A Freebie From Little Miss Muffet

Over at the Little Miss Muffet Challenge Blog HERE there's not only a new challenge there's also a DT call and a FREEBIE - check out ALL the details HERE.

Are you ready for the freebie?!! You're going to love this one... she is called Saffron and is part of the Sugar 'n Spice Dolls theme. 

Check out the fabulous inspiration from all of the guests Barbara has lined up to showcase this cutie over at the LMMC BLOG. I'm sooo excited to have been asked to be one of the guests - woohoooo - and Saffron was a dream to colour. I popped her into a Winter scene I created using images from Make It Crafty. Don't miss out on this cutie as she will only be available until Tuesday, January 3rd!

Hope you are having a wonderful holiday season and have a SAFE New Years!

Copics used - B000, B0000, C2, C1, C0, C00, YG67, YG63, YG61, W7, W5, W3, W2, W1, W00, R20, R11, R02, R01, E49, E49, E44, E43, E42, E41, E40, E18, E17, E15, E13, E11, E08, E00, E000, Y08, YR07, YR04, YR00, B99, B97, B93, B91, 

Merry Christmas To One and All

This will be my last post before THE BIG DAY on Sunday so it seemed right I show you this festive little Santa box I made. I saw THIS tutorial over at Amazing Paper Grace and couldn't help myself - I HAD to try it out - LOL. Unfortunately I don't have all the spellbinders dies Becca is lucky enough to own so I to re-work parts of it. His face uses a large circle nestability with the top taken off. The box base and lid are made from squares cut at 5 5/8" and scored at 1 1/4" all around and made into a simple box. My box is 6" high FYI.

I also noticed this week that my blog has reached 2 VERY exciting milestones at the same time - 200,000 visitors and 700 followers!!!! Because of the timing I'll be planning a VERY special surprise early in the New Year.

Now before I sign off I want to wish each and everyone of you......

A New Baby In The Family

Earlier this month my nephew and his wife welcomed their first child into the world. I'm sure you can work out they had a little girl and called her Zoe - LOL. Unfortunately they live in Sydney so I haven't been able to give my beautiful great-niece a cuddle yet - but I did get a special ornament and card made for her. I used Mo Manning's adorable Baby Girl (with straight wispy hair) and chose similar elements on both the card and in the ornament.

I used one of the photos my nephew sent us of baby Zoe and changed it to B&W before printing it onto some textured cardstock as I didn't want it to look like a standard photo. I must have done a reasonable job as my nephew didn't recognise his own daughter at first - thinking the picture of baby in the bauble was a model - LOL. 

Copics used - R20, R11, R05, R02, R01, R00, R000, E42, E41, E40, E13, E11, E00, E000, B000, B0000, W2, W1, W00, RV000

Magnolia Down Under Challenge #127

This week over at Magnolia Down Under Challenges it's our last challenge for 2011 and we have a fun and festive colour challenge for you - red, gold and cream. You don't HAVE to create a Christmas card as this challenge will be running past Christmas and into the New Year when we'll be having some more Magnolia fun fun fun.

I couldn't resist finally inking up this cute Tilda in her stocking - and then I hung her up over the fireplace from Make it Crafty. I didn't add too much colour to the fireplace as I wanted Tilda to be the star of the show.

For this challenge we are being sponsored once again by Tilda's Town.

Don't forget to stop by our BLOG and check out what the rest of the MDUC DT have created to inspire you.

Copics used - sorry but I coloured this one up away from home so don't have a list of the colours I used.

December - January Sketch Challenge from The Craft's Meow

Well it's time for the new monthly challenge from The Craft's Meow and this month we have a fabulous sketch from Lynn Miller to play with. And being a monthly challenge you have until January 14th, 2012 to play along with a chance to win a stamp set of choice from The Craft's Meow.

I've used the Butterfly Kisses set for my card - I just LOVE this silhouette and done in white embossing on a blue background has given it a cameo like feel. 

Check out what the rest of the TCM DT have created using this sketch on our BLOG - trust me they will blow you away.

The Emerald Faerie Garden Challenge #15 - Flourishes and Swirls

It's time for a new challenge over at The Emerald Faerie Garden and we're asking you to use Flourishes and Swirls. I popped Emerald Faerie Isabella on to the swirly seat from Make it Crafty's Hidden Forest Seat background digi. I then used some Prima DP with swirls around the edges and added some Magnolia Doohickey leaf swirls too. Isabella's wings, the butterfly's wings and the sentiment are coated with faerie dust to add to the fun and fantasy of my scene.

