Guest Blogger Virginia Lu and a Challenge!

Hi there friends!! Happy Wednesday!!!

Today I'm SO excited, because we have a special friend of ours visiting, Virginia! 

this was me when Virginia agreed to be a guest blogger :)

Virginia's blog HERE is just fantastic and her creations are even more so.  She's not only funny as all get-out and sweet, thoughtful and just all-around lovely, she's SUPER-creative!!

I check in on Virginia's blog daily (even though I'm signed up for the alerts when a new post comes up, I can never wait!) and I'm consistantly amazed and impressed with not only how versatile Virginia's style is, but what comes out of her inspiration!  

I'm a very "literal translation" kind of girl (maybe it comes from learning languages?!) so when I see an inspiration photo, my 'translation' into a card is usually quite similar to the original. 

Here's an example: I recently participated in the etsy inspired challenge, this was my inspiration photo:

which is from the amazing Becky Kazana's etsy shop (HERE).

and here's what I made:

See what I mean?! LITERAL.  I saw flowers, I made flowers, I saw yellow, I made yellow.  lol!  (You can see the full details of this card HERE)  

But Virginia?! Nuh-uh. She's AMAZINGLY creative and participates in challenges constantly, which has made her a truly innovative cardmaker. 

SO, when she agreed to be a special guest on the a2z blog, we were so excited!!  Virginia's cards are rarely super-extravagant, they're almost never highly embellished.  They're clean and simple, they're sweet and fun and kooky (just like Virginia I think!!).  Hopefully seeing some of her creations will inspire those of you who lack experience (or are just a bit low on mojo).  I know I've used her creations as inspiration MANY times.

Therefore, without further ado, I give you Virginia's first specially designed for our blog Halloween Card "Boo!";

 

See what I mean?! Simple, effective, funny, kooky--FABULOUS!!

Here are some step-by-step instructions straight from Virginia:

1. Stamp house in Versamark and emboss in white on black card stock

2. Cut the house and set it aside

3: Distress the pumpkin color card stock with Antique Linen

4: Run the bottom throught Cuttlbug with Bubbles folder

5: Use hard surfaced sponge and lightly colored the pop-up bubbles

6. Stamp the ghost images in black and cut them out.

7. Plaace all pieces and plan out for space to sentiment

8: Stamp BOO with the Alphabet set and trim and layer them in squares.

9: Apply Glossy Accent on the eyes of ghosts and the letter BOO

and how about this one "

SO CUTE!!! This is my favorite of the two, only because a) I giggled when I saw that little guy sitting in the tree and imagined his crazy high-pitched voice saying YOO HOO!!! and b) that's pretty much what I look like when I wake up in the morning :)

Again, here are some instructions:

1. Stamp house in Versamark and emboss in pink on grey card stock

2. Cut the house and set it aside

3. Distress the grey color card stock with Weathered Jeans 

4. Stamp the pumkins in black card stock and cut out.

5. Stamp the pumpkins in green using masking technique

6. Adhere the pumkins with pop dots

7. Emboss the little owl in white and stamp the branches (using makers or small cubes of ink)

8. Attach raffia at the bottom, place the houses with pop dots

9. Apply Stickles in background for the starry sky

--ooOOoo--

NOW--usually, we give you a list of links for the exact products you'll need to recreate a card or project.  But this time I want to do things a little differently. You will still get a list of products, but the main Hero Arts Stamps that I've listed are slightly different than those Virginia used.

I've done this, because rather than having you all go out and copy Virginia's gorgeous cards down to the letter, I thought--this blog is called "Creativity and Inspiration".  So that's your Challenge--be inspired to make your OWN version! Change things up, make the house different or the tree or the owl a little different, anything!

Use these cards as INSPIRATION for your own creation to come out, not a carbon copy of Virginia's.  Trust me, you'll feel better about it if it's truly yours. 

