joknappa

I survived

2011-11-20T13:19:00.004+11:00

Yes, here I am, alive and well, after holding my first workshop! With heartfelt thanks to my friend Lyn, who hosted the day for me, and the lovely ladies who took time out of their busy schedules to join us. Lyn also took photos for my records, so she's nowhere to be seen in this photo (there was a method to her madness!). The card is the make'n'take for the day. It was a CASE of cards I made for last Christmas, and showcases the Season's Joy stamp set, SU markers real red and handsome hunter, the SU ? eyelet punch, and utilised the Bigshot to emboss the background card. The girls also added SU self adhesive rhinestones to the flowers and the centre of the snowflake in JOY. All in all I think the day was a reasonable success - I know that I enjoyed it. Thanks for stopping by.

First demo

2011-11-18T21:48:00.004+11:00

Hi there! Well, I have finally taken the first step since becoming a Stampin' Up demonstrator, and am having my first demo tomorrow. A good friend is hostessing for me, and I have had some super help from my upline, the wonderful Alisa Tilsner.

I am demo-ing (is there such a word?) 3 cards, and having a choice of the same cards for make and take. The cards are all Christmas themed, as I guess most of the guests will be interested in making at least some for special people in their lives.

This is one of the demos, (sorry about the quality of the photo) and uses the Welcome Christmas stamp set, and the gorgeous Mocha Morning dsp - that is so yummy it's almost edible!

I hope that I survive tomorrow, and will be back to let you know how it went, and a peak at another demo card.

Thanks for stopping by!

Another long break

2011-10-24T20:18:00.003+11:00

Hi everyone! A brief note with this card, which I completed yesterday in response to Utah Divas International Saturday sketch challenge 10/22. I have also CASEd a gorgeous card from Emma (aka Eeve's aunt) which can be seen at this address : http://devotiontothedream.blogspot.com/2011/09/mistletoe-and-wine.html.

As you can tell, I still have no control over this blog, and it's setup. However, I must try to improve, as I have recently become a Stampin' Up demonstrator. This card is all SU - Old Olive CS and inkpad, the beautiful Welcome Christmas stamp set, large oval and scallop oval punches, DSP from the incolor paper stack (lucky limeade), and ribbon from the retired beachfront ribbon card. Hope that you have enjoyed this - and thanks for stopping by.

Where has the time gone?

2011-07-10T11:16:00.005+10:00

Well, that was a break and a half wasn't it - I'm not sure where that time has gone. I have had time for making cards, but no time to blog!

My eldest grandson, Sawyer has just turned 5, and starts school in2 weeks! (where has that time gone??). There was a farewell/presentation party for the children and family were invited (of course grandma went along so she could take photos for scrapping later). The included photo is of sawyer and his "body", which all the children had made and decorated.

I was asked to make a thank you card for him, for the kindy that he has been attending, and I have included that in this post - SU stamps, clear embossed for the background then glimmer mist in 4 different colours, buttons to add interest. Sorry about the photo of the card - I might try posting another later after editing the photo so it is a little clearer, but the's it for now - thanks for stopping by.

Happy New year (although a little belated!)

2011-01-15T19:13:00.005+11:00

Welcome to 2011! I am approaching this year with a slightly different view to managing this blog. Previously I have mainly used it to enter challenges, and while I hope to continue to do that - although TRY to be more frequent in both challenges and blog-writing. I will include some photos of cards (and whatever else interests me at the time) - this is my blog after all.

So, to start with I have included a photo of Sawyer & Ethan as they finished decorating my"Christmas" tree - they did such a great job! And Christmas is great with two special little people around to share it with.

The cards I made as a batch using the SU Elements of style stamp set. They are gorgeous stamps. And the photos are taken with my new digital SLR - I knew there was a reason for working!

And now for the big news - I have ordered Becky Higgin's Project Life , and am eagerly waiting it's arrival - one day very shortly, I hope. I have been journaling daily, and taking photos most days. I am planning to have weekly double spreads. More later - thanks for stopping by.

