Sympathy in blue ....

.... Good morning!  We all need sympathy cards in our stash and I find it is always much easier to make them before you actually need them.  Here's my card:

Stamps: CAS-ual Friday Stamps - Loving Thoughts; PTI - Think Big Favourites #3
Inks: Distress - Faded Jeans, Stormy Sky, Broken China, Tumbled Glass, Chipped Sapphire, Salty Ocean; Stampin' Up! - Midnight Muse; Versamark
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Silver Embossing Powder; SU Card - Midnight Muse

This card owes just about everything to my Design Team buddy, Nonni.  When I saw her card for our Addicted to Stamps and More! challenge I knew I had to CASE it.  I love the colour blocks and embossed flowers.  I changed it up on my card by using shades of blue, a different flower and silver embossing powder.  To make the base I masked off areas and sponged on the blue inks.  Then I randomly stamped the flower and heat embossed with silver powder.  I finished the front with a panel of white card and the sentiment stamped in blue.  On the inside I cut a mat layer in navy card and simply stamped a single flower.

Michele, over at CAS-ual Friday Stamps - CFS#1 is having a challenge with the theme being "BLUE", and you must use at least one CFS stamp or sentiment.  I have most of Michele's stamps and had to play along.  I got the theme from the current challenge at MUSE - MUSE#53, where Vicki Dutcher is the Muse with a lovely sympathy card.

The thumbnail display at CAS-ual Friday stamps is absolutely lovely and I'm so pleased I got to play along.  Nonni, thanks again for the inspiration.  See you soon.

ASM - Make your mark ....

... Good evening everyone - it's time for our Make Your Mark challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More!  Just a quick reminder about our rules for the challenge - your entry MUST contain the use of Markers - Stampin' Write, Copics, Promarkers, Flexmarkers etc etc and you can link up to a maximum of 10 challenges which includes ours!  This is my card using markers:

Stamps: Papertrey Ink - Harvest Berries, Stylish Sentiments - Birthdays
Inks: Distress - Chipped Sapphire, Weathered Wood
Dies: Spellbinders - Labels 30 (S5-157) #3; PTI - Harvest Berries
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Distress Markers - Stormy Sky, Weathered Wood; Stampin' Up! Card - Smoky Slate, Midnight Muse; SU Ribbon - Midnight Muse

I used my Distress markers to stamp the pretty Harvest Berry leaves.  I coloured directly on the the stamps with the markers, spritzed some water into the air and passed my stamp through the water droplets and then stamped the image.  This technique gives a light, even coverage of water and allows the markers to blend as you stamp.  The smaller images were stamped on to die cuts - these images are solid and you can see the blending a little better on them.  I made the sentiment label by stamping onto white card using a die to cut it out and made another die in light grey card.  I cut the grey die cut in half and attached to the sentiment slightly offset to give a border.  I added the ribbon to the card and adhered the sentiment label over the top using dimensional tape.  Inside I cut a mat layer in navy and on the white panel stamped some more leaves, with a space for my message.

I used a couple of challenges to make this card - I used the layout from CAS(E) this Sketch! - CTS54 and the theme of a clean, simple leaf card is from this week's The Paper Players Challenge - PP172. 

Don't forget to check out the inspiration cards from the rest of the design team - as always they are just fab.  Before I go - thanks to everyone who played along last week with our Anything Goes challenge - we had a record number of submissions and that makes it really hard to pick a winner!!  See you soon.

ASM - Starry skies ....

... Good evening - now that the clocks have gone back, it's dark!  I'm not a great lover of the shorter days, but I do enjoy being in the warm and playing in my craft room!!  It's time for our new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More!  This week we have a photo for inspiration and here's my card:

Stamps: Papertrey Ink - Super Stars
Inks: Versamark; Stampin' Up! - Pacific Point, Soft Sky
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Silver Embossing Powder; Glitter

I think our inspiration photo is absolutely fabulous.  I love the bright silver and blue and the pretty stars - so that's what I've taken and used on my card.  This is a set that I "found" while tidying at the weekend.  I stamped the sentiment first in dark blue and then positioned the large star and three smaller stars.  I stamped them in Versamark and embossed with silver powder.  I added a few more stars and stamped them in light blue, and finished with three more smaller stars which I stamped in dark blue to match the sentiment.  This is a really clean, simple one layer card - and I'm submitting it to the current Addicted to CAS challenge - ATCAS25 where the cue word is "one-layer".

