It's a Date!

This is a ATC I've made for a challenge on a yahoo group I'm in... we had to use this Gorgeous image somehow on the ATC, and include some words...

well this is what I came up with...

She was actually holding a little clay pot, but I cut it out, cause I can almost imagine her moving her hand around as people do while in conversation while she was making this date! lol!

Gorgeous bits I've used for this ATC are - Image, Daisy D PP, Crafty Individuals CI-017 Script stamp, Artistree by Paper Forest Designs -Swirls Stamp, Catslife Press Grunge Date Stamp, Stampin Up Calendar Stamp, Catslife Press Crown Stamp, Maria George Crystal (they never show up pretty when scanned), Words are computer generated, Basic Grey Red PP,Versa Colour Charcoal, Black Embossing Powder & my sewing machine... Quite a lot of bits for one little ATC really, but it was fun to make :o)

Thankyou to all of your lovely girls who wished Lachlan a happy birthday,

he was so chuffed when I read them out to him...

Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday Lachlan

It's our Gorgeous boy's 8th birthday today

I just had to use this photo my brother took when Lachlan was just 2 and a bit...

Because I can't believe how quickly he's grown.

I made the card in this style, because out of all the papercraft I do,

It's the work with a hint of Whimsey,

that Lachlan always loves and has a chuckle at...

and he did just this with his card..

Vitruvian Man

Framed was the theme this week at Wednesday Stamper

and this is what I came up with..

'Vitruvian Man' by da Vinci

Artist Trading Card

I used Design Originals- da Vinci PP, Daisy D PP, Catslife Press Grunge Date Stamp, Stampin Up Aged to Perfection Stamp & It's a Date Stamp,Making Memories word & number Magnetic Stamps, computer generated words, 7 Gypsies Arrow, Versa Color- charcoal & embossing powder, and my sewing machine.

DCM weekly Dare - SA Kit Challenge

This week's dare was a little different for the

Daring Card Makers-

as it was completely sponsered by Self Addressed.

Self Adderessed very kindly donated papers, cards and envelopes (from various SA kits) to the whole of the DCM team to see what we could come up with. Our Jane came up with a great template for you and the team to follow. Click Here to see it. We would like to thank Jen at Self Addressed for her generous support of our blog, we really appreciate it.

Many thanks Self addressed!

So use your own papers (or some from your SA Kits if you already get them) to come up with your fabulous creations-

and don't forget to check out the fantastic kits on offer at

Self Addressed 'The kits are designed for scrapbooks, cards and mini-albums.

AND there's more exciting news on the design team front!

We are pleased to announce that, in addition to our super announcement on Tuesday of Lynne joining the design team on a full time basis, we have a new Guest Designer who is going to be designing with us for the next couple of weeks.

So we offer a warm welcome to Tracy & look forward to working with her

over the next couple of weeks.

ooooohhh.... I had so much fun with these SCRUMMY Papers... and the sketch, can't wait to see what you all do....Don't forget if you haven't got a Self Addressed Kit you can still play along with your own Yummy Papers...

So have you Dared to DARE yet?...... COME ON I DARE YOU!!!!

Big Smiley Girl Here :o)

I just have to slip into little girl mode for a bit, so I hope you don't mind... I've just had my first card published and guess what it's on the front of Australian Paper Crafts Issue 64 !!!!

Wooooo Hooooo!!!... sorry.. can't help myself.. I'm just sooooo excited..

My card is the one with the calendar stamp.

I am sharing the front cover with Susan Grant, I don't know Susan But I bet she's as excited as me... It's a simply wonderful edition, so go on do yourself a favour and grab a copy :o)

Congrats to Leisa who also has a card published in this copy.

