.in need of flowers. July 6, 2010

It’s one of those winter days where the fog barely lifts.  You need x-ray vision for driving, at least in some parts of town (my street, for example), and you just can’t seem to get your toes warm.  So in the midst of the winter fog, I am in need of some flowers, and a card is the perfect way to get some quickly and easily!

Hope you find a way to get some brightness into your day also.

Love Ruth

 

Card designed for Moxie Fab World Layout Inspiration Challenge and Just Add Ink Sketch Challenge #24

I have taken inspiration from the button flowers in the semi-circle on the RHS of the MFW Scrapbook Layout, and from the simplicity of the JAI Sketch.

               

.buttons and lace. April 8, 2010

I sometimes find it hard to use lace on my projects.  Not because I don’t like it, but because it is a total throwback to the 8o’s for me, and for so long, we left everything from that decade well behind! 

I actually had a favourite piece of pink lace in the 8o’s that I used to wear as a kind of necklace, along with some fake pearls I had.  At the time it was seriously cool (at least to me!) but at some point, it because very not cool, and was a huge source of laughter from me and my friend who lived through that era with me!!

So to use lace in a creative way now is kind of like doilies for me.  Sweet and pretty but somehow a bit kitsch.  But I guess all things old keep making a resurgence, so I am just going with it. 

So thanks to designer paper, buttons and ribbon (in this case, lace), some cards are super quick to make and still look pretty ok!

This one is for a new baby girl and also for the Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger Challenge that is currently running.

Have you seen any of your teenage fads appearing lately?  Maybe fluoro socks, jellybean shoes, huge elastic belts, (did they have a name?), banana clips…or was that all just me?!  Let me know and we can all share a good old-fashioned laugh about it!

.happy easter. April 2, 2010

I don’t normally make Easter cards, but this year Ethan gave one each to his pre-school teachers.  They are simpler than my usual ones but I am needing simple lately.  I have a theory that I go through “less is more” stages periodically in response to the fact that I am convinced I have more words than most and can’t seem to leave many of them left unsaid!!  (Even my explanation is wordy!)  So creating something simpler is my attempt at counteracting my busy/cluttered/chatty contribution to the world.

Easter always creeps up on me because someone keeps changing the date!  But, {speaking of simple}, even when I’m fully prepared for Easter, I still prefer it uncomplicated.  Maybe it’s because I don’t want to add 3kg thanks to chocolate, or because the informal family catch-ups are so relaxed and leisurely.  But mostly, I think it’s because I love the Jesus story of Easter so much that I just want to keep it as uncluttered as possible and not get distracted by another Christmas-esque kind of silly season.  {I love Christmas too, by the way, in case I sound a bit bar-humbug!  I just prefer the simple version of that too for all the same reasons, as those who know me have to endure me telling them every year (o: }

So I guess I’m trying to say that I hope your Easter is not just another long weekend, an overdose of chocolate (not that I’d ever turn away a lonely chocolate!) or a last-minute frantic trip to the supermarket.  But I do hope it’s full of great times with people you love, and appreciation for a life given that has eternal impact, even now. 

I found this fantastic verse that says it so much better than me.  Wishing you a wonderful Easter.

“Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole”.  {1 Peter 3b-5} 

Love Ruth x

My ‘Happy Easter’ cards have been entered in the lovely Just Add Ink Challenge #11 which is wonderfully broad and all-encompassing this week!

.oriental beauty. March 3, 2010

'Hanami' wall sticker from http://www.stickyups.com

I have a love of oriental style – such a beautiful mix of minimalism and intricate design.  There is a tranquility to the style that I really like, and at the same time, so much detail to be intrigued by.  

Sadly, I’ve never even visited an Asian country – the closest I’ve come is the Bangkok and Singapore international airports.  I have been to the Asian continent, but I was in Egypt, so I don’t think that counts as an oriental adventure.  (Yes, I know, Egypt is in north Africa.  But it’s also in Asia.  The only country to span two continents, apparently.  Cross over the Suez Canal & you will hear it for yourself, I expect!)

