Some guy cards ....

..... Last week my aunt asked if I could make her some cards - she wanted birthday cards for her family, as well as a selection of cards for anniversary, thanks, thinking of you, etc.  I've started by making a couple of birthday cards for my cousins.  I still have a couple more to make for my uncle and other cousin.

For my first card I used the sketch from this week's Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge - WMSC83.  Jen Cuthburtson drew the sketch - it's circular!!  I don't do well with circular cards, so I've adapted the sketch a bit - I've used the sketch as the main feature on a square card.

I started with a white linen textured card base.  I cut two circles in shades of green.  I stamped a plaid pattern in metallic inks on the smaller of the circles and then glued them together, offsetting the circles to create a diamond pattern around the edge.  I wrapped some natural raffia around the circles and attached them to the card base with dimensional tape.  Instead of a heart I used a couple of stars onto which I stamped more patterns.  I finished off the main topper with a few brads in bronze, gold and silver - to match the metallic inks.  I completed the card with a simple birthday greeting.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Off Beat Backgrounds, Free Spirit Sentiments
Inks:  Brilliance - Mineral Trio; Memento - Cottage Ivy
Spellbinders:  Pinking Circles Sm (S4-172) # 6, Pinking Circles Lg (S4-170) # 6, Stars (S4-092)
Accessories:  Brads, raffia and card from stash

My next card has been made for two challenges:

• For Your Inspiration - FYI#23 - a wonderful photo
• Clean and Simple Stamping - FTL175 

For my card I've used the colours from the inspiration photo - the shades of blue, the grey of the background buildings, the white of the building in the foreground and the naturals of the ground.  I've kept pretty close to the layout of the sketch.

I used some Stampin' Up! designer paper for the background - using stripes to give a graphic feeling.  I used a few of the Circle Circus stamps for the toppers using two shades of blue and adding a brad to the centre circle.  I finished off by cutting out a tag, sponging on some colour and stamping a clean and simple sentiment.

Stamps:  Stampin' Up! - Circle Circus; Waltzingmouse - Free Spirit Sentiments
Inks: Distress - Chipped Sapphire, Stormy Sky, Antique Linen, Pumice Stone
Accessories:  Stampin' Up! punches; brad and card from stash

I like making cards for guys - which is fortunate as my aunt needs four male birthday cards!!  I'll be making a few more cards for her over the next week or so.  When I've finished, I'll take them down to her.  Such a fun project!!  Before I sign off for today, I'd like to welcome a couple of new followers.  Hello and welcome to Wilfreda and Sandra - so glad you joined me!

I've had a really super start to my day; I've gone back to Weight Watchers and today I lost 6lbs!!!  I'm really pleased as I've lost 15lbs in 4 weeks!  I've a way to go, but this makes me feel so motivated!!  That's all for now - I'm off to make lunch for Jonathan and me.    See you soon.

Big hugs ....

.... That's what I'm sending to my friend Kathy - she's not been feeling very well lately, so I want to send her my best wishes and a virtual hug.  I've made Kathy's card with three challenges in mind:

• For Your Inspiration - FYI#22 - photo inspiration and I used the colours
• Clean & Simple Stamping - FTL174 - sketch layout
• Cooking It Up with Katie - CIU#88 - where they would like to see an embossed heart

I think the inspiration photo is just gorgeous and my initial thoughts included a tree with golden leaves, but it just wouldn't come together properly.  And today, after I saw my friend's note about feeling poorly, I decided to make a card for her - not a specific get well card, but one to let her know that I'm sending hugs and good wishes.  I was going to over stamp the long text panel with a message, but decided to keep things simple and put the sentiment in the heart.  My heart has two forms of embossing - dry via the Spellbinder dies and heat on the sentiment.  I'll be posting this to Kathy in the morning.

Stamps:  Stampin' Up! - En Francais; Waltzingmouse - Sweethearts

Inks:  Stampin' Up! - Peach Parfait, Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz

Spellbinders: Scalloped Hearts (S4-137), Hearts (S4-136)

Accessories:  Martha Stewart - border punch, card and embossing powder

It's been a really good day.  I set up the ironing board in front of the TV and got it all done while catching up with some episodes of Criminal Minds!  It really does make things go much quicker.  At lunch time I saw the last ¾ hour of the Murray v Djokovic semi-final at the Australian Open.  From what I saw it was fantastic - at one point I thought it was all over for Andy, then he came back and almost made it.  He really pushed Djokovic all the way.  Jonathan is still feeling quite jet-lagged - it'll take a while before he's back on UK time. Now I'm going to try and find a channel showing the European Ice Skating championships - it's proving really difficult.  The championships are being held in Sheffield!!!  I would love to have been able to go.  That's all for now.  See you tomorrow.