I've been Tagged,Tagged, Tagged, Tagged, Tagged & Tagged

By Paula, Tammy, Petrina, Linda,Keryn, Andrea, Yes that's right.... go on have a good laugh girls... is this a conspiracy.....In the last 2 days I've been tagged 6 times with the same tag... apparently these girls want to know stuff about me... Random Stuff... and 7 bits of Random stuff.... Oh you make me laugh.... really you do... Well here goes....
1. Last week we bought a new car, a Toyota Echo and it's black, and super cute... it looks like a pregnant rollerskate
2. I create in my garage.... Yes that's right...you read that right my garage...it's actually quite good, I can make lots of mess and it really doesn't matter.
3. I started crafting at around 4 years of age, and have tried most things, I can Tat, Crochet, knit, sew, decoupage, embroider in most ways, I've patchworked, quilted, made Pottery, and there are probably plenty more things I can write here,

but that'll do... cause really my passion is Paper!
4. I have one brother and he's a good bloke
5. My Home town is Inverell NSW Australia
6. I am 5'3'' tall...
7. Next month it will be two years since I had breast surgery to remove an abnormality and two lumps from my brest, so MAKE SURE YOU SELF EXAMINE GIRLS!!!!!... AND YOU'LL BE HAPPY LIKE ME!!!! :O)
So there you have it.... 7 random things about Me....I was tagged by 6 Gorgeous Girls... of whom I enjoy their creations very much.... and instead of tagging another 7 Girls.... I'm going to give you 7 RANDOM blogs to go and look at.... just cause I'm a non conformist... and I like to do my own thing... heeheee... so here you go...Audrey, Kimberly S, Coby, Sarah D, Kimberly W, Nancy, Anthea

Lest We Forget

Today In Australia and New Zealand, we Remember our Fallen Soldiers and their families.

We call today ANZAC Day

Australian & New Zealand Army Corps

We pay tribute to all who have served and are serving

May God Comfort those who grieve

& May He Protect those who are serving now.

This is a card I made last night for a challenge at Ink-Stains, what a doozey of a challenge Kim set us, we had to make a card with only one layer, Use Rubber Stamps and only one embellishment... Gulp!!!.. anyway here is my card.. With our challenges at Ink-Stains, it's quite fun, we do a Challenge/Mingle... which means everyone in the challenge sends there card onto someone else in the challenge... it's so much fun to give and receive these cards :o)

Delightful bits I've used for this one layered card are - Autumn Leaves Doodle bloom stamps, Stampin Up Delight in Life Stamp, Cardstock, Distress Ink Pad - aged mahogony, clear embossing powder, white gel pen, some lace left over from my Ruby St Design Kit, and my sewing machine.

Now the beautiful picture I've used for my Anzac Tribute above is yours for the taking, if you'd like to save it on your computer for use with your papercrafts please go right ahead :o)

DCM little extra - Primary Colours

For Daring Cardmakers little extra this week,

we are daring you to make a card using the 3 Primary Colours,

RED, BLUE & YELLOW....You can either use 1, 2 or all three of these colours it's up to you..Thankfully Kathy let us use a bit of black & white is also LOL!

Oh dear.... i think I've caught the *GRUNGE* bug!....

seems that way after this card anyway...lol

but boy did I ever have fun, I got all painty.. and messy.. and got embossing powder everywhere....

Now I'm not silly I know this card wont be to everyones liking, but I like it ;o)

And I've decided I'm going to turn it into a little Drawing book for Lachlan, I'm just going to add some pages for him, with one of those metal slide fasteners.

Expressive bits I've used on my card are - Acrylic Paint - Red, Yellow, Blue, White & Black, Foam Alphabet stamps, Artistree -Joyride Stamps, Stampin Up Print Pattern BG stamp,Heavy Weight Drawing Paper, Black Cardstock, EK Success Alphabet Stamps, Dymo Marker, Maria George Crystals, Versa Black Ink, Versa Watermark ink, Black Embossing Powder, and my sewing machine.

So have you Dared to DARE yet?.... COME ON I DARE YOU!!!

A Gift From A Friend :)

I woke up this morning, had my breakfast, packed the kids lunches, it was their first day back after holidays today... then I decided before school I would just check my emails, I always get a buzz out of checking my emails, so many of you lovely ladies leave me the most delightful comments.. Thankyou!

But this morning was different...

I had a lovely surprise...

my lovely, lovely friend Flower made me a surprise.

She made this beautiful new Banner for me...

Isn't it wonderfully Beautifull!.. I cried I don't mind telling you....

This is one of the most delightful RAK's I've ever received,

and each time you see my banner,

think about how wonderful FRIENDSHIP is...