So I’ll just enjoy some beautiful images for now…

From http://www.showchina.org

From http://www.eyefetch.com

From http://www.thedecodetective.blogspot.com Photo: Mike Richards

Hope you are finding this colour infusion good for your day!

My card below is made using the Haiku designer paper from the Stampin’ Up range.  And the stamp is from their Too Terrific Tags set.  Citrus colour combos are everywhere at the moment, but it seems that the orient has been incorporating it for a very long time!  This card was made for the wonderful Just Add Ink Challenge #6, which is always worth checking out!

Haiku double sided designer paper

Knotted string and a blossom thankyou stamp

Can't go wrong with citrus

Love Ruth x

From http://www.dreamstime.com

.dimensions x2. February 24, 2010

Today it’s mainly just pictures of some projects.  I was inspired by the current Just Add Ink challenge, which is to include dimension in your projects.  {The challenge details are here: http://just-add-ink.blogspot.com/2010/02/just-add-ink-5.html} So here are two projects that have developed.

Felt flower hair tie

Mine (left) was inspired by a design (right) by my friend and artist Christine Buist

My second project is a card (surprise!) with a super-dimension heart.  I guess the idea is reminiscent of paper tole, but not nearly as complicated or involved or skillful!  But I like the effect regardless!

I saw this frame from The Paper Tie Affair store on www.madeit.com.au which gave me the idea for my card.

You can see this and other gorgeous paper items for sale at their  store here: http://www.madeit.com.au/storecatalog.asp?userid=8540

Hope you had a great Wednesday.

Love Ruth x

P.S. Happy Birthday Graeme!!!

.a good thing. February 22, 2010

Life if full of good things if you go looking.  Sometimes you barely have to look at all, other times, well, you might need some binoculars to see them.  It’s never about what is actually there, it’s always about perspective. 

Image from http://www.giftznmore4u.com

Sometimes in life, I wish I could take my good-perspective-self and bottle her, just for those times when I lose that perspective!  I am thinking a nice ornately styled bottle – I would quite like that as a little homestead!!  {Yes, I grew up in the ’80’s and wanted to be Barbara Eden from I Dream of Jeannie!}

So right now, I’m in a good perspective stage, and I’m planning on keeping it for as long as possible!  This little card I’ve made kind of reflects that. 

"A Good Thing" butterflies card

Butterfly and sentiment stamp from SU! Time Well Spent set

It was inspired by this gorgeous card on www.papercraftsconnection.com

"Sending you Sunshine" from PC Connection

It’s a shame the weather didn’t reflect my mood when I was taking my photos.  It was very overcast and is now raining and gloomy.  But thankfully, it hasn’t changed my outlook in the slightest.  I love this quote that reminds me of who is in charge of it all, anyway {‘it’ being life in general, perspective, weather etc. etc!}: “…those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”  {from the Bible, Psalm 34:10b}

Hope you are getting some great perspective right now.  But if you’re not, I hope it’s not too long before it returns.

Love Ruth xx

“A Good Thing” card has been entered in the Paper Hugs blog inspiration challenge, which can be viewed here: http://paperhugs.typepad.com/paper_hugs/2010/02/some-fun.html#comments and the Just Add Ink Challenge #5, seen here: http://just-add-ink.blogspot.com/2010/02/just-add-ink-5.html 

.just add ink challenge 4. February 16, 2010

Okay, so I’m going a bit mad on the challenges.  But they are such good starters for projects!  Especially if you are feeling a bit flat creatively.  So today I tried out the Just Add Ink Challenge 4, which includes these 4 colours together:

The challenge can be found here: http://just-add-ink.blogspot.com/2010/02/just-add-ink-challenge-4.html

With a half an hour break in my day, I made this card to contribute to the challenge…

Friend to Friend card

I’m not sure that the colours are very true in the photos, perhaps the time of day & the photo location, but I hope you get the picture!

I used:

Decorative stamps from the KaiserCraft Lilac Avenue set

Sentiment stamp from Stampin’ Up Pocket Silhouettes set

Okay, back to the real world now, enough blogging for today!

Ruth x