CIC - Theme ....

.... Morning!  It's time for a new challenge at Cupcake Inspirations Challenge - CIC#345, this week we have a theme for you.  We want to see BANNERS on your work.  I made a fun birthday card for a little boy:

Stamps: My Grafico Digi - Sail Away With Us; Stampin' Up! - Making Spirits Bright
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Die-namics - Wonky Stitched Rectangle Stax #5, Wonky Stitched Square Stax #3; Fishtail Flags Layers Stax #1
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SUDP - Maritime; Sequins

I had lots of fun with the digital image in this set.  I actually coloured them in on my computer using Paint to fill the section of each image and then saving them. I die cut some design paper for the background and added a panel to represent the sea, along with a white die cut square.  I then adhered the ship, banner and little sailor.  I finished the front with a birthday greeting and some sea-green sequins.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of design paper, and added another ship to the white panel. The layout is based on the sketch at this week's MFT Wednesday Sketch Club - MFTWSC#265. It also fits with our theme of babies and little boys over at The Male Room - TMR#27.

For more inspiration do visit our blog to see what the rest of the team have made.

Our sponsor this week is My Grafico, the winner of this week's challenge will get 1 digi paper and 1 clip art set as a prize.  I've used some of their digi images on my card.

We've had a super day yesterday.  Last year we had a couple of feet of snow with temperatures around -20C, this year it was lovely with sunshine, no snow and a temperature of 9C!!!  I'm really enjoying this winter in Michigan :)))   Today Kat and I are going to the regular monthly meeting of the Kitchen Roll Sprayers Art Journal Club - I'm so pleased that Kat has decided to come along and get inky with me!!!  That's all for now.  See you soon.

52CCT - Stash ....

.... Hi!  Well, we've reached the last Saturday in the month - I can't quite believe how fast January has gone by!!  But it means that it's time for our Stash/Technique challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT04-16.  I've called this a Stash Challenge, but it could equally well be called a Technique Challenge.  I want to see you use FOILING/GILDING on your Christmas/Winter cards.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Uniko - Simply Said Christmas; Stampin' Up! - Embellished Ornaments
Inks: Versmark; Versafine - Onyx Black; Brilliance - Galaxy Gold
Dies: SU/Sizzix - Delicate Ornaments Thinlets
Accessories: SU Card - Basic Black; White Lustre Card; I Craft - DecoFoil Foam Adhesive; Gilding Flakes - Frost Leaves; Silver Embossing Powder

My card is really clean and simple.  There's a video at the bottom showing one gilding technique and there are a couple more on the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown blog.  I used an ornament die to cut the foam adhesive into shape.  I peeled off one of the protective sheets and placed on some gilding flakes.  I like this colour - it's mostly silver, but has shades of gold, copper and green contained in it. I then used the scrubby piece to burnish the flakes into the sticky foam.  To create the frame on the card I used double sided adhesive tape.  I removed the protecting film and adhered the flakes - simple!  It can be a bit messy and you don't want a fan near you otherwise you'll be covered in flakes. I finished the front with a simple silver embossed greeting.  On the inside I cut a panel of white card, stamped some decoration in gold and finished with a Christmas greeting.

Here's a close up of the actual Christmas ornament - showing all the variation in colour and the shimmer too!

Do visit our blog to see more inspiration cards from the rest of the team.  See below for the video:

CIC - Colours ....

.... Hello!  So glad you stopped by my blog.  We've a new challenge for you at Cupcake Inspirations Challenge - CIC#344 with some really pretty colours.  I have to admit that they're not normally colours I use, so for me, it's a real challenge. However, I've come up with a really feminine birthday card:

Stamps: Prima - Flowers #541842; Personal Impressions - PP Wording Stamps
Inks: Versamark
Dies: Lil Inkers - Dual Stitched Circles #5, Dual Stitched Squares #3
Accessories: Cream Lustre Card; Gold Satin Mirri Card; Pan Patel - Permanent Red Tint; Gold Sparkle Embossing Powder; Stampin' Up! DP - Very Vanilla Bridesmaid (discontinued); Gems

I was going through some of my older stamps sets on Friday, when I came across this pretty flower stamp from Prima. I've had it for ages and not used it much.  But I like the elegant flower and thought it would work perfectly this this week's challenge.  The layout is based on the sketch from the current challenge at Your Next Stamp - YNS#31 and, as it's a very feminine, girly kind of card, I'm also submitting to the current challenge at Curtain Call Inspiration - CCICJan.

