Colour Cue #11

I'm still enjoying my peace and quiet while Miss Charlotte is staying at Nanny and Poppy's house - so today I made two cards. I played along for the first time and did Colour Cue #11Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White and I chose Going Grey for the "Pick A Neutral".
I made the rose using the Fancy Flower punch - you can see the tutorial I made here.

stamps: pti signature greetings
cardstock: glossy white, going grey, pink pirouette, whisper white
ink: basic grey, pink pirouette, blushing bride
sponger daubers, sticky strip, silver glimer mist, organze white ribbon, basic pearls

Shimmery-Rosey-Pretty Petal Pocket Handbag!

I'm having so much fun using some of Lauren Meader's wonderful templates!

This little handbag is called "Pretty Petal Pocket" and you, too, can purchase her easy-to-follow template here for a great price of $5 only! Bargain I reckon! I'm making approx 1doz of these little cuties for my daughters upcoming birthday party (pics will be up soon!).

This one is made in Basic Black and the fabulous pink floral paper is from my local craft shop and its all shimmery and pearly and just so so yummy! I love it! This rose, is actually my very 1st one I attempted to make at my friend Rochelle's house. It is Melon Mambo with pink glimmer mist sprayed all over to give it a real "shimmer! Love it!!!!

The black ribbon is a non-SU grosgrain & I have used Stampin' Ups Sticky Strip to ensure the bag definitely stays together! LOVE Sticky Strip - and I've almost run out too!!!

Thanks for coming to have a little look! I love having you visit my blog!

A Present For Charlotte

Hello! It's a dark, windy, rainy night here & I've been sitting here in my comfy armchair editing pics and watching Oprah's "Sound Of Music" special! All that is missing is some chocolate! I wanted to share with you something special I've recently made.

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Inside this little number is a very special gift for my almost 5yr old daughter! (oh & can someone please tell me where my baby has gone?)

It's such a tiny little gift that I wanted to make the packaging a little extra special. I had bought these plain noodle boxes about 2yrs ago and haven't used 1 (until now!).
I covered it in the most delicious paper that I purchased from my local - it has a pearl-look to it - rather decadent I think!
What do you think the little present is? Who can guess right!?
(The present is approx. 3cm high)

Thanks for coming to look! Can't wait to see if anyone guesses right!

Teacher's Thank You Set

I've been doing a short course at my local "TAFE" and it's been such a good thing for me! I have learnt so much and made some lovely friends and as much as I've enjoyed the last 4 months, I'm ready to move on to bigger and better things next year!

The "teacher", Georgie, has been so wonderful. She has a real casual approach to teaching which made us all feel right at home with her. I wanted to give her a little "thank you" for making my transition into the "real" world such a smooth and exciting one! This is what I made for her:

I had no idea what colours she likes, and I started making about half a dozen of these in various colours, but in the end, settled for these. I absolutely love Andrea Walford's creations and CASE'd this one here. I love Pear Pizzazz! So so pretty!

This is a little Tucked-Away box and it's filled with yummy Lindt balls! Mmmm!!!!! You can see how I made ths rose here.Thanks for coming by for a look! Leave a comment so I can come visit you too!

stamps: good friend, yummy
cardstock: gloss white, In Colour DSP Patterns Stack, Baja Breeze
ink: black stazon, versamark, peac parfait
clear embossing power, clear rhinestone brads, peach parfait 1/2" stitched-poly ribbon, tangerine tango felt flower, baja breeze felt flower, black stick-on thingy (!), dimensionals, fancy flower extra-large punch, neutrals designer button, crystal effects, silver glimmer mist

Jenn's Card & Gift

I have made this card for a special friend Jenn, who is very unwell at the moment and I wanted something to brighten her day - so BRIGHT I made! You may have seen this design before? I CASE'd myself here! I have made my own little tutorial on how this flower was made - there are plenty of variations, but you can see what I whipped up here. And....the little goody bag! You can find the tutorial I used here. This one is filled with choccies - I really hope she likes them!Any questions, please drop me a line!

cardstock: melon mambo, peach parfait, confetti white,
stamps: en francais, friends 24-7,

Just Add Ink #39 - Beyond Blue

We have another great challenge at Just Add Ink this week....Just Add Blue. Beyond Blue is a National Depression Initiative and October is Beyond Blues Anxiety and Depression Awareness Month.

