swiftly created

Summer Break 2011-2012 Journal

2012-01-04T17:20:00.001+11:00

Following much in the steps of Elisa Blaha, I'm on my way to creating a Summer Journal to collect and transcribe my adventures (which I'm hoping to continue having), baking joys, and whatever else might happen throughout my break before uni returns on March 5. My journal is a bit different to that of Elisa's, having created my front and back covers out of packaging cardboard, but I gain plenty of inspiration from her journals and blog posts to help me along my way! Here is the beginnings of 'Summer Break-> 2011-2012'.

Excuse all of the funky camera angles - I got a new (really great) digital camera for Christmas, and I've been giving it a bit of a work out as you can see haha (:

Red Velvet Cheesecake

2012-01-01T19:41:00.000+11:00

After buying a couple of copies of Woolworths Good Food magazine, I'm hooked on it and it's recipes. It went straight on my (very late) Christmas list to Mum and Dad, and lucky me received a 12 month subscription! Woo Hoo!

Anyway, I truly recommend that you check out the mag - it is only $3.95 after all! And no, I'm not working on commission...or at all in fact haha :) Here's some pics of the Red Velvet Cheesecake I whipped up for our New Years Day BBQ lunch as dessert. Everyone loved it!!

I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas and New Year! xx

Shit Girls Say

2011-12-30T19:21:00.000+11:00

One of my favourite bloggers, Erica, shared this hilarious YouTube video on her blog Tartraz and so I thought I'd pass on the favour - it's hilarious. And what's even better is that there are more of where this one came from!! Once I began watching it, a lot of pointing and 'ohhhh's' starting happening from me behind the screen here because the videos are just way too accurate! Enjoy girls :D

PS: I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!! xx

Christmas Cards 2011

2011-12-06T18:28:00.001+11:00

So I've made a good dent in the number of Christmas cards I like to hand make for friends. Here's a look at the first few I've accomplished so far. Link me to your blogs and Christmas creations :) I'd love some merry inspiration!

Homemade Mint Thins

2011-11-19T10:42:00.004+11:00

The summertime is my baking season. My best friend and I have a little competition which he is less than fond of (even though deep down I think he relishes on the rivalry, although I will 'win' by default haha) affectionately referred to as 'The Bake-Off'. Once uni ends for the year, we both put our hand to various cake, biscuit, cheesecake and whatever other recipe we can find and hopefully impress, flaunt and most importantly terrify the muffin-tops off each other!

Well yesterday I put my hand to a Homemade Mint Thins recipe I found. They didn't exactly turn out looking like they were 'supposed' to, but I much prefer this 'Tegan version' (mostly because the biscuits are much bigger - hello hips!).

Here's the super easy recipe and some mouth-watering chocolatey photos..

Ingredients

Cookies

1 ½ cups flour

¾ cups unsweeted cocoa

¼ tsp baking soda

1 ¾ stick butter

1 cup sugar

3 tbsp milk

½ tsp vanilla

1 ½ tsp mint extract

Topping

1 cup chocolate chips

1 tsp mint extract

Method

Cookies

Mix together flour, cocoa salt and baking soda.
In a separate bowl, cream butter until smooth. Add sugar and beat for one minute.
Add milk, vanilla and mint. Beat for an additional minute. Slowly add the dry ingredients while still beating.
Once mixture is well-combined and resembles small pebbles, use your hands to form into a ball. Roll the dough into a log and wrap in waxed paper. Chill for 2 hours.
Slice into thin rounds and place on grease-proof paper. Bake at 180ºC for 12-15min.

Topping

Melt chocolate in bowl set in simmering water, and add mint.
Once cookies have cooled and become crispy, coat their tops in chocolate by dipping them or smearing with an icing knife (I had some trouble here - I'd advise melting the chocolate completely before adding the mint extract, rather than adding it and then melting).

(Recipe source: http://mingmakescupcakes.yolasite.com/)

Your Man Reminder

2011-11-14T10:18:00.001+11:00

I came across this hilarious reminder for women about breast cancer on a blog of Blush!nk, 'Glamour This' and so I thought I would share it.

la la love.

2011-07-24T16:20:00.002+10:00

I've got a second blog running called 'la la love.', putting the light bulb on all things beautiful, baking and most likely out of my banking boundaries! So click on it and checkcheckcheck it outttt! ;)

Banana Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting

2011-07-24T13:22:00.001+10:00

If you would like the recipe I go by, just let me know!

Year 12 Formal

2011-07-24T13:12:00.001+10:00

Last day of my semester break today, so I thought I would make the most of that and of my creative mojo. So after some not-so-neat, but very fun painting, I came up with this page using a photo of me and a friend at our Year 12 Formal from 2009. I'm really happy with it...gee, painting can be so tranquil! Have a great week :)

Viennese Fingers

2011-07-23T12:43:00.000+10:00

If you would like the recipe to these little lovelies, then just leave a comment and I'll get it to you :) It's super easy!!

My Dad's jeans..

2011-07-22T12:57:00.001+10:00

Canvas Bag

2011-07-20T20:36:00.000+10:00

This was my little (or not so little!) project the other day. I bought some calico, dyed it a light grey colour (that was a mission and a half considering the calico didn't want to take the colour at first - went through TWO bottles of powder hahaha), made the three felt flowers like I explained a few blog posts back, and hot glued them on. I included a couple of images of the base of my bag to show you how I achieved a flattened bottom which I like. I simply pinched the corners of the bag into triangles and sewed a straight line across the triangles on the inner side. Voila! A base!

Pink and painted!

2011-07-16T21:14:00.000+10:00

Mini Lemon Meringue Pies

2011-07-14T16:09:00.001+10:00

Here's my go at those Mini Lemon Meringue Pies I shared from Joy's blog not that long ago. I made them last night - I found that they were better this morning once the biscuit base had had a chance to harden/set in the fridge properly (of course I was too eager to try one warm last night haha! it was still a bit too soft). Something went wrong with the meringue though - it all melted and went soft instead of crispy in the oven. So I need to work on that for next time :) ...and believe me, there definitely will be a next time with the way that lemon filling tasted haha!

