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.

Seems I am Addicted to .....

Hello Craft Ones. Today's posting is for the

current challenge at you guessed it

Addicted to Stamps

I just love this gorgeous photo.

I know the butterflies just pop out at you

and everyone loves a butterfly but...

my eyes were drawn to the lovely flower spray

at the bottom and  knew which stamp I was going to use.
It is Lily of the Valley (4308W) from Repeat Impressions.

I started by heat embossing the image with
Wow Metallic Platinum and blended
metallic paints for the leaves. I added
White Opal Liquid Pearls for the tiny flowers.
I sponged lightly around the image to take away
the stark white background.
I cut out a frame sponged with a TCW stencil
deciding not to pop it.
My sentiments are from
STAMPplorations Bold Sentiments and
CUTplorations Awesome Die.
Added a tiny twine bow die, a few pearls
and of course there had to be a teeny weeny SU butterfly
(a bit smaller that the photo lol)
Inks used were Distress - Bundled Sage & Pealed Paint.

That's it for today.
Thanks for dropping in. Love reading your comments.

CHRISTMAS is a COMIN'

Hi there Crafty Friends
This is going to be a long posting so...
go grab a coffee or 2 or depending on the time of day
a glass or a bottle of wine.
There's much to show you.
***
Over at STAMPlorations we are continuing on with our
Typografia Stamp Sets and this time its......
get ready for it........ Christmas.
After all Christmas IS just down the road so as part of the
Blog Hop with other STAMPloration gals
 I created a 'few' cards from this collection
and I know you will love them like I do.
Sorry couldn't stop! But it gives me a nice little supply.
These are just perfect for cas and easy posting.
***
My cards were made with just 3 of the awesome bold sentiments
and I had so much fun with each of them.
I do love making non traditional coloured
Christmas cards so of course I squeezed one in.

Just look at all the fabulous sentiments!
They are in the Store now!
 Check them out HERE

Card 1

I just LOVE my Brusho's so that is exactly what I used here

for my first card. 

Inked the 'tis the Season  with black soot 

and cut from CUTplorations Nesting Dies

As our card stock is a different size here in Australia

I decided to leave it as is and attach some

very out of vogue Starform sticker on 2 sides

to finish it off.

Card 2

This is my non traditional coloured card

and decided on a bokeh effect for the background

inked up with Distress Oxide Inks

and heat embossed Merry Little Christmas

in white on vellum

Finished with a few gems.

Card 3

This was so easy peasy!
Simple red card stock backed with ARTplorations Plaid Maker
using Metallic Gilding Polish
Matted again and stenciled the tree
from ARTplorations Christmas Trees
with the same polish.
Joys of the Season sentiment is heat embossed in red on top.

Card 4

Lots of colour here.
This one is quite different - even the size!
I started by stamping the 'tis the Season onto white card stock
then cut out the CUTplorations Christmas Tree 1
with green card stock
 placing it identically in front of that, I inked
it again to show a touch of the white in the background.
This was cut once again from the
 CUTplorations Double Running Nesting Die
I found this fabulous colourful gelli plate pull
which had the green to match my tree so cut it
to use as a mat. For added interest
I cut a black frame from a SB die.
I needed to add colour around my tree so
inked up similar colours sponging with
STAMPlorations Mixed Media Grunge
and finished with some sequins and tiny stars.

Card 5

Just adding this as a spare as I am not sure if I
really liked it.
The best part is the gorgeous
STAMPlorations Large Christmas Flower
I heat embossed the Joys of the Season which was cut from
Stitched Nesting Die
*** Now that you have finally read all of the above - 
 you will want to see what the
other STAMPloration Gals have made won't you?
Pop over to The Main Blog 
***  A few details for you - 

Commenting closes on Monday, September 25.

Prize: One commenter will win her choice of 
3 Typografia Christmas stamps. 
The winner will be randomly drawn from all comments
 left on the STAMP blog and participating designers' blogs.

Winner will be announced on Tuesday, September 26.

STAMPloration Products used are - 

and the new

Christmas Collection.

# Bonus - There will be an instant
 5% discount on these new sets
But if you want an extra 20% and why wouldn't you?
Use my code STAMPGIRLINA. 

Thanks so much for taking time
(and it was quite a bit) to come by today.
 I really appreciate it.