Festive glimmer and glitz ....

.... Hi!!  Another Christmas card for you this morning - made for two challenges:

• Less is More - LIM95 - where the recipe is to use glamour and glitz
• Clean & Simple Stamping - FTL218

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Around Christmas Time, Compliments of the Season II
Inks: Memento - London Fog
Accessories: Martha Stewart Glitter - Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Feldspar, Aquamarine Crystal, Verdelite, Perdiot; Vellum, twine and card from stash

Taking of a photo of this card has been quite tough - but I think this captures the sparkle and shine.  I love the sketch and immediately thought of this pretty snowflake stamp.

I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the stamps, having first established the centre of the card.  Starting at the bottom of the card, I used a glue pen to fill in the snowflake outline and once the glue reached the clear stage I added glitter.  I repeated this up the card using two shades of glitter on each of the full snowflakes.  Once the card was dry I burnished the glitter to make sure it doesn't shed and to add shine.  Here's a close up of the snowflakes.  Sadly the photos don't do the card justice - the sparkle and shine is lovely!  As I didn't want to hide the pretty snowflakes, I stamped the sentiment onto vellum.  As I didn't emboss the sentiment it has dried to give a very soft focus effect - which I rather like.  I finished off by adding this thread in coordinating colours.

Kathryn has now started her countdown to Christmas - only three full weeks of school left!!!  We plan to put up our Christmas tree this weekend.  Bye for now!

Pastel thanks .....

..... Good morning to you all - it's glorious here today.  I've had a really good morning doing stuff in the house and crafting too!  The inspiration for my card came from a beauty that I saw this morning - designed by the very talented Michelle Bala.  I have CASEd Michelle's card - using the same stamp but in softer pastel colours and with a different sentiment.  It's actually for three challenges:

• The Ribbon Reel Challenge - RR42 - Inspiration photo - pastel Christmas
• The Sweet Stop Challenge - SSS186
• Do You Stack Up? - DYSU100 - theme is thanks

Stamps: Hero Arts - Ancient Motif; CAS-ual Friday Stamps - Big Thanks
Inks: Distress - Spun Sugar, Shabby Shutters, Milled Lavender, Tumbled Glass; Versamark
Dies: Spellbinders - Lacey Squares (S4-295) #3
Accessories:  Crochet flower from Sue Walsh; Gems and ribbon from stash; Cream Lustre card - Stampeddlar

Michelle's card

The inspiration photo from Ribbon Reel is just gorgeous and I was intending to make a Christmas card, but as I've cased the design from Michelle, I wanted to change the theme and the Big Thanks sentiment fit perfectly in the square.  Hope this is okay girls ;)

I stamped the image four times in soft pastel tones and cut the square focusing on the scroll pattern.  I cut the lacey square in cream card and added these pretty gems, I adhered the sentiment into the centre using dimensional tape.  I finished off with this pretty crocheted flower which I got from Sue Walsh - sadly it is the last one!  I added a ribbon and a couple of gems.  And here's a picture of  Michelle's original card.

I did notice on the Ribbon Reel blog that Michelle is joining the DT - so pleased for her and the rest of the girls too!  And on another note, sadly Do You Stack Up? will be closing at the end of December - sorry to see it finish, but there's still time to play.  Well that's all for me today - I still have quite a few Christmas cards to make, as well as a number of birthday cards.  January is a big month for birthdays in our family and I need to get them made before Christmas!!  See you soon.

Festive food ....

.... Good Wednesday afternoon - we have been blessed with another lovely day here in Northville.  I like it cold, crisp, bright and dry, then I don't feel bad playing in my nice warm craft room ;)   I've another festive card to share with you today - combining these challenges:

• Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge - WMSC125 - designed by Jean Martin
• Jingle Belles - JB12:24 - to use festive foods in your design
• Colour Q - cQc165 - really lovely festive colours and check out the apron!!

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Nordic Winter, Around Christmas Time, Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy, Compliments of the Season II; My Favourite Things - Seasonal Sentiments
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Real Red, Regal Rose, Pool Party; Memento - Tuxedo Black, Rich Cocoa, Cottage Ivy
Dies: Spellbinders - Picot Edge Circles (S4-345) #3; Die-namics - Fishtail Flags Layers STAX
Accessories: Stampin' Up! Card - Real Red; Promarkers - Red, Pine; Foil and white card from stash

I don't have all the named colours from the Colour Q challenge, so I've matched as closely as possible.  I love the way Claire's stamps all mix together so well - I had fun putting this card together.

