Easter Simplicity

.... Good afternoon! It's been a lovely day here in Northop Hall - blue skies and sunshine, but a cold wind. I've been doing my usual - working in my craft room. I finished my last Easter card - this one is for our son, Ben. Here's the card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps (closed) - Free Spirit Boy, Compact Sentiments; Gina K - Handmade Holidays

Inks: Versamark; Gina K - Blue Raspberry, Blue Denim, Key Lime, Lucky Clover, Soft Stone; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Spellbinders - Nested Eggs (S4-264) #2; Gina K - Handmade Holidays

Accessories: White Card; Clear Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#533 - they have a sketch this week, and to CAS on Friday - CASOF#279 - where the theme is Easter.

I was having a bit of struggle trying to decide what to make for Ben's card, then when I saw the sketch, I knew that it would have to be six funky Easter eggs. I stamped the large Free Spirit circle image in Versmark ink and embossed with clear powder - I did two images. I coloured one with blue inks and the other with green inks. I used a small Easter egg die to cut out three of each and added them to a plain white A2 note card. I finished the front with a simple Easter greeting in black ink.

For the inside, I cut a couple of pieces of white card. On the larger piece I lightly brushed on blue ink. On the smaller piece I stamped the large circle image in soft grey ink and added a bold greeting in black ink. I layered the panels together and adhered them inside the card.

The Free Spirit Boy stamp set is from Waltzingmouse Stamps and is one of my all time favourite sets. I've used it often to make cards for Ben. 

On my last post, I mentioned that I was going to have some blonde highlights in my hair and promised a photo. Here it is:

I'm so pleased how the colour has come out. I love, love the bright blue, pink and green that I had over Christmas, but it takes so much to keep it looking nice (and it's expensive too, so it was time to go back to more 'normal' colours. That's all for today. Bye for now.

RSD's December Showcase ....

.... Good morning!  It's time for the December showcase of Rick St Dennis's fabulous digi images.  Each month Rick gives us a theme and the team (sometimes all, sometimes a few) is free to pick an image from his extensive collection to showcase.  The theme this month is Valentine - a nice change of pace from all the Christmas and Creepmas cards I've been sharing recently.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digi - Valentine Turtle; Waltzingmouse - Compact Sentiments; Uniko Studio - Always & Forever
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Real Red; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Classic Scalloped Heart (S4-137) #5, Classic Heart (S4-136) #5
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Real Red; My Mind's Eye DP - Kiss and Tell; Copic Markers

I've a fondness for Rick's turtles (you've seen his Halloween and Christmas ones here before) and I think this Valentine Turtle (available at Rick's Zibbet shop) is so cute.  I printed her on white card, coloured her with Copic markers and then fussy cut her out.  I edged the image with black marker.  I cut a couple of mat layers in red and this pretty pink design paper.  I used my heart dies to cut a red scalloped mat for the white panel.  I adhered the turtle with some dimensional tape under the feet and then glued it flat to the heart.  I finished the front with this fun sentiment.  On the inside I cut a mat layer in pink design paper and on the white panel added some hearts.  I left the middle blank for my message.

Do check out our Sparkle and Glitter blog to see some more Valentine showcase pieces from the team.  Bye for now.

WMSFC - Theme Birthday/Anniversary ....

.... Hello again!  I'm back with my card for our challenge at Waltzingmouse Fanatics.  Our challenge is ONE YEAR OLD today!!!  Happy Birthday to us.  With it being our 1st Anniversary, we thought that we'd keep the theme simple, so we'd like to see your creations using at least one Waltzingmouse image, sentiment or digi on the theme:

BIRTHDAY/ANNIVERSARY

I decided to make a bright and cheerful birthday card - here it is:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Compact Sentiments, Dainty Doilies 2 Small, Happy Hello Thanks
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Archival - Jet Black; Stampin' Up! - Melon Mambo
Dies: Waltzingmouse - Picot Panel
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Pumpkin Pie; SU DP - Daffodil Delight; Copic Markers; Glitter

