Happy 5th Birthday Asha

 

Hi guys,

Two posts in a week, GO ME!! My beautiful niece is turning 5 (I can't believe she's 5 already) and I wanted to make her a card with some of my new goodies from the catalogue. I used the fun sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches for this week which looks like this....







 

I then saw that this weeks challenge over at Just Add Ink was "Just Add Kids/Childrens Cards" and I thought bonus, I'll enter my card for both he he he. Here's what I did with the sketch and the super super cute Owl Occasions set from the mini. It's SOOOOO fun to play with.

Sorry about the crappy photo, it doesn't do the card justice, been on night shift so had to take the photo on location at my neices party.

 

 

Thanks for looking,

Dani

Just Add Ink 105

Hi guys,

I'm so sorry for my quietness. Bad bad blogger. I always feel like i'm apologising on here. Truth be told is I have just landed a perm position at work and have gone to fulltime hours which includes lots more night shift then I used to do so I just haven't had as much time from the little amout of time I usually have. I do have 2 things I have made in the last two days to share with you though. First is a baby shower card for my close friend whose shower I am going to on Sunday. I always struggle with baby shower cards, I don't know why. Baby cards are easy but showers I don't know... Anyway I saw this colour combo over at Just Add Ink and was in love and decided it was perfect for a unisex baby shower card

 Aren't they a great combo of colours? This card I've actually made a similar version of before but never put on my blog so I suppose I CASEd myself. Which is just as well cos my mojo has been on holidays lately. Let me know if you think I found it...

Stamp Set: Baby Bundle

Ink: Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder, Certainly Celery

Cardstock: Whipser White, So Saffron, Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder, Certainly Celery

Accessories: 1 3/8" punch, Polka Dot embossing folder, Big Shot, Dimesnionals, Alphabet die, White Taffeta Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots, Certainly Celery Brads, Two way glue pen

Thanks for looking. I'll hopefully be back tomorrow to share what else I've been working on

Dani

200 Posts, Woo!

Well I can't believe I would ever make 200 posts when I started my wee little blog years ago but I got here. How exciting!!!!

Also I really want to apologise for my quietness during the last month. Truth be told my SLR decided to die and I haven't had time to go camera shopping but hoping it will happen during the week when I finally have 3 days off work. So I have made lots of beautiful creations and haven't been able to share them. I do however have a card to share today. I was really desperate to be able to put something on my blog so the mr took this photo at Maccas on his phone and then I editted it on the computer lol. I made the card for my beautiful niece who turned 4 during the week. Shes growing up too quickly.



Unfortunatly the photo doesn't do the card the justice it deserves. There is stamping on the daffodil panel and dazzling diamonds on the wand that you just can't see. As well as the dimensions from the dimensionals. There are a few things I do love on this card from the new catty though:
1. The Princess- Will get alot of work out in my house of girls
2. Wisteria Wonder - need I say anymore?? Divine
3. The new 2 1/2" circle punch. Extra large and fabulous! Love it.

Stamp Set: Perfect Princess
Cardstock: Watercolouring paper, Wisteria Wonder, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Melon Mambo Prints DSP
Ink: Wisteria Wonder, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Peach Parfait, Blushing Bride
Accessories: 2 1/2" circle punch, Daffodil delight satin ribbon, Aqua Painter, Two way glue pen, dazzling diamonds, Rhinestones, Dimensionals, mini glue dots, Sponge Daubers

Thanks for looking and tanks to my loyal readers for sticking around and enjoying my creations

Dani

Inkspirations #80

Hi guys,

FINALLY I have a girls card to make after then 10 billion boys parties we've had lately. The lucky girl is our friend's daughter Jessie who is about to turn 5. I used this weeks colours from Inkspirations. The colours were really fun to work with. I was also shocked to find I haven't yet used Concord Crush. I really need to play with my product more hahaha. Here are the fab colours...



What I did with them was very different for me but I like it. I took a long time fav stamp set (Priceless) that hasn't seen a lot of ink recently and will be retiring at the end of the month :( and tried to focus on lots of elements from the set. I'm really sad to see this set go but am happy with what I did with it. It ended up really fun and patchwork like.



