TMR - Autumn/Fall ....

.... Hello everyone - I'm almost back into my usual routine!!  Especially now that Kathryn is back at school.  Can you believe it's September already?  I've noticed that some of the trees and bushes around my house are starting to change colour - it's almost autumn!!  And that brings me to our new challenge at The Male Room.  For the next couple of weeks we'd like you to make a masculine style card based on an Autumn/Fall theme.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Gently Falling, And Many More
Inks: Distress - Chipped Sapphire, Stormy Sky, Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters, Dried Marigold, Rusty Hinge
Accessories: White Lustre Card

I've made a clean, simple. one layer card.  One of my favourite things about autumn is the way the leaves change colour, fall from the trees and then blow around in the wind.  I tried to get that feeling in this card.  I used masking tape to cover most of the card and sponged several shades of ink on the strip.  Then I sprinkled some water on the distress ink allowed it to react with the ink and then lifted some off with a tissue - I like the spatter effect I got.  Next I stamped on a very simple birthday sentiment and some falling leaves, stamping the outline image in darker ink and the solid image in lighter ink.  On the inside I simply stamped some random leaves.  I used the colours from this month's House of Card challenge and the theme of lovely leaves from the current Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge.

For more Autumn/Fall masculine inspired cards check out our blog to see the cards from the rest of the Design Team. That's all for now - have fun!

ASM - Photo Inspiration ....

.... Well hello again!  Can you believe it's the end of August - this month has really flown by.  Anyway, it does mean that it's time for another challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More!  It's Team A with you this week and we have our Photo Inspiration challenge.  Use the photo to inspire your card and tell us what you used.  Here's my card:

Stamps: QKR Stampede Digi - Flowers; Stampin' Up! - And Many More; Waltzingmouse - Woodgrain
Inks: SU - Smoky Slate; Archival - Jet Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Smoky Slate; Copic Markers; SU Window Punch; Wink of Stella Brush - Clear

Our sponsor this week is QKR Stampede and the winner of the challenge will receive three digi images from them.  I love the black and white photo on our graphic and I used the flower for inspiration,  using the lovely digital Flowers image on this card.  I printed it on white card and then coloured the entire image with a very pale grey and then added a touch of colour to the flowers and leaves.  I finished the flowers with some sparkle all over, and then I cut the image out.  I like the wood grain finish to the floor in the photo too, so I echoed it by cutting a panel of grey card and then stamping the wood grain image using  a second generation impression.  I added some texture by distressing the edge of the grey card before adhering it to the card base.  I finished the front with a simple sentiment.  The inside is blank.

For more inspiration check out our blog to what the team have made.  Good luck and have fun!

Cards from SU class ...

....  Hello!  I thought it was time that I shared the cards that we made at our last Stampin' Up! Get together with Karin, Julie and the rest of the team.  As always, we had lots of fun.  The first card is a super clean and simple design inspired by Julie Freysinger.

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Endless Birthday Wishes, Gorgeous Grunge
Inks: SU - Real Real, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Pacific Point
Dies: SU/Sizzix - Little Letters Framelits
Accessories: SU Card - Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point

On the smaller piece of white card I used the framelits to cut out the word "Happy" and stamped birthday beneath.  On the larger white panel I stamped the striped image from Gorgeous grunge following a rainbow pattern, then I attached the smaller panel with dimensional tape.  The whole panel was layered onto yellow card and then attached to the blue card base.  On the inside I stamped a birthday cake and sentiment.  Such a fun card and would work in monochromatic colours too.

Next we made a very non-traditional baby card CASEd from a card by Martha Inchley.  We used two of the new in colours - Hello Honey and Blackberry Bliss, although you could easily make this card using traditional blue and pink.

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Something for Baby, And Many More
Inks: SU - Hello Honey, Blackberry Bliss
Dies: SU/Sizzix - Baby's First Framlits
Accessories: SU Card - Whisper White, Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey; SU DP - Moonlight; SU Punch - 1¾" Circle; SU Ribbon - Blackberry Bliss; SU Markers - Black, Pumpkin Pie

It was so easy to do the little duck, I inked the image with Hello Honey, wiped off the bill and then coloured the bill with an orange marker and stamped.  I added a tiny dot for the eye and then cut it out with the matching die.  I do like these bold, non-traditional colours. 

Next we made a screen card - I've seen so many fabulous versions on the Internet and thought it would be hard to make, actually it's not bad at all.  This one is CASEd from Frenchie Martin. 

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Traveler, Any Many More
Inks: Stazon - Jet Black

Accessories: SU Card - Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Very Vanilla; SU DP - Typeset; SU Punches - Modern Label, Word Window, Decorative Label, Circle 1"

This is actually very easy to make and Frenchie has a super video on her blog showing how to make the card - click here to check it out. 

The last card we made is my favourite - I just love this set!!

