Resting my eyes ....

...  Hello again!  I've another masculine themed retirement card for you today.  I had the stamps on my desk after making my earlier DT card for The Male Room challenge - theme Retirement, and decided to make a fun one this time!

Stamps: Papermania - It's a Man's World Couch Potato
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy; Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Squares Lg (S4-126) #6, Squares Sm (S4-128) #6
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Papermania DP - It's A Man's World; Clear Embossing Powder; Copics

I really like the image of the guy asleep in his armchair, and it reminded me a bit of my grandfather after he'd retired.  He'd always tell us that he wasn't asleep at all, "just resting my eyes!" he'd say.  He is very much missed.

I stamped the image onto white card, marked the die position and then cut out the feet, so that they would hang off the edge of the square.  I stamped the image again onto striped paper for the chair, blue paper for the trousers and white card for the man's body and also the newspaper, and fussy cut the layers.  I used Copics to colour the man and add a touch of colour to the paper.  I added shading around the image and then layered it onto a backing square.  I stamped a few sentiments randomly over the background.  On the inside I cut a mat layer to match the armchair and on the white panel I stamped a bit of the man asleep and a simple sentiment.

I'm submitting this to this week's Less is More challenge - LIM#159 where the theme is masculine cards.  I'm not sure whether there is enough white space for Chrissie and Jen, but it is quite clean and simple!  I'm off to watch the Olympics - it's the Ladies short programme in the ice skating - should be very interesting too!  Bye for now.

Birthday card ....

...  Hi, back again - this time with a card to share.  I've made a birthday card for my great nephew who will be six years old next week!  I can't believe how quickly time passes:

Stamps: Papermania - Robot (PMA10144)
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Not Quite Navy, Pumpkin Pie
Dies:  Spellbinders - Star Circles (S4-335) #3, Grand Circles (LF-114) #3
Accessories:  Papermania DP - For Him; SU Card - Pumpkin Pie, Naturals White; SU DP - Not Quite Navy, Pumkin Pie; Sakura Glaze Pen - Orange; White Lustre Card

I used the sketch from this week's CAS - Colours & Sketches - CASC&S48 challenge.  I couldn't think what to do on the card so I had a rummage through my design papers and came across this set of guy papers from Papermania (quite old).  I think the robot is just right for a six year old boy.  I covered the base of the card with the robot paper.  I cut the circles with the dies and then stamped the robot onto Natural White card, cut him out and added a bit of colour with a glaze pen - it has a subtle shine in real life.  I drew the number by hand and cut it out.  I haven't finished the inside yet, but will post a picture later.

Edited:  Hi back again - I managed to finish the inside of the card - kept it really simple with more of the cute robot paper as a mat layer and some orange behind the white panel.  I stamped another image of the robot and a simple greeting.  This card will be in the post tomorrow!

That's all for now - must dash off to the shops.  See you soon.

A Christmas recipe ....

.... Hello!!  Patricia has a lovely challenge for us this week at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - it's a recipe.  She'd like us to make a card using the following recipe:

• One ribbon
• Two design papers
• Three gems - they can be crystals, pearls or a combination

Here's my take on the challenge:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Compliments of the Season II
Inks: Memento - London Fog
Dies: Spellbinders - Labels 20 (S5-026) # 4
Accessories: Papermania - Festive Frolics DP; Cuttlebug EF - Snowflakes; WMS - Lace Ribbon; K & Co Chipboard Letters; White Lustre Card; Gems
 

I was a bit stumped by the recipe at first, but once I decided to spell out the word "JOY" - it was much easier to work out how to use the two papers!  I picked two patterns Festive Frolics (I've had this pad a while) and decided to use the red paper for the background and to cover the letter "O"; I used a paler green for the letters "J and Y".  The chipboard letters came in a pack with decorations, so I first had to remove the gems and sand off the paper and glitter.  I ran my selected DPs through my Xyron and adhered the paper to the letters.  Using my scalpel I cut off the excess and sanded off the edges to make sure that the papers wouldn't lift off the letters. I added this pretty white lace ribbon to the card and over the top I put the die cut shape which I'd embossed with snowflakes.  I adhered the letters with Glossy Accents and applied three gems!

For the inside I used some more of the pale green paper to make a mat layer and stamped a simple sentiment in pale grey on the white panel.

Do go to the 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown blog to check out the inspiration cards from the rest of the Design Team - they are just awesome!

That's all for now - hope you have a super weekend.  Bye for now.

A splash of coral ....

