APRIL FOOL!

Happy hellos from me ...

Just a quick post tonight ...

I figure if I get a chance to make a card and post it on here and find a challenge or two to enter it into from now on I will ... Life is just so busy with my facebook business, Miss Bella's demanding social life and life in general ... You all know what I'm talking about right?!?

Anyway I made this card as a custom order for a custoner to give to her brother-in-law who "has everything" ... He is well off, retired, travels, plays a lot of golf and generally leads a comfortable and good life ... When Lyn described him to me via message straight away this image from Redonkulous Designs popped into my head and I coloured him up! He has proven to be a popular choice for the (let's just just say) middle aged male lol.

He is coloured up with copics and I used some traval papers and although the photo does not show it up to it's best I distressed all the edges and ran Tim Holtz Walnut Stain ink along all edges too.  I'm glad to say that not only did Lyn, my customer, love it, so did her Brother-in law (thank goodness!)

 

I found some great challenges to enter the card into as well so fingers crossed :-)

Hope everything is well with you all and for now

Ciao

Julie

Challenges I will enter this card into:

Cards for Men - Challenge #7 - Aprils Fools 

Mad for Markers - Challenge Autumn Fairy (I went with Autumnal colours)

Digital Tuesday - Challenge #205 - Boys

IT'S A REDONKULOUS HAPPY BIRTHDAY

So, as I promised a few weeks ago now .... 

Here is a card that is one of two cards for a customer order ...  It's for a 50th birthday and the lady thought it perfect for the recipient!

I still can't believe how busy I have been and continue to be with my facebook business ... which you can find here ... ... card orders etc and with life in general.

I celebrated my birthday yesterday and had a lovely weekend spent with some absolutely gorgeous friends ... out for dinner on Friday night, then some of my closest friends and families over for dinner on Saturday night and my bestie and her family stayed over and we drank far too much and stayed up far too late (3am!) watching Music Max on Foxtel (pay tv) and our rule is that all four of us have to agree that a song is crap, oops no good, before we can go to bed ... hence the 3am bedtime lol ... Then yesterday morning we had a beautiful breakfast/brunch of bacon and eggs yum yum! Then I got just a chance to chill and relax which is what I and my head really needed ...

We've go a couple of big weekends to follow as well with us heading off to a food and wine festival next weekend to see one of mine and Bella's favourite up and coming chefs who won last years series of the Australian Masterchef (Bella is obsessed with him lol), a girl's night out the following weekend and then we've got Bella's 10th birthday the following weekend and she has requested a "Vintage High Tea" so lots to do and prepare for that ... Then with netball season starting and dancing/cheerleading we have very busy lives at the moment.

Anyway back to the card lol ... I have coloured a Redonkulous image "Cheeky Greeting" with my copics and used papers Kaisercraft papers from the Peachy Keen and the Up, Up and Away collections. I used the sketch from The Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge Blog and I've used some ink to distress it and I have to admit I kinda like the way it turned out considering that I still struggle with male cards (no flowers, lace, bling and girly girl bit 'n' pieces lol). I just love Sheryl's digis and you should check out her blog here and her shop here ....

Well I have another 2 cards to finish off for tomorrow's mail so I'm off to finish those and I will be entering my card into the challenges listed below ....

Ciao for now

Julie

Used:

Stamps:  Redonkulous "Cheeky Greetin" digi stamp

Paper:  SU! CS, Kaisercraft Peachy Keen and Up Up and Away

Other:  Copics, greeting rub on, Tim Holtz distress ink

CHALLENGES I'D LIKE TO ENTER THIS CARD INTO:

 The Sweet Stop:  SSS200
Through the Craft Room Door: Anything Goes
Whoopsi Daisy: 2 x patterned papers (11/3) 
Anything Goes Challenge Blog: Challenge #87 Make it Manly 
Bearly Mine: Challenge # 75 Anything Goes
Digital Tuesday: Challenge #199 Birthdays 
Oldie but a Goodie: Bright Colours
(My 'oldie but goodie' is my paper, the distress ink and the digi image)
 Divas by Design:  Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp:  Anythng Goes
Playdate Cafe: Stuck on Colour (Tangerine, Apricot, Mint)
Pile It On:  Challenge #9 Happy Birthday

MISSING IN ACTION

WOW!! Where has the last 5 months gone?!?

I can't believe the last time I posted here was back in September last year!