THEN, we'd love it if you either emailed us with photos of what you make, or uploaded them to our flickr gallery! (Just search on flickr for a2zscrapbookingsupplies)--of course, we'd also love it if you'd join our flickr group!

Show us how someone as amazing and inspiring as Virginia, has inspired you! (I know she'd love to see it too!)

So here are the links:

Stampendous Stamp N Stuff Embossing Powder White Opaque

Tsukineko Tuxedo Black ink

Tsukineko VersaMark Watermark Stamp Pad

Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Antique Linen)

Cuttlebug Swiss dots Embossing Folder 

Hero Arts Country Pumpkin Stamp
Hero Arts Two Houses Stamp
Hero Arts Owl-oween Stamp
Tsukineko Tuxedo Black ink  

Copic Markers

Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents

Tim Holtz Distress Ink  (Faded Jeans)
Ranger Frosted Lace Stickles  

umm, how perfect is this?!

Now:  do like the poster says!! GET EXCITED AND MAKE THINGS!!!

A huge thank you to Virginia for these gorgeous creations.

Talk to you soon lovelies--can't wait to see what you make!

Linda xx

Decision...

Hello again my patient friends!!

This post is a bit more personal than usual--

I'm so sorry it's been so long and that I've been SUCH a bad blogger this past few weeks. I honestly thought I would be able to create enough to cover both this, my personal blog, and the a2zscrapbookingsupplies.com blog. HOWEVER, life has had different plans this past few weeks.



This is Isabella. She is the most beautiful, patient, giving, lovely, kind-hearted little girl I've ever met and for under 3 years old, she's ridiculously smart (too smart really!) but this past week or two?! Not so much. She's still all of those things, just not 100% of the time. She's been angry and testy and tired and sick and dramatic and uncooperative (and basically just a standard toddler!) but because she (honestly) is almost NEVER like it, it's left me completely drained.

This is Charlotte:


She is so cheery, it's almost ridiculous. She's happy and relaxed and easy-going, funny, loves Mummy to death (thank Goodness!) and she just lights up my world. But again, these past two weeks?! She's suddenly entered that phase where she knows where I am EVERY MINUTE OF THE DAY...or more specifically, she knows when I'm not right in front of her or holding her. This has made for a very tired mummy. She has also, I might add, 'cut' FOUR TEETH in a week--yes, FOUR. And one of them is a molar!!! She hasn't cried, whinged, screamed, nothing. She's just drooled incessantly and wanted mummy. That's ok. It's just a pity the two decided to have these phases at once!

Add to that starting up the a2z blog, which I'm so proud of and has made my brain work more (on that side anyway!) than it has in 3 years. I've loved it, but it's been non-stop. Blogger has been difficult, we've had 2 newsletters to put out (and a very uncooperative program to write the newsletter on!) and several other things just needed to be arranged and done to get the blog up to my standard--which is HIGH.

SO. with that in mind and the fact that it's HIGHLY likely that there will be many more weeks of the same (months even!! ), I've decided to make this blog about more than just cards.

I LOVE presenting my cards to you. When I started (not very long ago!) I looked at MANY MANY MANY blogs. (I still do) but I used to look at the blogs of cardmakers/scrapbookers and they had posts about their families or recipes etc etc and I thought--huh?! Where is the card?!?! But now, I get it. This community is SO lovely and supportive it makes me teary. I've had such wonderful comments on the a2z blog that I've (literally) cried. I'm SO proud of my work there, but I just can't keep up my intended 3 posts each week MINIMUM on here as well as the same there.

