Shades of purple ....

... Good afternoon!  It's been a busy weekend for family Frings.  Jonathan and I were both at a photo shoot yesterday afternoon - it was such fun and I'll post a few photos here later.  After the shoot we all headed to our friend, Kirsten.  She and her family moved to Michigan from Australia earlier in the summer, so this is their first experience of Halloween in the US!  Kirsten's two young boys, and the rest of the team, had fun scooping out pumpkin innards and cutting designs into pumpkins.  I was one of those busy cutting and getting messy, while Jonathan had the easy job of taking photos!  Again, I'll post a few of those later.  We finished the party with warm pumpkin pie and cream - it was such fun!

My card today, has been made with a couple of challenges in mind:

• Dynamic Duos - DD#76
• The Sweet Stop - SSS234

 

 

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Flower Shop, Pursuit of Happiness
Inks: SU - Wisteria Wonder, Perfect Plum, Smoky Slate; Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories: SU Card - Wisteria Wonder; SU DP - Perfect Plum; White Lustre Card; Sakura Stardust Pen; SU Marker - Perfect Plum; SU Punch - Pansy; Gems

I've used the sketch from The Sweet Stop - sadly it is their very last challenge and while I've not played often, I have always enjoyed the sketches they provided.  As soon as I saw this sketch I knew which stamps I would use.  I created the background by randomly stamping three of the flowers over the card.  I cut a panel of design paper, tearing the bottom and inking for definition.  On the white panel I stamped more flowers and this time added some sparkle with a Sakura Stardust pen.  I stamped a few more flowers on scrap card and design paper, punched them out and added gems and sparkle.  All were added to the card with pinflair gel.  I finished the front with this lovely sentiment - telling us to stop and be happy!  The inside is simply a mat in Wisteria Wonder and white card on which I stamped a few more flowers.

I know that last night and this morning a huge storm hit the UK and that there have been several deaths, and over 500,000 homes left without power.  According to news reports the storm has now moved on, I do hope that all my UK friends are safe and well.  Take care and I'll see you tomorrow.

You're a Doll ....

... I think I may have mentioned that we're having a wonderful Indian summer here in Northville; yesterday was fabulous!  We had blue skies and lots of sunshine, the only thing is that the days are so much shorter now.  I'm not sure how much longer it's going to last, but I'm going to enjoy it!

This morning I've a sweet little card to share with you - little being the word, it's only 3½" × 5".  I've used a few challenges to make it:

• CASE Study - CSC#161
• Dynamic Duos - DD#74
• The Sweet Stop - SSS232

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - You're a Doll
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Up! - Calypso Coral
Accessories:  White Lustre Card; SU DP - So Saffron, Calypso Coral; Promarkers - Pastel Yellow, Peach; Copics - E00, R17

 
The October Muse is Elena Roussakis - don't you just love the Matryoshka dolls?  Well, there was only one set of stamps that I could use for my card.  I used the layout from this week's Sweet Stop challenge and the colours are from Dynamic Duos - so pretty!  I started off by cutting some panel in design paper and adhered them to the card base.  I stamped the image onto white card and then coloured with Promarkers, matching them to the DD colours and then cut out the doll.  I layered it onto some white card and finished off the front with a fun sentiment.  For the inside I cut a mat of coral design paper and on the white panel, stamped a tiny Matryoshka doll.
 

I'm so pleased to have Jonathan back home - I like being on my own, but it's so much nicer to have him here.  He had a good time in San Francisco and has taken some wonderful photos of the Golden Gate bridge at sunrise.  However, Jonathan's trip to Muir Woods to see the Giant Redwood trees was cancelled because the park is closed.  The down side to all the trips away is the washing, and once again my ironing basket is piled high - guess I'm going to be ironing today :)  That's all for now.  See you soon.

Book worm ....

... Hi!  I can hardly believe it's already Wednesday - the week is simply flying by.  This morning's card features the cutest little bookworm, why?  Well, I just love books of all varieties.  I made this card using a couple of challenges:

• The Sweet Stop - SSS222 - layout
• Less is More - LIM131 - colours

Stamps:  Sweet 'n' Sassy Stamps - Bookmark Bits & Pieces; Invoke Arts - Dream
Inks: Stampin' Up! - So Saffron, Crushed Curry, Baked Brown Sugar, Early Espresso
Accessories: SU Card - Naturals White, Baked Brown Sugar; SU Blender Pen

It's been a while since I played along with The Sweet Stop challenge, but as I was lucky enough to meet Korin and Dan Sutherland (owners of Sweet 'n' Sassy) at the Heirloom Stamp Show last week and picked up that last set of Bookmark Bits & Pieces, I had to play with it.  I believe it's one of the new sets coming out shortly.

