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.

Free Spirit Birthday ....

..... Morning! I've got a birthday card to share with you today. This one is for our son, Ben:

Stamps: Waltzing Mouse Stamps - Free Spirit Boy; The Greetery - Birthday Sentiment Suite; Mama Elephant - Mixed Wishes Greetings

Inks: Gina K - Keylime, Blue Lagoon, Blue Raspberry; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Accessories: White & Black Card; Taylored Expressions - Ovals Masking Stencils

I'm submitting this card to The Male Room - TMR#158 to make a card for a teenager, Just Us Girls - JUGS#614 - Trend week to make an inked background, and to Seize the Birthday - STB#229 - I've gone for the Anything Goes option.

I placed the oval mask on a side opening A2 note card. I used three inks to shade the background - I love how Gina K inks blend so well. I removed the mask and stamped the abstract circles image in black ink. This image is from Waltzing Mouse Stamps (now sadly closed), but it is one of my all time favourite stamps for making masculine birthday cards. I used it many times in the past for cards for Ben, and while he's not a teenager anymore, it is perfect for this card. I finished the front by adding a simple birthday greeting. Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of black card. On the white card, I stamped the circle image again this time blending together the green, teal and blue inks. I finished with a fun verse. This card is already in the post and on its way to Ben.

That's all for now with cards. 

I'm feeling very tired now and need to have a nap. Some of you may have seen my recent Facebook posts. I had a lumpectomy last week for breast cancer. I'm only telling you this because it's important not to ignore any lumps or bumps you might find. I found a lump in early November, saw my GP who immediately referred me to a specialist. I saw him in December and had a shedload of tests. And then I was told I had breast cancer. I really hadn't been expecting that at all. Christmas and New Year have been a bit quite. However, the good thing is that I had surgery last week and will be followed up shortly to find out next steps. Apart from feeling absolutely shattered, I'm okay. So, don't ignore lumps you might find and get them followed up. I'm so thankful for our wonderful National Health Service.

That's really is all for now. See you again soon.

TMR - Colours ....

.... Good afternoon. I'm running a tad late with my DT card for this week's challenge at The Male Room - TMR#40. For the next couple of weeks we want you to use some particular colours on your masculine projects - RED, BLUE and one other. You need to make sure that it's an actual colour, not a tone of red or blue, so yellow, orange, green, purple. You can use neutrals and gold and silver. Here's my take:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Free Spirit Boy, Free Spirit Sentiments
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black, Grey Flannel; Versafine
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Real Red; Copics; Clear Embossing Powder

I've gone for a very clean, simple and graphic look for my card. I've used my all time favourite stamp - the circles from Waltzingmouse Free Spirit Boy. Sadly, Waltzingmouse has now closed up shop, but Claire is working with Gina K and has released some of her stamps via Gina K. Who knows, perhaps, Claire will make a few more masculine sets?? As I've used my favourite stash on this card, I'm going to play along with AAA Cards - AAA#69.

I cut a panel of white card smaller than the base and, using my Misti, stamped the image in Memento Tuxedo Black. I coloured sections of the circles in red, blue and green. I then put the finished panel back in the Misti, inked up with Versafine, stamped and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. This is a trick I picked up from the new Heat Wave class over at Online Classes. I layered the finished panel on red card and attached it to the card base. On the inside I cut another mat layer of red card and on the white panel stamped the circles again - this time in grey.

I'm still not back on my proper routine, but I'm getting there. That's all for now! See you soon.

TMR - Technique ....

.... Hi! I'm almost back to my regular posts! I've still got a bit of sorting out to do in my craft room, but I can at least get to all my inks, paper and stamps. I'm here this morning with my card for the new challenge at The Male Room - TMR#33. For the next couple of weeks we want to see your masculine style paper craft projects using the

TRIPLE STAMPING 

technique. I've put a video at the end of this post if you're not quite sure what how to do it. I've made a clean, crisp card for a teenager or young man:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Free Spirit Boy; My Favourite Things - Document It Rock On
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Kaleidacolour - Denim
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Basic Black

I've used the word prompt "ROCK" from the current Inkspirational Challenge - INK#106 as my inspiration. I used my all time favourite stamp set - Free Spirit Boy - which has wonderful tribal style graffiti images along with lots of other little stamps. I cut two white panels and lightly adhered them together while I stamped the images. I like the effect you get with the Kaleidacolour pads. I layered the stamped panels on black card and then adhered them all to the front of the card. On the inside I cut a mat layer of black card and on the white panel I stamped a sentiment and more graffiti images.

