Bronnies Stamping Spot

Its been a long time

2011-04-28T18:26:00.001+10:00

It has been a long time since I put a post on here. I have been to Nepal, India and New Zealand twice. I have made cards in-betweeen but just never got them on here. I have acquired a few more stamp sets since then including Tess and some monsters so here are some creations with these stamps.

Are you missing me?

2010-11-13T20:19:00.001+10:00

If you have been popping into my blog and seeing if there is anything new, then the news is not good for you. I am on holiday at the moment and on one of my adventures to far flung places. You can keep up with me at my Nepal and India blog. I will be back on board in January hopefully stamping in the cool of air conditioning.

Until then have a good time and don't get too caught up in the rush of Christmas and in forgetting what Christmas is all about

Bron

A little bit naughty, a little bit nice

2010-10-11T14:41:00.000+10:00

I, like many others couldn't resist the challenge from the Just Add Ink blog which involved using pink and bling in celebration of pink ribbon week for breast cancer awareness. I, like many others have done similar cards involving bra's. So, here is my version.

And, I even got a couple of pink ribbons in there. These cards are so much fun to make but it would have been a bit easier if I had a heart punch instead of cutting by free hand!

I hope you enjoy it and it has added a smile to your day.
Bron

The end is in sight

2010-10-11T09:33:00.000+10:00

Hi there, I only have three more weeks left in Cairns this year before I have eight weeks off work (see me smile). I haven't had more than a week off at a time in more than two and a half years which has been a long haul. So, I am off to Nepal, India, Wagga Wagga (NSW) and then at last to New Zealand to see my family. Therefore, this weekend is probably the last time for the year that I will get to stamp for an extended period of time. Instead of studying (and getting my research proposal finished) I decided to head up to the coolness of the Tablelands and do some stamping with Adrianne.

One of the things I was determined to do was Makeeshas sketch challenge. The first problem was deciding what áre the dimensions of a square card. Is it 10x10cm or 12x12cm or some other measurement? I decided on 12x12cm. So here it is. I must say I quite like it.

The designer paper is the new Stampin Up Elegant Soiree on the background of Kraft, Bashful Blue and Soft Suede (I call it cow poo brown which is probably a bit harsh but see cow poo and soft suede together and you will see the connection - I'm still a farmgirl at heart). The stamp is sincere salutations and the bling is cheap spotlight stuff. I does look better in real life.

And as an add on here is a video of other cards I made over the weekend

Well, I hope you all have a good week. I am off to the Gold Coast on Saturday for a conference (which I am speaking at!).

Bron

Birthday time

2010-10-06T20:06:00.000+10:00

Well, not birthday time for me but a few of my workmates have requested birthday cards so birthday cards it is. I took a break from study on Monday and got stamping. It was a wet day here which is starting to be the norm as wet season sets in for another six months. The problem with stamping in wet weather with high humdity is that your card stock is damp and the stamped images turn out blotchy which is dissapointing. I suppose I could have got the hairdryer out.

So, I borrowed Adriannes "wild about you" stamp set and created these cards. Hopefully the video works.

Well, my plan is to do some more over the weekend but I have to do some more work on my research proposal so we will see how it pans out.

Four weeks of work left this year then off to Nepal, India and New Zealand

Bron

Its been a while

2010-09-12T13:24:00.005+10:00

I just realised how long it has been since I put a post on here. I have been stamping intermittently. I have had a bit of a time delimma for a couple of months. I desperately need to get my research proposal done for my doctorate before I go on holidays in 7 weeks time while trying to maintain a social life, doing a public speaking course and doing long hours at work. I feel guilty when I say that because I know I am not a mother and that mothers have lots more to juggle but everyone has different demands on their life (and I usually get slammed by mothers for saying that I am busy).

So, today is stamping day and I have finally gotten the chance to do one of Keesha's challenges
And only when I downloaded the picture did I realise that I did mine landscape instead of portrait! I think it is called interpretive freedom

I tried to make a flower but that wasn't happening today so why not take the easy way out.
Anyway...I might be back today

Bron

Christmas in July and a day at Paulas

2010-07-30T10:42:00.012+10:00

Believe it or not, I have had requests for Christmas cards already...what the? It is only July...well it is almost over but it is still July. So yesterday while I was at Paula's I borrowed some stamps and created some Christmas cards. Today is a bit cloudy, as it has been in Cairns for the last five weeks (its not meant to be at the moment....DRY season time) hence the photos are a bit ordinary
I have not idea what the next stamp is called or where it came from, other than from Paula's box of old stamps

Paula, was making up kits for her ladies craft night at church and was throwing all sorts of scraps out and I took to them like a chicken in dirt. She had managed to cut strips of designer paper and I turned them into a criss cross pattern for the background of the next two cards which turned out really good (I think)

Have a great day

Bron

A bit of Cairns Show fun

2010-07-30T08:43:00.008+10:00

Years ago I went to the Cairns show (the only time I had been) and remember looking at the baking section and thinking, hey, I could beat that. So, this year I put my actions where my thoughts were and went for it and it turned out to be quite a fun experience. So here are the winners. I just had to enter the packet cake section...like how hard can that be? Note to self: don't try cooking a cake while studying! I burnt the bottom of the cake so chopped the bottom off and still ended up getting first. The thing is...that chocolate cake to the left looked real good and I would eat it before I would eat my cake

I got second in the damper. It didn't quite turn out like a damper but rather as a large scone. The mixture got a bit too wet and the outside didn't chrisp up like it should have.

Second for pikelets...nanna would be so proud. It was her recipe

And highly commended for my famous muffins. My work mates think I got ripped off

I also entered some of my photographs just to see how they would go in a competition and I must say I was thrilled to even get placed. It seems I have a couple of friends who are willing to take me on next year.

Don't ask me what the flower is. As I said to the judge when I picked up my photos...it was there so I took a photo of it.

And, finally a third for my Congo kid. I love this photo.

