MMSC57 The Plans

I just love Tuesdays - it is Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge time - who can resist, I love these challenges and am always inspired by Priscilla's amazing sketches and everyone playing along makes it so much fun too!!  This weeks sketch is no exception, but first my card!

I have used the scripture from our Weekly Bonus Sponsor, McMahon Five Designs - this verse has always been a favourite with me.  I printed 2 copies and  cut out some of the more significant words on the top layer, inked around them and adhered them with foam tape.

The DP has been embossed with the Textiles Embossing Folder, I then added a strip of gold mesh ribbon down through the centre - it does not show up well in the photos - how typical is that!  You can see it more clearly in the photo below!!

The flourishes are Tim Holtz Grungeboard and have been sprayed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Olive - bet you wouldn't have picked the colour, it is showing up as dark brown - so just picture Olive okay!!  I added some gorgeous crochet lace under the gold netted ribbon too - oops nearly forgot to mention that!!  The gold pearls from my friend and one of our MMSC GDT's pam (aka pam124) THANKS PAM - they are perfect - I am loving them!!

Now - here is what you are waiting for - this weeks sketch

You have the choice of this sketch or the CAS one, you can find it here.  It is as 'easy as 1-2-3'!

Congratulations to the MMSC56 Gold Star

#9 Beate

and the MM Remarkables - don't forget to grab your badge and pop it on your Blog!

#29 Guro

#36 Sue Drees

#65 Holly Miller

#67 Iris

Thank you to our monthly sponsor

Kat Stamps

and our Weekly Bonus Sponsor

McMahon Five Designs.com

Did you read the big news over at the MMSC56 last week - it is all about GIVEAWAYS and we all love those don't we!!  You have to see this NEW community made just for digital stampers and artists!  It is called Crafters Digital Art Center.   What fun there has been already since it opened - people are flocking there - have you been and checked it out - the chances are that you will see me there and many other faces you know - don't wait too long to check it out!!  There are free digi's and great prizes and so much  fun to be had with so many people!

I am linking this to:

Delightful Sketches - Texture

Daring Card makers - Pearls

Meljen's Designs - Dry Embossing

One Stop Craft Challenge - Pearls and Swirls

Stamp Something - Digi Day Something

The Crazy Challenge - Distress It

Oh Alice - Show us Your Muchness (Style)

Thank you for visiting and for the lovely comments you leave me, I love knowing you have been.  Be sure to check out the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge - we would love to see YOU!  {{{hugs}}}

MMSC52 of 'Corset' It is...

I am glad you came - you are right on time - it is a BIG day today and I hope you are ready for the celebrations - yes it the One Year ANNIVERSARY of the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge and we are excited!!  …It's all about our Players and Followers this month. If you have not entered our Blogaversay Jackpot Candy, be sure to click here for a chance to win a Candy Prize worth over $300. We will celebrate all month!  By the way, I learnt a new dance just for this occassion and I am going to show you the 'moves' a little but further down this post.....keep watching...

Before the party gets 'cranking' I thought I would show you what I am wearing today - AS IF!! LOL!  But it is nice to dream!  I have made my this card using one of Priscilla's gorgeous digi's - it is a pleasure to use it, especially with Priscilla bieng our Weekly Bonus Sponsor - thank you Priscilla, without you we would never have had such a great place to meet each week at over this past year - YOU ROCK girlie!

I copied the image twice and then embossed it through the Cuttlebug using the textiles folder, then cut out the corset on one copt and sponged around the edges with distressing ink.

I layered them on with foam dots, being careful to get themexact so the lacing still showed.

The tag is one I had in my stash, but that gorgeous shoe is a button from a RAK from my dear friend pam124 thank you Pam - you sure know how to make a girl happy!  This goes perfectly with my putfit for today's PAR-TAY!!

Then of course we all know the loveliest 'ahemmm...undergarments' all have to have lace, to I have used the gorgeous recycled lace and added a 'bling' brad to  make sure it stays in place (we don't want any embarrassing mishaps do we!?!?)  You may have noticed that instead of using DP I have used black lace - very 'Oh-la-la' if I may say so myself! 

Now seems as good a time as any to show you the HAPPY DANCE 

 (  /  ) (  |  ) (  \  ) (  |  ) (  /  )  (  |  ) (  \  )

My Twisted Sister Lesley (aka Marleygo) taught me these moves and you are going to want to join in when you see this......