For more inspiration do visit our blog to see what the rest of the team have made. You've got plenty of time to join in, deadline for submission is midnight (BST) Tuesday 26th April (7.00pm EDT for those of us in the States).

That's all for today - I'm off to do some more unpacking. When we moved over to the States (four years ago) I didn't unpack every single box that came over, but this time I'm opening every box. I've found toys and books that the children have out grown, and even some of their old clothes. I've also found lots of UK electrical equipment that is now in storage in the basement. Going through my craft room stash I also found a few duplicates!! What am I going to do with them? Check back soon and find out. See you soon.

TMR - Theme ....

.... Good morning! We had a really super thumbnail display for our Easter challenge ranging from funny, cute to religious too. Lovely work and I'm so sorry that I didn't get round to comment on everyone - I'm still working on it! It's time for our new challenge at The Male Room - TMR#32, for the next couple of weeks we have the theme of :

MAGIC/FANTASY 

for your masculine styled projects.

As you know we moved house last week and we spent the Easter weekend unpacking boxes at our new house.  We've made great progress getting the kitchen, family room and bedrooms mostly done, however, I've not yet started on my craft room! Yes, I realise that this is a major shock to all who know me :) But family first this time! As a consequence, all my stash is still in boxes and I've not had time to make something new for this week's challenge, so I thought I'd share some cards that I made for my son when he was younger!

I'm starting off with a card that I made for Ben's 15th birthday in 2011, details of which can be found here. Ben has been a fan of World of Warcraft (on-line game) for many years and he really wanted his birthday card to be based on the game.  I found and saved the image from the game, added the sentiment in Publisher and printed it on photo paper.  I used my all time favourite stamps (Waltzingmouse, now sadly closed) to add the border.  On the original post you will see that I also decorated the inside and the envelope.

This wasn't the first WOW card that I'd made for Ben - I made some when he was 11 (2007) too! It's so easy making cards using screen grab images.

Fantasy themes have been a great source of inspiration for me when it comes to cards for Ben - this one for his 12th birthday (2008).  The image for this card comes from Dr Who - still a firm family favourite.

The cards for Ben's 11th and 12th birthdays were made long before I started my blog - so I think this is the first time they've been shared!

Our new theme has so many possibilities - do join in.  I look forward to seeing your creations. The deadline for submission is midnight (BST) Tuesday 12th April (7.00pm EDT).

That's all for now - I've got to finish off unpacking boxes - I really want to have my craft room finished by the weekend so that I can play!!  Bye for now.

52CCT - Sketch ....

... Hello and Good Morning!  As I type this post I can see a winter wonderland from my office window - snow all over the ground and houses, but with sunshine and blue skies - so very pretty.  I just hate driving in it!!  Anyway, it puts me in the mood for making Christmas cards, which is good as it's time for our new challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT01-16.  Our host this month is Julie and she has a super sketch for us to use.  You can flip, rotate, adapt and add embellishments, but we must be able to see the sketch in your design.  Here's my take:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Free Spirit Boy, Compliments of the Season II, Chief Elf
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Die-namics - Wonky Stitched Squares Stax #4, Wonky Stitched Circles Stax #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Say Aloha; Copics; Wink of Stella - Clear

 

My card has a totally tropical feel, which is the theme over at this week's Merry Monday challenge - MM#194.  I thought it would be fun to make tropical style Christmas card and I used stamps from my all time favourite company - Waltzingmouse (who are, sadly, closing on 31st March).  Our sketch lends itself to using lots of design papers (and I have a huge stash!).  I used co-ordinating papers from Say Aloha to create the layers.  I used dies to cut the centre square and circle.  I stamped a fun Christmas sentiment in the centre of the circle. I stamped these lovely hibiscus flowers on scrap card, coloured them with Copics, cut out and added sparkle with a clear Wink of Stella brush.  I adhered them to the card with dimensional gel.  On the inside I cut a piece of design paper as a mat layer and on the white panel added a Christmas greeting and some more hibiscus flowers.