Cause I know I will xxx

Thankyou My Friend :)

thanks also to Godelieve I used the instructions found on your blog White Montana

to add my new Banner they were clear and so helpful

DCM weekly dare - Fun, Funky, Fabulous FELT...

This week at Daring Cardmakers,

it was my turn to set the dare,

as you may have noticed felt is really hot in the crafting world at the moment, and it's available in so many ways now, in sheet form in a rainbow of colours, precut shapes, beautiful felt borders, even lovely patterned felt and felt with glitter...
So I reckon it's a great medium to dare you with.
So here's the dare, Make a card and include some felt,
the theme & style are entirely up to you,

Isn't she cute!!!!...

she just makes me smile each time I look at this lovely little monster card..

My Card was inspired by the work of Elsie Flannigan and Mel Goodsell both of these ladies not only make the most delightful scrapbook LO's but they make the cutiest little 'softies',

a wonderful craze at the mo go check there blogs out they'll make you smile :o)

And if you need any other inspiration for using FELT

take a look at the very clever

Keryn Quall's blog..oh what this girl can do with felt Wow......

Fabulously Felty bits I used are - Bazzill Cardstock, Felt - Pink, orange, white, Embroildery floss - yellow & pink, Urban Lily Number sticker, paper flower, Sei button and another from my stash, white paper to back my little monster girl, the words are computer generated, And where would I be without my sewing machine now!

whisper

I'm really enjoying playing along with the girls at

Wednesday Stamper

this was a Great Challenge for me, as I haven't done 'Grunge' as such before, well I guess I've dabbled a little.. but boy was this fun!!!!!... so here she is, my little grungy Whisper Angel...

something I quite like doing and have done on this little ATC was rub over the card with Watermark ink then lightly sprinkle embos powder and heat, I think this gives quite a good grunge look.

Grungy bit's I've used are - Image from Art-e-zine, Daisy D PP which I have used Distress Ink -aged mahogany in the technique taught by Isa in the post below, 7 Gypsies Whisper stamp, Stampin up Aged to perfection stamp on the bg, heidi Swapp gems, white acrylic paint, Artchix Studio Wings, Versa Mark black & watermark ink, Ebony Embos Powder, and my sewing machine...

A jolly ride to the beach....

I found a challenge on Isa's Blog, and I've decided to join in, you know, I've got some new stamps and I was feeling like they needed a good inking!... You can read all about the challenge here and how to do this cool technique... I really like this look, now to buy some other Distress Ink colours... I only have Walnut Stain... so that's what I used. Thanks heaps Isa for sharing your knowledge, I love this new technique and I'm sure I'll use it heaps.

It also fits the Wednesday Stamper Challenge for this week so this will be my second ATC for the Auto theme this week, the first is here

This is the the stamp I used.. toooo Yummy,
you can find them here along with some other amazing stamps...
this one is designed by Joyce Hewton, an Aussie girl... :o)

DCM little extra - Home Sweet Home

For our little extra this week at

Daring Cardmakers

Home Sweet Home is the theme. I was quite please actually, cause I always feel like I should give people a 'new home' card when they move, and never get around to it, so at least I'll be prepared the next time a friend moves...lol! This is actually a very economical card to make. because if you didn't have the stamps I've used or something similar you could just draw simple flowers like these.

I made up the little verse, because when we bought our home, the garden was such a draw card for us... I just love it!

Bits I've used for this card are - Bazzill Cardstock, Autumn Leaves doodle bloom stamps (these are new and I just love them... you'll be seeing them a bit I think on my work...),white gel pen, Black ink, computer generated words and my sewing machine...

So have you Dared to DARE yet?.....COME ON I DARE YOU!!!!

Hands Up if you like Paper Craft...

Mines up how's about yours... don't you just love this form expression.. paper is just the most fun medium isn't it.. sorry off on a tangent...

now back to this LO..

another one I made for Nanny's B'day,

this one of Jacob on his 11th B'day.

Now no laughing at my extraordinary cake decorating abilities..

Yes that is a football on his cake.. but he was happy, trust me!...lol!

