OMG! Where has the time gone?

I cannot believe how quickly time has flown since my last post! Unbelievable!!! 

It's not even that I've not been crafting, as I've had a couple of card commissions to do, Christmas cards to quickly create, an amazing number of birthday cards to make (my family has a fascination with birthdays in December) as well as all of the things I had to do associated with my son's last weeks at school for the year. I even had to make an ant costume for his end-of-year concert. Add to that list, visits to the doctor, Christmas shopping and, last of all, trying to keep the house clean and tidy (not done so well on that last one).

I'm happy to report that I've had another lot of cards published. This time in Cardmaking in Easy Steps -  Issue 7, where I did a collection of 15 cards from the 1 kit. It was a treat to make these cards as the elements were so nice and just wanted to work together. I've since been told that one of my cards will be on the cover of the next issue. Yeay!

I've included photos of some of the quick Christmas cards I made. My husband asked me why I didn't buy some this year as I am so busy - he just doesn't understand!!! These cards were made with some cute die-cuts I bought from Photo Continental. They make it so easy. (Please excuse the poor photos as I had to get this done quickly.)

Next year I'll have to start my cards much earlier.

Anyway, this may be my last post for the year as I'll be busy up 'til Christmas and we're spending some time away in the New Year. I hope everyone has a marvelous and safe Christmas and a bright and happy New Year.

Bye for now,
Janelle

An Annabelle Stamps Challenge

I've created this card for this week's AnnaBelle Stamps Weekly Challenge. The challenge is to create a card using the selected colours of Lilac, Grey and Bluestone. (Click on the link to find out all the details if you want to enter the challenge as well.)

I had fun using my brand-new INKADINKADO Stamping Gear set, which can create a doily effect and then I used the AnnaBelle Stamps Shape It Up stamp set for the label and greeting. Lilac and clear rhinestones were added to add a little dazzle. The flower was from Little Birdie.

 Sorry the photo is not too good - too much shadow across the bottom. I tried to do it quickly - didn't use my daylight lamp - and hence a shaded image.

Since my last blog entry, I've had another set of cards published. These are in "Cardmaking in Easy Steps - Issue 6". I had to do a set of modern Christmas cards using the templates supplied.

Today I also received another commission for Practical Publishing. I love the challenges of working to a design brief. It's much more difficult than just playing around for yourself. 

The challenges set by scrapbooking companies etc, like AnnaBelle Stamps and Scrapbook Boutique, are good practice for me, so I've started entering them. I'm fortunate to be able to say I was selected to win the AnnaBelle Stamps October Challenge, with my card "Hello to you" that I posted last time. I'm looking forward to spending my prize on some new stamps. Yay!!!

Anyway, bye for now.

Janelle

Some more cards for the troops

I had some stamped flowers left over from a set of cards I was making for Practical Publishing, so I thought I'd make a few more cards for our troops. (See my previous post for details) I also thought they would be ideal for the Annabelle Stamps October Challenge which is Springtime Flowers and have to use an Annabelle Stamp as a focal point.



This first card uses both Daisy Delights and Daisy Delights Silhouette Stamps. The background stamp was heat embossed using two different colours of embossing powder - Peridot and Winter Lime. This is a fun technique as you can create all sorts of effects depending on where you place the different colours.

I stamped the image with VersaMark and then sprinkled the lighter coloured powder; shook off the excess powder; and then sprinkled the darker powder over the remaining area. Once the excess powder is again poured off, the image was heat set.

The daisy images were stamped on white cardstock using a variety of ink pads, fussy cut, layered and then attached to the card.

The border and tag were from Echo Park "For The Record 2" collection and the gold Jewel Dazzles were from HOTP.



This second card also used the Daisy Delights stamp set and was much more simple than the first.

The images were stamped in a range of yellow/orange inks on white cardstock, fussy cut and then coloured lightly with watercolour pencils just to add depth to the images. The leaves were just stamped on lime green cardstock.

The background paper and all other elements were from Echo Park "For The Record 2" collection and the gold Jewel Dazzles were from HOTP. The great thing about Jewel Dazzles is that you get the bling without the bulk, which is really important to consider when postage is involved.