I used a couple of other challenges in the making of this card.  I used the colours from Colour Throwdown - CTD#308 (they are just fab) and I used the layout from Freshly Mades Sketches - FMS#152.  I decided to play with the new Picot Panel die and make the sentiment the main focus of the card.  I cut the backing panel in orange and used Claire's tip to make sure that the frame stayed attached.  Then I die cut a piece of yellow design paper and stamped the sentiment in the centre.  I didn't keep any of the little orange or yellow dots, instead I filled the holes with pink glitter (which you can just about see in the photo) - it adheres to the cellotape on the back of the orange mat layer.  I made the horizontal panel using the same colours, but a different design paper.  I felt the card was a bit bare so I added the lovely lace doily above the horizontal panel and coloured it with Copic markers.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of yellow design paper and on the white panel I added sme fancy corners, coloured to match the front of the card and stamped a bold sentiment.  I used the new Happy Hello Thanks set - love the font.  I stamped the big happy once and then again slightly offset to create a shadow and then added the birthday.  Done!

For this challenge we are joined by our special Guest Designer - Jeanne Jachna (A Kept Life).  Like Tara and I, Jeanne is a big Waltzingmouse Stamps fan as well as being on Claire's Design Team.  Jeanne is offering a fabulous prize for the winner of this challenge - a set of Fine Feathers stamps AND the matching dies!!!  How great is that? 

Don't forget to visit Tara and Jeanne for more inspiration cards.  Just a quick reminder that your project MUST include at least one Waltzingmouse stamp, sentiment or digi image (or freebie).  You have until Thursday 18th September 10.00pm GMT (6.00pm EDT) to submit your creations.  If you know other Waltzingmouse fans - tell them about the challenge - have fun!!!  See you soon.

WMSFC - Colours ....

.... Hello again!  It's time for our new challenge at Waltzingmouse Fanatics and we've some wonderful summer colours for you to play with.  As always your creation must use at least one Waltzingmouse image, digi or sentiment.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - French Country, Country Label No 4, Compact Sentiments
Inks: Memento - Grey Flannel
Dies: Spellbinders - Labels 4 (S4-190) #5
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Copics

You might recognise the layout of this card, it's the same one that I used for my 52CCT card!  I like the layout at CAS(E) this Sketch - CTS#80, it really is very versatile.  I used the lovely border stamp from French Country to make my own ribbon, stamping directly on the card and colouring with Copic markers - I've managed to use five of the six colours too!!  I stamped the label onto white card and coloured the corners to match the flowers on the ribbon, then cut it out with the matching die.  I finished the card with a fun sentiment and some cute little flowers.  The inside is blank, but I will be doing something later.

Don't forget to check out Tara's card to see what she's made using these colours.  You have until Thursday 26th June, 5.00pm BST (Noon EDT) to play along.  We are really looking forward to seeing your work.  That's all for now -I'm off to a craft class today - will share photos later.  Have a great weekend.

WMSFC - Sketch .....

.... Hello everyone!  I'm sorry this post is rather late, but I'm only now beginning to get back to my normal routine after spending 5 weeks with my Mum here!  We had such a great time, but my crafting did rather fall by the wayside!!!  Anyway, as they say, better late than never!  Our challenge at Waltzingmouse Fanatics is sketch for you to play with.  I have to admit that it did make me think a bit, but here's what I made:

Stamps: WMS - Compact Sentiments, Playful Pinwheels, Vintage Labels 25, French Country
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black; Stampin' Up! - Tangerine Tango, Bermuda Bay
Dies: Spellbinders - Labels 25 (S5-077) #4; Gift Card It Die
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Copics; Vellum; Cuttlebug EF - Swiss Dots; Wink of Stella Brush Clear

I used the lovely bright colours from Colour Q - cQc#243.  I stamped the border image from French Country and coloured it with Copic markers, cut the length to fit and then rounded the corners.  I stamped this stunning frame in Bermuda Bay and cut it out with the matching Spellbinder die.  Next I used my Gift Card die to cut the vellum rectangle and embossed it with the dotty pattern.  I coloured the reverse with Copic markers.  I finished the front with a fun windmill (pinwheel).  I stamped the image twice and used the little filler stamps to colour it.  I cut out both layers and adhered the top layer with dimensional tape, I also added some sparkle to the top layer using the Wink of Stella brush.  I finished the windmill by adhering it to a stick.  I finished with a bold thanks sentiment.  Here's a close up of the centre of the windmill - you can see the glitter shimmer really well.

