ADDINKTIVE DESIGNS

There's a real sweet reason to make this card today and it comes in the form of a dear lady called Betty! More about that story at the end of the post. The second reason is that I love doing Makeesha's challenges and she has put out a colour challenge for this week. I got to use the last of some Real Red card stock from my original stash, break open the 'Taken with Teal' Stampin' Pad and use its accompanying card stock for the first time! Not to mention that I also got to use some retired DSP that I was wondering if I'd ever get to use again. So, as you can tell, this one got me out of my 'comfort zone' and got my mind ticking over at full speed. It's a shame I don't have a housework fairy who does the washing, cook the tea and write my school reports! The third reason is that I got to have a go at a sketch challenge from 'Card Patterns' that I have wanted to participate in for a while. So I've combined two challenges for the firs...

Gift Tote I put together some little gift bags for a fundraising 'Car Boot Sale' that was held this morning. We all ended up sheltered in 'The Ark' safe and sound away from the pouring rain and thunder! Wow! Did the weather play up or what? Not to worry, as it was rather pleasant inside the church building and I got to talk to a few lovely ladies that enjoyed card making too. In this example I have turned a little note tote box into a little chocolate holder. I am still wondering how I can live without the Parisian Breeze DSP after December 1st clicks around. Project Recipe for Gift Tote - Stamp: Cute and Curly Cardstock: Whisper White and Parisian Breeze DSP Ink: Chocolate Chip Accessories: Baja Breeze DS Grosgrain Ribbon, Ribbon Originals - Valet, Medium Flat Cellophane Bags, Curly Label Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals and Sticky Strip for the best double sided adhesive ever! Top Note Christmas Gift Bags These little gift packs are quick and easy. The T...

Christmas Love Notes Inside a Gift Bag I have used this sketch layout for a few 'Love Notes' as it is such a simple and quick one to whip up. Project Recipe - Stamps: Cute and Curly Cardstock: Whisper White Ink: Old Olive, Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze and Real Red Accessories: Ski Slope DSP, Top Note Pattern, Curly Label Punch, Paper Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, 1/4 " Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Horizontal Slot Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals and Cellophane Bag Hope you're feeling inspired!

Gift Bag #1 Love Notes with Pocket Silhouettes Gift Bag #2 Some of you that drop by will remember these little gift bags from Caz B's Workshop. I did a special Make'n'Take that night, as her birthday was coming up. I recently finished putting together the packs that were left over and took them along to the Fundraiser I attended today. I won't post all the 'deets' except to say that I used Urban Garden DSP which I had already 'eyed off' in the American catalogue before it made its debut in Australia. So glad it came our way! Well, this is the first of three posts for today. Hope you enjoy browsing through my ramblings! Bronwyn XX

Well, I've had an interesting week at work and I was in the middle of busily preparing gift packs for a fundraiser/car boot sale at church tomorrow (Trevallyn Life Church), when I thought I had better leave my craft room and come inside to make some lunch! While the quiche was cooking, I just had to have a sneak at Makeesha's sketch challenge to see if the results had been posted. Honestly, I was taken back! It was a lovely way to end the week. I work four days a week and have been in an Acting Principal role for the last two weeks. I love my job, but gosh it has been a 'growing' time for me. I love to spend Fridays creating and today, the word 'creating' is synonymous with the word, 'de-stressing' (If there's such a word). Even though 'winning' gave me a buzz, I was more excited and proud of my gorgeous son, who just received his first year Uni results today. Well done Ryan! Our family is truly blessed. Congratulations to the '...

Hoot-Hoot Hooray! It has been a lot of fun figuring out what to do with this new sketch challenge . When I saw Makeesha's gorgeous example to go with the challenge, I was so keen to get out my new butterfly stamps and punch (available in the Summer Mini from Dec. 1st). Instead, I thought I'd try something a little different. However, I'm definitely going to make a similar card with butterflies, before the week is out! A Closer Look Supplies for Hoot-Hoot Hooray! Stamp Sets: Owl Together Now, Weathered Background stamp Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip (plain and textured), Kiwi Kiss (textured), Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla and Watercolour Paper Ink: Basic Brown, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Creamy Caramel and Tangerine Tango Accessories: Walk in the Park DSP, DS Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Button Latte, Linen Thread, Distressing tool from Cutter Kit, Stampin' Dimensionals Techniques: Watercolouring and dry embossing Here...

