Like Making A Masculine Card Isn't Hard Enough...

My husband is one of the more creative and totally eccentric and fully self expressed men I know and when he gets an idea in his head for something, not much will stand in his way until it is achieved.  I love that about him.  Yes, I even still love that about him when his seemingly cocamamy ideas involve me.

His uncle is having his 80th birthday soon and we decided that we weren't even going to go there with a present for him as we wouldn't even begin to know where to start with that one.  My totally left of center husband thought to give his soon to be 80 year old uncle one of my cards containing a personalized letter and a soccer ball!  When he first told me of his idea I though, huh?...the man can hardly stand up unassisted, let alone play soccer! Needless to say, I was all ears knowing that there is always a method to my darling husband's madness.  He told me that when he was younger, his uncle used to kick a soccer ball around with him a lot, because his own father was often away with work.  He also said that it was during one of those manly bonding (soccer ball) sessions that he was told about the birds and the bees. (I had to chuckle to myself on the sly  seeing that we have seven kids, he obviously didn't take too much note of his uncle on that occasion.)  Bless.  So the soccer ball was just a wonderful token of his appreciation for the times with his uncle and just a small tribute to how much he appreciated those special one-on-one times with him and to let him know how much he always looked up to him.  His uncle could give the ball to his great grandson if he wanted, but the thought was there.  Awww.  How sweet is that?  So my job was to make a card for his good old uncle, with pleasure and now a greater and newfound sense of fondness.

I have decided, at the last minute, to enter this card into Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge.  It was a total fluke that this week's challenge is all about the big banner.  So with my firm belief in serendipity, I present to you the 80th birthday card made with love:

Thank you ever so much for allowing me to share my musings with you.  It means more to me than you may know.  *Hugs* 


Supplies:  

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink's Masculine Motifs, Have a Ball, and Birthday Basics ("...Age is a Work of Art" sentiment on inside), and Star Prints
• Paper:  Bazzill C/S in Deep Teal, Kraft, and Green, Papertrey Ink's Stampers Select and  Rustic White C/S, and Websters DP
• Ink:  Versacolor Chateaux Gray, Brilliance Silver, Versafine Vintage Sepia, Distress Inks in Antique Linen, Pumice Stone, and Vintage Photo
• Accessories:  Papertrey Ink Woodgrain Impression Plate, Boxy Banners Die, Banner Borders, and Seeing Star Dies, American Crafts Brads

Roses Always!

I just adore roses.  Real roses, crafted roses, stamped roses, inked roses...any and all roses call to me.  I might just have more rose stamps (including the everlasting kind) than I could shake a stick at, followed closely by patterned papers.   The depth of my affection is truly more than skin deep as I always relish the opportunity to incorporate a rose or more into my papercraft, but seeing I am so rose mad,  I often try and show restraint and use them only every now and again.  I guess, you could say I am a bit of a rose tragic.  So, when I saw this week's The Shabby Tea Room Flower Palette Challenge, I knew it was "all over red rover" and time to break out with a rose or too.  After all, what's a girl to do?

The challenge was to create a project inspired from the above fabulous photograph's colors using flowers. C'est tout!   And as you now know, the word "flowers" can often be synonymous with "roses" to me...so, roses it had to be.  I didn't use all of the colors in the photo as I knew in my crafting hands that would end up as one hot mess, so I just gently plucked the colors that called to me most and seemed to faithfully capture the mood of this gorgeous image. As always, I had a wonderful time.

 Supplies:

• Stamps:  Waltzingmouse Stamps Roses In Bloom and Fancy Phrases, Crafty Secrets Artsy Banner
• Paper:  Basic Grey Hello Luscious PP, K&Company "Julianne", Papertrey Ink Vintage Cream C/S, Misc. Pastel Lemon/Lime C/S
• Ink:  Memento London Fog, Versafine Olympia Gree, Distress Ink in Shabby Shutters, Mustard Seed, and Old Paper, White Acrylic Paint
• Other:  Copics, Uniball White Gel Pen, Tim Holtz Ornamental Alterations Die, Yellow Grosgrain Ribbon, Kaisercraft Pearls, Spellbinders Fancy Nestability Tags, Provocraft/Cuttlebug Roses Embossing Folder, and WRMK Corner Chomper Scallop 

