Ship ahoy

If you look really carefully you will see the ship in the background of this image, and it's not the titanic cause it's still sailing!

I was quite scared when I decided to colour this image up, okay you might wonder why I bought the the stamp then. Well it just looked so nice and fun, but after I stamped it, I thought, huhmm this is not going to be that much fun. I eventually pulled the image out of storage and attempted it. And voila....., here you have it! It was actually really enjoyable, but that could be because I tried something I learnt the other day. I was watching a craft show, and they were doing fabric painting, the person who was explaining what to do said that you can add a little blue to create a shaded effect on red. I was like what, huh, is that how they do it, I just had to try and you won't believe it, it's like magic. I'm guessing the artists out there (probably not only them), are thinking, isn't that common sense. Well I did not know that, and I was so impressed by the result.

I coloured the image with prisma pencils, and that red is just stunning. I have lots of reds in my lyra set, but not one is actually red, they are either pink or orange. The image and sentiment are both from Micia, which I bought locally at a little craft shop. The wavy border is my EK Success punch used for the first time. There's never enough time to use all my supplies, but I am sure they will eventually get their turn and hopefully more than once, lol!

There's a new sketch for this week's Bellarific Friday, and it's by none other than our Shannanabella, that's so cute! Remember if you participate you could win Bella bucks, to buy Bella goodies, and who wouldn't want some Bella goodies. I know I do, my order shipped today, yippeeeee!

Here's the sketch, see nice and fun and easy! All the instructions are on the Bella blog. Now go on, get started, I know I am. In fact I have my image all coloured up and ready.....

Mother's day again

Famous last words. The last mother's day card (and the only one), I posted, I said my sentiment stamp will probably not see any ink until next year this time. Look, I was wrong, it saw ink again today.

I was asked by a colleague to make a mother's day card for her, last minute, so in between not getting any sleep last night, we had such a storm and I was stressing about everything, and mostly the birds and how they manage during storms, that I couldn't sleep. Somehow I at least managed to make this card for her. It looks a little like a Valentine's day card, but it's from two little girls for their mom, so I think it's okay.

The image is one which was sent to me by the very talented Paula, and it's from Stamping Bella. I was so happy when I came across it seeing I wanted something from two girls. I figured they're allowed to 'toast' with a cup-a-tea as they are far too young for a cosmopolitan.

I added some crackle medium to the tea cup to make it look a little authentic and aged. And lots of glitter, which the photo obviously doesn't show well. I've said it before, the stuff looks so much better in real life.

Oh, my mother's day sentiment will see ink again this weekend, as the card I made for my mom, got snatched up this week when I took it to work.

I'm off to bed now. It's gone my bedtime and I need lots of beauty sleep.....

Mother's Day

I'm back! I told ya I won't be here for a while, got to work, unfortunately. But I'm back and was hoping to post yesterday already, but I had to save a lizard that got stuck to glue, I just hope it's okay. I'm so upset about it and too afraid to go outside where I left it in case I find it dead :-(

Believe it or not, but this is my very first mother's day card for my mom. I've been making cards for a few years now, but have just never been organised enough to make a card on time. Okay, I didn't buy one, like some people I know - hehehe Mar got to tease you. But still it is pretty poor that I've only now managed it. Better late than never hey!

This image was sent to me by Paula, and I chose the paper BEFORE colouring this time... I coloured it with my Prismacolor pencils and blended it with Sansador. The sentiment is from Micia, it was the first time it saw some ink, and probably won't again until next year....

I layered the image on 3D dots and it was cut out using my nestabilities. I love this pinking circles, and can't believe it's the first time I've used mine. I've been wanting to use it for the last 3 cards I made, but it wouldn't work out.

That's it for now, not a lot to share today. Got to go clean the bird's cages, play ball with my babies and make something to eat, I'm star-ving!

Oops nearly forgot. Stamping Bella has free shipping, to ANYWHERE! If you want to get some of their new releases, or even the old ones, they're all fabulous go have a look. The offer is on until 4 May and the code is happyweek.

Enjoy!!!

Male card No:4

Slowly but surely the end is getting near. I've completed 4 of the 5 male cards, which by the way were supposed to be finished by last weekend :-)

This one is for my brother in law, as well, but this time it's from me. I'm only 5 days late!! I don't even have a present for him. I guess I can still get away with that being late, but the card, from a person who makes cards. At least didn't buy one - hehehe. Well done for admitting it Mar .

The image is from Sugar Nellie, Hamish in kilt, thanks Debbi I got that off your blog. This is another of the images Debbi sent me, and it was just so handy as I don't know what to use for these male cards anymore. Oh and look I managed to get away from green for a change!

My sentiment looks out of focus and

blurry, I promise it's not in real life.

I coloured it with my lyras and blended with Sansador again. The sentiment is from Micia.

