A sad day...

Unfortunately this is my last post as one of the Design Team members at Sketches! {by Tamara}.  It has been a great 4 months and the sketches and challenges have all been great.  I wish Tamara all the best, and I shall be following her blog in the future :)
This week being the last of the month is a Journalling Challenge.  The challenge set was to : Make a layout about the 5 things (material items) you can not live without.  For example:  Coffee, Laptop, Hairspray, low-riding jeans, mascara, ect.

Here are my 5 things:

Materials: Butter SB Essentials Cardstock (Kaszazz), Black Bazzill, A5 white cardstock (Kaszazz)  Kaisercraft pp, Scrapbooking Memories free digi alphabet (May 09), 44mm Circle and Super Scallop punches (Kaszazz), Moonlight Smooch, Stripe Background Stamp (Kaszazz), Yellow Cadmium Colorbox Fluid Chalk ink, Signo white gel pen, Black Permaball pen.

Those who know me will already know that I don't care much for make-up or fashion.  It took me a while to come up with my 5 things - considering I couldn't include family, etc.  I literally had to search the house thinking about things I couldn't do without... but I think I could pretty much go without all of my material possessions if I had to.

Thanks for stopping by my blog :)  Check out the Sketches! blog to see what the other DT members consider their Top 5!

Also, don't forget about the new Kaszazz release next month - if you are in Melbourne, Australia, and would like to check it out, email me at the address at the top.

Happy Crafting.

Sketches Challenge #116

This week over at the Sketches! blog it's a card sketch challenge.  This sketch was quite versatile and easy.  I went with a neutral colour palette.

Here is the sketch:

Here is my card:

Materials: Neutrals cardstock (Kaszazz), Kaisercraft patterned paper, For My Friend and Swirl Frames stamps (Kaszazz), Chocolate Ancient Page ink, Twill ribbon (unknown), Small Flower punch (Kaszazz), Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz, Magic Mount, Stamp-a-ma-jig.

I really love the Smooch Spritz - it is a pearlised mist that gives a gorgeous shimmer. On the card I spritzed it onto the background piece of card (you can just see it), and I also dabbed some onto the centre of the flowers to look like a pearl.  The Smooch Spritz is available in a range of colours (although I really like the white) and is $8.95 for the bottle.  If you spray it close you get an intense blob (like a paint splatter) or if you spray from a distance you get more of a speckled look.
Also, my newest 'bestest' friend is my Stamp-a-ma-jig.  There is NO way I could have possibly lined up that frame with the words without it.  I have emailed Kaszazz and asked for it to be added to the products (it is made by EK Success who make the Cutterpede trimmer and some of the punches Kaszazz stocks), but their response was that because the stamps are cling stamps with a clear acrylic block you don't need a stamp positioner... well, sorry but I can't see through rubber!  So I went ahead and bought one anyway!

Here is my newest 'bestest' friend:

'til next time...
Happy Crafting!

Ali Edwards: week in the life

One of the best known names in the Scrapbooking industry is Ali Edwards.  She has a distinct style and often combines paper and digital (known as hybrid) and ends up with an eclectic mix of photos, ephemera (gathered items), journalling and embellishments.
As of Monday (which will be Tuesday Australian time) she is beginning her week in the life project.  If you are interested in following her or even trying this yourself you can check it out on her blog here.  She currently has a great post outlining what is required (and you could do this project anytime - not just next week) and you will need.
I like that her focus is on the photos and events rather than a strong emphasis on the graphic design of each page.  I know that pretty pages are nice to look at, but it sometimes helps to remember why I scrapbook.  I have a bad memory and kids grow far too quickly, so every little bit helps!

Sketches Challenge #115

This week's challenge on the Sketches! blog is a recipe challenge.  It called for Brads, Buttons and the Colour Blue.  When I was given the recipe I thought "easy!" but it took me 3 attempts to get a card that I could remotely consider giving to someone. Yes, 3.

