Good evening, thanks for popping over.  I have a Copic coloured card to share tonight.  Over at Mad for Markers they are having a Shades of One Colour Challenge. 

Scott, my brother-in-law just had a b'day and so I thought I would make him a boy card.  He is a uni student so I thought "Jim with beer" would be appropriate. 

I coloured with cool grey Copics.  I was trying to go for a black and grey monochromatic look.  The papers are from DCWV The Alphabet Stack and I added some large buttons and threaded this leaf ribbon through the holes to add a bit of texture. I also did some sewing on the machine for interest and ripped the edges of the paper to give a rough or distressed look. 

Thats about it from me tonight...I am off to finish my packing.  Ben thinks I do not need to take 82 outfits with me to Japan...(he is exaggerating of course), but I say you can never really tell what the weather will do.  I bought a lovely red dress and red shoes for the wedding...will have to post a photo when I get back.

Take care and enjoy your crafting,

 Goodevening blogging buddies...am feeling a little stressed and frantic tonight.  I am organising a Cross Country carnival for school this Friday and preparing for our week in Japan and I dont cope well with too much going on these days...I get all hyped up and buzzing with adrenaline.  Have had lots to do tonight and still another two days of work to go.  Never mind...it will all get done eventually, and if it doesn't then what is the worst that can happen, right?

To calm me down I thought some peaceful blogging might help and here I have this glittery, cute little Tilda to share with you.  I made her up yesterday, or the day before, for an ex-student in my class last year - Kelsey.  She is such a sweet little thing and I thought I would surprise her by remembering her birthday.

For this card I used Old Olive and Regal Rose card stock combined with SU DPs.  I coloured Tilda with ink pads and aqua painters and added ribbon, prima flowers and rhinestones.  I edged the card and papers with Old Olive ink and gold Kindy-Glitz.

I followed the sketch from Stamp With Fun and would like to join in with One Stop Craft Challenge - Metallic, because I have used lots of gold on this card and gold is a metal.

Thanks for visiting me today.  I hope you have a lovely evening.

Another Magnolia B'day Card

 I have another b'day card to share with you tonight...a super cute Tilda and her puppy on a pile of books.  This is for my cousin Karen.  She is an animal lover and cares deeply about the environment.  She studied Environmental Science and I'm not exactly sure what she is up to now, but I know she is working in a foreign country doing research on a community I think...that is very vague isnt it! Anyway, I thought these images would be perfect for her.  She is currently home in Australia this weekend and so am sending this to her parent's address in the hope that it will reach her before she goes back on another adventure!

I actually love this DP but have no idea who made it or what it is called but it goes perfectly with my new fave colour combo Choc Chip, Barely Banana and Regal Rose.  There is also a strip of pink SU DP in there as well and a panel of this furry cream paper.  I added some lace and mesh and ribbon from my stash with a SU sentiment that I love from the Whimsical Words set.  I punched out the little pink heart and covered it in Kindy Glitz.

I would like to join in with the following challenges:

CLP Challenge Blog - Sketch

Stamp With Us - Birthdays

Just Magnolia - Anything Goes

Also a bit of exciting news....I received my copics today! Have been playing with them already of course! (Not on this card though...I made this yesterday).  The colours are so delicious and the tips so soft and blendable...lots of fun in store for me I think!

Hope your day was filled with sunshine : )

Thanks for visiting,

Aqua B'day Card

 

This birthday card is for my friend Regina.  We went to uni together and now she lives at Coffs Harbour in NSW.  For this card I used a digi image "Lily" from the Digi-Stamp Boutique.  I coloured her with Stampin' Write markers.  I did lots of dots in different colours to colour her dress and hair ribbon and then used kindy-glitz over the top.  I used a SU punch and some white lace down the centre of the card.  The card colours are Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa and SU DP.  The ribbon, button and flowers are all from my stash.

