These past few days, I have watched more daytime TV than could usually be considered healthy, thanks to a dose of shingles that started out in my right eyebrow and has made its was onto my eyelid as well as spreading its painful feelers across my forehead, temple and cheek.

Not to mention that its allowing me to do a very passable impression of the Elephant Man thanks to the swelling around my eye.

Yep, I’m smokin’ HOT right about now, let me tell you…

So I have been spending quite a bit of time inside, partly because I have been feeling so wretched and partly so as not to give nightmares to any small children that I might cross paths with on the street.

I thought it might be an ideal time to get on  here with some stamped creations that I made some time ago and have photographed, edited and all, just not managed to share.

This card was one that I made for a very special wedding back in January – one of the five weddings we went to between September last year and February this year (never have I been so very aware of a “wedding season” in my life..)

The gal getting married was someone I have known since she was about four years old and her dad used to coach my brother’s junior cricket team.  Her parents and mine are still the best of friends all these years later – wonderful people, all of them

With so many weddings to go to, I found myself with a go-to card design that I made for a couple of them, but for this one, I wanted to do something a bit different and special.

I started out (as I very often do) at the Clean and Simple Stamping blog and used this sketch as my starting point…

After changing the orientation, I set about deciding what to decorate my four squares with and hunted through  my stamp and embellishment collection for anything ‘”wedding-y”.

Here’s a closer look at the combination of elements I ended up with…

It was one of those times that I was happy to have a variety of embellishments on hand, as it was the little touches that finished if off I think.  Things like the Dazzling Diamonds glitter in the champagne glasses and the tiny heart-shaped clear button with a punched out Cherry Cobbler heart stuck on the top.

If you’d like more details on any of the products or techniques I’ve employed on this card, please don’t hestitate to get in touch.

And who knows, depending on what Brooke is up to these days on the Bold and the Beautiful, I may even be back later with more…  (Assuming that Brooke is still around that is – surely she’s not finished marrying every bloke on the show yet…?)

“Congrats Nat & Dave – Wedding card
Stamps: Cheers to You, Always, Simply Said, Occasional Greetings, Playful Pieces (L3 hostess), Basic Phrases
Paper: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Whisper White, In-Color Patterns DSP (Blushing Bride)
Ink: Crumb Cake, Blushing Bride, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: 1-1/4 and 1-3/8 Square Punches, 1-1/4 Circle Punch, Two Step Owl Punch (heart), Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Early Espresso Marker, Early Espresso Satin Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots, Stampin Dimensionals

These past few days, I have been giving my Create a Cupcake stamp set and matching Build a Cupcake punch from the brand spankin’ new Autumn/Winter mini a serious workout, and inspired by two different challenges this week, came up with this little card…

It was based on this Clean & Simple Fall-to Layout #134…

…which in and of itself is clean and simple indeed, but by the time I had finished stamping and punching all six cupcakes, white embossing all the “bows” deciding on each of their embellishments, putting them in order, sticking them down and wondering where on earth I was going to fit the sentiment (you will note that I went with a strip of vellum overlaying the bottom row of cupcakes so as not to obscure them too much…), well let’s just say that whoever gets this baby outta feel really loved.

Not that I have anybody in mind at the moment, I’m just sayin…

The colours were inspired by last weeks colourQ combination:

I took a bit of artistic licence with this, as technically the Cherry Cobbler that I used for my flower and cherry decorations and the So Saffron brads as the flower centres were not officially part of the line-up, but I’m pretty sure I can make out some So Saffron sprinkles on the bottom left cake in the above pic, as well as a couple of specks of Cherry Cobbler too.

At least that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.  Just as well we’re not playing for sheep stations here…

The other little project I have been having fun with involving the cupcakes is the project I’m demonstrating at my workshops this month.  Super cute, it must be said

With several workshop dates already booked and Easter looming, I have limited workshop opportunities left this month, but if you want to see this gorgeous set of products put through its paces (AND keep the cute project for yourself!) contact me asap and we’ll work out a date!

