PDCC119 - Thank you card

Anita Hiess ran a Twitter competition on Valentine's day.  I didn't really win the competition and yet Anita, kindly and generously, sent me her book Manhattan Dreaming anyway; autographed with personal dedication at that.  Super awesome.

The least I could do was create a handmade thank you card.  I got my colour inspiration from The Play Date Cafe Challenge 119 - black, white, hot pink; it also fits in perfectly with Scrapbook Boutique's February challenge so I'm entering it there, too.  Here's my card:

Stamps: SU Vintage Vogue, Tiny Tags
Inks: Basic Black, Melon Mambo

As this card would be posted, I kept it fairly flat.  I did layer the big flower though that didn't show very well on the photograph, even enlarged.  I also attached the button using twine, paying homage to the twine theme over at PDCC (hey, I'll take inspiration where I can) :-)


It's a very simple layout; one I seem to do a lot!  I probably need more inspiration. haha.

cheers all.

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PDCC 91 - A splash of RED

The Play Date Cafe Challenge #91 is A Splash of....and I chose RED.  I'm creating a brag book (8"x8") scrapbook of my 2 girls for my mum - you know I'm a "sentimental" crafter, right?  Anyway, this challenge was the perfect inspiration for my cover page - "simply us Sisters".

I had these beatiful B&W photos of my girls taken by their dad which capture a bit of their personality and bond.  This cover page is apt for what the scrapbook is about as well as the showing my kids simply as who they are....growing up.  This is my 7th layout and I've got such a loooong way to go.  You know, much as I'd love to give this away, I think it'll be tough as well.

This has been inspired by many of the DT gals work including:

• use of twine
• use of red 
• black matting
• use of chalk (well, it was by a DT gal but not quite for this week's PDCC)

I was going to do a dry-brush approach but don't really have the right red paint so I ended up using red chalk  (with fingers - messy fun!) which I saw in one of the DT gals blogs....this is why you go visiting DT gals' blogs.   My chalks are hardly ever dug out of storage so it was good to have the inspired nudge to do so.

Happy visiting.

PDCC 89 - texture+

The Play Date Cafe Challenge #89 is to use Mint...Buttercream...Taupe. Combine this with Jac-Inks Challenge for die cuts + texture and what have you got?

Something like this.

I don't use yellow much so struggled a bit with this one, probably why I decided to combine challenges in fact.  I needed an extra boost. ;)

I used a really light yellow cardstock and embossed it using Stampin Up embossing folder (Manhattan Flower).  I brayered on some SU Crumb Cake ink (closest to taupe that I've got) and inked around the corners and edges with TH Shabby Shutters (don't really have mint and figured green should be good enough).  The sentiment is from Stampin Up as well (Heard from the Heart).  Yellow ribbon is from Martha Stewart.  The trim is a die cut from TH alterations (brackets).

This is really quite a simple card with a traditional layout.  I wanted to try something fancy like dazzling diamonds on the raised outline (flip side of the embossing) but that didn't go very well this time...will try again next time.

Anyway, this card is going to an inspirational woman I recently met.  Her kids are incredible young adults whose capacity to engage, inspire and encourage are testament to the wonderful background they've come from.

I'm a sentimental crafter ain't I?

cheers,
Malyn
 

CFC #8 - Getting Edgy in Pink

CAS-ual Friday Challenge #8 is to get creative with edges, e.g. use border punch/dies, tearing etc. How fun is that?  I knew exactly which die to use; it was just getting 'round to doing it!  I'm also entering this to The Sumer of Color - Pink; in the middle of winter here in Australia!

Here it is:

It's going to be to a gorgeous 10-yr old girl.

The deets - all produccts from Stampin Up, except for the border die (Tim Holtz)

inks: Blushing Bride, Regal Rose
Stamps: Punch Bunch (owl), Medallion
Punches: 2-step owl, 1 3/4" scallop (wings)
DSP and Cardstock from SU

I've never done pennant banners before and I think it's the perfect thing to 'lift' the card.  Doesn't it just look joyful? Well, it does to me.  DSP used was just from scrap and it's amazing what a little bit can do.

