Ask Me To Dance... In Teal

I've been determined to enter Jay Gee's Nook Challenge #5, whether my mojo has returned or not!  It's not my best colouring, but I just had to make something with one of my new gorgeous Leanne Ellis digital stamps.  This one is called Ask Me To Dance.

Like I said, not my best colouring, but I know I'll have plenty more opportunities to play with this stamp again!  Here's the challenge I mentioned for Jay Gee's Nook:

Someone whose mojo hasn't gone to The Mojo Convention is my 3 year old daughter, Olivia.  She whipped this up in about 5 minutes today (while I was choosing a stamp for a card I didn't complete... *rolls eyes*).  Looks like she's not going to inherit my snail's pace!

Note the writing inside and out - all the names she can spell without asking for help.  I'm pretty chuffed that my name is in second place both times.  ;-)

Hope you're having a good day, whatever you're doing!  :-)

Materials:

Stamp sets - Ask Me To Dance - Leanne Ellis (Olivia's card - MFT Birthday Princess)

Cardstock - White Cambric Linen, Taken With Teal, Whisper White, Basic Black

Inks - Ranger Black, Prismacolour pencils

Accessories - OMS, blending stumps, PTI impressions plate Giga Guidelines, So Saffron Ribbon, dimensionals

The Mojo Convention

My mojo has gone.  I've noticed a lot of other crafters lamenting the same thing.  So I started wondering about what's going on...


The Mojo Convention
Do you have a crafter who just won't quit?  Need some tips on how to get some R&R?  Come to The Mojo Convention!  Lecture topics include:

The Perfectly Timed Exit
How to do a runner from your crafter at a perfectly timed moment leaving them with everything prepared for a fabulous crafting session, including chocolate and a glass of wine, but nothing to do.

The Mysterious Disappearance Ploy
How to mysteriously disappear so your crafter will be forced to spend hours surfing the net looking for inspiration, only to come out of the ordeal with a maxed out credit card and expecting deliveries of products she didn't even know existed.

The Tease
How to give just enough inspiration to colour an image, but not enough to complete the whole card.  **Book early, this session is expected to sell out.**

28/2/11
I just had to add this beauty from Carolyn...

In The Bin - alternatively titled Try, Try and Try Again.
Bring a large supply of materials as you try many times with no result due to the missing mojo.
Caution: There may be offensive language experienced in this lecture.





I think my mojo is a keynote speaker...

Tell Me Something Red...

I've mentioned a few times in recent posts that I've been feeling unmotivated and uninspired lately.  It seems I was inspired long enough last night to colour an image, but not long enough to complete the card.  So, while I'm pleased with how my colouring turned out, the card itself is... well... not great.  I'm just pleased I was inspired at all!!

The black segments are embossed, but it hasn't showed up properly in the photos.  I can only imagine that's because of the high contrast.

Oh, how I love Leanne Ellis images!  I have some new ones arriving in my inbox soon... can't wait!

Here's the sketch I played with.  Gotta love the opportunity to win some more Sugar Nellies!

The Sugar Bowl

Thanks for visiting... it really makes my day knowing there are people out there who are interested in what I'm doing!


Materials:

Stamp sets - Tell Me Something - Sugar Nellie, designed by Leanne Ellis

Cardstock - White Cambric Linen, Whisper White, Basic Black

Inks - Ranger Black, Prismacolour pencils

Accessories - OMS, blending stumps, Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder

Oh My Word - It's My Second Project

Here it is, my second project for UStamp Oh My Word.  I was unsure about the colour combination to start with, but I'm really pleased with how they came together!

Thanks for stopping by!

My Final Post For Just Add Ink - JAI57

When Amanda and I started talking about creating a challenge blog, it was just that - just talk.  When it started becoming a reality I freaked out.  I thought that there was no way that anyone would take the concept seriously.  I mean, Amanda's work is gorgeous, and I was a fan long before we became friends... but me?  I was a stamping nobody.  Much to our delight we were inundated with applications from fabulous stampers across Australia and New Zealand, all excited about the prospect of working with us.  And so Just Add Ink was born.  :-)

And now it's time to pass our 'baby' on.  I have no doubt that the current Just Add Ink Design Team will continue to do a fabulous job with Delys and Bronwyn at the helm.  And so, here is this week's challenge...

