Aussie Girls SMASH* Blog Hop!

Hi SMASH*ers, welcome to the Aussie Girls SMASH* Blog Hop!

If you have come from Emma then you are on the right track. If not, you might like to go back to the start with Emma.

I was so excited when the gorgeous and talented Kellie suggested we have this Hop and asked if I'd like to be part of it ... of course!!! I really enjoy hops myself and always get heaps of inspiration, so hopefully you can be inspired too. Often the inspiration is "I must buy that, and that, and that" hehe!!

My first SMASH* layout (in my blue book) is titled "Cheap Thrills & Shoes". What girl doesnt like shoes? My 2 daughters love them so I had to SMASH* this photo I took of our shoes when we went out for a special dinner one evening. This SMASH* page is probably my most typical style of SMASH*ing which is a bit more scrapbook like. But that is the beauty of SMASH*ing - no rules! You can be as formal or informal as you like - and that can change for me on a daily basis.

I love using doilies, fabric yo-yo's and flat backed buttons on most of my creations at the moment and this was no exception. The fabric yo-yo, flat backed buttons, girl stamp, Scrabble letter, tag and bag are from Freckles and Pigtails. I just love all the embellishments from this shop!! I've also used a heap of Amy Tangerine stamps and patterned paper, and some other goodies from my stash!

The next 2 layouts are in my orange SMASH* book and are about our family's recent visit to Geelong. My style here is more of a blend of my preferred SMASH* style (above) and SMASH*ing together other "bits and bobs" collected on our trip. The pages are definitely busier than I usually prefer but I enjoyed moving out of my comfort zone. I constantly collect stuff to SMASH* but I rarely use it - so was great to use it here!! 

I've used a heap of Amy Tangerine diecuts, stickers, paper clip and washi tape.  A fabric yo-yo from Freckles and Pigtails. Some fun camera, slurpee and cassette embellishments from Angie Delarie, and a heap of other goodies from my stash!

You can't have a blog hop without some candy, that wouldn't be right! So I also have some candy for one lucky person

This is a fun little collection of some my favourite embellishments that I love to SMASH* with. I even made the fabric yo-yo's myself.

To be in the running to win this candy you need to

- be a follower of this blog, and

- leave a comment on this post

Too easy!! I'll draw a winner on Thursday 5th July.

Now you can continue this fun blog hop with the SMASH* Queen Kellie and see some more ah-mazing inspiration!

Here's the HOP list if you get lost

Emma

Karyn - you are here!!!

Kellie

Sammi

Angie

Karen

To all you Aussie girls out there looking for SMASH* supplies you must check out The Stamp Spot online store. I've recently become part of their DT to showcase SMASH* on their Blog so look out for my posts coming soon!

I hope you all have a fabby day with some time for crafting!

Create A Hullaballoo At The Library!

This week Tickled Pink Stamps is sponsoring Cupcake Craft Challenges where the Challenge is "eyelets". Hmmm, that was initially a hard one for me as I dont use eyelets much at all. So, I had to get really creative and this is what I came up with!!

I've done a SMASH* page (in my blue book) for this challenge. I love that these pages are already partially decorated. I dont always like the decoration (I have actually covered the RH page here) but I love this LH page. I often use this decoration as the inspiration for my layout.

We love to go to our local library regularly and this gorgeous School Pinkette Kira looks a bit like my cutie daughter. I've used a fun library card, fabric yo-yo and flat-backed button from  Freckles and Pigtails as well as my new SMASH* label maker! I was trying to do something like a shoe and shoe-laces with the eyelets - not sure if thats how it looks but it seemed to get too hard in the end!

Happy Crafting!!

Hugs xx

Birthday Fun For Kids!

This week Tickled Pink Stamps is sponsoring Send a Smile 4 kids Challenge Blog where the Challenge is "Birthday Fun for Kids". How fun is that!! and what better image to use on one of these cards than one of the gorgeous Pinkettes from Tickled Pink Stamps - I've chosen Party Pinkette Faith.

I've seen many people put pinwheels on their creations lately and wanted to try it myself - soo easy and very effective!!