The colours over at Less is More are not my favourite, but the whole point of a challenge is to make us work out of our comfort zone.  I decided to use the lovely Naturals White card to make the base (like the flecks in the card).  I stamped the cute bookworm onto Naturals White card and coloured him with SU inks using my blender pen.  I really like this quote and it works well with the bookworm image.  I layered them onto some Baked Brown Sugar (one of the new SU in-colours).  The big "dream" sentiment is part of my in Invoke Arts stamp.

For the inside I used another of the verses and added the owl image (just love owls).  I think the owl is perfect for this card to do with reading and learning; the owl is traditionally associated with Athena the Goddess of Wisdom.

That's all for now - I'm off to get the rest of the washing sorted out!  I do wish I had a magic wand that I could wave and all the housework stuff would be done.  Then I could play for hours!!  Well, I might do that anyway :)))  See you soon.

100 Years old .....

... Hello!  On Friday I showed you the card I'd made for my Mum to send to her "adopted" Dad.  Well, this morning I'm showing you the one I've made to send to "Granddad".  Sadly, all my grandparents have passed on, but my Aunt's father was very happy to take on my Mum and me.  So this is for him - I used a few challenges to make it:

• The Sweet Stop - SSS206
• Just Add Ink - JAI161
• CASology - CAS39 - cue word "Travel"

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - The Open Sea, Memorable Moments, Layered Labels
Inks: SU - Midnight Muse, Rich Razzleberry, More Mustard, Sahara Sand
Dies: PTI - Tag Sale #3
Accessories: SU Card - Midnight Muse, More Mustard; SU DP - More Mustard; SU Ribbon - Rich Razzleberry; SU Markers - Midnight Muse, Rich Razzleberry; Cream Lustre Card, Button, twine and ribbon from stash;

I think the colours for this week's Just Add Ink challenge are perfect for a masculine card.  I layered Midnight Muse card and More Mustard design paper together, added some Rich Razzleberry ribbon and adhered the panel to the card base with dimensional tape.  I die cut the tag from cream card and stamped a number of travel related images randomly over it - I used the second impression to give a softer look.  I carefully pencilled in lines to ensure that the sentiment and numbers were straight!  I finished off the tag with some blue ribbon from my stash that is an almost exact match to Midnight Muse and tied it with some twine.  The final touch on the front was a button tied with twine.


For the inside, I kept it really simple with a mat layer in More Mustard and a simple greeting which I coloured with SU markers.  This will be going in the post tomorrow morning - and should get to "Granddad" in plenty of time for his 100th birthday.

You know, last week I thought that spring had finally arrived, but I was wrong.  I went for a walk yesterday afternoon - it started out reasonably nice with a bit of sunshine.  But as I walked around the estate, it got greyer and greyer and colder and colder.  Then it started to snow - just little flakes at first.  Just after I got in it started to snow - coming in horizontally!!!!  I know that we've had it really easy by comparison with some areas - but I think it's past time for spring to really show up!!

Sorry about the moan - but I feel better now ;))  See you soon.

Pastel thanks .....

..... Good morning to you all - it's glorious here today.  I've had a really good morning doing stuff in the house and crafting too!  The inspiration for my card came from a beauty that I saw this morning - designed by the very talented Michelle Bala.  I have CASEd Michelle's card - using the same stamp but in softer pastel colours and with a different sentiment.  It's actually for three challenges:

• The Ribbon Reel Challenge - RR42 - Inspiration photo - pastel Christmas
• The Sweet Stop Challenge - SSS186
• Do You Stack Up? - DYSU100 - theme is thanks

Stamps: Hero Arts - Ancient Motif; CAS-ual Friday Stamps - Big Thanks
Inks: Distress - Spun Sugar, Shabby Shutters, Milled Lavender, Tumbled Glass; Versamark
Dies: Spellbinders - Lacey Squares (S4-295) #3
Accessories:  Crochet flower from Sue Walsh; Gems and ribbon from stash; Cream Lustre card - Stampeddlar

Michelle's card

The inspiration photo from Ribbon Reel is just gorgeous and I was intending to make a Christmas card, but as I've cased the design from Michelle, I wanted to change the theme and the Big Thanks sentiment fit perfectly in the square.  Hope this is okay girls ;)

I stamped the image four times in soft pastel tones and cut the square focusing on the scroll pattern.  I cut the lacey square in cream card and added these pretty gems, I adhered the sentiment into the centre using dimensional tape.  I finished off with this pretty crocheted flower which I got from Sue Walsh - sadly it is the last one!  I added a ribbon and a couple of gems.  And here's a picture of  Michelle's original card.