It was a fun experience

Bron

The July collection

2010-07-04T11:15:00.013+10:00

Just thought that I would put up some of the cards that I have made over the last wee while. I made these robot cards while at Paulas for a stamping day. I couldn't resist these little robots and they make nice little boy cards.
These cards I made after work at Atherton with Adrianne. She has now set up the 'shed' as a stamping room and I have a few more shifts in Atherton so the stamping gear may be going for a few more trips up the range to Yungaburra

I have no idea what this stamp set is called

And I am still working out how to use this house stamp set more effectively...a work in progress

Some masculine cards using an old (like three years old) scrap pack

And back to my favourite colours

And another attempt at the houses...still a work in progress

and a kiddie card

The end...time to go and cook spagetti bolagnaise for 50 people. My bible study group is on 'welcome in' tonight at church where we have a cook up once a month.

Have a great day

Bron

cloudy days

2010-07-04T10:34:00.009+10:00

Its dry season here...well it's meant to be. Here in Cairns we have two seasons, not four: wet and dry. Dry season is meant to be dry, sunny and warm instead it has been cloudy with periods of drizzle and very windy which makes it feel very winterish. Dont get me wrong it is still warm compared to the rest of Australia with overnight temperatures getting down to 20 degrees but all the clouds are a bit depressing
.
So, I have finally unpacked the car of my stamping stuff and got stuck into it last night. I started out by just trying to get Keesha's challenge done. I have participated for a while as May and June were a bit hectic. So here is Keesha's challenge which I actually made three cards for (I don't get to play much so I am making up for it)
Here are the colours that I had to play with. I must say, I really do like rich razzleberry and old olive together.
So here is card number one. I consider this the warm-up card (you know what I mean). At the bottom of the card I add some card spagetti which looks quite cool.

Card number two using Eastern Blooms

And card number three is probably my fav. It looks better when it is in focus and in real life. I have used some chunky glitter on the flowers and added some bling to jazz it up a bit.

Hope you like my creations

Bron.

By the way Keesha...I am so envious of your Canada trip. If you see some lost looking kiwi farmers then you have found my parents. They are overthere somewhere on a farm tour.

Challenge time :)

2010-05-13T18:15:00.005+10:00

Tis challenge time. I have had a big fortnight with having to do two big presentations of my PhD work and needed to de-stress when I got home from work yesterday.

Last week I was in Wagga Wagga (Now there is an Aussie place name for you! Pronounced Wogga Wogga!) and Bathurst for University and then this week I have been doing a three day workshop on how to deal with the ever increasing numbers of violent and aggressive patients. It was an informative workshop but I am feeling a little sore from all the man handling (though the man handling was particularly pleasant!).

My plan was to do the inkspirations sketch challenge and the Just add ink challenge and while I have done a card for both, I was too late getting the Just add ink challenge photographed and blogged. I did do other challenges last night and they are below on my blog.
So, here was the sketch challenge.
And here is my take on it. I am still hooked on rich razzleberry and old olive. They just go so well together.

Anyway...need to cook some dinner. The next door neighbours have a roast cooking and it smells so yummy. Very tempting to do something similar...

Bron

Clean and simple challenge 89

2010-05-13T18:01:00.004+10:00

Well, I have had a challenging challenge night. I thought that while I had all my stamping stuff out, I might as well polish off a few challenges for some fun.

I really do like the clean & simple challenges as they are just that....clean & simple. I am usually one for lots of layers, bling etc but these challenges force me to think simpler. Here is the sketch
And here is my interpretation. Again, sorry that the picture is not that good. The sun was setting while I was trying to take the pic.

I used the eastern blooms (SU) stampset for the flowers using purely pomegrante ink. The card stock was old olive and river rock. I couldn't resist a bit of bling.

Bron

Brown, Blue and white

2010-05-13T17:47:00.003+10:00

Brown, blue and white...mmm. Sounds easy right? Sometimes it is those challenges that leave you with so many options that are the hardest. I dont have many shades of blue left in my scrap box or even in my box of card stock.

Brown, blue and white is the colour challenge from the stamping sisters in Christ blog. While most of the cards shown for this challenge have lovely Bible verses...mine does not. I dont seem to have a large supply of Bible verse stamps so went for something that was a bit sacred...a wedding card. I usually have a supply of these but the box is looking a bit empty. Anyway...here it is. The photo is not that good. I left for work before the sun rose and came home just as it was setting
Bron

Clean & Simple #87

2010-04-24T16:06:00.006+10:00

And clean & simple it is. How quick is it to make a card? This has been made from scraps and I am surprised at how well it turned out. Here is the sketch from clean & simple
And here is my take on it

Card stock: Whisper white, rich razzleberry, old olive, cottage window designer series paper

Ink: Rich razzleberry

Stamp sets: Think happy thoughts and whimsical words

So so easy

Bron

Humidity, humidity, humidity

2010-04-24T14:54:00.009+10:00

Well, it has been a really humid day here in Cairns. The journal articles that I am meant to be reading for my doctorate feel all damp and now when I go to stamp, my cardstock is all soggy. This means that you dont get the nice crisp images (hence stamps having a blotchy look). It is so humid today I have actually turned on the air con which is unusual for this time of year.

So my method of procrastination today was Keesha's challenge. Thinking that a card would be too quick (and then I would have to study again) I went for something a little 3D. Keesha's challenge this week was a colour challenge. I have never done a 3D thing like this. They are quite fiddly. Here are the colours:
And here is the creation. A little box. I am not sure I have used the right blue as it has come out of the scrap bag but I know the rest of the colours are right.

The stamp set is cottage garden from the autumn/winter mini. The 'for you' is from vintage labels. It is funny how you look at a stamp set in a catalogue and think 'yeah, I could do lots with that' and then when you get it, it seems a bit more difficult than you thought. That is my feeling towards the 'cottage garden' stamp set at the moment.

This is the back side of the box with a little tag. For a fiddly little creation I think it turned out quite well.

Maybe I should do some dusting. Its a bit embarrasing when you can see it in the photo. Perhaps that is what I will do next to procrastinate.

I have more of this weekends creations in the previous post (I have been procrastinating alot!).

Have a good weekend

Bron

I have been razzled

2010-04-24T09:30:00.012+10:00

It has been a big week and the next couple are going to be even bigger. I have just recently got some new stuff and have been wanting to try them out but finding the time has been the challenge but finally I have got my stamping stuff out and given it a go, even if I have felt guilty for doing so when I know I have so much study to do before I go to Wagga NEXT WEEKEND! But the temptation got to me too much.

