Step by Step - Mimi in Paris

Meet Mimi - she is such a cutie and comes in several versions including this one of her sitting at a cafe table in Paris or walking her pet poodle. The set of clear stamps is from PennyBlack. For this mini card you will need the followinga base card (pre-scored or make your own 4"x4")
a square of cream card
white card for stamping
embossing folder of your choice
a red and brown colouring pen and paintbrush
black pen for outlining frams
frame from Nestabilities
some pink jewels
Pumice Stone distress inkpad
Black StayzOn for stamping

Cut out a frame (Nestabilities) from white card and stamp Mimi in the centre. Stamp the Eiffel Tower and words on the remaining scrap of card. Use a waterproof ink such as StazOn if your are using water-based colouring. Run a 4" square of cream card through an embossing folder using a Cuttlebug or Big Shot machine.

Rub a light brown inkpad (I used Pumice Stone Distress ink) over the embossed card to highlight the pattern and cut to 3 3/4"to fit your card leaving a small border. For your base card you can either use a pre-scored card (in white) or make a darker version from a piece of Java Bazzill 8" x 4". If using brush markers, scribble red and brown onto a white saucer, tile or paint palette. Dampen your paper first to help the colours blend more easily. Mimi's face is a very weak wash of both colours mixed together and her socks are coloured using the fine end of the marker straight on to the image.

Sponge brown ink around the edge of the image then add a black dashed line to resemble stitchingand layer on the embossed backing card and base card. Put a jewel in each corner, cut out the stamped and coloured image of the Eiffel Tower and turn the 'Ooh' la la greeting into a small tag by snipping off two corners and highlighting the edges with pink using your paintbrush. Raise it up by fixing on to the card with foam pads..... et Voila!

Another step closer!

Whoopeeeeee. Just got the request for the final VAC (Visa fee). Can't believe I'm so excited about handing over thousands of pounds just to become Australian residents! Should have the Visas in a month or so and, once the house is sold, we'll be off to our new life in the land Down Under.

Up, Up and Away

No, not us - just the name of a collection of papers from Kaisercraft!
I bought a 6" 'paperstack' after being inspired by these 2 cards in Kaisercraft's huge shop in Adelaide earlier in the yearI made these 3 samples for the class ...

4 of us made three cards each (so that's 15 in total so far now)

and, even after sending this one, there are still some whole sheets, usable pieces, borders and embellishments (assorted tickets) left in the packSo ....... 16 cards made so far and I could probably squeeze another 6 more simple collage-type cards and still have some left-overs!

What a bargain - all that for just $5 (about £3.50)!

Sale going well

Lots of items have been reserved or taken and the money raised is going to special projects/charity. Anything left when we are ready to move will be given to charity or taken to the dump. I'm now off to deliver the Royal Doulton dinner service.

This week's cards

In Monday's class we were playing about with the Jacob's Coat' technique (inked backgrounds and clear resist stamping) Here are a few of the results.

Computers!

Back in cyberland again and enjoying playing with my new laptop. Most things are working well (apart from Skype) but I do seem to have lost loads of old important emails stored in various files and all my contacts. Thankfully ones I need have been printed off and I did a spreadsheet of all my friends email addresses before we went to Oz so not too much damage done.

The 'For Sale' sign is up and we have our first viewing tomorrow! Scary.....

What a week!

I am computerless at the moment (having sneeked on here at work to update you with the latest news). Mine has gone in for a clean, update and to tranfer data to a new external hard drive and laptop before getting packed up ready for shipping.

After a nail-biting few days we heard on Monday that our medical results are now on their way to Sydney for processing. Just the money to hand over and we're nearly there. Clive couldn't have asked for a better birthday present than that! We should have our Visas by August all being well.

Our chosen estate agent came round yesterday to take pictures and start the selling process. I spent a few hours yesterday depersonalising the rooms and putting all the unwanted clutter in boxes in the garage before adding fresh flowers and some newly planted tubs and hanging baskets to pretty it up. Can't believe how tidy and neat it all looks - hope we can keep it like that between viewings. The house goes on the market next week ..... fingers crossed the rest of this exciting 'journey' goes smoothly and quickly.