Dive Deep

Hi everyone!  Well the bad-luck fairy stopped for a visit here with me and I haven't done much of anything except visit chiropractors, work and running a house!

I actually managed to get myself into 3 car accidents in one week!!  Can you believe it?!  No neither could I when it was all happening!  None of which were my fault but scary all the same.  Each time my girls were in the car and have resulted in us getting minor whiplash.

I also started my new job, which of course comes with all the usual stresses, not knowing anyone, not knowing the routine and having to remember 50 000 names - I work in childcare.  But at the end of 3 weeks everything is going fine and I even had one of my new children come up to me and say "are you coming back tomorrow?" after having today off (my youngest daughter is in my room when I teach, so I got to see everyone when I picked her up).  That little boys comment made my day!

Any who - the only other drama I have had is Blogger not posting my scheduled posts!  This card was supposed to post at the beginning of the month, and here I find that is not the case!!  Eeeep

So without further ado - here is my card made for Laurie at Doodle Pantry with her new image Swimming Sheep and ants - it's a free image if you follow the guidelines on the blog for Challenge #23 - all you have to do is use a Doodle Pantry image and submit it to the Blue Froggy Linky by the 24th of May and you will have this image sent to you FREE - it comes in colour and black and white.

I just love Laurie's little ants and sheep - I added some blue pearls for bubbles and I added some shine to the goggle and flippers.

I used a sketch from The Sweet Stop for this card

Hey there chicky!

Wow can you believe it's April!!  Where did March go?  I honestly don't remember it cause I was so sick, I've never been that unwell in my life (apart from tonsillitis) and I'm still recovering from having no hearing, taste or smell and being put on an inhaler and nebuliser!!  Unbelievable.  I've been away from blog land too, but I'm back with a sweet little card and a brand new digital image from the ever creative Laurie at Doodle Pantry.  There are ants, a clown birdy, a gorgeous little turtle in pansies and tons more - plus this oh so sweet little birdy on her brand new egg.

I was inspired by a sketch from The Sweet Stop (SSS151)

Now for my card I used a really pretty green patterned background, then topped it with a strip of bright orange.  I doodled around the edge to help it stand out.  Then using a scrap of sparkly foam (yep that's what it is, I stole it from my daughter's stash she had for a project), I cut it to look like ribbon and then added my stamped image which I cut into an oval.

The stamped image is pre coloured (you can get it in two colours, the other birdy is the most beautiful shade of lemon).  I printed two copies so that I could make her little body and head 3D.  I also made a tiny little gingham bow to go on her head and glossed up her little feet, beak and leaves.

Now you can see the gloss a little better and the 3D leaves.

I then added a little sentiment to the card (which comes with the set AND a stack of digi papers which I used on the inside of the card)

For more beautiful digital images pop over to Doodle Pantry Digital Doodles Blog and join in the challenge - not only could you get yourself a free parrot image, but you could also win more, and see all the other new releases for the month!

Link with Love Blog Hop

Welcome to the Practical Scrappers Link with Love Blog Hop!!  If you are following the hop, you will have arrived from Amber's blog The Country Scrapper, if you've landed directly on my blog and would like to start at the beginning, please click on over to Practical Scrappers.

Each of the Team Designers from Practical Scrappers has created something based on the following layout by Liz Qualman.  If you follow the hop right to the end, you will come to her blog and see the sketch that goes along with her layout.  We used Liz's layout to show all our readers just how we "Link With Love" - by giving credit where it's due, for inspiration, for sketches, ideas and scraplifting.

So for my inspiration I used Liz's layout:

I loved the circles and lines of stitching.  So I created some circles from lots of scrap patterned paper, and some velum circles and inked the edges of all of them.  Then I layed them out so that they were just over lapping each other.  To adhere them to the layout I ran several rows of stitching across the top.  I also loved the flowers and butterflies, so I added one of each and a singular worded title.

This close up shows the layers of circles and stitching.  I laid a strip of trees along the bottom and raised them on 3D foam dots (along with my journaling spot)

And lastly you can see the quilted and stitched title and the little flower with pin and dragonfly

Now if you would like to see more wonderful creations based on the above layout by Liz, please hop on over to Donna Bryant's blog Just Scrap It

Hang in there!

I've had a couple of extremely stressful weeks of late and this card was the perfect pick me up to create!  I am so thankful that Laurie had me create this card with her gorgeous little Quirky Possum from Doodle Pantry - not only was it fitting, but it kept my mind busy on creating and off other worries.