... Good morning - I hope you all had a good weekend.  My was really good - I watched the England v Wales rugby match on Saturday and was delighted that Wales won.  Mind, I would have been okay with England winning too - that's the plus of having both English and Welsh sides to the family!!  I do hope that all my Welsh friends have recovered from their hangovers ;))))

Today my card is a really quick and easy one - I've made it for the current Play Date Cafe Challenge - PDCC178.

Accessories:  Papermania - Inspirations Design Paper; Stampin' Up! - Calypso Coral Marker Pen; Promarkers - Coral, Soft Peach; Craftwork Cards - sentiment label; Gems, white and black card from stash

As you can see - there's no stamping on this card at all!  I selected a piece of the designer paper with nice big flowers so that I could colour them.  I edged the white paper with some Calypso Coral and then attached it to a black mat.  On another sheet of paper I coloured a few more flowers and then cut them out.  I attached a few flowers to the card, a label sentiment which I edged with coral, and lots of tiny gems. 

That's all for today - I really do have to catch up on some house stuff!

Man of the Match ...

.... Hi , I've had a storming morning - my ironing pile has vanished!!! Yea!!  Sadly, it's being replenished as I type - more washing almost dried.  I think ironing is my least favourite job of all household jobs - actually that might be gardening!  Anyway, I've managed to get to play in my craft room again today and I've made a tiny card for a couple of challenges:

• Less is More - LIM102 - this week it is a one layer card with a sports or exercise theme
• The Paper Players - PP128

 

Stamps: Papermania - For the Love of Sports
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Promarkers - True Blue, Canary, Ice-Grey 3; Papermania - 3" × 3" card

I didn't think I was going to play along with Less is More this week as I couldn't think what to make.  Then I remembered a set of stamps that I got some time ago that have only seen ink a couple of times.  The image I wanted to use is tiny, so I decided to make a small card - it's only 3" × 3" - and I'll keep this in my stash.  I coloured the image with Promarkers and now that I've blown up the image I can see that I've gone over the line a bit!! 

And that really is all for today - but do drop by tomorrow.  See you!

Soft shades birthday ....

... Good morning all - we're finally back to our usual routine here at Chez Frings!  Jonathan has returned to work and Kathryn to school, which leaves me at home.  Now, I've had a very restful couple of weeks and have lots of house "stuff" to catch up on - you know, washing, ironing, tidying etc - so I might not be around quite as much as I'd like, but then again!!! :)

Here's a card that I made yesterday afternoon while Jonathan had a photo shoot and Kathryn chilled.  It's based around a couple of challenges:

• Colour Throwdown - CTD223
• Freshly Made Sketches - FMS67

Stamps:  Hero Arts - Curly Flowers; Stampin' Up! - Itty Bitty Banners; Hot off the Press - Stitches
Inks: SU - Soft Suede
Dies: SU/Sizzix - Framlits - Bitty Banners
Accessories:  Papermania DP - Olivine Essence Creative Tones; SU DP - Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, SU Card - Crumb Cake; Promarkers - Lime Zest, Marsh Green

The card is made from SU Crumb Cake, on to which I adhered SU design paper in Very Vanilla and Crumb Cake.  I added faux stitching all round the card (still don't have my sewing machine set up).  I cut the horizontal panel from some Papermania design paper and attached a lace trim.  I attached it to the card and over stamped more faux stitching.  I the flowers were stamped directly on the card base and again on some scrap which I coloured and then cut out.  I stamped a simple birthday sentiment, die cut and attached with dimensional tape. I finished off with some gems for sparkle.  Here's a close up of the flowers.



That's all for today - have a good one!!

Christmas sparkle ....

... Wishing you a good Sunday morning!!  I was really busy yesterday and got another Christmas card made - only about ten more to do then I've finished for this year!!!!  I've used three challenges in the making of this one:

• CASology - CAS21 - where the cue word is SPARKLE
• Addicted to CAS - ATCAS2 - where the theme is BAUBLES
• Dynamic Duos - DD32 - monochromatic pinks

 

Stamps: Papermania - A Christmas Carol Baubles; My Favourite Things - Seasonal Sentiments

Inks: Memento - London Fog; SU - Rose Red

Accessories:  Stampin' Up! Card - Rose Rose, Pretty in Pink; Glitter and gems and card from stash

This card really is very quick and simple to make.  I cut a couple of mat layers in the two shades of pink and adhered them to the card base.  I stamped this gorgeous branch of baubles in London Fog on plain white card and coloured the baubles with Promarkers.  I kept it simple by doing all the baubles pale pink with a touch of dark pink for the accents.  I finished off with lots of sparkle in the form of glitter and some gems which you can see in the picture here.  I've had this stamp for several years and I think it always makes such an elegant card.  For the inside I cut a mat in pale pink and white and stamped the sentiment in Rose Red.

