Wishing You a Merry Christmas

Well it really is starting to look like Christmas and

for our last Challenge of the Year at Just Us Girls

Our Vicki has chosen 

A Better View for you - 

I just love these not quite Traditional Colours -

they really are fabulous! It's obvious I chose
to hone in on them as my inspiration.

Card base is white but inked the edges with
Tim's Antique Linen - so too the birch trees.
My background is simply Pruss Blue Brusho's
smooched and smacked. After I got the effect I liked
I added some Pearl White Acrylic Paint to my craft mat
adding a little water and flicking all over
(and I mean all over the mat as well)
Shame you can't see the shimmer!
I then attached my birch tree die.
Had to cut my card base to match the die size.
Added my sentiments from Hero Arts
Merry Stamp/Die. The sentiments were cut
from a MFT stitched die and the Merry
cut twice and shadowed.
Finished with some glitter stars.

That's it! My last card for Just Us Girls
for the year as we are taking December off
BUT we will be back on the 6th January
refreshed and raring to go again.

Don't forget to pop over and see what our
November Guest Trina Pham and The Team
created and come join us.
The November Chic's of the Week
will all be in the running for
2 Guest Designer Spots in January.
***
I'm going to pop this over to
Watercooler Wednesday for their
All about Christmas Challenge

and
The Merry Christmas Challenge for their
Anything Goes Christmas Challenge
but without the Optional Twist - Monochrome.
***
Before I sign off I would like to wish our
departing Designer  - 
Judge Judy (that's what I call her)
all the best in the future.
It has been my pleasure to be 
Designing withyou at Just Us Girls
Lucky for us we will see you
in Blogland as you continue on your Crafty Journey. 

Thanks for dropping in...

I'm Hosting 'Photo Week' at Just Us Girls

Hello and a Big Welcome to today's post.

It is my turn to Host over at Just Us Girls

and chose this 'Tropical Photo' for our Photo Week.

You get a better perspective below.

When I saw this, there was so much to capture the imagination.

I think what caught my eye was that gorgeous cage, the birds

and all the tropical greenery.

I must admit I had so many ideas running through my head

and by the time I got around to making my card.........

I went blank and couldn't decide what to go with.
I had a paper pack from SU that was perfect
for the tropical fernery
and wanted to go with that -
and as you can see below I was in a mess!

After cutting several pieces I finally used just one little piece.
So on to how I finally pieced my card together.

I knew I was going to use the bird cage
(from Kaisercraft) as a feature.
My card and dp base is from SU.
The background has been stenciled from Memory Box
with white texture paste.
I cut the dp from a spellbinder die attaching
leaves from Marianne Designs.
The large flourish is SB.
My wee bird is from the same KC dies.
The just hello sentiment is by STAMPlorations
cut from a MFT stitched die and lightly sponged.
I added an orange Nuvo drop that I had
sitting on my bench from when I was just practicing.
***
Hope you will pop over and see so much more
inspiration from our Guest Linda and the Team.
I'd love to see what inspired you and join in.
You could be chosen as our Chic of the Week
and go on to be our Guest for November.

Thanks for peeking in today.

Going 'Tropical' at Just Us Girls

Hello there Crafty Ones - Don't you just love this gorgeous

'Tropical Photo' Maria has chosen

for Photo Week at Just Us Girls ??

What inspires you here? For me it was the flamingo's.

They are so beautiful and since I didn't have a stamp

or die in my stash I quickly went to buy one online.

I found the one below and as it was local

  I knew it would arrive quickly. 

I am a little disappointed with this card. 

After a few attempts I finally got the multi step flamingo

to look fairly good except for the big beak. 

Maybe a bit heavy handed with the black 

as it was a separate itzy bitzy stamp 

you wouldn't want to lose.

I also honed in on the decorations stamping

leaves on the background then

embossing with the

We R Memory Keepers Geometric folder.

Added some leaves and a flower spray to the side.

The flamingo sentiment and leaves 

are from Hampton Art

Finished with a light spray and coloured sequins.

I inked with the Altenew Red Cosmos set.

***

Then I saw another stamp set but was from overseas - 

 buying it because I loved the fun side of it and

 hoping  it would arrive in time for this challenge.

I think this flamingo is saying

'Look at Me' I'm Cool...