Just to let you know - we are taking a break and letting the faeries enjoy their Christmas without us bothering them - so you have a whole month to play along this time. We'll be back with a new challenge on January 16th. Until then - have some fun and come along and join in!

Copics used - E44, E43, E42, E41, E40, E18, E15, E13, E11, E00, E000, B0000, YG63, YG61, G28, G24, G21, V09, V04, V01, V000, V0000, R20, R11, YR23, Y19, Y11, Y08, Y00, Y0000

Tickled Pink Stamps is Sponsoring Cute Card Thursday

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR MY MO'S DREAM TEAM HOP POST

This week Tickled Pink Stamps is sponsoring Cute Card Thursday and the challenge is STRIPES. I've tried to bring some sunshine to our Melbourne Summer by using Lil Lad Stefan and some bright sunny colours - so pop on your sunglasses and think positive because Summer is struggling to get going here - LOL.We hope you can play along too for a chance to win some Tickled Pink Stamps prizes.

Copics used - E50, E43, E41, E15, E13, E11, E00, E000, 100, C7, C5, C4, R89, R27, R24, R22, R20, R11, R14, YR23, Y19, Y11, Y08, Y00, B06, B05, B02, B00, B000

Mo's Dream Team Blog Hop

You all know what the third Thursday in the month means don't ya??? It's Mo's Dream Team Blog Hop time and this month's host is Kerttu and she's asked us to use non traditional Christmas colours on a Christmas card. Since Kerttu is the hostess this month the fun all starts over on her BLOG. If you are already hopping along you should have landed here from Alice's Blog.

For my card I've used the delicious Christmas Fairy Mint - and somehow I managed to choose an image that isn't in Mo's NEW STORE yet - but you CAN find her HERE in the old store (Sorry Mo!). I've done her in fresh minty teal greens and grape purple - sooo sweet!

And now it's time to send you on your way to Mina's Blog. Don't forget to comment along the way for a chance to win one of two Mo $5 vouchers! And if you're looking for more inspiration check out the regular posting from the Dream team on OUR BLOG!

If you get lost along the way here's the hop order for you ...

Kerttu, Jane, Julie, Debby 4000, Heidy,  Alice, Debbie {me}, Mina, Pops,  Jak, Lori, Gretha

Copics used - R20, R11, E11, E00, E000, 100, C7, C5, C4, C2, C0, C00, E43, E42, E41, E40, V09, V04, V01, V0000, BG15, BG13, BG11, BG10, BG000, BG0000

WINNER of my Tilda Cuddles Stamp

The Winner of this fabulous Magnolia stamp {an EXCLUSIVE design for Shopbron } is............

   RIET

Congratulations Riet - please email me at rdpam@hotmail.com with your address and I'll pop her in the mail for you ASAP.

xXx

Make It Colourful - Re-Colour an Image

We have something a little different for you with our new challenge at Make It Colourful - it's a journey about self discovery! Our challenge this week is to re-colour an image that you coloured previously.  Zoe reminds us every day that we can only compare ourselves to ourselves.  If you’ve been following along with the challenges this year, you’ve had the opportunity to really stretch your colouring muscles.  Now, you can go back and look at where you were before and see where you are now.  You can check out the DT’s challenge projects in the GALLERY.   

I chose to re-colour an image I used on THIS card last year - I've really learnt a lot about deepening shadows, "Zoe pleats" and creating scenes over the past few months - and it's fun to see how it comes through when I compare. I haven't had a chance to pop this scene onto a card yet - but our challenges are about colouring so you don't HAVE to enter a card! I'll be sure to post my card when it's done though - have been running a tad behind this week!

I decided to add some of Make It Crafty's background stamps to create more of a scene - I've used the Ivy Swing (just the branch) and Cobblestone Path. This photo shows the Wedding Bling I added - soo hard to photograph so the quality of the picture isn't great - but I do love me some bling and wanted to show it off! It's fairly subtle on the bridal gown and veil which is just what I was hoping for!

Due to the Christmas holidays, we’ll have extra long for this challenge.  You have until January 11th to get your entries in!

