:00

I was going to call this post " who killed Bambi" but I thought again because most people wouldn't get the John Lydon reference!
So here is Forest Friends first time I have played with this set and this is what I came up with first time around, I wasn't too displeased either. This set is featured in the Spring mini that starts today.

and today's card is...

2009-07-08T05:59:00.000-07:00

yay I found my new camera!

2009-07-05T21:21:00.000-07:00

Here are a few things which I made a few weeks ago.

Secret Sister Swap on SCS

And then she arrived

2009-07-05T21:18:00.000-07:00

After all this work, finally, finally this card came to me...I love her

Father's Day Cards

2009-07-05T21:05:00.000-07:00

I run a music group for little kids called Mainly Music. This is interesting as I have no musical talent, nor do I have any real affinity with children and I hate making a spectacle out of myself. Yet here I am leading music sessions for mums and little ones at my church. At Mainly Music (MM) we celebrate the kids' birthdays and I make the cards. The cards have been very popular and I was thinking of selling cards there as a fund raiser. Here are some Father's Day Cards I have made for this purpose.

It was hard work ....

2009-07-05T20:45:00.000-07:00

I sat up on Saturday night (until 3am !) I tidied my craft room, I move my desk around, I installed new racks and storage (of I need more!) made myself cosy and sat down determined to finish a card that sat unfinished on my desk. I spent so much time finishing her but here she is...

So then I pushed through the pain barrier and made these:

there's more but I will put them on another post. I would also like to point out that I do not use nor endorse the use of card making enhancing drugs. I simply got on a roll!

Things are bad....

2009-07-02T21:46:00.000-07:00

I just can't get a thing right! My mind is numb and blank, i have no cards in me. I am in need of some paper therapy.
I did force myself to sit for an hour with kids go crazy and i felt sick with stress listening to it. Not ideal card making conditions!
But here is my pityful offering for the week

Rest

2009-06-04T04:36:00.001-07:00

This is a card I have "cased" but used a different stamp and colour version. Kimberly OF "Stampin' by the sea" provided the inspiration (thanks Kimberly! :) ). I have used SU Upsy Daisy in Veramark on Kraft paper, Hemp twine, vellum, textured CS in dull navy and cream. SU Sahara sand ink and almost navy ink. I used distressing techniques and watermark stamping. I like how it has turned out, not pretty pretty but restful. Now who gets this one I wonder!?

Lots of Love

2009-06-04T04:26:00.001-07:00

I tried really hard today to get something out. I have had this set for ages and never used it so it seemed a good candidate. I don't use distressing techniques much so I applied them too. Anything to get a card out, I have been soooo stuck. So here is the one of two I made today.

Long time coming!

2009-06-03T04:47:00.000-07:00

I have been off the radar lately, life has stepped a few notches not leaving me much time to make cards. I did make a few cards but I need to break the drought, meanwhile my friend over at Paper tree designs is prolific!

My friend Linda told me about her little neighbour. Only three and just arrived back home from yet another open heart surgery.
Linda asked me to include the little sweetheart in my prayers, I did and sent her this card.

This card is for a mummy and daddy going through some really tough times with a little one that arrived a bit too early.

I recently joined a group on Splitcoast Stampers called Secret Sister. Everyone who signs up gets assigned a "Little Sister" and a "Big Sister". All Little Sisters get sent 2 cards a month and some small gifts. This is my first card I sent her. She live in the USA so I sent her a bag of fantails and minties (she loves chewy lollies and none chewier than minties). Hope she likes this one.

2009-05-08T05:39:00.000-07:00

More SU Upsy Daisy, I used vellum and purples this time....pretty plain, not really great but hey it is a card on the blog.

Happy Birthday Tully, seven was heaven and eight will be great!

2009-05-08T05:31:00.000-07:00

I am not crazy about this image, the actual card looks much better- bad lighting, I might exchange this image tomorrow. This is the new SU "Sock Monkey", I am about to make a real sock monkey and I can do tags to go with him. I love monkeys. I used watercolour pencils, I am not very skilled at water colouring, but am determined to learn properly. I stamped this image onto coloured paper which provided the monkey's paws. The flag is made from the same grosgrain ribbon.

Hope my boy loves the card. Eight? How did that happen!

Always on my desk

2009-05-01T23:44:00.000-07:00

I love this set. I do so much with it. I plan to do a navy red and white card using Always. Maybe I should set a challenge for how may "always" cards I can do!

You never know until you try...

2009-05-01T23:37:00.000-07:00

This card (shocker of a photo-sorry folks) uses a set I found at target, seriously cheap and I honestly didn't expect to get any joy out of it. But happily I am wrong and the stamps provide good clear images and voila...a nice card too.

