PINK, SPOTTY, FLOWERY "THINKING OF YOU" .....

Does the post title give you a good idea of what today's card might look like??  (Sorry, bit unimaginative with my titles!)

Today I discovered that Lisa Johnson has started to throw down challenges on her website, which I often go to for a drool over her beautiful work.  Clearly I haven't visited her blog for a while, because already Lisa has posted two challenges.  Never mind - I'll start at number 2.  The current challenge is to use light moss, a button, and polka dots.  This is what I came up with:





Stamps: One of a Kind, Sincere Salutations, Polka Dot background

Card: Very Vanilla, Pink Pirouette, Mellow Moss

Ink: Pink Pirouette and Mellow Moss stampin' pads

Other: Pink Pirouette 1 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Edge punch, Boho Blossoms punch, mini glue dots, Button Bouquet, Stamp-a-ma-jig, circle nestabilities



Pretty, don't you think?  Hubby actually likes this one, which concerns me - normally that's a bad omen! LOL.  The wide pink ribbon I have used on this card is available in Australia only until the end of March, when the current Stampin' Up! mini catalogue runs out.  Make sure you place an order with me, or your demonstrator if you already have one, if you don't want to miss out on this beautiful ribbon!  I love it, and hope you like what I've done with it. :)


 

A BRIGHT AND CHEERY DOUBLE-WHAMMY!

Today I'd like to show you a card I made, with two challenges in mind.  Our Art with Heart team forum colour challenge for this month is a great, bright, one, and once again I'm playing along with the Just Add Ink challenge - this week it's a sketch challenge.

This is what I came up with, which I hope will cheer up the recipient:



Stamps: Organic Outlines, One of A Kind, Sincere Salutations

Card: Rose Red, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise

Ink: Versamark (clear) inkpad, Basic Black, Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise, Kiwi Kiss stampin' pads

Other: Pink rhinestones (popped out of Fire Circles rhinestone brads), Pigtails Ribbon, Boho Blossoms punch, mini glue dots, sponge dauber, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Circle Nestabilities



I've enjoyed making this flowery card this afternoon; my house has been over-run by males, uproariously reacting to the Super Bowl on tv.  Husband and two friends are here, youngest son got the afternoon off school (his father's idea) to watch it, and eldest son arrived home with two of his mates.  It's at times like this, that I TRULY appreciate the sanctuary that is my craft room!!

I hope that wherever you are in the world, you are surrounded by loved ones (although hopefully quieter ones than mine, hee hee).  Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of the Black Saturday bushfires that changed the lives of Australians forever.  It has been a very emotional time, leading up to the anniversary (Australia's worst-ever natural disaster, that claimed 173 lives and wiped out entire communities).  Now that that hurdle has been overcome, I hope a 'new beginning' is in sight for all the survivors.  I am proud to say that my brother was our family's hero that day - he managed to get himself and his two children out of their house only minutes before their home was engulfed by a wall of fire.  We are truly blessed.


 

"FLOWERY" CARD FOR A MAN ????

The team of Stampin' Up! demonstrators I belong to has an online forum, that is a great source of inspiration, support and laughter for all of us.  (Get in touch with me if you'd like to sign up as a demonstrator, and join in on the fun - you won't be disappointed!)

One of several challenges set on our forum this month is to make a card for a male, incorporating flowers.  This is one of the cards I came up with:





Stamps: One Of A Kind (sentiment), Boho Backgrounds, Fifth Avenue Floral, Life Definitions, Lovely As A Tree, Weathered

Card: Sahara Sand textured and smooth, Basic Black textured, Confetti White

Ink: Sahara Sand and Basic Black stampin' pads

Other: 1 3/8" circle punch, sponge daubers, dimensionals, paper snips, black brad (from vintage selection), black Jumbo Grommet, linen thread

I love these neutral colours together - what do you think?

IT'S A "PARTY HEARTY" PARADE.....

One of the stamp sets, in the current Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue, that I was not convinced I 'needed', was Party Hearty.  However, some brilliant creations by some of my friends, and fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrators (part of our Art With Heart team), put paid to any doubts I had - so, I've joined the Party Hearty bandwagon! 

I found a really nice, simple, clean layout of a card on Splitcoaststampers, and unashamedly CASEd it.  Here is the result (bad photography and all):



Stamps: Party Hearty, Occasional Greetings

Card: Taken With Teal, Whisper White, Rose Red, Kiwi Kiss

Ink: Taken with Teal, Rose Red, Kiwi Kiss

Other: Small Tag Punch, 3/4" circle punch, eyelet (from my stash), Crop-a-dile, linen thread, 1" Double-Stitched Rose Red grosgrain ribbon, Stamp-a-ma-jig

How CUTE do those little party hats look??  I love them!  And to think I didn't need them - ha!!

Here's a slight variation, using the same basic layout, but using only Party Hearty stamps (including the present image stamped in Versamark all over the Rose Red panel), and a couple of teal rhinestone brads:



Stamps: Party Hearty

Card: Taken with Teal, Whisper White, Rose Red

Ink: Taken With Teal, Rose Red, Kiwi Kiss, Versamark

Other: 1" Double-Stitched Rose Red grosgrain ribbon, rhinestone brads, 3/4" circle punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig



I have one more Party Hearty card to share with you.  I was so loving this layout, that I made a third card, using a different colour combination.  In the upcoming Summer Mini, there is some luscious Real Red polka dot grosgrain ribbon.  I am a sucker for red ribbon, and love polka dots, so this is one of my favourite products in the Mini Catalogue! (Easily pleased, aren't I?)  This time I teamed Real Red with Chocolate Chip, and Tempting Turquoise. 



Stamps: Party Hearty, One of A Kind

Card: Real Red, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise

Ink: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise

Other: 3/4" circle punch, 3/4" Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon - SUMMER MINI, Stamp-a-ma-jig

I love these simple, cute cards.  Which one's your favourite??