Best of AGT- One of my Favourite Things!

 Okay, we need to revisit this little treasure AGAIN! 

In 2011, I wrote about the humble Bobbi Pin. 

In 2016, I included that post in the Best of AGT, with a bit of an update. 

It's 2022 and now, it's time.  Let's look back to my 2011 thoughts on this mordern marvel. 

A favourite accessory of mine!  Earlier this week, I was doing my hair and I just wanted to get it off my face and my neck and I wanted to look cute and effortless.  A few well placed bobby pins and I was done!  Although there is also something to be said for good quality hairspray.  

The humble bobby pin has been around for a long time and has been credited for many famous hairdos.  It has been portrayed in films as the magic item that can hold an entire bun in place for 5 days then break-in to the back door in seconds.  One can only imagine what MacGyver could do with one.

I wonder if you really can pick a lock with a hair pin?

Whether it's a glam-do for a night out on the town, a messy bun for work or holding back the locks while you are touching up the make up, a good quality bobby pin (and maybe a few of its mates) are a girl's best friend!

But Be Warned:
1. Don't skimp or you might as well put twigs in your hair! This is one item where, even I (cheapskate queen), must purchase quality.
2. They are precious and have a habit of "disappearing" under the bed, between the couch cushions and at the bottom of your hand bag.  You paid good money for these magical little treasures, take care of them.  
3. A single Bobby Pin can't hold all your hair in place for a week of Kung Fu fighting.  Bobby Pins work best in groups. 

11 years later, let's take a look at how the 'kids' are using bobbi pins. 

3 ways to add bobbi pins to your hair - tips from Brit Co  - includes dressing up a braid with pins and some simple twists.  There are even some for short hair! 

All Women's Talk has a bunch of different hair dos using bobby pins.  These two have to be My Favourites!

It's an Arrow! 

It's a triangle!

Brit Co also shows how to "trick out" your bobbi pins too. 

Now, let me leave you with this awesome tip.... 

Sticky Pins- lay all your bobby pins on a tissue or paper towel and spray them with hair spray.  This way, they will stick to your hair when you slide them in to your latest "up-do". 

Source

What is your favourite hair accessory? Let me know in the comments. 

Okay, Stick a Pin in it and See you next time! ;)

Just for Fun

I decided to use a writing prompt today.  I used to write from these all the time!  It's been a long while since I have, maybe because I often don't need that extra boost.  I usually have plenty to say, plenty to write about.  Anyway, let's do this.

The colours of the week....

Monday - navy blue and white blouse, with navy blue pants.
Tuesday - blue patterned top with navy blue shorts.  My striped navy blue cardigan looks good.
Wednesday - Grey tracksuit pants with a black T-shirt and pink hoodie.  My pink hoodie is really uncomfortable.
Thursday - black blouse that has pretty orange and pink florals on it, black pants with my hot pink cardigan.  I realised that I needed something more cheerful.
Friday - blue denim 3/4 pants with my rainbow T-shirt (with the word Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious).  Every letter is a different colour.  I love this T-shirt so much that I bought two of them.
Saturday - dark blue jeans and blue top with pretty white flowers.  Apparently, I like flowers on my tops.
Sunday - Red blouse (it's a uniform) with a black skirt.

I have a lot of dark colours in my wardrobe, so it seems like a dark week.  It wasn't a dark week at all.  It was a lovely week.  I just happen to look great in navy blue.

Are you totally bored.
Sorry, not sorry!

Encouragment Cards

Making Cards is so therapeutic for me. I make cards at least once a week.  Lately, I have been making lots and lots of encouragement cards.  Why?  I'm not sure.  I think, because I can give an encouragement card to anyone at any time of year.  It doesn't have to be their birthday or a special occasion for me to give an encouragement card.  Not only that, you usually surprise people with an encouragement card and I love surprising people.  Anyway, here are some encouragement cards I have made lately.

Just Keep Swimming!

This is not my favourite card, but the recipient appreciated it and now I have done it, I have lots of ideas of ways to make it better next time.

The background is blended blue inks from Catherine Pooler (I used a make up brush).  I then added a stencil over the top and blended Faded Jeans distress oxide ink through the stencil to make the wavy pattern.  Then, I wet my fingers and flicked water onto the background. It wasn't water colour card stock so I had to be careful not to get it too wet.  I dabbed the water with a paper towel so that it looked like bubbles or water.