There will still, most ABSOLUTELY be cards, layouts etc. But there will also be short posts saying "I'm so tired I can barely see the keyboard but I'm thinking of you all" or "I tried this recipe and it was FANTASTIC!" or even "Get the Glue Glider Pro IMMEDIATELY!!!" (that one is coming up soon actually--I'm in LOVE with that thing!! lol)

I thought long and hard about even posting a picture of my girls on here, I'm so petrified of the sickos out there who look for pictures of children, but I think I have to revert to my former motto of "I know there is scum out there but surely the world must be made up of more good than evil, or we would have self destructed by now". I firmly believe that. I believe in the good in people, in the kind, caring, thoughtful side of people. I know the other side is there, but if I stay away, scared of it, I'll forget to live and I'll never let my children out of my sight. (or out of the house!) SO...if you are NOT a good, thoughtful, kind, (preferably creative!) person reading this--then GO AWAY!! I want only good things in my life. NO PRESERVATIVES, NO TOXINS, NO NEGATIVITY!!!

OK. so that having been said, this blog will now be about ME. Because I really do believe the title, that "inspiration is EVERYWHERE". I'm constantly inspired by tiny things in nature, stuff my kids do, even the sudden, random kindness of strangers. I think I have to be inspired by those things, or else it all fades into the sad news stories and horrible headlines.

BUT I do have a card for you :) I was going to keep this for the a2z blog, but it's time to reward my UBER-patient friends here first :) (eh, I'll make another card for a2z!! lol)

So here it is:




Here's what I used, all of which I got from my beautiful ladies at a2z (of course!!)

Hero Arts Clouds Rubber Stamp

Hero Arts Hello Flags Stamp

Hero Arts Girl Holding Flowers Stamp

Hero Arts Bicycle Stamp

Hero Arts Graph Background Stamp

Hero Arts Soft Pool Shadow Ink Pad

The Flags:
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad; Broken China ; Fired Brick; Wild Honey, Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed
Weathered Wood and Spun Sugar for her bicycle.
Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black Ink (for girl image)

I used my brand-spankin'-new Martha Stewart Fringe Scissors *LOOOOOVE THESE!!!* to cut the grass, which was also in Peeled Paint.
The whole card was edged with a tiny bit of (as always!) Walnut Stain.
A little twine and a corner chomper to round the edges of the cardstock and the Hero Arts kraft notecard and I was done! (I also stamped the bicycle in Versamark to create a watermark effect on the envelope.)

Copics were used to colour the little girl in, but I've lost the list--SORRY!!!

SO!! That's it for me! Hope you're still awake after my HUGE post!!

I'll be back again MUCH sooner next time :) and hopefully my poor laptop, which is currently away being fixed (it just didn't wake up one morning--very sad) will be back home with me!!

Talk to you soon my dears--

Bo Bunny Learning Curve Album

Hello again friends!

I hope you have all had a fantastic weekend! 

Let's jump right into the crafting shall we!?  Today I'm here to share with you an album I made using the gorgeous new Bo Bunny Learning Curve collection. Given our fantastic giveaway we have running right now, I thought it appropriate!

My children are still much too young to be at school (let alone "Back to School") so I was feeling a bit left out of the current seasonal celebrations and stamp sets. (boohoo!) HOWEVER!! I had a brain wave and decided to turn the usual "Back to School" style on it's head!  WE'VE all been to school, so why not use these collections and stamps in a Reunion or a Memory Lane style?!

Why not indeed!!  Now I've never been to a reunion but I do have some old photos of myself at school that I thought would fit perfectly--although, before you all go wild with the thought of getting to see embarrassing photos of me with my giant hair and teeth in braces, I must tell you that my computer was on the fritz (playing up) this week and had to be shipped off to be repaired.  This means that my super duper special printer (which is set up on aforementioned laptop) that prints pictures is a no-go zone.  Sorry to disappoint you!! lol

I also thought leaving this album free of pictures and jounalling so that you can imagine your own versions would be better.

On to the photos!!  (There are 16 photos in total so you can see the whole album, with a short description or explanation below each) 
**a quick side note: most people make their albums and then bind them. I do it backwards. I choose all the papers I wanted on each page, cut them to size and adhered them to chipboard and then used my Cinch to cut the binding holes and put the 'rings' through.  I find this easier then to ensure I don't put stickers/chipboard elements etc where the binding will go.