I started with my background from

Memory Box Texture Wave

My 'cool' Flamingo is from

Inkadinkado and was coloured with 

Tom Bow and Tim Holtz pens adding

Nuvo Drops and Crystal Glaze.

Sentiment is also from that stamp set.

My wavy sand was heat embossed with

Zing Brown Sugar which gives a really rough look.

I cut out my sun and sponged it adding a touch

of Inka Gold which I also smudged on the bulrushes.

So you have 2 cards to look at here. Bonus!

Thanks for dropping in.

By the way!

Have you popped over to see how our

Uber Talented August Guest Darnell

and the Team were inspired by that gorgeous photo?

Hope so and come join us.

You could be our Chic of the Week and in the running

to join us in October as our Guest.

Cherrio from

Spread Your Wings and Fly

It's Photo Week at Just Us Girls and Hosting is

Vicki choosing -

I'm afraid I didn't have a teapot in my collection so

went away from that and choosing the teapot colours

as my background. I found 2 matching coloured scrapbook papers

and cut them out with  a Spellbinder Square die

corner rounding 2 sides of each square.

These were popped onto white card stock that has been

cut with a stitched die.

Now the fun part - my butterfly

I got out various coloured distress inks similar to the

photographed butterfly and smooched them onto

card stock then cut the butterfly from a Kaisercraft die.

This was then heat embossed with clear powder

giving my butterfly a lovely shine.

The sentiment is from Gina K and

finished off with a few pearls.

Thanks for dropping in on my blog today
and hope you will check out what
our March Guest Nance and the Team created
Here and come join us.
You could be chosen as Chic of the Week
and then in the running for our
Guest Designer in May.
Thank you Nance for treating us to
seeing what a talented designer you are.



Time to dig out an 'Old Die'

How often does an old die get put away and forgotten about

especially when there were so many more

 new ones 'you had to have'

It was timely that I got out that very old much loved

'Tattered Florals' die from the man himself - Tim Holtz.

I bet it sold zillions!

It was for the latest challenge over at Just Us Girls

that called for that very die.

 

 

Yes it's our Photo Inspiration and I am guessing that

our Hostess Nancy is wishing for 'Summer'

with this beautiful photo.

I started with the basic white card stock and
added 2 dark green strips either side of
the spotted dp. I would love to have added a little
Lady Beetle but the only one I had was too big.
I cut out the background flourish
with a Spellbinder die then added my daisy
which I cut out several times and shaped it.
Again I got out some forgotten about craft essentials
which sadly you don't see much any more -
yellow flower soft - a perfect centre!
This was popped. Added a few dew drops
and inked my sentiment which is from
49andMarket. Super font.
That's it!
Hope you get a chance to pop over to Our Blog
to check out more great inspiration.
Join in and you could be our 'Chic of the Week'
and in the running for Guest Designer in March.

Thanks for stopping by and Thanks You for
your Kind Comments.

 



Photo Week at Just Us Girls

Vicki is Hosting our Photo Week at Just Us Girls

and chosen the most gorgeous Inspiration Photo.

Simply perfect with Christmas just around the corner.

Here is how I was inspired.

 

by this -

 

 

I am so lucky as I love purple (you know that)

and either gold or silver for Christmas card making.

 

My card base is Grey Linen.

I then topped it with Grey satin paper

cutting it with a stitched die.

Heat embossed randomly in silver

with SU Snowburst.

The ornaments are cut from Kaisercraft Ornate Baubles

The purple glitter behind I hand cut after

pencilling around the edges of the die.

I popped dimensional foam behind

them, adding some silver ribbon

 gems and sentiment.

 

Don't forget to pop over and see how

our November Guest - Cecile

and the talented Team were inspired..

Join us and you could be our Chic of the Week

and Guest with us in January. Hope to see you there.

 

A big Thank You to Cecile for showing us all

your beautiful work as our Guest in November.
***
I am also joining in with this card over at
The Mod Squad for their
Sparkle It Up Challenge
  Addicted to Stamps & More

for  Challenge #221 - Anything Goes

and Time Out Challenges
Christmas with Optional Twist - Glitter/Shimmer

 

Thanks for dropping in

Love reading your Kind Comments.

 





What's up Pussy Cat?

It's Photo Week at Just Us Girls

and Chris has chosen this photo for Inspiration.

Now when I first saw this I was horrified.