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Kinda Eclectic
Inks: SU - Mossy Meadow, Hello Honey, Lost Lagoon, Tangelo Twist, Blackberry Twist
Dies: SU/Sizzix - Banner Framelits
Accessories: SU Card - Mossy Meadow, Hello Honey, Whisper White; SU Punch - Elegant Butterfly, Bitty Butterfly

This card is CASEd from Heather's card.  I love the collage effect of these stamps, they work together perfectly. On the white panel we stamped the sun and leaf images and on some scrap white card stamped the two butterflies.  The banner was made by stamping the dotty image and sentiment and then cutting out with the banner framelit.  The butterfly is layered, has a pearl decoration and adhered with dimensional tape.  The sentiment flag is attached with tape.  On the inside I added a couple of butterflies, but left space for a message.

I have to admit that when I first saw the new in colours, I wasn't taken by them.  However, having used them on these cards I think they're fab!  I particularly love Blackberry Bliss and Mossy Meadow.

That's it for now.

Stampin' Up! CASE cards ....

....  So much for getting back into a routine now that Mum is back in the UK!!!  Kathryn finished school last Thursday for her long, long summer break and while I had planned to stick to my routine - it's sort of fallen by the wayside!!!  And I can't really blame Kathryn, I think it has more to do with the Football World Cup in Brazil - I've been watching it - a lot!!!  So today's cards were actually made at a recent Stampin' Up! get together run by Karin.  I had lots of fun.

The first card is a masculine card with a vintage, nautical theme.  It's a CASEd (Copy and Share Everything) card based on Georgia Giguere's lovely card. We changed the white card she used to Very Vanilla, giving a more vintage feel.  The rest of the group made their card into a Father's Day card, but I decided I needed another masculine birthday card.

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Open Sea, Endless Birthday Wishes, And Many More
Inks: SU - Sahara Sand, Early Espresso, Marina Mist
Dies: SU/Sizzix - Deco Labels Framelits, Circles Framelits
Accessories: SU Card - Crumb Cake, Marina Mist, Very Vanilla; Essential Paper Piercing Kit; Candy Dot Brads; Window Sheets

Next we made a really fun birthday card with a cute image and pun sentiment.  This one was CASEd from Lori Hellig's card.  This is pretty much as she made it, but with a variation in the design paper.  Every card looked different depending on where you punched out the circles to create the "cheese" layer.  We added a bit of dimension by shading around the cut out circles.  I coloured the image on the front of the card with Blendabilities, which I found bled just a bit, but I like the colours.  On the inside I used my Copic markers which didn't bleed, but don't quite match the card colour.

Stamps: SU - Giggle Greetings
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; SU - So Saffron
Dies: SU/Sizzix - Circles Framelits
Accessories: SU Card - Lost Lagoon, Hello Honey, So Saffron, Whisper White; SU Circle Punches 1", ¾" and ½"; SU DP - Moonlight; SU Blendabilities (image on front card); Copic Markers (inside image)

Next we used the fabulous Swallowtail stamp, this card is CASEd from Jan Tink's wonderful card.  Not only do we use the beautiful butterfly, but also my other favourite new SU set - Work of Art.  The only real change here is that we only used three little flags for the greeting.  The butterfly was "coloured" by using second generation impressions from various Work of Art stamps.  I can see this card working in lots of other colours.

Stamps: SU - Swallowtail, Work of Art, Gorgeous Grunge
Inks: SU - Blackberry Bliss, Lost Lagoon, Hello Honey
Dies: SU/Sizzix - Banners Framelits (you), Hearts a Flutter (Just for)
Accessories: SU Card - Sahara Sand, Blackberry Bliss, Lost Lagoon, Whisper White, Hello Honey; SU Ribbon - Hello Honey; SU Gems

Our last card was a super clean and simple thank you card based on Susan Itell's CAS creation.  We switched up the colours and papers used, and I can see this working layout working for so many cards!  I used an aqua brush to paint on Blushing Bride ink and allowed it to dry.  Then it was simply a case of stamping the sentiment and adding the little flowers and gems.  I covered the envelope flap with some design paper; such a good way to use up scraps of paper. 

Stamps: SU - Watercolour Thank You
Inks: SU - Night of Navy, Blushing Bride
Accessories: SU Card -Whisper White, Night of Navy; SU DP - Flower Pot; Itty Bitty Punch Pack; SU Pearls

I spent yesterday afternoon watching the England v Uruguay match.  I started with a feeling of optimism for an England win, but it was just awful!  We ended up losing the match with a score of 2 - 1 to Uruguay.  It looks like England is heading home unless something really strange happens in the last few matches.  So it looks like I'm going to be supporting USA now!  Sorry, I know this is totally off topic ;)

I think we're off to the cinema today to see either Maleficent or How to Train Your Dragon 2.  I think it depends on what time Kathryn gets up!  That's all for now.  See you tomorrow!