Wednesday, November 6, 2013

An Autumn sketch in spring.

I thought I'd make another card and combine these two challenges. 
All Dressed Up Challenge #3 Autumn colours or Give Thanks
Sketch Saturday Week #283

For this card I coloured up Party Girl 3 from All Dressed Up (this image is actually sold as a set of  three called Three Little Party Girls) with these copics -
E11, E00, E000, E0000, R20
E33, E35, E29, E27, E25
Y15, Y13, Y11.
YR18, YR15, YR12, YR0000
Designer paper is Tangerine from My Minds Eye

Thanks for stopping by.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Cute just got cuter

I saw the sketch over at CAS(E) this sketch and thought of so many ways to use it. 

 
Here is my interpretation of the sketch, I did tweek it a bit by moving my main image down to the bottom, it seemed more balanced there.  I am thinking of giving this card to a friend who has just welcomed her first baby.



For this card I used the image Cute just got cuter a free image from All Dressed Up
The dog is coloured with these copics:
E31, E33, E35, E37.
B0000, B000, B02, B05
C1, C2.

I have entered this card into the CAS(E) this Sketch challenge #51.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Dance...

I stumbled across these All Dressed Up images and saw they had a challenge blog, so I decided I'd give it a go.  The image I have used is Abi Ballerina and she is actually a freebie (you can find it here)...I couldn't believe it as it's one of my favourites.  I also saw this sketch  over at Seize the Sketch #5 and thought it really highlighted Wendy Burns' beautiful image.


Image - Abi Ballerina All Dressed Up
Coloured with these Copics on Xpress it blending card
E11, E00, E000, E0000, R20
R85, R83,R81
E35, E33, E53, E51, E50
Blossom and pink spica.

I am entering this card in two challenges
All Dressed Up Challenge #1 - Anything Goes
Seize the Sketch #5

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Card class with Alyce

Well I have been on a hiatus for quite some time.  To be perfectly honest I didn't realise how long.  Just been a little busy, we took a lovely trip to Queensland in July for our 20 year anniversary (I will share photos soon).  Since returning I haven't really felt like colouring, so I decided to take a few classes with Alyce from Kit n Clowder.  I really enjoyed her classes and loved getting the kits so I could put the cards together.  I often have difficulty putting cards together.  I tend to go for the clean and simple cards, so these are something completely different for me.

The first class I took was Picture Marci and here is my finished result.  Please note frantage is not my friend...I don't think it ever will be!



The second class/kit I completed was Charmings.  I used the no lines technique by stamping my image with toffee crunch momento ink.  All these pleats were an incredible but fun challenge for me.  And her hair well I am in awe of how Alyce colours hair so it was fun to see how she colours and learn from her.
 

I am so grateful to Alyce and Arnolds for making these kits/classes available for those of us who can't attend live workshops, as far as I know there are no copic classes offered anywhere near where I live.  It means I get to join in and learn new things without having to pay for airfares! 
If you haven't seen any of Alyce's work I suggest you head over to her blog Kit and Clowder and check it out.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Choc Chip Kaylee

I made this card to fit with Some Odd Girl's May sketch.  I love baking so I had to fill Kaylee's tray with choc chip cookies.  The spotted paper I used is one of my favourites (October Afternoon - Modern Homemaker Snickerdoodles), I have been hoarding it and finally decided to cut into it.  I paper pieced Kaylee's apron and oven mitts.  The rest of her was coloured with copics.



Stamp Gingerbread Kaylee Some Odd Girl
She is coloured with these copics:
Dress and shoes C9, C7, C5, C3.
Tray C2, C1
Biscuits E35, E33, E31, copic multiliner.
Hair E08, E09, E19, E29.
Skin E0000, E000, E00, E11, R20
 
Thanks for visiting.
Gretchen

Thursday, May 23, 2013

A girls night out

My second card for this months Mad for Markers challenge (something for a girl) features Uptown Girls - Victoria and Juliette's night out a rubber stamp from Stamping Bella.  I coloured these girls to look like much, much, much older versions of my little girls. 

