Gift cards ....

... Morning all!  This is the last of my scheduled posts.  I made a couple of small gift cards into which I put vouchers for gifts.

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Festive Flurry
Inks: SU - Primrose Petals, Island Indigo, Pool Party
Dies: SU - Festive Flurry Framelits
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SEI DP - Berry Melody

These were really quick and easy to put together.  I cut the backing paper to fit and then stamped the snowflakes onto white card and used the matching dies to cut them out.  The insides were left blank for messages.

That's all for now - I hope to be back to normal sometime this week!!  See you soon.

WMSFC - Time to Party ....

.....  Good morning everyone!  I do hope that you've enjoyed (and recovered) from your Christmas celebrations.  This is a scheduled post as we'll be flying back to the US after spending Christmas visiting our families.  It's time for our new challenge at Waltzingmouse Fanatics and we have a colour challenge for you - here's my take:

Stamps: WMS - Putting on the Ritz, USA 1776; Stampin' Up! - A Brand New Year
Inks: SU - Calypso Coral, Crisp Cantaloupe; Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Rectangles Sm (S4-130) #4; Die-namics - Fishtail Flags Layers Stax #1
Accessories: Cream Lustre Card; Black Card

These colours are right out of my comfort zone - I much prefer cool colours but that's why we all play along with challenges - to try out new things!  I've managed to use four of the colours from the graphic - two shades of coral, cream and black.  The layout is based on a sketch from Freshly Made Sketches - FMS116, I didn't get chance to play along with this one before Christmas, but I think it's great for this card.  I did, however, turn the panel through 90° so that the sentiment would fit.  Using the two shades of coral, I stamped fireworks over the background.  I stamped the Art Deco style frame in Calypso Coral and then stamped the stars inside in Crisp Cantaloupe and cut out the shape with a die.  I layered the stamped panel onto black card and added black ribbons either side and adhered it directly to the card.  On the inside I cut a mat layer in black and on the cream panel stamped more fireworks and a super New Year sentiment.  This is a discontinued stamp, but new to me and I think it's great!

The winner of this week's challenge will receive a prize - one of the mini stamps sets - details on the Waltzingmouse Fanatics blog.  For more inspiration with these colours visit Tara to see what she's made.  You have until 5.00pm GMT (12 noon EDT) on Thursday 9th January to submit your cards - remember you must use some Waltzingmouse stash - stamps, digis or cut files.  That's all for now.  See you soon.

Family Christmas cards ....

....  Hello everyone, time for another scheduled post.   I do hope that you all had a super day yesterday.  Today I can share with you the cards I made for my family.  First, the card I made for Jonathan:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Festive Foliage; Stampin' Up! - Christmas Messages
Inks: SU - Cherry Cobbler, Pistachio Pudding, Pink Pirouette
Dies: WMS - Mistletoe Dies
Accessories:  White Lustre Card; SEI DP - Berry Melody; SU Card - Pistachio Pudding

I made this card just before we flew back to the UK.  When I saw the sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch! - CTS#58 - I knew that I had the layout.  Jonathan likes the colours red and green and in my stash of papers I found this lovely sheet of stylised snowflakes and used that for the background.  In the sketch there is some holly; in my card I opted for some mistletoe - appropriate for my husband!  And the sentiment is just perfect (and part of the reason I got this set).  I stamped the mistletoe and berries onto white card and cut them out with the matching dies - thank you Claire!  For the inside I cut a mat layer of pale green card and on the white panel stamped some more mistletoe hanging down and the partner to the sentiment above.

Next up is Kathryn's card - again I made it just before we left the States.

Stamps: Funstamps - Scribble Snowman; My Favourite Things - Ornament Banner Builder
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Melon Mambo, Island Indigo
Dies: Die-namics - Ornament Banner, Fishtail Flags Layers Stax #2, Fishtail Flags Stax #2
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Melon Mambo; Glitter Paper; Promarkers and Copics

For the layout I used the sketch from Seize the Sketch - STS#10, sadly I'm too late to submit the card, but I love the layout.  I made a really bright, vibrant card.  I made the base from Melon Mambo and cut a panel of white glitter card - to suggest a field of snow.  I used my all time favourite snowman stamp, colouring the image with a mixture of Promarkers and Copics.  I die cut the ornament banner and stamped on the snowflake ornaments.  I finished the front with a clean, simple and bold sentiment.  For the inside I simply cut a white panel and stamped another snowman - he's much more subtle inside!  I think the sentiment is totally appropriate for our girl.

And last, but by now means least, the card we gave to Ben.  You saw this one yesterday.  I made it last Friday, day we flew back to the UK.  I'd chatted, via Facebook, with Ben in the morning and he told me he hadn't received the card we posted to him.  I couldn't leave him without a card.

Details for the Santa card are on yesterday's post.  Below is the card we sent to Ben at the beginning of November, but didn't get to him. I actually made this as my card for 52CCT at the beginning of August - if you click the link you'll find all the details there.  I had originally thought it was going to be for Jonathan, but actually it works perfectly for our boy too!!

