Christmas Owl ....

.... Hi again, I'm definitely getting back into my groove, I've another card to share today. This time it's a Christmas card (you're going to see lots of those in the coming weeks) and it's really CAS:

Stamps: Dare 2B Artzy - Owl Be Home 4 Christmas, Daddy Owl; Concord & 9th - Joy; Uniko - Background Builders Chevrons
Inks: Gina K - Red Velvet, Grass Green, Black Onyx; Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Basic Black; Copics; Wink of Stella - Clear; Clear Embossing Powder

I've used the sketch from Christmas Card Throwdown - CCT#17 for the layout - so pleased to be playing along. As it's a one layer card with a coloured in element I'm going to play along with Less is More - LIM#345. There's an owl on here so I'm going to enter AAA Cards - AAA#98 as they want creatures great and small.

I used my MISTI to stamp the owl, removed the card and coloured the owl. I put the card back in the MISTI and stamped it again in Versafine Onyx Black and heat embossed with clear powder. Next I stamped the zig-zag lines to match the owl's clothes. Again, using the MISTI makes this process very easy. I finished the front with a simple sentiment. On the inside I cut a mat layer of black card and on the white panel added a Christmas greeting.

I've really settled back into my regular routine. I've recently added an aquarobics class on Monday morning - it's so much fun, but I think I've rediscovered muscles that I'd forgotten I had!!! That's it for now. Take care.

52CCT - Sketch ...

....  Hello all!  Can you believe it's already June!!!!  Where is this year going?  Our host at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown this month is Louise.  As always the first challenge of the month is a sketch and this one is lots of fun.  Feel free to adapt the sketch a bit - make it square, use any shape in the middle, but we must be able to see the basic sketch in your design.  I'm glad Louise said that, as I've played with the sketch a bit!!!  Here's my take:

Stamps: Dare 2B Artzy - Owl Be Home 4 Xmas
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Wild Wasabi
Dies: Memory Box - Glowing Candles
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU DP - Winter Frost; SU Card - Pool Party, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Pear Pizzazz; Silver Mirri Card; Copic

As you can see I did play a bit with the sketch, it's upside down and there's no sentiment or ribbon, but I don't think it needs either of them.  I used this week's Merry Monday - MM#111 challenge for the colours - to use aqua, white and a splash of colour(s).   I've been itching to play with my new die - I've seen many fabulous cards using the die and just had to play with it.  I covered the card base with a sheet of design paper - love the geometric snowflake pattern.  I used silver mirri card to make the parcel ribbons (the sketch reminds me of a parcel).  I cut a panel of white card and die cut the candle trio and then I repeated the die cut using silver mirri card, aqua, green and yellow card.  I used the inlaid die technique to create the image and I'm delighted how well it turned out.  I added a touch of sparkle to make the veins on the holly leaves and used my Copic marker to add the holly berries.  I adhered the image panel with dimensional tape, but the great thing is that the card is still quite flat and will go through the post easily!!  On the inside I cut a couple of mat layers in silver and the design paper and on the white panel I stamped a simple sentiment.

Our Guest Designer this month is Marie from NJ Stamping Queen - for more inspiration using the sketch check out the fab card she's made, and see the lovely cards from the rest of our talented team.

It's so nice getting back into my normal routine and be back to making some cards!!  Today the weather forecast is gorgeous, which is good as we are all off to a photo shoot today - a pool party with lots of super models!!  That's all for now, have a great weekend.

52CCT - WMSFC - Blues ....

....  Hello all!  I managed to get a couple of hours in my craft room yesterday afternoon while Mum was out in the garden enjoying the sunshine! 

It's time for our stash challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown and Ruth has a fun challenge based on the wedding rhyme "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue".  Ruth wants us to make a card using all four if possible, but two at a minimum.  I managed three - old, new and blue!  Here's my card:

Stamps: Dare 2B Artzy - Owl be home 4 Christmas
Inks: Distress - Salty Ocean, Chipped Sapphire; Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Dare 2B Artzy - Owls
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Cuttlebug EF - Distressed Snow; Copics; Wink of Stella Clear

The old is my Cuttlebug folder, the new my Dare 2B Artzy stamps and die and of course it's blue!  I used the debossed side of the embossed panel and coloured it with two shades of blue so that the snowflake pattern was enhanced.  I stamped the sentiment directly onto the panel. I stamped the owl onto white card and coloured him with my copic markers, adding a touch of sparkle to the scarf and then die cut him with the matching die.  I adhered him directly to the card.  I've not done the inside yet, but will do that soon.  For more inspiration cards check out the blog to see what Judy, our guest designer, and the rest of the team have made.

I made another card for our Waltzingmouse Fanatics challenge (and I'm very, very late getting my card made).  At WMSFC we want you to add texture to your card.  I based my card on Ruth's challenge and the layout is based on the sketch from CAS - Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#75.  

Stamps: WMS - Folk Art Christmas Additions
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Marina Mist, Soft Sky, Lost Lagoon; Versafine - Majestic Blue; Versamark; Distress - Chipped Sapphire
Dies: WMS - Folk Art Christmas
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Cuttlebug EF - Ice Crystals; Silver Thread; Silver EP

Once again I used the debossed side of the embossed panel and lightly rubbed on some dark blue ink.  I stamped four baubles in shades of blue/teal, die cut them and put silver thread through to hang them from.  I stamped the sentiment in Versamark, heat embossed with silver powder and cut out a banner.  I stamped the bauble again and embossed with silver powder and fussy cut the centre.  For extra texture, I adhered the embossed panel with dimensional tape.  Again, I've not done the inside, but will do it soon.

That's all for today.  It's Memorial Day weekend here in the States and we are taking Mum to visit the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village to see the show - should be a super weekend.  Bye for now.

Upcycled ornament ...

....  Good morning!  I've a clean, simple Christmas card to share with you this morning.  I'm submitting it to the following challenges:

• Merry Monday - MM#104
• Jingle Belles - JB:14-08

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Woodgrain; Dare 2B Artzy - Owl Be Home for Xmas
Inks: Stampin' Up! - White Pigment, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: SU Card - Crumb Cake; White Lustre Card; Ornament and Ribbon Upcycled

The challenge at Merry Monday is to use kraft or slate grey on your card, while at Jingle Belles the team would like us to recycle/repurpose something on our card.  I made the card base from Crumb Cake and stamped the wood grain pattern in white pigment ink; I like the soft look of weathered wood.  I saved this big ornament from one of last year's Christmas cards and it's been on my desk since then.  It it the perfect size for the card and as I also saved the ribbon, it didn't need anything else added.  On the inside I cut a panel of white card, stamped a sentiment in red (to match the robin's breast) and some snowflakes.

I do hope everyone is enjoying this Easter weekend.  We were out at a Baby Shower yesterday - such fun!  And the weather was nice to us.  Today we're going out for a drive and will be taking photos - the perfect way to spend a day.  See you soon.