Asian Happy Birthday

2011-07-14T16:01:00.000+10:00

I found some really pretty (and cheap!) gift paper the other day and because it wasn't too glossy I thought it would work well on a card. This is what I did with it. I've also been playing around with paint in my card making. Trying to make the most of my mojo and my free time. Only a week and a half til uni goes back...eek!!

Scrapbooking dilemma!

2011-07-08T17:07:00.003+10:00

Question(s)..

I have this scrapbooking mojo issue where I can never seem to find the enthusiasm to scrapbook for myself (this also applies to other crafting at times too!), yet the creativity is endless when it comes to putting together pages for my friends. Why do you think this is? Who can relate to this?

But do not fear, Tegan the scrapbooking-mojo queen is here today hahaha! I felt the creativity running through my veins this morning, so I jumped straight on the scrapbooking bandwagon and started painted and sketching out my layout. I only put together this one page, and I'll admit it's pretty simply..but I really love it (excuse my little ego-trip :-P)!

Don't forget to leave a comment to say hi so that I can come and see what you have been up to over this weekend sometime :)

Felt Flowers

2011-07-06T15:37:00.001+10:00

I've been seeing a lot of these cute little felt flowers online, so I decided to give them a go. I was inspired by Sara's tutorial on her blog 'Craft Snob'. Here's the three that I've made. What do you think?

la la love.

2011-07-04T16:30:00.000+10:00

Check it out: la la love.

Beaded Bunny

2011-07-01T14:58:00.002+10:00

The black and white patterned paper is from the inside of an envelope, believe it or not!

I NEED A TIC TAC!

2011-06-30T12:33:00.000+10:00

This certainly makes my day...over and over and over again. Take a peek...14 minutes later, you'll just want to watch it again!

Basics Outline

2011-06-27T16:22:00.006+10:00

I was inspired by a card I saw by Kristina Werner on her blog, and created this card last night. You can find the card that I CASed (copied and shared) here. Let me know what you think! :)

Banana Crumb Muffins

2011-06-26T14:25:00.011+10:00

To celebrate the beginning of my semester break I decided to bake yesterday afternoon. Okay, I must admit that that was only half of my reason. My best friend had been boasting about his alleged "amazing Nigella Lawson's 'Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake'" he'd baked the day before, so of course I stepped up to the unspoken challenge, ready to trump his cake with my newly discovered muffin recipe - 'Banana Crumb Muffins'! I've shared the link for both recipes in the text above, and here is the full recipe for my delicious muffins - mine definitely trumped his cake :)

Ingredients

Muffin Mix

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 large ripe bananas, mashed
3/4 white sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup butter, melted (~80g)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Crumb Topping

1/4 cup white sugar
3 Tablespoons flour
1/8 cup butter, cubed (~30g)
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180'C. Prepare muffin tin with paper liners.

2. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.

3. Mash bananas with sugar, egg and melted butter in a large bowl. Fold in flour mixture, and mix until smooth. Pour batter into prepared muffin tin.

4. In a small bowl, mix together the crumb topping. Liberally sprinkle it over the tops of the muffins while the batter is still raw. (I'm all for the CRUNCH factor :D)

5. Bake for 20-25min (mine took less - keep an eye on them, but you want them golden to caramelize the sugar in the crumb topping mixture), or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let them cool on a wire rack.

6. Lastly, and most importantly, ENJOY!

This has been entered into Lisa's 'Sweets for a Saturday' party! Check out the others' recipes on her blog. Just click this link.

Retro Happy Birthday

2011-06-26T12:42:00.007+10:00

If anyone knows which stamp this is, please let me know. I received it via an image swap and I really love it - she's so cute! The paper comes from a scrapbooking kit by Me&My Big Ideas that one of my best friends gave me for my 19th birthday. It has some really retro patterns incorporating bright colour combinations like this strawberry/kiwi-style one. Thanks to Sammi, I can now tell you that the stamp used is 'Rain Anya' from a set by The Greeting Farm.

Let me know what you think :)

Celebrate

2011-06-26T12:37:00.004+10:00

The damask patterned paper is actually gift/wrapping paper that I have recycled and glued down - I loved it so much I had to keep it and reuse it some how. One more card to be posted today.. Stay tuned!

Russian Nesting Dolls

2011-06-26T11:53:00.004+10:00

I'm baaaaaaackkk!! Semester 1 has just ended at uni. My final exam was on Thursday, so fingers crossed for my results :) Time for some card making and potentially some scrapbooking and/or art journalling - we'll see how long my mojo holds out hey? Haha!

This card was made a few months ago using the 'Russian Nesting Dolls' stamp set from Hero Arts. I'm obsessed with it - aren't they simply adorable. The set was reasonably expensive considering the size of the dolls, but I think I'll find myself using them over and over for all kinds of occasions.

More cards to come... So leave me a comment, and I'll be sure to pay you a visit asap - I can't wait to get back into the swing of thing, and get my creative juices flowing again :D I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend, especially this beautiful sunshine we have been showered in in Sydney!

Fabulous Flowers Journal and Card set

2010-11-16T18:09:00.011+11:00

It was my best friend's 19th birthday at the end of October, but I didn't manage to get her present or card together properly until now. Here is the journal I jazzed up, and the card I made for her using the Fabulous Flowers stamp set from Stampin' Up!. I bought the chocolate journal off Etsy from JR Crown (it only cost me $3!). Uni has been hectic, and I have only just finished exams for the year. I can't believe that my entire first year of university has already come to an end. What I also cannot believe is that my last post on this blog was back in JANUARY this year!! That's madness!! Anyway, hopefully I am around on the odd occasion over my time off uni because gee have I missed you guys and my card-making. I've decided to take up Summer School which is running for six weeks beginning in January, so I have a good time off now, then some study, then a good time off before uni goes back for good.

How has everyone been? What's been happening? What have I missed since the 26th of January? Tell me...tell me alllllllllllll :) Hahaha!

Eastern Blooms

2010-01-26T10:45:00.002+11:00

I bought a Vintage Sign Language alphabet stamp set on eBay the other day, and this is what I have done with it so far. A simple, not-so-thought out card that I'm a little bit unsure of still. And a small circular card, sporting some GORGEOUS DP from Patrice :)

Happy Australia Day

2010-01-26T09:59:00.001+11:00

A little collection of images I have put together, featuring all of our beautiful capital cities, to wish you a very Happy Australia Day!