One card for two challenges ....

... I've been doing quite well recently, combining a couple of challenges in one card.  And this card is no exception - and it is a special card too.  I used the current sketch layout from Just Us Girls - JUGS118 and for colour inspiration I've used the photo from For Your Inspiration - FYI#21.

It's Ben's 16th birthday tomorrow - the years have simply flown by!!  My mum asked me to make Ben a special card from her - and this is it.  I know I'm safe putting it up on my Blog today because Ben won't see it here!  Ben has told me that he likes it when I make cards with layers - which the JUGS sketch has a plenty!  The soft browns and touch of green and blue in the inspiration photo gave me the colour scheme.  There is blue (check out the flag) in the picture. 

In my stash I found some "For Him" papers and the pattern on this sheet sort of echos the pattern on the roof.  I distressed the edge of the paper with Vintage Photo and stamped the grid and faux stitching.  I also distressed the edge of the card with Faded Jeans.  I cut the smaller shapes from some coordinating paper, distressed them and stamped some images from my favourite set - Free Spirit Boy.  For the focal image I used a couple of nesties to cut the blue and white layers.  On the white circle I stamped the circles in Versamark, heat embossed and then added colour with distress inks.   I positioned the sentiment with my stamp-a-ma-jig, and used a couple of arrows cut from coordinating papers to highlight it.  I finished off by added a few metallic looking cogs made by sticking clear holographic peel offs onto the scrap paper and cutting it all out!    I think Ben will be really pleased with this card and the contents too!

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Free Spirit Boy, Off Beat Backgrounds;  Hobby Art - Happy Birthday
Inks:  Distress - Vintage Photo, Faded Jeans; Kaleidcolor - Cappuccino Delight
Spellbinders:   Pinking Circles Sm (S4-172) #5, Labels 12 (S4-247) #1, Labels 3 (S4-189) #5
Accessories:  Papermania - For Him; Sprocket peel offs and card from stash

I've noticed from my counter that I've got another new follower - hello and welcome to Olga - so glad you joined me!  I managed to get one of the Monster High Dolls for Kathryn's friend, not quite the one that Kathryn suggested, but the only one left in the area!  It seems these dolls are rather popular.  Tonight Kathryn will be making a birthday card for her friend - hopefully, I'll be able to share that with you tomorrow.   See you then!

Merry Christmas ....

... hello to anyone wandering around cyberspace today!!!  I hope you're all having a wonderful day.  This is to share with you the last of this year's Christmas cards - the ones for my family.  

To make Jonathan's card I've used the colour challenge from The Play Date Cafe - PDCC112 and the sketch was Waltzingmouse - WMSC78. 

I randomly stamped some snowflakes onto the card base in lime.  I used my star nesties to cut out two stars - one dark green and the other kraft.  I got the idea to layer the stars like this from my blog buddy, Pauline.    I put the kraft one through my Cuttlebug embossing some more snowflakes which I inked.  I cut out a the medium sized nested heart and added colour to it while still in the die.  Finally I added a simple, but heartfelt sentiment, and a gem.  For my darling husband today.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Compliements of the Season, Seasons of Love - Tags
Inks:  Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Pear Tart; Distress - Festive Berries
Spellbinders:  Nested Hearts (S4-296) #2, Stars (S4-092) #5
Accessories:  Clear embossing powder; Cuttlebug Snowflakes folder and Stampin' Up! - Crumb Cake card

The next card is Ben's and again I've used a couple of challenges - for the colours I've used the current For Your Inspiration - FYI#20 photo with those amazing shades of blue, purple and white, and the sketch is from Clean & Simple - FTL171 which I've turned on around!