I must apologise for the quality of the photo on the main blog, I took it yesterday evenign and the light wasn't good.  I did some more photos this morning and they are so much better!!  Don't forget to visit the blog and check out the inspiration cards from the rest of the team - they're fab!!  Looking forward to seeing your creations based on the photo!  See you soon.

A one for two .....

..... Good morning!  I hope you all had a good weekend.  I've had a very good time - more of that later.  I've a card to share with you now - it's been made with a couple of challenges in mind:

• Colour Q - cQc213
• Freshly Made Sketches - FMS110

Stamps: Papertrey Ink - Love Potion; There She Goes Stamps - Chemistry
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Pear Pizzazz, Wisteria Wonder, Peach Parfait; Memento - London Fog, Tuxedo Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Pinking Circles Sm (S4-172) #2; Die-namics - Fishtail Flags Layers Stax #2; PTI - Love Potion
Accessories:  White Lustre Card; SU Card - Basic Grey, Wisteria Wonder; Sakura Stardust Pen; SU Marker - Wisteria Wonder; Clear Embossing Powder; Copics - V25, YR20, G21

I struggled a bit with these colours, but while going through my stamps yesterday I came across the Love Potion set which I got as I just LURVE chemistry!!  Transition chemistry is one of my favourite areas, partly because transition elements give solutions (see the picture below) with the most fabulous range of colours - hence this card!!  I die cut and stamped the various containers and mounted them onto some dark grey spiky circles, on the last circle I stamped a "molecule" and embossed it with clear powder.  I finished the front with the sentiment stamped and embossed on vellum and a tiny flask which I attached with dimensional tape.  The inside has a mat layer of dark grey, a group of glassware and a simple sentiment.  Obviously this is the perfect card to send to me!!!  However, I think it's likely to be slipped into Jonathan's bag at some point.

The image below shows a selection of solutions made from different transition elements - such pretty colours!

So, as I said, the weekend was lots of fun!  I spent most of Saturday in my craft room - you've seen the firework card - and the rest of the time I was sorting and tidying! I can even see the floor in places :)  Saturday evening we all headed to the cinema to see Ender's Game.  I'm not going to give away any spoilers, just to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Kathryn really liked the film too and even plans on reading the book!!  Yesterday Jonathan was out at a photo shoot, Kathryn was listening to her music and I did more tidying - I really should sort out catalogue pages as soon as I get new stamps!!  Would be so much easier.

That's all for now - I'm determined to finish sorting out my craft room!  See you soon.

52CCT - Christmas inlaid ...

...  Good morning everyone!  Wow, it's November already!  Not including today, there are only 7 more Saturdays before Christmas. If you joined in with our challenges at the beginning of the year then you have quite a stash of cards ready, but if not - now's the time.  This week our challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown is a sketch from Louise - it's a fun one.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Papertrey Ink - City Scene Stamps, City Scene Christmas Sentiments; Stampin' Up! - Warmth & Wonder
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; SU - Rose Red, Crushed Curry, Island Indigo, Cherry Cobbler, Smoky Slate, Pool Party, Garden Green
Dies: PTI - City Scene Dies; Lil Inkers - Stitched Circles
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Old Olive; SU Marker - Early Espresso; Glitter Paper; Glitter

As soon as I saw these stamps at Papertrey I knew they would find a home with me!  The challenge over at Papertrey's Make It Monday - MIM#138 is to use inlaid die cuts, a technique I've really been looking forward to trying out.

I die cut the circle and trees from a piece of white card, cut to the same size as the card base, and after removing the cuts I stamped the buildings following a diagonal.  The stamps are all two-step images and are very easy to line up.  I used a scrap of paper to mask the buildings and lightly sponged on some ink to suggest the sky - following the lines from the sketch.  Next I die cut the moon from some scrap white glitter paper and the trees and pavement (sidewalk) from scrap green card.  I attached the stamped panel to the card base.  Then I stamped the trees, stars and sentiment  on to the green die cut.  I carefully applied some wet glue to the back of the diecut and placed the trees in the space on the card, and did the same for the moon.  I finished the front of the card by adding the word "city" to the sentiment.  I really like the effect with the inlaid die cuts. I added a bit of sparkle to the buildings to suggest snow!  For the inside of the card I cut a panel of green card for a mat layer and stamped a sentiment and some trees on the white panel.

