Out come the H20's - again.......

Do you ever find a product that you just NEED to use, ALL the time. That's me and my H20's. I swear each time I make a card that it will be different this time, I'll try another product, maybe my Tombows or even chalks, or what about that very expensive set of water colour crayons I just HAD to have, but no, they all sit gathering dust, or my toddlers finger prints (hey at least she's using them), while I reach blindly for the beloved H20's. I love it when the sun is shining in through the window while I'm working with them, the sparkle and twinkle is beautiful, it's a shame the camera and computer don't really do them justice. Anyway, you'd think I was doing a commercial for them. The reason for the post, this weeks technique challenge - the Joy Fold card. Who thinks of all these new ideas, they're great. This is my contribution, using Time Well Spent stamp set.

Sketch Challenge

You know the one thing about SCS is that it is very expensive - what you might say, it doesn't cost a cent to join Splitcoast, and you're right, it's all the stamps and accessories I see being used by my fellow crafters that I just HAVE to have. Take my new Cuttlebug for example - I had absolutely no idea that this even existed until I started playing on this site. How on earth did I even make cards without it in the past. That is why I now have one. Thank goodness for birthdays, the perfect excuse to purchase this very much needed craft product, and this weeks sketch, the perfect opportunity to take my Cuttlebug for a test run. OMG - I love it, there goes the credit card as I suddenly have to order new embossing folders.

Masking Instructions

Step 1: Begin by stamping the image you want to appear

at the front on cardstock. Trust me, it will be in the front.

Then stamp image onto sticky paper/post-it note.

Cut out image, making a 'mask'.

Place mask directly over the top of stamped image.

For perfect image placement use a 'stampamajig' or similar item.

Step 2: Stamp second image, slightly overlapping the first image. Remove mask from first image and place directly on top of second stamped image. If you are stamping several different images leave all your 'masks' on until you are finished stamping.

Step 3: As per step 2, stamp third image, slightly overlapping second image. Remove mask from second image and place directly on top of third image. Continue until you are have the desired amount of images.

Step 4: Remove mask. Colour images with whatever medium you choose. Mount coloured images on co-ordinating cardstock.

Faerie Rosebud

This is probably my favourite stamp - Faerie Rosebud by Christine Haworth. I can almost picture this adorable little thing sitting in my rose garden under a red and white spotted mushroom. Once again, I've used my H20's to colour the stamped image. I really should explore other colouring options, I seem to use my H20's on everthing. They are so easy to use and give such an awesome effect, it's hard not to use them. A sprinkling of glitter finishes the image, focusing on the wings. I've mounted the card on shimmer paper, gold card and pink card, finishing off with some co-ordinating ribbon threaded through gold eyelets.

Still more Fish

Masking

While the Fishy Friends stamp set was out I decided to play around using the Masking Technique. It's a very simple technique that looks very effective once completed.

Use basically any stamp set and create some really interesting results. The only stamp I've used is the large fish from Fishy Friends, cardstocks and shimmer paper, circle punch and photo corner punch. Images coloured with H20's (what else???? - I love them!!!!)

"Swim Like a Fish"

Under The Sea

Another great sketch challenge this week from

the Splitcoast site. I can't wait for the new challenges

to be posted each week.

For this card I used the Fishy Friends set and

Cheesecloth background stamp with Close to Cocoa ink.

My Twinkling H20's, which I absolutely love, bazzil and mesh.

Mothermarks Teapot Tuesday Challenge

One of the very talented ladies, Cindy, on SCS has designed her own card challenge, design a card that has taken inspiration from a teapot. I must apologise to her for not playing the game properly the first time, choosing to stamp a coffee cup, I think I was inspired more by the latte that goes in the cup!!!!!

So this time I got in the spirit and took inspiration from my rose teapot, I know, roses, surprise, surprise. This is what I came up with.

Back to Normal - well as normal as possible!!!

Monday saw the end of the school holidays - yippeeeeeee!!! Don't get me wrong, I love the holidays, no seriously, I really do, I just like to see my floor occasionally. It was so nice to wake up to a tidy house on Tuesday, with everything in it's place, I know it doesn't stay like it for long, but after 2 weeks of kaos it was one of those small things that gave me pleasure.