I made my own backing paper from a couple of my favourite Waltzingmouse stamps which I think are just perfect for teenage boys!  I attached some lovely silver ribbon over the centre to cover the join!  I layered the finished paper onto some dark blue mirri card.  Next I used Versamark to stamp the lovely Be Good Santa image and embossed it with detail silver, then I cut it out with my nesties.  I added some purple ink to the edge of the image and over the words, then I coloured Santa's hat with shades of blue and purple, adding some coarse glitter.  Finally I glittered the brim of Santa's hat and added flock for his beard.  Oh yes, the bell was coloured with a Sakura Stardust pen.  Just right for Ben!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Off Beat Backgrounds, Free Spirit - Boy, Around Christmastime
Inks:  Versamark; Kaleidacolor - Blue Breeze; Distress - Seedless Preserves
Spellbinders:  Pinking Circles Sm (S4-172) #5
Accessories:  Silver embossing powder, flock, glitter, mirri card, ribbon and Sakura Stardust pen

And last, but by no means least, is the card I made for my daughter Kathryn.  For inspiration I've used the colour challenge from Colour Q - cQc116 (which are really similar to PDCC, but that's not really surprising as they are very Christmassy colours) and the current CAS-ual Fridays - CFC33 challenge.

One of the cards I made earlier this week featured gingerbread kids and Kathryn loved it.  So I decided to use the Gingerbread Girl as the feature on her card (I've just realised that I did last year too)!!  I started off by making some mats in Lucky Limeade, Cherry Cobbler and Kraft.  To keep the colour of the Cherry Cobber, I stamped the Gingerbread girl directly onto white card, clear embossed the image and then coloured it with kraft.  Next I stamped some of the lovely Nordic Winter borders onto white card, cut them out and attached them to the kraft mat.  I added some twine between the borders.  I Finished off by mounting the Gingerbread girl onto a lime mat and attaching her to the card.  A clean and simple card for my darling daughter!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Nordic Winter, Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy
Inks:  Stampin' Up! - Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade, Kraft; Versamark; Marvy le Plume pen - Leaf Green (Glorious Green)
Spellbinders:  Labels Fourteen (S4-290) #3
Accessories:  Clear embossing powder, twine, Stampin' Up! card

That's all for today.  Enjoy the rest of the holiday period.  I'll be back with some more cards on 28th December!

Just to say .....

.... this is a little card (A7 or 4" × 3") - sort of cute, and I've made it for the current challenge at For Your Inspiration - FYI17 - once again they have provided the most wonderful inspiration photo!

I like the structure and the architectural lines in the image, but I've actually just taken the colours as the inspiration for my card.  I do like the bright, cheerful yellows!   I started off with the cute image of the little bee girl - she's a darling.  I coloured the image with Promarkers and cut it out.  I created the hill she's sitting on with my distress inks and added some grasses to create depth.  Finally I added the sentiment - just to say - anything you want! 

Image:  Free with one of the craft magazines
Stamps:  Stampin' Up! - Pocket Silhouettes
Inks:  Distress - Iced Spruce, Black Soot
Promarkers: Canary, Soft Lime, Sunflower, Black, Iced-grey 1, Grey Green
Accessories:  Card from stash

I'm really pleased with this card - it's really bright and cheerful, the perfect antidote to a grey, dull and cold day here in North Wales!!  That's all for now.  I'm off back to my craft room.  So many cards to make and not many days left to do them in!!!  See you soon ;)

For your inspiration ....

... I've missed the last couple of challenges from For Your Inspiration - I just seemed to run out of time.  Anyway, I decided that this time I would get my card in early - and the photo inspiration for FYI#16 is just magnificent - ladies you do pick wonderful photos.

I think the colours in this photo are just amazing - the reds, oranges and blues - so gorgeous.  I've made a Thanksgiving card for the challenge - it seemed the most appropriate.  I started off by using a set of stamps that hasn't seen ink in years!!  I selected a number of leaves and stamped them randomly on the card - overlapping to give the impression of falling leaves.  I used my favourite ornate square die to cut the mat layer and then cut a square in white card.  I added colour with distress inks and then stamped the greeting.  I stamped three of the leaves on plain card and coloured them with a wash of distress ink and then cut them out.  I added some raffia ribbon and bow to the card and finished off by attaching the leaves with an apple button. 

