A lovely card from Karen Thomas

Aren't I lucky?  The gorgeous and madly talented  Karen Thomas sent me this beauty in the mail last month.  So pretty, crisp and elegant.  Love it!

Best dash, I've been up to my elbows in Nit shampoo as the kids have headlice, shudder.  I have been playing with some new things I can't show you yet, but in the meantime, remember that you only have a few weeks left of the current Summer Mini and Sale -a-Bration!

Join the fun on 18th April!

My sisters-in-stamping (Stephanie Pike, Linda Craven and Bec O'Gorman) and I are organising another Big Cardmaking Day!  This time, we are launching the upcoming Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue.  I'm reallly excited, it will be so much fun!

We'll be making 4 cards, 2 gift cards, and 2 3D items using the Sizzix Big Shot!  You'll love it!  Just wait until you see the fun new products you can play with - the big Shot, clear-mounted stamps, new in-colours, new punch designs, and new stamps, of course!

The Venue:  Virginia Golf Course, Elliott St Banyo
Sunday 18th April 2010, 10am - 4pm
$40 materials, morning tea and lunch included.  There will be a massive raffle and lucky door prizes too!

RSVP required with a $20 deposit to secure your place.  Please contact me for more information at louisesutton@internode.on.net .

So put it in your diary now, organise a group of friends, or make new friends there!  We'd love to see you.

A side project: a mobile

I found an inexpensive cane hoop at a local craft store and rediscovered it during my recent spring cleaning session in the Craft Lair.  I was immediately inspired to make a mobile.  I found some clear nylon thread (like fishing line), and punched out some 11/4 inch circles with Whisper White cardstock, and some Old Olive circles with my 11/2 inch circle punch.  I then attached them fairly randomly, using a bit of sticky strip to attach the olive circle to the clear thread, and SNAIL to cover it with the white circle.

Here are a few photos to show you what I mean:

This was my first attempt, so it is a little rough and ready, but I love the look.  My 5 year old loved it too - it now hangs in her room and she calls it her "dreamcatcher" and credits it with taking away her bad dreams, LOL.  I'm already thinking of things I can change to make it better next time.  I can imagine this with punched out butterflies, or stars too.

Easter Treats! Class this week

This month's class is designed to totally impress our harshest critics:  our kids.  Your children will think you are the cleverest person in the world, and beg you to make these cute Easter egg boxes/baskets for their friend, teacher, coach, bus driver, whatever.  And you'll feel pretty clever too!

The class is on at my place, this Thursday at 10:00am, $15.  RSVP is essential, and I have a couple of places left.  Contact me if you'd like to come, or if you can't make it but would like to do this class at another time, let me know.

Here's what we'll be making:

Please note colours and DSP will most likely change as these were made with whatever I happened to have on my craft desk!  LOL.

If you live in say, DALBY, and would like instructions on how to make these, let me know (hi, Maree!).

Edited to add:  Almost forgot!  I'm planning to have this class in my CRAFT LAIR, which is still a work in progress, but much improved now that gross mouldy old couch was taken to the dump!

A Boy Card

Just as the girls grow out of pink and fairies, the boys eventually grow out of pirates and trains.  Here is a very simple card for the boys, featuring a Rugby ball and a footy player (could be used for AFL, Rugby League, or Rugby Union, or American Football).

I used the same colour combination (Old Olive and Not Quite Navy) as in my FIL's birthday card a few posts ago, distressed the edges, and used (retired) eyelets for a more rugged look.

I think I'll make a few of these to have on hand.

You Rock!

You really do, you know!  LOL

I whipped up a couple of these cards fairly quickly (intending for them to join the "Craft Stall" pile).  My almost ten year old daughter assures me that the adolescent set will love it.  Sometimes it can be hard to find things for that age group - no longer into pink and fairies.  This stamp set  (Just Jawing) will get a workout I think!

I also used the matching "Scary Skulls" wheel for the background.  The hearts were coloured with a marker then I added glitter - I think they look pretty good!  Finally, I made the "You Rock"sentiment into a banner, curled it around my finger to give it some dimension, and that was that.

Happy Birthday Father In Law! (2010)

We went to a casual dinner at Sizzlers last night for my dear FIL's  birthday - which meant I had to whip up a quick card (though I should have had one already prepared, seeing as how his birthday is the same day every year!).    Because I was under some time pressure, I kept it very simple:

The background is from Circle Circus - I think it would look great on a scrapbook page too, must try that!

The main image is that good old standard, Party Hearty.  The image was coloured with Old Olive and Not Quite Navy Markers.  The matching eyelets are retired (boo hoo!) and I used my trusty Crop-A_Dile to set them.  Looks a bit crooked, now that I study the photo!    Finally to make the card a little more masculine, I distressed the edges with the tool from the cutter kit.  Love that nifty edge distresser!