Tag, I’m it…

I’ve been tagged by a few people, so thankyou Debbie, Ros, and Cassandra.

Here’s the rules to follow:
1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. List 6 random things about yourself.
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.

I’m going to break the rules, though, because everyone I know has been tagged already! Sorry about that, but I will list the 6 random things about me:

1.  I’ve never been on an aeroplane. It’s sad, I know, but opportunity and finances have never allowed this to happen, at least not yet…

2.  I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve fainted. It’s more than 10, though. It’s been a couple of years now since the last time, but for a while there they were close together, so I’ve lost count.

3.  I have a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Politics and Policy. It seems a life time ago now, but I loved studying Politics and History.

4.  I’m an insomniac. It’s got really bad in the last couple of years. Especially when I’m anxious about something; I have great trouble switching my mind off. Late at night is also when I do a lot of crafting. Once I’m into something the hours just fly by…

5. I don’t own a swimsuit and I can’t remember the last time I went swimming, but I was probably at school in about Year 8. This is probably linked to my aversion to the heat and all things to do with summer.

6.  I love OPI nail lacquer. It’s really expensive in Australia, so I buy it from overseas much cheaper. I like how they release collections inspired by countries, like the Australia collection. The lacquers have fun names like ‘The Tasmanian Devil Made Me Do It’, and ‘Don’t Melbourne the Toast,’ you get the idea…

I haven’t got any pictures of cards at the moment because I’m working on another card article for a magazine I was asked to do, and the deadline is very soon. Therefore I’m beavering away to finish the cards asap so I can do all the text and send them off. I’m so excited to be doing another article! It’s for another new magazine, and the editor was directed to my blog by the editor of Simply Cards, so it’s really encouraging. I’m not sure when it will be published, but I think it’s early next year.

I do have one picture though, of something we bought today:

We picked him up from the Animal Welfare Centre this morning. They put a picture in the paper each week of a current cat or dog needing a home, and Mum fell in love with him. She got Dad at a weak moment and so he now belongs to us! Isn’t he the cutest? We know that he’s about 1 year old, which is good because we prefer cats to kittens, and he’s already done, de-fleaed(?), etc. And believe me, he’s active enough!

Have a great weekend,

Anthea

CPS #92 Pretty Lady card

So I’ve been checking out the Card Positioning Systems blog for a while now, but this is my first time giving it a go. This is the sketch for this week:

Once again, I decided to turn the sketch around, and this is what I came up with:

I bought this lovely silk picture from an op shop and I’ve been waiting to use it, so I thought it would suit this sketch.

It somehow makes me think of Marie Antoinette and all that girly opulence, which I’ve tried to inspire here. The papers are Prima, Pink Paislee, and Basic Grey. I’ve machine stitched and inked the edges, and I cut the oval frame from chipboard. The glitter flower is Melissa Frances, which I’ve added a button to, then tied the ribbon through. Lots of pretty things on this one! It took me next to no time, because once again I used all things I love.

Thanks for having a look!

Anthea

Basic Grey Sketch Challenge

I’ve been reading this blog for a while now, and at the moment there’s a call for new Design Team members. You have to submit a card using this sketch:

I decided to do something different, so I turned the sketch around, and this is what I came up with:

I really enjoyed making this card; it came together really quickly. I’ve used the Wassail range with a Christmas picture from Making Memories. The strip is embossed with my Cuttlebug, and I’ve used Distress Ink and machine stitching for the edges. Keeping with the vintage feel, I’ve added vintage buttons and twill tape I got from op shops. Fingers crossed!

Speaking of op shops, today I got some fun finds for future projects. I got heaps of fake flowers to take apart and use on cards for next to nothing, and an old book to use the pages of old text. Inside the front cover were the words ‘Christmas 1900.’ That makes it more than 100 years old! I like using things that have that sort of history.

Thanks for stopping by,

Anthea

I’m sure you’re over

seeing my Christmas cards by now, but I just love making them. I guess it’s a great way for people who love to create to really have fun, because everyone buys Christmas cards, but handmade are so much better than the ones from shops.

My philosophy is probably something like the opposite to ‘less is more’, so I’ll take any opportunity to create, and Christmas can’t really be over the top…can it? . Anyway, I made these two in front of the TV yesterday, on a quiet Sunday afternoon.

I’ve used the Bella Christmas range for both, with a few little extras, like some bling, metal brads, buttons, and ribbons. I’ve had fun working with this range. The colours and designs are a bit out of the ordinary, so that creates more interest. Now, what will I do next…?

Have a lovely Monday,

Anthea

Isn’t it cool

what you can do with papers and a machine like the Cuttlebug? This card I made last night using the Urban Prairie papers and brads. The flowers are simply cut with the Cuttlebug, then embossed, then sanded around the edges. The letters are covered with paper and ‘beaten up’ around the edges with my file set to make them whiter.

