It's PHOTO WEEK at Just Us Girls



It's time for our PHOTO WEEK at

JUST US GIRLS

and I am Hostess.



I love hexagons and found this great photo

with lots of inspirational bits and bobs  -

so much to look at and choose.

That was the start of my dilemma.

The trouble was I had so many different

ideas running through my head.

Mo and Jo seemed to go walkabout

coming back every now and then starting

something and then leaving it.

I had lots of  different sized hexagons

in different papers cut out and spread

everywhere but nothing looked right.

Does this happen to you? I am sure it does

and is so frustrating. Lucky for me I had

time (too much in fact) up my sleeve and I think

that was my problem.

 

Ok I am rambling here so I will get on with

my posting. Sorry!

 

I was inspired by the hexagons naturally and the colours

of red and black with a touch of green and yellow. 

 I made 2 cards as the first one I think I tried

to put tooooooooo much into it hence

my procrastinating over my second attempt.

This is the 2nd card.

 

 

I framed my SU Hexagon diecut several times

cut a large one from the Spellbinders Hexagon Die

to back my flower which is Spellbinders Layered Flowers

Cut several daisy flowers and layered

Green fern from Kaisercraft

Sentiment is by Cherry Lynn.

 

and my first one.

using the same Spellbinder Hexagon die

SU Hexagon embossing folder

some unknown DP

The background I stamped multiple times

with a hexagon stamp from Kaisercraft.

As you can see I have a few hexagon products

which just added to my confusion.

 

I think I will leave it there and let you

go over to Our Blog

so you can see what inspired everyone else.

 

For October & November Only: If you are picked as Chic of the Week for any of our October and November challenges, you'll be in the running to be chosen as one of two Guest Designers for the month of January 2016! The Team will be taking a 2 week break in December, so we will not have a Guest Designer for December. Good luck and happy crafting!

 

Hope to see your creations there this week.

 

 

 

 



Autumn Leaves in my Spring Time

 

It may be Spring in my neck of the woods but over at

Crafty Cardmakers Jackie is Hostess for our latest challenge

and she has chosen anything with Warm Autumn Colours.

 

 

Now it just so happens that I recently purchased

some gorgeous gilding flakes at a craft show and since there

 are so many fall/autumn coloured themes in blog land

I have had fun playing with them.

 

My card looks really simple and it was but trying

to cover my vine die with those flakes ...

well I got my glue out and covered it

then the fun began with those ever so light flakes.

 I started pressing down to make sure

all was covered and of course I had a little glue

on my fingers + you guessed it flakes a plenty.

And you can imagine they were also covering my desk.

Now to get on with what else I used on my card -

White card stock

I cut 2 different sized circles from my SB die

and inked with Tim Holtz

Tea Dye/Frayed Burlap & Dried Marigold

My vine die is from Kaisercraft

Gilding Flakes - Creative Expression

Sentiment - Inspired by Stamping

Spellbinders Radiant Triangles for my frame

Finished off by adding some gemstones.

 

I really enjoyed making this card - Thanks Jackie

I hope you like it as I love reading your comments.

 

Don't forget to go over to

Our Blog and check out what the

Talented Design Team have created.

Hope to see your Autumn Themed projects there.

 

 

 



I'm Sending Smiles...

 

Chris is Hosting this weeks Colour Challenge

at Just Us Girls

and has chosen these gorgeous bright colours.

 

Now I am sure most of my friends across the pond

are thinking Halloween but not me.

 

 

I love those colours together so got out some

bright coloured card stock

then I went to work on my bright background.

I used Tim Holtz Seedless Preserves/Dried Marigold

and Memento Lulu Lavender

(fingers looked pretty after my sponging)

My main image is from

 Stampin' Up - Postage Due

and sentiment from Inspired by Stamping

embossed in black.

They were cut out with Spellbinders Scallop Squares

and I inked the edges in black.

Add ribbon and pearls from my stash.

Finished off with a little distressing.