Coloured with these copic markers:
Dresses RV04, RV02, RV00, RV000 and YG06, YG03, YG00
Skin E11, E00, E000, R20
Hair E50, E51, E53 and E50, E37, E35, E33, E31
Wine YR00, YR000
Margarita R20, 0
Clear and Blossom Spica
 
Thanks for stopping by.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Audrey

This months Mad for Markers challenge theme is something for a girl.  I chose to go with the feminine icon Audrey Hepburn when I made this card which features Uptown Girl Audrey from Stamping Bella. 


This is the first Uptown girl I have coloured and have to say I love love love them.  Of course when I ordered them I had to get more than one to make it worth my while with shipping costs...well that's my reasoning anyway :)
Audrey was coloured with these copics
SkinE11, E00, E000, R20
Hair E31, E29, E27, E25
Blacks C9, C7, C5, C3, C2, C1
Pinks RV04, RV02, RV00, RV000
Kindy Glitz and Pink spica are also featured. 
The ribbon is recycled and the paper is Teresa Collins - Posh.

Thanks so much for stopping
Gretchen

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Gifty Gwen is ready to party.

Have you ever visited the Some Odd Girl Community there are some fantastic, creative and talented people there.  They also have some fantastic challenges and inspiration ideas.  One challenge they are running at the moment is
Odd Idol

I made this card to enter in the challenge



It uses SOG Gifty Gwen coloured with these copics:
Skin E11, E00, E000, R20.
Hair E53, E51, E50.
Dress and shoes BG18, BG15, BG13, B000, B0000
Jacket R85, R83, R81.
Present RV02, RV00, RV000, Y15, Y13, Y11.
 
Sentiment is from Baker Mae
Paper is My Girl from My Mind's Eye
 
Thanks for stopping by.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Autumn Kaylee

This month over at Mad for Markers our challenge is an Autumn tones photo inspiration


My card uses Kaylee's closet from Some Odd Girl.  I don't usually colour with Autumn tones but I do love this hair colour and will no doubt be using it more often.

 
Kaylee is coloured with these copics:
Hair E08, E09, E19, E29
Skin E000, E00, E11, R20
Dress YR12, YR15, YR18 and Gold Spica
Shoes E29, E27, E25
Shadows BV0000, BV00
Paper: A Walk in the Park - Echo Park
 
Thanks for stopping by.
Gretchen

Anzac Biscuits

I thought I'd share with you our Anzac biscuit recipe.  We make them for Anzac day every year as our way of remembering the men and women who have served our country. (We do make them at other times too).


ANZACS
(taken from The Central Cookery Book)
130g butter
1tbsp golden syrup
1c flour
pinch salt
1c coconut
1c sugar
1c rolled oats
2tsp bicarb soda
2tbsp boiling water
6 drops of vanilla


Preheat oven to 160oC.
Line biscuit trays with baking paper. 
Melt butter and golden syrup. 
Sift flour and salt.
Add sugar, coconut, rolled oats.
Dissolve bicarb in boiling water and add vanilla. 
Mix all ingredients together and mix well.
Roll into small balls and place on baking tray (allow room as biscuits will spread)
Bake in the oven for 10 mins
Allow to rest on the tray for 1/2 minute before lifting off to cool on a cake cooler.

I am not 100 percent happy with this recipe so I have found a few more ANZAC biscuit recipes I would like to try including this one I found at The Australian War Memorial Website it features an original recipe provided by Bob Lawson, an ANZAC present at the Gallipoli landing.


The Ode
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.


To all those who have served and are serving our country thank you.
 
For more information on Anzac day you can look here.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Chasing purple butterflies

I saw the purple and green challenge over at Wild Orchid Challenge and thought I'd combine it with the anything goes Saturated Canary challenge.  I rarely use green and embellishing is really not my strong point, but here is what I created:


I used the digi Chasing Butterflies from Saturated Canary she is coloured with these copics:
V17, V15, V12, V09.
YG06, YG03, YG00,
C7, C5, C3, C2, C1
E35, E33, E31, E11, E00, E000,
R20, RV02
 
I used these products from Wild Orchid Crafts:
Vintage Seam Binding Ribbon Lilac
Lavender open roses 15mm
2 tone lilac tea roses 25mm
Lilac closed rose buds
Lilac semi open roses
 
Paper is La Di Da Collection from Kaisercraft.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Autumn Forest Friend Fairy

The theme over at Mad for Markers Challenge this month is an Autumn leaves photo inspiration.
 
