CCT - Theme ....

.... Morning! Welcome to the first Saturday in February and that means it's time for our new challenge at Christmas Card Throwdown - CCT#03. We have a fun theme for your Christmas cards - we want to see DRINKS on your cards - you pick the type! Here's my card:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Making Spirits Bright; Winnie & Walter - Sparkle
Inks: SU - Pink Pirouette, Pistachio Pudding, Real Red, Cucumber Crush; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Die-namics - Cross-stitched Ovals #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Real Red; Copics; Spectrum Noir Sparkle Brush - Clear

I picked party drinks for my card. I covered the background with a selection of sparkle type images and stamped in shades of red and green. On a white die cut oval, I stamped a pale sparkle in the centre and stamped the greeting on top. On some scrap card I stamped five different drinks glasses, coloured them with Copics and then fussy cut them out. I edged them all with a black marker and adhered them direct to the card. I added a touch of sparkle to each of the glasses with a clear Spectrum Noir brush. On the inside I cut a mat layer of red card and added a Christmas greeting, a few more sparkles and another drinks glass to the white panel. As there are five glasses on this card, I'm submitting this to Merry Monday Challenge - MM#233 where they want to see five of something.

Don't forget to visit our blog to see more inspiration cards from the rest of the Design Team. I think I might make a few more cards featuring a variety of festive drinks! You've got plenty of time to play along with us. Deadline for submission is midnight Friday 17th February (7.00pm EDT in the States). Have fun!!

TMR - Theme & DT Call ....

.... Good afternoon! I'm running rather late with my DT card for our new challenge at The Male Room - TMR#34. Our theme for the next couple of weeks is SHAKESPEARE. This is not as difficult as it might seem - you can pick anything about Shakespeare from his place of birth, the theme of theatre, titles of plays or sonnets, or quotes, or any of the numerous words that he introduced to the English language. However, your project must has a masculine feel. I actually picked a couple of quotes from two of his plays. Here's my first card:

Stamps: Judikins - Dia Muertos Sun; Stampin' Up! - Making Spirits Bright
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Die-namics - In and Out Diagonal Square Stax #5
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Basic Grey; Copics; Clear Embossing Powder

I think you can probably guess the quote I picked here. It's "Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy." from Hamlet, Act 5, scene 1. At this point in the play Hamlet has picked up a skull of his father's court jester. I decided to play on the fact that the skull was that of the jester and used this wonderful sugar skull stamp as the focal image on my card. I coloured it with Copics in neutral tones. I die cut the finished image with a square fancy edged die and added very clean and crisp sentiments. Obviously, this is a Halloween card. On the inside I cut another mat layer of grey card and die cut another white square on which I stamped a fun image.

As I've used die-cut panels on this card and it celebrates Halloween, I'm submitting this card to the current challenge over at Time Out Challenges - TOC#55 where they want cards with any celebration and the option of die cutting.

There are so many wonderful quotes from Shakespeare plays, some of which people don't even realise come from his plays. There is no doubt where this quote comes from:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Halloween Party, Spooky Tree Background, Vintage Witch
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress - Faded Jeans, Chipped Sapphire, Weathered Wood, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Grass; Hero Arts Neon - Green, Pink, Orange; Memento - Grey Flannel
Dies: Waltzingmouse - Halloween Party
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Graphic 45 DP - Rare Oddities; SU Punch - 1¼" Circle, Modern Label

It's another Halloween card, this time based on the quote "Double, double toil and trouble, Fire burn, and cauldron bubble." Macbeth, Act 4, scene 1. The three witches recite this spell over a cauldron as they await the arrival of the man they say would be king - Macbeth. I started by stamping the images in black versafine and heat embossing with clear powder, then I cut them out with the matching dies. I used some neon colours to stamp the bubbles and sparks from the cauldron. I stamped the spooky tree in grey, lightly sponged on pale grey ink and then adhered a die cut circle to create a moon. I added more ink to create the ground and sky. Once finished, I removed the circle to reveal the full moon shining down on one of the witches at the cauldron. I completed the front by adding the actual quote which I punched out, edged and adhered with dimensional tape. On the inside I cut a piece of design paper for the mat layer, adding ink to match the front of the card. I finished by added a sentiment and some bats.

I'm submitting this card to the current challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#191 where it's Anything Goes.

My team mates have created a super selection of cards covering all sorts of occasions. You've got plenty of time to play along, deadline for submission is midnight (BST) Tuesday 10th May (7.00pm EDT).

Finally, we're having a DT Call at The Male Room. If you would like to apply to join the team, you must play along with this week's #34 theme AND the next challenge #35. Full details on The Male Room post.