That's all for now - don't for get to check out the inspiration cards from the rest of the team - we have a super selection to share with you.  Have a good weekend.

Christmas tags ....

....  This is a really late post, but then I've only just seen the challenge!  Don't know how I missed it!!  I've made a set of five Christmas tags for the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop:

Stamps: PTI - City Scene, City Scene Christmas Sentiments
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Early Espresso, Chocolate Chip, Soft Suede, White
Dies: PTI - Tag, City Scene Dies
Accessories:  SU Card: Early Espresso, Chocolate Chip, River Rock, Pink Pirouette, Blushing Bride, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Sahara Sand; Ribbon

Sometimes I get an idea that comes together really quickly - this is one such idea.  I saw the challenge about half an hour ago, but as I already had a pile of tags made I only had to die cut the trees, stamp them and add the greeting and ribbons.  - I'm really pleased how they turned out.  Very clean and simple and in non-traditional colours too!

That's it, I think I'll just about make the deadline.  And time to go off for a coffee and settle down to watch Grimm - thank goodness for recorders :)  See you tomorrow.

Skater dude ....

Hi!  Hope your day is going well - mine's not bad at all.  I've been out shopping and done some decorating for Halloween!  The house is now adorned with pumpkins, corn and scarecrows!  I've even managed to make a card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Free Spirit Boy; PTI - Skater Dude
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Not Quite Navy, Baked Brown Sugar, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding
Dies: PTI - Skater Dude Die
Accessories:  SU Card - Not Quite Navy, Baked Brown Sugar; White Lustre Card

This card is for a few challenges:

• Waltzingmouse PJ Party Bedtime Sketch - WMSPJPBS#3
• Colour Throwdown - CTD265
• The Paper Players - PP168 - make a masculine birthday card

I decided to use my all time favourite WMS set - Free Spirit Boy - to create the background.  I really like the tribal style images and the cute skater dude.  I stamped the runway onto white card, cut it out and added it to the card.  The skate board was made from a die cut and stamp - new from PTI - and perfect for my son, Ben.  Ben really likes skate boarding - not sure his knees do though!!  For the inside I cut a mat in navy and on the white card I used the negative to sponge on a few more skateboards.  Finishing with a celebratory sentiment.  I wasn't sure how the colours would work on a guy card, but actually they work really well!

I'm off out to a Stampin' Up! meeting tonight for a few hours crafting - a super way to spend the evening!  I'll post pictures soon. 

As I'm submitting this card to the Waltzingmouse PJ Party Bedtime Story sketch - I think I'll take the opportunity to remind all you WMS fans of our sketch challenge at Waltzingmouse Fanatics.  We have a fun sketch and would love to see what you make with it.

You have until Thursday 31st October, 5.00pm GMT (1.00pm EDT).  The only thing we ask is that you include at least one WMS image or sentiment.  That's all for now.

Tags and bags ...

... Hello all!  It's a bit dull, damp and grey here today - perfect for staying indoors.  This morning I got some household cleaning done, some work on financial stuff (I hate taxes!) and this afternoon I managed to get half an hour in my craft room.  I've made a little gift bag and tag:

Stamps: CAS-ual Friday Stamps - Exclamations, Zigs & Zags; Waltzingmouse - Rescue Remedies Additions
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Rose Red, Early Espresso, Pink Pirouette
Dies: PTI - Tage Sale #3
Accessories:  Gift Bag (Michael's); SU Card - Pink Pirouette; SU DP - Rose Red; Ribbons

It's always useful to have little gift bags and tags on hand; that's the theme over at CAS-ual Fridays - CFC118 to make a CAS gift bag and tag!  I've not made the bag for anything specific, but it is a bit feminine, I'm sure it'll find a home soon.  I used the colours from the current CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#47 - really pretty colours. 