Card Recipe

Stamps : Party Pinkette Faith (Tickled Pink Stamps)

Cardstock: Confetti White, melon Mambo, Peach Parfait  (Stampin' Up!)
Papers: Candy Lane collection (KaiserCraft)

Inks: Pear pizzaz (Stampin' Up!)
Coloured with: Copics

Other : twine (Stampin' Up!), circle and Lacey circles nesties, (Spellbinders) FarmHouse buttons (October Afternoon), wooden flags (Studio Calico)

Challenges:

Lylah does Vintage!

This week Tickled Pink Stamps is sponsoring The Corrosive Challenge where the theme is "Not too Shabby - shabby chic or vintage style".
I've mainly been SMASH*ing lately but this challenge screamed "Card Time!" for me. This challenge style is also perfect for me! I love the vintage colours with the lace and b/w colouring!! Lil Fashionette 30's Lylah is also perfect! Unfortunately there is a bit of photo glare on the cute button I've used (has a sewing machine on it) - adorable dont you think!!

Card Recipe

Stamps : Lil Fashionette 30's Lylah (Tickled Pink Stamps)

Cardstock: Kraft (Stampin' Up!)
Papers: Vintage Timeless paper pads (KaiserKraft)

Inks: soft suede (Stampin' Up!)
Coloured with: Distress Ink reinkers (black soot)

Other : victoria lace, fabric, pearls (Stampin' Up!), oval and scallop oval nesties, (Spellbinders) flower, wooden button (Prima), flat back button (Freckles and Pigtails), crystal pin (stash)

Challenges:
Bizzy Becs: Vintage

Freckles and Pigtails Inspiration!

I've been inspired by the creations of the gorgeous Kellie for some time now and just love all the goodies in her fabulous Freckles and Pigtails store. So when Kellie asked me to be a featured guest for May I couldn't say yes quick enough!! How lucky am I to have the opportunity to showcase some of these fun products!

It was like Christmas when I received my Freckles and Pigtails goodie package in the mail - the hard part was knowing where to start!

First up is a SMASH* page in my blue SMASH* book. My youngest daughter is a real girly girl and loves playing mummy to her dollies.
F&P products used here are the white and patterned doilies, the fabric yo-yo, flat backed button, fabric button, chevron pocket, tag, and girl stamp. Aren't they just gorgeous!!!

I'm loving using pockets and tags on my layouts - the peek-a-boo effect I call it!

Next is a scrapbook page. F&P products used here are the fabric yo-yo, flat backed button, fabric button, library ticket, library pocket, and houndstooth bunting. Just adorable!

Finally I wanted to make a card. I really struggle with masculine cards and I'm sure many of you do too. Well, this patterned doilie and bottle top from F&P just screamed "card for a dude" to me. I've also used some flat backed buttons and boy stamp from F&P.

I hope this inspires you in some way.
Thanks for having me Kellie! I've had so much fun working with the fun and unique Freckles and Pigtails embellishments and your friendly and welcoming team!

SMASH*aholics SMASH challenge!

This past weekend the FB SMASH*aholics group held a SMASH* challenge. Starting last Friday there were 3 challenges each for a 24 hour period. How fun is that!!!

The first challenge was to use lace, twine, ribbon, fabric (all or one) - I used happy birthday ribbon, fabric stickers and a fabric yo-yo.

The second challenge was to use stickers, washi, flowers, stamps (all or one) - I used flowers and lots of stamps!

The third challenge was to include journalling, doilies, tabs, buttons (all or one) - I included journalling and buttons.

I've used a heap of Amy Tangerine diecuts, fabric stickers and patterned paper. Some fabric yo-yo's, flat backed buttons, and library pocket from Freckles and Pigtails. A fun slurpee embellishment from Angie Delarie, and a heap of other goodies from my stash!

I hope you all had a fabby weekend with some time for crafting! Have a great week

She's Tickled Pink and Sparkly!

This week Tickled Pink Stamps is sponsoring Divas by Design Challenges where the challenge is "Tickled Pink".
I've made another fun SMASH* layout of my youngest daughter titled "She's Tickled Pink and Sparkly" because she loves all things Pink and Sparkly!! When I first saw these pages in my blue SMASH* book I wasnt sure I liked them. I have covered over the words on the LHS and was going to also cover the RHS. But in the end I left the RHS blank - you just have to laugh at it really!!

