Bananas In Pajamas Are Coming Down The Stairs!

I decided to do a bit more than just appreciate this "lively" color combination from afar as showcased in this week's The Play Date Cafe Color Challenge.  The colors, as interpreted by me in my card, instantly gave me the giggles because I had no idea that I was channelling the Bananas In Pajamas so. I just can't decide which Banana In Pajamas is my card.  Would it be B1 or B2?  Silly, I know.  Regardless of which 'Nana I choose, I can't stop singing this kooky kid's show theme song.   I don't ever remember having used this combination of blues and yellow before, but as far out of my comfort zone crafting this card took me, I rather enjoyed it as quiet as it is kept.  Cool.  Thanks for popping by to take a peek.

Now, to get that darn theme song out of my head.  Ugggggh!

With Love.

I had a real thing (and not a good thing either) about shaped cards some time ago, but now my right eye hardly ever twitches nor my brow start to bead when I attempt to make them.  I kid you not, shaped cards really used to give me the heebies...circular ones especially.  I am not sure what snapped me out of my phobia of all cards not rectangular. Maybe it was one too many late night cranks of my Cuttlebug (aka my Scooby Doo van as called by my 5 year old) that did it?  Dunno?   ...But I sure love 'em now.

Needless to say that when I saw this week's sketch by the crazy talented Jen Cuthbertson for Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge, I knew I was all over it like a cheap suit.  Plus, I couldn't pass up an opportunity to get my "Mad Plaid" groove on either.  The inner circle layer was made completely with the plaid building strips between the Waltzingmouse Stamps Pic-Nic Patterns and Off Beat Backgrounds sets.  I am fairly certain that there are other natty stamp strips in these sets, but I can't be sure as I really only have eyes for the plaid.  *wink*  The other stamps used in the making of this card are also from Waltzingmouse stamps, and they were from the Seasons of Love Tags (heart), Cameo To Go (sentiment), and Cameo Maker (oval sentiment frame).  Bliss.

Thanks so much for cruising over to check it out.  It's always a pleasure knowing you've stopped by.  Here's to a fabulous, craft-filled day for us all!  

Happy Valentine's Day!

I have made a few Valentine's Day cards this week and what a relief.  Like last year, I decided to stick with the more generic love-type cards and shy away from crafting specifically for this Red Letter day, quite simply because I can have them on offer for purchase a lot longer than up to the eleventh hour on Valentine's Day should they not sell prior.  But when I dug out this Inkadinkado stamp, I just couldn't help myself.  This focal stamp just speaks to my retro predilections in a major way. I just adore the rose (surprise, surprise) and the mixed fonts.

My favorite way to stamp this and other similar block images is to use Memento Ink (Lady Bug on this occasion) and ink it rather unevenly.  I feel this gives the stamped image a marginally more worn look which I love.  The Inkadinkado image was then cut out using Tim Holtz's ATC die from Sizzix (talk about a nifty die).  I also took the opportunity to heavily ice the edges of the ATC cut image with iridescent gold paint.  Yum.  I then fished out a handy dandy red love heart shaped paper doily from my stash, stamped my Papertrey Ink Rustic Cream card base with the fun Hero Arts Canvas Stripe Designer Woodblock stamp, lassoed that bad boy with a bit of jute, and (as without much conscious direction) dingied up all the edges and that was this card done.  Love that!  Cheap and cheerful.

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

Adore Jane?

Just received my latest order from Papertrey Ink, and amongst my small bounty was one of the newest stamp sets called Simply Jane.  It is a novel set (pun possibly intended) created around some of the more memorable quotations and images inspired by Jane Austen.  Although I am not a complete philistine, I do know of Jane Austen and am most certainly aware of the impact this famed British novelist has had on early romantic fiction, but I cannot say that I am a fan of hers specifically.  However, I do adore quality period dramas of both the literary and cinematic kind, absolutely, giving this set further appeal.  I think perhaps Jane Austen may have just eluded my quasi-philistine sensibility (I did admit that I wasn't a complete philistine which lays claim to being at least part) in terms of making me a devotee.   When I saw that Papertrey Ink was releasing this set, I was attracted to the romanticized images almost straight away despite my low brow roots.

After readying my Simply Jane set for action, I set out to create a card for this week's The Play Date Cafe.  This week brings the most delightfully romantic collection of colors:  Robin Egg Blue, Lilac, and Bisque.  I couldn't think of a better stamp set to use, in fact, with such an idyllic trio of colors.

