Inkurable Stampers - Paint challenge

Hello there, sorry for being a bit scarce lately but I've been a bit busy doing other things. I've had a chance to do a bit of crafting today, so here's my entry for Inkurable Stampers March challenge - use PAINT on your project. Just call me 'Queen of the Last Minute' as it's the last day to enter! For my background piece I used some textured watercolour paper, wet it liberally and painted it with some Twinkling H2O's - the colours are Summer Breeze and Guatamalan Green. I stamped a Ferngully seashell stamp along the bottom of this piece using Versamark ink and heat embossed it with white EP. For the seahorse piece, I started with some white cardstock and dry-brushed it with some Lumiere paint in a cross-hatch pattern - the colours are Blue, Emerald and Turquoise. I then applied a coating of Versamark ink and heat embossed 3 layers of clear Opals embossing enamel. While the Opals were still warm I inked up the Stamp-It seahorse stamp with black Brilliance ink and pressed it into the warm Opals. I put this in the freezer for a few minutes so I could give it a Cracked Glass finish.

I layered the watercoloured piece onto some turquoise and green cardstock layers, tied some twine around them and finished it with a nautical charm. I edged the seahorse piece with a black Sharpie pen and layered it with some dimensional foam dots. I adhered the whole piece to a folded white card and added the Kaisercraft sentiment with black ink and the Hero Arts 'bubbles' using Versamagic Sea Breeze ink.

I hope you like my card for today, let me know what you think!

Clean & Simple 132

I really liked this week's sketch FLT 132 from Clean & Simple Stamping blog, so I made 3 cards in an afternoon for the challenge!

For this 1st card the flower images are from a Flourishes stamp set which doesn't seem to have a name - it's a large sheet with lots of flowery images, the sentiment is from another Flourishes stamp set called 'Many Sentiments'. I coloured the flowers with Copic and Prismacolor markers and added a little Kindy Glitz for some shimmer. The patterned paper is by Kaisercraft, the little crocheted flower is Stampin' Up.

For this card I stamped a Penny Black 'Brush Balloon' 3 times, coloured them with Copic Markers and added some glitter over them. The patterned paper is by Heidi Grace and the sentiment is another one from the Flourishes 'Many Sentiments' stamp set.

I turned the sketch upside down for this card. I stamped Stamp-It 'Gumnut Brush' in Stampin' Up white craft ink on SU Kraft cardstock, the sentiment is from a Stamp-It sentiment set. The patterned paper is some really old stuff from Making Memories (2006!)

Hope you like these simple cards, I'll definitely be using this sketch again!

Some News!

Hi everyone! Just in case you were wondering how I got on with my CT scan results, well, I'm happy to report that there has been no change since the last one! I was really nervous about this one as the previous one had shown a small increase in size, so it was a huge relief that things were still the same. What's even better is that the oncologists have decided to give me a further break from chemo for at least the next 3 months.

Since I now have a little time on my hands we've decided it's high time to plan a trip away for some R & R. The last 18 months have been pretty draining on both my hubby and I, and if we don't go now, we may not get another chance. We are thinking of going to New Zealand, but need to organize passports etc. so stay tuned!

.....but wait there's more!

I haven't shared this other bit of good news here yet, but my daughter Jo is expecting her 2nd baby in September! Exciting times ahead for sure!

I'll be back soon with some cards that I made yesterday!

AnnaBelle Stamps - Say It With............a Tag!

Happy Friday to you all! This week has just flown by for me, it's been a very busy one too. I had yet another CT scan on Tuesday, and I think I must have picked up a bug while at the hospital as I had some sort of nasty virus on Wednesday and Thursday. Hopefully I'll have a better weekend, then it's back to see my Oncologist on Monday to get the results of my scan, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they haven't found any new cancer.

Anyway, enough about me and onto my card! This week's Friday challenge at AnnaBelle Stamps is 'Say it with.....a Tag!'



All of my stamps are from the ABS 'All Things Grow' set. For my backgrounds I've sponged on some Distress Inks and then stamped over them. My tag is cut using a Cuttlebug Tiny Tags die. I've used this week's sketch 182 from Mojo Monday for my layout.

Supplies used:
AnnaBelle Stamps products: 'All Things Grow' stamps, green and white striped ribbon.
Basic Grey Blush patterned paper.
Stampin' Up 'Not quite Navy' cardstock.
Tim Holtz Distress Inks - various colours.
Versafine Black Onyx ink.
Nestabilities - Circle and Blossom dies.
Other - button, green paper cord.

Dont forget to check out the Design Team's gorgeous projects, you'll find their links on the ABS blog. If you'd like to play along, just enter your link on the ABS blog.

I just wanted to say a big thank you to Andrea for the opportunity to be a guest designer on the AnnaBelle Stamps blog for this month, today's post is my last one. Thanks also to the ABS design team for all your support too! I've thoroughly enjoyed the last month, especially being a part of the new release stamps!

AnnaBelle Stamps - Lil Michelle Swinging By

Welcome to day 2 of the New Release stamps for AnnaBelle Stamps blog! If you've arrived here from Sue K's blog, then you are on the right track, if not then please start at the ABS blog.

