Blog Winner!

I promised a few weeks ago that I would chose a winner at random for commenting on my blog which of two cards they preferred from this post. I have been a little slack and should have advertised the little something they would win AND who the winner is any earlier! I am sorry.

Here is the little bundle I made up at a demonstration recently that a lucky person could win!


Here's the quick and easy card... This card was made by simply rolling this months spotlight product, the trusty stampin' around wheel, diagonally across the card and then jazzed up with the small flower from the Priceless Set in Rose Red and Orchid Opulence. Then Finished with some wide ribbon across the top and a simple greeting from occassional greetings set!


The little gift box is a 2,4,6,8 box and has some ribbon in it for the lucky winner to use!


Stamp Set: Priceless and So Swirly Wheel - Quick only one day left to purchase this bundle! Occasional Greetings
Cardstock: Rose Red, Whisper White
Ink: Rose Red, Certainly Celery, Orchid Opulence
Accessories: 1 1/2 and 1 3/8 Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Wide and Thin Certainly Celery Grosgrain Ribbon, White Gel Pen

So without further ado I would like to annouce the winner...

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers: 6
Timestamp: 2008-09-29 08:34:32 UTC

The winner is... Tegan!

Tegan your priceless card and box will be in the mail shortly.

Today I am 50... Number 50 post that is! Thanks to all for all the lovely comments. It really means a great deal to me that people read my rambeling and are inspired by my projects.

Happy Stampin'
Dani :)

All About ME!!!

A couple of months ago the wonderfully talented and newly published Alana Galagher who is a member of the Inklings team proposed a 6x6 page swap. I was very excited as I am desperate to fill up my album. This swap however came with a slight twist though. The page had to be about you the creator of the page. I needed to be in the photo in some way. Thinking it was fun I signed u for the challenge. I don't know about you but I hate photo's of myself and prefer to be behind the camera.

Just before my birthday my boyfriend through me a surprise party (which I picked up on a few days before hand) so I thought what a perfect opportunity to get some photo's taken with my mates and use one of those. Needless to say like any traditional birthday bash there was some alcohol involved and I was as crissed as a picket after 2 glasses of wine and... This is where the fun pictures began. I got home and analysed the photo's taken and although there were some great ones of me and my mates I couldn't go past these two that are rather silly but extremly captulating of my personality.

Picture Number 1 (I think I was singing and dancing in my seat either that or I was trying to massage my frontal lobes a little)

Picture Number Two (Can everyone say "huh???" I promise I was not posing in this photo and it was just sort of luck of the snap... Or unlucky which ever way you look at it)

I ended up deciding on the least unflattering of the two (Although I just put the other one on the web for the world to see) for my page. I must say I am so happy with how the page turned out and I think it is me all over. I am a real kid at heart, I don't mind making a fool of myself and I laugh at my own jokes.

The page was also so fun to make as I wasn't trying to capture the feeling of the photo of someone else it was something that was all me. So without further ado I show you the finished page...

Stamp Sets: Looks Like Spring, Big deal Alphabet

Cardstock: Summer picnic DSP, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive

Inks: Bashful Blue, Real Red, Old Olive

Accessories: Mat Pack, Real Red Eyelets, Whisper White Ribbon, Old Olive Marker, Sponge Danber, Luggage Tag (Non SU!), Fiscars Stencil for the arrow shape (Non SU!)

Technique: Kissing

Behind the picture there is a tag which is non SU! It slides in and out and it has some info about me.

Thanks for looking! I hope you love the page as much as I do!

Happy Stamping!

Dani :)

Triple Challenged!

Hi all,

Before I get to why I'm "triple challenged" can I just express my delight and excitement... I made Top 15 for Kristina's last Colour Challenge for THIS card I submitted last week. I am absolutly excited. I thought maybe something was up when I got more than 20 comments but thought maybe it was cos I submitted my card so early but surprise surprise my card was chosen. Thanks so all who left such lovely comments and for visiting my blog. It really does mean alot to me! I think I need to not think about the colours and just do more often :)

Now onto my triple challenge. I have been frequenting the lovely Makeesha Byl's blog lately who has been posting regular challenges. I decided this week to attempt the challenge which was to case the card on page 85 of the Aussie Idea Book and Catalogue. I have cased this card before from another Kristina challenge and think its a great and fun card to make. It's a great card for using scraps.

