November 09, 2011

Twisted Sketches Cards # 84

Hello friends, sharing a card with you today. I have been lacking inspiration and motivation lately so I had a look around for some sketch ideas and came across Twisted Sketches. I have played along with them before, great when your lacking mojo and I love that they always have a twist. This weeks is Buttons.

I made this card for my nephews 16th b'day. I went with a slightly grunge type feel to the card to make it suitable for a teenage boy. This is so different to my usual style but it was fun to create.



I had my Kaiser paint out to paint the chipboard guitar so used the paint brush to go around the edges too, and added white gel pen to create a border. I have used Echo Park 'Happy Day' papers.

Thanks for looking.
Mel xxx

October 26, 2011

Get Picky Sketch #13 and Blog Hop

I'm here with a sketch challenge I did for Get Picky. I don't often get time for these but I like supporting this challenge site and they are celebrating their first birthday with a blog hop. Both past and present designers have shared their beautiful creations to help celebrate Get Picky's first year and you still have 2 days to participate. So here's the sketch. Love this one.




And here's my take on it



A close up


I had lots of fun with this one and got to scrap these photos of my son slip sliding down a waterslide when he was 2 and a half. He's now 5, so I am a little behind with my scrapbooking. I used the gorgeous Echo Park 'Splash' papers and stickers. Love the brightness of them. So fun and perfect for summer pics. I didn't want to journal on this page but used the sticker words to tell the story of the moment.

Thanks for looking.
Mel xxx



October 10, 2011

Happy Monday dear friends! I have seriously been thinking about Christmas...scary I know!! BUT it's not that far away and I always make my cards and have to seriously start thinking about making them. I sit back and wonder where this year has gone. It's like someone snapped their fingers and we have gone from January to October. It's crazy how quickly the year goes.

Okay enough babbling I hear you say and get on with the post.
Here's a lovely feminine card I created for my SIL. Something a bit different from my usual style I think.



I have used Crate Paper 'Farmhouse' collection. Again using the 6x6 pad and chipboard. I find myself purchasing these more and more as they are so great for cardmaking. The only time I buy 12x12 sheets now is when I need them for my layouts. Otherwise I find I buy heaps of paper in loads of different patterns and never use it.

I hope you all have a wonderful week.
Mel xxx

October 07, 2011

Male Birthday Card

Yay, It's Friday I hear you all say!! Nearly weekend time again, time to relax a little and chill, catch up with friends or go to the park. Oh I adore weekends.

Here'a a card I made for my Dad's birthday. This time going against the traditional sailing theme I often do on his cards.



I have made this one using the new 'Happy Days' range by Echo Park. It has a good variety of papers suitable for both male and female cards. I specifically bought it for my card making so only bought the 6x6 paper pad and element sticker sheet but I am really happy with the versatility of the range.
I am sure you will see more cards from me using these papers.

Take care and have a fab weekend.
Mel xxx

October 06, 2011

Honk Honk!! Little Boy's Card.

Happy Thursday. It's getting close to the weekend. By now we will be enjoying the hot, warmth of the sun in Parabadoo...where you say!!. In the Pilbara, red dirt country of WA, an hour from the beautiful Karajini National Park.
We are so long overdue for a family holiday so I have been longing for this trip.
I will share photos when we get back at the end of next week.

But for now here is a bright, cheerful card I made for a friends little boy who turned one recently.


This one uses Echo Park 'Little Boy' papers and Sticker sheet.

Thanks for looking.
Mel xxx

October 05, 2011

Happy Wednesday friends!! Hope you are all well and enjoying life.
Today I have a couple of cards to share. Both using October Afternoon 'Seaside' papers.
I have had these in my stash for quite a while and never used them. I never had the right photos to use them on a LO but thought I should not waste them so here they are on cards. They worked perfectly for my Dad's father's day card.




I loved the banner paper so used them on both cards. I fussy cut them out and stuck them on and then rolled them up slightly to give a 3D effect.
The stamped image on the first card is another TGF image called 'Blush Bonnie' and on the Father's Day card above I used the yacht and waves from the Sticker Shape sheet to create a mini scene. My dad loves sailing so I try to incorporate this in his cards as much as I can.

Thanks heaps for looking.
Love
Mel xxx

October 03, 2011

Teacher Graduation Card

Hello wonderful bloggers!! I hope you are all having a great start to the week.

I made this special card for my dear friend who recently graduated from University with her teaching degree. It has taken her 9 years part time to complete, so it is an amazing accomplishment.



I created this card using Crate Paper Emma's Shoppe papers and chipboard specifically using the children playing and hopscotch as my friend is working in Early Childhood with Kindy and Pre-primary students. There are a few Kaiser Pearls too, to bring in some more blue, her favourite colour.

Thanks for looking.
Mel xxx

October 01, 2011

Blast From The Past

Happy, happy weekend to you all. Where ever you are I hope the sun is shining for you and you can delight in Spring.

I made this birthday card recently using some scraps I had left over from Crate Papers Restoration collection. So good to use up little bits and pieces.