I think I have fallen in love with rich razzleberry. It goes so well with old olive. I have a wall in my bedroom painted in rich razzleberry (maybe more of a grape colour but similar). My first card is my attempt at two step stamping. You should have seen me twirling my stamp-a-majig around trying to work out which way to stamp. I got a few wrong before I got these four.
Cardstock: Old olive, rich razzleberry, soft suede and whisper white
Ink: Old olive and rich razzleberry
Stamp set: Cottage garden
Ribbon: Rich razzleberry grosgrain ribbon

Attempt number two was the two step stamping. I must remember to measure before cutting. My intention was for the main panel to be a bit shorter so that it didn't cover my hodgepodge but it didn't happen. I added some bling to give it just a bit more pop.
Cardstock: Old olive, melon mambo, soft suede, rich razzleberry and whisper white
Ink: Old olive, rich razzleberry
Stampset: Cottage garden, whimsical words
Ribbon: Old olive grosgrain ribbon

These two cards were the resurrection of a failed attempt at making tags and sort of happened at the end of the night when I found some scraps.

Cardstock: Old olive (of course), soft suede, melon mambo, rich razzleberry, cottage wall designer paper

Stampset: happy moments
Ink: Basic black

And because I really love the pocket silhouette stampset I thought I would give my new favourite colour combination a go. Again this was from the scrap heap. The card is not the conventional size.

Cardstock: Old olive, soft suede, rich razzleberry, whisper white

Stamp set: Pocket silhouettes

Ink: rich razzleberry

Ribbon: rich razzleberry grosgrain ribbon

Still not willing to give up the new colours, I carried on with another favourite stamp set and made this simplistic card.Card stock: soft suede, melon mambo

Stamp sets: Easter blooms and best yet

Ink: Rich razzleberry, basic black

I actually made two cards that were similar (not something I usually do!) but they are still slightly different.

Cardstock: Old olive, soft suede, rich razzleberry, whisper white, cottage wall designer paper
Stamp set: Pocket silhouettes, best yet
Ink: rich razzleberry
Ribbon: rich razzleberry grosgrain ribbon and whisper white taffeta

And just for something different (uggg!) I went back to my good old faithful colour combination. I also discovered I am down to my last piece of chocolate chip (how did that happen!). I was attempting to get a vintage look but think I missed the mark!

Cardstock: Creamy caramel, cameo coral, chocolate chip, whisper white and some designer paper that I dont know the name of.

Stampset: One of a kind

Ink: Chocolate chip and cameo coral

Ribbon: Choc chip satin ribbon

Other bits: Brass hodgepodge, button (button latte), hemp twine

And lucky last, another one from easter blooms. This one looks quite fresh in real life. Overcast days make it so hard to get good photos!

Cardstock: Old olive, rich razzleberry, melon mambo, whisper white, cottage wall designer paper.
Stamp set: Eastern blooms, best yet (friends)
Ink: rich razzleberry
Ribbon: rich razzleberry grosgrain ribbon

Buttons from button bouquet collection

Hope you have enjoyed my creations. There may be more this weekend. I haven't packed all my stamping stuff away yet.

Have a good weekend

Bron

From the scrap pile

2010-03-30T08:47:00.006+10:00

After doing all the challenges I had little bits of card scattered across the table and thought "I wonder if I can make some cards out of this pile' and these cards are the results.

The first one was just a small little card. I just had to try out my new stamp set that fits my punches.
This was some left over designer paper and I used my new stamp set and my new scallop punch. The kraft card stock is new but I had used it in the challenges so it was so new any more

In this one I had to try the new ribbon I got and also the designer label punch I recently got as well (it works!! so much easier than trying to cut it out yourself)

This one was trying out the new taffeta ribbon that I have just brought (it was a big order)

So was this about using the scraps or about trying out my new things? Well a bit of both. It was a challenge to try and get colours working together without having to cut into new card stock.

Hope you have enjoyed my creations

Bron

Clean & Simple

2010-03-30T08:38:00.006+10:00

I have looked at the 'clean & simple' website a few times and considered doing one of their challenges and last night I finally got around to doing one. It is the first time that I have done a square card and I think that the size of cardstock in Australia (A4 size) may be different from the US as this didn't end up being a big card at all. Here is the layout:

And here is my attempt

I found the flower in my scrap bag and worked from there.It is actually a cute little card. Thanks for the great layout and a different type of challenge.

Bron

Another challenge

2010-03-30T08:19:00.005+10:00

I am back again after doing some more challenges. This time I killed to birds with one stone by combining the Just add ink challenge with the stampin' sisters in Christ challenge. The Just Add Ink colour challenge consisted of the following colours

While the stampin'sisters in Christ challenge was to 3D an image. I didn't really follow the instructions (which I read properly for the first time as I type this) as they were after a paper tole like effect.
Problem one: I dont have blush blossom.
Problem two: I didn't read the instructions correctly
And as a result this is the card

I really enjoyed the challenge and the card looks better in real life but the cloudy, rainy weather is making it difficult to get a good shot of any of the cards I have made recently.
Bron

And the reward for days of study is....

2010-03-30T07:49:00.009+10:00

4 hours of stamping. Yep, it was actually on the list of about 20 things that I HAD to do on my 'days off'. I am not ususally a list person but when I know I have lots to do in a limited time it is the only way that I can keep motivated. So, Monday night was stamping night and I set about doing some challenges. My brain wasn't quite as creative as I was hoping and that may have had something to do with the research book I was reading before I started stamping!!!! The first one I tackled was Keesh's challenge. Keesh suggested a pastel, easter inspired card but as I dont really do pastels and dont have a stamp set that is easter-ish so I went in my own direction.
It looked innocent enough but I couldn't really figure it out so was feeling a bit so so about this one. I tried a baby card to start with.

And then return to good old faithful chocolate chip and my 'like it latte' set and felt a bit better about this one.