Quick Technique/Tip to get matching twine: (sorry, can't remember where I got this from but it's not exactly rocket science so will not worry too much about attribution here)

1. Get some plain white twine.
2. Run it over the stamp pad, with a paddle pop stick (or plastic ruler) to keep it down 
3. Turn twine and keep running through until inked up as desired

Super-easy. Super-quick. Perfect match!

Note: if you use a clean plastic ruler, you can excess ink on the pad again, wipe it dry with a rag and you have less waste. How green is that? ;)

In the spirit of sharing, here's a farewell card I made. It's going to be from the whole IT department (where I belong) so there's lots of owls. Fun.

This card is a big A5 size.  I also put in a piece of copy paper, attached via a rustic twine to give plenty of room to write well wishes.  I also popped a few owls using dimensionals.  I had the owl punch and stamp out from above so the it just kinda flowed on to this.  Yet, how different do they look?

Cheers,

Malyn

PDCC 87 - Thank you PDCC DT gals

I won the PDCC cup a few weeks ago for which I got some fantastic stamps from the PDCC team and Stepping Stones Design.  I figured, using them for a PDCC challenge would be a great way to say thank you.

Here's my PDCC 87 challenge entry. This week's suggested colors are....

Slate Blue...Barn Red...Grey

This is really for all you wonderful people behind the PDCC - Thank you. Thank you for my win. Thank you for your fun challenges. Thank you for your inspiring work and friendly blog visits and comments. Thank you with all my heart.

The deets:

ink: Stampin Up  Basic Gray, Real Red, Not Quite Navy

Stamps: Stepping Stones Design 

other: SU Smooch Spritz in Silver, spica pen - clear, SU rhinestones

punch: SU heart

I found the SU Gray too dark so I stamped off before stamping onto that paper ribbon - much better I reckon.  I also had a lot of problem with the smooch spritz; I don't use it often so had trouble controlling the spray.  This is the 3rd card and I figured it's probably good enough - not quite the "shape" I had in mind but near enough.  Once I got started with the sparklies, I couldn't stop and so had to put a touch of spica and rhinestones on the butterfly...just for fun. ;)

For the focus heart, I stamped the butterfly on in blue before punching out (heart). Then I just sponged on red all around it.  I stamped and cut out another butterfly and only adhered the middle bit for extra lift and dimension.

Anyway, to all you wonderful gals at PDCC 

- including its talented community of challenge participants - 

thank you.

This card's for you.

PDCC 86 - Just a little note

Check out the latest challenge #86 from The Play Date Cafe.

These colours are scrumptuous on their own and together - they spell Fun, Fresh, Fabulous.

Here's my take:

I know it's fun and fresh but is it fabulous? ;-)

The deets:

Unless indicated otherwise, product is from Stampin Up

paper: DSP Regal Rose, Tempting Turquoise, Tangerine Tango
stamps: Apple Blossoms
inks: Regal Rose, Tempting Turquoise, Orange Marmalade Distress Ink
punches: 2-step bird, 1 3/4" circle, Word Windows
others: ribbon from stash, clear spica pen

This really sort of evolved on me.  The only thing I 'planned' was the main panel with the cut-outs - bursting ...as I was with excitement (geddit?) :-)  Then, I just got going from there and by the time I added on the sparklies, I was smiling. Gotta love a happy crafting session.  Actually, I toyed with the idea of putting bling on but the "flat" little sparklies look more fun.  I even put some on the polka dotted wing just for fun.

So what do you think?

CFC #6 and PDCC85 - CAS card,wish big

Combining challenges again this week. Both the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge and The Play Date Cafe Challenge are swoon-worthy.  I think the tic-tac-toe idea from CFC is really creative allowing you to choose your elements and the colours from PDCC are just beautiful.

