LOC Happy Christmas

It is Christmas Day here here in the Southern Hemisphere and I am just popping by quickly to wish you a blessed Christmas

while I am here I wanted to share this tag with you

I have fallen in love with this adorable Bee from the Layers of Color Honeysweet clear art stamp set

The Love Chapter clear art stamp set has been stamped along the edge and the Spellbinders Floral Doily Accent is added along the border.

The tag is from Stampin' Up and the Bee charm is from my stash.

A sentiment from the Love Chapter clear art stamp set and some fringing completes this tag...what do you think?!?

You can see more of my projects in my Layers of Color Gallery, while you are there make sure Make sure you check out the other Design Team galleries there is so much inspiration waiting to be discovered, we are thrilled that Layers of Color is a Spellbinders Preferred Product Partner.

You can also check out Layers of Color Art Stamps on our FACEBOOK GROUP and have a look at the Layers of Color Art Stamps FLICKR GROUP where you can upload your LOC artwork and be inspired by hundreds of fabulous LOC creations! You are going to LOVE it!!

Making your creative world more colorful with Layers of Color!

Thank you for your comments and all of the support you give me - you make blogging such an amazing place to be!! Your encouragement is such a blessing for me - it makes my day! God bless you!

{{{hugs}}}

SSCC Happy Birthday Candace

Who doesn't love a BIRTHDAY and today it is Candace's Birthday, and we at Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenges are throwing her a virtual birthday party, each of us is going to bring something special - some of Candace's favourite things infact!  You will see what I am bringing further down this post....but in the meantime.

I have created this card inspired by my party contribution - using Layers of Color art stamp set Merci Bouquet.  I have embossed the DP with the Stylised Flowers Embossing Folder and edged it with the SU Scalloped Border Punch.

I am inspired by this lovely photo taken by my DH - he is a photographer and often his photos are of our flowers and backyard, or local scenes - you can see some of these here.

 So naturally, I am bringing PINK ROSES!  I love roses and some of my absolute favourite ones are pink, as you can see in this photo - these are our lovely Pierre de Ronsards and they grow on the verandah outside our window- just gorgeous!

In our house birthdays are done BIG TIME - when you wake in the morning the table is decorated and covered with balloons, cards and of course presents - it is so exciting to see your chair with a HUGE gold and purple bow on it and is affectionately known as the 'Birthday Chair,' it just adds to that special feeling.  We all sit down and the presents are given and opened and the place is 'buzzing' with excitement.  Your favourite birthday breakfast is cooked - for most of the family this is hotcakes with bacon and Maple Syrup - me, I am more civilized and love bagels with cream cheese and blueberries, a glass of tomato juice and a coffee chaser - percolated coffee of course!  YUMBLY!  So it is only fitting that I also bring decorations.

I do have to add that this photo is four years old and it is no longer these colours - it is now creams and whites, I have more recent photos but cannot find where I put them for 'safe keeping!' LOL!

and just for good measure I am bringing a YUMBLY cake....white chocolate cake with pink & white marshmellows drizzled with dark chocolate!! 

If you arrived here from Kristine's Blog then you're in the right place! If not, please start this short hop at SSCC blog.  If you happen to get lost along the way, the blog hop order is:

Chris

Grace

Kathy

Kristine

Linda (that's me!)

Lisa

PeggySue

Randi

♫ Happy Birthday to you Candace - hope your day is 'blooming' lovely! ♫  I know - but I could not help myself!  LOL!  Don't forget to stop by and wish Candace a Happy Birthday!  The next stop on the Hop is the very lovely Lisa

Thanks for coming by today and for your fabulous comments, you are always so kind!!  God bless you!!

{{{hugs}}}

FS151 Basket Case & C4C Meri...