***

Don't forget to pop over Here

for more great inspiration from our
October Guest - Julie Gearinger.
and the Team

Hope to see you there this week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



What is our TREND at Just Us Girls this week?

Nancy is our Hostess this week at
Just Us Girls and I love playing with her choice
 to use STENCILS on our project
for this weeks challenge. 

 

I started my card with iridescent gold card stock
for my base and as my backing for my stencil.
This was inked up with gold paint and left to dry.
I like the simplicity of this stencil -  by the way
it was made by a friend.
The leaves were cut from Leafy Swirls
by Fancy That with a gold embossed sheet of card stock
I found in my stash.
My butterfly is cut from a Spellbinders Butterfly Die
from iridescent mauve card stock.
I added a gold pearl to the cnetre
and 3 more to the rounded corner.
Finished off with my sentiment
inked in VersaColor Gold
from Inspired by Stamping.
***
Pop on over to Our Blog and check out
what we have in store for you there.
Hope to see your entry for this super challenge.



Going round in 'CIRCLES'

I certainly was going around in circles making something

I was happy with for our new Challenge over at

Crafty Cardmakers

 

Kim is our Hostess and she would like to see

CIRCULAR CARDS.

 

 

I didn't have any dies big enough so decided to find

something big enough to hand cut.

I found suitable card stock and cut out two - scoring the back

to attach to the front.

I tried cutting a few doily dies with my Cuttlebug but

they didn't want to cut properly so decided to

use one from my stash which I inked with

Tim Holtz Antique Linen.

I then attached DP from a Spellbinder Circle die

and a cut from Spellbinders Lotus Pendant.

My sentiment is from LOTV and framed with

Spellbinders Lacey Circles.

Ribbon is from Kassaz and inked to match the doily.

Added a Sparklet and then finishing off with

a variety of flowers from my stash with a touch

of Stardust Stickles. A tiny butterfly was added to the side

with a tiny gemstone.

 

PS - my first attempt went in the bin so don't be

discouraged and challenge yourself like I did.

It is a good feeling when you have persevered

and you are happy with your finished card.

 

Hope over Here to see what the Talented Design Team

have created. You won't be disappointed.

Looking forward to seeing your Circular Card soon.

 

 

 

 

At a Sad Time - Thinking of You and Because I Care.

 

Recently I had the task of making a Sympathy card

 for my daughter's Mother in Law.

This was to give to her from her and Hubby

so couldn't really use a Sympathy Sentiment.

 

 

At the time of making this card and sending it off

I didn't know that one of the Challenges

coming up at Just Us Girls was

To Make a Sympathy Card for

our Word Week

 

I rang my daughter to find out what her MIL's favourite colour was.

GREEN.

My first reply was

I can't make a green card. Well as it turns out I can.

(thought at the time how bland it would be)

Oh and she likes lace - have plenty of that I said.

Rummaging through my craft supplies I managed

to find some shimmery card stock with a green tinge

as you can see by my flower as I used the same paper

and touched it up with a little extra colour.

I also found that gorgeous green/silver paper

which goes perfectly as my backing.

I'm going great here with all this green.

I added several different dies to back my flower

added the lace and sentiment was heat embossed

in silver. Added some silver gems and a little

green bow to finish.

***

 

Here is the card I made using mainly Stampin' Up products.

And it is green and has lace too.

 

The photos of my cards were taken by my daughter on her phone

as I hadn't taken any in my rush to get them posted.

 

Have you popped over to Our JUGS Blog

and checked out what the October Guestie

Julie Gearinger  (Welcome)

and our Designers have made?

We'd love to see what you come up with.

 

Sorry for the longer than usual posting.

Hoping you liked my green cards.

 

Oh by the way it is World Cardmaking Day

so what are you waiting for? It's OUR DAY.

 

 

Anything Goes at 'The House'

 

It's an Anything Goes Challenge over at The House

as there is an extra Wednesday in the Month

so we get to play in another Challenge Yippee!

