Splash of baby colours ....

.... Hi - the day seems to have run away with me a bit.  And I can't believe it's the last day of September!  Oh boy!!  Anyhow, I've a couple of cards to share with you this afternoon:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Best of Brides and Babies
Inks: SU - Pink Pirouette, Bashful Blue
Dies: Spellbinders - Labels 6 (S4-230) #4, Labels 11 (S4-246) #3
Accessories:  SU Card - Pink Pirouette, Bashful Blue; Cuttlebug EF - Swiss Dots; Ribbons from stash; White Lustre Card

I am submitting the cards to Colour Q - cQc208 - where the challenge is to use black, white and a splash of one colour.  Looking at the cards I realise that there might not be enough black in them - so ladies, if they don't quite meet the brief, feel free to remove them!  I have to give credit for the idea to the ladies at the Stampin' Up! Only challenge - SUO#80 - where they want baby cards, while I can't submit my card, I wouldn't have thought of this without the prompt!

I was reading through my Bloglovin' link this afternoon and saw that I'd been awarded a Top Three over at CAS- Colours and Sketches for my snowflake Christmas card - thanks so much - absolutely delighted!!

I hope you all had a super weekend.  Kathryn and I had a very girly time - we spent yesterday at our local beauty shop.  We each had a massage and facial - absolute bliss!  Jonathan had a good weekend too, he was out at a photo shoot - he got some lovely photos!  That's all for now.

Christmas snowflakes ....

..... Good morning everyone!  Can you believe that it's the last Saturday in September?  And that means it's time for our technique challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  Ruth has picked a favourite technique of mine - emboss resist (if you've not played with technique before here's a link to Splitcoaststampers tutorial).   Here's my card:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Festive Flurry, Christmas Message, Sassy Salutations
Inks: Versamark; Brilliance - Lightening Black; SU - Pistachio Pudding
Dies: SU/Sizzix - Framelits Apothecary Accents
Accessories: My Mind's Eye DP - Snowed In; Gold Card; White Lustre Card; Clear Embossing Powder; SU - Paper Piercing Essentials

I started by picking a sheet of design paper that was light and had a subtle pattern and cutting it to size.  I rubbed an anti-static pad all over the paper.  I inked the snowflakes with Versamark and stamped onto the paper, added clear embossing powder and then heat embossed.  Next I rubbed pigment ink all over the paper, allowed it to dry and then took a soft tissue paper and rubbed the ink off the embossed images!  I just love the way the snowflakes pop up!  As you see from the photo above - the ink is not totally opaque and a subtle image shows through.  The colour I used has a really pretty gold shimmer to it, so I mounted the finished paper onto gold card.  The sentiment was stamped in the same pigment ink and heat embossed, die cut and then paper pierced.  I cut the same shape in gold, split it in half and backed the sentiment, which I attached with dimensional tape.  For the inside I cut another gold mat and a panel of white card onto which I stamped a snowflake and greeting.

Do check out the inspiration cards from the rest of the team - as always, they are just awesome!  That's all for now.  Have a good weekend.

Sympathy ....

.... Hi - back again - I managed to get half an hour in my craft room this afternoon to make a clean and simple card for a few challenges:

• CASology - CAS63 cue word "Autumn"
• Just Us Girls - JUGS207 - colours
• Retro Sketches - RS82 - layout

Stamps: Clearly Besotted Stamps - Thinking of You, Many Messages; My Favourite Things - Thankful Leaves
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake
Dies: Die-namics - Fall Leaves
Accessories:  SU Card - Early Espresso, Naturals Ivory; Wool

I love the colours for this week's JUGS challenge - they are warm and rich.  The cue word at CASology is "Autumn" - so nice to see this term instead of "Fall" which I just can't get used to.  I die cut and stamped the maple leaf and was going for a thanksgiving card, but the layout is so clean and simple, that I thought it was perfect for a sympathy card.  And, sadly, I need to replenish my stock of sympathy cards.  I made the card base from Early Espresso.  I cut a panel of Naturals Ivory card on which I stamped the sentiment, wound around some wool and adhered the panel with dimensional tape.  I finished the front with the single falling leaf, adding a bit of wool around the stem.  For the inside I cut another panel of Naturals Ivory card, stamped another leaf and a simple sentiment.

And that really is all for today.  I hope you've had a good day - it's been fabulous here.  See you soon.

Autumn glory ....

