Monday Mania with TGF

I'm totally honoured to be playing hostess this week for The Greeting Farm's Monday Mania challenge.

As my country stopped to honour our brave ANZACS yesterday, I decided to set the challenge based on the colour of the Army uniform, since its something I've been surrounded by since birth. My paternal grandfather, father and brother have all served in the Australian Army, with my brother currently still serving our great country.

I had created two cards for this challenge using other images, keeping with the colour scheme I had set but I wasn't entirely happy with them. I woke Friday morning knowing that the deadline for submission of my creation was close and had a card in mind. I spent the next 24hrs planning and strategising how to make it happen. I set to it Saturday afternoon and worked on the card base for hours!! The "forest" actually comprises about 5 different stamp sets using 8 different ink colours!! Stamping and blending the forest left the Kraft base really wet so I needed to let it dry a bit before I cut out the frame. I coloured Courage Ian during this time with Copics (of course) and then smudged him with choc chip ink for effect. I paper pieced his helmet with a camouflage print design I found via Google. I changed the colours with my Copics to better fit my colour scheme and then, after carefully cutting out the "forest window", I set about putting it all together. When finished, I applied Crystal Effects to the goggles to make them shiny. Not sure if I've managed to get this in the photo.

Fussed and played until 11pm Sat night then tried - oh tried so hard - to fall asleep as I was rising at 3am to head out to a Dawn Service with my brother and the rest of the family, then back to take my Mum to hospital for an appointment and then onto church afterwards!! I was totally whacked when I got home and needed a nanna nap. Awoke refreshed and "knew" just what I needed to finish of the card. I used a mini label that I altered with an ink (who's name I can't quite recall atm, will come back to add this) to create a "dogtag" label and handwrote the inscription. The ball chain is aactually what the pricetag was attached to a couple of hairclips I recently purchased. Just shows that you should never, ever throw away anything - it was a perfect addition.

Anyway, I hope you can join me and my dear TGF friends this week in the Monday Mania challenge.

I'm also entering this card into the current Cards for Men challenge - Monochrome

Thanks for stopping by.

Michey xxx

CARD DEETS:

Image: TGF Courage Ian; Hero Arts Dandelion Frame; Verve Abundant Blessings, Forever in our Hearts, Leaves; KaiserCraft Lilac Avenue

Ink: Memento: Tuxedo Black; SU: Choc Chip, Old Olive, Wild Wasabi, River Rock; Distress Ink: Frayed Burlap, Old Paper; Versacolor: Olive, Cement,

Paper/Cardstock: SU Kraft, PTI White

Others: SU Crystal Effects, Cuttlebug Labels, Mimco Chain (used for the dogtag detail), Spica Glitter Pen - Silver,

Copics: See picture for Copics used

Inkspirations Sketch Challenge #21

In the lead up to my hosting the Monday Mania challenge over at The Greeting Farm, I had a couple of practice runs making cards for my entry. This is one that I created that I just wasn't all that happy with.

However, it did mean I managed to participate in Keesh's Inkspiration Challenge last week for my very first time!! Yay!!

Hope you like it.

Hugs, Michey xxx

CARD DEETS:

Image: TGF Cute Troop

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, PTI Fresh Snow

Paper/Cardstock: PTI White, KaiserCraft Millitary collection

Others: Copics (sorry I forgot to take a piccie), Edge distresser, PTI Twine

Lest We Forget - ANZAC Day 2010

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.

Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

LEST WE FORGET.

Verve, Cupcakes & a Mojo Sketch

Wow.....what a week it has been......and now the weekend is here (for us Aussies anyways). ;)

I set myself a challenge at the beginning of the year to participate in some challenges, hopefully every week. I smashed that this week. I've made 9 cards!! I'm stunned myself - and I did four of those tonight, but I'm not gonna show you until tomorrow as its already 3am and I wanna go to bed.

Sadly, I lost one of the cards on Tuesday....I took the three I had made Monday to work with me on Tuesday to get some photos done during daylight hours and somehow when I checked at the other end, I only had two. :( The card I lost had some of my new MOST FAVOURITE paper on it and I used this weeks SSSC for the layout. It was lovely, but you'll just have to take my word for it. ;)

Anyhow, here is the one of the cards I've made this week. Was for the Cupcake Inspiration Challenge and Verve's Release Challenge # 1. I used this week's Mojo Sketch as the layout guide and cracked open my pack of KaiserCraft Devonshire 6x6 DP.

Thanks for stopping by for a lookie.

Mwah!! Michey xxx

.

(I'm all bleary eyed now so I'll come back and add the deets a little later...)

CARD DEETS:

Stamps: Verve......

Ink:.....

Paper/Cardstock:......

Other:.....

Copics: ....