As this card has multiple layers, I'm submitting it to the current challenge at Jingle Belles - JB:16:15. I am also linking up to our Farewell Blog Hop over at Waltzingmouse Fanatics.  If you're a fan of Claire's super stamps, please join us and share your work - Tara and I would like to show Claire just how much we Waltzingmouse Stamps and how much she'll be missed.

Don't forget to visit out blog to see more inspiration Christmas/winter cards from the rest of the team. As the sun is shining today (Friday morning) I've been able to take some photo of the fabulous sparkle you get with Wink of Stella:

That's all for now - have a great weekend!

TMR - Masculine Ribbon ....

....  I'm very, very late with this post for The Male Room challenge to make Ribbon masculine!  You've seen that my son and his girlfriend have been here for two weeks, well I got all my DT cards done ahead of their visit, but somehow forgot this one!!!  Silly me.

Yesterday morning, before the kids were up, I managed to get an hour in my craft room and made this card for them as a thank you for coming over to visit - it's safe to share now as they will have landed at Heathrow by now and seen the card!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Free Spirit Boy, Join Us
Inks: Kaleidacolor - Denim
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Rectangles #2 and #5
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Night of Navy; SU Burlap Ribbon; Wood embellishment (don't know who made this)

I used my favourite set for guy cards - Free Spirit Boy - I love the circles stamp and have used it often for cards for Ben.  I inked it up with Kaleidacolor ink and stamped randomly on white card.  I then cut out a large panel using the stitched rectangle die.  I attached some burlap ribbon and then adhered the panel to navy card with dimensional tape.  I stamped one of the tribal images on white card, cut it out with a smaller die and layered it onto some more navy card.  I finished the front with the fun wooden embellishment with the words "air mail" on it - seemed appropriate.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of navy and stamped a couple more tribal images and a simple sentiment.

For more inspiration of making masculine cards with ribbon - check out our blog to see what the rest of the team have made!  There's still plenty of time to join in the fun.

My plans today include spending some time in my craft room to make a few cards, get some washing done and tidy up a bit.  Jonathan and Kathryn are off to a music concert, at least that's what Kathryn calls it.  It's a local concert in Plymouth called Megafest.  Kathryn is so excited about it as several of her favourite bands are playing - I think Jonathan will be going with his noise cancelling headphones!!!  That's it for now!  Take care.

TMR - Colour ....

.... Hi!  It's time for our new challenge at The Male Room.  This week it's not a theme that we have for you, we would like you to make your masculine style card using the colours:

Blue, Green and Brown

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Free Spirit Boy, Ocean Bound
Inks: Versafine - Vintage Sepia; Stampin' Up! - Early Espresso; Kaleidacolor - Cappuccino Delight
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Early Espresso; SU Markers - Wild Wasbi, Marina Mist; Clear Embossing Powder; Copics

The inspiration for this card came from Renee's card during the recent WMS Release Blog Hop.  I saw the way she'd coloured the circles on my favourite stamp and decided to CASE it.  I stamped the image onto white card and heat embossed with clear powder, and then used lots of different green and blue Copic markers to colour it in.  I used the layout from this week's CAS(E) this Sketch - CTS#66, and of course, this card fits with our current Waltzingmouse Fanatics challenge - one for the boys.  I cut a brown mat for the circle image and adhered it to the card base.  I finished the front with a simple sentiment in brown and drew the lines in by hand (using a ruler of course!).  On the inside I cut a mat of brown and stamped a second generation image of the circles, adding some faux stitched detail in the corners.  I left the centre blank for me to write a message - this one is for our boy, Ben!

For more inspiration using the colours of blue, green and brown - check out the cards from the rest of the Design Team.  I went for more muted shades of blues and greens, but you can go as bright as you like!  Looking forward to seeing your creations!