Just Add Ink Challenge #16 - 2nd Entry

Guess who!! Yep, I'm back with my 2nd entry for this weeks Just Add Ink Challenge #16

What do you think? I was pretty happy with my attempts at watercolouring for these cards, once again I used my Aqua Painter. And I'm pretty happy to have inked up the Echoes of Kindness Stamp Set. The only thing I wasn't too impressed with was the slight breeze that kept tipping my card over whilst I was trying to photograph it outside today! ggrrrr!  






Thanks for looking,

Just Add Ink Challenge #16

Hi Everyone,


I have a couple of posts for you tonight! My card making mojo seems to be back! Yay! I've got a couple of cards to show you that were inspired by the Just Add Ink Challenge #16 (I think I've only missed a couple of them too! Go my new years resolution! lol)


The challenge was to use these colours:

And I've combined it with Makeesha's Inkspiration Challenge which can be found on Renee's site, a member of Keesha's Design Team,  due to a few tech problems that Keesh is having with her computer.

Here's my first card tonight:

I was probably a little too excited to see "Soft Suede" in a challenge- I bought a pack of this new In-Colour and have hardly touched it because I just couldn't decide what to do with it!! I'm so happy with my cards and that's why I've done more than 1 entry for JAI this week and I'll be back soon with the 2nd entry.




Thanks for looking,

Hello, creativity where are you?? Are you still on holidays......

Hi All,

Sorry for the lack of cards this week, I've been working on a few different things and preparing for my Mother's Day class tomorrow night. So with the lack of cards and playtime at my craft desk this week, I thought I'd show you some of my photos from Cairns....

A pool at The Lakes Resort - that spec in between the 2 waterfountains is me! This pool area was big and we had it all to ourselves - a benefit of travelling outside of peak season.

Mirra Mirra Falls - A beautiful natural waterfall... I can't remember the height but it was amazing and you could have a swim here if you were game. I didn't have my bathers or a towel so I declined the offer, well, that and it was freezing cold water and not a particularly warm day!!! There was however another tourist swimming and I only hope that he had a hot thermos waiting in his car! He was blue!

Lake Barrine - this is a lake formed inside a volcano crater - its beautiful and very very deep! But full of so many birds and turtles... and the eels and pythons... We went on a 40minute cruise on the Lake and it was so beautiful!

One of many Pythons around Lake Barrine

A wild Tree Kanagroo

The Curtain Fig Tree (well part of it... I couldn't get the whole tree into 1 pic!)

The Tree and Me. Even in this pic my hubby couldn't get all of the tree in! It was so huge and those are the roots for the fig tree hanging down to make the 'wall' behind me.

A cute little Ringtail Possum all curled up high in a tree right near the carpark.

One of many lillies we saw...

Now, I'm not going to tell you where this photo is, other than its still in Cairns, as I brought my ESAD secret sister a present home from here.... Sssshhh!  This place was absolutely the highlight of the day trip we went on! This place was full of so much history and it just is soo amazing that the Spaniard who built this place did most of it by himself, and with his hands! No machinery! He also had one of the first places in QLD to have electricity (hydro from the waterfall I'm standing over) and all that water also provided him with the first flushing toilet in QLD. Its just so incredible to see things and how many things we take for granted in today's society. And what gave everyone a laugh was that he ran this place as a R&R location for the Aussies and US troops during the war and charged the US troops double or triple what he charged any locals. If this man was alive in today's world he would be a billionaire (or more!) - he was so inventive and could see so many ways and opportunities to make money.

Well, that's it from me tonight.


Thanks for looking,

Sesame Street Card

Hi All,

I made this card for a friend's little boy who just turned 2!

Isn't it cute! I've seen the idea of the characters on Splitcoast Stampers several times and I can't remember the actual person or the link. If it's yours, please let me know and I'll update this page with a link to your blog.




Thanks for looking,

Thank you Secret Sister!

Hi All,


Look what I have been spoilt with this month!!! Its all from my ESAD (Extra Special Australasian Demonstrators) Secret Sister.

Alright, so in this photo the back present contains 3 sheets of chipboard owls and birds (which I have never ever used!!), the top left is the card (see below for a close-up photo), underneath is a block of chocolate (yummo!!!) in a beautiful gift box and to the right is a pillow box that had the earrings (which are hanging from the thick pink ribbon). WOW! Thank you so much to my Secret Sister and I really really really can't wait to find out who you are!!!!

Now I'm off to finish the gift for my Secret Sister (I've been very naughty and haven't sent it by the end of April!)



And I realised I didn't show you my 2nd April card so here's 2 quick pics:

Bye for now & thanks for looking,

Just Add Vintage...

Hi Everyone,

This is my entry for this week's Just Add Ink Challenge #14 to "Just Add Vintage".

I wasn't really sure what to do for a vintage project, so after a little blog stalking, I came across this link from the Just Add Ink Team to make an "Impossible Box".

