Oops, I missed it ....

.... Morning!  I've made it - two posts in a row!  I've made this card using three challenges:

• CAS-ual Fridays - CFC110 - to use a number(s) on your card
• CAS(E) this Sketch! - CTS38
• Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#55

Stamps: CAS-ual Friday Stamps - Tech Talk, Brickworks
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight; Brilliance Banner - Green, Blue; Stazon - Jet Black
Accessories:  White Lustre card

I like the rainbow candles in Addicted to Stamps' photo inspiration, so used that to create a rainbow of bricks using the layout from CAS(E) this sketch.  This card is actually the second attempt as the first was a bit of a mess - the sentiment was too pale and not sharp enough.  So on this card I used Stazon for a clean, sharp and dark image.  This card is going in the post tomorrow - it's for my great nephew who had his birthday last Friday (and I forgot!). 

Hope you're all having a good weekend.  It's been quite cool in Northville - which does mean that my morning walks are much more pleasant, but I'd quite like the warmth to come back.  I'm off to a craft class this morning run by Valerie Brincheck - we're going to be making a mini Collage Canvas.  I'm really looking forward to getting inky and messy!  I'll post pictures later today!  See you soon.

Peppermint candy ....

.... Today I'm sharing the last of my family's Christmas cards - this is the one I made for our daughter, Kathryn.  Since moving to the States Kathryn has discovered peppermint candy in Ghirardelli Squares - and she loves it!  I've combined two challenges to make Kathryn's card:

• Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge - WMSCCC10-12 - theme is pink
• Addicted to CAS - ATCAS#3 - cue word "SWEETS"

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Candy Jar Christmas Fillers, Candy Jar Fillers, Candy Wagon, Compact Sentiments, Compliments of the Season II

Inks: Distress - Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint; Versamark; Stazon - Jet Black; Memento - London Fog

Dies: Spellbinders - Labels 20 (S5-026) #3 & 4; Opera Tags (WMS-DT#1)

Accessories: Pink Mulberry Paper; Doily; Cosmic Shimmer Spray - Golden Mint, Silver; Stampin' Up! - Fancy Brad; SU Design Paper - Melon Mambo; Papermania - Christmas Carol Silver vellum; Silver Embossing powder; SU - Glitter; Acetate

This is a vision in pink!!  For the background I used some mulberry paper - love the texture at the edges.  The doily is from my local supermarket, I sprayed it with Cosmic Shimmer in Golden Mint and Silver to give shimmer and colour.  Next I stamped the candy canes in Versamark and embossed with silver powder.  I did several sets as I wanted extra canes.  I used distress inks and my aquapen to paint the canes, adding glitter to some.  I used the medium Labels 20 die to cut dark pink and vellum layers.  I used Stazon on to stamp the jar onto the vellum (much clearer impression) and also on to the acetate.  I attached the candy canes to the label.  Next, using a sharp scalpel, I cut along the jar side outline on the label base and inserted the acetate jar.  Next I stamped the sentiment onto a small vellum label and attached it to the card. I finished off the front with a candy cane, brad and tag.

For the inside I cut a mat of holographic pink card and some white card onto which I stamped the candy wagon and Christmas sentiment.

This card completes all twelve cards for the Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge.  I fell behind a bit, but caught up at the end.  Lynn - thanks so much for organising the challenge - it's been such fun.

We've had a super time with my in-laws, the time has flown by, and today we head south to Hampshire to spend a few days with my Mum and her family.  If you're travelling - take care.  See you soon.

The end of summer .....

.... I'm not sure that's strictly true!  But it is the last day of August and that signals the beginning of the end of summer.  Yes, we can often have hot days, but the mornings are definitely cooler and the nights are drawing in and it's back to school next Tuesday!  That all means Autumn to me - or Fall, as they call it here in the States!!

I've made a card for one of my friends back in the UK and I've used two challenges to make it:

• Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge - WMSC112 - designed by Mona Pendleton
• Play Date Cafe Challenge - PDCC147

I'm running close to deadline with the Waltzingmouse challenge, but I couldn't think what to do, then I saw some fabulous chrysanthemums in my garden and I remembered Claire's set and I knew what to make.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Big Blooms: Chrysanthemums, Chicken Wire, Blessed by You

Inks:  Memento - Grey Flannel, Teal Zeal; Stazon - Jet Black; Stampin' Up! - Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive

Accessories: Papermania - Creative Tones Olivine Essence; Card from stash

I stamped the background with the large chicken wire stamp in grey.  I used the largest of the chrysanthemum images to make my flower.  I used the outline image first using Cherry Cobbler (a rich, warm colour) and then used my stamp-a-ma-jig to position the solid image inside the lines and stamped again.  My first attempt I used the freshly inked stamp, but it was much, much too dark, so on my second attempt I stamped off onto some scrap paper and then stamped in the outline - much prettier!  To make the leaves I stamped the outline image in teal and filled in with olive.  I made the backing panel from some white card onto which I stamped the second impression of the small chicken wire and backed it with some olive paper from my stash.  I finished off the card with a sweet sentiment stamped in Stazon on as it is has very sharp definition when stamped against a background pattern.  

Here's a picture of a beautiful chrysanthemum that I found on the net - just love the warm, rich colour!

Picture credit

That's all for now - I'm off to do some more ironing - it never goes away!!!!  See you again later for the our new St Luke's Charity Card Challenge.

Congratulations and celebrations .....

......  are sent today to my son Ben.  He got his GCSE results yesterday, and he is very pleased with his results.  Ben will be going to the college of his choice in September to do A levels in Maths, Chemistry and Biology.  So I've made a card to send to him and I've used two challenges to make it:

• Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge - WMSC111 - sketch by Julia Aston
• Play Date Cafe Challenge - PDCC146 - love this one!

I used the chevron stamp to make the background pattern with one line of lime and then stamped the circles on a piece of white card, rounded the corners and stamped the sentiments.  I used Stazon for the sentiment as it shows up much more clearly on a pattern background.  I attached the sentiment panel with some dimensional tape to make it pop a bit.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Off Beat Backgrounds, Free Spirit Boy, Playful Pinwheels
Inks:  Stazon - Jet Black; Memento - Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Up! - Lucky Limeade
Accessories:  Card from stash

That's all for today.  See you soon.