I coloured and fussy cut a fish stamp from Kaisercraft and attached it using an action wobbler.  So cute!  Then I die cut the alphabet letters from Lawn Fawn to create my own sentiment.  Then I distressed the edges of the panel before adhering it to a standard sized card base.

Hang in There

This card was a CaSE of a card made by Lisa Lara on Splitcoast Stampers.  You can see her card here.  I didn't have the same stamp set that she used (from Paper Smooches) so I used the Chit Chat stamp set from Lawn Fawn.  I got the sentiment from an Essential Sentiments stamp set by Uniquely Creative (an Australian craft company that makes photopolymer stamps and metal dies).  I used the 8 colours in the Catherine Pooler Life of the Party Ink collection.  I had so much fun creating this card and it's so cute! I would love to make more of these.  I gave this card to a colleague who needed some encouragement this week.  The tiny black dots were made using a fine point black pen as is the line they are all sitting on.

Paper Hugs

This card was also a CaSE, but this time it was a CaSE of a card I made a few years ago!  I wanted to try a new technique with the flowers (ink blending around the edge of the flowers) and I was having a bit of a rainbow thing that day!  Here is photo of my original card.

Here is the new card.  You can see the flowers have more depth of colour, I used a green background and a completely different embossing folder.  The sentiment "this card is a paper hug" is just adorable and it's from the same Uniquely Creative Essential Sentiments stamp set.  The flowers were made using two different sized flower punches in rainbow colours.

Quotable Butterflies

I love this quote from Winnie the Pooh (by AA Milne)!  This layered butterfly stamp set from Catherine Pooler Designs is just beautiful.  It has a few sentiments that are perfect for sympathy, encouragement and just because cards. The layered butterfly and the quote really pack a punch on this clean and simple card. Check it out.

The Quote Says: 

"You're braver that you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think."

- AA Milne

FYI: I am not affiliated with any of these companies and don't receive any compensation for my comments about products I have used.

Remember to encourage the people around you.  They will appreciate it- probably more than you know.  Have a wonderful week! 

ANZAC Day 2019

Today is ANZAC day.  This is when Australians and New Zealanders commemorate the landing of our soldiers on the beaches of Gallipoli (Turkey) on 25 April, 1915.  Many Aussie's will find themselves at a March today.  Whether they are marching with an organisation, wearing medals earned by their grandfather's or waving a flag at the side, it's all important.  It's an important part of our culture because we remember a significant day in our Nation's history.  Many will also find themselves at the pub today, especially those who have been to war.  You see, today they go to the pub with mates who went with them.  They drink to peace and have another one for their fallen brothers.  Then, they have another.  

I don't know what it's like to face an enemy, watch a friend die beside you, endure torture, come home to a different world and start life again.  I don't know anything about it.  I just know that I'm very grateful for those soldiers who went to war on my behalf. I have tremendous respect for the men and women who serve their country as part of our defence forces today.  I am in awe of them.  

Today, I won't be marching.  I won't be waving a flag.  Today, I will be praying for peace.  

Below, the poem written in 2013 and edited in 2016 is republished, so it's about time we revisit it. Take a moment to "remember them" today.   

Image Source

Thank you for the ANZAC 

(ANZAC DAY 2013)

Thank you for the ANZAC

Thank you for the boys

Who bravely disembarked the ships-

Ambushed on Turkey's shores.

Thank you for the soldiers 

Thank you for those kids

They volunteered, to us defend

Our freedom-never stripped.

Thank you for their courage

Thank you for those men

Fighting for freedom and for peace

Their stories ended then.

Thank you for Survivors

Thank you for their safe return

They tell us of their hell on earth

From this, we hope to learn

We are very lucky

We never will forget

The sacrifice of millions

For Peace - we don't have yet!

Lest We Forget

The Patterned Paper Challenge

I have A LOT of patterned paper.

Although I have less than some people, I have more than I need.  You see, being a stamper now, I can make my own backgrounds for cards and I can even create patterned paper if I want to.  So,  I don't really need any patterned paper.  In fact, this year, I have used very little of my patterned paper.  Until now!

I have set myself a challenge.  I don't really need all that patterned paper, but I can't bring myself to throw it away and  have already shared some of my extras with friends.  I still have a big pile of the stuff.  So, here is the challenge... Use ALL the patterned paper!

