Creepmas Birthday Party Lights ...

.... Good morning all!  I think you all know by now that I like to mix up stamps and images and create something a bit different.  Well, here's a birthday card with a twist: 

Stamps: RSD Digi - Creepmas Tree Lights; Waltzingmouse - USA 1776, Putting on the Ritz
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Real Red, Bermuda Bay, Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight; Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Bermuda Bay; Kaisercraft DP - Violet Crush; Copic Markers

I got this super little guy a little while ago but couldn't decide what to do with him.  I printed him on white card, coloured him with Copic markers and fussy cut him out.  I came across the new challenge at Left of Centre - LOC#53 where the theme is fireworks/celebration and I decided to make a birthday card with party lights, fireworks and that gremlin causing trouble!  The layout is based on this week's sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch! - CTS#99.  I cut a strip of design paper to go down the side of the card, I like the elegant damask pattern, sort of like wallpaper!  Then I stamped some fireworks exploding in the background, added my little gremlin wrapped in lights and finished with a sentiment.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of teal card and stamped more fireworks and a birthday greeting on the white card.

One of the things I really like about Rick's images is that even the scary monsters are kinda cute!  On this card the monster is just a tiny bit scary - the bright colours and birthday theme make him sweet.  But if I decided to make him really scary I'd just need change up the background.  You can get this image (and many others) at Rick's Zibbet store - check it out and have fun!

I've got a really busy day lined up - a trip to the hair dresser, to the shops for new pillows and then the supermarket for food.  Oh yes, there's washing and ironing too!  Bye for now - see you soon.

Swell birthday ....

....  Good evening!  I hope you're all enjoying your weekend.  We're on a weekend break on the west coast of Michigan in a town called Holland!  Jonathan came over for a photo shoot by Lake Michigan but sadly the chill weather meant that it was cancelled.  But that's okay as there's plenty to do over here.  We'll still be taking photos!!!  Before heading over here I was busy in my craft room making some cards for the Waltzingmouse Pajama Party!!!!!  Yea!  It's been a while since Claire hosted a PJ Party, so it's nice to sit back with a cuppa and check out what everyone has made.

Edited:  Oops!  I've posted a day early - hey ho!  I'll still be linking up when the PJ Party starts tomorrow!!!!

There are four categories:

1.  Doodle Do - make a project that include some hand doodling.
2. Too cute to Spook - make a Halloween project that includes cuteness! To quote Claire "sweet treats and dinky delectables".
3. Old Pajamas - use an older Waltzingmouse Christmas set on your project.
4. Bedtime Story Sketch challenge - a sketch from Claire for us to play with.

I actually made a few cards.  The first one that I'm sharing is for No 4 the Bedtime Story Sketch challenge.  I made a birthday card - I took inspiration from Lynn's beautiful card which she posted in our Waltzingmouse Fanatics Challenge on the theme Birthday/Anniversary (there's still time to join in).

Stamps: WMS - Art Deco Backgrounds, Putting on the Ritz; Rick St Dennis Digi - Shady Ladies "Tosca"
Inks: Versamark; Distress - Evergreen Bough, Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Iced Spruce; Stampin' Up! - Tempting Turquoise, Coastal Cabana
Dies: Spellbinders - Floral Ovals (S4-356) #3, Fancy Framed Tags Two (S5-128)
Accessories: SU Card: Bermuda Bay, Smoky Slate; White Lustre Card; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella Brush - Clear & Silver; Martha Stewart punch; Clear Embossing Powder

I've had this stunning digi image, Tosca Shady Lady, for a while (I coloured her during the summer break) and I couldn't work out how to show her off to best advantage.  The image was coloured with Copic markers and I added sparkle with Wink of Stella brushes on the gems and knife.  When I saw Lynn's card with the fab Art Deco background I realised that it was the perfect background for this elegant lady.

I stamped the background with Versamark, heat embossed with clear powder, and then added colour to match the image - I used a mixture of Evergreen Bough, Tumbled Glass, Broken China and Iced Spruce.  I adhered the background to a card base made from Bermuda Bay card.  I punched the horizontal border from grey card (I didn't want to hide too much of the background) and die cut an ornate oval frame for the image.  I used dimensional tape to attach the oval and image.  I stamped the birthday sentiment on white card, cut it out with one of the layer dies from the Fancy Tags set and adhered it with dimensional tape.  I added a couple of Art Deco decorations either side of the sentiment.  On the inside I cut a panel of white card, added some decoration in the corners and stamped a birthday greeting.

The image is called Shady Lady "Tosca" and she hold a dagger in her hand, which might not be what you'd expect on a birthday card - but she really is very beautiful and so elegant!!  I had to use her.  I'm submitting this card to the RSD Progressive Challenge Sept - Anything Goes.

I'll be back later with a couple more cards.  See you soon.

WMSFC - Time to Party ....

.....  Good morning everyone!  I do hope that you've enjoyed (and recovered) from your Christmas celebrations.  This is a scheduled post as we'll be flying back to the US after spending Christmas visiting our families.  It's time for our new challenge at Waltzingmouse Fanatics and we have a colour challenge for you - here's my take:

Stamps: WMS - Putting on the Ritz, USA 1776; Stampin' Up! - A Brand New Year
Inks: SU - Calypso Coral, Crisp Cantaloupe; Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Rectangles Sm (S4-130) #4; Die-namics - Fishtail Flags Layers Stax #1
Accessories: Cream Lustre Card; Black Card

These colours are right out of my comfort zone - I much prefer cool colours but that's why we all play along with challenges - to try out new things!  I've managed to use four of the colours from the graphic - two shades of coral, cream and black.  The layout is based on a sketch from Freshly Made Sketches - FMS116, I didn't get chance to play along with this one before Christmas, but I think it's great for this card.  I did, however, turn the panel through 90° so that the sentiment would fit.  Using the two shades of coral, I stamped fireworks over the background.  I stamped the Art Deco style frame in Calypso Coral and then stamped the stars inside in Crisp Cantaloupe and cut out the shape with a die.  I layered the stamped panel onto black card and added black ribbons either side and adhered it directly to the card.  On the inside I cut a mat layer in black and on the cream panel stamped more fireworks and a super New Year sentiment.  This is a discontinued stamp, but new to me and I think it's great!

The winner of this week's challenge will receive a prize - one of the mini stamps sets - details on the Waltzingmouse Fanatics blog.  For more inspiration with these colours visit Tara to see what she's made.  You have until 5.00pm GMT (12 noon EDT) on Thursday 9th January to submit your cards - remember you must use some Waltzingmouse stash - stamps, digis or cut files.  That's all for now.  See you soon.