The apple is covered with Glossy Accents for some added interest!  I made the 'file tabs' by hand with some of the Learning Curve paper but using a Tim Holtz edge die wouldve been much easier!! (Where is the mailman with mine?!)

I thought this piece of 'notebook paper' would be perfect to do an introduction about your schooling years/name of the schools or even your friends names.  I used an  EK Success punch for the edge and Antique Linen Distress Ink to make the page, before stamping it with Hero Arts Quotes Background Stamp.

The banner is handmade. I just inked up some paper and stamped on them using various Hero Arts stamps, cut out the triangles to make pennants and used Glossy Accents to adhere to some twine.  The letter 'discs' are from the Chipboard sticker page from the collection. I used an Ek Success edger punch on the edge of the tag.

This is the tag which was being held up by the "paperclips".  On it is a list of names of a few of my teachers and the grades they taught me.  I used Mustard Seed Distress Ink to colour the page to replicate legal pad paper.  (The apple is stamped in Fired Brick Distress Ink)

 

A very simple page based on 'the library'.  I used the Hero Arts Just a Note clear stamp set to make the notepage and paperclip.

Here you can see the two tags that were inside the small envelope.  The 'date due' tag is from the collection but the dates stamped on were using an old fashioned date stamp to replicate those used in libraries when I was young.  The other tag is supposed to look like a bookmark made by a child (for his/her reading books from the library)

 

This is the back side of the bookmark.  I used Hero Arts Printer's Type Lowercase Alphabet to stamp the wording and a Papertrey Ink stamp for the writing lines.  I then used my left hand to write my name (I'm right handed), so it looked like a young child's writing. 

 

 

Using the Hero Arts Printer's Type Alphabet Stamps I stamped the numbers on paper I'd inked yellow with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Mustard Seed.  I then used a 1/2" circle punch to punch out the numbers and adhered them to string/twine using Glossy Accents.  I stamped the paperclips from Hero Arts Just a Note clear set and heat embossed with Stampendous Sterling Silver Embossing Powder (to make them look like real paperclips.)

Then I used Stayz-on white ink to stamp "Today is May 1st" and a Signio White Gel Pen to write the messages from the teacher and the math equations on the blackboard. 

 

 

I left this page very simple.  The paper background is just a section of the 12 x12.  The addition tiles and the little girl image are both chipboard stickers and the little '123' sticker is also part of the collection, as are the brads.

  

This is another relatively simple page just made to look complex.  I used my Crop-a-dile to punch 4 holes and set 4 brass-colored eyelets, then I strung twine through the four to create a 'belt' of sorts.  I then used Bo Bunny stickers and chipboard pieces to decorate the page and the two tags I handcut.  I've only removed half of the adhesive paper backing on the chipboard swirls so that the tag will sit behind them without getting stuck.

 

 These are two tags I hand cut out.  One uses the ruler stamp from the Hero Arts Just a Note stamp set, the other I ran through my Big Shot using the Cuttlebug numbers embossing folder the Tim Holtz Collage die would be perfect.  

I gently ran a foam blending tool over the top to make the embossed image stand out more.

SUCH an easy page to recreate--everything here is from the Learning Curve Collection.  The math sum and date due card are both from the chipboard sticker set, as is the little crossword in the corner (I cut it up and wrote words in the grid to give it extra interest).  The apple punch on the background is from the Learning Curve Stamp set.  I tried to recreate an old-style worksheet look by adding the dashed line and scissors image on the edge of the page. (Oops!! The scissors are from Hero Arts Just a Note stamp set--I lied, just that one thing wasn't from the Learning Curve Series!!)

