Elegant birthday wishes ....

.... Morning all!  Time is marching on soooo fast and I have lists as long as my arms - just to make sure that I don't forget anything before we fly on Thursday.  But I've made sure of some "me" time and here's a card I made for a very special lady.  My mother-in-law has her birthday when I'm in the UK, so I've gone a bit mad and made a large (8" ×8") card for her.  I used a couple of challenges to make it:

• The Play Date Cafe Challenge - PDCC85 - just adore these colours
• My Favourite Things Wednesday Sketch Club - MFTWSC127 - sketch

Stamps: Stampendous - Jumbo Dahlia; Hero Arts - Layered Flowers; Waltzingmouse - Say It Loud; PTI - Stylish Sentiments - Birthday
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Island Indigo, Raspberry Ripple
Dies: Die-namics - Fishtail Flags Layers Stax # 3; Spellbinders - Grand Big Scalloped Circles (LF-249) #3
Accessories:  Kanban DP (Grey); Martha Stewart Punch - Arches Border; SU Card - Island Indigo, Raspberry Ripple; White Lustre Card;

I had such fun making this card.  I love the colours - so rich and elegant, perfect for my mother-in-law.  I cut a mat layer in raspberry onto which I layered this lovely grey/silver paper - isn't the flourish just wonderful?  I had to trim the grey paper to fit the card, and used the scrap on the envelope.  I stamped the dahlia onto white card and cut it out, layering onto a teal scalloped circle.  I stamped the sentiment onto white card and cut it out with my Die-namics fishtail dies.  I finished the front of the card with a punched border in white and an accent flower, layered with all the colours.

For the inside I cut another mat in raspberry and on the white panel I stamped another dahlia (using second impression for a more subtle look) as well as the flourish from the same set.  I think the sentiment is just right for Madeline's card - she's always in our thoughts, but more so on her birthday.


To complete the look, I also decorated the envelope using the left over strip of grey/silver paper - I couldn't waste it - far too nice.  I punched the arch border in the grey paper and laid it over a strip of raspberry card.  They look great together.

I got lots done yesterday - washing and ironing - making sure that Kathryn and I both have clean clothes for our trip.  I laid out the suitcases in the spare room too - and am starting to pack!  I have to be careful to make sure I don't go over the baggage weight limit!

That's all for now - I hope to have a card to share with you tomorrow.  Bye for now.

For my aunt ...

.... I've made a thank you card for someone very special to me - my Aunty Sue.  My Mum has had to go into hospital today to have a couple of stents put into her heart - and I can't be be there, but Susie will be.  She has done so much for my Mum while we've been in the States - I can't begin to thank her enough.  But I can send her a card to say thanks.

Stamps: Stampendous - Mega Thanks; CAS-ual Friday Stamps - Loving Thoughts
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Stampin' Up! Card - Garden Green; Promarkers - Indigo Blue, True Blue, Blue Pearl, Pine; White Lustre card; Ribbon

I used a few challenges to make this card and they are:

• The Ribbon Reel Challenge - RR51 - feeling blue
• CASology - CAS40 - cue word "WORD"
• Just Us Girls - JUGS184 - to use the ombre technique

I love the fresh cool colours from the Ribbon Reel challenge and I enjoy creating graduated shades too, and I have the perfect BIG word to show off the graduated shades of blue.  I used three blue promarkers to create the ombre effect and stamped the word directly onto the paper, and the cut out each letter.  I cut a panel of green card for the mount and stamped the word "thanks" again directly onto the white panel and then glued on the cut out letters.  I stamped the "for all you do" directly onto the card and added some cream chiffon ribbon around the white panel and a bow on top.  I finished the front by adding a few tiny flowers coloured to match the mega word.  For the inside I kept it perfectly simple with the phrase "what would I do without you?"

I'll be talking to Susie later today to find out how Mum is - I know it's a fairly straightforward procedure (indeed, Jonathan had it done in 2009) and that Mum will be fine. 

That's all for now - do drop by later - I've a card to share for this month's Waltzingmouse Blog Party.  See you then!

Vintage green ....

