Shop for shoes ....

For my 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown post - click here

For my Waltzingmouse Fanatics post - click here

... Good afternoon everyone - only one more day of our long weekend holiday - to go.  We've really been making the most of our time off.  Eating - obviously, and I'm going to have to be very creative with turkey recipes in the coming weeks :)  Friday evening we all went to a photo shoot with the lovely Andrea - I'll post some photos soon.  And today we even did a little shopping - glad we saved it until today.  The shops were very quiet first thing this morning!  After we got in, Jonathan watched some football - NBC show the UK Premier League games - I think he actually sees more games here than he did in the UK!!  Kathryn beat Pokemon - she was delighted.  And I played in my craft room and made a fun little card:

Stamps: Docrafts - Born to Shop Shoes
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Reverse Wonky Rectangles (S4-307) #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Copics - R17, R14, G24, G20, BV02, BV04, B12, B14, R81, R83, R0000, W1, W3, W5, W7, Y13, YR23, YR27

The cue word for this week's CASology - CAS72 is SHOP.  As soon as I saw that word I knew which stamps I'd be using - I've had them for quite a while and they don't see ink as often as they should.  There are a number of really fun images that are perfect for this challenge.  I used the sketch from this week's CAS - Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#52, but I turned it through 90° as the layout worked better in this orientation.  I stamped the image on to some scrap white card, heat embossed it with clear powder and cut it out with a die.  I coloured the image with Copics and edged the image with R17.  I made the shoe border by repeatedly stamping the shoes, embossing them and colouring them in.  I made the vertical strip by colouring some scrap card with R17 and cutting a piece to size.  The inside is simply a mat of white card that has been edged with the red R17 Copic.  I've left it blank to add a message.  I've a feeling this might find its way to my Mum - she just LOVES to shop!!!

Well, that's all for now - I think I'm going to try and do a bit more crafting, but for now I'm off to make a coffee and read my book - I'm reading Dragons Dawn by Anne McCaffrey - I think it's the third time I've read it, but it is a wonderful place to visit!  See you soon.

WMS Fanatics - thank you ....

... Hello again, it's time for our new challenge at Waltzingmouse Fanatics.  I really enjoyed seeing your wonderful Christmas cards with non-Christmas images.  Our challenge this time is a sketch and here's my take:

Stamps: WMS - Large Doily, Join Us
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Gumball Green, Sahara Sand; Versamark
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU DP - Sahara Sand; Silver Tinsel Embossing Powder; Vellum; Gems

One of the things that you always need after Christmas is a supply of thank you cards and, as I've finsihed my Christmas cards for this year, I decided to start on some thank yous!  This card came together really quickly - as soon as I saw this sketch I knew what stamps I wanted to use.  I made the backing layer from some design paper cut to size and rounded the corners with a punch.  I stamped the doily with Versamark onto white card, heat embossed with silver tinsel powder and then cut it out.  I ran the doily through my xyron to make it self adhesive and attached it to the card.  I know that the sentiment is very subtle; inks tend to dry lighter on vellum!!  I should have embossed it.  I attached the vellum strip with a couple of glue dots and to cover the dots I added gems.  I finished the inside with a mat in green and stamped the doily again.  I left it blank so that I can write a message.

I used the colours from this week's Colour Throwdown - CTD270 - I really like them.  You've got plenty of time to play along with the sketch - deadline is Thursday 12th December 5pm GMT (that's noon EST).  Really looking forward to seeing what you make with this sketch.  See you soon.

52CCT - Warm Winter wishes ....

...  Good morning!  We have a fifth Saturday in November which means that this week Louise has a "Pick a Previous" challenge for 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown, and she has picked THEMES - you can select any of the themes that we have used this year.  Can you guess which theme I picked?

