I managed to get a few cards finished today, despite this unusually hot weather! (I hate the heat…!)  The good thing is it prompts me to stay inside in the cool and get more cards finished.  Here’s my cards for the latest Card Patterns sketch:

I’ve used Autumn Leaves and October Afternoon paper for these, which go together really well.  The rub-ons are from Kaisercraft, and so are the rhinestones.  I love these papers – lovely bright colours.

Thanks for looking at my cards!

Anthea

I’ve been too busy the last few weeks to do any of the sketch challenges, but things are settling down now so I’ve made a couple of cards for the latest sketch at the Card Positioning Systems blog.

For these cards I’ve used October Afternoon papers, Papertrey Ink stamps, Jenni Bowlin chipboard buttons, and Heidi Swapp chipboard squares.  The only difference is that one has a red square, the other an aqua square.  I like these colours together.

That’s all from me for now, so thanks for stopping by!

Anthea

when you’re very busy!  I’m sorry I haven’t been around this week, but I’ve been working on some cards that I can’t show yet, but I will when I can…  I can’t believe it’s nearly a week already since my market stall!  Here’s a picture of it:

I had a good spot, and it didn’t rain, which was a real blessing!  It was a really long day (as I was there to set up before 8 and didn’t leave until 3), but it was a worthwhile experience.  I learned a lot, and I had to give it a try, as I hadn’t done a market before.  As for the actual selling of my cards?  I was just about to give up the day as a flop (I’d only sold about 3 cards), when a young lady and her friend who were only in Geelong for the weekend visited my stall.  Anyway, she bought 23 of my cards, and her friend bought 11!  Cards were her thing, and she ‘got it’ about how much work goes into each individual card, and why I charge $5 a card instead of the $2 that most people seemed to expect…  Here’s some things I learned:

• Don’t take things that can be blown away (ie. my sign didn’t stay up for very long…)
• It’s a long day, with plenty of time to sit and watch the people.  I’m so grateful that my Mum came along to help me, otherwise I would have had noone to talk to!
• I can’t cater to every market-there will always be people who don’t understand the value of a handmade item, and all the work and care that has gone into producing it.
• The people who do buy at markets often aren’t the locals.  People seem more inclined to spend money when they’re on a special trip (thankyou ladies from Canberra )
• It’s all worth it, especially when I could see how much joy one person got out of looking through all my cards, and picking out which ones to take home .

So this week I’ve been doing some design work, which is almost finished, but I do have one card to show you.  Last night I got the girls at Sugar ‘n’ Spice to make cards (now, who would have thought…:) ), and the girls made some Christmas cards.  I’ll leave you with a Christmas Card I made using the funky Kaisercraft Christmas Carnival range:

Tomorrow I’m teaching a class at the Lend a Hand for Leukemia fundraising day held annually by Chandon Craft, which is always fun, then I will be making some more cards…

Take care, and enjoy the rest of the weekend! 

Anthea

A few random things to show you today.  I’ve been busy putting the final touches to my things for my stall tomorrow, (stressing that I’ve thought of everything), and here’s some more gift tag sets I just finished:

I taught a scrapbooking class Thursday night in which we made some funky flowers from paper, and I was inspired to make up my own for my gift tags.  For all of these I’ve die cut the scalloped square using my Cuttlebug and Nestabilities, then created the flowers in coordinating colours with a brad through the middle.  These are so simple and fun to do!

I worked at Chandon Craft again this afternoon ( I’m always involved in papercraft one way or another ), and on the way home I picked up the latest issue of Simply Cards magazine.  My cards are the feature on the front cover!

Here’s a picture of the cover, which shows 2 of my Christmas cards.  Inside you can see the rest of them-I’ve made 6 Christmas cards altogether, showing ways to incorporate your existing sewing supplies into your cardmaking.

So I’ve got some things happening at the moment, but I’ve still managed to start using my new Nook & Pantry paper pad from Basic Grey.  Here’s a few cards I’ve made using these papers with some vintage pictures:

How cute is the little pig with his sleeping cap on?  I love finding these little pictures; especially when I know they will suit a particular card in future. 

Phew!  Thankyou for sticking through to the end of my rambling-I have to go and do some final things before tomorrow’s market…. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Anthea

It’s time for another Basic Grey blog Challenge!  Here it is:

This weeks challenge is another photo inspiration challenge, This photo was chosen by our fabulous DT member Tara W , Interpret this photo anyway you wish to, from colours to patterns, the choice is yours, but please do be sure to use at least one item from BasicGrey if you wish to be eligible to win this weeks prize

I’ve used my new Nook & Pantry papers for these cards, and the little pictures of cake and ice cream are vintage   The buttons are also vintage and I decorated the pictures with red pearls from Kaisercraft.  The stamps are from Papertrey Ink and I added decorative stick pins to the twill across the top.  There are so many ways you can interpret this picture… great colours and love the stripes!

