Because I Care

I am currently enjoying a very peaceful household. It's just Coco and I chillin' out at the moment. Dave has taken the kids camping for a couple of nights. I've been getting lots of bits and pieces done, and it's been lovely to just clear my head.

'Because I Care' was one of the first stamp sets I pulled out to play with. I just love the hydrangea and it was begging to be inked up. This was a Sketch Challenge over on the Elite Challenges Blog. I love participating in the challenges over there, but I am woefully behind.


This was a tricky one to take a photo of. I had one pic that showed the flower clearly, and another (this one) that showed the Shimmer. I went with the Shimmery one. This card has a ton of my Top Ten on it - Shimmer Paint (on the flower and the raised embossing, in Frost White this time), Embossing Folder (Finial Press), a little stick on Pearl, the Scallop Trim Border, Patterns Stack DSP (in Sahara Sand - the script is Sonnet 83 by Shakespeare). And 2 things that didn't make the Top 10, but I'm still loving a lot - the Modern Label Punch and Organza Ribbon.
It was so lovely to be making a card, just because :o) Hope you like it!

Materials (all Stampin' Up!): Click HERE

March Elite Challenges

You guys are so sweet! Thank you for all the Anniversary Wishes, and comments on Dave's blog. We're planning a nice dinner somewhere, once he's over the jetlag!
I have the last 2 challenge cards to show you. We're finishing on a high note because, miracle of miracles, I was actually happy with BOTH of these creations!
Here's the Sketch Challenge from March:

I'll be using this Sketch again; it's such a nice simple one. Details HERE

And the Colour Challenge (Details HERE):

Doesn't it just make you go "aaawwww"?! Actually, it made my hubby go "B is for Turtle, O is for Lion???" *sigh*
One thing I've learnt through this whole exercise of 'picking the dud' is that everybody is so different. What appeals to me doesn't always appeal to you guys (and vice versa!). So, because I actually like these ones, that will probably mean that you all hate them LOL
So, dare I ask....What do you think?

February Elite Challenges

Only 4 more challenge cards to go!
From the January cards, I preferred Card Number 1. Even though it's not my usual style (messy, instead of crisp), I kinda liked it. Card number 2 was a just a bit boring, I thought.

Of today's two cards, one I dislike so much that I'm really tempted not to show you at all. I was going to re-make it, but I haven't had time, so I'm going to show it to you in all it's ugliness. I'm not even going to make you guess. Here it is, a Sketch Challenge:

Yuk. Where do I begin?? The black on there is all wrong, the colours are really really bright, and the background is too plain. Basically, it needs a complete overhaul!
If you want to see what NOT to put on card, click HERE

Card Number 2 is a bit better. I'm not sold on the colours, but it came together OK:

I wanted to try out a "snow dome" Sweet Treat Cup. I've sealed up a cup with water and glitter inside, and popped Mr Whale from "Fox and Friends" behind it. I had heaps of fun making this one! (and it hasn't leaked yet!)
You can see the ingredients for this one HERE

So, are we all in agreement today?? LOL

January Elite Challenges

December's dud was the first card with the bunny...I just don't think I hit the right balance with those colours. I know I'm my own worst critic. I'm really just making fun of myself by calling them "duds". Really, they are just so-so's. You know when you make a card, sit back and look at it and go "hmmmm.......nup". It just doesn't have that somethin'-somethin'.
Here's an easy one...can you pick it?

Sketch Challenge: (full details HERE)

Colour Challenge: (Full details HERE)

I was happy with one of these, and the other was just mediocre. What do you reckon?

December Elite Challenges

OK, so you're all too nice to tell me my card's a dud! I really disliked the Kiwi Kiss/Melon Mambo one from October, and I wasn't partial to the Baroque Motifs one from November. I like crisp and clean, and it turned out all messy. All the spritzing and white flecks of embossing were not my original intention. I wanted to emboss the greeting, but the medallion had been stamped in Versamark, so even though it was ages later, the powder still stuck everywhere, hence the white flecks, that I then had to make look deliberate. It was one of those cards that just gives you so much grief that you eventually just toss away in disgust!
The 'dud' is much easier to pick today!

First a Colour Challenge "Sugar Plum Fairy" (sometimes I wonder if Carol chooses the name first, or the colours!) Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Pink Pirouette, Kraft:

Very girly colours, these! I used a Mojo Monday sketch and it all came together really quickly.
You can find all the details HERE

And a Sketch Challenge:

I used a stamp from Pocket Silhouettes to make lavender. You can see the details of this one HERE

And the Scallop Oval in my last post? I cut a large oval using the Ovals Big Shot Die and used the Corner Rounder with the guard removed to work my way around the edge, making scallops! Easy Peasy!