I have used Blush Babette here again from The Greeting Farm. She is so beautiful and love practising colouring her hair.

Enjoy your weekend and take care.
Love
Mel xxx

September 30, 2011

60th Birthday Card

Happy Friday friends!! How exciting the weekend is just about here.
I think we are supposed to be having a lovely warm, sunny weekend which will be wonderful. Love, love, love, spending time outdoors, especially after a wet, stormy week.

Here's a card a friend asked me to create for her Mum. Being it was her mum's 60th birthday she wanted a special, handmade card, using her favourite colours of reds and creams.



I used the gorgeous Emma's Shoppe papers and chipboard embellishments by Crate Paper, a Prima flower, Martha Stewart Butterfly punch and American Crafts fabric Thickers. The sentiment is from Stampin' Up. Lots of distessing and inking which I love.

Have a fabulous weekend.
Mel xxx

September 29, 2011

Playing Catch Up

Hello sweet friends. I am playing catch up at the moment with a number of cards that I have made over the last two months. So there will be plenty of inspiration for you card makers out there and even one or two layouts for you scrapbookers over the next week.

For both of these cards I have used MME Stella and Rose 'Gertie' 6x6 paper pad and TGF stamps.

This first card has the gorgeous Blush Babette coloured with copics.



The TGF here is Cheeky Chat.


Thanks for looking.
Mel xxx

September 28, 2011

Happy Day - Get Picky September Sketch Challenge

Happy Wednesday to you all. Not only is "Happy Day" the title of the LO below but it is a "Happy Day" as I got to sit down and actually scrap book. It has been a long time and it felt really good to get back into it again.

I did this for Get Picky's latest sketch challenge which finishes tonight. Just scraping in there.


Here is the sketch



and my interpretation


I only found these photos the other week and thought I had to scrapbook them as these little ones are still friends (and they are 5 now). It is so nice to have these photos for Dillon to look back on later.

I have used a mixture of Echo park papers and sticker embellishments from 'Summertime' and 'A Walk In The Park'.


Here are some close ups:





Thanks for looking.
Take care.
Mel xxx

August 24, 2011

Hello there long lost friends. I know it has been a while since I have seen 'Blog Land', and it took a while to get the courage up to get back on as I know I have missed out on so much of your wonderful creations and have way too much to read. So I have decided to start over and read all your new posts. Sorry about that. But it was either that or just give up blogging altogether.

I have been busy just like I am sure you all have been too. I had my 40th birthday at the end of July and also managed to strain muscles in my neck and arm leaving my left thumb numb. Don't even ask me how I managed to do that as I have no clue. But after three weeks of being on painkillers and a couple of Physio appointments, my neck is slowly recovering and this is the first week I have not needed to take the anti inflammatories and pain medication. Can I just say, I am very excited about that.

So here is a new post sharing some of the creations I have been busy making over the last month and a half. Ooops, it has been a while!!




It's that time of year when most of my son's friends have birthdays and as you can probably tell, they are all turning five. I have used Echo Park 'Little Boy' papers and The Greeting Farm stamps on both of these cards. I have started practising texture on the hair. Slowly getting there.

I will share more soon and will get around to reading your blog posts too. Sorry I haven't been a very good blogging friend of late but I am getting back into the swing of it again.

Thanks for any lovely comments.
Mel xxx

July 19, 2011

TGF Mystery Monday

I created these cards two weeks ago, inspired by The Greeting Farm Mystery Monday Challenge.




I added this photo so you can see the dimension a bit more.


I made these cards for two little boys turning four. Their parties were on the same day so I decided to make the same card and just change the papers around. I used Echo Park 'Little Boy' papers and the image is O&A'For You'. Such a sweet stamp.
I got my cuttlebug out for this card to cut the circle and to emboss the orange paper.
I do love how these cards came out, very boyish and bright.

Oh and I used my new lightbox that my wonderful hubby surprised me with to photograph them.



I still need to play with where to place the lights and so on, but for my first go I think the cards came out well, and I think a lot better than photographing them with the light from the window (my usual way of photographing my cards).

Thanks so much for looking and have a fabulous day.
Mel xxx

July 18, 2011

Fabric Flair??

Well, I don't know about that but I did have lots of fun playing with metres of bright fabric.
I made this board for our Churches Kids Room to peg their work up and display.
It was originally a large canvas bought from the Reject Shop. I have covered it with some bright fabric in three different colours and patterns to make it a colourful and bright addition to the room. As I covered it I wanted to add texture and dimension so I pleated and puckered the material to give it more interest.






Sorry the photos are not the best.
I used my MFT Star Die-namic to create the felt stars and then added the ribbon so that the children's work can be pegged up.
We used it last week and it works marvellously. So much easier and nicer than having their work piled on the floor or desk.
It was also nice to do something crafty that was not paper related.

