Why is it always the same way?

I hate it when I've just done a set of cards for a commission, struggling over what to do - when - along comes Annabelle Stamps and Andrea's brilliant group of designers with another (and exactly what I had been struggling to achieve) set of stamps. These stamp sets called "Scribble Scrabble 1 - Round and Round" and "Scribble Scrabble 2 - In the Square", perfectly reflect the use of geometric shapes.

Why Andrea didn't you release these sets a fortnight ago? Still you've made me happy as they are amazing and I can't wait to buy them!

Bye for now,
Janelle

Muse Challenge #14 - late again!

Another quick post today with an entry into the Muse Challenge for this week.  However I've just missed it by 1 minute. Nothing like leaving things to the last moment! Shame on me!

The card of inspiration was created by Virginia Lu and was such a fresh and vibrant card that I just wanted to create something similar. So while I've used the same sketch, colours and flower motif, I think that my card still looks individual as I've also added the ribbon and bow, as well as the diamantes around the masked circle.

I used a number of stamp sets including Annabelle Stamps Daisy Delight and Designer Flower sets, and Marianne Design Collectables.

Anyway, that's all for now.
Janelle

A Number of Challenges (and sorry my photos are skewy today)

I've managed to make another couple of cards this week, instead of finishing off my craft room renovation. (Such as it is) 

The first card is for the Annabelle Stamps Colour Challenge. This time I had to use the colours of licorice and white. (Some would debate if they are in fact colours???)

I heat embossed the swirls with white EP using a couple of stamps from Autumn Leaves. Adding the ribbon, lace, flowers and pearls completed the look. 

I found the black monochromatic paper while I was sorting through my stash to move into my new wall unit in the craft room and decided it would be perfect for this challenge.

The black flower started as a white daisy from Prima that I inked with Kaisercraft slate ink and then sprayed with Graphite Glimmer Mist which has given it that lovely sparkle that you can see if you look hard enough at the photo. The white bloom (and it is totally white - something has made it look tinted in the photo) is from Kaisercraft as are the pearls. The lace is from Bella!.

My second card is for the Muse Challenge #12. This week's card was inspired by the design by  Therese Calvird, who happens to be one of my favourite card designers.

I copied her design by using the same layout, stamp ideas and similar colours. She is so good at CAS that I can't do better. You know the saying, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

As soon as I saw her card I wanted to use my set of Harvest Berries from Papertrey Ink that I've had for a while and not used much. The sentiment is much larger than the simple one Therese used, but I think it still looks balanced in the design. What do you think?

The leaves were stamped in VersaColor Bamboo ink and then highlighted with Crushed Olive Distress Marker. I assembled the flower from some lavender paper flowers from Kaisercraft (you know the single flat ones), that I sprayed with Rum Raisin Glimmer Mist, scrunched up, let dry and then assembled with the rhinestone brad.

I used a pale lime coloured card blank instead of the white that Therese used. The main reason for this is because I have a card blank set from DCWV and not as much white cardstock. Sorting through all of my stash has made me see that I have way too much cardstock and patterned papers. Maybe I'll have to take some to my Mum's retirement village for the ladies there to use.

Anyway, that's all for now.

Janelle

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?

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 #4 Challenge

I'm posting a card I've made in response to the Muse #4 Challenge. This week's challenge was to design a card inspired by one made by Therese Calvird, a cardmaker whom I greatly admire, so it was a pleasure to use her design as a major part of my card this week.

The colours and layout of Therese's card were stunning and I loved her glass - it looks so refreshing. Anyway, I used her colour scheme and layout, but I still hope I managed to make mine still look original.

The ribbon I stumbled across at Lincraft on Thursday, while I was sourcing some other ribbons for a commission I'm working on for Australian Simply Cards. The stamps are from Annabelle Stamps Standing Tall and BBD3 stamps sets. 

Anyway, bye for now,
Janelle

Muse #2 and Annabelle Stamps Sketch Challenges

I'm just quickly posting this picture of a card I made for the latest Muse challenge.

For this challenge you have to respond to an inspiration card. This week's was designed by Suzanne Dahlberg, and so bright and colourful. I wanted to also include the sketch from the Annabelle Stamps Sketch Challenge, so combined the two and came up with my card.

I took the flowers as my inspiration and stamped them onto my card with Versamark before embossing with clear embossing powder. I masked off a rectangle with scrap paper before stamping to replicate the same shape in the sketch. I then stamped the flower, leaves and butterflies onto X-press it card, before colouring with Copic markers. I used some stamp sets from HOTP for this card. With the sketch design, it was easy to then position everything. I also tried to include the vibrant pink, red and a touch of blue from the original card.

I hope you all like my card as it was fun making it this time. 

Bye for now,

Janelle

A Scrapbook Boutique Blog Challenge

                                                         

I made this card for the Scrapbook Boutique blog January Challenge which is to create a project using yellow, green and white and the photo as your inspiration. Details can be found HERE. 

I used off-cuts from some of the cards I've been making lately, including:

• yellow plaid patterned paper from a free 6x6" We R Memory Keepers paper stack
• Lime green, white and mid-green cardstock
• Sizzix/Hero Arts Framelits Floral dies and stamp set
• Kaisercraft Brown ink pad and light green rhinestones
• Martha Stewart Meyer Lemon ink pad
• VersaColor Bamboo ink pad
• Staedtler Aquarell coloured pencils
• Annabelle Stamps Cuts by Design Borders 1
• Banana Custard Smooch

I love the border die-cut, especially highlighted with the rhinestones; and I think I finally got the flower right. Though my colouring is nowhere near as good as Therese Calvird's Pretty Posies that are published in the latest Australian Cardmaking, Stamping & Papercraft (Vol 19 No 2) that came in the post today. Therese is just wonderful with her colouring on these cards - the images look like they've been professionally printed. Therese has contributed quite a few cards in this issue, you should check it out.

I am also going to submit this card in the Annabelle Stamps blog as well, as this week's colours are somewhat similar. The darker green cardstock and the ink I used on the stamp both could be regarded as Artichoke. Details can be found HERE.

Well, bye for now,
Janelle

I made the cover...again!

I got my copy of Australian Simply Cards (Issue 51) in the post this morning and had to share with you straight away. The aqua and yellow card on the cover is MINE!!! Yay!!! It's always exciting when I see my work in print, but it's even more exciting when it's on the cover for everyone to see.

This card uses a couple of Annabelle Stamps stamp sets as well as lots of fussy cutting. This set of cards were super fun to make as they were so bright and colourful.

Anyway, must go. 
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

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