A Shabby Vintage League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

I don't make nearly as many gent's cards as I should.  So today, I decided to make a masculine card which gives a nod to my more Steampunk, Vintage, Shabby predilections.  Who am I kidding?  That's all I ever do is make cards that tickle my fancy, but hey...why not?  Life's short and papercrafting is too good, right?  Plus, that's my story and I am sticking to it.  *wink*

I am entering this card into this week's The Shabby Tea Room "BINGO" Challenge.  Although initially daunted, I decided to give this challenge a go and true to my Last Minute Larreena leanings I have just finished a masculine card that I am hoping will be suitable (not to mention be presentable) and satisfies the "three in a row...BINGO!" rule for this challenge.  I have chosen the bottom row moving across as my three elements.  Seeing that this is a gent's card, I have not gone with the traditional ribbon, but "man" ribbon instead:  twine.  The other elements in the row are clearly present being the die cut cogs, tag and ribbon banner, the dry embossed brick wall of the card base, and of course my "man" ribbon on the tag.  I had a lot of fun creating this shabby, vintage, Steampunk influenced card.  So much so, I really must remember to show a bit more crafting love to that extraordinary league of gentlemen that truly grace our lives.

Thank you so much for coming by.  Here's to an extraordinary day! 


Supplies:  

• Stamps:  Waltzingmouse Stamps Off Beat Backgrounds and Pic-nic Patterns, Crafty Secrets Artsy Banners, Inkadinkado Vintage Map Woodblock, Papertrey Ink's Masculine Motifs and Banner Building Set
• Paper:  Papertrey Ink Scarlet Jewel, Kraft, and Stone Cardstock, Misc. Corrugated Paper (cogs)
• Ink:  Papertrey Ink Vintage Cream, Adirondak Cranberry, Memento London Fog and Rich Cocoa, Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Tea Dye, Antique Linen, Vintage Photo and Pumice Stone
• Accessories:  Tim Holtz Alterations Die Gaget Gears and Bricked Embossing Folder, Papertrey Ink, Shipping Tag Ribbon Banner Die, Basic Grey Brads, and Bakers Twine

Best Laid Plans...

This is a real last minute entry into this weeks CR84FN. (I think I might have a couple hours left, if that, before the challenge closes) Apologies for the moonlit photograph (note:  moonlit is code for with flash) as I left my run a bit late this week, again as it is nearing midnight here in my neck of the woods.  Life just seems to get in the way sometimes.   So you've (well, I've) just got to grab a bit of me/crafty time when and where you can.  This little number was made while sitting at the end of my bed tonight while nursing a sick wee one.  Nothing major, just the usual common cold with all the trimmings.  Which I guess is par for the course being the caring, sharing family that we are and is probably one of the only downsides to having a humongous brood.  So please excuse the still drying glue and the less than ideal picture, but sometimes, a die hard papercrafter's gotta do what a die hard papercrafter's gotta do, right?

So without further ado, only because I reckon the Little One is stirring...again, here is this week's CR84FN Color Challenge card featuring Plum, Lavender, and Green:

Thanks so very much for stopping by.  I really love when you do!

Supplies:

• Stamps:  Waltzingmouse Stamps Afternoon Tea, Crafty Secrets Kitchen Classics
• Paper:  Papertrey Ink Vintage Cream, 7 Gypsies Conservatory DP (green patterned strip), Misc. Textured Plum and Grey C/S, Spotty lavender PP (origins unknown)
• Accessories:  Spellbinders Grand Nesties Scalloped Circles, Lacey Circles and Squares Nesties, Fiskars Small Tag Punch, Lavender Satin Ribbon, Paper Flower, Prisma Glitter, Vintage Cream Jute, and Paper Doily.

Celebrating You!

News flash!  Like I really need an excuse to celebrate my crafty friends!  No, Siree Bob!  This card was a creation made especially for all of you.   Yep, I wanted to pay homage to my fellow sublimely crafty cronnies and let you all know how inspired I am by your seemingly boundless talent and innovative crafting genius.  Thank you for YOU! I cannot begin to say exactly how many joyous hours I spend perusing your papercrafting handiwork and each and every wonderful moment is well spent as I always come away enthused, moved and inspired and most of all, raring to go!  So, Oh Talented Ones, this card's for you! 

