Wednesday 30 April 2014

TMR - Give us a giggle ....

.... Good morning everyone!!!  It's time for our new challenge at The Male Room and our theme is "Give Us a Giggle".  We want you to make the guys in your life laugh - it can be a funny image, a pun, something really silly - anything so long as you make us all giggle.  Here's my card:

Happy Birthday - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborha's Gems

Stamps: Inkadinkadoo - Humourous Birthdays
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Up! - Pool Party
Dies: Lil' Inkers - Stitched Squares #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Smoky Slate; SU DP - Daffodil Delight; Copics; SU Chevron Punch


Today is Jonathan's 50th birthday and my Mum asked me to make a card so that she could give it to him today.  Mum asked for something a bit silly which made it a perfect fit for our challenge.  I've used the layout and chevron theme from Fusion Card Challenge - FUSION#8 and the colours from Dynamic Duos - DD#100.  Sadly, it is the last ever challenge at Dynamic Duos and I'll miss playing along with the team.

I made the card base from Smoky Slate and cut a white panel using the Stitched Square die from Lil Inkers.  I stamped the little turtle into the corner of the card and coloured him with Copics.  I punched some bright yellow chevrons from design paper and adhered them to the card.  I finished the front with a fun greeting.  For the inside I cut a mat of yellow design paper, a panel of white on which I continued the funny sentiments and repeated the image of the turtle.  Jonathan will enjoy this card very much!!

Happy Birthday inside - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

For more cards that give us a giggle, check out the cards from the rest of the team.  I'm really looking forward to seeing what you make! 

See you soon - well soonish, it's rather busy here at the moment.  I'm really enjoying having Mum here with us.  We've been out shopping a couple of times and are now in the middle of party preparations for Jonathan's party (Saturday), so I might not be about much.  Bye for now.

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Tuesday 29 April 2014

ASM - Holiday ....

.... Hello everyone!  Wow - you really enjoyed our Make your Mark challenge last week - so many fabulous submissions.  Can you believe that it's already time for our new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More!  This week our theme is holiday, this can be Easter, Christmas, Valentine, a country's National holiday or simply a holiday destination.  Once again we are being sponsored by A Random Fan and the winner of this week's challenge will win some digi images.  Here's my card, using our sponsor's image, based on our holiday theme:

Summer Holiday - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

Stamps: A Random Fan Digi - Monet's Bike; Stampin' Up! - Around the World
Inks: SU - Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point, Strawberry Blush; Memento - Tuxedo Black, London Fog
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Check In; Copics; SU Card - Basic Black


I have been really literal with the theme this week - taking a holiday around the world!  Kylie, our team leader, is on holiday at the moment visiting the UK and Europe and meeting up with lots of blog buddies - so this is for her!  I used the sketch from this week's CAS - Colour & Sketch - CASC&S#71 for the layout.  I've used this wonderful paper from Kasiercraft for the background - lots of passport style stamps.  For the main image I've used Monet's Bike - she's such a sweet girl - and coloured her with Copics.  I had lots of fun blending the colours on her hat and hair, but it was a bit fiddly on the bike!  I coloured in the ground and sky and then added a stamp (suggesting the sun).  I finished off the front with a couple of cameras.  On the inside I used another sheet of design paper for the mat and on the white panel stamped a few images.  There's space left for a message.

Summer Holiday inside - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

I'm thoroughly enjoying having my Mum here to stay with us - so she's on holiday too!!  See another link to the holiday theme!  That's all for now.  Looking forward to seeing what you make this week!

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Saturday 26 April 2014

52CCT - WMSFC - Stash ....

....  Hello!  Can you believe that we've reached the last Saturday in April?  This month has flown by and I've had such fun hosting the challenges at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  It's time for my last challenge - it's a stash based one.  I'm sure that you, like me, have lots of glitter in one form or another in your craft stash.  So that's your challenge - to use GLITTER on your project.  Here's my card:

Noel - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems


Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Gift Card It, Alpine Christmas
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Up! - Real Red, Garden Green
Dies: Die-namics - Highrise Alphabet Uppercase
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU DP - Real Red; Green Glitter Paper




I created this card with the help of a couple of other challenges:
I used some of my stash of glitter paper to make this one.  I cut a panel of green glitter paper to create the mat layer and on the white panel I stamped this lovely leaf frame with some stylised red flowers.  I used my Die-namics alphabet to cut out the word "NOEL" and adhered it to the front of the card.  I added a few more leaves and some more realistic "poinsettia"  to decorate the word.  On the inside of the card I cut a mat of red design paper and stamped a simple sentiment in green.