Here is my card:

(sorry the lighting wasn't great)

Materials: A5 white cardstock; Dot Background stamp, Cherry Blossoms Large stamp, Mini Messages -Get Well Soon (all from Kaszazz); Colorbox Fluid Chalk inks - Ice Blue, Wisteria, Olive Pastel and Creamy Brown; Ancient Page - Stone Gray; Buttons and Brads from stash (unknown); Glossy Accents; Rainbow fine glitter; White 1/2" Grosgrain ribbon; Magic Mount; EK Success corner rounder. 

I kept this one pretty simple, and my inspiration was taken from the lovely Jennifer McGuire.  I love how her cards are simple and pretty.
Would you like to know how I coloured the cherry blossoms?  Colorbox Fluid Chalk ink.  I smudged some of the ink onto my craft mat and used my aquapainter (water filled pen with a brush tip) to blend it up a bit.  I then started with the darker areas and worked to the lighter areas (as it got more watery).  It wasn't the easiest technique - the ink wasn't the most predictable (sometimes it would be too dark and seep into one spot and others it just wouldn't seem to grab).  Just another hair-brained idea I came up with.
I am totally in love with the dot background stamp.  Can you tell?

Thanks for stopping by my blog :)

The Shabby Tea Room Week #4

The Shabby Tea Room challenge blog is relatively new, and I've been watching on since it started.  I absolutely love the shabby chic look but have difficulties pulling it off.  I've realised I definitely need some new ribbons and lace to complete the look for my future creations.
Here is my card for the Week #4 Challenge:

The challenge was to use white or cream with one other colour... ok, so I didn't quite stick to that.  My base is white which I stamped with the medium butterfly stamp using Tea Dye distress ink and stamping off once.  I then repeated this on the middle of a small paper doily, and then blended the ink over the rest.  The doily is cut into 4, with 2 quarters attached to the upper left and lower right corners.  2 lengths of Tea Dyed lace (which I think came from my mum's sewing box and is goodness knows how old) and a strip of brown card.  I used Frost White colorbox ink to stamp the sentiment and sponge over the rest of the card to mellow it.  The iris is part of the Spring Time uncut set which I inked with Wisteria and Olive Pastel fluid chalk inks and stamped off once then stamped on white cardstock and cut out and glued on with Glossy Accents.

I really like how this turned out.  I will definitely be trying future challenges from The Shabby Tea Room.

Sketches! Challenge #114

Another week and another challenge on the Sketches! blog.  This week is a Layout Sketch using multiple photos.

I like using lots of photos cos I usually have plenty (I never take just one photo), but when I have to cut them or orientate them a certain way I have troubles... so I followed the main design but not exactly for the photos.

Materials:  SB Essentials Cardstock, Kaisercraft paper, Note Journal stamp (Kaszazz), Circle punch (Kaszazz), Colorbox fluid chalk ink - Dark Peony, Cuttlebug concentric hearts die, Cuttlebug Harmony alpha dies, Felt, Signo pen - gold, Staples.

I plan to do a second page with the same sketch to make it a double layout (with the rest of the photos!) so that it includes all of the family with Sophie as a newborn.  I thought the title could easily be expanded with a  "by all" on the second page - or even just left blank.

Check out the other DTers work on the Sketches! blog - there is a lot of variety there!

Just for fun...

I whipped up these cute little invites in the hope that they will encourage me to use them!  I have been meaning to invite people over for ages and just never seem to get around to it so I thought a High Tea might be a nice idea - and a lot less fuss than a whole dinner.
My inspiration is from Jennifer McGuire - she always has a lovely detailed but simple style and don't you love the polka dots?

Materials: A6 card (1/2 of a A5 card) (Kaszazz), Background Dot and Cupcake outline stamps (Kaszazz), Join Us stamp (Fiskars), Colorbox Fluid Chalk inks - French Blue, Olive Pastel, Pink Pastel, Wisteria, Creamy Brown (Kaszazz), Organdy ribbon - brown, blue and pink (Kaszazz), Dot ribbon (Celebrations), Ric Rak (American Crafts), Smooch - Moonlight (Kaszazz), Ice Stickles (Kaszazz).

Until next time, Happy Crafting!