52CCT - Technique & DT Call ....

.... Morning! It's time for our new challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown (52CCT42-16) and we have a really fun technique for you. Kaja has picked EMBOSSING - you can you dry embossing or heat embossing. I've used both on my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Cabin Plaid Background, Tis The Season, Folk Art Christmas Additions
Inks: Kaleidacolor - Fruitcake; Versafine - Onyx Black; Delicata - Golden Glitz; Versamark
Dies: WMS - Folk Art Christmas
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! DP - Cherry Cobbler; Cuttlebug EF - Snowflakes; Embossing Powder - Silver, Gold Tinsel

I've used one of my all time favourite stamps on this card - the plaid background from Waltzingmouse Stamps - sadly this is no longer available. I used a Kaleidacolor inkpad to give this wonderful ombre festive background. I dry embossed a scrap of white card with some snowflakes and then cut them to size. I added a touch of gold to the embossed snowflakes. I stamped the bell in Versamark and added silver and gold tinsel powder and heat embossed - I love the shimmer this gives. I cut the bell out with the co-ordinating die. I finsihed the front with a bold Christmas sentiment from Waltzingmouse. This set, Tis The Season, is available from Gina K Designs as Claire Brennan now designs for Gina. On the inside I cut a mat layer of dark red design paper and on the white panel added a greeting and a gold bell.

I'm playing along with Merry Monday - MM#218 where they want to see plaids. And also with Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#259 as I used their sketch for the layout.

Do visit our blog to see more inspiration from the rest of the Design Team. Just a reminder that we are having a DT Call - do check the blog for full details. That's all for now!

52CCT - Technique ....

.... Hello, good morning!  Surprise, two days in a row!  It's time for our new challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT08-16.  This week we have a technique for you to try - STENCILLING.  You can stencil the background or make it the main feature of your card.  I decided to stencil a background:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Folk Art Christmas Additions
Inks: Versamark; Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress - Lucky Clover, Cracked Pistachio, Twisted Citron
Dies: WMS - Folk Art Christmas; Die-namics - Wonky Rectangle Stax #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Wild Wasabi; Silver Embossing Powder; Dylusion Stencil - Christmas

I've gone with the theme of bells, which just happens to be the challenge at this week's Merry Monday - MM#193.  I stencilled some bells around the edge of the card using three shades of Distress ink and a Dylusions stencil.  I cut a panel of green card with a wonky stitched die and stamped the sentiment directly on the panel.  I stamped three bells in Versamark, embossed them with silver powder and cut them out with the matching die.  I coloured the flowers with the same three shades of green that I used to stencil the design.  The two bells in the background have been adhered flat to the card and I've used dimensional gel under the centre bell.  I finished the front by added a little gem to the top bell.  At the moment the inside of the card is not finished - I'll get it done during the week.

Do visit our blog to see more inspirational ideas from the rest of the team.  You've got until midnight (GMT) Friday 4th March to play along.

Before I go, I must just say something about the stamps I've used here.  This set was designed by Claire Brennan of Waltzingmouse Stamps.  Many of you know that I'm a huge fan of Claire's stamps, so I was very sad to read earlier this week that Claire is closing down Waltzingmouse Stamps.  While I wish Claire every success in her future endeavours, I am sad to see WMS close. However, you will still WMS sets used on my cards!  Thank you Claire.

52CCT - Theme ....

....  Hello everyone!  Can you believe we've reached the middle of January already?  Time is flying by.  However, that does mean it's time for a new challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown and this week I've a theme challenge for you.  You must use

BELLS

Here's my take:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Folk Art Christmas Additions; Winnie & Walter - The Big, The Bold and The Merry
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Real Red, Pacific Point; Memento - London Fog; Versamark
Dies: Memory Box - Cross Stitched Frames #3; WMS - Folk Art Christmas
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Silver Mirri Card; Silver Embossing Powder; SU Marker Pens - Real Red, Pacific Point

I've made a very clean, simple card today and used a couple of challenges.  I've used the colours from Colour Me! - CMCC#54 and I'm also submitting this to CASology - CAS#129 where the cue word is NBUS - "Never Before Used Schtuff".  If you don't know NBUS - check out Darnell's blog here. 

I started by stamping a couple of bells in Versamark, heat embossing with silver powder and then cutting them out with the matching die.  One cut out I added some colour to each bell using my aqua brush.  I stamped the sentiment directly on the card base.  I used dimensional gel to adhere the bells to the card and finished by adding this lovely silver cross stitch frame.  I used my NBUS - my new Memory Box dies for the frames.  On the inside I cut a silver mat and on the white layer stamped another bell and added a Christmas greeting.

For more inspiration using our theme of "Bells", check out the blog to see what the rest of the team have made.  I have to say that I really liked the thumbnail display last week - all those blues - looks so pretty!  That's all for now - have fun!

52CCT/WMSFC - Theme ...