Anywho I have also been browsing Sam Post's blog and she currently has a GORGEOUS colour challenge at the moment (Soft Sky, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Perfect Plum, and Whisper White)with a $20 prize up for grabs. So I decided to combine the 2 challenges together. Here's what I came up with....

Here's a close up...

Stamp Set: Garden Whimsy, Polka Dot BG

Cardstock: Soft Sky, Pretty in Pink, Pefect Plum, Rose Red, Whisper White

Ink: Soft Sky, Pretty in Pink, Pefect Plum, Rose Red

Accessories: 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" Square Punch, Dimensionals, Hemp Twine, Sponge Daubers

Techniques: Rock n Roll

Now that's 2 challenges... Where's the third I hear you say? Well any regular follower of my blog would know I have a monthly spotlight product and this month it is Stampin' Around wheels. So I decided to make a card using the same beautiful colour challenge and also using a wheel. Here's what I came up with this time...

Here's a close up for you...

I made it using one of my favourite techniques, Embossing resist where I simply embossed in clear embossing powder onto whisper white cardstock and then sponged in Pretty in Pink, Rose Red and Perfect Plum inks to bring out the image. I love doing it cos I get to get my fingers dirty with all different colours of ink. I'm such a kid!!

Stamp Set: Occasional Greetings, Baroque Border Wheel, Priceless

Cardstock: Whisper White, Soft Sky, Perfect Plum

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Perfect Plum, Soft Sky, Versamark

Accessories: Sponges, Clear Embossing Powder, White Grosgrain Ribbon, Mat Pack, Wheel

Thanks for looking!

Happy Stampin!

Dani

Wild About Camp Quality

The Inklings is the wonderful demonstrator group I belong to led by the even more wonderful Jayne Mercer. We as a group have decided to use our crafting skills to benefit other people and are making cards for a charity organisation called Camp Quality. They help support families and children living with childhood cancer by providing recreational activities, education, hospital and financial support. Each month we are sending them cards which can be used for Children to send to family members and the organisation to send to the families also. Each month we are given a card to make (as close to as possible) and send a bunch of them to Jayne who will deliver them to Camp Quality.

Here is this months card. I changed the colours around as I don't own Basic Grey cardstock or inkpad. I really like the colours that I changed it too and I think it is such a sweet and funky card.

Stamp Set: Polka Dot Background, Wild about you, Short and Sweet, Season of Joy

Cardstock: So Saffron, Old Olive, Whisper White

Ink: So Saffron, Old Olive Marker, Pretty in Pink

Accessories: Mat pack, Dimensionals, PIP ribbon

Techniques: Kissing, Masking, Paper Piercing


I have a mate (Hi Andrew) who was diagnosed with cancer when he was 9. He had his leg removed and now walks with a prospectic leg. He always talks about how he wouldn't have got through it as well as he did if it wasn't for the help and support he got from Camp Quality and Canteen. I really hope this tiny gesture helps these kids and there families even by putting a smile on there face.

If you would like to help out by making some cards for this more than worthy organisation please contact me (danielle.fender@centacare.org) or leave a comment and I will give you all the details you need.

Thanks for looking

Dani

Delightfully Simple

I have been eyeing off one of the Simply Sent kits since I got my fingers on the 2008-2009 catalogue. I finally have bitten the bullet and decided to buy the Simple Delights Simply Sent (try saying that 10 times fast) Kit. Let me tell you I'm even more in love with it now then before it was just a print in a catalogue. I am contemplating asking SU! if I can use one of the images as a tattoo... That's how much I like it!!! Also if you like it too you can get it or any of the other Simply Sent Kit for 20% off during the week from 4th-11th October to celebrate World Card Making Day on the 4th October. Aren't SU! great???

