Not A-Mused

I've really struggled for a few months to get back into papercrafting. As one of the sweet people who have visited my blog, you would have noticed that the frequency of my postings has declined drastically. Initially, after Christmas, I had attributed the lack of interest in things crafty to a little burnout ... and consoled myself with gaming in the hope that the passion for creating would build up like forest litter waiting for ignition by lightning or, possibly as a worst case, a passing firebug. But, alas, no such conflagaration has eventuated and the fire danger rating is sitting on "No Great Need to Worry".

It finally dawned on me, about a month ago, that my Muse must have absconded after I overworked and neglected her during that Christmas period. I've been imagining her flitting from country to country, enjoying the sights and sounds of novel surroundings while gifting the odd local with some inspiration to add a masterful new ingredient to an existing speciality or, perhaps, injecting new life into a tired artist's caricatures of willing tourists. I imagine her ending up in Tuscany, holed up with a poor yet talented writer - sharing cheese, olives, wine and ciabatta ... and exhorting him to finishing that one manuscript that will make his career! Of course, it would be published first in Italian and I would have to wait for the English translation to really appreciate the end result. *grin*

I think that she may have paid me a little visit when I made the following card as it took several hours to complete and I didn't notice the time passing by. I'm dedicating the card to my Muse and to Muses in all their forms ... for if you do love your Muse (like life), I expect that they will love you back.

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Certainly Celery
Old Olive
Orchid Opulence
Rich Razzleberry
VersaMark

Stamp sets:
Cottage Garden

Paper:
Certainly Celery CS
Cottage Wall DSP
Old Olive CS
Orchid Opulence CS
Rich Razzleberry CS
Whisper White CS

Accessories:
1/16" Circle Punch
Eyelet Border Punch
Rich Razzleberry Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon
Sizzlits Buttons #5
Stampin' Dimensionals
White Embossing Powder

On bended knees

I am typing this post while kneeling at my computer. Why you may ask? OK - other than the really obvious need for forgiveness for neglecting my blog, I've just read that sitting down is the new smoking! A study has

...found that for every hour that a person spends sitting..., their individual risk of death from all causes rose 11 per cent, their risk of death from cardiovascular disease rose 18 per cent and their risk of dying from cancer, 9 per cent.

I'm really surprised that I'm still here after those statistics. Given how much I've been sitting all these years, I'm pretty sure that the risk from all causes would be pushing 100% (albeit at an ever decreasing rate). Also, given how my knees are feeling already, I'm sure that knee replacement surgery is now on the cards.

Anyway, I thought I would try making a whole card while standing up¹ just to see how tricksy it would be to avoid this sitting health hazard going forward. Here it is:

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Brilliant Blue
Chocolate Chip
Old Olive
So Saffron

Stamp sets:
Good Friend
Simply Said

Paper:
So Saffron CS
Tall Tales DSP
Whisper White CS

Accessories:
Circle Scissors Plus
Rose Red Double Stitched Grograin
Sponge Dauber

After that experiment, I can honestly say, "I can't stand it!" Oh noes! Is that a varicose vein I see appearing?

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1. Most demonstrators are probably adept at demoing cards standing up BUT who would choose to design a card doing so? Yeah .. thought so ... who's quite that crazy, hey? Doh! Me apparently.

Goodness! It's February already!

Oh no! This blog has no entries for January 2010. I can imagine in the far distant future, in a dark post-apocalyptic setting where people will be using stamp pads for make-up and wooden stamp blocks for firewood, a copy of this blog will be discovered by the accidental activation of back-up server in a mostly destroyed Google disaster recovery centre. People will only find fragments of this blog from 2010 and incorrectly deduce that there are only 11 months in a calendar year - all because of me!

Totally unlikely, hey? SIF¹ anyone would burn their stamps...

I have been very badly distracted during January (that's right, people from the future - we have 12 calendar months). After the pre-Christmas creative binge, I fell back into an old love-hate relationship that I have with a PC game called Counter-Strike: Source. Mainly played by male gamers, a CSS session is usually fuelled by huge doses of testosterone (and hence, swagger, swearing and raging) - so much so that I'm really starting to miss genteel female company! To try to get back into the crafty swing of things, I took part in this month's INKlings Cyberstamp hosted by my upline, the wonderful Jayne Mercer. Her first challenge was to create a flower using punches.

