elite challenge 1 february

the challenge was to use the vintage label set from sale-a-bration (if you spend $100 plus postage you get to pick a free set from a choice of 4 and they are really lovely) anyway, I wanted to do a vintage feel card seeing as the set is called vintage, so I chose some fairly neutral colours, going with natural ivory, and not quite navy, here is my card

I have also used the tres chic background stamp, the eyelet border punch, and with the sponge dauber have sponged the edges, the lable is on the vanilla taffetta ribbon and I have used dimensions to lift it up a bit. I stamped the background in sahara sand, and label in not quite navy, inside I have used the other side of the bella bleu paper (which is on the front as well) and adhered another bit of natural ivory with the border punch to write on.  I will be trying to use the bella bleu papers a bit more often as the catalogue really doesn’t do this set justice and they are gorgeous.  Thats it for today, I am still painting chipboard, it is a long job, but once the coats are on I will get to the fun part of making it up, (a receipe box for alex shh).  I must apologise for scaring some of you with the spider but aren’t you glad you didn’t walk into that web, I was hanging out my washing today, and heard rustling in the bamboo, I hate that always think it might be a snake, especially when all you see is the head, but turned out to be a baby blue tongue, phew.

no craft today

but thought I would show you the new addition to our garden

isn’t it frightening, it is an orb spider and he has been hanging upside down between our kangaroo paw plants for weeks, that trial of dead things above his tail seems to show he has picked a good spot to spin that gigantic web, which has now caught some bees, I thought the spider might be dead but when I went around the other side, he was eating a bee, see

hope you have enjoyed this post, hahh, I have been crafting all morning, but it has been preparing things, like painting chip board, and cutting up cardstock etc, boring stuff,  that has to be done so that I can get on and finishing a couple of outstanding projects, I do have one to show you soon, but need to get time to photograph it.  hopefully in the next few days.  Thanks for stopping by.

polished stone technique

although this wasn’t a challenge we have a technique every month and January was polished stone, so I have just made this one,

I reinked a cotton wool bud with alcohol wash, and lavendar lace, tempting turquoise and green galore reinkers, thumped onto the gloss card waited for it to dry, then in stazon ink stamped on the dragonfly from natures nest twice, I then cut out one set of wings and 3d onto the main dragonfly, you can’t see it here, but the wings sit up off the card but you can see the one underneath, I have layered this onto some of my favourite kaieldescope paper, and summer sun card, the senitment from on your birthday on more polished stone card, and then adhered them diagnolly for a different look, with the sentiment I thought it looked a bit different hanging over the edge instead of being clean lines all over.  hope you like this one, I love how the dragonfly came out it certainly was easier than colouring it by hand.

elite challenge number three

last challenge for this month, is a sketch challenge, to check out the sketch pop over to the elite challenges site, here is my version

I had a bit of fun colouring this one, still have a long way to go but I think I am improving, there is a long list of inks used here, so here I go, Stazon ink, Sahara Sand (outline around the bird makes it look like a shadow) bashful blue, chocolate chip, old olive, so saffron, riding hood red, cardstock riding hood red, chocolate chip, bashful blue, watercolour paper, and the ribbon is riding hood red taffeta, and the silver hodgepodge buckle. The flower is also 3d up off the card, gives it a bit more oomph.I love this stamp but want to practice colour more, may get some time one day, hope you have enjoyed all the challenges this month, I have., always takes you out of your comfort zone and I think they have really improved me.  Anyway I am off to try and get some more songs onto my ipod, I only have 26 and they are driving me crazy repeating themselves, but daren’t take it off yet, lots of teenage boy noise out there! and there is another month before uni goes back!!

elite challenge number two

This one is a colour challenge, Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, and Tangerine Tango

sorry I am scanning today, haven’t the energy to drag out the camera,  anyway this colour challenge lent itself very well to this design which is quite a popular design in cardmaking circles, I have tried not very successfully to make a view through the windows of trees on hills, but it looks more like clouds – still works ok I think, the hills or clouds are made using torn paper and sponging, then randomly stamp the trendy trees in, I have used the tangerine tango designer paper to make a blind and the scallop punch. It was extremly hard to punch those square windows though, I ended giving up, my shaking hands couldn’t handle it, so my sister had  a go and surprise to say even she had trouble.  We are going to practice that to try and find the secret so if you know it, let us know please.  Will be back tomorrow with the last elite challenge for january  – just got them in before the end of the month so I am pleased to say I completed the 7 challenges for this month so not bad going eh!

elite challenge number 1

still going with these challenges, here is the first challenge for january, using the razzle dazzle set

a bit early for mothers day I know, but I will be making a mothers day card per week until april, these will be sent overseas to our troops so that they can send to their mothers, it’s a bit hard for them to get any sort of cards over there.  I’ll have more information on that in a later post.  Meanwhile here is the inside of the card

as you can see, i adhered the flower inside the card and using the new 1 3/4″ circle punch on the card allows it to poke through, if you want to know about any of the other products I have used pop on over to the elite challenge site for a full receipe. Thanks for dropping by.

