Penguins and patterns .....

.... it's been busy today.  This morning we took Mum to Manchester Airport to go home.  It's very wild and windy here and our journey was a bit rough.  The high winds also meant that Mum's flight was delayed - but it went off at 1.00pm and Mum should now be home with her brother and sister-in-law.  I'm missing her already, but we did have fun.

Sunday is when I normally post a card for CR84FN - but this week I completely forgot to make a card - silly me!!  There's still time to enter CR84FN46 - although it is closing a little earlier this week on Wednesday 25th.

Instead I've a couple of cards to share with you.  My first card is for CAS-ual Fridays - CFC36.  The theme is "Penguin suits" - the challenge started on Friday 20th which was National Penguin Awareness Day!!!  Who knew??  The DT would like us to make a CAS card with only black and white - not even the tiniest amount of any other colour!!

I know that my card is not in the least bit original, but it is fun!!  I knew that I had a penguin stamp in my stash.  I cut a mat in black card onto which I stamped the sentiment in Versamark and embossed with detail white powder.  I stamped my cute penguin in black Versafine onto white card and heat embossed with clear powder.  Then I carefully cut it out.  I coloured the image with a black Sakura Glaze gel pen - it has a lovely sheen.  I also added some white flock to the hat bobble, trim and mittens, as well as a bit of sparkle to the snow.  I like it!!

Stamps:  Papermania - Christmas Stamps
Inks:  Versamark; Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories:  Sakura Black Glaze pen; Glitter, flock and card from stash

My second card is for two challenges.  The first is CASE Study Challenge - CSC74 and the second for Do You Stack Up? - DYSU55.  January's muse at CASE Study is Jen Rzasa and her inspiration card is just fab. And over at DYSU the team would like us to use patterns - can be patterned papers or pattens you've made yourself.

I have to admit that I wasn't at all sure what I was going to do with Jen's inspiration card.  Then I realised that I always need thank you cards, so I took the word "thanks" and used patterned papers to paper piece the word.

I got some really lovely papers free with one of the craft magazines (but I can't remember which one!), I decided they'd be perfect for this challenge.  I started off by stamping the word thanks onto some striped paper featuring all these gorgeous colours and pattens, then I carefully cut out each letter.  I used some coordinating paper to mat onto the card base.  I stamped the mega word onto the card, and used my stamp-a-ma-jig to align the script stamps and then simply attached each letter in turn.


Stamps:  Stampendous - Mega Thanks
Inks:  Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Papers free with magazine; Clear embossing powder and card from stash

Yesterday Jonathan went to have a look at some houses - my favourite part of the process, but I'm having to do it long-distance!!!  One of the properties was a complete bust.  Two stood out as very nice - I think I could happily live in either of them.  However, we are still at the waiting stage and won't know for certain about the US move until later this month or early February!!!

Before I go - I'd like to welcome Darnell Knauss - my newest follower.  That's all for now - I'm off to sort out tea for me and Kathryn.  See you tomorrow!