 
Here is my card for this month.  I don't know what happened with the layout of this card...my next Autumn card will be much better..I hope.


I used Some Odd Girl digi - Forest Friend Fairy I think she is super cute but I am not a big fan of Autumn colours.  She is coloured with these copics (I forgot to write these down when I coloured her, so I am guessing I used-
Skin - E11, E00, E000, R20,
Clothes and wings YR18, YR15, YR12, YR00 and most likely E31, E25, E19
Bird Y15, Y13, Y11
Hair E33,E25, E19, E08, E09 (I think)
 
We'd love it if you joined in our April Challenge over at Mad for Markers
 

Friday, April 5, 2013

Monster birthday

I made this card for a friend of ours who turned 9, his name just happens to be the same as this monster.   I think it is simple but cute and funny. 
 
I used a
Digi stamp - Monster Chris from A Day for Daisies
I added the spots and coloured with copics:
B05, B02, B00, B000, B0000, YG06, YG03, YG00, C3, C2, C1
The font is smiley monster
 
I am entering this card into There She Goes 201 - Masculine challenge
 
Thank you for visiting.
Gretchen
 

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Anya Styles like Carrie


I have been looking at Anya Styles rubber stamp for a while (waiting to get the chance to colour her) and she reminds me of Carrie from the Carrie Diaries.  I love fashion so maybe that is why I like Carrie Diaries so much...her clothes are fabulous for the 80's.
 



I thought I would colour Anya up and put her on a card in 80's style. 

For my card I used the stamp by The Greeting Farm Anya Styles, coloured with these copics:
Skirt and bow - RV04, RV02, RV00, RV000
Shirt, boots and bag - C9, C7, C5, C3, C2
Skin E11, E00, E000, R20
Hair E53, E51, E50
Shadows BV0000

I am entering this card in the Farm Fresh Friday embossing challenge over at Splendid Stamping with The Greeting Farm.  My black card has been embossed with a dots embossing folder.

Thanks for visiting
~ Gretchen


Monday, April 1, 2013

Pretty Pastel Princess

I saw the Pretty Pastels challenge over at the Saturated Canary Challenge blog and thought I'd make a card to enter.

I'm not really sure what is going on with this photo as I uploaded it and it was blurry, I  re-uploaded it via photobucket and it seems fine hmm not really sure why that is, something to do with compression rates? Any suggestions? Anyway onto my card for today :

 
 
For this card I used
Saturated Canary Digi - Butterfly Princess
Copics
Dress RV0000, RV00, RV02, BV00
Hair YR20, YR21, E31, YR0000
Skin E000, E00, E11, E93
Butterflies B000, RV0000
 
Paper embossed with dots
Flowers are from Wild orchid Craft
Twine Blossom from the Twinery


 
I am also entering this card into the Sketch Saturday challenge. 
 
Thanks for stopping by
~Gretchen
 

Friday, March 29, 2013

Easter Ideas (lots of photos)

Last year the girls dyed eggs to decorate the table



and we had our families around for lunch on Easter Sunday, which included these cute cupcakes and a yummy quinoa and roasted vegetable dish which I have no idea where the recipe came from(don't you hate when that happens) .


This year my husband has to work and it is his Mum's birthday so we aren't having lunch (we are having dinner with her on Saturday and morning/afternoon tea with my parents sometime), but here are some of the things we did to get ready for Easter.  The girls chose an Easter basket to make with the silhouette
We used 3D Easter bunny basket and bunny box 

Meg and I made these pinch bags filled with Easter eggs for her teacher and teacher's assistant.
We used the tutorial from Under a Cherry Tree (amazing tutorials), Pinch bag file from Lettering Delights and Nitwit Collections Spring Whimsy Kit
 

My daughter Nell saw jellybean butterflies while I was looking on pinterest and decided she wanted to make them.  Here is our version.
She made one for each of us with a bit of help.  Nell doesn't like jellybeans so hers is the little one with no beans.  These were so quick and easy


Meg's buddy is a lovely grade 6 girl and for Easter she made Meg a bunny tail and gave her some bunny ears and a chocolate.  So to thank her we made her a jellybean butterfly and decorated a bag for her. But I didn't photograph that :)

Here is the part where Meg says "Grandma don't look"  She wants to surprise you when you come around for morning tea.