The photos didn't turn out that well. The sun hasn't shined for days, maybe weeks and it has been very cloudy making it a bit difficult to get the natural colours of the cards happening in the photos. Think the clouds will be here for a while yet while cyclone Paul floats about in the Gulf of Carpenteria. Now off to the other challenges

Bron

Inkspiratons Sketch #19 Second attempt

2010-03-06T10:37:00.005+10:00

Despite the pact that I had with myself that I would be in bed by 9.30pm each night (A fairly acceptably bedtime in Cairns) this week...I have failed. I started stamping at 7.30 and thought I will just whip up these cards and be in bed by 9.30pm but didn't get cleaned up and all my stuff packed away until 11pm! The reason...I decided to have another go at this challenge from Makeesha
Its similar to the sketch but a bit different. I used really rust, garden green and whisper white and the One of a kind stamp set. Of course I had to have some bling. It looks better in real life.

Anyway, I will see how I go as far as doing other challenges.

Bron

Inkspirations Sketch Challenge #19 first attempt

2010-03-06T10:24:00.006+10:00

I was hanging out all yesterday for this challenge hoping that it wasn't a colour challenge containing colours I dont have but alas a sketch challenge (yipee).
I decided that I needed a break from the books and while NCIS was quite gripping last night I managed to get three cards done. Two for this challenge and one for the Just add ink challenge. I used Old Olive, Baja Breeze and Whisper Whiteand the Eastern Blooms stamp set for this card. I think it turned out quite well except for the dodgey photograph I took of it.

Bron

Just add Ink challenge #7

2010-03-06T10:11:00.007+10:00

So it has been a while since I have done a challenge but I was determined this week that I would have a go if I had done enough study when it came to Friday night. I haven't done enough study but there is always tomorrow (today) for that. The challenge consisted of using four colours of which three belong to the same family (green galore, tempting turquise and pink passion) and the fourth I only have as designer paper (so saffron). I cant say that these are colours that I use alot and are a bit bright for me but alas I gave it a go so out came my fishy friends stamp set and my chunky glitter and wallah....a card is born

Bron

Christmas 2009 collection

2009-10-20T11:45:00.019+10:00

For Adrianne and Paula,

March Madness

2009-03-10T22:05:00.002+10:00

I know I have been a sparodic with my postings this year compared to last year but it sort of happens that way because all my days off work are always in a big lump and I try to dedicate 1/2 to one day of those to stamping. Hence, I do lots of challenges in one day and then nothing is posted for a couple of weeks.
Well, there is going to be another break. In the next two weeks I am off to NZ for four days then to Wagga Wagga in NSW for three nights then back to my parents place in NZ for four more days then up to the North Island for another conference. Two conferences in two countries in two weeks. Thankfully with 10 flights none of them are on Jetstar or Virgin so it will be a bit of a treat.
So, there wont be any stamping for a bit but I will be back real soon
Bron

Trying something new...a video

2009-02-28T16:23:00.003+10:00

I am going to give this a go and see what it turns out like. These are the cards I made at a recent stamping morning/afternoon with Paula and Adrianne. Adrianne didn't get to see the last ones I made so I am hoping this works rather than sitting here waiting for cards to download

Ah that was faster, just hope it works

Bron

Squares and scollops

2009-02-28T14:31:00.007+10:00

I think North America must have a different paper size than our A4 size. Their cards really match their layouts and then when I have a go, it doesn't fit quite the same. Here is an example. Here is the sketch challenge of Mojo Monday and look, it fits so proportionately well.

I realised the other day they I dont have any get well cards so I took the opportunity to convert this sketch into one. Here is what I did...

And for a close up...

The fine print
Cardstock: Creamy caramel, old olive, whisper white, ruby red, afternoon tea designer paper
Inks: real red, old olive and chocolate chip
Stamps: Fun and fast notes
Bling: silver hodgepodge

That all for now

Have a good weekend

Bron

Beate's weekend challenge

2009-02-28T14:06:00.004+10:00

I should be studying but my stats paper and more precisely logarithm's are doing my head in so I have hit the stamps and done some challenges. Beates weekend challenge is a sketch challenge which I must say are easier for me than colour challenges. Here is the sketch:

It looks innocent enough so I gave it a go

I think it turned out ok. It was a tight squeeze at points but a bit of trimming and we were there. I dont have a lot of word stamps but have been using the 'lexicon of love' stampset alot to make up for it.
So here is the fine print
Cardstock: Cameo coral, creamy caramel, chocolate chip, whisper white, afternoon tea designer paper
Ink: Cameo coral, versa mark and chocolate chip
Stamps: Live your dreams and lexicon of love
Adds and ends: chocolate double stitched ribbon and scollop punch
So onto the next one
Bron

Keesha's challenge - lots of layers!

2009-02-28T13:15:00.009+10:00

Hey Keesh, it is good to hear that you have had a good time here in Cairns. You have had some good weather while you have been here in Cairns. Its rained, but just at night. Today it is quite windy so you also choose a good day earlier in the week to the reef. I must say well done on not spewing on your way to the reef...you are better woman than I. I have fed the fish every time I have been to the reef except one time despite drugs.

I have given your challenge a couple of go's. Here is the sketch out line.

Here is my first attmept and then I realised that that flower really doesn't work on its side that well. Its just not right.

I thought it might work, but it just didn't.

The fine print

Cardstock: Purely pomegranate, Going grey, Old olive, Whisper white, prints designer series paper in purely pomegranate and old olive

Ink: Purely pomegranate, old olive

Stamps: 'live your dreams'

Ribbon: SU purely pomegranate double stitched

Bling: Silver hodgepodge

So I had a second go...

And then after I had stuck it down realised that I had forgotten the ribbon or strip of card on the left hand panel. Oh well, its just going to be one of those days. I do like this one more than the first one.

