Blog Candy over at Gramma's House of Cards

The lovely Sharon has mistakenly brought two Magnolia Spring Kits and as such has decided to make some candy with one of them and added many extra goodies too. Be sure to pop over here and have a look at what she is offering.

Until next time Bron xoxo

Papertake Weekly - Something Different

I have all my days mucked at the moment and forgot when I put my last post up that it would later today that I could put up my card for this weeks challenge at Papertake Weekly. The challenge this week was to make something different. Now I have to admit that I can be a tad lazy with my card making and would normally look at a challenge like this and move straight along without giving it a second thought. So as you can image I was sweating it out a bit wondering if I could actually come up with something different that would be good enough to show. I know I could have taken the easy line and just used different colours to normal but I actually wanted to challenge myself.

I ended up deciding on making a tent card. I have seen a tent card somewhere lately but when I needed to try and find it for a  hopeful link to a tutorial I could not for the life of me remember where I saw it. So google became my best friend (after splitcoast not actually having this tutorial as yet) and I found a great tutorial here.

Here is my card:

 

So what do you think? I was rapt with how this card came out. You can see that I have sponged the sky, clouds and grass in the background.  The image which is a Swiss Pixie by CC Designs  has been coloured using my copics, then cut out and stuck onto the swing (which was also a stamp from CC Designs which I have also cut out and used some string to join together)  DS paper from Cosmo Cricket and the cardstock is from Stampin Up. I have also applied some faux stitching and a sentiment.

As I mentioned I am rapt with how this card came out as I actually challenged myself to go beyond what I am comfortable with doing. Who knows maybe I might inspire you to challenge yourself.  Please be sure to pop over to the blog and check out the other DT’s great work.

Hopefully will be back in the next few days with another card for you all, there is a great sketch over at Anyone for Anya that I am wanting to do.

Until next time xoxo

Phew what a weekend!

We have just had a long weekend and what a busy one of that did we had! Saturday night we had an engagement party for some good friends (my hubby and I are their best man and matron of honor) and did not get home till 2am. It was a great night with everyone dressing up with a bit of country flair. It is so good to see them both so happy with each other lets hope they have many years of happiness ahead of them, they both deserve it.

After a lazy Sunday morning we headed off to another dear friends house to celebrate her eldest daughters 8^th birthday. The kids had an absolute ball. That night us and another family headed back to Dee’s to have some champers, takeaway and good laughs. It is so nice to have such good friends that make you feel loved and know just the right thing to say so girls if you are reading this mwah you are the best!

Yesterday we headed down to see my hubby’s grandma’s before heading off on a drive to see the all the autumn leaves at the wineries in the Yarra Valley, unfortunately we were about a week too late and the leaves had already turned and dropped but the drive was nice anyhow. Last night we went to mum and dads to celebrate my sisters’ birthday which was also a great night.

So you can see why today after doing my cleaning and washing I wanted to sit back and have a nice relaxing cuppa!!

The card I am bringing you today I made for the couple whose engagement party we went to on Saturday night. They had a country theme for their party so I wanted to make a card that blended in. The image fits perfectly and I think the papers do too. The card is a lot brighter than what I would normally do for an engagement card but as I said I wanted to keep in the theme.

 

This card I will be entering into Friday Sketchers and Stamp Something (charmed somethings).

 

 

I have used Patterned paper from October afternoon and Cosmo Cricket, cardstock Stampin Up, stamp is by Sarah Kay, colouring is done using water colour papers, not sure where I got the charm from and the buttons I had in my stash.

I hope you all had a great weekend.

I will be back tomorrow with my DT card for this week challenge over at Papertake Weekly. Be sure to pop by and have a peek!

Until next time xoxo

 

 

A mixture of challenges

If you are from Melbourne I hope you are enjoying this beautiful weather we have been having. I really thought last week that the start of winter had settled in but obviously it was just a small taster of what’s to come.

Lizzie has a choir performance later this morning so just a quick post for today.

I was picked as a Top 3 over at Anya Ink’s last challenge, which was hugely exciting for me, and as such I eagerly wanted to participate again this week (not that I ever really needed motivating to join these challenges). The current challenge over at Anya Ink is Pink & Sparkly, just my sort of thing! I had heaps of fun making this card trying to add as much bling as possible without it being too over bearing. I have also used the current challenge over at Sketch & Stash for the layout:

 

 

Here is a closer look at the image where you can hopefully see the sparkle a bit better.

I have also used sparkle by adding a few rhinestones on the card and on the ribbon I have added a sparkly Prima Dynasty flower centre, which I picked up from Quixotic Paperie a few months ago but had not managed to use

I have also used my copics for colouring, buttons I had laying around, DS Paper and cardstock from Stampin Up, Image from The Greeting Farm, metal to tie the buttons down, faux stitching, spellbinders and miscellaneous ribbons/lace.

