Been gone a while

Hi all,


Warning -- long post...


Well, I've been missing for a while, huh! Lots and lots of things have been happening in my real life so the poor old blog has had to take a back seat.


I did get a few crafty things done before I went off line.


I finished a wedding:

Seven "thank you" explosion boxes for the attendants.

Cute little jewellery box inside, necklace and earrings, lovely gift. 

Bonbonierre boxes, butterflies, explosion boxes and acetate place cards.

... and when my Dad got sick I managed to make and send him this card...

I tried the patchwork quilt look on this one and was very happy how  it turned out.

So to the big life changing stuff ---- we got crazy and put an offer in on a house in our dream location, so then we had to sell our house. I spent a lot of time keeping our house ready for inspection, as you do, so no craft for a while.


We successfully sold, but then the paperwork side took a while forever. Hubby and I got bored waiting so we did this to my craft room ....

Empty, empty, empty!

More empty-ness!

Hubby was supposed to be home for the move, but of course it took so long he was away for work when it all happened. This has been the story of my life -- when we were both in the Navy and moved interstate seven times in seven years somehow hubby was always at sea and I had to do the move alone -- how rude I say! This move was just the usual circus. The owners of our new place were painful and made us move on a Saturday (add $350), then the removalist miscalculated on the size of the truck needed so we had to go back for a second load. Thank goodness we only moved 30 minutes away! THEN ... 24 hours after the move we had a big storm and power went out for two days. I had only just found and set up my coffee machine when we lost power so it was tragic!


Good news, though ... we have a "games" room in the new house which is going to be my new craft room. I am going to set it up all flash-dandy with kitchen cupboards and a big island bench etc... But of course these sorts of things take time so at the moment I have craft stuff spread over two spare bedrooms.


Now you know how I loved my old backyard, and I swore I was never moving again

Well .... our new place is somewhere we thought we'd have to save up and wait until we retired here, but with house values stable in the old place and going way down in the new place we could actually afford it -- and got the boat with the house...

Our "backyard" -- the water views we've always wanted!

We are a little bit surrounded by the retired, so not a lot of kids in the neighbourhood, but how can you beat fishing before school as an experience as you grow up ....

All fish caught are returned to the water alive.

Then, I got crazy and had a joint birthday party for my daughter and her friend in our new house just after the move. It was a pirate and mermaid theme. I had the imagine and expression machine both going full bore the night before the party to get it all done. Of course there were so many other things I had planned to do for the party but ran out of time ... The kids had a blast so what I did not get done does not matter!

Pirate ship made from a cardboard box.
Hubby made it -- awesome job and the kids loved it.

Treasure chest thank you lolly boxes.

Our attempt at the underwater look 

After!

So, we are now mostly settled into the new place and Miss J has started her new school, so it's time for me to get back to my hobby .... YAY!!!


Hope to post again soon with some new craft.


Lisa

40th Wedding Anniversary Card

Hi all,


My Mother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law went to Melbourne last month to help some close relatives from England celebrate a very important event --- their 40th Wedding Anniversary. I was tasked with the card and I have to say I am really quite chuffed with how it turned out.


The 40th Anniversary is the Ruby year so I took that as my base idea. This is what I came up with...

I used the Ribbons and Rosettes cartridge for the Rosette. Learning experience that one ... I used seven cutouts of the "rosette" to make the actual item and I had a heck of a time keeping it from spreading back out. Used a few different adhesives that did not work until I suddenly remembered my hot glue gun! I have had this thing in the cupboard for many many years and never used it. Now I realise how silly I was, that thing is magic!

I used Weddings for the love hearts and Winter Wonderland for the 40.
Paper is from Artee Supplies and glitter paper from my stash.

Ooops, it seems I got a little out of control and made the card too
thick/3D -- it would not fit in the envelope, so I had to make my own.

I could blather on all day about this card. I really enjoyed making it.


Lisa

40th Birthday Card

Hi all,


I made this card for a relative and the process drove me nuts! This is actually the third version of my 40th card ... the other two turned out really really naff! I may take photos of them later for my own personal "hall of shame".


In the end I realised that simple is best, so this is what I came up with:

I used a Stampin' Up decorative punch and the Nifty Fifties
cartridge for the 40 on the front.
Plain and patterned paper is from Artee Supplies.

The inside 40 came from the Mickey Font cartridge.
Stamp from SU! Bling from stash.

I also got fancy and used the leftover patterned paper to line the envelope.

Lisa

Seriously?

Hi all,


WOW, seriously ... May tomorrow? How the heck did that happen? It seems I am asking that every year now. Time starts moving faster the older you get.