I was telling myself I was not allowed to buy anymore patterned paper until I had used all the paper I have.  That was helping my bank balance but it wasn't really enough motivation to use it all up.  You might remember, I did a post earlier this year showing you some ways that I have used patterned paper on my cards.  I know we are all looking for more ways to use it.  Now, I'm beginning my card making with a patterned paper.  Instead of designing a card and then using patterned paper as an afterthought, I have been going about it the other way.  I choose a sheet of paper and then I design the card to suit the paper.  There are lots of ways to use patterned paper on cards and for now, I have only barely scratched the surface.  While I have made more than 20 cards since setting myself this challenge, I still have loads of paper left so never fear, there are heaps more cards coming!

Check these out!

This design is brilliant and was a CASE from two videos I watched. One by Catherine Pooler and one by The Crazy Paper Chick.  Click the links to view the videos and see the cards that these talented ladies made.  Here are the cards I made.

I made a similar card using a stitched rectangle die too. 

I paired this pink and yellow butterfly paper with Party Dress ink 

from Catherine Pooler and her gorgeous Simply the Best stamp set.  

These cards were so simple because all I had to do was add a sentiment using the Young at Heart Stamp Set by Casual Fridays or the Prayers stamp set  with co-ordinating die from Memory box. 

There are more cards that I want to share with you, so come back in a few weeks to see more.  There will be some more Clean and Simple card designs and a few that are a bit more busy.  The great thing about patterned paper is that it can make for quick and easy cards if you're in a pinch.

Dig into that patterned paper, and get creating!  I would love to see what you make.  :)

See you next time.

Card Creation Technique of the Month

I still haven't used up all my patterned paper!  I needed a break from it though.  I had some fun with a technique that is so simple and the last thing I ever would have thought to do with my supplies if I hadn't seen the You Tube videos.  

Here's how it works.  

1. Choose a colour palette of dye inks.  (I started with blues and greens)

2. Swipe the ink pads on some cardstock or water colour paper (each will give you different looks).

3. Have fun.... Try lots of different ways to touch the ink pads to the paper.  You can sit it straight on, like a potato print, swipe it softly or press down as you move it across the card stock.    

4. Spray the card stock with water and watch your inks react with the water.  

5. Lay a stencil over top and spray water onto it OR use an ink blending tool to add another layer of ink.  

6. You can use the same colour ink to create a tone-on-tone style or change up the colour.  

7. Choose some small stamps to stamp over the top in the same colours (more tone-on-tone).

8. All this works best if you let your card stock dry between layers (or you can use a heat tool). 

9. HAVE FUN with this technique.  

If you want to, use Wink of Stella, gold/silver pigment ink or just plain glitter to add some shine.  You can use the same direct to paper techniques with the pigment ink that you used with the dye inks in step 2 or, choose a graphic stamp to give it some real shape.  

I went a little nuts with this.  The beauty is, you can have heaps of fun with it because no two card panels will look the same.  So, just relax and keep playing until you love it! 

I cut down some of my panels into card front size.  A few I used to die cut some greetings like "happy birthday" or geometric shapes.  Die cutting some words meant that I could make multiple cards using the same panel.

I cut the others into strips of various widths to add to cards (like patterned paper).  Check out some of the other cards I made.  

All the ink colours are from Catherine Pooler Designs Party Collection, Sentiments are a selection from Kaisercraft, Catherine Pooler Designs and Avery Elle. These links are not affiliate and I get no compensation if you click through. :)

Have fun!

Creating With Patterned Paper!

If you are a scrap booker or stamper, card maker or paper crafter you probably own a couple of pads of patterned paper.  You might even own a LOT of patterned paper pads.  You probably have far more than you need and it's possible you don't use it that often, because it's just too pretty to cut into it.  You might not use it because the patterns don't quite co-ordinate with your card stock.  Maybe you don't know how to put the patterns together.  Maybe you just don't know what to do with it.  Or it's just more fun to play with everything else in your craft stash.  

The fact is, while you can create your own patterned paper, having some on hand can help you to make some cards quickly and easily.  There are also some great techniques with patterned paper that can be used to create some amazing cards that have great effect and make you look very clever.  I have stuck with simple designs to make as many cards as I can.  

I have a couple of paper pads and sheets left over from big packs.  I am determined to use them all.  No more patterned paper hoarding! Check out some cards I have made lately using my patterned paper stash. 