.... this card is for a very special person - for my best friend, my soul mate, my husband - it's for Jonathan.  The last challenge in the Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge - WMSCCC12-12  is to use the colour green.  Jonathan's favourite colour is green - so it's perfect.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Bright Season, Compliments of the Season II; Yonder Star Background
Inks: Versamark; Stampin' Up! - Old Olive, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, So Saffron; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Mega Classic Scalloped Ovals Lg (S5-024) #4, Mega Ovals Lg (S5-023) #4
Accessories: Stampendous - Frantage Embossing Powder Aged Hunter; Gold and green card from stash; Own embossing powder

Jonathan is the light of my life - I love him to bits!  So I thought the large hanging lantern would be the perfect image for my card.  I found some olive shimmer card in my stash (no idea where I got it) and stamped the Yonder Star background on it in Versamark.  I embossed the whole image with Frantage embossing powder in Aged Hunter - a sort of antique green with gold/black/silver flecks - it looks wonderful.  I mounted that onto some satin gold paper and the whole lot onto a cream card base.  I stamped the large lantern in Versamark onto cream card and embossed it with my own embossing powder mix - a blend of black, silver and gold - giving a gunmetal finish.  I used a scalpel to carefully cut out the "window" panels and then adhered the lantern to some acetate.  I stamped the lantern onto more cream card and used my stamp-a-ma-jig to position the candle, flame and light glow.  I used the mega oval to cut out the die and mounted it onto a scalloped gold oval.  I finished off by attaching the acetate lantern with dimensional tape and adding a small bunch of holly at the chain.

I kept the inside of the card really simple - a gold/green shimmer card for the base and cream card onto which I stamped "for you".

Christmas is a day for family traditions - our day starts with cooked breakfast and Bucks Fizz (for the adults).  After breakfast we gather in the living room and Christmas presents are handed out.  Whatever your traditions are - enjoy the day.

CR84FN61 - thinking of you .....

....   It's time for our new CR84FN61 challenge using these lovely colours - aqua, tan and cream - I think they make for a very elegant look!

Stamps: Stampendous - Festive Flower; Stampin' Up! - So Happy For You
Inks:  Memento - Richo Cocoa
Spellbinders: Squares Sm (S4-128) # 6, Lacey Squares (S4-295) #4
Accessories:  Promarkers; Glitter and card from stash

I started with a cream linen textured card base and in my stash I found a scrap of this lovely dark aqua paper, from which I cut the backing lacy square and stamped the flower image twice.  I stamped the flower image onto white card and coloured the leaves with Promakers.  I finished off the card with a touch of glitter on the flower and a simple sentiment.

This card went home with my Mum at the beginning of the month - I gave it to my Aunty Sue because she cares so much about everyone else and sometimes doesn't take enough time for herself.  So this is to let her know that I am thinking about her and thankful for all she does.

For more inspiration cards with these gorgeous colours click on the links below or go to our CR84FN blog for full details of the challenge:

Mona Pendleton

Sue Lelli

Pauline Pollington

Andrea Matthews

Heather Jensen

Shannon White

Here's the graphic for CR84FN61 colours - I think these photos (courtesy of Embrace Life Photography) are so beautiful, so restful!

We got home a couple of days ago - it was a fantastic trip - and Jonathan has taken loads of photos.  So I can't put it off any longer, I have to start some scrapbooks!  That's all for now - see you soon.

On a roll .....

.... I'm on a bit of a roll this afternoon - making up for lost crafting time!!  Here's another card for this week's Less is More - LIM71, where we have to have a flourish on a one layer card.  I've made a thank you card - you can never have too many thank you cards in your stash - and this one is for my Aunt and Uncle who are taking such good care of my Mum while we're in the States.

It's very clean and simple and has lots of white space!!  The simple sentiment comes complete with flourishes on the letters and the butterfly has flourishy swirls in the wings!  I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to position the sentiment and butterfly.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Say It Loud; Stampendous - Jumbo Butterfly Pair
Inks: Kaleidacolor - Pastel
Accessories:  Card from stash

Kathryn and I had a really successful day in Northville.  We went out to get sandals for Kathryn, but we both got some new ones - a good result.  We popped into the library so that Kathryn could pick some books for the summer reading scheme - they have a super selection of books - and we'll be back again soon.  We had lunch and then I went into Stampeddlar - only to look, but I came out with Tim's new summer colours and some new stamps ;)))  I'll say bye for now - see you tomorrow!

Happy Birthday to you .....

.... Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Sue, Happy Birthday to you!!

This card is for my CR84FN team mate, Sue Lelli.  Sue is celebrating her birthday today - but with all that's going on in my head and house, I completely forgot to send a card.  I'm so sorry it's late; the card will be on its way shortly.   

Stamps:  Stampendous - Corset Ladies; Waltzingmouse - Compact Sentiments; Uniko Studio - Time, Extra Time
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Crumb Cake, Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Kaisercraft - Tigerlilly (papers); Lace (from Waltzingmouse); Card from stash

I used our beautiful colours from CR84FN52 and this week's Clean & Simple sketch - FTL186 for the layout. 

