So glad we're friends

Every now and then you get the opportunity to make a card for someone really special. The card I made today is for my very closest friend, the sister I never had, Amanda.

I bought this Wild Rose Studio "Girl With Dog" stamp about 6 months ago, knowing I would be using it for Amanda's card, for it reminds me of her so much. I resisted using it for other creations, wanting its debut to be for her birthday.

I used my Stampin' Up Sentiment "So Glad We're Friends" for it says everything I think of Amanda and more. I coloured in this gorgeous girl using copics, sponged the edges with Momento "Summer Sky" and used my Spellbinders "Reverse Wonky Rectangles" die. I then hunted high and low for some paper to compliment her. Just when I was about to give up and go home, I found this beautiful paper from Sassafras called "Lots O' Luck". I was actually carrying some blue cardstock to go with a card I will be making tomorrow when I realised the blue was a very nice addition. I love it when I come across a combination by chance like that!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Totally Gorjuss - For Someone Special
Little Miss Muffet challenges - Anything Goes
Paper Creations Ink - Something Old (image stamp) Something new (DP)
Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT Challenge - Bingo (flowers, ribbon, die cut)
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Until next time,
Tracey
x

Pretty Ballerina

Oh it's so refreshing to make a card that's not Christmas related. I don't know about you, but I left my Christmas card making way too late, so it was a frantic race to the finish.

I had coloured a beautiful La La Land image for the last Sparkles Forum challenge of the year, but unfortunately didn't get a chance to finish it due to family dramas. I couldn't leave this little ballerina merely coloured, so this morning I spent some time turning her into a card.

A couple of weekends ago, my best friend's husband Josh and I got very carried away remembering the Hans Christian Anderson song "Thumbelina" as sung by Danny Kaye. Now I know this isn't a 'thumbelina' but a real ballerina, but I simply couldn't stop singing that song while making her.

This card was pulled together using leftover scraps from three different DPs, a teeny bit of lace that is part of the stash I got from my grandmother, and some pearl and jewel stick-ons for bling. The butterfly is a lovely feathery, jewelled glittery creation that I bought once upon a time and never used.

To walk down memory lane with Josh and I - here's a link to the Thumbelina song from the movie here.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

The Crafty Pad - Anything but Christmas
Flutterby Wednesdays - Butterfly, Fairy or Angel
The Paper Shelter - The Look of Lace
Pixie Dust Studio Pixie Challenge - 3 different papers
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
That Craft Place - Sweet Treats in Pastels
The Poodles Parlour - Inspired by a song

and added of course to the La-La Land Customer Gallery for December.

Until next time,
Tracey
x

Blog Candy Winner

Hello All,

I hope you survived the festivities. It was a very quiet one at this end. My husband's grandfather passed away just 2 weeks ago, and everyone is still feeling very subdued. My job has been pretty crappy and causing lots of new stresses and I've been working extra long hours.

For the first time, I didn't even put the tree up and without my tree I really didn't feel like it was Christmas. Lesson learned. Next time the tree goes up, regardless of whatever dramas are going on in life at the time. I feel sad that Christmas seems to have been 'missed' this year.

Anyway, I am happy to announce that I have the winner of my first ever blog candy! The winner of the $10 Mystery Digi pack from Make It Crafty is....

Carla S!!!

Congrats Carla - email me at fox_tracey@yahoo.com.au and I will get your prize sent to you soonest.

Tracey
x

It's a Holiday Havoc Blog Hop!

It's an exciting day today and an unusual post from me - for it's my very first blog hop!

For my first ever hopping experience, what better hop to join than Craft Your Passion Challenges "Holiday Havoc 2011" Blog Hop!

If you have hopped over from Sue's blog "Confessions of a Paper Hoarder", then you are in the right place. If you just happened to stop by and would like to join the hop from the beginning, please go to Craft Your Passion Challenges and follow along for a chance to win some AMAZING blog candy along the way and PRIZES at the end.

Trust me, these are fab prizes so if you did just stop by, quick - go get started!

Right, let's assume you've done that and you're back. That means you know all about the blog hop, how the Craft Your Passion DT members are all playing in the hop with a crowd of us (myself included) - all hopping along together (why do I keep picturing the Easter Bunny here? Must change mental image to hopping reindeer or similar).

Each designer is featuring a project showcasing a digital image from one of the amazing Blog Hop Sponsors. Some of the designers are giving away blog candy too - make sure you read the posts on how to win. As well as the individual blog candy from the designers, there are some fabulous prizes to be won at Craft Your Passion Challenges. All you have to do are these few simple steps:


1. Hop all the way through the Hop, leaving a comment for each designer as you go.

2. Sit back and marvel at the amazing fun you've had along the way (those talented and experienced hoppers can possibly do steps 1 & 2 simultaneously)

3. Create a holiday project using at least 1 digital stamp and enter it at Craft Your Passion Challenges using the linky tool by Midnight CST December 23 to be eligible for the prizes. Winners will be announced on the CYP Monday, December 26th Challenge post.

