Cardmaking – Back to Basics – Which Ink? (video)

Who would’ve thought that ‘Ink’ was so complex….   well, it’s not really, but it does pay to think about which ink you need to use and when.  Today I created a video sharing just that for my Cardmaking – Back to Basics series!

You can see my video here or Watch it at Youtube.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a9mUFLkT34]

Thanks for the visit!

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Other Supplies:

Cardmaking Back to Basics – My Top Ten Tools (video)

Here are my Top 10 Tools for Cardmaking….    and I know, that you know I have many more than these, but I thought I would highlight my ‘go to’ tools, the ones that I really couldn’t do without.

You can see my video here or Watch it at Youtube.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HHKGRAekTw]

Have a happy day!

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Other Supplies:

Back to Basics – Where’s the mojo (video)?

It’s another Cardmaking, Back to Basics today with lotsa talking…..    and if you hang around long enough you might just see some colouring lol.

You can see my video here or Watch it at Youtube.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ft-FkJS7tyk]

Birthday Owl
Birthday Owl

You never know, this little fella might just make it onto a card.

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Other Supplies:  Copics – 0. E25,37,49,50,51,53,59. YR24. Y38. RV00,10. B000,02. BG11,13. BV00,02.  Lil’ Inker – Birthday Owl. Smooth White Cardstock.

Back to Basics – Introduction to Cardmaking – the products!

I’ve had some requests to create a Back to Basics in Cardmaking series.  It’s taken me a while to get my act together but finally it’s here.  I decided to incorporate tips and techniques in this series as well as ways to ‘reclaim’ your mojo and how to find inspiration.  Today I start with an introduction to the products.

You can see my video here or Watch it at Youtube.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILYZPEUkNwo]

Next I’ll show you some tips and tricks when making your very first card.

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Other Supplies:

2500 Subbie Winner!

Hi everybody, just popping in with a quick post to let you know that I have announced the winner to my 2500 Subbie giveaway at Youtube,

You can see who it is at my Youtube Channel!

I just wanted to say a BIG thank you to everyone who entered and for the lovely comments that you left me, this really is a wonderful papercrafty world that we live in!

Hugs

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5th Annual Caring Hearts Card Drive!

CaringHeartsLogo-03

The Caring Hearts Card Drive is all about collecting Christmas Cards

to give to the elderly who live in nursing homes.

The drive is run by Vera Yates and Jennifer McGuire in the US and there are two Canadian ladies also distributing to nursing homes throughout Canada.

My amazing blog friend Linda Langes is the Australian contact for all the Aussie card makers

who would like to be a part of this wonderful event.

Your cards will go to nursing homes throughout Australia.

Here are all the details from Vera’s blog –

Christmas is about family, kindness, and joy. During this time many of the elderly who live in nursing homes can feel lonely and be missing their families. Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could bring a smile to their faces & brighten their holiday season simply by sharing our love of card making? A simple gesture to let them know that they are not forgotten.

We all love making cards and what’s better than knowing our creations can bring a smile to others, right? 

A few important details:

  • This card drive will be going until November 28, 2014. We need to receive your card by November 28, 2014.
  •  Please make the cards for Christmas or Holiday Wishes. Anyone can send a card, your children, church group, scout troops, etc.
  • All cards need to have a message inside (it can be stamped or hand written).
  • Please sign your name on the card and where you are from.
  • Please include an envelope for each card and please don’t seal the envelope.
  • Please stick to just cards -standard size with a matching envelope.
  • And please don’t use any pins (for safety reasons).
  • This is totally optional but if you’d like to include $1 or $2 to help with shipping, it’ll be much appreciated. We cover the shipping cost ourselves, with no sponsor, so any donation toward shipping would help tremendously.

Australian card makers please mail your cards to –

    Linda Langes

    c/o Gilston State School

    588 Worongary Rd

    GILSTON  QLD  4211

  • In each package, PLEASE include THIS SUBMISSION FORM This helps us in keeping track for prizes! For each card you send, you will get a chance to win.  So the more cards you send, the better your chances.

To thank you for your generosity in supporting this drive, there are some amazing prizes.

There will be many winners and remember… the more cards you send the better your chances 🙂

Head over to Vera’s Blog to see the awesome list of prizes!

Please feel free to share about this card drive. We really appreciate your support & generosity. Let’s rock this card drive and bring Christmas joy to as many nursing homes as we can!! Thank you.

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I’ve been tagged! and no, it’s not contagious…

Hiya, today I have something just a little different, I was tagged in the ‘Getting to Know Me’ Creative Blog Hop by the amazing Kathryn Lorenzini (Kate) from Pinned & Penned, honestly you gotta visit this girl, she is brilliant!

I may as well get straight into it as I know there will be much waffling today.

