Crafting Weekend ....

.... Hello!  I've been meaning to write this review of my weekend in Florida since I got back last Monday, but it's been crazy busy in our house.  However, I've got an hour before the next guy comes to give me a quote for house removals, so I thought do it now!!! These are a couple of photos of my Dyan style folio and Dina style art book:

This photo shows the front and back covers of the book we made in Dina's class.  First time I've attended a class with Dina and had the chance to use her wonderful paints.  It was fantastic!  I still have work to do as I have some blank pages to fill!

This is the outside cover of my folio.  I had such fun using Dyan's paints - they dry so quickly. Usually I end up making things in shades of green, so it was such fun playing with blues and the wonderful new Cherry Pie paint!  Still lots of work to do on this folio - more late.

I was fortunate to be part of the group who attended the Back to Back No Rules Retreat from 19th - 21st February in Florida.  The retreat was organised by the amazing Michelle McCosh, owner of Everything Scrapbook & Stamps, a wonderful store located in Lake Worth, Florida.  Michelle's shop is a treasure trove of goodies and well worth a visit if you're in the area.

The No Rules Back to Back Retreat featured the brilliantly talented Dina Wakley and Dyan Reaveley.  Many of the people attending the retreat were here for the second year, with just a few of us being newbies!  Howver, I have had several classes with Dyan, so was able to keep up.  All the sessions were fast, furious fun - I had a blast!  Here are a few photos from the weekend - if you want to see all my photo, you'll find them on Facebook here.

The retreat take place at the Duncan Conference Centre in Delray Beach, Florida.  It's a lovely place with super staff.  It's calm, quiet (when we're not there) and we were all made to feel so welcome. The food was fantastic.

After class on Friday 19th, some of us headed to Michelle's shop, Everything Scrapbook & Stamps, in Lake Worth. Thanks to Shari for driving us over.  The shop is full of wonderful goodies as well as the most gorgeous displays, here are just a few photos of the displays:

Thanks to Dyan, Dina and Michelle, to all the staff at the Duncan Centre and also to all the wonderful ladies I met - it was a fantastic weekend.  Can't wait to do it again next year!

CIC - Theme ....

... Good morning!  It's time for our new challenge at Cupcake Inspirations - CIC#349 where we have a theme - PRINCESS.  I wasn't able to play along last week (busy at Back to Back Retreat in Florida), so I'm pleased to be here this week.  Our sponsor is this week is AlciaBel and the winner of the challenge will get three digi images.  The team were lucky to be able to pick an image to play with and I chose Umbrella's Lady.  Here's my card:

Stamps: AliciaBel Dig - Umbrella's Lady; Happy Little Stampers - Fun Birthday Sentiments; Dovecraft - Princess
Inks: Versafine - Vintage Sepia; Stampin' Up! - Early Espresso
Dies: Die-namics - Wonky Stitched Ovals Stax #3
Accessories: White Lustre Card; My Mind's Eye DP - Summer Papers; Copic Markers; SU Card - Early Espresso; Wink of Stella - Clear

I really like this little lady - she's quite fun - check out the tiny skulls on her skirt and her hat!  I used the colours in the graphic as inspiration for colouring the image.  In my stash I found crown stamp which is perfect for the theme.  I used the layout from this week's Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#225.  The crowns fit nicely down one side of the card and I used pretty patterned paper for the large panel.  I printed the image on white card, coloured her with Copic markers and used a scalpel to cut her out.  I die cut an oval panel from white card, adhered the image and added some little gems.  I finished the front of the card with a simple birthday greeting.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of design paper, which I edge with a brown marker and adhered to the card.  On the white panel I stamped the crown again and added the crown.  I added sparkle to the main image (skulls, umbrella, lips and hat) with a clear Wink of Stella brush and also to the hearts in the crowns.  Sadly you can't see it in the photo!

For more inspiration with our Princess theme, do visit our blog to see more cards from the rest of the team.  That's all for now!

52CCT - Technique ....