I have been reading blogs while I have been "away" from my blog so I know everyone else is still hard at work. I have just been uninspired and consumed by another project - selling our house.


Things on the house selling front are on hold right now, though, pending the people two back on the real estate chain being issued a cheque from a government department. I feel like I am in a song (twelve days of christmas):


Four buying/selling couples
Four lending banks
Four removals companies
Three nice houses
Three real estate agents
Three settlement agents
Two starchy solicitors
One government department...........
And a partridge in a pear tree!!!!!!


At least I am keeping a smile on my face about it --- I try to remind myself that there is no point getting stressed about things I cannot change.Hopefully once the cheque is sorted things will move quickly so we might be moving in two-six weeks. I am still dreaming of my new craft room and making plans in my head. I see a trip or two to IKEA in my future.


Crafting has come a poor third/fourth in my life so I am trying to get my mojo back. I have discovered Pinterest and I am "pinning" all my favourite ideas on my boards to inspire me .... ummm, and spending a little too much of my time doing it. Always the way when I find a new "thing" on the internet.


I have some photos of things I have done in the last six-eight weeks so I shall need to put them into posts. 


Here is my first....


A birthday card for a crafty friend. 


I used Stampin' Up! paper and stamps (tote-ally Tess). In her basket is what should look like pens as my friend likes Copics. Rosette is from Ribbons and Rosettes. 

I am loving the whole rosette thing ... and have also now discovered flowers on the Art Philosophy cartridge ... so you will see lots more of these things in the near future.


Hope you are all well,


Lisa

Still not crafting

Hi all,


Sorry, I have still not caught up with all my crafty things I need to do  --- including Strutting My Cuts for the last few weeks.


Things got a little crazy here. We have put in an offer on a house and are in the process of selling ours (hopefully), so much cleaning, de-cluttering and grout scrubbing has ensued. We had a good home open yesterday and so we are now at a point where hubby has time to go fishing tomorrow ... thus I am going to focus on my paper crafts while Miss J is in school.


I did make a few cards the other week so I will blog them tomorrow ... I am a little busy with my bottle of relaxing bubbly this evening. Sorry about that!!


Lisa

Catching Up

Hi all,


Ooops, I haven't posted in ages. I got a little carried away with real life stuff. I made place cards for two weddings (140 of my acetate ones which take huge amounts of time to make), and then I made the mistake of looking at an AMAZING house for sale in Steven's dream locality. I have since spent my time doing various real-estatey things. We are not decided on moving ... yet.


I had a dream this year of my little one going off to full time school and I would have loads of time on my hands to do all the crafty things on the "one day" list. This has not happened yet, but it is all my own fault so I cannot complain too much.


I have some cards to share but will have to wait a couple of days for the cards to be received and looked at.


I do have one thing to share. At vacation care over the summer they had a Space day. Of course we had lots of dress-ups for Jessica when it was princess and pirate day, but space day?? In the end I did a simple headband with pipe cleaners and images cut with my cricut. I used Cricut Craft Room to cut one normal image and one flipped image of each so both sides were covered.


Stars - A Child's Year
Planets - Disney Pixar
Moon - Paper Doll Dress Up

Almost none of the other kids dressed up, but Jessica had a great day anyway.


My Strut Your Cuts projects from the last several weeks are on their way --- sigh --- It only took me a few weeks to get behind. Bummer.


Lisa 

Strut Your Cuts Week 5

Hi all,


Well, I did not complete my week 4 projects, so the following three cartridges are still on my "to do" list: Sports Mania, Everyday Pop-Up Cards and Best of Pixar. I have decided that rather than get bogged down trying to finish them I shall continue on with this week and then get back to them at some time.


So, now to Week 5. The selected cartridges are:

1. Wildlife (lite)
2. H2O (seasonal)
3. Summer in Paris (seasonal)
4. Paisley
5. Stork's Delivery (creative memories)

I only have H2O, so that made things easier again. Miss Jessica decided she wanted to make a card for her Dad who travels for work. Jessica chose all the figures and "helped" me put it together.

I cut each of the figures at 4.25" and used stickles to give them a bit of a lift. I drew in the male's eyes and I have to agree with Jessica that I made them "a bit scary"! I then put the figures on the card with dimensionals. "Miss you so much" is a Stamin' Up! stamp and I used an SU! punch as well.

Do not forget to join in and post your challenge entries at either the Scrappy-Go-Lucky Blog or Facebook page.


Hope you all have a good week,


Lisa

I'm melting!

