With Sympathy.

Like many of you, I too find sympathy cards hard for a number of reasons.   But what I find harder than making the outside of the card is writing on the inside. Thankfully, I do not personally have a call for a Sympathy card at present, but there is something very humbling about making one all the same.  The weather is gloomy and absolutely bucketing down at the moment and has been while I was making this card.  I guess that's why I felt the need to inject the warm pumpkin, copper, and rose gold coloring into the card in contrast to the black.  Not sure if black Sympathy cards are taboo or not the done thing, but it felt right.  It's always hard to know these things, so I thought I'd just infuse extra love into my crafting just to be sure to be sure.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  Here's to a glorious day!

Supplies:

• Stamps:  Papertrey Ink's BB: Sheet Music and Daily Design Sentiments, Impression Obsession Rose Background Cling
• Ink:  Versafine Vintage Sepia, Papertrey Ink Vintage Cream, and Distress Ink In Wild Honey and Pumice Stone
• Paper:  CR8TIVE Textured C/S in Pumpkin, PTI Black and Rustic Cream C/S, October Afternoon and Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934 DP
• Accessories:  Spellbinders Lacey Banners, Foliage, and Grand Nestabilities Labels 4, Sizzix 3D Flower, Black Waxed String, and Plaid Wire Ribbon (both from stash)

For The Sweetest Little Man!

I have made baby cards in my day, but not that many truth be told, and even fewer for the wee boy bairn that we also love so. Therefore when I spotted The Shabby Tea Room's current "Sweet Baby" challenge, I instantly thought...why not?  I just knew I had to get crafty with the scrumptious Little Men in our lives in mind.

May I present to you...drum roll please...my mini masculine card for the wee dote:

All supplies used save the yummy striped DP, the star brad, and the corrugated paper (from my stash) are from Papertrey Ink.  The DP is from October Afternoon.  ...And dont they do good pattern papers too.  Love.

Thanks a wonderful bunch for stopping by.  I find it so fabulous when you do!  Hugs.

Post Haste!

Second post today.  Whoot!  Only managed two cards today, but I am happy.  This card was totally inspired by a card I instantly fell in love with by the incredibly talented Ashley Cannon Newell as shown on her blog earlier in the month.  I just had to have the Unity Stamp she so capably used here.  Needlessly to say, I tracked the Unity stamp set Provencial Collection Carte Postale down quick smart.   I am so glad I paid handsomely for it to come like "yesterday" and luckily for me it came earlier today.  I don't think I've ever gotten inky so fast in my entire life.  Kind of fun, if I say so myself.  A little feverish stamping might just be good for the crafting soul (but maybe not so much for the end product).  Fingers crossed (I seem to be doing this finger crossing business a lot lately) Ms Cannon Newell won't seek an injunction preventing me from CASE-ing her ever again.  *prays*

I am going to submit this card poste haste into this week's CR84FN Color Challenge  for good measure.  The colors are Light Plum, Plum, and Kraft.  My card is probably not so close by way of the inspiration photos for the challenge, but I did only use the three colors specified.  I think my card is missing the pristine wedding cake vibe because I quickly substituted my own, largely more grubbier, signature one.  Oh well.   What can ya do? We are who we are afterall.  Bless.

Supplies:

• Stamps:  Unity Provencial Collection Carte Postale, Hero Art's Fabulous Flourish, and Papertrey Ink's Postmarks 
• Paper:  Bazzill Kraft, Papertrey Ink's Kraft and Vintage Cream
• Accessories:  WRMK Corner Chomper in Cloud, Waxed String in Plum and Lilac, Zing! Embossing Powder in Burnt Sugar, Tattered Angel's Glimmer Mist in Pearl, Tonic Distressing Tool, and Papertrey Ink Stamp Die

Papertrey Ink's May 2011 Blog Hop.

The theme for this month's blog hop is all about flowers.   But at the moment I am not really into a floral groove and this posed a slight problem when it came to creating a card entry for this month's hop.  Hmmm? Especially since I have been having such fun working with more muted vintage-y colors and a muted vintage flower can look, um, er, like it needs to be tossed out in my humble opinion, seeing that they are less than vibrant and look as if they are about to give up the ghost, more to the point.  I am sure I could have come up with something a bit jazzier than I did if I prepped for this hop before today (funny that).  Yes, looks like Last Minute Larreena has struck again.  Nevermind.  I did manage though to come up something courtesy of Papertrey Ink's Aloha stamp set that I hope will be somewhat passable and still nods to my current penchant for all things postal and vintage-a-licious.  Plus, I had fun.  So, fingers crossed. *wink*

Thanks so much for hopping by!