Inkspiration sketch challenge #43

2010-10-13T21:25:00.004+11:00

Hi, everyone - I can't believe that I've completed another one of Keesh's great sketch challenges -image below (or above - I can't work out how to organise the positioning of any image - they appear wherever they want to! - I did mention that I'm very blog challenged, didn't I?) Okay - they've both decided that they are at the top of this post. The card is actually a birthday card for my Mum, who is 82 today! She loves the bush and outdoors, and I love this stamp set - Lovely as a tree.

Most products are SU, apart from the cricut cut label shape, and the punch, which is a Martha Stewart. I don't actually own this stamp set, but have it on loan from a very good friend - and I need to stamp lots of images for use before i send it back.

Thanks for stopping by.

Inkspiration colour challenge # 40

2010-09-23T20:52:00.004+10:00

Another gorgeous colour challenge from Keesh. I have managed to finish and scan a card just before cut-off. The stamp is from the beautiful Elements of style, which I have only just received, stamped with crayons and water spritzed for the soft effect. The background white cardstock has been put through the cuttlebug with an embossing folder. The flower was made using a 6 petal flower punch and cut and formed from a lesson at my local scrap-shop, and kindy-glitzed for fun. All seems to be uploaded now - one day I will have lots of time and not do this in a huge rush. (might even get the time to take a decent photo - ah, well, I can always dream, can't I?)Thanks for stopping by.

Two challenges in one

2010-09-09T16:40:00.006+10:00

Well, it has been a very long time - so this could be interesting, as I try to link to a couple of sites. I have finally managed a card for one of Keesh's color challenges (# 38), and also a sketch challenge from Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge # 84. I will apologise in advance for any politically incorrect methods I inadvertently use - it's purely because I am totally blog illiterate, and anything I may have learnt from my previous postings is hidden in the deep, dark and cobweb covered recesses of my mind. However I will try to recover what I can.

Okay, I have at least managed to upload images from the lovely ladies' sites - now to try to link to their sites. But first, a brief description of the card - I decided on seeing Keesh's challenge that it was time to try and get back into the swing of things, so I have used the stamps from Lovely as a tree (all products mentioned are Stampin' Up, unless otherwise mentioned), with watercolour crayons and water-misting in choc chip, ruby red and old olive (as these colours reminded me of a beautiful autumn afternoon), then I re-stamped with choc chip using a marker - so basically two-step stamping! Then a little colouring of the sky, with a waterbrush and baja breeze ink, and the ground, with old olive. Cut the image out using nestabilities and cuttlebug, and the mat from CC cardstock., and ribbon from my LSS. A strip of some DSP at the base of the card, with a strip of choc chip cut with a scallop punch completes this card.

The sketch SSSC84, was a perfect help once I had decided on the image.

Thanks for stopping by - I hope I can find the time to join in again sooner rather than later, and a big thank you to the wonderful challenge setters, who keep us all motivated with their inspirational ideas.

Keesh's sketch challenge #18

2010-02-11T19:50:00.005+11:00

Rushed as always - another great challenge from Keesh (don't know where she gets all these great ideas from). I'm not really happy with this card - they never turn out as well as they are in my head. Still, that is what a challenge is all about - improving as we go! I do love these colours (regal rose and choc chip) together, and had a great time with the Pretties kit!! Stamp sets were Great Friend, and Friends 24-7, also used the eyelet punch, and white embossing powder for the sentiment. Thanks for stopping by!

Keesh's Inspiration Challenge No 17

2010-02-04T20:10:00.006+11:00

Well here we are - another year , and already into February! It has been a hectic couple of months, but it's great to have Keesh back, with her wonderful challenges to get me thinking. Its been good to catch up with her exciting news over the past two months as well. I'll need to get used to the idea that her timezone is ahead of mine, and not behind - hope this gets posted in time for the challenge, but I seem to be having trouble with this blogsite at the moment.

Okay, that has the card uploaded, will try for the challenge image in a moment. The image was gorgeous, and some of the resulting cards have been beautiful, as always. I'm not particularly happy with mine - I wanted it to look a little more light and airy, but it will have to do - no time left to fiddle. Still, it was fun!! Thanks for stopping by.