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Kiwi Kiss
Riding Hood Red

Stamp sets:
Stem Sayings

Paper:
Sweet Nothings Simply Scrappin' Kit
Whisper White CS

Accessories:
Butterfly Punch
Heart to Heart Punch
Trio Flower Punch







Having not made anything in a rather long while, I really struggled to appreciate the aesthetics of this card when I finished it. Is it good, bad or just ... as CSSer's would say... meh?

---

1. SIF: CSS for "as if". As in, SIF you headshot me while blinded

Telling Tall Tales

OK I've been sprung! I gave a half-hearted undertaking that the notebook for Jillian would be the last one that I'd post for a while but I truly couldn't help myself. When I recently opened up my pack of Tall Tales DSP to cut some samples for my team and myself, I saw the little zebras riding aloft on their striped balloons and I just had to use it to make something for my nephew Shi Wei's birthday. As it turns out, it was a notebook and here it is:

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Chocolate Chip

Stamp sets:
Hello Again

Paper:
Chocolate Chip CS
So Saffron CS
Tall Tales DSP
Whisper White CS

Accessories:
2-Way Glue Pen
Bone Folder
Paper Snips
Sticky Strip



I used the Quickutz Katie font for his name.

My auntie Kim recollected an exchange that she had with Shi Wei the last time she visited. Whenever he was asked what he did at pre-kindy, he would coyly reply "Nothing". My aunt's attempts to coax more out of him with a "You can't do nothing all day at pre-kindy!" would be met with a laugh from him followed by an enigmatic smile.

I suspect that this evasion may be due to his realisation that anything he likes can be withheld if he misbehaves! But I digress...

So, my aunt laid a rather clever trap for him with a tall tale in the following conversation:

Auntie Kim: Shi Wei, what did you do today at pre-kindy?
Shi Wei: Nothing.
Auntie Kim: Well, I know what you did because I came to see you.
Shi Wei: But I didn't see you there!
Auntie Kim: I was hiding behind the fence and I could see you but you couldn't see me. I saw you singing.
Shi Wei [surprised]: Oh!
Auntie Kim: I saw you running.
Shi Wei [even more surprised]: Oh!
Auntie Kim: I saw you playing.
Shi Wei [crestfallen at being found out]: Oh!

Poor little thing ... after that, he's an open book ... when it comes to pre-kindy activities at any rate *grin*

Calendar Class

This 2010 calendar is one of two calendars being made next Friday evening, December 11 at my calendar class. It uses the beautiful Sweet Nothings Simply Scrappin' Kit which is part of the Christmas Extravanganza promotion.

There are also products fresh from the new Summer Mini: the lovely Butterfly Print stamp set with co-ordinating Butterfly Punch and the Retro Mix Wheel.

We have room for a few more people to attend this class - the cost is $20 and is being held in Padstow at 7:30pm. Bookings are essential as the number of places are limited. All attendees will receive a copy of the new Summer Mini too!

Please contact me to hold a place for you.

Parisian Breeze breezes by

I just had to post this little album before the Spring Mini ends. I made this for my cousin Kelvin and it features the truly inspiring Parisian Breeze Specialty paper that will be saying goodbye with the Mini. The cardweight is perfect for this album and everything about this paper makes me want to make stuff out of it!

Stampin' Supplies
Paper:
Kraft CS
Parisian Breeze Specialty
Whisper White CS

Accessories:
Basic Eyelets (retired)
Crop-A-Dile
Double-Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon in Chocolate Chip
Flower Fusion Too
Hemp Twine
Jumbo Brads in Neutrals
Trio Flower Punch




Don't you love how the Trio Flower Punch creates a punchie that layers perfectly on the Flower Fusion Too five petalled flower?

I've used a Quickutz Peppermint Spine die to make things easier but you could replicate it with a scallop edge punch and Crop-A-Dile. I also used a Cuttlebug Floral Borders die for the corner flourishes. The Kraft panel is actually a little pocket in which a photo can be inserted as the centrepiece of the album.

Where's the chocolate chip?

This is a card that I've been demonstrating in my Emerging Colour classes. Funnily enough, in each of the classes, someone has asked me at the commencement of proceedings where the chocolate chip cardstock was to be found. As it turns out, it is in the chocolate chip ink pad just busting to get out.