Got all that?  Okay, so here's the card I created using a gorgeous digi supplied from Crafty Sentiments.

Because this image was so very sweet, I didn't want to overshadow him with lots of tricky embellishments or lots of papers. Instead, he was very simply coloured with copics, glittered up with Kindy Glitz glitter glue, and glammed up with some ice blue jewel stick ons from Kaisercraft added to the snow globe base. The DPs were Hobby Fun Co. Ltd, and I added some red ribbon from my stash. I wish I knew where I got that little digi sentiment - it was a freebie I collected once upon a time and lost the details for. To celebrate the occasion I even bought a new Spellbinders die - Lacy Squares.

Now I couldn't participate in my very first blog hop and not offer any candy of my own could I?

So ta-da - blog candy!  I am offering one lucky winner something very special from one of my all time favourite digi stores - Make it Crafty.

 $10

That's right, if you win my blog candy you win a Secret Santa digi stamp pack to the value of $10. Oh the excitement, the intrigue, the mystery - you won't know what stamps you will recieve - but I know they will be wonderful!!

To be eligible to win, all you have to do is leave a comment here (which you are doing anyway to be eligible for the Craft Your Passion prizes), and become a follower. I will enlist the help of random.org to pick one winner - easy! The winner will be drawn and posted here on 26th December.

Right, next stop is Paper and Scrap Creations by Julia - have fun!

Tracey
x

Oh Christmas Tree

No, your eyes do not deceive you lovely followers - I really am posting two cards in one day. All week I have been singing the Christmas Carol "Oh Christmas Tree" and seeing I'm not putting my tree up this year this is the next best thing.

It's been a very stressful weekend, for my husband's grandfather is critically ill and expected to pass away within days. Yesterday we spent the day by his bedside. He said his goodbyes to us all, telling me to look after his Grandson. It was one of the most heart wrenching things I have ever had to experience.

Today I wanted to do nothing more taxing than to colour in, glue things to other things and to play with paper. My husband is doing similar mind-numbing activities, he is esconced in front of his X-box.

I created this card after seeing a design using a freebie image from Bird's Cards many months ago. You can find the digi & the button idea here. I then forgot all about it until Shaz did a similar creation.

This card will be for my grandmother, as it uses both buttons and lace that were salvaged from her house before it was sold recently.

The DP is a lovely soft green but hasn't shown up as well as I would have liked in the photo. I used my Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder for the white card. I have added silver and white ribbon, as well as the white lace for embellishments. The 'ornaments' are both buttons and pearl stick ons. The sentiment was a freebie but I have lost the details of where I got it.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Little Miss Muffet Challenge - Buttons & Ribbons
The Paper Variety - Inspired by a Chrsitmas song.


Until next time,
Tracey

It's Christmas Time at The Squirrel and The Fox

It's time for another challenge at The Squirrel and The Fox. Of course we couldn't miss the opportunity to join the festivities of this time of year, so our challenge theme is

CHRISTMAS

This challenge is an extra special one, for it will run for 3 weeks instead of the normal two. There's plenty of time to get your entries in to be in the running for our fabulous prize from Make it Crafty, who are once again sponsoring our challenge.

I have created this card for my DT work, using one of Make It Crafty's fabulous images. I think this Aussie Santa captures the very spirit of Christmas in Australia.

Isn't he awesome?? This is exactly what Santa would look like on the Aussie leg of his journey I am sure - it's too hot for any red fur-trimmed suit here!

I have coloured him with copics, and in typical Aussie summer style have even given him a sunburnt nose. The sentiment was a freebie digi (still can't remember who from), and the papers were Simple Stories. The bits of ribbons were cut offs from previous card making endeavours and all the white edges were sponged with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Antique Linen. I also distressed the edges with my new Tim Holtz distress tool - now my favourite little toy.

I hope you like my creation and will join us with all your festive creations at The Squirrel and The Fox. My teammates have all done a fabulous job with their creations, make sure you check them out.

Also entered into the following challenges:

Catch the Bug - Santa Baby
Card Makin' Mamas - Christmas
Crafty Ribbons Challenge - Traditional Colours for Christmas
Inky Impressions - Ribbon
Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog - It's Santa!

Until next time,
Tracey

Ruby's Rainbow - Monochrome

Hello All,

Can you believe it's December already?? How quickly this year has gone. It's time for another challenge at Ruby's Rainbow. This fortnight our challenge is

MONOCHROME

For my DT card I created a very blue card for one of my colleagues:

It was nice to make a birthday card after all the Christmas cards I have been making the past few weeks. This digi was from the Digi Garden and he's called "Sammy". He's so cute, I can see me using him a lot in future!

I wanted to buy a new blue ink pad to edge my image and sentiment so I merrily took myself to the crafty shop to buy Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Tumbled Glass. Of course they didn't have it, so I went to the next crafty shop, and they didn't have it either. In the end I deliberated long and hard about which blue Momento ink to get, knowing I had one at home already, chose Summer Sky, came home and found it was the one I already had. D'oh! This is so typical of me. I have been known to spend hours looking for a lipstick or nail polish after getting tired of the same shade, to purchase one triumphantly and then realise it's the same one. Does anyone else do that or is it just me?