I made this card (along with a bunch of others) on Sunday as I was experimenting with different things you can do with it. The colours I'm loving together but the embossing didn't show up as good as I had envisioned.



Here is a close up of the embossing. I embossed in Ballet blue with clear embossing powder and then brayered taken with teal ink over the top.



Stamp Set: Simply Delights (From Simply Sent Kit)
Cardstock: Ballet Blue, Taken with Teal
Ink: Ballet Blue, Taken with Teal, Versamark
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, White gel pen, Mat Pack, Hemp Twine, 1" 1/2 and 1" 3/8 Square Punches, Brayer

Thanks For Looking!

Happy Thursday!

Ciao
Dani

Autumn Blooms

I don't know why I do this to myself. I sit down at my craft desk to get stuff done, No ones home. I'm distraction free and I think to myself hey I haven't checked Kristina's MACM yet only to find out she has posted a new colour challenge. I then can't resist and make a card frantically trying to ensure I get in before the cut off day and time only to find out... I read the date and time wrong and I'm actually submitting like the 15th card or something! Don't I feel like a doofus?!?!

Here are the stunning (yet a little out of my comfort zone) Autumn colours and inspiration photo... Choc Chip (Mmmm Chocolate... I just started a diet and haven't eaten chocolate in over a week! I'm dieing) Bravo Burgundy, Pumpkin Pie (Mmmm Pie!), So Saffron and Old Olive






So here is the card I threw together without too much thought or effort because I wanted to play with the colours but knew I had a million more important things that I should be doing.

Stamp Set: In the Spotlight, Priceless

Cardstock: Choc Chip, So Saffron, Whisper White

Ink: So Saffron, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Bravo Burgundy

Accessories: Paper Piercer, Corner rounder, Choc Chip Grosgrain, So Saffron Brads, Bravo Burgundy Button

Technique: Rock n Roll

A big shout out of congrats to my mate Kylie and the rest of the Gliders from the Australia Women's Wheelchair Basketball team on winning a Bronze medal in Beijing! All you need is a gold in London Kylie and you've got the set! I know you girls can do it! Great work

Anywho I must be off, my bed is desperatly calling my name. I have been working myself a little hard lately I think!

Nighty Night!

Dani

Happy Birthday to my Little Man

On Monday it was my younger brother Ben's 16th Birthday. It was sort of very surreal because I cannot get over the fact that 1. He's a teenager and 2. He's starting senior high school next year. Due to that I still affectionally call him my "little man." At 6 foot tall he is not really little but unfortunatly he's not very man-like either! He is sort of crafty and artistic like me and will occasionally sit down and make cards or help me out. He's really likes the Fishy Friends set and will often suggest that set for cards just because he likes it! So it was a very easy choice on what to use to make his birthday card.


Here is the card I made him for his birthday. I'm so impressed at how good I'm getting at my watercolouring and tend to be using it alot more in my cards of late. The card is very simple but that's the way my brother likes cards...


and here's a close up of my watercolouring...




Stamp Set: Fishy Friends, Occasional Greetings, Seeing Spots
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Certainly Celery, Watercolour paper
Ink: Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue, Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black, Stazon Black
Accessories: Aqua painter, Certainly Celery Ribbon
Technique: Watercolouring

Happy birthday Little Man! You rock! Love you lots

TFL! Happy Stampin'

Dani

Kristina Werner Colour Challenge #22

This week I've hardly touched my craft desk as life has been so busy. I've become mum this week with my parents and younger brother in Fiji (lucky ducks) and I've just had stuff to do all week. When I got an early break from work today it felt like I was just itching to get to my table. I checked out that Kristina Werner had a new colour challenge and I thought why not...





These colours are a little out of my comfort zone as are alot of Kristina's as I am NOT a pink person. I like it on cards but I am not really a pink person. I have also never used Bravo Burgundy so I was a little stumped!

I made 2 cards. I had all these ideas and they didn't work together so I made 2! The first I'm not all that fond of but It looks better in the photo, which doesn't always happen. It took a long time to complete and all these things happened whilst creating it that I just got a little fed up... Here's what the result was.