Pelicans in Prospect

2010-01-25T22:25:00.003+11:00

This is why I enjoy walking around my area much more than I think I would enjoy working out at a local, over-priced gym :)

Pelicans.

Music For Your Mojo

2010-01-22T10:17:00.002+11:00

Today's powerwalking music on shuffle rundown:

Vanessa Amorosi - Show Me The Manual
Katy Perry - One of the Boys
The Gossip - Heavy Cross
The B-52's - Hallucinating Pluto

Surprise Package!

2010-01-21T11:53:00.005+11:00

After I returned from my morning powerwalk this morning, a package was waiting for me at the front door. To my surprise, it was for me! A generous package of stamps, diecuts, a post-it note holder and more, all sitting in a beautifully handmade box. I found the similarly beautiful handmade card, and realised that it was all from a fellow cardmaker, Patrice Easton. She does not have a blog (that I know of) but I met her on a crafting forum on eBay at least a year ago. She is such a generous and kind lady, and a wonderfully creative cardmaker. I wish I knew people like her, and many of you brilliant ladies in person because anyone would be truly blessed to have friends like you all. Having had an especially difficult past month or so, it was so uplifting to receive such an unexpected RAK.

Circle Flowers

2010-01-21T10:04:00.004+11:00

I CASED the idea of using circles to make flowers from Alana. You can see her post, and the beautiful cards she created here. I'll be back later with at least one more blog post...hopefully more! Have a great day, and if you're in Sydney - keep cool, and keep hydrated. It's gonna be a stinker!!

Music For Your Mojo

2010-01-21T09:59:00.003+11:00

I have been searching for music to create to, and to walk to for a long time. I'm still at a loss for new music, but on my powerwalk this morning I took note of the songs that came on shuffle. Here they are:

Owl City - Fireflies
Darrel Braithwaite - The Horses
Missy Higgins - Scar
B-52's - Roam
Dixie Chicks - Cowboy Take Me Away
Vanessa Amorosi - Hazardous

What do you like to create to, or to workout to?

Art Journal

2010-01-17T14:02:00.003+11:00

Surprise, surprise! Another art journal page haha. Sorry ladies, I've not been in the card-making/scrapbooking mood lately, so I've just been going with the painting mojo. Hopefully I'll be back into it soon. Anyway, here's a page I created last night. I sketched the Frangipanni-style flower with pencil, and then painted it roughly with white, then yellow, then fuschia paint. A fav song of mine is 'Everybody Needs Someone Sometime' by Jewel, so the lyrics of that are written across the page, with the repeated line/title in black, with the little paper squares with printed letters for the title.

Hope you like it! Enjoy your weekend :)
{Oh, and sorry for the poor lighting in the 1st image - I took it last night under my desk lamp so you could see the page without the lyrics.}

Glamourous Blog Award

2010-01-16T08:43:00.003+11:00

Thanks to Anne for awarding me the Glamourous Blog Award! I am passing it onto a long-time, fellow blogger who never ceases to inspire me, and gives me so many ideas to work with. Most recently she has been using bits and pieces from her scraps box, which I find really shows her creativity and practicality in this world where (let's say hypothetically) a 17 year old cannot find a casual job position ANYWHERE and must run off birthday and Christmas money/gifts all year round for her crafting supplies. Haha, hypothetically of course :) So thank you for being an ongoing inspiration to me, both in card making and blogging. The award goes to.......

......Karen!!!

Art Journal

2010-01-15T10:55:00.008+11:00

More more moreeeeee :D I created these pages a few days ago, but when I visited Sammi's blog, it reminded me that I hadn't updated my blog since then, so here they are. I hope you have all had a good week, and I wish you all a carefree weekend.

Art Journal

2010-01-11T09:12:00.005+11:00

Oh, and I thought that I had shared these pages from my much older Journal (you may remember it being the kraft hardcover, spiral bound notebook with an embossed ladybird on it), but I hadn't...so here they are! You can find my previous posts for this journal here and here.

Art Journal

2010-01-11T08:54:00.002+11:00

I've been sketching again :) Here is my sketch of Tommy from Rugrats. I used an image for guidance, and enlarged it freehand. What do you think?

Art Journal

2010-01-10T09:47:00.006+11:00

I freehand sketched this, using the coloured image for guidance.

Here are some pages that I have done in my art journal so far. I am using an A5 black hardcover, I was a bit careless when using a water/paint mixture on the splattered blue/purple page, and so it's leaked throughout all of my previous pages. I don't mind though haha, makes it look a little bit less perfect :) Have a great weekend!

Art Journal

2010-01-08T19:22:00.005+11:00

Here are a couple of pages that I have created in my art journal...ONE of my art journals actually haha. These pages are for the one with handmade newspaper pages {I hope the images are clear enough - my camera was low on battery and I'm impatient and want to blog about them now - I'll replace them soon hopefully}. I have recently bought a black, hard-cover sketchbook that I'm using as an art journal, and I will share some pages I have created in that soon too.

Hope your week was bright and cheery :)

From My Heart

2009-12-29T22:19:00.003+11:00

Here's the card I made today for the Mojo Monday sketch this week - 119. Haven't done one of these in a while, hence it's simplicity haha. I hope you drop by, leave me a comment and say hi, so I can do the same in return :)

Happy Tuesday!

Art Journal

2009-12-28T18:21:00.006+11:00

Yep, you read the title correctly - I am creating an ART JOURNAL!!

WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
YEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

Basically I created each page using about 6 sheets of newspaper to whatever size I chose (or paper catalogues from Bunnings, Clive Peters, etc - we had no newspapers haha!). Paint the first sheet in PVA glue, then lay the 2nd sheet over the top, and repeat until the thickness is to what you are happy with. Paint, decorate, and adhere photos with PVA glue(acid free, of course!).

I hope you enjoy perusing the following images of my first few Art Journal pages - it's going to be a bit of a random journal, with photos from various years and events, etc.

