Friday, December 31, 2010

A little win for me

Hi

Oh boy, New Years Eve already!! Being the old fuddy duddy that I am I will be asleep before midnight as usual lol.

a little while back I was lucky enough to win a fabulous stamp set from Annabelle Stamps. You can see the set I won here.

I was so thrilled, this is such a pretty and versatile set. I saw so many inspirational cards using this set while on their blog hop. If you get a chance you should really check out the Annabelle Stamps Design Team blogs. These are some seriously talented ladies.

Here is the first card I have made using the Stemmed Flowers set. If you pop over to Annabelle Stamps now, I think you will find that they are on special until the 5th January.




Thank you so much Andrea, I really love this set and I think it will be well inked!

Happy New Year everyone!!
I hope you have a lot of fun tonight.
Stay safe.

Michelle :-)

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Mad For Markers - Anything Goes

Hi there Copic fans!

Thursday again, wow, Christmas just passed in a blur and now the end of the year is almost upon us.

Today I am sharing a card with you for the current challenge over at Mad For Markers which is -  

Anything Goes.


I even managed to decorate the inside of my card this time.



I have used Jam Tilda for this card. I bought her ages ago and just don't use her nearly enough, she is such cutie.

Papers and ribbon are retired from Stampin' Up! Stamp set used inside of card is Cottage Garden from Stampin' Up!

The following Copics were used to colour Tilda

Skin - E000, E00, E11 and R20
Hair - E33, E35, E37 and E39
Clothes - V91, V93, V95, V99, YG91, YG93 and YG95
Shading - N1

You still have time to submit your creation in to the current challenge over at Mad For Markers. It's Anything Goes so wow us with your creativity!!

Head on over to the Mad For Markers Challenge Blog to get your daily dose of inspiration and to link up your creation. I can't wait to see it!!


For all your Copic and related supplies head on over to Mad For Markers online store.
Mad For Markers post to Australia and New Zealand and stock a large range of Copic Markers, Blending Card, Masking Paper etc.
You can also check out the store blog and challenge blog for tips, tutorials and inspiration.
Thanks for stopping by
Michelle :-)

Monday, December 27, 2010

Make It Monday #17 and a Cyclone for Christmas!

Hi

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!!

Ours was great, quiet with just the five of us, but great. The boys had a brilliant time and that is what makes it so special for me.

We got an unexpected surprise in the early hours of Christmas morning, a cyclone!! 

We went to bed on Christmas eve having checked the weather site and there was no warnings of any cyclones and at 4am in the morning I was woken by our middle son saying that Santa had woken him up.  I could hear the wind and rain absolutely hammering outside so I got up and turned on the computer to check the weather site again. It was a real surprise to see that a cyclone had developed and was going to cross land pretty much right where we live.

So Luke and I sat up and checked out what Santa had put in his stocking, found that he had gotten the Toy Story 3 DVD. We decided to watch that seeing as how neither of us could go back to sleep with all the commotion going on outside. Amazingly the others all slept through till about 6am (Cyclone crossed land around 5:30am I think). I did wake my husband to tell him about the Cyclone but when I told him it was a catagory 1 (the weakest) he went "oh ok' and went back to sleep LOL. We did get a little bit of damage from the 80 to 100km/hr winds but not too much, just a few limbs off trees and a bit of stuff in our yard from the neighbours yard. We lost power for about 3 hours but other than that it was not too bad. We did receive A LOT of rain, with recordings just down the road a bit of 277mm. during the few hours that it took for the cyclone to pass.

But on to something a bit more cheery, its Make It Monday time again!!

This weeks featured blogger as chosen by random.org is...................

Mina from Pink Puds




Gorgeous right?!

I absolutely LOVE the way she has created the snow. You will find more detail on her blog about how she created this 3D effect.

Mina is such lovely lady, so friendly and always has an interesting story to tell.

She is a total creative genius too!! So much talent! I promise you when you pop on over to her blog to check out her creations you will be awestruck. Believe me, you will come away feeling totally inspired. The colouring Mina is able to achieve with her distressed inks is just amazing.

