Words and snowflakes ...

.... Good afternoon!  What happened to the morning?  Oh yes, I know, I caught up with Grey's Anatomy and Scandal this morning - guilty pleasures and such fun!  But I did manage to get into my craft room and make a couple of cards - one of which I can share with you today.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Tis the Season
Inks: Distress - Shaded Lilac, Peacock Feathers; Verafine - Onyx Black
Dies: WMS - Snowflake Dies #2 and #3
Accessories:  White Lustre Card

I think this is about as clean and simple as you can get.  I'm submitting the card to this week's challenge at Less is More - LIM#191 where the team have a recipe to use "Mostly Words" and to Keep It Simple - KIS#50 where the theme is Three.  I die cut three snowflakes, lightly adhered them to the card and then stippled two shades of ink over the top, removed the masks leaving three subtle snowflakes.  I then stamped this bold (and very beautiful) sentiment in the middle in black ink.  I kept it really simple and what's more, it's a one layer card, so will be easy to mail!  I've left the inside blank.

That's all for today.  I really do have to do the ironing now - the pile is about 3 feet high!  Take care.

Bright Owl ....

..... Hello!  This is going to be a quick post as it's almost time to start getting dinner ready.  This card was made with a couple of challenges in mind:

• Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#133
• Keep it Simple - KIS#38

Stamps: Dare 2B Artzy - Feather Friends - Miss You, Feather Friends - Groovy Owl
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black, Rich Cocoa
Dies: Dare 2B Artzy - Owl Dies; Spellbinders - Grand Stately Circles (LF-019) #1
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Copics; Stampin' Up! - Burlap Ribbon

At Keep it Simple the challenge is to use bright colours and/or lots of sparkle.  I think neon colours are certainly bright.  I've used an owl image to represent a "bright spark" - meaning someone with wisdom.  Owls are often thought to represent wisdom as they were the creature associated with Athena the Goddess of Wisdom.  And I just adore all things owl!!  I this one is just gorgeous and perfect to colour with Copics.  I made the background circle by cutting a circle of vellum and then colouring on the reverse with the neon Copics, running it through my Xyron and adhering it directly to the card.  I cut some burlap ribbon for added texture, then adhered the branch and owl.  I finished with a pun sentiment!  The inside has been left blank.

Yesterday I told you that it was our 13th Anniversary on Tuesday.  When we got home I found this wonderful card in the mail:

From Darnell

I think most of you know Darnell - she is one of the nicest, kindest people in blogland, and she made this card for Jonathan and me.  I absolutely love the grunge theme and the colours.  Thanks so much Darnell - this one is going in my box for keeps!!  I mentioned that we'd made a visit to Belle Isle on Tuesday and took lots of photos.  I took over 400 and haven't edited many yet - but I did do this one of the view towards Detroit City from the island.  It's a great view of the city with the GM building at the far left and the bridge to Belle Isle in the foreground.

We've got a very busy weekend lined up.  Tomorrow my Mum is flying over to the States; she's staying with us for a month and I'm so looking forward to seeing her.  But before we pick her up at the airport I'm off to another photo shoot.  I've got so many photos to edit and share with you all.  Bye for now - don't forget to come by tomorrow for our new 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown challenge.  See you soon.

Robbie Robot ....

....  Good morning!   My card today has been made for my great-nephew, Xander, who will be 2 years old on Saturday.  And it's going to be a bit late!! Oops!

Stamps: My Mind's Eye - Boy Crazy; Waltzingmouse - Mini Pinstripe Background, Compact Sentiments; Uniko Studio - Extra Time
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Crushed Curry, Smoky Slate; Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU DP - Marina Mist; SU Markers - Smoky Slate, Marina Mist, Crushed Curry, Copics

I was lucky enough to find this set of stamps at Archivers at their recent closing down sale and I got matching felt shapes too!  I think it's just perfect for a little boy.  I used the layout from this week's CAS(E) this Sketch - CTS#67, the colours from The Paper Players - PP#186 and the theme from Keep it Simple - KIS#35 to use stripes.  I stamped the robot onto white card, coloured it with Copics and then fussy cut it out and ran it through my Xyron to make it self-adhesive.  I stamped the mini pinstripe background in yellow, attached the robot and then cut it to size.  I cut a blue panel the same size and adhered both to the card.  I finished the front with the sentiment and some arrows pointing inside.  On the inside I made a mat layer of more blue design paper and on the white panel I stamped the robot in grey, added some yellow stars and a birthday greeting.  This card is already on its way to the UK, but it's going to be late!!

The last couple of days have been wonderful with mild temperatures and sunshine.  But what a difference today.  Kathryn has a snow day, it's coming down thick and fast, and we're expecting about 8" of snow over the day.  Good thing Jonathan brought his computer home, he can work from here.  Don't think I'm going out at all today.  That's all for now.  See you soon.

WMSFC - Colours ....

... Hello again!  I'm back with our new challenge at Waltzingmouse Fanatics.  This time we have a colour challenge - there are six colours in the palette and you have to use at least three of them.  I think these are all my favourite colours.  Don't forget you can make anything for the challenge, a card, scrapbook layout, 3D project - but you MUST include at least one Waltzingmouse stamps, digi or sentiment.  Here's my card:

Stamps: WMS - Free Spirit Boy; Impression Obsession - You are Amazing
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Wild Wisteria; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories: SU Card - Naturals Ivory; Copics; Promarkers

Do you ever have an idea of a card in your head and then end up with something completely different?  Well, that's what happened with this card.

