Charlotte's 5th Birthday Card

 It is my neice Charlotte's 5th Birthday coming up and for once I am organised with a card ready to go.  I used this gorgeous image Annette stamped for me - thank you so much Annette!  When I saw this stamp "Lili scooting" on one of Annette's cards I thought it would be perfect for Charlotte and Annette kindly posted it to me.  I think Lili is just gorgeous.  This card is suitable for Stampavie and More's Challenge - "A Card for a Girl."  I coloured her with Copics.

I went for a pink and green coloured theme so I could enter the challenge over at Creative Card Crew, plus I do love pink and green together - it seems to just work for me.  The card stock is Certainly Celery and the bottom DP is Magnolia with the frogs with the crowns that Kellie kindly sent me from Tickled Pink Stamps.  I have a princess theme going on this card with the sentiment and her cap and the Magnolia DP.  The other DPs are SU left overs.  The doily is also from Tickled Pink Stamps.  I have just ordered these and I love using them.

 I distressed all the edges so I could enter the Distressing challenges at Creative Inspirations and Crafts and Me.  Then I added gold Kindy-glitz to the edges to add some glimmer.  The flowers and leaves are all from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I used a sketch designed by Hanna.  Hanna is an amazing crafter who lives in Sweden and is only 14 years old.  She has some stunning cards on her blog and sketches as well.  This is my second card I have made with one of her sketches.  (I havent posted the first one yet).  I love the detail of them.  Do pop on over to her blog for a visit.  You will be amazed at her beautiful artworks!

I went into town today and had a Hot Chocolate with my Auntie and then visited the hair dressers.  I am off to visit my sister this afternoon and then its another four days at work for me.  I hope you are having a lovely day and your week has started out well.

Take care and thanks for visiting.

Two Male Birthday Cards

Good evening blogging buddies...it has been awhile since my last post. I have had a busy week at work and havent made it on here up until now. Tonight I have two male birthday cards to share. I have made them out of necessity. I dont really like making male cards because you dont get to use anything pretty!

The first one is for Uncle Rod. He is a dermatologist and likes the plain, classy look so I tried to make a card like that. I used Next to Navy card stock and inked the edges with Craft White. I inked the Whisper White card stock with Next to Navy ink. I embossed the sentiment with white embossing powder and added some silver square brads onto the SU DP.

I thought I would enter this card in the Words - No Stamped Images challenge at Die Cut Dreams. And also in the Quixotic Challenge - Emboss it!

The second card is for my cousin Barry. I used a Dustin Pike digi image for a bit of a laugh on this card (to be honest - I was at a loss as to what stamp to use). I coloured with copics and put crystal effects on the water bits. I sponged Next to Navy and Old Olive ink for the background. I used a mixture of DPs on some Next to navy card and added buttons and linen thread.

This card I would like to enter in Dare U 2 Digi Stamp's Challenge - One for the boys!

I hope to pop in and visit all your blogs this weekend and catch up on all the beautiful creations I have missed out on this week.

Have a fun weekend and thanks for looking!

Birthday Card

This weekend we went to Newcastle for my friend Michelle's 40th birthday party. I made her this card. I am playing along with the Mad for Markers "feather blending" challenge. I did feather blending on Tilda's dress. I used the colours for the Copic Colour Challenge but missed the cut-off date for this one. These were the main colours you had to use.

Michelle's party was a fancy dress and the theme was "Western Saloon". Ben and I hired our costumes and dressed up. Here is a photo of us before we went to the party. It was a good night with gambling tables and fake money. Everyone looked fantastic in their costumes. We stayed with our good friends Carrie and Josh, and we had a lovely weekend. I managed to fit in a bit of shopping as well. I am working a full week this week and am off to a Soccer Gala day all day tomorrow...hopefully I will be able to make a few posts in the evenings. I hope you had a lovely weekend and look forward to catching up with you during the week.