So, which one is the dud today??

November Elite Challenges

When I was editing the photos for these challenges, I found that for each month there was one card I did like, and the other I wasn't so keen on...I'm sure you can tell which one I didn't like from yesterdays effort! Mostly it's the colour challenges I struggle with. I do like stepping out of my comfort zone, but I'm not always happy with the result. I'm still going to show you the duds, though, so you can have a laugh at my expense ;o)
See if you can guess which one I didn't like out of these two!

November Colour Challenge (Riding Hood Red, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip)
Carol chose some lovely Christmas colours for November's Challenge, but since I am 6 month's late, I decided not to go Christmassy for this card...although if you substituted a Christmas sentiment, I guess this could pass as a Christmas card.

I've turned the Bird on a Branch punch into a little robin. I've done lots of sponging on him, and his little eye has Crystal Effects on it. The background stamps and words are from the new Level 2 Hostess set "Asian Artistry". I only just got this set, and I love it already...you'll be seeing a lot more of it from me! Isn't that Ribbon Originals crinkly ribbon just gorgeous? Any guesses as to how I did the Scalloped Oval?
You can find a list of ingredients HERE

November Sketch Challenge:

Baroque Motifs is an all-time favourite set of mine, and another one I haven't used in a while. That's the thing about Mini Catalogues...there's always such great new stuff to use that I tend to neglect my other stamp sets. I did sneak in one new stamp - I stamped the Medallion in the background in Versamark ink. I used some Felt flowers, Rhinestone brads and did some spritzing on this one. More Ribbon Originals - gorgeous Baja Breeze Satin ribbon this time.
See more details HERE

....So, which one's the dud?

October Elite Challenges

Every month the lovely and talented Carol Dunstan prepares some challenges for us over at the Elite Challenges Blog.
I love to join in, and I was shocked (and I think it says a lot about what my life has been like over the past few months) when I realised that the last challenge I did was back in September! *gasp!*
Any stamping that I've done in the last few months has been purely for business not pleasure (and here I count myself so lucky that I have to stamp for my job, and it is always fun, even when it's "work"). I've designed projects for classes and Blog Hops, but haven't sat down and stamped "just because". When I do stamp for fun, I find that I enjoy it more if it has a bit of structure, and that's why I love challenges. I find having a few boundaries makes the creativity flow in the right direction, instead of spilling out everywhere into a confused muddle.

Anyway, I'll stop rambling and get to the point... I've had a lovely time over the past week catching up on Challenges. Over the next few days I'll show you my creations for the Challenges from October through to March, 12 cards in all. I've done the Sketch Challenge and Colour Challenge for each month (I didn't do the stamp set challenges as they were all from Mini Catalogues that are now retired...thank goodness, or I think I'd still be going!!), and it was so much fun to sit and stamp again. I'm never leaving it this long again!


October Colour Challenge (Pink Passion, Kiwi Kiss and Basic Black)
Carol called this one Passionate Kisses, but I've actually cheated and substituted Melon Mambo for Pink Passion, so maybe this one would be called Mambo Kisses or Kiwi Melons LOL

I just couldn't resist using the new In Colour, especially since Melon Mambo has the gorgeous Polka Dot ribbon to go with it. I pulled out Garden Whimsy, which I love, but has been terribly neglected lately. This one was also a Mojo Monday Sketch from Jan 11. You can find all the details for this card HERE.

October Sketch Challenge:

I love these colours together, so rich and Autumnal. I pulled out Eastern Blooms stamp set, another old fave that I hadn't used in an age. I'd always wished that this set had leaves in it, and now the Big Shot has come to the rescue with the Little Leaves Die. It's so versatile and I've used it heaps already. You can find the details of this card HERE.
I'll be back with November's challenges soon!

Elite Challenges

I had the loveliest day yesterday, catching up on some Elite Challenges from August, and doing the September ones too. I also used some Mojo Monday sketches again...they really take so much of the brainwork out of it! Here are some snapshots of my efforts (you'll need to click on the pictures to be taken to the full card)

This one was August's Sketch Challenge from page 22 of the Spring Mini.