Stamp Set: Priceless, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Ink: Concord Cruch, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz
Cardstock: Whisper White, Concord Cruch, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz
Accessories: Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Big Shot, Simple Letters Alphabet die, 1 3/4" circle punch, 1 1/2" square punch, dimensionals

Want to see more projects using some of the stuff on the retiring list?? Come back to my blog on Saturday 6th August at 1:00pm to participate in the ESAD Retiring Blog Hop where me and my fellow ESAD girls will celebrate the gorgeous stuff that will be retiring on 31st August. If you haven't checked out the list, see it here

Thanks for looking,

Dani

Inkspirations #79

Hi guys gotta make this quick today as I'm about to literally fly out the door. Made this card today and then loved how quick and simple it was that I made a few extra up cos they were great for all the boys birthdays we've seemed to have lately. It's very simple for me and has no embellishments whatsoever and when I realised I was tempted to add some but I think it's nice to do something different sometimes. I used Inkspirations sketch


And here's the card. Bright and super cute for any boy!



Want anymore details email me! Have a great one I'm off for a night out with my bestie! Woo!

Dani

Happy Birthday Ethan

Hi Hi,

Yesterday was my friends son Ethan's 2nd birthday so I whipped him up a card for his birthday. I used the latest Inkspirations Sketch Challenge. I surprisingly did it from memory and got the card pretty accurate. I feel like I've been struggling with my mojo lately so it was nice to make this card and have my mojo just happen a bit more as I was making it. Here's this weeks sketch...



I used Fox and Friends to make the card. Ethan has a toy giraffe that he sleeps with and it looks just like the giraffe from Fox and Friends so I tried to make it the star of the card.



Stamp Set: Fox and Friends, Occasional Greetings
Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait, Marina Mist
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait, Marina Mist, Peach Parfait Prints DSP pack
Accessories: Marina Mist Satin Ribbon, Marina Mist Brads, Dimensionals, SAMJ, Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die, Big Shot, Two Way Glue Pen

Thanks for looking!

Have a lovely night,
Dani

Welcome Baby Luke

Hi guys and gals,

A few weeks ago one of my dear friends I met through my mums group gave birth to baby number 2, another little (Ok maybe not so little he was 4.5kg) boy. When he was born I made him a card but its taken me a while to get it up on here. But when I saw this weeks challenge at Just Add Ink I thought it would suit perfectly. This weeks challenge is "Just Add Colouring In." I made this card with limited supplies on night shift and didn't have watercolouring paper with me so am not as happy with the colouring in as I would have been with watercolouring paper, That stuff is the bomb! Aside from that I am really happy with how the card turned out, except for my dodgy bow which I royally screwed up at 3 am when tiredness set in. I really hope you like it though...



Stamp Set: Baby Tees Jumbo Wheel, Nursery Necessities, Baby Bundle
Ink: Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, Black Stazon
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery and Marina Mist Prints DSP, Marina Mist, Very Vanilla,
Accessories: Aqua Painter, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Lots of Tags die, Big Shot, Certainly Celery Ribbon, Sponges, Dimensionals, SAMJ

Thanks for looking,

Dani

Riley's 2nd Birthday Invitations

On Sunday my little girl turned 2. I cannot believe that she is 2 already, It seems like only yesterday I was experiencing an awful pregnancy. She has brought us so much joy and I really enjoyed throwing her a birthday party. For her birthday we decided on a cookie monster theme cos she loves Sesame Street and she loves cookies. So I made her the cutest invites, the idea was cased from the lovely Clare McIllhatton. They were so super easy and great for replicating. Here they are...



And here is the cookie pulled out of the middle. On the back of the cookie were all the invite information. CUTE CUTE CUTE!



Stamp Set: Circle Circus
Ink: Early Espresso, Real Red
Cardstock: Real Red, Pacific Point, Whisper White, Creamy Caramel
Accessoires: 1/2" circle punch, Scallop circle punch, 1 1/2" circle punch, Circle die for big shot, Big Shot, Early Espresso Marker

Because my camera is still on the fritz I haven't got too many photos of the party to share I do however have a few shots of the cake and cutest cupcakes ever that me and a few helping friends made for the party. I'm so proud at how it all turned out. When I get a copy of the better photos I'll share them, These were the ones taken on my friends camera phone.

Cookie Monster Cake... Cooooooookieeeee!


The cutest ever cookie monster cupcakes, Full of sugar and yumminess!



Thanks for looking

Dani :)

Botty Bot!

Hi guys,

Wow 2 posts in 2 days. Hope I can keep up this momentenum. My brother asked me to make his girlfriend a card for her birthday which was yesterday, Happy Birthday Silver (Her names Sylvia but my daughter pronounces it Silver hehe), And she's quiet nerdy and geeky so I had to make her a robot card, Been loving robot cards lately. So I pulled out Best Bots Forever which unfortunatly isn't available here in Australia, sorry. But it's still super cute. And I made two cute bots holding hands. Aren't they so sweet??