Your card is doubly exciting to me because I was able to use my newfound ephemera fairy from Tim Holtz's Stampers Anonymous line of cling stamps. I just love this cutie pie.   She profoundly reminds me of the gifts, talents and knowledge that we all have and how lovely it is when they are shared just purely and simply by being you.  Your generosity of spirit becomes even more evident when you post your creations for all to delight in and that alone continues to astound.  I thought I would enter your card into three challenges this week as a tribute to all of you.  The first challenge site is The Shabby Tea Room and this is my maiden entry with them and I especially thought this card particularly fitting as I was buoyed by your kind comments and inspiring crafting creations and thought I'd try and do you proud by playing along in something new.  The second challenge is Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge site of which I have been having such a blast being a part of and wanted to further share the papercrafting love.  Lastly, but certainly not least, I thought your card would fit into Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday Challenge as well.   That way there would be treble the chances that you'd see the card I made, with love, just for you!


Supplies:

• Stamps:  Tim Holtz for Stampers Annonymous "Winged Things" and Papertrey Ink Take Three:  Summer and Background Basics:  Newsprint, Hero Arts/Basic Grey Life of The Party Dots Cling
• Paper:  Papertrey Ink Stampers Select White and Rustic White Cardstock, Spillman Yellow and Lime 200gsm C/S, Misc. Textured Gray C/S, Basic Grey PP, October Afternoon DP, Crate Paper DP
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black and Tangerine, Versafine Onyx, Distress Ink in Shabby Shutters, Pumice Stone, Broken Chine, Wild Honey, and Dried Marigold
• Accessories:  Copics, Distressed Stickles in Rock Candy and Black Soot, Inksentials Glossy Accents and Crackle Medium, Gray Acrylic Paint, Glitter Paint (yellow, green and orange on ink distressed doily),  Papertrey Ink Sunshine Impression Plate and Banner Builders Die, Spellbinders Labels, Paper Doilies, Keisercraft Rhinestones (Copic colored), Provocraft/Cuttlebug Embossing Folder in Swiss Dots, Tim Holtz Baroque Alterations Die, and White cotton Bakers Twine

My Fun, Free To Be Flutterby.

Some would say that I have, well and truly, been bitten by the challenge bug and I'd have to cheerfully agree that they just may be right.  I have had so much fun participating in the challenges that I have of late.  I am gently trying to muster up the courage to take on another one or two additional challenges, as I have been having such a blast with Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenges and (*whispers* my gorgeously squidgy favorite) CR84FN, but am not really sure where else to take the plunge.  I'd love to hear which are your favorite challenges and what you'd recommend for me.  What I love most about the CR84FN and Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenges is that, with them,  I feel free to be creative using any of my much coveted stamps, tools, papers and techniques etc., while branching out and trying new and innovative shapes, compositions and color combinations.  Plus, I am really enjoying the good old stretch that my beloved newfound challenge sites are offering me at present.

My most current card entry into both the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge and the CR84FN Color Challenge was a fun one indeed.  Fun like a hard workout is once the soreness fades and the realizations start to come to the fore that you've actually broken through a barrier or jumped over a hurdle and have been inspired to move beyond one's own personal best.  Mind you, I sure would love to win one of these challenges one day (I can always wish and dream, right?), but I can already see how just participating in them makes me a winner already, as with each entry there is exponential growth.  How fabulous is that?  Maybe I should make up my own blinkies.  Hmm, now that might just be one of my more kooky, albeit crafty, (yet still hairbrained) ideas to date.  Oh well, you know me...if there is merrymaking to be had, why not have it?  *wink*

I just adored the challenge of making another shaped card for the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge, although I still find it a struggle to come up with the right sized envelope.  Currently, my circle card is in a standard rectangular envie and looks much like one's little brother wearing big bro's sweater (a jumper for my fellow Australian compadres). Not the best look.   As for the colors used for the CR84FN Color Challenge (talk about skinning up my nose when I first saw the trio for this week's color challenge), I just couldn't see how I could personally make them work.  But now, I do declare...I think that they work exceptionally well together and I even got to use that Larry bright blue bit of lace that I certainly never imagined that I would before now. Bonus!  I also cracked opened a pot of white acrylic paint and got to use some cool iridescent paint to tjuz up the card's edges and that natty little butterfly.  Bliss. All in all, another great challenge workout was had.