Also, I know I didn't get around to blogging before Christmas, but I hope you all had a very merry Christmas are having some happy holidays :)

{click Art Journal pages for bigger image}

Shout Out!

2009-12-22T23:05:00.001+11:00

A peer-blogger of mine is selling her stunning, handmade cards on Etsy. You can find her here, and I’d really appreciate it if you could go and check out her items. Maybe even buy some cards ready for the new year - you never know when you might need a birthday card, or a welcome baby, or a congratulations card, on the go! Jacqueline has them made beautifully for you, so you can have some set aside for those times, or perhaps you can buy specifically for a friend or family member :)
Above is a few examples of her work. Isn't she great?! Enjoy :)

Merry Christmas!!

Etsy Store: Swiftly Created

2009-12-20T12:49:00.003+11:00

Here are my newly listed cards in my Etsy store. Check it :)

Etsy Store

2009-12-13T19:21:00.002+11:00

Guess what?! (Okay, okay...so maybe the title was a bit of a giveaway haha) I CREATED AN ETSY STORE :D
You can find it here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/teganrebecca

It would be great if you could pay me a visit over on Etsy, and even drop a line - tell me what you think of my first (and currently, the only) listing :) And maybe, even make a purchase haha. If I sell, I will list more - don't want to get too ahead of myself now.

Oh, and while you're there, pay a visit to my good friend Ruby, here. She has an AMAZING Etsy store, which is slowly proving quite successful!!

And if you have an Etsy store of your own, link me please! I'd love to check out your items, and I love to shop haha :)

Christmas Cards: Part 2

2009-12-08T20:13:00.003+11:00

Season's Greetings

2009-11-29T17:53:00.002+11:00

So I have finally began to focus on creating my Christmas cards for 2009. I'm trying to mix it up, as usual, with some traditional and some non-traditional colour combos, and a wide variety of textures, fibres, images, and layouts. I've been trying to be brave, putting colours together I wouldn't usually combine, and generally attempting to be more creative in my card-making than usual; using fabric scraps and wool instead of cotton/satin ribbons that are made for card-making; embossing the plastic sheet that stickers are stuck on when you buy them, using my BigKick machine (you can see this in my last card - over the lilac CS is a clear layer embossed using my Perfectly Paisley folder - click on the image to see it more clearly).

How are you creating your Christmas cards for 2009? A few designs in bulk, or mixing it up like me? I'd love to hear from you; drop me a comment :)

Magazine Publication

2009-10-08T10:47:00.002+11:00

Hi all :)

I am trying to submit a card to an Australian cardmaking magazine, but apparently the email I am using (from the magazine) is inalid, and my emails wont go through successfully.

Do you know the email of Simply Cards Australia? (I am trying to email Sonja)
Or, do you know of any magazine companies in Australia that take card submissions?

I'd love to hear from you!!

Soccer Birthday

2009-10-08T10:40:00.003+11:00

A birthday card I made for my younger brother's soccer-crazy friend. He turned 13 earlier this week. I'm on a cardmaking roll at the moment; my mojo is CRAAAAAZYYYY! But I've adopted a great system - study to a certain part of the course, then have lunch, study to a certain part of the course, MAKE CARDS :) This new incentive system is working really well haha.

Fabulous Flowers

2009-10-06T10:47:00.003+11:00

Yep, that's right... ANOTHER CARD! Two more cards actually. This time I have used the Fabulous Flowers {which is definitely fabulous} to create a Christmas wreath, and the sentiment from the Crazy for Christmas set. I saw it in the SCS gallery, and found the creative designer here. I tried out some scoring {inspired by Marcia} but one worked better than the other.

What do you use to score? What tips do you have for new-scorers?

Fabulous Flowers

2009-10-05T12:05:00.006+11:00

Yep, that's right!! I'VE GOT THE SU! FABULOUS FLOWERS SET :D I'm not really all that excited haha...yeah right! I've been creating, and creating, and creating. The next 2 weeks are supposed to be 'StuVac', as in 'Study Vacation' leading up to my Higher School Certificate (final exams for high school). But I'm not sure how I will be able to focus with Fabulous Flowers lying around!!

Anyways, here are 3 of the 4 cards I've created for my friends so far - graduation cards :) I wont show you the 4th one just yet as I am submitting it to a magazine. My first submission ever :O I'm excited, but not getting ahead of myself - it's only my first after all.

PS: Is the first card too feminine for a guy's card? Be honest pleaseee :)

Woop de doodah.

2009-10-04T11:45:00.001+11:00

New post on Stampin' Up! here!

I'll be back with some PRETTY cards soon :)

Mojo Monday 105

2009-09-23T16:20:00.005+10:00

This is a card I made for my closest friend's mum. My friend's 18th is very early next year, and so I want to get started on her present, and let's just say that her mum is AMAZING and hugely sneaky haha - she got me a bunch of photos I requested via my friend's brother + the exchange student from Germany (Elena) who was staying with her for the past 3 weeks. They are such a beautiful family and I just wanted to say thank-you for helping me out with the photos for the soon-to-be scrapbook :) I used the Eastern Blooms set on this card, and adapted my ideas into the Mojo Monday challenge for this week. What a great sketch it was!

:)

2009-08-30T12:12:00.003+10:00

This makes me SO happy!!

Thank you (: Have an amazing weekend.

Mojo Monday Turns 100

2009-08-27T17:13:00.005+10:00

Mojo Monday Turns 100's last sketch for the week of celebration was by Mary. And what a great sketch it was! I am always so picky with cutting out a large number of squares to fit together, because I can never seem to get them perfect. So this time, I just estimated and snipped where I thought appropriate. They're not perfect, but now I can say that they were never supposed to be hahaha :)

PS: Thanks to Sammi for the cute image + paper - I think they have gone to good use!

Happy Weekend!

Mojo Monday Turns 100

2009-08-23T15:47:00.003+10:00

This was a fun sketch by Janelle to use :) I created my second Christmas card for the year - I am wayyy behind haha! Find the blog here, and the sketch is below.

Kimono

2009-08-23T09:39:00.004+10:00

Yep, that's right - 3 cards in a weekend!! And here is another card using the new Kimono girl stamp I have; I woke up with this idea. It is very similar to the idea/design of this card using my Hawaiian Penguin girl stamp. What do you think?

