Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Blow Out the Candles...

I'm trying to make more Birthday cards because I give out so many of them.  I love giving out birthday cards - there's that special joy I get when the recipient appreciates the card.  Perhaps it's also a small way of bringing cheer to a friend when you hand them a handmade card.  So, anyway... here's a really fast and easy card I made yesterday.


I kept the layout really simple.  The only extra bit I did was make a flower from the super beautiful Japanese ribbon my sister bought.

I have a question for the cardmakers out there who might read this blog entry of mine.  Do you see the cards you would like to make in your head before you do anything?  Hmm... cos I do.  I see colours and images all the time in my head which could be inspired by a stamp or patterned paper which catches my eye, or even billboards and magazine layouts, etc.  The only sad thing is, I may not always achieve on paper what I visualise in my head...LOL!  Have a great day!!

Stamps : GKD Candles on Your Cake, Unity Artist In You (background swirls)
Ink : Versamark, Memento
Paper : Echo Park Sweet Summertime (can u tell how much I LOVE this collection..), GKD Fresh Asparagus cardstock
Others : EK Success scallop Border punch, Spellbinders large scallop ovals, Sakura glitter pen, White Gel pen

Monday, August 30, 2010

Waltzing Mouse Challenge #12

Recently, I discovered Waltzing Mouse stamps and almost immediately contacted Claire Brennan to purchase her stamps.  She's a very efficient lady and answered all my questions and soon after the postman delivered the goodies.  However, I was so caught up with work, travelling, etc... you can guess, right... the stamps were unopened till now.

Finally, a chance to play with the new stamps.  Here's a card in response to the sketch challenge at WM's challenge blog.


It's a really simple card, and takes only 15 mins to make.   I hope you check out Waltzing Mouse's website and blog.  You will love how Claire's stamps are made to go with Spellbinders' Nestabilities dies.  I have lots of those dies and it's great to have stamps which work with them.  The sentiment stamp was from Verve. Thanks!

Stamps : Waltzing Mouse Faux Fun Circles, Verve Beautiful You (sentiment)
Paper : Echo Park Sweet Summertime, PTI Cream cardstock
Ink : Memento Tuxedo Black (sentiment), Memento Bamboo Leaves (main image)
Others : Spellbinders Large Scallop Round, Fiskars border punch, PTI twill ribbon, WeRMK corner chomper

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Helloooo... Monday

It's Monday again.  Over the weekend, my sister and I finally had some time to get out all our recent craft purchases.   We had a grand time playing with stamps and papers...

Here's one of them - originally made for the Unity Addict Challenge #15 - it was a black & white challenge with a pop of colour.  I'm not sure if I interpreted it right - does "a pop of colour" mean just one colour or can you have a collection of colours on one image.  LOL!  Anyway, I've decided  to make another card for that challenge and keep this for today's posting.


If you like, do let me know what you think. Thanks!

Stamps : Unity KOM August 2010
Papers : 7 Gypseis Avignon, PTI white cardstock
Ink : Memento Tuxedo Black, colourpencils
Twine : PTI
Crystals : Imaginisce i-rock
Others : Sakura Pigma Micron 01 Black (frame lines drawn), Spellbinders Labels 2 (frame for owl)

Birthday Princess

Breaking out another of my new MFT Pure Innocence stamp... this one is called Birthday Princess.  I love her!  Look at her - she's so sweet, trying to balance the cake on one hand and hanging on to her crown with the other hand.  Because she is so cute, I thought I'd have to make a really happy card - and used my recent favourite papers from Echo Park, Sweet Summertime.


I hope you like the card...

Stamps : MFT Birthday Princess, MFT Clearly Sentimental about Birthdays (sentiment)
Patterned paper : Echo Park Sweet Summertime
Ink : Memento markers, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories : Spellbinders Large Scallop Oval, white gel pen, Sakura Pigma micron sepia, Japanese ribbon

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Always Do Your Best

My mum drummed this into all of us when we were young, to always do our best especially in our studies, so that we'd have a better life than she had.  Of all my siblings, I think I must have given her the most heartache because I love all the fun things and being out in the sun rather than studying my books.  I love reading but not my school books.. ;-)

Late last night when I made this card, I thought of my mum.  The sentiment is so true, isn't it - "Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later."



