Friday 21 November 2014

It's All About Christmas

With only one month until Christmas, the production of Christmas cards has been happening in my craft room. I always say that I will start earlier in the year but it never happens!!

Well, I have been watching lots of you-tube and visiting Pinterest regularly for inspiration and I have also been trying out new techniques to include in my cards.

Here are a few that I have made today.
This was copied from a you-tube video by Simon Says Stamps, but I didn't have the stencil so I used the Stampin Up tree punch  cut out in masking paper. I used distress ink pads in Festive Berries, Spiced Marigold, Mustard Seed, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn and Salty Ocean. The greeting is from Waltzingmouse Stamps.

The Next card is using Gelatos to colour the focal image that has been stamped and embossed with white embossing powder.
The wonderful sentiment is another one from a set by Waltzingmouse Stamps called 'Tis the Season'. Gelatos were smoothed over the water colour paper with my finger and the colours were Metallic Blue and Green with Green tea mixed in as well, I then spritzed with water and blended them some more. The beautiful metallic shimmer unfortunately doesn't show in the photo.

Finally I have a third card which uses the beautiful Creative Expression Gilding Flakes,  (this is a link to the You-tube video showing how to use them.)
The Gilding flakes give this card a wonderful elegant dimension and I will be making different cards using these lovely flakes.
The sentiment is from Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous: Old Fashioned Christmas stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.

This is just a taste of what I have been up to whilst trying to stay cool in my craft room. The air conditioning is keeping my room at a lovely 23 degrees Celsius, whilst outside it is 40 degrees. 

I hope you are having a creative day,

xx Liz

Saturday 8 November 2014

Playing with Simply Pressed Clay

I know it has been a while since I posted on here, but I have been playing in my haven!

What have I been up to you ask? Well, a bit of this and that. For this past month, I have been on holidays and enjoying time away from my regular job. This has given me the time to clean out my craft room, which led me to the realization that I DO NOT need any more things...........don't we all say that at times and then another great product takes our fancy.

Today I am showing what can be done with SU simply pressed clay. I discovered those molds used for cake decorating and tried them with the clay. They work just as well as the buttons and blossoms clay molds that SU sell. This then gives you so many more opportunities to use the clay. Here is the card that I made.


The cupcake is painted with twinkling H2O's Coral Berry and the wrapper in Lemon drop and Nutmeg. The background is created by white embossing a stamped image and then rubbing with gelatos in Bubblegum, Melon and Tangerine. All that was layered on a white cardbase stamped in Tuxedo Black with a stamp set  by Sheena Douglas called A Taste of India.The sentiment is from the same set.

I hope you are having a creative day,

xx Liz

Friday 19 September 2014

Japanese Paper

Whilst out shopping with a crafty friend last week, she showed me a beautiful piece of Japanese paper that she had fallen in love with. "What can you do with this?" she exclaimed. So I rose to the challenge to create some cards using the sheet of paper that she so desperately wanted to buy. 

The photos below are my creations and I hope they will help to inspire.
I have used Darkroom Door Kimono Stamp Set for the main figure and the sentiment comes from Waltzing Mouse Stamps

This card showcases another stamp from Darkroom Door and again a sentiment from Waltzingmouse Stamps

I have used the paper to create the hanging lanterns by cutting circles
 and putting them through a crimper before adding the tops and bottoms
 out of a small piece of cardstock.
The tassle and topper comes from  WaltzingMouse Stamps and the sentiment from Stampin Up.

I have used a Japanese character stamp for the background . The weeping tree on the front panel comes from Jemac Stamps

I hope you are having a creative day,

xx Liz



Monday 8 September 2014

Digital Stamping

Have you ever used digital stamps?

I have bought a lot of them over the years, but never seem to know how to use them. I have printed them out and have them lying around on my craft desk in piles waiting for that moment of inspiration on where to use them.

After moving the pile for the upteenth time, I decided that last week was the time to have another closer look at them. I chose a lovely little stamp of a mouse in a cocktail glass. For the life of me I don't even know which company this comes from any more! I used him/her on a birthday card for a friend that has a celebration coming up later this week. Colouring in with copic markers and then using glossy accents to make the glass look realistic, I mounted the cut out image on a background that I had water-coloured after heat embossing an image of cracked glass. Adding a sentiment to the bottom of the card completed the picture and here is the card:



I might need to play around a little more, but it was a bit of fun and something to not feel frightened about using. Digital stamps are now on my 'use list' which opens up a whole new world of stamping. If you haven't given it a go, then bite the bullet and have a go, you never know where it might lead you.

I hope you are having a creative day,

xx Liz

Friday 5 September 2014

Creative Friday

Today, I have enjoyed a wonderful day of card making in my Craft Haven. This is the name that a dear friend of mine named her craft space the other day and I have adopted it!