Since signing up with SCS I can't believe how many cards I've actually been making, holidays and all. I'm really looking forward to the new challenges each week. This one is a technique called Blurred Vision, quite simply, stamp image then with water pen go over stamped image, thus causing blurred effect.

This card was made for my nephew, using Mindy's Zoo. I love this stamp set, it is so cute. I had no real plan with this card, just a case of moving pieces around until I was happy with the layout. In the end I was quite please with it, it's a real happy card.

Scribble 'n' Bling & Beachcomber

It's the last day of the school holidays and much to my surprise my sanity is still relatively intact, I've set up and I am regularly creating new posts on my new blog and I have participated in 7 SCS Challenges. I can hardly believe it, I thought I'd be lucky to get one card up and posted, but to my delight the kids are getting a huge kick out of seeing mum's cards on the computer - not as big a kick as me, but they're loving it and asking each day if I'm putting another card on the computer.

These weekly sketch challenges are fantastic to get the creative brain into action.

Scribble 'n' Bling"

Stamps: Scribble This, Tres Chic

Bazzil, Rose Red Ink, Sparkle Brad, Glitter

Beachcomber

Stamps: Seaside Sketches, Shells, Cheesecloth Background

Bazzil, Chalks, Shell Brads

The suspension card is a technique I hadn't tried before today. It certainly gives cards a whole new look.

Stamp: Time Well Spent

Card: Green Galore, Only Orange, Pink Shimmer

Extras: H20's, Glitter

Disco Diva

This weeks challenge - suspension card - took me straight back to the 80's with permed hair and flashing disco lights. I'd like to think that the hairdo's have improved since then!!!!!

Stamps: Penny Black - Light the Night

Stampin Up - Seeing Spots, Warm Words

Ink: Versa Marka - Black emboss, Silver Sparkle, Psychadelic Sparkle

Card: Black Bazzil, Pink Passion

Extras: H20's - Pink Anthurium, Ginger Flower, Cinnamon Stick, Natural Linen Stampin Up Punches

One Week In

Ok, so we're one week into the school holiday's and I'm still relatively sane, let's see how I am by the end of next week.
This week has been a bit of a learning block for me, having started my first ever blog and then participating in two card challenges. After having one of my cards 'simply vanish' from the SCS Gallery I've learnt that the cards need to be given a unique name to avoid being deleted by the host for having duplicate names. It's quite simple when you think about it, but boy was it frustrating searching and searching for my card. I thought it was great having a visitor to my blog, but then when I had people view and then comment on my cards I swear I was like a kid at Christmas time. It is really quite humbling to have talented card makers look at your work. My stamp pads are all fired up ready for the next challenge.

With a Spring in My Pocket

This is my version of this weeks technique challenge - Spring Card.

Stamp: Pocket Fun

Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Whisper WhiteDerwent Pencils, Stickles Glitter

SC183 Stipple Rose Card

I thought my first challenge card should be a rose, it was either that or a butterfly and as I haven't used this stamp before I thought this was a good one to start with.

Stamp Used: Stipple Rose
Versa Marka with black embossing powder
H2O's - Olive Vine, Cranberry, Cedar Wood
Chocolate Bazzil, scrap papers, copper brads

Small Things

It's amazing how small things can bring a smile to your face. Today I had my first visitor to my blog and I must admit I was like a big kid, I yelled out to my daughter to come look really quickly. I still find it extradonary that I can be using my computer in Australia and someone on the otherside of the world can see what I've done, our computers are really connecting us together - while the world is a large place it is also quite small!!!!

Day Two

Ok, so I'm two days into having my own blog, and I must say I'm totally overwhelmed. It's not as easy as I thought and I applaud all you very talented ladies who have produced wonderful, inspiring blogs. I should have my head down and stuck into paperwork - it's the end of the tax year here and I have a mountain of work calling me, however the call from my new blog is slightly louder. Looking through blogs from SCS I'm amazed at the hundreds and hundreds of people who have blogs and how far behind I am on this. I thought I was fairly computer literate until I actually challenged myself to create my own blog. I know I for one will be seeking out help from anyone out there who is prepared to answer my hundred and one questions.
Ok, so now, I'm off to explore a few more blogs and gain some more inspiration.