Some Lucky Wins

I have had good luck recently...(I think it is since I had a lucky stone hidden in my piece of wedding cake in Japan) and I have won three competitions!!!!

My first win was with Magnolia Stamp Lovers for their Purple Challenge. I was lucky enough to win a yummy Magnolia stamp...so exciting! I haven't inked her up yet as I need to purchase some Momento Ink to be able to colour her with my copics. Thank you Magnolia Stamp Lovers.

My second win was with Magnolialicious Highlites for their Make a Scene Challenge. I'm not sure about my prize yet...I only found out about this win yesterday. I was very excited about this win because I had totally forgotten about this card and thought the challenge was well and truely over! Thank you Magnolialicious Highlites.

My third win I found out about tonight is with There's Magic In the Air for their Clean and Simple Challenge. I picked out a gorgeous mermaid digi stamp for this which you can see here if you are interested. How exciting! Thank you There's Magic in the Air.

Thought I might share my good news with you all. I would also like to say a special "Thank you" to all my blogging buddies who leave me little comments on my cards. I really appreciate your "blogging friendships" and it makes making cards so much more fun to chat with people about what we are all so passionate about. Thank you for your friendship.

A Card for my Mum to give...

I made this card for my Mum to send to one of her best friends - Robyn

Sometimes it can be hard to find the right image for a person...I used this Pink Petticoat Digi Image - Lola Rose Pretty. I felt like this image would be pretty safe - I mean what female who likes pretty dresses and bags and shopping wouldn't like it, right?

The base card is Barely Banana and the DP is SU. I actually really enjoyed playing with these colours. I coloured the imge with copics and inked all the card with Regal Rose ink pad. I glued on some pearls over the top of circles in the DP and added a sentiment and some cherry blossoms that I bought from Wild Orchid Crafts. I hope Robyn likes the card anyway...

I would like to play along with the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly - Say it with Flowers

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Cute and Girly

Friday Sketchers - Sketch

I hope your week is going well...I'm off to work tomorrow for the next three days.

Thanks for visiting me today!

5-Year-Old Pirate B'day Card

Good evening fellow blogging buddies.

I have been having a few computer hitches trying to upload photos...but seem to have it working now. Have wanted to share this card for a few days...but am only just getting around to it now.

I made this for my nephew Will's 5th Birthday.

I used the digi image "Josh-Pirate" from the Digi-Stamp Boutique.

I can't remember using him before, even though I have had him for over a year now.

He is a cutie though!

I printed him out on Very Vanilla card stock and coloured him with copics.

I distressed the edges of the SU DP and the Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla card stock.

I inked the edges with Creamy Caramel ink and I used the treasure map stamp from SU "Ahoy Matey" set to decorate and sponged a bit of ink as well. I embellished with some twine thread, a spare button off my new jacket and the other button shaped like a shark's tooth is a spare button off a vest I bought last year. (Too bad if I ever lose any buttons on my clothes...as they are all on cards I have made and given to people!) Here is a view of the inside of the card. I asked my husband to write on the card and he was pleased there wasn't much room for writing left...I knew he would appreciate the minimal space!

I would like to play along with the following challenges:

Our Creative Corner - Let's Hear it for the Boys

Dare You To Digi Stamp - Anything Goes

Alphabet Challenge Blog - Chocolate Colours

Stampin' for the Weekend - A Card for a Male

Thanks for visiting me today,

Cate's B'day Card

 Just sitting down with a Tim Tam and hot chocolate and thought...I might post a card!  This card I made a couple of days ago for my current teaching partner whose birthday is today.  She loves teddy-bears, so I thought this Forever Friends bear would be perfect.  I coloured it with Copics and layered him onto Pretty in Pink, Barely Banana and Chocolate Chip card with some DP that I dont know the name of, but love.  I added a SU sentiment punched out and some organza ribbon that is recycled from a present.

I thought I might play along with these challenges:

My Time to Craft - Tooo Cute!
By the Cute and Girly - Celebrations
Allsorts Challenge  - Birthdays
Paper Play Challenges - Brown and...