“Challenge Chewsday Cupcakes!”
Stamps: Create a Cupcake
Paper: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Whisper White, Vellum cardstock
Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Pink Pirouette, Certainly Celery, Cherry Cobbler, Versamark
Accessories: Build a Cupcake punch, Subtles brads, White embossing powder, Colour Spritzer and Crumb Cake Marker, Crystal Effects, Stampin’ Dimensionals

So the gastro fairy visited our house this week.  Without going into a whole bunch of detail (you’re welcome) I have been wary of eating anything much these past few days, so energy reserves have been on the low side to say the least.

On a related but much more positive note, I finished my first book club book in three days.

My challenge card this week is a sketch – one that I came up with based on a card in the current Idea Book & Catalogue.  I think I might do more challenges based on samples from the IB&C as you really don’t need to look much past there for buckets of inspiration.

The card I used as a starting point is this one from page 86…

…which I turned into this sketch…

…and in turn, this card…!

Here I used the very sweet Sweet Summer and So Happy for You Sale-a-bration sets, which are two of the freebie stamp sets on offer with your order of $100 for only a couple more weeks!  This is also my workshop make and take for the month

You can see how the final card is based on the layout of the first one, but with a few tweaks, which is the whole idea behind CASEing*.  Sometimes it’s easier to turn the original idea into a two-dimensional sketch first as I have done, that way you don’t “see” the original card quite so clearly and it can be easier to tweak and put your own spin on it.

I’m off to finalise my swaps for my team stamping night tonight – can’t wait to catch up with my gals!  We’re doing Easter themed swaps this month, so I will have a whole lotta Easter inspiration by tomorrow!

* What’s your definition of CASEing?!  I have heard of two things that the CASE acronym stands for – Copy And Share Everything and Copy And Selectively Edit.  I think either could apply, but which one do you think it stands for, or are there others?  Discuss…

“Sketch Challenge #1 – CASEing page 86″
Stamps: Sweet Summer, So Happy for You
Paper: Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Old Olive
Ink: Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Tangerine Tango, Regal Rose
Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, 5/8″ Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch

I‘m a little bit later than usual with my challenge post today – ‘usual’ being based on only the two Challenge Chewsday entries that there have been prior to this one, however….

I’ve had a busy weekend with a workshop, a team stamping day and last night a scrapbooking class – my first ever (and hopefully the first of many!), so I haven’t had a great deal of time to stamp and photograph my card and then schedule the accompanying post, but with my small girl out on adventures with Daddy, other than being constantly distracted by my absolute favourite YouTube video of the moment (I’ll tell you about that in a minute…) my time for an hour or so is my own, so here I am.

This week I took on Just Add Ink #56 – a sketch challenge that looks like this…

…and turned it into this little card (the operative word being “little” – it’s only 7 x 10.5 cm)…

The card is a tribute to my favourite season, and I am so very ready for Autumn on a so many levels!  We have had the most unrelenting spell of hot and humid weather here in Perth these past weeks and quite frankly I’m ready for a bit of a break from it!  So is my lawn, at least what is left of it.

The other thing about Autumn that is rather exciting and just over the horizon now, is that it brings with it a brand new mini catalogue!  I’m stalking my postie for my copy, which should be here any day now, but I’ve seen a preview online and oh lordy, what a treat we’re in for

If you’d like to reserve a copy to be posted out next month in readiness for the mini to go live in April, please fill out –>this form<– with your details and I’ll be sure to get one in the post for you!

In the meantime, we still have the delightful Summer Mini in all its goodness, which I have been demonstrating lots of this past month.  If you haven’t already, check it out and make sure to grab anything that you want/need before the sales period ends on March 31, not forgetting that until then a $100 order will also score you a free Sale-a-bration stamp set!

Contact me to place your order

And before I sign off, as promised, here is the video that’s been on high rotation on my computer since I was alerted to it last week.  I have not been able to stop watching/listening to it, so from me (and those spunky tenors) to you….ENJOY!