Supplies:

• Stamps:  Papertrey Ink Aloha and Handwritten Notes, Hero Arts Vintage Palm, Tattered Angels Rockin' Renaissance Screen Prints
• Paper:  Papertrey Ink Hawaiian Shores, Vintage Cream, and Rustic Cream, Crate Paper (? Yikes! I can't remember the exact collection)
• Accessories:  Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 17, Papertrey Ink Woodgrain Impression Plate, Signo Gel Pen in Canary Yellow, and PTI Bakers Twine in Chocolate

A New Play Date!

Being the real creature of habit that I am, I tend to stick to my most familiar haunts.  I guess I can be a bit shy at times.  I knew that if I were going to move beyond where I felt most comfy, I'd have to try out a new challenge group.  Truth be told, I wasn't really as game as I'd like to make out, because I just did my best sheep impersonation and followed the lead of a few of my crafty friends and tried out a challenge group that they seemed to be having fun with at the moment.  So, The Play Date Cafe was picked as my next foray into a new challenge group.  I'm kind of excited, but plenty nervous too.  I haven't had time to make any cards over the last week and a bit and seeing that I was instantly smitten by the challenge colors and image, I knew this color challenge could be just what I needed.  I'm a bit rusty, but still, oh so, keen.

Pretty cool inspiration photo, huh?  Just love the vintage warmth and charm captured there.  The stamps used in my card were pretty much all Papertrey Ink's, with the exception of the gigham background stamp and that belongs to Darkroom Door.  Apologies in advance for the less than ideal photograph of my card, but I didn't have it finished until well after sundown and had to rely on my camera's dodgy flash (and my lack of photographic skills more to the point).  Please do forgive the scarcity of crisp focus and complete absence of natural light.  Do know though that a lightbox is sooooo on my wishlist.  Just need to do a bit more research into the best one that's available here in Australia and won't cost me a kidney.  Please let me know if you've got any great ideas.

I digress.  So without further ado (codename for waffling on)... my first ever card made for The Play Date Cafe:

Forever In My Heart.

Hello Lovely Ones.   My how I have missed you.  I have been AWOL for the last little while because I was exhibiting at the Sydney Mind Body Spirit Festival from the 19th to the 22nd of May.  And prior to those long but lovely 4 days, I was beading my little heart out in preperation for the Festival.   Even though I do festivals and markets every weekend, I have to have much much more stock for sale than I do normally for this bad boy.  Needless to say, I was a beading fool!  The days were rather successful which is always nice.  Seeing that the festival is held in a premier venue, the stand prices are crazy expensive...in the thousands.  So, this little duck bought the smallest one available as you would imagine.  It was 2 meters square (approx. 6 foot square in old money).  You couldn't even swing a cat in it (I mean if you were so inclined that is).   And yes, as you probably have gathered, The entrance and exit of my weeny stand was from under the table!  Don't worry, I soon perfected how not to bump my head each time I entered or exited.  "Each" being the operative word here.  I was absolutely determined to get my monies worth and decorated my little shoebox to the best of my abilities.  My set up was pretty much the same as I do generally when I am outside minus the dodads that require electricity of course or can't stand up to sudden changes in weather.  I also had the luxury of leaving my stuff there overnight which was fabulous as the "setting up" and "breaking down" does get seriously tiresome.  The breakdown and packing up is especially hard if you've not made any money!  I definitely made the most of being able to leave my stand set up and be out the door for the evening within 15 minutes of close of trade as opposed to the usual hour and a half it takes normally though.  That's for sure.  If your wondering about the name of my stand, I trade under the name of The Crystal Whisperer® when I am only selling my bracelets and rocks, and not papercraft.  When I am in full flight, I trade under my business name Rocks, Paper Scissors® when I can have the joyous lot. Mmmmm.

The bestest thing of all was that I had a digital photo frame on my stand that I positively loaded up with lots of pictures of my cards and kept it in slideshow mode the entire time.  I had to represent, of course.  Cheeky I know, but papercraft is the blood isn't it?  Forever in my heart.  Plus, I know you all will totally understand.

While it was a wonderful festival albeit exhausting, I am just starting to come good and very much looking forward to getting my papercraft on.  But most of all...Thanks so much for stopping by.  Hugs galore! 

Life's A Stitch!

I made this card in light of Bloggers most recent wobbly and mine that subsequently followed.  Where an "about an hour" of proposed maintanance turned into what seemed like an eternity to this Blogger, who felt cut off from her beloved and ever so crafty section of the Blogosphere.  Dark times.  But at the end of one long hour that morphed into an entire gloomy day and a bit of forced exile, I ended up loosing a small handful of cherished comments, having a minor coronary when my recent post disappeared only to much later reappear albeit somewhat trimmer (which may not have been a bad thing), and a heck of a lot of time to do "something else". The moral of this story is sometimes, Life's A Stitch!  *wink*

So continuing on in my grumbly protest, I thought I'd submit this card into this week's The Shabby Tea Room Challenge.  I know we are meant to go all "shabby and ruffle mad" as per the inspiration photo above, but the rebel in me just wanted to invoke the quiet strength and dogged determination of the single ruffly flounce.  So there!