Stamp Set: Best Bots Forever, Lots of Bots
Ink: Black Stazon, Perfect Plum, Rose Red, Pear Pizzazz, Marina Mist, Basic Grey
Cardtock: Watercolouring Paper, Perfect Plum, Rose Red, Pear Pizzazz, Marina Mist Prints DSP
Accessories: Marina Mist Taffeta, Sponge Daubers, SAMJ, Word Window Punch, Aqua Painter

I asked my youngest what was on the card. She's been a bit slower with her talking but is really starting to take off lately and she told me it was a "botty bot" which was just so sweet so I thought that was an appropriate title for this post esp when I always struggle with a title.

TFL! Have a great Saturday
Dani

Inksprirations #69

Hi guys and gals,

Wow I've been mighty quiet. Things have been really quiet on my side of the world and unfortunatly craft hasn't been my top priority. Also my camera has been having issues. Looks like it's working, sorta, now so hopefully there will be alot more posts soon.

Anywho I got to particpate in the latest Inkspirations challenge. This week it s great sketch. Here it is...



I'm actually really chuffed with the end result cos I made most of it on nightshift at work with what I thought was "limited" supplies. This card is for my friends soon to be foster son whose about to turn 3. The colour combo is great too...



Stamp Set: Lots of Bots, It's Your Birthday
Cardstock: Pear Pizzazz, Baha Breeze, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Watercolouring Paper, Pear Pizzazz DSP from Level 1 hostess set
Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Baha Breeze, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Black StazOn
Accessories: Red Grosgrain, Brights Brads, Big Shot, Dimensionals, Big Shot Alphabet, Aqua Painter, Baha Breeze Marker, modern label punch

Thanks for looking. Will be back soon with more stuff to share. Also my counter has hit over 20,000 hits in my absense so think I may have a special giveaway soon too

Dani

Big News

Warning personal post!!!

Hi guys,

WOW, it's been a little quiet at my wee little blog lately hasn't it. I keep mentioning I have alot going on recently and have been pretty run off my feet. Well... now that everything is FINALLY official I would like to share my big news with you all.

One of my family members had a little girl 6 mths before I gave birth to my daughter Riley. Due to circumstances which I cannot go into the little girl (Lilly) was unable to be cared for by her parents and went into foster care. I couldn't fathom the thought of this little girl getting stuck in the foster system all her life and not getting to know her family so in August last year we made the decision to get assessed as foster carers for this little girl. And we were successful. So lots of months later after we went through all the paper work and formalities and all the rest we finally have a foster child. YAY! She has been living with us permanently since last Sunday (a week so far) and all is going pretty well. Riley loves having a big sister and someone she can play with all the time.

On top of this huge news I also have a new job which I am starting in 2 weeks time, Again this is another thing that has dragged on and on (Was supposed to start in November) but I cannot wait for the new possibilities it will bring. It will be a bit of a change from my current industry but I feel this is the best time for me to turn over a new leaf and learn something new.

It feels nice to finally share a little bit about what has been happening around here. I have been very busy but feel so blessed to be able to make a difference for someone who really needs it.

Now it wouldn't be a blog post without a card. I made a card for Lilly for her 2nd birthday back in December and keep forgetting to put it on here so this seems the most fitting post for it. I still 3 mths later really love the card...



Stamp Set: Butterfly Prints, On your Birthday
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Perfect Plum
Cardstock: Perfect Plum, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Whisper White
Accessories: Dimensionals, Pretty In Pink Satin Ribbon, SAMJ, Linen Thread, Big Shot, Top Note Die

Thanks for looking and hopefully I will have time to start creating again soon

Dani

It's Challenge, It's Challenge Time!

If you know Flight of the Conchords at all you'll know what the title is all about!!! But apart from that I got to have a break from busyness today and got to participate in challenges! How exciting. I got a card made the other week for a challenge and just never got it on my blog due to being unwell. So I feel good to have two cards to share today.

The first is The Inkspirations Challenge. This week Makeesha whipped up a colour challenge for us. Here are the colours



I wasn't sure what to do with these. They are great colours but I they were a bit of a challenge, which I suppose is the whole point really. Here's what I came up with



Stamp Set: Fox and Friends
Ink: Basic Grey
Cardstock: Whisper White, Rose Red, So Saffron, So Saffron Prints DSP Stack
Accessories: 1/2" Circle Punch, Dimensionals, So Saffron Brads, Linen Thread

For this card I wanted to use ribbon but didn't have any that I was happy with so I made my own rouged up cardstock. I did this really rough to give it a bit of different dimension. All I did was give it a light scrunch and then fold it roughly until I was happy with it. I then added some linen thread around it for some extra texture.