I hope you'll join us at Ruby's Rainbow this fortnight. I can't wait to see the monochrome creations!


Also entered into the following challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge - Monochrome, not Christmas, with sentiment




Until next time,
Tracey
x

Sparkles Forum - One You Love at Christmas

It's a lovely theme for this fortnight's challenge at Sparkles Forum-

FOR THE ONE YOU LOVE AT CHRISTMAS

My husband and I don't normally exchange cards, so for this challenge I tried to make a card he'd really appreciate. I didn't want to overdose on sentimentality, so I searched high and low for an image he'd like. Needless to say I found Kenny K, with his gorgeous girl digis and after a big debate between digi Mrs Claus and Mistletoe - chose Mistletoe for my DT card.

Isn't she fabulous?

I paired this image with a stack of presents digi and a fantastic "Naughy or Nice" sentiment digi, both freebies I found online and lost the details for. If you happen to recognise them please let me know so I can give credit to the artists. I will be ticking "naughty" or "nice" before giving my hubby the card, I am just monitoring his behaviour. :)

I am thrilled to bits with this card. I have tried to keep it as masculine as possible, so have used simple embellishments of metal snowflake charms, silver stars and ribbons. Colouring her was a dream, I happily spent hours on her hair and her dress, and love how she turned out. I hadn't done black hair before and was a bit daunted, but think it doesn't look too bad.

My teammates have all come up with gorgeous cards for their 'other halves'. I hope you'll visit the Sparkles Forum challenge blog and check them out, and of course join us for the challenge. Crafty Emma is generously offering our winner this fabulous Dove Craft Paperpack prize:

I hope to see you there!

Also entered into the following challenges:

Cupcake Craftroom - Christmas Tradition (Mistletoe)
Southern Girls Challenge - Ribbon (three types, silver mesh style, red ribbon and blue feather ribbon)
Here Come The Boys - Masculine
kenny k kraftygirlz challenges - Texture (my blue feather ribbon and silver mesh ribbon, plus the embossed card)
Tuesday Throwdown - Masculine Holiday Card
Fab n Funky Challenges - Anything Goes

Until next time,
Tracey
x

Christmas card time

I am sure that everyone out in blogland has been far more productive than I have been, and has a lovely stack of Christmas cards already made. I have been putting it off for ages, and almost gave myself heart failure yesterday when I realised it's December at the end of this week!

So I've started. Here's my card for this afternoon using lots of bright colours-

 I've once again used my Wild Rose Studio stamp - Milton with Sleigh. He's been coloured with copics and I've used some baker's twine and red wool to tie a silver Christmas tree charm to the card. A few blue crystals, some Kindy Glitz glue glitter to add some sparkle and ta-da!

Entered into the following challenges:

Frosted Designs - Metal
Poodles Parlour - Christmas
Sew Many Cards - Twine
Crazy 4 Challenges - Snow
Meljen's Designs - Twine
Cupcake Inspirations - photo inspiration
(I used all the colours (brown, blue, red, pink & green), used a snowy image, and added the Christmas tree shaped charm)

Until next time,
Tracey
x

The Squirrel and The Fox - DT card

It's time for another challenge at The Squirrel and The Fox, and this time we are hoping to inspire you all with this photo:

These stunning trees are Jacarandas, and they bloom every year around this time in many places in Australia. I love them, for their blossoms paint the landscape a most brilliant purple. Seeing their vibrant blossoms truly lifts my spirits every time - they are so pretty.

There's another reason to love Jacaranda trees - for in the words of a famous Aussie bush Christmas carol 

"when the bloom of the Jacaranda tree is here
Christmas time is near"

and I love Christmas!

Our challenge this fortnight is sponsored by Jen's Digis. Jen supplied us with a darling little digi, and this is my take on it with my DT card.

We hope you can join us with your purple, tree or blossom inspired creation at The Squirrel and The Fox this fortnight. Jen's Digis are offering a prize to our lucky winner - check out the blog for all the details.

Until next time,

Tracey
x

DT for Ruby's Rainbow - Music

It's time for another challenge at Ruby's Rainbow and this fortnight the theme is

MUSIC

What a fantastic theme huh? This theme makes me want to sing just like Agnetha (or was it Frida) -

Thank you for the music
The songs I'm singing
Thanks for all the joy they're bringing
Who can live without it ..

Who indeed? Not me. I love music, and musical theatre in particular. Thankfully I have a fellow fan for a best mate and she and I go to every musical that comes our way. In six months we have seen everything from Jersey Boys to Love Never Dies, Hairspray to Dr Zhivago.

So for my DT this week I wanted to bring the theatre to a card. Here's what I created:

Recipe

Copics used:

Hair: E25, E35

Skin: E000, E00, E11

Dress & Hat: R17, R27, R29, YG63, YG67

Gloves and Boots: C3, C5, C9, BV29 

Digi Stamp: Make It Crafty - Antoinette

Buckle and choker - Gelly Pen "metallic"

Paperclip brad and ribbon from my stash.

