"All that I am...I owe to my angel mother"

No, this is not a quote by me...it is in fact by Abraham Lincoln but it does say what I want to say on this card for my lovely Mum on her birthday, the whole quote is in the oval frame at the top left corner of the card.

Firstly I should warn you, I love the way my card looks...so there are a LOT of photos :-)

I used the sketch from The Sugar Bowl Challenges and I used the option "Lace".  The Sugar Nellie digi I used here is "Joy", I think she is perfect for the vintage look I was after, Digistamps 4 Joy wants us to use an image of a child, so I'm entering there.  Joy is coloured with Copics, Copic Creations has Use Pastels...this is pastel...and I'm pleased 'coz I don't "do" pastel very often!  I used paper from Kaisercrafts collection.  The image panel is cut with Classic Oval Nestabilities and the mat with Scalloped Ovals. Totally Gorjuss has Use a Punch or Die, so I'm in! Bizzy Becs has Borders and Frames as their challenge, I think this fits the theme nicely.

I coloured some of the lace and the doily, which are from my stash, with E51 - adding some to the edge of the image panel.

Stamp Something want us to Stamp Something Embellished, there's plenty of embellishments here...the oval frame is from a set of Christmas ornaments I've had for years, the sprays of crystal drops were part of my birthday goodies from my lovely son Chris.  The stunning flowers are frosted resin with crystals and pearls in the centres, I bought them at the big annual craft show we have in Perth...my mum bought them for me, after I drooled over them, so I think it's appropriate that she gets to see them in use.Cupcake Craft Challenges theme is Shabby Sparkle, I think this vintage style card with rhinestone centred flowers fits the bill, I hope so!  Creative Craft Challenges has 3D as its theme, this is VERY 3D so I'm entering there. 

For the inside of the card, I used the corner from a piece of 12" scrapbooking paper, adding some papers from the front of the card and some pearls.  The cameo is one I've had in my stash for years...at least ten years - I bought some when I first started egg decorating, and have used a few for jewellery and now I made up this little charm.

It's been pretty overcast today, and we had some more rain...though checking with some family in the UK, it's still warmer here than there.  Anyway, the point is that it means some of my (many) photos are a bit dark.  I would take them again tomorrow, and re-post but my dh and I are going "down south" to Margaret River wine country for a week and I don't know if I'll get internet coverage there; I bought a dongle today from Telstra as they claim to have better coverage than Optus, (how desperate am I???!!!)...we'll see!

I may not have time anyway, there's all that world class wine, cheese, fantastic wineries/restaurants, and art and craft galleries, the mud brick chalet (with luxurious fit out, of course, my "camping" days are a happy but distant memory!!) set in acres of bushland walks with resident kangaroos and other native wildlife, we're going whale watching,  and....so are ya jealous yet? lol. Did I point out the forecast is rain?! mmm, there's always the wine and cheese in front of the log fire...'tis winter after all!  If my internet works, I may be secretly happy if it rains, and can claim that I'm pleased only because it will add to our (admittedly pathetic) dam levels ;-)

Anyway, enough babble from me, until next time, Happy Crafting, Dee 

Denny and Her Dog

Today I have the last card I've made in my stint as Guest Designer at Karber Digital for July.  I've used another new-to-me type of card....it's a "joy fold card" and it was a lot of fun to put together but seriously difficult to get the effect into a photo!

I found this tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers...it's brilliant, so clear and easy to follow.  The plan was to enter a couple of challenges that had Fancy Folds as their theme but...you guessed it - missed the deadline!  Never mind, it's added to my catalogue of card types :-)  Likewise the interesting choice of hair colour: Make It Colourful had Do Wild Coloured Hair...this is pretty wild but note the "had" - again, never mind -it made me go outside of my comfort zone...and anyway it means I can enter the ABC Challenge this time around which is Y is for Yesterday (I've used the P is for Pink challenge from November 2008; you don't get much pinker than this, lol)
Digital Tuesday had this great sketch...it fitted in really well with the joy fold.  
The image is "Pet Denny" from Karber Digital, she's coloured up with Copics with Ice Stickles on the bag and dog collar and gloss on her sunnies.
Sweet Stampin' has F F F F Fashion as its theme, Denny's the epitome of fashion in my opinion, so she's in!
Some of the papers are from Echo Parks Walk in the Park collection, one of the pads I bought with a voucher I won...I'll be cracking out some of my other newbies very soon!  and some is American Crafts City Park collection...which I won from Tracey; sounds like I win all the time, lol
I've used stripy ribbon from my stash - definitely bought that :-) to tie in with the stripy paper behind the image.

