Monday, August 29, 2011

Heart Song Inspiration Challenge #13

Hi Everyone!!

Welcome to my Heart Song Inspiration Challenge blog post for this week!
This weeks challenge is everyone's favourite...  "Anything Goes and/or Favourite Colours"!! So you get to go crazy and do whatever you love!
 
I hope you can play along too this week. You don't have to use a Heart Song image (but of course we would love you to!). You could win an image of your choice from the Heart Song Designs store!

I decided to use the gorgeous Heart Song Welcome Precious Baby set. I keep thinking how sweet this image is, so I'm so glad to finally have a chance to use it!
I intended to use one of my favourite Colour combinations 'Red & Aqua', but after I finished coloring I realized how much green there was in the image, so I changed it to 'Red, Peach Aqua and Lime' lol!

Hope you like my card...


And a side view...



I used Dawny's Sketch from the Simon Says Stamp Blog Challenge,
And am also going to enter this card in the following challenges...
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Dies to Die For
PCJ Challenge 17: Anything Goes
The Outlawz Copic Promarker Challenge Aug 26th
Craft Us Crazy ~Challenge 15
Art Impressions Challenge # 29 Summertime..
AUD Sentiments - Challenge #35
Wags & Whiskers - Challenge 61 - Outdoor Fun
The Poodles Parlour - Anything Goes
Jellypark Friends!- Use a Die Cut or Punch
Ellephantastic August challenge {Add some layers}
Crafty Calendar August Challenge - Hot Colours
Make It Monday #52
Victorine Origianls Challenge #15 - Summer
TSG122 One layer with pop
The Crazy Challenge - CCH #82 "New Baby"
Stamps R Us - Anything Goes


Thanks for visiting and hope you can play along with us at Heart Song Inspirations this week!

Love & Hugs,



Recipe:
Stamp: Image & Sentiment - Heart Song Designs - Welcome Precious Baby
Ink and Colour: Images: Printer. Colored with Copics
Paper: Cardstock - CM, DP - MME Quite Contrary 'Jack & Jill'
Accessories: Spellbinder Nestabilities - Labels 1, Mounting foam, Pearls, Roses from Wild Orchid Crafts.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Whimsy Stamps DT Call

Hi Everyone!
Guess what? Just wanted to let you all know there is an open design team call for the oh-so-fabulous Whimsy Stamps!

As you know I am honoured to be one of Crissy's Crew members... And of course Crissy's adorable images can be found at... Yep... Whimsy Stamps!
This call will remain open through to 11:59pm EST on August 28th, so I hope you all give it a try! Details can be found on the Whimsy Inspirations blog!

I used the adorable "Nose to Nose" from the Whimsy Store in my Sunday's with Crissy post this month - here is a little pic, but you can see the details in my blog post...

All Whimsy Stamps are fabulous so give it a try!

Here are three cards that I loved making all in very different styles...

Good luck and have fun!
Love & Hugs,


Monday, August 22, 2011

Heart Song Inspiration Challenge #12

Hi Everyone!!

Welcome to my Heart Song Inspiration Challenge blog post for this week!
This weeks challenge is  "Shabby Chic and/or Use Pearls". Would you believe I have never tried 'shabby chic' before?! It was a bit of a challenge - but I love trying something new so it was fun! I definitely think I'll be trying some more in this style!
 
I hope you can play along too this week. You don't have to use a Heart Song image (but of course we would love you to!). You could win an image of your choice from the Heart Song store! PLUS, for this week, one of our fabulous DT members has generously offered a RAK for the lucky winner also... 2 Copic Ciao markers in their choice of colors and a black sharpie marker. How sweet is that!?

Here's how my first attempt at 'shabby chic' turned out...

And a side view...

I double layered the fabulous Heart Song Icecream image so it looked extra delicious, and mounted it over distressed Grace Taylor Vintage Collection papers. Beautiful lace and scrunched ribbon, with lots of pearls finished the 'shabby' look!

