One - for two ....

... unexpectedly, I managed to get a couple of hours in my craft room this evening and so I've made this card for two challenges.  The first is the colour challenge at Colour Q - cQc107 and the second is One Layer Wednesday - OLW69, this week being hosted by Jennifer at Styles Ink.  Jennifer want us to use stripes on our card.

I really like these colours and I've just got the new "in-colours" so I can play with all the colours!  Yea!!  I've made a really simple card - I found some love stitch style stamps in my stash - I can't remember the last time these saw ink, so I decided to play with them.  I simply stamped each colour in a different stitch and then added the sentiment - a bit punny, but fun!

Stamps:  Hot off the Press - Stitch stamps; Waltzingmouse - Sewing Box Hugs
Inks:  Stampin' Up! - Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie, Lucky Limeade, Rich Razzleberry
Accessories:  Card from stash

Jonathan and I have just watched the first episode in Season 2 of The Walking Dead - it was brilliant!!!  Rather gory, but excellent.  And I think it's now time for bed.  I'm so pleased that I managed to get a card made after all.  That really is all for this evening - see you tomorrow!

OLW67 - Thoughtsgiving ....

... this week's One Layer Wednesday - OLW67 challenge is being hosted by Jennifer at Styles Ink.  When I logged on last Wednesday I couldn't get to Jennifer's blog - it was being hacked, but fortunately Jennifer's husband is a computer whiz and repelled the hackers!  Good man!!!

The theme for OLW67 is to "to make and send/deliver a “Thinking of You” card to someone who is struggling with any kind of battle. I would also like all participants to make a five dollar (or more!) donation to the cancer research/cause of their choice." 

Edited:  I forgot to mention that my chosen cancer charity is Cancer Research UK - and I've donated.  They do really good work.  Jennifer - thanks for the nudge!!  Something I do on a regular basis is give blood, and a few years ago I went that extra stage and got added to the bone marrow donor list.  I've been called twice for additional blood tests - but so far haven't donated anything.  If you can - this is a great way to help. 
I've got a crafty friend in the village who is really having a tough time at the moment.  Last year her Mum died and since then her Dad has not been very good, and recently they've been told that her Dad is really ill.  Not only that, her son has got life threatening problems too.  And the icing on the cake is that my friend also has chronic health issues, which aren't getting better.  Yet, despite all this, she is cheerful, thoughtful of others and caring - so I've made my card for her.

I used one of my favourite stamps, which has not seen much ink lately, for this card.  I started off by using a bit of die cut waste as a stencil for the card.  I sponged several colours on the stencil to create a garden/sky scene.  Using my stamp-a-ma-jig, I positioned the tree in the center of the garden and then added a simple sentiment directly above.  I added some colour to the tree by using Flower Soft which I've had in my room for ages and this is the first time I've used it.  As we're now well into Autumn I decided that my tree would have the golden colours of autumn for the leaves.

Stamps:  Penny Black - Fantasy Tree; HOTP - Sentiments
Inks:  Memento - Tuxedo Black; Distress - Bundled Sage, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky, Chipped Sapphire
Spellbinders:  Lotus Pendant (S4-269) - I used the waste left to create the lovely starry shape
Accessories:  Flower Soft - Autumn; Card from stash

I have to tell you guys how impressed I am with my decorators.  They were here bang on time - 8.30am and immediately set to work.  They've almost finished Ben's bedroom - it will need an extra coat on two walls as Ben's drawn on the walls!! Kids!!!  The guys will be back tomorrow morning for more! 

Yesterday I told you that we hope to be off to the States in the New Year.  Several of you commented on the crafty opportunities available to me!!  Now, you must realise that this in no way influences my decision to want to go to America!!!  :) :)  Yes, right!  Even Jonathan realised that I might go mad on crafty purchases - PTI goodies with no shipping charges, Micheal's stores and all sorts of stuff at prices much cheaper than in the UK.  Of course, I want to go to the US.

That's all for now - off to see my friend (above) and deliver her card.  See you all later.

OLW - sentiment-a-mania ....

... this week's OLW challenge is being hosted by Jennifer at Styles Ink - OLW65 - Sentiment-a-mania - Jennifer would like us to make a one layer card with the focus on the sentiment, or at least must share the focus equally with any image!  I really like this idea - I do have a number of rather lovely sentiment/verse stamps, but I don't seem to use them as much as I should - so here goes.

