Peace and Goodwill ....

... Hello again, time for another scheduled post.  It's the first Saturday in July and that means a sketch challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  Here's my take on the sketch:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Seasonal Remedies; Stampin' Up! - More Merry Messages
Inks: Distress - Antique Linen, Ripe Persimmon, Festive Berries; SU - Early Espresso
Dies: Spellbinders - Small Labels (S4-169) #5, Large Labels (S4-168) #4
Accessories:  My Mind's Eye DP - Snowed In (FOC with Cardmaking & Papercraft); Ribbon, White Lustre Card; SU - Naturals Ivory Card

I decided to go a little vintage with this card.  These papers were free with a British craft magazine and were just what I wanted.  I used the star burst paper to cover the base of the card and then sponged the edges a little.  I cut a mat from one of the coordinating papers and stamped the label onto some white card.  I tried to match the colour of the backing mat by mixing Festive Berries and Ripe Persimmon.  I sponged the label to tone down the white and finished with a ribbon for the tag.  For the inside I used more of the star burst paper and sponged the edges.  I cut a panel of natural card and stamped on a simple sentiment.

That's all for now - do check out the blog to see what the rest of the team have made with this sketch!  See you soon.

WMS February Christmas hearts ....

... Good afternoon - I'm late posting today - I've been playing in my craft room.  I've made a card for February's Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge - WMSCCC02-13.  This month the challenge is being hosted by Lynn and she has asked that we make a Christmas card but, as it's February and Valentine's is just round the corner, include a heart or two!!  Seems a perfect combination to me.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Nordic Winter, Ornate Ornaments, My Heart, Seasons of Love - Tags
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Early Espresso; Distress - Fired Brick, Evergreen Bough, Antique Linen; Versamark
Dies: Hearts - Cameo die cuts by Lori Whitlock
Accessories: Design Paper - My Mind's Eye Snowed In (Free with Cardmaking & Papercraft); White Lustre card from stash

 

For the layout I used this week's sketch from Mojo Monday - MOJO279.  I decided to try and use some of the designer paper I have in my stash cupboard and I'm really pleased how it turned out. 

The pad of My Mind's Eye paper was free with a UK craft magazine last year and this is the first time I've used it!  I used a sheet of the robins and sentiment as the backing paper.  The red paper actually has some very subtle snowflakes on it, but I decided to over stamp with these sweet little hearts from Nordic Winter.  The banner was cut from another sheet in the pack - I cut around the scallops and used my hole punch to cut the holes!  The hearts were die cut on my new Cameo (which I think is wonderful!).  I shaded the large heart with Evergreen Bough and over stamped (second impression) with another of the border stamps from Nordic Winter.  I kept the greeting very simple inking it first with Versamark and then Fired Brick which allowed me to clear emboss the sentiment - you can see the shine in the photo!  I finished off with a couple more die cut hearts which I covered with the red paper.  I finished the front with this sweet robin cut from another of the papers in the pack. 

For the inside I cut another sheet of paper to make the backing mat and a piece of plain white card for the greeting.  I stamped the lovely wood grain leaf heart in Antique Linen and this gorgeous sentiment in Fried Brick.  I just love the way all Claire's stamp work so well together.

I know it might seem strange making Christmas cards in February, but it really does make sense to try and get ahead.  I don't want to have to spend most of November rushing around making cards like I did last year (and the year before!).  So do try to join the fun!!

I'm off back to my craft room to make a few more cards - I might even do another Christmas Heart card!  See you tomorrow.

Summer time shoe ....

.... The inspiration photo from the current Runway Inspired Challenge - RIC14 is the most elegant shoe.  Heels to die for - almost literally!!!  When I was younger I loved high heeled shoes, sadly now I'm older, they don't like me :)   I knew that I had the perfect image for my card - an elegant summer court shoe designed by Jak Heath.  As this is a summer shoe I'm also submitting the card to this week's Charisma Cardz - CC24 where the theme is summer.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Compact Sentiments II; Jak Heath - Help for Katie Set - digi image
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black
Spellbinders: Square Lg (S4-126) # 6; Square Sm (S4-128) # 6 & 7
Accessories:  Promarkers - Leaf Green, Pale Pink, Baby Pink, Magenta, Carmine; DP - My Mind's Eye - Quite Contrary (FOC with Cardmaking & Papercraft); Cardbase from stash

The graphic from Runway inspired Challenge:

I know some people might think this weird, but today would have been my sister's 50th birthday.  Tracey died last year and it just doesn't seem right that she's not here to celebrate her 50th, so I've made this card because I miss her.  Tracey loved to shop and while shoes were not her object of choice, she would have loved a pretty pair like this - but maybe with lower heels :))))  

That's all for today!