This was a VERY easy page to make. I used three chipboard stickers from the Learning Curve Chipboard and created my own Bus Pass using Hero Arts Graph Background Stamp, Peeled Paint and Black Soot Distress Inks, Hero Arts Printer's Type Alphabet Stamps and Papertrey Ink "School Time" and "It's Official" sets.

 To make it look as though this Bus Pass had been thrown into backpacks and stuffed in pockets, I folded it several times, spritzed it with water to soften it, distressed the edges and smudged ink over it.  I also ripped small sections and used a stapler or sticky tape to put it back together again (as I think a child would have!)

The other side of the Bus Pass-perfect for journalling.  This is one of the cut outs from the Learning Curve set.  As you can see, I made it look REALLY abused with folding, ink and sticky-tape (cellotape).

 

This back page is SO simple but I think it's probably one of my favourites.  This paper collection is really vintagey, so I thought it would be cute to make it look as though the books were being held together by a belt or string, as was common "back in the day" :) 

The tag was hand cut, with the "This Book Belongs to" from the Learning Curve Stamp Set.  I used an old Dymo labler to make the name sticker.

Well that's it!! I hope you liked it. I had so much fun working on this album.  It's amazing how easily everything comes together when you have coordinating papers and embellishments to work with!!

As always, please feel free to leave comments-I'd love to hear what you think!

I'll be back on Wednesday with a special Guest Blogger-Virginia Lu!! I'm so excited to have her here on the blog with some truly GORGEOUS cards to show you :)

Talk to you soon lovelies!! 

Linda

You're so special--card

Hello again!!

I thought we could take a break from all the fabulous new Halloween and Fall products I've been showing you--not that they're not fantastic--and show you a card.

This card caused me some trouble.  Well, the background did anyway.  I've had the backing piece for several months now, maybe even 2 or 3 and I just never got the right inspiration to finish it off. Nothing felt quite right--I have one or two of these lying around on my craft table.  I hide them away in a little basket I have and bring them out every so often to see if staring at them for a few moments will spark some creative inclinations in me, or if they'll just still be unfinished.  We all have those moments I'm sure.


I made the background section (the green with the white embossed fern print) on it when I had only just started my cardmaking.  It was a fairly simple series of techniques to get to the finished piece, but to incorporate it into a card?! Well, as I said, it caused me trouble.

I'm not going to go into detail on the "how to's" as I think most of it is pretty self explanatory but here is a quick point form of what I did--as always, feel free to email me/leave a comment if you have any questions.

The backing card
Here are the products I used;
Hero Arts Fern Silhouette woodblock stamp, Hero Arts Friends Definition cling stamp
Tim Holtz Distress inks in Walnut Stain , Forest Moss, Peeled Paint (just a little)

White embossing powder

Versamark ink

How I did it:
* I stamped the Friends Definition cling stamp onto cardstock and waited for it to dry.
* I distress inked the background in mostly greens, with a bit of brown around the edges.
* I distressed the edge of the card and added Walnut Stain ink
* Using Versamark, the Fern Silhouette woodblock stamp and White embossing powder, I created the fern image (note how I sat the fern in different positions on the cardstock so you could see various areas of it.  I didn't want the repeated image to be identical but merely uniform--or complimentary)

The Front section/embellishments
The central label;
I hand-cut the label after tracing around one from a tag on something I got in the mail the other day but it's a spellbinders Labels #9.
Distress ink in Antique Linen, Wild Honey, Black soot
Hero Arts Graph background woodblock stamp (it's very pale but shows up more in real life)
Hero Arts Great Flourishes Messages Clear Stamp set(sentiment)
Memento tuxedo black ink
Perfect Pearls in Kiwi
Glossy Accents (around edge of the label for extra shine)

extra items--gold ribbon, , 4" paper doily, black cardstock, Prima say it with pearls flourish (discontinued)--you could easily replicate this with Kaisercraft bling.