I've kept the card really simple - the verse is an Irish Blessing - it's just gorgeous.  Stamped in green!!

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Celtic Heritage, Irish Blessings
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Garden Green (verse), Memento - Bamboo Leaves - images
Accessories:  Card from stash

The card is reasonably small, just 4" × 4" and has a subtle texture to it.  It's a simple card, but it took ages to decide where to put everything - I've got a pile of cheap paper in the bin - all with layouts that didn't quite work! 

And I'm also going to submit this to Less is More - LIM33 - Anything CAS Goes 1,000 challenge - at the time of typing this there are 545 entries.  The deadline for LIM is 10pm on Friday 23rd October - so there's still time to get some cards made for this challenge - but I'm not sure whether it's going to reach 1,000 entries!!  But this is one more for now! 

Before I sign off for the evening - I must share with you the lovely card that I got from Gay (Mustavecoffee) - it arrived today.  Gay won my Blogoversary Candy earlier this month - and she made me a super card - the birds are so sweet!  Oh yes, Gay was also kind enough to enclose a little pack stuffed with goodies - which will appear soon!

Thanks Gay - this is lovely!

And that's all for now - I'm off to play in my craft room - still have to finish Kathryn's thank you cards, and play with a couple of challenges too.  See you tomorrow!

OLW is back .....

... after their summer break, Susan and Jennifer are back hosting One Layer Wednesday - one of the first challenges I ever took part in.  This week's challenge is being hosted by Jennifer, OLW63 - We're back baby!  Jennifer would like us to make a baby card - the usual rules apply - the main one being is that you're NOT allowed to use layers!  And this week there is a chance to win some goodies from A-muse.

Now this challenge couldn't have been better timed for me.  I told you all that when Mum went home I let her help herself to some cards from my stash - well she totally cleared me out of sympathy, wedding and baby cards.  I'm still working on replacing them.  And not only that, I need a card to welcome a new little lady to our extended family - well not directly related to me, but to my Aunt's new great niece.

Grace Madeline was born on Saturday 3rd of September - she's absolutely beautiful.  And this card is for Emma and Tony - her very proud parents.  I hope to see them all later this year.

I couldn't decide what to use for this card - I've several sweet teddy images, but going through my stamp catalogue I came across this giraffe and thought it was really cute and a bit different.  I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to position it centrally on the card.  Next I added this circle of hearts which seems just perfect for a baby card.  I inked up the both stamps with Versamark, added colour and stamped, and heat embossed with clear powder.  I coloured the image with Promarkers.  Finally I added a simple sentiment.  The card will be in the post today!

Stamps:  The Wild Ones (Giraffe) - Free with Quick Cards Made Easy; Waltzingmouse - L'il Buddies
Inks: Versamark;  Stampin' Up! - Early Espresso
Promarkers: Cerise, Baby Pink, Pale Pink, Leaf Green, Tan, Cinnamon, Terracotta, Warm Grey 1
Accessories:  Card from stash

Don't forget that today is your last opportunity to register for a chance to win my Blogversary Candy!   The link closes at midnight today and I'll be selecting the winner using Mr Random and posting details tomorrow.  That's all for now.  See you soon!

OLW57 and Less is More19 ....

.... I love it when I can combine two of my favourite challenges.  Both challenges are for cards with clean and simple designs.  The One Layer Wednesday - OLW57 challenge this week is being hosted by Jennifer at Styles Ink where the brief is Summer Holidays.  The challenge at Less is More also for a one layer card, but it needs to include a frame.

It's taken me a little while to come up with something for OLW57 - I have several lovely stamps featuring lighthouses - but that's been done.  I thought about flip-flops.  Then I decided to use a sweet little stamp that I got free with Craft Stamper - and just makes me think of beaches! And hence long hot summer holidays lying by the sea, listening to the waves and enjoying the sunshine!!  If only!  And best of all it also fits the LIM challenge as the stamp comes with it own word frame!!  It's a sweet card, pearlised ivory in colour and only measures 3" × 3".  I used two shades of brown ink; covering the whole of the image with the lighter colour and adding the darker colour to the words and edges of the shell. 

