Grateful for You

.... Hello! In my Friday post, I mentioned that I attended the Uniko/Dies to Die For workshop earlier this month. Bev and Tracey put on a brilliant workshop with lots of opportunity to make cards (and shop too!!). I started work on several cards and brought them home to complete. This is the first of the completed cards:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Blocks Swiss Dots; C&9 - So Many Sayings

Inks: C&9 - Briar Rose, Wildberry, Eucalyptus, Juniper; VFC - Nocturne, Twilight 

Dies: Pinkfresh Studio - Petal Perfection; C&9 - So Many Sayings

Accessories: Pinkfresh Studio - Petal Perfection Layering Stencils; White Card; Copic Markers

I'm submitting this card to Time Out Challenges - TOC#296 where the theme is support/friends/encouragement, and to Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#500 to use diecuts and/or stencils.

We did have instructions for suggested cards, but I went rogue!! I stamped the dotty background in soft grey directly onto a white note card (it was going to be one layer). I took the opportunity to try out Pinkfresh Studios dies and matching layering stencils and made this lovely flower. I stamped C&9 So Many Saying in black ink and used the co-ordinating die to cut them out (I have lots still to use). I used dimensional pads to add the greeting. When I got home I found I'd made the card upside down, so I simply cut the completed panel off, trimmed it to fit on the front of an A2 (US size) card, edged it with a green Copic markers and added it to the card base. Inside the card, I cut another piece of white, edged it with the green marker and glued to the inside of the card. I had more die cut flowers, so I simply added a flower to finish the inside.

The workshop that I attended was held in Warrington and hopefully, Bev and Tracey will be back there again soon. However, if you fancy attending a Uniko/Dies to Die For Workshop, the ladies are holding another retreat on Sunday 12 October in Worsall Village Hall, Yarm. It's only £60 and well worth it.

Jonathan and I went to the cinema yesterday to see The Roses - it's a remake(ish) of The War of the Roses. It stars Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch in the main roles. The script is brilliant - witty, sharp, bitchy, sweary (very) and so black. It was a joy to watch them both, and the rest of the cast were brilliant. I recommend it.  That's all for today. See you soon.

Birthday Flowers

... Morning!! I was on a bit of a roll yesterday, it's so nice to be back making cards. I've another birthday card to share this morning:

Stamps: Uniko - Birthday Sentiments, Birthday Wishes

Inks: Gina K - Sunkissed Coral, Sea Glass, Emerald Sea; Versafine Claire - Nocturne

Accessories: Uniko Stencil - Fun Flowers Spray Mask; White Card; Copic Marker; Simon Says - Moonshine Confetti

I used colours from CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#567 (so nice to be playing along again), and I'm also playing with Seize the Birthday -STB#312 - I've gone with the Anything Goes birthday theme.

I used another stencil that's been in my stash for a while. It's a two-piece stencil and mask. I placed the stencil on white card, lightly inked the leaves and flowers, added the mask and inked details in the flowers and leaves. I used post-it notes to mask off some of the flowers - it worked fairly well. I finished the front by stamping a bold birthday greeting in black ink. I trimmed the panel to be slightly smaller than an A2 (US size) card, edged the panel with a black Copic and adhered to the card. I completed the card by adding some sparkle with confetti bits. Inside the card, I cut another piece of white card, lightly stencilled the flowers at the bottom of the panel and added a greeting. That's it. Another card for my stash!

It's good to be back. Thank you for visiting and leaving comments - they are always much appreciated.

Birthday Wishes

.... Hello!! It's been a while since I've been here. I was lucky enough to go to a Uniko/Dies to Die For workshop at the beginning of August and my creative mojo started to come back. So, here I am with a much needed birthday card for my stash:

Stamps: Uniko - Simply Said Blocks 3; Birthday Sentiments

Inks: Gina K - Applemint, Lucky Clover, Christmas Pine; Versafine Claire - Nocturne

Accessories: Uniko Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks; White Card; Copic Marker

I'm submitting this card to AAA Cards - AAA#297 where it's Anything CAS Goes with the option of all green, and I love all shades of green. I'm also playing along Just Us Girls - JUGS#790 where it's Stencil week. And, as this is the first time I've used this stencil, I'm also submitting to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#77.

I had such a good time at the Uniko/Dies to Die For workshop, that I was inspired to get out some of my Uniko stencils. I'm embarrassed to say that I've had this stencil for ages, but not used it. The design is made of three layering stencils, and I simply used three shades of green from light to dark. I trimmed the panel to be slightly smaller than 5" square, edged it with dark green Copic and adhered it to the card base. I didn't want to hide the image, so I stamped a small birthday greeting in black ink, cut it out and added to the card. For the inside, I cut a piece of white card to 4¾" square and I added the centre strip of the stencil to the card (I turned it sideways), and added a fun greeting.

It's been fun getting back to making cards. I needs lots!!

The reason I've been absent, is that Mum's cancer came back early last year, and I spent as much time as I could with her. Sadly, mum died in January, I've been coming to terms with no having mum here. It's been a tough, but my mojo seems to be back, and mum would be so pleased to see me making cards again. I worked my way through all my stash, and I so need more cards. So, I'm back. See you again soon.