TMR - Birthday - 6 Years ....

.... Hello! I hope this is not too much of a shock. It's been a really long time since I've actually posted anything card related. I am thrilled and delighted to be Guest Designer at The Male Room - TMR#117 for this special birthday challenge. It is an honour to be joining the team to celebrate the challenge's 6th birthday. Here is my card:

Stamps: My Favourite Things - Gift Card Greetings, Bitty Birthday Wishes; Lawn Fawn - Simply Celebrate
Inks: Kaleidacolor - Blue Breeze; Memento - Tuxedo Black; Gina K - Black Onyx
Dies: Lawn Fawn - Simply Celebrate; Die-namics - Wonky Stitched Circles #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Blueberry Bushel; Copic Markers; Nuvo - Aqua Shimmer Brush

I used the sketch from Fab Friday - FABF#169 for the layout. I stamped the row of cute candle on white card, coloured them with Copic Markers, cut them out with the matching die, and added some sparkle with a clear aqua shimmer brush. I found the HB2U greeting on an old My Favourite Things set, stamped it with blue Kaleidacolor inks, and cut it out with a stitched edge circle die. I cut a panel of blue card and used foam tape to attach it for some depth. I finished the front by adding the stamped circle and the blue candles. On the inside I cut another panel of blue card, and on the white panel I stamped the row of candles in blue and finished with a simple, clean sentiment.

Moving back to the UK from Michigan, and all the renovation works going on in the house, has meant that it's almost exactly a year since I sat down to make a card. In fact, I need to restock my card stash. So I made another card - very similar to this one, just switching up the colour and the sentiment in the die cut circle:

Stamps: My Favourite Things - Birthday Sentiments, Bitty Birthday Wishes; Lawn Fawn - Simply Celebrate
Inks: Kaleidacolor - Fresh Greens; Memento - Tuxedo Black; Gina K - Black Onyx
Dies: Lawn Fawn - Simply Celebrate; Die-namics - Wonky Stitched Circles #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Wild Wasabi; Copic Markers; Nuvo - Aqua Shimmer Brush

I'm submitting this one to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#37 where the theme is Anything Goes. I think I'm going to make a few more cards based on this layout, just switching up the colours.

I'd like to thank Jane for inviting me to join the design team and celebrate The Male Room's 6th Birthday. I had lots of fun making these cards, and it was just what I needed to get me back into my craft room. Do drop by and check out what the rest of the team have made.

That's all from me today, but now that I've started making cards - you'll start to see more regular posts. Bye for now.

One for three - birthday ...

... Hello again!  I'm on a bit of a roll today!  House stuff done, time in craft room this morning and another quick card to share with you.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Offbeat Backgrounds; My Favourite Things - Document It Rock On, Gift Card Greetings; Stampin' Up! - Endless Birthday Wishes, Delightful Dozen
Inks: Versamark; SU - Night of Navy, Old Olive, Concord Crush
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Squares #4, Stitched Circles #2 & #3
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Old Olive, Concord Crush; SU DP - Old Olive; Vellum; Silver Embossing Powder

 I'm submitting this one to several challenges:

• Just Us Girls - JUGS#263 - colours
• Addicted to CAS - ATCAS#50 - use Vellum
• Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#159 - layout

I've made a birthday card for my stash - I've just realised that I don't have very many actual birthday cards.  This is definitely more masculine in feel.  I stamped the chevron pattern in all three colours and then cut out a square.  I also cut a vellum square which I adhered directly on top of the stamped square - makes the pattern a little more subtle.  I inked up a bold, graphic sentiment in Versamark and heat embossed with silver powder.  I finished the front with a stamp on the circle - it's a games controller!  The inside has a mat of green design paper and a fun sentiment on the white panel, along with a birthday cake!

That's all for today!  Bye for now.

TMR - Science-Fiction ....

...  Hello, post number two today!!  It's time for our new challenge at The Male Room.  This time our theme is "Science Fiction", which gives you so much scope!!!  You can go for fun, cute, vintage, clean & simple, and inspiration can come from movies, books, comics or TV!    I actually made a couple of cards, here's the first one - an ultra clean and simple design:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Zig-Zag Background; My Favourite Things - Gift Card Greetings
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Early Espresso; Versamark
Dies: Die-namics - Beautiful Bows
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Early Espresso; SU DP - Early Espresso; Copics

If you're a fan of Dr Who, then this reference will be obvious, if not, it refers to the fact that the 11th Doctor (Matt Smith) wears a bow tie and thinks they are cool!  Before cutting out the pieces, I stamped a zig-zag pattern on the card using Versamark.  I used the  large Die-namic bow die to cut out the pieces.  The resulting bow has a rounded end, so I simply made the bow more triangular by cutting off the bits I didn't need.  I created the sentiment on the computer using the Arial font and added the subtle glow.  I finished the inside with a piece of brown design paper and a bold, fun greeting.

My next card is for a little boy on his birthday:

Stamps: Winnie & Walter - Big Bang Confetti; Waltzingmouse - Half Pint Heroes
Inks: Kaleidacolour - Blue Breeeze; Stazon - Jet Black; Memento - London Fog; Versamark
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Real Red; Glossy White Card; Copics

The little rocket comes from one of my favourite WMS sets - I've used it a few times!  And it just had to come out for a science fiction theme.  To create the background I punched a small circle from post-it note and placed it on the card, then I stamped lots of stars in Versamark.  I used a brayer to colour the background using Blue Breeze which gave this lovely gradient of colour.  After I removed the post-it circle I ran the brayer across the "moon"" to blend it with the background.  I stamped the rocket twice and colour the images with Copics.  I cut them and adhered them to the card with dimensional tape.  I finished with a simple greeting stamped in Stazon.  For the inside I cut a mat of red card and on the white card repeated the rocket image and added a birthday greeting.

For more inspiration with our Science Fiction theme, check out the cards from the rest of the design team.  I'm really looking forward to seeing what you make.  I have to admit to science fiction in all its forms is one of my favourite genres!  See you soon.