I have two cards to share with you today -  I could not resist another chance to play along with the Featured Stamper on SCS where Smilyn Stef is being honoured this week.  I love this card with the bicycles  and used this image from the 'Divine Miss M' (aka Stampmuse)

I coloured the image with chalking, using a blender pen and sponged around the edges with Distressing Ink.  It was layered onto black CS and attached to the DP.

Vintage corners were added two two corners, thanks to Lesley (aka SuperNan aka MUM!! LOL) 

The final touch is the strip of lace that has had a small pearl added to each loop along the way.  Oh and two choclate pearls were added to the top left hand corner - just to balance it!!

This also qualifies for If the Shoe Fits Challenge which is using your favoutite medium and colouring - you know I LUV the chalks!!

There you have it - quick and easy - I am happy to day that this is made up of more bits and pieces that have been lying on my desk - what a great feeling to actually see it!  A few more cards and I might have completed the task! I love this faux cleaning!!

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My next card is for this week's Crazy 4 Challenges.  I have used Layers of Color new release set Merci Bouquet, stamping it onto some chipboard that I have had for-eva!!  I coloured it with chalks and added a light touch of Kindy Glitz to the flowers.  A mini pearl is added around the edges of the image!

This has then been sponged with Distressing Inks and attached to the various layers of DP with dimensionals.  I have added lace along the inside edge of the triangular shape of embossed CS, which has been sponged around the edge with distressing ink!

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The sentiment is also from the Layers of Color set Merci Bouquet, I love this font - it is so pretty and suits so many styles of card...I don't know about you BUT I find it hard to find sentiments that suit different styles of cards

I have also linked this card to the Creative Card Crew where anything goes.
Charisma Cardz Challenge where Anything but Christmas is the go!
Magical Craft Fortnightly Challenge - Thank You is the theme.

There you have it - my new additions for today - thanks for calling in and the encouraging comments you leave me - you are such a blessing!  I love these 'cruisy' days I am having...I hope your days are relaxed and you are winding down for the New Year!  God bless you!!

OCC Food or Drink - Easy Peasy!!

This weeks Our Creative Corner Challenge is all about Food and/or Drink - how appropriate after the festive season!!  How could I resist these Emerson gals - you know they are among my favourites - they seem to be right 'into' food and/or drink!  I have made not one but two for this challenge one for food and one for drink!  I have made tham both with left over pieces of DP that 'gather' on the desk - you know how it is!!  I can justify my cardmaking  time as 'cleaning' - ahhh - denial - such a pleasant place to visit! LOL!

This first one, well what can I say - Choc Chip Cookies - we all love them...one leads to two...three...four....I'm not talking cookies, I'm talking DRESS SIZES!! LOL!

I have used the SU Eyelet Punch and lots of bling for this card, colouring the gals with Chalks and using a glitter pen on the cups.

 This one is also coloured with Chalks and I have used the SU Scalloped Border Punch and embossed the DP. The image is cut out with the Labels 1 Nestibilitie.   I do try to keep the layouts simplier as the bling makes up for it - not to mention the ATTITUDE!!

Don't you just love their makeup - looks like they have put it on blind folded! LOL!  Just seems to suit them that way!

These cards also apply for Charisma Cards - Anything but Christmas; and

Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping in and for those great comments you leave me - I appreciate each one and the time it takes you to make them. you make my day!!  I hope you are enjoying the celebrations and not overindulging - unless it is in card making!  LOL!  God bless you!!

LOC Pearls and Fans

It is time to show you some more of the cards made with the Layers of Color New Release Clear Art Stamps, this card is made with the Flowering Gems set.  These flowers are just gorgeous to work with and are so versitile, I decided to make this card with a very vintage feel, but you can see how the other Designers have used it by clicking here

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These stamps have been created to be used with gems if you wanted to, I have used two different colour pearls here and love the look that they give.  I chose colours that I see in our hydrangers and used that as my inspiration.

