Scrapbooking - all things grow with love.

This week I've been doing lots of cutting of lace doilies and the 'like'.  I have such a pile of these beautiful things, so I decided I needed to do a scrapbook layout and use some.  It feels like so long ago, that I made a layout; just really happy I did one now.  I used a pic of my brother with his beautiful daughter Amber!

This is an 8x8" layout and I've used some Basic Grey Origins paper pad.  I've matched this up with some Wild Wasabi cardstock and a smaller piece of black.

I've made a row of doily embellishments - three smaller ones in cream with button centres and a larger black doily with a button.  I've also added a hat pin to this doily - they are so cute - a little gift from Bec at Bizzy Becs.

The wording is from a Stampin'Up set Love Matters - I've stamped the word LOVE onto Kraft cardstock, then used the Labels 3 die from the Nestabilities to cut out and emboss.

And lastly, along the right-hand side, I've done some hand-stitching in yellow thread.

Some of the details haven't come up that well in the pictures; it's looks great in real life though, with lots of texture.

Product used:
Stamps: Love Matters
Cardstock: White, Basic Black, Kraft, Wild Wasabi, Basic Grey - Origins
Ink: Stazon Black
Others: Lace doilys, buttons, pearl, thread, hat pin, Eyelet border punch, Mat Pack

Some more items have been added to my Etsy store, coloured doily packs - these have all been coloured with permanent fabric dye and will really add some colour to your projects. 
Enjoy your weekend and thanks for looking here.

Magnolia Down Under Challenge #34

If you love a fun challenge with Magnolia Stamps, then you need to head over to Magnolia Challenges Down Under.  Each week they have exciting challenges.  This week the challenge is to create an Easel Card.  If you've never made one of these, well now is the time - they are so much fun and I will def. be making more of these very soon.  And they are super simple too......
Anyway, here is my Easel Card:

I've used Tilda writing in Diary, one of the new stamps from the Raising the Ceiling Collection.

Alot of my cards have been pink/green in colour lately - that's because I'm really loving the Basic Grey pattern paper Lemonade.  There are so many pretty patterns in this one!

I've included lots of pictures with this post, just to show you how the card sits when open and all the pretty embellishments that I've used. 

Notice the doilies - cream and pink - and the yoyo flowers - these are items that you will find in my new Etsy shop - take a peek!  I will continue to add more yummy goodies.

These small flowers have been made with a punch called Punch a Bunch - it's the sweetest little punch which I got from Bizzy Becs (a clearance line)  There are three small flowers to punch out, each slightly different size.  I've layered them onto my mat pack, then pierced the centre and then adding the silver brad.  By squishing each layer, you get a tiny 3D flower.

This is a view of the card when it's sitting up in position and you can see the easel effect.

And here is the card laying flat.  My card measures 14cm x 14cm.  For details on how to make these Easel Cards, you can visit Jodi, one of the Design Team members from the MDUC - she has some easy instructions to follow.

Thanks for the fabulous challenge Kellie.

Product used:
Stamps: Magnolia stamps, Best Yet (SU)
Cardstock: White, Rose Red, pattern paper - Basic Grey (Lemonade)
Ink: Rose Red
Others: Lace Doily punch, lace doily - cream & pink, yoyo flowers, tiny handmade flowers - Punch a Bunch, pink flowers (Bizzy Becs), brads, ribbon, aqua painter & SU inks for colouring.

New to Etsy.....

New to Etsy...... yes, that's me.  I've just recently opened up my own 'little' shop.  You can take a peek here and let me know what you think:

simplycardsbychan

I'm so happy to be able to share with you my hand-made items, perfect for your cardmaking and scrapbooking projects.  I will also have listed some of my coloured-in image cards!

Inkspiration Inspiration Challenge #18

Wow, these Fridays seem to be coming around so very fast.  It's another Inkspiration Challenge and this week, Makeesha has a very girly picture from which you can be inspired to create:

Here's my card for this week:

I was inspired by the colours and the girly feel to this picture so I made my card with that in mind.  I used Rose Red and Tempting Turquoise along with some pattern paper from Basic Grey.

The stamped image is from the Sugar Plums Party Stamp Set.  I've stamped onto watercolour cardstock and coloured in with inks and aqua painter.

I've also used the Labels 3 Nestabilities as the background for the image. 

I really wanted to include butterflies in this card, as you can see them in the picture too, so I stamped some small butterfly images on the Rose Red cardstock as a background. 

The finishing touches are the bow in some beautiful satin ribbon.  I've attached a brad to the centre over the knot.  I've also added two smaller brads to the end of the ribbon.

The sentiment is from Family Phrases and I've used the Window punch to cut out.