Stamp Set: In the Spotlight, Short & Sweet
Cardstock: Soft Sky, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Whisper White
Ink: Versamark, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Bravo Burgundy
Accessories: White Embossing Powder, Soft Sky Ribbon, Bravo Burgundy Button, Sponges
Technique: Embossing resist

The second card I have changed the colours slightly. If my order had arrived I would have been ok but cos it didn't I had no more soft sky CS and I don't own the ink pad. So I substituted for Bashful Blue and did some watercolouring. Here's what I came up with...



Stamp Set: A little bit of happiness, Polka Dot background
Cardstock:Bashful Blue, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Watercolouring Paper
Ink: Bashful Blue, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Bravo Burgundy
Accessories: Regal Rose wide ribbon, Bashful Blue Brads, Bravo Burgundy button, Aqua Painters, Corner rounder
Technique: Watercolouring

So, which of the 2 do you like better? Let me know by commenting below before 19th September and I will chose a comment at random and send that lucky person a handmade card. Demonstrators included, overseas is fine!

Thanks for looking! Happy Stampin'

Dani

Wheelin' Good Father's Day

Well as noted yesterday this month I'm spotlighting the use of Stampin' Around Wheels! I made a card the other day for my grandfather in QLD for father's day. It is already a challenge enough to make a card for a man let alone a card using my spotlight product. This card I am so pleased with and must give a mention to the beautiful Carol Dunstan who i took some inspiration from making this card. No particular card of hers just her projects in general! Thanks Carol!

I used the embossing resist technique which was done by embossing the happy father's day stamp from occasional greetings set in white and then sponged over the top in Blue Bayou and Certainly Celery. I then rolled the leaf print wheel in certainly celery onto certainly celery Cardstock. It gives a subtle but great look to the card.

Here's a close up...

TFL! Happy father's day to all the wonderful father's out there!

Happy Stampin'

Dani

Spotlight: Wheely fun!

Hi all,

I know, I know, I'm a little late! Life has been crazy and I'm still not 100% despite being back at work *sniff*. This month in honour of the September Free Wheelin' Promo I have decided that my spotlight product will be Stampin' Around Wheels! All month I will show projects using a variety of wheels and how the use of a wheel can add a quick and simple touch to a project.

The card I have to show you tonight is using the So Swirly Wheel which also co-ordinates with the Priceless set. Buy the Priceless set at anytime during the month of September for only $45.95 and you can recieve the co-ordinating wheel for free! (That's a saving of $15.95) To place your order or this or one of the other 5 sets chosen for the Free Wheelin' Promo please contact me today!

The colour combo I used for this card is a colour challenge I have had up my sleeve for a while based on the photo of bedding I found below! It's a little bright but funky all the same! Cameo Coral, Ballet Blue, Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron (and blush blossom which I didn't use). Please attempt it if you dare.

The layout comes inspired from the Spring Mini on page 17! Jayne set us a challenge a couple of weeks ago to case that card and send a copy to a demonstrator and one to a customer. I made another card but had fun with the layout so tried it again and here's the card!

Stamp Set: Priceless, Occasional Greetings, So Swirly Wheel

Ink: Cameo Coral, Tempting Turquoise, Ballet Blue, So Saffron

Cardstock: Cameo Coral, Tempting Turquoise, Ballet Blue, So Saffron, Whisper White

Accessories: 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Stapler, Jumbo Wheel

Thanks for looking! Have a great Thursday Night!

Ciao!

Dani :)

Blue and Green SHOULD be seen

How would you feel if you got a pressie that looked like this for your birthday? My boyfriend, Karl thought this was impressive when I handed it over to him on Tuesday last week for his 26th birthday! Little did he know I had been BUSY!!

Here is a photo of all the wonderful things he got throughout the course of his birthday...




I had all his presents colour co ordinated in old olive, whisper white and tempting turquoise to match in with the beautiful petals DSP that Karl has always said he likes. Above is a picture of his wrapped present (X files DVD's), an altered notebook (Thanks Margaret), A giftboxed CD (John Mayer), and a beautiful brag book which I made on the team weekend away.

