52CCT - Pick a Previous ...

....  Hi!  I'm rather late with my card for this week's challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  As we have five Saturdays this month, we have a PICK A PREVIOUS challenge and April has opted for a THEME.  I had quite a few ideas in my head, but just couldn't get anything on a card.  But this morning when I woke up I knew exactly what to make - I dreamt this card!!!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Two Step Sprig, Tis the Season, Flurries
Inks: Memento - London Fog; Versafine - Onyx Black; Brilliance - Twilight
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card/DP - Basic Black; Martha Stewart Glitters; Glue Pen

I've gone right back to October 2012 for my theme - we wanted Christmas Fairy Lights.  I'm also playing along with the current Merry Monday Challenge - MM#177 where the team would like to see Christmas lights and Glitter, and over at Time Out Challenges - TOC#43 the theme is Christmas with the optional twist of using Pink and/or Purple.

I don't actually have any Christmas light stamps, but going through my stamp catalogue I realised that this leaf sprig looked a bit like lights.  I stamped them directly on the card in pale grey and added glue to the leaves and applied lots of lovely glitters.  I stamped the sentiment on scrap card, carefully cut it out and adhered it some black design paper.  I attached the sentiment to the card with dimensional gel.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of black paper and stamped a Christmas greeting and some snowflakes on the white panel.

I'm really pleased that I went back to the October 2012 challenge, as looking at the list of players, I realise I didn't actually get to play along that week.  I'm really pleased with the shimmer and sparkle on my "Christmas Lights".  Do visit our blog to check out the previous themes the rest of the team have gone with.  

Before I go, I'd like to wish everyone a very Happy Halloween.

Photo credit

We're going to downtown Northville this evening so that Ben and Sophie can experience an American style Halloween - it should be lots of fun.  The weather forecast is not great, but I don't think that'll stop us having fun!

Black and white ....

.... Good afternoon!  The Dylusions Facebook Challenge this month is to use only BLACK AND WHITE (if you have a person you can use flesh tones).  The perfect challenge to start off my new square black art journal.  Here's the spread:

Stamps: Dylusions - Two Heads are Better than One, Word Love
Inks: Archival - Jet Black; Dylusions Paint/Ink - White Linen
Accessories: Dylusions Sq Black Journal; Dylusions 8" × 5" Stencils - Flower Medley, Arrow Borders, Stars (not sure of the name); Signo White Pen; Wink of Stella - Black, Clear; Sakura Glaze Pen - Black; Sharpie Fine Liner - Black

I wasn't at all sure where I was going with this spread.  I started on the right side and sprayed White Linen ink through stencils.  I added white lines around the borders of some images and filled in most of the petals on the flowers at the top of the page.  I added a border of arrows down the side - some I coloured white, some were painted with black or clear Wink of Stella - they shimmer so much in real-life!  On the left page I decided to keep the background simpler, but echoed the patterns on the right.  I painted a couple white patches on which I stamped two words "Love Life" - seems a good motto to live by.  I lightly sprayed with the white ink and added arrows across the bottom.  I finished the spread with this fabulous image.  I stamped her on white paper and to add definition to the image went over portions with a black glaze pen, black Wink of Stella and a white Signo.  I ran her through my Xyron and adhered her flat to the page.  I had lots of fun with this.  Here are a couple of close up photos of each page:

I finished the spread just in time to play along this month.  That's all for now!  Bye!

ASM - Holiday .....

.....  Morning everyone!  I am very, very late with my DT card for Addicted to Stamps and More!  My excuse is that I've been busy having a fun time with my son, Ben, and his girlfriend, Sophie while they vacation with us here in the States. However, I did manage to get an hour in my craft room yesterday afternoon and have made a card for this week's challenge.  Our challenge this week is HOLIDAY, and I've made a clean, simple card for Thanksgiving:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Six Sayings, Lighthearted Leaves
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Cucumber Crush; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear

One of the advantages of being late with my project is that I'm playing along with some of my favourite challenges.  I've used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#210 for the layout (although I've turned it to make a landscape card).  The colours are from Colour Me Card Challenge - CMCC#95 - just love them.

I stamped this gorgeous leaf three times on scrap card, coloured them all with Copic markers and used a square punch to cut out different areas.  I added sparkle to all the leaves with my clear Wink of Stella brush.  I adhered the panels flat to the card.  I finished the front with a this fabulous sentiment - love that script.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of green card and on the white panel added another leaf, coloured with slightly lighter tones, and a simple greeting.

I have to apologise to my team mates for not getting my card ready in time.  That's all for now!  See you soon.

Merry Christmas ....