We also did some cooking.  Although I don't know if these count as cooking they are Easter bonnets made out of Reese's mini peanut butter cups and Arnott's choc wheaten biscuits decorated with sprinkles from our pantry. They look more like Easter Akubra's but that's okay. 
My camera battery went flat so I didn't get more photos of the girls ones.

We also found some Caramel Hershey Kisses so we decided to make these.
The labels are a freebie from Anders and Ruff you will have to use a punch or if your like me cut them by hand.

We also continued our Easter tradition of making Kiss Biscuits.  I will share the recipe with you eventually.

This year we decided to ice them different colours and I think the girls did a fantastic job icing the biscuits and they taste delicious.  I just love the carrots.

Have a wonderful weekend
~ Gretchen

Some Odd Girl March Challenge

I had been meaning to do the sketch over at Some Odd Girl for their March Challenge and finally got around to it.  Initially I was going to do a summer themed card but there was already one of those in the entries so I decided to go with winter.  I should of done Kaylee's jacket blue as in red she looks like Santa.  Anyway here she is.
I used
SOG stamps - Kaylee's closet wardrobe, Kaylee's closet Winter Warmth
Copics
Skin - E000, E00, E11 and R20
Reds - R20, R24, R27, R29
Blacks - C1, C2, C3, C5, C7, C9
Shadows - BV00, BV0000
Snowflake was cut with the silhouette.
 

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Happy Easter

Happy Easter
Here is my second Easter card for this year, actually ever - I don't normally make Easter cards.

For this card I used 
Duck duck goose - Saturated Canary digi.   
Copics -
Skin E000, E00, E11. R20
Hair and boots E31, E35, E37
Clothing Y11, Y13, Y15,  B93, B97, B99
Background G20, G24, G28, B0000 
Shadows BV0000, BV00
Paper - Springtime Echo Park
Washi tape - The Sweetest Thing My Minds Eye
Rose from Wild Orchid Craft
Font Bickham Script Two
 
~
 
 
I hope everyone has a happy and safe Easter.
Gretchen

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Happy Birthday Mum/Grandma

Just a short post to say
 Happy Birthday to my lovely Mum. 
Here's the card I made her. 

Both of my daughters chose this image India with laptop from Mo Manning.
Hair E37, E35, E33, E31, E50
Clothes and laptop V17, V15, V12, C9, C7, C5, C3
Chair E31, E35, E33, YR00, YR000
Cat and carpet, C3, C2, C1
 Paper My Minds Eye - Tangerine from Scrap Therapy
White seam binding coloured with YR00 and rose from Wild Orchid Crafts

And here is the card my daughter Meg made using copics.  I wasn't sitting with her when she did this but I think she is attempting shading by the look of those darker colours impressive for a 5 year old. 
My other daughter Nell made her a card with fish on it but I forgot to take a photo of it (Sorry Nell).
 
Hope your having a wonderful birthday Mum. 
love all of us
-xo-

Easter Bunny

This card is so far out of my comfort zone I usually do clean and simple cards but I thought I would try something different and use a sketch.  It wasn't different because it was a sketch (I use sketches sometimes) but it was all the embellishments and layers to this card that was different and a little difficult.  I just kept adding more and more and now I don't really think I like it...it's a little overdone.  What do you think?  One of our new kittens loves it.  She just wants to eat the fluffy white feathers. 


For my card I used
Bad Hare Day a rubber stamp from Krista Smith
Copics
Skin E11, E00, E000, R20
Hair and shoes C9, C7, C5, C3, C2, C1
Clothes BG18, BG15, BG13 and R85, R83, R81
Shadows BV00, BV0000
Paper My Minds Eye Life of the Party and Echo Park A Walk in the Park
Roses and white seam binding from Wild Orchid Crafts.
(I coloured the seam binding with BG18)
The flourish and corners were cut with my silhouette.

If you have made a new Easter creation I'd love to see it either leave me your link or enter it into the Mad for Markers Easter Challenge.   Before I go I thought I'd give you a little peak at our new kittens.  These photos are from the first week we got them (in January).  They are British Shorthairs and in this photo they were almost 12 weeks old.  They are a bit bigger now.
Jewel

Oscar


I will share more photos with you later.  Thanks for stopping by.

