FTL #82 — Clean & Simple Sketch Challenge

I loved the sketch on the Clean & Simple blog this week, so I decided to have a play with it. This was the result!

I chose this leafy image from the Embrace Life stamp set, and filled the leaves in using a blender pen and black ink so that it was more like a silhouette. I felt that a bit of twine and some tearing would work well with the image, and I was pleased with the way the 'h' in the word 'much' worked so well with the torn edge!

I also tried another card using the same stamp, it is such an elegant image. I kept it very simple and have only used white and olive. The simple style is inspired by Susan Raihala, check out her blog — Simplicity. I think I've taken elements of some of her cards and created this one (it is her designs that have inspired my recent use of twine!).

I had the chance to make four cards today. These are the other two. I have chosen the simple approach again (white space is good!!), also inspired by Susan.

I have had fun this afternoon experimenting with 'simple'. I can't wait to get my Autumn/Winter Mini Catty pre-order so I can play some more, although I might have to be more controlled because this afternoons fun was at the expense of the housework — but you need to have some time to express your creativity sometimes, don't you? :)

Inspired again!

Life is always so full, but this weekend (which happens to be a long one!) has had a lot in it.

Because it is a long weekend, I didn't have to go to work today and was able to enjoy some other activities. This afternoon I decided to check out some blogs, which sparked my creativity, so I did some card making. Yay!! I felt so inspired, I made 5 cards!! Here is one of those creations. I have only used two colours, Not Quite Navy and Kraft, and no white or vanilla — not sure if I've ever done that before. Anyway, it seems to have worked alright.

The rest of the weekend went like this…

Friday afternoon I picked up the kids from school, and an additional two girls for a sleepover party for Zali. There was some wakefulness in the middle of the night which made us all tired the next day (but that is another story!) The girls went home in the morning and the rest of the day was spent cleaning house and preparing for a workshop.

Saturday night I did a workshop for some friends (the girls that keep me in business!) It was fun as always but I didn't get home until 11:30pm.

Sunday I was up early doing last minute preparation for the guests which were arriving!

My two uncles from the USA have come out to Australia for a short time to visit my grandma. My parents, aunty, grandma and uncles are going on a little holiday and decided to come via us so that we could see them. I haven't seen my uncles since I was a kid and my grandma hasn't had all four of her children together for 46 years, so this is a very special time for them! My cousin and her kids arranged to rendezvous at our house (from Parkes NSW) so that they could see everyone as well. So… on Sunday we had 16 in the house. My cousin went home that afternoon and we had 12 for dinner. We also spent until lunchtime today with everyone (and we squeezed some sightseeing in too!) It was a great time, I really enjoyed being with them all :)

Now that I have done some creating and blogging, it is time to get organised for the week ahead (school, work etc) so I had better go and do it!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Inspiration Challenge #18

It was my daughter Zali's 8th birthday on Wednesday, so I decided to use Keesh's challenge as the inspiration for the card. It has been a while since I have entered any challenges so it is good to get back into it (not sure when next time will be though!!).

Anyway, here is a cute little pic of Zali at the beach at Christmas - just sitting in the water waiting for the waves to wash over her and in her own little world. She is such a cutie, she is a little ray of sunshine :)

Hi there…

It has been sooooooo long since I have done any blogging. Life has been a whirlwind for the last couple of months with starting a new job and Christmas and all the end of the year stuff that happens.

Since the last post my youngest boy, Luke, has had a birthday and is now 3, I did a Wow Presentation at the Field Training event here in Canberra, my Hubby and I went away (yes, kids free) to celebrate our 15th Wedding Anniversary, and over the Christmas break we all travelled up to Cessnock and then to Grafton to visit family. They're just the main things!!

I am looking forward to the year ahead. My eldest daughter, Alana, starts highschool this year. That's a bit scary — it seems like only yesterday she was a baby. Now, four children on, my baby is 3 and heading off to Playschool one day a week. What ever shall I do in my spare time??? Actually, I won't be stamping the whole time (or doing housework etc). I would like to do some more art again. For those that don't know, I am an artist in my "spare" spare time! It has gone out the window a bit in recent years, but the fire was lit up again at the end of last year when I sold two of my works at an exhibition in November.

Anyway, it's about time I show you some cards!

I know Christmas has come and gone, but I wanted to share these with you :)

Last year I ran a couple of Christmas card stamp a stacks. These two cards are a couple of the designs that we did. Although I made these, I didn't get around to making and sending cards this year — I just had too much on.

I love the versatility of the Season of Joy stamp set. Here I have used the flower image, together with some sponging around the edges to create the background. The large image with the greetings is the focus and has just a touch of glitter. The colours are Whisper White, Riding Hood Red and Not Quite Navy.

I wanted create a Christmas card with an Australian feel to it. So for this second card I have used the gum blossom from the Bloom Away stamp set and a greeting from the Many Merry Messages set. The colours used are Very Vanilla, Kiwi Kiss and Riding Hood Red. I love that red!!

Well… time has got away and I need to get dinner happening. I have some more things to show you, but that will have to wait until next time.

Thanks for visiting :)

A Card, a Cake and some News!!

Well… this was to be my entry for Keesh's inspiration challenge, but I missed the deadline. I didn't have a chance to upload it in time because of all that has been happening. I'll tell you about some of it in a minute, but first of all this card. Another fairly simple design, with an oriental feel to it. I have rock 'n' rolled the image using Rose Red ink and then Purely Pomegranate (an in-colour from last year). I stamped the flowers and 'thankyou' on the cardstock first, then drew the lines to fill the gaps.

So what has been happening in my life over the last two weeks?? I guess I should start with the biggest news…

I have a job!!! I will be working 9 'til 5 Monday and Tuesday as the Office Secretary at my church, Belconnen Baptist. It has been a very interesting journey and it has all happened quite quickly. Applications were due last Friday 2nd. Interviews were held Tuesday night, and Wednesday morning I received the call offering me the position — I start tomorrow. Whoooaa!! It is still sinking in. My hubby Kal will be a stay at home dad on those days (and maybe work from home a bit). It will be a big change for us as a family, but we all feel it will be good for us. I am looking forward to it, but at the same time I'm soooooooo nervous. Since Kal hasn't had to do the daytime routine before, I will be making sure everything is organised (meals for the evening too) so that it is not too overwhelming to start with. So that's my plan for the rest of the day, as well as recovering from yesterday!!

Yesterday we had a bunch of 6 year old boys and girls (10 plus my children!!) over for my son Liam's birthday party. It was a lot of fun, but as always with such events there is a fair bit of work. I did a lot of the prep during the week, including making 184 mini sausage rolls!

Each birthday I let the children choose the cake that they want, and Liam chose the Scary Castle this time. I love making cake creations, but I think 4 in a year is plenty :) The blue food colouring was sooooooo messy, all the children had blue hands and mouths after eating it.

Here is a pic of the creation, complete with hand piped chocolate spiders!!

It has also been the school holidays, which are now at an end. Even though there has been a lot happening, I've enjoyed not having to make lunches and race out the door for school each morning :) Back to it tomorrow!

Anyway, I had better go and get some things done before the day gets away!

Hope you are having a great weekend.