... Good morning!  It's a beautiful autumn morning here in Northville - the skies are brilliant blue, it's lovely and warm and the trees around here are turning all shades of red, orange, green and gold.  And I've been inspired to make a card for a few challenges:

• Freshly Made Sketches - FMS105 - sketch
• CAS-ual Friday - CFC115 - theme
• Waltzingmouse Fanatics Challenge - WMSFC#2 - colours

Stamps: WMS - Peace & Plenty, Blessed by You
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Cherry Cobbler, Coral Calypso, Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso
Accessories: Promarkers - Various; SU Card - Cherry Cobbler, Coral Calypso, Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso; White Lustre Card; Cuttlebug EF - Swiss Dots

 

I think our Waltzingmouse Fanatics colours are perfect for this autumn themed Thanksgiving card.  I really like the clean, graphic lines of the sketch.  I embossed the smaller squares with dots for some texture and attached them to the contrasting card and adhered the panels to the card base.  I inked up the solid leaves using the rock 'n' roll technique, stamped off onto some scrap and then stamped on the white panel with the second and third generation impression - which gives a nice subtle background.  I inked the sentiment in Early Espresso and stamped onto the card.  I stamped the cluster of oak leaves and acorns onto some scrap white card, coloured it with Promarkers and then cut it out.  I attached the leaves with some silicon gel to give a little dimension.  The inside is simply a mat of Cherry Cobbler and white card.

Calling all you Waltzingmouse fanatics out there - I know there a quite a lot of you!!  Our colour challenge features warm, rich shades perfect for autumnal themes, for masculine cards, for Thanksgiving cards and even for feminine cards.  Tara and I are really looking forward to seeing what you make - you have until Thursday 3rd October, 5pm (Noon EDT) to join in!

Now, I'm off out to enjoy some of this gorgeous autumnal sunshine!  See you all soon.

Waltzingmouse Fanatics Challenge #2 ....

.... Good morning!!  Waltzingmouse Fanatics Challenge is back today with our second challenge.  This time out we're giving you a colour scheme to follow.  We've gone for hot, autumnal colours - you don't have to use them all (although it would be great if you do), but you must use at least 3 colours.  Here's my card:

Stamps: WMS - Two Step Sprig, Country Labels 4
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Coral Calypso, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Wild Wasabi, Pear Pizzazz
Dies: Spellbinders - A2 Brackets Borders One (S5-181)
Accessories:  SU Card - Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler; White Lustre Card, Cuttlebug EF - Swiss Dots; Basic Grey - Candy Buttons

I use the layout from this week's Seize the Sketch challenge - STC#4.  I'm really pleased that I was able to include ALL the colours from our swatch!!  I made the card base from Crumb Cake card and cut the scalloped panel from Cherry Cobbler (love that colour).  I used the Two Step Sprig set to make the flowers and leaves.  I cut a strip of vellum, embossed it and then cut the Vs.  I finished off the card with some enamel dots.  I left the inside blank so that I can write a message.  I'm so pleased how this one turned out!

We had twenty fabulous entries to our first challenge - it was really tough picking a winner and top three - we'd love to see this number beaten!! 

You have until Thursday 3rd October 5pm GMT (Noon EDT) to submit your entries.  Don't forget to visit Tara and check out her card.  See you all soon.

Christmas Trees ....

.... that's the theme that Ruth has for us this week's at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  I just love Christmas trees and I've made a few cards this week:

Stamps: Impression Obsession - Zenspirations Christmas Trees; My Favourite Things - Christmas Sentiments
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Riding Hood Red, Crumb Cake; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Spellbinders - A2 Matting Basics A (S5-131) #5 & 6, A2 Matting Basics B (S5-132) #6 & 7
Accessories:  SU Card - Riding Hood Red, Marina Mist; SU DP - Crumb Cake; SU Markers - Riding Hood Red, Marina Mist, Crumb Cake; White Lustre Card; Glitter

I used the colours from this week's Addicted to Stamps & More! Challenge - ASM#63.  I kept the design really simple with the colours in the mat layers and in the words.  I stamped the Christmas tree in Versafine, heat embossed with clear powder and used my SU markers to colour the letters.  I added a touch of sparkle to the star and ornaments.  For the inside I made a mat in blue and stamped a bold sentiment in red, finishing off with some snowflakes.

I really like this set of Christmas tree stamps and decided to make a few more for my stash.  This one is CASEd from the card I made for our canvas challenge here.

Stamps: Impression Obsession - Zenspirations Christmas Trees; Waltzingmouse - Nordic Winter, Ornate Ornaments
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Pool Party, Old Olive; Archival - Jet Black

Accessories:  SU Card - Crumb Cake, Old Olive; Canvas Paper; SU Markers - Various; White Lustre Card

I kept the inside simple:

The card is the same size as my previous canvas embellished card - small and sweet!  I really like the texture on this one.  My last card using this set of stamps is ultra clean and simple.

 

Stamps: Impression Obsession - Zenspirations Christmas Trees
Inks: Kaleidoacolor - Fresh Greens
Dies: Spellbinders - Wonky Rectangles (S4-306) #6
Accessories:  White Lustre Card

Yesterday I counted up the number of Christmas cards I'd made so far.  I've got 66 (including the three on today's post).  That's a really good number, but I still need about 80 more!!  There's still plenty of time to join in and get a start on your Christmas cards.

Don't forget to visit our blog and check out the inspiration cards from the rest of the team - as always they are just fab!  That's all for now!

Happy Birthday wishes to ....