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Festive Foliage; Uniko Studio - Stunning Snowflakes, Background Builders Christmas; Stampin' Up! - Sassy Salutations
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; SU - Gumball Green, Real Red
Dies: Waltzingmouse - Holly Dies
Accessories: SU Card - Gumball Green; White Lustre Card; Cuttlebug EF - Winter Wonderland; SU Marker - Gumball Green

 Yes, you're absolutely right - I picked Holly which was our theme challenge in August.  I used the sketch from this week's Freshly Made Sketches - FMS114 for the layout.  I combined stamps from several companies to make the card, love the way they all work together perfectly.  I stamped the row of holly using the background builder stamps and for the second line I simply used a ruler and marker pen.  I'm so glad that Claire (Waltzingmouse Stamps) has introduced dies to her collection - it made cutting out the holly leaves and berries so, so easy.  I embossed some scrap card to add interest to the vertical panel and layered it onto green card.  I finished the front with this lovely sentiment.  On the inside I cut a mat layer in green and on the white card I stamped a bold sentiment as well as more holly!

Don't forget to check out the inspiration cards from the rest of the team and see which themes they opted to use!  Can't wait to see what you make.  Bye for now.

A winner ....

...  Good morning all - hope my US friends had a good Thanksgiving.  We had a great time, although I rather overdid in the cooking department.  I think I've enough stuffing, turkey and cranberry sauce to last for about a week!!  I'm going to have to come up with creative recipes to use up the left overs!

Sometimes you make a card that is a winner - and this is the case with my little Newsflash card - it was picked winner in both the challenges I submitted it to - Just Add Ink and My Favourite Things Wednesday Sketch Club.  I'm so excited to have been picked in both challenges - it's a cute little card - must have a go at this style again :)

Thanks to the ladies in both Design Teams - you've made my morning!!

A thank you .....

...  Good afternoon everyone!  We are enjoying the first day of our Thanksgiving long weekend.  We woke to light snow falling and a very cold morning.  I got most of the preparations for today's dinner sorted out last night, which mean that after watching the Thanksgiving Day parade from Detroit (on TV - not going out in that cold) I was able to spend a little while in my craft room.  Appropriately, I made a thank you card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Fine Feathers, Funky Flowers, Crackle Background Lg
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise, Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Rectangles, Stitched Circles
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Burlap Ribbon; SU Marker - Early Espresso

I used the sketch from the Waltzingmouse Pajama Party Bedtime Story - WMSPJPBS4, I have to admit that I was beginning to think I wouldn't make it in time.  For the colours I've used this week's selection from Colour Q - cQc217, although I've had to substitute Lucky Limeade for Kiwi Kiss.

I cut a panel of white card using the stitched dies from Lil Inkers and while still in the die stamped the crackle background in green.  I used the second impression for a more subtle finish.  I edged the card with Early Espresso to define the panel.  I attached some burlap ribbon to the panel and then adhered the whole lot to the card base.  I die cut a large circle and stamped the sentiment in brown.  I made these flowers using Funky Flowers, stamping the large and medium images onto white card and cutting them out. To finish the flowers I added the centres in turquoise.  For the inside I have a mat layer of orange and a white panel which is blank for my message.

As I type I can smell the turkey roasting in the oven - it's still got a couple of hours to go, we are not sitting down to dinner until about 3.00pm.  It's entirely possible that I've cooked too much!!  That's all for now - off to have a glass of wine and read before finishing dinner!

Happy Thanksgiving ....

... Good morning!  Just a quick post for now.  I'd like to wish all my US friends a very Happy Thanksgiving. 

I hope you all have a wonderful time with family and friends.  We plan on a relaxing but fun filled long weekend.  That will include reading, photography, movies, cooking, eating and crafting!  See you soon!

Christmas thanks .....

.... I was about to say good morning, but it appears I missed noon!  So, good afternoon everyone.  I hope you are all safe and well.  There's a huge storm going across America at the moment and many places have had lots of snow or rain.  Seems to be missing Northville - we have blue skies and bright sunshine, but it's very, very cold.  I've been inside all day - making a fruitcake for Jonathan and a sponge cake for Kathryn and me.  I've also managed to get an hour in my craft room to make a thank you card:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Pocket Silhouettes; Uniko Studio - All Occasion Sentiments #3
Inks: SU - Blushing Bride, Raspberry Ripple; Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versamark
Accessories: SU Card - Pear Pizzazz, Raspberry Ripple, Blushing Bride; White Lustre Card; Clear Embossing Powder; SU Punches - 1" circle, 7/8" scalloped circle

The theme over at Jingle Belles - JB:13-24 is to make a thank you card to be sent out after the holidays.  I used the colours from this week's Dynamic Duos - DD#80 - only this week they've given us three colours - just right for this card.  I used the layout from this week's Retro Sketches - RS#91 challenge - very clean and simple.