I coloured the flowers with chalks using a Blender Pen, you can see my Tutorial on chalking here.  I layered the flowers on a mixture of dimensionals and 3D foam dots to give varying heights.  I added a fan that I was sent in a RAK from my dear friend Pam (aka pam124).  This whole arrangement is layered onto a doily that I saved from a tin of biscults ( it was the only non fattening thing in the whole tin! LOL!) this was then layered onto some embossed CS that has been sponged, then a strip of torn DP with the edges sponged and a strip of lace.  I am partial to layering and texture on my cards...this one is no exception!

 Pearls have been added to the centre of the flowers and steymans scattered through the arrangement...these are only little but sometimes it is the little things that add just the right touch!

This card qualifies for the Die Cuts R Us Challenge - to create a girlie project - this is pretty girlie!!

Creative Inspirations Challenge is all about sparkle and this card has plenty of that!

The Alphabet Challenge Blog is all about Flowers this week - and flowers we have!

Thank you for looking and for your encouraging comments, I love to know that you have called in....I hope you are enjoying seeing the card from the New Release sets of Layers of Color - I will have more to show you during thr week.  Don't forget to have a look at the Layers of Color Blog and be inspired by the gorgeous cards on display there!  God bless you!

LOC New Release SNEAK PEEK!!!

I am so excited to be abe to share my first Sneak Peek at the Layers of Color New Releases - this is one of 9 new sets that are being released at the Release Party that is happening on 14-15 November and you are invited - gets the details here.  In anitcipation of this great event we are giving you a 'taste' of what is to come...

I have used the Layers of Color set Merci Bouquet to create this card.  It is stamped off onto this fabulous scripture from Our Daily Bread Designs (which is part if a RAK from Kathy aka Wattle).  I love this technique as it adds such a pretty touch.  I used distressing ink and then added some light color with chalks.  It created the soft feel I wanted for this card.

This was then layered onto scalloped square and then CS embossed with the Stylised Flowers embossing folder, which has been sponged around with distressing ink - we all know how I LOVE to sponge - can't resist it and LOVE the look it gives!!  I have also added some lace and ribbon behind the image and added a silver heart embellishment.  It is fitting that it has the word 'LOVE' on it as that captures the heart of God in all of His Word!

I am delighted that this card fits with the Stamping Sisters in Christ Challenge this week where the inspiration is: Deuteronomy 31:8 "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (NIV)

We are to create something about when God is "unseen"; i.e., a scrapbook layout that reminds you that God is always with you; a card to encourage a friend and remind them that God is with them; or perhaps something to hang on your wall as a reminder.  How perfect is this scripture!!

Make sure you check out the New Release Party  there are prizes of $150 and $100 plus more to be won - I would love it to be you - and also there are FREE DIGI's available here - pop across and get them now - we would love to see what you create - make sure you come back and show us! I am going to be using one today and will be back later to show you....

Thank you for stopping in - I love your visits and love to see that you have been!  Your comments are so encouraging and always make my day - it is like getting a visit from a close friend - thank you!  God bless you and  have a great day - come back and let me know what you think of the free digi's and let me know when you create something with them - I would love to come and have a look - you know I love to see you!!!

Bees

Nature is so inspiring. My DH got a new camera a few weeks ago and is photographing EVERYTHING that moves - which is a good thing as you can see by this photo. As soon as I saw it I knew I wanted to make a card with the Layers of Color images - they even have a beautiful little bee in them!!  I then saw these Bee Push Pins on today's Inspiration Challenge on SCS....more than enough inpiration for me and what's more it is the 200th Inspiration - wow, that is a lot of inspiration you have sent our way Stef - thank you so much!!

I started with the gorgeous DP from K&C Company, running it through the Cuttlebug using the Stylised Flowers folder.  The edges were sponged around with distressing inks!  I then cut an oval with Nesties from the same DP and sponged around the edges.  Using the flowers from Layers of Color  set Nature walk, I cut around them and lightly chalked, adding soft pink centres. The flowers were attached to the oval, most flowers were popped up on dimensionals, with just a couple attached with double sided tape.  The bee is from the Dotted Delights set and as the name would suggest had polks dots on it, so I lightly coloured it's body black and added some gold stripes across the body.  The bee is also mounted on dimensionals!