.... Good morning all!  Bev at Uniko is sponsoring the new challenge at Time Out Challenges and most of the team have made cards to share with you today.  The theme is CHRISTMAS with the optional twist of using PINK and/or PURPLE.  I always love a Christmas card in non-traditional colours, so this was fun:

Stamps: Uniko - Rustic Christmas, Wonderful Washi Christmas, Pure Florals Poinsettia
Inks: Brilliance Trio - Twilight; Memento - London Fog; Versamark
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Smoky Slate; Vellum; Silver Embossing Powder; Copic Markers

I really like that Bev's stamps can be easily mixed and matched.  I haven't used the Washi set for ages, so thought it was time to play.  I stamped three of the images in Versamark on vellum, heat embossed them with silver and then coloured the reverse with Copic markers and cut them out.  I ran them all through my Xyron to make them self-adhesive.  In my stash I have some fabulous Brilliance inks that have a subtle metallic shimmer and one of the sets matched perfectly, so I stamped the Christmas tree using it.  I cut it out and adhered it to the card with dimensional tape.  Prior to attaching the tree I stamped a Christmas greeting.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of pale grey card, and on the white panel added another tree and a greeting.

Do check out our blog to see what the rest of the team have created.  And visit Time Out Challenges to play along!  Have fun!

TMR - Stash ....

... Hi!!  Can you believe it's almost the end of the month?  Time is flying by.  It's time for our new challenge at The Male Room and this time we have a Stash challenge.  I decided that it would be a good idea for us to make use of some of our stash and decided to use HARDWARE on our masculine projects.  I actually ended up making two cards:

Stamps: MFT - LLD Document It Rock On
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Night of Navy, Marina Mist
Dies: Lil Inkers - Dual Stitched Squares #2
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Night of Navy; We Are Memory Keepers - Eyelets

I made the base from navy card.  I cut a panel of white card slightly smaller and then cut off a corner to create a diagonal edge.  I lightly pencilled a line ½" from the edge and then used my (much neglected) Big Bite to punch the holes and add the eyelets.  I used dimensional tape to attach the panel to the front of the card.  I finished the front with a sentiment panel.  I die cut the square, added a sentiment and image and edged it with a marker to define the panel.  On the inside I cut a panel of white card and added some stars.  There's a large space left for my message.

As I had the Big Bite out (can't remember the last time I used it), I decided to make another card:

Stamps: MFT - LLD Document It Hello My Name Is
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Garden Green
Dies: Die-namics - Happy Hellos
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Garden Green; We Are Memory Keepers - Eyelets

This time I made the base from green card.  I die cut the sentiment at the bottom of the white panel and drew on six lines, using my Big Bite to punch the holes and set the eyelets.  I've gone for a sort of ombre look with the eyelet colours.  On the inside I cut a panel of white card and added a bold word to carry on the greeting.

I'm so pleased that I've used some of my large vast collection of eyelets.  And it was nice to get the Big Bite out to play too!  Now that I've got it out, I think I'll play some more!

I have to tell you that neither of these designs are my idea.  I have CASEd them from two super CAS cards by the fabulous Pia Larson.  I changed up the cards to make them more masculine - switching the rainbow eyelets for blue on one card, and black through green on the other.  And instead of a curve I've gone for a diagonal.  The big change is that I've used coloured card for the base.  Here's a look at Pia's cards and the links - rainbow rain and rainbow curve:

Cards by Pia Larson

Do visit our blog to see what Anita, our Guest Designer, and the rest of the team have made to inspire you.  You've got plenty of time to join in - deadline for submission is midnight (GMT) Tuesday 10th November (7.00pm EDT).  Have fun!

52CCT - Technique ....

... Morning!  It's time for our technique challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown and April has picked my favourite technique - Emboss Resist.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - A Cottage Home; Stampin' Up! - Wonderland
Inks: Versamark; Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress - Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Salty Ocean, Dusty Concord, Blueprint Sketch; SU - Garden Green
Dies: Die-namics - Pierced Rectangle Frames #3
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Silver Mirri Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Copic Markers; Glitter

I stamped the trees first, using Versamark and green on top, directly on the card and then randomly stamped some snowflakes.  I heat embossed them all with clear powder.  The fun part was next - I added colour to the card with distress inks to create the night sky and allow the snowflakes (and trees) to pop!  I added some glitter to the trees and snowflakes.  I stamped the house on white card, coloured it with Copic markers, cut it out, edged it with a black marker and added some sparkle to the house too.  I cut out a frame in silver mirri card and adhered it, using dimensional tape, over the finished image.  I decided not to add a greeting to the front of the card.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of silver mirri card and added a Christmas message to the white panel.

I'm submitting this card to CASE-ing Christmas Challenge - CCC#30 - I love Asha's winter scene with the lovely castle.  And I'm also submitting to Merry Monday - MM#175 where the team would like to see a frame.  For more inspiration with the Emboss Resist technique, check out our blog to see what the team have made for you.

This week has simply flown by.  It's so nice to have Ben and Sophie here with us, it always makes going out fun, as I look at things with a new eye!  We've been incredibly lucky with the weather this past week - temperature in excess of 70°F in mid October - a lovely Indian Summer.  We've been shopping as well as going to to see the skeletons in Northville - I'll share photos later.  That's it for now.  See you soon.

