Thankful autumn

Another challenge - two in the same week, yay! I just had to play because I loved the colour combo at Dynamic Duose!

Stamp set: french foliege
Ink: cajun craze, island indigo
Card: cajun craze, island indigo, very vanilla
Accessoriness: island indigo ribbon, expressions thinlits dies, big shot, dimensionals

This came together pretty quickly, and I played with some new toys which was is always fun!  I stamped the background, added some extra leaves on dimensionals and die-cut the 'thankful'.  The ribbon added some texture and coloure to the project.  I love the expressions thinlites and I'm sure they'll be put to good use as Christmas comes alongs and Valentines!  And of course, I had to add some stamping into the inside panel to add a message.

Thanks for stoping by!http://thedynamicduoschallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2013/10/dd73-cajun-craze-and-island-indigo.html

Flower Shop Hello

The laddies at JAI set us a challenge to use a beautiful colour combo in our projects.  I loved this challenge and enjoyed getting out of my comfort zone a little for this one... So without further ado, her is my project that I sent in to JAI:

Stamp set(s): flower shop, four you

Ink: costal cabana, raspberry ripple, raspberry ripple marker

Card: costal cabana, raspberry ripple, whisper white, glossy card

Accessories: pansy punce, pearls, costal cabana ruffle stretch trim, wax paper, iron, sponges

I used a new technique using wax paper that resisted the ink that I added with sponges.  I scrunched the wax paper before ironing over the glossy card, and then I added colour was added on the glossy card with sponges.  The wax paper it resists and it gives you a very cool effect.  If used this technique on the main panel.  It was a lot of fun to try out this technique and I think I'll using this technique again!  To finish off, I love the new ruffled stretch trim and I added some flowers and pearls.  Hope you enjoy it!

And a quick update:

I have just had more surgery for a recurrence of a brain tumor and have currently going through chemo (tablets, 5 days every month for 6 months).  I've just been through the first round of chemo and I'm feeling pretty good but still taking it it easy, and one day at a time. It's a long process but I have ben recovering well and have so enjoyed my stamping as I have recovered. It has been an very important part of my recovery. I won't always put up updates here, but when I can, I'll add something here.  Thanks!

Just add bows!

I've had some fun playing at Just Add Ink today.  The ladies challenged with to 'just add a bows' in our project.

Stamp set(s): serene silhouettes
Card: wisteria wonder, smoky slate, lucky limade
Ink: smoky slate, wisteria wonder
Accessories: wisteria wonder chevon ribbon, spongers

I had some fun with my spongers on this project and also practicing a very fun technique called the reflection technique. Using a piece of acetate, you can stamp the same image in the reverse or in the reflection.  I was chaffed with the effect on this project.  I added a bow with the yummy new chevon ribbon that is new in the current catalogue. Loving how it make a statement!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

A few weeks ago, I made this card for a recent JAI challenge, but I missed the cut-off... still, I wanted to blog it and it's better late than never, right?!

I had some snowflakes (retired card) that I thought would work really well on a card.

Card: pool party, whisper white, pool party cord'dinations card stock
Stamp(s): snowflake soriree
Ink: pool parter
Accessories: snow flurry die, pool part ribbon, rhinestones, honeycomb embossing folder, big-shot

I stacked up three different sized snowflakes to give the project some dimension and added some embossing with the cord-dinations card stock to create some texture.  You may not be able to see it very well, but I love how the embossed cord-dinations card creates two different colours.  The ribbon and rhinestones give it a certain 'wow' that I'm loving.  Can't wait to pass this on at Christmas time!

It's Christmas!

Stamp sets: mosaic madness, snowflake soiree
Ink: midnight muse, versa mark
Card: midnight muse, whisper white
Accessories: white embossing powder, embossing buddy, heating tool, stamp-a-ma-jig, rhinestones, mosaic punch, dimensionals

I love the simplicity of this project!  I've used the new mosaic madness stamp-set and co-ordinating punch to emboss and punch out the decorations on midnight muse card.  I added them with dimensionals for some extra dimension. A sentiment and rhinestones lift this card to 'wow'!  I still haven't decided if I'll use this design for my Christmas Cards yet...it's a fun design, and it'll lends itself to a "production line" card-making session(s).