Combine the two and what have you got? Well, something like this on my part:

From the CFC, I used the bottom 3: button(s), flowers and twine (well floss, actually).  If you look closely - and this may be 'cheating' - I also used the middle 3: flowers, punch (all flowers are punched) and gems. With all those elements, there's still a lot of white space.

I don't have any ink or paper to match the PDCC dusty rose colour, hence the floss. And look, I even did a bit of hand-stitching, something I rarely do!

A few more deets:
cardstock: Stampin Up Vanilla, Concord Crush
ink: SU Concord Crush
punches: SU 1 3/4 scallop circle, EK flower border
stamps: SU Short and Sweet (sentiment), Kaisercraft script background
others: SU rhinestones, button from stash, DMC floss

Cheers all.

CFC #5 and PDCC 84 - a fun card

I'm combining challenges again this week just for fun - something on the lighter side as my previous PDCC card was an emotional ride (a very good one I must add).

This card is for the following challenges:

CAS-ual Fridays #5 - sketch challenge (layout inspiration)

the Playdate Cafe Challenge #84 - colours: lavender, green, pinkish/red (colour and theme inspiration)

And look what I came up with (so fun):

Doesn't it just look like such a happy window? I was going to have a semi-circular window with a birdcage showing.  But the PDCC photo tipped me over to having a vase on the windowsill and stuck to the rectangular shape. 

The vase is obviously the focus and it has been stamped, sponged and punched - you wouldn't think it started out as a bit of scrap white card!   I just love this technique of using the Stampin Up ornament punch to make a vase (read more about this technique here).  Actually, I also "glazed" it with shimmer paint, fighting the temptation to put glossy accents on it which would have been too in-your-face here (IMHO anyway).

The curtain works! It's made from white tissue stamped with lavender flowers.  I put eyelets on the top so you can move it along a piece of string.  WHY? Because it's fun and I can be a little crazy sometimes.   The scallops which were part of the sketch made for a lovely pelmet to hide all the curtain fittings. :-)

all Stampin Up stamps: 

Pocket Silhouette, Bliss (vase), Apple Blossoms (sentiment), So Happy For You (flowers)

I don't talk much about adhesives but it might interest you that I used 5 different types here: foam mounts, glue dots, glue (pen) for some of the tiny leaves, tape and sticky strip (I don't want this window to fall). That's a record for me I think.  

I think having a lot of white keeps it in the CAS side of things. 

This was fun. 

Thanks to all the lovely comments everyone - I really do appreciate the time and effort you put in doing so.  

May your day be bright and may the outlook through your window fill you with happiness.

I won a Play Date Cafe Challenge! Yay!

The PDCC 83 challenge was a tribute to  Sarah Anderson who was leaving the team.  I found the whole thing cathartic: the blog hop, the creative process, the colour (my favourite) and the blog comments all left me with a plethora of emotions too hard to articulate. To top it all off, the PDCC awarded me the cup of the week.

I am very happy about this win...stirring more emotions yet again. :-)

I admire the work of PDCC players (sorry, playmate just doesn't sound right here). I join and never expect to win...never.  So as you see, this means a lot to me.

To all of you who've been with me on this ride, THANK YOU. You are all artists in my eyes.

PDCC 83 - A splash of green

I'm so glad I did the blog hop over at the Play Date Cafe this week. The team is farewelling DT member Sarah Anderson.   I don't personally know anyone in the team though the names, faces and avatars are familiar.  Moments like this make one see that behind the challenges are real people, with real lives. 


The blog hop struck a chord with me because a few years ago, a dear friend also moved away. People say the world is more accessible with technology and it's true but it's never the same as getting a smile face-to-face or getting/giving a hug when one needs it. 


