52CCT - Sketch ....

.... Hello! I hope everyone has settled back into their normal routines.  I'm still not quite back to normal - somehow I lost days last week, but I'm getting there.  I'm hosting our challenges over at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT01-16 this month.  Our aim is to give you inspiration to build your Christmas card stash, so that you have time to relax in December.  As normal, our first challenge of the month is a sketch and I had lots of fun coming up with this one.   Here's my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Alpine Christmas, Vintage Postcards, Off Beat Backgrounds, Vintage Circles Small; Stampin' Up! - Sheltering Tree
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; SU - Soft Sky, Marina Mist, Smokey Slate
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Smokey Slate; Glitter

I used the colours from CAS - Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#155 as they seem just perfect.  I'm also submitting this card to the current Jingle Belles - JB:16:01 challenge where they would like us to use something brand new along with something old from our stash.  The new is the Vintage Postcards stamps (not brand new to me, but never used before) and the old is the rest!

I'm very pleased with this card; I wanted to challenge myself to make a one-layer, collage style card and I did it!  I used my MISTI to make sure that I got all the stamps straight, and I was able to stamp the tree a number of times to make it slightly darker then the stripes.  I finished the front by adding some sparkle to the dotty circle.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of grey card and on the white panel I stamped another tree and a Christmas greeting.

Don't forget to visit our blog and see the inspiration cards from the rest of the team.  You've got plenty of time to join in, deadline for submission is midnight (GMT) Friday 15th January (that's 7.00pm EDT).

This weekend is the Plymouth Ice Festival.  It started yesterday evening and runs through until Sunday.  Jonathan and I went last year when it was so, so cold with temperatures well below freezing. Which is just the kind of weather the organisers would like.  However, the forecast for today is rain showers this afternoon with a maximum temperature 7°C (45°F), which is not great!  We're going first thing in the morning, when it should still be cold and hopefully the sculptures won't have started melting!  That's all for now - have a great weekend!

WMSFC - Colours ....

....  Hello again.  I'm back with my card for our Waltzingmouse Fanatics Challenge - WMSFC#30 - we have a colour challenge for you.  Here's my take:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Pic-Nic Patterns, Offbeat Backgrounds, Sewing Box Hugs, Spring Baskets; Stampin' Up! - Endless Birthday Wishes
Inks: SU - Melon Mambo, Lucky Limeade, Concord Crush; Memento - Tuxedo Black, Grey Flannel
Dies: Spellbinders - Squares Lg (S4-126) #3, Squares Sm (S4-128) #3
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Lucky Limeade, Bermuda Bay; SU DP - Melon Mambo, Wisteria Wonder; Copic Markers

Our colours this week are teal, lilac, bright pink, lime green and purple - you don't have to use them all, but I managed!!  I used the sketch from this week's Mojo Monday - MOJO#369; it's been ages since I played along with them.  I used the dimension they provided, 5½" × 7" and score at 3½" to make a 5½" × 3½" card (still fits an A2 envelope).  I didn't want a solid purple, so I made my own paper by stamping the polka dots in purple and then stamping the flower on top.  I stamped the flower several times and fussy cut to get the layers I needed.  As I need to send this through the post, I kept the flowers flat.  I die cut some square to layer behind each flower.  I stamped the trellis pattern in pink and used that behind the squares.  I finished the front with a stamped stripe, paper bow and simple sentiment.  On the inside I cut a mat layer in Melon Mambo design paper and a white panel for my message.


For more inspiration with our fun and bright colours, check out the blog to see what Tara and Kathy have made.  Hopefully, you'll have more fun with this week's challenge - you didn't much like the Halloween theme!!!

Don't forget you MUST use at least one Waltzingmouse stamp, sentiment or digi on your project.  You have until Thursday 13th November 10.00pm GMT (5.00pm EST) to play along.


That's all - see you soon.

One for three - birthday ...

... Hello again!  I'm on a bit of a roll today!  House stuff done, time in craft room this morning and another quick card to share with you.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Offbeat Backgrounds; My Favourite Things - Document It Rock On, Gift Card Greetings; Stampin' Up! - Endless Birthday Wishes, Delightful Dozen
Inks: Versamark; SU - Night of Navy, Old Olive, Concord Crush
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Squares #4, Stitched Circles #2 & #3
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Old Olive, Concord Crush; SU DP - Old Olive; Vellum; Silver Embossing Powder

 I'm submitting this one to several challenges:

• Just Us Girls - JUGS#263 - colours
• Addicted to CAS - ATCAS#50 - use Vellum
• Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#159 - layout

I've made a birthday card for my stash - I've just realised that I don't have very many actual birthday cards.  This is definitely more masculine in feel.  I stamped the chevron pattern in all three colours and then cut out a square.  I also cut a vellum square which I adhered directly on top of the stamped square - makes the pattern a little more subtle.  I inked up a bold, graphic sentiment in Versamark and heat embossed with silver powder.  I finished the front with a stamp on the circle - it's a games controller!  The inside has a mat of green design paper and a fun sentiment on the white panel, along with a birthday cake!

That's all for today!  Bye for now.

From boy to man ....

.... Wishing you all a very good morning!  Today, instead of a card, I've made a mini shadow box.  Yesterday I was out at my local craft store, Stampeddler, and they'd had some new products from Kaisercraft - some mini shadow frame boxes.  I decided I'd have a go at making one:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Free Spirit Boy, Off Beat Backgrounds, Half Pint Heroes Additions
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Summer Starfruit, Bermuda Bay, Crumb Cake, Basic Black
Accessories: Kaisercraft - Mini Shadow Frame; Kaisercraft DP - Attitude; Distress Stains - Antique Linen, Pumice Stone

I used the colours from this week's Colour Q - cQc#230 and the theme is from our Waltzingmouse Fanatics Challenge - WMSFC#12, for the boys.  I think the hardest part of making this picture was selecting the three images of Ben that I wanted to use.  I love Ben's face on the baby photo - he was laughing so much!  Then in the middle he's a young teenager starting to learn photography.  The last photo was taken last summer when I was back in the UK - almost 18 and a young man!

Putting this together was really quick and very easy.  The box comes in two pieces - a back and a front frame - I stained both using two colours of Distress Stain, giving a dark kraft finish.  I stamped the front with some images from Off Beat Backgrounds - giving a grungy look.  The frame is 6½" × 6½" and is exactly the right size for Kaisercraft DP.  I simply selected my favourite sheet from Attitude! ran it through my Xyron and adhered it to the back of the frame.  I randomly stamped some graffiti style images around and finished the inside with these words from Half Pint Heroes Additions - they were all stamped on scrap card, cut out, distressed at the edges and then attached with dimensional tape.  Before attaching the front, I adhered the photos.  I used bulldog clips to hold the parts together while the glue dried.

I'm really pleased how this turned out and will be making one using photos of Kathryn.

It is very cold and snowy in Northville this morning.  The Arctic blast is back in full force and the wind chill effect is awful - there's not a huge amount of snow, but it's being blown all over the place.  I'm off out to the hair dresser this morning to have my hair done - trust me to pick a day when it's going to be blown all over!!!  That's all for now.