... our darling daughter Kathryn.  Twelve years ago today our gorgeous girl arrived; she has given us so much - love, laughter and fun.  This is Kathryn's birthday card:

Stamps: Sweet Stamp Shop - Zombies, Dia De Los Muertos; Cas-ual Friday Stamps - Countdown, Stop; My Favourite Things - Birthday Sentiments
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Daffodil Delight, Bermuda Bay, Primrose Petals, Rich Razzleberry; Versafine - Onyx Black; Versamark
Accessories: SU Card - Primrose Petals; SU DP - Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight; White Lustre Card; Scraps from bin - turquoise, white glitter paper; Promarkers - Yellow, Maroon, Antique Pink, Turquoise; Clear embossing powder

I know that Zombies are not the normal decoration for a birthday card, but when Kathryn saw this set she told me that she wanted her birthday card to use this set!!!  Did I mention that my daughter is very strange?  No!  Well, she is and we just love her.

I used the sketch from the current Clean & Simple Stamping - FTL258 challenge for the layout.  The colours are from last week's Colour Q - cQc206 challenge, the colours are so bright and vibrant - perfect for a bold, fun birthday card.

I stamped the Zombie girl's face onto vellum using Versafine, heat embossed with clear powder, cut it out and then coloured the reverse of the image using Promarkers (matched as closely as possible to the SU colours).  Once dry I ran the image through my Xyron to make it self-adhesive.  I stamped the large rose on to some SU design paper and a bit of turquoise scrap and the smaller solid rose on to SU card and heat embossed with clear powder, and then in Primrose Petals on white glitter paper.  I stamped the birthday sentiment on the card - first with a second generation impression and then again with fresh ink.  Then I stamped a couple of pretty borders above.  I attached the roses and then added the Zombie Girl.  For the inside I cut a mat in Primrose Petals and on the white panel I stamped another zombie as well as some roses.  I finished with a bold sentiment which I stamped first in yellow then in black - giving a drop shadow effect.

To complete the look - I also decorated the envelope with the left over bits - the zombie boy and some cute little feathers - all printed on vellum and coloured with Promarkers.

I have to admit that it took me ages to make this card.  I was determined to use the zombie girl image - as Kathryn has specifically asked for it, but my first couple of attempts ended up in the bin!  They were looking more like Halloween cards, but I think this one works.   Here are a couple of pictures of my gorgeous girl:

2003 - In the back garden

2005 - Christmas - Kathryn as Cinderella

 2009 - Kathryn in Benidorm

2011 - Our first visit to Michigan 

2013 - End of August - Kathryn with green hair!!!

If you made it this fair - thanks for reading.  I think you have realised that I'm a very proud Mum ;))  Have a great day - see you tomorrow.

Colourful Get Well ....

.... wishes!  This card is for three challenges:

• Colour Q - cQc206
• Less is More - LIM137 - to make a one layer get well card
• Addicted to CAS - ATCAS22 - Theme - get well

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Patterned Occasions
Inks: SU - Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry, Primrose Petals, Daffodil Delight
Dies: Spellbinders - Reverse Wonky Rectangles (S4-307) # 5
Accessories: White Lustre Card

It's amazing how often similar themes appear on different challenges, this week both Less is More and Addicted to CASE want a get well card - and I need one for my stash, so here it is.  I used the bold, bright colours from this week's Colour Q challenge - just the sort of thing to cheer you up when you're feeling low.  I embossed the wonky rectangle frame onto the card and then used my stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp the plasters - leaving the sentiment on the last one!  Easy.  Here's a close up of the embossed lines.

That's all for now - I'm off to get dinner ready for us all.  See you tomorrow - I've a fun card to share with you!

A bit of retail therapy ...

.... so Kathryn got some money for her birthday presents and she was very keen to spend it all - NOW!!  We went up to Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi - a really nice shopping centre - and she went into Hot Topic to buy some band T-shirts.  Kathryn was so pleased with her purchases.  And, of course, while we were out it was only natural for Jonathan and I to do a bit of shopping too!  I had a nice time looking around Jo-Ann's and Michael's and I was very good - I only got a few sheets of scrapbook paper and some texture plates for my Big Shot.

However, Kathryn also got a gift card for Barnes & Noble - so we went there too.  We went a bit mad!!!  We found a Dr Who 50th Anniversary Edition of Monopoly and I got a boxed set of the Harry Potter books.  When we moved to the US I gave the local  High School all the hardback editions we had (the whole set).  I saw a super new boxed paperback set and just had to have it!!

As soon as we got home we unpacked the game and played.  I thought I'd done a brilliant deal with Jonathan getting several complete sets and building houses, then Kathryn built hotels on the browns and blues - suddenly I found that I had a rather large cash flow problem.  Kathryn won!!!  She was delighted to beat us both - and there was no fudging either - she beat us fair and square!!!

Below is a picture of the box that the Harry Potter books come in - I think it's a lovely image.

Above is a picture of the book spines - making a fabulous image of Hogwarts.  I'll be starting them shortly.  I would like to think that Kathryn will read them too - at some point! 

It's been a really fun day.  And now I think I'm going to play in my craft room - see you soon.