Off I go to start the last male card. Actually I have already coloured the image, I just have to put it all together - in a flash - I doubt that :-(

Have a great evening.

Where to put the 2

So I made this card, quite pleased as I go along all looks just great, but then, panic, I forgot, it's for a two year old, and they want a 2 on the card. Where on earth do I put the two!?

As you can see, it ended up on top of the image. I quite liked the card without the 2, but it was a specific request and one should try and do as per requests, else people might not want another card :-)

I had great fun making this card, and the idea of the name with the individual letters comes from my biggest inspiration of course, Paula, do check her blog.

This is one of my Elzybells stamps, which I ordered unmounted and still haven't mounted... Anyone with great advise on how to mount unmounted stamps do tell.

I coloured it with Lyras and blended with Sansador. Added some highlights with my white gel pen. Mounted the main image and the happy birthday sentiment.

Okay off to do the dogs' dinner. Have a good evening.

Mouse delivery

It was a REALLY good day today. Our Lotus Notes server was upgraded successfully to R8.2!! BUT wait, the best part of today was that our Rightfax email gateway is still working. Faxes are still routing to the mail boxes, even though the experts told me that our Rightfax version is not compatible with R8 of Domino. Well I jumped for joy that it all worked out just fine.

Okay, I just had to share my joy for the day... now if I just knew how to fix my problem with my children, oops sorry, I mean dogs. I've had this Penny Black stamp for, I am pretty sure, about 4 years now. This is the first time I've ever used it. Isn't it sad (and I am sure all of you have this problem), how I don't get enough time for my favourite hobby and then when I do get time, my creative juices just won't flow.

Do any of you struggle to get a card together? Sometimes I can sit for a looooong time trying to decide on the layout. Even when I eventually do decide, it still doesn't look as good as I wanted it to.

I really love this paper. I bought it last Saturday, and it was one of the more expensive ones which I try and avoid in the shops, but I decided for once to treat myself.
























I stamped the image with Stazon and coloured it with Lyras, as usual blending it with Sansador and paper stumps, or blenders as some like to call it. I have been using my Sansador lately instead of the baby oil, no particular reason... maybe cause I have it :-)

























Well that's all for now. Have a good evening... what's left of it and those of you who are behind me, a good day.

Not too feminine

Here was quite an interesting challenge. My aunt, yeah she does ask me for cards all the time. My best 'customer' ;-). Asked me for a card for her boss (a woman), but specifically asked for something not too girly. Isn't that an interesting challenge. It almost felt like the dreaded thought of making a card for a guy.....

Anyhow, this is what I came up with. I hope she likes it. AND I hope it is not too masculine. Oh to get the balance right!

The stamp is by PSX, the sentiment by Micia. I coloured it with my lyra pencils and blended it with sansador. I tore the main image out and then inked it and wet it, to get it to 'smudge' a bit. The background paper was first distressed then also inked and wet and then distressed some more. I must say I quite enjoy distressing - it doesn't matter if you make a mistake, it looks like it's suppose to be that way.

I have bought some thicker cotton, and used that for the sewing, and I am so much more pleased. Now it is a lot more visable. I only had one small problem, when I tried the zig zag stitch with the thicker cotton the machine jammed. Thank goodness I could undo it all, and didn't break it. It's my mom's machine and she quickly showed me how to use it before she left for her 2 month holiday in Australia... I'd hate for her to come back and discover that I've broken it.

Okay, I'm off to go and make cards for my aunt, yeah, it's her birthday on Friday, and my niece, who's having her 14th on Monday 23rd.

Nearly forgot. First I want to test my house alarm. I need to set it so it's activated all over the house except for the lounge and dining room. This is to allow my dogs to get into the house while I'm out. I don't like to lock them outside and I also don't like not to activate my alarm. I am sure you can guess which of the two I do at the moment - yip, allow the dogs in with no alarm :-)

Have a great Sunday. Till later.....

Teenage girl

I have finally finished all the things I had to do today. Clean the parrot's cages, what a painful job that is, scrubbing them down.... take the recycled plastic and cans to the dump.... washing.... clean the pool.... and the list goes on. Oh, and I still have to go and play ball, the dogs are all laying here on the floor waiting, best I type fast then and stop waffling.

I made this card for my niece who is turning 14. I was so excited about the sheep, as she chose that image herself, but after colouring it in and then selecting papers to go with it, it looked like a card for a little girl, certainly not a teenager. I guess I'll be making her another card then. Still like this one though.

The stamp is by Micia, in Taiwan, it's one of a few I bought in December, and finally managed to use. I bought the Bubble folder from Cuttlebug yesterday, and of course had to use it straight away. I was really chuffed with the result.

Got to run and go play ball. I think it's still a little too hot, but will see how long Simby lasts in the heat. Oh, Simby is the one Jack Russell, the other is Misty and then there's Shado - the ever so special pavement special :-)