All the details are Here

 

 

I have seen similar card like mine on Pinterest

and thought I would do my take.

I love things that aren't straight so this really appealed to me.

It is a fairly simple style which I liked.

Starting of with white card stock for my base

stencilling and top I inked the base

which is from Memory Box - Texture Wave

I used Tim Holtz Peacock Feathers and

added Memento Teal Zeal for contrast.

Inked the Repeat Impressions Butterfly - 107

with the peacock feathers and added

Stardust Stickles for shimmer.

The Sentiment is from

Inspired by Stamping - Big Hello

Finished with a few sequins and variegated cotton

which goes perfectly with the 2 toned colours I used.

 

I'm off next week to have some sister time so will only have

what is scheduled till I get back.

We are going to a Farewell Concert by a

Scottish couple who we have seen before

as they will not be touring again (sad)

It will bring back happy memories of our

trip back to our homeland together.

 

Haste ye Back as the Scots say

which means - You are Welcome Here.

 

 

 

 

 



My 3 Favourite Colours are ...

 

This weeks challenge over at Just Add Ink is to

Add your 3 favourite colours.

 

 

I seem to be addicted to my Stampin' Up

3 Feathers stamp/die set as I use it regularly.

Maybe it is because the 3 colours I chose

are my favourites together -

Tim Holtz Peacock Feathers (really my favourite)

and his newer one Abandoned Coral which I think

are a perfect match. Team them up with the

darker Memento Teal Zeal and you have a

winning combination.

Another thing I like to do with the feathers

is to stencil the background using again

Tim Holtz Splatters & Speckles stencils

in the same 3 colours.

I popped this on top of coloured card stock.

Finished with a little inked edges corner rounding

a little cotton bow some sequins and gems

and sentiment is a recently purchased one from

Inspired by Stamping - Big Hello.

 

I think I will send this off to the

 special friend who sent me the feather stamp/die

as a birthday gift. The sentiment is from a set

I sent her in return for her birthday.

I know she reads my blog and hasn't received

it yet but she doesn't know what else

is in her little package.

 

So that is it for now. I am off to do some

gardening after we had much need rain last night.

 

Thanks for dropping in. I really appreciate it

and when you leave such lovely comments.

 

 



I'm Playing with Paper

I found this gorgeous Inspiration Photo over at

Always Playing with Paper with some of my favourite colours

so headed off to my play station and got out one of my

favourite SU stamps I knew would be 'pretty with pink'

 

 

You can do so much with this stamp set

and this time I chose to go softly.

I took my inspiration from the lovely grey and pink

cushions and the bicycle in the middle.

I have used basic white grey and pink card stock

embossing my image from

Stampin' Up Feeling Sentimental

with Zing Silver embossing powder.

Inked the background with

Memento Spun Sugar and touched the flower

with a little Spun Sugar for extra colour.

Added ribbon from my stash

My sentiment is from CAS-UAL FRIDAYS stamps

again heat embossed and finished off with

a few gemstones.

 

Thanks for dropping in...

 

 

 



My Last Week as Guest for Sketch Saturday

 

My Guest Spot at Sketch Saturday is coming to an end

and I must say I have enjoyed participating in

their Challenges. Thank You Kathy for the invite.

The sponsor for this challenge is the

ever popular Bugaboo Digi Stamps

with a generous prize of 7 digi images

and there are so many wonderful ones to choose from.

 

Here is this week Sketch.

Isn't it an easy peasy one?

 

I thought so and here is my interpretation.

 

As my regular visitors know I struggle with

colouring digi images so was fortunate enough

to be able to use this simple but

lovely one from Bugaboo.

Goes to show you don't need to be super talented

in that area (like a lot of my crafty friends are)

to produce a great card.

It helps if you have some lovely Designer Paper

a bit of embossing and of course bling.

And that is about what I have.

