Happy Birthday .....

... Good morning!  It's a lovely, but rather cold, morning in Northville.  All the snow that fell on Friday night has melted away and we're going to be warmer in the next few days.  It does feel weird not to have snow on the ground!  Anyway, enough of that!

I'm here with a birthday card to show you - makes a change from the Christmas and Creepmas card that I've been making lately.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - You're a Doll, Folk Art Labels #25; Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - Crazy Talk
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Up! - Real Red
Dies: Waltzingmouse - You're a Doll
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Crumb Cake; SUDP - Lucky Limeade; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear; Cuttlebug EF - Diamonds in the Rough

 I've combined a number of challenges in this card:

• CASology - CAS#177 where the cue word is TOY - yes, a Russian Doll
• Colour Q - cQCc#321
• Less is More - LIM#255/256 - where the theme is HOMESPUN - I think she's simple and unsophisticated
• Sketch Saturday - SS#391 (an old sketch, but I didn't get chance to play along)

I cut a panel of kraft card, added a strip of dotty design paper and embossed it with an uneven pattern to give texture in some areas and not in others.  I stamped the Russian Doll on white card, coloured her with Copics and cut her out with the matching die.  I cut a number of extra dolls, glued them together, finishing with the coloured image on top.  I added lots of sparkle to the image with a clear Wink of Stella brush.  I used my MISTI to position and stamp the sentiment.  And finished the front of the card with a little folksy flower.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of kraft card and on the white panel stamped a tiny Russian Doll, some flowers and a greeting.

As the shine is shining I took a close-up of the Russian Doll so that you can see the lovely shimmer that you get from Wink of Stella brushes:

We are all enjoying the start of our Christmas holiday.  Yesterday we went to a photo shoot with the gorgeous Stephanie Smith - there were seven photographers and we had a fabulous time.  I've not edited the photos yet, but here's a sneak peek at one from yesterday:

And today, while Jonathan is out at another photo shoot with Stephanie, Kat and I are home chilling! I put the finishing touches to this card and Kat is catching up on some TV.  So nice to know that we don't have to get up early tomorrow and rush around - we can relax!!!  That's all for now, see you again tomorrow!

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.

ASM - CAS .....

....  Good Evening!  Autumn has definitely arrived, not so much in terms of the temperatures, as it's still very pleasant here, but more by the fact that the nights are drawing in.  It's getting quite dark now.  Anyway, enough of that, it's time for our new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More!  This week we have our very popular CAS challenge - keep it clean, keep it simple and minimal embellishments.  Mine's a bit CAS plus this time, but still quite simple!!

Stamps: Sweet Pea Stamps Digi - Dancing in the Rain by Helena Reis; Papertrey Ink - Scattered Showers Additions
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Smoky Slate, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie
Dies: Die-namics - Cross Stitched Oval Stax #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Smoky Slate; Ribbon; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear

Our sponsor this week is Sweet Pea Stamps and I've used one of their lovely digital images on my card.  The winner of this challenge will get 4 digis from the store.  I used the sketch from Sketch Saturday - SS#380 for the layout.  I printed the image on white card, cut her out with a die and then coloured with Copic markers, adding a touch of sparkle to her umbrella and hairband with a clear Wink of Stella brush.  I cut a panel of white card onto which I stamped some raindrops and adhered it to the card.  I cut a panel of white card, stamped the sentiment, attached it to the card and added some ribbon to cover the join.  I used dimensional tape to attach the diecut image.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of pale grey card and stamped a simple greeting and a bright sun on the white panel.  There's lots of space for my message.

Don't forget to visit our blog to see some more inspiration cards from the rest of the design team.  Have fun!  See you soon.

Uniko Studio - May Release ....

... Morning!  We've introduced two new mini-sets over the last couple of days, and today they are officially released.  You can get them both at the Uniko Studio shop.  I've made a couple more cards featuring the new stamps.  I'll start with my favourite of the sets - Nautical Treasures:

Stamps: Uniko Studio - Nautical Treasures
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Kaleidacolor - Blue Breeze
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Off the Wall

I used the sketch from Sketch Saturday - SS#360  as the basis for the layout of my card.  I cut strips from several different sheets of design paper and adhered them to the card.  I stamped the boat directly on the large panel and paper pieced the sails (love this technique and it's so easy with this stamp).  I finished the front with a compass to steer by and a Father's Day greeting.  On the inside I cut a mat panel from design paper and added a couple more  compass stamps to the white panel.