The next challenge I participated in was Just Add Ink. This week the challenge was Just Add Sympathy. I don't usually like making sympathy cards just because of what they represent. But I do find them easier because you can use alot of different sets. I love doing brayering on my sympathy cards though. I finally got to use one of my new sets, Just Believe. Its really beautiful.



Stamp Set: Just Believe, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Night of Navy, Whisper White
Ink: Versamark, Night of Navy, Baja Breeze, Marina Mist
Accessories: Heat Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Brayer, Dimensionals, 1 1/4" circle, Post it notes

For this card I embossed the baja background in clear. And also embossed the large image in night of navy and clear embossing. I added the circle punched from a post it note and then brayered adding colours until I got my desired effect. I originally did a sunset and then got a lovely pumpkin pie finger print on the sun so thought it was a sign I should have went with night sky. I am happy with it either way and it was just nice to sit and relax for a few hrs while bubba was at day care.

Thanks for looking!
Dani

Fun with embossing

Hi guys,

Sorry for being so quiet over the last week or so. Things have been busy. Over a week ago I had my downlines over for the afternoon for some stamping. I wanted to show them some techniques and other things you can do with embossing rather than just embossing an image. It was also about giving them ideas and tips so they can share these fun techniques with there customers and add them to there next projects. So we made 3 fun cards. Here they are for you.

Card One - Faux Metal

I love doing the faux metal. The technique is all about building layers and layers of embossing. I generally do 6 layers. It gives you a nice thick image to give the illusion of metal but not so thick that it won't fit into a punch. The biggest tip I can give you with this technique is to work quickly. especially at the last layer. When your ding your last layer you want to have your image already inked up on versamark ready to go. As soon as your last layer has all melted you need to put your stamp on straight away and you need to push it down and hold it there for at least 30 seconds. This will give you a nice and clear image. If you don't get the image right the first time you can add more powder and re heat it to get another layer so you don't loose all the layers you just did. Here's a close up of what the technique will look like at the end...



And here's the card we made. Simple put I really like it. Silver and blues work great together and it's a great non traditional Christmas Card too.



Stamp Set: Season of Joy
Ink: Versamark
Cardstock: Night of Navy, Baja Breeze
Accessories: Heat Tool, Silver Embossing Powder, Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder, 1 1/2" 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Scallop Circle Punch

Card Two - Embossing Resist

Probably one of my FAVOURITE techniques. It's lots of fun, gets you nice and inky! This technique involves stamping your image randomly in versamark onto whisper white cardstock. Heating it. Then using sponges or daubers sponging on as many or as little colour as desired. I find this technique is great with kids. They love it. Tips for this technique is using lots of colour. The bolder your colour and the more you use the more the your image will stand out. It also works well with a backgound stamp (such as en francias) stamped first and then embossed over the top.

Here's the card we made. Simple and quirky! I used Wild Wasabi cardstock and ink as I am so excited about its return and wanted to give my downlines a sample with it.



Stamp Set: Priceless
Ink: Versamark, Wild Wasabi, Tempting Turquoise, Elegant Eggplant
Cardstock: Elegant Eggplant, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White
Accessories: Heat Tool, Scallop Square, 1 1/2" Square punch, Sponges, Clear embossing powder

Card Three - Cracked Glass

This technique I've never done before but it's so gorgeous and gives your card something different. It's great for vintage style which is very in atm. So this technique again requires lots of layers of embossing. First you stamp your image and have the whole area cut out and ready to go. Then you emboss layers and layers of clear embossing powder. 6 worked quiet well to give it a really good surface. Once it's done you need to cool it down. I found putting it in the freeze for a minute or so gives it enough cold to give it a nice crack. You then need to crack it as little or as much as possible. Give it a rub over with some darker ink (I used Close to Cocoa) to give it a 'worn' look and it should look a little like this....



And the final card...



Stamp Set: Upsy Daisy, Sanded BG
Ink: Rose Red, Close to Cocoa, Rose Red, Always Artichoke and Regal Rose Stampin' Write Markers
Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Whisper White
Accessories: Heat Tool, Clear embossing powder, Sponge Dauber, Dimensionals, Hemp Twine, Always Artichoke Brads

Thanks for looking and I hope I've inspired you to use your embossing powder in a different way next time you pull it out!

Dani

Happy 1st Birthday Ethan

Hi guys,

One of Rileys friends (and sort of boyfriend) Ethan turned one during the week and had his birthday party yesterday so I had to make him a card to go with his present. I was going to go punch arty and make a Winnie the Pooh card cos his mum is a little Winnie the Pooh crazy but I didn't have all the punches I needed so I decided to pull out one of my much loved sets 'Wild About You.' My Spidie senses are telling me this set may retire at the end of this catalogue so I wanted to get a little more use out of it before it does. Here's the card I came up with...