In the Kaisercraft pack I found the perfect paper for the FTL challenge - it actually has butterflies on it!  I stamped the body form and butterfly wings directly onto the backing paper, and topped it with a bold birthday greeting.  I made the sentiment panel by sponging on two shades of pink, randomly stamping various images in pink and crumb cake and adding the "Sorry I'm Late!" sentiment in black.  I wrapped lace around the panel and attached it to the card.  One of the special papers in the pack had lots of beautiful glossy butterflies; I carefully cut out three to add to the card.

That's all for now - I hope to have another card to share with you later today.  See you soon.

CAS-ual Fridays - thoughtful ...

....  We've had a really good day.  We went out to the movies this morning to see The Hunger Games.  It is very well made with some good acting, but I found the story to be a bit predictable.  It's making lots of money, but I wouldn't rush out to see it again!  And this evening we've been out to dinner at a super restaurant - Ruby Tuesday - the food was delicious.

This afternoon, I made a card for CAS-ual Fridays - CFC48 challenge - opposites attract.  The team want us to make a card using two colours that are opposite each other on the colour wheel; I picked green and red.

Before I came out to the US, I was lucky enough to win Cup of the Week at The Play Date Cafe; I won a $25 voucher to spend at Simon Says - and I've spent it!!!  I had such fun, but have to admit that I spent rather more than $25.  My new goodies arrived this afternoon and I've used one of the stamps on this card.  Isn't this flower lovely?  I coloured it with my Aquarell watercolour pencils - I love the soft finish you get using this medium.  I'll play with the rest of the stamps later in the week.

Stamps:  Stampendous - Festive Flower; There She Goes - Sentimental - Thank you
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Staedtler Aquarell Pencils, card from stash

This card is for Tara (many of you know her).  Tara set up a new challenge last year - St Luke's Charity Card Challenge and I was invited to join the team.  I was delighted to accept - it's been a fun year with some wonderful challenges, and lots more to come.  One of the great things with this challenge is that you can send Tara cards to sell and help raise funds - to date the total stands at £513.50.  This month the challenge is to "Bling it up!" and there's still plenty of time to join the fun.  So this is for Tara - to say how thoughtful you are - I really love the cards and gift you sent me - thank you.  Here are the cards Tara sent me:

Love the American flag and row of houses - a perfect welcome to your new home card - love it.  

Don't you just love this one - the words are so lovely and the girls look wonderful (wish I looked like that!)

Here's the card that I made for last week's Less is More - LIM62 - three shades of green challenge; the one that I couldn't upload yesterday because the technology failed :(   I used some lovely stamps from a new UK based company, Uniko Studios.  The stamps are fab and I'm really looking forward to seeing more soon.

Stamps: Uniko Studios - Time, Extra Time
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi, Old Olive
Accessories:  Paint Chip from The Home Depot, card from stash

Before I go, I really must say Hello and Welcome some new followers:  Kez, Pauline and Anne-Elise - so pleased that you joined me.  I'm so pleased that my mojo seems to have returned.  Do drop by later to see my card for the new CR84FN challenge.  See you soon!

Thank you Doreen ....

..... I've had lots of comments about me crafting while all the move stuff is going on around me.  Well, I didn't do any of the actual packing - the guys from the removal company did it all.  I just had to show them what to pack!!  Then it was a case of feeling a bit like a spare part.  I took my "emergency" craft stash - some inks pads and a few stamps to keep me going until the main shipment arrives in the US in April - and sat in my office and made some cards.  It was so relaxing and kept me out of their way :)

And, as you've probably worked out, this is a scheduled post!  I don't have any Internet now - it was all packed up on Wednesday.  But I've a few scheduled posts going through to next week when I arrive in the US.

So first up is a thank you card that I made for one of my Craft Class friends, Doreen.  She's a wonderful lady and she made my lovely going away cards - which is now packed and you'll see when it arrives!  I forgot to take a photo.

In the box of goodies that I grabbed off my craft desk, was this pretty little flower (which is one designed by Mel over at Mel Stampz) which I'd previously cut out with my Spellbinder dies.  I coloured the flowers with my Aquarell pencils.  I stamped the daisy trellis in the background picking up the orange of the stamens.  I attached a simple thank you sentiment and a pretty butterfly, previously coloured with Promarkers, also in the box!

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Pic-Nic Patterns; Stampendous - Ruffled Butterfly; Digi-image - Flowers from Mel Stampz
Inks:  Stampin' Up! - Pumpkin Pie; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Various Spellbinder dies; Craftwork sentiment; Staedtler Aquarell Pencils, Card from stash

That's all for now.  Do stop by on Sunday for the next CR84FN colour challenge - we have something really special for you!  See you then.