You have plenty of time to join in with our Waltzingmouse Fanatics challenge, the deadline for submission is Thursday 12th June, 8.00pm GMT (3.00pm EDT).  There are a couple of  requirements, one is that your project uses the sketch and the other is that you must use at least one Waltzingmouse image, sentiment or digi on your project.  Can't wait to see what you make!

That's all for now.  I'm off back to my craft room to play - so much to catch up on.  See you soon.

WMSFC - Colours ....

...  Hello again, I'm back with our new challenge at Waltzingmouse Fanatics and this time it's colours.  I think the colours we've picked are absolutely gorgeous - bold, bright and vibrant.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Crackle Background, Compact Sentiments
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Colourbox Pigment - Apple Green
Dies: WMS - You're A Doll; Lil' Inkers - Stitched Squares #4; Die-namics - Mini Delicate Doilies. Fishtail Flags Layers Stax #2
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Concord Crush, Summer Starfruit, Crisp Cantaloupe; SU DP - Calypso Coral; Vellum; Promarker; Gems

Along with our lush colours, I used the layout from this week's My Favourite Things Wednesday Sketch Club - MFTWSC#174.  I made the card base from Concord Crush (a really wonderful purple) and cut a panel of white card to go onto top.  I stamped the crackle background in apple green and inked the edges of the panel before adhering it to the card.  I used the Lil' Inkers stitched squares to cut the square panel and adhered it to the card.  I cut the flag banner using my Die-namic fishtail flags - cutting both ends to give a double fishtail.  I used one of the mini doilies to cut three vellum doilies which I coloured with a dark green Promarker.  I finished the front with a flower die cut from two shades of coral, some gems and a simple sentiment.  For the inside I cut a mat layer of Crisp Cantaloupe and a white panel, which I left blank for a message.

For more inspiration using our colours - check out Tara's card and leave some love!  You have plenty of time to join in with the fun, the deadline for submission is Thursday 15th May, 5.00pm BST (Noon EDT).  As always your creation must include at least one Waltzingmouse image, sentiment or digi.  Really looking forward to seeing your creations.

I hope you all have a super weekend.  Today is Jonathan's 50th Birthday Party - should be lots of fun!  Hopefully, I'll get time to pop in again on Sunday.  Bye for now.

52CCT - Sketch ....

... Good morning!  It's my turn to host our challenges at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - I had such a great time picking out the challenges and I hope you enjoy them.  As it's the first Saturday of the month, it is our sketch.  Here's my take:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Festive Foliage, Compact Sentiments
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Pear Pizzazz, Crumb Cake
Dies: WMS - Mistletoe Dies
Accessories: White Lustre Card; My Mind's Eye DP - Snowed In (FOC with Cardmaking & Papercraft); Copics; Glossy Accents; Cuttlebug EF - Swiss Dots; Vellum; Baker's Twine

I had lots of fun designing the sketch and hope you like it.  I have used the theme of mistletoe from this week's Merry Monday - # MM#102 challenge as I wanted to use the WMS mistletoe stamp and die.  And, while going through my stash, I came across this pretty paper which also has mistletoe images.  I cut a piece of the paper to cover the card and embossed the stitched pattern.  I didn't want to hid the backing paper, so I cut my vertical panel from vellum, embossed a dotty texture and adhered it to the card.  I stamped the mistletoe on white card, coloured the berries with Copics and cut it out with the matching die.  I tied on some Baker's twine and adhered the mistletoe with dimensional tape.  I added some glossy accents to the berries, which you can just about see in the photo above.  For the inside I used another piece of the design paper and on the white panel stamped some more mistletoe and a Christmas greeting.

