Non-traditional colours .....

.... Hi - here's another in my series of scheduled posts!  This week our challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown is to make a card using any of our previous sketches - here's the sketch archive.  Last year I didn't get to play along with all the challenges, so I decided to go back and use one of the sketches from 2012, here's my card:

Stamps: My Favourite Things - LDJ-Stitched Stockings
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Summer Starfruit, Gumball Green
Dies: Die-namics - Stocking Trio; Spellbinders - Fleur de Lis Rectangles (S4-317) #3, Rectangles Sm (S4-130) #4
Accessories:  SU Card - Gumball Green, Summer Starfruit; SU Ribbon - Gumball Green; Papercellar jewelled ornament; White Lustre Card

This was the sketch for the September 2012 challenge - so many possibilities here! The inspiration for the colours came from the little jewelled ornament - they go perfectly with the SU colours.  I cut a couple of mats in green and yellow and on the white panel I stamped the sentiment in green.  I used the Fleur de Lis Rectangles for the ornate frame, cut out a panel of white card and attached it to the frame.  I snipped out the little decorations on the bottom two loops to enable me to attach the ribbon.  I die the stocking, stamped the image in green and added a little button in yellow.  For the inside I used some more stamps from this set - the pretty borders and sentiments.  A fun, non-traditional colour card for Christmas!

Don't forget to check out the rest of the team's cards - go to 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown to see their lovely creations.  That's all for now, see you soon.

Having fun ....

....  Good morning all!  I don't have a card to share with you today, but a quick update The on our holiday instead.

We've been back in the UK for a week and a half and the time has gone by so fast.  I think that's because we've been all over the place.  Our flight last week was really good and actually arrived early.  I picked up the hire car - a very nice Toyota Auris - and drove from Heathrow to Plymouth - the longest drive I've done for ages.  It was actually good. We had a super time with the family and the sun even shone for a bit!!

Then it was up to Mum's - so nice to be here.  I have to say that I'm pleased I've got a small car, I'd forgotten how windy and narrow the roads are here!!!  I think I like long and straight :)  Last weekend we went to Cardiff and Barry to see family from my father's side.  It was brilliant!  I took my camera and got some lovely photos of us all. 

This is not all of us!  Just a few.  I didn't worry about getting everyone in as I knew that we'd be over the next day - and we were.  Sadly, while I had my camera with me, the memory card was still in the laptop at the hotel!!!  doh!!!!

I also took some photos of the wonderful buildings around Cardiff Bay - the place has changed so much since I last saw it.  I had lots of fun taking photos, but I haven't finished processing them all yet.  Here are a couple though that are perfectly Cardiff!

The old and the new - in front the Millennium Centre and in the background the old Financial building.
 

I went out during the evening as I knew the letters were lit up - so beautiful.  Fortunately the rain held off and I got some lovely shots - will post them soon.

That's all for now.  It's almost 7.00am and time for us to get up and on - today we're off to Leicester to see my in-laws and then on to North Wales to see our friends!  See you soon.

Sequins or pearls ....

.... Good morning, here's another of my scheduled posts for this week's 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown challenge.  This week we have an embellishment challenge - we'd like you to use Sequins and/or Pearls on your card.  I decided to have a go at sequins, here's my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - 2011 Holiday Ornaments; My Favourite Things - Christmas Sentiments
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Up! - Pear Pizzazz
Dies: Spellbinders - Fleur de Lis Squares (S4-318) # 4, Squares Lg (S4-126) # 6, 2011 Heirloom Ornaments (S4-334) # 3
Accessories:  Gold Holographic Card; Green Sequins; Glossy Accents; Green Foil Card; White Lustre Card

I got the idea for sequins under a diecut shape from Ren-Yi's lovely candy jar card - so pretty.  I started by cutting the ornate frame from some holographic gold card in my stash.  Next I cut a couple of squares and on the top square I also die cut the ornament.  I traced the shape of the ornament onto the bottom card and then started to attach the sequins.  I used Glossy Accents to adhere the sequins; easy to apply and dries clear.  Once I'd finished attaching the sequins and allowed them to dry, I used dimensional tape to attach the top square - hey presto - a sequined ornament!