Penguins and patterns .....

.... it's been busy today.  This morning we took Mum to Manchester Airport to go home.  It's very wild and windy here and our journey was a bit rough.  The high winds also meant that Mum's flight was delayed - but it went off at 1.00pm and Mum should now be home with her brother and sister-in-law.  I'm missing her already, but we did have fun.

Sunday is when I normally post a card for CR84FN - but this week I completely forgot to make a card - silly me!!  There's still time to enter CR84FN46 - although it is closing a little earlier this week on Wednesday 25th.

Instead I've a couple of cards to share with you.  My first card is for CAS-ual Fridays - CFC36.  The theme is "Penguin suits" - the challenge started on Friday 20th which was National Penguin Awareness Day!!!  Who knew??  The DT would like us to make a CAS card with only black and white - not even the tiniest amount of any other colour!!

I know that my card is not in the least bit original, but it is fun!!  I knew that I had a penguin stamp in my stash.  I cut a mat in black card onto which I stamped the sentiment in Versamark and embossed with detail white powder.  I stamped my cute penguin in black Versafine onto white card and heat embossed with clear powder.  Then I carefully cut it out.  I coloured the image with a black Sakura Glaze gel pen - it has a lovely sheen.  I also added some white flock to the hat bobble, trim and mittens, as well as a bit of sparkle to the snow.  I like it!!

Stamps:  Papermania - Christmas Stamps
Inks:  Versamark; Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories:  Sakura Black Glaze pen; Glitter, flock and card from stash

My second card is for two challenges.  The first is CASE Study Challenge - CSC74 and the second for Do You Stack Up? - DYSU55.  January's muse at CASE Study is Jen Rzasa and her inspiration card is just fab. And over at DYSU the team would like us to use patterns - can be patterned papers or pattens you've made yourself.

I have to admit that I wasn't at all sure what I was going to do with Jen's inspiration card.  Then I realised that I always need thank you cards, so I took the word "thanks" and used patterned papers to paper piece the word.

I got some really lovely papers free with one of the craft magazines (but I can't remember which one!), I decided they'd be perfect for this challenge.  I started off by stamping the word thanks onto some striped paper featuring all these gorgeous colours and pattens, then I carefully cut out each letter.  I used some coordinating paper to mat onto the card base.  I stamped the mega word onto the card, and used my stamp-a-ma-jig to align the script stamps and then simply attached each letter in turn.


Stamps:  Stampendous - Mega Thanks
Inks:  Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Papers free with magazine; Clear embossing powder and card from stash

Yesterday Jonathan went to have a look at some houses - my favourite part of the process, but I'm having to do it long-distance!!!  One of the properties was a complete bust.  Two stood out as very nice - I think I could happily live in either of them.  However, we are still at the waiting stage and won't know for certain about the US move until later this month or early February!!!

Before I go - I'd like to welcome Darnell Knauss - my newest follower.  That's all for now - I'm off to sort out tea for me and Kathryn.  See you tomorrow!

St Luke's Challenge - New Year, New Start .....

.... and time for the new St Luke's Charity Card Challenge.  This month our theme is to give a new lease of life to something old, something tired, something destined for the bin!  It's time to get your thinking caps on and turn your something old/tired into something magical and give it a new start for 2012!

At first I wasn't sure what I was going to make for this challenge and then I realised that it was the perfect opportunity to recycle some of the Christmas "waste".  For my card I've used some of the cellophane wrappers from a tin of Quality Street (there are other chocolates available!!) and a bit of red textured foil wrapping paper. 

I started off by stamping the word "thanks" onto some white card and then very carefully (and slowly) cut out the inside of each letter.  On the reverse of the image I outlined each letter in turn and attached a small piece of the cellophane.  Fortunately between us we'd eaten all the chocolates so I had a whole rainbow of colours to use.  I used the mega oval nestie to cut out the word and layered the whole thing onto another plain white oval - which really makes the colours pop.  Finally I cut out the mat layer from the "waste" Christmas wrapping paper.  It's an ultra clean and simple card - but I think the cellophane letters look fab - a bit like jewels!!

Stamps:  Stampendous - Mega Thanks
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black
Spellbinders:  Mega Ovals (S5-023) #5, Mega Scalloped Ovals (S5-024) #5
Accessories:  Quality Street cellophane wrappers, scrap of old Christmas paper, card from stash

For more inspirational ideas on recycling/repurposing any old or tired items check out the team's blogs by clicking on the list below:

Lynne Atkinson

Tara Cardwell

Anne Forrest

Jenny Mullens

Sylvie Colledge

And I'd like to welcome Sylvie to the team!!   Don't forget, you can send your card (or cards) to St Luke's to go into the next sale - full details of where to send your cards can be found here.