I used cream lustre card, stamped the image in Versamark and heat embossed with gold sparkle powder.  I cut the image out with a stitched edge die.  I added colour to the flowers with pan pastel which gives a lovely soft colour.  I layered the image on gold satin mirri card.  I made the square panel from discontinued SU design paper - so elegant and pretty.  I added a simple birthday greeting and finished with some soft blush gems.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of gold satin card, and on the cream panel added the cut off portion of the circle image.

For more inspiration cards, check out our blog to see what the rest of the team have made to share with you.  That's all for today.

52CCT - Theme ....

.... Hi!  I'm here with you this morning to share my DT card for the new challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT03-16.  I'm hosting this month's challenges and I had lots of fun picking them.  I chose this week's theme specifically so that I could use this set of stamps!!!  I've had this set for quite some time, and it was time to give them some ink!  The theme is CHRISTMAS CANDLES/LANTERNS, and here's my card:

Stamps: Docrafts - Candles; Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - Crazy Talk
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Die-namics - Wonky Stitched Rectangle Stax #5
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Crushed Curry; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear

I stamped the image (which is very large) and coloured it with Copic markers and added lots of sparkle with a clear Wink of Stella brush.  I added sparkle to the flourish, the stars, the flames and the dripping wax - sadly you can't see it in this photo!  This was originally going to be a one-layer card, but Copics really bleed through card, so I cut out a portion of the stamp with the stitched edge die.  I ran a Copic marker around the edge of the panel before adhering it to the card with dimensional tape. On the inside I cut a mat layer of deep yellow card and on the white panel I simply stamped a portion of the same image.  I was going to add some colour, but instead I just added a touch of sparkle to the image - which you can see in the photo below.  In order to show the shimmer, I've deliberately darkened the image.  This week's challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#177 is to "Make Your Mark" - and I certainly did that on this card!

Do visit our blog to check out the inspiration cards from the rest of the team.  Have fun with the challenge!  That's all for now!

UC - Anything Goes reminder ....

....  Morning!  Have you joined in with our challenge at Uniko yet?  This month we have a super simple theme of ANYTHING GOES, you can of course play with our option of Love!  Once again I decided to skip the option and made a note card:

Stamps: Uniko - The Hands of Time, All Occasion Sentiments #1
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Up! - Raspberry Ripple, Primrose Petals, So Saffron
Dies: Die-namics - Wonky Stitched Rectangle Stax #5
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Crumb Cake; SU DP - So Saffron; Promarkers; Wink of Stella - Clear

I used a couple of challenges in this card.  The layout is based on the sketch at MFT Wednesday Sketch Club - MFTWSC#264 and the colours come from the current Colour Q challenge - cQc#325.

I started by using crumb cake card to make the card base.  I die cut a panel of white card and adhered that to the card.  I stamped my favourite doily from The Hands of Time set on white card, coloured it with Promarkers, cut it out and added sparkle to the hands with a clear Wink of Stella brush.  I cut a strip of pale yellow design paper which I cut to size with the die and stamped a simple sentiment on it.  It's such a shame you can't see the sparkle!  On the inside I cut another panel of white card with the die and added more of the little doilies from the stamp set.  A clean, simple note card for my stash.

Do visit our blog to see more inspiration from the team - you've plenty of time to join in with challenge.  Deadline for submission is midnight (GMT) Friday 12th February (7.00pm EDT).  Full details of the prizes can be found on the Uniko Blog.  Have fun!!

TMR - Theme ....

...  Morning!  We had so many fabulous projects submitted to our last challenge at The Male Room - it was great to see the thumbnail display.  Here's hoping that the new challenge at The Male Room - TMR#27 which has a theme of BABIES & LITTLE BOYS, will generate just as much enthusiasm.  I made a birthday card - I always need to have a few cards for little boys!

Stamps: Happy Little Stampers - Mix Mash, Fun Birthday Sentiments, Bold Birthday Sentiments; Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - Robot
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Marina Mist, Tangelo Twist, Pumpkin Pie; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Reverse Wonky Rectangles (S4-307) #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Marina Mist, Pumpkin Pie; Papermania DP - For Him; SU Punch - Chevron; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear

Going through my stash of design papers I came across a very old set from Papermania which included this piece with the fun robots.  I used my Tim Holtz blueprint robot stamp for the image, cut it out with a die and coloured it with Copics and added sparkle with a clear Wink of Stella brush.  I left space at the bottom of the die cut to add the sentiment.  I grounded the image with a chevron and star.  I echoed the chevron patter by punching a border of orange card and matting it on blue.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of blue card.  On the white panel I created a birthday message from several sets and finished off by adding another cute robot.  I'm submitting this card to the current challenge over at Cardz 4 Guyz - C4G#103 where they want to see the colour blue on your card, and mine is mostly blue.

