WOW A Burst of Creativity!

It's been a while since I created three cards in 24 hours (other than when I'm doing a commission or cards for the Mother's Day Stall - which reminds me I need to get a go on with them!)

I've made a card for a friends' son' birthday. I thought I'd post it in the latest Annabelle Stamps Challenge, which is a sketch challenge. 

I used some really cute stamps from The Greeting Farm My Guy Ian set and coloured with my Copic Markers. This time I think I did a good job of colouring. The frame came from a Kaisercraft set. I don't often have such simple cards, but with the sketch it was easy to follow.

My second card is for the Muse Challenge #10. I wasn't able to participate for the past two weeks, as I was busy doing a commission. But this week's challenge has some beautiful colours and a fun design. This week's card was created by Ardyth Percy-Robb, whose blog I accidently came across last weekend and I enjoyed looking at her cards so much I signed up as a follower straight away.

I love how her circles are inked like fireworks, and the design is so vibrant, yet simple.

My card uses Ardyth's layout, but I've covered more of the card with the flowers and the sentiment. I thought I had used all of her colours, but I realise now I've forgotten the pink. (You can't tell it was a mistake, can you?)

The sentiment stamp is from Hampton Art Cling Word Borders and the flower is from a HOTP set called Wildflowers. I love the rhinestone border as it lifts the sentiment and makes it stand out, without the trouble of foam mounting etc.

Anyway, I've cleared out the old cupboards from my craft room, ready to build the new one tomorrow, but I've still got to vacuum the carpet in there, so I'll go now.

See ya!

Janelle

P.S. Did anyone notice the changes I've made to my blog?

Happy Easter everyone!

This is just a quick post so I can add this card to the Scrapbook Boutique blog Challenge for the month of March. Starting with the inspiration of these delicious looking cupcakes, I developed the card below.

 I think I'll give this card to my in-laws when we go visit them on Sunday.

The easter letters were stamped and embossed in pink and then I sponged over some more pink before fussy cutting them. I hand drew the grass and then cut it out with a craft knife; and the little chick (not cute but iconic) was stamped from an Alley Way Priceless Joy set.

I like how the letters appear to be sitting in the grass, and I love the daisy lace.

Anyway, the only big thing on this weekend is that my darling husband is going to take me to Ikea to buy a wall unit for my craft room. Hopefully then I'll be able to have more of my stuff sorted and stored properly and everything more user-friendly. At the moment I've got a mish-mash of shelves that waste a lot of room and that aren't wide enough for the papers etc to sit in properly. I'm too embarrassed to take before photos, but once it's done - maybe an after photo. Who knows?

I hope everyone has a great Easter break and that the weather doesn't stop you from doing what you plan.

Bye for now,
Janelle

Are there any more trees to fall down???

Last night we had another storm and as you can see by the photos below, there was also more storm damage. I don't know what is going on with the weather over the past three months (at least), but we've had such severe storms, flooding and heat - totally unlike any I can remember (and that's going back a fairly long time now!)

These trees are just up our street and about 10 of them had limbs broken off in the space of about 100 metres. These are the same trees that survived another severe storm about a month ago. 

It would be nice if we could just have some "nice " weather for a while.

Anyway, I'm done complaining now. Bye,

Janelle

Check Out my Cards!

I just want to let you know that I've been published again in Australian Simply Cards (issue 53), which is out this month.

I made a selection of cards that contained pockets suitable for gift cards. These included: pockets made from journaling cards, envelopes, a cross-over card, a single folded pocket card and a diagonal folded double pocket card. You can see one of my cards at the top left corner on the cover.

I had so much fun doing the research for this and trying out the different types of cards before I created my cards for the project. I didn't know there were so many different types of cards out there, all made by fascinatingly talented women.

Anyway, I'm supposed to be working now, so I'd better get on to it. Unfortunately, I'll unlikely have time to make a card for the Muse Challenge this week, especially disappointing as the Muse card was made by one of my favourite cardcrafters, Therese Calvird. 

Bye for now,
Janelle

Muse Challenge #7

I always seem to be posting these challenges at the last minute. But I managed to get a card together and while it has many aspects similar to the focus card, there are significant differences as well.

The Muse challenge this week was a card by Laurie Willison. I particularly liked the way the sentiment is the main focus and the other features just complement. The use of white space adds a touch of elegance, along with the fine line stamping of the flowers.

For my card I used my Inkadinkado Stamping Gear which I haven't used in a while. I stamped in VersaMark and then heat embossed in white. I also heat embossed the sentiment in clear. I combined two stamp sets to produce the sentiment, that reflects the sentiment on Laurie's card.      Instead of the die-cut border that Laurie used I added a touch of BoBunny lace.

My card has less white space than Laurie's and I hope it doesn't look too crowded. I have hardly done any cards using kraft cardstock and I have to admit, I think I prefer colours.

Anyway, bye for now.

Janelle

Annabelle Stamps Challenge AC157

This is just a quick post to show a card I made for the Annabelle Stamps blog Sketch Challenge AC157. Details here.

Using the sketch as inspiration, I created this card, so that the fine corrugated cardstock framed the card and then I added the die cut tag, rather than a rectangle like in the sketch. I then stamped the sentiment with frames from Annamelle Stamps Boy's Party stamp set. I finished with the plane from Alley Way stamp set Priceless Joy, that I coloured using Copic markers. 

I made this for one of my son's friends, whose party is on Sunday. I'll have to run it by Allie to make sure it's suitable. For a kid he has a lot of instinct for this sort of stuff.

Anyway, bye for now.
Janelle 

Muse #6 Challenge

I've just put a commission in the post and I had time to make a card for this week's Muse Challenge. Details HERE. Since I've been working with beautiful flowers all week, I decided I'd use some of my old "Little Birdie" favourites along with the beautiful central bloom from BoBunny. They certainly pack a punch and with such a vibrant background, they need to stand out on their own. 

The cardstock is some I picked up sometime from Crazy Clark's and is so lovely. It's printed on one side and plain on the other and is finished in a lovely semi-gloss (as you can see in the photo). I bought it originally to use on kid's cards - but I've now changed my mind as to its versatility.

The inspirational card from Muse for this week was designed by Deanna Jean and is a glorious riot of flowers and colours. I love her use of white space. I must admit I'm slightly scared of white space - either I smudge something on it or it looks empty and needs to be filled up. But, Deanna Jean makes it look inviting and elegant. I created a slightly open space on my card, but with a much more controlled amount of white space. But I definitely took her green to heart and went to town. (Mixed cliches, anyone???) I also drew a doodled frame, but settled for a single line - my double lines always look untidy. What secrets have I revealed about myself and my style as a cardmaker???

The little dots are teeny tiny rhinestones I bought a couple of weeks ago at the Photo Continental Silly Sunday sale. They're from The Stencil Specialists and are self-adhesive. I used them on a make-and-take I made on the day, and thought they are just great - dazzle without a lot of bulk - so won't get caught in the post - not like some of my Christmas cards that arrived at their destinations with holes burnt through the envelopes from the rhinestones I used and the postal machinery.

That's all from me now, except for those followers who left queries about my health - I'm much better - though still coughing and still got a voice suitable for doing voice-overs on a gangster movie.

Bye for now,
Janelle