Here's a closer look:

You can check out the Design Team for more inspiration - their creations are sure to be fabulous.  If you want to join in the challenge fun, be sure to link your creation to Makeesha's website so we can all see what you've made.  Makeesha will also have something wonderful to show you. Have fun with this one!!
Here are the links for the Design Team:
Sarah-Jane
Kirsty
Dawn
Cindy
Renee

Product used:
Stamps: Sugar Plums (CC Designs), Family Phrases (SU), For Everything (SU)
Cardstock: White, Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Grey - Lemonade
Ink: Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise
Others: Labels 3 Nestabilities, ribbon, brads (Basic Grey), aqua painter, window punch (SU)

The Pink Elephant Challenge #54

The Pink Elephant Challege is Ribbon and I LOVE to use ribbon.  So this was the perfect challenge to join in with.  Here's my card:

For this card I've used Party Emma from the Sugar Plums Party Stamps.

Isn't she just so cute holding the balloon.

This is a standard size card and I've layered with some pattern paper from Basic Grey - Lemonade.  I've added one of the pretty paper lace doilies - seem to be using these in every card lately.

Party Emma has been stamped onto SU watercolour paper and then I've coloured with inks and aqua painter.  I've paper-pieced the balloon with the same pattern paper.

The sentiment is from the Upsy Daisy set by SU, with Kiwi Kiss ink.  I've used the Labels 3 Nestabilities to cut out and embosss.  A pink button has been added and I've placed a half pearl in the centre of the button.

For the ribbon, I've used some wide grosgrain in Bravo Burgandy and tied a bow, adding a yellow button with twine to the centre.

Here's a closer look at the card:

Well, that was super fun and I'm really looking forward to using the other stamps in this set sometime soon.

Product used:
Stamps: Sugar Plums Party stamps, Upsy Daisy (SU)
Cardstock: White, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Grey - Lemonade
Ink: Kiwi Kiss
Others: Eyelet border punch, paper lace doily, ribbon, buttons, twine, half pearl, aqua painter, SU inks, Labels 3 - Nestabilities

Magnolia Down Under Challenge #33

I got some new goodies yesterday which included a few new Magnolia Stamps.  They are all so sweet and I inked one up last night and coloured this Tilda in for the MDUC.  This week, the challenge is

Buttons, Flowers & Bows.

Here's my card:

I've used Peachy Tilda from the Yummy Tummy range!  I've stamped onto watercolour paper with Stazon Black, then coloured in with Stampin'Up inks and aqua painter.

This card measures 13cm x 13cm and I've used some Basic Grey pattern paper lemonade.  The colours in this pad are just beautiful and you will see me using lots of them.  I've been purchasing quite a few of the Basic Grey papers lately; in the 6x6 size pads - these are fabulous for card-making and getting the pad allows you plenty of patterns to choose from.

I've cut out the Tilda image and mounted onto the lace doily.  Then for the fun embellishments:

I've added a bright pink bow, a flower to the centre of the pink lace doily and lots of pretty buttons all in a row, along the bottom of the card.  Here's a closer look:

Thanks Kel, for this fun challenge - one of my favourites.  You can find details for this challenge from the MDUC blog - there you will find lots of more inspiration from the DT girls.  Thanks for poping past.

Product used:
Stamps: Peachy Tilda - Magnolia Stamps
Cardstock: White, Lemonade pattern paper - Basic Grey
Others: buttons, pink ribbon, lace doily, flower (Bizzy Becs), aqua painter, ink pads (SU), white thread

Inkspiration Colour Challenge #18

Thanks very much for all the lovely comments and emails I've received on my Canvas Art.  I love and appreciate them all.

Today is Friday and it's the day I show you my card for the Inkspiration Challenges - we have a colour challenge for this week:

I think these colours could work for many styles of card, masculine or pretty.  So here's what I've come up with:

I've used the very fun Good Friend set together with the Cheep Talk set.  Both work together very well.

I've started with a base card in Very Vanilla, then I've layered some Mellow Moss and striped Ruby Red paper that was in my stash!

For the main image, I've used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp up the bird.  I've also added a wing in the striped Ruby Red paper.

I've added some wide grosgrain ribbon in the Brocade Blue and tied a button with twine to one end.  When I first completed this card, I didn't have the wide lace.  But I wasn't really happy with it and felt it needed something extra.  So I've added some lace - most of my cards seem to have that addition these days.

The little sentiment is from the same stamp set.  Here's a closer look at the details:

Now you've seen my inspiration - if you want to play along, be sure to link your card at Makeesha's website so everyone can check out your creation.   Don't forget to view all the gorgeous creativity from her DT too - I'm sure they will be fabulous:

Sarah-Jane

Kirsty

Dawn

Cindy

Renee

Anthonette

Thanks for poping by and have a wonderful weekend.