Hi all,


Just checking in ... I've been slogging away at some place cards for two weddings being held on 11 Feb and it is hot as hades here right now - a couple of 40+C days does my sense of humour no good ... so I have not gotten any further on the week 4 strut your cuts challenge. Unfortunately when I have not been doing the place cards I have been standing under the aircon duct or cooling off in the pool (I know, harsh life huh?!). I am still going to finish the challenge though, even if it is a little late.


Hope you are all doing well and not too hot/cold/wet


Lisa 

Strut Your Cuts Week 4 - part one

Hi all,


I am a little bit late in posting my week 4 project ... and I hope to have more to post during the week.


This week the cartridges to use are:

1. Love you a Latte
2. Sports Mania
3. Everyday Pop-Up Cards
4. Damask Decor
5. Best of Pixar

I actually have four of the five cartridges this week. The only one I do not have is Love you a Latte. Of course this made things difficult -- too many choices!

I have started with a card from Damask Decor, blinged up a little and plan to get to the rest of the carts later in the week. I am still determined to use all my carts this year, so I will get to it before the week is out.

Do not forget to upload your challenge entries on the Scrappy-Go-Lucky blog or Facebook page 

Card cut at 7". Stampin' Up! paper (old olive and
cherry cobbler), bling from the stash.

Lots of layers again.

Envelope from Damask decor to match the card.
I had to scor the sides to give extra width to
fit the card in as it was extra thick.

Have a good one,
Lisa

Another Wedding Explosion Box

Hi all,


I whipped this one up last week for some relatives going to a wedding. They wanted the ability to put a gift card in the box, thus the envelope. 


I am getting more confident making these explosion boxes --- although I still agonise over colours (cannot help myself) and ribbons.

Lisa

Strut Your Cuts Week 3

Hi all,


Already on to week 3! 


The cartridges for the week are:

1. Inspired Heart (Lite)
2. Pumpkin Carving
3. Shall We Dance
4. Wall Decor and More
5. B is for Boy (Lite)

I only had one cartridge again this week - Wall Decor and More. This is what I came up with:

I used two of the new Stampin' Up! colours - Pool Party and Island Indigo. Went a little crazy with the Crystal Stickles and used cricut Craft Room to hide contours and cut just the inner flower five times. 

I put dimensionals under the word, small flowers and the large flower but I don't think the picture really shows that.

I might try some other projects with this cartridge this week if I get time... I've seen another couple of images I'd love to use.


Do not forget to check out the entries at Scrappy-Go-Lucky and maybe enter the challenge yourself :)

Enjoy your week,

Lisa

Frustrating Male Birthday Card

Hi all,


This is a card I made a little while ago. I had a vision in my head but just could not make it work. I ended up making two cards as I just wasn't all that happy with the first one.

First card - not sure what is wrong with it .... I had a
dozen different images I cut out and tried to use. Changed
the mix of pattern paper and plain paper about a
gazillion times ..... Nothing worked.

Colour and paper work better, but still not uber happy.

Stampin' Up! paper and stamp used, Every Day Paper Dolls the cartridge. 


Is it just me or is there a conspiracy that male cards just have to be that much harder to make?? 


Lisa

Strut Your Cuts Week 2 - finished project

Hi all,


Well I finally stopped socialising long enough to finish my Week 2 project and hang it on the cubbyhouse. 

The word "open" is from Graphically Speaking and
all the food images are from Create a Critter 

The Graphically Speaking cartridge only had the
word "close", so I did a little adjusting.

I am really enjoying these challenges ... I feel like I am finally using all my cricut stuff properly. Miss Jessica now has a list of things she wants me to make - bless her cotton socks.

Enjoy your week,

Lisa

Strut Your Cuts Week 2

Hi all,


Wow! Week 2 and I am still sticking to the challenge of using ALL those cartridges I own. All the people who entered the week 1 challenge did such a fine job. The projects entered are here on Mandy's blog and Facebook page.


So, to week 2 ....


Cartridges are:

1. Cuttin' Up
2. Graphically Speaking
3. Create a Critter
4. hmmm ... drat, cannot find the list, but did not have the last two cartridges anyway.

The sign is on plastic board (will find out the real name of it tomorrow) and I used vinyl for all the images. Graphically speaking gave me the coffee cup and frame and Cuttin' Up was for the words.

I have to admit, though,  that I have only completed the first part of my project. Hubby built Miss J a cubbyhouse a while ago (his own design and handywork)

 

This week Miss J decided she would like to make her cubbyhouse a cafe.... excellent! An opportunity to make something with this weeks carts.... Unfortunately I was distracted this week by a quick trip to Margaret River with the family .... oh woe is me, I had to go to a bunch of wineries and yummy foodie places .... boo hoo :) :) :) and thus my full project did not get finished.