Another funny thing was at each event, someone brought up Boho Backgrounds as a set that piqued their interest - a stamp set that made it from last year's catalogue into this year's which practically means that it has fallen off the radar (Lovely as a Tree is an exception). And they said that before seeing my sample! Freaky, no? *plays Twilight Zone music*

I think that it is a sign that Boho Backgrounds is due for a resurgence!

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Baja Breeze
Chocolate Chip
Sahara Sand

Stamp sets:
Boho Backgrounds
Circle Circus
Oval All
Petal Pizzazz

Paper:
Baja Breeze CS
Kraft CS
Parisian Breeze Specialty
Whisper White CS

Accessories:
Brayer
Button Bouquet
Clear Embossing Powder
Double-Striped Grosgrain Ribbon in Baja Breeze
Heat Tool
Large Oval Punch
Mini Glue Dot
Scallop Border Punch
Scallop Oval Punch
Sponge Dauber

PS: I know a sample size of two classes isn't anywhere close to statistically significant but it was significant to me!

SNAIL mail

Jillian, my sister demonstrator, recently RAK'ed the INKlings with an offer SNAIL in the mail - which I kinda pounced on. I say "kinda" because it sounds marginally better than the unadulterated "pounced on" which is pretty much the truth (and I say "pretty much" for the same reason as I used "kinda"!). For her tremendous generosity, I thought I'd give her a notebook...I imagine you all must be completely over my covered notebooks by now so this will be my last for a little while...that is, if I can help it!

The colourful foliage sheet from the Walk in the Park DSP is my favourite from the pack and I used it for a notebook so that I could keep it and stroke it. Of course, it was covered in plastic so that my stroking would leave no fingerprints on the paper. Also, I didn't think that the book needed anything more in terms of embellishment since the pattern and colours of the DSP make enough of a statement.

Due to Jillian's RAK, I decided to part with this so that it would have an exciting new home to experience and be heartfelt thanks for her favour. So farewell notebook ... and thank you, Jillian!

Stampin' Supplies
Paper:
Cameo Coral CS
Walk in the Park DSP

Accessories:
Eyelet Border Punch
So Saffron Grosgrain Ribbon

Masculine card that's a breeze

One of my favourite sets from the Spring Mini is Uncharted Territory. It is a snap to make a card for men using it and I think it would be great for scrapbook pages featuring coastal destinations (especially those with lighthouses...was that a little obvious?).

Anyway, I love teaming it up with the gorgeous Parisian Breeze Specialty paper that is also only available until the end of November. The colour scheme is rugged and seaworthy and suits the images in the stamp set perfectly. The amazing thing about the Parisian Breeze paper is that every sheet has a side which is feminine with a masculine other side making it incredibly versatile.

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Baja Breeze
Basic Gray
Chocolate Chip
Sahara Sand

Stamp sets:
Best Yet
Uncharted Territory

Paper:
Baja Breeze CS
Kraft CS
Parisian Breeze Specialty
Watercolour Paper
Whisper White CS

Accessories:
Aquapainter
Large Oval Punch
Small Oval Punch
Sponge Dauber

More notables

Two of my awesome customers, Ruth and Bonny, accompanied me along with one of my fabulous downlines, Joyce, to the Stampin' Up! Australia Sydney Regionals on Saturday.

Of course, I appreciate all of my customers (!) but Ruth and Bonny have been amazing as they have hosted and attended classes throughout the year and firmly refuse to be demonstrators even though they would have made stellar ones and saved quite a bit in the process...I'd almost be worried that they are reading this and change their minds but they know about the demonstrator opportunity already and I'd be grateful with them enjoying Stampin' Up! with me as either *beam happily* So to show my appreciation, I made the following notebooks for them:

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Baja Breeze
Basic Gray
Chocolate Chip
Kiwi Kiss

Stamp sets:
Defining alphabet
Gallery
One of a Kind

Paper:
Basic Gray CS
Walk in the Park DSP
Whisper White CS

Accessories:
Baja Breeze Corduroy buttons
Boho Blossoms punch
Button Latte
Brads Jumbo Neutrals
Brads Silver
Chocolate Chip Double-Stitched Grosgrain

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Baja Breeze
Chocolate Chip

Stamp sets:
Best Yet
Gallery
Lovely Letters alphabet

Paper:
Baja Breeze CS
Chocolate Chip CS
Walk in the Park DSP
Whisper White CS

Accessories:
Baja Breeze Corduroy buttons
Boho Blossoms punch
Brads Jumbo Neutrals
Chocolate Chip Grosgrain
Curly Label Punch Bundle
Flower Fusion Too
Heat Tool
White Embossing Powder

Thanks so much, Bonny and Ruth!

