Love is in the Air

Happy Saturday everyone, I've got today's OCC challenge to share. This week Wendy has challenged us to make a 3D Valentine project.

I'm sharing this little box, it's empty at the moment but I think I'll fill it with some sweet treats for Shanan.
 

The box is made from two Box #2 (SU) diecuts glued together. I've used paper and ribbon as a band around the box and gone to town with lots of decoration.

Head on over to Our Creative Corner to see the wonderful design team creations and link up your project!

Colour Combo: Real Red, Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise  Stamps: A Happy Heart (SU) Paper: Raspberry Tart (SU) Dies: Box #2 (SU) Punches: Scallop Edge, Circles (SU) Other: Real Red Ribbon, Linen Thread, Markers, Button, Dimensionals (SU) Rhinestones (Kaisercraft)

Fresh Valentine

Happy Weekend everyone! We've got a busy one planned, another trip to the Zoo and a couple of family dinners - can't wait!

I've got my OCC card to share with you today, this week Wendy has challenged us to use an Analogous Colour Scheme (3 colours that are side by side on the colour wheel). There's a graphic and full explantion at Our Creative Corner.

My card also uses Jen's January SFYTT - I lurve Jen's sketches, and now she's hosting her challenge monthly I'm sure I can fit them all in!

This is going to be Shanan's Valentine's Day card for this year. I just love the blues and greens instead of the usual pink and red.

I've taken a cut out portion of the scalloped circle element to get it to meet up with the heart shaped treat cup. The rest is pretty simple, despite all the layers I think this one comes off pretty clean looking.

Inside I've used more of the same papers and the modern label punch for a sentiment.

Head on over to OCC to see the amazing team creations and link up your very own masterpiece!

Colour Combo: Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi, Pear Pizzazz Stamps: Sweetheart, A Happy Heart (SU) Paper: Petals & Paisleys, Pear Pizzazz DSP (SU) Punches: Full Heart, Large Corner Rounder, Scalloped Circle, 1/4", 1-1/4" & 1-3/8" Circles, Word Window, Modern Label (SU) Other: Brads, Dimensionals, Heart Treat Cups (SU)

Pretty Pastels

Leroy and I have had a quiet day today, he's heading back home after we spend a 4-day weekend with my parents, it's going to be so strange to be home alone after five weeks of him being here! While he watched a DVD I made this card for my Nana (I hope you get it before you see this Nana!) who is currently having a stay in hospital.

I've used the awesome MFTWSC sketch for this week and the colours are from Colour Throwdown, I thought the soft pastel tones would be perfect for this image.

I've coloured the image with SU markers. There's lots of dimension on this one, all the layers are popped up.

Inside I've repeated some of the papers and added a punched heart. See you tomorrow with my OCC creation (it's a SUO card!)

Colour Combo: Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Crumb Cake Stamps: Better Get Better & Love You With All My Heart (MFT) Paper: In Colour DSP (SU) Punches: Full Heart, Circle, Small Corner Rounder (SU) Other: Pear Ribbon, Soft Subtle Button, Linen Thread, Dimensionals, Markers, White Gel Pen (SU) Textile Embossing Folder (Provocraft)

Change in 2011

 

When thinking ahead to 2011 Shanan and I knew it would be a year of transition, a stepping stone of a year, leading from one place to another in many aspects of our lives. I toyed with the word transition being my mantra for this year....but in the end, transition is passive, it almost feels like something that happens without any help from me, so, this year is the year of CHANGE!

Change doesn't have to be scary, it can be fun. It might be challenging, but looking ahead to where we plan to be in the next year or two is downright exciting.

One of the first little changes I'm making is here on my blog. I'm in the process of redesigning from scratch, sprucing things up, decluttering, and making it more "me". It may take awhile (I'm in no hurry, the process is too fun) but you may see things moved from time to time, and eventually there should be a big "am I at the right place?!" kinda change!

I'm also changing a few things about my crafty posts. I'm trying to make these easier to write up so I blog more often - so I'm not going to list separate cardstock or ink colours anymore. Instead I'll list my main colour combo (using SU colour names) - I think you're all smart enough to work it out from there! I'm also going to stop categorising stamping posts by technique and will instead use occasions as topics from here on out, that should make it easier for you to find projects relevant to your interests.

I'll be studying full time again this year, but I'm also hoping to find the time to blog more about my life and other creative interests - I want to extend my sewing skills and who knows, hopefully I'll pick up yet another craft this year! I know some of you are here strictly for stamping posts, there'll be lots of those of course, but I hope you'll find inspiration in other areas of my creative life too.

I'm continuing on with the OCC challenge blog for another six months, so there's lots to look forward to there and I have a few challenges I'd like to take part in more often as a participant so there should be plenty keeping me stamping and sharing!

