Art With Heart Team Blog Hop - Christmas in July

Welcome to another Art With Heart Team Blog Hop! Who are the Art with Heart team? Lead by Claire Daly, there are over 90 demonstrators across Australia ... if you want to be come part of this great team just email me for more details. There's a special on just now for joining demos .... check it out here. 

You may have just come from Kristine Thompson's blog, but if you are starting here, don’t worry … you can make the complete journey just by following the links at the end of each post. There are over 10 stops along the way and we hope you will visit each one to see the wonderful creations we have to show you! If you leave a comment on each and every blog and then email me, Nikki at nikki@inkyart.com.au, your name will be put into the hat to win some beautiful blog candy. There is a deadline of 72 hours to leave your comments and only non SU demos are eligible to win the candy - although we'd love all visitors to leave some comments please. 

So on with my contribution ...

 I've created a double page spread using Whisper White and I created the background using the Lovely As A Tree stamp set to create the border along the bottom and the snowflake from the Winter Post set to create the border along the top.

(Sorry about the flash in the photos), here's a close up on the first page - can you see all the Dazzling Diamonds ... I was very sparkly I can tell you ... but Christmas isn't Christmas without a bit of sparkle is it!  I just ran a Two Way Glue pen here and there and then sprinkled the super fine glitter all over.

The numbers are from the OnBoard Timeless set - coloured in with Old Olive marker and then covered with Crystal Effects and more Dazzling Diamonds.

And the second page.  I've used a piece of Holiday Treasures and some felt flowers - you can find these on page 144 of the catalogue.   

Well, that’s all from me. Now you’re off to enjoy the beautiful creations of Erica Boxall, a very special lady who is very creative.

And don't forget to enter the draw for some candy.

 

 

Art with Heart Team Blog Hop - Women In Our Lives

Morning and welcome to another Art with Heart Team blog hop .... celebrating the women in our lives.  You may have arrived from the lovely Ros Davidson's blog but if you haven't, don't worry, hop on board here and you won't miss a thing.

Now firstly I have to start with an apology ... my photos are shocking ... sorry ... only realised yesterday morning that as I hadn't yet finished my project I would have to take photos in artificial light ... ooops!

Now the title Women In Our Lives .... as I am sure most of you know the most important woman in my life lives in England .. yep my Mum ... there was another ... my grandmother who sadly isn't with us anymore but I had wanted to scrapbook a photo I know I have of all of us (mum, granny, Olivia and I) but do you think I could find it ... nope but I will ... and so that will have to wait for another day.

Other women in my life include all my friends, and I am lucky enough to have girlfriends scattered across the globe.  I decided it was too hard to choose just one group so I chose a favourite past time instead.  Lots and lots of my friends are avid readers ... in fact I belong to a book club and we meet once a month.  So here's what I have made ... 

This is the book I am half way through ... and yes book club ladies I know I am supposed to have finished it over a month ago but .... I've been busy scrapbooking and card making :o)  Do you see what I am using to save my page?  Yes a lovely bookmark.

And here it is in close up on another favourite 'book' of mine ... the latest mini catalogue (yes yes I know I am obsessed)!

These are so easy to make, quick and very cute.  I am planning on sending all of my girlfriends one of these - it might take me a while to complete this task but I know everyone will love them.  

I've used Fifth Avenue Floral, a recent addition to my collection to create the centre piece.  Card stock colours are More Mustard and Chocolate Chip.  If you would like the pattern leave me a comment and I will email one to you.

And here's a picture of this month's blog candy ... a pair of bookmarks to either keep for yourself or to pass on to another as a gift.

So how do you win this candy?  Continue through the hop and leave a comment on everyone's blog and then email me and let me know.  All the names go into a hat and a lucky winner will be drawn.  It's that easy!

So you had better hop along to the next stop Tanya Westwood.  Tanya is a star scrapbooker and the host of the Stampamemory site ... if you love scrapbooking bookmark this site - you won't be disappointed.