Today's new release is another mini-stamp set called lbs006 Lil Michelle Swinging By. Isn't she a cutie!



For my first card, I coloured Lil Michelle using Prismacolor Pencils and odourless mineral spirits, I made a frame for her by using 2 Nestabilities Curved Rectangle dies on a piece of Stampin' Up Pacific Blue (I think) cardstock. The patterned papers are from Crate Paper's Restoration Collection 6 x 6 paper pad. The blue and white striped ribbon is also from AnnaBelle Stamps, I tied it into a double bow using my Bow-Easy template. The olive Sprinkles are from AnnaBelle Stamps too!

For my second card, I coloured Lil Michelle with Copic Markers and sponged some Antique Linen Distress Ink around the edges. The cardstock is Stampin' Up Pretty In Pink and Perfect Plum, the patterned paper is from Kaisercraft's La Di Da collection. I used a Martha Stewart border punch along the bottom edges of the PP and cardstock and adhered a row of Lime Sprinkles along the scallops. The Hot Pink satin ribbon is from AnnaBelle Stamps

How the Hop works :

You will need to begin at the ABS blog if you haven't already, and follow the links to each of the DT blogs. Leave a comment on each as you go and you will end up back at the ABS blog where you can add your name to the Inlinkz widget. Each hop will run for only 24hrs and random winners will be chosen from the names added to the Inlinkz that have completed the hop. The names of the winners will be posted on the AnnaBelle Stamps blog on the 17th March.

Happy Hopping!

This is your last stop on the blog hop, I hope you enjoyed it! Head on back to the ABS blog now so you can link your name!

AnnaBelle Stamps - Lil Monster Gone Fishing

Welcome to my New Release post for AnnaBelle Stamps blog! If you've arrived here from Sue K's blog, then you are on the right track, if not then please start at the ABS blog.

The stamp set I am showing today is the mini-set lbs005 'Lil Monster Gone Fishing'. The first card I'm showing you is the one that I gave the sneak peek of on Sunday. I coloured the image using Prismacolor pencils and odourless mineral spirits. I added some Dimensional Magic to Lil Monsters eyes and tooth, you can see this better in the close-up photo. The small heart is from the ABS 'Hoo Loves Christmas' stamp set, I've popped it up on dimensional dots. The papers I used are from Crate Paper's Restoration Collection 6 x 6 paper pad, I sewed around the edges of the large background piece and distressed the edges. The black and white striped ribbon is also from AnnaBelle Stamps and I've wrapped it around a piece of Core'dinations Black Magic Potion No.9 cardstock, which I embossed with a Cuttlebug folder and sanded back to reveal the teal coloured core. The cardstock is Black Pedigree Paper and 'Taken With Teal' Stampin' Up.

For my second card, I coloured Lil Monster with Copic Markers. The patterned papers are by Kaisercraft, I used both sides of a sheet called Fun Fair Ringmaster. The orange strips that I sewed along the edges is twisted paper cord, which is also available from AnnaBelle Stamps. The cardstock is all by Stampin' Up, I've popped the sentiment up on dimensional dots and added a button tied with a single strand of the twisted paper cord.

How the Hop works :

You will need to begin at the ABS blog if you haven't already, and follow the links to each of the DT blogs. Leave a comment on each as you go and you will end up back at the ABS blog where you can add your name to the Inlinkz widget. Each hop will run for only 24hrs and random winners will be chosen from the names added to the Inlinkz that have completed the hop. The names of the winners will be posted on the AnnaBelle Stamps blog on the 17th March.

Happy Hopping!

This is your last stop on the blog hop, I hope you enjoyed it! Head on back to the ABS blog now so you can link your name! Don't forget to come back tomorrow to see the second new release stamp set and also another chance to win!

AnnaBelle Stamps - New release sneak peek!

Hi there! Well, as promised here is the sneak peek of the upcoming AnnaBelle Stamps new release! Don't forget to come back on Tuesday and Wednesday to see the new release stamp sets. You will also have a chance to win the new stamps by participating in the AnnaBelle Stamps bloghop..........see you then!


.......Hmmm, now what could this be??

Inkurable Stampers Bookmark Challenge.

Hello everyone, hope you are enjoying your weekend! Summer isn't quite finished here yet and it's extremely hot today, I have the air conditioner running as we speak.

I'm really running this Inkurable Stampers challenge down to the wire as the cut-off is at midnight tonight! I actually started it weeks ago, but got side-tracked and couldn't decide what I wanted to use for it. I started out by playing with different surfaces and mediums to use, but finally I decided on this one! I used some watercolour paper and wet it liberally before applying some Lumiere paints. I had to water down the paints a fair bit so that my stamping would show through, but hopefully you can still see the lovely shimmer of the paints in my photos. Just click on the photos for a close-up of the shimmer.

