Summer By The Sea

Hi!

Here I am posting again this week, doesn't happen often (certainly not as often as I would like).

I had a great day today catching up with some wonderful crafting friends that I haven't seen for a couple of months due to the recent school holidays.

I usually pack a tub full of papers and images to work on but today I forgot my images and had to think on the spot and come up with something using a stamp set I borrowed from my friend. There is something about getting together as a group to craft that really does get the creative ideas flowing.

My friend Shannean is a SU demonstator and has a fabulous collection of stamps sets that I set about pawing through till I found one that inspired me.

It's an old stamp set called "Summer By The Sea" from way back in 2004.

Papers (which I think are retired now) are also from Stampin' Up! called Elegant Soiree.

Cardstock is Soft Suede from Stampin' Up!

Image and sentiment have been stamped with Stampin' Up! Soft Suede ink on to Very Vanilla carstock and distressed with the Soft Suede ink.

(sentiment reads "Joy is not in things, it is in us.")

 I created the flower using the same paper and distressing the edges of the petals with the Soft Suede ink too.

I'm not sure if you can pick it up in the photo but the whole card has been spritzed with a homemade shimmer mix made by Shannean.

I would like to enter my card in to the following challenges:

The Cheerful Stamp Pad - Romance is in the Air
Card Makin Mamas - Something Old
Simply Create Too - Love Is In The Air
Wags 'n Whiskers Stamps - Valentiens/Love 
Paper Creations Ink - Love/Romance

Thank you for stopping by today!!

Michelle :o)

MIM #74 with Di's Digi Downloads

(Photo Heavy Post)

Hi, nice to have you stop by today.

I hope your weather is either warming up or cooling down depending on where you live.

Here in Australia it has been a real scorcher this week. I reckon there were quite a few unfortunate souls doing their best lobster impersonations at BBQ's around the country on Australia Day.

It's been a very busy week for me with my return to work and my boys back at school  after our summer school holidays. A couple of days spent preparing our house for inspection, but sadly no offer to buy it.

I had hoped to get crafty in the evenings but just felt too exhausted with all that and the heat too.

But I did at least get my card made for this weeks

MAKE IT MONDAY LINKY PARTY #74

I've been getting in to the romantic spirit with Valentines Day fast approaching and I have to say I am pretty pleased with the card that I made.

The card is made using two stamps sets from Stampin' Up! called A Rose Is A Rose and Notably Ornate.

Papers are also from Stampin' Up!

I inked around the edges of the flourished frame with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

The roses and leaves are created using a two step process. For the roses I stamped first in Riding Hood Red and then in Memento Tuxedo Black and for the leaves I used Old Olive and Memento Tuxedo Black.

For the inside of  the card I created the frame by stamping just the edge of  the Notably Ornate flourish frame  around the edges and also the bud of the roses. Again I used a dauber to just very lightly ink around the edges with the Tuxedo Black ink.

I have to be honest and say I am really happy with how this card ended up. I had no idea in the beginning what I was going to create and this just sort of evolved. I did end up getting a bit carried away in the end and even stamped the envelope.

Ok that's enough of my card, lol!!

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Simply Create Too - Love Is In the Air

Wags 'n Whiskers - Valentines/Love

Paper Creations Ink - Love/Romance

Did you happen to get the chance to check out last week's Make It Monday linky party? Wow, there were so many amazing entries linked up, 236 to be exact. That is some serious inspiration, let me tell you!

This week's Make It Monday linky party #74 is now open.

Our sponsor this week is the wonderful 

Store

They are offering a fabulous prize this week of a $10 gift voucher.

To be in with a chance to win this prize all you need to do is comment on one of the entries in this week's Make it Monday linky party. Be sure to mention you saw them on MIM. The more entries you comment on the more chances you have of winning.

Head on over now and check out the amazing cards the talented Design Team have created to share with you this week.

Now, here's the hard part..........

Choosing just one entry from last week to feature as my favourite.