It's supposed to be 29*C in Sydney today - I can't wait to get my shorts on finally :)

Kimono

2009-08-22T18:00:00.003+10:00

This week the Stitches and Craft Show began at Rosehill Racecourse. My mum and my friend's mum went together, and brought me home a couple of stamps. A small Japanese girl wearing a kimono, and a small patterned heart. This is the card I made today.

Did anyone else go to the show? What did you buy?

I hope you are enjoying your weekend :)

Mojo Monday Turns 100

2009-08-21T13:26:00.002+10:00

A quick post today of my entry into Sarah's Mojo Monday Turns 100 sketch! And what a fabulous sketch it is. I encourage you all to participate in this weeks Mojo Monday celebrations - there is a new sketch every day until Sunday (I think!). Have a glorious weekend :)

Taskify It!

2009-08-06T19:08:00.003+10:00

Can't be too long. Just a super quick post to reveal Ruby and my 'The Thing'...LOL! Okay, so that made no sense whatsoever. Take 2. See the post below to make sense of this.

Here are some photos of my first mail package ATC thing to Ruby a couple of weeks ago. I understand (as I'm sure as she does for me) that she is waaaaaaay busy at the moment, and so everything fun, creative, and blog-related goes on hold in those times. School sounds hectic for her, with her desk full of assignments and homework - school being her priority, which is fab to hear! Despite the 'ugh' feeling I get with it ahaha. Anyway, enough chit chat.. here are the pics (considering she has already received it). Have a glorious Friday :)

Ruby is AWESOMEEE!

2009-07-22T18:23:00.001+10:00

Let me say that again (cos it was fun haha)... Ruby is AWESOMEEE!

Yep, that girl could be made the Minister for Creativity ANYwhere! I am terrible with explaining things, so I'll post some excerpts of the emails we have sent back and forth to each other. Just click on the image above so that it is readable.

We want a name for this 'thing' that we are just beginning. Email me your ideas at trswift@hotmail.com, or leave a comment here. We'd GREATLY appreciate it, because for the life of us... we cannot seem to think of a name ourselves >.<

Think, pen pals gone creativity craaaazy :)

{EDIT: I'm keeping this @ the top for a few days.. PLEASEEE help us :) }

Altered Journal

2009-07-21T19:53:00.004+10:00

This journal has not been touched for a VERY long time now. I first posted about it back on this post. This is a now finished page I completed the other day.

Now back to my Modern History assignment on the Korean War. Yay! I say that with so much sarcastic enthusiasm ;)

My Grafico Challenge

2009-07-18T14:56:00.006+10:00

Steph over at her blog, Papercrafterthoughts is promoting a card challenge for My Grafico to win this cute stamp set by Kelly Medina. All you have to do is create a card which is fruit-inspired. Simple, fun and with a chance to win stamps! What more could you ask for? Definitely take some time to look through Steph's creations...she is simply AWESOME! I know I say this about a lot of people, but I mean it. Steph is oozing talent and creativity. Go see for yourself :)

Here is my card.. I made it immediately as I saw her challenge! You'd better believe it hahaha.

Mojo Monday Week 95

2009-07-18T10:09:00.003+10:00

Yep, you read correctly....Merry Christmas! I am not exactly sure why I made a festive card, but I just had a vision, and went with my gut. I really like it :) (I know.. I'm soooo modest LOL!) It was for Mojo Monday Week 95.

Enjoy your weekend.

Polka Dot Punches

2009-07-12T09:55:00.002+10:00

Quick card I made yesterday. Versamark stamped the circles on the card base, and chalk-dusted them with light blue and green. The rest is pretty much self-explanatory. Enjoy your weekend :) Check out my other blogs here and here; as I'm on holidays.. I have much more time to be creating and posting much more often. I'll try and make it around to your blogs :)

Mojo Monday Week 93

2009-07-05T14:15:00.004+10:00

Haven't done one of these in a while. Mojo Monday Week 93 can be found here. Sometimes the mind is just so fizzled and I'm feeling so uncreative, and mojo-less, that a challenge or in this case, a sketch is just what I need to kick start the card making juices again :) Not sure if the kick wan't good enough this morning, but there's something about this card. It's definitely not something I usually make - colours, patterns, layout, etc. It's not horrific I guess, but I'm not exactly fond of it either. Despite this, you guys ROCK and always find some constructive criticism for my less-than-loved cards!

Drop me a line, and enjoy your weekend folks :)

It's Your Day

2009-07-04T15:02:00.002+10:00

Made this card the other day. I was feeling good, and I really love how the card turned out! Fresh, clean lines, and bright :) I might be back with a Mojo Monday card (hopefully I'll make the cut off), but that is reliant on my ability to get started on an English assignment due on Thursday. Til then, enjoy your day! I'll try and make it around to a few of your blogs. Comments will sure to get me there haha; so pop by and say hi :)

Celebrate

2009-06-28T13:54:00.003+10:00

Here's the LONG-awaited card :) I CASED it from a card that Mandy sent me a while ago, that you can find here. Thanks for the inspiration Mandy! Enjoy!

First card in...

2009-06-27T22:21:00.002+10:00

...HOW LONG?!

Wow! So I can't even remember how long it has been since I made a card. It's been so long, that I can't even remember! Sad.. I know. For both of us hahaha :)

Well tomorrow, hopefully the sun will shine brightly in Sydney and I will be able to take a photo of the reaaaally pretty card I made tonight. It is ready for my friends birthday on August 1st. So yep, I'm getting prepared birthday-wise reasonably early... HSC starts on October 21st I think.

Can we say, THAT'S SOOOOO CLOSE & STRESSFUL :D ...minus the smiley face for me hahaha. Actually I'm quite cool, calm and collected at the moment. We'll see how I hold up. Catch you tomorrow hopefully!

WANTED: Recipes

2009-05-29T15:57:00.001+10:00

Take a read here: http://tegan-says.blogspot.com/ :)
Basically I need a good and easy Banana Cake recipe. Help please!