Priscilla would like to thank all of our players for giving us so much inspiration each week. You will never know how much we enjoy visiting your blogs and viewing your lovely works of heart! She would like to start out this month with a big thank you to our Consistent players. This group of ladies have played every sketch we have done (or have only missed a handful of them) since we started. We would like to celebrate your commitment to your love of crafting with a special “Princess” logo. You can consider yourself an official member of the Midnight Madness Royal Court. Find out how to claim your 'royal prize' here. 

 If we missed anyone, don't be shy please let us know. Here is our first Royal Court…( *never missed one sketch)

*Darlene, *Loz, Julia, Peggy Elms, Karen Wallace, Pam, Valarie Florer , Vicki Kertz , Sue Drees, Sandee, Grace, Lisa V, G Stringer , Teri Sherman

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

As we all know each year can bring change and as we celebrate the great year we have had, we also are saying farewell to Chris as this is her last week with the MMDT. What a wonderful person  Chris is - I remember the first card I ever commented on and Chris, in her grogeous way, emailed me back and our friendship began!  I know we haven't seen the last of you Chris - you are everywhere!!  Isn't that one of the great things about cyberfriendships - they are not limited to one place!   But in saying that Chris, you will be so dearly missed on the MMDT, you bring such an beautiful gift to us all with your friendship and faith!  Thank you my friend - for just being you - you brighten our world!  I will see you when I am looking at you my friend!! 

We also have a TUTORIAL for you this week, be sure to check it out - shhh - it's by our very own Priscilla - you won't want to miss it!

Our MMSC51 Gold Star Award goes to...

#5. Karen Wallace

Our Remarkables Awards this week go to...

#15. Grace

#29. Mrs Boz
#53 Holly Miller

Please grab your award logos from the side bar and display them proudly :)

Click here to find out our weekly, monthly and Cruise Blog Candy prize winners - it could be YOU!!!

A Special thanks ot your sponsors, they play a big part in making each week special! 

Our MMSC52 Bonus Sponsor is

Throughout the month, our Design Team members will be randomly sending our weekly winners something special in the mail as part of our Anniversary celebration. Some DT may post these gifts on their blogs and some may leave it as a Mystery, but rest assured, if you are our weekly Bonus winner, not only will you win our Sponsors gifts, but you will also be getting showered with a few extra surprises in your mail box from the team!! How fun is that? :)

Our May Monthly Sponsor

PB Stamps

I am linking this too:

The Creative Card Crew - May Flowers

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Summertime

By the Cute and Girly - Celebrations - dressed ready to party!

Corrosive Card Challenge - Let's Celebrate

Cute Daisy May - As you Like It

Thank you for coming today and for making your way down the LONGER post - but we all know that the BEST parties are the LONG ONES - don't we LOL!  We do hope you join us this month, there is so much fun to be had and so many COOL PRIZES - find out how to win by clicking HERE!!  I am looking forward to coming and visiting YOU and seeing your fabulous creations!  God bless you! 

{{{hugs}}}

LOC Just a Note

The Bookmarks I have been making have been popular and I thought it was time I made a few more using the Layers of Color Joyful Noise art stamp set!  I love this G-clef and it is the perfect size for this project.

These bookmarks are great to use up those scraps of card stock, I no longer think 'what can I do with these scraps,' but look forward to making the bookmarks - they are so quick!  My DH and I had a stall at the Markets at the local Homestead last Sunday and I sold a few of these...along with some cards.

I cut the image out and attached it to some embossed CS, I love the texture this gives and the way it automatically dresses something up.  The top corners of the bookmark have been punched with the 'Sunburst' Fiskar Border Punch, I love finding more than one use for things - these corners are so pretty!

Some narrow gingham ribbon has been knotted over some lace and wrapped around the bookmark and three brads that are part of a RAK finished it off nicely.  I added a panel of the embossed CS to the back of the bookmark...I have found that 3-4 layers (in total) of CS make it strong - and that is a good thing!!  LOL! Ribbon has been threaded through an eyelet at the top of the bookmark and secured through a bead.

This bookmark did not make it to the markets, a neighbour saw it and bought it straight away - I think I had better make a few more!!