A classic and simple layout, which doesn't use that much patterned paper. 

I used nesting rectangle dies for the sentiment to make it easy. 

I just used a stitched rectangle die to cut this pattern, 

then I used my alphabet dies from Lawn Fawn to cut out the 

word: ENJOY.  

The Congrats sentiment is so gorgeous!  

It's from the 'you did it' stamp set by Catherine Pooler.

I used the same size rounded rectangle dies from Kaisercraft 

to cut the patterned paper and the gold paper. A strip of gold on the side and done. 

The stamps on this card are from Catherine Pooler

The hat and cake from the Woo Hoo Stamp Set (from a Stamp of Approval)

The sentiment from the Good Things Stamp Set.

I used dies to do all the cutting.  :) 

This set of cards was created using a set of nesting dies 

from Poppy Crafts, I can't find a link anywhere.  

The sentiment was from the Young at Heart Stamp Set by CAS-ual Fridays.

I have shown this card before, but I wanted to show it again! 

You can use paper as a whole background or for border accent. 

This card uses both.  The Sentiment was created using 

an alphabet stamp set (I don't have the source for it, sorry).

That's that then.
Happy Crafting, My Friends!

Best of AGT: The Light Bulb (a poem)

This poem was first published on 4 February in 2011 here at AGT.  In honour of my two 'happy' lists last week, I thought it was time to revisit this poem.  Enjoy

 

The Light Bulb

Today I saw a Light Bulb

In all its shining glory.

Before you scoff, remember,

Every Light Bulb has a story.

It begins with doubt and darkness,

A task that is unclear.

There might be tears or anger,

Confusion mixed with fear.

This child doesn't get it

It makes no sense up there

'What is the point?' she questions

'I don't even care!'

The teacher frowns, uncertain

Into a smile her lips then curl,

"I'll show you a trick," she says

As she sits beside the girl.

Sometimes a child just can't see.

They think a different way.

This girl feels very lonely, 

The worksheet's suddenly "mislaid."

The teacher talks to others.

She tries lots of games.

She even gives the topic, 

A bunch of other names.

One day the teacher gets it right,

She breaks right through the wall.

The little girl before her

No longer slips or falls

Instead she gets the concept.

Something up there clicks.

This little girl is smiling,

She's finally found the switch!

Then we see the Light Bulb,

It comes on behind her eyes.

Her hand shoots up into the air,

'I know, I know,' she cries.

Today I saw a Light Bulb,

In all its shining glory.

I smile because I'm so privileged,

A character in its story.

 

 



What is CASEing Anyway?

Hi everyone,
Late again... for good reason.  I was spending time with my uncle this week.  Family comes first.

A few weeks ago, when I shared my latest cards with you (Check it out here), I mentioned that I had CASEd a card.  I promised that I would explain, so here I am, ready to fill you in.  CASE stands for Copy And Share Everything.  CASEing is when you see a card (or a photo of a card) and you use it to inspire your own creations.  The important part of this is that you acknowledge the original card creator.  If you publish your card on a blog or in a video, link to the original card.  Share the love as well as the ideas.  If you want to watch how a stamping expert CASEs a card, check out this video by Catherine Pooler and check out her blog post here.

When CASEing, you can copy anything about a card, copy most of it or just one element.  Change it up using whatever you already have in your stash.  Here are some cards that I have CASEd recently.

My Birthday KISS cards based on some Thank you KISS cards made by Catherine Pooler.  Click here to see her blog post and video.

Catherine's Cards

I love these Birthday Cards...

This next set of cards was CASEd from a card I saw on Pinterest.  I LOVE Pinterest!

Pinterest Card from the Singing Scrapper (click to see her blog)

I made a set of these that I am planning to give as a gift set.

Christmas is coming.... School is nearly finished for the year.  It's a busy time.  Take some time to breathe and look after yourself.  Relax.  

See ya next week... 

OCTOBER CARDS

Apologies for the extra lateness of this week's post!  Would you believe that this week was even crazier than last week? Anyway, let's get to it.

I have been really enjoying playing with my stamps and cards and paper and stencils and spray bottle lately.  In fact, having all my card and craft stuff set up in the lounge room has made it so easy to just sit down at the table and play around in between everything else I have to do.  It's also easy to sit down and get inky INSTEAD of all the other things I have to do!  LOL.

Check out these cards!