Our prize this month is being donated by The Ribbon Girl - some fabulous yellow ribbons and bits - shame I can't win them!!!

I'm also submitting my card to the current Less is More - LIM47 challenge; Chrissie and Mandi want us to use only ONE word on the card - and I think this definitely qualifies.  I've recently discovered, via my blogging buddy Pauline, another challenge - DYSU Challenge.  The current challenge DYSU#52 is to use rainbow colours - again I think it qualifies!!

That's all for now.  See you again tomorrow!

It's raining, it's pouring .....

... the old man is snoring - well that's how the nursery rhyme goes, and it's a perfect description of the weather here in Novi.  It started raining yesterday evening and hasn't stopped since!!! 

Last night we walked over to Bar Louie at Twelve Mile Crossing @ Fountain Walk.  It was wet and cold, and I wished I had an umbrella.  However, it was worth the walk - dinner was delicious. 

And today we woke to yet more rain and the forecast is for the rain to continue all day and for snow to start falling this evening.  There are currently flood watches out in parts of the Michigan area and then this evening this becomes a storm forecast for the snow, with about 1" - 2" of snow to settle.  But it looks like it'll be reasonably clear tomorrow.  So we get to experience the start of a Michigan winter, but we'll be back in the UK before winter arrives in force :)

We decided to stay indoors today and Kathryn has spent the morning in the swimming pool. It's not huge, but it's big enough for Kath, especially as she's on her own.  Kathryn had lots of fun - swimming up and down and playing too - she tried to do handstands!!  And then she sat in the hot pool and really enjoyed that - mind you should have seen her face when she went back in the pool!!!!

So Kathryn had lots of fun this morning and this afternoon I think she's going to play with her new Monster High Doll and read her books.  Oh yes, she'll probably watch some TV too.

This week the Less is More - LIM43 challenge is to use:

A bit of

I didn't think I'd be able to join in with any challenges while in the US, but yesterday's shopping trip has meant that I can play.  Yippee!!!   I started with a plain white card blank and used my new peacock feather stamp which I coloured with two shades of Memento pen (yes!!!)  and stamped directly onto the card.  Next I used the darker of the two colours to ink up a simple sentiment.  As I didn't have my stamp-a-ma-jig I had to position the sentiment by eye - it's pretty good.  To comply with the challenge requirements I added a few gems.  That's it - a clean and simple sympathy card to add to my stash when I get home.

Stamps:  Stampendous - Peacock Feather; Inkadinkadoo - sentiment
Inks:  Memento Markers - Paris Dusk, Bahama Blue
Accessories:  Mambi Stones - Blues/greens, Card blank

That's all for now.  I'm off to get us some lunch and let Kathryn have a play on the laptop.  I hope to be able to check out the rest of the submissions to Less is More later this week.  See you soon.

Sending birthday greetings ....

... hi all - this is another of my scheduled posts.  I'm sharing another birthday card made using the layout from the current Clean & Simple Stamping - FTL167 and colours from a previous CR84FN challenge - the bright, zingy colours from CR84FN34.

This birthday card is for Anne - another of the St Luke's Design Team.  Anne - Happy Birthday - have a super day!!   It's really weird - all our birthdays are in November/December and June!!  It's been so dull and grey, that I had to make a bright, cheerful card (that's why I went back to these lovely CR84FN colours).

I started off by stamping the single agapanthus flower randomly on the base card.  I used my nestie to cut the base mat in pale yellow pearly card, and I threaded pink and yellow ribbon through the holes - I like this effect.  The agapanthus cluster was stamped in deep pink onto plain white card, and I used the out-of-the box technique to cut it out with my circle nestie, and then attached it to the yellow mat.  I stamped the Flowerfly onto white card and painted with my aqua brush, adding some sparkle once I'd cut it out.  Before attaching the butterfly, I made some pink wire antennae!  Finally, I stamped the sentiment onto plain card and used a Fancy Tag to cut it out, added a bit colour to define the label. 

Stamps:  Stampendous - Agapanthus Bloom, Agapanthus Cluster, Flowerfly; Docrafts - Whisper Words
Inks:  Stampin' Up! - Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Daffodil Delight, Pink Pirouette
Spellbinders:  Beaded Circles (S4-292) #4, Standard Circles Sm (S4-116) #6, Fancy Tags Two (S5-030)
Accessories:  Ribbon, card and wire from stash

That's all for now.  See you soon.