“Challenge Chewsday – JAI #56 -Ready for Autumn”
Stamps: Trendy Trees, Woodgrain, Tiny Tags
Paper: Soft Suede, Early Espresso, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Whisper White, In-color DSP stack
Ink: Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz, Cajun Craze
Accessories: Soft Suede, Old Olive, More Mustard & Cajun Craze Markers, Lots of Tags Sizzlits, Old Olive 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon, Scallop Trim Border Punch

Two weeks in a row – I’m on a roll folks!  And you’ll note that Challenge Chewsday got the nod from the majority of commenters (commentators?!) on the last post – not that I was taking a poll or anything, but since you offered your opinions, let’s go with it!

This week I headed back to Inkspirations HQ and used the fabulous sketch on offer there…

Combined with this PRETTY colour combination from ColourQ…

And this is what I turned them into…

On Thursday just gone, our gorgeous across-the-road neighbours added a beautiful baby girl to their already sweet and lovely family, so as a heartfelt thank you for giving me a brand new baby to sniff, with a little bit of congratulations thrown in, this is the card I made for baby Lily, that we headed over this afternoon to give them.

I also made a little matching gift tag to hang from the bag…

So there you have my challenge entry for this Chewsday!  Hope you’re enjoying my new blog feature – I certainly am!

• An oldie but a goodie – sponge the edges of your cardstock and paper for a lovely vintage look
• Punch a strip of cardstock with a border punch, feed it through the Crimper, then concertina the straight edge together and stick it behind an oval or circle shape for a pretty border
• Use a White Gel Pen in conjunction with watercolouring for some great highlights

“Happy Birth-Day Lily!”
Stamps: Awash with Flowers, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Paper: Blushing Bride, Crumb Cake, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Watercolour Paper, Cherry Cobbler, In-color DSP stack,
Ink: Versamark, Blushing Bride, Crumb Cake, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette
Accessories: White Embossing Powder, Ovals die, Eyelet Border Punch, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Neutrals Brads, Crimper, 2-3/8″ Scallop Circle Punch, 1-3/4″ Circle Punch, Bitty Buttons, Owl Punch (heart), Blushing Bride Stitched Poly Ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Stampin’ Sponges

I‘ve been thinking for a while that I ought to have more in the way of a plan in terms of what goes up on my blog and when.  Although flying by the seat of my pants is my usual MO of choice, it’s not really working for me anymore, so I’ve decided it’s time to get myself a bit organised.

So to get the ball rolling, I thought I would start simply, adding just one new thing to my blog schedule, or rather starting a blog schedule altogether, with a feature I’m going to call Challenge Tuesday.

For purposes of alliteration and perfectionism, I was half tempted to call it Challenge Chewsday but thought better of it.

The idea is that I will seek out some fun challenges to take part in, thereby possibly even alerting you, dear reader, to some challenge blogs and websites that you may previously have been unaware of.  Occasionally I may even throw in a home grown one, just for fun…

To kick things off, I have actually completed no less than FOUR challenges over the weekend, combining some sketch and colour challenges.

First up is the Pals Paper Arts PPA79 – Celebrity Colour Challenge…

…combined with the Clean and Simple Stamping Fall to Layout #126…

…for the following result:

It’s not a combination of colours I would ever have thought to put together on my own,  and I’ve left this card on my desk so that I can keep sneaking peeks at it to decide whether or not I like it…

• Use the Colour Spritzer to create a slight textured background on an otherwise plain cardstock base

• Use part of a Big Shot die instead of the whole thing for a different look and greater product flexibility

“Pals Paper Arts PPA79 + Clean and Simple Stamping FTL126″
Stamps: Growing Green, Occasional Greetings
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Riding Hood Red, Certainly Celery, Watercolour Paper, Lover Letter DSP
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Riding Hood Red, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Colour Spritzer, Rich Razzleberry Marker, Circle Scissors Plus, 2-3/8″ Scallop Circle Punch, Big Shot, Top Note Die, Aquapainter, Stampin’ Dimensionals

For challenges three and four, I went with the combination of  Inkspirations Colour Challenge #56…

…and Sweet Sunday sketch Challenge 103…

and came up with this:

I rather like this one, although again, the colours are unlikely to have made it onto the same project of mine without the prompting of a challenge, which after all is the whole idea of challenges I guess.