Polka Dot Punches

2009-05-24T10:38:00.003+10:00

Yesterday Marcia Pringle from The Stamp Spot left a comment on my previous Polka Dot Punches card and suggested taking a look on SCS for some inspiration. I was really having trouble coming up with any ideas, which normally come to me when I get my hands on a new set. I have used SCS for inspiration and ideas before, but I just always seem to forget about it. If you want to take a look, just click here, and you can search for specific sets from SU! easily.

I sourced my ideas from this card here, and changed it up a little bit. I guess you could call it a partial-CASE :) Thanks Marcia for reminding me about SCS, and thanks to Nichole for inspiring me!

{EDITED: New photos using el' natural light haha, rather than some dodgy desk lamp that shine yellow light onto my cards}

Polka Dot Punches

2009-05-20T17:53:00.004+10:00

I'm really not sure about this card. I had all of these visions for how I wanted to use my new Polka Dot Punches SU! set, but I just couldn't seem to put the ideas to paper. Anyway, I thought I'd post it nonetheless considering you girls are always so constructive and give me lots of feedback. What do you think of it? How can I improve it? I'm just really not liking it much.

(Firstly, I hate the glitterred lettering - it looks really tacky because the Dazzling Diamonds didn't stick to the ink properly, so I wrote over the words with a fine tipped glue pen.. and just eww! For second, what is with that dodgy paper piercing on the circles?! Yuck ><)

Calling for Inspiration

2009-05-19T21:04:00.002+10:00

Evening all :)
I hope you are all having a lovely week, like myself. I've been feeling much better lately, and I'd like to say a big thanks to the few warm words I have received since my not-so-joyful post. It truly means a lot.

I recently bought the Polka Dot Punches SAB set from SU! and back in March/April received the Eastern Blooms SU! set. I have made a fair few Eastern Blooms cards, but no PDP ones as of yet. I'd love it if you could please direct me to any blogs/online galleries that have used these sets... or the Birthday Best/Birthday Whimsy SU! sets - these are the sets I haven't use in a LONG time! I need inspiration... ideas... something to start the creative juices moving again. So it really doesn't matter if they are your cards, or someone elses.
Any ideas/inspiration would be much appreciated :) Let me know if I can direct you to any blogs for specific sets or ideas.. I've got a lot of blogs that I check up on regularly, and would be more than happy to share some of the awesome cardmakers I'm most fond of!

I'm going to try and CASE a Polka Dot Punches card when I get off the computer, so I'll see how that goes and let you know. Till then, I hope you get a chance to ink up and have some fun.

Mojo Monday Week 86

2009-05-18T17:52:00.006+10:00

I had completely forgotten about the Mojo Monday sketches, and so I 'made' some time this evening to make a card for the Week 86 challenge. You can find it here. It is closed, but I thought I'd just have a play around with my inkpads, stamps and paper; items which I had lost contact with for some time now! I really like this card that I made; I feel that it's a bit different to my usual style. Here it is...

Of the cards that I took a peek at, I particularly liked these Mojo Monday submissions:

Tasha; simple lines and bold colours using the SU! Cheers to You set.

Alice; soft colour combo with a kitchen theme - so cute!

Dana; black card base with pinks and greens which pop off the card, quite literally with beautiful tulip stamped images. (definitely my fav!)

Calling Movie Gurus: Help Needed

2009-05-16T16:07:00.005+10:00

Hi all!
I hope you are all enjoying your weekend - it sure has been a windy one out in Sydney today! But the sunshine is warm if you're game to step outside :)

I'll get straight to it. I have a Community & Family Studies assessment task coming up very soon, and our current topic is 'Groups in Context'. It's essentially based around a number of different groups of people in society. For example, we have studied: The Aged, The Chronically Ill, Youth, The Homeless, Sole Parents, etc.

My assignment asks for me to watch 2 movies which relate to different groups. I then must type up a report based around the groups I focus on, using the 2 movies as examples to draw on throughout.

I NEED YOUR HELP!

Please leave a comment with some movie ideas that focus on a group/groups in society.

(e.g. 'I am Sam' - The Chronically Ill and Sole Parents)

Thanks so much in advance! I really really do need your help :) I'm el' desperato haha!

Sarah Kay

2009-05-10T08:53:00.003+10:00

Morning all :) Happy Mother's Day!
As said in my previous post, I made a card last night. Firstly, I would just like to say this:

WOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Well now that that is done, and out of the way.. LOL! Yeah, so some how I found just a tiny bit of mojo when I looked at one of those many cards I created a little while back with my Eastern Blooms set. I think you will probably be able to work out which one that was. If not, click here. The colours I used are, yes I agree, a little yucky or dirty, but I think it's just that kind of rustic/country/natural feel. I'm pretty happy with it, nonetheless. I'm not sure what I will be using the card for yet, which is like most of the cards I make, but my friend is leaving to go overseas and wont be back for almost a month, so a little letter wouldn't go a stray, being held in this card. Still not sure if it's a 'her' kind of card.. but we'll see. I have been {enviously} swooning over all of your photos from Convention - boy oh boy have you had fun!! Despite my jealousy, I think I'd be way too intimidated by all of that talent, to be able to have much fun myself haha.

Alrighty, well I'll let you all get back to your lovely Sunday. I hope the weather is warmer, and brighter wherever you are spending Mother's Day. It's pretty much gloom and wind over Sydney. I'm sure once I start shovelling in the good food at my Aunty's house, I'll forget all about the weather :) Have a good one!

PS: Woah! Sorry about all of the reading.. give me a blog, and a few spare minutes and off I go!

Coming Soon

2009-05-09T22:38:00.001+10:00

There is a card coming.... soon. I took a photo whilst awkwardly shining my desk lamp at the card, but surprise, surprise it isn't very clear haha. So tomorrow, the sun had better shine like it's never shone before!! See you then (maybe, if Mother's Day plans don't take over and the sun decides to smile). If not, enjoy your Mother's Day :)

Unmotivated

2009-05-04T16:12:00.003+10:00

Hi all, I just wanted to write a post today as I haven't been here, or on any of my 3 blogs, for quite a while now. School returned for Round 2...I mean Term 2 (LOL!) last Wednesday and I have had 2 MASSIVE assignments due since then. My major work for Community and Family Studies which is worth 25% of my final grade at school, and a 30% Modern History assignment on Albert Speer and Nazi Germany Foreign Policy. I must admit that if I had been able to do these 2 assignments in my own time, and just when I felt motivated to do them, I really could have enjoyed them; they are both subjects I am very much interested in, though year 12 is all about deadlines and I have to meet them, so not much enjoyment this time round unfortunately.