My Fun, Free To Be Flutterby Card:

With flash in order to capture the iridescence:

Thank you ever so much for stopping by.  Your visits mean so much to me. x

Supplies:

• Stamps:  Waltzingmouse Stamps Asian Gardens
• Paper:  Papertrey Ink Soft Stone and Aqua Mist Cardstock, BoBunny Gabrielle PP (the aqua butterfly PP), K&C Company Julianne DP (the blue/gray bottom half of the scallop with leaf flourishes)
• Ink:  Brilliance Lightening Black, Distress Ink in Pumice Stone, Weathered Wood, Broken China, and Vintage Photo
• Accessories:  Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities Scalloped Circles, Standard Scalloped Circles Large, Blue Vintage Lace, Papertrey Ink Baker's Twine in New Leaf, Enchanted Evening, and Chocolate, Claudine Hellmuth Studio Gloss Acrylic White Paint, Jo Sonja Blue and Tourquoise Iridescent Acrylic Paint, KaiserCraft Blue Rhinestones, and Blue/Green Iridescent ribbon 1/4"(behind sentiment), Signo White Gel Pen, and Tim Holtz Embossing Folder in Rays.

Last Minute Larreena Strikes Again!

I am selling my beloved papercraft and my handmade crystal & mineral bracelets and other odds and sods at one of my regular local markets tomorrow and I have been faffing about all day trying to get prepared for the weekend's trade.  Then it dawned on me, like a minute ago literally,  that I hadn't uploaded my CR84FN card offering for the week.  Eep!  So, there's a bit of squawking about to get this card uploaded tonight as it is nearing midnight on Friday Australia time.   I am starting to wonder if this sort of mad dash doesn't covertly suits me down to the ground, as I have faint memories of being overtaken by Last Minute Lareena not too long ago. incorrigible, I know. *blush*  If time (and more to the point...my memory) permits, I'll pop back later in the weekend to edit in the supplies.  Cool?

This is a little Orange, Yellow, and Kraft number specially made for this weeks CR84FN Color Challenge and I enjoyed hanging out with this color combo immensely.     Plus,  I got to ink up a few of my newest Papertrey Ink goodies, which is always nice as they seemed particularly well suited, stylistically speaking, to this color challenge.  Bonus!  So without further ado (as I still have a bit more getting ready for tomorrow to do),  may I introduce you to my take on this tantalizing color trio:

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Here's to a fab weekend! 

Hurrah! For Another Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge!

Any day I get to use October Afternoon's patterned papers, doilies, and a Waltzingmouse stamp on luxe Papertrey Ink cardstock is a good day!  If you add in a few delightful little crafting victuals such as a curvaceous Papertrey Ink frame, dies and accompanying stamp, some yummy vintage buttons, and lashings of rustic jute, a Hurrah! and a well chimed Hallelujah! are more than in order if you ask me.

Hence my "Oh, Happy Day!" offering for this week's Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge.  This week's  sketch illustrated the use of 4 significantly layered layers piled wonderfully one on top of another (Busted!  I've got 6.  Oopsy!) and capped with a sentiment.  Hurrah!

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Here's to a magnificent day! 


Supplies:

• Stamps:  Waltzingmouse Stamps Fancy Phrases and Papertrey Ink's Mat Stack 4 Collection
• Paper:  October Afternoon's Fly A Kite DP, Papertrey Ink's Kraft, Vintage Cream, and Spring Rain Cardstock
• Ink:  VersaMagic Cloud White, Brilliance Rocket Red, Distress Ink in Antique Linen and Old Paper, and Memento Rich Cocao
• Accessories:  Papertrey Ink's Mat Stack 4 Die, Doily Details Collection Die, Pure Poppy Vintage Buttons, and Rustic Jute, Edgers #2 Collection Die and Limitless Layers 1 3/4" Circle Collection, and WRMK Corner Chomper (both Scallop and 1/2 inch round) 

A Thing Of Beauty...