If you look at the SU! Colour Coach, you'll see that these colours are recommended for each other - it wasn't just me trying to stump the DT!  Here is what I came up with...

This kind of bow is created by tying a regular bow, then taking a second piece of ribbon, sliding it under the first bow (between the ribbon and card stock) and tying another bow straight over the top.

My inspiration and motivation have been lacking over the past few weeks.  I'm hopeful it will return soon.  Fingers crossed!

Materials:

Stamp sets - Sweet Summer

Cardstock - Very Vanilla

Inks - River Rock, Daffodil Delight

Accessories - Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Blender Pen

Congratulations Susan Joyce!

Congratulations Susan Joyce! 

You're the winner of a free pass to UStamp Oh My Word!

You'll receive an email invitation in the next day or two.

Oh My Word... A UStamp Scavenger Hunt!

Welcome to the UStamp Oh My Word Scavenger Hunt!  I have a "key word" that I will be sharing in this post.  The members of UStamp Oh My Word need to find all the key words on the participating Designers blogs and then unscramble the sentence.  :-)

Not a member?  No worries - I have a FREE PASS to give away to one lucky commenter!  There is a catch though - the free pass can only go to someone who hasn't participated in a UStamp event before.  My key word is with.  So please be honest in your comment and let me know if you've NEVER been to a UStamp event before... you might just score a free pass!  If you're not eligible for the free pass, you can still join in the fun and purchase a pass here.  I'll announce the winner at 9pm tomorrow night (Feb 20th) AEST.

I decided to make a couple of simple CAS (Clean and Simple) cards using the Aviary set, which is in the Australian Summer Mini Catalogue.  It's such a sweet set!

I also used some Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, which is unfortunately not available in Australia.  I've found that the 3/8" taffeta ribbon gives a similar effect though, if you're wanting to try and create this kind of look.

And I still can't get enough of these Antique brads!  I used one of the smaller brads in the collection for these cards.

I hope you liked the simple cards I've shared today.  If you're on the Scavenger Hunt - good luck!! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Materials:

Stamp sets - Aviary

Cardstock - Naturals Ivory

Inks - Crumb Cake, Basic Black

Accessories - Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Antique Brads

Just Add Ink 56 - A Sketch Challenge

Well, my time is nearly up on Just Add Ink.  It's hard to believe that a year has gone by since Amanda and I started it...  Here's my contribution this week: 

I know, it's painfully simple.  I'm really not feeling terribly creative lately.  :-(

Just Add Ink 56

TSG94 ~ Color Challenge

Make sure you visit Just Add Ink to see the fabulous DT work!

Materials:

Stamp sets - Penny Black - You're The World 3083F 

Cardstock - Crumb Cake, Naturals Ivory, Blush Blossom

Inks - Basic Black, Crumb Cake

Accessories - EK Success bracket border punch, SU! Designer Label punch, corner rounder, Very Vanilla Seam Binding, Antique Brad, dimensionals, Basic Pearls

A Few Sympathy Cards

Here are a couple of cards for the Papertrey Think Big Challenge.  The guidelines were to have something big/oversized on your card, or a big focal point that takes centre stage... I've gone with the latter!

Sympathy cards aren't the easiest cards to make at the time you need them.  So I decided to make a few to have on hand.  They're simple - it felt wrong to embellish them more than I have for some reason...

This next one isn't exactly a sympathy card, more of a blue day kind of card.  I love the sentiment.

Thanks for visiting!


Materials:

Stamp sets - Mat Stack 1 (PTI), Communique Curves (PTI), Fancy Flourishes (PTI), Angel Mail (TSG)

Cardstock - Crumb Cake, Whisper White

Inks - Basic Black, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories - Big Shot, Mat Stack die, Basic Pearls

PTI Tag Challenge

Okay, so I know this tag isn't anywhere near PTI standards, but I'm forcing myself to blog it so I can enter the competition.  :-)

I really need to broaden myself beyond ridiculously CAS!!