I know it's a little early to think about Christmas, but since I love Christmas, in my world, it's never too early for the holidays...  Just wait until the new Holiday Catalogue comes out in a few weeks...watch this space!

Mosaic madness!

Card: strawberry slush, costal cabana
Ink: strawberry blush, costal cabana
Stamp set(s): mosaic madness, create a cupcake
Accesseries: mosaic punch, rhinestones, stamp-a-ma-jig, dimensionals

I know it's been awhile (I'm saying this a lot these days...), but I've been having fun with some new goodies!  I'm in love with this stamp set and the co-ordinating punch - they are perfect to play around with!  I decided to use two of the new in-colours to create this birthday card.  Of course, I had to stamp the inside, and I added a fun sentiment to go with the 'happy birthday' on the front.  I created a quick and simple banner to add the main sentiment, and finished it off with some bling to give it some 'wow'.

This has already been sold to a friend for a birthday celebration today!  Hope she likes it!

I've set myself a challenge to blog once a week for the next little while, so we'll see how it goes. It always feels good to set some goals and actually see them being achieved.  I'm looking forward to seeing how this challenge can bring some positive motivation to my creativity.  Wish me luck!

Thank you Mum!

Stamp set(s): because I care, bliss, curly cute
Ink: crumb cake, raspberry ripple, primrose petals, old olive
Card: chocolate chip, raspberry ripple, primrose petals, very vanilla
DSP: print poetry DS paper stack
Accessories: sponges, very vanilla seam binding, pearls

Here is a card that I've made for my mum to simply say "thank you".  We have just been on an amazing trip to Europe and Italy together, which is why I haven't been around blog-land for awhile...  We had a fantastic 4 weeks away, saw lots, and caught up with family.  So grateful for this opportunity!

Anyway, this project has been CASE'd from Teneale Williams - love her work! I wanted to make mum an extra-special card, and I think the layers, the sponging, seam binding and pearls do it all.  Enjoy!

On a personal note (I seem to be doing a lot of these at the moment!) I saw my oncologist last week, and she doesn't want to see me for another 3 months, unless I need to, and if I start displaying the same symptoms as I was before being diagnosed.  It's been just over a year, which is hard to believe.  I am now working 20 hours a week which feels great, and I'm slowly but surely getting my energy back.  It's all good!  I think the trip was a fantastic way to build up my stamina to cope with extra hours at work.  It's been a long journey, but I'm doing well - yay!

ANZAC Day remembered

Hello!

I've been wondering how to begin this post for awhile, as it's been ages since my last post...  I figured I should just start and go from there!

But first things first...  Health-wise, things are going really well.  I finished chemo in February and I had a post-treatment MRI last month, and it came back clear!!  Yay!  I don't see the oncologist again until June, unless something comes up in the meantime, so it's looking positive.  I've been given the "all clear" to travel, so my mother and I are making the long trip to the UK to visit with family, then to Italy to visit Rome and Florence.  Can't wait to come home and scrap the photos!  Other than that, I'm slowly increasing my hours at work, and will be on 15 hours a week when I get back from our trip.  Physically, I'm feeling really good, but I do get tired pretty easily so I have to pace myself. After everything that's been happening, I've feeling blessed that it's gone so well.  But enough about me...

I have a project to share that I created a few days ago on ANZAC Day. For the last few years, I have created a card on ANZAC Day to remember the fallen, and to commemorate the freedom we have in this country.  This one came together pretty quickly.

Card: real red, basic black, whisper white

Ink: real red, cherry cobbler, basic black, real red marker, basic black marker

Stamp set(s): awash with flowers, word play

Accessories: sponges, rhinestones

I sponged real red and cherry cobbler on the left bottom corner, stamped the poppy, marked up the sentiment with the two different colours and stamped it at the top of the project.  You can't go wrong with rhinestones, so I added a line of rhinestones on the sentiment, and a few on the poppy.  I just had to do the inside, so I stamped a smaller poppy twice on the inside panel.

Hope you like it!