It is no secret that being a mother to 7 children and a wife *whispers* (and sometimes it can feel like I'm a mother to him as well.  Husbands, ya gotta love 'em!) can be hard work.   But, I kind of look at it this way, being a mom to a large family is the hardest thing I have ever done and continue to do, bar none, but is absolutely the most rewarding (bit like competing in extreme sports actually).  If I stop and think about it, I get very little sleep (like most times, it can be only a large handful of hours in a week), but I have come to realize that I won't shrivel up and die on less sleep, even though it does feels like it at times.  I certainly feel a lot poorer than my contemporaries, but so very rich in a myriad of other ways.  Many often comment on how do I do it?  But I reckon It really just comes down to nourishing my spirit with those and things that I love, whenever I can.  I am rather unapologetic about this too.  The way I see it is that if I am in good spirits and feeling creative (a valuable asset for those with huge families on a limited budget I can assure you) and at peace, that gets paid forward to those that I hold near and dear and beyond. It's a win-win situation all round.   


As you may have already gathered, everyone in my family is as mad as cut snakes...and that's kind of how we like it.  Needless to say, there is a lot of tomfoolery going on in our home and a lot of laughing until you have tears streaming down your face or at the very least start to snort.  In actual fact, you can either laugh or cry as options for most things in life now can't you?  So, I try and choose to laugh (either actually or metaphorically) as much as I can and lovingly surround myself with whom or what brings me joy and that alone is a real thing of beauty.  Always!

The following card uses a Unity stamp that I love because it is just the best reminder of how true it is that a thing of beauty is a joy forever.  That Keats fella was certainly a man after my own heart.  Bless.

Supplies:  

• Stamps: Unity A Thing Of Beauty
• Paper:  Pink Paislee Sweetness DP, Papertrey Ink Rustic Cream and Sweet Blush Cardstock, October Afternoon DP and Handmade Wool Fiber Paper (2 layer butterfly)
• Ink:  Versafine Olympia Green, SU Chocolate Chip, Distress Ink in Tea Dye, Antique Linen and Spun Sugar
• Accessories:  Papertrey Onk Love Lives Here Die, Tag Sale 3 Die, and Aqua Mist Vintage Button, 4" Paper Doily, 1" Satin Bow, Vintage Crochet Trim, Jute, Diamond Stickles and WRMK Corner Chomper Stub

My First Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge.

Judging from last week's day that went AWOL, I decided I was not going to get caught out again.  So today, I am posting my chosen week's worth of card entries for challenges closing this week.  I had hoped to enter the Waltzingmouse Sketch challenge last week too, but that card, although made early enough, didn't get posted.  *Sigh*  I still haven't figure out what happened there.  So this week, I am commited to getting them in, in time.

The challenge for this week's Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge is to use a trio of the same or very similiar elements on a card and somewhat in-line.  There were so many takes on this challenge between the entrants and the WMS Sketch DT that I figured my three flutterbies might fit in okay. *fingers crossed* I hardly ever do shaped cards, boring I know, but I do want to make more, hence the following scalloped circle card was my concerted but still enjoyable effort.  Now to figure out what envelope to pair this baby with.  Not sure why it ended up being a Get Well card, but there you go.   I had fun.

Thank you so very much for stopping by.  Have a brilliant day! 

Supplies:

• Stamps:  Waltzingmouse Stamps Afternoon Tea Sentiments
• Paper: Lincraft Gloss Cream Card Base, Crea8tive Textured Paper (gray with leaves), K&C Company DP Juliane (teacup)
• Ink:  Memento Rich Cocoa, Distress Ink in Antique Linen, Scattered Straw, Old Paper and Pumice Stone
• Accessories:  Spellbinders Nestabilities (Grand Nestie Scalloped Circles, Scalloped Circles Large, and Large Standard Ovals (for saucer)), 4" Paper Doily, Champagne Satin Ribbon (1"), Gold Gel Pen, Brown Copic, and Small Balsa Wood Butterflies

Dreaming Of The Crafty Paper Goddess!

