Shoes ....

FOR CR84FN64 - HELLO BUTTERCUP!  CLICK HERE!

....  Morning, I wouldn't normally post above my CR84FN post (sorry Mona), but I've had a brainwave with regard to this week's CASology - CAS12 challenge to show a shoe.  It's only a tiny card, but I love this sentiment - that used to be me!!!

Stamps:  There She Goes - ROFL Taglines
Inks:  Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Promarkers; Card from stash

Details will follow - I'm just about to head off to the cinema with Kathryn!  See you soon.

Hi, it's just gone 1.00pm and we're back!  We went to see Hotel Transylvania in 3D.  I have to be honest and say that I really wasn't looking forward to this at all, but Kathryn really wanted to go.  And it was just super!  Briefly, Dracula has a daughter and wants to keep her safe from humans, so he builds a high end hotel for monsters.  Then a human boy gets in and falls for Mavis, Dracula's daughter, she is about to turn 118!  To say that Dracula is over protective is an understatement and it's funny.  It's also a little sad, but there's a happy ending.  The kids will love it!

That's all for now - Kathryn and I are off to bake cookies and muffins for the School Bake next week!  See ya!

CR84FN64 - Hello Buttercup ....

.... Well, it's the last day of September, we're officially into Autumn!!!  It's time for our new colour challenge at CR84FN.  Our colours for the next week and a half are bright, fresh and spring-like!!!  Our colours for CR84FN64 are light blue, yellow and green!!  And I just love them.

The graphic photos are courtesy of Magnolia Rouge; they just fabulous and I've used the striped fabric and the pretty flowers as the inspiration for my card.

Stamps: PTI - Signature Greetings II, Rosie Posie, Happy Hexagons
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Daffodil Delight, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke
Spellbinders:  Classic Triple Scallop (E8-003), Rectangles Sm (S4-130) #4, Scalloped Rectangles Sm (S4-131) #4
Accessories:  PTI - Hexagon Die, Rosie Posie Dies; SU Card - Certainly Celery; Promarkers; Lace, gems and card from stash

I used the lovely hexagon die to make this card; I cut out a template, attached it to some card then, using Nicole Heady's hexagon colour plan, I stamped four colours over the template.  I cut this layer to fit the base of my card.  Using the Rosie Posie dies, I cut several flower and then stamped the images in So Saffron.  I used my Promarkers to add some depth to the flowers and leaves.  I cut the pretty scallop border from some card and attached to some white card and then attached the lace over the top.  I cut a couple of mats onto which I attached the flowers.  I stamped this super sentiment onto vellum as I didn't want to cover up the background pattern.  And I finished off the card with some bling!   And, I decorated the inside of the card too - using more hexagons!

I used this week's sketch from My Favourite Things - MFTWSC91 for the layout, and as there are scallops in several places this card is also being submitted to this week's Do You Stack Up? - DYSU81 challenge to use scallops.

For more inspirational cards with these gorgeous colours click on the links below:

Mona Pendleton, Sue Lelli, Pauline Pollington, Andrea Matthews, Heather Jensen and Shannon White.

Don't forget, we are continuing our Open Design Team Call with this challenge - check out the CR84FN blog for full information.

I had a brilliant day yesterday.  We finally finished unpacking our moving boxes!!  Yes, I know we've been here a while, but sometime you just keep putting things off!  Well, I do.  Everything has been put away and now all that's left is getting rid of the empty boxes.

Kathryn and I plan to have a girly day - we're off to the cinema.  Not sure what we'll see yet, but it'll be a fun day.  Jonathan is off to a photo shoot.  Enjoy your day - see you soon.

Harvest time .....

.... Good Saturday morning to you all!!!  It's been a super week here in Northville - one day that felt like Autumn had arrived in force, followed by several days of blue skies and sunshine.  The weathermen have promised us a cooler weekend, but with mostly sunny days.  The colours of Fall are all around, especially true in Blogland!!  Today's card has been made using two challenges:

• Colour Q - cQc156 - the warm, rich colours of Fall
• Mojo Monday - MOJO260 - where we have the option of a circle or square card

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Off Beat Backgrounds, Pic-Nic Patterns, Candy Jar Christmas Fillers; PTI - Friendship Jar, Friendship Jar Fall Fillers
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Suede; Memento - Morocco (substituted for Dusty Durango), Rich Cocoa
Spellbinders:  Swatch Squares (S4-342) #4, Squares Lg (S4-126) #5
Accessories:  SU Card - Soft Suede; Promarkers - Oatmeal, Burnt Orange, Orange, Amber, Pumpkin, Olive Green, Shale; SU Ribbon; WMS - Twine; Card from stash

I really like the photo from Colour Q and decided to try and create my own plaid using this colours.  Claire has made plaid stamping so easy with her stamps.  I inked the wide stamp (Pic-Nic Patterns) with Morocco and the thinner stamps with Soft Suede and Rich Razzleberry.  I'm really pleased how it turned out.  I've been quite faithfully to the square sketch, using Soft Suede card to make the square swatch and panel, and ribbon to the side.  To make my jar of Fall goodies, I used the PTI Fall Fillers and coloured them with Promarkers.  For the jar I used WMS Candy jar - this stamp is a bit smaller than the PTI jar and fit better with the design - I like the jar top too!  I finished off with a bunch of tags - all stamped with different sentiments and tied with some twine.