That's all for now - our Boxing day plans include playing games, chatting, eating and drinking - a perfect way to spend the day!

Merry Christmas .....

... to you all.  I'd like to wish all my friends a very Merry Christmas.  I hope that you have a super time.

See you all soon.

Jolly Santa ....

.... Hi, this is another of my scheduled posts.  Last Friday I was busy in the morning getting ready to fly back to the UK - I got it all sorted before lunch, so rather than pace about the house, I made a card.

Stamps: Uniko Studio - Jolly Christmas, Christmas Background Builders; Stampin' Up! - Christmas Messages
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black, Grey Flannel; SU - Pear Pizzazz, Real Red
Accessories: White Lustre Card; My Mind's Eye DP - Snowed In; Promarkers; Glitter

I used the layout from CAS(E) this Sketch - CTS#58.  I stamped the Santa image twice, coloured in his jacket and hat and cut out the beard and pom-pom from the other stamp.  I glittered all the white on the image.  On the inside I used the same paper for a mat layer and stamped another Santa and sentiment.

As I type this I can see out my office window - while it's much warmer than it's been recently, above freezing for the first time in two weeks, it's really horrible outside.  We've got fog and light rain.  That's all for now!

Santa travels the world ....

.... Hi again!  This is another scheduled post for the holiday season.  At the beginning of December I attended a Stampin' Up! class run by Karin - we had such fun making a couple of Christmas cards which I'm sharing with you here.

The first card is a CASE of Michelle Zindorf's beautiful vintage Santa card.  I had such fun making this card and while it looks complicated, it really isn't!

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Woodgrain, World Map, Christmas Messages, Santa's List, Everything Eleanor
Inks: SU - Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, White Craft; Stazon - Jet Black
Accessories:  SU Card - Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler; SU Markers - Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand; SU Blender Pen

Inside the card I stamped a sentiment and layered it onto some red card and added a white flourish on the other side.  I like the flourish - not my idea - one of the other girls did it first and I decided it looked fab, so copied it!

My next card is also a CASE, this time of a fold design by Julie Davison - a tri-shutter fold.  I can see me using this fold again - so very pretty!

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Wonderful Wreath, More Merry Messages, Mosaic Madness
Inks: SU - Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: SU Core'dinationas Card - Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive; SU DP - Season of Style; SU Card - Whisper White; SU Framelits - Circles; SU Punches - Mosaic, Modern Label; SU Ribbon; SU Gems

The picture above shows the card open - so many places to decorate, a really good way to use design paper - which is good as I have a lot of design papers!

Well that's all for now.  See you soon.

Birthday balloons .....

.... Hello!  I do hope that you're all getting ready for the holiday season.  As we are all busy, I'm scheduling a number of posts for the holidays - while I'm off doing other stuff!  These cards were made at a recent Stampin' Up! class run by Karin. 

This card looks complicated, but really isn't.  It's a CASE of a card by Libby Fens.  We had lots of fun making the hexagon star, and it really is easier than it looks - you can see the tutorial on Libby's post.  I made this into a thank you card - always important to have in your stash.

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - For You, Sassy Salutations
Inks: SU - Coastal Cabana
Accessories: SU Card - Crushed Curry, Coastal Cabana, Whisper White; SU DP - Easter Elegance; SU EF - Polka Dots; SU Button and twine


The inside has a mat in Crushed Curry and a white panel which is blank for me to write a message.

The last card that we made at the class is a CASE of Karin's own design - a birthday card.  In these colours it is just right for a guy, but I can see it working in other colours too!

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Sketched Birthday, Gorgeous Grunge
Inks: SU - Night of Navy, Smoky Slate
Accessories: SU Card - Night of Navy, Smoky Slate, Whisper White; SU Framelits - Bitty Banners; SU EF - Alphabet Press

That's all for now.  Thanks for stopping by to see the cards I've made - our get togethers are always lots of fun, and what's more I can try out techniques that I've not seen before - like that fab hexagon star!  See you soon.

Holiday hugs ...

... Good morning everyone.  I managed to get some time in my craft room yesterday - didn't expect it, but it was fun!  I made a snowflake card:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Festive Flurry, More Merry Messages; Waltzingmouse - Basket Additions
Inks: SU - Island Indigo, Smoky Slate
Dies: SU - Festive Flurry Framelits
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Island Indigo; SU DP - Winter Frost; Cuttlebug EF - Christmas Stars; Gem

I used the layout from this week's Retro Sketches - RS#94.  I cut a couple of strips in Island Indigo and embossed the smaller piece with stars.  The design paper is perfect - it has snowflakes!  I stamped the three smallest snowflake images - two in grey and one in teal, cut them out with the matching dies, layered them and added a single gem.  I finished by adding a tiny sentiment in the corner.  For the inside, I used another sheet of design paper and on the white panel stamped a lovely Christmas verse.

It's Kathryn's last day at school and Jonathan's last day at work before our holiday break.  Many of our UK friends flew back to the UK last night - we're off tonight!  It'll be so nice to see our families.  That's all for now - got lots to do today!  See you soon.

