Friday, January 25, 2013

It's funny where craft takes us...

I've been sitting at the dining table for a couple of hours covering my son's school books, getting ready for his return to school next Tuesday, when it occurred to me that I was using so much of my craft stuff, just to cover his exercise books.



Firstly, I am using some kraft paper that I've recycled from the packaging in my HOTP/Paper Wishes parcels I get when I order stuff via the net. It's amazing how much paper can be reused; and what is used, is just the ideal size to cover exercise books. I usually roll up all of the pieces when I'm unpacking the parcels and it waits until I need it. (I have used it on cards etc as well.)

Secondly I printed out some digi-papers that I use to help my son identify his book types quickly. I just put a rectangle of one type on the front of each of his books that are the same, eg, all of his grid books have a blue patchwork paper on front.

Next I used a digi-frame to create his name plate, that I then printed out, cut up and then used my corner punch on.

Lastly where would I be without my Kaisercraft paper cutter. Certainly much faster than cutting the paper with scissors.

I'm lucky that he didn't want any other decoration on his books, otherwise I probably would have been stamping and cutting as well.

Is there anyone else who finds they use their crafting "stuff" for things for other everyday life tasks?

Bye again,
Janelle

P.S. Sorry the photo's not that good - contact doesn't photograph that well inside the house at night.

Muse Challenge #1

I've started following a new blog called Muse and here is the card I've made for their first challenge.


Here are the simple rules for the Muse Challenges:
  • Use What you have in your stash, don't purchase anything new for your Muse cards.
  • Explain your interpretation of the Muse inspiration card and link back to Muse.
  • Provide supportive comments to at least 3 of your fellow member's submissions.
  • Vote for one of your fellow member's submissions that you find inspiring.
Here is the inspiration card by Amy Kolling and while mine looks little like it, there are some aspects that inspired me for my card.


The white raised layer and the stamped leaves inspired me to do the die cut leaves to show the green patterned paper underneath. I was also keen to try this technique after seeing a card by Angeline Yong Jeet Leen in Paper Crafts' "Die Cutting for Paper Crafters".

                                                                                 

The embossed frame That Amy used (which is totally gorgeous!) was why I used an embossing plate to score around all edges of my white layer. It is foam taped onto the card, but the foam pads aren't very thick and that's why it's hard to tell it is in fact raised.

I chose the green and brown for my card as these colours are reflected in Amy's card.

Anyway, this has been an interesting challenge, but it's fun to be experimenting and trying out new styles, techniques and sources of inspiration.

Bye for now,
Janelle

P.S. The cutting die I used was Lorelai Leaf from Poppy Stamps. The butterfly stamp was from Kaisercraft's Flora and Fauna stamp set and the green patterned paper was from a free paper pad from We R Memory Keepers. The sentiment was from HOTP Labels and Frames stamp set. Enjoy.

Friday, January 18, 2013

A Scrapbook Boutique Blog Challenge

I made this card for the Scrapbook Boutique blog January Challenge which is to create a project using yellow, green and white and the photo as your inspiration. Details can be found HERE


I used off-cuts from some of the cards I've been making lately, including:
  • yellow plaid patterned paper from a free 6x6" We R Memory Keepers paper stack
  • Lime green, white and mid-green cardstock
  • Sizzix/Hero Arts Framelits Floral dies and stamp set
  • Kaisercraft Brown ink pad and light green rhinestones
  • Martha Stewart Meyer Lemon ink pad
  • VersaColor Bamboo ink pad
  • Staedtler Aquarell coloured pencils
  • Annabelle Stamps Cuts by Design Borders 1
  • Banana Custard Smooch
I love the border die-cut, especially highlighted with the rhinestones; and I think I finally got the flower right. Though my colouring is nowhere near as good as Therese Calvird's Pretty Posies that are published in the latest Australian Cardmaking, Stamping & Papercraft (Vol 19 No 2) that came in the post today. Therese is just wonderful with her colouring on these cards - the images look like they've been professionally printed. Therese has contributed quite a few cards in this issue, you should check it out.


I am also going to submit this card in the Annabelle Stamps blog as well, as this week's colours are somewhat similar. The darker green cardstock and the ink I used on the stamp both could be regarded as Artichoke. Details can be found HERE.

Well, bye for now,
Janelle



Wednesday, January 16, 2013

I made the cover...again!

I got my copy of Australian Simply Cards (Issue 51) in the post this morning and had to share with you straight away. The aqua and yellow card on the cover is MINE!!! Yay!!! It's always exciting when I see my work in print, but it's even more exciting when it's on the cover for everyone to see.

This card uses a couple of Annabelle Stamps stamp sets as well as lots of fussy cutting. This set of cards were super fun to make as they were so bright and colourful.

Anyway, must go. 
Janelle

Monday, January 14, 2013

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all. 

I'm back from my holiday and really need to get started on some new cards. The last few days have been really hard as I've been feeling something missing in my life. 

I've just been looking at some of my photos from New Year's Eve in Sydney, where we perched on the side of a cliff at Balls Head Point for 9 hours. I've included one of the better ones for you to see. Well worth it for such a fantastic view of the harbour, but the ground got so hard towards the end of the evening.



We went on to Melbourne to visit my step-daughter and another friend; and then we came back via Canberra and Dubbo. Luckily we missed all of the bushfires. It was a lovely trip, but the weather was so hot! I don't do heat well.

Anyway, I'm off to make some cards. I think I'll do some colouring in on this lot. You can see soon.

Bye for now,
Janelle