The fine print
Cardstock: Really rust, Close to cocoa, Old olive and Whisper white
Ink: Eastern Blooms and sentiment from fun filled
Bling: SU large eyelets, pewter hodgepodge

Hope you are having a great weekend

Bron

Amy's Challenge

2009-02-22T16:49:00.007+10:00

I was a day late getting a card in for Amy's last challenge but have given this weeks a go. Here is the sketch outline

And here is my creation

The fine print

Cardstock: Chocolate chip, Creamy Caramel, Whisper White, SU afternoon tea designer paper

Ink: Chocolate chip

Stamps: "with love"from Yummy and a little bit of happiness

Bling: Silver hodgepodge and some white ribbon

Now because I had actually done a card for Amy's challenge last week, I am also going to add it on this post. So here is the sketch

And here is the card that I made last night

The fine print

Cardstock: Old Olive, Chocolate chip, Whisper White and SU Afternoon tea designer paper

Ink: Old Olive and Chocolate Chip

Stamps: Eastern Blooms, "Dream" from live your dreams

Bling: Chocolate chip ribbon, some pearls and pewter hodgepodge

I had fun doing this one

Bron

Gina's challenge

2009-02-22T13:36:00.005+10:00

Hi, I'm back again for another challenge. This time its Gina's. The rules are that it must have some designer paper and a sentiment. Here is the sketch

Here is my version. When I was making it, I was thinking 'this card looks very autumny'. Then for the next minute of two I struggled to work out what season it is in the Southern part of the Southern Hemisphere. You lose track in the tropics because we dont have autumn or spring and not really summer and winter. We just have a wet and dry season and after having 1.5 metres of rain so far this year, I think it is safe to say we are still in the wet season. Anyhow, back to the card...here it is

So, to the fine print

Cardstock: Chocolate chip, Whisper white, afternoon tea designer paper

Ink: Chocolate chip, basic black, really rust, yo yo yellow

Stamps: Eastern Blooms and the salutation is from a SU set that I forgot to name (if someone can tell me what it is called I would be greatful).

Bron

Mel's challenge

2009-02-22T08:45:00.004+10:00

Mel has posted a challenge to create a wedding card using current SU products. I have actually done two cards for this one as I wasn't entirely happy with one of them. So, here are my entries;

What you cant see very clearly in this photo is that the flowers on the cake are blinged with crystal effects

The fine print:

Cardstock: Whisper white and Afternoon Tea designer paper

Ink: chocolate chip and cameo coral

Stamps: Fun and fast notes

Bling: Silver hodgepodge and dazzling diamonds

Again you cant really see the crystal effects on the bases of the cake stands but it is there.

The fine print:

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Purely Pomgranate and Whisper White

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Purely Pomegranate, Real Red and Glorious Green

Stamps: Fun and Fast notes

Bling: Crystal effects

Have a great day

Bron

Beate is back

2009-02-22T08:29:00.005+10:00

Here is another challenge that I completed last night. Beate's challenge was a layout sketch;

And this was my take on the challenge;

The fine print

Card: Old olive, Not quite navy, Whisper white and Bali breeze designer paper

Stamps: Eastern Blooms and Lexicon of love

Inks: Not Quite Navy and versamark

Bling: Pewter hodgepodge and random white ribbon

Have a good weekend

Bron

I'm back

2009-02-21T21:26:00.007+10:00

So it has been a while and the main reason is because I have a new computer and I had forgotten the password for my blog. I finally dug around and found the piece of paper hidden in that special spot that took ages to find. The second reason is because I have started studying again and that is taking up some of my spare time.

Saying that, I came home from work this afternoon and decided that I needed some time for my brain to slow down so I hauled out the stamps and decided to do some challenges.

The first one in Kristina Werners colour challenge. I am surprised that her edible arrangement was not a colour challenge in itself! Here are the colours;

We haven't got kiwi kiss yet in Australia so I substituted Old Olive instead. I must say that I have not used anything like this combination before and to be honest, in the earth elements colour family, I use really rust and more mustard the least. So here is the card;

Here is the fine print

Card: Old Olive, More Mustard, Really Rust, Whisper White and Old Olive DSP from the Bali Breeze set

Inks: Old Olive, More Mustard, Really Rust, Whisper White and versamark

Stamps: One of a Kind

Punch: Boho (how great is this punch!)

Bling: Silver hodgepodge and random white ribbon.

I will be back soon with some other challenge cards.

Bron

Mekeesha's flowery challenge

2009-01-25T19:15:00.004+10:00

Well it hasn't been raining so there hasn't been much stamping, in fact I have looked at all my stamping stuff on the dining table and keep thinking that I need to tidy up and put everything away for a week or two and concentrate on some other hobbies. I know I have a cross stitch to do in the next couple of weeks, but I couldn't resist a challenge.

Makeesha's challenge this week is a picture of some fluffy flowers. And as per my usual style I have taken it quite literally and produced this... All I can say is thank goodness for the boho punch. The colours are from my scrap bag so not 100% sure on the colours but my guess for the flowers would be old olive, garden green, real red, tempting turquoise, brilliant blue stuck rather gingerly to very vanilla and old olive card with the base colour being chocolate chip.

The brads inside the flowers are from the bold brights brads collection and some black ones that I had.

The tag is from "a lot of thanks" stamp set on very vanilla set on tempting turquoise and real red.

The ribbon is chocolate chip and refused to be tied in a bow for the first five attempts but I won in the end.

I had some empty space so I decided to add some jumbo eyelets.

Sorry the photos are a bit out of focus, the light disappeared and it was bit difficult to avoid shadows.

So I am off to clean up the dining table. I have some days off coming up and it might all come out again but I just want to reclaim my home from my spreading stamping stuff.

Have a good week
Bron

Stamp therapy

2009-01-19T21:31:00.008+10:00

I have been looking at this challenge since it came out. Last night I lay in bed trying to put the millions of thoughts that were going around my head out of my head and trying to fill it with ideas for a card that uses colours that I hardly ever use. Although I am a big fan of choc chip, I am not a big fan of the other three colours in the challenge so a challenge it became.

Makeesha's challenged called for a card using the following colours:

All well and good. Even after thinking about this challenge I struggled so this is what I came up with;

The colours are Ruby Red, Blue Bayou, Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla. The stamp set is called "One of a kind." The ribbon is Chocolate Chip satin. The bling comes from stampin up's hodgepodge range (which I am getting addicted to).
It has been a sad couple of days for me with the death of a colleague and fairly amazing that this card didn't turn out depressing.
Bron

Thought for today

2009-01-19T06:58:00.000+10:00

The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.