Seaside Thanks Stampin' Sisters in Christ have introduced a new challenge for the week, based on the verse from Galatians 6:9. Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (NIV) The US is currently celebrating a week of Thanksgiving, but here in Australia we have a National Day of Thanksgiving where we honour different groups in the community. The first year it was introduced (about 5 years ago), they recognised and thanked teachers for their contribution. A local church hosted a breakfast for all the teachers in Launceston. It was a wonderful gesture and much appreciated. Well the challenge was to make a card or project that was about Thanksgiving or that expressed thanks. I decided to enter a card that I recently made for a technique demonstration on polished stone. Please consider this a big thank you to those that stop by and browse at my blog. It is much appreciated. Project Recipe Stamp Sets: Seasid...

Pocket Silhouettes On a rainy Saturday afternoon, I set myself a challenge to use two of my new dies and to make some cards just using scrap pieces of cardstock. I had to find pieces large enough that complemented each other and that had matching taffeta ribbon! My favourite combo at the moment is Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip and Kraft. Sadly, I didn't have scraps large enough for that combination but found some other favourites along the way. Stamps from Pocket Silhouettes were used for all four cards. No. 1 - Brocade Blue, Mellow Moss and Whisper White No.2 - Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla No. 3 - Rose Red, Regal Rose and Whisper White No. 4 - Always Artichoke, Kraft and Very Vanilla I was also looking at ways to make some quick cards for the Car Boot Sale, which will be held next Saturday at Trevallyn Life Church. It's a fund raiser for the team going to Cambodia next year. Hope to see you there! I'd love to hear about what your favourite colour comb...

Jacqui's Acetate and Glitter Art One of the best things about being involved in Stampin'Up!, is that I get to take the techniques I learn, into my classroom at school. I get to play with stamps, with an enthusiastic bunch of wonderful children in my class! What more could a 'crafty' gal ask for? They had a play with the 'Acetate and Tissue' technique, which I discovered in the resources section of Splitcoaststampers. You can view the tutorial here . Jonathan's Acetate and Tissue Art Yes, I really did do this all by myself and I get to appear on Mrs. Eastley's Blog (with Mum's permission of course!). Keelin was a little camera shy but, not only is she sporting a fabulous new haircut, she's also got a very cute piece of artwork to share with us. This one belongs to Donovan, who didn't want to appear on camera. He decided to make his into a Christmas Card. I wonder who will be blessed to receive such an awesome card? The grade 5's and 6...

Thai Poo I had so much fun making this card (After a spot of Report writing first, as one has to get their priorities right!). The lovely Jim (our Business Manager at work) and his daughter, Victoria, have recently come back from a Mission's trip to Thailand. They know that I LOVE to make cards and brought me back two rolls of handmade paper made from ... elephant poo! How awesome! I couldn't wait to make something with it. There will be more creations to follow, as I can guarantee they will be a hit in the School Office! Here's the Project Recipe - Stamps: Wild About You, Owl Together Now, Birthday Wish Ink: Basic Gray, Ruby Red, Basic Black Cardstock: Going Gray (textured), Whisper White and Red Elephant Poo Paper! Accessories: Clips Assortment, Haiku DSP, 1 3/4" and Wide Oval Punches, Stamping Sponges, Distressing Tool from Cutter Kit, Aqua Painter, Stampin' Dimensionals Hope this brought a little smile :) Bronwyn

Results have just come in for Makeesha Byl's Colour Challenge for the week and, as I commented on her blog, I'm a little speechless right now! You can view the results here and check out all the other gorgeous creations in her slideshow! Had better come down to Earth, stop doing a happy dance, get off the Internet and go and cut some more cardstock for my Christmas Workshop tonight. LOL XXXX

Here's the final Christmas card - for now at least! I'm going to get stuck into planning for the launch of the new Summer Mini Catalogue, so my attention will shift in that direction for a while! Did you love snow globes when you were a child? I certainly did. When I saw these cute little 'Sweet Treat Cups' in the Summer Mini, I wasn't thinking lollies, I was imagining a snow globe with Chunky Sprinkles inside for a very cool Christmas Card! So this morning I finally got around to making one. Yay! I'm happy when I get the chance to put on paper, what I picture in my head! Snow Globe Of course, I'm also pleased when I get to use the brayer and put a beautiful full moon in amongst the scenery. Cards with silhouettes would have to be my all time favourite ones to make, so I'm very content right now with the beautiful range of silhouette stamp sets that are currently available in the Ideas Book and Catalogue. A Close Up View of the Globe with Chunky S...