Stamp:  Sea Shells - Free with Craft Stamper Magazine
Inks:  Memento - Potters Clay, Rich Cocoa

That's my first card today - I hope to get back later with at least one more card.  This morning I'm off to my local Craft group - it's been ages since I've managed to attend, so I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone's been up to.  And, of course, to share some of my cards with them.  I do hope that today's weather is a bit more summery.  See you later.

One Layer Wednesday ....

... is being hosted by Jennifer at Styles Ink this week.  Jennifer simply wants us to make a one layer card featuring either a cat or dog or, if you feel that way inclined, both!!  "Easy peasy" she says!!  Not sure it's that easy.  Some of the cards that have already been posted are so good - with scenes and witty sentiments.  So I had to think a bit harder and have a good look through my Stamp Catalogue (it's a god send for times like this).

I've made a sweet little card featuring a funky Scottie Dog.  It's really clean and simple, but took a little while as I had to make sure that I got the positioning correct - my stamp-a-ma-jig is one of my best ever buys!  I started off with a simple black frame into which I stamped the dog image.  I decided to add a bit of colour to the dog's coat with my Promarkers.  I also added just a bit of sparkle.  Finally a simple and fun sentiment.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Frame-It; Inkadinkado - Patterned Pets
Inks:  Memento - Tuxedo Black
Promarkers:  Royal Blue, Pearl Blue
Accessories:  Card, glamour dust from stash

I've had these animal stamps for a while, so I'm pleased that I've finally managed to ink them up - thanks Jennifer.  In the set there are some cats, some dogs, a tortoise and a lizard - all rather funky, all great fun.  I may have to play again later :)

That's all for now - I'm going to be spending a while in my craft room this morning - working on Design Team cards (check back on Sunday).  And I've got to sort out Ben's room - he's coming to stay with us for a week - it'll be so nice to see him.  See you later!

Blogger and OLW ....

...  well, what can I say?  I suspect that like me, many of you missed Blogger quite a lot over the last day!!  Blogger seems to be getting better now!  At least all my posts are now back, including the one that went up just before the whole system collapsed.  I do feel sorry for the folks at Blogger who had to fix this mess - they must have been under so much pressure.  So, to all you hard working folks - thanks for getting us back on line.

And now that all the Blogger accounts are coming back on-line, I can post my somewhat delayed submission for this week's One Layer Wednesday challenge which is being hosted by Jennifer at Styles Ink.  Jennifer wants us to make a one layer card on the theme of "Home Sweet Home" and we have to use at least two different inks.  Easy I thought!!  Wrong!  Not as easy as I thought.  Then I remembered a little set of clear stamps that I purchased a while ago (whispers - "a year ago, at least") and they haven't seen ink.  So I had a rummage and pulled them out.

The next thing was to decide on colours - I decided to use my new(ish) Stampin' Up! inks - such a fabulous selection of colours.  I picked out strong, warm colours - for an ultra clean and simple design.  Here's my take on this week's challenge.

Stamps:  Stampendous - House & Home
Inks:  Stampin' Up! - Real Red, Early Expresso, Tangerine Tango

Can I say that I'm pleased with how this turned out?  I really have kept it simple, and rather sweet too!

There are some fantastic entries for this week's challenge, do visit Jennifer's blog, better yet have a go at the challenge it's fun!!

Don't forget that tomorrow is the new Less Is More challenge and today is the launch of the second challenge at CAS-ual Friday to use buttons and twine.  So I'll be back tomorrow, hopefully with a card for each of these challenges. 

Side tracked ....

... again!!  I've been reading the latest book in Jean Auel's series - The Land of Painted Caves.  It's absolutely brilliant and because I've spent all day reading my book - I've not made any cards.  I have, however, made a note of several challenges that I will get to tomorrow!!

And first among them is our new challenge for St Luke's Hospice - we hope to help raise much needed funds by making and donating (if you can spare your creation) cards to St Luke's.  Check out the blog for all the details - we already have quite a number of followers and Chrissie & Mandi have kindly mentioned the launch date too!  Our challenges are monthly and will normally be on the 1st of each month - but for obvious reasons, this time we are starting on 2nd April!!  So come back then to check out what the challenge is and to see our inspiration cards.