I made the base from some SU Real Red card (great colour).  I positioned the sentiment with my stamp-a-ma-jig and then randomly stamped some sweets and candy canes all over the panel.  I used the Fishtail Flags to cut the banners; Real Red for the bottom layer and white card stamped with this pretty pattern from Nordic Winter. I used more of the Nordic Winter stamps to create the panel across the card.  The Christmas pudding is mounted on a gorgeous green circle.  I stamped the pudding in Rich Cocoa and cut it out by hand.  I restamped the holly leaves and berries, colouring them with Promarkers and attaching to the pudding.  I decorated the inside with a simple, but bold sentiment.

That's all for now - see you tomorrow!

It's a numbers thing ....

.....  Hi - back again.  This card was made with three challenges in mind:

• My Favourite Things Wednesday Sketch Club - MFTWSC99
• Do You Stack Up? - DYSU99 - to used numbers on your card
• Charisma Cardz Challenge - CCC46 - where they have a colour combination for us

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Serene Snowflakes
Inks: SU - Tempting Turquoise
Die: SU - Decorative Punch
Accessories:  DCWV - Rose Tinted Christmas Papers; Cuttlebug - Christmas Number EF; SU Card - Midnight Muse, Raspberry Ripple; Martha Stewart - Glitter

I nearly didn't post this card!  I like the sketch layout, the colours are just fabulous and I had fun making it.  Sometimes an idea is great in theory, but in practise not so much.  Here adding the glitter was a step too far!  I think I'll try to rescue the card though - as I really like the colours!  Hey ho!!  See you soon.

Snow flurry ....

..... No, not around here, but on my Christmas card - it's snowing!!!  This card actually combines four challenges and they are:

• CAS-ual Fridays - CFC79 - where the theme is winter blues
• Dynamic Duos - DD30 - to use navy and silver
• Clean & Simple Stamping - FTL217 - I used the layout sketch
• Addicted to CAS - ATCAS1 - where the theme is snow - a new CAS challenge - how could I resist?

Stamps\: Waltzingmouse - Compliments of the Season, Say It Loud Winter Holiday

Inks: Stampin' Up! - Midnight Muse; Memento - London Fog

Dies: Spellbinders - Petit Ovals Sm (S4-140) #1; SU Decorative Label Punch; Martha Stewart - Ornament Punch, Snowflake Punch

Accessories: Snowflake fabric, Holographic card; SU Card - Midnight Muse; White Lustre card - Stampeddlar

I'm still busy working on Christmas cards and it was simply an accident that this card fit the requirements of four challenges!!  I made the card base from SU Midnight Muse - such a lovely deep navy.  I punched the white card with the ornament border and cut to fit the card base.  I found this lovely snowflake fabric in my stash and decided to wrap it around the white card.  The silver panel is cut from holographic card and when I took this photo the sun was shining - hence the array of fabulous colours!!!  I made the sentiment panel by cutting the white oval and then stamping subtle grey snowflakes and the sentiment on it.  I mounted it onto the navy decorative label.  The Clean & Simple sketch has a decorative accent above the label position and in the photo above there is no accent.  I did make a little accent snowflake in silver paper and you can see it in the photo here, but I think the card is better without!  What do you think?

That's all for now - back to the normal routine and I've got a huge pile of ironing - again!!!  See you soon.

Starry Christmas ....

.... Good Monday morning to you all - I hope you've had a super weekend.  We have just finished a lovely long weekend here in Michigan.  It started out with the warmest Thanksgiving for ages and ended with snow on the ground yesterday!!  Extremes!  I did get to play yesterday and this Christmas card was made using these challenges:

• Freshly Made Sketches - FMS62
• Colour Throwdown - CTD219 - these are just so me!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Yonder Star Background, Yonder Star, Say It Loud Winter Holiday
Inks: Memento - Teal Zeal; Stampin' Up! - Lucky Limeade
Dies: Spellbinders - Classic Edge (E8-001)
Accessories:  Design Paper - SEI Berry Melody; SU - Basic Grey, Tempting Turquoise; Gem and card from stash

I absolutely love these colours - they are so me!  I stamped the outline image and then fussy cut it out - actually it is quite easy, just a bit long!!!  I don't have the colours Bermuda Bay and Soft Sky, so I matched them as closely as possible - and I think they work.  I finished with this square gem which looks quite dark in the photo, but in real life is almost exactly the same colour as Lucky Limeade.

Kathryn is back to school today - only four weeks until the end of school!!  Can't believe how quickly time is passing this year.  That's all for now - see you soon.

CR84FN68 - Merry Christmas ....