Off you hop and don't forget to comment and enter our blog candy prize draw.

 

The Art With Heart Team Blog - Valentines

Finally after much behind the scenes planning, Ros Davidson and I have orchestrated a new monthly blog hop with the Art With Heart team. 

So who are the Art with Heart team? Lead by Claire Daly, there are over 80 demonstrators across Australia ... if you want to become part of this great team just email me for more details. We have a great team forum, Business Building Club and heaps of support from other like minded demonstrators - I love it ... whilst we are all 'independent' demonstrators being a member of this team means that no-one is on their own ... team support is priceless!

So on with the hop ... you may have just come from Erica Boxall, but if you are starting here, don’t worry … you can make the complete journey just by following the links at the end of each post. There are 11 stops along the way and we hope you will visit each one to see the wonderful creations we have to show you!

I have used the I {Heart} Hearts and Real Red ink to create a very striking colour combination with the Whisper White.  The box is so easy to make (thanks to Kimmy Mieklejohn for showing me how to make them) - leave a comment and I'll email to you the template and instructions.

I'm going to fill this box with my husband's favourite lollies - he'll love it.   You can make these any size you like - I make mine and then flatten it out again ready for stamping.  I've stamped extra hearts and cut them out ... and used Dimensionals to attach them to the box.  The jumbo eyelets have been set with the crop-o-dile ... so easy and so quiet (if you've ever tried to set an eyelet in the dead of night with a hammer and setting tool, then you'll know what I am talking about!).

For the card I have scored two lines around the edge for extra (and quick) interest, stamped more hearts in Real Red and used the same eyelets and ribbon.  

Now I have a confession to make ... I was trying to tie a pretty bow but it just wasn't happening ... so whilst I was getting into a pickle I noticed that the ribbon looked good just twisted - I am really pleased with the result, far less stressful and its looks a little different too.  I've covered all of the hearts with Crystal Glaze - love that stuff!

So do you like it?  Leave me a comment if you do .... if you leave a comment on each and every blog in the hop and then email me at nikki@inkyart.com.au, your name will be put into the hat to win some beautiful blog candy. There is a deadline of 72 hours to leave your comments (that's 6.00am AEST 3 February) and only non SU demos are eligible to win - although we'd love all visitors to leave some comments please.

Well, that’s all from me. Now you’re off to enjoy the beautiful creations of Sue Madex who is another Melbourne based demonstrator.

Next month's theme is Easter ... looking forward to bring you something egg-sta special on 28 February - (sorry terrible joke)!

For my regular readers, the February newsletter is almost complete and will be emailed next week ... if you aren't on the mailing list and want to be, just complete the box on the right hand side.

 

The Holidays Are Nearly Over!

Does that make you happy or sad?  I'm sad because I've had quite a bit of time off work to spend with my family and it will be Easter before that happens again, and happy that our family life will soon be full of routine and order once again!

For the past few days we've been having fun with our best friends .... Australia Day was spent eating yummy hamburgers and playing backyard cricket and then I was the mother of four lovely children for a two night sleepover - from camping expeditions in the back garden for the younger two, to taking a million photographs in all sorts of poses and positions for the older two ... and plenty of card making for me, we've all had fun (poor Paul has started a summer school course - it's been a shock for him to be back at his desk studying again).

The younger two Tess and Kieran, sat with me to make cards and here they are:

Tess' creations .... my version of 'that' box will be back on Sunday with the template!

 More of Tess' creations ... she loves sponging!  

And finally Kieran's - now don't tell him that you've seen this because he said I wasn't allowed to post it here ... apparently it is 'gay' ... don't you love the vocabulary of today!  I love it - what do you think?

Well I hope you are making the most of your last days of the holidays ... or perhaps you are now enjoying the routine of school again already.

Back again on Sunday 31 January .... something exciting is about to happen ... the Art With Heart Team Blog Hop .... you'll have to come back on Sunday to find out more.

Have a beautiful day.