The Make It Monday linky party is open again (see top of my blog).

Its a great way to show case your favourite card or project to new people. You can even revive an old post. So come along link up and check out the other submissions and remember is all about just sharing the creativity and you may even find yourself making some new blog buddies.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Michelle :-)

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Mad For Markers - Anything Goes

Hi Everyone

How's your sanity holding up??? I hope you are not all getting too stressed out in the final run to Christmas Day. It's all very exciting though isn't it, I just love Christmas.

You know what is even more exciting though??? It's my Dad's birthday, 74 today!! Love you Dad!!

And guess what............he is coming home from the rehab centre tomorrow (well that's the plan) 10 weeks after he had his stroke. I can't tell you how thrilled we all are!! I just wish I could be there to spend Christmas Day with them but that's life.

Well, enough of my waffling on, it's time for me to share my card with you for the current Mad For Markers challenge - Anything Goes.


Now just to clarify, no this isn't my Dad's birthday card ,lol!

I did managed to get his card off to him in time this year! What a terrible time to have a birthday I reckon, must have been a real bummer when he was a kid.

I have used one of Mo's gorgeous images and the following Copics to colour

Skin - E000, E00, E11 and R20
Clothes - R81, R83, R85 and C1
Hair - E25, E29 and E53
Grass - YG91
I have also used a flourish from Flourish (Jessie, White) with a Bling that you can get from Sammi at the Mad For Markers store.

At first I left the flourish white but it just didn't seem right so I coloured it with my YG91 (except for when I picked up the wrong marker and coloured one leaf with YG93 and then tried to fix it, Oh no! don't look too close lol).

These flourishes are just fantastic. They are self adhesive and come in a range of colours. You can use the whole flourish on your project or cut them to suit as I did with my card. Very versatile!

Head on over to the Mad For Markers Challenge Blog to get your daily dose of inspiration and to link up your creation. I can't wait to see it!!

 
For all your Copic and related supplies head on over to Mad For Markers online store.

Mad For Markers post to Australia and New Zealand and stock a large range of Copic Markers, Blending Card, Masking Paper etc.

You can also check out the store blog and challenge blog for tips, tutorials and inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by

Michelle :-)

Monday, December 20, 2010

Make It Monday #16




Hi

Well, here we are speeding towards Christmas day!! Only 5 sleeps to go!! Even I'm getting excited now.

I'm pretty much organised, how about you? Easy for me though, it is just us this year so no special cooking required or anything, presents are wrapped and under the tree. Hubby is on holidays starting Christmas day for about 10 days so that will be brilliant.

It's make it Monday time again now though and this weeks featured blogger (as chosen by random.org) is......

True Random Number Generator


Min: 1

Max: 13
Result: 12
Powered by RANDOM.ORG




with this fabulous card....



Isn't it brilliant?! I tell you this lady has paper to suit every image and theme
!
 I love to visit Marlene's blog everyday if I can. She really gives the the biggest laughs!
Now, while she might not be to everyone's taste (not for the sensitive types) she certainly has a lot of fans out there.

There is a lot of snark to her everyday comments but Ithink that's what we love about her. She is definitely not short on entertainment value!

And as an added bonus she makes some pretty cool  cards too!! Her tailored sentiments are always a hoot!!

Head on over there now and check out her fabulous blog but fair warning - PUT YOUR COFFEE DOWN FIRST!

I'm pretty sure you will become a follower too and you'll  looking to her blog first thing everyday for a laugh, just like skipping to the funnies page in the paper every morning!

The Make It Monday linky party is open again (see top of my blog).

Its a great way to show case your favourite card or project to new people. You can even revive an old post. So come along link up and check out the other submissions and remember is all about just sharing the creativity and you may even find yourself making some new blog buddies.
Thanks for stopping by today.
Michelle :-)

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Kenny K's Krafty Girlz Challenge #24 - Distress It

Hi

Wow, another weekend over!! Well for us here anyway, some of you are only half way through I guess.