This card was made for the MFT Wednesday Stamp Club this week.  Another simple card... I stamped the PI Blooming Good Day image (I super, super LOVE the PI range), coloured her with Memento Markers, an paper pieced her dress with MME's Ooh La La paper.  The image was cut using the Large Scalloped Rectangle nestabilities and sponged with Memento Summer Sky and a touch of shimmer paint.  Around the background patterned paper, I did some faux stitching by piercing the paper and running my Sakura Pigma Micron (0.1) pen joining the pierced dots.  On the sentiment, I added some i-rock crystals - this is another tool I'm really loving right now.  It's so much fun!

Stamp : My Favorite Things Pure Innocence Blooming Good Day & MFT free stamp with purchase (sentiment)
Patterned papers : DCWV, My Mind's Eye
Accessories : i-rock & crystals, Cuttlebug embossing folder argyle
Cardstock : GKD PLC Vibrant violet

Poppies

Mid week already - time really flies.  We're into end of August, and another month to go before I head home.  It's been rather cold and wet lately where I am, and I feel I've had enough of winter.  LOL!  Never thought I'd hear myself say this, I used to love the cold weather but now, I'm longing for some sunshine...

Here's a card I made hoping to cheer myself up:



It's also for the sketch challenge at Stamp TV.  I wanted to use the lovely vintage papers by 7 Gypsies - Avignon and see how the card would look with a brighter focal image.  This is the final result.  Hope you enjoy the card.
Stamp set : Gina K Designs Hugs & Prayers
Ink : Memento Lady Bug & Tuxedo Black, Memento Markers (colouring the image)
Patterned papers : 7 Gypsies Avignon
Cardstock : GKD PLC Spiced Pumpkin
Others : PTI Twill ribbon, MS butterfly punch

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

StampTV Inspiration Challenge

I always look forward to a break and making a fast and easy card.  This week, we did some spring cleaning at my sister's place.  I found a stash of scraps which I thought would be perfect for making some cards.  Yeah, when you are not home and having limited supplies, it's fun to try to create something out of the little that you have. 

I made this card for the StampTV Inspiration Challenge.  See that cake?  Well, I was testing the stamp with some pink ink on scrap paper and forgot to clean it before I applied the brown ink.  Hmm... I kinda like the end result - I thought it ended looking like a marbled cake. lol!


Stamp : GKD Candles on your cake (I love, love this set!)
Inks : Memento Rich Cocoa, Rose Bud & Memento Markers on the candles.
Cardstock : PTI Sweet Blush
Patterned papers : My Mind's Eye Ooh La La

Monday, August 23, 2010

Christmas Card Challenge at StampTV

I love making Christmas cards!!  I think it's because I love Christmas, plus, perhaps it's because I have been making all the cards my father has been sending out during Christmas.  It's a little sad this year, as my father (who has Alzheimers) is slowly forgetting how to write.  Last year, he could sign his name and I helped him fill in the addresses of family and friends he normally sends cards to.  Just recently, we discovered he could no longer remember how to sign his name.

So, this year, I think I will be making him some really special Christmas cards to send out.  I'd want him to remember how much he loves to write the cards even though this might be the last year he is able to.

I'm really pleased that at StampTV there's some challenges for making Christmas cards.  Here's one I made recently... I couldn't do much as I'm still away from home and do not have much access to all the supplies I love.


Thanks for stopping by.

Stamps : Gina K Stamps - Blessed is the Season
Accessories : PTI Impression plate
Patterned paper : BasicGrey Basics Manila, scraps

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Unity August KOM & Card Patterns Sketch #77

I received my Unity August KOM yesterday, YAY!! 


Couldn't wait to use the stamps - they were all so gorgeous!  Decided to use a few of them on a card today for the Card Patterns sketch challenge.

Here is my card:


Stamped the harlequin background in Memento Rich Cocoa on the BasicGrey paper.  Stamped the tiny birds in rows with Memento Desert Sand, then the sentiment (love this sentiment!) & large bird image with Memento Tuxedo Black.  The 3 paper flowers were cut using TH's alterations die, inked the edges with Memento Rich Cocoa and used the Bakers Twine to tie a bow on the flowers. Finally, I used the Sakura Pigma Micron pen in Sepia to draw a frame around the edge.

Thanks for dropping by.