Keesh's colour challenge #16

2009-12-01T17:18:00.004+11:00

Managed another of these wonderful challenges - http://www.makeeshabyl.com.au/wp-content/uploads/makeesha-colour-challenge-16.jpg

I love these colours - beautiful, bright and summery, and while I was in the shops yesterday, I saw a gorgeous bag, which I used as another inspiration for this challenge. All products are SU, the flower image is from the One of a Kind trio stamp,punched out with the corresponding punch, some embossing and some glitter, ribbon and hardware. It was fun - thanks for stopping by. (P.S. These photos prove that I wasn't kidding when I thought that I needed a new camera - my daughter left hers behind last night, so I took the opportunity to use it for these photos today - much better, no editing needed!)

Journaling 101, week 4

2009-11-30T22:33:00.003+11:00

This has been the hardest so far - self journaling, with a photo of yourself ( the challenge was to take the photo yourself - but I think that made it easier than trying to sit for someone else). I was reasonably happy with the end result (unusual for me!) Being able to use SU products does help - they go together so very well. Thanks for popping by.

Journaling 101, week 3

2009-11-30T22:22:00.003+11:00

Week 3 was all about a relationship, so I, like many others, chose the relationship between my 3 children. As they are now adults, I am able to look back over many years, and see how they have grown. The photo of them as youngsters was difficult, as there were very few to choose from that include all three, with no-one else ( certainly not so many photos in the days before digital) - and the colours were very "off", so I had to photo edit it to B&W - but it worked reasonably well. The title T'riffic Trio, was what my dad always called them, from the time that the youngest was born.

Journaling 101, week 2

2009-11-30T22:12:00.004+11:00

Thought I would just post the last three pages I've done with the inspiring Journaling 101 from Stampin' mama. It is a course well worth doing - encourages thoughtful journaling to go with the beautiful pages we create to leave future generations.

First I will post week 2, which was a travel page , and included hidden journaling.

keesh's Inkspiration sketch challenge #16

2009-11-23T19:51:00.003+11:00

Time to attempt another of Keesh's wonderful challenges. http://www.makeeshabyl.com.au/wp-content/uploads/makeesha-sketch-016.

Okay - not sure what I did there, but what I tried to do was put in both the image and address for this challenge - I did warn you at one stage that I am quite a beginner at this! Anyway, I did make a simple card with this cute sketch, all SU products, glitter and dimensionals - and once again, a Christmas card. I'm reasonably happy with it, but time was short, so it is a little plain. And because time was short, I scanned the card instead of photographing it! Thanks for looking, Jo.

journaling 101

2009-11-15T22:45:00.003+11:00

It's been awhile - haven't even had time to check out my favourite blogs recently, let alone get anything done that is blog worthy! However, today I finished the first week's assignment of a journaling 101 course, run by Erika Martin (stampinmama), and need to upload the pages to her site, so thought I would put the photo up here as well.

I think that I need to do something desperately about my camera - not happy with the way these photos are turning out! Hope that you have a good week, thanks for stopping by, Jo

Keesh's inkspiration sketch challenge #14

2009-10-25T16:52:00.003+11:00

Finally, another chance to participate in one of Keesh's challenges - and what gorgeous bedlinen to take inspiration from! Thanks for this, Keesh!!

I decided to try a Christmas card with this challenge, so used the Crazy for Christmas stamp set . Colours are Taken with teal, Kiwi kiss, Sahara sand, and white, and I used some designer papers, did some embossing on the images and sentiment. I am also using the same stamp set to do a variety of other Christmas cards - much easier once you have the first one done, with the placement and dimensions already decided. All products are SU. Thanks to Chantelle for her helpful photo tips - note the light backdrop to the card! and thanks for stopping by. ;)

Keesh's inkspiration sketch challenge #14

2009-10-11T19:51:00.005+11:00

Well, Keesh has inspired with another wonderful sketch. I needed to finish this one, as I have my wonderful mum's 81st. birthday this week, and it was a great sketch to use. Mum loves blue wrens, so I tried to colour the bird image from Friends 24-7 to imitate that gorgeous bird. All products are S. U. - the image was coloured with the neutral pen set, then a touch of blue with the bashful blue and not quite navy inkpads. The ribbon is from the incentive ribbon bundle (certainly celery, from memory - although don't quote me, my memory is not good at the moment!!). I know that it is a little bare around the bird, but did not want to overcomplicate things with more stamping on the background.

