A Little Crafting and A Couple of Photos.

These are a couple of tags I stamped with my home made stamping tool seen in a previous post. I am waiting on a delivery of coloured tassels to arrive so I can attach them to each tag. I will use coloured thread/ribbon and then the tassel. This will be threaded through the punched hole. I bought the tags about 2 years ago, bought them home ad forgot about them until recently. I will also colour the stamped images. The cat and mouse images are both from AAL & CREATE stamp sets. The Cat set number it TP1405, and the mouse is from set number #11.

The photo of the Autumn (Fall) trees below is one  I took just on sunrise. The next photo is the same tree taken as the sun was setting. At sunset the tree literally glows, as you cab see. 

The tree now has no leaves at all, and when the sun hots it at the right time, it looks 'ghostly' with it's almost 'white' branches. This view is what I see from my kitchen window. It's a lovely view, and is forever changing as other tree's grow up and around it.

I've had a few health issues lately and haven't done a lot of crafting. In case I haven't mentioned it before,(lol) or maybe you are a new visitor to my blog - welcome if this is your first visit - I absolutely HATE Winter. We're only a few weeks in to Winter and I am over it already! We have had some absolutely stunningly sunny days with beautiful cloudless blue skies, but oh boy it has been cold. It was 6c when I got up this morning. It will get warmer as the day goes on, but I don't like the cold. So far we haven't had too many rainy days. Ok, that's it for this post. I hope everyone is well and enjoying whatever crafting you are doing! Always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

 

I Made A Mini Stamping Platform!

 I am getting bored not having my reading glasses, but I have not been idle! (Another 3 days to go until I  get them... Woohoo!) I wanted a small stamping platform and couldn't find one online here in NZ. Being in a small country at the bottom of the world means finding the craft items I want or need can be challenging. The only small 6x6 inch platform  I could find here in NZ was out of stock:-( Typical and so frustrating. So this is what I did...I found and empty DVD case.

Below, I cut 3 squares of fun foam to fit in the case.

Trim off any of the foam that is too big because you need to dvd case to close.

In the photo below you can see on the right is the tag I was stamping on to, and on the left hand side of the dvd case is the tiny mouse stamp I was stamping on to the tag. All I did was ink up the mouse stamp and close the lid, which then stamped the mouse on to that casts head. I took did use low tack tape to hold the tag in the right place but had removed it before I took this photo.  This size stamping platform works well and I had no issues with it. The DVD case I used measures 5 1/2 inches by 4 3/4 inch. Depending on the depth of the case, you could add more fun foam if you needed to, or if the case was very flat you may only need 1-2 pieces of foam.

Let me know if you tried this idea, and how it worked (or not). I have a Tim Holtz stamping platform, but it's much bigger and so takes up more room on my desk. Because I was stamping tags (which I will show you in my next post), I wanted a smaller platform. Thanks for dropping by! Have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

K.Mart Aftercare.

My microwave recently conked out. Time for a new one, so I ordered it from K.Mart. Before I get into it, I apologize to anyone who may work at K.Mart. I love the place, but I don't love their aftercare. I also ordered a couple of other small items. So 3 days ago my order arrived just after 5 pm.  Two large very heavy looking boxes. "Wow" I thought, "there must be a lot of  packaging inside." One of the items was an Induction Plate. Upon opening one of the boxes I discovered there was 4 Induction Plates not one!

It was after 5 by now so no point trying to call K.Mart to sort out a return/refund as they close at 5 pm. So I have spent the 2 two days trying to sort it out. Unfortunately, no matter what I tried, I could only get and AI chatbot which didn't help at all. No matter what I did, or what phone number I rang, all I got was AI. Feeling soooo frustrated this morning, I called my local Citizens Advice for help. Eventually the lady was able to direct me to an email site where I could ask about a return/refund. I am partially sighted, which would be obvious if you met me. So I sent an email and explained I was partially sighted and told them my issue and asked how to return and get a refund for the 3 extra Induction Plates. I gave them my order number, my phone number and my email address. I am now waiting on a reply.

However, I am frustrated that the only "help" online is an AI chatbot, and there is no way to speak to a real live human being.  If I had a basic question the AI chatbot would have been fine. To not be able to speak with a real live person is not good enough K.Mart. I know AI is everywhere these days, but in this situation it's a waste of my time. Yes, I know it's my fault I ordered 4 of the Induction Plates, but K. Mart's  Aftercare is not up to standard. Ok, I've had my rant now! Thanks for dropping by! Have a SUNSHINE  day! Remember to always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

I Know What I Said, But...