1. What creative projects are you currently working on?

That’s easy, I’m so OCD that I have my cards made as far ahead as possible, otherwise too much pressure and I’ll crumble.  I always have a heap of DT projects on the go, from cards to videos including a new role for a fab stamp company which I am excited to share with you today, I’m going to be a Youtube Specialist for The Alley Way Stamps team, yipppeee!

I am also really enjoying making my Youtube mini series, I find this a great way to push myself with no product restrictions, so I can even use goodies that I have been ‘hoarding’ for literally years (I know you know what I mean lol)

2. What inspires your designs?

So many things inspire, from the stamps, to my blog friends.  Oh My Gosh, you guys are seriously awesome, I see your cards and think, ‘Whoa Stop the Press’, how did you even think of that, you are all geniuses.

Pinterest is also a great source for ‘everything’ inspiration.  It is my saving grace, Hello, it’s like shopping without spending the money, and perfect for my sieve of a memory, it’s all locked and loaded ready to go, all I have to do is click on the link and there you are.

Did I also say that I love flowers and anything bright…..   especially bright flowers, colour or a colour combo is sometimes where I start a card, weird I know.

3. What method / process (if applicable) do you apply to each of your creative projects, and how long does each project take to complete?

For me, it’s all about the stamps, and one the best things that I do when I get a new set (especially for the DT’s) is stamp them all out on a piece of computer paper.  Sometimes there are images that I didn’t even know were there and for some reason they look totally different on paper and I can see opportunities that I wouldn’t have even considered.  This was a great tip that I borrowed by Emily Leiphart from Art From The Heart, thanks so much Emily).

Now, don’t get me wrong I love papers as much as the next person but mostly they are purchased to look pretty, because ‘get this’ if I used them then I wouldn’t have them anymore, Doh!  I need some therapy!

Now, as for time spent on a project, for me it’s usually the idea that takes most the time so I use my down time to ‘mind design’ or scratch out a sketch of my card so that I’m not wasting time when I do get to my crafty space.  Of course this is all great in theory, some cards still take me 3 days (yes, you read it right) to make, others may take a couple of hours.  I am a slow crafter and hate to stick anything down too quickly because it may just look better somewhere else on the card and I wouldn’t want to commit too early.

4. If you had to describe your ‘signature’ style, what would it be?

I love to ‘try’ many different styles which is often it’s led by the stamps themselves. But when I do find myself ‘mojo-less’ then I tend to head towards Clean & Simple, or I colour something, that usually makes me feel much happier because it may even just find it’s way onto a card.

5. What are 3 crafting products/tools you can’t live without?

The Stamp-a-ma-jig suits my OCD traits perfectly, I’m also loving my new EK Success tweezers and the third, um….  Oh, that’s another easy one, my Bigshot, so many creative opportunities in one machine, who woulda thought.

I’m passing the baton now and there are literally sooo many people who inspire me in this amazing papercrafting world.  But the one I would like to pass it onto is someone that inspired me from the very beginning of my blog life.  Marion from Made Marion is one of the most incredible crafter’s I know, she has a brilliant eye for design, colour and can totally make a stamp work for her, not to mention some cuteness thrown in for fun!   I have been lucky enough to work with her on some design and challenge teams and have met her in ‘real life’ and she is honestly the sweetest person!

I will leave you with some of her creations…    take a look at these beauties,

Hello | Marion Vagg

Happiest of Days

Happy Birthday Flower | Marion Vagg

Happy Birthday | Marion Vagg

 Told you she is incredible!

You can get to know more about Marion at her BLOG on October 13th.

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Over the Edge at Stretch Your Stamps!

Back with a wonderful over the edge technique that I love from Laura.  I thought it would be fun to try and get some bold colour with watercolours, of course I had to add just a little sparkle in the flower centres but otherwise I kept it pretty clean & simple.

Smile Big - Detail
Smile Big – Detail
Smile Big
Smile Big

Back to class for me!

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ps if you are looking to find where I used the patterned paper on my bookmark it’s covering the back.

Other Supplies:  Watercolour Paints. Hole Punch. Black Diamond Stickles.

Repeated Hello at Muse!

This week for Muse I wanted to share a card that I made for publication,my ‘hello’ card was lucky enough to be accepted and I would just love to see your take on this ‘repeated’ sentiment idea!

Hello - Detail
Hello – Detail
Hello
Hello

Here is another version of the same card where I used some white enamel accents to highlight the wood veneer, I just love how this looks (although it’s a little bit dark in  the photo)

happy - Detail
happy – Detail
happy
happy

muse_designer

All of the deets can  be found here on the Muse blog….     but here’s how it works:

  • Use ANYTHING you want from your stash to create a project inspired by this week’s Muse.
  • In your post, explain how you were inspired and link back to the Muse blog.
  • Provide supportive comments on at least 3 other member’s submissions.
  • Vote for three of your fellow member’s submissions.

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Happy – Other Supplies:  Pokie tool.

Hello – Other Supplies: