Paper Players Sketch Challenge

Hello folks,

I can't even remember the last time I made a masculine card but a friend gave me some of her old Kaisercraft background stamps so thought I'd ink up this vintage car from one of their stamp sets. Makes a change from flowers!

I used Joanne's layered sketch from the latest Paper Players challenge.  The dp is from some very old paper pads from Authentique. I always loved their paper pads - the paper was thick, almost card like and great quality. I used one of the gifted Kaisercraft background stamps to add some texture to the blue panel and the tyre mark stamp is from the same Kaisercraft stamp set that I've had for years.

Happy stamping!

Claire

Freshly Made Sketch #314

Hi all,

It may be Christmas but Down Under we're coming to the end of the school year - time to make a few thank you cards for those amazing teachers who've had to put up with my two naughty boys!

I used the latest Freshly Made Sketch:

I created a circular chalkboard background using a Kaisercraft stamp , added a couple of W Plus 9 apples, a sentiment from Waltzingmouse and the background has been stamped using a WMS woodgrain stamp.

I'm also popping this one over to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge where one of my favourite bloggers is guest designing this month.  Make sure you go and check out Anita's fab cards at My Papercraft World won't you? The theme for their latest challenge is food and drink so I reckon a couple of juicy apples nails it!

Thanks for popping by,

Claire x

Back to School?

Hello again folks!

How's your weekend going? 

It's that time of year when school shoes have to be polished, uniforms ironed and pencil cases refilled - or at least in the Western hemisphere.  So there seems to be a few 'back to school' themed challenges out there in blogland - the one over at The Card Concept has an inspiration pic which I combined with the latest sketch from Mojo Monday:

I have to admit, I'm not feeling the love for this clean and layered card.  I think I may be suffering from the shock of having to make an impromptu speech in front of about 50 parents this morning on behalf of my son's soccer team.  For someone who loathes public speaking and had no warning whatsoever and therefore no preparation, it was not a pleasant experience!

Hope you get a bit of time for crafty stuff this weekend!

Claire x

Kaisercraft Saturday Challenge - take 2!

G'day again!

So enjoying playing with Kaisercraft papers for their new look Saturday challenge - this one is for challenge 2, in which we have to have a multi dimensional element, something floral and a bit of sparkle:

The papers are from Kaisercraft's Sweet Pea and the floral stamp and sentiment are from an older set belonging to the 2009 Christmas Belle collection.  I really like that it's not an obvious seasonal stamp and that it can be stamped in any direction.

For the dimensional element I embossed the background paper and used dimensional tape to make the image pop.  The floral elements are the stamp and the paper banner (just stating the obvious) and a bit of sparkle has been added to the sentiment using KindyGlitz.

Phew...that's enough blogging for me today!

Catch you later,

Claire x

Kaisercraft Saturday Challenge

Afternoon bloggers!

Well it's all been getting a bit flowery here recently - I can't remember the last time I made a masculine card or used some patterned papers.  My Kaisercraft paper stash has been woefully neglected so I was really pleased to see that their Saturday challenges now include cards and not just scrapbooking layouts:

I stamped the car onto some patterned paper and added a little dimensional magic to the windows and lights to make them shine.  All the papers and rubons are from Kaisercraft's 'On the Move' collection.  It's also a Kaisercraft birthday stamp which I have embossed using some pewter emboss powder.  I love how it's got that metallic look going!  I'm entering this one into the first Saturday challenge of the month which you can find here.

Catch you later!

Claire x

Knock on Wood

Hello folks,

It's been far too long since I had a play over at CASology so I did a simple card last night using this week's cue word:

The big bloke is in the process of setting up his own wood furniture making business so there is a lot of wooden inspiration around our house at the moment. He's just finished making a beautiful picture frame which made me think of doing a framed sentiment using the chalkboard technique.  It takes a lot of effort for me to keep things simple in these challenges - the challenge for me is to stop adding further layers...I think I've been particularly restrained in this one!

Thanks for popping over - happy stamping!

Claire x

Japanese Inspired Freshly Made Sketch

Hello folks!

I grabbed all my Japanese inspired goodies for the latest sketch at Freshly Made Sketches by Amy:

I used an oriental style script stamp from Kaisercraft for the background and embossed it in gold. (Due to my complete lack of knowledge about Asian languages, whenever I use this stamp I have absolutely no idea if it's the right way up - but at least it looks pretty!)  I used a couple of different yuzen papers for the strips and added a sakura bloom from the Waltzingmouse Asian Gardens set. The sentiment is from the WMS Opera Tags set.

Short but sweet today - have a great week!

Claire x

'Grunge'

Hello folks!