Copics used for re-colour - R20, R11, R08, R05, R02, R01, R00, R000, E44, E43, E42, E41, E40, E11, E00, E000, C7, C6, C5, C4, C2, C0, C00, YR23, Y19, Y00, G28, G24, B0000

Winter Fun with Mo

Funnily enough the idea to merge these 2 fabulous images from Mo Manning came about because they happen to sit right next to each other in the Mo file on my laptop - sometimes fun ideas can come about in such easy ways - LOL. These two are "Snowman" and "Snow Day" and together they just make me smile.

The snowflakes are Spellbinders dies FYI.

Apologies for not having my copic colours listed for these guys - I was actually colouring them at a local market and didn't have the space to put the markers I used aside to write down like I usually do.

My Tilda Cuddles Give-Away

Don't forget to enter for a chance to WIN an EXCLUSIVE Shopbron Tilda Cuddles for yourself - check it out HERE.

xXx

The Craft's Meow December Release Blog Hop

Woohooo - it's release day over at The Craft's Meow and the DT have put together a sumptious feast for the eyes in the form of a blog hop. The fun all starts at The Craft's Blog and if you get lost along the way you'll find the full hop list back there or below. If you ARE already hop hop hopping along you should have landed here from Amy' Blog.

I've used the "Lovely Labels 18" and "Sent with Love" sets for my card - mixing them with some Prima DP and adding some distressing for a vintage feel. How gorgeous is that silhouette - I've embossed her in black to make her really stand out on the floral background. 

One lucky person who makes the rounds and leaves a comment on the store blog will win all SEVEN stamp sets. You have until Friday, December 9th at 9:00 pm Pacific to leave a comment on the store BLOG post for a chance to win.

Also, there is a HUGE clearance sale going on at TCM. Quantities are limited and won't be re-stocked, so make sure you stop by the SHOP and check it out. 

• LaBlanche Stamps - 25% off!!
• Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads, Re-inkers and Stains - 25% off!!
• Maya Road, Pink Paislee, Echo Park and My Mind's Eye - 50% off!!!
• Little Frieda & Friends stamp sets - 50% off!!! 
• Crate Paper and Graphic 45 - 60% off!!!

Your next stop on the hop is Ivana's Blog - so off you go - hop along and most of all - ENJOY!

Hop list......

Alice Wertz

Amy Tsuruta

Debbie Pamment

Ivana Camdzic

Iwona Palamountain

Jean Martin

Jessica Diedrich

Jessica Fick

Julie Ranae Murray 

Lindsay Amrhein

Lynn Miller

Michelle Bertuzzi

Nina Brackett

Viola Mahr

The Craft's Meow Preview - Warm Winter Wishes & Let It Snow

Well today is the last day of previews for the December release from The Craft's Meow which means release day is TOMORROW - wooohooooo. Today we have 2 fabulous sets designed by Maree Truelove  to showcase.

The first card I've done uses a set called "Warm Winter Wishes". I've created a window scene with a warm cup of cocoa sitting on the window sill and mittens hanging up ready to be popped on if it stops snowing outside. 

Our second set is called "Let it Snow". I decided to emboss the snowman instead of the background for a change - and am quite happy with the look I achieved.

Don't forget to stop by The Craft's Meow blog and leave a comment for a chance to win these sets as well as checking out the awesome inspiration from the DT. And pop back tomorrow for our release day hop when ALL SEVEN stamp sets are on offer as a prize!

The Craft's Meow Preview - Happy Owlentine's Day & All You Need is Love

Day 3 of previews from The Craft's Meow brings us another cute owl set from Jenny Suchin Designs called "Happy Owlentine's Day" and a sentiment based set from Kaitlyn Ord called "All You Need is Love". Now many of you know I don't celebrate Valentine's Day so I've used these 2 versatile sets to create an engagement card. I even contemplated popping a piece of fine tulle on the back of the lady owl's head and turning this into a wedding card - but my husband said "leave it, it's fine" - MEN!

Don't forget to check out the DT inspiration on The Craft's Meow BLOG and comment there for a chance to win. Release day is December 7th.

Copics used - R35, R29, R20, R11, R01, R00, R000, C2, C0, C00, Y000, Y0000, YG67, YG63, YG61, E43, E42, E41, E40, E18, E17, E15, E13

Shopbron's Aussie Christmas Give-Away

The lovely Bron from Shopbron has invited several Maggie lovers from around the globe to play along on a Christmas give-away and I'm so proud to be one of them. Bron sent us all one of her EXCLUSIVE Tilda Cuddles stamps to give-away to one lucky person who visits our blogs. So if you leave a comment below you are in the running - I'll announce my winner next week - Monday 12th December. 