Thanks for looking and those lovely comments you leave me, you make my heart smile!!  It is Saturday night here and I am just chilling out, our kids have been out at various events and slowly returning home - I do enjoy this time on Friday nights, it is not that I can't craft any other time, I am blessed to be able to create whenever I want, within reason, I guess it is just knowing that tomorrow there is no rush to get out the door by a certain time, we can 'ease' into the day - beautiful!!  I hope you have a great weekend!!  God bless you!

{{{HUGS}}}

Our Strength

I am so happy to be making a card for the Stamping Sisters in Christ Challenge.  I have missed a few weeks which is frustrating for me as I LOVE the faith based Challenges....this week we are encouraged to focus on Psalm 19:14: 'Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight Oh, Lord, my strength and my redeemer' and to create a card with someone in mind (Thinking of You or Praying for you) and keep this scripture in mind while creating it, to help with inspiration!

I have two friends who have had tragic losses over the past few years, both friends have lost a child and it is coming up to the anniversary of that day for both them -I am well aware that words are never enough to bring comfort but pray that the heart behind it will!  We have all experienced loss in one way or another, but I just couldn't imagine it at this level - I don't know how these friends take their next breath and I admire them so much - they are living every parents nightmare.  I know God did not intend for this to happen to their child and the pain will never go away completely, but He can certainly take the 'sting' out of it for them and bring comfort to their hurting hearts, knowing this was my inspiration for using this scripture.

I have used this fabulous DP from SU...beautiful in it's own right, added a Nestie which I have embossed and sponged with Distressing Ink and layered this fabulous scripture in a scalloped circle onto the Nestie.  The embossed Nestie is from my dear friend Sabrina (aka okimom2girlz on SCS) and the scripture on the scalloped circe are from Kathy (aka Wattle on SCS)..thank you girls...oh and that gorgeous flower, which I have sponged with distressing inks, is also from Sabrina - I just love these flowers!!

The ribbon has been threaded through the pearl buckle - I made little slits in the flower to be able to thread it through the centre of the flower, it is added to the card and a row of lace from my dear friend from my homeland, Maxine (aka Kiwime on SCS)  That gorgeous old gold locket is symbolic of God's Word being in our hearts and soothing our sometimes battered hearts...I get these embellishments from the jewellery aisle in craft shops - they are so inexpensive that way!

Torn and sponged corners have been added and the finishing touch is those YUMBLY chocolate half pearls!!  This was a very quick card to make....having Nestie and the friends that send them certainly makes card making easier!!  I have been blessed by so many people - thank you all!!

Thanks you for visiting today, I love reading your comments - it makes my day!!  It is Friday midday here and overcast - I love this weather...not too hot - not too cold!!  I hope you are having a good day...God bless you!

LOC Piece of Cake

I am feeling pretty happy with myself today - I have finished the three cards for my first

Workshop and have the kits made up ready = just as well, the Workshop is tomorrow!! This card fite the requirements for the Pile It On Challenge where birthdays is the theme! I need to get some more birthday cards made - you can never have too many!

I have used the Layers of Color set Birdday Party and Beaded Frames. I stamped the frame first and the stamped one cake image in the centre of the frame, the cut out another and added it on dimensionals. Both the Beaded Frame and the image have been coloured with chalks and then light touches of Kindy Glitz have been added to the beads and the bird. I have then cut this out this a large scalloped circle punch...the edges have been lightly sponged. The sentiment has also been lightly sponged and backed with brown CS.

The DP has been lightly sponged around the edges and paper pierced on the corners, then attached to the CS. Pink CS has been embossed with the Textiles EF, torn and inked, then mounted into torn brown CS and attached to the DP, through the middle of the card with a row of lace added. The scalloped circle attached with dimensionals to 'pop it up.' The swirls have been punched from an EK punch, borrowed from my SU (thanks Ann) they have been inked with distressing ink and attached under the scalloped circle. Small pink pearls on each side of the sentiment are the finishing touch....so what do you think!?!? Although there seems to be a lot on this card, it is an easy one to do - I have cut all of the DP and CS to size, as this will give us more time for the 'fun' stuff - got to have the priorities right!!

Thank you for looking and for your comments - I will be 'hanging' to hear your opinion....God bless you!!

A Bit of Me

As I looked through my Layouts I realised that I have done pages for all of the family but there is not one of me, apart from the family ones...so I have put together this page with the help of my Layers of Color images. I love using stamping with my pages and the Layers of Colors stamps feel like they were made just for me - I love that!