Mad For Markers Challenge 1 (Entry 2) + Copic Creations Challenge 26 + Anya Ink 2 + Cupcake Inspiration Challenge 54

Just a quick post for now as I want to get this card in before the 5pm deadline with the MFM challenge and its now 4;51pm!!

Nothing like a wee bit of pressure!!

I'll be back in a second to add all the blah, blah, blah. :)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Okay.....I'm back (I made the deadline and can breathe again!!). :)

I have been wanting to make an Easel card ever since they first started appearing on blogs, but couldn't quite work up the courage to step out and do it until this week. I started this card on Monday night with a clear vision in mind and went about creating the base and the matted layers.....then my mojo up and left home. Its not back yet, but has popped in for a moment here or two and I've made the most of those moments. (In reality, I just stamped/printed several images and coloured them in using the three colours from the Mad For Markers challenge and was not happy with any of them. They're actually coloured in quite lovely, but I wanted to make this card for one of my BFF's who's having a birthday this coming week and I just wasn't all that ok with the images I'd coloured. They were either tooo young/girlish or in the end didn't match the DP I'd already started with.) I came home after a truly frustrating day yesterday (Friday) determined to get the card finished. Looking through my out-of-control collection of stamps, I happened upon one of the very first sets of TGF stamps I ever purchased, The Anya Collection. They were perfect because my BFF is well-known for her handbag/shoe collection and her love of all things related to SHOPPING!! My roomie and I were watching the brand new BBC version of Sense and Sensibility last night as well and I think this encouraged my mojo to come home!! :)

For this card I've blended a few different challenges. Copic Creations challenge for this week is "black hair", which is perfect as my BFF has lots of gorgeous, long, black hair. I'm also entering this into the Anya Ink challenge, which is Pink and Sparkly as there is some of that going on here, plus the current Cupcake Inspiration Challenge - I was inspired to use the lace on this card because of the beautiful lacy icing pieces on these cupcakes.

Anyway, there are a couple of firsts for me here too: my first easel card; and, my first time using flowers (not entirely sure they work for me tho). Once I was done colouring last night, I pulled out my Crystal Effects and coated Anya's shoes and handbag to give them the appearance of patent leather (see the piccie above left). Then it was off to bed so they could dry. I was off to my BFF's birthday brunch this morning and had a lovely "high tea" with some other darling girlies. Thanksfully, I hadn't planned on taking the gift or card with me today, which was just as well since the card was still in a gazillion pieces. I got home (via a stop at my local scrapping store) at 3:20pm and raced to pull it all together before the 5pm deadline at the MFM challenge!! Phew....my mojo definitely likes a challenge!!

That's it for me atm. I'm off to swallow some pain meds, have had an annoying headache all day (probably related to the fact that I didn't get my coffee in yesterday - remember I did mention it was a frustrating day - plus I was a little down on my H2O intake the past few days too).

Have another project on the go as well that I want to spend some time playing with tonight.

Hope your weekend is shaping up to be all kinds of lovely. :) Hugs, Michey xxx

CARD DEETS:

Images/Stamps: TGF The Anya Collection; Verve Birthday Surprise (Sentiment)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Choc Chip, Distress Ink Old Paper and Frayed Burlap

Copics: (See picture below - sorry for quality - used my iPhone)

Paper/Cardstock: SU Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Flourishes Classic White, Crate Paper Lillian Collection "Gathering"

Others: Fiskars Upper Crest Punch, KaiserCraft Rhinestones, Nestabilities (Label Eleven and Large Scallop Oval), Prima + Hero Arts + KaiserCraft Flowers (coloured with Copics to match), SU Crystal Effects, Glue Dots, Maya Arts Lace

Mad for Markers Challenge 1

Heya....its the weekend and I've started mine with a lovely little lie-in.

But now I'm up and getting into my day - off to lunch with some girlies in a minnie, but just had to put up a new post. I've been pondering all week what to do for the MFM Challenge.....had to go and get me the actual Copics for the challenge (shoulda been harder than it was.....my heart gets overwhelmingly happy whenever I walk into my local art supplies store and see their wall of Copic colour!!)

To create my card, I first decided which image I would use.....and finally!! pulled out one of my new Magnolia Tilda's (not so new, I just haven't inked them up yet) and the appropriate markers and coloured away. These images are soooo gorgeous, I don't know why I simply haven't used them before now!! Maybe, just maybe, one day when I have more time to dedicate to crafting, I'll have inked up every stamp that I've just had-to-have over the past year and made something with them. I live to have such BIG dreams, lol.

Anyway, once Miss Tilda was coloured I then looked through my DP collection to find appropriately coloured paper and was immediately drawn to this piece from my Basic Grey Lemonade 6x6 pad. Cut to fit and distressed around the edge with Old Paper ink, plus a handdrawn pattern around its periphery. I used my oval nesties to cut and mat Tilda (sadly the biggest oval I have hacked into her cute little socks) and used the matching scallop oval to cut a piece from the same DP collection (I love that BG includes some distressed matching coloured papers in the 6x6 pads).

My mum has "officially" handed what's left of her sewing box over to me. Sadly her hands are too damaged by arthritis these days for her to do any sewing. One day I'll have some space created for a sewing station for myself (at the moment everything is packed away). The last little box of goodies she gave me had some gorgeous little ribbons and trims in it - including this gorgeous little white broderie anglaise type ribbon. I've layered that with some matching chiffon over the top to finish off my card. Still felt it needed something so added so dots with my white gel pen around the edges of the scalloped matt.

And there you have it. My first entry into the very first Mad For Markers Challenge. Stop by their blog and check it out for yourself. Sammi has a wonderful prize up for grabs for this challenge. I may create something else for the challenge yet. Another few days before it closes.

Thankx for stopping by for a peek. Michey xxx

CARD DEETS:

Image: Magnolia Tilda with gift

Paper/Cardstock: SU Whisper White, BG Lemonade, Flourishes Classic White

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Inks Old Paper & Frayed Burlap, SU Choc Chip (Pen for detail on edging of DP)

Others: COPICS!! (See piccie for colours used); Ribbons from stash, White Gel pen, Nestabilities

Mojo Monday 133

I did it!! I made a card for this week's Mojo Monday challenge!! Sorry....but I'm a bit excited about that right now!! lol!!

My roomie and I have been watching the second series of a delightful BBC show, "Lark Rise to Candleford" and it really inspired me to give the whole shabby chic/vintage look a go!! I'm even talking with a delightful English accent atm (confession: I usually have a bit of an English accent, the by-product of working with so many English/Irish nurses (and my Irish ancestry rising to the fore). Not much ocker Aussie outta my mouth, most of the time)!! Ha ha ha

I was home alone and watching Saving Private Ryan when I started making this card though.

I was pretty keen on inking up this gorgeous new Verve stamp set I have and decided to bring out my inks and aquapens and have another attempt at watercolouring. My Copics got a rest - and I'm not sure they're entirely happy about it!!

Following this week's sneaky news from the US that some of the current SU colours are going to be retired.....I had to show my beloved Sage Shadow that I will never, ever forget!! In fact I'm adding a RE-inker to my growing SU order right now!! PLUS KRAFT!! How would I ever survive without my beloved Kraft, don't even go there Michey........ And I just happened to have these gorgeous Kraft DP's in my collection too that needed to be used.

Now, I'm uploading this at work and know what most of the items I used are....but can't quite remember the name of the DP's are .....so will add those when I get home tonight.

...I've added a photo of the dimension I've used on this card.....its definitely extreme. I think, if I can pull the flower layers apart with out causing tooo much damage I might change the dimensionals to ones I have that don't have as much height. It really is quite heavy and bulky in front and I'll need a box not an envie for this one. :)

CARD DEETS:

Stamps: Verve Love's Flower

Paper/Cardstock: SU Kraft, Sage Shadow, Blush Blossom, Very Vanilla

Inks: SU Cameo Coral, Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip, Distress Inks Frayed Burlap, Tea Dye

Others: Fiskars Upper Crest Punch, Crystal Effects, Kaisercraft Rhinestones, Nestabilities, SU Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Aquapainter pen, Corner Chomper

Kellie's Tickled Pink about CANDY!!

Kellie has recently renamed her store and made a few other changes too. To celebrate, she has an amazing candy offer available for everyone!! Here are the deets:

THIS CANDY/OFFER APPLIES TO INTERNATIONAL TO.... IT'S OPEN WORLD WIDE...

Become a follower and you could win..... Simple! Tickled Pink Stamps has some amazing things coming up in the next couple of months and to start celebrating early we are going to have a CANDY.... Not 1, not 2, but there are 3 prizes! WHOO HOO...

Also to let you know that once a month Tickled Pink Stamps will be having a random giveaway so to make sure you never miss the announcement become a follower. Also we will have random hidden candies on the Pink Ladies blogs so be sure to never miss a Tickled Pink Stamps post on their blogs ;)

In other news before I get to the CANDY details. Tickled Pink Stamps will start selling International again very SOON.... But will only be selling stamps Internationally not papers, charms, magazines etc, but with many stamps to pick from and personalised ones I am sure there is something for everyone :)

ONTO the CANDY details. There are 3 ways in which to win and if you do all 3 well then your chances are even higher.

• 1st - The 1st prize will go to one lucky person that becomes a follower.
• 2nd - The 2nd will go to one lucky person that makes a blog post on their blog advertising this candy with a link back to this here post and popping their blog post link in Mr.Linky.
• 3rd - The third will go to one lucky person that leaves a comment on this blog post.
  

For all these we will be using random.org to find the lucky winners of each prize.

What are the prizes....?

• 1st - Is 6 stamps of the winners choice from any stamps in stock in store.
• 2nd - Is 3 stamps of the winners choice from any stamps in stock in store.
• 3rd - Is 1 stamp of the winners choice from any stamps in stock in store.

So what are you waiting for, you have to be in it to win it and be sure to spread the word.... This candy will end on Saturday the 1st May 2010 MIDNIGHT and the winners will be announced on Monday the 3rd of May 2010.

FFF Get Well Wishes, Anya Ink #1 & Anyone for Anya

My dear twin brother had some minor surgery on his foot on Thursday and I thought I'd better get my butt into gear and make him a little get well card. He's on bed rest for the first 7 days and will be off his foot for 3-4 weeks. He and his partner rearranged their lounge room so he can blob out on the couch playing x-box and/or watching the telly whilst looking out their big windows at the ocean, plus I'm pretty sure that PJ's will be his go-to fashion for much of these few weeks. Lucky duck!! lol ;)

Anywho, I used this weeks Farm Fresh Friday sketch to help me plan my card and pulled it together from there. I ummed and aahed over which image to use - the Nurse Anya or a My Guy Ian, or even the cute little dogs on the couch in the Home Sweet Home set.....before finally deciding this cute little Max fit the bill perfectly. I paper pieced his outfit so that it more resembled pj's and pulled out my Copics. I'm not all that pleased with my colouring on this card, but I'm not gonna redo it, so it will have to do. Dan won't be critiquing it anyway. This also fits with this week's challenges at Anya Ink at Anyone for Anya, which is anything goes.

Its Easter Sunday over here now and our daylight savings has finished overnight. I'm usually doubleminded about this end of DS - I love the extra hour of sleep, but hate that its dark so much earlier in the afternoon/evening. Definitely won't be leaving work with lingering light left in the sky most evenings now. Oh welll....

Happy Resurrection Sunday to all.

Michey xxx

CARD DEETS:

Stamps: TGF Twinkle Tots "Max", Stamping Bella Sentiments Grab Bag

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black; SU Choc Chip

Paper/Cardstock: SU Kraft, Choc Chip, Soft Sky, Parisienne Breeze DSP, Flourishes Classic White

Copics: Skin: E00, E42, RV32; Hair: E47, E49, E74; Socks/Controller: W00, W3 W5, W7, W9; + B0000 & B91 for highlights/shading

Others: Distress Ink "Old Paper", McGill Fancy Square Punch, PTI Twine, Nestabilities Oval

Blog Award

The sweet Edna has blessed me with this darling little award.

Really made my day. Ain't she sweet. Stop by her blog and leave her some loving, k. I only happened upon her blog because we both participated in the WMS blog hop a few weeks ago - now its one of my daily blog stops. :)

I'm so loving this gorgeous blog world of crafters.

You are all so creative and encouraging.

I forward this award to ALL of you who read this post. :)

Hugs, Michey xxx

SSSC62 & LRW 22 (+ a little Flutter by Wednesday)

It was my Roomie's birthday a few days ago and I've been so busy, I only managed to get her card and pressie finished last night.....thankfully, she is very gracious and patiently waited.

As with this card I made for her birthday last year, I had to make the predominant colour green (her fave). But she also loves Baja and since I still had this pack of DP out from the last card I posted....I just went with it!! I really wanted to use this darling Ketto I just received - and from there it all came together easily enough.

You can't see it in these photos - but she is super-dooper sparkley. Really hard to get that in a photo during the day - so might try and sneak in for a photo tonight. I used stickles on the heart flowers, the flower in her hair and the heart on her dress and then coloured her wings in with a Spica glitter pen.

Nice to see I have grown a wee bit in the year in between making her birthday cards. :)

Anywho, its Good Friday over here and we're having some friends over for dinner - so I better be off to clean and help with the preps.

See ya soon. Hoping your Easter is a time to reflect on all that Jesus did for us all those years ago.

I'm eternally grateful.

Hugs, Michey xxx

CARD DEETS:

Image/Stamps: Stamping Bella Phoebe Ketto, PTI Signature Greetings

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versacolour Olive

Paper/Cardstock: Flourishes Classic White, SU Baja Breeze & Whisper White, MemoryBoxCo Glitterati

Copics: Skin: E00, E93; Wings/Shoes: YG11, YG17, YG67; Dress/Flowers: BG000, B93, B95; Hair: E41, E43

Others: SU Certainly Celery Ribbon, Kaisercraft Rhinestones, Spica Glitter Pen Melon, Stickles Stardust