52CCT - Pick a previous ....

... Hi!  I told you on Friday that I wasn't quite back on schedule - well, that's the reason I'm very late with my card for this week's challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  Our hostess, Gill, would like you to pick a previous sketch and play along with us.  Here's the link to our sketch archive.  The one positive about making my card late for the challenge is that I got to use my new Waltzingmouse Christmas stamps, here's my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Tis the Season, Nutcracker Sweet; Winne & Walter - The Big, The Bold and Seasons
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Real Red, Coastal Cabana, Pear Pizzazz
Dies: Spellbinders - Petit Ovals Sm (S4-140) #4, Petit Scalloped Ovals Lg (S4-139) #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Real Red; Kasiercraft DP - Mistletoe; Gems

I used our sketch from May 2013 for my card.  I really like it and this card is quite different from the cards I made last year.  I wanted to let the sentiment be the focus of the card and use pretty design papers.  I made the base from Real Red card and cut a panel of this fab design paper to cover it, leaving a narrow border.  I cut out an oval of white card onto which I stamped the sentiment and snowflakes and layered it onto a red scalloped oval.  I cut a coordinating piece of DP for the strip across the middle and added some bold red gems.  On the inside I cut another piece of the poinsettia paper, layered on some white card leaving a big border and finished with a sentiment from the paper pack.

The rest of the team have made stunning cards to share with you - do pop over to our blog and leave them so love.  It's only 3½ months to Christmas, so now really is the time to join in with us and get a head start on your Christmas cards.  These are the cards I made in May 2013:

I think you'll agree that the cards I made last time look totally different to the one I made this year!!

Before I go, I'm having a proud Mum moment!  I took Kathryn out yesterday to have her hair done - she's back at school next week - it looks super and I decided to take a few photos of my fabulous girl:

You can see the lovely cut and colours in this photo - she actually smiled too!!

Here Kathryn is looking more like a teen!  And she'll be a teen in 17 days!!!!  Eek!

That's all for today - sorry to be late with my DT card - but sometimes life gets in the way!  See you soon.

So nice to be home ....

.... Hi!  We've been home for five days and I'd hoped to be back into my regular routine, but it's not happened.  I've been busy getting washing and ironing done, and making the most of my last full week with Kathryn - she's back to school on 2nd September!!!

We had a really fun day on Monday going to the shops for some new shoes (strictly boots) and clothes for her.  We managed to get pretty much everything she wanted at Target - she's a happy girl too.  Then on Monday night we all headed out to our local cinema to see the new Dr Who on the big screen.  It was fantastic!  The cinema was almost full and so many people came in costume too - Peter Capaldi looks like he's going to be a brilliant Doctor!  Then on Tuesday Kathryn and I spent some quality time having a massage - it was so relaxing.  And it really helped my back - I manged to pull a muscle while on holiday!

I've been catching up on commenting, checking new challenges - but not playing along - I will next week!  I've also made a start on editing my holiday photos - I took far, far too many and it's going to take a while, but we all had lots of fun taking photos!!  Here are few photos from the first stop of our holiday.  We were driving to St Louis and on the way saw a sign for Springfield, IL - home of Abraham Lincoln - so we decided to stop!

 Photo of what was the main railway station with this fabulous statue of Abraham Lincoln in front.

There were statues of Lincoln all round Springfield.  We found this one just down from the old railway station - Jonathan had fun echoing the pose!

The earliest form of mobile electoral advertising!!!!

Fabulous view of the Capitol Building - sadly it was a really grey day, so I've played with the photo a bit - but I think it works!

We spent ages walking around Springfield and could easily have spent longer, but we had to get to St Louis - more photos will follow.  If you want to see all my photos (on Flickr) from Springfield click here.

Finally, while I was away I was delighted to discover that my owl card had won the Serendipity Stamps Challenge to use twine - this is the first chance I've had to say - THANK YOU!!!!!  I am thrilled to have won - especially with one of my favourite dies!  Here's the card (full details here):

That's all for now.  I've got to visit the eye specialist today - Jonathan's taking me - there's a history of glaucoma in my family and at my last trip to the optician, the pressure readings were high enough for me to be referred to the specialist for a check up!  I'm sure it'll all be fine, but I don't mess about with things like this! See you soon.

