Buckle Up......

Safety First, I always make sure my blades are protected after each use so I don't stab myself. Even iin my tote bag everything sharp and pointy is covered and protected so that when I reach blindly into it I won't be stabbed.   And my guilotine is uniformly almost always put back in the down position, mostly because I know my eldest ""kitty kid has a habit of being able to open the heavy mind you sliding doors and jumping up where my guilotine is and it always has me thinking what if he pushes the lever down on his tail one day?

But with these cards we don't have to worry much about safety.  I love these buckles from
Spellbinders shapabilities collection.  I should have used more shim though to create a deeper impresion of the patterns on the buckles.  As time was of the essence I forwent the unique and detail of the design....I choose to let the buckles slide on the ribbon rather than affix them to the card.  Perhaps because I am tactile and it gives my hands something to do.  The buckle does look more finished off with bling added to it which was the suggestion of my non crafting dearest and fondest friend, who simply loves to watch other cpeople raft than actually craft herself.  I don't get it, but she assures me she is fascinated....

DEETS:

A5 Cream Cardstock - Mountin Fold

Die - Spellbinders - Shapeabilities Collection - Ladies Fashion Buckles

Embossing Folder - A2 QuicKutz - Flowers

Ribbon & Bling

Have a safe day, have a fun day everyone

Maree Long

Swiss Dots II

Working on so many cards with a deadline to meet - keeping my swiss dots out was a quick help in deciding the background texture.  Putting the gift pack together it also looked better in sets of a three minimum of each design.  This way I was able to get a production line going, of course what was in the scrap pack determined what colors and style I would create.....especially if you only a had a minimum of an embellishment, ribbon or paper design.......

DEETS:

A5 Cream Cardstock - Mountain Fold

Embossing Folder - Swiss Dots - Cuttlebug

Punch - CP I & 2

Punch Border - Punch Border Eyelet - Stampin Up

Ribbon & papers

I worked on most of the remaining cards during a Christmas Eve in July Event.  A sleepover for us ladies to get together have some fun crafting, feasting and boy did we eat well.  A table laden with honeyed Julienned carrots & inted peas, crunchy golden baked spuds with spicy plum basted chicken and gravy.  For desert christmas pudding and custard of course - and everything was made from scratch and particularly pleased how well the pudding turned out.....You will be able to find the pudding recipe in my recipe section or use the link http://wildoppycraft.blogspot.com/p/recipes.html  I also hope to show you some of the cards for the card challenge where each lady had to supply an element....

Oh and I can't wait to show you some of the decorating accessories I have been working on for my crafting room......keep you posted

Maree Long

Swiss Dots

I found that by the time I got to my 50th card, I was actually the one encouraged by the words of scripture that were intended as a collection gift pack for a Minister and his wife who had kindly served as a locum or interm pastor.  I noticed during their service to our church during their six months,  the care, love and humility of everyone.  The idea of creating so many cards as a gift pack was spurred on by Shelley who does the same.....so I thought the Pastor and his wife would be the perfect recipient as they travel back to New Zealand.

I also found that I was able to memorize the scripture verses, how easy such memorization comes to you when you create the cards in sets of 4 or six.  Spend time cutting out, inking, mounting and decorating around the verses.

One of the things I love doing is  raiding my scrap packs which are all sorted into various colors.  The blue matting and ribbon on these cards came from my friends', grand daughters wedding invitations that were left over. 

DEETS:

Embossing Folder - Swiss Dots Cuttlebug

Label - Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Three

Sun Punch - CP11  & L-EM

Daisy: CP 1 & CP2

Leaf:  unknown - maybe someone will let me know?

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink - ""Stormy sky by Ranger from Kaszazz

Have an awesome day everyone knowing that indeed you are inscribed in the palm of the Masters hand....

Maree Long

let me introduce Shelly

Today I would love to share with you two talented crafters.  Shelly is a lovely hearted woman who designs inspirational cards and I am proud to have her in my fav craft links http://shellysblog-ne.blogspot.com/  What I like about her cards are the warmth they exude and how encouraging many of her cards are...  Which is not surprising as she is a most encouraging woman herself.

I created this card as part of a set to give away a collection pack of 50 encouragment cards.  I simply tied them up in bundles with Ribbon.  This text was kindly designed by Shelley.  I thought the colors work particularly well to give to a male.

DEETS:

A5 Black cardstock -  Mountain Fold

Background:  Houndstooth - Cuttlebug

Flourish:  Sizzix #10

Carl Punch: Daisy CP2 & CP1

No Greater Love...

Of course no greater love than Christs love for mankind.  But then there is the special kind of love a mother has for all her children.  You invest money, time, wisdom, kindness and hope that at the end of younger tender years of teaching your children will blossom into the kind of adults that you are proud of.  The kind of adults that are leaders full of love and kindness.