Here's number 3 and 4 in a series of 5, that we'll be making at my Christmas Card Making Nights. The first one is THIS Friday. # 4 - Ski Slope Tree Trimmings I had resisted buying the Ski Slope DSP from the Spring Mini until I saw so many beautiful Christmas cards made from it. You have only until the end of November to order from the range, so if you're interested in purchasing the DSP or any of the stamp sets and accessories, let me know before we have to say goodbye to Spring and hello to Summer! I deliberated over this layout for ages (still not 100% happy), but love the fresh, vibrant colour mix of Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Really Red and Baja Breeze. Tree Trimmings got inked up for the first time, with me, and I just think the ornaments are among the nicest 'Christmasy' stamps I've seen! Here's the Project Recipe - Stamp Sets: Tree Trimmings (Spring Mini) and Short & Sweet Cardstock: Chocolate Chip (plain and textured), Old Olive, Real Red...

CONGRATULATIONS to Shelagh Moore who was randomly chosen to win a $20 SU gift voucher. Shelagh chose the second 'Polished Stone' card (pictured). Here's what she wrote - Saw all the cards at the training. Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is hard to pick but I like No 2. I love the curly label punch so much and the colours are just right.See you next year Bron. Cheers Shelagh Moore October 24, 2009 2:15 PM Thanks to everyone who entered my first little competition . Humble beginnings .. and more ideas are rattling around in my head for future ones. I've even signed up with 'Mr. Linky' so I can upload your images. So ... Shelagh, could you drop me a line to let me know your contact details and what you'd like to order with your voucher - eastleys@aapt.net.au (or at) bronaddinktivedesigns@gmail.com Kind regards, Bronwyn

Nuts About You I know I should be getting ready for my Christmas Card Making Nights, but I just couldn't resist the temptation to have a play with Keesh's Colour Challenge for the week. I hadn't done an Inkspiration's colour challenge and the combo was perfect for hubby's wedding anniversary card. I also got to ink up two stamps that I've had in my stash, for the first time!! So, all in all, it was a very worthwhile little digression from all things 'Christmas'. Here's what I used - Stamp Sets: Animal Crackers, Funky Forest Standard Wheel Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Watercolour paper, Textured - Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip and Really Rust Ink: Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip and Really Rust, Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker Accessories: Aqua Painters, Paper Piercing Pad, Template and Tool, Crimper, Jumbo Brads, Curly Label and Scallop Square Punches, Stampin' Dimensionals The challenge was to use the above combination of colours. I sh...

Deuteronomy 31:8 While browsing the web last night, I came across a site called, 'Stampin' Sisters for Christ'. They had put out a challenge to make a card etc. based on a Bible verse. This week's verse comes from Deuteronomy 31:8. Deuteronomy 31:8 "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (NIV) So, I've used the 'Friends 24-7 stamp' set to highlight that God is with us 24-7, through the good times and the bad. I have used Bella Rose DSP and the flowers were coloured using a blender pen dipped straight into the Stampin' Pad. You can view the details of the challenge here. Thanks for stopping by ... Bronwyn

# 2 - Season of Joy It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! I had a lot of fun putting this one together and was inspired by a card I saw here . Well, that's number 2 all sorted. Hope it brings you a little joy! Project Recipe: Stamp Sets: Window Dressing (L3 Hostess) and Season of Joy Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Baja Breeze, Creamy Caramel, Very Vanilla Ink: Basic Black, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa, Stampin' Write Markers - So Saffron, Real Red, Close to Cocoa Accessories: Urban Garden DSP, Old Olive 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Embossing folder, Stampin' Dimensionals Fa la la la la la la la lah ....

