Butterflies In This World CTD#470

Today I needed some time out and chose to get into my craft room and create. An old favourite came off the shelf and paired with an old favourite masking/sponging technique and a new colour combo from Color Throwdown Challenge, I've spent some happy time.

We used In This World for a retiform card recently and a friend of mine, Carolina Evans, also used it for her Onstage Swap in Melbourne. This stamp set has some interesting images, so I plan to get some more use from it, just in case it retires.

I was glad I remembered to attach a strip of this Sizzix Multipurpose Adhesive strips to the card before I cut 'lovely' with the Lovely Word Thinlets. It sure does make it a lot easier to adhere to your project.

The stamped sentiment is from Dragonfly Dreams, and as it is photopolymer, it could have been curved more to match the die cut 'lovely'. Sometimes these ideas come after you've put ink to paper!!!

Frog Tape, a low adhesive painter's tape, is what I use for masking. Before I stick it to the project, I also remove some more of the 'stick' by applying it to my clothes. It is very effective and doesn't usually lift any paper.

This verse inside is part of a kind of funny/witty set of stamps, Five For All. I could have added the second part "Just Like Me", but haven't on this occasion. When the sentiment is on two separate stamps, it gives more options for mixing and matching. I have a large number of birthdays through December and January, so I hope to get back in here for some more crafting soon.

What do you think you would make with this colour palette from Color Throwdown?




Remember that if you shop in my online shop on Monday 27th November, there will be NO SHIPPING CHARGE, for 24 hours only. But, as well as a gift in the mail from me for ordering and using the Host Code, I will send you a birthday card to send to someone else.

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Birthday Blues CI#16

Colour INKspiration is a group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators from the South Pacific, all through Australia and New Zealand. We love to get together for these colour challenges, to inspire each other, and you, to create. We love it when you join in with our challenges to share your work and all you need is a Facebook presence. You can link in here on Facebook.

This inspiration pic is really cool, with its painted boards on the floor, sparse decor and that fabulous map. I will need a card soon for one of my older sons. He is a builder, and his hobby is nurturing bonsai, so I gathered together a few stamp sets to make this retiform panel. I've used the tools from Guy Greetings before for a number of cards. I really do know a lot of plumbers and carpenters! I thought a brief repeat appearance wouldn't hurt.

Three stamps from In This World were included. There's a door, a portion of blue-print and a key. That key looks exactly like my mother's house keys!

For a couple of other sections, I used Lovely As A Tree. My class ladies are really keen to make a card similar to this using retiform, and a Totally Techniques class is on the books for September. There is one pencilled in for September 8th at 7pm, and another a week later on 15th September at 7pm also. We love new people joining us for class, why don't you get in touch?

I think you'll see some amazing projects made with these colours. Now you are heading to Denita

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Happy crafting,

60th Birthday Cards - Handmade With Love

My husband celebrated a big birthday last week, which gave me excuses to make special cards and do some crafting with the grandkids.We kept the party low-key as we are a large family and rather noisy when we all get together. Unfortunately, I didn't get pictures with all the grandkids and their cards, some had also made a card at home.One d-i-l had put together an enormous card with a photo board inside of many significant family times featuring my husband. Our family definitely love the handcrafted cards!

 I really enjoyed making this Double-Z card using Marquee Messages, stamped on different coloured card, then cut and pieced. It isn't particularly difficult to do and makes an easier way of adding some colour. I have a class making this card on Friday 18th November, at my studio in South Morang, Victoria.

 This version of the Double-Z has an extra piece added to the front to accommodate the larger size of the stamp from Marquee Messages. The patterned paper is two different types of black & white spots, just for fun.

When a stamp retires, I don't neccesarily sell it, if the sentiment is significant to me. Going Global was in a mini catalogue in the last year or so, but didn't make the cut into the Annual catalogue. It still sits on my shelves, because of the sweet sentiments included.




Our sons bought a massive state of the art barbecue for my husband, and just because I was feeling creative, and really wanted to use the Sliding Star Framelit to cut the track around for a star from Superstar, I made them a group card too. The boys are mainly tradesmen, an electrician, plumber and carpenter, while my husband has worked in many trades over the years. Guy Greetings has some marvellous sentiments, very suitable for those tradie types.

In This World and Ghoulish Grunge helped to ink up the inside of the card too, with all sorts of architectural stamps. Both sides on the inside of the card were layered, which gave the 5 sons plenty of room to write messages to their dad.

 We used props for some funny photos and the youngsters really got on board with it, as did a couple of the adults. We always do this at Christmas, but we've had an early practice run this year. Below is our little group of grandies, ranging in age from 2½ - 8 years.

We know how blessed we are to have these wonderful people in our lives, and I treasure gatherings like this celebration.

Cheers everyone,
Rachel