I would like to play along with the following challenges:

Cupcake Craft Challenge - Don't be Square

Stampavie and More - Lace and Button

S2G Challenges - Spring has Sprung

The Pink Elephant Challenge - Aqua

Our Creative Corner - Blossoms

2 Sketches 4 You - Sketch (but missed the cut-off)

I spent most of the day at my Sister's house today...but her girls were not well and then came home for lunch and to do some washing and blogging.  The sun is out and shining today after yesterday's rain.  But you can certainly feel the change of season coming.  I hope you had a lovely day today.  Thanks for visiting : )

A Grandma's Baby Card

 My sister requested this card for a friend of hers who has just become a Grandmother for the first time.  Such an exciting time for her friend...and so she wanted to help celebrate.  This card has very simple lines.  The colours are Pretty in Pink and Regal Rose card stock.  The DP and sentiment is SU.  The bear is Forever Friends.

No challenges fit with this card...so I just popped it on in case you wanted to have a little look.  I do love colouring these Forever Friend images, they take no time at all! 

I hope your afternoon is going along nicely. 

Another Male B'day Card

 This card is for my cousin Pat, he is a keen surfer and fisherman.  He loves the coast and is currently living at Mackay, QLD right on the beach.  I used Mo's Digital image of the fisherman.  I distressed the edges and inked them in Creamy Caramel ink to give an aged effect.  I used some linen twine and kept the layout pretty simple.  The sentiment is from SU Whimsical Words set.  Card is Whisper White and Bashful Blue and the darker blue is a scrap of designer paper.  I coloured with Stampin' Write markers and used crystal effects on the water.

I would like to play along in the following challenges:

Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge - Happy Birthday

Creative Card Crew Challenge - Happy Birthday

Quixotic Challenges - Make a Splash

Crafty Creations - Distressing

Paper Play Challenges - No Patterned Paper

Charisma Cards - Quote Me

It is ANZAC day here in Australia today so we went to a morning service and then down to Mum and Dad's for breakfast with some for the family.  It is nice to get together.  It is raining here so I have changed into my comfy clothes and plan to stay indoors and craft.

Thanks for popping over and visiting my blog!

Smash Book Recipes - Chocolate Cake

I am beginning a 6x6 recipe scrapbook for my favourite recipes.  I have three or four display folders bulging with recipes and I feel the need to organise the best ones in the one place.  The first recipe I had to add to the collection is my Grandma's Prize Winning Chocolate cake.  This is a family favourite and the only chocolate cake I make.  My brother and sister and I were brought up on it and we love it.

 I used Magnolia stamps for this card and DCWV "Sweet Stack" DP.  I coloured with ink pads and aquapainter and decorated with gold kindy-glitz.  (I got a bit carried away with the kindy-glitz!)  I have included a close-up of the recipe in case you would like to make one yourself.  It is baked in a moderate oven.  (Don't forget to eat the mixture off the bowl before you wash it up...it is delicious!)

And here is a close up of Oops Tilda and the jar of chocolate.  I tried to keep the card flat so it would fit easily into the scrapbook album without too much bulk.  To be honest, I struggled with the colours a bit, trying to find bits and pieces to match.  I had to make do with the blue and white striped ribbon, some twine and the two little flowers all from my stash.  I am awaiting an order on flowers coming soon to me, once all those planes get back up and flying!

I used the machine to stitch around the edges and because of this it qualifies me to enter the "In Stitches" challenges at Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog and Allsorts Challenge Blog.

Now all I need to do is get started on my other favourite recipes to add to the book.  Thanks for dropping in to see me today.

Male Golfing B'day Card

 I have a Male card to share with you tonight...havent made a male card for ages.  I have to admit I do find them a bit dull and boring!  However I tried to make this one a bit interesting by using paper for the sky and the grass instead of colouring.  I printed the digi image out three times.  Once on Whisper White card, once on the blue SU DP and once on the green SU DP.  Then I cut them out and layered it all up.  I also did some stitching on my machine to add interest, but I should probably invest in some more coloured thread as the white didnt really stand out that well.  Card stock is Old Olive and Barely Banana.  This card is a birthday card for my Uncle Neil and he does LOVE playing golf.

I would like to play along with the following challenges:
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Happy Birthday
Alphabet Challenge Blog - Y is for Yellow
Creative Card Crew - Happy Birthday


Thanks for visiting me...I hope you have a lovely day!

Winner of my Candy

Today was the drawing of my 30th Birthday Candy and I would like to say a big "thank you" to everyone who entered. The lucky winner is....

Carol Dee !!!

I am so excited for you Carol! Would you mind emailing me at: aliciamareemcnamara@gmail.com to give me your address so I can mail this very special prize out to you soon!