Before I go, perhaps you'd consider making a wee change for me? I love to answer the questions and comments you leave via email - but SO many of you are "no-reply bloggers". Not sure what that is? I'm going to leave you with this post from one of MY favourite bloggers and maybe you'll consider changing a setting or two so it's easier to stay in touch!

Have it your way....

The sketch that is! It's time for another wonderful OCC challenge. This week Wendy has this fun sketch for us - dress it up, or keep it clean and simple - it's up to you!

I went somewhere in between with my card, I kept to the sketch with just a few embellishments added and some bright papers for a bit of 'pop'.

I think these Greenhouse Gala papers might be my favourite SU pack ever. I've used the cute-as-a-button Aviary set and one of my old faves, Wonderful Words, for the sentiment. 

The inside of this card couldn't be more simple - I let the paper do all the work, doesn't that pattern leave a perfect space for writing in?

Head on over to Our Creative Corner to see what the team has created and we hope you'll link up your card too!

Colour Combo: Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz, Going Gray, Whisper White Stamps: Aviary, Wonderful Words (SU) Paper: Greenhouse Gala (SU) Dies: Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders) Punches: Scallop Edge (SU) Other:  Pear Ribbon, White Gel Pen (SU) Rhinestones (Kaisercraft)

Craft and Spa day

 

Now that Shanan's back to work, Leroy and I have been doing a variety of activities during the day (today was cleaning out the pantry though - boring!) Yesterday was nice and relaxing. Leroy slept in so I got started on my card for WSC using some new papers and nesties I picked up on Tuesday night.

I'm trying to get a hardstart on the cards I need for this year before making "just because" cards - so this is for a special someone's birthday soonish.  I inked up this set for the first time and went to town with the bright colours in this Hippy Chic paper from DCWV.

I picked up some glitter on sale with a christmas  gift voucher and used some on the crown, there's also glitter on some of the papers. The dress is paper pieced. The rest of the image is coloured with SU Markers.

 

Inside I've used some paper scraps and stamped part of the PI image in a light gray.  

Once Leroy was up and we'd had some lunch we decided to relax with a face mask while we played video games - not your typical spa experience but fun for us!

Shan bought me a new tub of my fave seaweed mask for Christmas so I wanted to open that....but I also just wanted to get this very goofy photo of Leroy and I for his holiday album....

Yup, totally goofy! Of course, he then spent the afternoon proclaiming how amazing his skin felt!

Have a wonderful weekend, we're off to the Zoo tomorrow and our beloved Steelers play on Sunday so we've got a fun one planned. My OCC post is scheduled for tomorrow night - enjoy!

Colour Combo: Conchord Crush, Pumpkin Pie, Taken with Teal, Very Vanilla Stamps: Something Special Just for You (MFT) Paper: Hippy Chic (DCWV) Dies: Rectangle, Long Rectangle, Circle & Lacey Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders) Jumbo Scallop (MFT Die-namics) Other: Twill, Button, Linen Thread, Markers (SU) Brads (Basic Grey) Smokey Quartz Glitter (Martha Stewart)

Thanks Chickadee!

 Hi everyone - thanks for stopping by! Wendy is our OCC hostess this week, and she has a fun inspiration challenge for us - use this photo of a Chickadee as a basis for your creation.

You could choose to use birds, winter, snow - or you may be inspired by the colours like I was. I just loved all those neutral tones with that pop of red!

Tis the season for Thank You cards - you'll see a lot of them coming up!

I stamped my PI girl on watercolour paper, coloured her with SU! markers and paper pieced her dress.

I cut out a portion of my large square layer to show some embossed Very Vanilla cardstock. I used a bunch of dimensional dots on this one!

Inside I stamped the image again, this time piecing just the heart.

I hope you'll head over to Our Creative Corner and give the design team girls some love (we're looking for some new stampers to join us too!)



Colour Combo: Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Basic Grey Stamps: I Love You With All My Heart (MFT) Paper: Ambrosia (Basic Grey) Dies: Oval & Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders) Punches: Photo Corner Punch (SU) Other: Taffeta Ribbon, Black Brads, Markers (SU) Jamara Embossing Folder (Provocraft)

Happy New Year!

I thought I'd pop on quickly and share a couple of holiday snaps - we've been having a wonderful summer, lots of outings and sunshine. We've been picnicing, visiting lots of wildlife, watching some movies (I'm not the only person that cries at every single Pixar movie, right?) and playing a LOT of Mario Kart!

I did find some unexpected stamping time this week while my guys were out playing basketball - so look out for some pre-scheduled posts from me for the awesome OCC challenges - the first one will be this coming Saturday.

Hope your holidays have been as happy as ours!