Friday, March 31, 2017

A Wee Skite

When I checked the Pink & Main challenge blog this morning I was thrilled to see that I had won the Top of the Class prize ($25)



I'd encourage you to join in their challenges. You don't have to use their products, but if you do, you will be eligible for the top prizes. It's kind of polite to use a company's products on their challenge blogs anyway.

Sunday, March 19, 2017

A Wee Bit O' Green

It was Saint Patrick's day on Friday so the crafting world has been swimming in a sea of green lately. Over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge the challenge this week is: Bit O' Green. Yesterday I created a layout of my niece's first car. Of course I used a wee bit o' green to match the challenge!

For the green requirement I matted the photo on green cardstock and stamped the word "FIRST" on a scrap of green cardstock. I also inked the edges of a couple of items in green to tone the green in with the predominantly blue layout.


I made this layout with leftovers from my kit from a class with Vicki Boutin at CAD 2015. I don't always have coordinating craft supplies so it was great to have the coordinated items on hand. When I saw the sticker - I'd go anywhere with you - I knew I wanted to use it with this photo. The adventure sticker was a last minute addition. I figured it was on the coordinating sticker sheet so it was bound to go with my layout.

A stripes pattern stamp was randomly stamped in dark blue ink around the cardstock to mimic the movement of a vehicle.  Unfortunately, it does not show up in the photo. Also, the tag pulls out with details written on the back.

Challenge details:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: A Bit O' Green

Materials:
Papers, Stickers, Die Cuts: We Are Memory Keepers
Pocket Scrapbook 3x4 Card: Kaisercraft (used as tab at top right of layout)
Cardstock: Bazzill
Chipboard Frame: Project Life
Stamps: Ali Edwards, Stampin' Up!
Ink: Stampin' Up!, Ranger, Stazon,
Other: Seam Binding ribbon, foam tape

Saturday, March 11, 2017

One Card, Three Challenges

This month, Kathy at The Daily Marker is doing a 30 Day Colouring challenge. Now, I am not a fan of colouring. I don't own proper alcohol colouring markers and I just can't seem to manage watercolouring. However, today I think I found my colouring medium: watercolour pencils. I can add water with my water brush after colouring or leave them as is. #watchthisspace #theDailyMarker30Days

This morning Kathy was on a blog hop for the new release at Simon Says Stamp and I was inspired by her background. I decided to pull out my Misti and new Misti Corners (bought them with a store voucher I won from another store) to give it a try. I wanted to try the technique as the challenge at Simon Says Stamp Monday blog is to create your own background (here) .  I found that the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge is to make a card for a special lady/girl (here) this week and the latest challenge at Pink & Main is Spring (here) .  With these three challenges decided upon, I had my technique (background), colours and St Patrick's Day theme (Spring) and recipient (For a Special lady/Girl - my friend Debbie) already decided.  I combined all three challenges on one card.



The challenge information:
Simon Says Stamp Monday: Make Your Own Background here
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Make a Card for a Special Lady/Girl here
Pink & Main: Spring here

I also whipped up a bonus card with the same background but in a different colour.  FYI I'm not entering this card in the challenges.



Materials:
Alcohol Markers: Kaisercraft
Ink: Ranger, Stampin Up!
Stamps: Pink & Main, Hero Arts
Other: card, chipboard, flower, foam tape

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

The Longest 31 Days of My Life

March is the month that I have decided to try a NO SPEND.  Specifically no buying craft supplies - this might be the longest 31 days of my life.  And I've just discovered that March is National Craft Month in USA. Definitely the longest 31 days of my life!!!

Some exceptions include social outings, groceries and a Heidi Swapp storage album for my memory planners that get too full (if I can get one on sale: purchased)

They say if you let people know your goals, it makes you more accountable.  So this is me making myself more accountable.

Day One: $0 Thinking of all the things I'm missing out on. They're only wants, not needs. #fomo
Day Two: $0 Need to get out of the habit of checking online stores' new additions and specials.
Day Three: $0 I deliberately did not go into Warehouse stationery today and was doing well until SSS sent me an email with two coupons! πŸ˜“πŸ˜“πŸ˜“
Day Four: $0 Maybe because I didn't turn my iPad on until now to update this post? Spotlight mailer arrived with the new Heidi Swap 25% off #lookaway #leadmenottotemptation
Day Five: $0 #needsnotwants Reading: Everything that Remains by the Minimalists πŸ‘πŸΌπŸ‘πŸΌπŸ‘πŸΌ
Day Six: $15.87 $5 for 3 erasable pens for my diary (not craft), $10.87 ingrediants to make dessert to make my #bloodymonday into #mmmmmonday
Day Seven: $0 But that's because my mum paid for my chocolate & cider when I took her grocery shopping #cheating?
Day Eight: $0 But dad did pay for my lunch at the hospital.
Day Nine: $0 New items on my Wishlist have come in stock online. And an item I was going to buy before the No Spend kicked in is now out of stock #idontneedit #lifewillgoon
Day Ten: $0 Almost a third of the way through #andididntdie
Day Eleven: $0 Found a NZ seller with distress oxides $8.50 #lookaway
Day Twelve: $10 This is for the item on my allowed list: Heidi Swapp album. The new Magnolia Jane was not unpacked yet - phew! #watchthisspace
Day Thirteen: $0 I didn't leave the house
Day Fourteen: $14.20 #sopretty #nojudgement #firstfail #butipaidcash #seeday12
Day Fifteen: $0 I did not leave the house - but I didn't online shop!
Day Sixteen: $50 went to get sweatshirt half price (an item I need) & got a merino top as well #fail
Day Seventeen: $15 dumplings for mum & a donation to Child Cancer πŸ˜ͺ #bettertogivethanreceive
Day Eighteen: $0
Day Nineteen: $0
Day Twenty: $0 Two thirds of the way through #nospend seeing changes
Day Twenty-one: $0 plus haircut (essential - it's been 9 weeks since my last trim) Tried on a merino long cardi in the perfect shade of deep green for me. Tried it on knowing I wouldn't buy it. #empowered
Day Twenty-two: $0 Flu jab is free for me (plus some meds - not free but essential)
Day Twenty-three: $21 took my cousin visiting from Australia out for a local micro brew or two
Day Twenty-four: $0
Day Twenty-five: $3.30 bread & muffin for concert snacks
Day Twenty-six: $20 Adele key ring
Day Twenty-seven: $0 Recovering from Adele
Day Twenty-eight: $21.50 watermelon (first one of the summer!) and craft shelves (I've been waiting for them to go on sale). Wanted to order SC stamp kit for only $8 including shipping - but I didn't.
Day Twenty-nine:$13.80 parking at hospital, car items for my dad
Day Thirty: $0 tempted by distress oxides again, my life will not improve by buying them!
Day Thirty-one: $0 but want to buy the oxide inks still! NOT letting myself give up on the last day of my #nospend