Thanks for looking.
Mel xxx

July 17, 2011

Hubby's Birthday Card

Happy Sunday friends. Hope you have all had a wonderful weekend. I went out with the girls last night and had a ball. Lots of laughs, awesome friends and great food, makes for a fantastic night out and a late night at that. So I am very tired today and can barely keep my eyes open. I think it's going to be a very early one tonight.
Anyway here's a card I made back in May (just a little late with some of my posts,oops), for my amazing hubby.



I used lots of my scraps for this card from Crate Paper's Restoration collection and added some 7gypsies Curiousities rub-ons. I love these rub-ons, they are so perfect for male cards as they add that mechanical/science component to them.

That's it for today.
Take care.
Mel xxx

July 15, 2011

Birthday Cards with Kaiser

Hello there friends, I am back with some birthday cards for the girls in my life.
Both of these were created using Kaisercraft's Chapter One Collection.










I love that this range has green and teal as it colours, and I am not a green person at all, but I really like this one. Two totally different looking cards using the same collection of papers makes for a lot of versatility.

I have added rhinestones to both cards and the gorgeous new Kaiser blooms in the top card (it's the one on the big flower). So stunning. I think I will be buying more of these.

That's it for today.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, whether it's sunny or raining.
Enjoy and take care,
Mel xxx

July 04, 2011

40th Birthday Card

Good Monday morning all. A quick post this morning sharing a masculine card with you.



I made this card way back in the beginning of May for a friends' husbands birthday. I have used Crate Paper Emma's Shoppe Collection papers and a mix of Crate Paper, Basic Grey and Bo Bunny for the embellishments.

Thanks for looking.
Mel xxx

July 02, 2011

Seaside Card


Here's a card I made for my nephew who loves surfing, hence the 'sea' theme. I have used Kaisercraft's seaside papers with lots of layering. I love the little surf boards in this paper range too, perfect for the surfers in our lives or beach loving people. I look forward to using this range on some scrapbook layouts too.

Have a great weekend.
Mel xxx

July 01, 2011

Back With Birthday Pics

It has been such a long time since I have posted anything on my blog. Sorry to all my wonderful friends who follow. Life has been so busy and on top of that I have been away visiting a friend up north. I did intend on scheduling some posts for while I was away but totally ran out of time. Anyway I am back and rearing to go. To start, here are some photos of my daughter's 2nd birthday. I can't believe she is two already. My baby girl is growing up way too fast :(


Happy Birthday Banner.




Tissue Paper Flowers.


Dessert Table.


Cake Banner.


The Pink Rainbow Birthday Cake. YUM!!


The Birthday Girl, Twirling.

I used Echo Park's Springtime papers to make the banners. I love the colours in this range. The gorgeous tissue paper flowers were made following the Martha Stewart tutorial here.
I really enjoyed making the decorations and sweets for Renee's birthday. It was so nice to have the time to make her birthday all girly and pretty.

I have more posts coming and I will get back in to the swing of commenting on all your wonderful blogs too.
Mel xxx

May 12, 2011

Showing Your Cheeky Side Layout.

Good afternoon all. Hope you are all having a wonderful day. We are having the most glorious weather in Perth at the moment. So I have been out and about with the kids enjoying the sunshine. Here's a layout I did for the latest monthly challenges over at Challenge Heaven. This one is for the Word challenge where you had to use the word cheeky in your title and the extra criteria was to use a patterned paper base.

I thought this photo would be perfect with my DS doing his typical "Butt" pose. He thinks it's hilarious. We did manage to get some nice shots of his first day of school too, thank goodness.





I have used Kaisercraft Class of '87 papers and paper pad. So perfect with the colours of his school uniform. The gorgeous twine is from my lovely friend Marcia. Stay tuned for details as she will be selling twine and other hand-made goodies soon.

Thanks for looking and enjoy the rest of your day.
We are off to the park soon for a bit more sunshine.
Mel xxx

May 10, 2011

Crate Paper Anniversary Card

Good afternoon friends. Here's another card creation using once again, Crate Paper Emma's Shoppe both papers and chipboard accents. The sentiment was done on the computer and printed on the DP then cut using my circle nesties. The flowers are done with my MFT Die-namics Rolled Rose.



I am loving the chipboard elements in this collection. Crate paper used every bit of space so you have some really tiny accents as well as the large ones shown here.

Thanks for looking and enjoy the rest of your day.
Mel xxx

May 09, 2011

Mother's Day Cards

Happy Mother's Day for yesterday friends. Sorry I didn't get to post these yesterday but very busy day (weekend). I made two cards this year, one for a friend and one for my mum. Both in the same style to make it easier, and both using Crate Paper's collection Emma's Shoppe. Loving these papers. The one below was given to my mum. A little bit softer and in mums favourite colours.





This one was for my friend whose hubby is away on business at the moment (very bad timing I say!) Anyway I wanted to do something special for her and let her know how wonderful a mum she is, so I gave her this card with a small present which included a mug, some chocolates and earl grey tea bags (her favourite). The sentiment is from Stampin Up and the flowers are beautiful Prima flowers that I received from my gorgeous friend Marcia.

Thanks for looking.
Mel xxx