Thanks for stopping by,

Anthea

That’s right, I’m going to be running my first market stall!  It’s the Steampacket Market, which is down on the Geelong Waterfront, Sunday November 1, 10-3pm.  I’ve finally ‘bitten the bullet’ so to speak, and I’ve booked my spot for next weekend.  I’m rather nervous, as this is the first time I’ll be selling my cards like this, and it takes confidence to set up something with my own work on show.  However, the timing seemed to be right because the weather is heating up, Christmas is getting closer, and I’ve got approximately 200 cards to sell!  I’ve been selling them here and there over the last couple of years, but I’ve still got so many that I thought, why not give it a go?  So if you’re in Geelong and like that sort of thing, why not stop by and say hello…

I’ve been sorting out the necessary details, such as; my table, how I’ll display my cards, etc., and this week is shaping up to be a busy one, so I hope I’ve thought of everything…  I’ll keep making as much as possible, so I have even more to sell   Here’s a couple of cards I just finished:

I owe the idea for this card to Heather Bailey and her great flower tutorial which is available on her blog.  I had the girls make these flowers at Sugar and Spice on Friday night, and I liked mine so much that I decided to make another for these funky birthday cards.  They’re so easy to do, and the possibilities are endless-I think I’ll be revisiting these in future.  Well, that’s all from me for now, I hope you’ve had a great weekend!

Anthea

I’ve made some more cards using the Heather Bailey range from Autumn Leaves.  For these I used the latest sketch from the Card Positioning Systems blog:

Bright cards to hopefully cheer up someone who is unwell… I’ve used the matching paper and chipboard, with Kaisercraft rub ons, Making Memories ribbon, and some buttons and flowers.  And, of course, the necessary machine stitching as well.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Anthea

I’ve just finished some cards using this week’s sketch at the Card Patterns blog.  Here’s the sketch and my cards:

I’ve used some more of the Autumn Leaves Heather Bailey range for these cards (can you tell I was running out of congratulations cards?),  and the polka dot paper and cardstock are from Papertrey Ink.  I flipped the sketch too, so the circles are on the left and right sides of the card.  I wanted the patterns to show up, so I photograped them outside (luckily there was no wind…)

Also, some of my Christmas cards have been featured on the Cosmo Cricket blog this week.   Have a look and check out different ways of using this funky paper for your Christmas cards!  Thanks for stopping by my blog,

Anthea

I’ve got a couple of Congratulations cards to show you today, made using the funky bright Heather Bailey papers from Autumn Leaves.

I’ve used the Heather Bailey papers and chipboard, as well as paper from Papertrey Ink, a Kaisercraft rubon, and embossed paper.  I made the lollipop flowers using circles of paper that I distressed around the edges, felt, and lace.  These lollipop flowers are so much fun, and easy!  Here’s another gift tag set I made using the same lollipop flowers:

For these lollipop flowers I cut out circles and flowers from paper and fabric.  I combined pale green, coral, and hot pink, and I really like these colours together.

Have a great week!

Anthea

The latest challenge is up at the Basic Grey Challenges blog.  Here’s the challenge:

For this weeks challenge we would like you to use this Colour Combo , feel free to use other colours too just as long as these colours are on your card you are good to go, oh and don’t forget to use some items from BasicGrey if you would like to be counted in the drawing to win the Monthly Prize

I made these two cards for this week’s challenge, using Junebug and Wisteria papers.  I thought these colours together looked a bit country/gingham/summery, so I combined them with some vintage pictures of strawberries and cherries.  I’ve also used some vintage paper, twill and buttons, as well as Kaisercraft flowers and rhinestones.  I had fun working withe these colours, so I’ll be keeping this combination in mind for future projects…

For something different, I thought I would show some pictures of what I’ve been working on the last couple of days.  I know that people make cards with scraps left over from scrapbooking, but what do you make with scraps left over from cards?  Gift tags of course!  Here’s some pictures of what I’ve made so far:

This is a great way to use up bits of cardstock that are too small for anything else, and those eyelets that I never get around to using… I just used my Cuttlebug and various Nestabilities dies to create sets of 4, with the same design for each in the set.  I’m going to pack these up to sell just like I do with my cards.  I love finding new ways to use up my supplies, especially things that I’ve had for awhile.

Thanks for looking at my stuff, I hope I haven’t bored you too much

Anthea