.... Hello, good morning!  Surprise, two days in a row!  It's time for our new challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT08-16.  This week we have a technique for you to try - STENCILLING.  You can stencil the background or make it the main feature of your card.  I decided to stencil a background:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Folk Art Christmas Additions
Inks: Versamark; Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress - Lucky Clover, Cracked Pistachio, Twisted Citron
Dies: WMS - Folk Art Christmas; Die-namics - Wonky Rectangle Stax #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Wild Wasabi; Silver Embossing Powder; Dylusion Stencil - Christmas

I've gone with the theme of bells, which just happens to be the challenge at this week's Merry Monday - MM#193.  I stencilled some bells around the edge of the card using three shades of Distress ink and a Dylusions stencil.  I cut a panel of green card with a wonky stitched die and stamped the sentiment directly on the panel.  I stamped three bells in Versamark, embossed them with silver powder and cut them out with the matching die.  I coloured the flowers with the same three shades of green that I used to stencil the design.  The two bells in the background have been adhered flat to the card and I've used dimensional gel under the centre bell.  I finished the front by added a little gem to the top bell.  At the moment the inside of the card is not finished - I'll get it done during the week.

Do visit our blog to see more inspirational ideas from the rest of the team.  You've got until midnight (GMT) Friday 4th March to play along.

Before I go, I must just say something about the stamps I've used here.  This set was designed by Claire Brennan of Waltzingmouse Stamps.  Many of you know that I'm a huge fan of Claire's stamps, so I was very sad to read earlier this week that Claire is closing down Waltzingmouse Stamps.  While I wish Claire every success in her future endeavours, I am sad to see WMS close. However, you will still WMS sets used on my cards!  Thank you Claire.

UC - Colours Reminder ....

... Hi!  I bet you thought I'd forgotten about you all!  Not so.  I've very busy with stuff in the house - more of that later.

Have you joined in with our latest challenge at Uniko?  Well, if you haven't I thought I'd give you a quick reminder - we have some wonderful colours for you to play along with this month. They are the Uniko colours - Turquoise, pink and aqua and I've a clean, simple card to share with you:

Stamps: Uniko - I Love Tea
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Pink Pirouette; Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU DP - Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Pink Pirouette; Gems

I adore this pretty teacup and the lovely flower pattern from Bev's new release, so I had to play with it again.  I used a couple of challenges:

• CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#162 - super sketch
• City Crafter Challenge Blog - CCCB#300 - to use polka dots - check!

I used up some of my large huge collection of scraps on this card.  I simply cut a couple of strips of dotty paper for the teacup to sit on and adhered them flat to the card.  I stamped the teacup on another scrap, cut it out and added some white paper inside (I like my crockery to be plain on the inside!).  I stamped the sentiment and then added a trail of little gems for some sparkle.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of design paper and added a tiny heart in pink to the white panel. Quick and easy.

Do visit our blog to see more inspiration projects from the rest of the team, along with our Guest Designer - AJ - who has made a wonderful note set!

If you need more encouragement to join in with the challenge - we have prizes too!  Here are the details:

THE PRIZES

• The DT will choose a winner who will get a £20 gift voucher.
• The DT choose a Top 3 who will each get 50 Loyalty Rewards Points added to their customer account.
• We will do a random draw for all those who use A UNIKO stamp, and this winner will get 150 Loyalty Reward Points added to their customer account

You've got plenty of time to play along with this month's challenge.  The deadline for submission is midnight (GMT) on Friday 11th March (7.00pm EDT).

Now, before I go - the reason this post is late is that I was so tired last night I forgot to finish it. We've had a major blast of winter in the Northville area for the last couple of days.  On Wednesday I had to clear nearly 4" of snow from the drive and paths - which normally wouldn't be too bad as I'd use my snow blower, but it's dead!!  Sob!  It took ages.  And then, it continued to snow and yesterday, when the snow finally stopped, Jonathan, Kat and I all went out to clear a further 5" from the drive and paths.  It was so nice to have company.  Kat had a snow day (school was closed) and Jonathan's office was also closed (but he worked from home).  So nice to wake up today to clear paths and drive!!  And no snow in the forecast for the weekend.

The other reason that my blog has gone a bit quiet lately is that we're moving house. And before you ask, not back to the UK.  Our Landlords are coming back to the US and want their house back (don't blame them, it's lovely).  We had to start looking for a new place and fully expected it to take ages. But it didn't!!  We found our new home in about two weeks!  So at the moment I'm up to my eyes getting removal quotes, sorting through our stuff to reduce it a bit and going between the two houses. And, I'm not getting too much time to craft.  But I plan to get some time today!  I will post photos once we're in the new place!