I had scheduled this post and just happened to check that it had gone up and discovered that it hadn't!! Don't know where it went, but  here I am rushing to get it posted now!!

Excitement is reaching fever pitch here in my house as the presents start piling up under the tree. It's really fun watching the boys squish and squeeze their presents and try to guess what they are. I remember doing that as a child. I really am enjoying my boys at this age.

Being Sunday means it is time for another challenge over at Kenny K's Krafty Girlz Challenge Blog. This week Team B are on the job and we want to see some distressing on your projects.

This is the last challenge for 2010 and sadly we say goodbye to some of the Krafty Girlz. It has been a real pleasure to work with these ladies and I'm hoping we stay in touch. The new Kenny K Krafty Girlz will start next month and Im so excited to meet them and I look forward to seeing their awesome creations.

On to my card for today............

I have used Kenny's "Queens Cutie" one of my favourites (although it is pretty hard to choose a favourite!).


I have distressed the edges of the DP with SU Rose Red ink and also the Old Olive Cardstock with Old Olive ink also from SU.

Hop on over to the Kenny K's Krafty Girlz Challenge Blog now and check out the other ladies fabulous cards.

Today's challenge will run for two weeks and will end on Dec. 31
The winner will be announced Jan 2,2011


Thanks for stopping by today.

Michelle :-)

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Mad For Markers - Anything Goes

Hi there Copic fans!!

Hope you are all well. Seems everyone I know lately is coming down with the dreaded lurgy. Yeuk!

My poor boys are all snuffly and my youngest has problems with his tonsils and adnoids. So we are off to the specialist after Christmas. He's such a little trooper though, still smiling.

We have a new challenge over at Mad For Markers and it's a real easy one this time. It's Anything Goes!!

I made this mini album (actually I made two, this pink one and a purple one) for my friend's daughters.





Image is coloured with the following Copics


R81, R83, R85, Y13, E000, E00 & E11
Head on over to the Mad For Markers Challenge Blog to get your daily dose of inspiration and to link up your creation. I can't wait to see it!!




For all your Copic and related supplies head on over to Mad For Markers online store.

Mad For Markers post to Australia and New Zealand and stock a large range of Copic Markers, Blending Card, Masking Paper etc.
You can also check out the store blog and challenge blog for tips, tutorials and inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by
Michelle :-)

Monday, December 13, 2010

Make It Monday #15

Hi

Happy Monday everyone, hopefully you have all had a fabulous weekend and some of the dreadful weather conditions have eased for you.

Another fantastic week for last week's Make It Monday!!

I know as Christmas approaches we all start to get very busy and crafting takes a back seat so I really appreciate those of you who linked up last week.

 
This week's featured blogger as chosen by random.org is..................................

True Random Number Generator
Min: 1
Max: 20
Result: 16
Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Which is Dallas from Abounding Treasures

with this beautiful wall canvas


This is so stunning, I can just picture this hanging in a young girl's bedroom. (hey, I could even imagine it hanging in my bedroom!).

Dallas has a blog packed to the brim with gorgeous creations and she has an etsy store too where you can grab yourself a few of these beauties. So grab a cuppa and hop on over to see Dallas and be sure to say hi from me.

The Make It Monday linky party is open again (see top of my blog).


Its a great way to show case your favourite card or project to new people. You can even revive an old post. So come along link up and check out the other submissions and remember is all about just sharing the creativity and you may even find yourself making some new blog buddies.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Michelle :-)

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Kenny K's Krafty Girlz Challenge #23 - Let It Snow

Hi

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend. This is my second post for today so please scroll down to see the earlier post.

Being Sunday means it time for another challenge over at Kenny K's Krafty Girlz Challenge Blog. This week we want to see a snow theme to your creation. That shouldn't be too hard for a lot of you who have been inundated with the white stuff lately. Loads of inspiration right outside your door, lol.

This week Team A is on the job and have some absolutely stunning cards to inspire you.

Some of our Krafty Girlz are finishing up their term with Kenny K and some new Krafty Girlz have been signed up to start in January. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with these ladies and getting to know them and I wish them all the very best.