First up I created this card using a Mojo Monday sketch #229.  I chose some light green patterned paper for the strips at the back (which I made differing widges).  Then I chose some paper that reminded me of stars at night (which is when possums come out to play!).  I distressed the edges and laid that on the strips.  The stamp I printed in colour and made quite large, this was also distressed around the edges and then laid on top of the blue paper.  I wrapped a piece of green ribbon and added a ribbon.  The leaves - which I love came from my dear Sassy Babe Rhonda.  These actually cover little leaves that are part of the stamp.  They're already quite curved so I hot glued them to the card to keep their shape.  I then added some "snow".

Now for the little possum - she's holding a little flower which I glossed up so it had a wet shine.  I simply made some gentle cuts around her paws so that I could fold them up a little and slot the flower petals underneath so she's holding it herself.

Here you can see the shine on the petals and her little raised paws.  Lastly I added some pink fuzz to the inside of her ears and the tip of her little nose.

The sentiment is part of this digital image set and also comes with outlines and colour images plus a couple of other sentiments

So if you're in need of some cheering up - this little possum is sure to do the job!

I love quilting

Over at Practical Scrappers we are creating all things "quilted" - and this theme is being used on cards first and then layouts.  I've never tried this technique before so I had to google it just to get some inspiration.

This style of card is fantastic for using up scraps!  I dug out some cheerful scraps and cut them into little squares, then I adhered them and hand stitched some quilting stitches along the joins.  I love creating real quilts, so making a card version was just as much fun!!  To emulate the swirly quilt patterns that I make with my sewing machine, I ran my "quilt" through my Cuttlebug using my brand new embossing die.  I handled the multiple layers beautifully!  I distressed the edges of the "quilt" to give it a homely feel and then wondered how to put it on my card.  All I could think of was sunny days, green grass and a beautiful quilt hanging on the line.  So I backed my quilt with green pp, adhering it with 3D foam dots, then I ran a piece of yellow twine along the top and using two mini ladybug pegs - I hung my quilt up!!

As you can see i added some other embellishments: an organza bow, a button bear, a tiny doily, buttons and a ticket.

Happy Valentines!!

Happy Valentines - I hope you all had a wonderful day!

I spent an entire week getting ready for Valentine's day this year.  I always try to make something for my hubby, I think Valentine's day is the perfect day to make something from the heart, something extra special and with meaning.  So this Valentine's day I chose the Star Wars theme.  Hubby absolutely loves Star Wars and all it's spin-offs, characters and anything relating to it.  The book you see in the photo is actually part of an awesome set that I bought for hubby at Christmas.  It comes in this special silver crypt that, when a button is pressed, flashes blue while two doors open and the book is raised up to you on a platform - all it needs is smoke cause it even has a little tune sound effect!  Any way, I used it as a prop here.  The book itself is like a school text book, it has torn pages, doodling in the margins, badges, a serviet with drawings on it (as seen here) coins, a lock of hair and all sorts of other goodies.  SO.... To continue this theme I chose Chewy as my character of choice.  I googled for a digital image that I could use on my card.  This one, which I thought was absolutely adorable can be found in colour and outlined (which I used here, then coloured with copics) at James Stowe's blog if you look through his blog you'll find a dozen other starwars themed valentines too - he's a fantastic artist!!

Here's a little close-up.  I glossed up the storm troopers body parts (cause they are always so immaculately clean and shiny!) and I added some googly eyes - he just looks so much cuter this way!  As for the inspiration for the card, I used a sketch from The Sweet Stop (SSS145)

This is the inside of the card.  I created the patterned paper by scanning parts of the book and printing it.  I used scanned paper for the front of the card and this insert.  I used the Bobbafont to leave a message just for hubby inside the card.

Now for the rest of the Valentine gift.  I created 4 little milk cartons from Bazzill, then adorned them with Star Wars images (which I found at GadgetSin.com)  The milk carton template can be found at Mirkwood Designs and is really simple to use.

Here you can see the little Chewy character (he makes noises when you push on his tummy!) plus the 4 little cartons and the carrier.  I created the carrier myself using the cartons' measurements - I really wish I had an oval cutter!  I filled the little cartons with hubby's favourite chocolates, each container has a different flavour.

This photo shows the four different characters: Vader, Storm Trooper, Chewy with C3PO and Yoda.

By the way - hubby loved his gift, and it's sitting proudly out on the table for everyone to see - oh and he brought me the most gorgeous bunch of pink lillies.  The house smells amazing and the buds just keep opening each day to enjoy.  What a blessed Valentine's Day!!

A little love - in a card

Ooohhhhh aren't these little birdies just so cute!!!  They're from Doodle Pantry AND they come pre-coloured (like the one you see here) or blank so you can colour them in yourself.