The sun was shining yesterday (when I made this card) so I was able to take a photo of the robot showing all that lovely shimmer.  The snow on the ground was sparkling too - so very pretty!

Do visit our blog to see what the rest of the team have made to inspire you.  Remember, you can make any type of papercraft project for the challenge - scrapbook layout, ATC, 3D, Project Life - it's entirely up to you, but it must have a masculine feel.  You've plenty of time to play along - submission deadline is midnight (GMT) Tuesday 2nd February (7.00pm EDT).  That's all for now! See you soon.

CIC - Theme ....

....  Hello!  Gosh, this week has flown by and we're here back at Cupcake Inspirations - CIC#343 where this week we have a fun theme for you - AROUND THE WORLD.  Don't you just adore those cute characters on the cupcakes?  I decided that I'd go with the world part of the theme for my card:

Stamps: Your Next Stamp - Coffee Rings, Thanks a Latte, Java Geek; Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - Schoolhouse
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Early Espresso, Crumb; Versamark
Dies: Your Next Stamp - Coffee
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Early Espresso, Crumb Cake; SU DP - Crumb Cake

I had lots of fun with this card - actually I think I've made it for me!!!  I've used several different sets on this card.  The layout is based on this week's sketch at Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#219.  I made the base from dark brown card.  I used Crumb Cake card and design paper for the next layer.  I used Versamark to stamp coffee rings and stains on the card.  I used the computer to type up words on the white panel, cut them to size and added some coffee beans.  I stamped the globe on a scrap of white card, cut it out and attached it to the panel.  The nerdy coffee cup was stamped on design paper and white card and adhered using dimensional gel.  To finish the front, I die cut the word coffee three times in dark brown card, glued them together and attached them to the card.  Sometimes I seriously think that given enough coffee I could rule the world!!!  On the inside I used more stamps from Java Geek - I absolutely love that the word "coffee" is made up from chemical elements - makes me so happy!  These stamps satisfy both the coffee freak and the chemistry nerd that is me!  :))

Our challenge this week is sponsored by Your Next Stamp and the winner of this challenge will get a $20 gift certificate.

For more inspiration check out our blog to see what the rest of the Design Team have created, and we are also joined by two of the YNS DT - Deborah and Sue.  Have fun - I look forward to seeing what you make.  See you soon.

52CCT - Colours ....

....  Morning!  It's time for our new challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT02-16.  This week we have colours for you to play with - I've picked non-traditional colours - SHADES OF ORANGE.  I think they work for a warm and fun Christmas card:  Here's my take:

Stamps: Papermania - A Christmas Carol; Uniko - Simply Said Christmas
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Calypso Coral; Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Lil Inkers - Dual Stitched Ovals #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Paper Source - Orange & Gold Handmade Paper; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear & Gold; Gold Message Label

At the end of last year, I went to a shop in Birmingham, MI called Paper Source - I just love all things stationery!  While there I found this fabulous piece of hand-made wrapping paper - and it was in the sale.  I love the texture, the fun design and it's perfect for this week's challenge.  I got quite a few sheets of other paper too and you'll see them over the coming year.  I cut a piece of the paper to fit the card and attached it with double-sided tape.  I stamped the Christmas ornaments on white card, cut it out with a die and then coloured with Copic markers and Wink of Stella brushes.  I adhered the oval flat to the card and finished the front with a small gold Christmas sentiment.  The layout is from this week's challenge at CAS - Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#156 - such a versatile sketch.  On the inside I cut another piece of the paper and on the white panel I stamped the Christmas ornaments in coral and added a greeting in black.

Do visit our blog to see more inspiration cards using SHADES OF ORANGE from the Design Team.  You have until midnight (GMT) Friday 22nd January to link up your cards.  It's never too early to make a start on your Christmas cards, in fact it makes life so much easier come December when you have quite a little stash ready!  Have fun!!!

This winter is really weird.  It got off to a very slow start, but we've had several inches of snow this week.  I was out quite a bit shovelling it off the drive and I managed to break my snow blower, so I've got to do it with actual shovels!!! Such hard work.  I've seen some photos from friends in North Wales and they've got snow too - so pretty.  That's all for now.  Have a great weekend and I'll see you tomorrow.