ASM - Photo Inspiration ....

.... Well hello again!  Can you believe it's the end of August - this month has really flown by.  Anyway, it does mean that it's time for another challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More!  It's Team A with you this week and we have our Photo Inspiration challenge.  Use the photo to inspire your card and tell us what you used.  Here's my card:

Stamps: QKR Stampede Digi - Flowers; Stampin' Up! - And Many More; Waltzingmouse - Woodgrain
Inks: SU - Smoky Slate; Archival - Jet Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Smoky Slate; Copic Markers; SU Window Punch; Wink of Stella Brush - Clear

Our sponsor this week is QKR Stampede and the winner of the challenge will receive three digi images from them.  I love the black and white photo on our graphic and I used the flower for inspiration,  using the lovely digital Flowers image on this card.  I printed it on white card and then coloured the entire image with a very pale grey and then added a touch of colour to the flowers and leaves.  I finished the flowers with some sparkle all over, and then I cut the image out.  I like the wood grain finish to the floor in the photo too, so I echoed it by cutting a panel of grey card and then stamping the wood grain image using  a second generation impression.  I added some texture by distressing the edge of the grey card before adhering it to the card base.  I finished the front with a simple sentiment.  The inside is blank.

For more inspiration check out our blog to what the team have made.  Good luck and have fun!

WMSFC - Sketch ...

...  Hello again!  I'm back with my last scheduled post - we'll be getting home this evening.  It's time for our new challenge at Waltzingmouse Fanatics.  For the next couple of weeks Tara and I would to see your creations based on our sketch; you are free to rotate/flip the sketch, but we must be able to see it in your work.  You MUST use at least one Waltzingmouse image, sentiment or digi on your project.  Here's my take:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Tying the Knot, Ocean Bound
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Coastal Cabana, Island Indigo, Smoky Slate
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Check In; SU Punch - Circle 1"

My first thought was flowers, but going through my stash of design papers, I came across this lovely map and that led me in a totally different direction.  I cut the paper to cover the card base.  I cut a piece of white card to for the diagonal, stamped the ropes and fussy cut the loops.  Next I stamped the sentiment.  I stamped the large ship's wheel in dark teal, fussy cut it out and adhered it with dimensional tape.  The two little wheels were punched out using a circle punch and attached with tape.  The inside is blank for my message.

Don't forget to visit Tara to see what she's made with our sketch.  You have until Thursday 4th September, 5.00pm BST (Noon EDT) to play along with us.  Don't forget you must use at least one Waltzingmouse image, sentiment or digi.  Have fun!!!  See you soon.

52CCT - Stash ....

....  Hello again!  We're almost at the end of my scheduled posts - I'll be back home today!  It's time for our Stash Challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  Gill would like us to use both GLITTER and BLING on our cards.  Here's my take:

Accessories: Stampin' Up! Card - Basic Black; Elizabeth Craft Candle Peeloffs; Martha Stewart Glitter; Gems

Going through my stash last month (for the July sticker challenge) I came across these fabulous candle peeloffs.  They have lovely open areas, just perfect for filling with glitter.  I picked five candles and put them on scrap white card.  Then it was simply a process of colouring an area with a glue pen, allowing it to get touch dry and then adding glitter.  I used a selection of blues, greens and greys for the candle bodies and for the flames red and gold.  Once completely dry I cut them all out and adhered them to the card base.  The three largest candles are flat, bu the two smaller candles were attached with dimensional gel.  I finished the front with a flourish of turquoise gems and a simple silver sentiment.

Check out the blog to see more inspiration cards from the rest of the Design Team.  That's all for now!  See you soon.

TMR - Stars ....

.... Hello - this another of my scheduled posts (so I hope it works okay)!  It's time for our new challenge at The Male Room.  For the next couple of weeks we'd like to see your masculine style projects with the theme of:

STARS

Here's my card and it's going into my stash.  I can never have enough male cards!!