Thanks for visiting and hope you can play along!

Love & Hugs,




Recipe:
Stamp: Images & Sentiment - Heart Song Designs - Icecream Set
Ink and Colour: Images: Printer. Colored with Copics, Distress Inks
Paper: Cardstock - SU, DP - Grace Taylor 'Vintage Collection'
Accessories: Spellbinder Nestabilities - Long Rectangles, Mounting foam, Kaisercraft Pearl charm Brad and pearls, Pearl stick pins, Binding and Crochet Lace from Wild Orchid Crafts.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Sundays with Crissy Challenge #20--K.I.S.S.--Keep It Simple Stamper

Hi Everyone!

I'm so excited! My very first post for the "Sundays with Crissy" Design Team is now LIVE! Little 'ole me!... On Crissy's blog!... You have to go see!...  -  HERE!!
(But make sure you come back!)

 ***

Well? What did you think?? ;)  Fun, huh?
(You can see how I came to be on Crissy's Team in my previous post!)

So now I get to share it with you right here...  my very first card as a Crissy Crew member! Talk about a dream come true!

There is a new challenge every month at Sundays with Crissy. The challenge for the month of August is K.I.S.S. -- Keep It Simple Stamper!
Tricky, right? I had to slap my own fingers to stop myself adding all the yumminess that we card-makers love! (Though I did sneak in just a tiny bit of bling and flowers.... Because after all this IS my very first card for Crissy - and it couldn't be nekkid!)

I also decided to take 'K.I.S.S.' literally, and used Crissy's absolutely adorable digital image "Nose to Nose", from Whimsy Stamps. This gorgeous little girl giving an 'Eskimo Kiss' to her puppy looks so much like my beautiful niece Ava that I totally fell in love with her!

 

I used my sweet My Mind's Eye "Stella & Rose - Mabel" papers with just simple brown borders. The sentiment was from Create with TLC... I added my cheeky bit of bling and voila - done!

So now it's your turn... I'd love you to hop back over to the Sundays with Crissy blog and play along too - You can enter your creation at Sarah's Post - HERE-!

Thank you all for sharing this with me, and hope you all have a fabulous week!

Love & Hugs,



Stamp: Images - "Nose to Nose" by Crissy Armstrong, from Whimsy Stamps, Sentiment - Create with TLC .
Ink and Colour: Images: Printed, Colored with Copics
Paper: Cardstock - CM, DP - MME 'Stella and Rose' Mabel
Accessories: Spellbinder Nestabilities - Long Classic Scalloped Rectangles, Fancy Tags, Mounting foam, Pearls, Roses and Sweetheart Blossoms from Wild Orchid Crafts.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

I've Got Some Explaining To Do... ;)

Hi Everyone!
You know how there's 'crazy'.... and then there's 'CRAZY'?
Well I have some news that's a little bit of 'crazy/funny', and a whole lot of 'crazy/amazing'!!

The 'crazy', (but totally amazingly fabulous!) news, is that I am now a member of the "Sundays with Crissy" Design Team!! The 'crazy/funny' bit is how it all came together lol!

Here's a brief run-down for those who have been curiously watching my blog posts that appeared, changed, and then disappeared! Yep - it was confusing for me too!

It all started when I decided (at the last minute of course!) to pop a card in Crissy Armstrong's Design Team Call. Long story short, I got just a wee bit carried away and made like a dozen cards.... (well it's not like I'm short of Crissy images to play with!)
I decided that I'd make a series on my blog of Crissy's cute little images - telling her that they love me making them into cards... (yes I guess that's another meaning for crazy...)
I had a bit of fun with it, but after it was announced on Sunday's with Crissy that the new team had been chosen (and I hadn't heard anything), I started thinking about how silly these posts now looked.
So I removed all but the initial post - with an inclusion about never setting my goals too high again!!
What I didn't know is that Crissy HAD seen them, had chosen me for the team, but was away camping, planning to contact me when she got back!
After battling through a jungle of blog messages and emails, we finally made CONTACT... and my dream came true - I am one of Crissy's Crew!! (And guess what? Crissy is as fabulous as I always imagined she would be!!)

