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 #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 :)

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!

Sketches! Challenge #111

I can't believe it! It is still Tuesday and I get to post this week's Sketches! challenge. Because of the time difference I am normally asleep when it is posted on Tamara's page, but I'm being a bit of a night owl tonight so I get to be one of the first instead of one of the last!

This week is a Card Sketch. The card sketches are definitely my favourites. I think it is because they are small and you can finish it in one go.

So here is the sketch:

And here is my card based on the sketch:

Materials: 8x8 inch white cardstock (to make a DL size card to fit in a business size envelope), Kasiercraft (?) PP, red cardstock, Fiskars Threading Water punch, Autumn Leaves clear stamp (flower), Kaszazz stamp (sentiment from the Treasured Memories set), Top Boss white embossing powder, white ribbon, edge distresser, Tim Holtz distress inks, Ice Stickles, pin.

I tried to stick to a Black, White and Red colour theme but wanted to make it a bit vintage so had to introduce the brown distress inks too.

I really like making this size card - it's a bit out of the ordinary, and this months card sketch was perfectly proportioned!

Check out what some of the other DTers have done with this sketch over at the Sketches! blog and don't forget to link up your card or leave a comment :)

Sketches! Challenge #110

Welcome to another Wednesday (here in Australia). This week is a recipe challenge over at the Sketches! blog and it was set by yours truly. I gave the recipe of Embossing, Vellum/Transparency and Felt. I tried to come up with things I haven't or don't tend to use much but it proved a bit of a challenge for ME!

I had an idea of what I wanted to do, so I set about making my layout... which didn't quite turn out as I would have liked, but it's done.

Materials: SB Essentials Cardstock (Kaszazz), Felt, Plastic sheet (Kaszazz), Spring Time stamp set (Kaszazz), Ancient Page inks (Kaszazz), Beutron buttons, Butterfly punch (Kaszazz), Cuttlebug dies, American Crafts ribbon, Staples, Dagwoods Jumbo Rollagraph wheel (Kaszazz), T.H Walnut Stain Distress Embossing Powder (Kaszazz), T.H Peeled Paint Distress Ink (Kaszazz), Kitchen twine, Pens.

I then thought maybe I could come up with a card instead, and just played with bits and pieces, but again I wasn't really happy with it.

Materials: A5 White cardstock (Kaszazz), American Crafts dsp, Silver Embossing powder (Kaszazz), Heidi Swapp? Stamp - you&me, Love Postmark and Dainty Flourish Stamps (Kaszazz), Ancient Page ink, Felt, Plastic sheet (Kaszazz), Cuttlebug die, Cotton thread, Circle Punch (Kaszazz), Edge Distresser (Kaszazz).

Do two mediocre projects equal one fab project? Let's hope so!

I was totally blown away at the other AWESOME projects from the DT ladies - great job!!! Check out all the projects here. If you upload a project (put a link in the Sketches! comments, then let me know here in the comments below) using my recipe I will draw one winner to receive a little something from me (Next Wednesday - so you have a whole week). So, get crafting!

Sketches! Challenge #109

I'm a bit behind the times but this week at Sketches! it is a layout sketch. I totally love sketches - it gives you something to work from.

Here is the sketch:

And here is my layout:

Because the main photo in the sketch was larger than a standard 6x4" photo I went looking through my enlargements and came across this photo of Sophie. It is probably a bit too big but never mind. I am not one for taking small photos - I tend to fill the whole image, and because I don't print my own photos it makes it a bit hard to get the smaller sizes - so I changed the film strip on the bottom to be the butterflies. For the journalling around the photo I used the title and printed out the dictionary definition onto Bazzill and cut it into strips to frame the image. You can't tell in the image but the dots on the butterfly wings and on the title are Stickles - so the are all shiny and sparkly.

Please pop over to the Sketches! blog (if you haven't already) to check out the amazing layouts from the rest of the Design Team - just awesome!!!

Also, if you are a Facebooker, Sketches! now has a page on there with special challenges that will only be posted on Facebook.

Have a good one!

Sketches! Challenge #107

Welcome to Wednesday! This week at Sketches! it is a recipe challenge. The recipe this month is to use Staples, Stamps and Stitching (real or faux). With the recipe challenge you can choose to use it on a card or a layout, and this month I chose a card.