OK - having uploaded the image, it is very dark - surprising as I used the flash. Still, apologies, and I may try again if I finish work in daylight hours. However, I know that my mum will love it, and that's the most important thing! Thanks for looking , and have a good week;) Jo

Keesh's colour challenge # 13

2009-09-29T15:05:00.005+10:00

Another card challenge completed - for Keesh's colour challenge # 13. I've loved doing these challenges over the past few weeks, and hope to continue, but, have the feeling that work is about to impose it's ugly head. This colour combo was gorgeous, as always, and I decided to take the opportunity to use the bloomin with beauty stamp set - stamped, then coloured with the relevant inkpads/water brush to lighten the colours. The base card was Not Quite Navy, stamped with the bee image, in NQN ink, then very vanilla CS, and dsp from the current mini catalogue (Parisian breeze, and Walk in the park), paper pieced the image, and added brads and the sentiment. I did use some dazzling diamonds to the flower image, but the photo doesn't show that. Thanks for the challenge, Keesh, and thanks to all who have stopped by for a look.

Keesh's inkspiration sketch challenge #13

2009-09-22T20:44:00.005+10:00

Well, here we are again, I've managed to complete cards for Keesh's delightful challenge - address as follows - http://www.makeeshabyl.com.au/index.php/2009/09/18/inkspirations-sketch-challenge-13/.

The sketch is above, and there have been some delightful cards made as a result. (When I am a little more knowledgable I will be able to indicate where to go to see the designer team results.) I thought that I should make a start on Christmas cards, so used the Solemn stillnes two-stampin set (retired, I think), and tried to use non traditional colours. All products are S.U.

I made two alternatives - one with Blue Bayou and Baja Breeze inks, and related cardstock and DSP. I couldn't find a ribbon to go along the bottom, so used the hodgepodge hardware instead. For the other card, I used Chocolate Chip and Old Olive inks, CS and DSP, but did find some ribbon from the beachfront selection, and used the build a brad. For both cards, I used the Dazzling Diamonds on the trees, and corner rounder punches (different sizes for each card), and the underlying squares were cut on the cricut.

I really enjoyed this challenge, and am quite happy with the result - except that I could not find space for a sentiment - but I guess that it's obvious that they are Christmas cards. Thanks for stopping by ;)

Keesh's challenge take two

2009-09-17T23:29:00.003+10:00

Sorry about that last post - accidently linked Keesh's blog in to my title - I am a real novice at this - this time I will only try to publish her inkspiration photo and the photo of my card - all SU products ( and excuse the image) Cheers!

keesh's inkspiration challenge#12

2009-09-17T23:13:00.003+10:00

Hope that I finished this in time - last minute job! Then someone else had to use the computer - so I hope that this will be posted in time. This has been a fantastic inspiration, having looked at most of the results - it feels like summer is almost here(although we had 25mm rain here in the last 24 hrs - much needed!).

I didn't have the inkpads to go with this photo, but did find the gorgeous pink flaming designer paper, and paperpieced the flowers, and backed them on to the blue dsp from that range. The sentiment and butterfly stamp are from Great friends - stamped onto the the blue dsp in blue bayou, and double mounted with dimensionals, and a little glitter on the bodies. Added brads to the sentiment. Thanks for looking, and thanks for your great challenges, Keesh! P.S I know that you are sick of reading this, but please excuse the image - new camera is on the wish list along with all the SU stuff!

Alisa's colour challenge

2009-09-17T17:00:00.004+10:00

I have finally completed a card for Alisa's colour challenge - love the colours, and had in mind what I wanted to achieve, just difficulty finding that time to complete it.