What can I make with this? I love the photo

and that BLACK CAT - just didn't have anything suitable

so I went to trusty Google and found an image.

Yikes I had to try and colour

that pumpkin! Well I did manage to

colour it of sorts using water colour pencils

blending and a few distress pens.

I even went over it with Wink of Stella.

The black cat has been covered with Glossy Accents.

The background DP is from K & Company.

Added some burlap (hessian to me) from the cheap shop.

Button from my stash and tied with a bit of the burlap

that fell off the side.

The sentiment is computer generated.

Don't know if it is the right one but as I am

not into Halloween I took a gamble.

This certainly was challenging (and that is what they are all about)

to start with but after I got going

I am happy how my card turned out.

***

Now I know my Team Mates will have some

awesome creations -  so too our October Guest - Jaydee.

Pop over and check them out -

'tis the season for all things pumpkin related

so there is no excuse for not joining us this week.

You could be our Chic of the Week and in the

running for Guest Designer in December.

I am entering this card over at The House for their
Inspiration Challenge - Details Here

Thanks for dropping in



'Miss You'

Bobby is Hosting our Photo Week at Just Us Girls

and chosen this gorgeous photo below. 



I am not a pumpkin kind of person so chose

an old sunflower stamp for my Inspiration.

 

I have been lucky enough to be in a plane

above a massive paddock filled with these beautiful flowers.

What an awesome site!

***

I thought it fitting to go with Kraft card stock

and continue with earthy tones.

Products I used here are -

SU - Woodgrain background stamp

Sunflower stamp - Print Blocks Australia

Black embossing powder

Water colour pencils

Sizzix banner

Corner rounder

Pearls

Paper Smooches Sentiment

Burlap/Jute string

Tim Holtz Vintage Photo

Memento Peanut Brittle

SU Garden Green

White Uniball pen for centre of flower.

Don't forget to pop over Here

to see how our Guest Kathy

and the Team were inspired.

Join us and you could be our

Chic of the Week and go on to be

Guest Designer in November.

***

Thanks for dropping in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'Inspiration a Plenty' at Just Us Girls

We have this amazing photo below

chosen by Judy who is

Hostess for our Photo Week.

 

You just have to see the 'Bigger Picture'

 

 

When we all saw this we were in awe of how

beautiful it was - and then you look

at it and just wonder what you are going to pick up on

to create your project! The mind boggles!

 

 

That array of beautiful colours sold me so I went with

'trying' to capture some of that - and then there are

'those feathers' - yes Judy I just HAD TO use them.

 

There are so many elements used here I would bore you

with them all.

Being a bit of mixed media I used

gesso gelatos stencils paints

and some inka gold.

My feathers are from Stampin' Up

adding a few sequins, button. trim

and touches of liquid pearls.

Sentiment is Paper Smooches.

 

Now I know you will be anxious to pop over to

Our Blog to see what caught the eye of our

August Guest - Colleen and the Team.

I've said it before but - I know you won't be disappointed.

 

Hope we have inspired you to created and join us

and you could be our Chic of the Week and

be included in a chance to be our

Guest in October.

 

Thanks for dropping in.

 

 

 



Photo Week #353 at Just Us Girls

  

It's Photo Week again at Just Us Girls
and Hosting this time round is Sue
choosing this photo below.
 

Now this really threw me and it took some time
before I decided how to create my card.
I took my inspiration from all the colours in the background
and decided to do some embossing and sponging.
I have used basic card stock here.
The embossing folder is another newbie from
the craft show - so too the little cogs.
I did come home with some great new craft items
and making good use of them too.
The embossing folder is Kaisercraft
as is the first sentiment die.
Cogs are Craft Emotions.
The other 2 sentiments were hand cut and
are from Inspired by Stamping.
I used various coloured distress inks and
added a touch of colour blast paste
to give the gold effect.

As always it would be great if you pop over to
Our Blog to see how Sue's photo
inspired our Guest Carol Mayne and
my super talented Team Mates.
Hope you get the chance to play and
you could be chosen as our
Chic of the Week going on to be
Our Guest in September.

Thanks for dropping in.
I love reading your comments too.

 



A simple HELLO.

It's our Photo Inspiration Challenge over at Just Us Girls

this week and Chris is Hosting.

She has chosen this super summery photo for us to

be inspired by.