The card I have made, is using the terrific stamp set from Art Impression called 'Celeste'. She is a beauty, and oh so right for our stage in life. I can see me making lots of cards for my friends using this delightful stamp. So, without keeping you in suspense any longer, here is my creation.



I have coloured her in using Copic markers in various colours. The floor is stamped with Darkroom Door 'Woodgrain' background stamp.  The couch stamped with Impression Obsession 'Distressed Corduroy' after I masked 'Celeste'. I have distressed the edges of the card with Vintage Photo distress ink and a blending tool.
                      
 I hope you are having a creative day,

xx Liz

Monday 1 September 2014

Spring Has Arrived

Here is Sydney, Spring has arrived. The weather for the past two days has been amazing. It has been hard to be inside my craft room to be creative.

However, I have a special card today. I work 2 nights a week as a midwife and have a colleague who is just the best. When I get snowed under attending to patients, she just quietly gets all the necessary stuff done. I would be lost without her as my right hand man!

 Don't we often forget to thank those kind of people. Well today, I decided to let her know how much I appreciate all that she does. Here is the card that I will be giving her tonight.

I have used Memento Tuxedo Black to stamp the light image from Kaisercraft. The background is then coloured using Distress Inks in Mustard Seed, Dried Marigold, Dusty Concord and Peeled Paint. The 'Thanks' is cut using a Silhouette Cameo and then inked and raised up on tiny pieces of clear foam tape. The lace is just a piece that I had lying around my stash.

I hope you are having a creative day,

xx Liz

Saturday 23 August 2014

IBSIC # 85

I haven't been over to Inspired by Stamping for some time, but today I decided it was about time to enter into one of their challenges. If you wish to have a look then here is the link:Inspired by Stamping IBSIC#85.

 I am doing the colour challenge and here is my entry using all IBS stamps sets. Guitars and Petite Banners.

Hope you are having a creative day,

xx  Liz

Friday 22 August 2014

Online Stamp Classes

For the past 2 weeks I have been 'attending' an online stamp class. The tutors are fantastic, and you get access for ever so you can watch the videos over and over till you get the hang of the techniques. BONUS!!

Can't we all do with a little help getting more from our stamps.
 I have created two cards from some of the techniques that I have learnt, so I thought I would share them with you.

My first card is using a background stamp that I white  heat embossed onto water colour paper and then painted an ombre effect over the embossed image with pink- red water colour paints. I only used a small part of the panel that I made, to place down the side of the card. The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamps 'Sending Happy Thoughts'. The heat embossed hearts come from a lovely set of patterned hearts which have coordinating dies too. The set is called  'Bottom of my Heart' created by Sweet and Sassy Stamps

This second card is using a background stencil that I cut using my Silhouette cameo and sponging with Pistachio ink made by Memento. I had the perfect stamps to complete this card from Clearly Besotted Stamps "Honeycomb" with also comes with a matching die. I used different inks to make the focals and popped them up with foam dots to give dimension. The sentiment came from 'Blue Skies Ahead' a My Favourite Things set.


I hope you are having a creative Day

xx Liz


Saturday 2 August 2014

A Birthday Card for Amy


Winter has not been kind to me this year and I have been struggling to keep up with life so my blog has been suffering. I hope to rectify that in the next few weeks and catch up with challenges and keeping you posted.
 Today, we celebrate my husband's youngest daughter's birthday. Amy is turning 23 and I made her a card that suits her to a tee. She is classy and fabulous and uses the saying from Coco Chanel,frequently on her facebook page. I found the saying on a lovely set of stamps by Graphic 45. The doll stamps by Julie Nutting for Prima had to be the focus on her card so I paper pieced the clothing and stamped the image onto background tag.
910853
Tag Pad
Cling Stamp Couture 3
I love how it all came together and I think she did too. We had a lovely dinner in the oldest Italian restaurant in Sydney, which is near her new home in the city last night to celebrate the occasion. What a lovely night. Well, that's all from me today and I will catch you all later.


Hope you have a creative day,

XX Liz


Friday 20 June 2014

Creative Time

Winter hit Sydney on the 1st June with icy winds and a drastic drop in temperature. The days are shorter and that means I feel like staying in and playing. I have been creative in a good way but have not been posting my creativity, which is a bad thing.

   I have added some more layers to a quilt I am hand piecing. I started this project on my cruise to New Zealand back in March. The quilt is called Lady Marmalade and is designed by Sarah Fielke. This means that I have come about half way now into the over all finished quilt. Am I sick of circles? Not on your life!!   I have have just done another 28 for the next round.



I am determined to keep going whilst I am still enjoying it, which I am.

