My Little Paper World

I would love to be able to say that over the next few months I am going to be busy creating anything and everything under the sun, but unfortunately I will be busy packing up my craft room to get ready for the move to Canberra. This wont be my last post!! I will be back! But from next month onwards instead of physically creating I will be jotting my ideas down ready to start them in the new year (which to be honest isn't that far away!) After all there's only 60 days left till Christmas!!! (Eeeeekkk! - I better start some Xmas cards before I start packing!) Things to look forward to (creatively) in the new year: MORE ATC...not just from themed swaps, I would like to start seeing what I can create on my own. Project Life!  Yes, I am starting Project Life, my journaling skills aren't the best, but I want to record moments in an album, especially with my growing family. Organisation: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? Well, I've collected a lot of sprays, inks, distress sta...

I think I have got creative fever! Not only have I completed my Tags for Novembers swap group, but I've started another project (one that has been brewing in my creative mind for months!!!) and I have also started on the design of my sister's wedding bomboniere, guest book and order of service. I have also started buying and collecting Christmas paper and stamps, as there is only 83 days to go! So lets hope this fever sticks as there are a few Christmas cards, and tags that need to be created!!!! Anyways, here are some photo of my tag for a heart/love themed swap. Enjoy! I just love quotes like this: "Where ever you go leave a heart print" :) Challenge Entry for Anything but a Card - Think Pink. That all for today's post.  Thanks for stopping by!   Samantha

So awhile ago (like the beginning of the year) I created a list of ATC themes for myself. More like I had all these fantastic ideas and thought a ATC challenge would be awesome...  But...looking after a toddler, helping my sister with her wedding planning and invitations, house hold duties and participating in other swaps I haven't had the time or energy to put these ideas to paper.  So with the help of facebook, I sent out a message to one of my swap group pages hopeful that someone would want to do a one on one swap.  The theme I wanted to tackle was House/Home. I saw some great mixed media ideas using book paper and a collage like technique. So I was really excited that someone responded to my message.  I set a time frame which was the end of next month (October) But...the next day she private messaged me and said hers was ready to post!!!! Just what I needed to hear to get my creative gears in full swing! So Jan, thank you ...

If you've been following my blog, you probably have guessed that I am a huge fan of ATC swaps. I generally participate (time permitting) in at least 2 (minimum) a month and can and have done up to 4 a month! For those who do not know what a ATC is, here is a quick overview. Artist trading cards (or ATCs) are miniature works of art about the same size as modern trading cards or 2  1 ⁄ 2 by 3  1 ⁄ 2 inches (64 mm × 89 mm), small enough to fit inside standard card-collector pockets, sleeves or sheets. Cards can be created from various media, including dry media (pencils, pens, markers, etc.), wet media (watercolour, acrylic paints, etc.), paper media (in the form of collage, paper cuts, found objects, etc.) or even metals or fiber. Anything really! They can only ever be traded or exchanged. If sold, they are usually then referred to as art card editions and originals (ACEOs). So here is one of my ATC for this month. The theme: Circu...

Here are some Drogonfly themed tags I created for a swap. My very first! I thought that this would be an easy challenge, after all they're a lot bigger than a ATC. How was I wrong... I changed my idea 3 times before I came up with this... At first, I wasn't at all happy with what I created. It just didn't feel finished... or perhaps it was the colours that I had chosen? Something was missing... so I added a strip of gold distress paint (as you can see) around the edges and Voila'! L.O.V.E IT! Hope my swab group does to! Happy Crafting!    Samantha

Here are a few quick cards I created for a couple of birthdays for the month of August. I love zentangles and doodling, just sometime don't have the time to play around and learn new patterns. This is a great way to practise and experiment and come up with a fun, any occasion, type of card! Enjoy!  Using a square background stencil, I traced the boxes and then created 4-5 patterns and repeated them in different squares. The first one I started off with pencil, and then traced over it again in pen (micron - black .25mm 01). The second one I just did with a blue pen after getting use to creating a few patterns already. Then mat it on some coloured card stock and embellish as you wish! I have a few pins in my Zentangle/Doodling Pinterest Board - feel free to check it out. I Hope this has inspired you to try Zentangles, there is so much you can do with them. Very relaxing to do too! Thanks again for stopping by... Happy Crafting!  ...

Here is my second creative piece for my guest spot over at Viva Las VagaStamps . You can find the 'how to' tutorial and more photos over on their blog ! I created these ATC for a group swap over at 'Scrap With Us'. The theme for August was fairy, and this stamp was exactly what I needed! Quote: Don't let anyone ever dull your SPARKLE!   I have also entered this into Anything but a Card Challenge #26 Fairy Tales or Fairy Theme. Thanks for stopping by... Happy Crafting!    Samantha

Liam's construction themed first birthday was a great success! and...as promised here are a few photos of the birthday cake decoration created using my Silhouette Cameo. I ran out of time (as predicted) when it came to creating some signs (with sayings: Caution, Stop, Detour Ahead etc.). I did however, manage to create a scrapbook page guest sheet that I forgot to get people to sign (bugger!)...but I will still use it as a title page or something. I used my sketch pens when making it and really loved how it turned out. The cake! This cake was made by my sister and decorated by myself. It was a joint effort with great results... no left overs :(  Very very yummy! Here is were you can find the recipe ....for those who want to give it a go! Thanks for stopping by... Happy Crafting!    Samantha

I am thrilled to announce that I am the Guest Designer for August for Viva Las VagaStamps! This is one of the reasons why I will be super busy this month, the second is that it's my little boys first birthday! I can't believe a year has gone by, and I can't believe how quickly he is growing, and how much he is learning. Any day now he is going to just stand up and start walking!!! Invitations have already been posted, and next week I will be busy creating (and cleaning) to get ready for Liam's construction themed birthday! I unfortunately didn't have time to write a post on the invites but I created them using my Silhouette Cameo in the shape of a construction cone. I absolutely love this machine and will be creating some birthday decorations, and a birthday banner next week (which I will if time permits post some photos).  I have also been playing around with sketch pens for the Silhouette Cameo machine and can't wait to show you how great they are...

It's already August!!! I have been such a busy crafter, and can't wait to show you what I've been up to...for now though here is my first step by step tutorial for a ATC I created. ATC Theme: Seasons Title: Autumn Quote: “Autumn ~ the year’s last loveliest smile.” – William Cullen Bryant Products Used: o Black Card Stock x2 o White Card Stock x1 o KaiserCraft 6x6 Black and White Timeless Paper Pad (the leaf patterned paper) o Distress Ink Pads - Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge Aged Mahogany, Dried Marigold and Spiced Marmalade o Maple Leaf Stamp o Washi Tape o Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad o Brilliance Pigment Ink – Galaxy Gold o Glue and Double Sided Tape o Distressing Tool o Scissors o Silhouette Cameo (though it’s easy enough to cut these with your paper trimmer) First cut your card stock to an Artist Trading Card size (3.5x2.5”). I used my Silhouette Cameo which I created a template, for both the ATC and a card slightly smaller than the A...

Just sharing a Artist Trading Card I created quickly from a free digital stamp that is currently available from Unity Stamp Company Blog . They are having a little competition, basically colour the image in and create something beautiful with it. When finished post it to their 'show and tell' facebook page. There is an opportunity to win a guest design spot! I don't really expect to win - but I haven't coloured in awhile, so I thought I'd colour this image in while watching an episode of 'teen wolf'. Enjoy!  Title: Bloom Inktense Pencils and Perfect Pearls Happy Crafting!    Samantha