The mat is cut using my new Wonky Squares Nestabilities die and backed up with a mat from DCWV Endless Summer mat stack...it's nice and glittery.  Totally Gorjuss has Die Cuts and Punches so I'm in.  Everything is mounted on American Crafts hot pink cardstock, ...lots of layers here, which is just as well as Creative Craft Challenges has 3D it as its challenge theme.
I've put a few extra photos in to try and show (for those who don't already know, of course!) how this type of card "works"...I'm not sure I've managed it to be honest, you'll just have to check out the video tutorial.

I've added a lovely metal butterfly as a "stopper" for the front of the card to tuck under, so I'll be entering Flutterby Wednesday's Open challenge.  Stamp Something wants us to Stamp Something Embellished, as well as my butterfly I've used a great metal embellishment inside the card...it's actually recycled from one of my son's 30th birthday cards from earlier this year and is probably going to go to my niece who is thirty in a few days (I've made this card for her, but I'm not entirely convinced it's "her"; time will tell - as in if I don't get time to make another this card will be PERFECT, lol)
Well, that's it for my probably-my-nieces-birthday-card.  Until next time, Happy Crafting, Dee.

Cockatoo Rules the Road

Today's card is for the new challenge at Here Come The Boys...starting today; the theme is "Travel"

I've made a side step card - this is the first one of these I've done.  I found a good tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers, but it was in that cursed Imperial (aaghh), so I've translated the template to metric, tweaking it a bit to get the size I wanted.  I will put my version on my "Templates and Tutorials" page when it looks a bit tidier -as in you can read it, lol.  Creative Craft Challenges has "3D" it as its challenge theme...this DEFINITELY qualifies! These things are super fun to decorate, I can see the potential to embellish them within an inch of their lives!

The background paper is from Flavia and all the tags, trims and borders are from  Kaisercrafts Up and Away 6" collection, pre-cut and ready to go, what could be easier?

This fabulous image is (a digi, of course!) from The Paper Shelter...and he's called Cockatoo Rules, which of course with that 'tude he DOES!  I'm Australian, so I felt a particular affinity with this Sulphur Crested Cocky...when I was first married the people over the back had one of these guys, and let me tell you they're LOUD!!!  By the Cute and Girly has Things with wings as its challenge theme this time, so I'm entering there and  Stamptacular Sunday Challenge has Animal Antics so, you guessed it...in there as well!

The background image is part of the "Rainbow Land" set of digis, one of many that my li'l Aussie mate Zoe has for sale at Make It Crafty.  I coloured Cocky with Copics and the background image with Prismacolor pencils (though the rainbow itself is coloured with Copics).  I made the little signpost by printing an outline using Microsoft Word...Insert Shapes, a cylinder and some arrows - too easy!  It says "Home" one way and "Adventure" the other, I coloured it up using, wait for it, Copics!!  Make It Colourful, Zoe's challenge blog, has "Colour your own embellishments" as its current theme, I think this counts...hope so!  Sir Stampalot has Anything Goes as its challenge theme this month, my last entry was my little notebook set so I can enter this card there too.

Craft Your Passion has Text It (use text) as its challenge theme, I have my little post card tag as well as my signpost, and the inside of the card is covered with text, so in I go!  I cut the postcard on the inside of the card (to use as a jotting panel) from one of the sheets of paper from the Kaisercraft pad, I don't think it needed any more embellishing than that.

Well that's about it for my side steppin' Cockatoo card...hope you liked it as much as I enjoyed making it.  Why don't you pop over to Here Come The Boys and check out the rest of the Design Team's inspiration...and why don't you have a crack at the challenge while you're there!

I'll be back tomorrow with another card with a different kind of fold tomorrow, for my Guest spot at Karber Digital, Until then, Happy Crafting, Dee (oh, and the Galah!)

 PS My card IS straight...I put it on the top of my barbecue to take this picture, because it was actually raining (yay! we're still way under average) and the barbie's undercover; the barbecue lid slopes - honest!! Dee

A Note for the Teacher

Today's post is a short one....as promised!  This is the third project I've made as Guest Designer for Karber Digital...it's a little notebook and pen set that would make the perfect gift for a favourite teacher. 