Sweet snowflakes ...

... Morning everyone.  Just a quick post today to share a birthday card I've made.  I think I've mentioned before that I have lots of birthdays in January and I like making winter birthday cards - this one has a snowy theme - inspired not only by the graphic but the blanket of white that I can see from my office and craft room windows.

Stamps: Uniko Studio - Stunning Snowflakes; Stampin' Up! - Sassy Salutations
Inks: SU - Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Smoky Slate
Dies: Uniko Studio - Snowflakes; Die-namics - Fishtail Flags Layers Stax #2, Fishtail Flags Stax # 2; Spellbinders - Circle Sm (S4-116) #6
Accessories: SU Card - Smoky Slate; White Lustre Card; White Glitter Paper

The challenge at Sketch Saturday - SS#289 is to use a previous sketch and I've picked sketch227 (from September).  The current Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge - CCIC#11 is Sweet Snowflake and is being sponsored by Uniko Studio.  Now I have lots of Beverley's stamps and the Stunning Snowflake set is one of my favourite, so I had to join in the fun.

I made the card from a sheet of Smoky Slate card.  I cut a panel of white and randomly stamped the snowflakes all over it using pink, blue and grey, then I cut the panel into squares.  I adhered the little squares to the card base.  I die cut the largest snowflake in white glitter paper and adhered it to a grey backing circle.  I finished the front by stamping the sentiment onto white card and cutting it out with the fishtail flag and matting it onto a grey flag.  I adhered the sentiment with dimensional tape and added a pretty pink snowflake.  On the inside I cut a panel of white card and stamped more snowflakes around the edge and a bold, sassy birthday greeting in the centre.

That's all for today.  While I like snowflakes on a card, I'm officially fed up with the snow outside!  See you soon.

A quick hello ....

... Good morning everyone!  Only a week to go!!!  I've been quite busy this week with various preparations and also snow shovelling!  I managed to get into my craft room yesterday evening and made a card for my stash. 

Stamps: The Craft's Meow - Lovely Labels 14, Circle It; Waltzingmouse - Faux Fun
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Strawberry Slush, Baked Brown Sugar, Summer Starfruit, Coastal Cabana
Accessories: SU Card - Summer Starfruit, Strawberry Slush

I really like the sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch - CTS57, but I've been a bit stumped.  However, when I saw the pretty colours at Colour Q - cQc220 this week, I decided to make some flowers.  And the cue word at CASology - CAS75, "KNIT", caused me some concern until I remembered my Faux Fun borders from Waltzingmouse.

I stamped the knitted border onto scrap card and then fussy cut along the stitch line and adhered it to the card.  I used my new stamps from The Craft's Meow to make the flowers - the leaves were made by cutting the butterfly into pieces!  I stamped the flowers onto white and coloured card and layered them for depth, and adhered them to the card with dimensional gel.  I finished the front with a simple sentiment.  The inside has a mat of Summer Starfruit and a few flowers stamped - with lots of white space for me to write a message.

I've just realised that I have CASEd Tracey's card too!  Great minds and all that!  That's all for now.  I'm off to get some ironing done.  See you soon.

ASM - Anything goes ....

.... Hello everyone!  Welcome to our last challenge for 2013 and this week at Addicted to Stamps and More! our challenge is ANYTHING GOES!  I had lots of fun making my card:

Stamps: Serendipity - Pithy Sayings; Stampin' Up! - Delightful Dozen
Inks: SU - Chocolate Chip
Dies: Serendipity - Owl Detail and Owl Outline
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU DP - Crumb Cake; SU Card - Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Real Red, Crumb Cake; SU Marker - Real Red

I used a couple of challenges to make this card - the layout is based on the sketch from CAS - Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#55; rather than use actual rectangles on my card, I've suggested them with the owl and sentiment.  The colours are from last week's Colour Q - cQc219 challenge.  I absolutely adore owls and when I saw the Colour Q graphic with that sweet owl, I knew I had to use my new owl dies.

Making the owl was really easy.  I cut the base layer and main image in Chocolate Chip and then cut three more of the detail owl in red, green and kraft and then simply paper pieced!  He's just so gorgeous.  I cut a mat layer of design paper in kraft and stamped the sentiment directly on to this.  I mounted the owl with dimensional tape.  For the inside I cut a mat layer in brown and on the white layer added a fun birthday sentiment, adding a touch of colour to the open letters.  I think this is a fun birthday card!

Don't forget to visit our blog and check our the inspiration cards from the rest of the Design Team.  Only 7 days to go until Christmas!  If you celebrate Christmas - have a good one.  If not, enjoy the season!  We're taking a short break over at Addicted to Stamps and More!, but will be back with a new challenge in January. 

Winter has arrived in force in Northville.  You saw the photos I posted yesterday showing the drive before and after clearing.  Well, we've had a bit more snow - a light dusting overnight which was cleared quite quickly and for which I got a thanks from the UPS delivery guy!  And this afternoon a very light dusting.  I'd like to think that's it for now - I'm fed up of snow!  And on that note - bye!  See you tomorrow.