I have good reason though ... I started up a facebook business page ... Julie's Handmade Creations ... to sell my handmade cards and other papercraft items and it has just taken off I'm happy to say :-)

I picked a bizarre time of the year to start it with the lead up to Christmas and was absolutely flat out trying to keep up with orders .... To the point where if I never saw another Christmas card or Christmas themed project I would've been happy ... Very bah humbug of me I know and I plan on being better organised for this year lol. Let's just say the no-one but my God Family were the only ones who got cards from me I'm ashamed to admit.  Thankfully Miss Bella (almost 10) made some beautiful cards for my Aunt, Uncle, Cousin and Father-in-law who came on Christmas Day lol.

Having said that ... Where would I be if not for those who wanted something personal and different to give to their loved ones?

I am really hoping to get back into colouring and entering challenges now in between custom orders (of which I have 13 on the go right now ... phew!).  I have really missed the community spirit of blog land and getting immersed in all your talent with a cuppa in one hand and my trusty mouse in the other :-)

So, I am going to make my resolution this year to make a concentrated effort to post on here more often ... 

Hope you have all been well and happy and a belated Happy New Year for 2013 to you.

Ciao for now

Julie

xxx

 

My gorgeous Miss Isabella on her first day back at school last Wednesday.  Almost 10 years old and going into Year 5

It's just plain Redonkulous!!

Well I'm finally back! Wow I don't know where the time goes ... It's so funny someone will ask "Whatcha been up to?" and I'll reply with "Been so busy but couldn't really tell you what with!" I remember my Mum always telling me to stop wishing time away becaue one day you will realise how fast it really does go and you will want it to slow down ... Too true ...

Anyway, now that netball season is over all we have to concentrate on is Miss Bella's dance and cheerleading concert at the end of November (with just about every Sunday in October taken up with rehearsal!) and her busy and very hectic social life ... Tough for some lol.

So, onto today's offerings ... I found this awesome digi shop a little while ago called Redonkulous Designs and they have some of the cutest and cheekiest images I've seen ... When I found them on facebook I couldn't wait to buy some and get colouring.  As per usual I manage to colour and sometimes make a card but hardly ever seem to be able to get them onto my blog!

Well Redonkulous are having their first challenge and I really wanted to get this card onto my blog to enter.  The stamp is called Birthday Kisses and you can buy it here.  As I was searching for challenges a couple of days ago to try and inspire me I found the challenge at Dream Valley that was perfect for this card ... It's "Something Old, Something New" and while my Redonkulous image is pretty new, the paper and the chipboard sentiment that I used I have had in my stash for well over 18 months!!

Looking forward to being back in the 'blog saddle' on a more regular basis ...

So until next time

Ciao

Julie

Used:

Paper: SU! CS, patterned paper from stash

Stamps:  Redonkulous  "Birthday Kisses" digi stamp

Other: SU! ruffled ribbon, chipboard sentiment from stash

CHALLENGES I WOULD LIKE TO ENTER THIS CARD INTO:

Redonkulous Designs - Challenge #1 - Celebrations

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Things That Make You Go Awwww (18/9)

The Cutie Pie Challenge Blog - Challenge # 26 - No Flowers (17/9)

Natalie and Amy's Challenge Blog - Challenge #1 - Anything Goes (30/9)

Stamp and Create - Anything Goes (30/9)

Dream Valley Challenges - Challenge #40 - Something Old, Something New (16/9)

Allsorts Challenge Blog - Week 171 - Layers (15/9)

One Stop Craft - Challenge #198 - No floral embellishments (15/9)

Delicious Doodles - Challenge #1 - Celebrations (13/9)

Yep, I'd say the Mojo is Back ...

Hello again from me in chilly old Newcastle, Australia ....

Can you believe this?!? My mojo has come back and I'm enjoying it while I can ... It's probably all the time I've had to blog surf while I've been trying to look after my blasted broken toe!!  All that inspiration has tweaked the creative part of my brain he he ...

So, I've had this Kenny K image coloured for a few weeks now and really wanted to be in a creative frame of mind/mood when I made a card with her ... I'm glad I waited coz I'm kinda happy with the way the card has turned out ... What do you think?

I have been going through a phase of distressing all my coloured images with Tim Holtz Walnut Stain Distress Ink all over them to kinda 'dull down' the colour. I'm loving it ...

I've followed the sketch over at Deconstructing Jen for this card and was inspired by the photo over at Cupcake Inspirations have found a few other challenges that I will enter her into ...

I've flipped the image 90 deg right

But for now I'm off to bed ... Hubby is already there watching the Tour de France and the deal in our house is that while 'The Tour' is on and he wants to watch it in bed I have to get a back rub to help me fall asleep ... gotta luv that lol ...

So until next time

Ciao

Julie

PS:  I am going to take a better photo of this in the  morning with natural light coz this photo does the card no justice ... It looks sooomuch better in real life ...