My next card features the pretty flowers from Flower Power #7.  I used the colours from Colour Throw Down - CTD#341. The layout is based on the sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch! - CTS#122 (Bev used this sketch on Saturday).

Stamps: Uniko Studio - Flower Power #7, Flower Power #6, Beautiful Blooms II
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Tanglo Twist, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Oh So Lovely; SU DP - Lucky Limeade; Gems

I covered the whole of the card with this pretty pink design paper.  I stamped the outline flower in dark orange and dark yellow and added the solid flowers with lighter shades.  I carefully cut each flower out.  I stamped some leaves in green and fussy cut them too.  I made a banner in green design paper and on the white banner stamped a greeting.  After attaching the banners to the card, I added the flowers and leaves with dimensional gel and finished with some gems.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of design paper and added a flower to the white panel.

Do join in the Blog Hop and visit all the team to see their creations too.

Bev - Uniko Studio

Amber

Deborah (that's me)

Gillian

Nicki

Sandie

Sarah G

Sarah P

The two new sets are available now at the Uniko Studio shop - they are really super sets - have fun with them.

Don't miss out on the fun, there will be random winners for mystery prizes - no hints as to the prize or the value, you just have to join the fun!!  And don't forget there's the  Design Team Blog Hop where there's the chance for one lucky person to win the entire release!

Places to join in and possibly win a prize are by commenting along the way on the Uniko Studio Blog, on the DT and Guest Design Team blogs, liking the Uniko Studio Facebook page and by following on Twitter and Pinterest.  Go have fun!!!

Sweet snowflakes ...

... Morning everyone.  Just a quick post today to share a birthday card I've made.  I think I've mentioned before that I have lots of birthdays in January and I like making winter birthday cards - this one has a snowy theme - inspired not only by the graphic but the blanket of white that I can see from my office and craft room windows.

Stamps: Uniko Studio - Stunning Snowflakes; Stampin' Up! - Sassy Salutations
Inks: SU - Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Smoky Slate
Dies: Uniko Studio - Snowflakes; Die-namics - Fishtail Flags Layers Stax #2, Fishtail Flags Stax # 2; Spellbinders - Circle Sm (S4-116) #6
Accessories: SU Card - Smoky Slate; White Lustre Card; White Glitter Paper

The challenge at Sketch Saturday - SS#289 is to use a previous sketch and I've picked sketch227 (from September).  The current Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge - CCIC#11 is Sweet Snowflake and is being sponsored by Uniko Studio.  Now I have lots of Beverley's stamps and the Stunning Snowflake set is one of my favourite, so I had to join in the fun.

I made the card from a sheet of Smoky Slate card.  I cut a panel of white and randomly stamped the snowflakes all over it using pink, blue and grey, then I cut the panel into squares.  I adhered the little squares to the card base.  I die cut the largest snowflake in white glitter paper and adhered it to a grey backing circle.  I finished the front by stamping the sentiment onto white card and cutting it out with the fishtail flag and matting it onto a grey flag.  I adhered the sentiment with dimensional tape and added a pretty pink snowflake.  On the inside I cut a panel of white card and stamped more snowflakes around the edge and a bold, sassy birthday greeting in the centre.

That's all for today.  While I like snowflakes on a card, I'm officially fed up with the snow outside!  See you soon.

Peace on Earth ....

... Hi everyone - it's been a busy couple of days, but I'm back this afternoon with a Christmas card for a few challenges:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Folk Art Christmas Additions, Alpine Christmas
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Soft Suede, Sahara Sand
Dies: Spellbinders - Lacey Circles (S4-293) #3, Circles Sm (S4-116) #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Sahara Sand; SU DP - Soft Suede; SU/Sizzix EF - Northern Flurry; SU Marker - Pear Pizzazz

I used the sketch from this week's Sketch Saturday - SS#286 which I turned on its side.  I used the theme of a CAS Christmas card with a bird from this week's Less is More challenge - LIM147.  I decided that the theme called for soft, subtle colours so I used the colours from this week's Merry Monday challenge - MM#85 to create a white/ivory card with the sentiment and accents in kraft.

I really like the Northern Flurry embossing folder, but the embossed image was the wrong side of the card, so I used the debossed side - works really well too.  I cut a lacy mat in Soft Suede design paper and on the white circle I stamped the sentiment.  I stamped the bird onto some scrap paper and carefully cut it out.  I don't like white edges on cut out shapes, so I edged the image with Sahara Sand.  There is a tiny bit of green on the card - the leaves didn't look right in kraft!  On the inside I cut a mat layer in kraft and stamped a verse on the white panel.

