A Mo's Christmas Candle

I've always loved the look of images popped onto a candle and a couple of weekends ago I got a chance to remind myself how much fun it was to do when I had some girls over for a Girl's Night In for cancer research and our sponsor Bronlyn from Shopbron brought some candles to play with. I'd never tried colouring with copics for candles as I was worried they'd bleed - but Bron gave us the right advice and showed us the right paper to use. It's a bit thicker than regular tissue paper and is used as a packing material - I'm not sure where to get it from as Bron left me enough for another 100 candles!! It has a shiny side and a matt side - stamp/print on the shiny side and colour on the matt side. Now watch this space for more candles to come - LOL. 

I wanted to try using my digis rather than a rubber stamp and used Lydia's amazing tutorial on how to do this HERE. I did get some ink smudges on the paper but they were away from the image and I just cut them away. I used Mo Manning's adorable Urchin with Bird to play with and I'm quite happy with the result. The paper doesn't allow your copics to blend as well as blending paper but it's not too bad. 

I hope this inspires you to give this a go too - it's a lot of fun and easier than worrying about fancy card layouts - LOL.

Copics used - E20, E11, E00, E000, E44, E43, E42, E41, B00, B000, G28, G24, G21, R89, R46, R35, R24, Y35, YR31, YR30, YR23

xXx

Magnolia Down Under Challenge #119

This week over at Magnolia Down Under Challenges we are asking you to 'Get Punchy'. Now you can use dies as well but I figured I'm always using my dies so it was time to get the punches out for a play and challenge myself. I've used a MS border punch to edge my circle and some SU oval punches for my sentiment. My DP is from Magnolia - it is SUCH gorgeous paper to use - if you can bear to cut into it!!!

EDIT - HERE'S the link to show you how to use your border punches around circles thanx to my lovely friend Norma!

Now make sure you check out what the rest of the MDUC DT have come up with inspire you on our BLOG.

Copics used - E49, E27, E17, E15, E13, E11, E00, E000, R85, R83, R81, R20, R11, RV000, BG15, BG13, BG11, BG10, BG000, BG0000

xXx

What a Day!

Boy did I have a day and a half yesterday. For some reason when I went to my blog yesterday morning to get the links for Mo's Hop all I got was a message that it had been removed!!! WHAT! So for about 12 hours my blog completely disappeared from blogland - I must say it was pretty scary and apologies to those of you who tried to visit. I tried everything to contact Blogger but each time I came up against a brick wall - you need to be SIGNED IN to contact them and not only had my blog disappeared but my account had been disabled too - apparently due to a violation of Bloggers Terms!!!

I'm telling you this because thanx to some wonderful help from my friends and teamies via Facebook I finally found the right solution. I had to pretend I didn't know my own password and request assistance with it. I was told there had been sone "unusual activity" on my blog so once I verified who I was and changed my password my blog re-appeared. It's just a shame they don't send you an email notification of what's going on! 

So a tip for you all - there are HACKERS out there and the best way you can protect yourself is to regularly change your password - I've had the same one since I started this blogging adventure! I'm a little wary now and am trying to figure out if there is any way I can back up my blog - and I'm hoping everything is fine for now!

I hope my little story saves some of you from the stress I faced yesterday!

xXx

Mo's Dream Team Blog Hop

It's the third Thursday of the month and that means it time for Mo's Dream Team to come together and hold our themed hop - I love our hops! It's always fun to get together with these amazing ladies and have some fun. This month the theme is Colours of Autumn and the gorgeous Jak is the Host - which means the fun all starts on Jak's blog.

If you're already hopping along you should have arrived here from Alice's Blog - where I'm sure there was some gorgeous creation to inspire you. And don't forget to comment on each stop for your chance to win one of two $5 Mo vouchers.

I've used Mo's beautiful image - Sadie with Apples - and Mo is going to hate me for using her because she's not in the new store yet and I realised that too late - SORRY MO! She's in the old store HERE for now. I LOVE this gal with her masses of curls and she was perfect for colouring in Fall colours. It's hard to think of Fall with it being Spring here in Australia but I love the earthy tones.

It's time to hop on over to Mina's Blog where I know there will be something amazing to see.

In case you get lost along the hop the order is Jak, Lori, Jane, Julie, Heidy, Alice, Debbie {me}, Mina - you can find the links under Mo's logo on my left sidebar.

I've used this week's Sketch Saturday layout for my card so am entering this over there.

Copics used - R20, R11, E11, E00, E000, YR000, YR04, YR14, YR16, YR61, G40, G29, G24, G21, G20, G000, E77, E49, E44, E43, E42, E41, E40, E19, E15, E13, E08, B000, B0000, R89, R29, R17, R05

xXx

Swimming For Katie

From October 10-16 some of the best stampers are joining together to support and encourage our friend and fellow stamper, Katie Renz, who is currently battling inoperable gastric cancer.  If you're not familiar with her, Katie’s cancer story started just before Christmas last year.  This young, beautiful, healthy, vibrant mother of 3 with her infectious smile was suddenly diagnosed with an inoperable cancer, virtually overnight.  A few tummy aches and then stage 4 gastric cancer.  Her first post about it is here.  The idea of “Swimming for Katie” came from her recent post here.

This exclusive stamp used in my sample, designed by Becky Oehlers is available as a clear stamp, as well as a digis or a dig and SVG cut file.  100% of the profits go to Katie's fund to help her and her young family.  Her husband Kevin and her three young children need our help and support.  In addition to the Keep Swimming Octopus, Marianne Walker and True =D Doodle Designs both also donated digis that are for sale.  Direct donations are also being accepted.  Information central is HERE.  This is a permanent page that will stay active at i {heart} papers with current information and the full 3 day blog hop listing, as well as the donation button. 

