CAS(e) This Sketch! #38

Hello folks,

A quick one today for CAS(E) This Sketch!

I have the perfect stamps for this sketch but naturally I didn't use them!  Since the feathers were already out I used them instead but I think it still looks like the sketch. I don't often do a one layer card - I'm a bit of a perfectionist and get irritated if the stamping is less than perfect! I can't help thinking it needs a button on those peacock feathers though - but it started to look like a pair of eyes so I kept it very simple. But then, isn't that the challenge?!

Thanks for calling by,

Claire x

WMS Pajama Party

Morning bloggers!

There's a new challenge going on over at Waltzingmouse this month - a WMS pajama party. The party starts at midnight (UK time) and everyone is invited to join in, complete with PJ attire.  Now I'd like to say that I'm sat here in my sexiest, silk negligee (make that flannelette pajamas) ready to take part. But alas, since I'm Down Under I'm in my daggy 'Mum' clothes and I've just taken the big kid to school!

There are three different challenges which give everyone the opportunity to use any new stamps they may have purchased during the recent new release. It just so happens that I did have a little bit of a splurge a couple of weeks ago so I've entered 2 of the challenges - the first is 'Tickle me Silly' where the theme is feathers:

I had an absolutely manic weekend so I have to say I was flagging a bit when I did this one. 2 kids parties in one day, followed by a 50th that evening so let's just say the mojo had disappeared somewhat. I bought the Funky Feathers set (after procrastinating terribly over whether to buy Fine or Funky!) and gold embossed two of the larger feathers, tying them together with some ribbon.  I put some gold metal shim underneath the Fancy Square die cut to give it a hint of shine.

The next challenge is for In the Background.  I also bought the gorgeous Crackle Backgrounder stamp which is absolutely huge.  We were lucky enough to go to Canada earlier this year so I used it as the background to some photos I took whilst visiting Whistler:

Talk about using a lot of white embossing powder! I used the crackle background on some vellum first and used this as the base for my photos. I then used it on some contrasting blue bazzil. I had absolutely no Winter/snow themed embellishments so I used the snowflake stamp from Seasons of Love and added a few spots of bling. I also used the vintage heart from the same set and the 'Wonderful' sentiment is from Camellia.

Phew, I'm all waltzed out so I'm going to grab my morning coffee and have a nose at all the other projects on offer.

Thanks for stopping by!

Claire x

Dynamic Duos + Retro Sketch

Hello folks,

It's late, I'm tired and Blogger's been playing up all day so it's another quick one to show this weeks Dynamic Duos challenge based on Retro Sketch #73:

I love orange and black...it's such a striking colour combo. There is the option to use butterflies for the Dynamic Duos challenge but it's really not a butterfly kind of card is it?

I stamped the background using the spotty zig zag stamp from Mama Elephant's Modern Borders....I think I was seeing double by the end of it. Or perhaps it was the glass of wine I had earlier.  The orange number paper is from a 6x6 pad by Authentique.

Short but sweet. Thanks for popping by,

Claire x

Scrap the Boys

Hello scrappers,

It's been a long time between Scrap the Boys layouts but I've managed to find some scrappy mojo for the July challenge. This month you have to use a black and white head shot of your boy/man in your life:

I went for a really clean white background for this one - no splodges, misting or anything - and I kept it all very simple with just a handful of embellishments.  I've heaps of old, white letter rubons - so old, that they no longer transfer properly - so I painted the chipboard circles, covered them with Dimensional Magic and added some of the dodgy rubons. I gain immense satisfaction when I use up my trash...I really must do it more often! That way I can always justify new supplies.....

Well that's all for now folks...happy scrapping and thanks for stopping by!

Claire x

Lots of Layers

Morning all,

Hope you're enjoying the weekend - despite being in the middle of Winter here in Sydney, the weather is absolutely beautiful...blue skies and sunny days...what could be better?

Love the sketch by Narelle over at Freshly Made this week - lots of layers and just my style:

A mix of the old with the new for this one - I layered some flowers from Stampin' Up's Eastern Blooms, together with some embossed vellum Sassafrass Lass stems and Waltzingmouse leaves.  It's definitely a sketch I'll be using again.