I love this gorgeous stamp - the beautiful Antoinette from Make It Crafty. She reminds me of a Moulin Rouge girl -

 pausing to remember the amazing version of "El Tango de Roxanne" in the movie and Ewan McGregor singing "why does my heart cry.."  Awww. As far as musicals go it's not brilliant, but that song redeems it.

This was such a fun challenge and I loved seeing what my teammates came up with. I hope you'll join us at Ruby's Rainbow this fortnight for our music challenge.

Also entered into the following challenges:

Crafty Sentiments - Metal

The Shabby Tea Room - Photo inspiration

Challenge Up Your Life - Music

Bearly-Mine - My favourite things (ribbon, copics and DP)

Until next time,

Tracey

x

It's Summer at The Squirrel and The Fox

"sniff, sniff" Can you smell it? Freshly cut grass and onions frying on a BBQ - that, coupled with temperatures that are starting to soar, must mean Summer is fast approaching!

So of course, for our new challenge at The Squirrel and The Fox our theme is

SUMMER

Our challenge is proudly sponsored by The Paper Shelter this fortnight. For my DT work I used their fabulous digi "Beautiful Mermaid" and here's what I came up with.

Recipe

Copics used:

Hair: E31, E35
Skin: E000, E00, R20 (lips)

Tail: G000, G00, G02

DP: Kaisercraft - Best Creation Inc "Bella"

Digi Stamp: The Paper Shelter "Beautiful Mermaid"
Kindy Glitz for sparkles on tail and starfish hair piece

Flowers, ribbon and pearl brads from my stash

I wish that sparkles would show better in photographs for this is a very sparkly mermaid. I used Kindy Glitz glitter glue on her tail and her starfish hair piece and the DP has beautiful sparkly swirls.


I chose this image because one of my favourite summer memories is of me at the bottom of our swimming pool pretending to be a mermaid. I pictured myself with long blonde hair and a glittery green tail (I was heavily influenced by the movie "Splash" and saw myself as a little Darryl Hannah). I wanted to be a mermaid when I grew up, so I could live under the sea with the fishes.  Sebastion from The Little Mermaid had it right when he sang

"Under the sea
Darling it's better
Down where it's wetter
Take it from me
Up on the shore they work all day
Out in the sun they slave away
While we devotin'
Full time to floatin'
Under the sea"

So I took up scuba diving - is that close enough?

All day long I am reminded of being underwater, for my desktop pics at work and home are both photos I took diving, like this one.

*sigh* That Little Mermaid had a lot to answer for wanting to be on land. I guess the grass IS always greener.

The Paper Shelter is offering our lucky winner a fabulous prize - visit The Squirrel and The Fox blog for details.  I hope you'll join us, I look forward to seeing all your Summery creations. For inspiration, make sure you check out what our DT have created, they continually amaze me with their work.

Also added to the following challenges:

Copic Challenge Group - Colours of the sea
Alphabet Challenge - U is for Under the Sea
The Poodles Parlour - When I grow Up
The Ribbon Reel - Colour Combination
Craft Your Days Away - Embellishment bingo (pearls, flowers, ribbon)
The Lollipop Ladies - Sour worms (colours and sparkle)
Southern Girls Challenge - Song "under the Sea"

See you again soon!
Tracey
x

Things with Wings

Today I am envious of those that live on the other side of the world, for as I write this it is 9.30pm and still 35C. The humidity is the killer, today was 90% humidity. Not pleasant, and a little excessive for Spring - what on earth will Summer be like.

Anyway, it's Ruby's Rainbow challenge time again, and this time it's

THINGS WITH WINGS

For my DT work I took the opportunity to create a card for a colleague. The lovely Karen is a fantastic breath of fresh air at my workplace and we spend far more time than we should do laughing and joking. She also makes the best coffees using the company's intimidating coffee machine (I haven't done my barista training yet, and if it means Karen will stop making my coffee then I'm not rushing!). It was her birthday recently and as I was away I missed making her a card. I hope she's happy to have one a little late.

Recipe

Copics used:

Hair: E31, E35
Skin: E000, E00, R20 (lips)
Sash: RV10, RV13
Dress: BG000, BG00

DP: Kaisercraft - Bonjour Collection
Stamp: La La Land Fancy Marci
Sentiment: Stampin' Up
Butterflies using Martha Stewart Punch

As you can see, my card features lots of wings. The DP has butterflies and dragonflies, and I added two little punched butterflies too. Wings galore!

This card also features some big flowery lace from my Nan, found hidden in a box when I was helping to clean her house last weekend. My Nan has moved into a retirement home and needed to have her house sold, and thankfully it sold quickly - so quick we had to all pitch in to pack everything away, to either donate to charity or sell. Turns out my Nan was a bit of a packrat when it came to threads, lace and cotton and I am now the proud owner of a collection that must have taken years to put together. I am sure my Nan wished I was a sewing type so I could use her lace how she intended, but at least it's getting a new life on my card creations.