Papercrafts Festival demonstration cards: day three

(To the tune of the twelfth day in The Twelve Days of Christmas)

On the third of October
more cards were made by me:
with embossing powder,
white Taffeta ribbon,
Baja Breeze cardstock,
an Ice Rhinestone brad,
Stampin' Dimensionals,
Eyelet Border Punch,
Five stamp pads,
Stamp-A-Ma-Jig,
Whisper White,
Tree Trimmings set,
and some Ski Slope DSP.

Stampin' Supplies

Ink:
Chocolate Chip
Baja Breeze
Old Olive
Real Red
Sahara Sand
VersaMark

Stamp sets:
Many Merry Messages
Tree Trimmings
Paper:
Baja Breeze CS
Old Olive CS
Ski Slope DSP
Whisper White CS

Accessories:
Embossing Buddy
Eyelet Border Punch
Heat Tool
Ice Circle Rhinestone Brads
Silver Embossing Powder
Sponge Daubers
Stamp-A-Ma-Jig
Stampin' Dimensionals
White Embossing Powder
White Taffeta Ribbon

Papercrafts Festival demonstration cards: day two

(To the tune of the seventh day in The Twelve Days of Christmas)

On the second of October
a card was made by me:
using oval punches
Large and new Scallop,
Five stamp pads,
Stamp-A-Ma-Jig,
Whisper White,
Tree Trimmings set,
and some Ski Slope DSP.

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Chocolate Chip
Baja Breeze
Old Olive
Real Red
Sahara Sand

Stamp sets:
Best Yet
Tree Trimmings

Paper:
Old Olive CS
Ski Slope DSP
Whisper White CS

Accessories:
Square Scallop Punch
Stamp-A-Ma-Jig
Stampin' Write Marker in Old Olive
Stampin' Write Marker in Real Red

Papercrafts Festival demonstration cards: day one

(To the tune of the fifth day in The Twelve Days of Christmas)

On the first of October
two cards were made by me:
with Whisper White,
Stamp-A-Ma-Jig,
Three stamp pads,
Tree Trimmings set,
and some Ski Slope DSP.

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Old Olive
Real Red
Sahara Sand

Stamp sets:
Occasional Greetings
Punches Three
Tree Trimmings

Paper:
Ski Slope DSP
Whisper White CS

Accessories:
Square Scallop Punch
Stamp-A-Ma-Jig
Stampin' Write Marker in Old Olive
Stampin' Write Marker in Real Red

A pink lighthouse

To me, a lighthouse symbolises "Awareness" as it serves to alert unwary seafarers of dangers hidden nearby. Colour it Pink Ribbon Day pink and it so represents Breast Cancer Awareness, don't you think? Or am I speaking for myself? *looks around*

Well, it seemed like a good idea to me at the time! It still does except for the sting of rejection. *sniffle*

Anyway, the amazingly talented Teneale Williams sent out a request for 6" X 6" pages to compile a book of inspirational quotations for those affected by breast cancer while they visit the Westmead Breast Cancer Clinic and the McGrath Foundation office. You still have time to help her as she is waiting until Monday October 12 for the last submissions.

I chose the Elisabeth Guinot quotation for mine because I believe that we don't really know what we are capable of until we are tested. And I'd like to think that we are chronic underestimators.

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Kiwi Kiss
Pink Pirouette
Rose Red

Stamp sets:
A Great Friend
Eastern Influences
Lovely Letters
Uncharted Territory

Paper:
Pink Pirouette CS
Rose Red CS
Rose Red Prints DSP (retired)
Whisper White CS

Accessories:
Flower Assortment Designer Brads
Mat Pack
Sponge Dauber
Striped Grograin Ribbon in Pink Pirouette
Word Window Punch

PS. The title is Rose Red cardstock cut using the QuicKutz harvest font.

Breast Cancer Awareness Promotion

For over 20 years, Stampin' Up! has helped women make a difference in the lives of others by simply doing what they love to do - sharing creativity.

You too can become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and make a difference! Stampin' Up! will donate $5 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation for every person who joins between 1 October and 31 December 2009. As a bonus to you, Stampin' Up! will include a FREE pack of Raspberry Tart Designer Series paper and a Pretty in Pink Classic Stampin' Pad on top of your already great value starter kit.