**********

Arighty then, Fun stuff I've used on this LO are - Basic Grey PP, Making Memories chipboard stars & frame,Heidi Swapp chipboard ornaments -arrows (the outside of the arrows) I call this recycling.., 7 Gypsies metal tab, screw brads, bottom off alterations tag, black cardstock, some ink for distressing, and my sewing machine...and there you have it, a layout of a

TWEENAGE BOY

(NOW BEFORE i GET LOTS OF COMMENTS.. A TWEENAGE BOY OR GIRL FOR THAT MATTER, IS A PERSON WHO ISN'T YET A TEENAGER AND NO LONGER A CHILD, BUT IN BETWEEN ;o)

Smile, Laugh & Giggle

Just made this LO for Andrew's mum for her birthday,

Girly bits I've used are - Fancy Pants PP, Pressed Petal Metal word (giggle), Big Blossom -uknown, Paper Blossoms - Unknown, Urban Lily Chipboard Circle, zig pen, oh yes and you guessed it my sewing machine...

Little tip for you today, instead of matting photo's try stitching like I have here, around the outside edge of your photo's, using the edge of the foot of your machine as a rough guide, stitch randomly and with multiple rows of stitching for a 'funky' look... also I've used the same pp for the journaling just sanded the edges to make them stand out a bit. TTFN Gillian :o)

Zip Album 'You are Loved'

just a little something to share, this little Zip Album I made has just been published in Scrapbook Creations No.41, if you want to check it out in more detail you can on my other blog click here and it will show you all the pages.

DCM weekly dare - Crossing Continents

This week at Daring Cardmakers

it was Saffa's turn to dare. Thanks Saffa,

Make a card that celebrates and reflects a festival from another culture to your own....

here are some ideas to get you started:

Chinese New Year, Eid, Hanukkah, Persian New Year, Diwali, Sinhalese New Year, Kwanzaa, St. Patrick's day, So you get the idea....

I decided that my card would be a 'thanksgiving' card, always loved the idea of 'thanksgiving' after seeing many American movies and TV shows featuring this Holiday.. Love the way families come together.

But boy was this tricky... I don't know why, just couldn't get the 'turkey' colours out of my head... everything I reached for seemed to be in these colours maybe it's got something to do with all the Cartoons I saw as a kid of people fattening up their Turkey's for Thanksgiving..lol!

I was Thankful to have these supplies to make my card - Bazzill Cardstock, Daisy D PP, Cheapy Blossom, BMuse Reproduction Image (thanks Pearl), Stampin Up stamp from 'Aged to Perfection' set, EK Success Alphabet Stamps, Buckle I made from chipboard, K&Co PP used through the buckle & for the strip journaling, black flower ribbon, Versa mark Black Ink & my sewing machine.

So have you Dared to DARE yet?....... COME ON I DARE YOU!!!!!!

Enjoy the Ride

this week at Wednesday Stampers

the challenge was Auto's

So I made this little ATC... I've been playing a bit with sewing and then painting over the stitching, I quite like this look and thought it sort of looked like a road map, quite suited really for this theme.

Spledid bit's I've used for this ATC are - Bazzill Cardstock, Catslife Press -a little stop on my art journey stamp, Stampin Up it's a date stamp & Aged to perfection stamp, 7 Gypsies paper tab, Collections word, Dymo Tape, Raw Umber Acrylic Paint, Versa black ink pad & black EP,and my sewing machine...

DCM little extra - Recipe

For your 'little extra' at Daring Cardmakers

this week, we've got a little recipe for you to use.

You need to use 5 Circles, 3 Squares & 1 Flower

This is how I used the recipe, I look forward to seeing how you do..

If you are wondering about my circles they're there, you just need to look hard..

Some are in the form of those beautiful little diamante's sent to me by Kim.

Expressive bit's I've used on my card are - Bazzill Cardstock, Urban Lilly PP (for the squares and the words), Urban Lily chipboard circle, Diamante, PVA glue to stick them on, and of course my machine.

little tip for you today - when sewing in straight lines if you aren't the straightest stitcher or you accidentally sew crooked, just do a few extra rows over the top of what you have already sewn. This gives your stitching a more random feel.

This card is a good example of this.

So have you Dared to DARE yet?....... COME ON I DARE YOU!!!!!!