CHALLENGES I WOULD LIKE TO ENTER THIS CARD INTO:

Deconstructing Jen - Sketch #61

Cupcakes Inspirations - Challenge #169

Card Makin' Mamas - Challenge #50 - 1, 2, 3 .. Recipe (3/8)
(Use 1 image / 2 x designer papers / 3 embellishments)
Papertake Weekly - All things Girly  
DYSU - Challenge #81 - Food
Simply Create Too - Challenge #18 - Use it Two Times (at least) - (3/8)
(Flowers, Gems, PP strips)
Poodles Parlour - Use a Digi Stamp (27/7)
Allsorts Challenge Blog  - Week #164 - Distressing (27/7)
(I've distressed the edges of the PP and used Tim Holtz Walnut Stain Distress Ink)

USED:

Paper: SU! CS, MME Lost & Found Madison Avenue, Kaisercraft Lakehouse

Stamps:  Kenny K Troublemake digi, Bizzy Becs digi ticket

Other:  WOC flowers, Kindyglitz, gems.  Coloured with Copics.

Red, White and Blue ....

Just a quick post tonight ... Got to be up bright and early for Miss Bella to be at netball at 8.15am and early Saturday mornings are soooo hard ... It's freezing cold but so worth watching Missy Moo play, score goals and do her little "yeah, I got a goal" dance lol ...

Anyway, I really wanted to get this card posted for Sweet Stampin's challenge this week ... "Use the colours of your Nation's flag" ... These are colours that are definitely out of my comfort zone but I persevered because that's what challenges are all about aren't they?  So I definitely wanted to get it finished, photographed and on my blog before I head to my nice artificially heated (electric blankets ... gotta love 'em lol) bed ...

Hope you like the card, I think it turned out reasonably OK and until next time,

Ciao

Julie

CHALLENGES I'D LIKE TO ENTER THIS CARD INTO:

Sweet Stampin - "Use the colours of your Nation's flag"

(Red, White and Blue - for Australia)
Stamp and Create - Hands Full of Love (5/8)

(My gorjuss Girl is holding her teddy)
Digi Doodle Shop - Challenge #117 - Anything Goes (26/7)

USED:

Paper:  SU! CS, SU! DSP

Stamps:  Gorjuss Girl Lost Heart

Other:  WOC flowers, Nestabilities Labels 2 die, lace, bow and rub on sentiment from stash

Pretty in Lilac

Well, school holidays are over ... it's first day back and this is my first post of this school term ...

I am soooo very excited because I got my Wild Orchid flower delivery late yesterday afternoon and after I checked off my items I counted up how many flowers I actually ordered and am (only slightly) embarrassed to report that the total number of flowers ordered was .... drum roll please .... 2020!!  Yep I said 2020!!  Slightly OTT I agree but soooo worth it lol.

I made this card last night and said to my husband "It's amazing what a little flower inspiration can do to get the creative juices flowing" ... 

I just love these Saturated Canary images by Krista Smith ... As much as I love them and love colouring them I find some of them quite difficult as they are so detailed but I am always happy to give them a go lol.  After colouring this sweet girl the card just came together in a monochromatic theme and I have found a number of challenges that she will fit into perfectly.

I hope that those of you whose children are back at school this week are enjoying the peace and quiet and find a little time for some well deserved crafting lol .... I know I will ...

Thanks for visiting, please leave a comment if you feel like it

and until next time

Ciao

Julie

CHALLENGES I WOULD LIKE TO ENTER THIS CARD INTO:

There's Magic in the Air with Paper Cupcakes - Sketch (23/7)

The Cutie Pie Challenge Blog - Challenge #22 - Glitter and Bling (23/7)

The Paper Makeup Stamps Challenge - Digi Makeover Challenge #45 (21/7)

Whimsy Stamps - Challenge #47 - Monochromatic (18/7)

Poodles Parlour - Challenge # - Use a digi stamp (27/7)

Totally Papercrafts - #125 - Lots of Layers (20/7)

Saturated Canary - Challenge #21 - Bling It Out (19/7)

Crafty Creations - Challenge #178 - Free For All (18/7)
Papertake Weekly Challenge - All things Girly
Crafts and Me - Challenge #93 - Ribbon and a Bow
Crafty Creations - Tags Challenge #170
Divas by Design - Anything Goes
 

USED:
Paper:  SU! CS, SU! DSP
Stamps:  Saturated Canary Ava digi stamp
Other:  Mesh, kindyglitz, ribbon, chipboard heart, brad and rhinestones all from stash.  WOC flowers, Magnolia doo hickey tag die. Coloured with Copics.