Anyway, you get the idea... Very silly indeed! And at least it explains my fabulous journey onto Crissy's Crew... Things that are supposed to happen work themselves out - even if it feels a little crazy along the way!! ;)

>>>> My first Sunday's with Crissy post will be on Saturday 20th August!! <<<<

So I thought today I would include some excerpts from the posts that brought this all about... just a few for those that missed them! (If you would like any details of the cards just let me know...)
You can see the first post HERE (I left it for posterity!) - And it explains my reasons for entering in the first place.
***

(Sunday's With Crissy #2 - Family Portrait)

Hi again,
This time my good friends, the Gothic Cows, have dropped in to say Hi, and to show Crissy that they were even willing to pose for their family portraits with me this week. It was such a great honor for me! Here's how they turned out...
They thought they were "Udderly Moovelous"! Thanks Guys! ;)
Ok that was BAD.... moooooving on!  (hehehe!) (...)
***

(Sunday's With Crissy #7 - I Treely Love You)

(...) When these two heard I needed some support, they just HAD to be involved! Unfortunately they were busy building their dam, but sent me this message of love and encouragement - aren't they cutie-pies?
Love you right back! "Dam Sweet Dam" little darlings!
Aren't I lucky to have so many fabulous image friends? (...)
***

Sunday's With Crissy #8 - I'm Diggin' Shannah

(...) Now my good mate Gordon has stopped his very important job just to quickly give Crissy the nod that I am a hard workin' sheila and would do my very best for her! I'll let him get back to work - but thanks buddy for your thumbs up!
Isn't he a good bloke?
Who'll be next?
***

Sunday's With Crissy #9 - Luigi's Special Delivery

 Buon Giorno!!
 Ahhhh Crissy!! My Amigo!! Shannah woulda fit into your team lika Pepperoni ona your pizza!!!
She is Bellisimo, and wanted me to make disa pizza especially for you! Buon Appetito!
 Thanks so much Luigi! You're THE BEST!!!
***
Love & Hugs,


Monday, August 15, 2011

Heart Song Inspiration Challenge #11 AND Baby Card Shower!

Hi Everyone!!

Welcome to my Heart Song Inspiration Challenge blog post for this week!
This week we challenge you to "Use an Animal Image and/or Pleated Ribbon or Paper." What a fun challenge!
You don't have to use a Heart Song image - but we would of course love you to! There is even a fabulous Freebie for you to try... So why not join in? You could win an image of your choice from the Heart Song store!

I was so excited to do my card this week! We Heart Song Design gals decided to surprise Leah with a BABY CARD SHOWER! So when she returns from Ethiopia with Makaio she will hopefully see a mass of cute baby love! Isn't that awesome??

So here is my card for Leah and her family to Welcome little Makaio!


Here is a view showing the layering...


I used the sweet Heart Song Giraffe, double layered for extra-dimensional cuteness, framed with deckled Nesties and mounted over my pleated ribbon feature. So I managed to cover Animals, Pleating AND a Baby Card!! ;)

Thanks for visiting and hope you can play along!


I'm entering this card in the following challenges;
Here Come the Boys Challenge #8 - Critters
Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge #116 (MMSC116)
Kelly Kids Challenge #2 - Bring on the Babies
Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday Challenge - Animals!
Patty's Creations - Challenge 28 Animals or Insects
Card Makin Mamas - Challenge #26 - Birthday Card
Paper Playtime - Challenge# 53 - Anything Goes!
Cards For Men - Challenge 17 - Anything Goes
Sparkles Challenge # 18, One For The Boys

Love & Hugs,






Recipe:
Stamp: Images - Heart Song Designs - Giraffe, Sentiment - Computer generated.
Ink and Colour: Images: Printer. Colored with Copics.
Paper: Cardstock - CM, DP - DCWV Baby Scrapbook Kit
Accessories: Spellbinder Nestabilities - Deckled Rectangles, SU Vanilla ribbon, SU Scallop Punch, CM circle punches, Mounting foam, buttons, twine.