That's all for now - we were going to put our tree up last weekend but didn't get around to it - but today's the day!  Will post pictures later.  Have a good one!

St Luke's Charity Card Challenge ......

...  It's time for the November challenge at St Luke's Charity Card Challenge, and it is a sad one for us all.  This will be our last challenge, played entirely for fun, we are no longer accepting any new cards to sell for the hospice.  Tara explains the reasons here.

Our theme for this month is Traditional Christmas - I know I still have lots of cards to make, so the theme has helped me get a move on!!  I have two cards to share with you.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - 2011 Hoiliday Ornaments
Inks: Versamark; Distress - Fired Brick
Spellbinders: Fleur de Lis Squares (S4-126) #4, Squares Lg (S4-126) #6, Lacey Squares (S4-295) #3, 2011 Heirloom Ornaments (S4-334) #3
Accessories: Design Paper - Papermania Classic Christmas Red; Gold embossing powder, Card from stash

I used this week's Mojo Monday - MOJO265 sketch for the layout, obviously going with the square!!!  There is very little stamping on this card - lots of layers with the different papers and vellum using my Spellbinder dies.  I finished off with a gorgeous gold bauble and simple red sentiment.  A traditional red and gold card!!

Stamps: My Favourite Things - Christmas set
Inks: Versamark; Distress - Black Soot
Spellbinders: Circles Sm (S4-116) #3
Accessories: Design Paper - Papermania Classic Black Christmas; Silver embossing powder, Card from stash

My second card is a little more contemporary with a black and silver colour theme.  I used this month's My Favourite Things - Guest Designer challenge - MFTGD1112 for the layout.  Once again there is very little stamping on the card, lots of papers though.  I stamped this fabulous text Christmas tree in Versamark, heat embossed in silver and then cut it out.  I added some distress ink to define the edges.

For more inspirational Christmas cards click on the links below:

Tara Cardwell, Jenny Mullens, Anne Forrest, Sylvie Colledge, and Lynne Atkinson.

We have a bumper prize for you this month - check out the photos!!  We look forward to seeing your cards for Christmas.

Before I sign off - I'd like to thank Tara for inviting me to join the team.  I've had a great time working with all the girls - it's been fun!!  See you soon.

With thanks ....

.... Hi - I'm running rather late today!  I woke this morning with a migraine and ended up going back to bed until midday, fortunately I managed to sleep it off, but the head is still feeling just a bit tender.  However, I did  get to play in my craft room and I christened one of my new WM sets!!  What's rather nice is that I used it on this week's Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge - WMSC120 - designed by Clare Buswell.  I did change the shape though!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Camellia
Inks: Versafine - Vintage Sepia; Memento - Rich Cocoa; Distress - Peeled Paint
Spellbinders: Labels 24 (S4-353) #4
Accessories: Design Paper - Papermania Creative Tones - Raspberry Champagne; EK Success - Petal border punch; Clear embossing powder; Card from stash

I adore Camellias - they are among the first flowers of spring and they come in so many gorgeous shades of pink, red and white.

I selected this lovely tone on tone paper (a bit like a single camellia) for the background layer.  And I stamped the large camellia multiple times on different patterned paper in versafine, heat embossed with clear powder and then cut out the layers. I stamped the leaves on the same background paper, heat embossed and sponged with green.  I used the lovely Labels 24 to cut out a mount for the flower.  There are five layers in this pretty flower - you can see the depth in this picture.  I finished off with a simple sentiment from the set - love the shadow effect and added some pale green pearls (a gift from my blog buddie Renee).

It's been another glorious day here with sunshine, blue skies and birds singing!!  Apart from the breeze blowing around crispy leaves, you wouldn't know it was almost the end of October!!  Anyway, that's all for now - enjoy the rest of the day.

Santa is coming to town ....