The Quotable Lewis, (Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 1989), 335.

Mel's challenge with some fishy friends

2009-01-19T05:58:00.004+10:00

It has been pouring with rain all night and at times quite heavy waking me up but there is nothing like the sound of rain on a tin roof. I found Mels challenge this morning and thought I would drag out a card I did a while ago and see how I go. Mel's picture of inspiration is

The instructions are: "I want you to create a beach themed card or scrapbook page, using any colours, any stamps, anything, as long as it relates to the beach somehow!"

So here is my take:

The stamp set is Fishy friends which have been coloured in with blender pens and the bubbles have been dry embossed using the crop-a-dile.

Hope everyone has a great day

Bron

Makeesha's challenge

2009-01-12T17:32:00.007+10:00

What else can you do when you are stuck at home due to flooding, watching the storm drain out the back slowly encroaching on your home and watching water drip from the roof? Stamp. So far we have had 350mm in the last 24hrs. At least we haven't lost power (touch wood).

This photo is pre king tide at about 7am this morning. And this what it should look like...

I am still home on flood leave (thank you Queensland Health) and thought I would give Makeesha's challenge a go. Here is the sketch

And here is my take on it. Sort of an Autumn card...maybe the weather inspired me.

This is the second card where I have used these colours for today. I believe one of them is groovy guava which intrigues me because I have never brought that colour so Paula or Adrianne must have given me a couple of sheets. It goes well with the new afternoon tea designer paper from the Summer mini catalogue. I have used the eastern blooms stamp set along with the sweet serendipity salutation.
From a rainy, wet, soaking, drenched

Bron

A couple of days at home

2009-01-12T10:30:00.010+10:00

Well, I am back in the land of Australia and have been reintroduced to the joys of wet season. Here in the tropics we enjoy two seasons, not four. We have wet and dry. Currently we are in the "wet" and wet we are. I am meant to be at work today but alas 280mm of rain in 10 hours has meant that the roads are flooded and despite living 5km from the hospital, I cant get there. So, I am taking liberty of a flood leave day and staying at home.

Saturday I was hanging around the house trying to sell my old car and got the stamping stuff out to help full in time between visits from prospective buyers and got a few cards done. All day I was being bugged by the croaking of a frog that made it feel like he was in the house with me. I arrived home last night and found him at the front door. This has to be the biggest green tree frog I have ever seen. No wonder he was loud.

I anticipate that there will be a few more cards from my day at home today as well. Though I might go for a walk/wade to the McCafe around the corner and have a hot chocolate and a treat.

So here are the cards from Saturday
So this one is using the Eastern Blooms stamp set. The big red brads came from the craft shop in Atherton and the Jumbo eyelets are from Stampin Up. The colours are Not quite navy, Ruby red and whisper white. The salutation is from a set I forgot to name (I have learnt my lesson).

This card comes from my ebay purchase at Christmas by the name of blooming with happiness. The cardstock is purely pomegranate and whisper white. The hodgepodge is from stampin up and the salutation is from sweet serenidipty. Ribbon and diamond sparkles from overflow.

Another ebay purchase over Christmas. This stamp set is called fun filled and looks like it could have a couple of uses. Card stock is purely pomegrante, very vanilla, chocolate chip and some designer paper. Ribbon is again from my recommended supplier...overflow.

This one uses the eastern bloom stamp set again in creamy caramel, old olive and purely pomeganate. The hodgepodge is from stampin up. I used some old olive designer paper and done some daubering.

I had another play with the eastern blooms set and this is what I came up with. I used my favourite colours of purely pomegrante and chocolate chip (I have heaps of cardstock of both, thats why I use it so much).Hodgepodge is stampin up.

And lucky last

I was trying to do something different with the eastern blooms set and it is meant to look like the bird is sitting on a fence. Not sure if I have perfected this one or not yet.

So that is all for now. Have just discovered that the roof leaks so sitting on the couch beside a bucket.

Bron

Holidays at last

2008-12-17T21:15:00.003+10:00

Well they have finally arrived...after waiting eight months I have two weeks off work. So I am off to the land of the long grey cloud AKA Nuu Zulund. This will only happen if I can pull myself out of bed at 4am so I can be at the airport at 4.30am. So far mum has sorted out day one. Dentist at 8am (NZ time) which is 5am QLD time which is a bit cruel but mum has never really grasphed time zones. Then after the dentist I am apparently drenching and innoculating sheep! Oh the memories of my former life and child labour come flooding back.
Bron

A few recent creations

2008-12-08T21:22:00.007+10:00

As per Adriannes request, here are some of the latest creations that have been created over the last day or so. Thank goodness for air con and days off.

I recieved the Merci stamp set after winning a challenge on another blog (thank you Gina) and have had heaps of fun with it. I used some crystal effects to bring out the colours and to give the card a bit more bling. Now for the ones that just about did my head in. I had seen these cards on splitcoast stampers and thought I would give it a go but honestly the fiddly hand work require to get the bodice onto the dresses was a bit stressful but here they are:

Not for the faint hearted, I tell you. Finally, something I will not do again. There are just too many angles that need to be cut to make it look right. Found the dangly bits at spotlight the other day. It is meant to be a handbag card but I forgot to stick the handle on when I was glueing the inside card to the card so it didn't turn out quite how I wanted but still ok.

So Adrianne, hope this keeps you fed for a while. I have more but for now I need to go to bed so I can cope with the patients tomorrow.

Bron

Strange and a little disturbing...Beat's challenge

2008-11-19T21:29:00.005+10:00

OK, so I tried to be a little bit creative in a way that I don't usually go. I looked at the picture for Beat's creative challenge and thought, 'oh look at the knitted toy on the seat. Maybe I could do something with that.' So I off I go with my oval punch and punched the toy. But as he got created he started to look...well, a bit strange and he didnt really turn out the way I wanted to but I thought, 'oh well, it will make people laugh...perhaps.' So, I think it is a bit of a blooper but I still had the courage to put it out there for others. Here is the picture of inspiration

Here is my strange wee fellow
In an attempt to redeem myself I have tried to pick up the blue floor boards and the white from the childs bed.
Let me know what you think.
Bron

Gina's Challenge

2008-11-18T18:20:00.007+10:00

I really liked this challenge, thanks Gina. I sat looking at the picture of the cushion for ages searching for inspiration and then I got something. Here is the picture from Gina that is the source of inspiration.