 The Party Time card was created with some gold foil transfers I bought at the local dollar store.  This was a fun technique to try and I will use the rest of the transfers, but I'm not going to go crazy buying foil and other tools for foiling.

The Chevron 'Happy Birthday' card is one of my favourites!  I made this using a stencil that my aunty sent me.  I love it!!! I used two shades of blue ink and an ink blending tool to colour over the stencil and then I cut it to size and did some offset layering.  The "Happy Birthday" die was cut out on using Denim cardstock from Kaiser.  

The Frog Birthday Card was made using: Chit Chat stamp set from Lawn Fawn.  Hexagon dies, Frog stamp and green polka dot DSP all from Kaiser craft.  The rest of the card stock on this card was generic from a $2 store. 
There's Always a Reason to Smile was one of my attempts at making a batch of KISS cards (Keep It Simple Stamper), using a variation on one of Catherine Pooler's KISS cards.  It did not go nearly as well as things do in her videos.  I make a lot more mistakes than she does! Click here to check out her blog post and video.  You could say I CASE'd this card.  More on CASE'ing another day.  The DSP is another of my favourites from Kaiser craft.  See below for the other two cards that I made in that batch.  I love how versatile this layout is and how easy it is to adapt.  























Pink Balloon 80th card: This next card is extra special. It was a request from a co-worker.  Her Mum turned 80 and she asked me to make the card.  She also paid me! This is the first time that someone (other than Nanny) has paid me for one of my cards. Excited Much! This was a variation on some of the other balloon cards I have made before.  I decided to make two clusters of balloons this time and I really like how it turned out.

The card above right, Celebrate, is a card I made for an extra birthday card to have on hand.  I used two different sized circle punches, some designer series paper with birds.  I just lined up the circles with the birds on the paper - well almost.  I'm happy for a first attempt! 

 Can you tell I love butterflies? The hello die was a gift from my aunty and it looks great in any colour!  The Baby Girl card was made for a colleague at work who gave birth to a beautiful baby girl more than a month ago.  The Butterfly Hello card was my first attempt at inlaid die cutting.  It isn't exactly how it might look in all the tutorials, but it is my spin on it.  I like how clean and simple this card is and how cheerful it looks.  I made it for a different aunty.  She loves gardening and is such a gentle soul.  I had to use this patterned paper to make something for her.

Now for some THANK YOU cards.  I think I have made more thank you cards than birthday cards!! I love to show my appreciation for people and I love making cards for this purpose.

The first card below, Black Cat Thank You Tag card, was made for a friend of mine who kitty sat Shelly over a weekend or two.  I went away two weekends in a row and one of my former students, now a 23 year old, came over to feed and play with Shelly everyday I was away.  She also scooped a bit of poop, so she definitely deserved a card! Shelly left a note inside as well.

Now for the most important card this month.  One of my aunties shares my love of paper crafting and stamping.  She has hundreds of stamps, dies, stencils and all manner of craft supplies.  Over the past few months she has been clearing out her stash and trying to pare back a bit.  So, she has been sending me all sorts of goodies... like stencils, stamps, dies, stickers and stamped images.  She has also taught me so much simply by giving me feedback on my card photos that I send her, sharing links and project guides with me and telling me about YouTube channels to watch.  I have really grown as a crafter and stamper in the past four or five months and all because of her.  So, I decided it was time that I use some of the lovely stamps and dies she has sent me to make her a card.  I used some techniques she showed me too.  The best part was that she wasn't expecting it and she was really impressed with it.  (Insert Giant Grin here!)  If you are wondering, the flower and leaves matching stamps and dies, were a Free Gift in the September Simply Cards magazine.  My aunty bought a copy of it and her daughter bought it too, so they sent one to me! I'm so lucky!

I have made a few other cards this month, but I think you have probably had enough?  I know I have.  You might get to see them another time. By the way, I do my best to acknowledge the designers of stamps, dies and other products that I use when making my cards.  However, much of my stash has been acquired over time, from others giving away things they no longer use, or purchasing from discount stores.  I don't have a lot of money and I try to stretch my crafting dollars as far as possible.  No apologies for that!  My point is, that if I don't know where it came from, I can't tell you.  

We are heading towards Christmas.  Yes, I have started shopping and making cards!  Work is super busy with no sign of letting up.  I have no idea what next week will bring. So, we will all be surprised together! Hopefully, I will finally get to post on time.  

Stay Cool!