EDITED:  Thanks to everyone for commenting personally and otherwise re this card,  to answer the question most asked about the colour scheme (Handsome Hunter, Orchid Opulence, and whisper white) the inspiration is the view from my front windows I have a lovely bunch of lilac agapanthas mixed in with my iceberg white rose bush, with the dark green leaves, I have been staring at this view a lot over the last few weeks when I haven’t been well enough to rush around like I usually do.  it is a very peaceful view.

cyberchallenge number 2 for the elite team

believe it or not this is the second time I have had to write this post, sometimes I really dislike computers, so this time you get the short version (which is probably better for you anyway)

the theme was love using puches, so I have managed to use my scallop oval, butterfly and heart to heart punch, keeping the card masculine enough is a challenge but the chocolate chip card and ribbon, and torn edges using the tearing edge ruler helps, I have also 3d some of the hearts and the butterfly, using glue dots to raise the smaller hearts, for the background I have randomly stamped some of the hearts from the I heart heart set, and here is the inside of the card also decorated with stamps from that set

Cyberchallenge elite team number 1

this challenge was to create an easter card, I don’t usually give cards at easter, but I do have the A good egg set, which I purchased for the many scrappages I need to do around the easter theme, I also thought that I had the egg hunt wheel, to discover half way through making my card that I apparently don’t, isn’t it terrible when you think you have something and it turns out you don’t, you either have to change your design or contact me to purchase it! Anyway here is the card

I had intended to do the borders with the wheel, but I have used the designer paper from the sweet always set which is nice and bright like easter egg paper, I have put some super nova glitter on the egg band, and the little chick isn’t completly stuck down, so he is waving to you.  Now I really hope to get the number 2 challenge done, but it won’t be today we have 43c and it only went down to 36c last night so not much sleep all we want to do is lie around reading, it is just too hot to do anything else, and the airconditioning is no longer having any effect, which happens during a heat wave. So here is to keeping cool anyway you can and see you when this weather cools down abit.

cyberchallenge number 3 for elite team

Last night I started a cyberchallenge but was so tired I didn’t last long, so today I finished it, I followed most of the instructions but I started running out paper from the I wish set, which isn’t surprising as I used most of it for christmas cards, so my presents are mostly the same size, here is a shot of my double layout

I also used two different colours for my base card, real red and kiwi kiss, but I think it works well, as i am not a fan of distressing i didn’t do too much just around the mat edges, and I have used a lot of stickers from the I wish pack as well, here is  close up of page 1 and 2

love the idea of making presents out of scrap paper and decorating them, then the tags with hidden journalling,

I hope you enjoy and if you are wondering about the circles and tag on the photo I had to block out some of the faces for the net.  Hopefully i will be back tomorrow with challenge 1 and 2 but we are into another heat wave and 43c here so may not get around to doing them this weekend.  Keep cool everyone.

secret santa present

I went into a secret santa present swap at christmas and have just realised I forgot to post the present I received and to Thank my still very mysterious santa (I still don’t know who it was!) but I thank them very much for the lovely gifts I received and here they are

the pinecone and candle decoration in the back was made by my son when he was 7 and is pride of place on our table every christmas it is the most gorgeous decoration ever, but love these presents, there is some ribbon, clips and a book of inspirational quotes as well as a much needed xmas table conversation starter cards which did help us after xmas lunch when none of could think too well!! I also got a beaut handmade decoration for my tree, wonder how my santa knew that my tree only has handmade decorations on it???

lovely isn’t it, I know that it will take pride of place for many years to come, love the pearl in the middle, and there is also some glitter on it which doesn’t show up too well.  thanks for dropping by, will be back soon I hope, we have another heat wave here and can’t craft with sticky fingers, but I have about 7 challenges on the go so I think I need to get in there regardless!