Stamps:  See Ds - Leaves #50052; Waltzingmouse - Say It Loud - Winter Holiday
Inks:  Distress - Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Barn Door, Fired Brick, Spiced Marmalade, Dried Marigold; Memento - Rich Cocoa
Spellbinders:  Fleur de Lis Squares (S4-318) #4, Standard Squares Sm (S4-128)
Accessories:  Button, raffia ribbon and card from stash

I must apologise for the quality of the photo - now that we're into autumn my lovely window ledge is no good for taking pictures in the morning - still too dark!!  I've used my spotlight to illuminate the card, but the colour cast it gives does mean a bit of work in Photo Gallery.  I'll try to take a better shot later today.
We have another very busy day lined up today.  We're off to Mold so that Jonathan can get his hair cut - it's going curly because it's getting so long!  And we have to go to the dry cleaners to drop off three sets of curtains and to pick up two sets.   So you can guess what I'm going to be doing this afternoon - yes!  Rehanging the curtains!!  Hopefully, once that's done I'll be able to play in my craft room and get some more challenges done!  See you later.

For Your Inspiration # 13 - Guest Designer ......

... I was fortunate to be selected Lovely Lotus with my FYI10 card and my prize is to be Guest Designer for For Your Inspiration #13.  Once again we have a simply gorgeous photo for your inspiration:

I was delighted when I saw this photo - it's not just fabulous, Paris has some very special memories for me, so it was perfect.  After meeting Jonathan, our first trip away together was to Paris - a city known for romance.  We stayed in at Hotel California on Rue du Berri, just off the Champs-Elysees.  We went in April, the weather was a bit mixed, but that didn't stop us having the most wonderful time.  So my card has been inspired both by the picture and by my memories of a wonderful break.

I started off by stamping the Eiffel Tower and embossing it with clear powder.  Then I masked off areas above and below my image area.  I stamped a variety of images that I associate with Paris - travel tag, postage stamp, french writing - in pale lavender and then I started to sponge colour onto the card.  I tried to keep as close to the sunset colour scheme as I could.  I added a few more image in darker inks and added deeper shading.  After removing the masks, I added a simple sentiment - Together Always.  This card is for Jonathan, my husband and best friend.

Stamps: Creative Expressions - Travel set; Llewllyn-Bowen - Venaissence; Waltzingmouse - Fancy Phrases
Inks: Distress - Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Worn Lipstick; Stampin' Up! - Bashful Blue, Night of Navy; Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories:  Card and embossing powder from stash

Thanks so much to the team at For Your Inspiration - I've really enjoyed being Guest Designer!

Greens and blues ....

.... the challenge at For Your Inspiration - FYI#11 has the most wonderful photograph to inspire us.

It really is a stunning photo, but it's taken me ages to come up with a card.  At first I was going to have a go at doing reflections - but I changed my mind.  Instead I decided to focus on the gorgeous shades of blue and green in the picture and on the lovely symmetrical shape of the buildings and their reflection.

I've been playing with alcohol inks a lot this week - it's very messy, but lots of fun - and I have to thank Chrissie and Mandi - I've only starting using these inks because of this week's challenge at Less is More - check it out.

I used alcohol inks in green and blue on a large sheet of acetate, the aim being to create a feeling of water.  I attached the acetate to my card base using brads.  I used a piece of satin ribbon and made a ruffle effect - sort of representing the white of the clouds.  Then I used my Labels 20 nesties to cut a large mat in blue holographic card - to represent the sky and sort of take on the shape of the buildings.  I also cut a smaller layer in white card to which I added shades of blue and then stamped on a bold, but simple sentiment.  I'm pleased with the end result, but I wasn't sure that I'd get a card done before the deadline!!

Stamps: Hobby Art - Happy Birthday
Inks:  Adirondacks Alcohol Ink - Citrus, Pool, Sail Boat Blue
Spellbinders:  Labels 20 (S5-026) # 3 and 4
Accessories:  Card, holographic card, acetate and ribbon from stash

I'm off to the hospital to see the physiotherapist about my knee.  I've been doing the exercises they gave me and I've been having no problems at all walking, so all being well I won't have to see them again. 

I think that's likely to be all for today.  See you all tomorrow.

What wonderful surprises ....

... I've had today.  I've won the The Lovely Lotus award for my sympathy card in the For Your Inspiration #10 Challenge - details on my blog.  And I've also been selected as one of the Top Mice for WMSC59.  To both Design Teams - thank you so much - you guys really made my morning!!!  Here are my cards:

FYI#10 - Lovely Lotus

WMSC59 - Top Mouse

We've not long got back from Leicester - we travelled to my in-laws to collect Kathryn.  She was absolutely delighted to see us both and has been giving us lots of hugs and kisses - I like this a lot :)  Later this evening I'm going to have a play with the latest Less is More and Waltzingmouse challenges - both look like lots of fun.

Hope you're all having a great day.  See you soon.