Product used:

Stamps: Good Friend, Cheep Talk

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Mellow Moss, Ruby Red, Brocade Blue, pattern paper

Ink: Brocade Blue, Ruby Red, Mellow Moss

Others: Ribbon, button, twine, lace, Martha Stewart punch, dimensionals, stamp-a-ma-jig

Canvas art.

I promised I would share my canvas art.  Today I finished it off!  I am really pleased with it - I've used bits of treasures that I love, a photo that was always one of my favourites and it will find a happy place on a wall in our house.

I painted the whole canvas a creamy colour and also sponged the top half.  Along the bottom I've used Sahara Sand ink with the En Francais BG stamp from Stampin'Up. 

I've used some of my favourite lace, pattern paper from the Nook and Pantry range by Basic Grey - can you see the lace doily pattern on the paper? Then there is some fabric with the roses, hessian and some of the ruffled paper flowers with button centres.  You can refer to this post to see the details on where you can view the tutorial for these kinds of flowers.

This photo was taken on holidays a few years back - bird on a washing line wire.

Thanks for poping past!

Just add Ink Challenge #3

My sister recently had a beautiful baby boy, so I was in need of a sweet boy card!  I used the sketch from the Just add Ink Challenge #3:

Here's my card:

As you can see, I've used one of my new paper lace doilys that I showed yesterday - they are so pretty and delicate!

This is a square card which measures 13cm x 13cm in Bordering Blue cardstock.  Some stars have been stamped to make a BG.  I've layered a strip of pattern paper from Basic Grey - you can just see the little elephants along the bottom!  Then I've added a strip of Sky Blue on which I've used the Eyelet border punch.  On this is some of the striped ribbon in Pacific Point.

The elephant image is from Nursery Necessities - I've stamped him up in Pacific Point ink and then cut out, mounting onto the doily with dimensionals.  I've added a blue button with a bow in twine. 

The sentiment is from the same set and I've used the Window punch to cut this out.

And lastly I've tied a piece of twine at the end of the striped ribbon.  Here's a closer look:

I hope you like it - you can check out heaps more amazing creations at Just add Ink.  Thanks for a great sketch girls.

Product used:
Stamp: Nursery Necessities
Cardstock: Bordering Blue, Soft Sky, White, Pattern paper Basic Grey - Marrakech
Ink: Pacific Point, Soft Sky, Bordering Blue
Others: Lace Doily, button, twine, ribbon, Window punch, Eyelet border punch, dimensionals.

Tid-bits of craft!

No cards to show, but I have some crafty bits to share.  I recently made a purchase from an Etsy store - beautiful twine in chocolate and white and some gorgeous paper lace doilys - they really are pretty.  I got these items from Nice Package - Creative Gift Packaging Solutions.

Today I went to a local op-shop to see if I could get more vintage lace doily tableclothes and fabric.  I found a few treasures and I plan to be doing alot of cutting and creating in the next week.  Check back soon....

And currently I'm working on some more canvas art.  I did a smaller one last year and it was alot of fun. Here's just a little peek - I will show you the finished result very soon. I'm happy about this one!

Embellish - colour challenge with ribbon

I managed to slip in another card today.  My little one slept for three hours this afternoon and I had a wonderful time creating.

I joined in with the challenge from embellish magazine.  Here is their challenge for this week:

And here's my card:

This card only has the tiniest wee bit of stamping: the sentiment.  I guess I was so caught up in the ribbon theme, the stamping fell to the way-side.

I've used the Stampin'Up colours Choc Chip, Tempting Turquoise and Pretty in Pink, along with White. 

For the heart images, I've used the SU heart punch and randomly punched out three hearts.  Using three different ribbons, I've adhered onto the back of the white cardstock, so the ribbon comes thru to the front of the heart.  The pink ribbon has been ruffled up a little to give some texture.

I've also tied a bow in grosgrain Pretty in Pink.

On the strip of pink along the bottom of card, I've used a Martha Stewart punch - polka-dots.

I've added some buttons and rhinestones for embellishments.

Here's a closer look:

This was a fun challenge - you can check out some fabulous inspiration from the embellish design team.

Product used:
Stamps: clear stamp
Cardstock: Choc Chip, Pretty in Pink, Temp Turquoise, White
Ink: Temp Turquoise
Others: Heart punch SU, ribbon, buttons, oval punch SU, Martha Stewart punch

Inkspiration Sketch Challenge #18

Yay for Friday - I love this day of week when I know I don't have to get up early and organise the kids for school the next day. It's nice to have a few days of relaxation too. This week has gone by super fast and it's already been one week into Term 1.