And what did I come up with?

I have tried to pick up on the red trim of the cushion and thought a saying that involved dreams was appropriate for cushion. I used a couple of pearls on the centre flowers. I think it turned out quite well.

The fine print...

Card:

Whisper White

Real Red

Stamps:

Flowers from Friendship blooms

Sentiment from Live your dreams

Inks:

Tempting Turquoise

Real Red

Pixie pink

Spare bits:

Dimensions

Pearls from Overflow

I think I am becoming a challenge addict, but I love the challenge.

Bron

Turquoise again!!!!

2008-11-16T16:59:00.013+10:00

Makeesa has posed another challenge and just like in Alisa's challenge, I can see Turquoise!!!! Seems to be the colour of the month for these women but I can't say I am a big fan of it. Here is the picture that is the focus of the challenge:
I can see the following colours: Creamy Caramel, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black, Whispher White and a strange little bobbly lamp stand. I saw Soft sky but have none of that left so had to go without that one. So here is what I came up with: The colours didn't really come out the way I had hoped because the sun is going down but trust me, I used Tempting Turquoise (and I can even spell it now). I used to pearls to replicate the lamp stand in case you are wondering what they are doing on the card.

The fine print

Card:

Creamy Caramel

Whispher white

Basic black

Tempting Turquoise

Stamps:

Live your dreams

Inks:

Chocolate Chip

Tempting Turquoise

Creamy Caramel

Spare bits:

Choc Chip (hard to tie a bow in) ribbon from Overflow

Pearl from Overflow

Rub ons from Spotlight

Hope you enjoy it. Time for a shower before I go out tonight.

Bron

Alisa's colour challenge number 8

2008-11-16T15:43:00.008+10:00

Because I live in the tropics you would think that a colour challenge that uses an advert titled 'tropical delight' should be easy to do, wouldn't you but no. Alisa's colour challenge was exactly that. And since when did Soft Sky and Tempting Turquoise go together?
For starters I only have a scrap of Groovy Guava left over from the SU feild training night and secondly I used all my tempting turquoise on the card swaps for the SU night and only have scraps left of that colour. What to do....??? So here is my improvisation for lack of card. Thank goodness I had some soft sky left!
I picked up on the flowers and lines in the doonah.
The fine print...

Card:

Tempting Turquoise

Soft Sky

Whisper White

Groovy Guava

Stamps:

Sentiment from Sweet serendipity

Small flowers on Tempting Turquoise from Sweet serendipity

Large flowers from Friendship blooms

Dotted line from Live your dreams

Inks:

Large flowers: Tempting Turquoise, Real Red

Dotted lines: Tempting Turquoise, Real Red

Sentiment: Chocolate Chip

Other bits:

Red ribbon from overflow

Dimensions

Till next time

Bron

Its been a while...

2008-11-16T15:09:00.006+10:00

I am not surprised that my last post was the 20th October. I have been a bit buzy and have been spending my days off up on the Atherton tablelands at Adriannes so today is the first day that I have had at home and have not had to go to work (touch wood!). So today, aircon on, DVD on, stamping stuff...everywhere. No church this morning, going tonight so some good quality time with me and my stamps. I have made a few creations today, well three. One for a challenge and two for the markets. Here are the market cards: This card uses a stamp set from the up and coming summer catalogue that we got at the Stampin Up field training night held here in Cairns at the Hilton called Live your dreams.

The card uses designer series paper in old olive and purely pomegrante. It is a different look for me who doesn't have a lot of flowery stamps but I think it has turned out quite well.

The next card uses the garden whimsy set which is on loan from Adrianne and after staring at the set for ages this is what I came up with. I think the background card is Ruby Red then Lovely Lilac and finally the stamps were stamps onto confetti cream. I had to use the stamp-a-majig to get the words going around the flowers and the antlers (is that what they are called) of the butterfly has rinestones at the end.

Keesha's challenge

2008-10-28T19:18:00.004+10:00

What a diverse range of colours for this weeks challenge. The colours are Soft sky, Pumpkin pie, Basic grey, Regal rose and Whisper white. I don't have regal rose so I substitued in pixie pink which according to the catalogue is fairly similar. I wanted to stay away from my fish, frog and crab stamps that I am prone to using so have gone with a flower or two instead and a bit of designer paper.

The finer details

Stamps: Flower from SU Friendship blooms, Quote from SU All I have seen

Cardstock: SU Soft Sky, pumpkin pie, pixie pink, whisper white, basic grey and pumpkin pie designer series paper

Misc: Ribbon from overflow, brads from SU Hodgepodge

It is a different style of fold for this card than I am use to which added a bit of difficulty for me and it took me ages to get that bow bowed. How to you tie a bow neatly? There must be a trick that I haven't found.

Anyway, lot of fun and a bit of thinking.

Bron

P.S. Keesh, the weather is beautiful in Cairns at the moment, just beautiful.

Another challenge (OCC)

2008-10-22T17:38:00.003+10:00

I can't believe that Christmas is coming so soon. I just had my hair cut and booked the next appointment for the 17th Dec - a week before Christmas!! and the day before I go to New Zealand to spend Christmas with my family.

Though not strickly keeping to the sketch challenge at our creative corner, I couldn't leave this one without a sentiment. The bling (ribbon and pearl brads) came from cheap shops here in Cairns and I do like the velvety ribbon along the bottom which is a dark green.

The card stock used includes glorious green, green galore, real red and whisper white. The stamps come from the fishy friends set and the crab and co set and coloured in using blender pens. I think it turned out ok and quite suitable for the summer Christmas here in Australia.

Bron

Simple and effective

2008-10-22T09:15:00.002+10:00

I just love these stamps and have made quite a few cards with them. I think I like the fact that you can fit three stamps accross the card. The card colour is the 'in colours' of purely pomegranate and river rock and some good old whisper white. The river rock was stamped with versamark using the scribble this stamp. The two outside panel have been stamped with chocolate chip and the middle panel with purely pomegranate using the All I have seen stamp set.