For the inside I cut a mat layer in green foil card and on the white panel I stamped a large ornament in green (I used the second impression for a subtle image) and then stamped this bold Christmas sentiment.

That's all for now - don't forget to check out the team's cards.  And I look forward to seeing your cards with sequins and/or pearls!  Bye for now.

Traditional Christmas colours ....

.... Hi, welcome to another of my scheduled posts.  I was on something of a roll making Christmas cards before I flew to the UK and here's one I made.  It's bright and fresh, but using traditional Christmas colours. 

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Seasonal Remedies, Festive Foliage, Yonder Star
Inks: Distress - Festive Berries, Pine Needles; Versamark
Dies: Spellbinders - Postage Stamps (S4-348) # 4, Squares Lg (S4-126) # 5
Accessories:  Kanban - Red Satin Foil Card; Clear Embossing Powder; White Lustre Card

It's been a while since I used these lovely stamps from Claire at Waltzingmouse.  I stamped the image twice in Versamark and heat embossed with clear powder.  I die cut one of the images and while still in the die, I sponged on green ink which allowed the image to pop!  On the other image I sponged on red and then fussy cut out the central sentiment.  I used the postage stamp die to cut a frame for the image - I like the subtle shimmer of the satin red card.  I added some festive foliage around the edge of the card.  For the inside I kept it really simple with a satin red mat layer and a red sentiment on white panel.

Despite having three layers on this card, it is reasonably flat - which is good, as it has to go through the post - and it's much cheaper if the cards are flat(ish)!!

That's all for now!  See you soon.

Waltzingmouse Blog Party .....

.... Hello!  Here's another in my series of scheduled posts.  It's the 17th of the month and that means it's time for the Waltzingmouse Blog Party.  The theme this month is Summertime Fun.  I had the idea of making a card with the big strawberry as I just love strawberries and cream in the summer, but this is what I made instead:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - My Island, North Shore, Free Spirit Boy
Inks: Distress - Faded Jeans, Weathered Wood, Worn Lipstick, Spiced Marmalade, Dried Marigold; Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Promarkers - Carmine, Cocktail Pink, Amber, Pumpkin, Orange

Later this summer, we are going to Mexico for our family holiday - will be so nice to have Jonathan with us!  The thought of the tropical warmth lead me to a tropical sunset and this fab North Shore image.  I created the sunset using Distress Inks (thanks to Anya for a wonderful tutorial on U-Tube).  I stamped the North Shore directly onto the card in Versafine giving a lovely crisp image.  I added the perfect sentiment from My Island and finished off the front with my favourite hibiscus flowers.  I stamped the flowers twice onto white card and coloured them with Promarkers; I cut out the centre flower and adhered it with dimensional gel.

That's all for now - all being well I've got Internet access, so I'll get a coffee and check out the cards made for the challenge.  See you soon.

Happy Father's Day ....

.... Good morning all!  Today is Father's Day and sadly we won't be in Northville to spoil Jonathan.  Kathryn did ask me to make a card for her to give to her Dad - I had such fun!!  I used this week's Colour Q - cQc193 colours for the card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Country Labels 4, Man of the Hour
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Real Red, Certainly Celery, Bermuda Bay, Island Indigo; Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versamark
Dies: Spellbinders - Labels 4 (S4-190) # 5; Labels 4 Sm (S4-309) # 6
Accessories: SU Card - Real Red, Bermuda Bay, Certainly Celery, Island Indigo; White Lustre Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Couture Creations EF - Workshop

I absolutely adore the Country Labels 4 stamps - I stamped the image five times - in black (embossed with clear powder), Real Red, Certainly Celery, Island Indigo and Bermuda Bay.  I die cut the black image and cut out a different section in each colour (I saw this on the launch at Waltzingmouse but I can't remember whose card it was!).  I cut out the centre of the scraps and stamped the sentiment in black and embossed with clear powder.  I decided to make a mat layer using all four colours of card - I used a grid to line up the scraps taped them together, die cut the shape and adhered the patchwork label on top.  I decided to keep the card white, but embossed it to add detail.