We've been here nearly six months already, and we still have a few boxes in the garage that haven't been unpacked.  So that's our plan for today - finish the unpacking and get rid of the empty boxes!!!  And I can't believe just how fast that time has gone!

Before I go, I've got to say Hello and Welcome to a couple of new followers - Rejane and Vickie - so pleased you joined me.  Bye for now!

Up silly early .....

.... For some reason, I've been waking up SILLY early at the weekend - today it was 5.00am!!!  Last week it was 4.00am.  Don't know why, but the upside is that I have time to browse the Internet.  I've even started to look at Christmas gift ideas!!!

And, of course, I check out challenges that are due today.  I am thrilled and delighted to say that I got an Honourable Mention at Dynamic Duos for this card:

Thanks for making my early start so special!!  Looking forward to the new challenge.

Toot your own horn ....

....  I'm in really early with this week's CAS-ual Fridays - CFC72 challenge.  This week the Design Team want us to make a card based on our own Blog Header!!!  This sort of stumped me a bit as I don't have any images on my header - it's really graphic!!  However, I've combined the challenge with this week's CASology - CAS12 challenge to feature a shoe!!!  I know I don't have a shoe in my header, but as my Header is only words and colour - I think I can include just about anything as an image!!  This is what I came up with:

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Santa Was Here! (Secret set); Woodware - Christmas Borders & Vertical Words
Inks: Versamark; Memento - Tuxedo Black; Distress - Mowed Lawn
Spellbinders: Mega Rectangles Lg (S4-142) #4
Accessories:  Cuttlebug EF - Snowflakes from Winter Wonderland (set of 6); Card from stash

So, from my Blog Header I've taken the following features - the colour, the rectangular layout and the embossed look of the lettering.  And in my card I've layered green beneath an embossed snowflake background onto which I'd previous stamped a vertical sentiment.  The shoe was stamped with Versamark and heat embossed.  I then die cut it and added colour to bring out the shape of the shoe and the pretty pattern of the Christmas Tree inside the shoe.  

That's all for today - I'd better do some house stuff!!! Boring, but important otherwise the dust devils land!!  See you soon.

Witch shoes ....

..... I've another Halloween card to share with you this morning.  I've used two challenges to make it:

• CASology - CAS12 where the cue word is "shoe"
• The Play Date Cafe Challenge - PDCC151 - rich, warm Fall colours

Yesterday afternoon I received a package of goodies from Renee (she's having a sale - check it out!!).  One of the stamp sets I've been wanting from PTI is the super Fall Jar fillers and Renee sold me her set - I just had to use it!  I know that Tracey used the same image on her card, so I totally CASed her card.  

Stamps:  Papertrey Ink - Friendship Jar Fall Fillers; Waltzingmouse - Cicely at Halloween
Inks:  Memento - Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Up! - Cherry Cobbler
Accessories:  Stampin' Up! Card - Cherry Cobbler; Martha Stewart Glitter - Cinnabar; Promarkers - Ruby, Cardinal Red, Raw Sienna, Terracotta, Marsh Green, Pear Green; Card from stash

I changed the position of the image from central (in Tracey's) to the left, and did a double mat.  And I used the Play Date Colours which are just perfect - love the ruby boots!  I used a Martha Stewart glitter for the stars - an almost perfect match to cherry cobbler.

Sitting at my desk and looking out the window, I can see so many trees and bushes.  In the summer there were so many shades of green, and now I can see colours ranging from yellow, through golds, oranges, to rusts, browns and still some green!  It's absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!  Beginning to think that Fall (Autumn) may be my favourite season.  See you soon.

Shades of green ....

.... over the last week, I've been having fun browsing the Internet - checking out various challenges.  I've seen Dynamic Duos a few times, but this is the first time I've played along - and I'm only just in time for this week.  This week Dynamic Duos - DD#21 have a monochromatic theme and it's my favourite colour - GREEN!!! How could I not join in?

I recently got some new stamps from Papertrey Ink - ones that I've been wanting for a while - the beautiful Gracious Vases.  I've made a sympathy card - not for any particular reason, but to have "just in case".