And now I must stop crafting and get on with some house stuff - specially ironing! Ugh! See you soon.

CIC - Theme ....

.... Morning!  It's time for a new challenge at Cupcake Inspirations Challenge - CIC#345, this week we have a theme for you.  We want to see BANNERS on your work.  I made a fun birthday card for a little boy:

Stamps: My Grafico Digi - Sail Away With Us; Stampin' Up! - Making Spirits Bright
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Die-namics - Wonky Stitched Rectangle Stax #5, Wonky Stitched Square Stax #3; Fishtail Flags Layers Stax #1
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SUDP - Maritime; Sequins

I had lots of fun with the digital image in this set.  I actually coloured them in on my computer using Paint to fill the section of each image and then saving them. I die cut some design paper for the background and added a panel to represent the sea, along with a white die cut square.  I then adhered the ship, banner and little sailor.  I finished the front with a birthday greeting and some sea-green sequins.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of design paper, and added another ship to the white panel. The layout is based on the sketch at this week's MFT Wednesday Sketch Club - MFTWSC#265. It also fits with our theme of babies and little boys over at The Male Room - TMR#27.

For more inspiration do visit our blog to see what the rest of the team have made.

Our sponsor this week is My Grafico, the winner of this week's challenge will get 1 digi paper and 1 clip art set as a prize.  I've used some of their digi images on my card.

We've had a super day yesterday.  Last year we had a couple of feet of snow with temperatures around -20C, this year it was lovely with sunshine, no snow and a temperature of 9C!!!  I'm really enjoying this winter in Michigan :)))   Today Kat and I are going to the regular monthly meeting of the Kitchen Roll Sprayers Art Journal Club - I'm so pleased that Kat has decided to come along and get inky with me!!!  That's all for now.  See you soon.

CIC - New Sweetie .....

..... Hello!  I've been keeping a secret, something that I find really difficult, but I can tell you all about it today.  I'm now a Sweetie at Cupcake Inspirations.  I was invited to join the team last year and naturally I said yes, but it's been so hard to keep it a secret.  I'm thrilled to be joining such a talented team.

Now that we have all recovered from the long holiday break, it's time for our new challenge at Cupcake Inspirations - CIC#341.  Each week we provide a cupcake to inspire you to create a card or other craft project following our theme or colours.  This week our theme is Elegance.  I made an elegant birthday card for someone special:

Stamps: Sparkle 'n' Sprinkle - Ballet Shoes; Happy Little Stampers - Fun Birthday Sentiments; Stampin' Up! - Making Spirits Bright; Uniko - Classic Numbers
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Tuxedo Black; SU - Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Rectangles #5
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Basic Grey; SU DP - Whisper White Bridal (discontinued); Green Card; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear; Clear Embossing Powder

Picture - Champagne Cupcakes

Our sponsor this week is Sparkle 'n' Sprinkle and the lucky winner of this week's challenge will receive a $15 gift certificate towards some of their fabulous digital images.

For my card I used these lovely ballet shoes - so pretty, so elegant.  I printed the shoes on white card, coloured them with Copic markers, carefully cut the shoes out and added lots of sparkle with a clear Wink of Stella brush.  I tried to make the shoes a soft creamy colour - like the frosting on the cake.  I cut a couple of mat layers in dark grey and dark green (also from the graphic) and on top I adhered a piece of white patterned paper.  I stamped the sentiment in Versafine and heat embossed with clear powder.  I attached the ballet shoes in the corner and added a shadow with my Copics.  I love the elegance of the paper and the lovely shoes.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of dark green card and on the white panel added a birthday greeting along with a couple of champagne glasses toasting the birthday girl!!

Do check out our blog to see more elegant inspiration projects from the rest of the team.  Have fun!

Creepmas Cheer - 12DOC ....

...  Hello again!  We've reached Day 6 of the 12 Days of Creepmas sponsored by Smeared Ink.  I had lots of fun making today's card:

Stamps: Smeared Ink Digi - Bottoms Up Grumpie; Stampin' Up! - Making Spirits Bright
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; SU - Island Indigo; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Poppy Stamps - Snowflake Oval Frame
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Island Indigo; SU DP - Winter Frost; Silver Mirri Card; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear

I love this little guy - he looks so cross being stuck in the champagne glass!  I printed him on white card, coloured with Copic markers and added lots of clear sparkle all over the image.  I die cut the oval frame from silver mirri card, which I adhered to the image with matte medium.  I based the layout for this card on the sketch at Sketch Saturday - SS#390 - I had lots of fun with the layers.  I used some old SU design paper - it looks very frosty!  And, as there are lots of snowflakes on this card, I'm submitting it to Inkspirational - INK#97 where the cue word is "FLAKE".  On the inside I cut a mat layer of design paper and on the white panel added a suitable greeting.