Well, the Hot Chocolate and Tim Tam are well and truely finished now...sadly...and so is this post! Thanks for stopping by and reading.  I hope you have a lovely night.

Final Mother's Day Card

Good morning fellow blogging buddies,

This morning I have my last Mother's Day card to share with you. This is for my Mother-in-law and her favourite colour is purple so I made sure I used lots of purple on this card!

I followed the sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You. I am always intrigued by their sketches, they just look a little different to all the other sketches out there on blog land and I have been trying to play along recently. The DT cards are also always amazing and unique.

I waould also like to enter the Buttons, Bows and Butterflies challenge at Inspiring Inky Challenges. You have to include two of three of the mentioned objects. I have the bow and butterflies, but no buttons sadly.

I used SU Old Olive and Very Vanilla card stock with the gorgeous designer paper from Kimberley Poloson - Nature's Flora. I really didn't want to cover up the paper as I just love it too much so I cut out some butterflies and added them on.

I added some ribbon, flowers, pearls and hat pins to pretty it up a little. I used a SU punch to create the layers at the base of the card. It is a fairly simple card, but I hope my Mother-in-law really likes it. I will see her today at my nephew's b'day party and so will finally be able to give it to her.

I have to quickly make my nephew's card now before the party...

Have a great Saturday!

Belated Mother's Day Card

Now I won't blame you if you are sick of seeing belated Mother's Day cards on my blog.  This is the second last one I promise.  This was the card I made for my Nan.  She likes cats, so I thought this Penny Black image would suit.  I coloured with Copics, used a range of pink and brown SU card and DPs, some lace, ribbon, cherry blossoms and kindy glitz.

I would like to play along with the following challenges:

My Time to Craft - Toooo Cute!

Cute Card Thursday - Someone Special (My Nan)

The Sweet Stop - Sketch

Life has been very busy the last couple of days...school and planning and trying to get some cards in on the side!  I am well behind in my cards at the moment...lets hope I can catch up over the weekend.  I also have my nephew's 5th birthday to attend and Mum is having a jewellery party...so I think it will be quite busy!  I hope you are having a good week. 

Thanks for visiting me today.

Clean and Simple

It is not often that I make a Clean and Simple card, and that is the challenge over at There's Magic in the Air this week.  They give you this pretty image "Softly Afloat" and even definitions of what a Clean and Simple card can be.  I found these definitions very useful.  I wanted to combine the colours at Sweet Stampin' Challenge Blog for this card.

I used Green card for the base, Summer Sun for the layer, Only Orange SU ribbon and Pink when colouring the butterfly.  I coloured with Copics and added diamontes for the centre of the flowers and glitter on the butterfly.

Thanks for stopping by,

3rd Birthday Card

 This is for my friend's little girl, Mackenzie.  She has just turned three years old.  I used two Magnolia stamps for this card which makes me eligible to enter Just Magnolia's Challenge - It takes two.  The stamps are Tilda and the desk.  It is meant to be a school desk, but for this card it is the table for holding the cake.  I coloured with Copics.  The cake and the party hat were stickers from my stash.  The cake only had one blue candle so I added another two pink ones to make three.  I used all SU cards and DPs.  I edged them in Real Red ink and glitter.  The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, lace from my stash and Red Gingham ribbon is SU.  I stamped the sentiment and swirl onto the Pink DP andsponged as well in Real Red ink.

I would also like to enter Stamp Somethings Challenge - Birthday Somethings.  I made this card two nights ago while talking on the phone to my sister for over two hours...I guess you could call that multi-tasking! I hope Mackenzie likes it anyway.

Thanks for dropping by : )

Over-the-top Mother's Day Card

 My second Mother's Day card...only two to go after this one.  I am very belated due to our week in Japan...but it is okay because I will see our Nans and Mother-in-law this week to give them their gift and card.  I got them all Japanese fans as a present.

