52CCT - Technique ....

....Morning!!!  We've reached the last Saturday of the month and Louise has come to the end of her term hosting the challenges at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown, and she's got a fun technique challenge for us; Triple Stamping.  If you're not sure what this means, check out this video or this one.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Festive Foliage, Twas the Night before Christmas
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Basic Black; SU Markers - Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade, Bermuda Bay, Crumb Cake

I used the colours from this week's Colour Q - cQc#288 for the card - I think they give a contemporary look.  I really like this technique, it always looks very impressive and it's actually very easy to do.  For this card I cut two small squares 2" × 2" and a longer rectangle 2" × 3½".  I used temporary adhesive to attach the panels to the card front.  I started with the sentiment in the sentiment and then inked up the branch and pine cone stamps with marker pens.  I finished the front by stamping a few festive berries too.  Once stamped, I took the panels off the card and layered them on black card each panel is an eighth of an inch larger than the white panel.  Then I adhered the panels to the card.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of black card and stamped a simple sentiment and another branch on the white card.

The rest of the team have created some fabulous inspiration cards to share with you, so do drop by the blog and check them out.  You've got plenty of time to play along - submission deadline is Friday 1st May midnight BST (7.00pm EDT).  Have fun!

Christmas Sparkle ....

...  Hello, good afternoon!  It's been a really good day today - got lots of tax admin sorted out this morning, then I headed to my local craft shops in Livonia and Northville and got a few new goodies.  I've been trying to grow my hair for the last several months, but today I'd had enough and as I was passing my hairdresser I popped in to see if Jessie could cut it.  I feel so much better now and I look more like me!!!  I must NEVER try to grow my hair again.

I've got a fun Christmas card to share with you this afternoon - it is quite clean and simple, but has lots and lots of sparkle:

Stamps: Woodware - Christmas Bubble Tree; Waltzingmouse - Twas The Night Before Christmas
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Up! - Daffodil Delight
Dies: Die-namics - In & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangles #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Melon Mambo; Martha Stewart Glitter - Yellow Barite, Tourmaline, Periodot; SU Glitter - Dazzling Diamonds; Copic Markers

I got the idea for a bubble Christmas tree from the graphic for One Layer Christmas Card Challenge - OLXCC#6 where the theme is anything goes, but with the optional twist of circles, this stamp is perfect!!  The colours, bold and bright, are from CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#116 and I'm also playing along with Merry Monday - MM#151 where the team would like to see a tree.  I embossed the diagonal stitched frame on the front as a frame for the tree (the dies are my new goodies).  I stamped the tree in the frame and then added lots of glitter to the baubles.  I added clear glitter to the tree trunk.  I finished the front with a simple sentiment.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of pink card and on the white panel I added some very pale yellow snow, a tiny tree and a Christmas greeting.

Here's a close up of all that glitter.  I took this photo outside in the sunshine so that you can really see the sparkle!

I've been very busy making Christmas cards, and I've just realised that Easter is just round the corner, so I'd better get cracking on some Easter cards!!  That's all for now.  See you soon.

Edited to add:  Lizzy has just told me about The Glory of Christmas Challenge - GCC#55 where the theme is Tannenbaum/Christmas Tree, so I'm submitting this card there too.  Thanks Lizzy!

WMS PJP - last card ....

....  Good afternoon!  I'm back with another card for the Waltzingmouse Pajama Party!  Yes, I know I said that yesterday's card was the last one, but I got chance to play in my craft room this morning and have just one more for you:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Vintage Ornaments, Twas the Night Before Christmas, Tis the Season
Inks: Versamark; Stampin' Up! - Strawberry Slush; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Spellbinders - 2010 Heirloom Ornaments (S4-283) #4, Ovals Sm (S4-112) #3
Accessories:  White Lustre Card; SU Card - Strawberry Slush, Basic Black; White Embossing Powder; Ribbon; SU Marker Pens - Real Red, Black; Signo White Gel Pen

I combined a couple of Claire's challenges - No 1 Doodle Do and No 3 Old Pajamas - this actually means doodling on a stamped image and using an older set of Waltzingmouse Christmas stamps.  I decided to use the solid image from Vintage Ornaments.  I stamped it in Strawberry Slush and cut it out with the co-ordinating Spellbinder die.  Then I added some doodles to the panels using marker pens.  I die cut a panel of white cut, stamped the oval ray pattern using the 3rd generation image and then stamped the sentiment and attached it to the ornament with dimensional tape.  I made the background panel by stamping the oval ray patten in Versamark and heat embossed with white powder.  I layered the background onto pink card and adhered it to the card base.  I finished the front with a simple ribbon.  On the inside I cut a panel of black card for the mat and on the white panel stamped a bold, simple sentiment in Strawberry Slush.

Now - that really is my last card for the PJ Party!  I'm going to make a cup of coffee and sit down to check out all the submissions.   But before I go, I told you that we'd were away for the weekend in Holland, Michigan.  Below are some (of the many) photos that I took on Saturday when we were in Grand Haven and Muskegon.



Kathryn - she was messing around on this rock and I managed to get a photo of her.  Kathryn used to love having her photo taken, but over the last year she's become less keen!!!  So I was pleased to get this one.  Taken in Grand Haven.

The lighthouse in Grand Haven.  Love the bold red colour.  It was a lovely afternoon.  Jonathan and I both walked to the red house at the end of the pier.

It was a bit windy at the end of the pier, so I decided to try and catch the waves crashing against the walk.  And I did!!!!  Fortunately I didn't get wet.

On our drive to Muskegon we came across a Veteran's Memorial Park in the middle of the road!  It was so beautiful that we decided to stop and look around.  I found this cross as we walked around.  It was really peaceful.

Finally a photo taken at the Farmers' Market in Grand Haven.  It was a fabulous market full of fresh produce and flowers.  Love chillies and tomatoes - I bought some to make salsa!! That's it - see you soon.