.....  Hello!  Can you believe we're already on our third challenge in September, the month is flying by.  Asha has a fabulous challenge for us at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - the theme is NORDIC CHRISTMAS.  I had so much fun that I made three cards!!  And over at Waltzingmouse Fanatics - WMSFC#27 our challenge for the next couple of weeks is CHRISTMAS - we want to see your Christmas projects, but you must include at least one Waltzingmouse stamp, sentiment or digi!  

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Nordic Winter, Folk Art Christmas Additions, Alpine Christmas
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Real Red, Gumball Green, Pacific Point
Dies: WMS - Folk Art Christmas
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Real Red, Gumball Green, Pacific Point; Canvas Paper

I used the sketch from this week's Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#154 for the layout.  Nordic (or Scandinavian) Christmas tend to be clean and simple and are often simply red and white (or kraft), but they can also be layered and in other colours like blue and green.  With this theme there really was only one stamp set that I could use - Waltzingmouse's Nordic Christmas!!  Perfect.  I stamped the border stamp in all the colours and then trimmed to fit on the cards.  I stamped three different images in different colours and cut them out with the matching dies.  I made the panel out of canvas paper and distressed the edges to give a more folksy feel.  On the inside I cut a mat layer (to match the colour on the front) and on the white panel I stamped another Nordic image and a Christmas Greeting.

For more inspiration with our Nordic Christmas theme, check out the cards from the rest of the 52CCT team - they are just fabulous.

Don't forget to check out Tara's card for our Waltzingmouse Fanatics challenge too.  You have until Thursday 2nd October 10.00pm BST (5.00pm EDT) and don't forget you MUST use at least one Waltzingmouse stamp, sentiment or image.

Really looking forward to seeing your creations - have fun!!

52CCT - WMSFC - Blues ....

....  Hello all!  I managed to get a couple of hours in my craft room yesterday afternoon while Mum was out in the garden enjoying the sunshine! 

It's time for our stash challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown and Ruth has a fun challenge based on the wedding rhyme "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue".  Ruth wants us to make a card using all four if possible, but two at a minimum.  I managed three - old, new and blue!  Here's my card:

Stamps: Dare 2B Artzy - Owl be home 4 Christmas
Inks: Distress - Salty Ocean, Chipped Sapphire; Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Dare 2B Artzy - Owls
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Cuttlebug EF - Distressed Snow; Copics; Wink of Stella Clear

The old is my Cuttlebug folder, the new my Dare 2B Artzy stamps and die and of course it's blue!  I used the debossed side of the embossed panel and coloured it with two shades of blue so that the snowflake pattern was enhanced.  I stamped the sentiment directly onto the panel. I stamped the owl onto white card and coloured him with my copic markers, adding a touch of sparkle to the scarf and then die cut him with the matching die.  I adhered him directly to the card.  I've not done the inside yet, but will do that soon.  For more inspiration cards check out the blog to see what Judy, our guest designer, and the rest of the team have made.

I made another card for our Waltzingmouse Fanatics challenge (and I'm very, very late getting my card made).  At WMSFC we want you to add texture to your card.  I based my card on Ruth's challenge and the layout is based on the sketch from CAS - Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#75.  

Stamps: WMS - Folk Art Christmas Additions
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Marina Mist, Soft Sky, Lost Lagoon; Versafine - Majestic Blue; Versamark; Distress - Chipped Sapphire
Dies: WMS - Folk Art Christmas
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Cuttlebug EF - Ice Crystals; Silver Thread; Silver EP

Once again I used the debossed side of the embossed panel and lightly rubbed on some dark blue ink.  I stamped four baubles in shades of blue/teal, die cut them and put silver thread through to hang them from.  I stamped the sentiment in Versamark, heat embossed with silver powder and cut out a banner.  I stamped the bauble again and embossed with silver powder and fussy cut the centre.  For extra texture, I adhered the embossed panel with dimensional tape.  Again, I've not done the inside, but will do it soon.

That's all for today.  It's Memorial Day weekend here in the States and we are taking Mum to visit the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village to see the show - should be a super weekend.  Bye for now.

52CCT - Colours ....

.....  Hi!  It's time for our colour challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  I really like the soft palette and shades of blue.  You must use at least three of the colours and I managed five!  Here's my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Nordic Winter, Folk Art Christmas Additions
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Night of Navy, Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, Smoky Slate; Versamark
Dies: WMS - Folk Art Christmas
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - River Rock, Smoky Slate, Night of Navy; Silver Embossing Powder

I made the card from River Rock (discontinued) and cut a mat layer of pale grey card.  On the white panel I stamped the Scandinavian inspired patterns in all the blues and grey.  I stamped the reindeer in Versamark, embossed with silver powder, die cut and adhered it with dimensional tape.  I decided not to add a sentiment to the front of the card.  On the inside I kept it really simple with a mat layer in grey and a simple Christmas greeting.

