I love crystals :O)

Well I seem to be putting them on everything at the moment,

I esp love using them with my Autumn Leaves Flourish stamps, like on this card...

only problem is the scanner never really picks up how pretty they are, oh well, you'll just have to take my word for it!

So how are you all, I went away on the weekend, saw my big brother & my super cute nephew, well worth the 6hr drive it took me to see them...

I don't normally drive that far, so it's taking my body a bit to catch up...

I was thrilled as I drove up and over the mountain range on my way to my 'home' town of Inverell, to see 3 Lyrebirds, Beautiful creatures they are, there wasn't many cars on the road, so they were foraging along the side of the road, and I took them by surprise.

Anyway, I'll be back here again later tonight to post my DCM card,

I just thought I'd pop this card on, Thanks for looking :O)

DCM weekly dare - Tagged

This week at Daring Cardmakers

it's our Rhi's turn to set the dare

Everything we buy has packaging, some of it excessive, some of it beautifully designed. Tags, labels, stickers... all sorts of bits and bobs that we can recycle onto cards.I dare you to make a card using a tag, label, sticker or anything else you can find, thats from packaging and would normally end up in the bin. Of course you can ink it, change it, distress it and add anything else you like!If you're feeling brave, I DOUBLE DARE you to make it a card for a man!
Bits I've used for my card are- Bazzill Cardstock, 2 tags from boys clothing, Photocopy of vintage newspaper, chipboard letters, ACME label maker, label holder, ticket, Paid Stamp, Stampin Up Aged to perfection stamp, Versa Magic Black Ink Pad, Acrylic Mesh (this is the mesh that's left over when they stamp sequins in the factory, you can usually buy this at shops like Spotlight, or other craft shops, in different sizes), Gesso, and my sewing machine.

so I've made you a little slide show to show you how I made my background for this card, I always love to see how people create things, so thought you might like to also, let me if this is helpful, maybe I can do this again for future cards...

So have you Dared to DARE yet?... Come on I DARE YOU!!!

He delights in every detail of their lives.

I've just made this card for

Wednesday Stampers Challenge - Eggs

the background is made with multiple layers of newsprint, gesso, tissue (which has been rubbed off in places to reveal the newsprint) and sealer, I stamped with Hero Arts Real High Country Wildflowers which I then sanded to give a weathered look, image from Tuscan Rose CD, Mini Marks Rub-on, Versa ink-Umber, the little paper hat I folded out of some of the newsprint I photocopied, feather pulled from my feather doona, and my sewing machine...

Righto, I best get this in the post for a friend for her birthday :O)

TWEET....

Let me just start by saying.....

the image shown is larger than the actual INCHIE!!! LOL!!

that's right.... this is an inchie... Just couldn't help myself had to post it large...

for those who don't know the name inchie comes from the fact that this piece is 1x1"

Well Joanne asked me to be involved in her inchie swap yesterday,and as I'm quite keen to get my inchie collection going I jumped at the offer.... last night I made all of my yellow paper, I used credit card technique to apply about 5 different shades of yellow acrylic paint to my paper, As Yellow is the theme of the swap,

I used my Catslife Press birdie stamp, Versa Magic Ink and computer generated word... and there you have it.... well one anyway.... LOL! I've got a few more to make for the swap...

I was going to make the whole set last night....but decided in the end with my head cold, that sleep was the better option... maybe tonight they get finished :O)

DCM little extra - FABULOUS

this week for Daring Cardmakers

Little Extra you are given a word Prompt and that word is FABULOUS....

I've made two this week,

the first - hard to photograph or scan, I still had one of those cute little cards left from when Self Address sponsored us at DCM, so I used it...

other bits I used for it are - Image from my Tuscan Rose CD, Autumn Leaves Flourish Stamp, Maria George Crystals, Silver Mirror card, Prima flower, Versa Magic Black, computer generated word and my sewing machine.

the second card, has one of my fav bits at the moment... that scrummy crystal tape along the top, it's the sort that is sewn onto dresses, But I love it on cards :O)

other bits I've used are - Bazzill Cardstock, Cloud 9 PP (that's the green), Bella Chipboard Letter & numbers, See-D's alpha stamps, Versa magic Inkpad, Metal Label holder which I embossed with EP (and let me just say... OUCH!!! metals hot when you heat it with a heat gun... go figure!!!), computer generated letters and my sewing machine...

