Season’s Greetings

Hello again.

I played with another challenge yet again, but this time it is from the team at Freshly Made Sketches.

Quite a simple design but you can be very creative with this. Some entries already submitted are very clever. Since I am on a Christmas themed stint of card making there are no surprises with my creation.

I am loving the Dainty Diamonds embossing folder as it gives a beautiful pattern in vellum paper. Vellum paper is something I have been using a lot lately. It’s a great addition to any card without making it ‘heavy’. On this card I have backed it with Real Red CS. As you can see I am still on the spritzer wagon. I love the randomness of it.

Oh, and this card only took me 35 minutes to pull together from start to finish…..maybe sketch challenges are the way to go.

See you agin soon,

Kirsty xx

Jingle Bells

Hello again. I am back with another challenge entry. I must say these challenges are helping me get inky even if it takes two days to complete. I did have this one in mind for two challenges, but I have missed the deadline for the Color Throwdown challenge #617 of Kraft, red, dark green and light green. I do, however, have some time left to enter the TGIF Challenge #288. This challenge is all about circles.

I had a quick look through my stamps and found Cherish the Season with all the bells in the set and thought it would work well. I ended up using the matching die set Sounds of the Season to create my bells and used the sentiment out of the stamp set. I have also decided I will probably buy a whole heap more spritzers and create a colour mist for every current SU colour I have. I am definitely addicted. I used Real Red, Frost White and White.

Even though it took two days to put together I liked the end result. Now I am off to find another challenge (hopefully one that doesn’t take me so long to complete…lol).

See you again soon,

Kirsty xx

I’m back…..

Yes that’s right. I’m back to paper crafting. I have rejoined Stampin’ Up! and I am reconnecting with a lot of old friends and we are having a laugh at how out of the loop I am! LOL. You have to understand its been 5 years since I have even posted on this blog. You could imagine my surprise that I remembered my password, but my dismay at finding my computer no longer supports Photoshop Elements 13. Boohoo. I think I am up for a new computer anyway. Thats my story and I am sticking to it.

So, if you follow me on my Facebook page then you already know I am back and have seen some sneak peaks at my attempts of making a card or two. A few definitely were fun and easy to make, but many were taking way to long with my “should I do this or that?” or “does this work?”. You can imagine my hubby and kids thinking why the heck did we tell her its a good idea to do this again. LOL

Anyway…..I decided I would kick start my blogging again off with a challenge. I went looking at some of the old challenge blogs I used to participate in and found all of them finished up. So I went on the hunt for more. I found the Spot Creative Challenge Blog. The current challenge is a sketch.

I have to say I did struggle with this one. We won’t be showing my first attempt. I tried a CAS card but I failed miserably. My second attempt is more my style.

Its not quite traditional Christmas colours being Petal Pink, Crumb Cake, and Calypso Coral. I like to be different. I also enjoyed creating some spray mists with white craft ink and the Frost White paint. The shimmer is gorgeous. I just didn’t quite capture it in the photo. Something else I have to relearn…..taking decent photos. If you have any questions about my creation please send a message and I will answer as soon as I can.

So here’s hoping I can keep this going and belt out some regular blog posts.

See you again soon,

Kirsty xx

Fine Feathers!

Hello everyone,

I just held my retirement workshop yesterday and I have one of the cards to share. I used my most favourite stamp set that is retiring from the Stampin’ Up! catalogue this year, Fine Feathers. I definitely didn’t get enough use of this set, so I might just hang onto it for hobby use.

Fine Feathers

There is a lot going on on this card, but I think well worth it. After creating a circle mask with the circle framelits, I stamped the Hardwood background, followed by gold embossing the feathers. I sponged with Crumb Cake ink and then splattered the background with Calypso Coral and Whipser White.

The sentiment piece consists of Burlap ribbon, Modern Medley DSP, paper doily, Very Vintage Designer Buttons, Vellum clear embossed stamped feathers, Linen Thread, the Oh, Hello stamp set, punched with the decorative label. All this on the base of Naturals White card stock. I told you there is a lot going on, right?!