Once again, this is a good way to use all the little bits of paper that are inevitably left over from bigger projects.

We’re having Christmas dinner at our house this year, and Mum has asked me to make some table decorations because we don’t really have any. I’ve been looking around and getting ideas for what I will do, but I haven’t decided yet. It will also depend on my budget, the more I’m given to spend the better!

Have a great Friday,

Anthea

It’s beginning to look a lot like

the end of the year. I can’t believe how swiftly time flies! Yesterday I taught my second-last class of the year, which means soon it will be December, then Christmas, then… you get the idea.

It was an off-the-page project; a Kaisercraft present album covered in Christmas paper. A very good project for those starting out with these albums, because it’s not too detailed.

There were a couple of new ladies in the class, and one of them was new to scrapbooking, so that’s always exciting.

I’m also very thankful because this has been my most successful cardmaking/card selling week so far. My aunty takes some of my cards to her work and she sold 5 in one day! I also took a lot to Lilypond; a local gift/furniture type of shop that has the most gorgeous stuff. They bought 10 of my cards a while ago, and yesterday they bought another 13! They were mainly Christmas cards, so I picked the best time to go.

It’s scary taking my cards to show people for sale, because I’m not sure if they will like them or not. I make what I love, so it’s great when others appreciate it too, but not everyone has the same taste. In the end I realised I think too much, so I just forced myself to go before I put it off. The results are worth it, and it’s a great boost to my confidence.

I never realised how much word of mouth really helps, as all my sales so far haven’t had anything to do with my internet shop. I’m going to leave it up still for the time being, so please have a browse sometime!

Today I will leave you with this card I made last night:

I’ve used the Bella Christmas range for this one. I covered a Maya Road chipboard scroll with the paper, and added a holly leaf and button. I love the matching brads and foam stickers that match the paper pack. It was really well priced, and I like the more muted tones of this collection. Of course I added some inking and machine stitching for the finishing touches.

Have a great day,

Anthea

It’s taken me awhile,

but I’ve started using my Cuttlebug more for embossing. I embossed the coral card with my new embossing folder I got the other day, and I love it. It’s a great way to use up plain cardstock. For this card I didn’t use any patterned paper, I just matched the coral and green card to the Heidi Grace ribbons. I like the effect.

This is the textile design, and I’ve also got one with lots of circles and the butterflies that came with the butterfly die in a set. It’s got me wondering what else I can emboss now…

Anthea

More Christmasness

I just finished these two cards tonight. I’ve used the Wassail Basic Grey papers for both. For the first one I covered the chipboard letters with the paper, painted the chipboard flower and covered it with glitter, and handstitched the middle line. I’ve also punched a little christmas tree which decorates the tag that’s attached to the flower with a Wassail brad.

For the second one I’ve layered all the papers, and decorated with pearls and punched leaves. I’m into gingham ribbon at the moment, which is on both the cards. I’m not sure what I’ll make next, but it won’t take me long to come up with something…

Bye for now,

Anthea

Regressing back to childhood…

I don’t seem to scrap as many layouts these days; I’m always lacking in photos.  So I enjoyed doing this one. I’ve used the Sassafras Lass and American Crafts papers, which work well together. There’s lots of little details like a vintage picture from a children’s book, buttons, hand stitching, inking, journalling using my dymo labeller, and little toadstools.

It’s got a bit of a childhood feel, and speaking of which, did anyone else play with Sylvanian families when they were little? My sister and I collected them, and they had a house filled with furniture. I suppose we gave them away as we got older, but I was reminded of them the other day, and they were at the supermarket, so I just had to buy a couple of the families…!

They’re the cutest little things; they’re covered in fur, dressed in little outfits, and each character has a name and personal history. I love little things, and I couldn’t resist buying these. If I ever have kids they can play with them, and if I don’t I think they’re cute anyway.

It’s fun remembering what I loved as a child; I was surprised that toys I played with over 20 years ago are still available today! Anyway, it’s a little reminder to enjoy the fun things, like children do. Have a great weekend, (what’s left of it),

Anthea

Cosmo Cricket & Chipboard

I’m into using my chipboard letters on cards at the moment.  This one I’ve covered the letters with Cosmo Cricket paper, then inked the edges. The gingham paper is Heidi Swapp, and the rubon is Basic Grey. I wanted to use these rubons, but they’re too long for normal size cards so I made this one DL size.

It’s funny how sometimes you think you don’t like something, then you come back to it later and change your mind. That’s what I did with Cosmo Cricket. At first I didn’t like it much, but now I’ve bought a few of their papers, which I’ve been inspired to use on some cards. This thankyou card is the first one I’ve made with Cosmo Cricket. I think there is some saying about females changing their mind…

Be back soon,

Anthea