Other challenges for me to play are this week's Colour Q - fab colours, OLW - Jennifer has a sketch for us, and I want to play again on LIM and WMSC.  And, of course, there's this week's card for CR84FN - we have something special for you!!  So lots to look forward to.

And for those who asked - Kathryn got away on time this morning.  The bus was full of very excited children and the weather has been kind too - the sun has come out this afternoon, so hopefully the pond dipping will have gone well!

OLW45 - hex ...

... the challenge this week is being hosted by Jennifer over at Styles Ink.  Jennifer recently took a short holiday and went to Lancaster County, PA - an area that I've discovered is Pennsylvania Dutch Country - it's full of history and hex signs - and that's Jennifer's challenge this week - we have to make a one layer card inspired by a hex design.  Jennifer was kind enough to provide several links in her post explaining what hex signs are, and giving lots of examples. 

I did some reading around the subject and decided to base my card on this design . 

In the information that Jennifer provided, there was a site that gave meanings to the various symbols and colours used in hex designs, and oak leaves symbolise long life, strength and endurance.   And this is my take on the above design, similar, but I included hearts which symbolise true love, lasting love and love for others.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Blessed by You, Sweethearts
Inks:  Stampin' Up! - Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Early Expresso; Distress - Crushed Olive (Kiwi Kiss)

I've used the colours from last week's Colour Q challenge - they are just yummy.  Sadly I missed the deadline to link to the challenge, but the colours are perfect for the hex.  And I was able to use my lovely new Stampin' Up! ink spots.  I think Kiwi Kiss must be an old SU colour as it wasn't in my new inks, so I matched it to Crushed Olive.  According to the information I've read the colours mean the following;

  

• Brown - mother earth, also can mean friendship and strength
• Green - growth, fertility, success in things and ideas that grow
• Yellow - health in body & mind, love of man & the sun, connection to the God form

I have thoroughly enjoyed this challenge and learnt quite a bit about Dutch Country - someday I must pay a visit. 

That's all for now - I'm off to craft class this morning, and I'm going to have another go at making a OLW hex card.  So drop by again this evening to see what I come up with.

OLW42 - music ....

... it's Jennifer's turn to host the One Layer Wednesday challenge this week - and I'm running late with my cards, as the deadline for entry is tomorrow!!  What Jennifer would like us to make is a one layer card with a musical theme - now she's not being strict - it can be musical notes, birds, anything so long as it relates to music!    There are some fabulous cards already entered - do have a look. 

Anyhow, I wanted to make a sort of grungy, teen type card - I love the Stampin' Up! guitar player (but can't get it in the UK - yet!) - so I decided to see what I could come up with.  And I'm quite pleased - I've done two versions of "You Rock!" and a small "note" card!!

Both started off as white A6 card blanks.  On the blue version above, I stamped the guitar and sentiment with versamark and then heat embossed with black gloss powder.  I over stamped these images with some musical staves from Waltzingmouse.  I coloured the body of the guitar and the stars on the sentiment with a blue Sakura stardust pen.  Finally, I sprayed Cosmic Shimmer Mist over the whole card.  The result is a very grungy, but sparkly card!

Stamps:  Inkadinkadoo - Rockstar;  Waltzingmouse - Muscial Backgrounds
Inks:  Versamark;   Memento - London Fog
Accessories:  Embossing powder - black gloss;  Cosmic Shimmer Mist - Silver

In the card above, I stamped the guitar and sentiment in Brilliance Graphite Black and then heat embossed with clear gloss.  This time I added colour with twinkling H2Os - selecting a bright red.  Finally, I sprayed with Cosmic Shimmer Mist - but a much lighter application.  Resulting in a cleaner, less grungy card.

Stamps:  Inkadinkadoo - Rockstar; 
Inks:  Brilliance - Graphite Black
Accessories:  Embossing powder - Detail Clear;  Cosmic Shimmer Mist - Ancient Copper;  Twinkling H2Os

The next card is just a small one - a little 3" × 3" card from Papermania.  I made a square mask from a post-it note.  I stamped the WM musical background into the square, but did it at any angle.  I added a single musical note in the centre of the stamped music and a simple sentiment.  Really like this one!  Please note, this is a white card - on a blue backing sheet so that you can see the scalloped border on the car.