I used the sketch from Clean and Simple Stamping - FTL279 for the layout and the theme is from this week's Keep it Simple - KIS#33 where the key word is "TROPICAL" and, obviously, the colours are from our challenge.  From the graphic I took the two shades of purple, the dark teal and ivory.  I made the card from Naturals Ivory (lovely card which I don't use often enough).  The card has a subtle texture which you can see in the stamped sentiment!  I actually like the slightly distressed look.  I used my all time favourite set from Waltzingmouse - Free Spirit Boy - and stamped the hibiscus flowers several times onto white card and then coloured them with Promarkers and Copics.  I cut them out and attached them to the card.  I know that hibiscus don't appear in nature in rich teal (sort of wish they did), but they certainly come in all shades of purple.  For the inside, I kept it ultra simple with just a stamp of the hibiscus flowers.

Don't forget Tara has an inspiration card to share with you too.  You have plenty of time to play along with our fabulous colours, the deadline for submission is Thursday 20th February, 5.00pm GMT (that's Noon EDT).  Oh, were you wondering what my original idea was?  Well I had planned on using the surf boards from Free Spirit and making a guy card!  That's all for now!  Whatever you plan on doing this weekend, keep safe and warm.  Bye for now!

Purple Christmas V2 .....

.....  Hi!!  Back again, with a variation of my earlier card.  I was thinking about the card while out at lunch and realised that it would probably work really well using purple card and white embossing powder.  Here it is:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - 2011 Holiday Ornaments; Stampin' Up! - Sassy Sentiments, More Merry Messages
Inks: SU - Concord Crush; Versamark
Dies: Spellbinders - 2011 Heirloom Ornaments (S4-334) #3
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Concord Crush; Avec Thread; White Embossing Powder

This is for the following challenges:

• CASology - CAS#80 - cue word "PURPLE"
• Keep it Simple - KIS#32 - square
• Festive Friday - FFC#24 - photo inspiration

I made the card from Concord Crush (so sad that this was discontinued).  I made the panel by cutting it an inch smaller than the card, stamping the sentiment in Versamark and heat embossing with white powder.  Then I die cut the ornament shape.  I stamped the ornament onto the card base, embossed it and added some thread.  The inside is the same as the previous card here.  I'm not sure which is my favourite; what do you think?

That really is all now - I'm going to be spending most of the rest of the day in my craft room.  There is very little on TV tonight - all usual programming has been changed as it's the Super Bowl this evening.  I might find time to watch the adverts though!!  See you all soon.

Purple Christmas ....

... Afternoon everyone!  Just a quick post with a card for a few challenges:

• CASology - CAS#80 - cue word "PURPLE"
• Keep it Simple - KIS#32 - square
• Merry Monday - MM#93 - Christmas Ornaments
• Festive Friday - FFC#24 - Photo inspiration

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - 2011 Holiday Ornaments; Stampin' Up! - Sassy Sentiments, More Merry Messages
Inks: SU - Concord Crush
Dies: Spellbinders - 2011 Heirloom Ornaments (S4-334) #3
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Concord Crush; Avec Thread

I know that a lot of people have been saying that Purple is not their favourite colour, but it most definitely is one of my favourites.  I kept this really clean and simple.  I cut a white panel an inch smaller than the card base, stamped the sentiment in the corner and then cut the ornament shape, going slightly off the edge.  Using my stamp-a-ma-jig, I positioned the ornament image and stamped it in purple.  I attached some thread to the bauble and wrapped some around the top layer, then adhered it with dimensional tape.  The inside has a mat layer in purple and on the white panel I stamped another ornament along with a sweet sentiment.

I'm really pleased that I've managed to combine so many challenges - the card is square (KIS), purple (sadly now discontinued - CASology), and Christmas ornaments (MM and FFC).  That's all for now, see you soon.

Blue words ....

.... and it's probably not what you were thinking :)  I've made this little card for three challenges:

• Less is More - LIM#153 - colour theme - Winter Blue
• CAS-ual Fridays - CFC#125 - In a word
• Keep It Simple - KIS#31 - theme - text

Stamps: My Favourite Things - Document It: Captured Memories
Inks: Kaleidacolour - Blue Breeze
Dies: Lil Inkers - Instant Camera Die
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Pacific Point; SU - Hexagon Punch

Over at CAS-ual Friday the team have asked us to choose a word that describe what you hope for the year or a target to set.  I've picked the word "Photography" as this year I really want to create some scrapbooks of our time in the States.  Less is More have a colour theme of Winter Blues which I thought would work, so I used a die to cut the photo in blue and again in white, and then stamped a number of photography related words on the white panel.  I finished the front with the cute hexagon which I mounted with dimensional tape.  I'm submitting this to Keep it Simple - where their theme is text; it's the first time I've played along with this challenge.

I've left the inside blank as I think I'm going to put this on the wall in my craft room as a reminder that I want to scrapbook our photos into a number of different albums!!

It's been much warmer here today - in fact we got above 0°C.  The result is melting snow, slushy roads and thick, thick fog!  I think I prefer the crisp, dry cold that we had earlier in the week.  That's all for now.  It's time to start getting dinner ready.  Do drop by tomorrow to check out the new challenges from 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown and Waltzingmouse Fanatics!  See you soon.