I love how this one turned out. I must say there are few of its sisters sitting in the bin all crumpled up. We won’t go there……all I’ll say is I’m rusty.

Fine Feathers

The girls enjoyed making this one, which was good news. I love working them hard. LOL!

Thanks for dropping by!

Kirsty

Scrappy Goodness!

Hello everyone!

Long time, no blog post. So much has happened these past few months, some are good, some bad. Let’s do the good stuff first.

The Christmas in the Country Craft Show is coming up on October 31st through to 2nd November, and I have been creating madly for it. For those who have been before to this event, you know how fun it is and the quality of product offered. It is a fabulous fundraiser for the local school Peace Lutheran Primary, one which my children used to attend when I lived in the area. This year I will have a lot more on offer and have tried a few new things. My favourite so far is the spinning pinwheels I have created. I love them!

Some other good news is that my sister just gave birth on the 13th September to a beautiful baby girl weighing in at 8lb 7oz. There is no name as yet, my sister is undecided, so I’m not sure what she is calling her when she talks to her, lol. When I get a decent photo I will share it with you. The ones I have turned out blurry. Tamara, if you are reading this I think her name should be Elizabella!!! haha!

Now for the sad news, my beloved paint horse Cash passed away late in the evening on the 9th September. The poor boy was diagnosed with Bronchitis two months earlier, but never got better. He was given two different Antibiotics (at different times of course), but neither of them helped. The vet started to think he may have had an abscess in his lungs after he was tested for EIA (Equine Infectious Anaemia), and it returned a negative result. His last week of life was spent on Bute to help with pain and his fevers, but his big heart gave out in the end. It was not what I or the vet expected and I can assure you I was devastated when I found him at my before bed check. I decided not to go through with a Autopsy. I felt I couldn’t go through the process and clean up after. I had him buried with our other two horses Lukey and Guardian in the paddock the very next day. I was inconsolable for three days and it took another three to not cry if I spoke of him. All that has placated me is that he is pain-free and running around in horsey heaven, racing Lukey and playing tiggy with Guardian. We have one horse left, Dusty, and he is feeling a little lost without his pal, so I will have to look into getting him a paddock mate. I don’t think I will be ready to buy another horse for quite a while, none of them would compare to my buddy Cash. I will need to start afresh when it doesn’t hurt so much.

Here are a couple of pics of my boy.

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The last one is of Cash and Dusty hanging out in the yards. I miss you buddy!

Okay, no more sadness. I have some scrapbooking to share with you. The first one is one I taught in workshop recently and the other is what I created with the scraps from the first one with some “other” embellishments.

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They are just super quick and easy layouts and I am very much enjoying using different sized photos in conjunction with the regular 4″x6″. You will se a lot more of that from me I think.

Here is a list of what I have used

  • I Am Me Designer Series Paper
  • Washi tape from the This and That collection
  • Label die from Apothecary Accents
  • Large Scallop Edgelit
  • Basic Grey and Pool Party spritzers I made with the re-inkers
  • Calypso Coral twine
  • Chalk Talk SS and framelits
  • White embossing powder

All of these items can be found at my online store available through Stampin’ Up! If you have any questions about my layout and how I did it please ask via email or in the comment section below.

Thanks for dropping by!

Kirsty

Some Workshop Goodies!…oh and some candy!

Hey everyone!

I am slowly getting back into the swing of things after a few months of….well how to explain…..it’s been a mixture of things, it started with a very stressful period of home life. Things just build up and up and before you know it you don’t handle things too well and you don’t seem to be in control of anything!! Things were staring to settle when we had a few weeks of flooding (See previous POST), and then the major flooding that wiped out a local town, Grantham. Things are still not good there. People are still missing with a huge possibility of not being found at all, the clean up is still happening and it is absolutely amazing how far spread the debris is. It is still lying all over farmers crops and paddocks, roads, railway and well just everywhere, not to mention the damage to the roads, rail and properties. Things that will take at least 6 months to fix or replace. Grantham is still a “no go zone” for the general public except trucks, heavy equipment, SES, Police, Army, Volunteers and of course traffic control ( hi Theresa). 