....   where has the time gone this year?  We're almost at the end of November and it's time for our last CR84FN challenge of the year - CR84FN68.  For the next week and a half our colours are the fabulously rich - burgundy, grey (or silver) and cream.   And aren't those photos just stunning?  Photos courtesy of Kate MacPherson.

I have finished all my UK cards - they are in a parcel on the way to my Mum's place - she's going to post them on.  But I've still got some cards to make for my American friends and these colours are just perfect.  Here's my card:

Stamps: My Favourite Things - Stitched Stockings, Seaonal Sentiments; Waltzingmouse - Vintage Labels 25
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Bravo Burgundy; Versamark; Stazon - Jet Black
Dies:  Spellbinders - Labels 25 (S5-077) #4, Die-namics - Stocking Trio
Accessories:  Stampin' Up! Card - Bravo Burgundy; Papermania Signature Vellum - Silver; Silver embossing powder; Cream Lustre card from Stampeddlar

Aren't these stockings just fabulous?  They are so easy to make - I cut the stockings with Die-namic dies and then stamped the coordinating images.  I stamped the little buttons and heart again and embossed them with silver as accent details.  I made the card base from SU Bravo Burgundy adding snowflake vellum for the base layer.  I stamped the ornate frame in Versamark, heat embossed with silver powder, then cut it out with the matching Spellbinder die.  I attached some thread to make a line and then hung the stockings with little pegs.  I finished off with a simple sentiment and some tiny grey pearl accents!  I decorated the inside too, but kept it simple with a bold sentiment in burgundy on cream.

For more inspirational cards with these lovely colours click on the links below, in my sidebar or go directly to our blog.

Mona Pendleton, Andrea Mathews,  Heather Jensen, Helen Berry, Joanne Basile, Jody Morrow, Lisa Henke, Mackie Robertson, Pauline Pollington, Shannon White, Sue Lelli  and Vickie Zimmer.

Have fun with these colours - I did!!  I look forward to seeing your creations.

As I mentioned earlier, this is our last challenge for 2012 - submissions close on Wednesday 5th December.  We are have a short break so that we can enjoy the run up to Christmas and get ready for it all!!  We will return on 30th December with CR84FN69.  See you soon.

Extended playtime ....

... Good afternoon all.  I'm back a little earlier than expected owing to a slight change in plans.  I hope that all my American crafting buddies had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Our first experience was great fun.  We had a quiet day at home and I cooked turkey with all the trimmings!  I have to admit that it's probably the third time I've EVER cooked roast turkey and all the trimmings - in the UK we spend Christmas at my in-laws and my mother-in-law makes the most wonderful dinner!  So I had a lot to live up to; Jonathan and Kathryn said I succeeded!!

I managed to find some time to play in my craft room too and I've used two challenges to make a sympathy card:

• The Play Date Cafe Challenge - PDCC158 - these soft colours are just perfect
• CAS(E) this Sketch! - CTS6 

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Pleasant Poppies; PTI - Scattered Showers
Inks: Memento - Grey Flannel
Accessories: SU Design Paper - Basic Grey; Promarkers - Soft Green, Dusky Rose, Pale Pink; Prismacolour Pencils - 20% Cool Grey; Card from stash

It is always really hard to make a sympathy card, but these challenges really helped - the soft, subtle colours are just perfect and I've kept to the layout - exactly!  I think poppies are just right for a sympathy card; I stamped the image in grey and coloured with Promarkers.  I outlined the coloured image with a very pale grey Prismacolour pencil and blended to give a soft glow around the image.  I opted for a very simple sentiment.  The background panel and frame are SU design paper in basic grey - I used the texty side for the panel and strip to frame the stamped image.

Yesterday was Black Friday - the traditional start to sales in the US.  We did go out, but didn't get to the shops until quite late in the day. While still busy, it wasn't the total madness that occurs at midnight!!  Jonathan picked up his new computer and Kathryn bought a game for her DS.

In the morning we headed into Detroit to visit the Detroit Institute of Arts where they are hosting an exhibition about the House of Faberge, and features some wonderful jewellery and six of the famous Faberge Easter Eggs.  I can't show the eggs on here because of copyright - but I can link to photos of the eggs.  My favourite of the Eggs on display was the Imperial Red Cross Easter Egg.  It is simply gorgeous.  The most ornate of the eggs was without doubt the Imperial Peter the Great Easter Egg - so intricate and utterly beautiful.  The Faberge exhibition was fabulous.  But the DIA has so much more to offer; we spent a few hours just wandering around - we will have to go back again soon.