Here are all the items available for sale.

I hope you will join me in supporting Katie through a purchase or donation.  We hope you will be inspired by our hop to purchase or donate to this amazing family in their time of need. Thank you!

Here is our group for the blog hop.....

Mina

Alice

Cathy  

Debbie {me}

Heidy 

Jane 

Jeni

Joyce 

Julie

Karen

Lori

Tammy

Toni

Copics used - B02, B00, B000, B0000, Y19, Y15, Y02, Y0000, R000

xXx

Tickled Pink Stamps is Sponsoring Crafting When We Can

Please scroll down for my Tickled Pink Stamps Birthday Blog Hop Post

This week Tickled Pink Stamps is proud to be sponsoring Crafting When We Can with their Christmas Comes Early challenge. I've used the stunning Lil Victorian Christmas Lylah for my card - along with some Magnolia DP and gold accents. There are Tickled Pink Stamps prizes up for grabs so we hope you pop on over and play along too.

Copics used - R20, R11, E11, E00, E000, E35, B95, B93, YR23, Y15, Y11, Y06, Y02, Y00

xXx

Tickled Pink Birthday Bash Blog Hop

How exciting - today we're celebrating Tickled Pink Stamps 2nd Birthday with a blog hop. You should have started over at Kellie's blog and if you are already hopping you should have landed here from Amy's blog.

When the idea came up for the hop Kellie decided to let us all choose our favourite Tickled Pink Stamps image to play with - well let me tell you that was no easy thing to work out!!!! In fact I STILL can't choose just one favourite but my heart did melt when I first saw this gorgeous Lil Lad Eric - with his cute glasses and sweet smile he is definately a great male image to have - perfect for teenagers and those a few years past the teens too.

The hop runs from 16th October - 19th October. Kellie would like everyone who takes part to come back and tell us who their favourite image is and then they have a chance to win a $25 Voucher for Tickled Pink Stamps.

Now it's time for you to hop on over to Emma's blog.

Here's the hop order for you - let's see who the DT love best - LOL. You'll find the links on my left sidebar under the Tickled Pink Stamps Logo

Kellie, Amy, Debbie {me}, Emma, Eulanda, Jeanette, Kylie, Maya, Tracy, Yani 

plus some

GUEST

Stephanne

and then to finish

the TPS Blog.

Copics used - B97, B95, B93, B91, B06, B05, B02, B00, B000, 100, T2, T0, C7, C5, C4, C3, C2, R89, R29, R27, R22, R11, E44, E43, E42, E41, E40, E29, E18, E17, E15, E13, E11, E00, E000

xXx

The Craft's Meow Monthly Sketch Challenge

To make things a little easier for The Craft's Meow DT the monthly sketch challenge now begins on the 15th of each month. This month's sketch comes from the ultra talented Lynn. You can check out how the rest of the DT have interpreted the sketch on OUR BLOG.

I've used one of the very first sets released by TCM - the gorgeous Simply Delightful. The stunning medallion looks fabulous embossed in white on a darker background - and I've coloured a few sections in for added depth.

In order to win a TCM stamp set of choice you must use TCM stamps in your creations. You'll have until 9:00 pm Pacific November 14th to play - we hope to see you join in the fun!

xXx

Make It Colourful - Colouring Snow

This fortnight at Make It Colourful we are asking you to colour snow - not too hard! I use a mix of pale icy blues and greys to give some definition to the snow - and a touch of icy glitter doesn't hurt either.

Luckily for the DT we had some well timed new Winter images to play with - and if you're not into merging there are even some gorgeous pre-merged selections for you to try out. I paired the oh so funny Snow Elves with the Winter Fence and the Small Pine Tree in the Winter Objects Collection.

The die cuts for the snowflake and sign are from Spellbinders.

Don't forget to pop over to our GALLERY to check out the rest of the awesome DT inspiration and then come along and join in the fun and get ready for Christmas!

Copics used - Y19, Y28, C0, C00, T0, YR07, YR04, YR00, E15, E18, E11, E13, E00, E000, YG67, YG63, YG61, G21, G20, R29, R27, R22, R24, B00, B000, B0000

xXx

Tickled Pink Stamps is Sponsoring It's All About The Vintage Challenge

This week Tickled Pink Stamps is sponsoring It's All About The Vintage Challenges where the challenge is to create a Halloween Decoration and/or a Digital Image card. I decided I wanted to make another recipe tag so I hit the internet and found this cute recipe for Chocolate Mice HERE. I included the picture from the recipe on the front of the tag and added Lil Haunts Mummy Christina for more spooky fun.

The inside of the tag is where you'll find the recipe and the back of the tag has some fun details - I just love this cute little stamp I found with the 4 mice on it - too cute! We hope you can come along and play for a chance to win some Tickled Pink Stamps prizes.

CHOCOLATE MICE

Ingredients

4 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate

1/3 cup sour cream

1 cup chocolate cookie crumbs

1/3 cup chocolate cookie crumbs

1/3 cup confectioners' sugar

24 silver candy balls

1/4 cup sliced almonds

12 (2 inch) pieces long red vine licorice

Directions

Melt the chocolate, and combine

with sour cream. Stir in 1 cup

chocolate cookie crumbs. Cover

and refrigerate until firm. Roll by

level tablespoonfuls into balls.  

Mould to a slight point at one end

for the nose. Roll dough in chocolate

cookie crumbs. On each mouse,

place silver balls in appropriate

spot for eyes, almond slices for ears,

and a licorice string for the tail.

Refrigerate for at least two hours,

until firm. 

Copics used - E11, E00, E29, E19, E15, E13, W3, W2, W00, YG17, YG05, YG01, YR18

xXx