Friday is Inkspiration Challenge day and this week Makeesha has a sketch:

Here's my card:

I don't make 'boy' cards very often, so I knew for this challenge, that I wanted to make something boyish!

So I've started off with a base card in Not Quite Navy - which measures 13cm x 13cm - and stamped some circles from the Good Friend stamp set by SU.  The I added a square of Tangerine Tango and pattern paper from Basic Grey.  I love the bright fun colours in this. Next up is a peice of White cardstock matted onto Not Quite Navy.  I've sponged Navy ink all over the white cardstock.

The main image is a stamp from The Greeting Farm - Skater Ian.  I coloured him with my Copic markers, cut the image out and then poped up with dimensionals onto the white cardstock background.

I've added two coloured buttons with twine for the embellishements and the sentiment is also from Good Friend.  I've used the SU markers to get the two colours onto the stamp!

Here's a closer look at the card:

I LOVE this square sketch and will def. use it again.  Would be perfect for a scrapbook layout too.  I love how you can focus your attention to the middle of the card and have blank space around it!  Lots of different ways you can use this one.  Thanks Keesh!!
Well, this is my inspiration for the sketch.  You can also check out what the Design Team have come up with for this week:
Sarah-Jane
Kirsty
Cindy
Renee
Dawn
Anthonette (guest designer)

If you would love to join in the fun, be sure to link your card back to the challenge post on Makeesha's website, so we can all view your fabulous creations.  Thanks for coming to visit.

Product used:
Stamps - The greeting farm - skater Ian, Good Friend (SU)
Cardstock: Not quite Navy, Tangerine Tango, White, June Bug (Basic Grey)
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Pumpkin Pie (marker pen)
Others: buttons, twine, Copic markers, dimensionals, cutter kit

Magnolia Down Under Challenges #31

The Magnolia Challenges are back to weekly - oh what fun.  This weeks challenge is a sketch.  Using the sketch provided, it had to include orange and be a 'girly' card.  Well, the 'girly' part was easy with a cute Magnolia Stamp!  Here's my creation:

This card base in White measures 13cm x 13cm square.  I've layered some Tangerine Tango and pattern paper from the Nook & Pantry range by Basic Grey.

I've cut a circle in Soft Sky using my CM cutter and used a clear stamp for the background.  Then I've added a strip of cream lace - I have to go back to my local fabric store as I'm using this so much lately - it's just gorgeous.

For the main image, I've stamped 'Tilda with bike' onto watercolour cardstock, then used my inks and aqua painter to colour in. I've cut it out and then poped onto the layout. 

I've added a ruffled flower - I'm loving these too - so much fun to make.  A red button has been put in the centre and I've inked the edges in Tangerine Tango ink.

Lastly I've added some pearls and a sentiment from a clear stamp.  Here's a closer look at the ruffled flower:

Pop over to the MDUC website to view all the details of how you can join in with this weeks challenge.  You won't want to miss out if you love Magnolia.  Thanks Kellie.

Product used:
Stamps: Magnolia, Basic Grey (clear stamps)
Cardstock: White, Tangerine Tango, Soft Sky, Nook & Pantry pattern paper (Basic Grey)
Ink: Soft Sky, Tangerine Tango
Others: Lace, aqua painter, inks, vintage book print, button, twine, half pearls,

Just add ink - Challenge #2

I recently discovered a new challenge blog called Just add ink - their design team is made up of some lovely Stampin'Up demonstrators who share their fabulous talent each week.  Even though I'm not demonstrating for Stampin'Up anymore, I still love seeing their products and of course using them in my own projects.  So I thought these challenges would be fun to join in with.  This week the challenge is: Just add hearts!

And here's what I've come up with:

I've used the Candy Lane DP with Regal Rose and Pink Pirouette cardstock.  I've stamped onto the Regal Rose cardstock with a small stamp that resembles a 'lace doily'.  I've used a border punch on the strip of red pattern paper - I think it's called polka-dot - it's by Martha Stewart!

Then I've added some lace, three pearl hearts and the sentiment is from the Always stamp set by Stampin'Up.

For the ruffled heart embellishment:  I punched out five hearts from an old childrens book.  I layered them on top of each other and placed a brad in the centre.  Then starting from the first layer, I've squished the papers up and ruffled them  together.  I then added the button to the centre with a foam pop-up.  It's really fun and you can also make flowers this way too.  For a detailed tutorial, check out Dawn McVey's blog where she shows her version of these ruffled flowers.  They are really cute!!

Here's a closer look at the ruffled button heart I made:

Product used:
Stamps: Always, Clear stamp (Basic Grey)
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose, DP Candy Lane, Very Vanilla
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette
Others: Lace, Punch (Martha Stewart), Cutter kit, pearl hearts, vintage book print, button, twine, foam pop-ups