A long prelude, I know, but making these cards took me a fair while. I felt I needed to channel everything I saw, read and felt during the blog hop. I had a real sense of Sarah being an artist whose work is characterised by lots of layers, textures, mixed media and that elusive touch of the unexpected, be it colour, design, material, etc.  I wanted to evoke this sense in my challenge entry. I wasn't happy with my first one (one with flowers and buttons) so had to have another go.  I'm much happier with the Artist card.  So, with my challenge entry this week is a personal message to Sarah (I hope she gets to read it):

Dear Sarah,


We don't know each other and yet we're connected through your work at PDCC and our love for crafting.  I'm sure you 'feel the love' of your DT team but I also want you to know that even I felt it through the blog hop - remember the lives you've touched, directly and beyond.


Good luck and enjoy on your new venture. Spread the love.


This artist card is for you!


best regards,
Malyn

I did heaps on these two cards so instead of sharing everything like I normally do, I'll zoom into my favourite bits:

1. script background with dandelions (Tim Holtz)
2. shimmer paint (Stampin Up Platinum), especially diluted over the dress form - not that you can see it
3. paint splatter (SU French Foliage)
4. double-stamping Artist (Versafine Black and SU Wild Wasabi) for a shadow effect (so grung-y)
5. Glossy Accents on the word

To the rest of the PDCC team - I feel you. Thank you for a wonderful blog hop and tribute to Sarah. 

Another combined challenge - bling and stitching

I'm having another go at combining challenges - it kinda triples the inspiration for me. This entry is for:

PDCC #82 (colour inspiration)
Scrapbook Boutique May challenge - stitching
CAS-ual Fridays #3 - bling

CAS is certainly becoming a style of choice so I thought the 3 challenges would really stretch me. Can I create something with vintage-y colours, some stitching (which I hardly ever do, least of all machine-stitching) and bling to boot.

Here it is. What do you think?

The "daisy" was stamped, stitched, cut and blinged.  I wasn't too confident with my daisy stitch, hence the stamp first. I also punched the holes before stitching so I knew exactly where the needle would go through. I got my mojo halfway through and nearly stuffed up (floss off, floss on fix).

I used one of my nesties as a template for the circle of bling. I think it worked rather well.  The sentiment was built out of 2 stamp sets (SU Wonderful Favourites and Upsy Daisy).

I think it looks like a scrapbook layout, speaking of which, here's the original PDCC entry I made. I'm not too confident sharing my scrapbook work but here it is anyway...no longer a challenge entry, just something to share.

Cheers all.

By the way, do you have a tip for photographing cards and layouts? Please share. Thanks.

PDCC 80 & Mojo Monday

TWhoopee, the Blogger problem is fixed and I'm back to the new editor again.  It's a little thing but isn't that what life's really all about, i.e. the little things?

I haven't played at Play Date Cafe for a while and a visit from the lovely Julie Ranae  was enough prompt to participate in the PDCC #80 challenge. It was a good opportunity to visit Mojo Monday as well just for a little boost to the mojo.

And here's my "inspired" work. :-)

The deets....

stamps: Stampin Up Punch Bunch (SAB set), French Filligree, Short & Sweet (heart)
inks: SU Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait, Real Red, Versamark
Stampin Write Markers: PParade, PParfait, Pear Pizzazz, Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie
others: Dazzling Diamonds, Shimmer Paint - Platinum, Blender pen
Punch: SU Scallop Trim Corner and Border, Ornament punch

The choice of stamps is almost a no-brainer with a picture like that from PDCC.  I used Stampin Write markers to colour the flowers in and it's amazing how different it looks from this card just by using a different set of colours. I needed a third flower so stamped that separately, applied glossy accents (not the middle), cut and mounted on. Its stem was hand-drawn.

The vase was made using the ornament punch (visit my ideas page for more info) and made dazzling using DD just like I did for the bodice of this dress; it makes white on white really pop.


I don't have the matching Designer Series Papers so I made my own. I stamped French Filligree using Poppy Parade then sponged on PParade and PParfait. The whole thing was sprayed with a home-made glimmer mist: Shimmer Paint in Isopropyl Alcohol mixture in a mini-mister. Unfortunately, shimmer is very hard to photograph (tips welcome) so you'll just have to take my word for it.