I have also used the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge, which worked so well with the look I was wanting to achieve....this is the first Layout I have done for the MMSC, so am hoping that it is okay!!! It is also for the Ways to Use it Challenge on SCS which is 'Very Vintage' and I would say that this more than fits that challenge with all of the sponging and aging - AND I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT ME with the aging!! LOL!


I embossed a panel of creme CS with the Textiles Embossing Folder, tearing one edge and sponging it with distressing ink, then layered in onto black CS. The edges of the photo have been distressed and layered onto distressed black CS. A lace border has been added to the bottom edge of the photo. I have also sponged and added 2 lots of CS behind the photo, one bing flocked and the other embossed....I love the different textures.
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The flourish at the top of the photo is from the Layers of Color Nature Walk set, this has quickly become one of my favourite sets, it is so versitile, I love the way it looks with this gorgeous flower which is part of a RAK from the lovely Sabrina (aka ok1mom2girlz) along with the stunning pin - thank you Sabrina for your gorgeous gift...I am loving everything in it... The flowers have been sponged on the ends of the petals, the pearl button is part of a heap of buttons I was given - these are perfect for flower centres and these qualify me for the Pile it On Challenge where we are to use 3 of anything...buttons, layers and flowers - I am in with this one!!




The flourish on the bottom left is from the Layer of Color set Old World Flourishes. The flower centre and that gorgeous heart and both 'vintage' buttons that my friend (and SU Demo) Ann brought me back from the USA - they are perfect for this page - thanks Ann! The Fancy Corners are also from Ann, part of her SU purchases - yes she got a BIG SHOT and everything that could possibly go through it - we were able to play with it on Wednesday night at Scrapbooking!! The Squares on the top of the embossed panel are from the Layers of Colour set Gothic Crosses, I have added half pearls to these and to one of the flowers....so this would qualify this layout for the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge!!





Oh and I must add that the sentiment is from ISC, I won 2 sheets of stamps on their Blog Hop a little while back - this one is from the 'All About Me' set and is fitting for this page, because it is - 'A Bit of Me!'


Thank you for looking and for your lovely comments - you are so encouraging and it makes my day seeing that you have stopped by! God bless you!!

MOJOFRIDAY

MojoMonday is celebrating its 100th challenge this week and have been giving a new challenge each day - this one is Fridays challenge....I have used an older stamp I was given along with many others from a lady at the markets I first went to (thank Kelly) One of the boutiques that sells my cards was wanting some engagement cards and I thought this image would be perfect!

The circles are embossed with the 'Textiles' Embossing Folder and distressed with Tim Holtz Distressing Ink - Walnut Stain. The flower is from a Blog Candy that I won from Abby (of Abby's Garden) and the middle strip has been punched with the Fiskar Border Punch - Sunburst...I love the vintage look this border punch can take on when it is sponged along the edge!! I have added the sentiment layered on black CS and finished with a String of Half Pearls along the top of each embossed circle - unfortunately the flash has shown up the tape that they are on...but at least this way you can see how they look!)

Don't you just love Saturdays - it has been very quiet in our house as our girls are down the South Coast until tomorrow, they have been having a great time....but DD2 is finding it hard being away...the nights are hard for her and tonight she sent us a message and said, 'I am missing you...please ring me!' Naturally we did and she was in tears....awww...it is so hard when they are away and crying....poor baby, but some loving words from Mum and Dad helped and then I threatened to send her a video clip of my 'cranky face'....we hung up with DD2 getting a cuddle from DD1 - then Mum felt sad - should I ring her!?!? Emotions - who needs them!!?

Thank you for visiting, I do appreciate your comments - I love knowing when you have been!! I hope your weekend is relaxed and filled with friends and family! God bless you!

His Holy Name - Judge

Yay, I am finally getting caught up with my His Holy Name challenges, this one is for the current study on the Attributes of God - Judge is the topic of this one!

The minute we think of God as a Judge we all think of doom and gloom....I have certainly read many scriptures of the consequences of sin and judgement, but there are also many that tell is that God judges the heart - if our hearts are for Him and right with Him, we have nothing to fear!

I was greatly comforted by this scripture - the Lord is our judge, lawgiver and KING will care for us and SAVE US!! That is good enough for me - I know that there are many times in my life I need saving - mostly from myself!!! I am often the biggest hindrance in my relationship with God..I need to get out of the way and often can't see that - but the Lord will save me!! PHEW!!

