Stamps Ahead

Don't you just love finding new techniques?  I do and last night I found this great technique over on the Spellbinders Blog .  Now today the sun is shining brightly in Sydney and it was difficult to photo - these cards actually have a lot of shimmer and shine. I have recently become attached to idea of mixed media work in my scrapbook layouts and these cards are certainly meeting some of the criteria for mixed media.  Technique: 1. Scrape a layer of Impasto onto the card and spritz with shimmer Smooch Spritz. I used a red and silver as I had in mind making Christmas cards. 2. Let this dry - for me it was overnight 3. Using Spellbinders Nestabilities square die and Sizzlet star die cut out shapes from paper in 3 sizes.  4. Take the little set of papers to the sewing machine and sew them with a straight stitch. Leave ends dangling.  I could have stitched straight onto the card. 5. I then adhered the shapes (with red tape as it was strong...

Feeling nostalgic?  I visited Anne of Green Gables Museum, in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada on 21st June this  year. This layout inspired by Sketch 98 at Feeling Sketchy . I came across their blog as I was seeking inspiration for the multitude of photos I have from my recent holiday (vacation).  This little girl was visiting the same day as I did - she looked so peaceful as she posed for a photo under the tree outside the house that inspired Anne of Green Gables. I asked her mother for permission to photograph her.  The badges and hats I purchased in the museum shop and the journaling is on a card that one of the badges was on.  The paper I have used is from Project Life Collection -  Sunshine Collection.  I hand cut the banner from one of the pages in the range. I also did a companion page - this time using a postcard I purchased. Canada's smallest province features one of the country's largest tourist attractions....

A challenge was set by Angela on Elite Stampers to create a Christmas card using a non-Christmas stamp set and if you don't celebrate Christmas then please feel free to contribute something similar, like maybe "celebrate"(?) I used the always fabulous "Gorgeous Grunge" stamp set, Brights Designer Series Paper Stack, inks and card stock in Old Olive and Real Red. I have also used Silver Embossing Ink. The greeting comes from stamp set Teeny Tiny Sentiments and I have used Word Window Punch. The "Ah Hah" moment came to me when I went to emboss - the red ink was still wet on the larger stamp when I went to emboss the stripes - instantly more bling.  And who doesn't like bling!!! Here is close up of the embossing. I made an earlier attempt to make the card this morning - I was not happy it lacked the "punch or WOW" I was looking for.  I am showing it here as it was a part of my creative process.  And you can also see why I had an ...

 This layout was completed for a challenge over at Pixels and Paper Challenge Blog - the inspiration photo is below with the added criteria of anything goes but tell us how you were inspired by the photo.....so here goes my entry.    On seeing the challenge picture, I immediately remembered that I had photos that I had of my sister hugging a tree in Melbourne city earlier this year. The colours reminded me of the knitted and crocheted installation on the trees. Apparently when I checked Google today there is a tree hugging day on 20th March - who knew!!!  This was our hug a tree day and it was not 20th March!!! about.com  advise hugging trees is a feel-good experience. This is a close up of the pennants I made to put on my layout.  So how did I make them? Here are the ingredients. Silks Acrylic Glaze (4 colours used Ginger Peach, Sapphire on Ice, Olive Vine, Plumeria), 100% cotton lace, a cheap paint brush and a non-stick c...