 I bought the notebook (actually I bought half a dozen, when you find a good thing and all that!) and pen set in my local supermarket....just snuck them in with my groceries, which means they didn't cost anything, lol  (Actually they cost $1.47 per set, even in Australian Dollars that is practically nothing!)  
This one was pink but the pen is a nice red which went with the colour scheme I had in mind as soon as I saw the apple on the Karber Digital image "Lovely Teacher" 

I started out by covering the book inside and out with some lovely self-patterned red paper (in a pack from the $2 shop, yup I'm a cheapskate!) Then I coloured the image with Copics, adding a good dollop of gloss to the apple and earrings...and as lip gloss to the Lovely Teacher, who is popped up on foam dots (but of course!) 
The tags are from Kaisercrafts Class of 84 collection...I added one to the inside so you can write a little "note to the teacher". Craft Your Passion has Text It (use text) as its challenge, there's text on the tags, so I'm in.  Both  Simon Says Challenge and Sir Stampalot have Anything Goes as their challenge theme, so I'm entering there too.
The metal apple embellishment on the front is a sticker...in a pack from a discount store :-) and the paper one on the inside is punched out of one of the sheets from the Kaisercraft pad. 

The little pens that came with the notepads are so cute...you lever the clip up and it extends the nib for you to use...dinky!  I just thought I'd take a pic so you could see what I mean!

That's it for my little project for today,  I'll be making a few more of these, firstly because it was quick and secondly because I love little useful somethings as Christmas "stocking fillers. 

Moving Along With The Times has "Favourite Things" as it's challenge theme this time around...this project has a few of mine...I love digis, I love Copics, I love red, strong patterns and most of all I LOVE A BARGAIN!!
Until next time, Happy Crafting, Dee.

Get Well Ethyl

This is a "Get Well Soon" card for a lady named Ethyl who lives in Canada who I do not know, but who I heard about through my blog friend Brenda....
Brenda, in turn learned of Ethyls story through Sheree's blog;  In short Sheree was asking for Get Well cards for her friend Ethyl who had suffered a terrible accident and was dealing with the aftermath with fortitude and grace. 

I used an image from The Paper Shelter, I saw it on Lisas blog and thought it was soooo cute - and very versatile.  I've coloured with Copics, adding some Stickles to the centre of the flower and gloss to the little fellows nose.
The papers are from Kaisercraft's Hippy Girl collection, while in this photo you can see the glitter on the stripy paper you can't see the more subtle glitter on the background paper.  I stamped the sentiment with Brown ink and embossed that with more glitter....even the ribbon is glittery, but I don't think it's too much - just cheery!
 Do It With Digis has Spots &/or Stripes as it's challenge; I've gone with stripes - my paper.  I've mounted the panels at different levels with foam dots, my fave!
Cupcake Craft Challenges has "choose your favourite challenge" - from their first 150 that is! - as it's theme this time around, I've chosen #40 Green Pink Brown Animals and Flowers as my theme, though  #110 Pink and Brown would have done just as well!  A Spoon Full Of Sugar has exactly that: Pink and Brown, so guess what? I'm in!!
I've used this sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday, the embellishment at the top right seemed superfluous with the big flower on the image, so I added a little (glittery, of course!) butterfly.  
The image panel is cut using Nestabilities Standard Circles and the brown mat from Nesties Lacey Circles....Cute Card Thursday has Going Round in Circles and Digital Tuesday has Spellbound (use Spellbinders or similar) as its challenge, so I'm entering there.  
Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenges  has Get Punchy as its theme,  as well as my Nesties I've used Martha Stewarts Doily Lace border punch to cut the pink and brown strips across the card, and my MS butterfly, so I'm in!!
Simon Says Challenge has Anything Goes as its theme, easy peasy, lol.  Craft Your Passion has Just For You and while this is Just for Ethyl, I'm sure they'll let me enter!!