So have you Dared to DARE Yet?...Come on I dare you!!!

I just want to say a BIG THANKYOU to all of you who leave comments on my work,

It's a real thrill to read each one, and I do chuckle at the funny ones too... :O)

My first set of Inchies

this was my first ever set of inchies I recently made for a swap,

gosh they are little... {stating the obvious!!! lol!!}

anyway, Shary organised this swap, and the theme was flowers, so I used my hero arts Zinnia Stamp for this, set, the background is made with about 5 different versa color cubes all stamped onto a glass chopping board and then sprayed with water, and the flower is stamped with the versa bark, also used are Maria George crystals and computer generated words.

I hope you and yours are well, our family has been battling colds and such, they seem to hang around for such a long time, I can't seem to shake one I've had for a while now...

Edit: Mel asked me about Inchies, and as there may be some others who aren't familiar with this term, Yes Mel they are 1" square, and they are swapped like ATC's

some people just collect them and store them in 'coin' holder pages the same way a coin collector stores his coins, others use them on cards and other papercrafts!

hope that helped :O)

DCM weekly dare

This week at Daring Cardmakers

it is our Lythan's turn to dare us all

and this ones another Cool Dare

Embossing.Dry embossing with a light box or with a die cutting machine.Using embossing powders or triple embossing.Using pre-embossed papers.Embossing with found items.Just have fun playing!And as I can't resist being a little (em)bossy - why not see if you can get more than one emboss technique on your card?

And we are THRILLED to have another FABBY guest designer -

It's Leo.

Welcome to the Fun Leo :O)

so Here is my card, My embossing bits are the flowers, tag & 'cherish' word

for the flowers and the tag I used a technique I like to call 'grunge embossing' only cause I don't know what it's really called...

I just wiped them over with Versa Mark 'watermark' stamp pad, then lightly sprinked some black embossing powder on them before heat setting with my heat gun..

Bits I've used on my card are - Bazzill Cardstock, Crate Paper Printed Paper, Bazzill Basics really big paper clip, paper flowers, Biggie Brad, 7 Gypsies metal tab, Heidi Swap 'cherish' stamp,Scallop Ruler, Ribbon, Versa Mark watermark stamp pad, Black embossing powder, and my sewing machine...

So have you Dared to DARE yet?...Come on I dare you!!!

Norman's latest Costume

Even tho the other boys at the Gentleman's Health Spa were surprised by Norman's latest Costume, they held him in the Highest Regard.

For He was a Trend Setter Indeed!

This weeks Challenge from Wednesday Stampers is to created
something with the theme Polka Dots

Well Here is my creation... just to give you a little smile :O)

A little while ago I received this lovely Cats Life's Press 'weathered dot' Stamp with one of my Lime Tart orders from Philippa, so I've used it on the BG and I have stitched around a few of them also..
other bits I've used are - Image from Tuscan Rose CD (from my buddy Kathy), Tombo Pen to 'polka dot' Norman's pants, scrap for his crown, the journaling is computer generated, brads & my sewing machine..

Rein's Challenge :O)

The Lovely Rein has a challenge on her blog...

see that cutie-pie teddy on my card,

well if you go to Rein's blog you can download this bear,

and see her challenge... this is what I made with him...

Thanks Rein, I loved playing along with you :O)

DCM little extra - Old, New, Borrowed, Blue

for this weeks little extra at

Daring Cardmakers,

kathy came up with a beaut dare it's one of her recipe's...

There's an old rhyme that tells brides what they should wear on their wedding day to be sure of good luck, it goes:
Something Old,Something New,Something Borrowed,

and Something Blue

This week we'd like you to incorporate these four things into your card -
It doesn't have to be a Wedding card, despite the verse - just as long as your card features each of those things on it.
Borrowed could be borrowed from another card, some ribbon from a chocolate box, a tiny piece "borrowed" from a child's hair ribbon, even a postage stamp from an old envelope, it could also be an item or technique borrowed from a different crafty sphere...And before you ask - whilst you're allowed to use a sewing machine to make your card - it CAN'T be your borrowed item - as that would be just TOO EASY and this is supposed to be a challenge, isn't it! hehehe

Well Here is my card, I decided that seeings I have a bit of a 'rusty old junk' collection, I'd use some of my bits....

