Sunday, August 25, 2013

Papertrey Ink Scrap-A-Faire 2013

I wanted to do a little cardmaking with the Papertrey Ink Scrap-A-Faire this weekend, as I missed it last year and it looked so interesting.
I managed to catch some of it last night, but at 10.00pm it's a little late to start crafting...so I turned on again this morning. They had a number of activities to work through, including Sweet Sugar-Coated Embellishments, Limited Ingredients Challenge, Tea dyeing, Scent-sational Cards (you know - scratch and sniff) and Custom Accents from the Kitchen (working with shrink plastics).

The first card I made was for the Limited Ingredients Challenge, where we were given a list of ingredients (materials) that could only be used - nothing else.





It was really difficult to stick to these colours as I desperately wanted green for some leaves - maybe I'll add some later! Also I didn't have exactly the same PI coloured cardstock and inks, so I had to approximate the look with what I had. The colours I've used include aqua, melon and golden yellow (though my golden yellow is slightly more pumpkin). I also used some light grey ink for the highlighting and the sentiment stamping. I also got out my clear glitter and added a dash; and since I've got it out, I'll do a card now following the Sweet Sugar-Coated Embellishments guidelines.


My second card has a glittered background over a collage of stamped roses. The strip at the bottom was inked after I laid down two strips of low-tack tape. In real life I used white cardstock as my base, but the glitter has picked up the pink from the stamps. I didn't have some spray adhesive like in the instructions, so instead I used VersaMark ink and then sprinkled over some Stampendous Stamp N' Bond, which is a heat activated adhesive powder. The glitter stuck to it really well and it was super easy to use.

I had plans to do some more cards, but I ran out of steam.

Anyway bye for now,
Janelle

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Cardmaking in Easy Steps Issue 11

I want to let you know of a great issue of Cardmaking In Easy Steps Issue 11, that contains a lovely range of die cuts, papers and a stamp set. It's on sale at the moment and features 6 shaped cards I designed. 

It's called the Fruit Sorbet Collection and is filled with lovely pastel colours and summery images. Check it out!

Bye for now,
Janelle

I missed it again... and again!

I've created two cards - one for Muse Challenge #30 and the other for Fusion Challenge #15. Unfortunately I missed the deadlines for both of them. UGHH! It's been a while since I've entered any challenges and I'm out of practice getting them finished on time. Anyway, I'll still write them up as if they were being entered, so here they are.

Muse Challenge #30

This card has been made in response to the stimulus card by Therese Calvird. I adored Therese's card as soon as I saw it, and I also knew I wanted to use my Dylusion sprays to create the background, as I've been experimenting with them.



I also love the use of the negative with the diecut birds on wires, so I found a die that I bought at the June Expo and used it with mine. I completed it with a gorgeous Heartfelt Creations sentiment and some yellow rhinestones. I used the navy cardstock for my background as I thought it was less harsh than the black looked (plus it was the first colour that was suitable that I found in the pile of cardstock I had on hand.) Tsk..tsk..tsk! I do love how the top layer turned out. I used four different colours: vibrant turquoise, lemon zest, pure sunshine and cut grass. I also sprayed a little patina and iridescent gold Glimmer Mists over the top using a The Crafters Workshop Mini Cell Theory mask to add extra dimension. You can see the effect in the left bottom corner.



The second card was in response to the hypothesis presented.


I wanted to combine the two challenges and use the sketch with the blackboard effect. The colours I used were not exactly correct for this challenge, but the lavender was the closest I could get to the gorgeous blueish flowers in the picture.



The swoop at the bottom of the sketch was achieved using a Marianne Design Designables folder (No DS0913) that I then cut around to accentuate the design. The Sizzix/Hampton Arts Times and Seasons stamp was white heat embossed and the flower was made with the Heartfelt Creations Delicate Asters stamp and die sets. The flower, in real life, is quite dimensional as I molded the petals both up and under to add some depth.



Anyway, I'll have to do better with my next challenge entries - we'll see. :)

Bye for now,
Janelle

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

A movie you MUST see!

I don't often endorse movies, but if you want a movie to lift your spirits see "The Way Way Back". 

Leisa (one of my friends) took me today as a belated birthday present. It was great - Gold Class cinema (we had the whole cinema to ourselves), relaxing lunch, some shopping and heaps of chinwagging. What more can you ask for from a friend!

Anyway, this movie is brilliant - we laughed, we cried and we also cried because we laughed so much! It has a great cast including Toni Collette and Steve Carell (he plays a surprising unpleasant bloke), plus a lovely storyline. Don't get me wrong. This is not a comedy, in fact it is a very poignant story.

So if you have a little time in between your crafting, take in this movie - I'm sure you'll love it!

Bye for now,
Love, Janelle

Saturday, August 3, 2013

A quick post

I'm just quickly letting you all know that I've been published again in Australian Simply Cards Issue 58. While I didn't have any of my cards on the cover, I had a fun time investigating and making a selection of 6 cards featuring the ombre technique. 


Hope you look out for it.

Anyway, bye for now.

Love, Janelle

Some photos for you

I'm posting some photos that should have been added on to my last post. These are photos of the projects I made at the Papercraft Expo in Brisbane back in June. (Wow, I didn't realise it was so long ago!)

Anyway, the first items are some cards I made with Emmy Lou Beechy from Heartfelt Creations. I loved the amount of glitter that we added - talk about creating a mess! They were made using the  Delicate Asters Collection of papers, stamps and dies.


  
The second project was an accordion book made with Rachel Greig from Darkroom Door. It was so much fun to make as I used the new Viva 3D-Stamp-Paint as well as Rachel's lovely stamps. I love the texture and sparkle this has when it's dry, and the colours are nice and vibrant.

The last project was made with  Jane Treganza and I used one of my favourite photos of my husband, Darryl and Alex. I have to admit I've never made a layout with as many bits and pieces on it as this one had, but I love the overall feel of it and it was perfect for a photo of my "two boys". Jane showed us a handy corner treatment that I'll have to do on a card sometime.


Anyway, that's all about this topic, but I did want to share an amusing piece of info about what else is happening in the crafting world. This is the address for an article about people making jewellery with mother's milk! (http://www.intocraft.com.au/2013/08/breast-milk-jewellery/ I think this is creepy! What about you? I've never felt the need to commemorate that part of motherhood.

The things people think of???

Anyway, bye for now.
Love, Janelle