My first Christmas Card Making Workshop is only a week away and I thought I'd show you the first, in a series of 5, that we'll be making. This uses the absolutely gorgeous 'Winter Post' stamp set and is inspired by the tag pictured on page 25 of the Australian SU Idea Book and Catalogue. You could attach this tag to a Christmas present .... # 1 - Winter Postcard .... or place it onto some cardstock to make a cute Christmas card! I'm pretty excited about spending a couple of evenings stamping with friends. The Rumpus Room has been taken over and it is now my Stamping Room! and ... yes, there are still spots available if you'd like to come along. Project Recipe: Stamp Sets: Winter Post and Rustic Rooster (L2 Hostess) Ink: Chocolate Chip and Riding Hood Red Cardstock: Confetti White, Kraft, Riding Hood Red Accessories: Tag and Small Tag Punches, Top Note Pattern, Jumbo Eyelets (Antique Brass), Vintage Brads, Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Riding Hood Red Striped ...

My lovely friend, Leonie, was kind enough to take some snapshots of me, at the recent Hobart Field Training Event. Thought I'd post these to prove that I actually did get to appear very official and provide a five minute demonstration on the polished stone technique! Here I am with a bottle of alcohol in my hand (the rubbing variety) ready to soak the cotton wool ball, before adding drops of the Old Olive and Not Quite Navy re-inkers. Up on the big screen you can see that I have randomly placed some drops of gold ink onto the glossy white cardstock, ready for me to dab the inked cotton wool ball onto. Once the ink dries, it needs to be sprayed with a finishing sealer. It's a simple, but very effective technique and you can view the samples that I made here. While you're there browsing, don't forget to enter the competition. All you have to do is leave a comment telling me which card you like the best and why. You have until next Tuesday, 10th November, to go into ...

I love browsing at Makeesha Byl's website and have wanted to play along with one of her challenges for ages. So.. here's the first sketch challenge for Inkspirations. Oriental Inspiration I made this little Japanese Girl for my Swaps at the recent Field Training Night in Hobart. Thought it might be fun to keep the general colour scheme etc. but change the layout for this sketch challenge. You can view all the Swaps that I made here . Project Recipe: Stamp Sets: Eastern Blooms, Fresh Cuts Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Tangerine Tango, Old Olive and So Saffron Ink: So Saffron, Basic Black, Tangerine Tango Accessories: Haiku DSP, Old Olive 1/4 " Grosgrain Ribbon, Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker, Earth Element Brads, Crop-a-dile (small circle in flower), Trio Flower, Wide Oval, 1" Circle, 1 1/4" Circle and Word Window punches, Stampin' Dimensionals Here's Keesh's Sketch Challenge Thanks for stopping by. Hope your day is full of smiles ...

Thought it was about time that I had another go at a Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge . Here it is using the gorgeous set, called Razzle Dazzle, which will be released in Australia with the launch of the new Summer Mini Catalogue, on December 1st. Sweet Sunday Razzle Dazzle Project Recipe for Sweet Sunday Razzle Dazzle Card: Stamps: Razzle Dazzle, Fresh Cuts Cardstock: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Brocade Blue, Always Artichoke Ink: Always Artichoke and Brocade Blue Stampin' Write Markers, Old Olive Accessories: Scallop Edge and Curly Label Punches, Filigree Designer Brad, Stampin' Dimensionals A Close Up of Razzle Dazzle This is a gorgeous stamp set that you can use your Stampin' Write Markers with for the feature stamp and it also makes a great background! Here's Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch for the Week. Thanks for stopping by .... Bronwyn

Here's a sneak peek at one of the cute new stamp sets that will be released, in the new Summer Mini Catalogue, on the 1st December. It's called 'Hello Again'. These are the samples that we got to make in Hobart. I love the colour combination, the cute little box , the stamped envelope for an extra touch and the gorgeous ribbons! Here's a close up of the 'Retro Remix' standard wheel, which was rolled onto the top of the little box. I realised when I came home, that the semi-circle in the box opening was not centred properly. Maybe ... just maybe, I wasn't able to concentrate because I was about to do a demo straight after the Make 'n' Take session! I ended up bringing the kits home and finishing them off when I was in a better frame of mind! Project Recipe for Hello Flower Card: Stamps: Hello Again Set Card Stock: More Mustard, Old Olive, Whisper White Ink: More Mustard, Old Olive, Rose Red Accessories: Valet Ribbon Originals (Chocolate Chi...