Here's the list of those playing along with the 12 Days of Creepmas Blog Hop - do visit and leave a comment or two:

Fiona
Black Dragon
Susan R
Jessica
Suzi
Airless Chambers
Deborah
Susan S
Val
Sarah
Kat
Leigh
Lady Brayton
Sue

I've got one more post later this morning - do stop by to check it out - not Creepmas this time!!  See you soon.

Happy New Year ....

... confused?  Then I'll explain.  I was invited to join Inkspirational this week as Guest Designer - and I'm absolutely delighted to join this talented team.  The challenge this week is Anything Goes with Gold.  I made a New Year's card:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Celebrate New Year, Making Spirits Bright; Waltzingmouse - USA 1776
Inks: Versamark; Brilliance - Galaxy Gold; SU - Real Red
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Rectangles #2 and #3
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Real Red; Gold Mirri Card; Embossing Powders - Red Tinsel, Gold Tinsel

One of the things I really like about New Year is all the firework displays that take place around the world.  London always puts on a great show, as do many other major cities.  So I decided to have fireworks exploding behind a sentiment.  I made the base from red card, cut a panel of white slightly smaller and then stamped lots of fireworks.  Some in ink directly on the card and some in Versamark and embossed with either red or gold embossing powder.  I stamped the sentiment in Versamark, heat embossed with red tinsel powder and then cut it out with a die.  I layered it on a gold mat and attached the panel with diemsnional tape.  On the inside I went very simple - a gold mat layer, white panel with simple greeting and some glasses.

I've made so many Christmas cards recently that it was lots of fun to make a card for New Year - I think I'll make a few more!  Do check out Inkspirational's blog to see what the Design Team have made for you.  Have fun!

WMSFC - Halloween ....

....  Hello again!  I'm back with our new challenge at Waltzingmouse Fanatics.  Before I get to that though, I'd like to say thank you to all those who played along with our last challenge - it was so nice to see such fab cards - the thumbnail display was so, so pretty!!  Anyway, it's time to tell you our theme this time - and you already know it:

HALLOWEEN

You can go vintage, scary, cute, clean and simple, shabby chic - whatever takes your fancy, just make a Halloween themed project.  You must use at least one Waltzingmouse stamp, sentiment or digi.  I love Halloween and have made a couple of cards.  Here's the first:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - All Hallow's Eve, Text-It; Stampin' Up! - Gorgeous Grunge
Inks: SU - Smoky Slate, Concord Crush; Versamark; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Smoky Slate, Concord Crush; Ribbon; Copic Markers

I used the colours from this week's Inspirational - INK#67 challenge and the layout is based on the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#158.  I think the colours are perfect for a Halloween card.  I made the card base from grey card and stamped the text in grey for a tone-on-tone look.  I found the ribbon at my local craft shop, but it's actually cream, so I coloured it with my Copic markers.  I stamped the raven onto some white card and cut it out.  I decided to colour the raven with very pale purple markers as black birds often have a purple or blue cast.  I stamped a grunge border on the purple panel.  I finished with a sentiment stamped in Versamark and heat embossed in white.  The purple panel was adhered with dimensional tape.  On the inside I cut a white panel, stamped a spooky church ruin and simple sentiment.  Both the inside and purple panel have distessed edges.

My next card has a much more contemporary feel and is quite clean and simple too.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Great Big Owl; Stampin' Up! - Making Spirits Bright
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Tuxedo Black; Archival - Jet Black
Dies: WMS - Big Owl Dies
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Bermuda Bay, Early Espresso; Clear Embossing Powder; Copic Markers

I used the layout from the current CAS(E) this Sketch! - CTS#96.  I think I've mentioned that I love owls and when Claire released this set I just loved it.  However, this is the first time it's actually been inked up!  I stamped the owl and circles in Versafine, hear embossed with clear powder and cut them out with the matching dies.  I decided to go for a funky owl using lilac and turquoise.  I cut the branch from brown card and adhered the owl and branch directly to the card base.  I lined the circles along the edge of the card and then cut away the bits between each circle.  I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to position the sentiment along the circles.  I decided to add a fun sentiment to the owl's belly and it is attached with dimensional tape.  On the inside I covered the base with turquoise card and on the white panel stamped a fun greeting and added some more circles.

In the photo below you can see what I mean about cutting out the card between the circles.  For more Halloween inspiration - check our the projects from Kathy and Tara. 

 You have plenty of time to play along, deadline is Thursday 30th October 10.00pm BST (5.00pm EDT).  That's all for now - see you soon.