The Craft Room Challenge

It’s all about leaves and/or trees this time round over at The Craft Room and I really wanted to do something other than a tag or a card.

I have an art journal of sorts, I use it to play with new products and techniques more than anything else.  I decided to have a play with my new Pan Pastels and stencils cut on my Cameo, using shapes purchased from the Silhouette Store.

The background was one I had made some time ago.  I used gesso, followed by distress inks sprayed onto plastic wrap, flipped onto the page, crumpled and smooshed and left to dry.  I had meant to add a pearl spray as well but in my excitement at the time, I completely forgot, lol.

I am reasonably happy with it but it doesn’t really float my boat – too flat maybe? 

Thanks for popping in to take a look.  I really do appreciate you taking the time to comment.  It makes my day.

Cheers, Esther   xoxo

Scrapfest By The Sea–Part 1

A luxury weekend of scrapbooking!!  And oh boy, was it!!!

The event was organised by Trina McClune and Lyn Jordan with the amazing help of some very hardworking angels.  We spent the weekend at The Monaco Resort and Apartments in Nelson.

This is the “Street” I lived in with Brenda.  Close by were Jane, Carol, Beverley, Elaine, Dee, Trace, Vicki and Nicki (whose photo’s I pinched of the location, hehe)

There we many others too  some of whom I and met but most I only knew through our Facebook Group.  It was great to meet so many of them in person!

I took 3 classes and grabbed the kit for a fourth.  I haven’t taken photos of those yet and will leave them for yet another post.

Those of us that I mentioned above, with the addition of the lovely Sally and her wee babe, went to The Jellyfish Cafe at Mapua for brunch on the Friday before registration.  Brenda had put an enormous effort into organising a surprise 50th for Vicki.  Although her actual birthday is not until October, it was too good an opportunity to pass up while we were all together (we live in various corners of NZ).

Yes – it was indeed a Polka Dot Party!  She had no clue what-so-ever!  It was priceless.  Thanks to Brenda and Trace for these photos.

To top it off – it was Nicki’s actual birthday on the Saturday and we managed to gather together between classes etc, to give Nicki a wee treat too.  Couldn't not, now could we?

So much fun, over and above the event that we ere actually there for.  Total bonus for us all.

Keep an eye out for part 2 – I might even blog about the classes etc, lol

Cheers, Esther  xoxo

New tag supplies, 2 challenges

Woopeee!!  I been shopping! I spent last weekend with a group of awesome ladies who just happen to be some of the best scrapbookers I know.  We were at an event held in Nelson and I will blog about that in another post.  There just happened to be a “shop” set up in the crop room and I have to admit I did indulge, just a little.

Among the goodies is a stack of Prima Tags and a Prima art doll stamp.  I had not realised how long the stamps were and was pleased to see the tags that were obviously designed to accommodate them.  They are 2” longer than the ones I usually use.

So, I have to challenges that I will enter my tag for.  The Craft Room theme is “New” and Debi has asked us to use a new technique, new media or perhaps new product. Anything new counts.  I think I ticked that box, lol.

Dragons Dream Tag It On have a theme of Orange, Nature and time.  Of course we need to use at least one stamp on our tag.  I ticked that box too, lol.

New Tag, New Stamp, New Stickers, New Flowers.  I paper pieced the top and skirt and cut the title using my Cameo.  I used my Distress Ink Pens to colour her hair and shoes.

Thanks so much for stopping by to see what I have been up to.  Watch this space for a post on Scrapfest By The Sea ……coming soon.

Cheers, Esther  xoxo

Craft Room Bingo Challenge

Over at The Craft Room there is a Bingo Challenge.  Just choose 3 elements in a row and go for gold.

I have chosen Flower / Stencil / Kraft and because I find tags such an easy size to work with, I came up with not one, but three.  Go me, lol

Thanks fro stopping in – do pop on over to The Craft Room to see what the others have been up to with this fun challenge.

Cheers, Esther  xoxo

TIO #147–Waste/Rubbish / Male / Chipboard

Before I go any further I just want to say a big thank you to the team at Dragons Dream Tag It On for naming me in the Dreamboat 3 (even if there were 4 of us, lol) for the #145 Challenge – Vintage, Flowers & Texture.  You can see the original post here.

So …  on to the latest tag challenge.

I cut my tag from some waste chipboard that I had and embossed it with the cuttlebug.  I then inked with Vintage photo and added splashes of Broken China and Shabby Shutters.

My image is a Sullivans stamp and I decided to to a male version of all the beautifully paper-pieced Prima Doll Stamps that are all the rage right now.  I like the way it turned out and I was able to use a few scraps of patterned paper I should have thrown out ages ago.  I broke off the un-used end of a toothpick for the golf tee and added a bead for the ball.  I punched some scrap chipboard covered in tin foil for the sentiment and placed that on some Prima wooden trim that the puppy had got hold of and chewed the end off (Bad Puppy!)   Saved me throwing that away too, hehe.  I added the tab off my son’s soft drink can and there ya have it!

I really had fun with this one!

Cheers, Esther  xoxo

Tag It On #146

Oh, this was fun!  Over at Dragons Dream Tag It On, Helen has set the recipe and has chosen to go with Mask/Stencil, Paint and Ribbon.

I used several puzzle pieces as a mask on a black tag and grabbed my gold paint.  I had based this idea solely on the sentiment stamp, it just had to be done, lol.  The stamped image was done on natural cardstock, cut out and popped up on foam.  I also stamped my ribbon with a puzzle background stamp that I have had forever but have not used for such a long time.

Thanks for popping in to take a look at this fortnight’s entry – why not have a go yourself?

Cheers, Esther  xoxo

Dragons Dream TIO #145

Vintage, Texture & Flowers – Right up my alley!  Pop on over to Dragons Dream Tag It On to see the fabulous tags from the design team and leave a link to your own.


I started with a black tag and stamped text using Vintage Photo Distress Paint. I then ran the dried tag through the cuttlebug for my texture element.  Then I added a very light layer of metallic rub to really show off the texture.  I sprayed white flowers with Espresso Colourwash and Vintage Photo ink spray, each with gold mica added for a bit of sparkle.  The picture is from a Graphic 45 paper pad, popped up on foam. Black and Kraft Twine finish it all off.
Thanks so much popping in to take a look and for all the fabulous comments you leave for me.  I really do appreciate it.
Cheers, Esther  xoxo