UC - Geometric Take Two ....

.... Morning!  Here's another in my series of scheduled posts.  It's time to remind you about our current challenge over at Uniko.  We want to see GEOMETRIC patterns with the OPTION OF CIRCLES, SQUARES OR TRIANGLES.  My first card was circles, so this time I decided to go for squares:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Builders Squared, All Occasion Sentiments #1
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Kaleidacolor - Luau
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Melon Mambo

I used my MISTI to make this card.  I lined up the stamp in the middle, making sure it was straight and using grid paper and a ruler was able to space out the stamped image evenly.  I've put a video link at the bottom of this post showing how to create background patterns.  I kept this really simple by adding a bold sentiment in black - I didn't want to hide the background!!  On the inside I cut a mat layer of pink card and added some more squares to the white panel - I used my MISTI to position the stamps correctly.

Do visit our blog to see what the rest of the team have created to inspire you.  We have two fabulous Guest Designer joining us too - you will be familiar with their work.  Please welcome Rahmat and Julia. 

That's not all, we have some prizes too!  The DT will pick a winner who will get a £20 gift voucher to use in the shop.  The DT also pick the Top 3 who will each recieve 50 Loyalty Points to their customer accounts.  We also do a random draw for all those who use Uniko stamps on their project - the winner of this draw will get 150 Loyalty Points to their customer account.  And last, but not least, if you've joined in with the twist, we enter all those cards into a random draw and the winner of this draw will get 100 Loyalty Points to their customer account.  You've got plenty of time to join in the fun - the challenge finishes at 8.00am (BST) Friday 30th October.  Have fun!!!

Finally, here's that video I promised about using the MISTI to create backgrounds - it's a super piece of equipment and I just love it!

Happy Halloween ....

...  Hello, time for another of my scheduled posts - it's kinda nice to get posts scheduled ahead of time!!

This morning I've another Halloween card - I'm on a bit of a roll - Kat needs some for her friends at school and I'm sending some back to the UK.  I will get my friends in the UK to get this party started!!  Here's my card:

Stamps: Winnie & Walter - Moonlight
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Pumpkin Pie; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Copic Markers; SU DP - Pumpkin Pie

This really is ultra CAS and very bright.  I used my MISTI to stamp the word Halloween several times down the front of the card.  I started with red in the middle, tangerine and then pumpkin pie.  I didn't quite leave enough space between the last two rows!! Darn!  I stamped the pumpkin on white card, added the word 'happy' inside, coloured it with Copic markers, cut it out and adhered it with dimensional gel.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of pumpkin pie design paper and added a fun greeting to the white panel.

I used the sketch from this week's CAS(E) this Sketch! - CTS#145 for the layout and the colours are from CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#146.

Yesterday, I told you that we were going to see Kat sing at her school concert.  Well, it was an amazing concert.  Northville High School has fantastic choirs.  The senior choirs sang some really complicated choral songs, and it was just fantastic!  That's all for today.

Dotty Bat ....

.... Morning!  I've another Halloween card to share with you this morning - I'm having such fun making them all.  This one is really clean and simple:

Stamps: Winnie & Walter - Moonlight
Inks: Versamark; Stampin' Up! - Elegant Eggplant; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Memory Box - Distressed Windham Collage; Poppy Stamps - Swirly Bat Cutout
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Black; SU DP - Elegant Eggplant, Pumpkin Pie; Wink of Stella - Clear

The colours at Just Us Girls - JUGS#315 are so perfect for a Halloween card that it just had to be done.  I cut a panel of black card slightly smaller then the card base.  I die cut the distressed corners and swirly bat and added purple and orange design paper behind.  Before attaching the purple paper I covered it with clear Wink of Stella so that the bat shimmers!  See the photo below.  I stamped the sentiment in Versamark and heat embossed with white powder - I was very careful to make sure there were no stray bits of white powder.  I adhered the panel flat to the card - easy to post!  On the inside I cut a mat layer of orange design paper and added a fun sentiment and some bats to the white card.  As I've got a Halloween theme, I'm also submitting this to the current challenge at AAA Cards - AAA#50.

I've just been told about another super Halloween challenge over at Poppystamps Challenge -PSC#03 where the theme is Trick or Treat.  As I've used the lovely bat swirl on my card, I'm going to submit over there too!  Thanks Marybeth!

Here's the photo of the sparkle and shimmer on the bat - it's so pretty in real-life, but in order to show it in a photo, I have to take an out of focus shot - but you can see the shimmer!!

It's so nice to have Ben and Sophie with us.  They are still a little jet-lagged, but getting used to it now.  We were out shopping yesterday and will probably be doing some more today.  This evening we are all going to see Kat's school concert - "Earth, Wind and Choir" - should be fun!  That's all for now, have a good day.