This one is definately over-the-top with all the flowers I have used!  But it is for Ben's Nan and she really likes flowers so I think she will like it.  I purchased these flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.  They have many beautiful flowers to choose from.  The colours I have used are pinks and greens to enter the Totally Gorjuss Pink and Green Challenge.  I followed the sketch from the Allsorts Challenge Blog.  I tried to make a Shabby Chic look to enter the Die Cut Dreams Challenge.  I stamped some swirls onto the pink DP, distressed, inked and glittered the edges and added some lace with ribbon.

After I had finished making the card I went to the kitchen to make myself a hot chocolate.  When I came back I realised that the card went perfectly with my mug! So I had to take a photo of them together lol!

I will be interested to hear what you think of this card...I dont imagine it will be to everyone's tastes, but I think Ben's Nan will like it.  Thanks for visiting : )

Mother's Day Card

Here is the card I made to give to my Mum yesterday for Mother's Day.  Her favourite colour is blue so I used as much blue as I could.  I used the SU "Bold Butterfly" set.  It is my favourite butterfly stamp.  I stamped it in Bashful Blue and Ballet Blue and covered it in Kindy Glitz.  The DPs are "Welcome to Asia" from Far and Away and SU.  I also used Whisper White and Ballet Blue card.  The "Happy Mothers Day" is a SU sentiment stamp.  Mum thought it was very pretty.  I would like to enter this card in the Alphabet Challenge - B is for Butterflies and the Crafty Creations Challenge - Magical.

We had a lovely Mother's Day - a "picnic" in the backyard and then some fishing at the dam.  We caught about seven catfish and threw them all back in.  They are possibly the ugliest fish I have ever seen - but they were easy to catch and thats all that really matters when you are fishing! It was lots of fun.  Here is a picture of me bringing my fish in.

Thanks for visiting me today.  And thanks for all the lovely comments you leave me. 

Japan Wedding Trip

Good evening fellow blogging buddies,

I am just back from our week in Japan...and what an exciting time we had!  You might need a cup of tea or coffee to go with this blog post...there is so much to share!

On Friday night after work we drove to the Gold Coast and arrived at about 1am.  We stayed in a hotel we love at Coolangatta.  I took a photo of the sunrise out our window the next morning.

We arrived in Tokyo Saturday night and found our hotel.  On Sunday we had alook around the suburb we were staying in - Shinjuku and did some shopping.  That night we went to a pre-wedding dinner.

Monday was the day of the wedding.  Kaori (the bride) looked stunning and had the most beautiful dress.  Matthew (the groom) who is Ben's cousin looked very handsome and together they made a gorgeous couple.  They got married in the Four Seasons Hotel in Tokyo.

  This is a picture of Ben and I at the wedding.  I had a lucky stone in my piece of wedding cake...so now I should have heaps of good luck!

After the wedding Ben, myself, Andrew and Seth went out until 3am in Shinjuku.  We had a very fun night walking around the city, visiting bars and singing very bad karaoke. Andrew (Ben's cousin) was singing Japanese Rap songs, Seth (an american friend of Matthew's) was singing Chinese Love songs...I did my bit and sang some songs in English...feeling very limited in the foreign language department! We met some shady characters out late that night...my brand new red shoes walked miles and miles and I didnt even get a blister!

The next day (Tuesday) we went and had a traditional Japaneses lunch and climbed a mountain to a temple.  On Wednesday we had more shopping and then a family dinner at Ben's Auntie and Uncle's house.

On Thursday we went to Tokyo Disneyland.  The parades were spectacular, the costumes, music and dancing, they certainly know how to put on an amazing show.  We went on as many rides as we could and had loads of fun feeling like kids again in a magical land.

Thursday night we flew home to Australia and then drove the eight hours back to Tamworth.  It was a very busy and exhausting trip, but with memories to last a life time.

I hope you enjoyed the photos and the recount of my week...much more interesting than a normal week at school for me.  I hope to back later this weekend with my rushed Mother's day cards...take care.