Our Guest Designer this month is Pat Couder (Created by Pat) - she makes fabulous cards; she also does scrapbook pages and photography too - a very creative lady!  For more inspiration with this sketch check out Pat's card and those from the rest of the team.  I'm really looking forward to seeing what you make this week.  Bye for now!

Easter card ....

... Good afternoon.  It's very grey here today, which isn't helping me much as I'm feeling really rough.  However, I've managed to make a clean, simple Easter card to share with you and to go into my stash:

Stamps: Uniko Studio - Bright Butterflies; Waltzingmouse - Compact Sentiments; Splat That
Inks: Brilliance - Peacock; Stampin' Up! - Marina Mist
Dies: US - Bright Butterflies
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Certainly Celery; Vellum; Gems

I've used several challenges to make this card, they are:

• CAS(E) this Sketch! - CTS#71 - sketch
• Uniko Studio Challenge - USC#8 - Colours & Hello Spring
• Time Out Challenge - TOC#2 - Home Sweet Home photo inspiration
• The Card Concept - CC#7 - Butterfly theme

I love the colours in the Uniko Studio graphic, that was the start of this card, butterflies appear are in both Card Concept and the Time Out graphics and when I saw the sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch - it all fell into place! I made the card base from pale green card and cut a white panel to go on top.  I stamped a spatter pattern using Brilliance inks (they have a subtle shimmer).  I stamped the sentiment, made the little banner and adhered it to the card.  I stamped the butterflies, using Brilliance ink, on to white card and again on vellum and used the matching dies to cut them out.  I attached one butterfly flat to the card and then used dimensional gel to adhere the vellum overlay.  I finished the front with a few gems.  On the inside, I cut another white panel and stamped some flowers and added a couple more vellum butterflies. 

That's all for today - I'm going to make a nice hot cup of coffee, wrap myself in a blanket and curl up to watch a movie.  See you soon!

Best of luck ....

... Good morning!  This morning's card came about because I've been re-organising how I store my cards.  I used to put them into a large box, but it wasn't working.  So I decided to re-purpose the recipe box that I made last year (and didn't actually put any recipes in) into a card storage box.  It's just the right size for all but the largest cards.  I've made little dividers so that I can easily find cards for specific occasions.  One of the sections that I have is for New Home, but it's empty, so this is what I made:

Stamps: Stampendous - House & Home; Waltzingmouse - Compact Sentiments
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Pool Party, Island Indigo, Calypso Coral
Dies: Lil' Inkers - Stitched Rectangles #2 & 5
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Island Indigo; Brown Twine

It's been a while since I played along with CASology - CAS#88 and Addicted to CAS - ATCAS#34, and, as luck would have it, they have the same theme LUCKY/LUCK.  Did you see what I did there?  Sorry!  I've used the colours from CAS - Colours and Sketches - CASC&S#66.  My best of luck card is for moving into a new home.  I used the stitched rectangle to die cut a white panel and in the centre I embossed a smaller stitched rectangle.  I adhered the white panel to a dark teal mat, leaving a very narrow border.  I stamped the sentiment in dark teal.  I stamped a couple of house keys onto white card, fussy cut them, tied them together with twine and adhered them to the card with dimensional tape.  On the inside I have a mat layer of dark teal and on the white panel a simple greeting and another house key.

Yesterday morning I was checking through various challenges and saw, to my huge delight, that I'm the Featured Stamper at The Colour Throwdown with my very CAS birthday card - this one here:

I am thrilled to bits.  I love the clean and simply style of card making and I try very hard to achieve good CAS cards, sometimes it works and sometimes not so much!  But I did it with this one.  I think you could have heard my happy dance around the world :))  I think taking the Clean & Simple 3 class has helped a lot!!   That's all for now.  See you soon.