 I cannot sit and do nothing! Even without my reading glasses I just have to do something crafty! I have these two stamps which were mounted on wooden blocks.  They measure 4 /14 x 4 inches and were always hard to create a nice solid image. 

So I put the stamps (1 at a tine) in the microwave and nuked it for about 14 seconds. This was enough to soften the sticky stuff that held the rubber stamp on to the wooden block, and I was able to carefully peel the rubber stamp off the wooden block. Does that make sense?! 

I attached the images to some foam cushion read to use as cling stamps. I will use my stamp platform to stamp the images when I am ready. Once u had done that I put the wooden blocks back in the microwave for about 10 seconds and was able to remove the stickers with the pictures on. While the stickers of Minnie and Mickey Mouse were still sticky, I put them on to a sheet of clear window plastic and carefully cut around each picture. This means it will be easy to see where I want to stamp each image.  There will be no guessing and oping that I have the image in the right place. I bought these stamps when I was in Sydney one time. Now I just need to make a card using them! (When I  get my new reading glasses...)

I'll tell you a funny story about Mickey Mouse...when I was at Disneyland I had my photo taken standing next to Mickey Mouse. "Now is my chance", I thought...

So I asked Mickey Mouse to marry me! He put one hand over his mouth and the other hand on the  side of his face, and the girl taking the photo quickly said, "Oh he can't marry you, Minnie Mouse would be so upset"! So that was it, Mickey Mouse and I did not get married! But I did get some nice photo's of me standing beside Mickey! Thanks for dropping by! Have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

I Discover Simon Hurley Solar Paste!

 

I know I said i wasn't going to be posting anything for 2 weeks because I am waiting to get my new reading glasses but...I just had to post this! I embossed a piece of black card using one of my embossing folders. 

Then I used some Simon Hurley Solar Paste (Golden Hour is the colour) to 'colour in' the flowers/leaves. To apply the paste  I used a thing that looks like a paint brush, but instead of a brush it has a very small sponge tip. I also used Solar Paste in the colour of Cross My Heart, which is a pink colour. These are so shiny when they catch the light! I love them! You only need such a small amount as it goes a long way. I did all this before my glasses broke. I really can't see up close without them, and if only you could see how many mistakes I have made typing this! It's taking me ages to get this typed. I added a small bit of the Gold to the center of each flower. You really need to see it in the sun, it shines so nicely! To finish the card I will die cut a Butterfly to add on it. (When I can see properly!) Ok that's it for now! Thanks for dropping by! Have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self and shine bright each and every day!

Frustrating!

Just letting you know I won't be posting anything for a couple of weeks. While I was in the shopping mall recently, I dropped my reading glasses. What I didn't know at the time was, one of the lenses had fallen out. Which means I can't read or do anenlarge stuff on here, whcih helps byI can thing that needs reading glasses. I have a new pair on order, but they won't be here for another 2 weeks. And yes, I am having trouble typing this! It's so frustrating because I have projects half finished, that I want to get done. (And something new!) As soon as I get my new glasses I will be back posting. Until then, thanks for dropping by! Have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self and shine bright each and every day!

 

I Made A Card!

Here's my firsts card I made using the embossing method I've been practicing for the last few days.  I lightly sprayed a piece of SU Soft Suede cardstock with some water. Once that was dry, I went and embossed it using a Lisa Horton embossing folder. (I can't remember what it's called.) I then used a Brilliance Moonlight White Archival Pigment ink pad to lightly 'tap' ink all over the raised embossed image. Then I sat the card in the sun for s short time to dry the ink. Once the ink was dry, I used some little 'sponge' brush things and added EYE SHADOWS - yes, eye shadows, to colour the images. Eye shadows are just miniature pan pastels and work really well on most cardstock, so I discovered! The green and yellow are both Pan Pastels. The pink/purple flowers have some glitter on because one of the eye shadows was glittery. I added the at and sentiment, and lastly added a few drops of white Nuvo Drops. Once those were dry I adhered the panel to a white folded card and it was done! I'm so happy how this turned out and will definitely be making some more using this method. I will try to capture another photo so you can see the sparkly bits.

Here's what I have learned about creating these types of cards.

1.Make sure you are using a well inked white ink pad, otherwise you don't get a good result.

2. Spray your cardstock with water before embossing. This will ensure you get a nice crisp, well defined image.

3. Use quality cardstock. I used Stampin' Up! cardstock for the embossing, and Neena for the white cardstock.

4. Don't be scared of experimenting with eye shadows for colouring!

4. Have fun and don't give up when things don't work.

There's probably more tips, but that's just a few off the top of my head. 

Thanks for dropping by! Have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!