I finished off with pink tulle being threaded through the pearl buckles, I love this look.  I have to say at this stage, the finished product looks nothing like I pictured in my head - but hey, isn't that often the way!!  I have lost count of the times I have planned something and then have it turn out so differently, but I love that...just go where it takes you - laughing!!

Thank you for stopping by and for your lovely comments....I love knowing you have called in.  It is Saturday evening and very quiet here - the weather is cool and wet - LOVELY!  I am happy to have the opportunity to finish off some projects that I have had half done....I hope you have an amazing weekend...God bless you!

EDIT: I forgot to mention that this is also for the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge where Francie G. is the Guest Challenge Hostess and challenged us to go 'outside the frame!'  This definitely qualifies!!

Old Fashioned Love

I am just squeezing in with this week's Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge. I have my family here from New Zealand and am doing a bit here and a bit here, trying to keep up with everything, so this may not be the only challenge I am just making it for.

I have used my newest Layers of Color Set Renaissance Hearts. I embossed the image with black and coloured with SU Chalks/Pastels and a Blender Pen then cut it out with the large Oval and Scalloped Oval and sponged around the edges of the oval with distressing ink. The edges of the DP has also been sponged around, embossed with the Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Stylised Flowers, and layered into the CS, torn inked corners have been added to opposite corners.

I added eyelets down each side of the image and threaded through some chiffon ribbon, corset style, adding an eyelet to the top of the image and adding a lock and chiffon ribbon. Finally I cut a sponged punched tag in two, adding it to each end of the image and added 3 copper pearls to each and there you have it!

I love the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge and look forward to it each week, it always brings something that makes me think 'outside the square' and that is always a good thing!!

Thank you for looking and for you encouraging comments - I love knowing that you have visited!! I am relieved to have this finished, tomorrow we are heading out to 'shop 'til we drop' going to the Direct Factory Outlets...I don't know about you, but I am not a great shopper, I just like to 'get in there' get what I want and GET OUT - unless of course it is a Craft Shop...then I could spend hours - I guess it comes down to priorities. I am happy to be taking my Mum and sister though....when I have had enough, just point me to a Coffee Shop and met me there after you've finished! I will see you soon - God bless you!

Boy Child

I could not resist making another card with this adorable image from Layers of Colour, this time I thought I would make one that is suitable for a boy! One of the things I am determined to do as a card maker is to use my stamps more than once or twice - while I was over at Layers of Color I had a good look at their Design Teams cards, I spent ages there and loved every minute of it. One of the things that I couldn't help but notice was that each stamp was used more than once, infact many times in many different ways. It makes me determined to do the same thing - well to try anyway!

I have chalked this image, mounting it onto a Gold Scalloped Nestie (thanks to my friend melinda80) The DP is from a Blog Candy that I won from Abby at Abby's Garden - I am using it sparingly as I love it and can't stand the thought of running out of it! I sponged around the edges, then added sponged embossed CS which has been sponged with a dauber and I love the effect...usually I rub the ink pad over the embossing, but I am pleasantly surprised with this result...I like the 'shadowing' effect that it has! I scalloped the edge with the SU Border Punch and sponged down the edge of that! Those adorable wings are also from Layers of Color, Regal Wings. I chalked them and then added light gold highlights with a Gold Glitter pen. It is very effective IRL, but sadly, capturing it with the camera is an elusive dream!!! The buttons are attached with dimensions, just to give them that little bit of lift! The final touch is the Kaiser string of pearls that I have used on the top right of the card!

Thank you for visiting, I appreciate you making the time to come. Please feel free to leave a comment so I know you have been - I would HATE to miss you!!! God bless you!