Noel inside - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

For more inspirational ways of using glitter on your projects check out the blog to see what my team mates have created.  We are joined for the last time this month by Pat - she's been a great Guest Designer and I'd like to thank her for joining us and sharing her fab work.  Do drop by to see their work and leave some love. 

Now, before I go, I should show you how my card started off.  I kept it really clean and simple, but as I re-read the instructions on the Merry Monday challenge, I realised the word "Noel" needed to be decorated!!!!  So I quickly stamped a few flowers and leaves and created the version you see above.

Noel V1 - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

I have to say that I'm glad I re-read the instructions - while I like the CAS version, I think the addition of the flowers make the card a little more festive.  I do hope you have fun with my challenge to use glitter on your projects and I can't wait to see what you make. 

I might not be around much over the next few weeks as I have my Mum visiting us for a month.  Her flight is due in this afternoon and I think we're going to be fairly busy catching up!  See you soon.

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Friday 25 April 2014

Bright Owl ....

..... Hello!  This is going to be a quick post as it's almost time to start getting dinner ready.  This card was made with a couple of challenges in mind:
It's Owl Good - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

Stamps: Dare 2B Artzy - Feather Friends - Miss You, Feather Friends - Groovy Owl
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black, Rich Cocoa
Dies: Dare 2B Artzy - Owl Dies; Spellbinders - Grand Stately Circles (LF-019) #1
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Copics; Stampin' Up! - Burlap Ribbon


At Keep it Simple the challenge is to use bright colours and/or lots of sparkle.  I think neon colours are certainly bright.  I've used an owl image to represent a "bright spark" - meaning someone with wisdom.  Owls are often thought to represent wisdom as they were the creature associated with Athena the Goddess of Wisdom.  And I just adore all things owl!!  I this one is just gorgeous and perfect to colour with Copics.  I made the background circle by cutting a circle of vellum and then colouring on the reverse with the neon Copics, running it through my Xyron and adhering it directly to the card.  I cut some burlap ribbon for added texture, then adhered the branch and owl.  I finished with a pun sentiment!  The inside has been left blank.

Yesterday I told you that it was our 13th Anniversary on Tuesday.  When we got home I found this wonderful card in the mail:

From Darnell
I think most of you know Darnell - she is one of the nicest, kindest people in blogland, and she made this card for Jonathan and me.  I absolutely love the grunge theme and the colours.  Thanks so much Darnell - this one is going in my box for keeps!!  I mentioned that we'd made a visit to Belle Isle on Tuesday and took lots of photos.  I took over 400 and haven't edited many yet - but I did do this one of the view towards Detroit City from the island.  It's a great view of the city with the GM building at the far left and the bridge to Belle Isle in the foreground.

Belle Isle - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

We've got a very busy weekend lined up.  Tomorrow my Mum is flying over to the States; she's staying with us for a month and I'm so looking forward to seeing her.  But before we pick her up at the airport I'm off to another photo shoot.  I've got so many photos to edit and share with you all.  Bye for now - don't forget to come by tomorrow for our new 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown challenge.  See you soon.

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Thursday 24 April 2014

A little different ....

.... Hello all!  Today's card is a bit different from what I usually make.  I've used the colours from this week's Just Us Girls - JUGS#237, and this is the card:

Lucky Enough - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

Stamps: Dylusions - Dependable Dotty; PTI - A Little Inspiration
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Up! - Marina Mist, Tangerine Tango
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Blubelle; SU DP - Marina Mist; Copics


I stamped Dotty onto white card and several sheets of design paper, did lots of cutting and adhered her to the front of this card.  I love the mixture of pretty papers in all shades of blue and orange, and I think this is a fab stamp.  It's the first time I've used it.  The sentiment goes perfectly with the image and on the inside I've cut a mat of blue and finished the sentiment:

Lucky Enough inside - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

I've not been around much this week as I've been spending time with family.  Kathryn is on spring break this week and Jonathan and I celebrated our 13th Wedding Anniversary on Tuesday.  We had a family day out - it was lots of fun and we took lots of photos.  That's all for now.  See you soon.

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Tuesday 22 April 2014

ASM - Make Your Mark ...