Hope you are having a creative day,

XX Liz

Saturday 31 May 2014

MIUM at Gina K Designs

Well hello,
    I have finally got around to doing a challenge card. I have gone with the one over at Gina K Designs. If you want to play along here is the link:
http://stamptv.ning.com/photo/photo/listTagged?tag=STV14MON21

   I have used 2 stamp sets from GKD 'So Groovy' and 'Enjoy the Journey'. The idea of the challenge is to make lots of layers on the card. I think I have managed to do just that in this card.
The van is coloured in with copic markers and I have added Glossy Accents on the window panes to make them look like glass.
 My friends are about to embark on a road trip to the outback so I hope this gives them a fitting farewell.

Hope you are having a creative day,

xx Liz

Monday 26 May 2014

Putting on the Ritz

Happy Birthday to my lovely Stepdaughter! Today is her 26th Birthday and although she received her quilt early (which I posted yesterday), I would like to show you the card that I made her. Here it is:



I used the lovely stamps from Waltzing Mouse Stamp 'Putting on the Ritz' collection and the the background is from the Art Deco Backgrounds that goes with this set. Love them both. Spellbinders Persian Motif made a perfect border around the circular design. The image is stamped using Versafine Black ink.The background is stamped in Memento London Fog ink. Silver grey organza ribbon completed the glamour of the card.


Hope you are having a creative day,

xx  Liz 

Sunday 25 May 2014

Stampin Up Stitched Stockings Stamp Set

 I know this stamp set is retired, but I have found the cutest pair of baby booties are made from the Stitched Stockings stamp set from Stampin Up.

  Firstly I embossed the stockings with coloured embossing powder onto white cardstock and then cut them out using the matching punch. By cutting the tops off the stockings you can then move it down the leg part to form a shorter sock. This forms the bootie. I then used some bakers twine and floss to make bows, hiding the join and mounted them with foam dots onto the background.




Hope you are having a creative day,

xx    Liz

May Day

My blog has seriously been neglected again. That is not to say that I haven't been doing anything creative, because I have. The problem is I just haven't had the time to sit down and post any photos.

Tomorrow is my stepdaughter's 26th birthday and I have been creating a quilt for her new flat in time for the winter chills. The instructions were cream with a hint of colour!! I had made her cushions for the lounge and they were yellow for summer and red for winter. My thinking cap went on and whilst browsing my magazines I came across just the right project... Here is the finished result. She has gone away for the weekend, so received her present early.
 To say she liked it, would be an understatement. She was thrilled and so was I that I could bring her something that is useful but also something that she loved. I hope she gets many years of comfort under the soft folds of fabric.

To Kimberley, Happy Birthday for tomorrow. I love you lots.



 

  I hope you are having a creative day,

                                     xx   Liz


Friday 11 April 2014

MIUM at Gina K designs

Gina K Designs has a challenge every Monday and it has been ages since I entered. This week the theme appealed to me so I decided to join in. It is a stamping trifecta. In other words there has to be 3 stamped images on your card.

If you want to enter, here is the link:
http://stamptv.ning.com/forum/topics/mix-it-up-monday-stv14mon14-stamping-trifecta

My entry used a very old stamp set called Eclectic Summer and it was one of the first GKD sets I ever purchased. The stamps are still just as good as the day I bought them. Anyway here is my card


The sentiment is from a stamp duo called "If I Had a Flower"

Hope you are having a creative day,

xx  Liz

IBS WHW #133

Inspired by Stamping is having another Technique Challenge called Colour Blocking.

Here is the link if you wish to play along:
http://joannamunster.com/2014/04/09/whw-133color-blocking/

I have used the stamp sets from IBS called Spring Lilacs and the sentiment from Just Because. The leaves have been coloured with copic markers in YG09 and YG67.

Hope you are having a creative Day,

xx  Liz

MIA

Hello Lovely people,
     MIA!!! I have been to New Zealand on a cruise during the last part of March and into April. I had a glorious time, but unfortunately came home with pneumonia. The ship was from the Royal Caribbean line called "Radiance of the Seas". They sure know how to spoil you and wait on you hand and foot. I didn't want to leave except I needed to get better. Hence, I have had to lie low since my return recuperating so no craft room time.

     Yesterday, feeling slightly better,  I returned to my room and had an order for wedding cards. You know that time in life when all your kid's friends start getting married and the rush is on! Everyone wants to get married together. Well here is the result of my craft time.
GKD Always and Forever Stamp 
Silhouette Cameo cut files
 


A lot of my Inspiration came from Pinterest, so if you see something you like feel free to copy like I did. The cute owls are from a punch by Stampin' Up.

Hope you are having a creative day,

xx  Liz

Saturday 15 March 2014

My Husband's Birthday

Last month I had so many birthday's that I forgot to post a picture of the card that I made for my DH. He is into go karting in a big way. This is great, as it is more expensive than anything I do!!(big laugh here) but we both are guilty of spending on our hobby.