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Be the Star, Endless Birthday Wishes
Inks: SU - Early Espresso, Summer Starfruit, Tempting Turquoise
Dies: SU/Sizzix - Stars Framelits; Die-namics - Fishtail Flags Layers Stax #2
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU DP - Island Indigo; SU Card - Summer Starfruit; Wink of Stella Brush - Clear

I used a couple of challenges in the making of this card - the colours are from Colour Q - cQc#253 and the layout is based on the sketch from Seize the Sketch - STS#26 (sadly, I'm too late to submit to either challenge).   I cut a panel of design paper and adhered it to the card.  Then I stamped three different stars and cut them out with the co-ordinating dies.  I added some sparkle to the stars, but you can't see it in the photo above, but in the one below (out of focus to show the shimmer) you certainly can!!  I attached the large and medium stars directly to the card and used dimensional tape for the smallest star.  I stamped a birthday greeting on the flag.  The inside is blank for my message.

For more inspiration using the STARS theme on your masculine cards - do visit our blog and check out the cards from the rest of the Design Team.  Can't wait to see what you make.  Have fun!

52CCT - Theme ....

....  Hello again!  It's time for our new challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  Gill's theme this week is "Mistletoe and Wine".   Here's my take on the challenge:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Seasonal Remedies, Festive Foliage
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Bravo Burgundy, Certainly Celery
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Rectangles #2
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Bravo Burgundy, Certainly Celery; SU DP - Certainly Celery

I knew exactly which stamps I was going to use for this card - I adore the mistletoe stamp, so pretty.  However, I did have a few issues with the wine bit of the theme; I couldn't think how to incorporate a drink!!  Then I realised I had the perfect colour of card (sadly now discontinued) for wine and I made the base from Bravo Burgundy.  I decided to make the sentiment the main focus as it has a sort of drinks theme, stamped it in burgundy and cut it out with the stitched die.  I layered it on some burgundy card and trimmed to have a narrow border.  I stamped the mistletoe randomly on white card which I layered onto some design paper and attached the whole panel to the card base.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of green card and stamped a greeting and some more mistletoe on the white panel.

Check out our blog for more inspiration cards from the team.  Have fun playing with our Mistletoe & Wine theme - can't wait to see what you make!  Bye for now.

ASM - Holiday ....

.... Hello all!  I'm back with another of my scheduled posts.  It's time for our new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More!  This week it's Team A and we have our Holiday theme - you can use any holiday Christmas, Halloween, Valentine or even a national holiday.  Our sponsor this week is Rick St Dennis and the winner of our challenge will get 3 digi images - and they're fab!  I've made a few cards:

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digi - Hannah Halloween Witch; Stampin' Up! - Just Sayin'
Inks: Archival - Jet Black; Distress - Barn Door
Dies: SU/Sizzix - Word Bubbles Framelits
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Graphic 45 DP - Steampunk Spells; Copic Markers

I printed Hannah on white card, coloured her with Copic Markers and cut her out.  I think she's a really fun witch and I love her spider bag!  I covered the card with this super steampunk design paper - it wasn't red to start with.  I added colour by blending red distress ink all over.  I finished the front with a fun sentiment in a word bubble!  The inside is blank for my message.

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digi - Winter Friends
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Anita's DP - Classic Christmas Blue; Copic Markers; Glitter; Craftwork Cards Christmas Label

Next, I made a Christmas card.  I love this jolly snowman.  I coloured him with Copic markers and added glittler to make him sparkle!  The card was easy to make, I covered the base with some blue design paper and finished with a simple Christmas sentiment.  Once again, the inside is blank for my own message.