I hope you'll join us at Ruby's Rainbow this fortnight with all your winged creations.

Also entered into the following challenges:
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes plus Brown
Crazy Challenge - Something with Wings
My Partner in Crafting Crime - Freebie (lace)
Sugar Creek Hollow - Trash to Vintage Treasure (lace)

and also entered into the La-La Land Customer Gallery

Tracey

x



It's Autumn at Sparkles Forum

Thank goodness for weekends! This week was a horrendous one at work, with lots of late nights glued to a computer. It was a week of research groups, presentations, resignations, hysterical laughing and tears, and I am exhausted.

Right now I type this from my study, where I can hear the pool filter humming and the birds chirping and I can look out the window and see the cloudless blue sky. I am so thankful that Winter has gone and here in Australia it's officially Springtime.

However in the UK, Sparkles Forum's stomping ground, everything is upside down (or right way up if you believe us Aussies have it backwards). So that's why the theme for their challenge this fortnight is

AUTUMN

For my DT card I wanted to create something very simple, and to have a chance to use one of my Scrap Matrix steam punk embellishments. I have been holding on to this one for a while, for it's quite large and will dominate any card it goes on.

I found some DPs that featured leaves and lovely rich greens and browns and really gave me the feeling of Autumn. I added the very last of my antique style lace and some fantastic green ribbon that tied the two papers together. I debated whether to add a sentiment, but really wanted this fabulous charm to be the focus of the card so I left it plain.

I hope you'll join us at Sparkles Forum this fortnight. Please head over to see what my teammates created in answer to the challenge - they are such a talented bunch!

Di's Digis is offering another wonderful prize to the winner, see the challenge blog for all the details.

Also entered into the following challenge:

Craft Your Days Away - Autumn

Friendships Garden Challenge (discovered today and now a fan!) - Autumn

Die Cut Dreams - So Charming

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

Come and Get It - Autumn

Tracey

x





Ruby's Rainbow - Metal

Hello again,

It's time for another challenge at Ruby's Rainbow, and because I am still on holidays, I have all fingers and toes crossed that this post goes live as scheduled.

This fortnight's challenge is:

Metal

I love using charms on cards, so it's not hard to imagine what I did for something metal on my card. Here is the card I created for my DT work

The little metal charm says "Made with Love". This card was absolutely made with love, for it's for a dear friend of mine who lives in Canada. Deanna and I met over the internet about 10 years ago, and in 2007 I travelled to Canada to meet her - quite a scary prospect to travel so far to stay with a stranger for 3 weeks, what would have happened if we'd hated each other on sight?? Fortuntately we hit it off and spend our time together solidifying our friendship. In 2009 she returned the favour, travelling to Australia to stay with my husband and me. I am forever wishing she lived closer so I could see her often, emails are just not the same!

This charm was bought online from a store here in Australia called Scrap Matrix. To say they are fuelling my addiction to online shopping may be an understatement. :)

I hope you'll join us at Ruby's Rainbow this fortnight - I can't wait to see everyone's creativity when it comes to adding some metal.

Also entered into the following challenges:
Die Cut Dreams - So Charming
Cards 4 Eternity - One Metal Embellishment
Crafty Catz  - Happy Birthday

Tracey
x

Remembrance Day

I am still on holidays - so hopefully Blogger is behaving and this post is going live as expected.

November 11th marks Remembrance Day, a day for all the countries of the Commonwealth to remember those members of the armed forces that have died in the line of duty since World War I.

This fortnight Sparkles Forum Challenges have Remembrance Day as their challenge theme. Here is the card I created as my DT work:

Recipe

Copics used:

Poppies: R22, R27, R29, YG03
Paper: Floral Chic - Fancy Pants Desigs

I have used poppies for the image - the flower that has become the symbol for Remembrance Day. This came about because of a poem written during the war called "In Flanders Fields". Poppies grew across the worst of the battlefields in Flanders and the bright red colour was an appropriate symbol for the blood that was shed there.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
      Between the crosses, row on row,
   That mark our place; and in the sky
   The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
   Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
         In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
   The torch; be yours to hold it high.
   If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
         In Flanders fields.

If your creation this fortnight fits the "Remembrance Day" theme, we'd love to see you at Sparkles Forum. Once again Stitchy Bear is offering a fabulous prize to the lucky winner. Visit the challenge blog to find out all the details.

Also entered into the following challenge:
Stamps R Us Challenges - Nature's Gifts
Tracey
x

One for the girls AND a diving holiday!

An exciting post today!! I apologise in advance for any excessive use of exclamation marks.

It's time for our third challenge at The Squirrel and The Fox and it's time for my holidays to finally start! That's right, if Blogger is my friend and has posted this on time, at this very minute I am on a plane and on my way to Cairns-  the doorway to The Great Barrier Reef.

My husband AJ and I, and two of our very best friends, Amanda and Josh, have planned a two week holiday in Cairns and Port Douglas, starting with a 3 day liveaboard trip on a boat out on the reef. I have my brand new underwater camera and hope to spend a LOT of time getting photos like this one - taken at the Great Barrier Reef in 2009.