Stamps:  Papertrey Ink - Gracious Vases
Inks:  Stampin' Up! - Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Crumb Cake
Accessories;  SU Card - Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Crumb Cake; Craft Concept EF - Woodgrain; Promarkers; Card from stash

I kept it really simple - just a few mats, the stamped vases and sentiment, and a woodgrain panel to ground the vases.  I coloured the orchids with Promarkers.  I also decorated the inside of the card - again very simple a couple of mats and the vases in the corner.

I'm starting to work on a scrapbook of our summer trip in California.  I've been checking through the photos that Jonathan and I took - hundreds of them!!  It's going to take a while, but I'm having such fun.  That's all for now.  Back again soon.

By pumpkins fat ......

.... If you've got Claire's fabulous Cicely at Halloween set - you'll recognise the title.  It's the opening line of the sweet poem that Claire included in the set - and I was totally inspired by Renee's card for this week's Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge - WMSC116.  The sketch was designed by the Chief Mouse herself - Claire Brennan!!!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Cicely at Halloween, Halloween Party, Wanda's Pantry
Inks: Distress - Walnut Stain, Dried Marigold
Spellbinders: Small Labels (S4-169) #4, Large Labels (S4-168) #4
Accessories:  Core'dinations card; Cuttlebug EF - Pumpkin Harvest; Burlap, ribbon and card from stash

I took inspiration for my card from Renee and I wanted to add lots of texture.  I started by adding some colour to the card base with my blending tool.  Then I embossing some Core'dinations card with the Pumpkin Harvest EF, sanded to reveal the colour and added some burlap and ribbon, then attached it to the card with dimensional tape.  I stamped the little pumpkins and the bats onto white card (using the second impression for a soft image).  I cut out the card with the Labels die and while in the die added a touch of colour and stamped the image.  I cut a mat for the sentiment from the Core'dinations card and added a tab onto which I stamped the lizard.  Love this lizard!

I had a super time yesterday - got lots done.  I finished off cataloguing my new stamps and dies, tidied the craft room.  It's great - you can see the floor again!!  But you'll have to wait to see some of the cards :)  That's all for today - I think!  Thanks for stopping by - I really do appreciate it.

Saying Hi! .....

.... I'm back again with a card for this week's Do You Stack Up? - DYSU90 challenge to use flags, banners or pennants.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Vintage Banners, Bitty Banners; The Stamps of Life - Crayons2stamp
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Pool Party, Lucky Limeade; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Spellbinders:  Nested Lacey Pennants (S5-029), Eyelet Circles (S4-304) #2, Circles Lg (S4-114) #2
Accessories:  SU Card - Island Indigo; Card and ribbon from stash

This was quite quick to make.  I stamped the backing banners directly on to some white card and added the little bows, then cut it to fit on top of the blue mat layer and attached them both to the card base.  I stamped the largest of the vintage banners on white card and cut it out with the lacey pennant, attached it to the card and added some bows.  I finished off with a simple sentiment.  I'll be sending this to one of my friends in the UK.

I'm having a really fun day playing in my craft room.  That's all for now - see you later!

A couple of challenges ...

.... Hello!!  I've a couple of cards to share with you this morning.  The first is for this week's Retro Sketch - RS30 - I've been saving details of the challenges, but for various reasons have been late every time.  So this week - I'm early!!  Apart from turning the sketch upside down, I've been totally faithful to the layout - and there's no stamping on this card at all!

Papers:  Uniko Studio - Bright Butterflies (Free download)
Accessories:  Stampin' Up! Card - Pool Party; Gems and card from stash

Beverley (Uniko Studios) released these papers in August - they are so pretty.  The little pennant comes with a printed butterfly, but I decided to add another one - this one with a touch of bling!

My next card is for Clean & Simple Stamping - FTL208.

Stamps:  Uniko Studios - Time, Extra Time
Inks:  Stampin' Up! - Rose Red, Bashful Blue, Daffodil Delight; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Stampin' Up Card - Rose Red; Uniko Studios - Bright Butterflies Digital Papers; Card from stash

I used a sheet of this funky circle paper to cover the card and added the sentiment panel.  I stamped various clock faces and flowers onto some white card, using the second or third impression to get softer shades, layered this onto Rose Red card and attached it to the card.  I finished off by stamping the sentiment.  And yes, this card is going to be quite late!!

See you soon.  Note - just edited this post to update the photos - I've retaken them in daylight - they look so much better.

Bee's knees ....

... don't you just love this expression!  I did a Google check to find out when people first started to use it.  According to the Oxford Dictionary it was first used in the 18th century, but then it meant something small or insignificant.  Nowadays, we use the phrase to mean something that's excellent or outstanding; this usage can be traced back to 1920s American slang!  And the relevance to cards - well, I used it on this card!