So here's my attempt at vintage and the impossible box...

And a close-up of the flower on the card...

Materials Used:

Stamp set: Organic Grace (Hostess Reward) & Teeny Tiny Sentiments (Autumn Mini)

Card: Very Vanilla & Rich Razzleberry

Scallop Border Punch

Vintage Brad

Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Ribbon

And on a side note, if you are lucky enough to live in Perth, I'm holding a mother's day class next Friday 7th May and there are still places available. Please email me privately for more information.


Otherwise, until next time.....


Thanks for looking,

My second entry for Makeesha's Colour Challenge #21

This post is just a quick one to show my second entry for Makeesha's Colour Challenge #21

I've made this card for my mother and father in law for helping to look after my kids whilst I was away with my hubby:

Again, the images have been coloured by my Stampin' Write Markers and Aqua Painter (can you tell it's my fav tool at the moment).

The Red Gingham Ribbon has been threaded through holes punched by my Double Rectangle Punch and adhered on the back with some sticky strip.

The stamps are from A Flower for all Seasons, Sweet Little Sentiments (hostess reward) & Boho Backgrounds.

I have one for my mum too! But seeing as she reads my blog, it won't be posted yet (Hi Mum if you are reading this! {waves} )

Thanks for looking,

Time for Makeesha's Challenge!

Hi Everyone,

Well, I've been busy over the last week... believe it or not, I have spent most of the week in Cairns (kid-free might I add). It was fabulously relaxing and very enjoyable not having to cook or clean anything!

Now, you may not have noticed my absence as I was actually organised enough to schedule blog posts throughout the week. And let me tell you, I was extremely relieved to see they had worked! I had no access to a computer until Saturday when I arrived back at home. However, they did all work, much to my relief and so I've been able to continue relaxing and make some more cards over this long wkend.

These cards are all based on Makeesha's Colour Challenge to use the following colours:

Ok this first one is my entry to the Colour Challenge #21. I've used "Tote-ally Tess" from the Autumn Mini Catalogue and coloured her with my Stampin' Write Markers and Aqua Painter.

Well, I stamped Tess onto my whisper white card, and then I ended up paper piercing (well I used I scapel so I think I can call it paper piercing) all the way around and then again around the bag.... Mmm very time consuming but I think it was worth the effort!

The Old Olive card went through the Crimper and the Real Red ribbon has been stapled ala Keesh's inspiration creation (couldn't help but case the ribbon idea - I thought it looked so effective and knew it would suit this card rather than a bow!)

I did add a little extra colour for Tess's hair (Creamy Caramel and Close to Cocoa markers) and a little Blush Blossom for her skin and mouth.

And this one I can only provide a sneak peek as it's on its way to a special someone who reads my blog :)

The full card and more details will come later this week!

Thanks for looking,

Another Secret Sister Card...

Hi Everyone,

This card is from my ESAD Secret Sister... I didn't make it, though I think I'll be casing it!!

I love the use of the Designer Series Paper as the background of the card instead of a stamped image. And I rooolly troolly love the sentiment framed by the Hodgepodge Hardware!!

Thanks Secret Sister - Can't wait to find out who you are in May!!!

Thanks for looking,

Manhattan Flower

Hi All,

A couple of weeks ago, I was able to catch up with Andrea, a good friend and fellow demonstrator, and she showed me how to use her Big Shot.

I made this card with the Manhattan Flower Embossing Folder - I think I'll have to get my own Manhattan Flower when I get my Big Shot!!

Materials Used:
Manhattan Flower Embossing Folder
Best Yet Stamp Set (Hostess gift)
Card: Rich Razzleberry, Pale Plum & Whisper White
Rich Razzleberry Polka dot ribbon (flipped upside down)
Rich Razzleberry and Pale Plum Ink

Thanks for looking,

Fifth Ave Floral Newlyweds

Hi Everyone,

Do you remember my ESAD blog hop project where I swirled the ink pad over some gloss cardstock to make a swirly background? If not, click here to go have a look... Otherwise scroll down and you'll see my next project using a similar technique.

Well for this card, I've inked my flower with Not Quite Navy ink and swirled it on gloss card stock. Then sponged around with some Basic Grey ink (and I'm glad I hesitated and choose grey instead of black, I think that would have been too heavy). I've added a little Not Quite Navy sponging.

The sentiment has been stamped on white gloss card, punched out with my word window punch and layered onto some black card. And the brads are the smallest size of the Rhinestone brads.

Materials Used:
Card: Not Quite Navy, Basic Black, White Gloss
Ink: Not Quite Navy & Basic Black
Word Window Punch
Rhinestone Brads
Ribbon is from my stash


Thanks for looking,

A Ribbon Flower

Hi Everyone,


During Sale-a-bration, I made this card but never showed it to you....


This was my first attempt at a Ribbon Flower and they are soooo easy but effective on your card or even a scrapbook page... mmm that gives me an idea...


Anyway, this is my card:

Thanks for looking,