The inside has a mat layer in Bermuda Bay and on the white panel I stamped the two sentiments that Kathryn picked out.

I think Jonathan has a relaxing day planned - we'll call him on Skype to chat.  Love the Internet - makes keeping in touch so easy.  Bye for now.

Christmas Ornaments ....

..... or baubles - whatever you want to call them.  Those wonderful jewels that hang on our Christmas trees.  This week's challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown is a theme to feature Christmas Ornaments/Baubles on your cards.  Here's mine:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Vintage Ornaments, Ornate Ornaments, Yonder Star
Inks: Memento - London Fog; Stampin' Up! - Night of Navy, Bashful Blue; Versamark
Dies: Spellbinders - 2012 Heirloom Ornaments (S5-116) #4
Accessories: Silver Foil Card; White Lustre Card; Silver Embossing Powder; Luminarte - Radiant Rain Mist Ice; Habico - Blue Bow

I have to give credit for the idea of using the ornaments on the background to Elizabeta Kushner - she made this wonderful card.  My card was really easy to make.  I simply started stamping the ornament in the middle of the card and worked out.  I made a mask to cover the ornament so that I could stamp the sun ray pattern inside.  I mounted the background paper onto a silver mat.  To complete the front I stamped the ornament again on white card and embossed with silver powder.  After cutting out with the matching die, I used my aqua pen to paint the ornament.  I added a sentiment and attached the ornament with dimensional tape and finished off with a dark blue and silver bow!

I kept the inside quite simple; a silver mat layer and stamped a sentiment and sun ray patterns on the white panel.  I think this design would work nicely with gold and red too!

I've scheduled this post - so hopefully it has gone up as planned!  Kathryn and I are in the UK now - a busy month planned visiting family and friends.  I do hope to have Internet access and be able to visit you - can't wait to see what you make!  Don't forget to check out the Design Team's cards.  Bye for now.

Nautical birthday ....

.... Surprise!!!  I bet you didn't expect to see a card from me today!  I made this on Wednesday evening as I really wanted to play along with these challenges:

• Freshly Made Sketches - FMS90
• Colour Throwdown - CTD246

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - The Open Sea; Waltzingmouse - Man of the Hour; My Favourite Things - Favourite Sentiments
Inks: SU - Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry
Dies: Spellbinders - Squares Lg (S4-126) # 6 & 7; Squares Sm (S4-128) #6
Accessories: SU DP - Olive Olive; SU Card - Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz; White Lustre Card; SU Marker - Old Olive; SU Punch - Circle 1¼"

My card has a nautical theme and is for a guy.  Even though the colours include a pink, I think this works for a guy.  The guy it's going to likes to wear pink, so I think it works for him!!  I used some textured Pear Pizzazz for the side panel and then cut several mat layers.  On the white panel I stamped the image of the sailing ship in Rich Razzleberry and while still wet used my aqua brush to pull the ink into the ship's sails.  I cut a flag for the birthday sentiment, stamped the sentiment in green and added a dashed line beneath,  I finished the front of the card with the compass.  For the inside I cut a green mat layer and on the white panel I stamped a really bold sentiment and finished with another compass.

That's all for today.  By the time this post goes live Kathryn and I should have landed and hopefully cleared Immigration, Customs and collected our bags.  Then it's only a case of picking up the car and driving to Plymouth.  Our marathon holiday has started!!!  See you tomorrow for my 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown post - all scheduled!  Bye for now.

Christmas Banners .....

... Morning all!  Today's the day - Kathryn finishes school mid-day and tonight we fly to the UK to see family and friends!  So excited now.