Enjoy your day and thanks for stopping,

Claire x

Funky Play Date

Hello folks,

Just sneaking in a late entry for the latest Play Date Cafe challenge:

This time I used some different feathers from the WMS Funky Feathers set...yes I am in love with it and yes I am going to bore everyone senseless by using it on heaps of cards for the next few weeks! Unfortunately I ran out of glossy card stock so I came up with the 'ingenius' idea of using glossy photo paper. Newsflash everyone: it doesn't work! I thought the ink would blend quite nicely but it kind of went on in clumps so I haven't quite got the gradual layering of colour I was looking for.  Not to worry,  it kind of worked....

As the saying goes...hope it tickles!

Cheers,

Claire x

Funky Feathers

G'day bloggers,

Well, school's back thank goodness - it's been two weeks of continuous illness between my boys this holiday, so it's good to get back to normal and into the school routine. No wonder my mojo went AWOL.....

I got some happy mail in the post yesterday - a couple of new Waltzingmouse stamp sets including the gorgeous Funky Feathers. Thought the feathers would look lovely with this week's Dynamic Duos colours:

I stamped the background using WMS woodgrain, added a couple of torn strips of vellum and stamped/embossed the various feathers on vellum and cardstock. It's the first card I've been happy with in a while...must be the new stamps eh?

Thanks for stopping,

Claire x

5 Years of Colour Throwdown!

Hello to all those in blogland!

Colour Throwdown is celebrating a massive 5 years worth of challenges and to celebrate they have a heap of prizes on offer!  Here's the colour combo:

I used my Fancy That balloon die for this one. Not quite Bermuda Bay but close enough I think!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend folks!

Claire x

Neon Bright

Hello again,

I was playing around with colours for a challenge last night, then noticed that when I sprayed the stamping with Glimmer Mist, the ink went very bright. So, since 'neon' is the cue word over at Casology, I switched challenges:

To me, neon sums up everything that was bad about '80s fashion...remember those hideous, ultra-baggy,  neon t-shirts with 'Frankie Says Relax' on them? Or Madonna prancing around in fishnet tops and fluorescent bits of string in her hair?  Definitely a fashion era that needs to be forgotten! And the same goes for this card I think.....

Thanks for stopping,

Claire x

Bye Bye Mr Mojo

Hello bloggers,

I've had a little break from blogging this week as it's kids holidays here in Australia. We've been visiting Nanny and Poppy and then spent the night on a huge cattle property with some school friends. Unfortunately Mr Mojo also went away and hasn't returned, despite a little helping hand from Retro Sketches:

Hmmmm - bit dull really....I couldn't papercraft my way out of a paper bag at the moment! Here's hoping he returns soon.....

Cheers,

Claire x

Happy Birthday Mojo Monday!

Hello bloggers!

Mojo Monday are celebrating a whopping 300 challenges and, to celebrate, they have a huge amount of prizes on offer ....somehow I think Mr Linky may be working extra hard this week! Well,  you never know your luck do you, so here's my entry, combined with the colours over at Colour Q:

My cards have been very pink and girly recently, so it was lovely to use some strong, boyish colours for a change.

Hope you have a fantabulous day and to those in the USA, Happy July 4th!

Claire x

Cardabilities Play Date

Morning all,

I can't remember the last time I played along at Cardabilities - there's a gorgeous sketch by Karan Gerber and I've combined it with the pretty pastel colours at Play Date Cafe:

I've embossed the Waltzingmouse flower background onto vellum and added a chipboard ring which I inked, covered in dimensional magic and sprinkled with glitter.

Just a quick one again today...it's kids holidays here in Australia so I have some mothering to do!

Thanks for stopping and particularly if you take the time to comment.

Claire x

Throwing Colour at Freshly Made

Morning all,

Just a quickie today using the sketch from Jen B at Freshly Made Sketches with this week's pretty colour combo over at Color Throwdown:

I used Waltzingmouse Asian Gardens for this one. I think I may have a little RSI from fussy cutting all those tiny stamped flowers! I've added a bit of dimensional tape to a few of them just to make them stand out from the crowd and then added some pearls to their centres.

Thanks for stopping by!

Claire x