Gretchen

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Star Wars - a learning experience

I recently made this card for a family friend who turned 11.  I showed it to my husband and asked his opinion because I am not really up with what 11 year old boys are into.  His response was you know he was evil right...uh no.  This got my thinking can I give an 11 year old boy a card that features Anikin.  Then I got confused about Anikin and Luke and as you can probably tell I am not a star wars fan.  I had no idea Anikin was evil and was Darth Vadar.  I figured he (the family friend turning 11) likes those Lego things that are star wars it'd be fine...then I realised that that's ninjago which has nothing to do with star wars at all..I know nothing about Star wars or boy Lego.  I think I need to brush up a little more when it comes to making cards for boys.  Anyway here is my card


I used
Digital Stamp The Force Boy from Saturated Canary
Copics used:
Skin E000, E00, E11, E93.
Hair E31, E33, E35
Clothes etc.  E08, E25, E27, E29 - B0000, B000, B00, B93, E97, B99 - C1, C2, C3, C5, C7 C9

Thanks for stopping by.

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Happy Birthday SOG

Some Odd Girl is celebrating their 3rd birthday.  They have started up a new community here and have lots of birthday challenges.  I thought I would join in the festivities and make a card to enter in their grey with a pop of colour (green, yellow, pink or blue) challenge.
 
I cropped Tropical Mae using this tutorial and coloured her with these copics
C1, C2, C3, C5, C7, C9, Y11, Y13 and Y15.
 
On a completely different colouring note Alyce from Kit and Clowder has just launched a  Kit and Clowder YouTube channel she is amazing and very generous in sharing her knowledge I recommend checking it out if you haven't already.
 
Thanks for stopping by
Gretchen
 

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Australian themed Challenge and a good read.

Hi All,
This is my second post for the Mad for Markers January challenge - Australian theme.



This challenge got me thinking about what Australia means to me. Australia to me has always meant freedom, bush, beach, sun, surf, BBQs.  What symbolises Australia for me is gum trees.  Yes I grew up reading May Gibbs.  I saw a great image in a Christmas colouring book that I copied and modified.  I think I will make it into a card.  But I haven't got around to it yet!

I have just finished reading "The Little Coffee Shop Of Kabul" it is a fictional story about five women who meet in a coffee shop and how they come to form a friendship.  It gives the reader a fictional sneak peak into womens' lives Afghanistan.   The author based the book on some of her own experiences in Afghanistan.  I remember in the early 90's reading a magazine article about children working in Afghanistan.  I went to school and worked with women who were from Afghanistan but I was still a little naive.
 
The Little Coffee Shop Of Kabul, Deborah Rodriguez
 
I have always felt lucky to live in Australia to have all the opportunities and rights, but perhaps a little more so after reading this book.  I enjoyed reading it (Thanks Mum and Dad - they gave it to me for Christmas) and I'd recommend it to others if you enjoy reading about other cultures/countries.  I love reading a lot of different types of books.    Can you recommend any good ones to add to my reading list?

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Wedding Anniversary

This week my husband and I celebrated our Wedding Anniversary.  We don't do anything for our wedding anniversary we do however celebrate the anniversary of when we started dated.  Even though we don't celebrate I made him a card.




I used Squeezey Hugs a digi from Some Odd Girl.  They are coloured with these copics
Hair E35, E29, E27, E25/E37, E35, E33, E53E
Skin E000, E00, E11
Jeans B37, B34, B32
Shirt C1, C2
Dress B99, B97, B93
Shoes C7, C5, C3/E29, E27, E25, E35

I am entering this in SOG January Challenge sketch.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Time to hit the beach...well not yet!

January 26th is Australia Day therefore we have continued the Australian theme this month over at Mad for Markers Challenge Blog.  Australia to me means sunshine and beaches although it hasn't been hot enough to venture into the water down here yet.  For my card I used Cali Girl from Saturated Canary.


I used these copics
Skin E000, E00, E11, E93
Hair E08, E09, E19, E29
Eyes E09
Bikini and bag YG06, YG03, YG00
Towel Y11, Y13, Y15.

I have been playing around with hair colours and this is my new favourite.   What is your favourite hair colour combo?