Stamps : Unity August 2010 KOM
Inks : Memento Rich Cocoa, Desert Sand & Tuxedo Black
Accessories : Sakura Glitter pen (on the flower centre on the bird image), Flowers (from Tim Holtz Alterations die), Twine (PTI)
Patterned Paper : BasicGrey Basics (manila), K&Co (flowers)
Cardstock : Gina K Pure luxury cardstock

Monday, August 16, 2010

Anything But the Kitchen Sink Challenge #21

I thought I should try something different and do this challenge because it sounds so fun.  Here is my card inspired by the sketch:



I love the new Verve stamps I purchased recently, and I thought this quote seems pretty cool.  So, here's my card using all the scraps I had left from previous week's cardmaking. I was also eager to try out my new die-namics banner die and it was super!  And I guess you can tell I'm so into the i-rock tool...placing blings all over the card :-)  Oops, not to forget the Bookprint Impression plate (the abcs background).

Stamp: Verve Beautiful You, Papertrey Four Of A Kind (background of focal image)
Accessories : Die-namics Banner die, i-rock tool & blings, PTI Bookprint Impression Plate
Cardstock : Papertrey Ink
Papers : DCWV, Worldwin

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Cardmaking over the weekend

It's been a busy week... so it was rather therapeutic to be cardmaking.  I received my Verve stamps a few days ago - I love their sentiments and fonts.  I also had a great time with the i-rock tool which was so addictive and fun.  Here are some of the cards:





Stamp : Verve sets - Beautiful You, Petals & Stems, Blue Skies
Patterned papers : K&Co, DCWV
Cardstock : Papertrey Ink
Inks : Memento Tuxedo Black, Summer Sky, Rose Bud, Bamboo Leaves & Pear Tart

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Unity Addicts Challenge #13

Here's a sample I made for the Unity Addicts Challenge #13.  It's a fun fold card.  I really had a lot of fun creating this card based on the tutorial at splitcoast stampers. 



And the insert card



Stamp : Unity Scrapbook Royalty set - better.somewhere.today
Paper : Teresa Collins
Scallop Trim : Cosmo Cricket Ever After
MS loops border punch, Nestabilities, Prima flower
Ink : Memento Lady Bug

The diaper fold was made from 8x8 paper, and the inner card was cut according to the finished shape and size of the diaper fold.

Thanks for dropping by.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Take Joy in the Little Things

I made this card for the challenge at Stampin' Sisters: "Challenge: create a card of apology or one reaching out to someone and encouraging them to put the past behind them and move forward."


Here is my card for the challenge... I had in mind a card with a note of encouragement.  To take small steps each day, and to see the world again from a fresh perspective, with hope and joy.

Have a cheerful day!

Stamps : Pure Innocence - Lollypop, Sentiment - Verve. (Coloured with Memento markers)
Accessories : i-rock tool & crystals, spellbinders large scalloped ovals.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

A Thank You card

Two weeks ago, my sis and I were in Chicago for a visit.  We were invited to dinner by a dear couple and we had a really marvellous time.  The meal was delicious and the company was superb.  We discovered that though we are culturally so diverse yet we share so many values in common.  Little things like what our grandparents & parents do and believe in...  Amazing!

I made a little thank you card for them...



I used Stamp TV's Hugs and Prayers stamp set by Nina Brackett for the focal image and the thank you sentiment was from Papertrey Ink's Up Up & Away stamp set.  Pink and green combo seems to be my fav colour at the moment...:-)

Monday, August 9, 2010

A new Favourite

I must be going nuts over stamps lately.  In just 6 months I have joined a Stamp club plus bought over 30 stamp sets.  Here is a new favourite company - My Favorite Things.  I attended the CHA Supershow (in Chicago) and I got to meet Kim of MFT!  I have always admired the Pure Innocence range of MFT stamps and finally I got to purchase some.  Super!!  I also love their new cling stamps, and here is a fast and simple card using the Picture Perfect set.

I don't have any of my colourpencils with me, so I had to make do with some markers to colour the image.  I love the girl with the camera - she is gorgeous!

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Back to Cards

I've been so busy catching up on work, was away in Chicago a week ago.  Here's a Christmas card I made last night.  I wish you can see the beautiful shimmer on the focal image, but it's hard to pick up in a photo.  I'm loving this card...

This was a card for the Blast from the Past challenge at Stamp TV.  I bought some stamps from Gina K recently which I was dying to use and finally got to it last night.  Stamped the snowflake using Memento Paris Duke on a patterned paper which was embossed using the linen embossing plate from Papertrey Ink (love this plate).  The focal image was stamped using Memento Black and sponged with Memento Summer Sky and a dash of my favourite shimmer paint (All Purpose Ink in Champagne Mist).  On the sentiment, I used the i-rock tool to adhere 3 crystals.  It was really fun to use.  Hope you like this card!  Have a great week!