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digi - Pumpkin Witch; Waltzingmouse - Vintage Witch, Hocus Pocus, Cicely at Halloween
Inks: Versamark

Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Basic Black; Copic Markers; Perfect Pearls; Wink of Stella Brush - Clear; Silver Embossing Powder

I have built up quite a collection of Rick's digi images and this is one of my favourites!  The Pumpkin Witch is sort of cute!  I created the background by stamping various images in Versamark and then rubbing over with Perfect Pearls.  I  stamped the sentiment in Versamark and heat embossed with silver powder.  I thought it was fun to have her carry a mini pumpkin bag!  The inside is blank.

As you can see from the image above, I had fun colouring the Pumpkin Witch - you'll see the other cards later.  I also love this very quirky Strange Doll image!

For more inspiration cards with our Holiday theme check out our blog to see cards from the rest of the team.  Can't wait to see what you make - have fun!

WMSFC - Make your mark ....

....  I'm back with our new challenge at Waltzingmouse Fanatics.  For the next couple of weeks, we'd like you to:

Make your mark

Copics, Promarkers, Distress pens, watercolour pencils, glaze pens or paints

You must use at least one Waltzingmouse image, sentiment or digi.  Many of Claire's stamps are perfect for colouring and if you don't have any stamps, Claire has provided some free images here.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Afternoon Tea Sentiments
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Up! - Baja Breeze (d/c)
Dies: Spellbinders - Circle Sm (S4-116) #5, Circle Lg (S4-114) #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Blubelle; Copics; Wink of Stella Brush - Clear

I used the layout from the current Fusion Challenge - FUSION#15.  I used papers from Blubelle to create the card base.  They gave me the colours for the pansies too - although I went a little brighter!!  I stamped the image three times on white card.  One image I cut out using a circle die (out-of-the-box technique).  I coloured the leaves and flowers with Copic markers, adding some sparkle to the centre of each pansy.  I cut out the other images to layer up the flowers.  I layered the finished image on to a circle of orange design paper.  I finished the front with a simple sentiment.  The inside is blank for my own message.

Don't forget Tara has an inspiration card to share with you too - do leave us a comment - we all like comments :)  You have until Thursday 21st August, 5.00pm BST (Noon EDT) to play along.  If you know other Waltzingmouse Fans - do let them know about the challenge too.  That's all for now.

52CCT - Colours ....

.... Wow, where is this month going?  It's already time for our second challenge of the month here at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  Our hostess, Gill, has picked some wonderful colours for us to play with - she wants us to use WHITE, CREAM, GOLD AND SILVER on our cards.  I ended up making two cards:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Christmas Messages
Inks: Archival - Jet Black; SU - Early Espresso
Dies: Memory Box - Tall Taper Candle
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Cream Lustre Card; Gold and Silver Mirri Card; Gold and Silver Peeloffs

I used my new candle die for the cards - it's perfect for the inlaid die cut method.  I ended up cutting out four candles - one white, one cream, one silver and one gold.  I would have had four cards, but the silver and gold candles didn't work out!  I cut out the candle on each card and then had lots of fun putting the pieces back.  I've a cream candle, silver ribbon and gold border on the white card and on the cream card, it's a white candle, gold ribbon and silver border.  I added some ornate corners to finish the fronts.  On the inside I stamped a simple sentiment.  I've only shown the inside of the cream card.

 For more inspiration using our wonderfully elegant colour scheme, do visit the blog to see what the rest of the team have made.  I'm looking forward to seeing your creations - have fun!

52CCT - Winners ....

... Good morning!  We had so many fabulous submissions for our Christmas in July Blog Hop at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  If you pop over to our blog you'll see the list of winners for each challenge, our Honourable Mentions and there are some prize winners for people who left comments on our blogs.

I was delighted to have loads of wonderful comments for the cards I made - thank you all.  I used a really high tech method to pick a winner.  I asked my daughter, Kathryn, to pick a number between 1 and 34 and her number gave the winner:

Denise Storck, she said:

"Thanks for the inspiration! Admire your work very much!" 

I have a prize for you Denise, please contact me with your address details and I'll get your prize off to you.  Thanks so much for your lovely comment - it is much appreciated.

Don't forget you still have time to join in with this week's sketch challenge - it's fun!

That's all for now - see you soon.