I have always fancied myself becoming a goddess of sorts even if it is only in my own lunchbox.  A domestic goddess was in my sights for a second but I do tend to burn water and my house looks like Beirut circa 1975, so that was kind of out of the question from the get go.  So, I am really only left to take an alternate route in my flight of fancy and be content in daydreaming about being a crafty paper goddess.  Needless to say I was tickled pink, well more a light pink, bright pink and chartreuse actually, when I saw the latest CR84FN challenge.  Afterall, if I were to actualize my crafty paper goddess woolgathering, I think I'd have to have a calling card, as any self respecting crafty paper goddess would and it has to be the compulsary pink and green.  Absolutely!  So, consider my card entry for the the latest CR84FN Color Challenge my prototype. Before you get worried that I am having delusions of granduer just know, I am only joshing and having fun delighting in the joys of good old fashioned wishful imaginings.  Ahhh...to dream!

The Crafty Paper Goddess' Calling Card:

Thanks so much for stopping by.  It's always my complete pleasure!

Supplies:

• Stamps:  Papertrey Ink On My Couch and OMC Additions, PTI Background Basics Text Type I
• Paper:  Papertrey Ink, Stampers Select White, Bazzil Textured White (base), Misc. Bright Pink C/S (Musk) Basic Grey PP (Nook & Pantry, Porcelain), and Webters Hollywood Vogue PP
• Ink:  VersaMagic Pink Petunia, Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Shabby Shutters, Spun Sugar, and Old Paper, VersaFine Olympia Green
• Accessories:  My Favorite Things Doily Die, Tim Holtz On The Edge Alterations Die Iron Gate (Fleur-de-lys) and Distress Stickles in Picket Fence, Papertrey Ink Chair Die,  Pink Gingham fabric Brad, Green Copic, and Jute

Haute Tattered Couture.

I am in an interesting crafting phase at the minute.  I say minute because in knowing me, you'd know that I could well be onto an all together different approach to papercrafting by the end of the day.  Yep, I can be just that all over the shop, which I secretly think is all part of the fun. Crafter's prerogative, right? But I do try and at least stay within my own sort of discombobulated style which is generally somewhat reminiscent of my ragtag crafting modus operandi that I so much enjoy.  I feel pretty confident that someone could pick out my musings in a lineup though.  Oh wait...that may not necessarily be a good thing.  *wink*

This card is rather distressed on the edges (read: trés tattered) and the background paper is actually crumpled which was a surprise artistic contribution from my cheeky 22 month old son, that I decided to run with despite its vastly altered and less than pristine state, as it worked with the overly torn edges of the card or so I thought at the time.  Plus, I had already inked up that bit of cardstock to within an inch of it's life and didn't fancy my chances of being able to recapture the same sort of attitude that that piece had if I did it all over again.  Not to mention the window on my available crafting time was rapidly starting to close and I knew there was every chance I wouldn't be able to get back to the papercrafting that I love until some time further down the track.  You know what that's all about now don't you?

So without further ado, let me introduce you to the unwittingly collaborative card that I have come to cherish:

Thanks so much for stopping by.  It's a real treat to be able to share my musings you.  x


Supplies:

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink Mega Mixed Messages, Hero Arts Dots and Stripes Cling, Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Scattered Dots Woodblock
• Paper:  Papertrey Ink Spring Moss and Vintage Cream, Spillmans Bright Yellow C/S, Crate Paper Material Girl PP, Websters PP, .22 Chipboard, and 7 Gypsies PP
• Ink:  VersaFine Olympia Green, Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Marigold, Faded Jeans, Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, Shabby Shutters, Mustard Seed, Walnut Stain, and Antique Linen, VersaColor Canary,  VersaMark and Brilliance White
• Accessories:  Papertrey Ink Dress form Die, Tim Holtz Ornate Frame Bigz Die, Spelbinders Beaded Ovals Nestabilities, Tonic Edge Distresser, 4 inch Paper Doily, Kaisercraft Pearl, Yellow Ribbon, WRMK Corner Chomper, Small Sullivan's Tag, and American Crafts Clear Embossing Powder