Card Recipe
Stamps :Lil Fashionette 80's Sookie (Tickled Pink Stamps),

Coloured with: Distress Ink reinkers - black soot

Other : yo-yo flower (Freckles and Pigtails), top 10 SMASH pad, tiny flag clips (SMASH*), die cut tag, papers (Amy Tangerine), Date stamp (Dear Lizzie), love stamp (Smiggle), alpha stickers, heart stickers, alphas, rhinestones, doillie (Stash)

Challenges:
All That Scraps: Anything goes
The Stamp Spot: bling, pink and flowers!

Flowers, Bling and Doilies! and Happy Mothers Day!

This week Tickled Pink Stamps is sponsoring The Corrosive Challenge where the theme is "Flowers, Bling and Doilies" (use at least 2 of these).
A goal for me this year is more SMASH*ing and Scrapbooking so I joined this challenge using my blue SMASH* book. I like working from front to back with my SMASH* books and luck had this layout just waiting for this photo of my daughter indulging in gelati! - just perfect.

Happy Mothers day and Happy Crafting!!

Card Recipe

Stamps : Lil Fashionette 60's Willow (Tickled Pink Stamps),

Coloured with: Distress Ink reinkers - black soot

Other : yo-yo flower, flat backed button, tag (Freckles and Pigtails), twine (Stampin' Up!),  wooden flower (Prima), die cuts, envelope, fabric sticker (Amy Tangerine), wooden flags (Studio Calico), chipboard diecuts, date stamp (Dear Lizzie), alpha stickers (simple Stories), doillie (Stash)

Challenges:

Tickled Pink Stamps is Sponsoring The Squirrel and The Fox

This week Tickled Pink Stamps is sponsoring The Squirrel and the Fox Challenges which has a theme of "One For The Girls"! I love this challenge - anything girly and I'm there!

Lil Lolita Ivy was the first Lil Lolita released by Tickled Pink Stamps. I was immediately hooked and have been a die-hard fan ever since. I love how these colours work so well together and still love using these gorgeous October Afternoon papers.

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend - enjoying time with family and friends, and crafting of course!!

Card Recipe

Stamps : Lil Lolita Ivy (Tickled Pink Stamps), digi ticket stubs (Bizzy Becs)

Cardstock: Kraft (Stampin' Up!)
Papers: FarmHouse collection (October Afternoon)

Inks: soft suede (Stampin' Up!)
Coloured with: Distress Ink reinkers

Other : beautiful wings embosslits, victoria lace, fabric, pearls (Stampin' Up!), circle and scallop circle nesties, fanncy Tags dies, (Spellbinders), FarmHouse  buttons (October Afternoon) flower (Prima)

Challenges:
The stamp spot : pink, bling and flowers
CRAFT challenge: use buttons
Southern girls challenge: get your girly on
The crafty pad: we're girly girls

Tickled Pink Stamps is Sponsoring The Corrosive Challenge AND Crafting When We Can!

This week Tickled Pink Stamps is sponsoring 2 challenges. Firstly The Corrosive Challenge where the theme is "The man, the myth, the legend - Tim Holtz" (use at least one TH product on your creation). And the second challenge is Crafting when we can Challenges which is a sketch.

I used some of the TH tissue tape to make my banner - banners seem to be popular lately!!
I love colouring in b/w and with my Copics but lately I have been trying watercolouring with my TH Distress reinkers. So I decided to dust off some older Tickled Pink Rubber and get painting (using colour too!!). These images are some of my absolute favourite so hopefully this will inspire you to check out some of the older Tickled Pink images.

Card Recipe

Stamps : Lil Fashionette 60's Ivy (Tickled Pink Stamps), digi ticket stubs (Bizzy Becs)

Cardstock: Kraft (Stampin' Up!)
Papers: FarmHouse collection (October Afternoon)

Inks: soft suede (Stampin' Up!)
Coloured with: Tim Holtz Distress Ink reinkers
Other : seam binding ribbon, lace trim, bakers twine (Stampin' Up!), tissue tape (Tim Holtz), wooden flower buttons, flowers (Prima), Farmhouse buttons (October Afternoon), pearl stems, doilie (stash)

Challenges:
The kraft journal challenge: use any sketch
Card makin mamas: spring photo challenge

My SMASH*ing Weekend!

