TMR - Theme - Recycle ...

... Hello again! It's a busy today!! Not only have I got my Uniko release post here, but today is the start of our new challenge at The Male Room - TMR#80. We want you to RECYCLE on your masculine projects. I think there are many ways to interpret this theme. You can recycle any leftover stash from previous projects, you can use old labels, junk envelopes, the choice is yours. I've recycled a chocolate wrapper. I wasn't sure what to make for this challenge, but after eating my Lindt Easter Bunny (so tasty) I thought I'd do an Easter card, but with a twist:

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digi - Evil Flesh Eating Eggs; Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - Crazy Talk; Uniko - Birthday Sentiments
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Gina K - Jelly Bean Green
Dies: Die-namics - Wonky Stitched Rectangles Stax #4, Rectangles Stax Set 1 #8
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Lemon Lime Twist; Lindt Gold Bunny Wrapper; Ranger Alcohol Inks - Limeade, Ginger, Citrus; Copics; Nuvo - Aqua Shimmer Brush

I have a great fondness for these evil little eggs and I've used the image a few times to make an Easter card for my son. I printed the image on to white card and cut it out with a die. I coloured the image with Copic markers. I printed off another digital image the same size, cut out the individual eggs to use as a pattern on the Lindt bunny wrapper. I drew around each egg and inside the cut out eyes and mouths, and then very carefully cut the wrapper and adhered the wrapper to each of the little eggs. I used alcohol ink to colour the gold wrappers. Once dry, I adhered each of the eggs to the image, layered it onto some bright lime card and attached it to the card. I finished the front with a simple greeting. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of lime card and on the white panel added a bold greeting along with some more of the little eggs - this time without their gold overcoats! I did add some shimmer to these eggs. I'm submitting this card to Sunday Stamps Challenge - SSC#173 where they have a colour theme.

I took a close-up photo of the eggs so that you can see the print from the Lindt wrapper - I like the added texture it gives:

Don't forget to visit The Male Room blog to see more inspiration projects from the rest of the Design Team, and also from our Guest Designer, Keti from Keti's Projects.  I'm looking forward to seeing what you create with this challenge - you've got until midnight (GMT) on Tuesday 13th March - that's 8.00pm EDT (our clocks go forward a week before they do in the UK). Have fun!!

TMR - Theme ....

.... Hi! This month is flying by, it's already time for our next challenge over at The Male Room. We have a fun theme that really works well for masculine projects - we want to see VINTAGE - TMR#77. You can make any type of papercraft project; I've made two quite different cards. Here's the first card:

Stamps: Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - Crazy Talk
Inks: Gina K - Dark Chocolate
Dies: Die-namics - A2 Stitched Rectangles Set2 - #1, #8 and #9
Accessories: Cream Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Garage Days; Stampin' Up! Punches - ¾" and 1" circles

This card was super easy to make. I'm sure that I'm not the only person to have a huge stash of design papers and as I was going through that stash, I found this page - it has a really vintage vibe and it makes a fabulous card. I used cream lustre card for the base card. I die cut a panel of the paper and adhered it flat to the card. I think that you can see that each of the little images has been laminated. I lightly sponged ink to the edges of the card. I used punches to create the 'vintage goods' element. I finished the front by stamping a birthday greeting, cutting it out with a die, inked the edges and adhered it with dimensional pads. On the inside, I die cut another sheet of the pad, inked the edges and attached it to the card. On the cream panel I stamped a fun sentiment, I think this card is for my father-in-law and I'm sure he'll appreciate the joke!!! I completed it by adding one of the little laminated images.

I'm submitting this card to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#18 where the theme is Anything Goes. And here's the other card - quite different:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Feeling Sentimental, Gorgeous Grunge, Butterfly Basics
Inks: SU - Dapper Denim, Tranquil Tide, Lemon Lime Twist; Gina K - Black Onyx
Accessories: White Lustre Card

This is a clean, simple, vintage card. I know that might seem a contradiction in terms, but I think it still counts as vintage as the focal image is a penny farthing bicycle and I've gone for a more vintage style font on the sentiment. I stamped the lines first and then the bicycle. I created a mask for the bike and then added the spatter pattern. I finished with a simple greeting on the front. On the inside I simply stamped 'happy birthday', added some more spatter and the bike moving off the page.  I used the colours from The Paper Players - PP#376 - I really like the colours.