What caught my eye here?

The fence stood out first then I saw those

lovely bright boots with pretty flowers.

There is also the greenery behind the fence.

 

 

I decided to feature the fence which is cut from

DP from Doodle Panty as I didn't have any of those

super rain boots.

The flowers and greenery are from Stampin' Up

and the leaves are a Kaisercraft die.

The smaller flowers are from various punches

with liquid pearls in the centres.

Aded a few brown pearls to hold the fence together.

My sentiment is a new one I bought at a recent craft show

and is from Altenew. 

Hope you will pop over to our Blog to see

what our Guest Cornelia

and my Team Mates have created

and look forward to seeing yours there.

You could be chosen as Chic of the Week and

be in the running for our Guest Designer is August.

Thanks  Cornelia for the pleasure of seeing your

beautiful work as our Guest for June and hope to see

more from you real soon.

 

Thanks for dropping by



It's Photo Week at Just Us Girls

 

 

 

Lisa is our Host over at Just Us Girls this week
and has chosen this gorgeous photo below
for us to be inspired by... 

What caught my eye?
The first thing was the wallpaper in the background
so my first job was to find an embossing folder
and ink it up - Cuttlebug Stylized Flower
with SU Yo Yo Yellow
I couldn't help but then notice the flowers
in such a pretty pink colour.
My Spellbinder Romantic Rectangles
was used for the backing for the focal point.
This was popped and inked with
Memento Angel Pink
Got an old GKD stamp set out
Vogue Vases - maybe one of the first ones
of Gina's I bought.
I inked the leaves in Memento Olive Grove
fussy cut the flowers twice once with
plain pink paper and the second with scrap DP
The big vase was popped and inked with sticky
embossing powder and I then added
Twinklets Diamond Dust which just
looks like crystal to me.
Added some ribbon and a strip
of mulberry paper to the back and a small strip
of paper to use as a shelf
finishing with pearls for the floral centres
and rhinestones in the background.

Don't forget to check out Our Blog
for lots more Inspiration and come join us
for your chance to be our
Chic of the Week and be in the running
for our Guest in July.

Thanks for dropping in

 



Bobby is Hosting Just Us Girls Photo Week.

It's Bobby's turn to Host this week

and is also her First as Designer for Just Us Girls

choosing this refreshing photo below.

I looked at it so many times and my thoughts

went to a Mason Jar filled with pretty flowers.

The jar is from Dear Lizzy and I stamped it with

SU Baja Breeze then added another jar cut from

a patterned piece of vellum (which is a bit hard to see)

I had lightly inked inside the jar before topping with the vellum.

The flowers are SU Petite Petals. One I use so much -

Thanks to a lovely Crafty Friend's Birthday Gift

and a smaller one from my punches.

These were inked in Versacolor Cinnamon

and stems are Memento Pistachio.

You can never have enough Thank You cards

so went with one from SU.

Added some ribbon and a banner from

Dienamics a few pearls and some

coloured cotton.

Again this is popped with foam squares.

Now pop over and see more inspiration at Our Blog

Hope you will play along with us this week

and be chosen as our Chic of the Week

and may be our Guest for June.

Thanks for dropping in

Till next time Cherrio from

PS - Love reading your comments!



Celebrate! It's Photo Week at JUGS

 

It's Photo Week at Just Us Girls

and Hosting is Lisa who has chosen

rather a fitting photo as 2016 is

a Leap Year and all those who were born

on the 29th get to Celebrate their special day.

 

I looked at the photo and thought how easy was this?

Just some great flourishes and a date.

Well I was wrong. After a few attempts

and some paper being thrown in the bin

I went with this -   

 

Not my favourite and not completely happy

with the end result but sometimes you just have

to say - It's not that bad after all...

 

I kept it cas as the photo is just that.

I used the following items -

White and coloured card stock

Scoring

Framed my flourish which is rightly named

Flourish from Kaisercraft.

inked with Memento Olive Grove (a little too dark )

Sentiment is IBS

Number 18 is from Cuttlebugs Hippie Chick Alphabet

Added some pearls to give my card a lift.

 

Thanks for dropping in and be sure to pop over

and see what has inspired our Guest Pamellia

and the Team.

 

Join us and you are in the running for

Chic of the Week and

may be chosen as our Guest for April.

 

 

 

 

I