I used the card on page 18 of the current mini cat., turned sideways, as inspiration. The stamp set was As Close as a Memory - inked the image up with sage shadow and old olive (I don't have always artichoke), and, as I couldn't find my water spritzer, brushed the stamp with a waterbrush and stamped on to watercolour paper.Then I used the waterbrush to shadow the plants with sahara sand ink. The image is matted on DSP from the outlaw range, and a 1/2" circle punched to provide the build a brad centre. Another mat from choc. chip, and a sliver of choc. chip to provide the 'ribbon' . I also used the eyelet border punch, and clear embossing powder with choc. chip ink for the sentiment.

That's all for now - back to work, so not sure when I'll get another chance to join in - thanks for looking.

Another challenge

2009-09-08T16:48:00.004+10:00

Another challenge completed at last!This is in response to Keesh's Inkspiration colour challenge #12. They are certainly colours to make you think!

All products are S.U. - the closest I could get to So Saffron was with the new designer paper that I used. The stamps were from the Great friend set (love that stamp set) and the swirl was from a Christmas set (which doesn't have a label on it, so can't give you the correct name). I also used the eyelet border punch, and the rock'n'roll technique to stamp the butterfly.

The sketch for this came from the sweetiessketchesblogspot site, which I recently discovered.

Well, will attempt to upload the photo, then try Mr Linky for the first time - challenge is the right description for this - if only you knew how long this all takes me!!! Wish me luck. And thanks for stopping by.

Keesh's Inspiration Challenge No 11

2009-08-19T16:49:00.006+10:00

I hope that this is going to work (I'm still very "blog" challenged). The following card was made in response to Keesh's 11th. challenge. The streamlined design and calming colours I tried to replicate with the combination of the S.U. designer papers, ribbon & stamps from the Friends 24-7 set. The cardstock was choc chip, very vanilla and kraft, & the ink was choc chip, creamy caramel and bordering blue. I was actually quite happy with this when I finished (unusual for me!). It was great to get some time to complete my second challenge - such fun!

Apologies for the image - my camera is not taking great photos at the moment, so had to resort to scanning the card. Will post this, apologies also - not sure how to get the images to the position that I want them in - will work it out at some stage, I guess - have a great day, Jo

Where's the time gone?

2009-08-16T20:22:00.003+10:00

Well, thought it was time to upload some more cards, but I haven't had time to create for any challenges, so I thought I would post one that I made a few weeks ago for an aunt's 90th. birthday. It needed to be large enough to accomodate a no. of guests at her celebratory afternoon tea, so it was an A4 cardstock, folded in half. I used the watercolouring technique as taught by Alisa Tilsner in her wonderful class, with 5th Avenue floral and the Embrace life S.U. sets, and layered them with S.U. designer papers. The gold lettering was cut with the cricut, using my favourite George and basics cartridge. Apologies for quality of the photo - shine on the card washes out the colours a little, but you get the general idea!

Success!

2009-07-21T15:28:00.007+10:00

Well - I think that was successful - just need to keep Keesh's intructions in a safe place until I've done this often enough to remember how - thanks for all the helpful info, Keesh! Now the recipe for the card was basically all stampin' up - Stamp set - Embrace life; Cardstock - very vanilla; Ink - Old Olive and Kiwi kiss (don't have the required greens yet) and rose red; the ribbons are from the rustic retreat and beachfront selections; eyelet punch (isn't it gorgeous), dimensionals, embossing ink and clear powder. I also used the wax paper resist technique, as instructed on the splitcoaststamper website.

And now for a little self indulgance and some photos of the most important people in my life - and I will be in strife with my family for this - my beautiful grandsons, Sawyer (age 3 yrs) and Ethan (age 14 mths.)

Keesh's colour challenge 10

2009-07-21T15:06:00.001+10:00

first attempt at Keesh's challenge

2009-07-21T14:48:00.003+10:00

This is it!! - I am hoping to upload a photo of a card I made for Keesh's challenge - and then follow her brilliant instructions to send it to the correct site. As I've previously indicated, I am not very computer savvy, so will need good luck, as I don't find it easy to understand the lingo - still here goes!

2009-07-17T18:47:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone - what an experience this is. In case you are wondering, I am attempting to set up a blog, when I am totally ignorantwith what I am doing - so bear with me, and things may improve over the next few weeks!