... Evening everyone!!!  You really enjoyed our Anything Goes theme last week - so many gorgeous submissions.  This week's challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More! is Make Your Mark.  That means your project must contain the use of markers - Copics, Promarkers, Distress - your choice!  Once again our sponsor is A Random Fan who produce some seriously cute images and the winner of this week's challenge will get a prize from them.  I've used one of my favourite images on my card:

Love You - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

Stamps: A Random Fan Digi - Dino Boy; PTI - Phrase Play #2
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Reverse Wonky Rectangle (S4-307) #5; PTI - Sketched Stars
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Suga Pop; Copics


I used the sketch from this week's Seize the Sketch - STS#18 for the layout.  I printed the image onto white card, cut it out with my Spellbinder die and then coloured with Copics.  I used the pointillism technique on the dino costume as it makes it look like scales.  I covered the card base with a couple of different papers, adding a scalloped border across the middle.  I stamped a bold and simple sentiment on the front and added a star, cut from another piece of coordinating paper.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of design paper and a panel of white card which is blank for a message.  I have to say that I love this image!

Love You inside - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

For more inspiration card using markers - check out the cards from the rest of the team.  Looking forward to seeing your cards!  Bye for now.

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Monday 21 April 2014

Oops, it's late ....

.... Morning all!  Today I've a birthday/spring card to share with you.  I've been rubbish at getting birthday cards sent out on time this year - this one is in the post now and should get to the UK next week!

April Showers - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

Stamps: PTI - Scattered Showers, Scattered Showers Additions; Uniko Studio - Extra Time
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Melon Mambo, Gumball Green, Basic Grey
Dies: PTI - Scattered Showers; Lil Inkers - Stitched Rectangles
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Basic Grey; SU DP - Basic Grey; SU Marker - Melon Mambo; Copic Marker


I've used the colours from Colour Throwdown - CTD#288 and the theme of using an umbrella from The Card Concept - CC#8.  I made the layers by cutting with the Lil Inkers Stitched Rectangle dies - I do like the faux stitched effect.  I stamped the umbrella canopy in green on white card and coloured the flowers with a Copic marker and then fussy cut it out.  I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to position the sentiment and umbrella handle.  I adhered the umbrella canopy flat to the card (easy for posting).  On the inside I cut a mat layer of grey design paper and on the white panel stamped a belated birthday greeting.

Birthday inside - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

I know that I'm perfectly safe sharing this card now as my friend doesn't use the Internet and so won't see it before she receives it!!  However, I really must get my act together and post cards to the UK in plenty of time!!!  That's all for now.

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Sunday 20 April 2014

Upcycled ornament ...

....  Good morning!  I've a clean, simple Christmas card to share with you this morning.  I'm submitting it to the following challenges:

Happy Christmas - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Woodgrain; Dare 2B Artzy - Owl Be Home for Xmas
Inks: Stampin' Up! - White Pigment, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: SU Card - Crumb Cake; White Lustre Card; Ornament and Ribbon Upcycled


The challenge at Merry Monday is to use kraft or slate grey on your card, while at Jingle Belles the team would like us to recycle/repurpose something on our card.  I made the card base from Crumb Cake and stamped the wood grain pattern in white pigment ink; I like the soft look of weathered wood.  I saved this big ornament from one of last year's Christmas cards and it's been on my desk since then.  It it the perfect size for the card and as I also saved the ribbon, it didn't need anything else added.  On the inside I cut a panel of white card, stamped a sentiment in red (to match the robin's breast) and some snowflakes.

Happy Christmas inside - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

I do hope everyone is enjoying this Easter weekend.  We were out at a Baby Shower yesterday - such fun!  And the weather was nice to us.  Today we're going out for a drive and will be taking photos - the perfect way to spend a day.  See you soon.

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Saturday 19 April 2014

WMSFC - Sketch ....