2009-05-01T23:28:00.000-07:00

I have just finished the rest of my Mothers' Day cards. The purple is for my MIL and the pink is for Aunty Joan...These flower pot cards are so much fun. You may remember my vase of flowers I did earlier this year, so I guess I am a sucker for this kind of thing!

Seriously sixty second gift

2009-04-26T01:34:00.000-07:00

This what I love about cards. They can be fast.
This week I pooped into to see a lovely friend of mine who has a lot on her mind and a heavy heart. I know that she loves black jelly beans so I picked some up for her and tapped out this card in, I am not lying here, 90 seconds! I was a little shocked my self. Using basic black and white and the new SU Upsy Daisy set. It did help that I had the idea ready to go by the time I got to my desk!

All in a weekend's work

2009-04-20T16:39:00.000-07:00

I am not sure why I actually bought this Cowboy stamp set and feel a bit nervy using it! Here is my first go. Also, I must acknowledge Jayne Mercer for the Paisley design, very simple and makes a great design for making a set of gift cards; fast and effective.

Mother's Day Card

2009-04-20T16:29:00.000-07:00

This design has been all over SCS galleries, so many gorgeous flower pot cards will go out to lovely Mums. I will be making them also for my Mum, my MIL and my lovely Aunty Joan. Here is my Mum's version in pink.
I punched out flowers using pretty papers and stamped a few flowers from SU Blooming Friendship set (retired). I used sentiments from a new company based in Adelaide SA
called Orange Jelly...will post their link soon!

Sweet Sarah Kay

2009-04-16T23:16:00.000-07:00

As a child I LOVED Holly Hobbie and Sarah Kay. Sarah Kay stamps are now out! Yay. I got mine through Scrapbook boutique which is becoming a favourite place for me to spend money. A wonderful range and great prices. I highly recommend it, plus Evelyn is just LOVELY!

Well here is my first Sarah Kay card and the first time I am using my Cuttlebug embossing "borders" folder which I think will be very handy. Keeping it simple and girlie. I can see I will continue to love this stamp, it stamps so beautifully with deep etching. Love that!

Little china Doll

2009-04-16T22:58:00.000-07:00

I got these new Hero stamps yesterday! Yummy! I love little China or Japanese dolls, I simply adore "Kimi" dolls and this stamp set has a whole heap of little kimi look alikes. Cute as!

Joy Fold Card

2009-04-06T23:13:00.000-07:00

I have seen quite a few of these on split coast stampers so i thought i would give one a go. This one was to go with a gift for my lovely friend Yvonne. Yvonne has driven me along with her endless source of inspiration, she is always saying a prayer for me and I am lucky to count her amongst my friends. Love ya Yvonne mmmwah!

Card Bender

2009-04-01T16:10:00.000-07:00

I have been on a bender! These babies are up for grabs at the St John's Heidelberg Fair, Sat 4th April.
ONE day I will get a grip on my new camera and the photos will start showing some quality; so apologies
for the photo quality , again!

I think the techniques are obvious, lots of dry embossing, punches and layering. If you would like to know
anything specific, just ask in a comment and I will reply ASAP.

Bush fire Cards

2009-03-23T01:10:00.003-07:00

A lovely lady on SCS is rounding up a bundle of cards to send to bushfire victims, letting them know that they are still in people's prayers and thoughts. Here is my contribution, unfortunately I just couldn't get shots they gave the cards justice and I tried!

Happy Birthday my beautiful Boy.....

2009-03-13T14:26:00.000-07:00

My eldest is TEN!!!!! I miss that crazy little tacker, wearing swimming goggles every time it rained. Angus is becoming an accomplished card maker himself, so it had to be EXTRA special. So, a trip to the Scrapbooking shop was called for. Angus LOVES frogs, so I made a card for his siblings to give him. The only frog stamp I have is a bit gumby, so I cheated and used a photo image, but it worked! Angus was very impressed with his cards.

It has been a while...

2009-03-13T14:18:00.000-07:00

But here I have some new cards...

Finally I bought some "lily" stamps. So I can add Pink Cat Studio to my love list. She is so much fun to play with. I have made a whole heap to sell at the church fair to help raise funds for children's groups. I went all citrus-sy, I normally HATE this yellow but it worked here. I dry embossed the yellow on the Big Kick, added bits and pieces (Lily believes in "accessorizing" LOL).
I made this card on my birthday, so put it up with my cards from the kids and hubby, my card to me!

Athan's card

2009-03-01T05:46:00.001-08:00

This card is for a very special 10 year old. Happy Birthday darling Athan.