Also a little bit of news...I finally bought my Copics tonight online at Mad For Markers and I bought 72 Set A and B Ciaos. I can't believe it really...

I wonder how long they will take to get to me...Cost me a small fortune!

Back to school for me tomorrow. I have been struggling with it all week, but it is sitting okay with me tonight and that is a very good thing.

I hope you have had a good day today.

Thanks for visiting and congratulations Carol!

Birthday Blog Candy

To celebrate my 30th Birthday this week I wanted to give away some candy! I am collecting some yummy bits and pieces together to package up and give away to a lucky person. Because I am very slack at entering candies myself, I wanted to make it very simple and easy for you. All you have to do is become a follower (if you aren't already) and leave a comment on this post.

I will add to this yummy pile of candy over the next few days, but so far the package contains:

Magnolia Stamped Images

Penny Black Stamped Images

Lace

Flowers

Ribbons

A selection of brads and ribbon buckles

A selection of quality Designer Papers

This post will remain at the top for the meantime so please scroll down for more recent card postings.

Candy will be drawn Tuesday 20th April so you have a week to enter. I am more than happy to post world wide. Good luck!

Two Little Shape Cards

 I received this little pink card for my birthday (photo below) and I fell in love with it.  I wanted to make a shape card for something a bit different and I needed to make some thank you cards for people who sent me presents.  I traced the outline onto card and copied the design.  I used CC Designs stamp SU DP, card and sentiment.  They are almost identical cards going to two gorgeous girls and their Mums who sent me a beautiful present together.  I taught the girls two years ago at my old school.  I think they will like them.

Birthday Card I received

I would like to enter these little cards into the Anyone for Anya - Sweet as Sugar Challenge.

Tomorrow is your last chance to enter my candy draw...so pop on over here if you would like to be in the running to win!

A card that was supposed to be simple...

My sister asked me to make a card for her to give to a friend...she said "Can you make it look simple...I dont want it to look like I have taken hours to make it." (She loves to imagine she has made the card) I had this image in my mind of a clean, plain card that I would make.  But simple it did not turn out to be...not that it took me a long time to make it, but just that it ended up all pretty and girly...and not "simple".

I used SU stamps (butterfly and sentiment), ribbons from my stash and prima flowers to make this card.  I used Regal Rose and Pretty in Pink ink and Pretty in Pink and So Saffron cards stock.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Creatalicious Challenges - Flowers and Wings

Stampavie - Butterflies

Cute Card Thursday - Touchy Feely

Stamp Something - Something Layered

The Craft Garden - Pastel Colours

One Stop Craft Challenge - Things with Wings

Our Creative Corner - Beautiful Butterflies

Thanks for visiting my blog,

Bookmark

Its been a long time since I have made a bookmark, but for Renae's birthday present we bought her a book and so I thought a bookmark might be a nice addition to her present. I had to keep reminding myself that it had to be flat - so no 3d embellishments or pop dots (sadly). I used the stamps from CC Designs which I just love to death! I used the colours Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose and So Saffron. I love this SU colour combination. I coloured with inks and aqua painter.

I have been thinking long and hard about my decision to buy some copics...but the thing is I want the whole set! I love watercolouring, but it doesnt go so well on digi images on normal card. I think it would be nice to have the option to use copics or water colouring depending on the card and image. I am seriously considering the purchase...whats money anyway, right?

I would like to enter this bookmark into the following challenges:

PaperTake Weekly - Cutie Pie
2 Sketches 4 You - Sketch

PaperPlay Challenges - Stickers (3 love heart stickers)

One Stop Craft Challenge - Things with Wings

I have been busy over the last few days. On Friday I was planning for school. I needed to plan because I go back next week. (I must be working up to going back because last night I dreamed that I resigned!) So I planned for the whole day on Friday...it took me forever...but at least that is the first 2 weeks of term done. On Saturday I did lots of cleaning and jobs around the house and so that leaves all of today to just create.

Also, if you haven't entered my Birthday Candy yet, you should because there is a great chance to win and all you need to do is leave a comment to be in the running! Check it out here.

I hope to be back later today with some more creations. Thanks for visiting!