I am also entering this card into this week’s Anyone for Anya challenge, Sweet as Sugar, which leaves a large scope for interpretation and this weeks Quixotic Challenge, heavy metal, following Elaine’s example and only using minimal metal!

Well I better be getting myself ready.

Until next time xoxo

Papertake Weekly GDT Spot

Oh my gosh I have some exciting news that I can finally share with you all. I was selected to be a GDT at Papertake Weekly for a month, insert squeal of delight LOL! I love this blog as the gorgeous Dawny always seems to come up with great sketches and challenges each week.

Thank goodness my first challenge to do was a sketch challenge:

 

 I sat down and started on this card straight after Dawny sent me the sketch so that I would not be rushing (and in my mind have plenty of time to scrap it and come up with another card in time) and got to about halfway before I hit a wall. After about an hour worth of deliberation, and nearly throwing the card in the bin, I decided to turn the sketch on its side and was much happier so I stuck it all down before I could change my mind. Here is the result:

 

Not bad hey! So I have used one of my favorite images from Lili of the Valley, water colour pencils for the colouring of the image, the DS paper is by Designs Galore (cant even remember where I got it from it has been sitting in my stash for so long),  lace border punch from Fiskars, flowers I also had in my drawer, kaisercraft pearls, sentiment and cardstock  from Stampin Up and I have also applied some faux stitching.

So there it is my first card for Papertake Weekly as a GDT. Please dont forget to stop by and look at the other DT Members creations.

Until next time xoxo

 

 

 

 

Papertake Weekly & The Sugar Bowl

Hi everyone just a quick one today it is nearly time to pick up the kids and go off to netball training.

I have some exciting news but I can’t share it with you just yet. I promise as soon as I can I will let you know.

School is back here in Melbourne and I have to say it has been rather nice! Although I miss not having to rush in the mornings and not having to nag the kids to get ready the peace and order of the house is bliss.

Robbie’s birthday party on Sunday (29 kids) was a great day and seeming they all appeared to have fun I can call it a success. I am so pleased we decided to have it at the school as it poured with rain and there is no way I could have managed with that many kiddies in my house.

On Monday my darling husband took me to the movies to see The Blindside. Oh my gosh what a movie! I was tearing up within nearly the first 15 minutes and did not stop till the end. It was such an uplifting story and so well portrayed. If you have not seen it yet then make sure you do I am sure you want regret it.

Today’s card is for two challenges, this fortnight’s sketch over at The Sugar Bowl and Papertake Weekly (cutie pie). I have not done a sketch challenge over at The Sugar Bowl for so long, not because I have not wanted to but because I seem to be running out of time to do all my favorites each week. The “Cutie Pie” theme over at PT means you can make anything you think is cute/sweet. I have therefore used my Windswept from Sugar Nellie as I think this image has a real innocence to it.

 

 

 

There it is my card, I am pleased with the result (considering I had to include flowers, something I have been struggling to do lately). I have used as mentioned the Windswept from Home Grown Sugar Nellie range, watercolour pencils for colouring, ribbon, flowers and pearls that I had in my stash. Faux stitching and doodling have also been added.

Well as I said in a bit of a rush better dash.

Until next time xoxo

The Pink Elephant meets Stamp Something

After being out early for netball and Auskick I decided a lazy afternoon at home was in order. So after lunch (we have a cooked lunch on Saturday before Michael goes to work for the evening ) and a bit of cleaning and washing I sat back and started to make a card.

As I was doing my usual surf through my fav blogs I discovered that I had made the top 3 at Anya Ink, YEY! I was quite surprised as this challenge was meant to be until next Friday (Kristy accidentally closed it a week early and as such has re-opened it and will draw another 3 next Thursday)  but it gave me a huge boost.

I have seen some of the super talented Aussie ladies using paper doilies in their creations lately and decided to give it a go therefore that was one of the basis of my card. The other being that I wanted to partake in this weeks challenge at The Pink Elephant (nature) and Stamp Something (stitching) but did not really have a sketch in mind. I decided to push myself and just make up my own layout and not bother about doing a sketch and I have to say I surprised myself (although it is very basic).

 

 

The image is Swiss Pixie from All That Scraps, Paper is Cosmo Cricket and the cardstock is Stampin Up. I have added so faux stitching, coloured with copics and also distressed my edges. Think that is about it.

You will once again have to excuse the lighting on the pick (it has also not really picked up the shadings too well in colouring) but up here in the Dandenong’s it has been overcast and gloomy all day. Think this is going to be the story for quite a while now with Winter approaching.

 Anyhow I better be off I need to go decorate Robbie’s cake for his party tomorrow.

Until next time xoxo

Papertake Weekly

Robbie finally had his 6^th birthday on Tuesday and he was so excited that at 5am he was waiting for his presents! It took me back to being a little girl and remembering how long that week before your birthday is and then that sleep before is the worst constantly waking up hoping that you can see the sunlight start to come through the curtains only to be disappointed and having to try and get back to sleep. Finally when the day arrives it goes by in a flash and then the countdown begins for the next one. He had such a good day and we had a good dinner with my family. He resisted sleep as much as he could but he finally flaked it around 8:30 in the lounge room on the floor (head resting on a pillow which was on top of his new skateboard).