Well  I know this lady was chosen as our featured blogger over at MIM this week too but I really just couldn't go past her amazing layout.

Celeste from Gerogirl The Paper Princess

created this absolute stunner

I mean seriously, look at those beautiful hand made flowers!

Head on over to Celeste's blog to see them in more detail.

Thank you for sharing with us Celeste.

Come on, join us this week for another fun linky party. Take a tour around the amazing blogs that link up and share you latest creation with us too. You can even share an older post with us if you like. Maybe you have an all time favourite you would like to shed some light on once again.

See you there!

Michelle :o)

Make It Monday #73 with Cupcake Cards and Craft

Hi

Well, that last six weeks certainly zipped past pretty quick!!

My boys are back at school today after six weeks school holidays. We had a wonderful time just doing nothing in particular. That is just the best part isn't it? Just taking each day as it comes, no rush to be anywhere or do anything. And truth be told not having to wash drink bottles and make packed lunches is a pretty good holiday to me, lol.

I didn't get to craft much with the boys home but I did manage to make this card for this week's Make It Monday linky party which is open now.



It uses an old SU stamp set and papers.

The rose is coloured with Copics

R20, R22, R24, R27, R29 and R46 (if I remember correctly)


Our sponsor this week over at Make It Monday is the lovely Mandy at

 Cupcake Cards &Crafts

http://www.cupcakecardcraft.co.uk/

The wonderful prize this week is £5 worth of paper collections in downloadable form!

If your mojo has taken some extended leave you really should stop by and check out the weekly Make It Monday linky parties. There is a huge variety of creations and styles that are shared each week and the inspiration is just endless!

Of course the tough part for me is having to choose just one entry from last week to feature on my blog today.  Again I was having loads of trouble viewing many of the entries because of the blogger issues (I really should just bite the bullet and try Google Chrome as some say that seems to fix the problem) but from the fabulous entries I was able to visit this one really stood out for me.

Created by

Sharon at Colouring For Pleasure



Thank you for sharing this with us at Make It Monday Sharon, it is just gorgeous. Such a sweet image and I love her pretty little outfit too.

Make It Monday #73 is now open.

Head on over and check out what the fabulously talented design team have created for you this week.

Thank you for stopping by today.

Michelle :o)

Making good on New Year's resolutions

Hi

Happy Wednesday to you, hope you are all well.

Today was my first day back at work after having five weeks at home with my boys during school holidays (BLISS!). It was nice though being back at work, catching up with everyone and hearing about what the got up to over the holidays.

I have been going really well on my New Year's resolutions, how about you?

I decided to focus this year on losing weight, eating healthy, posting more often on my blog, creating more masculine cards and to start using some of the fabulous stamp sets I have gathering dust in my craft room.

So far so good!! I'm down almost 4kg in the last five weeks and I am posting for the third time this week and with a masculine card too!! So all in all I reckon I'm doing pretty good, lol.

My card tonight uses an old Stampin' Up! set that my Mum sent me ages ago called "For Father" pretty sure it is retired now.

Papers are also from Stampin' Up! called "Well Worn".

I don't know about you, but I find creating masculine cards really difficult. They never seem finished to me and always look terribly plain. I guess its the lack of pearls and flowers, lol.

Hopefully I will be back again soon with another card to share with you this week.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Michelle :o)

Make It Monday #72 with Meljen's Designs

Hi !

Always good to have you call in.

It's been a really frustrating week in blogland this week hasn't it? Or was it just me? Blogger seems to have been having a whole world of trouble and I'm not sure it has completely cleared up yet either.

It was good to see though that you were all back in your full creative swing, with over 200 fabulous entries to the Make It Monday challenge last week!! What a shame I was not able to visit very many of you (Grrrr...blogger!)

Let's hope things are better this week as I am so excited about our new sponsor for this week's Make It Monday linky Party #72.

Meljen's Designs

I created by card this week using the incredibly sweet "Cuddle Cloud Baby" image.