Bron

2008-10-15T07:26:00.001+10:00

Women wish to be loved not because they are pretty, or good, or well bred, or graceful, or intelligent, but because they are themselves.

Henri Frederic Amiel

1821-1881, Swiss Philosopher, Poet, Critic

Photos of my backyard

2008-10-14T18:45:00.003+10:00

Well, not literally my backyard but a gorge on the outskirts of Cairns. This is Crystal Cascades which is a popular swimming spot in Cairns during summer for the locals (tourists swim in it all year!). The water is still a bit chilly for my liking. I have been doing a photography course, not that you can tell from the 'merry' card below but this is a photo I took on Sunday at 7am...crazy!

The rains are here...well hopefully for a few days

2008-10-14T18:05:00.004+10:00

For some reason it is raining here in Cairns. Its a bit early. Rainy season usually doesn't start till the beginning of December but it has been raining for three days now. I just got saturated putting out the garbage bins.

Last Thursday a small group of us got together for some card creations and this was the best of the cards for me for the day. A bit of embossing and a few brads and wha-la, a card.

Also did some BBQ invites on Friday to sell at the markets. This one is part of a pack of six. Cant say I really enjoy doing the same card over and over but this was ok once a I got a production line sorted out. Here it tis...

Off to have dinner at homegroup

Mojo 55

2008-10-04T10:42:00.005+10:00

I'm at it again. Another challenge. This was a bit different for me. I have never done a square card before so the layout seemed a little tricky. I have had the bubble background for a while and knew that it had to go with the fishy friends stamp so here is my take on Julee's sketch challenge.

The finer details

Card: SU Briiliant Blue, Soft Sky, Green Galore, Water colour paper

Stamps: SU Fishy Friends, and 'note of love' from a SU set that I forgot to name

Brads from Spotlight

Bron

Gravitation

2008-10-04T10:33:00.001+10:00

Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love.
Albert Einstein

I'm on a roll

2008-10-02T21:31:00.008+10:00

It seems that today is the day for challenges. This one is from Gina's blog. It is a design sketch not a colour challenge. I have just acquired the bold brights collection and ceased the moment for some creation with new colours so here goes Cardstock: SU Brilliant Blue, Green Galore, Only Orange
Stamps: SU Unfrogettable
Water colours: SU Brilliant Blue, Only Orange, Pixie pink, Real Red, Green Galore, Glorious Green
Other bits: Black brads, plastic eyes for the frog

I will be back to try Gina's colour challenge.
Bron

My first KWerner Design Challenge

2008-10-02T19:29:00.007+10:00

Even though these are Autumn ("fall") colours and it is spring (sort of) here, they are still colours that I have had much fun with. The first colour group that I brought was the Earth Elements and I have recently brought a second pack along with a few colours that I seem to run out of super fast such as chocolate chip. So here were the colours in the challenge:

When I first saw this I thought 'if only I had a swirly stamp!' But I don't have a swirly stamp (yet). Then I thought 'maybe I need to use a tag' But I didn't. I have changed Kiwi Kiss to Old Olive to fit the Australian colours so this is what I came up with.

I think the little flower at the bottom helps it because the blank space was driving me nuts.

Ok...off to try another challenge

Bron

Bubbles...lots of bubbles

2008-09-30T19:51:00.002+10:00

Hi, hope you had a great start to the week.
I was playing around with my fishy friends and my new crop-a-dile and thought 'hey, I could make bubbles for these fish' and I think they look quite groovy. Not too sure about all the layers in the background. I gave it a bit more of a 3D look by putting the little fish on small foam spots to lift her from the card. The torn and scuffed card at the bottom was to look like sand (??). Its amazing what you can do with the crop-a-dile!

The 'real' life

2008-09-25T17:51:00.001+10:00

“The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one’s ‘own,’ or ‘real’ life.

The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one’s real life—the life God is sending one day by day; what one calls one’s ‘real life’ is a phantom of one’s own imagination.

This at least is what I see at moments of insight: but it’s hard to remember it all the time.”

The Quotable Lewis, (Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 1989), 335.

Another challenge

2008-09-25T15:40:00.005+10:00

I have recently discovered how great SU watercolour paper is. Using other card you can end up with little paper mache balls but the watercolour paper is a lot more forgiving. I am still a beginner at this but this is my take on the watercolour challenge posted on the cardinal stampers website. All colours come from the earth elements collection. I don't think I used chocolate chip which is really unusual for me.

The Yungaburra collection

2008-09-24T20:20:00.008+10:00

In an attempt to do something different from a card for the Yungaburra markets, I came up with the idea for lolly bags. There are several versions throughout the stampin up ideas book but this is my take. The bags are zip lock bags from officeworks. The background card is cut to 10cmx10cm. Cardstock -Stampin' Up Cameo Coral, Garden Green, Real Red. Stamps - Fish from 'fishy friends', Heart from 'like it latte' and Many thanks from a stamp set I forgot to name (I was new to the stamping thing then).

These two cards use Summer Sun as their card background, then a band of whisper white and then band of real red. The dragon fly comes from 'unfrogettable'. Not sure where the flower came from but it is a stampin up stamp.

This last one is my favourite. The frog is from 'unfrogettable', stamped with stazon onto watercolour paper (which I love) and coloured in with garden green using a blender pen. The dotty paper is a piece given to me with a door prize and comes from the 'summer picnic' designer paper in the current spring catalogue. It is amazing how far you can make a scrap piece of paper. The background card is 10cm x10cm garden green. The tag is ruby red and stamped with thank you from a stamp collection that I again did not name (first timer - I have since learned what to do with the sticky name tag).

I found these quite fun to do and I think they look quite groovy.

Bron

My first stamping challenge

2008-09-22T07:51:00.007+10:00

I have taken up the challenge. Makeesha has posted a challenge based on page 85 from the current ideas book. Here is my attempt.

I have discovered the stampin' up water colour paper and really love it. It is so much better than trying to water colour on card and getting balls of paper mache. I have also used crystal effects on the eyes which make them stand out more.