I did notice on the Ribbon Reel blog that Michelle is joining the DT - so pleased for her and the rest of the girls too!  And on another note, sadly Do You Stack Up? will be closing at the end of December - sorry to see it finish, but there's still time to play.  Well that's all for me today - I still have quite a few Christmas cards to make, as well as a number of birthday cards.  January is a big month for birthdays in our family and I need to get them made before Christmas!!  See you soon.

A visit from St Nicholas ....

....  Hi!  It's a gorgeous day here - the sun is shining, there are blue skies and Obama is still President - all is well with the world!!  We had a good evening watching the results come in last night - early on both sides seemed really positive, but by midnight it was pretty obvious that Obama had won.  I know we couldn't vote, but we do enjoy a good election.

I have a traditional Christmas card for you today.  I've used two challenges to make it, but it also works for our traditional theme over at St Luke's Charity Card Challenge.

• Dynamic Duos - DD27 - Bold and Sassy
• Sweet Stop Sketches - SSS183

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Twas the Night Before Christmas, Vintage Ornaments, Nordic Winter

Inks: Stampin' Up! - Gumball Green, Raspberry Ripple

Spellbinders: Beaded Ovals (S4-294) # 4, Ovals Sm (S4-112) # 5

Accessories:  SU Card - Gumball Green, Raspberry Ripple; SU Ribbon - Gumball Green; Card and gems from stash

I made my own background for the base of the card, I simply stamped this border in Gumball Green (I like the new SU ink pads - very juicy and give great coverage).  I stamped the St Nick poem in green and layered onto raspberry ripple card; I added a very subtle candle holder in the top corner.  I used my Spellbinder dies to cut the beaded oval and white mat.  I stamped the bauble in green and added a sweet bow in the matching ribbon, which I also added to the card base.  I finished off with some crystal gems! 

I decorated the inside of the card too - I used green and white to make the layers.  I stamped the second impression of the poem and added Santa and his sleigh (3rd impression) and a cute mouse.

I really like these new colours from Stampin' Up! - absolutely perfect for traditional green and red cards for Christmas.  Bye for now - off to sort out the laundry!!!

Let it Snow!! ....

.... so you've probably guessed that today's card is a Christmas card.  It is!  I've made this card for three challenges:

• The Sweet Stop Sketch - SSS179
• Jingle Belles - JB12-21 - Pink Christmas as it is Brest Cancer Awareness month
• Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge - WMSCCC08-12 - August where we have to incorporate a song title or phrase into our card
• Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge - WMSCCC10-12 - to think Pink!!!

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Compliments of the Season; Inkadinkadoo - Snowflake Flurry

Inks:  Memento - Grey Flannel; Versamark

Spellbinders:  2010 Snowflake Pendant (S4-286), Create-a-Flake 3 (S4-340), Snowflake Wonder (S4-085), Petit Ovals Sm (S4-140) #1, Rectangles Lg (S4-132) #4, Rectangles Sm (S4-130) #5

Accessories:  DCWV - Rose Tinted 6"×6" Christmas Papers; SU Vintage Brad; Marvy le Plume II Blush Pink Pen;  Holographic card and card from stash

I've had this DCWV Christmas paper for ages; I really like it and, as the theme at Jingle Belles is to have a pink card - it's absolutely perfect.  Love the layout from Sweet Stop too.  I used lots of different Spellbinder dies in this card to cut the snowflakes, the mats and the sentiment.  The snowflake flurry was stamped in Versamark topped with Grey Flannel and then heat embossed with clear powder.  I edged the snowflakes with a very pale pink to give a hint of shadow.  I'm busy catching up with the Waltzingmouse Christmas Card challenges too - this one is the August challenge to feature a Christmas song or phrase - "let it snow!".  And I decorated the inside too.

Edited:  I've JUST seen that October challenge at Waltzingmouse is to "THINK PINK" - I'm not sure whether Lynn will let me get away with this, but I'm including this one for October as well as August!!!  :)))

I'm not sure that I'm going to be making a lot more of this one - but it was fun to make.  I need to make a lot more very CAS (and quite flat) cards for posting to the UK!  That's all for now.  See you soon.

Picture perfect .....