Here is what I came up with:

This card was super simple - I ran the red bazzill through the Cuttlebug with the raised inside of the folder inked with white Colorbox ink. I then stapled on the ribbon and adhered the red card to the dark brown cardstock. Once in place I used a ruler to mark on the white Signo pen for stitching, and stamped the adore stamp twice - once with brown ink and once with red ink. I circle punched the brown stamped image, and cut the top and bottom of the circle from the red stamped image and layered it over the top. A large scallop circle punched from some red card finished with some white Signo stitching, and attached to the ribbon via a paper clip.

If you haven't already you have to check out the other talented ladies' work at Sketches! Lots of inspiration there. As always please share what you make via the comments section on the Sketches! blog - we love checking out your work!

Sketches! Challenge #106

Hello again on a Wednesday (and late at that!).

This week has been swapped to a card sketch over at the Sketches! blog (instead of the recipe challenge).

Here is Tamara's sketch:

And this is my card:

I have to be honest - it wasn't one of my favourite sketches, but I think it turned out ok. All materials are available from Kaszazz (email me if you'd like more info about Kaszazz products or to order).

Don't forget to check out the other DTer's work - they totally ROCK!

Sketches! Challenge #105

Hi all and welcome to another week. Here in Australia all of the kids have gone back to school after their 6 weeks of Summer Holidays. My oldest munchkin started kinder this year, although you could say she is old hat at it, because she attended 3 year old kinder last year, and turns 5 in May this year. No apprehension or fears from her - which is good :)

This week over at Sketches! it is a Layout Sketch:

And here is what I created with it:

As you can see it wasn't a direct translation, but I rotated bits, flipped some, and ended up with something that suited both the paper and the photos... well I think so - lol. Don't you just love those photos that maybe are not perfectly shot, but capture those fleeting moments? Emily (at not quite 2) decided to climb up onto the couch and immitate Matt reading the local newspaper.

And how cute is this paper? I've had it for probably a year or more, and in line with my goal for this year (use it or lose it) I decided it was time to take the scissors to it. The paper is by Kaisercraft, inked with Tim Holtz Distress Inks, the little acetate owl is stamped using Oscar Owl (Kaszazz), using Ancient Page ink in chocolate. The key to stamping on Acetate using Ancient Page is just to let it dry completely (this took about a day) - then no smudges! The title was cut with my cuttlebug, which has been very neglected (insert embarrassed face) and I think I need to pull it out more. When I first got it I used it ALL THE TIME, but now it seems to have a film of dust over it each time I remember I have it.

I think my aim for this month is to re-organise and sort all of my stash. There has to be a better way... but in my little corner of the lounge with a table and bookcase there is only so much you can do with it!

Please leave a comment and don't forget to share your creating using this sketch over at the Sketches! blog.

Sketches! Challenge #104

I'm a bit slow with this one seeing as today is Friday here in Australia, but we have been away camping since last Friday and I'm just getting back into everything. It's amazing how a change of routine throws everything out!

This week over at Sketches! it is a Journalling Challenge - the task was to:

Journal about something in your life that you have

overcome. It can be something very personal and of great importance or something that was a big moment or change in your life. Or it can be something that is more light hearted,

maybe not a huge ordeal in your life but still a situation or something that you had to overcome and make it through to get

to where you wanted to be or to accomplish what you wanted to accomplish.

So, my take on it was to journal about my graduation from university. For me it was a little harder because I had to go back to uni when Emily was a baby so I could finish my course. I had to overcome my own mindset and just DO IT! I'm definitely glad I did :)

I guess it's funny that I love journalling, and have at least a paragraph on 99% of my pages, but when you are given a challenge to journal about something in particular it becomes so difficult! I think I have been quite blessed that there hasn't been too much hardship in my life so far, and for that I can be grateful.

If you have a photo of something you have overcome and could journal about please share it with us over at Sketches! Don't forget to check out all the other DT members pages too - very diverse. Thanks for reading :)

I'm on a Design Team!

Wow, I'm so excited!!! I just checked the Sketches! {by tamara} blog to see who the new design team are and I'm one of them!! Did I mention I am excited?!
The call was for 10 people to join the DT from 1 January - 30 April. There is a 4 week cycle that involves:
Week 1: Layout Sketch Week
Week 2: Recipe Challenge Week
Week 3: Card Sketch Week
Week 4: Journaling Challenge
... so stay tuned for lots of projects and hopefully something to inspire you.

The first challenge will be posted 5th January so make sure you don't miss it!

For those interested in the next NEW Kaszazz Release, it will be happening in mid Jan. There will be more info to come but I'm too excited to concentrate right now.