But I did find some time to play in my craft room yesterday evening and I've a Christmas card to share with you today.  I used a couple of challenges to make it:

• CAS-ual Fridays - CFC104 - to use flags and banners
• Jingle Belles - JB:13:12 - a sketch - which has banners!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Nordic Winter, Secret Santa (Chief Elf), Compliments of the Season II
Inks: Distress - Festive Berries, Evergreen Bough
Dies: Die-namics - Fishtail Flags Layers Stax # 2 & 3, Fishtail Flags STAX #2; Spellbinders - Circles Sm (S4-116) #3
Accessories:  SEI DP - Berry Melody; Stampin' Up! - Scalloped Circle Punch; White Lustre Card

This was fun to make.  I picked out three coordinating papers used my Die-namics dies to cut the banners and layered them onto the card.  I stamped the Chief Elf image twice, in green and red punched out the green layer adding some ink to the edges for definition, and used my Spellbinder circle die to cut out the centre.  I adhered the rosette with dimensional tape.  To finish the front I added some elf footprints leading to a simple sentiment.  For the inside I cut a mat layer in another pattern and a white panel on which I stamped a simple sentiment.  Sorry about the quality of the photos, but I had to take them under artificial light!

I have a series of scheduled posts lined up - so do drop by to check them out.  But that's all for now - I'm off to the hairdresser this morning, then it's packing and off to the airport.  See you soon.

You bring me sunshine .....

.... Hi again!  I'm back a bit quicker than expected - got all the washing and ironing finished quicker than expected - so free time to play!!!  And that's good because as soon as I saw the challenge at CASology - CAS48, cue word YELLOW, I knew what I'd be making.  The card also works for the current Addicted to CAS Challenge - ATCAS14, cue word CIRCLES - here there are many!!! Here's my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - My Island; My Favourite Things - First Class Friend; Verve - Learning to Sail
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Daffodil Delight; Memento - London Fog
Dies: Lil' Inkers - Stitched Squares #6; Memory Box - Circle Burst Sm
Accessories:  SU DP - Daffodil Delight; White Lustre Card

This came together so quickly - I think it took 30 minutes from start to finish!!!  The cue word yellow just shouted sunshine to me.  I used the polka dot bright paper from Stampin' Up! to make the mat layer; I also stamped a little sun on this paper and cut it out.  I used the Lil' Inker squares to cut out the white layer and then used the Memory Box die to create a "sun".  I love the words on this sentiment, absolutely perfect for the card.  I finished off the inside with a mat layer in yellow card and on the white panel a heartfelt sentiment.

Kathryn has just come home from school, weighed down by the contents of her school locker.  The children had to clear everything out today.  I think the last couple of days consist of fun activities - films, parties and signing of the Year Book.  I can't believe how fast the past year has gone.  Kathryn really has enjoyed her first year at an American Middle School - junior high!!!  She's grown up such a lot too!

I think that really is all for today. The weather has turned out to be much nicer than expected and I think I need to do a bit of weeding before we fly to the UK.  See you tomorrow.

Elegant birthday wishes ....

.... Morning all!  Time is marching on soooo fast and I have lists as long as my arms - just to make sure that I don't forget anything before we fly on Thursday.  But I've made sure of some "me" time and here's a card I made for a very special lady.  My mother-in-law has her birthday when I'm in the UK, so I've gone a bit mad and made a large (8" ×8") card for her.  I used a couple of challenges to make it:

• The Play Date Cafe Challenge - PDCC85 - just adore these colours
• My Favourite Things Wednesday Sketch Club - MFTWSC127 - sketch

Stamps: Stampendous - Jumbo Dahlia; Hero Arts - Layered Flowers; Waltzingmouse - Say It Loud; PTI - Stylish Sentiments - Birthday
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Island Indigo, Raspberry Ripple
Dies: Die-namics - Fishtail Flags Layers Stax # 3; Spellbinders - Grand Big Scalloped Circles (LF-249) #3
Accessories:  Kanban DP (Grey); Martha Stewart Punch - Arches Border; SU Card - Island Indigo, Raspberry Ripple; White Lustre Card;

I had such fun making this card.  I love the colours - so rich and elegant, perfect for my mother-in-law.  I cut a mat layer in raspberry onto which I layered this lovely grey/silver paper - isn't the flourish just wonderful?  I had to trim the grey paper to fit the card, and used the scrap on the envelope.  I stamped the dahlia onto white card and cut it out, layering onto a teal scalloped circle.  I stamped the sentiment onto white card and cut it out with my Die-namics fishtail dies.  I finished the front of the card with a punched border in white and an accent flower, layered with all the colours.