This label section was very easy, just lots of simple little steps to create a lovely finish.
*First I cut out the label and inked the whole label with Antique Linen
*Next I stamped the Graph background with Antique Linen (this gives a really nice finishing touch and added interest)
*I stamped the sentiment in Memento Tuxedo Black ink
*I inked the label with distress inks (Wild Honey--I'm so in love with this color)
*With Black Soot distress ink I edged the label
*I dusted perfect pearls over the entire label
*I added a fine line of Glossy Accents around the entire edge of the label and tied the ribbon around it.
*Using Antique Linen & Wild Honey distress inks, I coloured the doily.

Then I just adhered everything to the backing card (the label is on dimensional tape) and added some bling, which I cut apart to my liking!


I love how elegant it turned out.

Here's a close up look so you can see the shimmer of the perfect pearls--gorgeous right?!

Hope you like it!!  Please feel free to comment or contact me if you have any questions!

~~~thanks so much for looking!!

Linda
x

a quick note...

Hi everyone,

Sorry it's been almost a week since I posted last, it's been super busy here. The a2z blog has been taking up a lot of my time but I'm finally finished all the set up and I'm starting to work ahead of time.

I've been playing with a new crafty project that I'll share with you really soon. It involves a little wooden jewellery box I found at our local $2 shop and some Distress Crackle Paint, as well as some Perfect Pearls and of course, stamps :)

Anyway, this is just a quick little note to say hello to you all and let you know I'm still here and DEFINITELY coming back!!

Speak to you soon--thanks for your patience :)

Patriot Day

Hello again Sweet Friends,

I'm sure you're all aware of the date.  There's no need for introduction or explanation, but I feel it was too important to not be mentioned and wanted to make something in recognition of this important day. Patriot Day.

I wanted to make something to mark the date.  After some thought, I decided to do a tag for Patriot Day instead of a card, but it turned out to be a book mark. I think it would make a nice school project actually, or even a present for teachers or children or a lovely Veteran's Day gift. I liked the idea of keeping the flag image (as well as the sentiment) close to you at all times. Most people have something like a book or diary with them all the time, so this is what evolved.  

On the front, I wanted to recreate the Stars and Stripes, but with a more homemade feel.  I was playing with the image of a house to go with the sentiment that I used, but none of the houses looked right.  I didn't want to implant an image of a house in anyone's mind, because homes can be so different.  I thought it best to have just the sentiment and the 'flag'.  It makes the sentiment much more meaningful, because it immediately makes one think of their own home, so it's that much more personal.  

On the back I've printed the national anthem (which I found on THIS site) 
I changed the font for the final words "The home of the brave" to 'bold' because personally, (especially as a "non-American"), that is the line that I always remember and that I find the most powerful. 

Here is a list of products used:

Spellbinders Labels 4 Nestabilities Dies

Hero Arts Canvas Stripes Stamp

Hero Arts Dots and Flowers Stamp

Stampendous Red Transparent Tinsel Embossing Powder and Stampendous Stamp N Stuff Embossing Powder Clear Transparent

Distress Ink Tumbled Glass, Distress Ink Stormy Sky, Antique Linen and Tim Holtz Distress ink Walnut Stain

Versamark ink

Spellbinders Standard Tag Cut and Emboss Dies
Making Memories Eyelet 1/8"
Wrights Bell Tassel 1-1/4",

Tools used: We R Memory Keepers Crop-A-Dile Eyelet and Snap Punch ,   and a home printer for the sentiment on front and the National Anthem on the back.

--ooOOOoo--

 

 In closing, I would like to say the following:

In loving memory of those who were lost.

In humbled gratitude to those who serve to protect that of which we hold dear.

 We wish for a safe and peaceful Patriot Day--may all the days that are to come, be full of harmony, quiet and calm.

Thank you all for stopping by--have a safe day with your families and friends.

Linda

 

 

Falling for Spellbinders Halloween.

Hello and thanks for joining me again Dear Friends!!