I just love this little Aussie Tilda cuddling that gorgeous Koala - I have a photo somewhere of me in a similar pose with my daughter in my arms and my husband holding a real Koala so this brings back fond memories. I also wanted to make my card as Aussie as possible - hunting down some fun Aussie versions of classic Christmas carols - and ending up using the same one my fabulous friend Kylie Keuter (thanx for the inspiration gorgeous lady!). I also borrowed a flowering gum stamp from a friend - thanx Deb A. I thought this Basic Grey DP tied in well too with it's Aboriginal painting feel.

So don't forget to pop along to Bron's Maggie Lover's Challenge Blog to check out all of the work from the designers from around the world and to see what other fun things Bron has planned.

Copics used - 

Flowering Gum - YG67, YG63, YG61, RV69, RV66, RV55, RV10, E57, E34, E31

Tilda Cuddles - R20, R11, E11, E00, E000, 100, C8, C5, C4, C3, C2, C1, C0, C00, E50, E44, E43, E42, E41, E40, E35, E33, E31, R01, B95, B93, B91, B0000

The Craft's Meow Preview - Happy New Year

Today is day 2 of previews for The Craft's Meow and we have a fun set from Michelle Bertuzzi called 'Happy New Year'. The city silhouettes and fireworks could be used for all sorts of occasions though I'm sure. I've chosen to emboss this skyline with glittered black embossing powder which adds to the illusion of fireworks reflecting off the buildings - always a sight to behold on New Year's Eve!

Don't forget to stop by our BLOG and check out what the rest of the DT have created to inspire you - and while you're there check out how to have a chance to WIN these sets too. They go on sale on December 7th.

Magnolia Down Under Challenge #125

This week over at Magnolia Down Under Challenges we are having some creative fun - we're asking you to "Make a Christmas Ornament". We are welcoming back our fabulous regular sponsor - Shopbron.

For my decoration I created a Christmas Village using some gorgeous chipboard pieces from Twiddlybitz and Make It Crafty as well as some Magnolia Mini World images and Doohickey dies.

This is supposed to be a shelf that hangs on the wall but I wanted to pop a battery operated light inside the church so I had to drill a hole through the bottom of the shelf for the 'flame' and I glued the tea-light body underneath so the switch was easy to access. Some vellum across the door and windows diffuse the light - it looks great when it's darker but photos were too hard to take!

I glued some wooden door knobs under the shelf as 'feet' so this will stand on my mantel this Christmas. I thought I'd share a few 'close-ups' for you too. Check out Edwin and Tilda caught under the mistletoe - LOL.

And here is Santa popping some more presents under the tree.

And if you're after more FABULOUS ideas I know my fellow teamies have gone all out to inspire you this week - check out their AMAZING projects on our BLOG.

The Craft's Meow Preview - Lovely Labels 18 & Sent with Love

It's preview time over at The Craft's Meow and we have SEVEN fabulous new sets to introduce you to over the next 4 days with release day being 7th of December - just in time for some last minute Christmas shopping. 

Today we have 2 timeless sets from the always amazing Nina B Designs. I've used both sets in the one card. "Lovely Labels 18" was designed to be used with the Spellbinder Nestabilities Labels 18 - I don't have that set but I must say it's not too bad a shape to hand cut - just don't look too closely - LOL. 

The sentiment is from the new "Sent With Love" set. These 2 sets worked so well together as a feature element that I didn't need to add too much - just a felt flower, some rose ribbon, twine and Prima DP.

Don't forget to check out our BLOG to see what the rest of the TCM DT have done using these amazing sets - I'm sure they will inspire you and leave you begging for more!

Emerald Faerie Garden Challenge #14 - Non-Traditional Christmas Colours

This week over in The Emerald Garden we are still celebrating Christmas - but this time in non-traditional colours. I've popped little Faerie from Boo and Snooky on top of the presents from Make It Crafty and coloured the presents in gelati colours, leaving the bows a crisp snowy white. The puffs of snow were made using liquid applique which add some fun texture too.

Don't forget to check out the rest of the DT inspiration on our BLOG and come along and join in the fun!

Copics used - E44, E43, E42, E41, E40, E11, E00, E000, R20, R11, RV66, RV63, RV55, RV10, YG03, YG01, YG000, YR23, Y19, Y11, BG13, BG11, BG10, BG000, T4, T2, T0, W00, C00