There has been a lot of things; mostly from the 'not so nice' category, happening in my life. My two closest friends have been dealing with enormously difficult events, and I hadn't been dealing with my own things prior to this either. I really am not coping, with school and with a couple of other issues which have taken their toll. Marcia, this is where I scream YOU ARE SO ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!! You're email from a while back, seriously helps me. I remember a couple of your sentences from it, and it helps me get through the days/situations/conversations. I'm exhausted, no matter how much sleep I get.I'm telling you all of this as a heads up to understand that I have no motivation, along with a complete lack of time or energy or creativity to keep Swiftly Created, Design Dunk, and Woop de doo dah, moving along as steadily as they were before. It's just temporary, and the latter 2 blogs will probably tend to be updated more than this one. In the mean time, have a click down my list of favourite blogs over there>>> Despite my own irregular posting and commenting, I will continue to enjoy your blogs and creations nevertheless - you're ALL amazing, and I love seeing what you get up to, both in the world of craft, and in what seems like your 'CRAZY FUN and CREATIVE' lives!! I hope you are all well, and whoever of you lucky girls got to go to Convention, enjoyed it :)
Blog you later (I hope!);
T.

Lemonade Stand Award

2009-05-01T16:56:00.004+10:00

The Lemonade Stand Award is for being a blogger who shows great attitude and gratitude.
To pick up the Lemonade Stand Award:
- Comment on this blog.
- Cut and paste the award logo and use it in your own blog.
- Nominate 5 to 10 blogs you feel show great attitude and gratitude.
- Link to your nominees within your blog post.
- Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received the award.
- Link back to the person who gave you the award to show your appreciation.

Thanks so much Sparkly Pink Star!! I would like to nominate just a few of my numerous favourite bloggers :) Check them out- it will be well worth your while!

Thanks for being an ongoing inspiration and source of creativity for me.

You girls rock!!

Messages by Mandy

2009-04-26T13:07:00.005+10:00

I received this GORGEOUS card that is oddly familiar from Mandy in the mail last week. She is always sending me her amazing cards that I comment on and swoon over over at her blog here. You should definitely check her out here. And here. Or here. And just click here. Or maybe here. It doesn't matter where you click. As long as you click here. Or there. Or over there. Just click somewhere, because all of the links take you to the same place, here. JUST CHECK HER OUT!!!

Oh, and I'm sorry for being silly today with the 97482275 links to Mandy above, but it's not going to stop there. Look how awesome her card looks when I put the 'colouring book' effect on it. Pretty, right?

Hawaiian Penguin

2009-04-26T12:19:00.005+10:00

I made this card quite a few days ago, but I went to the city with some friends on Wednesday, to Parramatta Westfield with a friend on Thursday, I had a couple of appointments on Friday, and my brother's soccer most of Saturday, and my camera's batteries needed to be charged. So that happened this morning, and here is my card :) I love that Artisan Frame digital die cut Kristina Werner is selling on Two Peas, but I'm not lucky enough to own a digital cutter, so I improvised and hand cut one out from an image of one I saw online. I was pretty impatient at the time, and so it's a bit dodgy, and so is the paper piercing. Oh, and look down my posts for the Mojo Monday cupcake card I made - I posted a new, clearer, and actually upright photo of it haha. The original one was terrible. I'd love it if you could leave some comments on my other blogs - here and here. Thanks! Have a fab weekend :)

<3

2009-04-20T17:09:00.003+10:00

Image from flickr

I'm thinking of you and I'm here for you. Keep it glowing sweetie <3

Selling on eBay

2009-04-17T10:18:00.002+10:00

I am selling some cardstock and other items over on eBay. Check it out :)

HERE

Mojo Monday Week 82

2009-04-16T21:00:00.006+10:00

I have now subscribed to the Mojo Monday email notifications so that I will be regularly informed of new sketch challenges. I decided to have another crack at a challenge, and created this card for the current Mojo Monday Week 82 sketch. I quite like the card that I made using a cupcake image I received from Marcia a while back, and the added shimmer from some SU! Dazzling Diamonds.

EDIT: New image of the card - sorry for the crappy original one.

Unknown CASE

2009-04-13T16:19:00.004+10:00

So silly me forgot to save the image of the card that I CASED and I also forgot to add the blog to my favourites; hence I have NO idea where I found it. Ahh :( And it was such a wonderful layout too. Luckily it was a really simple card, and so I had it all in my visual memory.. though I feel really bad not crediting the designer. If you have any idea where I might possibly have gotten this layout from, please let me know!! Here is the card, nonetheless...

(oops, the bow is in the way)

Magnolia

2009-04-13T13:04:00.003+10:00

I made these two cards this morning. I'm not really sure about them; I think I like the purple one...but I'm very wishy washy with how I feel about the green one. Let me know what you think :)

Oh, and does anyone know of Australian online stores that sell cheap-ish rubber stamps?

Eastern Blooms

2009-04-13T12:58:00.002+10:00

I told you I had made another Eastern Blooms card yesterday morning, and here it is! I impatiently cut out some of the larger flowers, and popped them up on dimensionals; hence their jagged petals haha. Did everyone have a good Easter Sunday? What did you all get up to?
I'll be back with the cards I made this morning soon :)

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T11:34:00.003+10:00

Unknown source (let me know if you find out)

Don't put all of your eggs in one basket :)

I wish everyone a very happy and safe Easter break! I made another card with the SU! Eastern Blooms set this morning, but I wont be able to post it until tonight, or maybe tomorrow depending if I can get a photo taken. All of my mum's side of the family is over today for a birthday/Easter get together, so you probably wont be hearing from me much more today.
Take care, and enjoy your day :)

Mojo Monday Week 76

2009-04-11T17:07:00.006+10:00

This afternoon I was sorting through my VERY messy craft drawer in my desk, where I generally keep all of my 'basic cardmaking needs'. That includes my cutting tools, adhesives, etc.. but tend to be filled with a bunch of off-cuts, ribbon scraps, general rubbish...but today, I found all of the swap images I received last year!! How exciting! I have taken months and months to try and figure out how I could use some of them, but I really cannot find enough creativity to plan a card with them, so keep a look out in your mail boxes :) They're perfectly fine to use.. I mean they're only stamped images...and I would much rather see them go to some use than sit in my VERY messy craft drawer for another 6 months.