Wowee, I found time to do some SMASH*ing this weekend! Yayyy!!! I have a few crafting projects on the go at the moment and with limited time I often find it hard to decide what to start (or should that be finish?!?). Well, SMASH*ing won out this time. I'm devoting my Orange SMASH book to "2012" where I have layouts of monthly calendars and photo pages about that month.
These pages are all about some of our successes at our local Show/Fair last month. My husband and youngest daughter love spending time in our vegie patch and fruit orchard so entered heaps of produce. We won with our figs and then took out the Champion fruit exhibit! Just hilarious really when we dont even do anything to the tree - except pick and eat the fruit!
My youngest daughter entered some scrapbooking (done when she was 3 1/2 years old) and won the best exhibit for the junior section (under 16 years) - she was very proud.
My other daughter loves photography and won the best exhibitor for junior digital photography. I'm allowed to brag (hehe)!!
I love the Farmouse collection from October Afternoon and used one of my homemade fabric pompom flowers. I have also used a cute diecut envelope to hide some journaling.

Challenges:
bizzy becs store blog challenge: add texture
card makin mamas challenge: make it girlie
crafty ribbons challenge: things with wings
the squirrel and the fox challenge: food

Happy 4th Birthday Jessica!!

It was my youngest daughters 4th birthday a few weeks ago - I cant believe I forgot to post this card! Happy birthday sweetie!! She loves everything pink and sparkly. We gave her a pink and sparkly scooter, some sparkly glitter pens from Smiggle, and some Squinkies (why are kids so attracted to these things?)!

Card Recipe

Stamps : Lil Pinkette Haunting Fairy Coraline (Tickled Pink Stamps)

Cardstock:  Confetti White, Melon Mambo (Stampin' Up!)
Papers: Candy Lane collection (KaiserCraft)

Inks: Melon Mambo (Stampin' Up!)
Coloured with: Copics

Other : scallop circle punch, pearls, rhinestone brads (Stampin' Up!), kindyglitz, charm, wooden number, gingham ribbon, flowers, twine (stash)

Challenges
Scrapbook Boutique - Green Pink and White

Oozak Challenges - anything goes

Card Makin Mamas - make it girlie

 

Happy SMASH*ing Easter!

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter. It has been a 4 day long weekend here which has been fantastic. We spent 2 of the days visiting family and the other 2 doing things around the house, garden and farm. I have also had the luxury of some time to SMASH*! It has been fantastic.

Today I have SMASH*ed some pics of a local Show/Fair. This is an annual family occasion for us. We enter craft and produce, go on the amusement rides, watch the horses, sheep shearing, wood chopping etc and eat donuts!!

I like to work fromt to back with my SMASH* books and initially when I saw these pages I wasnt sure if I liked them but they work with the theme of these Sarsparilla October Afternoon miscellany. I even tried to make some of these twine circle thingies - quite time consuming and fiddly to make but look fantastic!

Chocolatey Easter hugs xx

Tickled Pink Stamps is Sponsoring Paper Sundaes!!

This week Tickled Pink Stamps is sponsoring Paper Sundaes where the Sundae Bar Challenge is to use at least 2 of the following "toppings" - kraft, die cut, lace, charms!! Well all of these are my favourites to I had to use them all. I was having so much fun with these gorgeous October Afternoon papers that I had to make 2 cards! I decided to leave a sentiment off the second card so I could be flexible with its use. I really love these Pinkettes. I have always been a die-hard Lil Lolita fan (and will always be) but these gorgeous gals have won my heart!

Card Recipe

Stamps : Party Pinkette August and Easter Pinkette Daisy August (Tickled Pink Stamps), short and sweet sentiments (Stampin' Up!)

Cardstock:  Kraft (Stampin' Up!)
Papers: FarmHouse collection (October Afternoon)

Inks: soft suede (Stampin' Up!)
Coloured with: Copics (cool grey's)
Other :  beautiful wings embosslits, victoria lace, modern label punch (Stampin' Up!), Labels One nesties, Fleur De Lise accents dies,  (Spellbinders), wooden flower buttons, flowers (Prima), pearls, lace doilies (KaiserCraft), charms, crystal pin (stash)

Challenges
CRAFT Challenge - Easter/Spring
Crafts and me challenges - butterflies and bows
flutterby wednesdays - open challenge
Simon says stamps challenge - use your favourite tool (Sizzix)
The crafty pad - just die-licious (use a die-cut)
The Kraft journal - April showers bring May flowers
The pretty little ribbon shop - to die for (use a die cut)

Congratulations Anna and Jack!