Something Old - well I've got a few on here- vintage button, buckle, token

Something New - the paper I used is Scrumptious 'Scenic Route' paper

Something Borrowed - that would be the little hinge

Something Blue - well that would be the Junkitz blue denim button

other bits I used are some scrummy letters a friend sent me, Basic Grey PP, clock stamp from my 'it's a mans world' stamp set from Artistree,7 Gypsies arrow, Karen Foster Biggie brad, screw type brad, & my sewing machine...

So have you Dared to DARE yet?... Come on I dare you!!!!

Beautiful Swirls....

Wendy had a link on her blog to a new challenge blog... called

Technique Thursdays

so I popped on over and thought I'd join in the fun...this is the first week...

it's a pretty cool blog because it encourages

Rediscovering & exploring techniques for artistic expression.

This week it's CHALK....

haven't used chalk much, I've got some...

but you know it's just been part of the stash...

well today was the day...

I mixed some ground up Turquoise coloured chalk with some Satin Varnish, and created this cool 'mod podge' type glue, then what I did was tear a bit of dress making pattern up and glue it on with my medium I've made I'm going to call it "CHALK PODGE" (do you like that...lol!)

then brushed it over the pattern paper... looks cool hey..

other bits I've used are, Autumn Leaves Acrylic flourish stamps, Lost Aussie design Postcard stamp, Heidi Swapp blossom, Versa ink, Maria George crystal.. (oh I can't get enough of them at the mo...), the crown was a metal diamond shape I cut in half and attached with brads, the journaling is computer generated, and I used my machine ofcourse...

YOU

This my entry into this months

Aussie Scrapjacked

it was fun to Jack on of Jo Carey's lovely LO's

and Yay...this month I wasn't late..

DCM weekly dare - Celestial

This week at Daring Cardmakers

it was our Keryn's turn to set the dare,

her theme and ours, and yours is.....

Celestial

that's right anything to do with STARS, SPACE, & the HEAVENS...

The sky's the limit...

Well I decided to stretch the theme a little...

and have chosen to base my card on the 'White STAR Line'

I just love those old ships....

Bits I've used are -Stamp-It printed paper, vintage image from the internet, Vintage Astronomy Chart from Art-e-zine, globe stamp, Artistree Joyride stamps, Stampin Up Print Pattern, Making Memories chipboard star- painted white, Artchix studio strip journaling, Wishmade Die-Cut (Adventure), Versa Inkpad, my sewing machine
So have you Dared to DARE yet?...Come on I DARE YOU!!!

The Grass withers & the flowers fall.....

this week at Wednesday Stamper, the theme is Flowers
here is my card, I have a vintage newspaper, and I scanned the words, and taped my white card to an A4 sheet of paper and printed the card with the newspaper, so the print goes over the back of the card too... I really like that idea...
the verse I've used is from Isaiah 40:7 I do love this verse, and thought it fitted perfectly with this weeks challenge...
Flowery bits I've used for my card are - Hero Arts Real High Country Wildflowers Stamps, Acme Label maker, the crown was a circle metal frame(given to me recently by a special friend) that I cut in half and painted to make the crown, Maria George crystal, black versa ink, embossing powder and my sewing machine,
Here's the paper if you want to save it and use it sometime...

this is just one page from my newspaper from 1899

I'll post some more sometime soon..

But Mother knows best......

Oh how Zelda wished she could have chosen her own hat

for the premier of Her new film....

But Mother knows best.....

The most delightfully talented Nancy Maxwell James, set a little challenge on her blog, she has this gorgeous image of 'Zelda' ready for anyone to play with... so this is what I made with my Zelda.... I hope you like it Nancy, it was lots of fun, to slip into the girly, girly mode for a bit of fun.... the wonderful bg, is a free image Gaby had on her blog a litttle while ago, so thankyou Gaby, I really enjoyed using it, I think it's quite theatrical...

I must say, I am glad my mother let me choose

my own hats,

Thanks mum for giving me the freedom to express myself as a child...