Wedding Card for Japan

I saw the challenge over at Bee Crafty to make a wedding card. I need a wedding card because in May we are heading to Japan to go to Ben's cousin - Matthew's wedding. We went over three years ago for Ben's other cousin - Julia's wedding and are preparing to go again. I actually have the Bee Crafty Wedding image, so how could I not praticipate! I have used this image a lot lately. I happily made a mini card again - my excuse this time that people in Japan like teeny things anyway (any excuse to make a mini card these days)!

I used my heart nestibilities to cut out the heart in the background, some Regal Rose and Rose Red card stock, some pink gingham ribbon and flowers. I would also like to enter the challenge over at The Pink Elephant - 1 image, 2 dies and 3 embellishments. My image is the Bride and groom, the dies are the love hearts and the embellishments is 2 flowers and one ribbon.

A cute little sheep card...

Its always exciting when you come across a new challenge blog...and yesterday I came across There's Magic in the Air. What is a little different about this challenge is that they give you a free image to have a play with and enter in the challenge. How cool is that! The image for this challenge is a cute little birthday sheep. You also have to use the colours green, blue and white. I had a lovely time making this card...I originally wanted it to be for my Uncle, but I think it has turned out too feminine...never mind, will just have to make another one!

I used my Cuttlebug to make the green bumpy background, some green tartan ribbon, and some cute little brithday balloons and a present to decorate. Colours are bashful Blue and Gable Green. I am also entering this card in the Creative Card Crew Challenge - Birthday Cards and Totally Gorgeous - texture.

I am loving being on holidays and blogging every day...I really dont want to go back to work next week...I would like to stay home every day forever. After my contract ends at the end of Term 2 I think I will just do a bit of casual teaching here and there. 11 weeks to go and counting!

If you have arrived at my blog through a direct link to this post feel free to scroll up and see my birthday candy on offer. It is my birthday today and I am lucky enough to be going to Mum's for lunch and then out for dinner tonight. I hope you have a super day today!

Thanks for visiting,

Renae's Birthday Card

It is my brother's girlfriend - Renae's birthday today. I have made her a card combining the sketch from Magnolia-licious Highlites and the challenge at Magnolia Stamp Lovers and Paper Sundaes is Make a Scene. I found the making a scene part pretty challenging as I hadn't tried this before. I used a Maggie with cherries sitting on a CC Designs fence with a Magnolia background. It took me a few practices to get it right. I would also like to enter the challenge over at Creative Card Crew - Happy Birthday seeing this is a birthday card.

The card stock is SU Real Red and Old Olive. The DPs are SU as is the ribbon and sentiment. Flowers are Prima (I just love these flowers and will have to but more of them asap). I coloured using ink pads, aqua painter, stampin write markers and pencil...a bit of a mixed effort for this card. I added some Kindy-Glitz to the flowers.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Butterfly Thank You Card

Another mini card to share today...I just love them! They are so quick and fun! No extra space to think...what should go in that corner...etc. I used Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Bashful Blue and Tempting Turquoise inks. Tempting Turquoise and Regal Rose card stock with SU DP. All stamps are SU as well. Ribbon is recycled from a present and lace and pearl from my stash.

I would like to join in the following three challenges:

My Time To Craft - Pretty Pearls

Stampavie and More - Butterflies

Allsorts Challenge Blog - Petals and Pearls

I am looking forward to more card-making and crafting today...I hope you are having a lovely day.

Blog Award from Kerryn

Goodmorning Blogging Buddies,

I received this Charming Blog Award from Kerryn last week. She has an amazing blog with beautiful creations and such cute pictures of her puppy dogs. If you are an animal lover you will especially love Kerryn's blog!

The translation is "Charming Blog" so I would like to pass this award onto some lovely blogging buddies I have out there in the blogging world who visit me often:

Carol
Lucinda @ Stampin Up with Lucinda
Amanda @ Blop Blop Blogger
Aussie Loz @ My free Time Filler
Chris @ Always About Colour
Leigh @ Cause I'm Me
Kez @ Kezzam
Annette @ My Pommie Purple Patch
Cheryl @ My Cardmaking Haven
Victoria @ Blue Jelly Too
Jeannie @ Dragonfly Journeys

Dont feel you have to post the award ladies if you dont have time, just know that I appreciate your friendship and your lovely comments that you leave me.