As a parent, love has been the motivating force in all that I did as a parent, even the bits that maybe I could have done better or wished I had done better.  My husband and I are very proud of all our children.  All are leaders in some measure in their daily life.  All take care of their partners and children.  All make sure just as my husband and I did to ensure our children have the chance to blossom and be strong individuals with rounded characters.  And I do think they blossom rather nicely.

So here's a quick card make dedicated to all those mums who loved their children with the kind of passion for love to blossom in the lives of their children.  To those kinds of mums who love unconditionally. So with my daughter by myside and a parcel from my God mother it certainly makes a great day perfect the next.    My Godmother has been such a mum who has always loved unconditionally, always imparting wisdom and showed the very best kind of friendship to my own mother all these years and been the best kind of God mother even into my adult years. I've always said my mum chose wisely.

With a surprise knock at the door, in a parcel, carefully wrapped in bubble wrap and yards of fabric I find a beautiful pink and gold trio set to add to my collection along with some vintage lace.  My Godmother always finds ways to inspire and encourage.  Whether that is in a postcard from a far off land (as she used to travel quite a lot) or in a kind word, a friendly and timely email or fwd, and of course in a most thoughtful gift.  This gift is one to be especially treasured as it belonged to my God mothers mother.  I am still in awe how it all arrived in one piece.



Treasured Trio



How exquisite is this trio and vintage lace!. How exquisite is my Godmothers love.  And I  love being surrounded by "love" gifts for it expresses and represents a reminder of the person whom I love and who has loved me....in this case all of my 50 + years.

When you leave a comment on the card why not share about something you treasure.

Maree Long.

I have always thought children a gift from God - Psalm 127:3.  did you know the greek word philoteknos appears in reference to mothers loving their children? If you love your children you will want to affectionally embrace them, pour out your love on them, knowing that each child is unique and a special gift from God. Titus 2:4  I sometimes wonder if I embraced, hugged and told them enough how much I love them, but every time I see them I make especially sure they are told because they are a unique and treasured gift from God. 

A little birdie told me....

Again working with the same color them as I did the owl in my previous post, I went for simplicity.  Some basic matting and utilising the two step bird punch large from Stampin Up.  I inked the edge of the tag and folded over the ribbon upon itself underneath the tag.

Whilst I am posting my cards and so far so good, I did need a little help from my daughter to figure out how to get my photos from my laptop onto my main computer.  Clearly I can see I need to learn how to take pics of my cards and resize them.  A short intgerlude of shopping to pick up some unscheduled craft supplies ensues and then its back to the craft room. I get so excited every time when my daughter comes over for a mother and daughter day. 

And today I have the pleasure of my daughter crafting with me the whole day.  We have and understand the same kind of bent humor in most things, love color, design, textures. In fact my daughter is repsonbile for getting me into cardmaking. My daughter has a very keen eye for color and design and loves to keep things simple and clean.   I get very excited when ever my daughter and I get together, we laugh, we eat, we brainstorm, collaborate on each others projects.  It makes for a perfect day. 

But right now towards the closing of the day my craft room seems to have only one person whiling away the crafting hours.....   So I give a shout out, but no response comes,  I call out Marco?  but the obligatory Polo response, usually reserved for our shopping trips down the big aisles remains silent.  So a search party of one starts through the house and there curled up on my bed, I find my now grown baby with the "kitty kids' fast asleep.

Time to start preparing dinner...

Maree Long

A Hoot of a time....

I made this card at a  craft camp with some very dear friends whose company I enjoy and enjoyed putting together these colors.  My younger sister who is an avid collector of all things owls and I do hope that she is still collecting as I have now,three special owls for her, to add to her collection.  Only they always seem to fly off and hide and I find them again promising myself I will post them.  One day.....

I borrowed Margies Two Step owl punch extra large from Stampin Up #118074.  And borrowing is an easy way to cut costs and help you decide if you really want to have that "must have' product.  Of course you can do all kinds of clever things with the owl punch like create monsters, aliens, penguins & octopus.  And you have to like working with  fiddly bits like the eyes and heart.  I used the leaf from Stampin Ups Two Step bird Extra Large punch which is even more versatile and one that was definitley a must have in my punch collection. I've yet to decide about the owl punch but most likely will make it's way into my collection next time I order.

When ever at any of these craft camps and get togethers we always have a good time as we build upon our friendships and share ideas and techniques....And this card is very basic, some matting, some ribbon but very effective when you use the right colors.  the ribbon was a pefect match for the print with the circles and orange dots

But I have yet to find a friend who will deter me from spending in a craft shop.  So perhaps a good friend is one who shares the same passion in life for crafting as you do and understands how you love paper and cardstock.  A better friend will know what color paper and what texture in cardstock you like.

Wishing you good friendship along lifes way


Maree Long

Good friends will have a positive influence on you. From Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 it talks of two are better than one, it's the same verse I used at my wedding and it's a benchmark for the kinds of friendships I select and you know what it makes sense - One can enocurage the other, pick up the other when down, stand together and hold your hand  .  but no better friend have I found than that which I have found in Jesus... John 15:12-14 (NIV) says, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.