For more inspiration with these colours check out the card from our Guest Designer, Pat and also from the rest of the team.  Looking forward to seeing your cards.  Have a good weekend!

52CCT - Sketch ...

....  Good morning everyone.  I do hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Over at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown it's time for our first challenge of 2014.  You have seen our lovely new look blog - thanks going to Mynnette for this fresh look.  We have some new DT members - more of that soon.  As always our first challenge is a sketch and here's my take:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Alpine Christmas, Folk Art Christmas Additions
Inks: Versamark; Stampin' Up! - Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake
Dies: WMS - Folk Art Christmas; SU - Apothecary Accents Framelits
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Cherry Cobbler; Copics; Clear Embossing Powder; Cuttlebug EF - Winter Wonderland; Velvet Ribbons; Gems

Love Mynnette's sketch.  For the theme I'm using the last challenge of 2013 from Merry Monday - MM#88; I didn't think I'd get to play along, but the DT extended the deadline so I'm just getting in under the wire!!

I decided to use traditional colours and made the card base from Cherry Cobbler (love this rich colour).  I cut a panel of white card and embossed it with snowflakes, added some velvet ribbon to the corners and adhered the whole lot to the card base with dimensional tape.  I stamped the sentiment on white card, used a die to cut it out and the same die to cut a mat layer in Cherry Cobbler.  I cut the mat layer in half and adhered behind the sentiment.  I finished the front with my favourite reindeer.  I inked up the stamp with Versamark and then Soft Suede and heat embossed the image with clear powder.  I cut it out with the matching die and then added some colour to the flowers and leaves.  I adhered the reindeer with dimensional gel.  I used my Copics to colour the gems to match the ribbons.  For the inside I cut a panel of white card and stamped snowflakes around the edge and a lovely Christmas message in the middle.

I know that we've only just had Christmas, but it really is never to early to make a start on your cards for this year.  To be honest I don't need much encouragement to make Christmas cards - I love them!!  Check our blog for more inspiration cards from the rest of the Design Team - as always, they are fab!

We've had a really lazy week since getting back to the States.  We had a quiet New Year's Eve (I only just managed to stay awake) and New Year's Day.  In fact, the whole area has been quiet, largely due to the amount of snow that has fallen.  Our first couple of winters in Michigan were very mild, but I think we're seeing more of what a Michigan winter is like!  It was lovely yesterday with blue skies and sunshine, but it didn't get above -11°C (12°F) and the forecast is more of the same!!

I spent an hour clearing one half of the drive yesterday morning, it was so cold I thought my fingers and toes were going to fall off!  We have ordered a snow blower which should arrive by 15th January - I think it'll get some use this year!

Jonathan and Kathryn are back to work and school respectively next week, so it's back to a normal routine.  See you soon.

Folk Art Christmas ....

.... Good morning everyone!  I hope that all your Christmas preparations are well in hand, it's only 11 days away now!  This morning I've a folk art style Christmas card to share with you:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Yonder Star Background, Folk Art Christmas Additions, Alpine Christmas; Woodware - Christmas Borders & Vertical Words
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Real Red, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake; Versamark
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Circles # 4; Waltzingmouse - Folk Art Christmas
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Real Red; Promarkers - Crimson, Berry Red; WMS - Natural Twine; Clear and White Embossing Powder

I used a couple of challenges to make this card.  I don't whether you've noticed, but Fusion Card Challenge is coming back and while I didn't manage to play along often, I always liked the challenges, so I'm joining in with the current challenge.  The layout is based on the current Mojo Monday sketch - MOJO323. 

The photo on the Fusion graphic caught my eye with the lovely colours and that sweet reindeer cushion.  I created the red panel by stamping Yonder Star background in Versamark and heat embossing with white powder.  I then wrapped some natural twine around the panel and adhered it to the base with dimensional tape.  I stamped the reindeer onto white card, first inking the image with Versamark and then Soft Suede, which enabled me to heat emboss the image with clear powder.  I used the coordinating die from Waltzingmouse to cut it out and coloured the little flowers with Promarkers.  I adhered the deer to the diecut circle and attached with more dimensional tape.  I finished the front with a vertical sentiment and a couple of border strips.  On the inside I cut a mat layer in red and on the white panel stamped a lovely sentiment and added a few snowflakes.

I'd like to remind you that you still have time to join in with our current challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown where you can pick any of our past 2013 challenges - colour, sketch, theme, etc.  We are also looking for a few new crafters to join our team - so if you're interested add "DT" after your name.

Over at Waltzingmouse Fanatics you might be surprised to find no challenge this week - we decided that it was quite a busy time, so we'd take a break and come back after Christmas with a new challenge for you then.

That's all for now - I've got a busy day today.  I'm taking Kathryn to the hairdresser to get her hair done and then in the afternoon I've a craft class with Amy Flowers.  Have a good weekend - be safe.  See you tomorrow.