I got the bag from Michael's, it's only 4" × 5¼" ×2" - so quite small.  I added chevrons to the bottom of the bag and stamped some exclamation stars all over the bag, you can't really see the pale pink ones of the photo, but you can in real life.  I die cut the tag, stamped the stars and added a very simple greeting - Enjoy!  I finished the tag with some ribbons.  The closure tab is simply a 2½" piece of card folded in half, with a slot cut out for the handles.  Easy peasy!

Before I go I'd like to say a public thank you to everyone who has left such lovely comments over the last couple of weeks - I really do appreciate them all.  And one more thing - Hello and Welcome to Sandie and Gillian - my two latest followers!  So pleased you joined me.  That's it for now!  See you soon.

Halloween cards ...

.... Good afternoon, after finishing all the washing and ironing, albeit temporarily, I manged to play in my craft room today and I've a couple of Halloween cards to share with you.  The first card is for the following challenges:

• CASology - CAS66 - cue word "Pumpkin"
• Curtain Call - CCIC#7 - Gorgeous Gourds
• Clean & Simple Challenge - FTL262

Stamps: My Favourite Things - Primitive Pumpkins; WMS - Cicely at Halloween
Inks: Kaleidacolour - Blue Breeze; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Die-namics - Primitive Pumpkins Dies
Accessories:  White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Tempting Turquoise

This card was inspired directly from the Curtain Call graphic - I just love the blue pumpkins!!!  It gave me the perfect excuse to play with these super dies and matching stamps.  The card follows roughly follows the FTL sketch.  On the inside I cut a mat layer in turquoise and stamped this super poem and a few more blue pumpkins!!!  So quick and easy.  This is the first time I've played along with Curtain Call - don't know how I missed it!!  I think thanks must also go to Rosemary, seems I've CASEd her card!!!

My next card is also for a few challenges:

• Retro Sketches - RS85
• Colour Q - cQc211
• ABC Challenges - ABC49

Stamps: PTI - Friendship Jar Fillers
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Inverted Scalloped Squares Lg (S4-196) # 5 & 6
Accessories:  White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Strawberry Slush, Lucky Limeade, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black; EK Success Punches - Spider Web Border, Bats Border; Promarkers - Pumpkin, Oatmeal, Antique Pink, Black; Sakura Silver Pen; Cuttlebug EF - Art Deco

 
Once again, this card was directly inspired by the graphic from Colour Q - love the legs on the table!  I stamped the image, cut it out, coloured with Promarkers and layered it onto a orange square.  I added some texture to the lime panel and finished off the front with a tag in pink.  I've not done the inside of this card yet!

That's all for now.  Time to get dinner started.  See you soon.

Birthday bouquet ...

... Hi!  As I type this message, I'm watching fog roll in around the house - distinctly chilly this morning!  But I've a bright, cheerful birthday card to share with you which should blow away the fog!!

Stamps: WPlus 9 Designs - Fresh Cut Florals, Basic Banner; WMS - Simple Sprig; PTI - Stylish Sentiments: Birthdays
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Soft Sky, Marina Mist, Night of Navy, Pink Pirouette, Blushing Bride, Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Pear Pizzazz, So Saffron, Crushed Curry
Dies:  WPlus 9 Designs - Fresh Cut Florals, Banner; SU/Sizzix - Holiday Ornaments Framelits
Accessories:  SU Card/DP - Real Red; White Hemp Embossed Card; White Lustre Card

This is my Mum's birthday card - she has her birthday next Friday 18th October, and I'm safe to share it here as Mum is totally computer phobic!!  I created this wonderful bouquet of flowers using the stamps and dies that Tara gave me - thanks!!  They are so, so easy to use.  I made the vase from a die cut Christmas ornament - I simply cut off the bottom!  For the inside I carried over the floral theme with branches of roses and a special sentiment.  I'm hoping that this will get to Mum on time, but I really should have posted it earlier!!

I used a couple of challenges in the making of this card:

• Muse - MUSE38
• Monday Mood Board - MMB#21

From the MUSE card I took the idea of a bouquet of flowers and I used the lovely colours from, the new to me, Monday Mood Board Challenge.

I'm off to post the card now and then pick up Kathryn - she was at a friend's Halloween party and sleepover last night!  See you soon.