Just one look

Just thought I'd show you a set of 16 ATC's.

I recently was involved in a ATC Chain and this is what I came up with... It's just a bit of fun..

I had to make 6 and post to the names on the list..

but thought I'd send some back to the people I get one from as well..

I made this BG by wetting the Paper and then brushing ink over it, then sprinkling with salt, then sanding lightly IRL they have a 'glittery' appearance from the salt.

I was amazed at the variation of the colouring..

The stamps I've used are all Cats Life Press, and the words are computer generated.

Today's tip - Ok, so I really like strip journaling, and I quite like it cut up like this.. so when cutting it up, I treat it as strip journaling, I put a strip through the Xyron, then cut it up into smaller pieces, after it's sticky. It's saves a lot of mucking around trying to put so many little words through the Xyron.

Easter Sunday

Christ is Risen

In the tomb so cold they laid Him

Death its victim claimed

Powers of hell, they could not hold Him

Back to life He came!

Christ is risen! (Christ is risen!)

Death has been conquered. (Death has been conquered.)

Christ is risen! (Christ is risen!)

He shall reign for ever

Hell had spent its fury on Him

Left Him crucifiedYet, by blood,

He boldly conquered

Sin and death defied
Now the fear of death is broken

Love has won the crown

Prisoners of the darkness listen

Walls are tumbling down

Raised from death to heaven ascending

Love's exalted King

Let His song of joy, unendingThrough the nations ring!

Written Graham Kendrick

© 1986 Kingsway?s Thankyou Music

DCM weekly dare - Art Attack

This week at Daring Card Makers

it's our Rhi's turn to dare us and it is a Wonderful Dare, thanks Rhi..

make a card inspired by a work of art. If the original art is out of copyright (ie the designer has been dead for 70 years or more) then you may use elements of the original artwork in your piece. Otherwise its inspiration only. Look out for colours, patterns, textures, compositions, shapes or themes that inspire you, and remember to show us the piece of art that inspired you to create so we can see the common ground.

Heres some art links to get you thinking

Pop Art Impressionism Romanticism Cubism

What is art? It's completely subjective, so your chosen inspiration could be architecture, one off design or mass produced products. Please remember to respect the right of the artist or designer not to have their work copied though,

take inspiration instead and make your own art!

I live in Australia, and love my country, and wanted to Celebrate the ART of our country's Original Inhabitants, the Australian Aboriginal.

So with my Take on this Dare I pay respects to

The First People of This Beautiful Land I call home.

I have always had a facination with Rock Painting, The Beautiful Ochres that are used, the simple yet involved images, the rawness of the 'canvas' & the 'mediums'..

This is one of my Favourite Pieces of ROCK ART.

Aboriginal Rock Art of Northern Australia
Aboriginal rock paintings of mythical stick figures at Kunminyini Springs, about 25 km south of Borroloola, near the south coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria, Northern Territory.

here's the link where I found this amazing piece of ancient art.

And this is my card after being inspired by the above photo. Originally I was going to make a quite involved card, but once I cut these amazing images out, I just sat them on the black cardstock, and felt that anything else I could do would only detract from their form.

so I then just did some uneven stitching around the outside edge, and I'm really happy with the end result.

Todays tip for you... I printed off this image, because it was quite faint I drew around the outside lines of the forms with pen, then photocopied the image and increased it by 200%

Then put the photocopy over the top of the PP I wanted to use, and drew over the lines on the photocopy, leaving an indent in the PP, thus making it easy to cut out.. this is particularly good when the images have fine details such as this, which are often hard to make templates for.

So have you dared to DARE yet?....... COME ON I DARE YOU!!!!!!!

Good Friday

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life -
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no pow’r, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from his reward?
I cannot give an answer,
But this I know with all my heart,
His wounds have paid my ransom.

Written by Stuart Townend

You've Carried Off My Heart

Wow at Wednesday Stampers

this week the challenge titled 'envelopes'....

So as I said in my post below, I'm experimenting... and trying new things... well here is a couple of new things I've tried, firstly the 'credit card technique'.. using a credit card to swipe the paint over the envelope... I used 3 different colours to get this BG, then I've had a go at Masking, haven't really done much of this... and well now I can say i have done it.