This blog has been looking a bit too pretty lately - all butterflies, flowers and swirly bits. So when I saw the code word over at Addicted to CAS was 'grunge' I thought it would be a good chance for me to get away from a floral theme. I absolutely love the sketch over at Retro Sketches too so I used that for some inspiration:

Now I don't do grunge. This is about my limit I'm afraid - a few splashes of ink using PTI's Grunge Me and a kind of grungy background stamp from Kaisercraft. I've also used a Kaisercraft sentiment.  I'm really happy with how it turned out...just enough mess to compliment my clean and simple style.

I'll be back later with the next Colour Q palette...back to a flowery theme again!

Thanks for popping by,

Claire x

Smooching with Freshly Made

Hello bloggers!

Hope you're having a fantastic weekend.  Ours has been one of the busiest in a while as my eldest son and I have had a double celebration since we share the same birthday.  Of course I say 'share', but I use that term very loosely...trust me, there's no 'sharing' when there's an 8 year birthday boy in the house!

Despite the birthday havoc, I did find time to do a quick card. One of things I love about buying new stamps is being able to enter new challenges...I've always had a hankering for Paper Smooches but wasn't able to find them locally - until now that is.  Over on their blog they have an inspiration pic for us to play with:

I was inspired by the twine and by those gorgeous silver storage funnels....what a brilliant idea. I went a bit mad with some pewter/silver embossing powder and a background stamp. The little robot is from Paper Smooches Little Fella set...perfect for little boys...and for big ones too.

I also combined the challenge with the fun sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches by Amy.

Thanks for popping by for a peak - now I'm off to celebrate my birthday!

Claire x

Funky Freshly Made

Hello folks!

Those Waltzingmouse Funky Flowers of mine were calling out for some ink again tonight - I used the latest Freshly made Sketch with the beautiful, bright colour combo over at Colour Thowdown:

I also used one of Waltzingmouse's Opera Tags which I embossed in white on to some grey bazzil. Amongst my huge tonne of scraps I couldn't find a single piece of red DP that I was happy with so I stamped some red bazzil with a Kaisercraft script background in Real Red....seems to have done the trick without overpowering the background paper!

Thanks for popping by,

Claire x

Retrosketches #83

Morning bloggers!

Hope you're having a lovely, lazy Sunday morning.

It's my final week filling in for Kasia over at Retrosketches so a huge thanks to Arielle for letting me join in the fun every week....I've loved every minute of it! This week's sketch is based on this wonderful card by  Laurie:

I stamped the kraft background in white pigment ink using a bloom stamp from Bo Bunny and then stamped over the top with a Kaisercraft script stamp in chocolate. I wanted to 'pretty' it up a little so I used a Marvellous Squares Spellbinders die to cut the triangle.

I have to admit I'm in need of a little injection of colour on this blog at the moment. The last few cards have all had a neutral colour combo so there will be a second, slightly more colourful post a little later today for this months MME challenge.

Have a fabulous Sunday and thanks for stopping,

Claire x

Retro Sketch #80

Hello again folks,

Hope you're having a wonderful Sunday! I've woken up to a beautiful sunny morning and the news that we have a new prime minister here in Australia.  To be quite honest, I would have a voted for one of the Muppets if it meant no more election ads. I'm well and truly over it and I really do feel for my American friends, knowing how long the lead up to an election is over there!

On to another Retro Sketch (#80)  challenge and this time it's based on a card by yours truly.  If you want to see the original then have a quick peek here. I've also used the colours from this weeks Colour Q:

For some reason I find it quite difficult to use my own cards as inspiration so I stuck pretty closely to the original, but did a more feminine take on it. I used a Kaisercraft script stamp with some Versamark, then sponged some Basic Grey over the top of it (is it called ghost stamping or something - I'm not one for getting technical?) It's kind of shown up in the photo. The penny farthing image is from Stampin' Up's Timeless Talk set which I bought a couple of weeks ago  (along with a few other goodies.) I didn't use the twine this time...just wasn't working!

Enjoy your day and thanks for stopping again!

Claire x

Feeling Japanese (Again!)

Hello folks,

I've just managed to sneak in another card before Mr Linky closes in a few hours - combining CAS-ual Friday's challenge of kraft+text with CASe This Sketch:

I was still feeling some Japanese inspiration and, since they were already out messing up my craft space, I reached for the Yuzen papers again. I stamped the little Sakura flower with Stazon onto gold shimmer card and die cut the leaves, then coloured them with a goldleaf pen so they showed up better against the kraft. The white embossed writing is from Kaisercraft's Oriental stamp and every time I use it I have no idea which way up the writing is meant to go!

Well that's all again folks....have a fabulous day!

Claire x

Retro Sketches #78

Morning again bloggers!