I cut the mat layer in Pear Pizzazz - it looks very lime in this photo - must be the sunshine ;)  I cut a few panel in raspberry and pink and decided to use Pocket Silhouettes (now discontinued).  I stamped the first image of each panel in Versamark and heat embossed with clear powder.  Then I stamped the same image again tone-on-tone.  Finally on the raspberry card I finished with the images stamped in black, on the pink panel I stamped the final image in raspberry.  I edged all the card with black marker to define the panels.  I made the little label by punching a circle in green and scalloped circle in pink.  I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp the sentiment (which is actually a long line).  I finished the card on the inside with a mat in green and a bold thank you in raspberry, as well as a small bunch of flowers in the corner.  Very quick and simple.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving here in the States - both Jonathan and Kathryn are looking forward to the long weekend.  They have both been working really hard and are looking forward to a very lazy and restful weekend.  That's all for now.  Take care.

ASM - Holiday ...

.....  Good evening - it's time for our new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More!  This week the theme is HOLIDAY.  You weren't very keen on the colour challenge, so we decided to switch to Holiday.  We have a sponsor this week - Deedees Digis - and the winner of the challenge will get three digi images.  This is my card for our theme:

Stamps:  Deedees Digis - In Season (Snowman); Waltzingmouse - Folk Art Christmas Additions
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Pacific Point
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kanban Foil Card; Metallic Cord; Silver Marker Pen; Copics; Glitter

As you can see my holiday theme is Christmas, but it doesn't have to be!!  The holiday theme can include vacation time, Easter, Thanksgiving (this week in the US), New Year, Hanukkah or whatever special holiday you want to celebrate.

I printed three copies of the digital image - one coloured pale blue, one light brown and one white.  I carefully cut out the tree from the brown image and adhered it to the pale blue image.  I cut the deckle edge off the pale blue and layered it onto the white image.  I cut out the snowman and attached him to the blue image, adding some colour to his scarf, ear muff and arms.  I added two types of glitter to the ground and tree.  I cut the mat layer from Kanban foil card and wrapped metallic thread around it.  I attached this layer to the base with dimensional tape.  On the inside I cut a panel of white card, added silver edges and a simple sentiment.

I used the a sketch from Deconstructed Sketches - DS127 for the layout - nice and simple.

Don't forget to check out the inspiration cards from the rest of the team - as always, they are super.  Looking forward to seeing what Holiday cards you make this week.  See you soon.

Deborah

Peace on Earth ....

... Hi everyone - it's been a busy couple of days, but I'm back this afternoon with a Christmas card for a few challenges:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Folk Art Christmas Additions, Alpine Christmas
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Soft Suede, Sahara Sand
Dies: Spellbinders - Lacey Circles (S4-293) #3, Circles Sm (S4-116) #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Sahara Sand; SU DP - Soft Suede; SU/Sizzix EF - Northern Flurry; SU Marker - Pear Pizzazz

I used the sketch from this week's Sketch Saturday - SS#286 which I turned on its side.  I used the theme of a CAS Christmas card with a bird from this week's Less is More challenge - LIM147.  I decided that the theme called for soft, subtle colours so I used the colours from this week's Merry Monday challenge - MM#85 to create a white/ivory card with the sentiment and accents in kraft.

I really like the Northern Flurry embossing folder, but the embossed image was the wrong side of the card, so I used the debossed side - works really well too.  I cut a lacy mat in Soft Suede design paper and on the white circle I stamped the sentiment.  I stamped the bird onto some scrap paper and carefully cut it out.  I don't like white edges on cut out shapes, so I edged the image with Sahara Sand.  There is a tiny bit of green on the card - the leaves didn't look right in kraft!  On the inside I cut a mat layer in kraft and stamped a verse on the white panel.

