Monday, February 28, 2011

STG February Challenges

This month's Scrap The Girls challenge was this sketch.


This was a great sketch to use and I had the perfect photo I had been dying to scrap!


Cruise countdown...25 sleeps!

Kraft It Up February Challenge

Kraft It Up had a colour challenge this month.




This messy background is very different to my usual scrapping style - but as soon as I saw the colours I knew I wanted to do a misted background! I am happy how this turned out :)

Cruise countdown...26 sleeps!

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Two more cards

We went to Ollie's 2nd birthday party yesterday. The birthday boy is mad about monkeys - so I made this card for him.


It was a lovely, relaxing afternoon, just catching up with friends. Jeanie & Damo set up a mini water park in the backyard - so all the kids were running around playing in the water. We managed to stay safe and dry - pretty impressive considering Ollie was loose with the garden hose :) Check out the awesome (and delicious) birthday cake that Kimmie's Kakes created!


After the party we went to Mum's to have some nibblies & drinks and a photo night. We shared pics of our cruise and friends shared pics of their cruise to Vanuatu and New Zealand. We are getting so excited - less than a month to go now :)

Today is a lazy day - a bit of card making, watching movies and maybe some gardening this afternoon if it cools down....


Cruise countdown...27 sleeps!!

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Sandie's February Challenge

Sandie's challenge this month is fabric and love . I made this card a few weeks ago, but forgot to post it-oops! I love the red, white, green and kraft colour combo! The cute red yo-yo covers the fabric part of the challenge and the white background embossed with hearts and the heart leaf covers the love part (plus there is a simple "I love you" rub-on sentiment inside.


Cruise countdown...28 sleeps!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Cherries

Okay, I confess...I'm a hoarder...I have a crate full of boxes, tins, and containers just waiting to be re-used / altered. I'm sure I am not the only person out there keeping them "just in case" LOL So, keeping with my scrappy goals I have started to use them and decorated this tin (old Gravox tin). How cute is this?!?!?


After decorating the tin I decided to make a matching card while I had all the papers, punches, etc out. I loved how this turned out - so I made another birthday card, then turned the layout sideways and made a Thank You card.




Cruise countdown...29 sleeps!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Basic Grey - Card Kit Part 2

As promised...here are the other four Basic Grey cards...








Cruise countdown...30 sleeps!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Basic Grey - Card Kit Part 1

I picked this kit up on sale last year when my mojo was a bit low. I usually don't buy kits - but thought this might 'kick-start' my creativity. Sunday night I sat down and made all 8 cards - they were quick & easy and I will be using the layout ideas for future cards! Here's the four of the eight cards...







Monday, February 21, 2011

A scrappy weekend

Saturday night I had a Stampin' Up party with friends. Paula showed us how to make this super cute owl card :)




It was great to learn the sponging / template technique to make clouds. Paula also shared some other ideas and techniques - thank you! My mum and Elena made their first card and had a wonderful time - hopefully they will join us for scrap days more often.

Sunday was Simply Crafty - another lovely day catching up with everyone and scrapping :) As usual lots of socialising and a bit of scrapping - I managed 2 layouts. I found this sketch here.


I used the sketch to scrap this LO - I only made a few small changes, preferring to keep very similar to the sketch. I will definately use this sketch again.


I finally scrapped a photo from the cruise last year!


Cruise countdown...5 weeks!

Friday, February 18, 2011

Reading

Over the Christmas and new year period I managed to find some time to read the books I got from the book exchange. They were both great books - definitely recommend them for any vampire, werewolves, etc fans :) I am now on the lookout for book 1 of the series.




I have always had a love of reading and have made it a goal to read more books this year. Feel free to leave a comment and share any great books (or authors) that you enjoy reading! It will give me some ideas when I am looking for a new book :)

Still on the topic of books...I have finished my bookmark!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Pincushion

I have been making some storage changes in my scrap room lately (will be sharing details along the way). I have a small collection of decorative pins and thought they would look really cute on display! Plus if I see them, then I'm more likely to use them :) I wanted to create something different and a little vintage looking - I LOVE how this turned out :)




Just in case anyone would like to make one too I thought I would share the (basic) instructions. First off I chose my base - I picked this cute little glass dish up at an op-shop for 20c sometime last year. **See Mum, I told you I would find a use for that little "dust-collector"** LOL


Basically the cushion is 2 yo-yos. For the top - I cut out a circle a bit bigger than the top of dish, then did a running stitch just inside the edge and pulled the threads. I stuffed the yo-yo with Hobby Fill and left an opening about 3cm wide. To cover the opening I made a smaller yo-yo and hand stitched it to the bottom for 2 reasons - 1. to provide a flat surface and 2. To give the cushion a tidy / finished appearance.


If I have inspired you to make a pincushion or you have designed your own cute pin cushion- please leave a comment and share your link :)

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Thank You cards

After scrapping Craig's V-Day card the other day, I decided to make some Thank You cards while I had all my tools / papers out. Four cards in one day - I seem to have a lot of creative mojo happening at the moment :) I made the scalloped tags sometime last year when I was practicing with my watercolours - it's nice to be able to finally use them :) These cards are to give staff on the cruise.


A close up of each card... I actually re-made the purple one - I didn't like the multicolour ribbon and pink / purple torn paper combo that I originally had. I am much happier with the new version.





Monday, February 14, 2011

Valentine's Day card

Craig & I usually just exchange cards for Valentine's day - this year I decided to make Craig's card. I love the peg/hearts/string combo - I was inspired by a card in the current Stampin' Up IB&C.


Craig surprised me with this very cute teddy! He sings "Be My Baby" and dances/moves - sooo adorable!!


Cruise countdown...6 weeks!

Friday, February 11, 2011

I should have nanna naps more often...

I was feeling a bit sleepy after work yesterday and had a snooze on the couch. After an hours nap I woke up feeling motivated to scrap! This layout is from Clean & Simple #127. I really liked the idea of using string (no surprise there LOL) on the sample card. Here's what I created :)


I tend to make cards as they are needed, so I have decided to try and make a 2nd card (same or similar) while I have the papers and stamps out. I have scrapping plans for this weekend - a couple of challenges, a Valentine's Day card and 3 Thank You cards :) What are your plans?

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Handmade embellishments

I've been keeping my hands busy while watching TV lately making handmade embellishments. First I made 4 of these cute bird cages. I just used wire and cardboard and it came together very quickly. Making the wire part was easy, but I got a bit stuck when it came to the bottom of the cage. After a quick look around my scrap table I found some pieces of corrugated card that were perfect :) I am really happy with how these turned out!


Yesterday I made some quilled roses - using the kit I got while I was on the cruise last year.


After making the embellishments I thought I had better use them to make a card and created this today :)


I was still feeling crafty, so I made this farm animal card for Connor's 2nd birthday. He's having a "pig" themed party - so this will match :)

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Vintage goodies

Mum gave me these lovely vintage goodies on the weekend. Lots of doilies to use for scrapping, containers to store bits & pieces and how sweet is that baby clothes pattern?!?!




Cruise countdown...7 weeks!

Friday, February 4, 2011

Updating links / blogs

I've updated a few links / blogs -

Challenge blogs

White with 1

Creative Scrappers

Show Us Your Stuff

Scrapping blogs

My Favourite Things - I love Dawn's cards! Lots of inspiration here!

What a Beautiful Mess - Lisa has amazing step-by-step to make gorgeous flowers!

Inking Idaho - Lots of cute Stampin' Up cards and projects!