For the inside I cut another mat in raspberry and on the white panel I stamped another dahlia (using second impression for a more subtle look) as well as the flourish from the same set.  I think the sentiment is just right for Madeline's card - she's always in our thoughts, but more so on her birthday.


To complete the look, I also decorated the envelope using the left over strip of grey/silver paper - I couldn't waste it - far too nice.  I punched the arch border in the grey paper and laid it over a strip of raspberry card.  They look great together.

I got lots done yesterday - washing and ironing - making sure that Kathryn and I both have clean clothes for our trip.  I laid out the suitcases in the spare room too - and am starting to pack!  I have to be careful to make sure I don't go over the baggage weight limit!

That's all for now - I hope to have a card to share with you tomorrow.  Bye for now.

Father's Day ....

.... Hi - hope you all had a good weekend - we did!  A pool party on Saturday - taking lots of photos of models at play, and then yesterday a super walk in Maybury State Park (see below).  I really enjoyed the walk, but Kathryn really wasn't happy!!  She enjoyed the breakfast after though!

My card this morning is for Father's Day, for my father-in-law from Jonathan.  Sadly my step-father died 10 years ago - and I miss him still, but I still get to make two cards each year - the one for Jonathan will be posted later!!!  I used this week's Colour Q - cQc192 challenge for the colours - I think they are just perfect for a masculine card, and I'm also submitting it for Addicted to CAS - ATCAS14, where the cue word "Circles", and I think the monocles count:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - USA 1776, My Kind of Guy, Man of the Hour
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Island Indigo, Certainly Celery, Soft Sky, Smoky Slate (substitute for Going Grey)
Dies: Spellbinders - Large Labels (S4-168) #4, Small Labels (S4-169) #5
Accessories:  SU Card - Island Indigo; White Lustre Card

I carried the bowler hat theme on inside the card, with little bowlers in the corners and a simple, but heartfelt sentiment, in a frame.  I really like the shadow effect on these sentiments!

This card is winging its way to the UK as I type and hopefully will get to my father-in-law on time!!  As an aside, the bowler hat stamp in this set always reminds me of paintings by Rene Magritte - bowler hats feature in many of his paintings.

As we were walking around the park yesterday, we kept finding signs about the Maybury Sanitorium, so I did a bit of searching on Tinternet!  I found out that the Maybury Sanitorium, opened in 1921 and closed in August 1969, was built as a place to treat those suffering from tuberculois.  It was named after William Maybury who built the place, sadly he died of TB in November 1931.  In 1971 Michigan Natural Resource Commission purchased the land and property from the city of Detroit, and the State Park officially opened in May 1975.  It's a wonderful park with lots of routes for walkers, horse riders and bike riders, lots of trees, open land and a fishing pond.  I'll be going again!!

That's all for now - only four more days before Kathryn and I fly to the UK - so much to do!!!  But I'm still going to find time to play in my craft room for a bit ;)  See you soon.

Wheely!!!

... Good morning - a very quick post this morning to share a card that I've made for this week's CASology - CAS47 challenge.  The cue word this week is "WHEELS" and I've gone for a slightly relaxed view of wheels:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Summer Afternoon, Pursuit of Happiness
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Eyelet Squares (S4-305) # 3, Squares Sm (S4-128) #5
Accessories:  SU Card - Pacific Point; Copics; White Lustre Card

The wheels in this image are so relaxed, they are stationary!!  I really like the image - so sweet, and I thought it went really well with the sentiment to pause and take time to "just be happy".  I stamped the image in Memento ink, coloured with Copics and cut it out with the dies.  I mounted the finished image onto a funky blue frame.  I finished off with the simple sentiment.

Yesterday afternoon I was out at a photo shoot with Jonathan - it's the first time I've gone to a proper shoot!!  We went to a pool party - nine models and a whole lot of photographers - all trying to take photos.  It was brilliant.  I learnt such a lot about taking photos and I'm sure my next shoot will be better.  I plan to go through the photos today and select a few to put up on Flickr, as well as a few here.  That's all for now.  See you soon.