Supplies:

• Stamps:  Papertrey Ink SS: Dressform and Crafty Secrets Sew Special
• Paper:  Papertrey Ink Vintage Cream and Aqua Mist, Rosie's PP and .22 Chipboard
• Accessories:  Papertrey Ink's SS:Dressform die and large Doily die (French something?), Brown Wool Felt, Brown Saddle Stitch Ribbon, Vintage Lace Ruffle Flounce in Aqua, Pinking Shears, Keisercraft pearls, Tonic Distressing Tool and Tin Dragonfly (from stash)

Coming Up Rosettes!

Two of my most favorite challenge groups, CR84FN and Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge, put forth a pretty hard challenge this week.  To be honest, I sort thought, um, er...might be a good time to shampoo the dog (AKA Filthy Diseased), herd the neighborhood's cats, polish doorknobs...anything but attempt the challenges!  Seriously, I was drawing some hardcore blanks and working up a bit of a sweat.  So much so, that it was kind of funny.  Funny because, although I absolutely admire circular shapes in you crafty minxes' glorious work and I do have a fair few tools and a stamp or two to do some myself, I always seem to bail and go another option most times.  Odd really.  And if you add bright/hot pink/fuchsia to the mix, I head for the hills more often than not.  So, I definitely had to laugh when I saw the two challenges for this week: *the following is said like Jerry from Seinfeld to Newman*  Hellllllllooooo  Circles.  Helllllllooooo Bright Pink.  *shifty* Could this combination be my crafting nemeses?

Nevertheless,  instead of doing my usual, I decided to put on my big girl crafting panties and do my darnest to show those bright pink circles who's boss.  *crafting panties donned*  *deep breath, deep breath*

And there she blows... my attempt to conquer my crafting demons.  YAY!

Thank you so, wonderfully, much for popping by and allowing me to share just some of my many (neurotic) musings with you.  You're the best! x

Supplies: 

• Stamps:  Waltzingmouse Stamps Vintage Labels 2 and Vintage Banners.  
• Paper:  Optix Gray C/S, Papertrey Ink Rustic Cream C/S, 7 Gypsies Camden DP, and CR8TIVE DP (fuchsia)
• Ink:  Adirondak Mushroom, Brilliance Starlite Black, and Distress Ink in Pumice Stone
• Accessories:  Acrylic Paint in Gray and Cream, Provocraft/Cuttlebug Embossing Folder in Gouchi Script, Spellbinders Nesties Labels 2 and Beaded Circles, Tim Holtz Rosettes Die, Cream Bakers Twine, Keisercraft Rhinestones, and WRMK Corner Chomper in Scallop.  

A Doily Or Two A Day, Keeps The...

This is one of my quick little Stamp & Go cards that I make when I need a wee attitude adjustment.  I had all of the bits and bobs already cut out for the most part, as they were just at the ready for occassions such as these when some crafting therapy is called for.  I think the longest thing about making this card was photographing it, closely followed by waiting for the Stickles to dry on the leaf die cut.  Just my kind of card.  Save the stickles, the jute, and the patterned paper, everything else used on this card is courtesy of Papertrey Ink.  Love that!

Thanks for stopping by.  Here's to a stellar day!  

Love Blooms In A Sort Of Shabby Way.

I created this card for this week's The Shabby Tea Room Challenge.  I have specifically entered this challenge because this week's special guest designer is none other than the glorious Denise January!  I just adore her work as her creative talent knows no bounds and continually inspires. Just have a marvel at her crazy beautiful card for the Shabby Tea Room challenge.  Pretty fabulous huh?  So, I just had to play along.   *happy dance*

I thought this week's inspiration photo of the dreamiest bedroom was marvelous within itself, but paired with a few fun (and new to me) woodblock stamps I picked up last weekend from Stampington & Company and Stampers Anonymous, I was cooking with gas.  What an enjoyable crafting session it was while putting my card together for this week's The Shabby Tea Room challenge.  Scrumptious!

Thank you for stopping by as it was a pleasure to have you here.  And a huge heartfelt Happy Mothers Day! to all of you lovely moms and mom-like legends.   I hope your day is just as beautiful as you are! 