I want to thank all of my long time followers for sticking by me and sending me words of love and encouragement through the rough times. Even when my crafting time nearly turned non-existent people joined as followers to my blog. I now have 142 subscribers in the short time I added the subscription tab right down on the bottom right. Two of them joined today! WOW! Now I just have to get back on top of my blogging…LOL!! No I promise I will!! I’m being serious….just ignore previous claims of more regular blogging….which didn’t happen….I know, I know, but I am feeling good about this one! Just to prove it I think I will send one of my cards to the 150th person who subscribes to this here blog! LOL! I’m not sure if that proves it but it’s a good start. I will even let the 150th person choose the one card from a selection of three…how does that sound?! Now your probably just wishin’ those three cards were as good as Karen Thomas’s !!!!! ROFLOL!!! I will keep you all updated on how this turns out!

So onto my creation

I’m not sure if you recognise this but on the front of the Sale-A-Bration catalogue there is this gorgeous card. I simply fell in love with it. I didn’t have the appropriate stamps so I improvised. This card will be the project at tomorrows party. {Waving at you Deeann} I am sure they will love it!

I even have some table candy for them, full of chocolate eclairs, of course-

Well I best be going. I still have much to do!

Thanks for dropping by!

Funky Birthday Invite

Hey everyone!

I had a wonderful day yesterday just relaxing……well catching up on washing isn’t exactly relaxing, but I have no deadlines, and I am not in a hurry to finish any crafting. I can just do my own thing! Today I decided to sit down and make a couple of things ……just to make a couple of things. They were not made for anyone or any craft show. I just made them. I must say that my best work comes out when it is nothing in particular. Strange HUH!

What do you think? I really like it. I cannot take credit for it though. I drew my inspiration from this CARD found on Splitcoast Stampers.

I made the pocket the same size as a regular card and chose the colour combo from the Colour Coach. I hope you like it!

Thanks for dropping by!

Making more Monsters!!

Hey everyone!

I just wanted to show you the other card that I made at Michelle’s. Before leaving for her place I decided to cut down on what I was taking by choosing colour combos with the Colour Coach and only taking those colours in the CS. Clever hey??! I just had to match up the colours with Stamp Sets now!! LOL!

Well I wanted to play with Make a Monster and the Baja Breeze Sweet Set combo , I thought, went well with it…..what do you think?

Check out those eyes….just a touch leary…but hey he’s a monster! LOL!

I also did a little spritzing, just to dirty it up a bit so it is not so clean and crisp. More of a Darcy card LOL!

Thanks for dropping by!

Inkspirations Colour Challenge #34

Hey everyone!

Well, when you think about it, Christmas is not too far away! It makes me wonder where has this year gone???! I remember as a child that time just seemed to stand still. I think when you are a kid you are always in such a hurry trying to experience all sorts of things and sometimes that also meant growing up. But now, when you have your own kids, you want things to slow down so you can enjoy those precious gems a little longer…….I think I have gone way off track here but I think what I am trying to say is if I don’t start my Christmas cards now, it will be too late and they will not get done and I might have to…….some people might want to close their eyes at this point as I am about to swear!!!…….BUY Christmas cards to post! LOL!

Anyway here is this weeks colour combo

We have also the added challenge from Sarah-Jane this month to make a card with buttons. I love buttons so that was easy! Also Sarah-Jane is hosting this week so make your way to Sarah’s blog to submit your Inspiration.

As you can see I tried the Vintage look! I don’t think I did enough on the middle panel. What do you think??

  • Stamp Set– Winter Post, Christmas Classics
  • Cardstock– Kraft, More Mustard, Not Quite Navy
  • Ink-Close to Cocoa, Versa Mark, More Mustard
  • Accessories– Colour Spritzer, Sponges, SAMJ, Mat Pack, Beachfront Ribbon Originals (retired), Linen Thread, Kraft Corduroy Button, Cutter Kit

Now don’t forget to check out the rest of the DT!

Cindy

Renee

Chantelle

Sarah-Jane

Teneale

Makeesha

Thanks for dropping by!