Cardmaking in Easy Steps Issue 11

I want to let you know of a great issue of Cardmaking In Easy Steps Issue 11, that contains a lovely range of die cuts, papers and a stamp set. It's on sale at the moment and features 6 shaped cards I designed. 

It's called the Fruit Sorbet Collection and is filled with lovely pastel colours and summery images. Check it out!

Bye for now,
Janelle

I'm Back ... again!

Such a lot has happened since I last posted. WOW!

I actually don't know what to write about first....there is just so much. 

I'm proud to tell you that I've been published again, firstly in Australian Simply Cards (Issue 56) with a selection of cards featuring triple stamping. I also had one of my cards as the main feature on the cover of this issue. Secondly I had a selection of 15 cards published in Cardmaking  in Easy Steps (Issue 10) that were made from the one kit. Whoo!

Next I went to the Papercraft Expo in Brisbane over the Queen's Birthday long weekend. I was fortunate to take three classes, one with Rachel Greig from Darkroom Door stamps, one with Emma Lou Beechy from Heartfelt Creations and the final class with Jane Trezenza from Seriously Scrapbooking. Each of these crafters have a wealth of talent and it was a privilege to spend time with them. I've included photos of my projects accomplished during these classes. I have to admit it's refreshing to make something with someone else telling you exactly how to make it. You can't help but have a great end-product.


I spent the Monday with my friend Narelle and it was a great time which fortunately (for us) wasn't as crowded as the Saturday, so we were able to move around and have a great look around. Needless to say I spent LOTS of money.

During the past month I've also been busy making cards, including fifty for my son's fete (sorry I forgot to take photos of them), as well as three commissions for Practical Publishing.

Also during this time, I'm sorry to say, my niece Ashleigh lost her baby boy Carter to complications after he was born five weeks prematurely. It has been a terrible experience for her and her husband, Jarade; but they have been extremely strong throughout and are both now trying to look forward to the future. It's at this time that I realised that Ashleigh and her two sisters, Emma and Kristy are young women, not the girls I've thought of them for so long, and are wonderfully  strong and capable with such a strength of character that I've been blown away. My sister, Carol, is now slouch in this characteristic. She's been a rock for the entire family to lean on and she still manages to smile. Cheers to the amazing women I'm related to!

I haven't yet been able to make any cards for challenges - that's yet to happen soon.

Anyway, bye for now,
Janelle

Muse Challenge #11 - embossing overload!

Here is my latest offering to the Muse of Creativity! 

 Here is the inspiration card designed by Laurie Willison, which is very fresh and modern. I especially like the raised layer with the die cut aperture - great focal point for the sentiment. I also liked the colours used, which I have somewhat reflected in my card.

I was actually trying out a new technique with embossing and heat embossing when I made a mistake (not at all what I was after), but rather than toss the image, I decided to incorporate it into my Muse Challenge card because I liked how the embossing from the embossing folder shows up so super well when totally embossed with white EP. So rather than have the focus on the raised tag, like in Laurie's card, I turned the focus onto the background and the stamped and heat embossed sentiment.

I also used flowers made using the FabScraps Paper Flowers pad and a white one I heat embossed with EP. This was to co-ordinate with the floral embossing on the background. So while I based my card on Laurie's, I have to admit, mine is a more traditional take on the format.

I also have to boast about being published again in Cardmaking in Easy Steps (Issue 9).

This issue featured a selection of floral die cuts, papers and stamps and I made 15 cards from the kit provided. Lots of fun!

Anyway I'm off now to wash up the dinner dishes, so bye for now.

Janelle

How Cool - Check this out!

Today I bought the latest copy of Cardmaking in Easy Steps (Issue 8) and am delighted to say that once again some of my cards appear on the front cover.

My cards are the "Make a Wish" and the castle one. They are part of the "Make 15 cards from 1 kit" entry. This kit was really fun to design around as the elements were so cute and pretty - lovely colours and really cute designs.

I'm also including this set of cards I made from Kaisercraft's Check In Collection. A while ago, I  bought a kit from my local Kaisercraft outlet and it came with instructions for 5 cards (but no pictures); but by the time I came to make them, I had no idea what they looked like and so had to make up my own design using the instructions as a starting point. I'm sorry to say that the instructions weren't all that clear and you definitely would have needed the pictures of the cards to follow if you wanted to make them yourself away from the card class.

Anyway I'm happy with how they turned out. What a fun collection to use - quite vintage in style but with some modern colour combos.

I love it that these cards can quite easily be given to males or females - they're perfectly suited for both. I also just adore the richness of the purple used.

Anyway, bye for now.
Janelle

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

Check Out My Cards!

Just picked up the latest issue of Cardmaking in Easy Steps (Issue 5) and I've got a really nice layout displaying my vintage-style Christmas cards. I've even got a small photo of one of my cards on the cover. Yay!

I'm also posting a quick card I made for a friend just to say hello. Truth be told, I had some scraps still on the table and I was cleaning them up when I thought, "I could make a card with this piece and this piece and I could use my new Spellbinders Shapeabilities Persian Accents border die and put it here and then send it to Jayne." Needless to say the rest of the table did not get cleaned off!

I really like how the ribbon, pearlescent card stock used for the borders and the rhinestone flourish work to lift the design. The tag is from FabScraps Travel Journal book which is a terrific collection of tags, postcard blanks, ticket shapes, etc and I find just perfect for vintage style cards. (Not that this card really has much vintage style to it.) The Persian Accents die collection is gorgeous. I'm sure you'll see more of it used in the next couple of months. Next time I use the border, though, I won't be extending the design past the base of the card, it makes it too difficult to stand up for display.

Bye for now,

Janelle

Published Again

I picked up a copy of "Cardmaking in Easy Steps - Issue 4" today and was excited to see that I had been published again. Last year I entered the Practical Publishing International Cardmaker of the Year competition, and was lucky enough to be selected as a runner-up. From that I was offered a position on their Design Team, which I naturally accepted. Anyway, I was asked to do a selection of 5 minute cards for this kit, and have been waiting anxiously since to see them in print. Wow! It never gets tiring to see your work recognised. Unfortunately I'll have to wait a while before I can show them to you on this blog.

I got my competition cards back yesterday as they were saved for a display at the Papercraft and Scrapbooking Expo in Brisbane back in June. Later this week (when I get time), I'll photograph them properly and let you see my entry.

That's time!
Janelle