Stamps:  Inkadinkadoo - Rockstar;  Waltzingmouse - Musical Backgrounds,  Say it with Style
Inks:  Memento - London Fog;  Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories:  Card from stash

I didn't get into my craft room yesterday, and I didn't get to craft class this morning.  I found out late yesterday that Kathryn wasn't back to school this morning.  She's back tomorrow!!!  The teachers are having a training day today.  So my plans for a crafty day today have been a bit curtailed!!  Instead, Kathryn and I went to have our Visa photos taken (they're awful), we bought some new school shoes and had a nice lunch out!  Actually, it's been fun!  Kathryn's been having a music session on the Wii and I managed to get the cards above made. 

Before I go, I must say Hello and welcome to two new followers - Deb and Carol - so nice of you to join me! 

Hopefully, I'll get back on track with challenges from tomorrow!!  See you then.

Lots of challenges ...

... this card is for three challenges and they are:

1. The Play Date Cafe - PDCC68
2. Less Is More - One layer card with flower or tree
3. OLW40 - Two for the show

I also owe thanks to several ladies as I drew inspiration from their cards, do check out their cards they're beautiful - Leanne,  Lesley, Viv and Chrissie.

When I first saw the colours over at Play Date Cafe I was stumped - only two colours to play with, and both very soft and subtle!!  I didn't know where to start.  I eventually came up with this card - and I'm really pleased with it.  I've added the tiniest amount of green - it looks odd without!!

The base card is 5¼" square (135cm square), is soft white and has a slight texture.  I used the post-it note technique to mask off a square in the top right-hand corner.  I used distress ink to add colour - the very pretty spun sugar, intensifying the colour at the edge of the square.  And I'm pleased to say that I've managed to use some of my old, slightly neglected stamps on this card.  Both come from a set that I bought from QVC about 2 years ago - they're out of their packs so I don't know the company who made them.  I stamped both the Japanese characters and the flower in pigment ink and clear embossed them.  I added colour to the flower using shimmery chalks.  As there is no sentiment on the card, it could be used for a number of occasions.

Stamps:  From QVC set
Inks:  Distress:  Spun Sugar; Colorbox Pigment - Dune
Accessories:  Clear embossing powder

Before I finish this post - I'd like to welcome a few new followers to my blog - a big, warm Hello to Lesley, Jack and Claudia Rose.

I've just realised that it's almost 5.00pm - and it's still really light , and it's been warm and sunny today too!  - Spring is on the way!!!  But that's all for now, as I'd better go off and make tea for us all!!   I do have another card to show you - so pop back later.

OLW40 - two for the show ...

... the One Layer Wednesday challenge is being hosted by Jennifer over at Styles Ink this week.  Jennifer says the challenge is "to use two (and ONLY two) image stamps on your card. That’s right, just two. And no sentiment. You may not use each stamp more than once.  You may also use the following AND ONLY the following: heat embossing and/or markers to colour your stamped images. That means no bling, no ribbon, no hippopotamuses."  You'll have to read Jennifer's blog :)

Jennifer's Heats card - OLW40

Jennifer reckons this is a "toughie"!!  I love this challenge - it took me 20 minutes to make four cards - all the same design and entirely CASEd from Jennifer's first example card (shown above).  This was such fun!!

The background stamp I've used is the one that Jennifer sent me when I won the OLW30 challenge.  So it's really nice being able to use it on her challenge!!  Yes, I know I'm soft!  This card really is as clean and simple as it gets.  Stamp the background in colour of choice and add the tree stamp on top!!  Job done - four times :))

The actual card bases are all slightly different - smooth white, smooth cream, textured off-white and pearly off-white - and it makes a difference to how each card looks!  Not an effect that shows up well on the photos.  Also the cream and textured cards are 5¼" × 5¼" and the pearl white and smooth white are 5" × 5" - both sizes work well.  I think my favourite of the four is the blue background.  Thanks Jennifer - fabulous challenge and taking inspiration from your card really helped.  I like the layout and may be back again soon :))

Stamps:  Hero Arts - Ancient Motif (thanks Jennifer); Kanban - Autumn Silhouettes
Inks:  Versafine - Onyx Black;  Distress - Tumbled Glass, Dried Marigold, Shabby Shutters, Spun Sugar

Now, I'm not sure whether I'll be back later today - I really do have to get the ironing done - have put it off for far too long!  But the plus side is that I'll be doing it in front of the TV and QVC has a two-hour Dawn Bibby crafting show - so the ironing should fly by!!  And this evening - I'm off to the gym for the first time - eek!!  And then dinner at our local Indian restaurant.  Jonathan, his colleagues, Kathryn and I are going for a farewell dinner before Jonathan heads for India!! Yes, I know it's strange opting for an Indian meal, but I think this might be Jonathan's last meat dinner for a few months :)  I gather vegetarian meals are more popular in Mumbai.