I encourage you to give some a go if you need to step outside of your stampin’ comfort zone a bit

• A fine border of white or black cardstock is great for breaking up solid colours and adding definition to your layout

• Invest in one (or all!) of the packs of DSP  Patterns Stacks, that way you’ll have a DSP in all of your favourite colours

“Inkspirations Colour Challenge #56 + Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 103″
Stamps: Apple Blossom (L2 hostess)
Paper: Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Neutrals DSP Patterns Stack, Jolly Holiday DSP
Ink: Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze
Accessories: Circle Scissors Plus, Stampin’ Dimensionals

So there you have it, the first of what I hope will be many Challenge Tuesdays, although I should warn you right up front that they are unlikely to all feature more than one challenge at a time. I guess I got a bit carried away with the idea for this first one…

So if you’ve visited me here at all in the past four weeks, you’ll know that there’s a new catalogue out

And that will be about the extent of your knowledge at the hands of me, since that’s all I’ve had to say here in the past month…

Certainly not through lack of wanting to blog, I have just had a bunch of  bits and pieces requiring my attention – a catalogue launch, a birthday party, some ‘real’ work, workshops, classes and life in general – you get the idea

What I do need to do however, is put to rest the “bigger and better things” rumour that started as a result of my resigning from the Just Add Ink design team!

After receiving some messages and emails about my supposed upcoming “bigger and better things” and realising that my absence from blogging was probably adding fuel to that particular fire, I thought it best to clarify that my departure from JAI was due to nothing more than wanting to simplify my commitments a little and make room for someone who had the time and energy to give their all to the wonderful experience of being part of such an awesome team.

That’s it.

I almost wish I did have some exciting news to share, but truly, that’s all there was to it.  I felt that I was putting in last minute substandard work that wasn’t fair to anybody and so I made the long put off decision to step down.

I absolutely loved being part of the JAI crew and want to thank Danielle and Amanda for giving me the opportunity to be on my first ever design team.  The gals on the team are all gorgeous and SO very talented and it was a delight to get to “know” them all a bit better.

For old time’s sake (and because I love the sketch that is the current challenge over there, I have a tidy craft desk with new stuff to play with and school holidaying poppets that are so divine at playing together and entertaining themselves…), I thought I would whip up a quick entry to Just Add Ink Challenge #36.

Here’s the sketch…

…and here’s what I did with it…

I am completely in love with Awash with Flowers and also the DSP Patterns Stacks that are available in the all new colour collections.

Then there’s the new In-color Poly Twill – the one here is in Pear Pizzazz, the gorgeous new green In-color – love that too.

In fact there’s a whole lot to love in the new catalogue and I have much to share, from my launch projects to other bits and bobs that I have been creating with my new and exciting gear.

Now that we’re on school holidays here, I can’t specify a time frame, but I will be back soon with more to show.

Promise

“Just Add Ink Challenge #36 – Sketch”
Stamps: Awash with Flowers, Apple Blossom
Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Melon Mambo, Watercolour Paper, Brights Patterns Stack
Ink: StazOn Jet Black, Pear Pizzazz, Garden Green, Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango
Accessories: Pear Pizzazz Poly Twill, White Gel Pen, Aquapainter, Melon Mambo and Pear Pizzazz Stampin’ Write Markers

Right on the tail of the previous post, here comes the next one with my entry for Helping Hudson challenge #5!

This time it was a sketch…

And here’s my entry…

I just love the big flower from Petal Pizzazz and paired it on this occasion with the gorgeous big flower filled circle from Circle Circus.