This is Wally. He is a Maori Wrasse. Isn't he divine? Oh and I'm the one that's not the fish. :)

My holidays have been a long time coming and it's been a whole 12 months since I've been diving - to say I am looking forward to this trip is a BIG understatement.

So for my DT work for this fortnight's challenge I thought I would celebrate my imminent holidays - here's my DT work for our "ONE FOR THE GIRLS" challenge:

I bought this little digi stamp online - after lots of searching for a diving related image. She's Lily in Snorkel Gear from Pink Cat Studios. I hope to look just like her for most of my holiday - with beach hair, fins on my feet (for you aren't allowed to call them flippers when you are a diver, it's like an unwritten rule) and a nice big grin!

I think I used almost every copic pen I owned creating this card. It's the first time I have coloured a background image as well as the main image.

To create the sky background I sponged it with Sky Blue Versa Colour, and the sand was created with Antique Linen Distress Ink. Everything else was coloured with copics. I cut out the cute little digi stamped girl and gave her some depth by sticking her on with dimensionals.

Anyway, I hope you all will join us with our "ONE FOR THE GIRLS" at The Squirrel & The Fox.

You behave yourself while I'm gone.


Also entered into the following challenge:
The Paper Variety - Ocean/Sea/Nautical
I Brake For Challenges - Wee Girl & Power
Little Miss Muffet Challenges - Girly Girl

Tracey
x

Cute & Cuddly

Is it Friday yet? After a whirlwind work trip to New Zealand I feel like I have easily done a week's worth of work. So tired, damn time difference. Still, only 2 days until holidays!

It's time for another challenge at Ruby's Rainbow and this time the theme was chosen by me:

CUTE & CUDDLY

I love cards with all sorts of cute and cuddly images - puppies, bears, even blue toy giraffes with sparkly spots.

This was my DT card, a card created for a friend of ours that just had a baby boy - hence all the blue. The image was a free little digi - but I have lost the details of where it came from. If you know, let me know, so I can give the author the credit they deserve. A very simple card, coloured with only two copics - B00 and B02, and the white spots with just a touch of Kindy Glitz to add some sparkle. The card was finished off with some blue stick on 'jewels' for a little 'bling'.

I hope to see you at Ruby's Rainbow this fortnight - we need lots of entries so the lovely Shaz will let me choose the theme another time. :)

Also entered into the following challenge:
Ribbon Carousel Challenges- Sparkles and Bling
Tracey
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It's Halloween at Sparkles Forum!

It's time for another challenge at Sparkles Forum and this fortnight the challenge is

Halloween!

Now as an Aussie, Halloween isn't something I celebrated growing up. But I did spend much of my teenage years engrossed in American novels like Sweet Valley High, and was so very envious of all the trick or treating and costume parties that American kids grew up with. It sounded like so much fun.

For my DT work, I created this card:

Recipe

Copics used:

Witch 's hat: YR02, YR04, YR07

Witch's Hair: C3, C5, C7; Dress: Spica 01

Pumpkin: YR15, YR16

DP: Bella Blvd. Itsy Bitsy Spider

Frog: G00, G02

Digi Stamp: Pink Cat Studio

Ribbon, brads and flowers from my stash of goodies

How adorable is this little witch from Pink Cat Studio? She is my very first digi stamp!

The challenge this fortnight is sponsored by Crafty Emma - check out the fantastic prize on offer.

I hope you'll pop over to Sparkles Forum to see what the rest of the DT have created and to enter your own Halloween themed creation.

Also entered into the following challenges:

Fussy and Fancy Challenges - Fall or Halloween

Crafty Ribbon Challenges - "BOO-tiful Halloween Projects--Pretty Spooky"

Tracey

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A new blog!

Hello All,

Originally when I started this blog, A Crafty Fox, it was for me to showcase whichever crafty endeavour had taken my fancy at that point in time - for I have a horrible habit of starting one hobby and then quickly abandoning it to start something new.

However as I have fallen in love with card making and taken to it with gusto - even starting my own challenge blog with my friend Linda and joining the DT of two others - A Crafty Fox has become a all about cards and card making. To try and incorporate my other love, photography, won't have the cross appeal for all my card making followers.

So I started a new blog today - One Little Fox Photography. Anyone who is interested can see my latest photographs, including the when, where and how. Anyone not interested can just stay here and see my cards. 

A sneak peak of what you will find in my first blog post:

To visit One Little Fox, clicky here.

Happy weekend everyone!

Tracey
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Make It Sporty!

Hello again. Please forgive me if I sound a little bleary-eyed, for Daylight Savings started today and I lost an hour of sleep. But if anything could get me springing out of bed this morning, it's announcing that it's time for our second challenge at The Squirrel and The Fox!

(okay, so I didn't exactly spring - but I did get up and make coffee and turn the computer on with a minimum of grumbling.)

