Inspired Card #1...and 2

Bonjour peoples!
We are enjoying a lovely cool day here today, after an absolute scorcher yesterday!
After dinner last night we took a drive into town (yes, our "town" is where the beach is...I only just realised how funny that sounds) intending to have a refreshing swim. It was already starting to get dark and stormy (a southerly was on it's way), and we'd only been in the water a few minutes when the wind whipped up, bringing sand with it and ouch - did it sting! Then the rain came, and that - combined with the sand and wind - created a...I don't know what...but we had to run run run to cover! Very bizarre, but quite fun!

Anyway, speaking of fun, I have a card to show you (as promised) that I created using my inspiration folder I discussed in my last post (found here ):

The card that I well, copied, is found in the top left hand corner of the next photo...can you see it?

(NB: all the images in the photo below are from Stampin' Up)

This was my first attempt at bunting (I know, it's everywhere isn't it?) and although it's not my bestest card I've ever made, I was still pretty happy with the end result, and the great part is that it was quick to make.

I was happy to find that I could make this card using product from my stash, all I needed to do was substitute a few things, like the sentiment and the ribbon.

(I would not enter this card into card challenges or submit it to a magazine because I have imitated everything about the card.)

Here's the next card for you to have a look at.

(Notice that it is the card from the top right hand corner of the above photo...)

I was super duper happy with the way this one turned out, even though the photo is not that crash hot :(

Instead of using die cut butterflies, I used my Tim Holtz "Tattered Florals" die, applied Broken China distress ink, then white heat embossed a Kaisercraft stamp (from "Flora and Fauna") onto the flower. The sentiment is a little Hero Arts stamp ( I love Hero Arts) from the "Friends" set stamped with brown ink.

Can you see the pattern behind the green panel?

I partially inked my "Woodgrain" stamp (Hero Arts again), stamped it on the lower half of the card base, and white heat-embossed it - I like the suggestion of texture it gives. 

The card base is kraft cardstock - I'm really into this at the moment, it goes with every colour and it's a nice change from white.

So, what do you think?

I'll be back soon with a couple more cards to show you, and in the meantime how about you go create something? I'd like to see it!

Come back soon,

Rebecca ;)

Happy 2013!

Hello!

For my first post of the new year I wanted to share with you an idea I have been implementing with my crafting.
Do you ever feel like you want to create, yet when you sit down at your desk the creative juices just aint flowing? That's so me, so often! It's so frustrating!
Thankfully I have found an answer to this debilitating illness (called "lostmojo-itis").
For me, the remedy for this ailment has been to put together an inspiration folder.

As you can see, all it is is a display folder with clear plastic sleeves. Easy to get from anywhere - the newsagent, supermarket, Kmart...anywhere.
I am in the process of filling the pages with pictures of cards and projects that represent my style, my favourite techniques etc, as well as card styles and techniques that I would like to attempt.

What I like about this idea is that when I sit down to craft, I can get straight into it, producing a stunning card in no time because all the fiddly time-consuming work of planning has been taken care of. I have been super happy with the results, and it is quickly building up my supply of cards.

Now, you could go from page to page, here and there but I have started from page one, and am systematically working my way through, card by card, by card. I don't copy the card examples to the letter, but I'll explain that more in later posts.

Over the next few posts I will be showing you cards that I have made using the card images in my folder as inspiration.
Why don't you try this idea, I bet it will give you the boost you need!

(Full credit for these card images to Jennifer McGuire, Kristina Werner, Stampin' Up!, Amy Tangerine, and Joy Taylor.)


Hope you can come back soon,
Rebecca ;)

Love Those Distress Inks!

Hi there!
My mum had the kids for a couple of hours today, so I had the most wonderful time playing with one of my favourite mediums...distress inks!
If you have never tried these before, give them a go - they are so much fun, and the results are outstanding!

I created this card today, using a technique I discovered on Kristina Werner's blog. She is an amazing cardmaker, so talented, and I love that she posts a video for every card tutorial she makes. So helpful for a visual learner like me!

The card I used as the inspiration for my creation today can be found here.

And here is my card. 

For the sentiment I cut a label shape out of the blue "distressed" using a die and my cuttlebug, creating a negative space - or a hole (!). I stamped the sentiment onto the card front so that it peeps through the die-cut hole.

I adhered the blue card to the card front with foam tape.

A simple yet effective result, don't you think?

Check out Kristina's blog and learn some new techniques for yourself. It's a lovely way to spend a few quiet hours.

Hope to see you again soon!
XRebecca

Challenge Entry

Hi everyone!
I'm joining in a couple of challenges this week!
Here is my entry...

It's a card I made for my beautiful daughter's birthday - happy birthday sweetie!
For the background I used my "Large Flower Background" stamp by Hero Arts. I white heat-embossed it and painted it with watercolour pencils.
The little girl stamp is from the Pure Innocence range by My Favourite Things, called "Love You With All My Heart". I added her little leggings, and also painted this image using watercolour pencils.
I love doing this, it has to be my favourite technique at the moment - so easy to do and so effective!

The challenges I'm entering are Simon Says Stamp summer challenge, and the Hero Arts birthday challenge.
Why don't you join in the fun too?
See you soon,
XRebecca

Hero Arts July Challenge

The July Challenge for Hero Arts has helped me feel a little warmer this week - it is the middle of Winter here in Australia!
The thing I love most about Summer is the fruits we have available here, and because my birthday is in December (when we have Summer) my mum would always buy a big assortment of fruit to have at my party...peaches, mangoes, cherries, watermelon - yum!

It is fruit that has inspired me to create this card for the Hero Arts Challenge...


The "Life is Sweeter" stamp is from the Hero Arts "Friends" set and I used Fired Brick, Spiced Marmalade, and Peeled Paint Distress Inks.

What says "Summer" to you?

Thanks for stopping by!

A bientot,

XRebecca