For this card I used a retired stamp set and bright colours. I embossed with a Cuttlebug folder and embellished with sprial paper clips.

Deb's birthday card

2009-03-01T05:40:00.000-08:00

This card was made for my darling friend Deb from DK Designs. I used SU! Carte Postale stamp set (her fave) and bashful blue as she look gorgeous in blue. I also decorated a gift bag to match but forgot to take a photo!

Natural Beauty

2009-02-21T16:25:00.001-08:00

These are using colours that I simply don't like, so I thought I would challenge myself a bit!

Finally ....

2009-02-21T15:04:00.001-08:00

Well it took a while but finally I made some cards and I can feel some more coming on! This week I visited my good friend Deb from DK designs and used some of her new cuttlebug embossing folders (santa brought us both cuttlebugs and big kicks and now we are embossing crazy!). The celebrate you comes from a SU sale-a-bration set 2008-9 and the wish for you comes from a retired set that I picked up pre-loved. Cardstock :SU tempting turq, real red, green galore. Star and slit punches used too.

Nice and simple. The only way I can reclaim my mojo!

Pink baby cards

2009-01-28T14:19:00.000-08:00

a vase of flowers

2009-01-28T14:08:00.000-08:00

Anniversary Card for Garrett, it's been 17 years.

2009-01-18T01:33:00.000-08:00

The stamp is a background stamp one that I bought from stampers dream, it is the verse from the Book of Corinthians, so very lovely. I wanted to make a card that was masuline but romantic and also solid, like us.

Birthday Card for my mum

2009-01-06T05:22:00.000-08:00

Very exciting! I used my big kick DH gave me for Christmas. I used a CB embossing folder (swiss dots) and my new hero art stamp set, SU cardstock : pretty in pink, barely banana & sage green. SU ink : sage green, pretty in pink and barely banana. Satin ribbon and hero arts adhesive pearls. For the scalloped edge I used a fiskars punch.

other cards of 2008

2009-01-03T03:01:00.000-08:00

Always....I made this from left overs.

2009-01-03T02:54:00.000-08:00

I am trying to clean out my scrap bin, well every so often and this was one of the cards I made. Simple and clean, I really like this one, but when I copy it I may just add another layer.

Aunty Joan's Card

2008-12-28T23:02:00.001-08:00

2008-12-17T18:24:00.000-08:00

christmas cards

2008-12-17T17:35:00.002-08:00

Here are some newer designs that went out this week heralding their Christmas greetings,.

2008-12-17T17:35:00.001-08:00

Purple Always

2008-12-12T17:19:00.000-08:00

I can't come up with a name for this card. It is one of my faves at the moment. Initially I felt opposed to pearl embellishments, but they seem to have won me over. I used more layering than I usually would of and am very happy with the effect. I am disappointed that I didn't go further and place a white layer inside the card for writing on. Happy nonetheless.

Jingle bells...

2008-12-02T13:23:00.000-08:00

Well it has taken me soooo long to return to this Blog. It is nearly christmas, so Christmas cards are the dress of the day I think!

Here are my personal designs that will be posted to friends and loved ones.

2008-07-15T00:43:00.000-07:00

a few weeks since blogging but not to worry. My camera is now jacking up and not working so it may be a few more days before I can upload some cards. I have been very busy indeed! I have just ordered a whole heap of goodies which means I am about to enter the foray of .....embossing!
Look out!
School holidays have now ended, kids are back at school and I am back into my routine. Well I should be. I'm working on it! So much stuff to do, never ending I can't believe how much I have to pack into this week! Anyway, I shall return...with cards!

Wednesday with more photos

2008-06-24T17:45:00.000-07:00

I am feeling very proud of myself, I have just realised that I can use photobooth to take pictures of my photos, which means VERY easy uploads! *she polishes her nails on her velour hoodie*.
So here are some of my cards I have been doing for the past few months. I had lots and lots but I gave most of them to the church for their fair. Happily ever after is my latest one.
I am going to use my new Judikins stamp that the lovely Michelle of Stampers Dream sold me.
*excitement*.

Today is a bleak day in Melbourne, but not that cold. I went for a walk along the river earlier, I have stopped using my IPOD (which I love) so I can spend some time in thought, reflect and pray and take in the natural environment I am so lucky to have at my back door. Have to say much more satifying than the Clash blaring (although I do love the Clash played loud!)

2008-06-24T03:49:00.000-07:00

2008-06-24T03:44:00.000-07:00

This is my first craft blog ever! I am a little shy about showing people my work, so this really pushes me out of my comfort zone! Lately I have gained so much inspiration from viewing other peoples' work, so I feel that it is only fair to pay back such generosity by displaying my work and citing my inspirational sources!