The best part of this card for me? I managed to use the corner and border punches. I'm seriously challenged by these!

Cheers all. I hope you got something out of this post.

PDCC74 - Blue and Purple

The Play Date Cafe Challenge #74 has such a pretty inspiration photo and colours.

The photo looks so happy and inviting; I wish I had a wall like that as I do love these colours together.

Yet, look at my card....complete opposite. Blue is a colour and a feeling, such as "blue and missing you".

Although there was the temptation to add more "stuff" or distressing, I actually wanted to evoke a sense of austerity or emptiness that you get when you're blue and missing someone. I went for a really tiny "miss you" (dropped "so much") and three pearls to signify either tears or "I love you" (take your pick).

inks: Stampin Up Tempting Turquoise,  Distress Inks: Broken China, Dusty Concord
stamps: Stampin Up Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Very Vintage (roller)
Punch: SU 2-step owl, 2 3/4" scallop circle
others: Tim Holtz alphabet mask, SU pearls

Yes, I used the owl punch (8x) along with the scallop circle to make that flower. It's a technique generously shared by Valita here. I've been meaning to try it for a while and found my chance now - a purple flower turning blue.

So there you go. How can colours that can be so happy can also be so sad?

PDCC73 - Choices, Choices

Doing all these challenges lately has made me realise that I'm leaning more towards a CAS style.  The PlayDate Cafe Challenge #73 rather inspired me to dig up the Inkadinkadoo dress stamp I avoided in last week's OLC challenge. So, even though I wanted to rationalise the number of challenges I'm doing, I ended up spending hours creating this entry. Mostly, it's because I couldn't decide between CAS and shabby layers.  Just what we need - a schizophrenic crafter. Seriously, this really did challenge me. I guess that's the point, ain't it?

So much waffle. You came here to see this:

There's a reason the clever PDCC challenge designer arranged those 3 colour samples in that order. If you put orange with red, the lavender is completely drowned out. How do I know this? Well, those 3 dresses have been re-arranged far too many times before I settled on this arrangement.  Oh look, it matches the PDCC one. :-) Having red on the right balances the black mirror frame better, too.

A bit more info, if you're interested...

So now you know, I love balance and symmetry which is also why I had to add the scrunched up purple tissue paper. It helped lift the lavender  plus evoke the "designer stuff wrapped in tissue paper" feeling. I used the striped background for a wallpaper look. I inked around the card with black chalk ink but it was too CAS (ha!). So I added some stamping (I love Stampin Up Bliss - really adorable set). I'm happier with it now.

I knew what sentiment to put but did not have the stamp NOR the inclination to build it using alphabet stamps (what, add another hour?).  I scoured the web for fonts that I thought would go well and in the end settled for the typewriter. I've never actually done this journalling style before.

There had to be a mounted mirror somehow. This was built using nesties and the mirror sandwiched between (yes, it's 3D and safe). And bling, too, of course - I love Stampin Up rhinestones.

Frankly, I'm so GLAD it's done (it's over, yay). I really can't bear to do any more experimentation on one card; it was getting ridiculously all-consuming.

Well, I hope it was worth your while visiting me this time. I hope you picked up something new and inspiring. For the record, here are the new things I tried with this challenge:

1. the colour combination itself - orange, red, lavender  (will probably never use it again)
2. Stampin Up Heat and set powder (with Dazzling Diamonds)
3. Twinkling H20s over the dazzling diamonds
4. cut-up journalling (might do this again)
5. digital sentiment (might do this again)
6. scrunched up tissue paper
7. sandwiched mirror (could do a scrapbooking embellishment)

7, that's a nice number to end with. The list of things I did that got scrapped is much longer than 7 - you don't really want to know about them.

Cheerio. Thanks for stopping by. And if you're one of those who spend a lot of time on your craft, please leave a comment to help me feel normal again.