Below is a picture of the CD giftbox that I made using the beautiful Makeehsa Byl's Make it Monday #6 tutorial which can be found here. I saw this and just had to make one. It is so so so easy and so so so cute. I was so impressed with how it turned out.






Here it is opened. It fastens with velcro which I thought made it look even more sassy and schmick! As you can see the CD fits perfectly! I will be making more of these for Chrissy Presents! JB Hifi will love me!







Next here is the cute brag book I made. My SU! Great great grandmother (upline x4) Jayne showed us how to make these on the team weekend away. I'm telling you now they are so super simple and easy. I had so much fun putting it together.



Here is pictures of the pages! They are about 5 3/4" x 5 3/4" in size. How cute is that boyfriend of mine? He's such a spunk if I do say so myself! I've done good!







Awwwwwww....







Here's a photo of the book opened! As you can see each page has slots to put whatever you like in them.



I added some journalling in some slots as shown.





And I also added this gorgeous Michelle Zindorf style birthday card into one of the slots. Karl LOVES landscape and nature and I must say he ADORED this card. He thought it was the best of everything I gave him. I'm pretty happy with it for my first effort! I must get me a brayer.





I also added the altered notebook in one of the slots which is again shown in the photo below with some of the goodies... Aren't they so pretty??





I always say I am going to do something like this and I feel so proud that I was able to pull it off.

TFL!

Cheers Big Ears,

Dani

P.S. Be back tomorrow for next months spotlight project!

Don't you love it when...

It's just all comes together?? I had all intentions on coming online and posting all the beautiful goodies that I created for Karl until I saw Kristina Werner's Colour Challenge number 20 and despite already not making the deadline I just had something in mind that I HAD to do and after I tried it the rest of the design just made itself I didn't even have to think about it and stew it over like I usually do. The card took me a total of 15 minutes and I am so in love with it. Pity I don't have any weddings coming up.

Here are the colours for her latest challenge... Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette (New US and Canadian In Colour), Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla. I substituted Pink Pirouette for Pretty in Pink as obviously I don't have it! Before I reveal my card I must say how pretty are those lounges?? I wish we had pottery barn here!

And here is my card. Have I mentioned that I LOVE IT??? Thought not! I love it! I had some difficulties photographing it due to the cover sitting up all the time and you not being able to properly see the certainly celery scalloped strip so the photo unfortunatly has to have my finger in it!

Stamp Set: Occasional Greetings, Always

Ink Pad: Choc Chip, Rich Regals, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Certainly Celery, Regal Rose

Accessories: Certainly Celery Brads, Choc Chip Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, Pretty in Pink Grosgrain Ribbon, Mat Pack, Corner Rounder Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Markers, Silver jellewry clasp

Thanks for looking! I hope you love my card as much as I do.

I will be back tomorrow with my boyfriends goodies...

Dani :)

Happy Father's Day

As you may be aware Father's Day is coming up very soon so I have been working on a few things. I made the following card on the Team Weekend Away at the start of August orginally for a fellow Inkling, Ryn to give to Miracle Babies Premmie Dad's and Loss Dad's, charities that help support fathers who have lost a baby due to it being Premmie . I absolutly loved the simplicity and beautiful colours of this card that I made a second one to keep for myself.

Stamp Sets: Lovely as a tree, Everyday Flexible Phrases

Ink: Old Olive

Card Stock: Old Olive, Sahara Sand, Fall Flowers DSP

Accessories: Twine (Thanks Carol), Old Olive Marker (Again Thanks Carol), Old Olive Wide Grosgain Ribbon, Dimensionals

I don't own this set but I keep getting more and more convinced that I must invest in it. It's a great set more masculine cards. It's funny since becoming a demonstrator my taste has changed dramatically. There's no way I thought I would ever want a set like Lovely as a tree and at the moment it is way up there on what I have dubbed my "I will buy" list as aposed to my "wish list." Lol! Have you ever seen a set and never thought you liked or would ever use and suddenly changed your mind. If so I want to hear about it. Please leave a comment outlining what set and why you like it so much now and even post a link to a blog or album where you have used that set. I will pick one at random next Wednesday 3rd September and that person will recieve something from me!

Have a great day!

Dani

Spotlight - Watercolouring Class

Hi all,

Wow! I have been busy busy busy and in amongst all of it I have fallen sick... again! It is killing my life. I cannot seem to ever recover from anything and this has been going on for 6 weeks now! Meh! Anywho! As mentioned here I am doing a class on my spotlight technique this month in watercolouring this Sunday 31st August at 2pm at my place and I have ONE more spot left. The class costs $20 with everything included to make 4 beautiful cards. So here is a little sneak peak of one of the things you will be making!! If you want the last spot get in quick before it fills up. Contact me via commenting on this post or email me with your contact details and I'll contact you to confirm your spot.



Today is also my very gorgeous boyfriends birthday and I have spoilt him rotten! I will be back to show you all the beautiful stuff he got! Happy Birthday Karl! Love you lots hunny!

TFL!

Dani

Blog awards

I promised I would be back to post about the blog awards I have been given from my fellow blogging friends. Today is also my birthday so I thought it is a better day than any to make my self feel better by showing off some awards I have recieved...





The first I recieved was from the very lovely Kari about a month ago (Yeah I know I have been slack) for well as the award says... Having a brilliant blog! Thanks a bunch for this award Kari it means alot that people even read my ramblings let alone think my blog is brilliant! Now I am supposed to pass this on. The hard thing about this is I have been so utterly slack that everyone whom I feel has a rocking blog has already been tagged already and just about everyones blog I visit is brilliant. I am going to however pass this on to the very lovely Rebecca Munro. Although she doesn't get to post all that often (Which I can relate to) she does have some pretty clever ideas and some pretty projects and I just loved getting to know her more on the weekend away.



The second I have recieved from my singing buddy, Chai Tea drinking and sci fi geek extrodinare (If that's spelt right) Carol Dunstan for doing what I do best and leaving lovely comments. Now if that wasn't a good intro I don't know what is! Now with this award were a few rules...

1. Only 5 people allowed.
2. 4 have to be dedicated followers of your blog
3. one has to be someone new or recently new to your blog and live in another part of the world.
4. you must link back to whoever gave you the award.

1. Well I'm going to be a copy cat and pain in the but and send this back to Carol. She always one of the first to comment on my work and give me encouragement. I really enjoy visiting her blog she has stunning work so I feel honoured that she comments on my work! Thanks Love!

2. I know she has already been tagged but I am sending this onto the lovely Kari Hughes. Not only does she comment on my work but she always sends me follow up emails just because she is so lovely and it always brightens my day if not give me a well earnt break (or 2) from work! :) Thanks Kari!

3. Kylie Swain. Again she also has such gorgeous and different work which inspires me and I feel flattered she leaves me comments. Thanks Kylie!

4. Lin Mei Yap. With her cute little voice and comedic blog who could resist but give this talented lady an award?? Thanks for all your encouraging comments Lin Mei!

5. Does the other side of Sydney count as "live in another part of the world"?? TOO BAD I say! The last person I'm sending this onto is Michelle Dyson. I had the plessure of meeting the beautiful Michelle on the team weekend away and she really encouraged me and helped where needed so Thanks Michelle. I look forward to meeting you again!

Ok that was really hard so to anyone who does read this that I did miss out I'm sorry! I love your work too! I promise!

Now to those people that will no doubt leave me Happy Birthday messages. Thanks in advance. I had a lovely day despite working. I got to have yummy dinner with my family at my favourite Chinese restaurant. They haven't changed the decor in about 50 years and the prices haven't changed either so it was a lovely night. I also got thrown a surprise birthday party from my boyfriend on Saturday! It was a lovely evening despite me working out the surprise a few days before... OOOPS! I will post some pics later on! I got given an ink caddy and a draw set to organise my very messy craft desk from my parents. I'll post pics later on also to show you some great ways of organising your stuff.

Anyway I will stop rambling as I was "Only going to do a short post." And say Goodnight! Sleep well and sweet dreams!

Dani