Anyway, this is the card I made for an old Mojo Monday challenge; one a few weeks back. I included a close-up shot so you can see the SU! Dazzling Diamonds I used on the bubbles and puddle. Enjoy :)

IDEA: Use the backing foam (which is also adhesive) from your 3D dots sheets. Saves money and actually works heaps better, making the popped up piece more stable.

Design Dunk

2009-04-11T13:56:00.002+10:00

I have redesigned my other blog, Design Dunk, where I am slowly but surely getting on the bandwagon of blogs that highlight a variety of inspirational things, including furniture, jewellery, typography, product packaging, etc. The link is now in my blog list on the side bar. Check out my new banner and my new look...

>>HERE<<

Mandy Challenge

2009-04-11T11:37:00.003+10:00

Every week Mandy sets her blog readers a challenge called, Change it up Tuesday. It is a fantastic idea and she asks you to recreate a card you have previously made, changing the colours of it, whilst maintaining its former glory. Essentially it is a 'CASE Yourself' type of challenge. Anyway, I haven't got around to playing along recently, so I thought that I would give it a go. I CASED a card which I created for Mel's challenge a few days ago. You can find the original card a few posts down. I hope everyone is enjoying their Easter Saturday (Aus) or Good Friday (US) :)

Mojo Monday Week 81

2009-04-10T12:30:00.003+10:00

This was my first go at a Mojo Monday challenge, and it was a lot of fun. I have seen some of my favourite bloggers, including Marcia and Keesh participating, but the cards just looked so detailed and WOW that I must say that I was very intimidated. I took the plunge, and gave it a go this morning. I'm not sure if I like my card, with the colours and the combination of embellishments, so I would love your feedback on how I could improve it :) Happy Easter!!

SAB Merci & CASE

2009-04-09T17:28:00.011+10:00

Hi all :)
During the day I found Hannah's blog via SCS in the forums, and saw this beautiful card alongside. This afternoon I felt a bit crafty and decided I would partially CASE it, because it was so darn pretty!! Here is my 'partial CASE'. Enjoy your Friday!

Hannah's Card

EDIT: Thanks to Wendy (: I worked out that I had not selected 'centre' during the upload stage. Thanks again for your help Wendy! Here's an almighty plug for your blog haha >>CLICK HERE<<

Mel's CASE Challenge

2009-04-07T15:13:00.004+10:00

I got it done! It was a lot of fun; one of my favourite challenges I think. Thanks to Mel for a fantastic and creative challenge, that definitely challenged me since I only own ONE set (my all time favourite, Eastern Blooms) from the new catty. But all is good, because I think I like this one :) I CASED the card from page 76 of the Stampin' Up! 2009/10 Idea Book & Catalogue. You can find Mel's challenge here, but be quick because it ends at 7pm Wednesday night!

Biology Half Yearly Exam

2009-04-07T14:02:00.007+10:00

Completely unrelated to all things crafty, but.........................

CHECK THIS OUT!!! :D

See that big green thing?? THAT'S CALLED 100%!!

WOOOOOOOOO!!!

I must say that I am proud of myself. Studied hard for about 4hours straight, with short 10min television (The Ellen Show at 12pm) breaks every so often, and a coffee throughout, this morning. Really paid off!

Mel's CASE Challenge

2009-04-06T20:51:00.002+10:00

I am currently working on Mel's CASE Challenge in which she has asked us to copy and recreate a card from the Stampin' Up! 08-09 Idea Book and Catalogue. It's a super challenge, but I just honestly cannot be bothered to get out my glue and ink (I hate when I feel like that!). I guess the exams and studying every night for the past month has caught up with me; I have a migraine and I'm so tired, that I am struggling to keep my eyes open. One more exam left - Biology - which is on Wednesday, so it will all be over then :) Mel I promise I will try and get my card done by tomorrow night! I really want to join in because I haven't for so long now. I have it started, it's just a matter of stamping and cutting and gluing. Pinky promise, haha :)

Take Care,
I'll be back hopefully tomorrow.

Eastern Blooms CASE

2009-04-03T10:39:00.007+11:00

I CASED this card using the Eastern Blooms set from Mandy. You can see her card over at SplitCoast Stampers, or on her blog here, but I have included the image of her card I used below. I hope everyone is enjoying their Friday, because I know I sure am! Card making and studying :D Remember to leave comments on my last 2 posts to answer my questions, thanks!

Dear Readers..

2009-04-03T09:14:00.004+11:00

Do you find the 3 column layout of my blog chaotic and a little busy? I'd be happy to revert back to the default, 2 column layout.. so just leave me a comment on this post and the democracy shall win the vote :D Thanks!

Eastern Blooms

2009-04-03T09:00:00.003+11:00

Yes, you are not seeing double...or triple haha, I'm back TWICE on the same day, and THREE times this week. I expect to make at least one, maybe two or three more cards today-Sunday night. Keep emailing/commenting me if you have some cards on your blog or on SCS using Eastern Blooms :) Thanks for the links to yours Mandy! Definitely going to be CASEing!

Eastern Blooms

2009-04-02T15:52:00.004+11:00

Yes, that's right.. you're not going insane, I'm BACK with ANOTHER card...TWO DAYS IN A ROW :D Isn't it great haha!! I loveeeee this set, and I will definitely be searching for some ideas.

If you have used this set and have an Eastern Blooms card on your blog, let me know and I'll pop by to take a squiz, because I can't wait to see what else I can do with it. Of course I will give you kudos if I CASE ;) Oh, and I might send you a little something in the mail if I use your card!! I like to think of it as an incentive, rather than bribery hehehe!