Here is what I used -

My DP is from First Edition - Desert Blooms

The pink strip is mulberry paper

My image is coloured with Stampin' Up

pens in Primrose Petals/Raspberry Ripple

The ever popular Swiss Dots Embossing folder

Pink Kindy Glitz on the heart flowers and bow

Kaisercraft Decorative Dies

Sentiment - JustRite

Rhinestones for a bit more bling.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

Hope you will pop over Here

for all the inspiration from the DT.

 

 

 



I was Inspired by....

Vicki is our Hostess this week for our

Photo Challenge and she has picked a Beauty.

 

What a gorgeous table arrangement

with just a touch of colour.

How will you be inspired?

Here is what I came up with -

 

The black & white stripes caught my eye

but decided not to go with

that and to make the background an array of

coloured ribbons which gave the striped effect.

The dotted ribbon fitted in with the theme as did

the touch of yellow.

My big sentiment is from Cas-ual Fridays Stamps

embossed in black.

The background is a little pale but is from

 Gina K Designs inked in Stampin' Up

Yo Yo Yellow and  Memento New Sprout

Added a few rhinestones and rounded the corners.

 

Now pop on over HERE to see what our Guest Melissa

and the Jugheads have made.

Hope to see your entry over there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



I checked out the latest challenge at 'The House'

 

It's my Favourite time of the week when I catch up with the latest challenge

over at The House that Stamps Built

 and this week it is their  Sketch Challenge

 

 

 

As soon as I saw this sketch I couldn't wait to

get into my 'play station' as I knew exactly

what stamp I was going to use.

I think it would have to be my favourite

Repeat Impressions Stamp as it is one

that has so much beautiful detail

it doesn't need colouring. I know it is

just beautiful either way. 

 

Here are the products I used on my card -

Metallic & Iridescent card stock

Darice Embossing folder

(I have covered it up but it is

a beautifully detailed folder)

Repeat Impression - Tulip 912K

Sentiment is cut from Vellum with

Justrite Label and is by

Inspired by Stamping
Purple & Lilac Embossing Powder
for image and sentiment

Image is popped for dimention

and finished off with some

sparkly gemstones.

 

Thanks for dropping in.

Love reading your comments.

 

 

 

 



I Made it 'SPARKLE'

 

 I have been invited to join the Design Team at

Crafty Cardmakers and am super excited to be

joining this group of Talented Crafters.

I love that each fortnight the challenges

are mixed up making for an interesting experience.

***

The latest challenge is being hosted by Sally

and she would like to see 'Sparkle'

in the form of glitter, gems pearls

shimmer spray etc (you get the drift).

 

 

 I think I have enough 'sparkle' here.

 

Since Christmas is really just around the corner

I decided to go all blingy and add this

 to my little collection.

A pretty easy card but with a great result.

You can't beat a sparkly snowflake so

I got out my favourite old Cuttlebug Die

and cut it out with some gorgeous purple glitter paper.

My card base is purple and have used

Silver Metallic paper as my backing.

I cut out a couple of strips from

Stampin' Up Framelit Banners

popped my snowflake after adding a

smaller silver one and sparklet to the top.

Sentiment is heat embossed in silver

 and is from Gina K Designs.

Finished with a few purple rhinestones.

***

 I look forward to seeing your take on our

 'Sparkle Challenge'

after you have checked out what the

Design Team have made for your inspiration.

 

 

 

I am also joining in on the

Just Add Ink #280 Glimmer Challenge

Here with this card.

And

Wags 'n Whiskers for their

Challenge #162 Glitter/Sparkle

 

 Thanks for dropping in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



An Inspiration Challenge at the House

 

Talk about a 'Challenge'. Well the new challenge over at

The House that Stamps Built really threw me.