Bit's I've used to create my first bit of Mail Art are - An envelope, Making Memories Paint- Monarch & Evergreen, Kaiser Paint - Raw Umber, Stampin Up Stamps - Print Pattern & Ephemera, Catslife Press Doll Face Post Stamp, Collections chipboard heart,Artchix Studio words & wings, Black Cardstock (I used the 7 Gypsies metal Plate for a template ) Versa Mark Black ink and Clear Embossing Powder, and my machine.

May you all have a very Blessed Easter

A Wonderful idea

Just a little ATC {artist trading card} to share with you today, I really love this one..

I'm experimenting big time at the moment with my style, techniques and all sorts of bits.. I hate to be defined by one style... and love to just create, regardless of what people think... anyway when I create like that I'm so happy with what I come up with...

I wonder do you ever create just for the sake of creating... you know not caring what others think...

creating just for you!...

I hope so, I really hope so :o)

DCM Little Extra - Verily Very Vintage

For this weeks little extra at

Daring Cardmakers the theme is Heritage

oh.. one of my favourite theme's...

and I've made this card for my niece for her OS student exchange

I hope it gives her a giggle..

Rein was kind enough to offer this gorgeous image on her blog recently for people to use.

Thankyou so much Rein she really made this card I think.

Bits that give this card a Sense of Adventure are - Bazzill Cardstock, Stamp-It PP, Cosmo Cricket PP (for the wings) 7 Gypsies metal journey plate from Scrap A While, making memories word stamps, Versa mark black ink, Melissa Francis Crown Rubon (I rubbed this onto a piece of scrap PP before attaching) Brads and my sewing machine.

**********

My tip for today is... you don't always have to matt journaling strips (the little words I've used on this card) .... all I've used here is my pigment pen... I have just carefully drawn little outlines around each word and coloured it in with the pen. Give it a go sometime..

**********

So have you dared to DARE yet?.......... COME ON I DARE YOU!!!!!

I've got new stamps to play with :o)

Thrilled to bits with my new stamps designed
Linda Baldock
just gotta show you,

and here's the link so you can go and get some yourself... check out the other delicious stamps there too... very, very nice!...
http://www.paperforest.com.au/catalogue/c242

Aussie Scrapjacked

Wow what a great Brand New Site... take a look at

Aussie Scrapjacked

Couldn't help myself... just had to play along.. Thanks girls for such a great site, I wish you all the very best, and really encourage everyone to play along.

you can check out the Gorgeous LO by Erica Glover on the blog that I've scrapjacked... to make this LO of my Lachlan.

Yummy bits I’ve used for this LO are – Basic Grey PP – Hang 10, Metal word, 7 Gypsies tape measure PP, chipboard brackets, The little arrows I cut out from black bazzill, Make Believe Diamonte Tape from Spotlight, Black Versa Mark Ink pad & Black embossing Powder used on the Brackets, and of course my sewing machine.

thinking of you is pure delight

I've done another Wednesday Stamper Challenge

this week it's about your

favourite way of colouring your rubberstamping or backgrounds

so I decided that since I've been admiring so many stampers BG's I'd make my own..

I brushed ink over wet cardstock, then sprinkled it with salt, love this effect, when dry I just gave it a light sand with very fine sandpaper to rub the salt off, and it leaves the paper with a fine 'glittery' look, which doesn't really show in the photo.

Delightful bits used on this card are - Bazzill Cardstock, Stampin Up Background Stamp Print Pattern, Catslife Press Stamp -Beedoll, little plastic crown from Ruby St Designs, Metal clasp, K&Co words to go, Heidi Swapp Blossoms, Vesa colour black ink, metal corner, Making Memories crystal brads, & my sewing machine, oh and some 'kindy glitz for my little beedolls wings. I hope you are having a really lovely weekend. :o)

edit - Godelive asked what ink I used, I used some calligraphy ink(I've had forever, no brand) it was a red & black.. and when mixed this is the colour they came up with...so I don't think it was a true red, I'm keen to get my hands on some good lnk like the Ecoline ones. they just aren't available in my home town.. need to order them online I think