There is a lot of symbolism in this card - you know how I love symbolism with these....The chair represents God's Throne, the Crown, the fact that the Lord is King and the Dove is the Holy Spirit! The wings are symbolic of celestial beings and the Bible, of God's Word, which will never pass away, which we are judged by! I have used purple and gold as they represent royalty...our Lord is King!

The chair is from the Flourishes set 'Three Chairs for You' and the crown from Layers of Color set Royal Birds and the wings are also Layers of Color from the Beloved Wings. I have added Kindy Glitz and Gold Gel pen to add shimmer and sparkle to this card, not all over but on the crown and the wings....you can see how much it adds in the close up!

This is also for the Flourishes Birthday Celebration - 2 years old - Fit for Royalty Challenge. I love the Flourishes Challenges!

Thank you for stopping by and for all of your comments - you are so encouraging!! If you have the time to leave a comment, please do - I love to know you have been!! I hope you are having a great day! God bless you!

Vieled View

It is Friday night and for me that means 'card time' as at least one of our kids has Youth and it is Movie night here....so I set up at the dining table and get some serious card making done.....I hear the movie, rather than see it and I am not complaining!

I have enjoyed making this card...it is for 3 challenges, I am really enjoying making the combined challenge cards, psychologicially I feel like I am getting through more...but I know that's not true - just makes it more fun for me to do!!

I have made this card for the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge, which is once again offering some serious CANDY....check it out here...I am loving this challenge and as we are only able to enter one card per week I have thought seriously about what I am going to do - vintage won.....it also work well for the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge where we are to frame our images, I have framed this one from behind with the brown layer behind the image - it didn't fit on top due to the distressing. The third Challenge is a new one for me, that I have come across and it is the Creative Inspirations Challenge....we are to use the colours brown and blue...so I am 'right there' with this card!!!

I have used the tule that I was sent in a RAK from my Twisted Sister Judy Kell - I knew when I got it I would love using it and I did...I have run ut across the embossed and chalked image securing it through a pearl buckle. This image was also a RAK from Cindy (aka stampergrl) Cindy sent this to me with a bundle of cards for the Australian Bush Fire Survivors....and I loved it....it works so well with this layout and embossing really added to it. The flower is a 'Lollypop Flower' which I found a tutorial on 'The Next Level' which opened this week - no this card is not for their challenge, but I am working on that. I distressed the edges and then used distressing ink to make it more vintage....I am very happy with the finished flower and will definitely be making more of these.....you can fund the tutorial here! I thought you might like to see a close up of it!

This post has taken me FOREVER as apparently we have used our peak time amount of GB's and are now at dial up speed until 8 June - gee I wonder who could have used the majority of it - the frustrating thing is we have another 12GBs at full speed but they are from 1am to 7am....how practical is that.....so I might have to get up earlier in the mornings if I have anything I want to be quick with....what did we do before the Internet!?!?

Thanks for stopping by and for your encouragement - you have made my day! God bless you!

Seeking Him!

The Twisted Sister Challenge is a love of mine....this group of gals (and one guy) started with a group of friends who commented on each others card and set up their own challenges, for fun...it has grown over time and I just love being part of it -I have to say...they really are TWISTED and really have become SISTAHs (and BROTHER!) to me. The challenge this week was to make a card using Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip, ribbon and a scripture and use an older Skecth Challenge SC116.....having the scripture also qualifies it for the Bible Verse Challenge!

As I did not have the exact colours (which often happens to me as I am a budget stamper) I used as close as I could...I sponged around ALL the edges with Tim Holtz Distressing Ink - frayed burlap. I love the effect sponging has, it is definitely a favourite technique...one panel is embossed with the CB - Textured Textiles and then I have sponged over that to add more depth, embossing adds so much texture and elegance to a card - it is another technique I love! I stretched the boundaries, just a little and used string rather than ribbon...I had to use eyelets to run it through (oops) and also added matching brads at the corners of the scripture...I couldn't help myself, it just needed them...what's a girl to do!?!

For a final touch I added torn sponged corners, just so you would know I haven't forgotten about them! LOL!! I am happy with the finished card and have enjoyed going back into the sketches to do older ones - I might have to have a little 'wander' over that way again!!! Also, the scripture is computer generated as I do not own any scripture stamps AS YET!!! Thank you for looking....