Read more on joining Stampin' Up! or contact me for a free information pack on the benefits of running your own Stampin' Up! business.

Long time between scraps

It has been an inordinately long time since I completed a scrap page. I have been feeling the pull of it recently and it brought to mind a little conversation that I had with my sister over a year ago. In that exchange, my sister made me promise that I wouldn't devote myself to scrapping a hundred pages on my nephew, Shi Wei, and then neglect any other subsequent children of hers ... leaving them to wonder why Auntie Lin Mei loved Shi Wei the most.

So, here I am, wondering where are the pages of my baby niece, Shi Ying? Hmmmmmm ... I'd better set aside an album for her as a starting point! The following page will be the inaugural one.

After feeling rather guilty, I consoled myself with the fact I have yet to scrap a baby photo of Shi Wei ... so it is still early days for Shi Ying - phew! The other thing that I've noticed is that the recent supply of photos from my sister has slowed to a mere trickle so I think that it's time for me to remind her of her side of the bargain...

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Basic Black
Basic Gray
Cameo Coral
Pixie Pink

Stamp sets:
Calendar alphabet

Paper:
Pixie Pink CS
Raspberry Tart DSP
Vellum CS

Accessories:
1.3cm Circle Punch
Clear Buttons
Pretties Kit
Scallop Oval Punch
Sponge Dauber
Stampin' Pastels
Stampin' Write Marker in Basic Black
Summer Love Rub-Ons
White Grosgrain Ribbon

For my newsletter subscribers, I have to apologise for not posting a project featuring the custom coloured ribbon when promised. I lost the ribbon in amongst my scraps and I was hoping that it would float to the surface eventually. Needless to say, ribbon isn't particularly buoyant (especially without floaties) when immersed in scrap paper *sigh* Anyway, I applied Stampin' Pastels on another strip with a colour gradient starting from Pixie Pink to Basic Black. You should be able to spy it in the page above.

So Saffree

Isn't this month's free (with purchase) So Saffron grosgrain ribbon so perfect for spring and summer projects? Of course, it'd be great for other seasons too (as it is So Saffron) but I doubt that my roll will last until next Autumn. *grin*

I've teamed it up with a Summer Love Rub-On and every time I look at this combination, I want to put on a wide brimmed straw hat and a fresh floral dress then sneak into the closest corn field to run carefree through it. Since I live in the 'burbs, the only accessible farms are those that exist in my mind...most likely a good thing since this romantic notion can't end with me actually being charged for trespassing or collapsing a 100 metres into a row of corn since that's about all my real life stamina would allow. *pictures calling Hubby on my mobile phone to save me when he gets off work and then waiting and waiting* Yep! Much better left in the realms of one's imagination...

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Cameo Coral
Kiwi Kiss
So Saffron

Stamp sets:
Great Friend

Paper:
So Saffron CS
So Saffron Patterns DSP
Whisper White CS

Accessories:
Aqua Painter
Designer Brads Flower Assortment
Mat Pack
Paper Snips
So Saffron Grosgrain Ribbon
Stampin' Write Markers in Cameo Coral, Old Olive, So Saffron
Summer Love Rub-Ons
White Gel Pen

I played around with the petals of the flower brad by filling them in with a white gel pen. The flower centre features a rub-on for contrast. Many thanks to Carol for this month's Elite Challenges card sketch which I've used for this card.

Decompression chamber

The INKlings team weekend was tremendously enjoyable and really constructive! It started with a bit of a wobble since I only finished my Card-in-a-Box and swaps at 4:30am on the morning of the camp, began packing anything a couple of hours before I had to leave and the only navigational tools that Kylie and I had to get to Vision Valley was a powerless sat-nav and some printed directions local to a cafe 10 minutes away from our destination. The motorways got us through the first 75km and even though we contemplated exiting a couple of times, we were too giggly (read: slow) to do so and, thus, were saved from ourselves. Once we neared Galston, it seemed like all the roads intersected with each other several times over - which made missing a turn just a reminder of what to do at the next juncture. Now that I look back on it, I am so thoroughly impressed that those responsible for the roadworks had the foresight to invent the equivalent of a Möbius strip highway...you couldn't even choose to be on the wrong side (I'm sure we tested and affirmed that theory a couple of times).