Along with a couple of dies from the Simply Jane Set, I used the largest Spellbinder's Lattice Rectangle from the set of the same name.  The lattice rectangle die cut's outer edges were only distressed inked a bit and upturned, then stamped on the inner corners with my favorite Hero Arts Cling Stamp called Old Letter.  This stamp has the most ideal sized script writing (some text sets I find to have such microscopic writing) coupled with a few fun postmarks thrown in for good measure.  This stamp may be the first that I have ever risked using to death, as I feel it soon may give up the Ghost. Perhaps I should order another?  The other notable inclusion on this card was the Amuse ink in Wheat for the cameo.   In person, when stamped, it is the most perfect antique ivory in color, but unfortunately though, natural daylight wasn't playing very nicely with me, but still playing nonetheless, when I photographed my card.  I dare say, the subtle beauty of this fine pigment ink may be missed.  Pity.

Oh well, I must dash.  I am off to a new (well, new to me that is) craft fair tomorrow and need to gather a few things more in order to put my best foot forward.  I wonder if this card will sell?  

Looking forward to seeing you anon.

Carte D'Amour!

Eek! Valentine's Day is just under a fortnight away (that's two weeks in old money). So best get a wriggle on my Valentine's Day crafting.  You know me...always a day late and a dollar short.  It also happens to be my wedding anniversary too on that day.  The way I look at it, I have at least until the 13th nearing to midnight to get The Man, The Myth, The Legend's card done.  That's heaps of time, right?  So might procrastinate with other projects until then.  *wink*

It's been a while since I tossed a card into The Shabby Tea Room for consideration, and I thought, why not? This week's theme is based on the inspiration photo below with a mail or a postage theme.  How happy was I when I read that?  Like the proverbial pig in poop I was.  So no excuse needed to get crafting.  Off I trotted.

Out came one of my favorite stamps from Unity's Provincial Collection called Carte Postal.  Love.  I also relished the opportunity to use my favorite flourish of all time:  Hero Art's Fabulous Flourish.  Bliss.  Then I set it all on my most beloved colored cardstock from Papertrey Ink called Sweet Blush.  Talk about a dream walking. Then, just for good measure, I dressed the card with the stamps and die cuts from Papertrey Ink's Larger Than Life Set, Tiny Tags I (the Love sentiment on the wee Tim Holtz tag), and the fun stamp from the delightful Postmarks set also from Papertrey Ink.  Heaven.

Well that's this card done and dusted.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  It's always such a thrill when you do.  Here's to a lovely day full of happy mail for us all!  

Be Yourself.

I initially wrote a Sad Sack post about how my particular "style" of crafting is this and that, spewing codswallop about not fitting in etc. etc.  Well, you'll be pleased to know that I deleted that "woe is me" post quick smart and gave it a moniker more a reminder to me than anything else to just be myself and know that that is okay.   In the inimitable words of the  Popeye The Sailor Man, "I Yam What I Yam."  And just as there was a place for Popeye, there is a place for me. Somewhere.   I also very much wanted to express my gratitude, via my card, to my fellow crafters that I appreciate so.

I decided to include this card into this week's CR84FN Color Challenge showcasing the colors Pink, Red, and Light Blue.  Lucky for me, it's a combination that I love and one I find harder not to use than use.  So this card came together rather quickly which was kind of neat and rather gratifying.

I also adore the label sentiment from Waltzingmouse stamps.  It's from the Rescue Remedies Additions set (surprise, surprise).  But most importantly, I just wanted to also say with this blog post that this main sentiment is such a lovely acknowledgment of those that are in our corner, that keep us going, that move and inspire us, and that make it all worthwhile.  Much like you fine and generous folk that by virtue of who you are, that take the time to come by my blog and say G'day, leaving such sweet comments that always make me smile.  So thank you, all of you.  I sure am proud to have you in my corner.

{{{SqUIshy Hugs}}}

Comfort Crafting.

Not too much going on in my neck of the woods.  Just lots of rain, humidity and annoying mosquitoes here.  Par for the course, I suppose, for mid summer in Sydney Australia.  Well, I guess the upside to all this wet is that I have been given plenty of opportunity to try things with my light box or light tent as some say, in attempts to get this whateveryoucallit to work for me.  Nowhere near mastery, but I am noticing the differences a bit of tweaking makes.  I still have much further East to fly towards total enlightenment, but I'm giving it a whirl.  Bit Zen, hey?

This card is made entirely from Spellbinders Labels 4 dies (The Grand Labels 4, Labels 4 and Labels 4 Small).  Such a cool shape.  I love it's vintage look.  This shape of Nestabilities die paired with one of my favorite Waltzingmouse stamp sets called Rescue Remedies does a happy crafter make.  I know, I know.  I do blab on about this stamp set, but it is just that good.  It doesn't need much beyond stamping to make it look pretty sweet, I reckon.  Or should I say, it is a set that takes a fair bit for me to make look bad...more to the point.  *wink*

Thanks for swinging by.   Here's to an inspired day for us all!