Materials:

Stamp sets - Papertrey Ink - Framed, Fancy Flourishes

Cardstock - Crumb Cake, Basic Black

Inks - Whisper White, Basic Black, Melon Mambo

Accessories - black and pink ribbon

UStamp Oh My Word Has Started!

The latest round of UStamp, Oh My Word!, has just started, and I was thrilled to discover one of my projects is up first!  I have to say, I'm pretty darn happy with this project.  :-)

So... what do you think?

Just Add Love

The challenge is Just Add Love this week at Just Add Ink.  There are so many ways to interpret this one - I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Materials:

Stamp sets - Greeting Card Kids, Well Scripted

Cardstock - White Cambric Linen

Inks - Versamark, Blush Blossom, Marina Mist, Chocolate Chip, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories - Aqua Painter, Black Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Big Shot, Nestabilities, Marina Mist Satin Ribbon

If you've come from JAI, you'll know that there was an announcement in this week's challenge post - Amanda and I have decided to step down from Just Add Ink.

When we started Just Add Ink, we had NO idea just how popular it would become or how many amazing crafters we'd meet along the way.  It's truly been an awe-inspiring journey.

Amanda has given a bit of insight behind the decision for her on her blog, and I thought I'd do the same here.  My main reason behind the decision is to do with my health issues.  Some of you might already have read my previous posts about it.  I won't bore you with it here, but I need to focus on my health and family right now.

To the JAI DT, past and present, you've all made such a difference in my life!  The comments you've all left on my blog and the emails between us all have been such a joy for me.  Thank you.  xx

Amanda.  You have always been and will always be an inspiration to me.  Your gorgeous cards, your jaw-droppingly (new word!) stunning scrapbooking, and your breathtaking photography all leave me speechless.  I was star-struck by you from the very first time you left a comment on my blog.  The Amanda Reddicliffe!  I'm so honoured to have shared the JAI journey with you.  You've been my cyber-shoulder to cry on many, many times and the reason my hubby has often come into the study to ask "What on earth are you giggling about now??".   :-)

That's all from me for now.  I hope you're all well and happy!  :-)

Just Sneaking In...

I'm just squeezing in another entry into Day 2 of the Papertrey Ink Birthday Celebrations - the challenge is to create a project using one of the tag images from their free download.  This time I've used this sweet image from designer Lisa Johnson.  Gorgeous!

I used the current sketch from Clean & Simple - 126:

Phew!  I think I just made it!  :-)

Materials:

Stamp sets - Papertrey Ink - free download anniversary tag digi stamp
Cardstock - White Cambric Linen, Whisper White, Greenhouse Gala DSP 

Inks - Prismacolour pencilsAccessories - OMS, Regal Rose ribbon, Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, EK Success Corner Chomper, 1 1/2" circle punch

Another Papertrey Birthday Challenge

It's Day 2 of the Papertrey Ink Birthday Celebrations and the challenge today is to create a project using one of the tag images from their free download.  They're so gorgeous!  Just head to the site to download yours.  :-)

I had fun colouring this image from PTI designer Alli Miles...

Isn't it a sweet tag?

I decided to combine this card with the current Curtain Call Color Challenge.  I had a brilliant time as Guest Designer with the team last month, and this month's Guest Designer is one of my favourite crafters - Laurie Willison!  Here's the gorgeous Colour Combo as well as a couple of other challenges I'm entering.

Curtain Call Color Challenge: {ACT 68}

Love is in the Air...Challenge #33

13/2/11 - Woohoo! 

I'm a Top 5 Curtain Call

Show Stopper for this card!

Thanks for visiting!

Materials:

Stamp sets - Papertrey Ink - free download anniversary tag digi stamp
Cardstock - Wild Wasabi, Whisper White
Inks - Prismacolour pencils

Accessories - OMS, Pretty in Pink ribbon, Big Shot, PTI Book Print Impression Plate, EK Success Corner Chomper, 1 3/4" circle punch