PDCC71 - Color Splash x2

I already submitted this wall hanging for PDCC71 - Color Splash challenge. By the way, I'm happy to report that my daughter absolutely loved it and is now proudly up on her feature wall.

BUT, I really wanted to use some twine so I thought I'd enter again. I only have one colour and WISH that I have more. Just look at the colours available from The Twinery - they're all absolutely gorgeous.

I {heart} twine.


Here's my 2nd entry: black and white with a splash of red - the only colour of twine I have.

stamps: Stampers Anonymous - Good Thoughts, Stampin Up - Short and Sweet, polka dot background
inks: SU black, Craft white, Poppy Parade, Cherry Cobbler
twine: Kikki K

The Stampers Anonymous sentiment has a western feel to it so I thought I'd do a hint of corset - busting of course,  :-) , and tied with twine. The heart is a blend of the two reds (not so obvious on the photo), mounted up with dimensionals, and covered with Glossy Accents.

Now all I have to do is WISH BIG that I somehow win the twine sets (C'mon, make my day). Ha! Frankly, with all the fantastic entries, I probably should just keep wishing. :-)

PDCC71 - Color Splash

I'm quite enjoying The Play Date Cafe Challenges and #71 is no exception. It's black and white with a splash of colour of my choice (left).

The PDCC attracts some really talented people and the submissions - as well as the DT work, of course - are full of inspiration.

Last week's winner (right), by Neil Walker, particularly challenged and inspired me. This guy (yup, guy) is simply amazing.  I'm glad and certainly not surprised that he won.

My entry this week is inspired by Neil's wall-hanging. I thought I'd make one for my daughter who just started singing lessons. Frankly, I'm keen to keep this for myself and hang on my bedroom wall but maybe I'll just make another one instead.

The colour splash is my daughter's current favourite colour; it's the colour of her bedroom's feature wall.

 cardstock: SU black, white, cardboard
stamps: Kaisercraft music background
inks: Versafine Black, Tim Holtz Tumbled Glass distress ink
others: TH Alterations die - bird, glass beads, pearls, beading stuff

Die-cut cardboard was sandwiched between black (cage) and stamped white die-cuts (bird). Edges of the bird were distressed for better definition, and finally varnished for extra durability.

The TH colour - Tumbled Glass - actually inspired the choice of beads in terms of colour and materials (aqua blue and glass). I haven't done beading for a while so it was rather tricky to do but got there in the end.

This should be alright as a wall hanging or hanging off the ceiling as my daughter is more likely to do. Both sides of the bird have been stamped so should look alright from the back; it would look caged though and I prefer it out rather than in.

PDCC #70 - Yummy colours

When I saw this Play Date Cafe Challenge (#70), I knew exactly which stamp to use and what to colour it in with.

I've had the Stamp-It gecko stamp for ages. It's spots inspired all the dots, circles and spots used on the card. I also wanted to use my Twinkling H2Os which have been lying in wait for far too long.

Actually, I coloured it in with Tim Holtz distressing inks sprayed with Perfect Pearls mist, but wasn't happy so went back to the original plan. I think the Twinkling H2Os are just perfect in intensity and shimmer. I still used the distressing inks for the foreground frame, background AND, AND, AND the ribbon. I used the entire 'dyed' length as the colours are just soooo fun - unfortunately, organza is too thin to really show off the colours. Ahh well.

Here's the card.

I have to admit, cutting around the gecko was rather tricky. I'm not really good at cutting out so I tend to avoid it. But then, I wanted to make the gecko pop, literally out of the window, so cut I did.

Inks: TH Broken Sky, Spiced Marmalade, Shabby Shutters, Versafine Black

H2Os: Mediterranean blue, Lemongrass, Dreamsicle (orange)

Background stamp from Stampin Up (retired). Embossing folder from Cuttlebug. I also put some Glossy Accents on the eyes.

Not the best photo but it does show the shimmer a bit better. Look at those doleful eyes. If only geckos are this cute in real life. :-)