Now, don't forget to visit The Male Room blog to see more inspiration from the rest of the Design Team and from our guest designer, Magda. You have plenty of time to join in the fun - deadline for submission is midnight (GMT) Tuesday 30th January - that's 7.00pm EDT in the States.

I must apologise to all those who played along with our first challenge of the year, as I've not yet been able to comment. I've been down with the dreaded cold and am only now really feeling myself. I'll be getting around soon. That's all for now. See you soon.

Merry Christmas ....

.... Good morning! It's a rather dull and quite cool day here in Northville. I went out for a nice walk around the park this morning and when I got home decided it was time to have a play in my craft room. I've been tidying up a bit and found some new stamps from Stampin' Up! that I hadn't used yet. So here's my Christmas card using some of those stamps:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Merry Patterns, Hearts Come Home; Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - Crazy Talk
Inks: Versamark; Gina K - Cherry Red, Charcoal Brown, Faded Brick, Warm Cocoa, Kraft
Accessories: Cream Lustre Card; Authentique DP - Colourful Christmas; White Embossing Powder; Um Wow - Merry Word; Wink of Stella - Clear; SU/Sizzix EF - Woodland Textured

I really like this fun stag image - it's a two-step stamp with an outline and solid image. Once stamped I carefully cut it out. I found some fun stag head design paper in my stash, cut a panel slightly smaller than the base, edged it with dark red ink and adhered it to the card. I cut a panel of cream card which I embossed with woodland trees. I used a brayer to add some ink to the tree trunks, I got a little on the background card but I like the effect as it suggests even more trees in the background. I edged this with dark brown ink and adhered it to the card. I stamped the word Christmas on red card, embossed with white powder and adhered it to the card. The die cut word is wood and I attached it with strong adhesive and added lots of sparkle with a clear Wink of Stella brush. I finished the front by attaching the stag with dimensional pads. On the inside, I cut another layer of the design paper for a mat and on the cream panel added another stag and a simple Christmas greeting.

I'm submitting this card to Christmas Card Throwdown - CCT#20 where they want us to use Wood and/or Canvas, and also to Jingle Belles - JB:17:22 where they want animals.

That's all for now - I think I'd better get on with some household type stuff - you know, doing the ironing!!! See you soon.

Halloween greetings ....

... Hello! I hope you're all keeping well. Autumn has most definitely arrived - leaves are blowing all over the place around here and it's quite cold. I can't think of a better reason to play in my craft room! I've made a clean and simple Halloween card today:

Stamps: Impression Obsession - Mr P Umpkin, Bump in the Night; Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - Crazy Talk
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Die-namics - Cross Stitched Ovals Stax #4 & #5; Lil Inkers - Stitched Panels
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Pumpkin Pie; SUDP - Halloween Night, Pumpkin Pie; Copics; Zig Pens; Wink of Stella - Clear; Gems

I used the sketch from, a new to me challenge, Sunday Stamps Challenge - SSC#138, the colours from Colour Q - cQc#365 and the theme of Halloween from Left of Centre - LOC#153.

I made the horizontal panel from some orange card and some design paper. I used stitch edge dies to give the detail. I stamps Mr P Umpkin on some white card in Versafine ink as it's waterproof. I used my new Zig pens to paint the image (I used some grey Copics on the legs and hat), they are really vibrant. I added some sparkle with a clear Wink of Stella brush and then I fussy cut it out. The oval frame, which started out white and I coloured with a black Copic, was left over from another card. I stamped a simple sentiment and finished off the front with some frosted gems. On the inside I cut a mat layer of orange design paper and on the white panel stamped a sentiment and another Halloween monster. I used the Zig pens to add some colour.

I've posted all my Halloween cards for this year, so this one is the start of next year's collection! That's all for today. Do stop by tomorrow to see my reminder card for our Uniko colour challenge. See you soon!

52CCT - Sketch & DT Call ....

.... Good Morning Everyone! Welcome to October and to 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT39-16 where our first challenge of the month is a sketch. Kaja is our host and she has created a super sketch. You can keep it simple or dress it up, but we must be able to see the sketch in your card. Here's my card:

Stamps: Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - Crazy Talk; Stampin' Up! - Snowflake Soiree
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Delicata - Silvery Shimmer; SU - Soft Sky
Dies: Memory Box - Dazzling Snowflake
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Smoky Slate; Silver Holographic Mirri Card

As you can see I've been completely faithful to the sketch, although I did make it square. This card is ultra clean and simple and very quick to make. I simply die cut the beautiful snowflake directly into the card. I added holographic mirri card behind the image to make it appear as though the snowflake is silver. I finished the front by adding a simple sentiment. On the inside I cut a mat layer of pale grey card and on the white panel I added a number of snowflakes in silver and pale blue along with a greeting.  I'm submitting this card to a, new to me, challenge - Winter Wonderland - WWTTT where they have two options - a sketch or tic tac toe. I've picked the diagonal from left to right on the tic tac toe panel - Snowflake, Sparkle, Die Cut. I took a close up photo of the holographic card so that you can really see the sparkle.

Do visit our blog to see more inspiration from the rest of the Design Team. And, on that subject, you probably noticed from the blog title that we're looking for some new members to join the team. Details below and on our blog.

DESIGN TEAM CALL

Before we get to our challenge details, you'll have noticed that we are looking to add some new members to our Design Team in 2017. The challenges this month are:

• Week 1 - Sketch
• Week 2 - Colours
• Week 3 - Theme
• Week 4 - Technique
• Week 5 - Pick a Previous

If you wish to be considered for the DT, you must take part in AT LEAST THREE of the FIVE challenges this month. Simply add the letters, DT, after your name on your entry submission. Please remember that our challenge is for CARDS only - no tags, bags or gifts.

We will contact successful applicants during November. The new DT members will join the team in January 2017 with a revamped 52 Christmas Card Throwdown Challenge.

That's all for now, but do come back to check out my post for the Uniko Release - it's huge!

52CCT - Theme ....

.... Morning! It's time for our new challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT24-16, and this week it's our theme challenge. Jacqueline has picked CHRISTMAS LANDSCAPES for us. I had fun making my card:

Stamps: Stampers Anonymous - Tim Holtz Crazy Talk; Kanban - Christmas Trees
Inks: Distress - Weathered Wood, Chipped Sapphire, Pumice Stone, Antique Linen, Aged Mahogany, Cracked Pistachio; Versafine - Onyx Black; Stampin' Up! - Crumb Cake
Dies: SU/Sizzix - Sleigh Rides Edgelits
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU DP - Crumb Cake; SU Card - Crushed Curry; Glitter

I started off by sponging on Distress inks at the top of the card to create a night sky. I used the dies to cut the trees, houses and sleigh. I used Distress inks to colour the die cut images. I adhered some yellow card behind the houses to suggests lights and then I adhered the panels to the card. I finished off the front with lots of glitter and a simple sentiment. On the inside I cut a mat of design paper and added a very simple greeting.

Over at Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#198 the theme is Holiday, so as this is a Christmas card - I'm playing along with them this week.  Do visit our blog to see more inspirations cards based on Christmas landscapes from the rest of the team. You've got plenty of time to play along, deadline is midnight (BST) Friday 24th June - that's 7.00pm EDT.  Have fun!

TMR - Theme ...

.... Morning! It's time for our new challenge at The Male Room - TMR#31, and I think you're all going to like it more than the last one!! For the next couple of weeks we'd like to see your masculine styled projects with an EASTER theme. I've made an Easter card for my son:

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digi - Evil Flesh Eating Eggs; Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - Crazy Talk
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Die-namics - Wonky Stitched Rectangles Stax #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Always Artichoke; Copics; Wink of Stella - Clear

I've used my favourite zombie type eggs for this card - my son will love them!!!  I printed them on white card, coloured with Copics and added just a bit of sparkle with a clear Wink of Stella brush.  I used a die to cut out the image and layered it on some green card and then adhered it all to the card.  I finished the front with a simple greeting.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of green card and added another little egg to the white panel - lots of space left for me to write a message to Ben.  I've gone for a monochromatic green look - which just happens to work for this week's Colour Q Challenge - cQc#333 and also for City Crafter Challenge Blog - CCCB#303.

Here's a close up of the eggs - you can just about see the sparkle!!

Do visit our blog to see more inspiration projects from the rest of the team.  You've got plenty of time to play along - deadline for submission is midnight (BST) Tuesday 29th March (that's 7.00pm EDT).

That's it from me today.  I'm going to be spending most of the day painting the walls in my new craft room!  See you soon.