I only hope I can give my little miss the same freedom of

CHOOSING HER OWN HATS

DCM little extra - Not so STICKY....

Just for fun for this weeks little extra at

Daring Cardmakers,

we've got an interesting dare for you... a

NO ADHESIVES DARE

"how's about a dare where you can't use any adhesives at all...
You have to put them away...
No tape, no gluesticks, no Xyron, no modpodge.... and all other sticky things....
the only things you can use are things like staples, stitching, brads, eyelets, pins.... that sort of thing to attach all the bits to your card."
I've had this GORGEOUS hand carved Fabric Print wood block from either Bali or Indonesia, for a while now, if you live in Australia... you can pick them up from Belingin, it's gorgeous, just the right size for a 6x6" card...

so I painted it with black paint, and used it as a stamp.. the trick with these blocks is to put them on their backs and put the paper onto, then rub the back...

Ofcourse I used my sewing machine... but it's tricker than you think, when it comes to sewing chipboard in place when it hasn't been taped down....

can't wait to see what you all come up with..

Bit's I've used are - my woodblock, cardstock, black acrylic paint, chipboard label holder, Scenic Route Rub-on, Making Memories Rub-on, computer generated words, brads & my machine...

So have you Dared to DARE yet?... Come on I DARE YOU!!!

Open the door..... Release your imagination

I didn't think I'd get a chance to play along with Wednesday Stamper

this week... but I stole a few moments to myself the create this little ATC...

the theme this week is 'DOOR'

fun bits I've used are - Distress Ink, image of door from Cyberspace, Stampin Up Print Pattern stamp (I think that stamp will need a retread soon...lol), Maria George Crystals, brads, computer generated journaling, Krylon Webbing Spray, black versa ink & embossing powder, & my sewing machine

Put the light on Mona.....

I'm busy at the moment scrapbooking, for an upcoming workshop I am teaching,

at Scrap A While but thought I'd share these ATC's with you all,

I made them last week, for a da Vinci swap....

the journaling on them reads,

One really should put the light on when getting dressed before sunrise...

fun bits I used are - Stamp-it Yesteryears PP, Mona image from internet, Archixstudio hats, Stampin Up it's a date stamp, crystals, journaling is computer generated, Distress Ink, and my sewing machine...

Georgia's First Sewing Lesson

Georgia was recently inspired by Mel Goodsell's Gorgeous daughter Bella, after seeing her beautiful sewing she has been recently doing.... so she wanted to learn too.

what a joy it was to show her a couple of things and see her take to it so naturally...

Thankyou Bella, for showing us that 6 is a wonderful age to learn to sew... :O)

Lauren has been Updating the Gallery at Scrap A While,

if you'd like to see some of My Design Team Projects & Scrapbook LO's,

and also some of the other Gorgeous Girls on the DT's work,

click here, and it will take you straight to the gallery...

Lauren also has a wonderful online shop

*****************************

DCM weekly dare - I can see clearly now This week at Daring Cardmakers
our Kel is setting you an UNREAL dare.
are you ready ?? Kel says- Okay, this week I would like you to use some acetate, vellum, plasma or anything else remotely 'see-through' on your card. That's it!

As you know, Bety has been with us for the last couple of weeks as Guest Designer and has done a fantastic job. Many, many thanks Bety for your support and your beautiful work on the Daring Card Makers Design team....we've loved having you with us.

Which leads us on to our next Guest Designer- who we are very proud to announce will be with us for the next couple of weeks......and that lovely person is KIRSTY WISEMAN. So, please join us in offering Kirsty a huge welcome, we (the design team) are really looking forward to working with you over the next couple of weeks.

Cool bits for my Card this week I chose to use - Basic Grey Numbers Transparency, Heidi Swapp Chipboard Numbers, Creative Imaginations Journaler's notebook page (that's the white stripe paper with the brackets under the transparency), Stamp-It Australia PP (thats the lovely script pp you can see under the transparency), ACME label maker, los tres caballeros stamp (I just cut up the stamped image and only used one of the chaps) sorry can't remember which brand this stamp is..., Versa black ink, and ofcourse my sewing machine.. have a great weekend everyone!

So have you Dared to DARE?...Come on I dare you!!!