This one was a Colour Challenge, and I've used a Level 1 Hostess set that had yet to see ink! I've also used Mojo Monday Sketch #79

For this Stamp Set Challenge we had to use my favourite stamp set from the Spring Mini "Great Friend". I've done this in Baja Breeze so much, and I felt like doing something a bit different with it, so I paired it with the gorgeous Haiku DSP, and Emboss-Resist brayering.

This one was September's Sketch Challenge from page 11 of the Spring Mini.

This one was a Colour Challenge, and I've used the very cute Build-a-roo set...and another Mojo Monday Sketch - #76

For this Stamp Set Challenge we had to use another set from the Mini "Soft Summer". I've done this in pink tones, and it looks gorgeous, and I thought I'd see how it looks in blues (I like it even better!). I've used the watercolour spritzing technique, and yet another Mojo Monday sketch.

So, what do you think? I'd love to know which one is your favourite!

Well, I've had my day of fun. I'd love to do it all again today, but the cupboards are bare, and I don't think my family will be too happy with "leftover surprise" for dinner again! LOL

Elite Challenges

I've been having fun combining some Elite Challenges with some Mojo Monday sketches again. Here are some snapshots of my efforts (you'll need to click on the pictures to be taken to the full card)

This one was a Colour Challenge (with a sneak peak of something gorgeous from the new Spring Mini!), paired with a Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge.

This one was a Stamp Set Challenge, using Circle Circus. Again I've used a Mojo Monday Sketch

Here I've used my favourite stamp set from the new Mini "Great Friend", and some gorgeous new DSP too. This was one a Sketch Challenge.

I've been busy!

We were lucky enough to have a long weekend here in NSW, so today feels like Monday. I think I'm going to be a day out all week!
I've had the loveliest weekend of stamping, stamping and more stamping. Amy was at a Church camp all weekend, and Jacob had some time with his grandparents, so I got to sit down and just stamp! It was the first time in ages that I've been able to do that, so I had a long list of things I wanted to get done. I had 2 months worth of Elite Challenges to catch up on for starters, and then I've been wanting to try out some Mojo Monday sketches, so I decided to combine the two. Here are some snapshots of my efforts (you'll need to click on the pictures to be taken to the full card)

Build-a-Roo saw ink for the first time in a Colour Challenge, paired with a Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge

Cheep Talk also saw ink for the first time in a Stamp Set Challenge, combined with Keesh's Inkspirations Colour Challenge and I used a Mojo Monday Sketch

I used Flight of the Butterfly for this Colour Challenge, paired with another Mojo Monday Sketch

I used Fresh Cuts for this Stamp Set Challenge, paired with yet another Mojo Monday Sketch. It was the first time I had used the gorgeous Bella Bleu DSP.

I used Petal Pizazz for the first time for this Sketch Challenge, paired with a Colour Challenge by Alisa Tilsner.

This one's my favourite. I used Trendy Trees for the Stamp Set Challenge, paired another Mojo Monday sketch and I used Windsor Knot DSP for the first time (love it!)

And this one I hate LOL I thought I'd try the Sticky Cuts, and they are brilliant to make a quick card or design element with TONS of bling. I just don't like how it all came together on this card though...it's waaay too bright for my taste. It was a Sketch Challenge.

I have to say the Mojo Monday sketches are fabulous! I'll definitely be visiting there again...I can't think why I haven't been there before now!

I've been busy...

...catching up on some Elite Challenges. For those of you who don't know, Elite Challenges is a blog where members of Angela Sargeant's team, Elite Stampers can post their challenge submissions. At the moment Carol is doing a great job managing the site, and posting monthly challenges for us. Last month was so busy for me that I didn't get to make the challenges, so now I'm getting caught up! I love participating in a challenge, and seeing what everyone else comes up with. Having said that, participants have been a little light-on lately...Come on girls!!

Here are my latest contributions:

Sketch Challenge 12

Colour Challenge Soft Moss

Colour Challenge Old Bayou

Stamp Set Challenge Season of Joy

Go and check them out, and let me know what you think!

And on the subject of Challenges, I've just completed Kristina's latest colour challenge. My bed is calling me now though, so I'll be back in the morning to show you!

A Sneak Peak

I've been busy creating for the Elite Challenges Blog, for our 3 May Challenges. Here's a sneak peak of one of the cards I made:

You can the the whole card HERE

While you're at it, check out the other 2 May Challenges:
Sketch Challenge 9
Mossy Rocks Colour Challenge

You can leave a comment on the Elite Challenges Blog and let me know what you think!