... Hello all!  It''s time for our new challenge at Waltzingmouse Fanatics.  You didn't seem to like our challenge to use lots of Waltzingmouse sentiments - but you ladies who did play along rocked the challenge.  So this time we've gone back to a favourite - we've a sketch for you to use.  You can turn it or flip it, but we must be able to see the basis of the sketch in your project.  You must also use at least one Waltzingmouse image, digi or sentiment.  Here's my card:

The best is yet - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Pinstripe Background, A Good Egg, Lil Buddies; CAS-ual Friday Stamps - Truth Is; The Wild Ones (FOC with Quick Cards Made Easy)
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Pacific Point, Bashful Blue; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Poppystamps - Bijou Film Strip; Die-namics - Fishtail Flags Layers Stax #3, Fishtail Flags STAX #3; Stampeddler - Six Blind Mice
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Marina Mist; SU DP - Bashful Blue, Pacific Point; Copics


We're are going to our first American Baby Shower this afternoon, and I've made this card for the family.  They already have a daughter and were delighted to find out that the new baby is a boy!!  So I decided to use mostly shades of blue on the card.  I stamped the pinstripe background (second generation impression) first.  To create the row of four panels I used my new film strip die.  I stamped a number of different animals onto white card, coloured them with a mixture of Copics and paper piecing.  I die cut a tiny little mouse in dark blue design paper (well it is a Waltzingmouse challenge) and adhered him with dimensional gel.  I finished the front with a flag sentiment to say that our friends have so much excitement to come and a tiny butterfly going towards it.  On the inside I cut a panel of Marina Mist for the mat layer and on the white panel stamped a sentiment and tiny blue chick!

The best inside - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

I do hope that the weather kind to us all - it's a barbecue.  So no snow and lots of sunshine would be great.  Do check out Tara's card using our sketch.  Hopefully lots of you will join in the fun this week.  You have until Thursday 1st May, 5.00pm BST (Noon EDT) to join in the fun.  See you soon - have a great weekend.

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52CCT - Theme ....

....  Morning all!  I'm back with our new challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  I had lots of fun picking the challenges this month, particularly this week's!  I've gone for the theme of "The Twelve Days of Christmas", which, I think you'll agree, means you have plenty of scope with the challenge.  And I'd better apologise now, as this is a very photo heavy post.  I made a card for every day of the twelve days!  Here they are:

12DOC 1 - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

12DOC 2 - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

12DOC 3 - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

12DOC 4 - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

12DOC 5 - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

12DOC 6 - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

12DOC 7 - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

12DOC 8 - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

12DOC 9 - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

12DOC 10 - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

12DOC 11 - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

12DOC 12 - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

Stamps: Hampton Art Graphic 45 - 12 Days of Christmas; Waltzingmouse - Frame It, Alpine Christmas
Inks: Versamark; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Squares Lg (S4-126) #6, Squares Sm (S4-128) #7; Lil' Inkers - Stitched Squares #5
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Anita's DP - Classic Black Christmas, Classic Red Christmas; My Mind's Eye DP - Kiss & Tell; Embossing Powder - Clear, Black Tinsel, Red Tinsel, Green Tinsel, Gold and Silver; Various metallic/glitter card; Ribbons


I started by stamping all the frames and sentiments, embossing them with clear powder and die cutting them all.  I went through my stash for a selection of metallic/glitter card and cut the mat layers.  After die cutting the square with the stamped frame I stamped and embossed all the images - I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to make sure that the images were centred.  I decided to make three sets of four - square, portrait and landscape - changing up how I decorated the cards.  The square cards all have an extra mat layer cut using the stitched square and the inside of each features a backing mat of the matching paper and a simple sentiment.  For the portrait cards I added a ribbon beneath the square image, which was adhered with dimensional tape.  As before the inside has a mat layer of coordinating paper and a Christmas verse.  For the landscape cards I was going to make them all with a bow, but that is a bit bulky to post, so I added ribbons which had been wrapped around metallic card.  Here are the insides for each of the three sets.

12DOC inside landscape - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

12DOC inside square - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

12DOC inside portrait - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

As always, you can find more inspiration by checking the cards produced by our Design Team and by our Guest Designer, Pat.

Before I go, a little bit about the carol The Twelve Days of Christmas.  It was first published in England in 1780 without music as is likely French in origin.  The melody that is now associated with the song was written by Fredric Austin.  It is a cumulative song and since 1984 the cumulative cost of all the items in the song have been used a fun economic indicator.  Here are the lyrics:

On the first day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
A Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the second day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the third day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the fourth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the fifth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the sixth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the seventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the eighth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the ninth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the tenth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
10 Lords a Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the eleventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
11 Pipers Piping
10 Lords a Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the first day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
12 Drummers Drumming
11 Pipers Piping
10 Lords a Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

That's all - congratulations if you've got to the end of this post!  I'm really looking forward to seeing your creations based on the song.  See you soon.

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