...  Good morning to you - it's another beautiful day here in Northville!  Don't you always feel better when the sun shines?  I know I do.  I've got a couple of things to share this morning - the first is a card for two challenges:

• Charisma Cardz Challenge - CCC38 - where the team would like something for the GUYS!
• The Sweet Stop Sketch - SSS178 

Stamps:  There She Goes - Oh Snap!
Inks:  Memento - Tuxedo Black, Peanut Brittle
Accessories:  We Are Memory Keepers - Travel Light DP (free with Simply Cards & Papercraft); Promarkers - Warm Greys 1 - 5, Spice, Marsh Green; SU Card - Early Espresso; Card from stash

I think I may have mentioned (a few times) that my hubby, Jonathan, is a very keen photographer.  This card is for him.  He's off on a business trip shortly to Las Vegas (I don't get it either) and in his free time he'll be taking photos - lots of photos!!!  This card came together really quickly.  The backing paper is actually one sheet from the Travel Light pack cut to fit the card base.  I added the dark brown panel.  I stamped the camera, pin tacks and film roll onto white card, coloured them with Promarkers and cut them out.  Do you remember real film??  I made a backing panel for the main camera image with another of the smaller images from the set, using the second impression to give a subtle finish.  I added the sentiment by gently bending one of the greetings in the set to fit into the curve of the film.

I told you yesterday that Kathryn and I would be baking cookies and muffins - we did it!  The smell was so delicious that it was hard to resist temptation.  To be fair, I let Kathryn have a couple of cookies :)  Kathryn did all the preparation and making, I simply packaged!!  Here's a photo of our goodies.  I'm taking them to school today and the sale is tomorrow.

We made enough cookies for three plates of six, and the same for the blueberry muffins.  I have to own up to the fact that we did cheat a bit - they are packet mixes!!

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Faux Fun Circles, Gingham & Co
Inks: Distress - Pine Needles; Big 'n' Juicy - Spice
Spellbinders: Circles Sm (S4-116) #4, Crown Circles (S4-302) #3
Accessories:  SU - circle punch; Card from stash

I do anything very fancy for the packaging.  The muffins and cookies have been put into sealed zip-loc bags and placed on plates.  I made the paper bands by stamping a large sheet of brown card with the small gingham print, cutting 1½" strips and fitting them around the plates.  I prepared the labels on the computer using some clip art and text, punching them out with a circle punch and layering onto two circles.

Have a super day - see you soon!

Trick or treat ....

... Evening all!!!  I've had a busy day today.  This morning I had my driving test in order to get a Michigan driving licence.  Thank goodness, I PASSED!!!  I now have all my American ID - a social security number and a driving licence - I exist!!!!  After my test we headed to Northville to check out the Victorian Festival - small, but fun.  We came home with a cherry pie and a very nice brie wrapped in pastry and cherries to bake, I'm saving that for Thanksgiving.

While browsing the Internet this afternoon I came across a sketch challenge that I'd missed!!  Don't know how that happened.  Not only does The Sweet Stop have a fab sketch, but they are also having an Open Design Team Call - so I'm throwing my card into the hat!!  I've actually used two challenges to make this card:

• The Sweet Stop - SSS177 - great sketch and Open DT Call
• The Play Date Cafe - PDCC150 - super warm, rich autumnal colours

I decided to use the Play Date colours to make my second Halloween card - I need to make a few this year; some so that Kathryn can send them to the UK for her friends and some for her friends here.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Hocus Pocus, Oval Classic Frames, Heirloom Patterns, Very Vintage Labels 10, Gracie at Halloween

Inks:  Distress - Barn Door, Vintage Photo, Wild Honey, Antique Linen

Spellbinders:  Labels 10 (S5-022) #3, Petit Ovals Sm (S4-140) #2, Nested Lacey Pennants (S5-029)

Accessories:  Gems and card from stash

I created the background pattern using my stamp-a-ma-jig and two stamps.  I inked up the wreath stamp, stamped off onto scrap paper, and then stamped on the card and repeated until finished.  I used the same method to stamp the filigree cross.  I used my blender tool to add a touch of colour to the edge of the card.  I made the ribbons by cutting panels of white card and using the blender tool to add colour, then over stamping each panel with a different pattern.  I like this tone on tone effect.  To make the sentiment pennant I used my Spellbinder die, inked it while still in the die and then stamped the sentiment.  I stamped this pretty labels 10 frame and then cut it out with the die, while still in the die I added some colour.  I stamped Gracie onto white card and cut out a section with my Spellbinder die.  I coloured the image with Promarkers to match, as closely as possible, the distress inks.  I finished off by adding two gems.

That's all for now.  It's almost time for our favourite TV programme of the week - Dr Who!!!  We get to see the show a few hours after it has aired in the UK!  Such fun.  See you tomorrow with my second card for CR84FN63.