Head on over to Kenny K's Krafty Girlz Challenge blog for all the details.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Michelle :-)

Aussie Cards For Sale - Designer Search

Hi

I have some exciting news for my fellow Australian cardmakers.

Alicia from Time To Create has come up with a wonderful idea.

She has set up her own online shop for selling Australian handmade cards and she is on the look out for designers for her store.


Head on over to here to get the details.

Here are four cards that I am submitting for Alicia to consider.





I think this is a fabulous idea. I'm sure a lot of us have quite a stash of cards that we have created and would love to sell to make a little more cash to supliment our stamping addiction hobby.

Thanks for stopping by today.

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.

Michelle :-)




Thursday, December 9, 2010

Mad For Markers Thursday - Non Traditional Christmas Colours

Hi there Copic fans!!

Here it is Thursday again and time for my Mad For Markers post.

The challenge continues over at the Mad For Markers Challenge Blog for you to create a Christmas card using Copics to colour with untraditional colours.

There are a whole lot of stunning cards already submitted and you still have time to link up yours.

For my card today I have used the Stampin' Up! set Loads of Love.


Papers are  from Stampin' Ups! Sweet Slumber Specialty series (retired I think).

Image is coloured with the following Copics

B91, B93, B97, C1, C3,C5, C7 and C9

Tree is stamped with SU Old Olive ink

Head on over to the Mad For Markers Challenge Blog to get your daily dose of inspiration and to link up your Non Traditional Christmas card. I can't wait to see it!!



 
For all your Copic and related supplies head on over to Mad For Markers online store.

Mad For Markers post to Australia and New Zealand and stock a large range of Copic Markers, Blending Card, Masking Paper etc.

You can also check out the store blog and challenge blog for tips, tutorials and inspiration.
Thanks for stopping by

Michelle :-)

Monday, December 6, 2010

Make It Monday #14

Hi there, happy Monday!!

Well, I hope it's a happy one for you and that you're not completely snowed in or flooded out. Gosh there has been some extreme weather conditions around the place.

I am so pleased with the number of submissions for last week's Make It Monday!! Lots of new faces again and some really stunning creations. I hope you are all getting along and checking them all out. After all that's the whole idea of Make It Monday, Create, Share, Inspire!!

This week's featured blogger as chosen by random.org is..................................
True Random Number Generator

Min: 1
Max: 19
Result: 12
Powered by RANDOM.ORG

which is......... Shirley-Anne from Stamping For Joy

with this stunning card

I adore this card with it's soft and femine colours and such gorgeous paper. The pink ribbon is the pefect touch to this sophisticated layout.



I am SO excited to be featuring this lovely lady on my Make It Monday this week.

For those of you that don't know (is there anyone who doesn't??) this wonderful lady is my Mum.

My Mum is the reason why I am enjoying card making today, she bought me my very first stamp set and keeps me in supply of gorgeous SU papers and products (I'm so spoilt).

She has been my biggest fan and supporter since I started my blog almost a year ago and has submitted to Make It Monday each week with exception of a couple of weeks when my Dad first went in to hospital.

Recently (back in mid October) my Dad had a very bad stroke and has been in hospital ever since. My Mum has spent all day every day with him in hospital since then and has not been able to spend as much time on her much loved craft. Only in the last couple of weeks has she been able to start joining in again and going back to the card making class she runs each week.

Please visit Shirley-Anne's blog and have a browse around. You will enjoy her vintage style and clean and simple cards and find stacks of inspiration. I know she will be thrilled to have you visit and your comments will really make her day.

Edited to add

Shirley-Anne is so thrilled to be this weeks featured blogger that she is offering some blog candy to a random commentor on her blog that can answer the simple question........ you will need to visit Shirley's blog to find out more.
The Make It Monday linky party is open again (see top of my blog).
Its a great way to show case your favourite card or project to new people. You can even revive an old post. So come along link up and check out the other submissions and remember is all about just sharing the creativity and you may even find yourself making some new blog buddies.
Thanks for stopping by today.
Michelle :-)

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Kenny K's Krafty Girlz Challenge #22 - Monochromatic Christmas

Hi

Welcome to another Sunday challenge over at Kenny K's Krafty Girlz!