... What a gorgeous morning it is today - blue skies, brilliant sunshine, warmer and less wind - just fab!  Mind, it makes taking photos a challenge ;)))  I hope this isn't too bad. I've made this card for two challenges:

• Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge - WMSC118 designed by Sarah Martina Parker
• Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge - WMSCCC03-12 - March to use blue and brown

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Santa's Coming to Town, Nordic Winter, 2011 Holiday Ornaments
Inks:  SU - Bashful Blue, Early Espresso
Spellbinders:  2011 Heirloom Ornaments (S4-334) #4, Holiday Tags (S4-338)
Accessories:  Papermania - Classic Christmas 6" × 6" Blue Papers, Classic Gold Christmas Vellum; WMS - Twine; SU Card - Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla; Martha Stewart Punch; Card from stash

This card turned out totally different to the one I had sketched out!  I had in mind a Thanksgiving card, but ended up with Christmas!  Not a bad choice mind.  I'm still catching up with the WMS Christmas Card Challenges and in March Lynn wanted us to use blue and brown and, I have to admit, that I struggled.  Then I saw this week's sketch and it all fell into place.  I covered a card with this musical script paper, added some festive vellum and a folksy border.  I topped it all with this fabulous large bauble which was stamped with Versamark heat embossed with clear and then inked with Bashful Blue.  Sadly the photo just doesn't capture the blue very well.  I made a smaller bauble by stamping Santa's head, triple embossing it and then cutting with a die.  Here's a close up of the baubles - I think you can see the colour better.

 
As usual, I'm running right up to the submission deadline - but I made it.  Off to do some more house stuff - then I can play!!  See you tomorrow.

Thanksgiving cards ....

... Hi!  Don't quite know what happened yesterday - but I seem to have lost a day!!!  Oh well, I've a card to share today - one of several Thanksgiving cards I need to make.  I've used two challenges to make this one:

• Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge - WMSC117 - designed by Kelly Schirmer
• Do You Stack Up? - DYSU92 - warm colours

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Florentine Frippery, Peace and Plenty
Inks:  Stampin' Up! - Cherry Cobbler; Memento - Rich Cocoa
Spellbinders: Labels 24 (S4-353) #] 4
Accessories:  Papermania - Sunshine Paper by Tina Higgins; WMS - Twine; SU Card - Early Espresso, Very Vanilla; Buttons from stash

My card has been influenced by Kim Duran's pretty card - I had to use the pumpkin!!  I made the card base from SU Early Espresso and the came from the Sunshine Paper set.  I stamped the Florentine Frippery image onto Very Vanilla card in Cherry Cobbler - the photo doesn't do it justice - looks so rich in real-life.  I stamped the pumpkin onto some more paper from the Sunshine set and cut it out and attached it to the label with dimensional tape.  I've adapted the sketch a bit by removing the central element of the row of three and using this as the position for the sentiment.  I put some falling leaves (again stamped on another sheet of the Sunshine paper set) either side of the sentiment and added some buttons threaded with twine.  I finished off the card with a simple twine bow at the top.  Like this sketch!!

That's all for now.  I'm about to head off to school again - it's been a busy week!!  We have another Bake Sale today and are finishing off the Parent/Teacher meetings.  See you soon.

CR84FN63 - Hello ....

... Good morning - time for my second card with our fabulous CR84FN63 colours of denim, tan and brown.  Last time I went with a very masculine card, this time I've made a card for one of my UK buddies.  I like to send home notes - I know it's easier to send emails, but there's nothing nicer than getting something in the post, something to keep!

Stamps: Hero Arts - Layered Flowers (CL496); Dawn Bibby - Flower Patch; Waltzingmouse - Compact Sentiments II
Inks: Memento - Rich Cocoa; Distress - Walnut Stain, Faded Jeans
Accessories:  Waltzingmouse - Lace; Papermania - Portobello Road DP 6" x 6"; Marianne Die - LR0133; Stampin' Up! - Crumb Cake card

I enjoyed making last week's card with the distressing, etc, so I had another go.  I started off with some old style newspaper print paper from the Portobello collection, cut it to size and then distressed the edges, crumbled it up and then lightly rubbed over some colour.  I cut the dotty paper to size, distressed the edges and added this lovely cream lace.  I made the layered flower by stamping the image three times; twice onto some postage style paper and once on the dotty paper.  On the bottom layer of the flower I sponged on some blue ink.  I stamped a couple of flowers directly onto the card, and then used my stamp-a-ma-jig to position the sentiment.  I finished off by adding some leaves.

Here's the graphic for this week's colours - photos courtesy of Magnolia Rouge.

For more inspiration cards from the DT check out the CR84FN blog or click on the links in my sidebar.  Don't forget, we are having an Open Design Call - we want to add some new designers to the team.  The six month term will begin on 4th November 2012.  Do make sure to use our colours and add "DT" after your name so that we know you want to be considered.

See you soon.