Monday, August 8, 2011

Heart Song Inspiration Challenge #10

Hi Everyone!!

Firstly, I want to send my warmest congratulations to Leah (owner and illustrator of Heart Song Designs) and her family! After a long and difficult battle with bureaucracy, Leah is finally on her way to collect their much loved son, Makaio! I'm sooooo happy for you, and can't wait to see the beautiful photos of your family finally together!

In the meantime, I'm back again with another Heart Song Inspiration Challenge!! I'm really in the swing of this now and am absolutely LOVING being part of the fabulous Heart Song Design Team. They are an awesome group of ladies!

For this week, HSIC#10, we'd love you to make a card using the theme "Back to School and/or Use Circles."
Well this was tricky for me as I don't have kids, so don't have anything remotely 'back to school-ish' in my stash! Never fear - the internet is here!! ;)  I looked up a cute little scrapbooking digi kit and printed off a few papers to get me started.
Leah's Heart Song Designs "Apple" was the perfect focal image, which I decided to play around with and paper-piece just for fun! I hadn't ever tried this with digital images before, and it was easier than I thought - Just print your image onto the patterned papers and cut out your pieces. And if you're clever there isn't too much waste either!
So here is how it turned out...


The apple and  the sentiment are both raised on mounting foam to give added dimension. Here's a different angle so you can see...


And of course just to be clever I used Circles to frame my image - the other challenge too!
Hope you have loads of fun with this challenge - you can find more inspiration from the rest of the DT on the Heart Song Inspirations Blog!

For this card, I used Sweet Sketch Wednesday #113
I'd also like to enter this card in the following challenges;
Digital Delights Challenge - Stitching (Real or Faux)
Dutch Dare - DDCC #124-Aug 4-For The Kids
Meljen's Designs Challenge #70 - Back 2 School
Dare to be Sassy Thursdays DTBST#84 - Use a Sentiment
Stamp Something - August Digi Day Challenge
Crafty Catz Challenge #94 - Back to School
Allsorts Week 115 - Red Card

See you next week!!
Love & Hugs,



Recipe;
Stamp: Images - Heart Song Designs - Apple
Ink and Colour: Images: Printer. Shaded with Copics
Paper: Cardstock - CM, DP - Sweet Shoppe Designs "School Days" digi kit by Zoe Pearn
Accessories: Spellbinder Nestabilities - Circles, Lacey Circles, Mounting foam.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Heart Song Inspiration Challenge #9 & New Release!

Hi Everyone!

I'm back again for the new Heart Song Inspiration Challenge!
So for HSIC#9 we're asking you to go Monochromatic &/or Use Brads!
I can think of loads of fun ideas with that...

ESPECIALLY since today is RELEASE DAY!! YAY! Leah has come up with some yummy new images - you definitely need to pop over to the Heart Song Designs Shop and check them out! I've had so much fun playing with them.
Here is a card I came up with using one of the fabulous new sets... Of course using Brads to fit nicely in with this weeks challenge ;)


I hope you love this cute little owl image and sentiment as much as I do! Don't forget to check it out with the rest of the new release... And of course don't forget to play along with us in this weeks challenge!

Thanks for visiting and hope you all have an awesome week!
Love & Hugs,






Recipe:
Stamp: Images - Heart Song Designs
Ink and Colour: Images: Printer. Colored with Copics & Distress Inks for shading.
Paper: Cardstock - CM, DP - Kaisercraft "What a Hoot"
Accessories: Spellbinder Nestabilities - Petite Ovals, Petite Scalloped Ovals, Mounting foam, Kaisercraft "Rough & Tough" Brads.