The stamp I used is a gorgeous peacock, one of my favourite images by Magenta Stamps. After my painted watercolour piece had dried, I used Black Onyx Versafine ink to stamp the peacock, I find it's the best for finely detailed stamps like this one. When the ink had dried, I used a gold gel pen and a Signo white gel pen to highlight some of the peacock. I layered my stamped piece onto some black cardstock, punched a hole in the top and added a purchased tassel.

I'm not buying many hard copy books since I got my eReader, but there was a 50% off sale at Angus & Robertsons stores, some of which are closing very soon, so I splurged and bought the type of books which can't really be read on an eReader (one's with photos). I seem to be turning into a hippy with the choice of books you can see in the above photo! No, not really, I'm just trying to live a healthier lifestyle since I've had cancer. I thought I had a reasonably healthy lifestyle before, but I'm finding out that it could have been better, and it's never too late to start!

I'd love to know what you're currently reading, I'm always on the lookout for a good novel! What kind of books do you like? I find myself drawn to a lot of suspense/serial killer type novels - James Patterson is a favourite author at the moment, and I have a lot of John Grisham and Stephen King books. I have quite a few unread books sitting on my eReader at the moment, but I think the next novel that I read will be 'Mao's Last Dancer', and no, I haven't seen the film yet! I also have a copy of Keith Richards autobiography 'Life' sitting on my bedside table....... and does he have some tales to tell!

AnnaBelle Stamps - Say It In............Red, White and Blue!

Hi there, I'm here with another Guest Designer post for AnnaBelle Stamps! This week's challenge is 'Say It In..........Red, White and Blue'. So that's an easy one, just use red, white and blue colours on your card and don't forget to upload it at the AnnaBelle Stamps blog!


For my card I used the main image from the 'Lil Molly's Flowers' mini stamp set and my sentiment is from 'All Things Grow' stamp set. I coloured Lil Molly with Copic Markers and paper pieced her dress, I also added some Crystalline Kindy Glitz to the flower centres. My patterned papers are by Kaisercraft, I did a little distressing to the edges. The twine along the bottom of the card is called Twisted Paper Cord and is also available from AnnaBelle Stamps. I threaded it through the button and tied it in a bow, and to make it sit flat on my card I decided to run it through my Cuttlebug machine.......that worked a treat and made it easy to glue down. The 2 shades of blue cardstock is Bazzil.

I used this week's sketch #208 from the CPS blog, so am entering my card there also.

Please come back and visit me again on Sunday, I'll have a little sneak peek of the AnnaBelle Stamps new release for you!

Experimenting......

Sometimes inspiration hits you in the strangest places! These cards were inspired by a booth at a shopping centre selling silver jewellery. The booth's design featured outline flowers with some splashes of colour here and there, I immediately thought that would make a great card! I had to rely on my memory as I had no camera with me, and, as it turned out when I re-visited the shopping centre, my cards were quite different from what I had originally seen!

I started by spraying white cardstock with glimmer mists, for the first card I just used some Tattered Angels Vintage Pink. I used the same spray plus some TA Bronze on the 2nd card, and for the 3rd card I used the Vintage Pink and some homemade green spray - I made this with Tim Holtz Shabby Shutters re-inker and Pearl coloured Pearl Ex. The green is a little subtle and I should have added some more drops of re-inker I think. I did my stamping after the glimmer mists had dried. It was really hard to get a photo of the shimmer on the cards, I took the last photo as a close-up with some sunlight shining on it to give you a better idea of how the cards look in real life.

I'm entering these cards in the current Moxie Fab World challenge for Stamping With Shimmer Sprays.

Stamps used: Hero Arts Magnolia flower on the first two cards, Stampin' Up flowers from the 'Fifth Avenue Floral' set. All sentiments are by Stamp-It (Australia).

Hope you like my experiments, I had fun making these cards!

AnnaBelle Stamps - Say It With............Love!

Hi there, I'm back with another card for Annabelle Stamps weekly challenge! I've used the tulip again from the 'Easter Hope' February release set as my main image, this time I've used Copic Markers to colour it. I also cut around the image and popped it up on dimensional foam. The other stamps I used are from the 'Hooo Loves Christmas' set. I used the theme to create one of those all-purpose generic cards suitable for lots of occasions. You could use this card for a birthday card, anniversary, valentine, thinking of you etc.

I used a Labels Nestability die and sponged some Soft Peach chalk ink on the larger one, and used some Kaisercraft DP for the smaller one. I used Stampin' Up's word window punch to punch out the greeting, lots of the AnnaBelle Stamps sentiments fit inside the SU word window punch which is really handy!

Other supplies:
Fiskars Water Threading punch.
Bazzil cardstock.
Pedigree Paper white cardstock.
White grosgrain ribbon, 3mm green satin ribbon.


I'd love to see you join in this week's challenge, you don't need to have AnnaBelle Stamps to join in, but if you have them we'd love to see you use them! If you would like to purchase some, Annabelle Stamps is having a big March Madness Sale for the whole of March, so do yourself a favour and go and check them out! You can see the stamps HERE. Don't forget to check out the Design Team blogs for more inspiration for this weeks' challenge, you will find their links on the AnnaBelle Stamps Blog!