 The inside of the card looks very simple, there is nothing particularly technical about it but it took a lot of cutting...I cut the mats, die cut openings in them, then die cut the lacey circle frame with a die cut circle to fit inside...if I'd thought it through I would have stuck the mats together first and then cut them out as one, duh!
Well that's all the details on my card for Ethyl, while her story is hers it resonates with me on a personal level:
Some four years ago, my nephew was in a horrific industrial accident; his arm was crushed in machinery while he was working on a very remote drill site in the Outback of Western Australia, it took several hours for the Royal Flying Doctor to get to him, then several more hours for them to evacuate him to Darwin....this delay led to severe complications and a fight to keep initially his life, then his arm.  Still, without the RFDS he would certainly have died so we are eternally grateful to them. 
While he has kept his arm, it is no longer functional and is severely disfigured.  He was in hospital for sixteen weeks, he underwent more than twenty surgeries;  he had, among other things, muscle tissue taken from his back, veins taken from his leg (to try and make an artery for his arm) and skin taken from everywhere!!
The vast majority of his time in Hospital after he'd been flown back to Perth were spent in isolation because of a MRSA he picked up in Darwin Hospital (actually a tropical disease of "unknown" origin then a MRSA),  
Of all the procedures he went through, the debriding of necrotic tissue and skin grafts - going through the cycle of graft and rejection that is common to these sorts of injuries - were the toughest to endure physically and mentally. Many steps of this process seem to have been replicated in Ethyls story, and so I hope that getting cards from people she doesn't know will help her feel she is in the thoughts of others...that sort of RAOK certainly helped my nephew, and his mother - my sister - to cope at a difficult time.  For this reason I applaud Sheree for taking the time to organise it all.  
I'll be back tomorrow with a little project I've made....and it will be a very short post PROMISE!!
Until then, Happy Crafting, Dee

Sittin' and Swingin'

Today's card uses another new release digital stamp from Christine at CC Designs...this is the Swiss Pixie "Summer Birgitta" and she is sitting on her very own tree swing, though as the images are available separately (from 15 July at All That Scraps) , you could just as easily have her sitting anywhere!!

One Stop Craft Challenge has Summer Time and Crazy 4 Challenges has Summer - as this is Summer Birgitta, guess who's entering a challenge?!'

I didn't use a sketch this time around (gasp) I really wanted to use this paper from Kaisercrafts Chanteuse collection and so needed a very straightforward layout.  I love the soft colours in the paper,  Divas by Design has Pastels as its challenge theme so I'm entering there.  A Spoon Full Of Sugar has Pink and Brown and Whoopsi Daisy Challenge is We Love Pink...there's plenty of pink and brown here, so in it goes!

I coloured Birgitta with Copics...I gave her blonde hair, not a "usual" for me!  I got another ten Copics in the mail yesterday so my collection is increasing (I'm adding refills too, so it's a balancing act between getting new colours and actually being able to use the ones I've already got, lol)   I've added quite a few browns so my tree has five browns on it! 

Birgitta was cut out and popped up on foam dots -of course, it's what I do :-)  The image panel was foam dotted and the sentiment (which is from the same paper pad) was originally just round: I cut and embossed it using the smallest die in my Lacey Circles Nestabilities set, then mounted it on a plain pink circle...you guessed it, that was foam dotted too!

I made the tiny pink flowers using a punch, then run the ball end of a stylus in the back of each petal to give them some shape.  I added tiny rhinestones to match the rhinestones that were in the pink polka dotted daisies (which came in a mixed pack from KMart!)

The polka dot ribbon is from my stash.  I cut some flourishes using my Marianne Creatables die for the flower arrangement and added a few more of the tiny flowers to help fill it out. 

Digital Tuesday has "Spellbound" - use at least one die as its challenge theme, there's more than one used here, so in it goes.

Creative Craft Challenges this time around is Pretty Blossoms, these are definitely blossoms....and I think they're pretty, so I'm in!  Craft Your Passion has Just For You (a general card, which this is) Simon Says Challenge has Anything Goes, YAY!  I'm In.

I finished the inside of the card pretty plainly...though possibly not plainly enough!  I cut a window out of some patterned paper, backing it up with some pearlised pink card, added a bow, so far so good....I added a couple of the Marianne flourishes and it didn't look quite right, so I drew some more in with a brown metallic pen, mmmm, definitely didn't look right now!....I know, I'll add some brown pearls. MMMMMM, suffice to say the inside may be getting an overhaul! 

Anyway folks, why don't you go over to the All That Scraps blog and have a look at the rest of the DT projects...there's always a prize on offer, so well worth the look.

I'll be back soon with my great nieces card (I know, I keep saying that!) and a little project I have made as Guest of Karber, very simple but what fun it was to make!

Until next time, Happy Crafting, Dee