One of the things that I've been busy doing over the last couple of days is writing and posting - yes, really - posting, my Christmas cards.  Being on the Design Team of 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown and playing along with several Christmas card challenges have been a great help this year - I not only made all my cards in plenty of time, but I'm actually getting a head start on next year's cards!!

My post on Sunday gave a quick review of The Day of the Doctor - and you know from the post that we watched the show twice on Saturday.  But that wasn't enough for us!  Oh no!  We went to the cinema last night to see the show in 3D and on the big screen.  It was BRILLIANT!  It was so much fun watching the show with other fans - many of whom had come in costume.  The Americans seem to love the show as much as us Brits.  On the way out we spotted a Dalek - you should have heard the squeals when it moved :)  We were at the early showing which was packed, and as we left we saw the queue for the late showing - it was huge.

Anyway, that's all for now.  I'm off to get some housework stuff done.  Do drop by later for my Addicted to Stamps and More! post.  See you then.

Warm winter wishes ....

... Good morning!  It's very cold here in Northville - this morning there was a heavy frost.  It was so pretty sparkling on the roof tops and trees, and gave me the idea for this morning's card:

Stamps: Uniko Studio - Stunning Snowflakes; Stampin' Up! - Lovely as a Tree
Inks: SU - Smoky Slate; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Page Maps On the Edge (S5-168, Squares Lg (S4-126) #7, Squares Sm (S4-128) #7; Die-namics - Fishtail Flags Layers Stax #2
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Basic Black, Smoky Slate; Clear Embossing Powder; Glitter

I cut the scalloped border with a Spellbinder die and attached it to the grey square.  On the white square I stamped these lovely trees and added some glitter to suggest frost.  I stamped the sentiment on grey card and cut it out with the Fishtail die.  I finished the front with a simple, but stunning, snowflake.  I stamped it onto white card, heat embossed with clear powder and then fussy cut it out.  I added some more glitter to the snowflake and adhered it to the card with dimensional tape.  I've not done the inside yet - I'm not sure whether this will form part of my Christmas stash or be a birthday card - I've lots of birthdays in January!  I'm really pleased with this photo - you can actually see the sparkle from the giltter!

I used three challenges in the making of this card:

• Dynamic Duos - DD#79 - where along with the colours there is the option of Christmas
• Sketch Saturday - SS#285 
• Uniko Studio Challenge - USC#5 - theme is Christmas/Winter Holiday

That's all for today - I've got another pile of ironing calling my name!  So I it's time to set up the board, tune into The Walking Dead (I've a few to catch up) and get it done!  I'll certainly keep warm!!  See you tomorrow!

WMSFC - Stormy seas ....

... Hello, I'm back again with my post for the our new challenge at Waltzingmouse Fanatics - WMSFC#5.  This time we have some cool colours for you to play with - the inspiration photo is a stormy sea and that's where I got the inspiration for my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - My Kind of Guy, Ocean Bound, Safe Harbour Sentiments; Stampin' Up! - Yippee-Skippie!
Inks: SU - Night of Navy, Not Quite Navy, Island Indigo, Tempting Turquoise, Pool Pary, Smoky Slate
Dies: Die-namics - Fishtail Flags Layers Stax # 2 & 3
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Island Indigo, Pool Party; Cuttlebug EF - Charles; SU Marker - Pool Party

I think Tara must have guessed that the UK would be hit by a huge storm when she picked this graphic for our challenge!  I love the image and the sea gave me the nautical theme.  I've gone for another masculine style card, although in different colours, this would work for a girl too.  I've used the sketch from last week's Sketch Saturday - SS282 (too late to link up this one closed yesterday).  I decided to copy the stacked colours from the graphic on the side of the card - using the single line stamp.  I cut a panel of white card and embossed with this fabulous chevron - love the texture of the dots - echoing the dots in the stamp!!  I cut a couple of flags and stamped this fun sentiment at the end.  I finished the front with the life saver.  For the inside I cut mat layer in Island Indigo and used another of the wonderful sentiments from Safe Harbour.

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Don't forget to check out Tara's card using our colours.  I'm really looking forward to seeing your creations with these cool colours.

That's all for now - see you soon.