CONVENTION ROOMIE GIFT

South Pacific Convention - here I come!!  Whenever I go to Convention, I like to give a gift to the girls I will be sharing accommodation with.  This is year I am only rooming with one friend *waiving at you,  Paula Reid*, so that made things very easy for me!

The two Paula's together will probably create some confusion, but I have made a bag tag for us both so we can tell ourselves apart!!  I also made the adorable drawstring bag above for Paula too, using Stampin' Up!'s gorgeous Tea for Two Designer fabric.  I made some of these bags for my 1st level team mates for Christmas last year, but this one I have lined with plastic, making it an awesome Wash Bag.  I have also filled it with bathroom goodies for her.

BIRTHDAY ROSES

I may have already mentioned this, but my sister and I share the same birthday, although I am two years older and wiser than she is.  Love you Kim!  I face the same problem every year - how to improve on the card I made her last year!  I am sure expectations are high, lol

I choose to use the Everything Eleanor stamp set this year.  A very elegant set.  I teamed this with Rose Red and Crumb Cake inks.  The Sentiment is in Soft Suede though, just for added "pop".  I have added pearls to the centre on the flowers and a soft Rose Red seam binding double bow.

Happy Birthday Sis, hope you liked it!

TIME FOR A CHALLENGE

It has been so long since I have done a challenge, but I saw one that Heather Telford was doing and I thought - why not!  This challenge was for OLW 140 Borders.  I have also done this as a mini tutorial for you, my lovely followers.  It's been a while since I have done one of those too!!  So here is my card:

CRAYON RESIST:

1.  Using Post-it-notes, mask off the section of cardstock you don't want to use.

2.  Stamp a line art image over your exposed card stock using Staz On Black ink.

3.  Colour in parts of your image with a white waxy crayon.

4.  Using small circular motions, gently sponge ink colours of your choice over the entire exposed area.  The parts that were coloured with the white crayon will resist the ink and remain white.  Clever!

5.  Remove the Post-it mask, stamp your sentiment.







The beauty of One Layer cards is just that - one layer, minimal embellishment.  Thanks for the challenge Heather!

YES, I AM STILL HERE!

Isn't it lovely to be reminded how long it has been since you blogged last, when you receive an email from half way round the world, asking if everything is ok!  Hi Diana - waving at YOU!!
  But seriously, I am good, just a little side tracked at the moment.  I am hoping to share with you exactly what I have been doing in the next week or so.  Make sure you stay tuned in to see!

In the meantime, here is a quick little clean and simple card I came up with yesterday.  Sometimes less is more!

BY THE TIDE BRAYER TUTORIAL

It's been a long time between tutorials, so here is a new one for you using the "By the Tide" stamp set by Stampin' Up!

 

As soon as I saw this set, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it.  It has just taken me a bit of time to get it down on paper for you all to try too!

This five page tutorial has step by step instructions on how to create both the outside and inside of the card, with photographs to help you at each new step.   Please visit my Tutorials for Sale page to purchase using PayPal - Thanks!

A FUN AVIARY CARD

A friend of mine recently celebrated her birthday and while I did get the card to her on time (that's the main thing!) I haven't shared it here yet! So here it is!

I really enjoyed making this card, not least because I was making it for someone I really care about.  That certainly helps when card making, for me anyway.  Those cards tend to flow from my brain onto the page relatively easily!

This one was no exception.  I sponged the card, after splashing with masking fluid, in So Saffron, Calypso Coral and a wee hint of Chocolate Chip ink.  Once dry, I rubbed off the masking fluid, which kind of looks like early night sky stars, don't you think?  I masked off the base of the card and brayered Chocolate Chip ink along the bottom.  Then I stamped, in the same ink, the sentiment, the birds and the brush.  Keeping it simple I just added a wee bow and brad to finish.

I then finished the inside of the card the same way and just added another wee sentiment.

Stamps:  Aviary, Summer Silhouettes, Sassy Salutations, Bring on the Cake

MAKE A WISH

It is my gorgeous MIL's Birthday today and that meant I had to pull out all the stops and make a card as gorgeous as she is!

I recently had the honor of attending not one, but TWO classes by my very talented friend, Teneale Williams.  I certainly learnt a lot of design tips from her!  Teneale LOVES layers, and she also loves to sponge her artwork too (a girl after my own heart!).  So I figured I would put what I learnt to good use.

I absolutely love how this card has turned out.  It really took me out of my comfort zone with the use of all that DSP, but I couldn't be happier with the end result.  Very different from my usual card - but I love it!

Card Stock:  Island Indigo, So Saffron, Very Vanilla
Inks:  Crumb Cake, Island Indigo
DSP:  Tea for Two
Stamps:  Make a Wish,  Established Elegance, French Foliage
Accessories:  Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon, Linen Thread, Vintage Faceted Buttons, Sponges, Dimensionals, SMJ