So, I'll see you tomorrow.

OLW38 - Spring tree ...

... the challenge set by Jennifer over at Styles Ink for this week's OLW is to use a sketch.  Now, normally I don't have a problem with a sketch, but I think it's that we still had to have just one layer!!  That was a real challenge for me.

Anyway, I spent some time in my craft room yesterday afternoon and came up with my Spring Tree card - actually I'm quite pleased with it.  I did flip the sketch - it worked better for me with the tree on the left!

I used my favourite bare tree stamp from Elusive Images, only this time I was able to add some leaves and flowers!!  To make the sun I made a stencil with my Spellbinders inverted scalloped circles - it gave the sun little points!  Finally, I added a very simple greeting.

Stamps:  Elusive Images - Trees;  Greeting - don't know the company who made this one (any idea?)
Inks:  Memento - Rich Cocoa, Cottage Ivy, Pear Tart, Bamboo Leaves, New Sprout, Lulu Lavender, Lilac Posies;  Distress - Mustard Seed, Dried Marigold
Pens:  Marvy le Plume - Black, Scarlet
Spellbinders:  Lg Classic Inverted Scalloped Circles (S4-194) die #2

That's all for now.  I'll be back later with a few more challenges to show you.

OLW36 - part 2 ...

... after a bit of a struggle with the two colour challenges that I posted earlier, I've been busy in my craft roomn working on this week's One Layer Wednesday challenge, which is being hosted by Jennifer at Styles Ink.  The challenge is to use a bare tree - no leaves, blossoms, anything like that.  When the challenge was posted on Wednesday, I made a card almost immediately.  And this one has been simmering away since then!!

It is about as clean and simple as it comes.  The tree images were inked up in rich cocoa stamped, and then quickly stamped again and again - to create some depth.  And I think the verse is just beautiful - a sympathy card for my stash.

Stamps: Creative Expressions - Trees; Waltzingmouse - Words of Wisdom
Inks: Memento - Rich Cocoa
Card: Linen effect card from my stash

OLW 36 ...

... Jennifer of Styles Ink is hosting this week's OLW challenge.  It's a super challenge - Jennifer wants us to make a one layer card "using a bare tree, or bare vegetation of some kind – that means no leaves, no needles, no buds, no flowers.  You can use as many images/sentiments/colours as you like, but you must use one plant image that is “bare”.  As soon as I read the requirements I knew exactly what my card would look like.

I made a stencil using the largest die in the Spellbinders Labels 14 set and sponged  in the background sky and ground.  Then I found my wonderful, and much neglected, bare tree stamps designed by Glenda Waterworth.  Finally, I added the senitment.  Easy-peasy.  And I'm absolutely deligthed with the card.

Stamps:  Elusive Images - Bare Trees; Creative Expressions - Time
Inks: Distress - Shabby Shutters, Bundled Sage, Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky, Pumice Stone; Versafine - Black Onyx
Spellbinders:  Labels 14 (S5-22) die # 6

No cards today ...

... but I do have a lovely clean and tidy craft room.  I've finally put away various bits of stash that have been lying around the floor and tucked on shelves.  The room looks so much nicer, and it's far easier to find everything.  I've cleared some space for upcoming challenges!!

I've had two wonderful envelopes delivered to my house this week - one from Sue at A Consuming Passion - she made some lovely little crochet flowers last year; I thought they were lovely and told her so.  Sue sent me some to play with - watch this space!!  The other envelope was from Jennifer at Styles Ink - co host of the One Layer Wednesday challenge.  Last year I won a prize with this card and it arrived today.  I have a lovely new background stamp to add to my collection and some cards from Vigo Publications.  Do pop over to see their blogs - they're well worth a visit.