Another week has gone by and another Retro Sketch is up  based on this brilliant card by Kasia. Here's the sketch:

 

I used a numbered background stamp from Kaisercraft,  die cut a star through the middle of it (always a bit risky with all that stamping done!), added a frame and popped a smaller star over the top. I then couldn't work out where to put the sentiment so stamped it on some acetate with StazOn and popped that on the top too. Talk about a lot of layers...I'll have to take out a second mortgage to post it!

Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with this week! Thanks for stopping by again,

Claire x

Casology - again!

Hello everyone,

A very quick post today. Remember how I said Mr Mojo went walkabout when I did this week's Casology challenge using the cue word 'wheels?' Well I thought I'd have another go at it. I've based it on this card which I did for Ardyth's birthday:

Of course, I managed to precisely stamp all those tyre marks without so much as a single smudge. I was so proud of myself. Then I began stamping the wheels on to acetate with Stayzon - smudges everywhere! So there was only meant to be 2-3 wheels  scattered in a somewhat arty farty way. Instead, I've had to cover the whole thing just to hide the ink blotches...oops!

That's all folks...have a good one!


Claire x

Casology - Week 47

Good afternoon bloggers,

This week's Casology word is 'wheels' and for once in my life I knew I had the perfect Kaisercraft set to use. Unfortunately I picked it up and my mind did a total blank...there were just so many possibilities but I have to say I found it 'wheely' quite difficult. Excuse the appalling pun:

In the end I decided to do some masking with the gorgeous vintage car. I love the wheel mark stamp so I'm thinking I may have a go with that one a little later too - hopefully my brain will be back in gear by then!

Have a 'wheely' great day and thanks for stopping!

Claire x

Kaisercraft Saturday Sketch #3

Well happy Good Friday to you!

Hope you're enjoying the Easter weekend. I'm looking forward to Sunday, when it's the only day in the year that I can justifiably stuff myself with chocolate. and not feel guilty about it.

Felt like scrapping last night so here's a layout for the Kaisercraft Saturday Sketch challenge:

I'd liked to have put some random, typewritten journalling over it but my printer packed in yesterday. Not happy.  Instead, I've had to hide it on a journal label under the photo. I've used the papers from the Attitude! collection...perfect for my two boys who are developing more and more attitude by the day!

Have a fabulous long weekend!

Claire x

Freshly Made Birthday

Hello peeps,

Time for a quickie again...I needed to make a belated birthday card for my friend's son so turned to this week's Freshly Made sketch by Cindy for a bit of a mojo boost:

Isn't that chippie car cute? I gave it a lick of paint and added some Kindy Glitz for the headlights and the wheels have been stamped with a Kaisercraft stamp. Told you it was a quick one!

Have a great day!

Cheers,

Claire x

Kaisercraft Saturday Sketch

Hello Scrappers!

Well I'm sat here in a state of bliss, not because I'm blogging with a bar of chocolate, a glass of wine and George Clooney sat beside me,  but because...... it's silent. I think it's the first bit of silence I've had in 6 weeks - my eldest went back to school today and my youngest is in preschool so I'm enjoying my little piece of tranquility before the bedlam begins again at 3 o' clock!

It's also given me the opportunity to finish off a layout I've been doing for Saturday Sketch #2 over at Kaisercraft. Can you believe, I've actually done a DOUBLE layout?! I so rarely do double layouts but I knew I wanted to use more than one photo so I followed the sketch and then did a mirror image on the other page:

I used Kaisercraft's 'Save the Date' collection for this one. I cut the windmills from the patterned paper, added a brad and some Dimensional Magic and then added a sprinkle of glitter for some sparkle. The scrabble letter stickers are from the Timeless collection.

Well, only 3 and  a half hours left of silence...better start cleaning the house and look as though I've been busy all day!

Thanks for stopping by,

Claire x

Gobble Gobble Gobble

Hello Bloggers!

 For those of you with kids, you'll know that after you've given birth, something happens to you: your brain turns to mush, you can barely think beyond the next nappy change and the ability to think straight almost completely disappears.

And this is why I like the Casology challenge. It makes me use my brain.  Since I'm not working, card challenges are my way of using my brain to think about something else,  besides what to feed the kids, when I'll next clean the bathroom and how I'm going to get that damn piece of lego out of my son's nose!

This week the cue word is:

Of course 'gobble' immediately sums up images of turkeys or food. Since I'm in Australia and we obviously don't celebrate Thanksgiving, the turkey option was pretty much out. So I came up with this:

Hmmmmm - gobbledygook. I even checked the spelling on Wikipedia just to make sure it had 'gobble' in there! That cute little robot is from Birdie Brown digital stamps and you can find him here. I coloured him with Copics and the die cut is from Kaisercraft. The speech bubble is Hero Arts (which I've used in the last 3 challenges...getting bored of it yet?!)

Well, that's my brain used for today....there's practically steam coming out of my ears I had to think so hard! Hopefully that's a good thing.

Thanks for popping by,

Claire x