If you think this image is adorable then you really need to check out the rest of the fabulous images available over at Meljen's Designs.



I managed to restrain myself and use just a little bit of glitter (spica pen) on the cloud, hearts and stars. I have used a Nestabilities circle, scollop circle and the Stampin' Up! Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder to create the image panel.

Sentiment tags are made using Stampin' Up! Jewelry Tag punch and Teeny Tiny Sentiments.

 

Papers are from Stampin' Up but I think they are discontinued now and ribbon is made up of pieces from my stash.

Our fabulous sponsor for this week's Make It Monday linky Party is the every popular

Meljen's Designs

http://shop.meljensdesigns.com/

and they are generously offering a lovely prize of the winner's choice of 4 single digis!

How Awesome is that?!

To be in with a chance to win this week's fabulous prize, all you have to do is leave a comment for another entrant in the Make It Monday linky Party #72. Be sure to mention you saw them on MIM. The more entries you comment on the more chances you have of winning!!

The Make It Monday linky party is now open and the fabulously talented Design Team have created some positively gorgeous cards to help get the party started!!

Before you head on over please check out my favourite entry from last week.

I wasn't able to visit very many of then entries, but of the ones I could visit this one really stood out for me.

Created by

Tracy from I Wanna Build A Memory

Seriously?! Isn't it just the most stunningly beautiful card EVER?!

Tracy, I absolutly LOVE IT! Thank you so much for sharing with us at Make It Monday this week.

I hope you will all head on over to Tracy's Blog and say hi and let her know you saw her here.

Thank you for stopping by today.

I look forward to coming to visit you and seeing what you have been creating.

Michelle :o)

Annabelle Stamps Exciting New Release!!

Hi

Wow, I know, don't fall off your chair!

Two posts from me in one week, this will send shock waves around the world, lol.

But I just had to pop in and let you know that the super talented Andrea from Annabelle Stamps has released a brand new set of stamps that you just have to check out.

I am thrilled because included in this exciting new release is a new set for my most favourite Lil Monster

There are so many others that you will absolutely be adding to your must have list.

And to kick off this exciting new release Andrea is generously offering a little something extra  when you place an order.

Head on over to Annabelle Stamps for the full details.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Michelle :o)

Make It Monday #71 with Bugaboo Stamps

Hi, nice to see you here again.

I'm kind of 50/50 with my New Year's resolutions, how about you? So far I am on track with my goal to exercise and lose weight this year but as far as my posting more regularly on my blog.............not so good, lol.

Still it's early days yet, there is still hope.

The weather has been brilliant (quite unusual for us this time of year) and I have been spending loads of time with the boys in pool and not so much time creating. I did get to make a quick card for this week's Make It Monday linky party though.

I have to admit to being quite excited about the new sponsor we have this week. We are lucky enough to have BUGABOO STAMPS sponsoring us!!

Bugaboo Stamps is one of the most recognisable names in digi stamps and I had so much fun using this fun image called "Gus Birthday Optional" for my card.

This is my first attempt at a step card.

Took me a few goes to figure it out (still not sure I got it completely right). Of course I could have googled for a tutorial, but where's the fun in that, lol.

Just love the sentiment, dont you? This is so perfect for my Dad.

Supplies list:

Designer Series Paper - Stampin Up! Well Worn

Cardstock - Stampin Up! Not Quite Navy

Buttons - Stampin Up - Nuetrals

Copics Used:

Skin - E000, E00 and E11

Hair - N0, N1 and N3

Hat - B21, B24 and B26

Shirt - YR61, YR63 and YR 65

Shorts - YG91, YG93 and YG95

Scooter - R22, R24, R27 and R29

Ground - C1, C3 and C5

Shading - B0000, B000 and B00

I would like to enter my card in to the following challenges:

Dare to be Sassy - something new (patterned paper & Image)

Cute Card Thursday - something new (patterned paper & image)

Little Miss Muffet - something new (patterned paper & image)

Card Makin' Mamas - something new (patterned paper & image)

Crafty Emma's Store - anything goes

Catered Crop - Buttons

Creative Inspirations - Something Old (old man image)

Dream Valley Challenges - Anything Goes

Squirrel and the Fox - Something New (image and papers)

The Make It Monday #71 Linky Party is now open.