That's all for now - do have a go at our Uniko challenge - have fun!

UC - Colours ....

... Hello and Good Morning!  It's time to annouce our new challenge at Uniko.  This month we have a colour theme - AQUA, PINK & TURQUOISE - you probably recognise them as Uniko's colours!  I decided to make an Easter card - I certainly need a few for my stash:

Stamps: Uniko - Some Bunny, Fontiments Birthday; I Love Tea
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Stampin' Up! - Pool Party, Pink Pirouette
Dies: Spellbinders - Square Sm (S4-128) #6, Lacey Squares (S4-295) #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Pink Petticoat DP - Vintage Rose; SU DP - Bermuda Bay; Wink of Stella - Clear

I adore this little bunny - he's perfect for an Easter card, but he's make a great baby card too!  I decided to paper piece him using three different papers.  I added some sparkle to the pink areas with a clear Wink of Stella brush.  The layout is based on the sketch from Mojo Monday - MOJO#435 (it's been ages since I played along with this challenge).  I used two of the papers to make the panels on the card.  I die cut the lacy square from the turquoise paper, cut a smaller white panel on which I stamped the sentiment and finished by added the bunny.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of design paper and on the white panel added a greeting and the pretty flowers from I Love Tea.

Do visit the Uniko blog to see more inspiration from the Design Team using our lovely colours.  I'm really looking forward to seeing your projects.

Now, this post has been scheduled, as I will be in Florida by the time the post goes live.  I'm attending Back to Back Art Retreat with Dina Wakely and Dyan Reaveley.  I've been looking forward to it so much.  Pictures and details later!!!  As well as all the wonderful creativity at the weekend, it's in Florida - temperatures expected to range from 22°C to 25°C (70°F to 77°F) with sunshine.  So much nicer than snow and freezing temps!  Bye for now!

TMR - Colours ....

.... Hello!  Thanks so much for stopping by.  It's time for our new challenge at The Male Room - TMR#29.  We have a colour challenge for you - MONOCHROMATIC - you get to pick the colour. As always, your project must have a masculine style.  I've made an uber clean and simple card, it's also a smallish card measuring only 5" × 3½":

Stamps: Uniko - Simply Said, Background Builders Round in Circles
Inks: Kaleidacolor - Blue Breeze
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up DP - Pacific Point

I used the sketch from this week's CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#160 for the layout, adapting it a bit for a rectangle.  I decided to pick shades of blue for my card.  As soon as I saw the sketch I knew I wanted to use these lovely grungy circles.  I started by stamping the word Awesome in the middle of the card - I used the MISTI to position the image.  I then added the smaller sentiments above and below.  I finished by stamping the circles.  I really like Kaleidacolor pads - they make monochromatic schemes so easy!  On the inside I cut a mat layer of blue design paper and added a pattern up the side of the white card.

Do visit our blog to see more inspiration projects from the rest of the team.  You've got plenty of time to play along - deadline for submission is midnight (GMT) Tuesday 1st March (7.00pm EDT).  I hope you have fun with this challenge.  That's all for now.  See you soon.

CIC - Theme ....

Good morning!  I'm back today with my card for our new challenge at Cupcake Inspirations - CIC#347.  We have a theme for you this week and it's totally appropriate to the day - LOVE.  I had to make a Valentine card!

Stamps: Stamplorations - Bold Sentiments
Inks: Distress - Cracked Pistachio, Twisted Citron, Lucky Clover; Stampin' Up! - Real Red
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stamplorations Stencil - Hearts All Over

Our sponsor for this week's challenge is Stamplorations and I was lucky enough to get the stencil and stamps from them to use this week - thank you so much.  I had fun with this card.  I used the sketch from this week's CAS(E) this Sketch! - CTS#159.  It was actually really quick to make.  I taped the card to my desk with the stencil taped on top and then simply sponged on three shades of green. Now, I realise that green is not a traditional colour for Valentines, but it is my husband's favourite colour!  I added a touch of red with the sentiment.  On the inside I lightly sponged on some more hearts and added the word "forever".  I can share this safely today, as he'll have had the card!

Do check our blog to see more inspiration from the Design Team, as well as from our guests - Kim, Shirley, and Vicki - all DT members for Stamplorations.

The winner of this week's challenge will receive a $15 Gift Certificate from Stamplorations. Have a super day!