A month or so back some dear friends of mine secretly got married. Can you believe it? A total surprise, but "About Bloody Time" (Aussie slang)!! They told us by sending home some photos of their special day - very cheeky werent they!

I've been trying to think of a wedding gift to get them - what do you get for people with everything? I eventually came up with the idea of scrapping a photo from their wedding and framing it. It has been a bit hard for me to find frames that I like and I have some others on order but then I found this in Myer in the photo frams dept. It is a stainless frame that is like a shadow box with a glass front. I like the idea of the glass to protect from dust - but very hard to photograph! It was also terribly expensive ($60 eek but it was a wedding present and I'll look out for sales in the future). Its size is approx 12"x9". I also bought one that is approx 7"x7" and want to make a mothers day gift with it (Mothers day is in may in Australia!). I love the result. I want to make one for me too!

Challenges I'm joining:

Bizzy Becs Store Blog Challenge: add texture
Anything Goes challenge: Anything Goes
Divas by design challenge: Anything goes

Tickled Pink Stamps Sponsors Forever Night Challenges!

 This week Tickled Pink Stamps is sponsoring Forever Night Challenges where the Challenge is "Bling".

I wanted to make a useful card as I have a few birthdays coming up. Now,  Forever Night Challenges are all about dark and creepy - this was a bit of a challenge for me. A friends 40th birthday party is today and they are having a "heros and villians" themed party so I couldnt go past Vampire Lestat to feature on my card! I have glitter bling on the numbers, some brads/rhinestones, and I covered the clock with crystal effects to make it shine. I felt like I fought with this card for a start but am pretty happy with it now - they always seem to look better in real life too!
Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Card Recipe

Stamps :  Lil Haunts Vampire Lestat (Tickled Pink Stamps)
Cardstock: Whisper White, confetti white, early espresso, basic black (Stampin' Up!)
Papers:Mocha Morning Specialty DSP (Stampin' Up!)
Inks:    early espresso (Stampin' Up!)
Coloured with: Copics (cool grey's)
Other :  rhinestone brads, crystal effects (Stampin' Up!),  tea die distress stickles (Tim Holtz), weathered clock die (Tim Holtz Alterations), rhinestones, alphas (KaiserCraft), lace mesh, wooden numbers (stash)

Its time to SMASH*!

There has been an amazingly inspiring SMASH* blog hop organised by some amazingly creative gals (starts here). Heaps of inspiration and some fun prizes! I've seen SMASH* journaling for about the last 6 months or so on the internet and just after Christmas made my first purchase (there is so much fun stuff to buy!!). But I've been a bit slow on the creativity lately so this hop was a wonderful excuse to get into it!

I decided to use my orange SMASH* book to be sort of  a journal diary with a month to an opening and some fun photos of what happened. I've done pages for January and February, woohoo!! I'm happy with the result and hope to do more soon!!

Happy SMASH*ing!!

Tickled Pink Stamps Sponsors "Crafting For All Seasons Challenges"!

This week Tickled Pink Stamps is sponsoring Crafting For All Seasons Challenges where the challenge is a "green and yellow" colour challenge.
When I first saw this challenge I had reservations about these colours. But I soon got over the need to have the whole card in only green and yellow - I just love the results and hope you do too!

Card Recipe

Stamps :  Easter Pinkette Daisy August (Tickled Pink Stamps)

Cardstock: Whisper White, kraft, pear pizzaz (Stampin' Up!)
Papers:  Sidewalks (October Afternoon

Inks:    daffodil delight (Stampin' Up!)
Coloured with: Copics (cool grey's)
Other :  vintage brad (Stampin' Up!), Beautiful Blooms II dies (PTI), hearts die (Provocraft), alphas (KaiserCraft), staples, bakers twine, ribbon, doilie, white paint (stash)

Challenges I'm joining:

The Stamp Spot Challenges: use twine, brads and the colour green
The Sketchy Challenges: sketch
The Kraft Journal: fun shapes