As I mentioned before we are sponsored this week by the awesome

Store

Catch the bug Challenge blog

And they are offering a very generous prize of winner's choice of 7 single digis!

To be in with a chance to win this fabulous prize all you need to do is leave a comment for an entry in the Make It Monday linky party. Be sure to mention you saw them on MIM. The more entries you comment on the more chances you have of winning!!

The fabulously talented MIM Design Team and created some awesome cards this week to get you all inspired to join in the fun, so head on over to Make It Monday and check them out!

Before you go though have a look at the entry I chose as my favourite from last week's linky party.

There were so many to choose from and it is a hard ask each week to pick a favourite but in the end I couldn't go past this one from

Frea

Isn't it just so beautiful?!!

You can see more photos of this gorgeous creation here.

Thank you for sharing with us Frea.

Now go on, head on over to Make It Monday and get your daily dose of inspiraiton. I can't wait to come over and see what you are sharing this week!

Thank you for stopping by today.

Michelle :o)

MIM #70 with Digi My World

Happy New Year!!

Wow here it is 2012, hard to believe!

We are still enjoying our summer school holidays with three more weeks to go. The weather has been pretty good considering this is our tropical wet season. Let's hope that it continues and that we don't see a repeat of last year's devastating  floods.

I have found a little time this week (while the boys have been occupied with their newly aquired lego, thanks granddad!) to get my card made for this week's Make It Monday linky party.

Make it Monday's first linky party for 2012 is now open.

There were still an amazing number of entries for last week's link up considering the Christmas/New Year holidays.  Please see my favourite pick at the end of this post.

For my card this week I have used an image from our sponsor Digi My World called Sk8r Boy

This is such a fun image to colour and just perfect for any young boy.

Papers I have used are from Stampin Up! (Thanks Mum for my awesome pressie!)

DSP - Well Worn -  SU

Cardstock - Not Quite Navey and Very Vanilla - SU

Sentiment - So Happy For You - SU

Image is coloured with the following Copics

SKIN - E000, E00 and E21

PROTECTIVE HELMET AND PADS - B91, B93, B95 and B97

HAIR - Y21, Y23, Y26 and Y28

SHIRT& SHOES - YG91, YG93 and YG95

SHORTS AND SHOES - E30, E31, E33 and E35

CONCRETE RAMP - N0, N1, N3 and N5

Image was printed on Express It  blending cardstock and as this is a very stark white I wanted it to blend in more with the tones of the DSP so I used my E50 Copic marker to shade around the image to make it look a little more like it was printed on the Very Vanilla cardstock.

I am linking my card up to the following challenges

One Stitch At A Time - Use A Digi

Sentimental Sundays - Anything Goes (must have a sentiment)

This week we are delighted to have a brand new sponsor Digi My World! The wonderful artist and owner Annie is offering the prize of a $10 gift certificate to spend in the store! And they are in sale at the moment so you may want to pay the store a visit! ;)

To be in the running to win this fabulous prize all you need to do is leave a comment for another entrant in this week's Make It Monday linky party. Be sure to mention you saw them at MIM. The more entries you comment on the more chances you have of winning!

Ok now, let me share with you my favourite pick from last week's Make It Monday linky party.

It had to be this adorable Christmas card by Marjorie

I just love this cute little bear and Marjorie's colouring really brings him to life.

Thanks for sharing with us Marjorie.

If you would like to see a whole heap more inspiration, head on over now to Make It Monday  and check out what my super talented teamies have whipped up for you this week.

You have a whole week to link up and I can't wait to see what you've made!

Even if you don't have a new creation to share this week, don't forget you can revive an old post from way back and share an old favourite with us.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Michelle :o)