This morning we headed out again to exchange the game that Kathryn got for her DS.  What we didn't know was that DS games made in the US don't work on DS units manufactured for the UK.  Hey ho!!  Still, Kathryn is happy as she now has a game that works just fine on her PC.  And I had a good day as I found another new craft shop - it's huge and a place that I'll be going back to again, and again!!

Before I go today - I want to show you the scarf I've been knitting for Kathryn - I finished it yesterday - which is good timing as it has gotten really cold!  It's been quite some time since I knitted anything, so this is a simple rib scarf, but made in fabulous wool, silk and cotton blend which is multicoloured.  Kathryn is really pleased with it.  Here's my gorgeous girl modelling it!

Well, that's all for today.  I'm off to make the most of this long holiday weekend and play in my craft room.  Be sure to drop by at midnight for the start of our next colour challenge at CR84FN!  See you then.

Thanksgiving wishes .....

... are sent to all my American crafting buddies.  I hope you all have a wonderful time with friends and family.

We are looking forward to our first Thanksgiving celebration and plan to spend a quiet holiday weekend at home enjoying our time together, as well as sampling new foods!!  See you on Sunday with my card for CR84FN68!

Gobble, gobble ....

... Morning all - I bet you thought you were going to see a turkey!!!  Well, I don't think it's a turkey, but it is a card made for a few challenges:

• CASology - CAS20 - where the cue word is "GOBBLE" - hence the post title (sorry!!)
• Retro Sketches - RS38 - turned the sketch on its side
• Colour Q - cQc164 - super colours

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Plaid Background, Peace & Plenty; Uniko Studio - Wonderful Washi
Inks: Memento - Teal Zeal, Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Up! - More Mustard
Accessories: Promarkers - Chestnut, Burnt Orange, Spice, Sunflower, Gold, Honeycomb, Aubergine, Plum, Duck Egg, Marine, Cool Grey 1; Card from stash

I think this really is the last Thanksgiving card I'll be making this year!  I really like the graphic from this week's Colour Q challenge - the colours are fabulous and I decided that they'd be just right for this card.  I inked up my new Plaid BG stamp from WMS - so easy to create a plaid now!! I don't have Bermuda Bay ink, so used Teal Zeal which is quite close.  It was the cue word from CASology that made this a Thanksgiving card!  I don't have any turkey stamps, but I do have this wonderful grouping of festive fruits - so I stamped it and coloured with Promarkers, matching as closely as possible the Colour Q colours.    I think you can see that Retro Sketch in the card - simply turned on its side.

I've had a busy few days - can't share the photos just yet - but watch this space!!!  And I've been shopping for our Thanksgiving dinner.  I bought the smallest turkey I could find and it's still a whopper!!!  I think we'll be having left over turkey for a while.  I've decided that as this is our first Thanksgiving I'm going to make a pumpkin pie!!!  Jonathan is really pleased with this, but Kathryn less so!

That's all for now - must get the house sorted out so that we can have lots of fun over the holiday weekend!  See you soon.

CR84FN67 - Merry Christmas ....

.... Wow, time has gone by so quickly this week, here's my third card with our fabulous CR84FN67 colours of plum, gold and tan.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Compliements of the Season II; Creative Expressions - Holly
Inks: Distress - Antique Linen, Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord; Stampin' Up! - Perfect Plum, Crumb Cake
Spellbinders: Lotus Pendant (S4-269)
Accessories:  Kanban Card; Gold foiled card from stash

Going through my Kanban stash, I found this pretty Christmas tree with baubles and parcels in various shades of plum and purple.  I mounted the cut image onto a gold doily - giving the impression of a multi-point star!  I created the background by shading with distress inks leaving a softer colour towards the centre of the card.  I stamped the holly branches in Crumb Cake to give a subtle pattern and finished off with a simple sentiment.  I haven't done the inside yet!

I was having so much fun with these colours that I made another card!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Compliements of the Season II, Yonder Star
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Crumb Cake, Perfect Plum
Accessories:  Kanban Card; SU Card - Crumb Cake

I had some of this lovely gold foiled holly paper left from my card last week so decided to use it up.  I cut a mat in Crumb Cake and adhered the holly paper.  In my Kanban stash, I found this pretty decoupage image - the colours were perfect for the challenge and made another Christmas card for my collection.  The greeting was part of the kit.

As there was no stamping at all on the front of the card, I decided to decorate the inside.  I used my new Waltzingmouse set, Yonder Star - it is simply so beautiful.  I stamped the outline star in Crumb Cake and then stamped this fun sentiment - love the font!  This is such a pretty clean and simple design that I'm going to use it on a set of cards.

Photo Credit

For more inspiration from the team click on the links in my sidebar or go directly to the CR84FN blog.  That's all for now - see you soon.