After lots of thinking I came up with

  

 

for this

 

 
 

I didn't have a Repeat Impression stamp that I thought

suited the leaves in the picture so went to an image from DoCrafts

 as I wanted to depict the dark leaves and the colours

of the background. I also wanted to add a butterfly.
I started with basic card stock.
For my background I stamped the leaf image
several time from Stampin' Up Inspired by Nature
onto brown card stock.
I inked up Tim Holtz Vintage Photo
Tea Dye & Antique Linen
and Memento Desert Sand
 for the background of my floral image
which was heat embossed and coloured in black.
This was cut from Spellbinders Labels 20
and again I inked the edges.
I wanted a bit of shimmer so sprayed my card
with SU Champagne Mist & PearlEx in Antique Gold
Added a butterfly from Cheery Lynn
Some rhinestones and a sentiment from
Gina K Designs cut from JustRite Labels.

In the end I was happy with how I
interpreted the photo. Hope you liked it too.

Thanks for dropping in.





 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Sketch Time at Sketch Saturday

Once again it is time for the new Sketch Challenge over at 

  Sketch Saturday where I am Guest for the Month.

The generous sponsor for this weeks challenge is

Bunny Zoe Crafts with a 10 pound Gift Certificate

to their store which is in UK.

Can't believe I don't have a pound symbol on my laptop.

 

Here is what I came up with

 

 

I had a lot of fun with the background.

Since the sketch had circles I went overboard

with the Bokeh technique using several inks

including Tim Holtz Peacock Feathers which

happens to be a favourite.

  Cracked Pistachio

Stampin' Up Melon Mambo and a few others.

Other products I used were -

Spellbinders Circles/Labels 20

Martha Stewart Hydrangea Punch

Stampin' Up Best of Flowers Stamp

Best Wishes Die is Cherry Lynn

Added a touch of iridescent medium to the

flower which was heat embossed

with Zing Aqua powder

Mounting Squares for depth

and a few rhinestones.

 

Thanks for dropping in and I hope you will

pop over to their blog Here

and check out what the Design Team

have created and perhaps you will have

time to join in also with this fun sketch.

 

Cherrio for now

 

 

I'm dreaming of SUMMER DAYS!

 

I am a bit out of seasons with this weeks challenge over at

Just Us Girls

but I am sure Maria as our Hostess this week

will understand because I have used our Challenge Colours

which really do scream Fall/Autumn

but I made mine Summery!

Winter is on it's way out here and

Spring is just around the corner Yay!

And I am really thinking way ahead to Summer Days.

 

 

Here are the products I used -

DP - Kaisercraft Vintage Timeless

Gina K Designs - Springtime Silhouettes Floral Stamp

Spellbinders Circles

Lily of the Valley Sentiment

MFT - Banner Day Stax

Memento Love Letter Ink

A touch of colour for the flower centres

Ribbon from stash

Rhinestones.

***

Don't forget to pop over to Our Blog

to see what everyone else has in store

for you and then hope you get time to

join us for this week Colour Challenge.

Wouldn't you love to be our Chic of the Week?

then you are in the running to be our

Guest Designer in November.

 

Thanks for dropping in.

 



Sketch #378 at Sketch Saturday

It is my second week as Guest Designer at

Sketch Saturday 

The generous sponsor this week is

Simon Says Stamps and the prize is a

$25 Gift Certificate

Here is this weeks Sketch

As it is September our Jacaranda Trees

will be coming out in bloom soon here in
Australia and they

are truly a beautiful site.
For this reason I decided to base my card around them
and my favourite colour.

I cheated here because I have this lovely digi set

  from Doodle Pantry and you can find it Here

It is a pre coloured set (my favourite kind)
making my card super simple and quick to make.

As you can see I used the DP from the set
for my background and framed them in white.
My main focal image is cut from Spellbinders Squares
and backed with Lacey Squares sponged with
Memento Sweet Plum.
Background edges is also inked with the same.
Sentiment is cut with JustRite Vintage labels
Image sponged with Memento Lulu Lavender
Added some ribbon and a little bow to finish.
***
So there you have it for this week. Pop over to
Sketch Saturday for the DT's take on this sketch.

I'll be back again next week for another
 Great Sketch Challenge.
See you then...