One of the things that I've been busy doing over the last couple of days is writing and posting - yes, really - posting, my Christmas cards.  Being on the Design Team of 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown and playing along with several Christmas card challenges have been a great help this year - I not only made all my cards in plenty of time, but I'm actually getting a head start on next year's cards!!

My post on Sunday gave a quick review of The Day of the Doctor - and you know from the post that we watched the show twice on Saturday.  But that wasn't enough for us!  Oh no!  We went to the cinema last night to see the show in 3D and on the big screen.  It was BRILLIANT!  It was so much fun watching the show with other fans - many of whom had come in costume.  The Americans seem to love the show as much as us Brits.  On the way out we spotted a Dalek - you should have heard the squeals when it moved :)  We were at the early showing which was packed, and as we left we saw the queue for the late showing - it was huge.

Anyway, that's all for now.  I'm off to get some housework stuff done.  Do drop by later for my Addicted to Stamps and More! post.  See you then.

Dr Who, Hunger Games and no cards .....

.... Good morning everyone - I'd like to say thank you so much for all the lovely comments I've received on the Funky Feather Christmas tree card and my sweet Christmas Tag with tree and mouse that I made for the Waltzingmouse PJ Party.  I haven't had time to get around all the cards and decorations yet - been busy with visits to the cinema and a Dr Who party - but I will get there later today.

So I thought a quick review on the movie - The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,(linked here to a much longer and very good review) and also on The Day of the Doctor.

Starting with Dr Who.  I think most of you know by now that we are great Dr Who fans in this family ;)  All last week we were watching the little clips released on the Internet.  By the time Saturday arrived, we were all very excited - and our excitement was rewarded.

Photo Credit

Saturday was the 50th Anniversary of Dr Who.  This special episode was written by Steven Moffat and featured three doctors - the current Doctor (11th) Matt Smith, the 10th Doctor David Tennant and introduced the War Doctor played by John Hurt.  The show was broadcast simultaneously around the world which meant we watched it on BBC America at 2.50pm (no adverts either).  We had friends around to join us and while the children played - we watched (or tried to) the show.  Steven wrote a story about an alien invasion that turned into something so much more.  I can't give away spoilers.  I loved it!  So did Jonathan.  So did Kathryn.  We had a super party with lots of fun, suspense, chat and laughter and I even baked a cake!!

I bought some cake molds recently and made this little Tardis.  I tried to colour the cake blue - you can just about see the colour on the side view.  It's a bit wonky and there are no decorations, but it tasted great!  Jonathan, Kathryn and I watched the encore show again at 7.50pm - it was even better second time round!

Moving on to HG:CF - you know the basic story.  Very wealthy, spoilt rich district ruling over several poor, starving districts which every year have to provide "tributes" to the Hunger Games.  The "tributes" being young people who go to the game to fight to the death.  The games are televised to the population as a way of maintaining control and showing that the winner (survivor) can enjoy the riches and wealth of the ruling class.  Along comes Katniss Everdene - who does the unexpected and wins the hearts of the population as well as the Hunger Games.

Photo Credit

 Some action photos from the film.

That brings us to this movie - and the underground movement is gaining momentum with Katniss as a sort of figurehead - she is not aware of this.  The President changes up the HG concept by getting back old winners and making them all fight each other, but - and I'm not going to reveal more - as they would be spoilers.  If you ask Kathryn and me - we both thoroughly enjoyed the movie.  Jennifer Lawrence is a fantastic actor and the rest of the cast are very good too.  The plot is a bit thin, but it is a beautifully made film with some stand out moments.  However, if you ask Jonathan - he'll tell you that it was three hours he'll never get back!!!  I will tell you that the cinema was packed with teenage girls - and they loved it!

Sorry this turned out to be such a long post - but I had to explain why I didn't get to look at all the wonderful creations over Waltzingmouse PJ Party - I'll be checking in later today.  Kathryn and I are off to have massages this afternoon - a nice girly time together!  See you tomorrow!

Waltzingmouse PJ Party .....