Anyway, that's all for now - it's late, I'm tired.  It's been a really good day.  See you tomorrow.

A couple more challenges ...

... to show you.  I've had another go at two challenges I did earlier this week.  The One Layer Wednesday challenge hosted by Jennifer at Styles Ink - I'm find this week's challenge quite tough.  We can only use one image stamp and a maximum of two colours; we can add a senitment if we want. 

I've made a really small card - 3" x 3" - and featured a butterfly stamp and some words - very clean and simple.  I coloured the butterfly with a promarker - shading to give some depth to the image.

Stamps:  Making Memories - Just Chillin' Girl
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black
Promarker:  Lipstick Red

The other challenge I had another go at was from Just Add Ink - here the theme is to "Just Add Summer".  Go through my stash box yesterday afternoon, I found a sweet stencil image that I made ages ago at craft class featuring a flower and some dragonflies.  To me that speaks of summer.  I edged the image with a bright pink felt pen and added a couple of stamped images to the card - which I coloured with Sakura Stardust pens.  Finally I added the sentiment - again speaks of summer to me!!

Stamps:  From a set in my stash (can't remember the company)
Stencil: Borrowed from a friend - coloured with chalks

It's the last day of my daughter's Christmas holiday today, so we're going to have a girly day out.  Jonathan's back to work today - not too keen!!  Hopefully, I'll be back later.  Bye for now and thanks for stopping by.

One Layer Wednesday 34 ....

... is being hosted by Jennifer Styles at Styles Ink this week.  Jennifer has called the challenge "Boot Camp" and the requirement is to use only 1 stamp (you can repeat the image), a maximum of two ink colours and a sentiment if you want to.  You may also emboss, paper piece or distress - however, there must be no added embellishments.  Jennifer reckons this one is a "toughie" - and I agree!!!

I think my mojo has run away.  I've been in my craft room all afternoon playing around, but nothing seemed to come to me.  Then about half an hour ago I remembered one of my favourite stamps -  the big Medallion stamp from Stampin' Up!  I used this a lot in my 2009 Christmas collection as well as a few other cards, so I thought I'd try it again.

Stamps:  Stampin' Up! - Medallion; Greeting - can't remember the company
Inks: Versamark;  Memento - Lady Bug
Pens:  Marvy Le Plume - Black, Persimmion
Embossing Powder:  Stampendous - Kaleidoscope

That's all for today.  Do drop by again.

OLW32 - ages, part 2 ...

... I've had another go at my niece's 10th birthday card.  I like the one I made earlier, but it is a bit small and subtle.  I think that when you go into double figures you need to be loud and proud about it.  So I had a bit of a think and came up with another age card for this week's OLW challenge of ages being hosted by Jennifer at Styles Ink.

Stamps:  Elusive Images - Big Flowers;  Hobby Art - Happy Birthday
Inks:  Memento - Rose Bud; Distress - Worn Lipstick, Spun Sugar
Pens:  Promarkers - various
Accessories:  Ribbon from stash

This time the card is anything but subtle!!!  It's A5 in size.  I found some number templates which I over stamped with these wonderful flowers, designed by Glenda Waterworth, and coloured the flowers with Promarkers.  I found these lovely ribbons in my ribbon box and they matched the colour of the flowers.  I added some interest to the card by inking the edges with Worn Lipstick and Spun Sugar.  Finally, using my stamp-a-ma-jig (Stampin' Up!) I positioned the birthday greeting.  Result - really pleased with this card.  I think it's suitably big and bright for a 10th birthday!

I know I went into my craft room to make Christmas cards, but this idea wouldn't budge - so I had to make it.  Christmas cards tomorrow!!!

OLW32 - ages ...

... I'm going to admit it right up front.  The challenge that Jennifer of Styles Ink has set for this week's OLW card is to make an "age" card, so I've cheated a bit.  I made a card on Monday for my niece - she's going to be 10 in a couple of weeks.  It's a simple one-layer card, with minimal embellishment - so it fits the rules and I'm going to submit for the challenge.  And because I'm sooo behind on my challenges!!  Actually I'm quite pleased with it - so here it is:

I will also try to make a new "age" card later this week.  I hope to post some cards again soon - but life has got so busy here.  Be safe.