Christmas is closing in at warp speed now and although I have yet to send out any of my Christmas cards I'm feeling pretty organised. Although it just being us this year makes it pretty simple.

This weeks challenge of a Monochromatic Christmas Card at Kenny K's  wasn't that simple for me though. I don't know about you but I find it really difficult to do cards like this. I always love how they look though and if you pop on over to Kenny K's Krafty Girlz Challenge Blog you will see the rest of Team B's inspirational cards.

For my card I have used Lady Raven and I have added the Santa Hat from his Xmas Accessories.


I really love how Kenny's Xmas Accessories can be used in conjunction with his other images. And they are not just limited to Christmas either, you can use the wings and presents for birthday cards all year round too.

Kenny's images are just a dream to colour!!

Remember to be in the running to win some free images from KennyK you will need to use one of his images on your card.

Have a go and join in the fun this week over at Kenny K's Krafty Girlz Challenge Blog. You have a week to link up your creations and I look forward to coming over to check them out.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Michelle :-)

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Teacher's gift and a few random photos

Hi

I hope those of you facing extreme weather conditions be it in England the USA or closer to home in Victoria, ACT and NSW are all staying safe.

I have some quiet time to myself tonight as my husband and boys all crashed out early.

Thought I would post another one of my teachers gifts (actually for a very sweet teacher aid).

I just love these acrylic post it note stands, so quick and easy to make.


I made the paper flower using a three different sized five petal flower punches. Hand made flowers is the challenge over at Oh Alice Challenge Blog  so I will link my project up there. This is the first time I have joined in with one of their challenges so I hope it meets all the criteria.

I also managed to finish rearranging my crafting space today. My desk and a few of the shelves still need to be tidied up but it's pretty much done. So I thought I would share a couple of photos as it probably wont stay this clean or organised for long.



As you can see it is nothing flash, a real mish mash of furniture, but I love it and I feel so lucky to have a room for my craft so that I can leave it all set up and not have to pack it away each evening.

Although I really should get around to putting up a curtain seeing as how we have been living here for over three years now!



My gorgeous little guys were also industrious today. They managed to decorate the Christmas tree. I think I had just as much fun watching them as they had doing it.



there was of course some fighting (three boys...c'mon you knew there had to be)



But in the end they did an absolutely amazing job.



Now we wait for the big guy in the red suit to make his appearance.

Hope you are all having a fantastic day!!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Michelle :-)

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Mad For Markers Untraditional Christmas

Hi

Wow, December already!!

Now the Christmas festivities can begin! The plan is for my boys to put the Christmas tree up this weekend. Last year was their first year of decorating it themselves and it was so much fun. I'm really looking forward to it this year.

But today I'm here to share a card with you and to hopefully inspire you to join in the fun over at Mad For Markers Challenge blog and create a Christmas Card using your Copics to colour with untraditional colours.

For my card I have used a bauble image from Kaiserscrapbook's Doodled Christmas clear stamps and Designer Paper from Stampin' Up! called Haiku (retired I think :-( ). Sentiment is from Expressions Clear Cling Stamps - Wendy Irving Collection.



I have used the following Copics

Bauble - YR61, YR65 and YR68 as well as my Peach Spica Pen for the swirls
Background dots - YG91, YG93,Y21, Y26 and YR68
Clear Rhinestones - YR68

Bauble has been coated with Chrystal Effects and popped up on dimensionals.


Head on over to the Mad For Markers Challenge Blog to get your daily dose of inspiration and to link up your Non Traditional Christmas card. I can't wait to see it!!

For all your Copic and related supplies head on over to Mad For Markers online store.


Mad For Markers post to Australia and New Zealand and stock a large range of Copic Markers, Blending Card, Masking Paper etc.

You can also check out the store blog and challenge blog for tips, tutorials and inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by

Michelle :-)