          Anyway, when I got my Silhouette for Christmas I was browsing the store and found a go kart driver. This was amongst my first purchases as I knew I would find it very handy. This is my creation using all the dies I purchased for my Silhouette. His gokart colours are Orange and Blue which I used for the balloons. Go Babe! and I hope you like your card.

         Hope you are having a creative Day........

                                                                    xx   Liz

Thursday 27 February 2014

Happy Birthday to my Best Friend

My oldest and dearest friend is celebrating her birthday today. Wishing you the happiest of birthdays, Gail.

 Because we live in different states, I don't get to be there today, but tomorrow we are meeting up in Melbourne for a fun weekend together. Here is my card that I am giving her for the occasion.

 Her favourite colour is green so of course her dress had to be green. The stamp is from Stamping Bella   -  Uptown Girls Pattie and Dottie Friends Forever. The image is coloured in with copics. Pearls and lace just add the touch of glamour!

I hope you are having a creative day,

                   xx  Liz

Sunday 23 February 2014

IBSIC #76

One of the colour challenges for this month at Inspired by Stamping caught my eye. I am soooo in love with purple at the moment and just had to play along. If you want to join in, here is the link
http://joannamunster.com/2014/02/11/ibsic-76-77-78/

This is going to be my entry:
I hope you like it. 
I have used the lovely stamps from IBS: Garden Seed Packets and Vintage Tickets, both which have been embossed in Gold on cream cardstock. I have coloured the flowers with copics and added some purple cord and a flower. The background paper is from the Violet Crush paper pad by Kaisercraft.

I hope you are having a creative day.....

 xx   Liz 

Thursday 20 February 2014

February's Post


2014 started with me running...... let me explain it like this.

 I had all the best intentions of maintaining my blog like I finished last year off;.... writing posts at least every week. Has that happened?? NO
Here it is nearly at the end of February and I have only had 3 entries. I am going to try to make amends in the next few weeks.

Today, I am in my craft room after 3 very busy weeks getting lots of music stuff organized for my church for the coming year.  You know the photos I posted late last year onto here of my NEW church, well ...... that lovely new building is to be officially opened this Saturday and I have trying to get the band together and choosing music etc. Hence limited time to get crafty and blog..
SO SORRY.

Today I am showing a few cards that I sent to help a friend. She supplies cards to the oncology ward at her hospital where she has treatment and I thought this was an opportunity to donate some surplus cards that I have in my stash.                                                              

 I hope you are having a Creative Day,        
                                                     xx Liz

Friday 17 January 2014

WHM #126 Creating Custom Background paper

Today, I am entering my first challenge of the year over at Inspired by Stamping. It is hard getting back into the swing after the holidays and all the Christmas cards I had to make. But if you want to play along have a look here:
http://joannamunster.com/2014/01/15/whw-126-creating-custom-pattern-paper/

              What fun getting my water colour paper out again from the depths of my cupboard and having a go. This is my creation using all IBS stamps.
 The stamps used were from the following sets:
Delicate Doilies II, Spring Lilacs, Fancy labels 18 and the sentiment is from A lovely Birthday.
Staedtler Aquarell pencils spritzed with water and painted over with an aqua brush formed the basis of the background. I used Memento Inks in Toffee Crunch and Morroco to stamp the images and the butterfly was embossed with Ranger 'Seaform' embossing ink so that it wasn't brilliant white.  

I am off to do another card,
                                  Hope you are having a creative day,

                                                                             xx Liz


Saturday 11 January 2014

Creative Backgrounds

On Thursday I spent the day getting into my paints and ink along with Gesso to make beautiful backgrounds for my cards. I have been watching a lot of you-tube videos and felt very inspired to have a go.

               Yesterday it was a day of using what I had created on Thursday. Here's the results:


 


                         

                                   I hope you are having a creative day too.

                                                                                   xx Liz


Wednesday 1 January 2014

Happy New Year 2014

My goodness! Where did 2013 go and now I want to wish everyone a very Happy 2014. May you all live life to the fullest this year and not waste a moment.

 December just flew past last year and although I was busy in my craft room I didn't get to post anything on here. I made lots of cards and presents for family and friends. I didn't have time to enter any challenges and today I am cleaning out my craft room so hopefully I get to be more productive in the next few weeks.

Here are some pictures from my Christmas and some of the presents that I made.
My wonderful husband and his 2 daughters.
Cupcake Apron

A lunch bag for my lovely stepdaughter. It is covered in plastic so that the fabric doesn't get dirty travelling on the train and I used insulated wadding to keep things cool or hot depending on what she puts into it.










It is back to craft room now to clean up and get ready for a creative year ahead.