Paper Tole

Happy Monday everyone!!!!

Well, I had a semi- good weekend. I didn't have to do any work, so I didn't. There wasn't a lot of housework to do, so that was easy. But Maggie was a little out of sorts and so that meant I didn't get much sleep - especially with this being Jerry's sleep over weekend!!!!

Of course, the weekend started off really well with our Card Making night on Friday night. There were 7 of us - a nice sized group. We all made a few cards, had lots to eat and talked way too much!!!! The last girls left at about 1.30 Saturday morning. Guess I was already behind the 8-ball as far as sleep went!!

Anyway, enough about my drab and dreary life - onto more important things. Like today's Technique Lover's Challenge on SCS. Paper Tole - I really love this technique and the end result, but by golly, it can be a little time consuming. I'm glad I have my trusty SU! Craft & Rubber scissors now - makes cutting out small things very, very easy.

The above card was my effort for the challenge. I have paper-toled all but 4 of those little lady bugs (oh yes, you read it right, all but 4!!!!!!) I've also paper-toled the froggie's legs, the lid he's sitting on and the glass jar. I coloured the jar slightly using Bashful Blue and a blender pen and added a dash of colour at the bottom of the main image to "ground" it. That way, it doesn't look like my froggie and the jar are flying through the air - just the little bugs!!!! I kept the rest of the card fairly simple so as not to distract from the main image. What do you think?

Please leave a comment as I love reading your messages. And if anyone wants to see a particular type of technique or card of mine, then please, let me know!!!!

Well, I'm off to make some more cards - I saw a really wonderful technique today involving scenery ......................... bye for now!!!!

Cav

Another Day, Another Card

Hello all!!!

I thought I'd give myself a day's break between blog entries. And as usual, this entry begins with another card. I've been on a bit of a roll this week.

This card was for the weekly Sketch Challenge on SCS. I love sketch challenges as it means all I have to do is come up with the stamps I want to use and the colours - I don't have to figure out where everything has to go!!!!!! I particularly like the layers in this sketch. They're all just a little bit off centre which gives the overall card a very balanced look, surprisingly enough.

Anyway, I tried a new technique with this card - "out of the box" - basically, the main image is stamped then cut so I have my straight edge border on each side up to the flowers, then I cut around the flowers so it looks like their "out of the box" so to speak. (Goodness, I don't know if I've explained that very well at all!!!!!!). Anyway, it was my first attempt at the technique and I think I need to practice some more, but overall, I'm happy with the result.

I decided to use blues on this card as I always tend to lean towards pinks and purples. Especially when I'm stamping flowers. Well, I hope you like my card.

I've had an up and down sort of week this week. Stamping and card making and work have all been fine and dandy. But I've had some sad news too. A lovely man I used to work with in my previous job unfortunately, succumbed to the big C this week. I know he'd been ill and well, it's horrible to say, but it was just a matter of time. But, even knowing that, doesn't make it any easier when it happens.

He was a funny bloke - I could always have a laugh with him. Usually it was at either his expense or my expense, but he was just so good natured, quietly spoken and just an all round good guy. He will be greatly missed by his wife and children and his many friends. I'm in the process of making a Sympathy card for his family and I will post it here when I've finished. These cards are always difficult to make and are usually the cards we make only when we "have" to. I want this one to be special, so I'm taking my time and thinking very carefully about design and colour.

Well, I don't want to end on a sad note - my old mate wouldn't care for that at all!!!!! So, happy stamping to you all, and I'll leave you with this thought from Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back (yes, I AM that nerdy!!!!!!!) "Do, or do not. There is no try."

Cheers!!!!

This Week's SCS Colour Challenge

Well hello all!!! So much for trying to limit myself to weekly blog entries. Here it is, day two and I'm already adding my second entry - ho-hum!!!!!

This card is for the weekly Colour Challenge posted on SCS. We had to use Soft Sky (Bashful Blue), Basic Grey (Basic Black) and Whisper White. The original colours are the current US In Colour Range for SU! Of course, these colours will be available to us in Australia next week when the new Catalogue comes in. (Only 7 more sleeps to go!!!!)

I also chose this really elegant stamp set, "Elegant Notes", which will also make an appearance in the new Australian Catalogue. Oh, we have so much to look forward to!!!!

Well, apart from making this card today for the challenge, I've also done a heap of work while Maggie was in Childcare. She's really enjoying her time there with the other kids and just runs herself ragged!!! It's fantastic for her - not to mention it gives me a whole day of being able to get some "real" work done.

During some spare time today, I also tried a new stamping technique which I'm planning on demo'ing at an upcoming Workshop. It's super easy and super fun - and of course, the results are "super"!!!!! And I also found a recipe for home made glue today. Not that I'll be using it in my projects, but I do intend to make some up so Maggie can start her obsession, I mean, so Maggie can start having fun in sticking bits of paper to other bits of paper!!!!!!

Well, that's all from me for today - Happy Tuesday all!!!!!

Cav

Welcome to my Blog!!!!

Hey there and welcome to my Blog. This is my first ever post, so I guess we'll have to see how this goes. Not too sure how often I'll be able to get back here and post, but it is my intention to get back here at least weekly!!!!!!

I thought I'd start off easy and include the most recent card I've made in my first blog. And here it is ....................... Pickle Friendship Blooms. This was a challenge card from Splitcoaststampers (SCS). For anyone who is unfamiliar with the SCS Website, you should take the time to have a look at some absolutely wonderful creations from some very talented people. The link is off to the right of this page.

Every Sunday they do a Featured Stamper challenge. Quite simply a very talented stamper is chosen and their SCS gallery is featured. The challenge is to choose one of their cards to CASE (or copy) making only a few minor adjustments.

This week's featured stamper is Amy Sheffer (PickleTree) and her SCS Gallery can be found here. The card of Amy's that I chose to "CASE" is here.

The card pictured above is my take on Amy's card. With the challenge, I had to change at least two aspects of the original card. I decided to change the colour and the background of the card base and I also changed the sentiment slightly.

OK, this is going to be a short and to the point blog entry, just to get me started. Over the coming months I hope to add more photos of my card creations and also share a little of what's happening in the world of Cav (Maggie's Mummy).

Thanks so much for stopping by!!!!

Cav