So, I am also planning on using my Create a Critter cart and the Graphically speaking cart for an open/closed sign with flair. Stay tuned. .... for a little while longer ... as we are having Christmas number 2 today. My husband and my brother-in-law both got promotions in December, unfortunately it meant they both had to work Christmas, so this is our second go around at the turkey and ham, champagne etc... ohhhhh yummmmmmy!


I will get back to you shortly. Hope you are all having a great January so far.


Lisa

2012 Weekly Cricut Cartridge Challenge - Week 1

Hi all,


OK, to start off I think I will need to find a snazzier title for my weekly challenge!


Oh, yes --- and a HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all.


The idea for this challenge began when I mentioned to Mandy that I have an excessive number of cartridges and that I really need to use them all to justify the expense to myself. I own about 130 carts (including imagine ones). I thought I'd use three carts a week but Mandy encouraged me to challenge others as well and use the entire cart list.


The challenge is going to go like this:
Over the course of 2012 Mandy will randomly select five cartridges each week from the 268 cricut cartridges available right now (excluding the imagine carts). From that list of five you use the ones you own (or can borrow) in a project. Challenge starts on Sundays, and concludes on Saturdays.


If you would like to join please link your project to mandy's blog or facebook page. Details will be refined as we go along.


The week 1 cartridges are:

1. New Arrival
2. Songbird
3. Jasmine
4. Sweet Treats
5. Sweet Shop (lite)

My project for week 1 .....
I only own two of the five carts for this week. New Arrival and Jasmine. It actually helped me as I had less images to ponder/fuss/faff over and it made for quite a quick decision.

I cut out the words "many thanks", the card shape and two layers of oval surround from the Jasmine cartridge. Clouds, plane and sign are from New Arrival. I went to town on the 3D foam/dimensionals and there are a number of levels. 
I used Stampin' Up! cardstock - basic black, real red and pacific blue, and SU! Celebrations designer series paper. The silver paper is from my stash.
The card is 7" long even without the plane sticking out, so I will have to hand-make an envelope when I end up giving this to someone.

Then ... as I had a whole bunch of cut outs left over I thought I'd make another card while I was at it.

More SU! paper, same designer series paper, and a Happy Birthday stamp (from the Happiest Birthday Wishes Hostess stamp set). Glitter paper from my stash.... and more, more, more dimensionals!

I also inked the edges of the paper on both cards and inked the edges of the 3D foam on the first card, just so it would blend in. I am learning that all these little fiddly extras you can do really make the cards work so much better.

So, now I challenge you. Get those cartridges out and dust them off. Let's use all of them this year!

Both cards together ... yay, I have completed the first challenge!

Have fun,


Lisa

Wedding Invitations

Hi all,


I have been fortunate recently to have a few wedding invitation jobs come my way. I made the silver invitation for the client then decided to make myself a couple of prototypes to show next time I do a wedding expo ... names and dates changed to protect the client.


Yet again the client chose the idea from the Cristina Re Wedding book. It is a very lovely wedding invitation ideas book with lots of very classy examples.


I have one more lot of invitations to do in the next week and then I have a little bit of time on my hands before the next job.

Actual copy of invitation

Variation for show

I am actually very excited about tomorrow's blog entry. As I mentioned before I am going to challenge myself to use all my cricut cartridges in 2012. I have already completed challenge No. 1 and I really think this idea is going to work ... I'll look back at the end of the year and see if I really stuck to it!

See you then,

Lisa

Teacher and Student Christmas Presents

Hi all,

Just catching up on my posts .... I've still got a few crafty things to show you from before Christmas. 

For the teachers

I made these boxes for Jessica's teacher and her assistants. I used the Sweet Tooth Boxes cartridge for the box and Mr Frosty Imagine cartridge for the pattern. I used stickles for the "snow' on the windows. Even though it is summer here at Christmas time I cannot help but ocassionally do a few winter-ish Christmas things.

I made some white christmas and coconut ice to put in the boxes.... yummm.

For the students

I made 24 of them

I made smaller items for Jessica's friends -- and I used all Stampin' Up! items: 

My Big Shot  

Bigz XL Fancy Favour Die

Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive paper

Delightful Decorations stamp

1/4" grosgrain ribbon - Old Olive and Chocolate Chip

Ornament punch

We filled them with assorted lollies. 

One of the Mums from the other Kindy class made the teachers a flower pot. Each of the "flowers" had a picture of a child or teacher on it. What a wonderful teacher's gift. Must remember that one for future years.

Lisa