Supplies:

• Stamps:  Stampington & Company's Poppy Pods and Sweetbriar.  Stampers Anonymous K2-647 (D.F Tayler & Co. Entomological Pins) and Papertrey Ink Favor It Weddings, 7 Gypsies Avignon stamps.
• Paper:  Papertrey Ink Blueberry Sky, Vintage Cream and Rustic cream, Handmade pearlized glitter paper (from stash), and handmade fine copper woodblock print paper (from stash)
• Ink:  Versafine Vintage Sepia and VersaColor Baby Blue (I think?), VersaMagic in Cloud White, Distress Ink in Brushed Corduroy and Antique Linen
• Accessories:  Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Bigz Die in Ornamental, Sizzix 3D Flower die, Tim Holtz Embossing Folders in Damask, Spellbinders Nested Hearts, O'Sullivan's tag punch trio (small), Glimmer Mist in Pearl, Papertrey Ink Bakers Twine, and baby blue Vintage Lace.

Go TEAM MOM!

This is just a lightning quick post to root for all the moms and mom-like women out there who just bless us so.  Below is just one of the few Mommas Day cards I have made thus far.  I anticipate that there will be some clicking of the scissors and clacking of the paper trimmer for some hours yet to come, but in the meanwhile, here's a little number in support of my favorite team:  TEAM MOM!  xx

As this Mother's Day card was created with this week's CR84FN Color Challenge in mind, in it will go into the most fabulous CR84FN color challenge pot.  The colors of the week are Kraft, Pale Yellow and Gold.  Such a lovely soft combo.  I used the amazing Waltzingmouse Stamps' Vintage Banner set and Papertrey Ink's fun Star Prints (for our superstar moms, of course of course) for the sentiment. Do feel free to let me know if you want to know which other bits and bobs were used in the making of this card (and I am pleased to report none of which were harmed) as it would be a pleasure to assist.  

Thanks so much for popping by and here's to an amazing weekend for us all!  Big SqUisHy Hugs galore!  

From One Bag To Another...

I have just had the most bizarre weekend.  I nearly wrote ever, but it wasn't quite that, but close.  Think of this post as a little note (read: vent) I am writing to you as my cherished, ever so crafty, blog friends...from One Bag To Another.  *Hugs*  Plus, I know that you'll totally understand where I am coming from.

I was an exhibitor at a papercraft show that I had originally declined the offer but decided to take up the last minute offer to attend despite my gut instincts (which never ends well) based on the strong urgings of the organizer.  As some of you know I sell my cards, but my main crafty offering for sale are my custom crystal creations through my crafty business called Rocks, Paper, Scissors!®.  Why I ever thought I'd do okay is beyond me despite being eagerly asked by the organizer to participate?  The organizer of the event thought it would be nice for the papercrafters to have something also handmade, yet different, on offer along with my cards to buy as part of the show.  I am still shaking my head because it was three long days of people walking by my stall that I took a great deal of time and consideration to decorate muttering, what is she doing here and what is that?  Or better yet...Where are the paper scissors!  Huh? I did have two baskets full of cards for sale and some other papercraft but didn't think any die-hard papercrafter would ever want to buy them.  Seriously.  Why would they?  Surely they'd make their own?  But even though I had about 75 cards for sale, I certianly wasn't ever expecting to recoup the big expense of being a stallholder by selling these few handmade cards alone.  I'd only be in with a chance with making my money back if I had ten years worth of cards to sell and that would be only if they sold at an exorbitant price!  I had, foolishly, hoped my "rocks" would have sold better though and not be looked at as if they fell out of the backside of a donkey.  Sigh.  I  am at the markets and different festivals each weekend selling my creations generally, so I didn't think things would have been as terrible as this experience was.

Over the three days of the festival, I managed to sell only 7 cards and a couple of my handmade bracelets.  But what really got my goat was when one woman said with three of my cards in her hand just purchased that she was so excited because she going to copy, in multiples, these cards exactly!  OMG!  I nearly fainted not to mention spit chips!  I completely froze in utter disbelief that she would do that, and also boldly look me in the face and say that out loud as she turned and walked away with her newly purchased templates! Sweet Jeebus!  I dare say that that was also the motive behind the few other card sales I made on this El Bizzaro weekend.  There were many people flicking through my cards and looking at them closely.  But naïve me thought they may have just been "appreciating" them perhaps, but not just studying them!  I really felt like a mug afer this weekend from Hell and in desperate need of a hot shower and a scotch (and I don't even like scotch!).  Needless to say, I hope to never find myself in that positon again.

Here are a couple of "not so happy" snaps of my stand.  Not sure why they look so green, but maybe it was because this craft show was "out of this world" and not in a good way either.  So pleased I've returned to the safety and security of our planet Blog World. Aahhhh...

Ooh, and the card at the top of this post captures my appreciation, in a loving, light hearted way of course, and shows just how I feel about my fabulous blog friends.  Plus, I don't know any other gorgeously crafty sorts that would put up with this old bag (me) in any case.  I used only Crafty Secrets stamps, Copics, Vintage Lace, Grand Nesties, October Afternoon DP and some weeny Keisercraft Pearls to bejewel these beauties.

So pleased you stopped by for a chat.  It means the world to me!