I didn't include this card in the Annabelle Challenge as the prominent stamps are from Dienamics and Hero Arts.

The pretty background paper  and doily sticker are from Echo Park "For The Record 2" collection and the gold Jewel Dazzles were from HOTP.

 You may be able to guess what the commissioned cards were like from what I had left over, but believe it or not, they are actually quite different to these.


Anyway, I'm off to make some more cards for another commission, so you may not hear from me for a week or so.

Bye for now,
Janelle

Kaisercraft "Sweet Nothings" cards

Last year I entered a competition for Kaisercraft where we had to design a project created using the "Sweet Nothings" range. I created the selection of cards below. Unfortunately I didn't win anything - but as I'm always telling Alex (my son) - we can't win everything.

Everything used in these cards was from Kaisercraft, from cardstock, ribbons, stamps, inks, die-cuts, papers, rub-ons, stickers, rhinestones, etc.

  

I'm intending on taking some of these (the ones without too much bulk) along with some others I have to Photo Continental, as they are collecting cards to be sent to our forces overseas, so our soldiers etc have cards to send home for their loved ones. What a great idea and it's really the least we can do for our members of the armed forces. If you're interested in helping out with cards of your own, check out the Photo Continental blog for details. Just make sure you include envelopes as well.

Yes, this is the second entry for today - I had a frenzy of photographing my cards.

For those of you with kids on holidays - have a great time with your kids, and I'll write again soon.

Cheers,

Janelle

Annabelle Stamps Challenge - Late but I still like it!

A fortnight ago, Annabelle Stamps had a challenge called "Lime, Mango, Orange and White". I made this card for it, but owing to life intervening, I didn't get it posted in time. Anyway, I'm doing it now.

 I used the Darkroom Door Background stamp "French Script" that Rachel Greig sent to me after my card was published on the cover of "Australian Simply Cards", and I also used the Katy Sue Designs "Fairies" stamps that I won on the Scrapbook Boutique blog hop.

I used an embossed resist technique to create the background, by stamping in Versamark then embossing in white.  I then masked a circle on the page before sponging with Distress inkpads to create the sunset design. I then stamped the fairies and sentiment in black Staz-On so that it would cover the previous embossing.

For the butterfly I used an acrylic die-cut shape from HOTP and an outline sticker from Anita's that I coloured with a Copic marker.

This photo shows the sheen from the Perfect Pearls I brushed over the edges.

 

The big green flower was a cheapie I bought from a discount store and is from the Little Birdie company. They are similar to some of the new flowers from Couture Creations, at a fraction of the price. BARGAIN!!!

 Well, it's bye for now.

Janelle

New Blog Design

I have been promising myself that I would spend some time to create a more interesting blog design and today I finally got around to it. I hope you like it. The background was my own creation, but the heading was made with the cluster designed by Carolyn Rose Kite. I find the process of designing and managing my blogsite both frustrating and enriching. I'm relatively happy with this design, so I think this will be it for a while (at least).

By for now,
Janelle

A Birthday Card for Jacqueline

I recently made a birthday card for my step-daughter, Jacqueline, who lives in Melbourne as she was turning 22. I had to wait until she had received it before I could post it. She lives far too far away and we all miss her terribly throughout the year.

I used a new stamp and die set from Papertrey Ink called "Rosie Posie" and the "Signature Greetings" stamp set, as well as some pages from a free paper pad from Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine. I also used a Beauty Label from HOTP, vellum, Swiss Dots embossing folder, rhinestones and a variety of inks and Faber Castell watercolour pencils. The pencils were applied after the stamping to create shading on the die cuts.

I wanted to have a card that reflected the vibrant colours of the papers, but wasn't too overpowering. This card was inspired by a card made by Susan Cobb who designs for Paper Wishes. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to make it with the Rosie Posie stamps.

Today I also visited the Annabelle Stamps blog. If you haven't had a chance to view this site, you should as the designer team are so innovative and creative - it was wonderful to discover it. It's also nice to see an Australian company creating and supplying quality products to crafters.

Anyway, bye for now.
Janelle