As mentioned earlier, this Challenge blog aims to not only  inspire you, but also take you on a bit of a journey of typical Aussie life. So as the highlight on most sport fans' agendas this weekend is the Rugby League Grand Final, the theme for our challenge this fortnight is:

MAKE IT SPORTY

Now I hunted high and low for a stamp to suit this challenge - and finally settled on 'Rugby Justin' from The Stamping Boutique, and here he is in all his glory on my card.

Recipe

Copics used:

Uniform: R22, R27, R29, YG63, YG67, C3, C5

Skin: E000, E00, E11

Hair: E31, E35

Ball: E25 Grass: YG03

Digi Stamp: The Stamping Boutique "Rugby Justin"

Now I have to say that as my two favourite Copic colours at the moment are red and green, I coloured Justin in without realising that he is now actually dressed in the uniform of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, the team co-owned by actor Russell Crowe. Now I am not a bunnies fan (boo! hiss!), so this was not intentional - nor was the striking resemblance to a young Freddie Krugur of Nightmare On Elm Street fame - as my husband pointed out to me afterwards.

I really hope you are able to join us in Challenge #2 at The Squirrel & The Fox and to welcome our new DT members. We have a full team now (hoorah!) and the ladies have done a fabulous job on their first challenge task.

Also entered into the following challenges:
One Stop Craft Challenges - Just for Men
Cards for Men - Sports

Until next time,
Tracey
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PS - Go The Warriors!!!

One for the Boys

It's Wednesday evening here and feels like it should be Friday. Why is it that the weeks just fly by so fast - UNTIL you are counting down to holiday. Only three weeks to go until I'm back at the Great Barrier Reef scuba diving with the fishies.

Anyways, it's Ruby's Rainbow Challenge Time! The challenge this fortnight is:

ONE FOR THE BOYS

Now making boys cards is always a bit more of a challenge for me, I mean what can you do if you can't add pearls and lace?? However La La Land have the cutest little boy stamps, and with stamps like those you don't actually need many other embellishments. For my DT work for Ruby's Rainbow, I have used Fireman Luca.

My exciting achievement is the creation of a background paper using Tim Holtz distress ink. I hadn't tried it before and really wasn't at all confident, but I love how it turned out. Now a whole host of distress ink pads are on my wish list!

I hope you'll join us with your own "for the boys" creation at Ruby's Rainbow.

Also entered into the following challenges:
Fussy and Fancy - try a new technique
Southern Girls Challenge - anything goes

Until next time,
Tracey
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Sparkles!

It's time for another challenge at Sparkles Forum, and the theme couldn't be more appropriate:

Something that Sparkles!

Now I've added the odd sparkly ribbon or rhinestone to a card in the past, but I felt this challenge called for a little more creativity from me. So off I went to the local crafty store - I found one 10 mins from work! - and discovered Kindyglitz glitter glue. Oh so cool - and so easy, even I can't stuff it up.

I was looking forward to using my very first Christmas stamp - Wild Rose Studio's Milton and his sledge. Little Milton will feature heavily in my Christmas cards this year, I just love how cute he is!

Here's my sparkly creation:

As you can see I have glue glittered all over this little guy's santa suit, and also stuck a bit onto the sentiment. I then added some sparkly crystals to add some extra bling, and a silver ribbon with sparkly snowflakes. To continue the snowflake theme, I added the cutest little snowflake charm.

I wish the photo would show just how sparkly this card is. I am quite chuffed with it! I did take about eight photos to try and show off the sparkles - hopefully you can see them.

The Sparkles Forum Challenge this month is proudly sponsored by Stitchy Bear:

I hope you'll join us with your own sparkly creation.

Also entered into the following challenge:
Jingle Belles - Suzy Snowflake


Tracey
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A birthday dragon

Well it's one week into our first Challenge at The Squirrel and The Fox, and I am absolutely stunned to see how well it's going. To date we have over 150 entries, plus a bunch of wonderful comments and 48 followers. It is all very exciting, and I am spending FAR too much time visiting the blog when I should be doing other things. Case in point, it's Saturday morning and I should be doing housework.

I just wanted to share my other creation I made for the first challenge. This card was made for a good friend of mine, who celebrated her birthday a week or so ago. Renee and I worked together for years, and I count myself very lucky that our 'work' friendship has translated into a 'real' friendship and we continue to stay in touch now that I am working elsewhere. I chose this little dragon from Wild Rose Studios as the stamp for RB's card, as I thought he was super cute, and who doesn't like cake for their birthday??

Recipe

Copics used:

Dragon:YG00,YG03,E11, RV13,RV10

Cake: RV10, E25

Stamp: Wild Rose Studio - Party Fergus

Sentiment - Stampin' Up

 Anyway, if you haven't yet entered your creation into The Squirrel & The Fox, please make sure you visit us soon!

Entered into the following challenges:
Ribbon Girls - Colour challenge - greens & browns



Tracey
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We're LIVE - and Anything Goes

Drumroll.....

At  last, the long anticipated Challenge Blog The Squirrel and The Fox is live! Okay, so it's probably only been long anticipated by Linda and I, the creators, but still, this is big news! Linda and I have been very excitedly putting this blog together, and we hope that soon there will be a whole bunch of you joining in for our fortnightly challenges.