Today after being shopping with Robbie (birthday money to spend) and picking up Elizabeth when we came home I decided it was time to sit back and make a card. It was such a hard decision on which sketch to follow, being there are so many great ones out this week, but I finally decided on the Papertake Weekly Sketch.

 

I have had this designer paper sitting in my stash for ages and have pulled it out so many times to make a card but have never been able to make it work so have put it back. Today though I managed to use it and am happy with the result. You will have to excuse the bad lighting in the photo but we have had an overcast day up here but I knew that if I waited for a better day I might never get it posted in time as things have been busy here lately.

 

The image is a Miss Anya from The Greeting Farm, this is the first time she has been inked up and I think I got this set at least 6 months ago. Thought it was quite fitting though as we have been having rain up here today. Copics have been used for the colouring, faux stitching, lace, ribbon, hair pin, spacers and beads, greeting from Kraftin Kimmie Sentiments, and there is a bit of paper tolling on it too.

I am also entering this card into both Anya Ink and Anyone for Anya as they both call for “Anything Goes” this week.

Another clean card which is what I am enjoying at the moment. I am sure I will get back to wanting to use flowers etc again soon, at least I hope so as I have a draw full of them, LOL!

 I hope you all enjoy the rest of your week.

Until next time xoxo

Quixotic Challenge - Case it

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Easter with their loved ones. Easter Bunny was thumping around our front garden about 4pm leaving out all the Easter eggs for the kids which just as well as they were in our room as soon as the sun started to come up, wanting to get out there.

We had a Michael’s grandmother around for a light lunch and then we went to my mum and dads house for an Easter dinner with my family. The kids now have so many Easter Eggs I think they will enough to last them till Christmas!

I managed to get a good clean in on Saturday as the kids went to Michael’s grandmothers for the day so because of that I have been spoilt and have been able to have a slow day today and make a card. Once again I was in pains as to which challenge I would take on but when I saw that this weeks challenge over at Quixotic was to case a DT Member I could not resist. I have always loved Elaine’s work and particularly really liked a card she recently made which you can find here. I loved the crispness of this card which is why I choose to case it. Elaine's cards are always so fresh it was hard to pick one in particular to case.

 And here is my version of the card.

  

The stamp is from Kraftin Kimmie, copics have been used for colouring (based on one of Elaine’s colouring of this image), Basil cardstock and ribbon I had in my draw. I have also used hairpin, beads and spacers which I brought from Quixotic a few weeks ago.

Anyhow I better go now as I need to go make a birthday cake for my son Robert, who is turning 6 tomorrow. We have my family coming for a roast tomorrow night and then on Sunday he has a party which he has invited 36 kids too (i think I must of been insane when I agreed to it)!

Until next time xoxo

Anyone for Anya Sketch Challenge.

We are nearly one week down on school holidays here in Melbourne and I am pleasantly surprised at how they are going. Normally the kids get bored and want to be entertained but they have been too busy this week with sleepovers, birthday parties and play dates to even think about being bored. I realized how tiered they were today when we were driving home from the city and they had fallen into deep sleeps ( you know the ones where the heads flop about!), so I decided that we needed an afternoon in, which of course meant that I got a chance to make a card.

There are so many great sketches around this week that I had a tough time trying to choose which one to do as I knew that I probably want get all of them done. I ended up going Anyone for Anya sketch simply because it has been ages since I have done one of their sketch challenges.

  

If you do not already know you can now use CC Design images on these challenges now. I decided however to use a Twinkle Tot  as I have not stamped one of these up for a while.

 

I would have finished this card a while ago, even perhaps had time to start on another card, but I got so caught up in the moment of listening to my music and colouring that I did not look at the colours in the papers I had coloured her with a pink jacket and hat on, which of course just clashed horribly! Anyhow I am happy with the end result of the card (for some reason my camera did not pick up the shading to well in it today so you will just have to trust me when I say that they are there!) and have been told by my lovely daughter that it looks like it comes from a shop, LOL!

I have used as I mentioned Twinkle Tot from The Greeting Farm, copics for colouring, Cosmo Cricket patterned paper and Stampin Up cardstock, lace, button and ribbon I had in my draw. I have also applied some faux stitching and kinder glitz to the red buds on the paper and a bit to the sash on her hat and lips.

My husband is about to have 4 days off which is a real treat. He is a chef and works most nights and days as a head chef in Hawthorn but this long weekend the kitchen is shut as they are renovating. The kids don’t get to see him much (just an hour or so in morning before they go off to school and on his days off) so to have 4 days of daddy time is a real treat. I must admit that I am looking forward to it myself!!

I doubt very much I will be back before Easter so I would like to wish you all a happy Easter and let’s hope that Easter Bunny visits you all!

Until next time xoxo