I had a lot of fun with this image.  The second I saw it I knew how I wanted it to sit on a card.  First I printed two copies.  One copy is the master, from which I cut a little heart shaped opening.  The second I cut out the little birdies, the bunch of flowers and the little note.  The I added some shine to the leaves, flowers and little step at the front.

I used 3D foam dots to connect the master copy and the second to each other.  Plus I then added the little note and bunch of flowers.

After I decorated my card with matching papers, adhesive lace (that I received last Valentines from my Sassy Sister Candace) and some pleated ribbon - I then added my birdies.  I used my hot glue gun to adhere my double ribbon bow (that I made with my Bow Easy).

Here's a little closeup - you can see the shimmer on the leaves a little better and see how 3D the image is.  I just love Doodle Pantry birdies!

Celebrate!

Well hello there on this fine weekend we are having!!  Not a cloud in the sky, it's not too hot AND the kids are getting along - for now.

I have here for you a sweet card for someone's birthday.  I had a ton of fun with this card!!  Of course I used a Doodle Pantry digi image that was pre coloured.  I glossed up the little lollies in the icing and printed and cut out a separate candle (this is part of the set which means you can put as many candles in the cupcake as you want!!

I did a little colouring behind the candle so it looked part of the image.  Then I rummaged through my stash for some wonderfully colourful papers.

The inspiration behind this card is a sketch from The Sweet Stop (SSS141) - the fun part was getting the base paper embossed!  I have this collection of Fiskars texture plates that I always wanted to try in my Cuttlebug - well I finally have a soft mat to put on them to give it a try.  After about a dozen failed attempts at trying to create a sandwich that would actually fit in the machine it finally happened!!  I'm so happy with the result and will definitely be using them again!

I used one piece of pp that was actually birthday themed, then a strip of rainbow ribbon, then a strip of rainbow paper that I put in my threading water punch.  I raised the image and the sentiment, then added a button and twine bow.  Oh there's some little pink pearls in there too!

Snowboarding!

There's a new challenge and digi stamp release over at Doodle Pantry!!  First up the new releases are just so cute (as they always are!), and the digi you see on the left is one of them.  This little cutie is called Snow Boarding Birdie - he's carving a path through flocked snow on a shiny new board whilst wearing a little mauve scarf, goggles and a fluffy set of ear-muffs!  The other new digis include:

• cupcakes
• sheep
• a vintage place setting
• apples
• clover AND more birdies!!

For this sweet card I used a sketch from The Sweet Stop (SSS143), and chose blues as my theme. I used some blue Bazzill for the base, and distressed the edges, then used a cloudy patterned paper for the next layer.  Then I added the little birdie image and raised it with 3D foam dots.  I used a frost inspired organza ribbon to wrap around the card and tie in a bow.

Here's a little closeup of the goggles - I used some gloss to make them shine like real goggles, and you can see the pink Sparkly Fluff that I used on the ear-muffs.

You can see the top layer raised here with the bow to the side.  Can you see the snow?  I used some white flocking under the birdie's board and then added a little bling - cause snow sparkles right?!
Now if you've loved seeing my birdie - you can pop over to Doodle Pantry and get yourself one (she even comes pre-coloured!), then join in the challange AND - drumroll please - get a digi stamp set free!!!  Guess what - there's more! - just for buying an image you get a digi stamp set for free, so that's TWO SETS FREE!!!  What are you waiting for?!

Corrugated & Crimped

Practical Scrappers is showcasing ideas on corrugated and crimped elements on cards.  I was trying to come up with something different and eye catching when I remembered the butterflies my mum gave me when Sophia was born!  These little butterflies are made from wrapping paper, coloured wire and a couple of beads.

I've made these cute butterflies before and made a tutorial, so I'll add that to this post so you can try your hand at making them too.

For this card I used Sweet Stop Sketch SSS142 I love their sketches and will be using them more often I think!  I got to use up some scraps for this card.  I layered patterned paper on blue Bazzill, wrapped them in a pretty blue ribbon and topped it off with a pink button.  I made a little tag (cause this is for some one's birthday) and then added the butterflies.  They're fixed to the card with 3D foam dots and my ATG (just the top butterfly is raised).  I added some dimensional glaze to so of the little critters on the bottom layer of paper, and some bling.

Here's a little closeup of the tag, the butterflies and the bow.  It's such a bright spring themed card - considering it's pouring outside and I've had to build my own lightbox just to take this photo!!  We've had rain for 5 days straight now and it's not showing signs of letting up.  The floods have come as close as 500m to the house - looks like there will be more card making to come!!