To kick things off there is a really easy theme for the first challenge:

Anything Goes

Here is one of my creations for this challenge:

Recipe

Copics used:

Toby's fur: E35, E31

Flowers: R20, VG00, G00

Paper: Kaisercraft Homemade Collection

Stamp: Wild Rose Studio, Toby With Roses

Sentiment: Wild Rose Studio

This card was requested by a wonderful friend of mine, Renee, who needed a card for a friend of hers who is now expecting a baby. I was very happy to have another chance to use "Toby With Roses", one of my favourite Wild Rose Studio stamps.

So no matter what your creation is this fortnight, I really hope you will pop over to visit The Squirrel & The Fox Challenge Blog and enter it into our very first challenge.

Also entered into the following Challenges:
Stamptacular Sunday challenge - Just Sayin'
The Paper Players - Animals or Plants


Tracey
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For the girls

It's time for another challenge at Ruby's Rainbow (seriously how is time flying by, and yet my holidays don't seem to be getting any closer? One of life's perpetual mysteries). This time it is one of my favourite themes -

"One For the Girls"

I'm not much of a girly girl - I am opposed to the colour pink, anything sparkly or frilly - unless it's on a card. So usually a girl's card is my excuse to get out the pink papers and pens, however this time I thought I would try a different colour combination. Here's what I came up with for my DT work:

Recipe

Copics used:

Hair: E35, E31,

Shoes, shirt outline: B02

Demin dress: B93, B97

Skin; E000, E00, E11, R20

Hearts: R22, R27, R29

Stamp: La La Land - Sweetheart Marci

Sentiment - Stampin' Up

Isn't she cute? Of course this is another La-La Land stamp - Sweetheart Marci. Don't you just love those pigtails? She reminds me so much of my friend Linda's daughter, Millie, who is just as gorgeous.

To see what the rest of the DT have created and to enter your creation - visit us at Ruby's Rainbow.

Also entered into the following challenges:
City Crafter - I "heart" you
Crafts and Me Challenges - add a heart

And the La La Land Crafts Customer Gallery

White with one

Sounds like the answer to 'How do you have your coffee?' I know, but today White With One is the challenge at Sparkles Forum. The challenge is to use white + one other colour on your creation. You can colour your image with whatever colours you like, but your card needs to be just white and one other colour. Here is my DT work for the challenge:

Recipe

Copics used:

Fox: YR02, YR04, YR07

Grass: G02
Embossing: Sizzix Flowers

Stamp: Fox from Woodland Folk "Home Sweet Home" set
DP: Sassafrass "Woo + Woo"
Ribbon, brads and flowers from my stash of goodies

I think it's fairly obvious what my one other colour is!

Sadly I made this card for a friend of mine who had to put her beloved cat to sleep last week. As an animal lover who lost a dog a couple of years ago, I know exactly how it feels to lose such a beloved family member. I wanted her to know I understood, and that my thoughts were with her. People give sympathy cards when people die, but it's not often animals are perceived as highly. I will forever treasure the card I received from my good friend Linda when my Lady passed away, hopefully Bethany feels the same about this one.

I've never actually made a card using such few colours, but I really like the look of it. I might have to do more like this one - and I do love using this little fox so any excuse will do.

This challenge is proudly sponsored by Di at Di's Digis

The winner will recieve 5 digital  images of their choice. Fabulous prize huh?

To enter, visit us at Sparkles Forum Challenges. Good Luck!

Also entered into the following Challenges:

Crafty Catz - Ribbon
Shopping Our Stash - Birds, Bugs or Beasts
Ribbon Carousel - Anything Goes

New Challenge Blog!

Very exciting news to share with you today - one of my closest friends (and fellow card making obsessive) Linda and I have created our very own challenge blog.

We thought it would be nice to have a local challenge blog, one that could inspire people to create their papercrafts and enter our challenges, but also teach them a little bit about living Down Under, about our culture and the fun of things like Christmas in a hot climate.

As Linda's blog is "Squirrel Snippets" and mine is "The Crafty Fox" - "The Squirrel & The Fox" was born.

We are very proud of our little blog and are counting down the days until our first challenge goes live on the 18th of September. To take a sneak peak, or enquire about being part of our Design Team click on the little "The Squirrel & The Fox" pic below.

I hope you'll join us for our very first challenge on the 18th of September.

Tracey

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Father's Day

Well it's Father's Day here in Australia, and for the last couple of weeks I have been making Father's Day cards for friends, my own Dad's card being made a few weeks prior (and posted for the Ruby's Rainbow Stitching Challenge). I loved this "Dad" paper, and loved using all my 'manly' stamps for the cards.

I've been itching to use my Wild Rose Studio stamp - Gone Fishing. Lucky for me, a work colleague has a fishing Dad, so I got to create this card:

I hope he liked it!

Entered into the following challenges:
Challenge Up Your Life - Something for Men
Fab N Funky Challenges - Go mad with embossing