... Morning!  I'm back with my third card for the Waltzingmouse Pajama Party - this time it's for the second category - to pick a card, any card, so long as it's Christmas:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Funky Feathers, Alpine Christmas
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake
Accessories: SU Card - Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake; White Lustre Card; Vellum

I'm afraid that I haven't made a 3D or interactive card, but I have made a Christmas card using non-Christmas images!  I created the Christmas tree from one of the stylized feathers from Funky Feathers - I woke up early yesterday morning with idea in my head and it only took about 20 minutes to make the card.  I stamped the Christmas message onto vellum (very on trend) and wrapped it round the white panel.  Then I mounted the whole lot onto a mat of Cherry Cobbler.  The inside has a a white panel on which I stamped the little village from Alpine Christmas and one of the verses from the set - they are all so nice.

I used a couple of challenges to make this card - the colours from this week's CAS - Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#52.  I'm also joining in with the final challenge of 2013 over at Festive Friday Challenge - FFC#22; the DT would like us to make a card using our favourite challenge from the year.  Now I didn't get to play along often - don't know why - I love making Christmas cards.  So I picked the challenge to feature a Christmas tree - those I adore!

Now, you might have noticed that I made this card with non-Christmas images - well that's what we'd like you to do over at Waltzingmouse Fanatics - WMSFC#6 - make a card and share it with us - you've got until Thursday 28th November to join in.

And that really is all for now.  I've got a busy morning lined up getting ready for our Dr Who party.  We've invited friends over to share in the fun of the 50th Anniversary show.  The Day of the Doctor will be broadcast on BBC America at 2.50pm with no advert breaks!  Really looking forward to it.  See you soon.

52CCT - Acrylic block background ....

.... Morning everyone, it's time for our technique challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  Louise wants us to create a background using the acrylic block technique.  By that, she means inking acrylic blocks, spritzing with water and stamping on to card - hey presto a quick and easy background.  I've included a link at the bottom of this post to a tutorial that I found on U-tube (there are lots more).  Here are my cards - yes, I got carried away and made a couple of cards:

Card Size: 4¼" × 5½"

Card Size: 4½" × 6¼"

Stamps: Penny Black - Xmas Constellation; Stampin' Up! - More Merry Messages, Dictionary
Inks: Distress - Forest Moss, Pine Needles, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Evergreen Bough, Mowed Lawn; Stampin' Up! - Garden Green, Wild Wasabi, Coastal Cabana, Pistachio Pudding; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Spellbinders - A2 Matting Basics A (S5-131) #5, A2 Matting Basics B (S5-132) #5, Wonky Rectangles (S4-306) #6
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Black Card; Sakura Micron Pen; Kanban Sentiment Strip; My Favourite Things - MPD Graduated Diamonds Stencil; Signo White Gel Pen

I had lots of fun with this technique and ended up getting quite inky!  But that was half the fun.  I used several different sized acrylic blocks - long and thin, tiny squares, and a couple of different sized rectangles.  I inked the backs, spritzed and stamped.  I overlapped some of the stamped images dried them with a heat gun and then added more.  The top card has a somewhat smoother finish to the stamped blocks because I added more water to the acrylic blocks; the bottom card has a slightly blotchy look because of less water.  On the top card, if you look closely, you might just see a subtle patten of graduated diamonds.  I achieved this effect by spritzing water through a stencil and allowing it to react with the stamped blocks.  I didn't add any texture to the background on the bottom card.  I stamped the Christmas tree on each background and heat embossed with clear powder.

On the first card I used the Matting Basics to cut a rectangular image which I matted onto black card.  I stamped the Dictionary background on the card base and then adhered the Christmas tree.  It has the look of a painted canvas.

On the larger card I decided to have a bit of fun with placement of the image.  For this card I die cut the tree using the Wonky Rectangles and, after stamping the dictionary background, adhered the image directly to the card.  I put the die over the top of the image and lightly drew round the die.  Then, using a Micron pen I created a "Zentangle" type frame.  I finished the front of this card with a greeting that I found in my scrap stash - just happened to be the right colour!

For the inside of each card I cut a mat layer in black and on the white panel stamped the Christmas tree and added a sentiment.

Inside of top card

Inside of bottom card

I think this is only the second time I've tried this technique - it was lots of fun and I'll certainly use it again.  Don't forget to check out the inspiration cards from the rest of the team.  I'm looking forward to seeing what you make with this technique.  See you soon.