We met up with Fiona at the Greenshades Cafe, amazingly at the designated time, for a hearty serving of lamb shanks on creamy mash and crispy toasted bread soaked in olive oil with basil and garlic. Great company, good food and a wonderful way to start off the team weekend. As for Cania, what's that again?

After finishing lots of everyone else's Card-in-a-Box, I had time to try one of the sketch challenges suggested by Carol. As I only packed a paltry amount of cardstock and ink, I imposed on Fiona, Ruth and Lis for Dimensionals, mat pack and piercer, white embossing powder and inspiration - the last one was completely gratuitous and attention seeking. Thank you for putting up with me, INKlings! Here's an arty shot of the completed card:

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Baja Breeze
Chocolate Chip
Sahara Sand

Stamp sets:
Always
Curvy Verses

Cardstock:
Baja Breeze
Chocolate Chip
Parisian Breeze Speciality
Whisper White

Accessories:
1/2″ Circle Punch
Heat Tool
Mat Pack
Stampin’ Dimensionals
Stampin’ Write Marker in Chocolate Chip
White Embossing Powder

The mug shot version is on the Elite Challenges blog ... my scanner has a penetrating brightness that seeps into all the indentations of the textured cardstock leaving it looking completely smooth - a bit like Hubby's head.

Many thanks to Jayne for a fabulous team weekend - I am very grateful to have her as my upline. Also, I'd really like to thank those of you who have been incredibly patient and dropped by even though my blog must have looked like time capsule - frozen in time with no hint of anything new, week after week!

More than a tea bag bag

The second challenge set by Fiona during last month's cyberchallenge was to make a super adorable bag from a template available through the Stampin' Up! Australia demonstrators' website. Have a squizz at her very fresh and pretty version. I think the bag is awesome but it really needed some space to be more versatile. As it was, I could only imagine it being a bag to put tea bags in. I mean how much tea can a tea bag bag bag if a tea bag bag could bag tea??! In short, not much!

So, I adjusted the template a little to add some depth to the top flap and now it fits more tea to a 'T' ... or should that be fits to a 'T' more tea ... anyway ...

The top flap now also accommodates a teensy (possibly tea-nsy handle). I've found grosgrain ribbons work well but in this prototype I splurged on some pretteas ... um ... pretties! Isn't it a cu-tea? More like a cue for me to tee-off!

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Tangerine Tango

Stamp sets:
Trendy Trees

Paper:
Haiku DSP
Tangerine Tango CS
Very Vanilla CS

Accessories:
Earth Elements Brads
Felt Fusion
Linen Thread
Paper Snips
Pretties Kit
Word Window Punch

Ain't nothing gonna break-a my str...uh, will do

Here I was hoping that June would be the month to get on top of things. I had Matthew Wilder's "Break My Stride" playing in my head:

What song would anyone want more to get the blood pumping and the body moving and to bolster's one's will? OK...The "Rocky" anthem "Eye of the Tiger" would be an exception but I reckon that this song is boppier and doesn't make me feel guilty for skipping the sprints up stairs.

And yet, this blog has been woefully neglected and my newsletter is still fighting with "Break My Stride" - ie for my attention, inside my head, constantly drowned out by synthesisers and a litany of "never met a girl like you...Have to say - Oh!"

Currently, I'm placing the blame on the fact that our TV went poof! and left me with nothing to ignore whilst trying to do some crafting. This coupled with the really cold weather that has me in Michelin-man attire, constantly running to warm myself in front of the fridge...and interruptions to do other things.

Anyway, there's nothing quite like a cyberstamp to give me a shove in the right direction. This month's INKlings set of challenges was hosted by the very lovely Fiona Brown. Her first was based on the sketch clean & simple stamping FTL 44. Not much stamping but lots of cramping cutting for my attempt. It also features one of my favourite things at the moment which is making glittery brads from Supernova glitter, mini glue dots and plain ol' brads. The wide grograin ribbon knot finally found its home on this card after sitting neglected (and in the way, at times!) since December last year when I first tied it into existence.

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Tangerine Tango

Stamp sets:
More Thoughts Simply Sent Kit

Paper:
Haiku DSP
Old Olive CS
So Saffron CS
Tangerine Tango CS
Very Vanilla CS

Accessories:
Mini Glue Dots
Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon
Paper Snips
Stampin' Dimensionals
Stampin' Write Marker in Old Olive
Supernova Fine Glitter
Very Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon