A couple of birthdays...

Firsty, a HUGE happy birthday to a sweet friend's little girl, Emily, who turned 1 yesterday. Unfortunately I missed the party, but still got to create this gorgeous card for her :)


I really love using these Prima journalling cards that Mel gave me on cards... the funny thing was I said they weren't my style, well.... I take my words back Mel, but they are now my most favouritist thing in the world (well, apart from stamps!!)

The kids also went to one of their friend Hayley's 4th birthday party on Saturday, and I was so glad Al had to do the rushing around from one to the next! I actually modified the cute little Tilda card in the previous post to make it a "Happy Birthday" card, and the birthday girl absolutely adored it! It sure did stand out amongst all the Barbie cards!

I created this layout this afternoon while the kids were jumping all over me, trying to help in any way possible... Erin even had a go at my twinkling H20s!! OMG she was actually really good too --- at mixing all the colours together!! OMG I nearly screamed.. but she was so quiet and obviously engrossed in her work! I sooooo wish I had my camera on hand so I could show you!! She's such an arty little thing, loves drawing and painting!!

Anyway, here's the end result.

It's for Simonne's last sketch challenge over at Scrap Pile. I decided I needed to document my weight loss journey, and here's my first layout. I was trying to find a smaller (before) photo to put in the gap at the bottom right of the photo that's there, but the only one I could find was of me in my pj's, so might have to stick that on later!!

WAHOOOOO!!! I am getting soooooooooooooooooo excited about heading up to Cairns in a couple of weeks to spend some quality girlie time with my bestest scrappy friends in the world!! Leone & Mel, we're gonna have the bestest time ever!!! How many bottles do you think I'll be able to fit in my bag?????????

Right, well, that's pretty much it from me today... I was hoping to get some cards made after the layout, but after my little helpers efforts, I decided to quit while I was ahead! Maybe sleep time tomorrow?????

Just Magnolia challenge

I've really been enjoying my colouring lately, AND I received these 2 gorgeous stamps in the mail today!!! Yippeeee!!! My first Magnolia's! So, I decided to enter a challenge on the Just Magnolia blog. It's also my entry for the Belles 'n Whistles Guest Design Team member call. So, wish me luck!



It's focus was paper piecing, and I've cut out 2 of the little butterflies in the background and pasted them on, as well as Tilda, holding a flower. I used my twinkling H20s again, but on canvas paper this time, which proved kind of difficult, but I love the end result - nice and textured. I left her arms and plaits unstuck, so they add dimension. I think she's kinda cute :)

Stamping, painting, blending and colouring....

I haven't had much time to do anything else lately, however today I finally got a chance to put together a few little cards using the stamped images from the swap over at Scrap Pile.

I've used my copics for some and twinkling H20s for others. Comparing the two, I think I'm leaning towards the twinkling H20s at the moment, because I love the soft water colour effect, and the dazzling sparkle is like nothing else! Although I've found that certain images lend themselves to copics, while others are better with a softer look.

I'd love to hear your comments on what you like to colour your stamped images with.

Here are the two I coloured with twinkling H20s...

I just adore this cute little stamp that Sally sent in the swap. I think it may be Penny Black? A pleasure to colour, and I'm really pleased with how it turned out too!


Another one of Sally's cute little swap images. Who could resist this big cuddly bear!

And here are the ones I've used my copics with...

PS Thanks Tammy for the lovely stamped image of Tilda. I know it's been a long time coming, but here she is!!!


I love the rich gorgeous colours of the copics, and the ability to blend the colours seemlessly. A much bolder effect though than the soft pastel colours of the twinkling H20s.


and this cute little critter from the swap as well (I think it was KarenB's???).
I picked up this gorgeous Hero Arts background stamp at the convention last week :) Loving it :)

Thanks everyone for sending these gorgeous images for the swap. I have a heap more coloured, just need some time to make them into cards now!

Testing out my new babies... COPICS that is

I've been pretty flat out with work lately, so haven't had much time to create (on paper anyway), and so I've been playing with my new COPICS during my lunch break... and I just love how quick and easy they are to apply and get great results. My shadows need some work (okay, a lot of work!), and when searching for some help I found this really cool COPIC MARKER DEMO on utube by Amy Reeder Hadley and I am in awe yet again! I just wish I could draw like she can! Check it out if you get a minute. It's awesome!

PS Will hopefully get some time to create over the weekend, so my coloured images can find a home on a card somewhere, and might even find their way on here :) Maybe!!

Belle's n Whistles - check it out!

Check out the new Belle's n Whistles site for more of Elisabeth's gorgeous stamps. Elisabeth even mentioned the SASS sketch she did for me is being turned into a stamp, so that will be the first on my list!!

Chasing butterflies and more...

I love this stamp too (uhm... okay, I love all of them), but this would have to be my very favourite. I've put this one into the swap at Scrap Pile, so hope you gals enjoy colouring it as much as I did.

I made this card for my sister-in-law, Hailey! A very Happy Birthday for yesterday!!!


I also just whipped up this cute little card for a friend of ours, who has just had an adorable little boy, Matthew.

I've fallen in love with...

my new stamps! Yep, I'm hooked on the super cute Sugar Nellie stamps!!

Mel challenged me to make a card using one of the stamped images before the end of the weekend. So here it is...

although I have a feeling you will be seeing a few more of these in the upcoming weeks ;)

Thanks sweetie, and your little Tilda card is just gorgeous!

I'm just waiting for my order of COPIC markers to arrive now, and then I'll really be crusing!! I just used some old ZIG photo markers I had lying around to colour little Daisy, but they started pilling the paper. I also tried using watercolour pencils, but it just took too way long for me - for those of you who don't know me well, I'm not exactly patient!

I also got to play with these gorgeous 7gypsies papers that I've been ogling for a LONG time, and finished Karen's challenge over at Scrap Pile. A little late, but glad I got it finished, as I really adore Karen's work, and didn't want to miss this opportunity to tap into her style!

The photo is Mum and I on Mother's Day at the Bell Tower Restaurant in Booie. It's gorgeous up there, and we had such a fantastic day! So glad we made the effort to travel home to see her, even if it was only for the day :) I think Mum really enjoyed herself too :)

and here's a close up of the cute little homemade transparency retro flower that Mel made for me while she was here in April. She stamped an autumn leaves stamp onto some scrap transparency and punched little retro flowers. Nice and easy and a really cheap embellie :)

OMG I just won...

the most gorgeous blog candy in all of blog world!

I recently discovered Elisabeth Bell's gorgeous Sugar Nellie stamps, and followed the links right back to her blog, where I discovered a super cool blog candy comp, which I just couldn't resist entering!! Anyway, so I submitted my comment, and was just checking back today to see if a winner was announced, when I saw MY NAME right there in the winner's spot!!!! OMG I was dancing around the room I was soooooo excited!!!

So here's what I've won!!!

• The "Elisabeth Bell" Whiff of Joy Guardian Angel stamp set
• a shirt designed by Elisabeth featuring one of the designs from one of her galleries
• PLUS she will create my memory into a sketch and place it in her SASS Gallery

Thanks so much Elisabeth for your generosity and for sharing your gorgeous artwork with the world!!!!

You can check out all the details over at Elisabeth Bell's blog and while you're there, you just have to check out her galleries, her images are just amazing!!!

AND to top it all off I just got my first order of Sugar Nellie stamps delivered this week from the UK, and I'm in love!! AND I have just ordered some of the fabulous COPIC markers to colour them in with!! Ros, I think I'll be joining you in colouring heaven very shortly!! LOL!!

Final touches...

I started this layout at the Brissy Scrap Pile gathering in April. It was sitting on my desk for ages, and I just couldn't seem to get it right, but then today it just all fell into place. I used the souffle pen for the border around the page and for the fake stitching around the circle.


I just love Erin's curls, they are just so gorgeous. I hope she keeps them as her hair grows longer :)

Mel started this gorgeous layout for me at the gathering as well, and I just added the title, a little bling, the journalling card and the inked paper doily. I love how it turned out! Thanks Mel, you're a sweetie :)

This is Erin at her 2nd birthday party. A gorgeous friend of mine, Julie, from Bee Happy Puppets painted all the kids faces - she is the most exquisite face painter ever! The detail was just amazing. The kids all looked so cute, but my favourite of the day has to be the birthday girl!!

Debbie's done it again!!!

Check out this awesome blog candy over at Debbie's "Passion for Crafts" blog...

I know there's not a thing in there that I don't want!!!! Copic Markers, Nesties, Fiskars border punch, Stamps, Paper, Flowers, Buttons and ribbons... Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...