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - L'il Buddies, Compact Sentiments II, Spring Basket
Inks:  Memento - Tuxedo Black; Distress - Squeezed Lemonade, Scattered Straw, Dried Marigold
Accessories:  PTI - Hexagon Die; Glitter and card from stash

I used a few challenges to make this card:

• One Layer Wednesday - OLW106 hosted this week by Heather @ Bits & Pieces
• Charisma Cardz Challenges - CCC37 - to use things with wings
• LIM86 - Take 3 of the previous LIM challenges
• St Luke's Charity Card Challenge - SLCCC18 - where we want to see "couples" - there's still plenty of time to join in with our challenge!

First I cut a stencil using my Papertrey hexagon die - I pushed out some of the hexagons and left a few in place, attached it to the card and sponged through some ink.  I started with the palest yellow and built up to the strongest, suggesting part of a honeycomb.  I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to position the sentiment and then added a couple of little bees.  I coloured the bees with Promarkers and added a touch of glitter to the wings.  The three previous challenges for this week's LIM86 challenge are: LIM29 - Things that move (the bees), LIM59 - Masking (to create the honeycomb) and LIM66 - to use yellow.

Looks like I'm finally getting back into my groove - two posts today!!  See you tomorrow!

New challenge ....

.....  today my card is for a couple of challenges.  One oldish and one new.  Well, it's not exactly a new challenge, but for some reason I totally missed it!!  Since moving to the States I've been finding "new" stamps companies and getting new stash.  One of the companies (and I've seen their stamps and dies before) new to me is My Favourite Things - and I think it will be!!!!  They have a sketch challenge every Wednesday - they're up to number 90, so I've very late joining in :)

Stamps: Die-namics - Bookmark Duo
Inks:  Distress - Shaded Lilac, Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean; Stampin' Up! - Basic Grey
Spellbinders: Rectangles Lg (S4-132) #4, Rectangles Sm (S4-130) #4
Accessories:  PTI - Bookprint Impression Plate; Dawn Bibby paper; Promarkers - Ice Grey 1, Canary; Card and gems from stash

I used two challenges to make this card:

• My Favourite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge - MFTWSC90
• Runway Inspired Challenge - RIC20 

One of my passions is reading, and when I saw this bookmark set on MFT I just had to have it.  I used one of my most favourite quotes as the focal point for the card and used the colours from the current RIC challenge - so bright, so fresh.     I made the base layer with the bookprint impression plate from PTI - an ideal match!  I used the open book to make the two panels across the card, echoing the bright colours in the RIC image.  I found some super grey striped paper in my stash to echo the runway in the image.  I stamped the sentiment and coloured the letters with just a touch of yellow, and mounted it onto a pale grey panel.  The little circle was stamped in pale lilac to pick up the lilac in the runway.  I finished off with some square gems in black.

That's all for now - I'm off to do school lunch cover today and then off to get my shiny new Michigan Driving Licence.  See you soon.

CR84FN63 - Hello ....

... Good morning - time for my second card with our fabulous CR84FN63 colours of denim, tan and brown.  Last time I went with a very masculine card, this time I've made a card for one of my UK buddies.  I like to send home notes - I know it's easier to send emails, but there's nothing nicer than getting something in the post, something to keep!

Stamps: Hero Arts - Layered Flowers (CL496); Dawn Bibby - Flower Patch; Waltzingmouse - Compact Sentiments II
Inks: Memento - Rich Cocoa; Distress - Walnut Stain, Faded Jeans
Accessories:  Waltzingmouse - Lace; Papermania - Portobello Road DP 6" x 6"; Marianne Die - LR0133; Stampin' Up! - Crumb Cake card

I enjoyed making last week's card with the distressing, etc, so I had another go.  I started off with some old style newspaper print paper from the Portobello collection, cut it to size and then distressed the edges, crumbled it up and then lightly rubbed over some colour.  I cut the dotty paper to size, distressed the edges and added this lovely cream lace.  I made the layered flower by stamping the image three times; twice onto some postage style paper and once on the dotty paper.  On the bottom layer of the flower I sponged on some blue ink.  I stamped a couple of flowers directly onto the card, and then used my stamp-a-ma-jig to position the sentiment.  I finished off by adding some leaves.

Here's the graphic for this week's colours - photos courtesy of Magnolia Rouge.

For more inspiration cards from the DT check out the CR84FN blog or click on the links in my sidebar.  Don't forget, we are having an Open Design Call - we want to add some new designers to the team.  The six month term will begin on 4th November 2012.  Do make sure to use our colours and add "DT" after your name so that we know you want to be considered.

See you soon.