We have been encouraged to make a card or something to give to a friend, a stranger, or just someone we don't know very well to say hi, that we're thinking of them, that we care or just to make someone smile! How awesome is that!!! I'm sending my card to a friend who unfortunately has terminal cancer and I have been very slow in getting a little package in the mail to her. I hope it brightens her day just a little!You can see my tutorial on how I made this rose, using the Fancy Flower Large punch.... here. Check it out and let me know what you think!

stamps: friends 24-7, en francais, occasional quotes
ink: marina mist, night of navy, crumb cake, whisper white
cardstock: confetti cream, night of navy, marina mist
1 1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon in night of navy, basic pearls, sponge daubers, hemp twine, Top Note die, Lots of Tags die, fancy flower large punch

Paper Rose Tutorial

Hi! Welcome to my tutorial on how to make the paper rose that is on my Just Add Ink #39 Challenge Card. Please forgive the differences in colour and brightness.

You will need:
- Fancy Flower Large Punch
- Skewer or Paper Piercer
- Scissors
- Glue, Sticky Strip, or Crystal Effects (your personal choice)
- Sponges/Sponge Daubers
- Ink

Please note...I did not invent this rose. I have merely just taken my own step-by-step photos for those who haven't yet seen how to make this amazing flower.

"WARNING: Following are LOTS of photos!
Photos tell a thousand words!"

1. Punch out 3 Large Fancy Flowers. (here I used Melon Mambo).

2. With all 3 flowers, bend the edges of each petal using your bone folder. (As if you are curling ribbon). Don't worry if your paper gets creases or starts to split.

3. On the 1st flower, cut a slit into the middle between two petals (this photo does not show this step - sorry!)
On the 2nd flower, cut into the middle and cut out one petal.
One the 3rd flower, cut into the middle and cut out two petals (but keeping them whole).

You should now have 5 pieces.

3. I like to add some shading to the edges of my petals by rubbing an inked sponge dauber over the petal edges. Here I used Riding Hood Red.

4. Instead of using glue, I like to use small strips of Sticky Strip. I get them ready by hanging onto my Stamp-a-ma-jig. You can use glue, or Crystal Effects, but I find its less messier if I use Sticky Strip.

5. With your one single petal, roll it up (I use a skewer to help me, but you could use your paper piercer). The pointy end of the petal is going to get cut off very soon.

6. Probably the most trickiest is the 2-petal piece. Bend/roll together. Try to make it like a cylinder.

7. Take your 3-petal flower and with the petals facing downward, bend so one petal overlaps the other one. This is a bit tricky at first but perservere. I find it easier to "roll" it to each other rather than folding.

8. Take the 4-petal flower and join together, remembing to keep the petals facing downward.

9. Take your whole flower (the one with just a slit into it), with the petals pointing downwards, bend one petal slightly on top of the one next to it so it sits on top - adhere with Sticky Strip.

Don't worry if it's not looking perfect. Flowers are never perfect and it will all come together once the flower is assembled!You should have all your pieces looking like above.

The next step is to cut off the points so it can sit more flat and deeper into the centre of each layer.

10. Here I used Crystal Effects to glue each layer together.

And the finished product!!!!

Every flower I make is totally different to the last one I made! I like that about them. They are handmade and each one is individual.

VARIATIONS:
1. Sponge CONTRASTING colours onto the edge of the petals eg. purple on pink, orange on yellow etc.
2. I like to spray my flowers (before or after assembling) with a Shimmer or Glimmer Mist/Spray.
3. Curl petals more or less for a different look.
4. Crumple up you card stock or run through Crimper serveral times to get a softer flower.
5. Stamp onto your punched out flowers BEFORE assembling, I have used Baroque Motifs flourish on mine and I love that look.

I hope it all makes sense to you and I would love to see any roses you make in the future! Thanks for hanging in there - it is a rather long photo-tutorial!