Another challenge ...

... the colours at The Play Date Cafe this week are just wonderful.  They've gone for a lovely fresh green, with silver and gold.  The inspiration picture is fantastic.

While I was tidying yesterday, I came across a piece of paper (well lots actually), but this one was just right for the challenge.  A great background paper with diamonds in shades of grees and a slightly distressed look to the edge of the paper.  I don't know who designed the paper as it came free with one of the magazines I buy.

I decided to get out an old stamp (I didn't make New Year Resolutions, but I do want to try and use old stamps) featuring an antique map of Europe.  I stamped the image with Versamark and then added two shades of embossing powder - silver and gold - naturally!  I painted the image using distress inks - giving a lovely soft image.  I did the same to this lovely maple leaf which I found in my stash.  The vellum greeting, which I think is lovely, also came from a paper set free with a magazine.  Out came my Spellbinders dies so that I could find an appropriate backing for the map image - I think it's the large scalloped rectangles.  I put the card (A5 silver card from stash) together, but it wasn't quite there and then I decided to add an ornate flourish, again embossed with both silver and gold.  The final touch was a pice of gold ribbon.  Really pleased with how this turned out.

Stamps:  Hero Arts - Vintage Map; Personal Impressions - Maple Leaf; Flourish from a QVC set
Inks:  Distress - Tattered Rose, Weathered Wood, Antique Linen, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint
Spellbinders: Large scalloped rectangles
Accessories:  Card, paper, ribbon and vellum greeting - from stash

We've woken to a wonderful day here in Wales - the sun is shining and the skies are blue - it's just really cold!!  It's always nice when it's like this - I feel full of energy and ready to go - which is fortunate as there's lots to do!  I want to finish the craft room - and make a few cards, of course!  There's the never ending pile of washing and ironing.  And I've got to make a start on my Open University assignment for my planets course - S196 - Planets: An Introduction.  It's interesting, but I've not given it the attention I should - I've been playing with cards instead :)

That's all for now - I hope to get back a bit later, but if not, I'll see you tomorrow.

Thinking cap on ...

... because I really have to finalise my OU assignment.  It's really interesting - I'm doing an astronomy course.  It's only an introduction, but there's a lot to read - and the picutres of stars, galaxies, planets are so beautiful.  The use of computers and colour enhanced images really makes it as lovely to look at, as it is interesting to read.  Sorry, tend to waffle on about the course :)))

So, I thought I'd show you a few more cards that I made earlier in the year.

I made this for my sister-in-law, Charlotte.  I'd already made her a card - see 4th October post - but that was from Kathryn.  This one was from Jonathan and me.  It was reasonably quick to make.  I used the Spellbinders star dies to cut out stars in various colours and sizes, I then ran them through the cuttlebug to give a rose impression.  The flourishes were made using some holographic card from my stash and two different Marianne dies.  The backing paper came from a pad of pink paper from Papermania; I used the Doily Lace punch to make the borders.  Finally, I added the Craftworkcards greetings and some ribbon.

I like this layout - it's a nice simple design and can be adapted for all occasions.  This time I needed to make a card for a little boy who'd just had a new baby sister.  Obviously, there would be lots of cards in the house welcoming the new baby, and I thought that Ewan should have a card just for him - as the "Big Brother".  The image is from Pink Petticoat and is coloured with pencils - I added some glitter to the mane.  I used Spellbinders Labels 3 to cut the layers; the papers were free from craft magazines.  Finally, I used a Sakura stardust pen to add the hand drawn borders.

As I said - this is a good layout!  This time it's a card that I made for my brother-in-law.  I couldn't decide what to do.  Then I found these wonderful Smirk men!!  And I found "Superman" - I just had to do it.  I used Labels 3 to cut the layers and Waltzingmouse Stamps to add the dotty frame.  I coloured the image with Prisma pencils and used peel offs for the greeting.

That's all for now, as I'd better get back to my assignment.  I'll be back tomorrow.

Blog hopping ...

...  can be quite addictive I've discovered today.  I've been looking for a few challenges to do - and found loads!!  How can anyone keep up with the number of challenges out there?  As it's all still quite new to me, I've decided that for the time beginning (at least) I'll stick to Simplicity One Layer Wednesday, Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge and add a couple of others I've found.  As a consequence of blog hopping all morning, I didn't get around to making the card I had planned.  But I'll get it finished and post it tomorrow.

The other reason for not getting the card finished, was that I had some work done in my craftroom today.  It's a small room which is packed to the rafters!  I had a bit of spare wall and thought there was enough space for some shelves, so Gareth fitted them in for me today.  I've already started to move various punches and boxes of goodies to their new homes.  Will post a picture tomorrow. 

I've not been that organised today with regards crafting.  I think it's because I'm concentrating on my assignment - and I did do quite a bit on that today.  Two questions done - four more to go. 

That's all for this evening, I'm having a few problems with Blogger at the moment.  Hopefully, normal service will resume tomorrow.  See you then.

Indian Summer ....

... today has been so warm; it's almost like summer.  I love it when you get these days in the Autumn - it makes seem like summer is still with us.  But I know that's only an illusion - it was very cold on Sunday morning.  But it's been nice and I've enjoyed it.

I was excited earlier as I posted my first challenge attempt.  It really does make you think!  And I've been reading Susan Raihala's blog - Simplicity.  She's been writing about inspiration and I found it very helpful - I'll be back there again tomorrow. 

And it got me to thinking, where do I get my inspiration?  To be honest it varies.  Sometimes I have a clear idea of what I want to do.  The card I did for Annabel (see 13 September - not sure how to do back links yet) was one of those.  

And I made a card for Jonathan's birthday - this was a special reqeust from Ben for his Dad.  They both play the online game World of Warcraft and visually it is a wonderful game.  So I did a screengrab and used that as the basis for the card.  I love the colours in the image and  I used a pearl card in deep burgundy and mounted the image onto some peach glitter paper to co-ordinate.  I added the greeting to the image in Publisher.  To add some interest I made a border on the glitter paper using the Traditional Scallop punch from Martha Stewart.  It's a quick and simple card, but really personal to both Ben and Jonathan.

And then sometimes the occasion dictates the type of card to make.  Earlier this year a friend of mine lost her mother - she'd been ill, but it was still very unexpected.  I always find it tough to do sympathy cards, but I think it's so important to show that you're thinking of the person and are there to help.  I chose this image of a tree (Kanban which I got from QVC) and embossed it in silver on black card.  I added a plain border from the Very Vintage Labels No 3 set - a clean and simple topper.  I then cut a square of vellum which has a very subtle leaf image on it and I used the Martha Stewart Eyelet Lace punch round the page set to add the border.  The sentiment was made from some Dawn Bibby peel offs which I coloured black to match the card.  Overall a clean and simple design.

And that's all for today.  I have to get some studying done tonight - studying an Open University science course about Astronomy - it's great.  I have an assignment due in October, so I need to do some reading.  I'll be back again tomorrow.