Isn't that colour combo divine? Its' So Saffron, Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery and Basic Grey. I was really happy with those colours! Will be using those again! I have seen Makeesha Byl do that gorgeous ribbon out the side with button attached for a while now and keep meaning to give it a go. After seeing her tutorial this week (found in this post) I was inspired to do it. This is the 3rd card this week I've made with it. It just gives the card something extra. Please note though this card won't fit into an envelope like this though. The button especially makes it to bulky!

Stamp Set: Wild About You, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Ink: Basic Grey, So Saffron, Certainly Celery
Cardstock: So Saffron, Basic Grey, Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery Prints DSP*
Accesories: 1 1/2" square punch, dimensionals, certainly celery ribbon, Non SU button, Sticky Strip, linen thread

Thanks for looking

Enjoy the beautiful Sunday weather we have today!
Dani

Inkspirations Challenge #31

Hi guys,

As I stated the other day when I saw this sketch I had another idea I wanted to try. Now I must say I'm not 100% happy with the outcome but still thought the card was cute so I thought I'd share it anyway. Here is the sketch we had to work with...



My team are currently doing a swap using the technique "suspension cards." As I have only ever made one of these before I thought this sketch gave me the perfect opportunity to practice. I am glad I did because there is alot of tweaking that needs to be done before I am 100% happy with it. This card also took alot of work because I haven't replaced all the punches I lost when my stuff was stolen so I cut all the squares for this card with my cutter and not a punch or big shot dye!

Here's the card...



The suspended "bugs and kisses" square spins to reveal a picture on the other side. Here is the card with the other side of the suspension



Too cute huh??? Here's a close up of the suspension mid twist.



Stamp Set: Bugs and Kisses
Ink: Old Olive, Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red
Cardstock: Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Tangerine Tango, Summer Picnic DSP*
Accessories: Dental Floss, Sticky Strip, Scallop Edge Punch, Tangerine Tango Ribbon, SAMJ, Paper Cutter

Thanks for looking,
Dani

Happy 1st Birthday Grace

Hi guys,

One of the babies, Grace, from my mum's group turns 1 today! I can't believe how quickly this year has flown. It seems like only yesterday I was all nervous to meet these people and now they are all really great friends. Since it's her 1st birthday I thought it was only appropriate to make her a gorgeous card. I used the current Just Add Ink sketch. I've been wanting to join in on one of there challenges for weeks now so it was great to finally have the opportunity. Here's the sketch.

This card I made I feel has been inspired alot by Teneale Williams. If you haven't checked out her blog before, what rock have you been living under? She is super talented! Go have a look! I have used her 'Faux Bow' technique to get the worlds most perfect bow. She has a video technique on how to do them which can be found here. I think mine needs a little more work to live up to the master but I am very happy with it. I also cased a few things from other cards she has done but put my own little spins on it too. I must say I am quiet happy with the end result



Stamp Sets: Fox and Friends, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Sanded BG
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel Marker
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette Prints DSP
Accessories: Choc Chip Wide Grosgrain, Bouquet Designer Buttons Pink Pirouette Button, Round Tab Punch, Dimensionals, Sponge Daubers, Hemp Twine

Thanks for looking,
Dani

Makeesha Colour Challenge No 16

Hi All,

WOW! November was hit and miss! I created, I swear. It was just one of those months, In between the computer crashing, hospital visits and general life busy-ness I just haven't had time. I really need to stop making excuses. To make up for it I have a really cute card made for Makeesha's Colour Challenge! How super funky are these colours??



I thought these colours would be rocking as a boys card so I pulled out a set I've hardly used, Bugs and Kisses, and had a play! I really like what I came up with and really want to play some more with it now except we have an ant infestation at the moment and they have taken a liking to my craft desk and well I end up getting eaten by evil bugs everytime I create so I feel my choice in sets is quiet fitting given our ant visitors.



You can't quiet tell but in the background I have stamped little ladybettles on the red cardstock in versamark! Look hard and you will see them. Every photo I took it was very hard to see them.

Stamp Set: Bugs and Kisses, Sanded BG
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Taken With Teal, VersaMark
Cardstock: Taken with Teal, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Accessories: Pumpkin Pie Marker, Stamp a ma jig, 1 3/8" & 1 1/2" circle punch, scallop edge punch, Sponge daubers

Thanks for stopping by!
Dani