February Stash Challenge

Hello Everyone,
It is week 4 of the month which means our host had a choice between a technique or a stash challenge. And Alison chose to go along with a stash challenge and that challenge is

I must admit that when I saw it as a technique I didn't know what to do so I went with it as a stash challenge. To look into our stashes and have a find those pieces that we just had to keep for a project sometime in the future. Well this is the challenge for you to use that stuff! 

And this is the card that I came up with

So how did I complete the challenge - well I had these trees that I had cut at a friends place and these were made out of embossed paper doilies which were left over from a party. And the sentiment came from an older paper pack but good for any Christmas card.

Thanks for stopping by and looking at my Design Team project. I hope to see your entry into our challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown Challenge. Before you go though I would like to leave you with this thought

I just had to go with this today. It gave me a laugh again when I read it and it always does. Sometimes you just need something to make your day a little brighter.

Until Next Time,
Tracy B

February Theme Challenge

Hello Everyone,

It's the 3rd week of the month and over at the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown Challenge this means it's Theme Challenge time. And our hostess this month Alison has suggested this theme

I must say that I always find winter theme cards a challenge. Because where I live in Australia we don't really have a winter ... well we do but nothing that needs snow gear unless we travel down to the south of our country. So I had to dig through my stamp stash to see what I could find because I don't really buy this theme either. But I did find something suitable and this is the card I came up with.

I am quite happy with how this came together. Even though I didn't use traditional colours at all for this card I thought the pink, blue and purples lent to the winter theme. I used my embossing supplies to give this poor leafless tree a slight covering of snow. Using my white gel pen I added some snow to the background of the "photo" which I had coloured using my Distress Inks.

Thanks for stopping by my blog and having a look at my Design Team Submission. I hope to see you over at the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown Challenge. Before you go I want to leave you with this thought

I love the advice from a tree. These things are quite good for humans to remember as well. I sometimes forget to do some of these thing actually.

Until Next Time,
Tracy B

February Colour Challenge

Hello Everyone,
The Christmas card that I am sharing today is a little on the simpler side but I am actually liking it a lot. I don't usually go for this simple but being challenged can push you in different directions. So since this is week 2 of the month it is time for a colour challenge over at the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown. Our host Alison has given us this combo to play with

52 Christmas Card Throwdown
February Colour Challenge

and with this inspiration this is the card I came up with

My Cuttlebug got a bit of a work out making this card first for the cutting of the stars and 2nd for using an embossing folder that I got from a card making magazine last year. To give this simple design a little more interest I added some small holographic silver stickers.

I hope that you will consider coming over to the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown Challenge and play along with our latest challenge. Thanks for stopping in to look at my Design Team project. Before you go I would like to leave you with this thought

I chose this quote because of the floods that have been happening in the northern part of the state I live in. The new beginning hasn't even been able to start yet because there is still so much uncertainty with the weather. I pray that the clean up can start soon and people will know the way forward from here.

Until Next Time,
👣 Tracy Blackburn

Birthday Wishes

Hello Everyone,

I have been away for a little while but now that my space is updated and I can work there again I want to get back into entering challenges. So to test out my new area I went to one of my favourite challenges and went about making a card and this is the outcome.

This card started with me finding this sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches

I loved making this card on my new table! I was using my Cuttlebug and also hand punches and my stamping tool and I didn't feel cramped for space after making each of the elements. I am really going to love creating in my new space ... thanks Hubby!

The papers for the card came from a really old My Minds Eye paper pack which has been sitting in my stash with just some pieces left. This year I am trying to use up the stash that I have before adding majorly to it. The maroon layers are staples in my stash and always topped up. But the flower and swirl elements are all from a drawer where I keep solids that are cut off from other projects but are too small to be used for a main element on a card.

Thanks for stopping by and looking at my card project. I am happy to be back crafting and blogging again. Before you go I would like to leave you with this thought

This is so true! I experienced the other side of this a little while my Hubby and I were updating my space. I wasn't able to be as crafty as I usually am and I did feel a little out of sorts because of it. I am so happy to have my space back.

Until Next Time,
🎨 Tracy Blackburn

Challenge Entered - Tuesday Morning Sketches #489

February 2019 Sketch

Hello Everyone. 

A new month which means a new host over at the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown Challenge. The month of February will be hosted by Alison. Since it is the first week of the month we start with a sketch and this is the one from Alison.

Alison chose a square card sketch but unfortunately I ran out of time to make a card of this size due to family issues. So I had to go with a card base I already had which meant making a rectangle instead. And this is what I came up with.

The only change to the dimensions are the outside which come in at 10cm x 14cm. I had these papers already in my stash at almost the correct size so I had a quick put together which was a good thing because of running behind.

Thanks for stopping by and looking at my Design Team project. I hope to see you over at the 52 Challenge Blog with your entry. Before you go I would like to leave you with this thought

This goes out to all those chronic illness warriors - I am in this club - I wish you days that are filled with light and peace. And on the days when everything seems dark remember that you are not alone even if you feel that way.

Have a Happy Crafty Kind of Day,

💜 Tracy B

Where Have I Been?

Hello Everyone. 

You may have noticed that I haven't been on lately. This has been due to two things.
1. Ill health 😒

and the craziest thing
2. Change of my Craft Space!!

The ill health has been a lot of my family including myself. This took me out because I have been looking after others - doctor appointments, return appointments and such plus stuff going on with me as well. We are all on the mend - I am hoping 👍

But the 2nd reason was my craziest idea of them all - you see I had this space

It worked OK but the desk was too small for larger stamping projects and a few other things were annoying me as well. So I asked my hubs if he would help me build a new desk and figure out new storage and this is what I have ended up with

This photo just doesn't do my new space justice! 

My desk is wide enough that I have a dedicated area for photos and my cutters are no longer taking up so much space that I can not move any more. I am not 100% back in but enough that I can do some Design Team work! 

I cut that very close and nearly didn't make it because I couldn't get a good photograph for my Design Team work that was due ... TODAY!! But I pushed ahead and got to a point where I could set up my new photo area and got a good photo! Then worked at getting my post up and ready for tomorrow afternoon 🙌🙌🙌 Don't like cutting things so close.

And of course a last thought before you leave

I am looking forward to crafting in my new space. It will be interesting to see how my next larger project goes.

Have a Happy Crafty Kind of Day,
🎨 Tracy B