NB: This post was originally for Halloween sales at the store, however, I thought a few of you might still like to see the info about the products.

Happy Fall to you all!!  Here in Australia, Fall (or Autumn as we call it) really isn't that much of an event.  Our leaves don't turn golden and burnt umber in color, we don't really have a 'turning of the leaves'  as such.  Our school year starts in January so we don't celebrate that either. In fact, September is a bit of a quiet month for us--even though it's the beginning of Spring here, it creeps in quietly rather than launches with vibrant colours and birds a-tweetin'. 

HOWEVER!! I've discovered the remedy to this sad state of affairs--it's the new gorgeous line of Spellbinders dies.  In order to really make my September fantastically Fall-like, some of the following are definitely going to have to come home with me :)

I'm so excited by these: 

Spellbinders Assorted Leaves Cut and Emboss Dies

I mean--hello?! GORGEOUS!!! Can you get more Fall than these?? Maybe you can. How about...

Spellbinders Shapeabilities Nested Dies Maple Leaves

*sigh* Maple leaves. I love Maple leaves. So many options with this set of leafy loveliness.  I want to cut hundreds of these out, make a pile of them on the ground and jump on top *giggle*.

Now, I'll share a secret with you all--when I first saw these next two dies, I fell totally in love.

Spellbinders Shapeabilities Assorted Fresh Fruit

Spellbinders Shapeabilities Apples

They are so cute and fresh and pretty...BUT...I said to myself..."What does it have to do with Fall?!"  Linda from a2z quickly explained to me the tradition of Cornicopia at Thanksgiving.  Sounds wonderful--I might have to introduce it into my home!  You know what else I love about them?! They're so versatile! Those apples would be super-cute on a card or note to a teacher, or even on a set of ABC cards for your kids! A is for apple...B is for...you get my drift. *wink!*

I have a question for you all--WHOO loves Halloween?! We do!!! (Sorry, I couldn't resist!)

Spellbinders Shapeabilities Owls

My goodness if these owls got any cuter, it would just about be criminal.  I love that they look like a little family.  It took me many viewings of these owls to be able to think of singular uses for them. I just kept imagining them lined up on a tree branch all sleeping together in a little row, looking wise and all-knowing-even with their eyes shut *smile*.  Now that I can tear myself away from the image of a little paper-owl family and consider them individually, the options are almost endless!  They could be spooky and haunting in a dark twisty tree (think Tim Holtz) or cute and kid-friendly with googly eyes.

I think I'll be putting them in a scary old gnarly-looking tree with these guys flying overhead:

Spellbinders Nested Bats

and perhaps some of these sitting around the base of the tree for added effect and spook:

Spellbinders Jack-o-lanterns

*shudders* ...Spine-tingling scary.  You know what would really make these great?! Some bright bright yellow or even gold cardstock or foil behind them to recreat the effect of the glowing candles inside.  These goulish faces would really bring some fright then!

Halloween too, isn't much of anything here in Australia either, but this year--with these products, I'm doing to do my best to bring it back into the spotlight.

Spellbinders Pumpkins Nestabilities Dies

Need I say more? I didn't think so.

For something a bit more gothic, there's always these;

Spellbinders Graveyard Scene and Shapes

or even;

Spellbinders Halloween Fence Scenes

I love love LOVE how much you can mix and match with these sets.  Don't forget you could even team the above images with the Vampire punch from Martha Stewart that we showed you last time.

Now who doesn't love a a nice old lady with a cute cat, a sweeping device, some great boots and a hat??  Don't forget that she brought her crock pot with her!!! She's going to make us stew!!

Spellbinders Witches Brew

What's that you say?! She's going to make us INTO stew?! Oh dear. I might have to give her some of this to see if I can sweeten her up a bit:

Spellbinders Candy Corn Nested Dies

What do you think? Will that make her nicer??  She'd better watch out, with all the SPELLbinders I'll have in my stash, I might have to teach her some manners! *waves wand menacingly*  If she's not careful she'll end up looking like this guy:

Sizzix Movable Skeleton Bigz BIGkick/Big Shot Die

Of course, if you're after something to make your Halloween gifts more personal, hand-made tags are perfect--here's just the thing for you to use!

Sizzix Halloween #2 Embossing Folders

Well my lovelies, I think that's just about all for today.  I hope I've managed to inspire you with some ideas and of course, all of these gorgeous products!

Take care now and see you next time!

Linda x

Girl with bird and some news!!

Hello dear friends!

Another shortish post today I'm afraid. BUT this time I can explain my absence from the bloggy world!

So, in my previous post I mentioned an opportunity offered to me by the fabulous girls at www.a2zScrapbookingSupplies.com--today I get to tell you all about it!

About 2 weeks ago, I was chatting online with Linda from a2z and mentioned my marketing background and she then asked if I would be interested in doing their newsletters for them. I of course said yes that sounded great! BUT then the role developed from there. So long story (and many conversations) short, they offered me the position of Blog and Creative Team Coordinator!! *squeaks with excitement*

This role will mean that I not only create and run their brand-spankin' new blog, but I'll also be their permanent Creative Team member. I will be organising and implementing contests, offering tips and hints for creative success as well as seeking out other wonderful creative bloggers to spend a day on the blog as special guest host! These people will be invited to share a couple of their latest and greatest creations and give any helpful hints or even tutorials they might have to offer inspiration to other craft-minded people!! So exciting!!

So here is the link to the newly created blog that has been keeping me busy this past week: www.a2zScrapbookingSupplies.blogspot.com

Of course, I'll still be running this blog and updating as I go along. Hopefully now that the a2z blog is up and running, I will have a bit more time to actually spend at my craft desk making things!!

ANyhoo, to keep your craft-o-meter up high, here is a card I made AGES ago and completely forgot about!!



The stamp is from funky kits. It was coloured with copics and the background is made using a patented Isabella-inking-technique (yes, Isabella my 2 year old...*laughs proudly*). The ribbon and string was from my stash, the tag was hand-made (I haven't got my tag punch from A2z just yet--hurry up mailman!!)The sentiment is from Hero Arts Friends Clear set
and the Hero Arts Lace Circle stamp is in the background behind the circle, which was cut with a nestabilities circle die.

Sorry this is a shorter post but I have a baby who's calling me!!!

Linda xx

a quick one...

Hello friends!!

Just a real quickie today to let you know I'm still here and haven't forgotten you!! I've been super busy this week caring for Charlotte who is recovering from her operation BEAUTIFULLY!!! Kids are so much stronger than us adults aren't they?! Her scar is almost fully healed--amazing! She doesn't even seem to think anything's happened. Which is awesome. Mummy however still has a few grey hairs! lol

Anyhoo, I'm in the middle of a riDICulously exciting project that stems from a huge opportunity extended to me by the gorgeous Linda & Tina at a2zscrapbooking.com. I'm so so excited about it, I'll tell you all about it when it's ready. I really wanna share my news now...but I'll wait...or at least, try to!!
It's taken me away from my crafting desk for a few days but I will be heading back in there tomorrow night so, stay tuned!

Ok, so that's me for this time, sorry for such a short and card-less post! But never fear, crafting will resume its normal schedule soon!


Take care! Thanks for stopping by :)

Permanent Masking with Glossy Accents

Wow!! Jennifer McGuire has done it again! Watch this fantastic tutorial to see how beautifully this new masking technique turns out! Glossy Accents is a staple for cardmakers and scrapbookers alike, so try this technique the next time you get crafty!!

find all the products you need to recreate this project below;
Tim Holtz Distress Ink
Tim Holtz Mini Ornamental die
Ranger Ink Glossy Accents
Ranger Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool
Hero Arts Friends definition stamp
Hero Arts Real leaves cling stamp set