The colour combination is from nowhere in particular, I just wanted something bright and funky and kept pulling ink pads out of my cabinet until I was happy with the look

Right, that’s me for the evening.  I am off to scan my new catalogue for  the 178th time to see if there is anything I have neglected to add to my wishlist.

You just can’t be too careful with some things….

Stamps: Petal Pizzazz, Circle Circus, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Paper: Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Cottage Garden DSP
Ink: Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Tempting Turquoise, StazOn Jet Black
Accessories: 1-3/4″ Circle Punch, Whisper White 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder

I mentioned in yesterday’s post about Hudson, that there was a bunch of fun stuff happening over at the Helping Hudson blog, and challenges are just one of those fun things!

There have been three challenges set for this week, and you can enter them by donating $2 per challenge entry, or $10 for all nine challenges that will run over the course of the three week fundraiser.

I have opted to enter all nine, and so far am on track with the first three completed just this afternoon!

Here’s the first one – a sketch…

And here’s my entry…

I thought I would get out some of the retiring sets this month, for a final fling before they disappear in September.

I’m a little bit heartbroken that this set – Embrace Life – has made an appearance on the Last Chance List.   I just love to watercolour it, and it was also the set that I used the one and only time I have ever submitted to and been published in a stamping magazine.

Ahhh, memories….

I am, also trying to get my money’s worth out of Cameo Coral before it disappears too.  I have always loved it, despite the fact that it’s on the bogey colour list of a good many others that I know!

Head on over to the Helping Hudson blog to try your hand at the awesome challenges they have going on.

Next up is my take on the colour challenge…..

“Helping Hudson Sketch Challenge #1″
Stamps: Embrace Life, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Paper: Cameo Coral, Rose Red, Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss Patterns DSP, Watercolour Paper
Ink: StazOn Jet Black, Pink Pirouette, Cameo Coral, Kiwi Kiss
Accessories: Rose Red Double Stitched Grosgrain, Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, Eyelet Border Punch, Small Oval Punch,  Stampin’ Dimensionals, Aquapainter

It’s week two of school holidays over this way, and I would have to say that it’s been one of the most enjoyable school holidays I can remember.

Despite the fact that we have had a couple of overly crisp weeks in terms of weather, which was promptly followed by rain in large bucket loads, and a bit of a head cold on my part, we have have been enjoying several sleep ins, a bunch of pyjama days, loads of visiting, a number of play dates, a movie and large amounts of pottering at home.

The girls have been absolutely delightful, reveling in each others’ company and being quite honestly, completely delicious!

So I’ve been thoroughly enjoying this relaxed time, which hasn’t left a whole lot of room for blogging, so apologies for that

I have been stamping though, and have spent some time this week playing along with a number of challenges, hence the title of this post.

You may have noticed that the Design Team over at Just Add Ink has been expanded by about double, meaning that we only have to design fortnightly for the challenges.  We are free to play along in our off week though, and this week I decided to do exactly that – leaving it to the very last minute as is my standard OP, but anyway, here it is…

I especially wanted to play along with this one, as it involves Elegant Eggplant – a colour that I need as much practise with as I can get.

Despite needing practise though, I do tend to use Elegant Eggplant very much as a highlight rather than a feature colour, but at least it’s there!

I combined the colour challenge with a sketch from the Clean and Simple blog – a place that I head to on many an occasion when I’m in need of a fabulous yet simple layout

So there you have challenge number one!  Next up I’ll show you a card that I made up for a challenge on my team stamping blog, and later this week the next JAI challenge!

All this is after we head to the park tomorrow followed by dinner with my bestie and her gorgeous family.

It’s a tough life, but somebody has to do it

“Just Add Ink #25″
Stamps: Seeing Spots, Polka Dot,
Paper: Soft Suede, Elegant Eggplant, Rose Red, Very Vanilla, Raspberry Tart DSP
Ink: Soft Suede, Elegant Eggplant, Rose Red
Accessories: 1-3/8″, 1-1/4″ and 3/4″ Circle Punches, Rich Regals brads, Vintage brads, Elegant Eggplant 1/4″ Grosgrian Ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionals