Gingerbread kids .....

..... all dressed up in shades of blue!  I've made another card for the Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge - WMSCCC10.  This is the October challenge and Lynn wanted us to make a Christmas card (or set of cards) that contained an element of food, but the catch with this one was that we couldn't use red!!!  For the layout I've used the sketch from Clean and Simple - FTL170, but I've turned it upside down!

I found a lovely snowflake vellum in my stash and layered it on some dark blue mirri card; I used some snowflake brads to attach the vellum.  I stamped three gingerbread kids on to some Crumb Cake card and cut them out.  For the boys I stamped out some waistcoats in navy and for the girl a pretty pale blue costume and shoes.  To make the ribbon I stamped one of the stripes from Nordic Winter.  Finally I added a very simple sentiment. 

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Half Baked Gingerbread Joy, Say It Loud - Winter Holiday, Nordic Winter
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Basic Grey, Bashful Blue, Night of Navy; Marvy Le Plume Pen - Blue (3)
Spellbinders:  Mega Rectangles Sm (S4-144) #2
Accessories:  Vellum by Dawn Bibby;  Stampin' Up! - Crumb Cake card; Brads, mirri card and card from stash

I'm sorry the photo is so bad, but the light here isn't good and it's the best I can get at the moment.  If the light improves later I'll take another photo and replace this one!

Edited:  I decided not to replace the original photo, but to add one taken this morning (19th December) in daylight.  I think you can see the colour better, you can certainly see the detail on the gingerbread kids' clothes so much better. 

It's been really busy today.  I was out at the airport again this morning, this time collecting Ben.  I set off early, but the weather was really nice and we made good time; we were early enough to have time for a coffee and cake!!!  It's really nice to have Ben home with us for Christmas and the New Year.  Actually, it's really lovely to have all my family here.

That's all for now - I'll be back again tomorrow - I've a few more Christmas cards to share with you.  Take care.

The holly and the ivy ....

... Chrissie and Mandi have come up with a fabulous challenge for this week's Less is More theme - LIM46.  They want us to use the theme of music - musical instruments, manuscripts or simply base your card on a song title.  I've done both!

In my stash I have some lovely stamps from Elusive Images that have only seen ink a few times, but they are perfect for this theme.  Some holly, some ivy - the carol is one of my favourites - The Holly and the Ivy.

I stamped the image onto plain paper and heat embossed with clear powder, this gives an image that's really easy to paint.  I used Label 8 to cut out the image and then painted the holly, ivy, berries and ribbon with Twinkling H2Os - they have a fabulous shimmer, which is actually visible in this picture!  To get the red mat I put the die I used to cut out the image onto some red mirri card, taped it in place and then used my scalpel to cut around the outside of the die - giving a mat that is just a bit bigger than the image.  I stamped the line of sheet music onto white card, embossed it and then layered it onto some more red mirri.  Finally, I added the sentiment - positioning it with my trusty stamp-a-ma-jig!

Stamps:  Elusive Images - The Holly and Ivy; Waltzingmouse - Musical Backgrounds
Inks:  Versafine - Onyx Black
Spellbinders:  Labels Eight (S5-019) #3
Accessories:  Twinkling H2Os; Clear embossing powder, Red mirri and card from stash

Jonathan's home!!!  Yippee!!!  Our journey to the airport was a bit hairy!  It was dry when we left the house, but it started to hail by the time we got to the M56 and visibility wasn't good.  I slowed down and kept my distance, but there were several accidents on the motorway.  At the airport I turned up at the wrong terminal - silly me.  To be fair, it was the right terminal when Kathryn and I arrived home two weeks ago, but KLM switched terminals last week - and I hadn't checked.  Our journey home wasn't much better - it was still hailing like mad and one of the accidents (on the other side) caused the motorway to be closed for several hours.  I don't know what caused the accident, but some people don't put on their headlights or slow down - and I don't understand that!

Jonathan's had a nap this afternoon, but he's got absolutely no idea what time of day it is :)  I know that feeling :)  Still, that's all for now - I'm off to watch the final of Strictly Come Dancing - I've got no idea who's going to win this year, but I'd sort of like Chelsea to win.  Kathryn wants Aliona (Matt) to win!!  See you all tomorrow.

Signed, sealed and delivered ....

.... well not quite delivered!!!  This week's challenge at CAS-ual Fridays - CFC32 is for us to make a clean and simple card, with matching envelope.  A great idea and I decided to make a set of cards with envelopes - which is what Lynn wants us to make for the Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge - WMSCCC11.  Follow this link to find out more about the WMSCCC!

One of Claire's new Christmas sets features a wonderful Santa silhouette and I decided to use that for my CAS design.  The design is reasonably quick to stamp and positioning the stamps accurately is very important, so my stamp-a-ma-jig got a good workout!!!  I stamped the square frame, followed by the Santa silhouette, masked Santa's head and then stamped the snowflake.  Finally, using the same colour as the snowflake I stamped a simple sentiment.  I finished off by making envelopes to go with each card - using the same technique.

Stamps:  Stampin' Up! - Serene Snowflakes; Waltzingmouse - Frame-It, Santa's Coming to Town, Twas the Night Before Christmas, Around Christmastime, Very Vintage Christmas
Inks:  Memento - Tuxedo Black, Lady Bug, Cottage Ivy, Danube Blue, Rose Bud
Accessories:  Stamp-a-ma-jig; Cards from stash

Below are photos of each card and matching envelope - really pleased with this set.  And that's another four towards this year's Christmas Collection.  Only another 12 to go!!!! 

I'm up early today as we're off to the airport to pick up Jonathan; his plane is due in at 8.45am.  I've just checked on line and it's all on time.  And even the weather is being okay - at the moment!!!  The main road is clear - but I think getting off the drive is going to be fun!!  You know, in the sense of scary!  I suppose I'd better get used to driving in ice and snow, especially if we're going to Michigan next year :)  That's all for now - will be back soon.  Have a good day - be safe.

Peace cards ....

... well, it's happened - we have snow!!  Well, we had snow.  It started snowing this morning as I was driving to the garage (and I hate driving in the snow).  I had to take Jonathan's car down for a quick check as one of the tyres was nearly flat.  They checked it and told me to go to the tyre shop.  Fortunately, it wasn't too bad - just a leaky value which was quickly fixed.  It started to snow a bit more heavily on my homeward journey, and carried on for a quite a while once I'd got in.  It stopped and started to rain.  So now, there's no rain or snow, but we do have some horrible wet, slushy stuff (ugh!!) on the roads and pavements.  Hopefully, the council will be out tonight and grit!!!

As it was horrible out - I spent some time in my craft room making some of the outstanding Christmas cards that I need.  The last day for posting 1st class post in the UK is Monday - so I've got a couple more days!

I've made a set of five cards for the December Waltzingmouse Christmas Card challenge - WMSCCC12.  Lynn asked us to make a one layer card - so I did, but it looks like it's got layers!  You do need to be a member of the Forum to take part in the challenge - but it's easy to join in.  Simply go to Claire's blog - here - and click on Forum and follow the instructions.

One of the cards is also for two other challenges.  The One Layer Wednesday - OLW73 challenge, which is being hosted by Susan this week, and Susan wants us to make a card that represents Peace.  The OLW challenge is taking a break and won't be back until mid-January.  It's a very open challenge - which I love!  The other challenge is this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge - PDCC111 where it's a splash of colour - and the ladies have chosen teal! 

I'll start off by sharing the card for all three challenges.

I made a mask using Labels 14 and attached that to my card.  Then I stamped some sheet music (which you can just about see) on to the card and then I added text; both are stamped in pale grey.  To me, two of the most peaceful things I can do is listen to music and read - hence the text and musical background!  The I sponged some colour over the mask allowing it to softly create a colour border.  Once I removed the mask I stamped this wonderful frame in black and heat embossed it with Kaleidoscope powder - so it has a really lovely shimmer.  Finally, using the same colour that I used to make the frame, I inked up the word "Peace" and stamped.  In order to get accurate positioning I used my stamp-a-ma-jig for the frame and sentiment. 

Stamps:  Waltzingsmouse - Text-It, Musical Backgrounds, Holiday Labels 14, Say It Loud - Winter Holiday
Inks:  Memento - London Fog; Versafine - Onyx Black; Stampin' Up! - Tempting Turquoise; Distress - Tumbling Glass
Spellbinders: Labels Fourteen (S4-290) #4
Accessories:  Stamp-a-ma-jig; Kaleidoscope embossing powder, card from stash

Here are the rest of the cards - I kept the same design and simply changed the colours I used to create the inked frame and stamp the sentiment.

Inks:  Distress - Evergreen Bough, Seedless Preserves, Festive Berries, Pine Needles

You can't really see the difference between Pine Needles and Evergreen Bough in these photos - but it's definitely there.  Pine Needles is a much darker green.  And below is a photo of all five cards - I'm really pleased how they turned out.  And now I've only got 15 more cards to make.

It's only 4.30pm and it's so dark!  Still only a few days to the shortest day and then the evenings start to get a bit longer each day!  And Kathryn has broken up for Christmas - she's so pleased and excited.  I'm not sure whether the excitement is Christmas or because Jonathan is home tomorrow!  Yippee!!!!

Anyway, that's all for now.  I'm off to make dinner for us both.  Back tomorrow.

Birthday wishes ....

... I woke up this morning and realised that I hadn't made a birthday card for my niece.  Georgia is 11 years old on Saturday.  I've been organised enough to get her birthday present to her in plenty of time, and I've just finished her card and it will be posted shortly.  I've made the card for two challenges - this week's colour challenge at Colour Q - cQc115 has the most gorgeous colours, which I felt were perfect for a girl's card.  The layout is based on the current Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge - WMSC77.



 I've tried to be as faithful as possible to the colours, but I think the greens must be older Stampin' Up! colours and I don't have them (which is a bit sad, as I think they're gorgeous).  I've matched the greens up with Promarkers.  I've also slightly adapted the sketch, which is for a long thin card, and my card base is 5" × 7".

I started off by cutting two panels of card - one in red and one in pink.  I used my Cuttlebug birthday words folder to emboss the red card and on the pink I stamped the really pretty flower trellis from Pic-Nic patterns.  I found some green ribbon in my stash that matched a attached that over the join.  I stamped the large doily in Real Red onto white card and cut it out with the matching nestie.  I coloured the tiny flowers in the doily with shades of green.  I think the long dress in You're Lovely is really pretty and I stamped it twice, once on white card and once onto some Real Red patterned paper.   I colour the lace neckline in green and paper pieced the dress.  For the bottom border I punched some pretty pansies into the Real Red card and attached.  Finally I added a little birthday cake to the doily image and some roses.  The sentiment is simple - Birthday Wishes.

Stamps: Watltzingmouse - Eat Cake, You're Lovely, Dainty Doily Large, Pic-Nic Patterns
Inks:  Stampin' Up! - Real Red, Regal Rose; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Spellbinders:  Big Scalloped Circles Lg (S4-249) #7
Promarkers: Lush Green (Glorious Green), Leaf Green (Green Galore)
Accessories:  Stampin' Up! card & paper - Real Red, Regal Rose; Cuttlebug Folder - Happy Birthday; Martha Stewart - Pansy Border Stamp; Card and ribbon from stash

I'm so pleased how this turned out.  It's pretty and feminine, and just a bit grown up for a young lady celebrating her 11th birthday.  The only think I can't quite work out is where the years have gone.  It only seems a few years ago that she, and Kathryn, were little girls.  Now they're both on their way to becoming young ladies!!! 

That's all for now - I'm off to the post office to get this away.  And then I'm back in my craft room to make the outstanding Christmas cards I need.  See you soon!

Peace, winter, joy ....

... that's what is says on my second card for this week's Less is More - LIM45 challenge.  The challenge is to make a one layer card with the theme let it snow!  My dark blue card (here) didn't quite turn out as I planned.  So I had another go.  And I'm much happier with this one.

I used a flourish template to make a faint pattern to follow as I stamped the snowflakes.  I started off by stamping the text stamp and the scalloped snowflake, and then masked them off.  Then I stamped a selection of smaller snowflakes following the flourish pattern. 

Stamps:  Fiskars - Winter Wonderland
Inks:  Kaleidacolor - Blue Breeze
Accessories: Flourish template and card from stash

I really like the shades of blue and turquoise in the card - looks so cool, but I think I may add some glitter to give it a really frosty feel too!  I'll add a picture of that later.

I had a busy evening doing more on my craft inventory.  If you've got a craft room of any size - you will have a quite an inventory of crafting goodies.  I suspect that you have more than you think - I have!  I've been collecting my craft stash for about 10 years and I have wildly underestimated how much it would cost to replace.  So, if you haven't got your craft room listed separately on your insurance, check it out - it's more than you think. 

That's all for now.  Lots to do today - post Kathryn's passport application, do a bit more Christmas shopping and start writing my Christmas cards!!  I'm running late and those that have to go to the US are already late! 

Snowflakes are falling .....

... not literally of course!  Although, it did look like sleet a while ago.  No, these snowflakes are on my cards.  I've made two more Christmas cards for this year's collection and they are for two challenges; Less is More - LIM45 where we must make a one layer card with the theme Let it snow, and CAS-ual Fridays - CFC31 where the DT would like us to use a misting technique.

My first card is for both challenges.  I started off with a square card with a soft pearly finish.  I used a bit of scrap from my favourite Spellbinder set - Fleur de Lis Squares - and attached that to my card.  I used Faded Jeans to colour the inside of the shape, using a stipple technique.  To give the impression of snow I lightly sprayed the ink and added a few larger drops to the card, allowed the ink to react and then dried off the water.  It looks super - like a snow blizzard!  Next, using the same ink, I stamped snowflakes across the top corner of the card and finally added a simple sentiment in the opposite corner.

Stamps:  Stampin' Up - Serene Snowflakes; Waltzingmouse - Nordic Christmas
Inks:  Distress - Faded Jeans
Spellbinders:  Fleur de Lis Squares (S4-318) - negative of largest square
Accessories:  Card from stash

The second card is only for the Less is More challenge.  This time I stared with a dark blue pearl card base and used the scrap waste from a scalloped circle.  I coloured the inside of the circle with pearlescent ice-blue ink and then stamped snowflakes around the edge.  Once I'd removed the stencil, I realised that I couldn't actually see the snowflakes.  So I stamped more in Versamark and heat set with clear embossing powder.  Finally I added the sentiment and embossed with silver detail powder.  It's not turned out quite as I'd planned, as the snowflakes are incredibly subtle!!!  Yes, that does mean you really have to look for them!  Still it's quite pretty, but I think I should have embossed the snowflakes in silver!  Oh yes, it's also been really difficult to get a decent photo!

Stamps:  Docrafts - Christmas Greetings; Stampin' Up! - Serene Snowflakes
Inks:  Brilliance - Pearlescent Ice Blue; Versamark
Accessories: Clear and detail silver embossing powder

I think you can see the snowflakes better in the picture above, but you can really see the fabulous shimmer on the card base in the picture below!!  Sometimes ideas are better in your head than on the finished version!

It's been a busy few days, I haven't posted anything since last Friday!  I did get to the shops on Saturday to get some new ink cartridges for the printer.  I put them in, sadly it didn't fix the problem with the lack of reds.  So now I have a printer that works but only in black, yellow, green and blue! 

As you know we are hoping to move next year to the US.  As part of the move, I need to prepare an inventory of our household bits and pieces - both for insurance purposes and also for customs.  I started in my craft room.  I started by listing all my inks and punches, and making some reference sheets too.  Working out the replacement costs for just these two groups was very scary!  You know, you only buy a few bits a week, but it mounts up so quickly!!  Anyway, I'm getting on with it reasonably well - just dies, embossing folders, papers, gems, etc to do!!!  Then I have to catalogue all of our CDs and DVDs - that could take a while.

And today I finally made a start on my Christmas shopping.  I'm not normally this late, but going away at the end of December has completely thrown my organisation.  It was a successful shopping trip and this afternoon I'm starting to write my Christmas cards.  Despite making Christmas cards all year, I still don't have enough ready, so I'm going to pick one of my designs (probably a one layer, CAS design) and make lots!!!

That's all for now.  See you tomorrow.

Printer died ....

.... I tried to print out some digi images yesterday.  But my printer has died!!  It was rather ill before I went to the US, but I was sort of hoping that it would last until next year.  Sadly it turned up its toes yesterday.  Still all is not lost, as I've nicked, sorry that should read, "borrowed" Jonathan's printer.  Well, he's away and doesn't really need it.  I've managed to link everything up and printed off my images - only there's no magenta ink in the cartridge!  Darn.  I'll have to go shopping in the morning for some new cartridges.

On the plus side - I've finished all my ironing and am feeling really pleased.  The weather today is so much better than yesterday - bright blue skies, sunshine and cold winds!  At least it's sunny.  Must stop rambling now; Kathryn will be in shortly and she's got to get ready for a party tonight.

See you soon.

One for three .....

.... this card has been made for three challenges;

• Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge - WMSC76
• The Play Date Cafe - PDCC110
• St Luke's Charity Card Challenge - Let it Snow

I've taken a few liberties with the WMSC76 sketch, but I think you can see it in my card.  As soon as I saw the bright, vibrant colours for this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge, I knew that I wanted to use my favourite snowman stamp.  And, as the finished card is full of snowmen, cool blues and glitter - I decided that it was perfect for the current St Luke's Challenge - Let it Snow.
This is a large card - 8" × 8" - it needed to be this big to fit on all the elements!  I made two mats - the bottom mat was coloured with a pastel blue Promarker so that it would exactly match the lovely winter cottage; the top layer is white glitter paper.  The cottage was stamped onto white card and I used the out-of-the-box technique to cut out the shape with my nestie.  I coloured the cottage with Promarkers, added lots of glitter and layered it onto a lovely pale blue lacey circle. I stamped some holly leaves and berries and added them to the back of the cottage, and then attached the whole image to the card base.   I stamped three of these fab snowmen, coloured them all with Promarkers, cut them out and added some glitter to their hats and scarves.  Finally, I made a coordinating sentiment label.   A truly frosty Christmas card.

Stamps:  Funstamps - Scribble Snowman; Waltzingmouse - Festive Foliage, A Cottage Christmas
Inks:  Memento - Tuxedo Black, Cottage Ivy, Lady Bug; Stampin' Up! - Lucky Limeade
Spellbinders:  Lacey Circles (S4-293) # 5, Standard Circles Sm (S4-116) # 7; Scalloped Petit Ovals Lg (S4-139) # 2, Petit Ovals Sm (S4-140) # 2
Promarkers: Berry Red, Royal Blue, Lime Green, Marsh Green, Pastel Blue, Cool Aqua, Ice Grey 1, Ice Grey 2, Tan, Cinnamon, Gold, Soft Lime
Accessories:  Martha Stewart - Coarse glitter and card from stash

Above is a close up of the cottage showing the lovely glitter that I got from Michael's in Novi - I like the coarser texture of this glitter - it really looks like snow sparkling in the sun!

I had a really successful day yesterday - only one basket of ironing left to do today.  Well, until the next lot of washing!  Once I've finished the ironing today I've got a couple of birthday cards to make.  One for a 10 year old girl and one for a 50 year old guy!  Hopefully, I'll get to share them both with you tomorrow.  That's all for now.  I'm off to get that ironing done - see you!

Glorious green ....

.... one of my favourite colours is green in all shades; vibrant, pastel, subtle, dramatic - I just love GREEN!  So you can imagine how pleased I was when I saw that this week's challenge at Less Is More - LIM44 is a colour challenge, and the colour we must use is GREEN!!!  Brilliant. 

The card I made yesterday for CAS-ual Fridays was largely green and could almost have been submitted for Less is More, but there just wasn't enough white space.  And Chrissie and Mandi really do like us to have a clean and simple card with white space, so I had another go at a green card for my Christmas collection.  I think this one is okay.

In my stash I found this lovely mistletoe pattern vellum and decided to use that on my card.  I coloured the back of the vellum with Prismacolour pencils (but you can't really see that on this card) and then punched the row of Christmas ornaments at the bottom.  I layered the vellum onto some dark green card, added some green ribbon and then attached it all to the card.  I stamped the mistletoe onto some white card and coloured it using my aquapen.  I added some sparkle to the berries and leaves with a clear Sakura Stardust pen.  Finally, using my stamp-a-ma-jig to get accurate positioning, I added a simple sentiment to the corner of the card.  Another card done for this year.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Festive Foliage; Stampin' Up! - Contempo Christmas
Inks:  Distress - Pine Needles; Memento - Cottage Ivy
Accessories:  Martha Stewart - Christmas Ornament punch; Sakura Stardust Pen, Vellum and card from stash

Please excuse the quality of the picture - I've had to scan my card today.  I'll try to take a decent photo later today and upload that one.

It's really windy here this morning, you can hear it howling around the house.  So glad that I'll be in all day in the warm.  I know it's going to be warm as I've got a busy day planned - lots and lots of ironing!!  I did all the holiday washing done in the last couple of days - easy work while I was feeling jet lagged, but now that I'm back on UK time, I'd better get all the ironing done.  I'll set it all up in the lounge and turn on the TV - it'll make the time pass by so much quicker!  That's all for now.  See you tomorrow.

I've been published .....

.... I'm so excited.  While in Mold this afternoon I picked up the latest crafting magazines and after Kathryn had gone to bed, I sat down to have a read.  I was delighted to see that one of my Christmas cards has been published in the Christmas edition of Papercraft Inspirations.  I'm so, so excited!!!!

I made this card for a Jingle Belles challenge in August!!  Details of the card can be found here - I was delighted how it turned out, and even more pleased when the magazine contacted me about it.  But I'd forgotten all about it and I was delighted to see it today. 

What a fantastic way to round off a super day!!  I like this feeling.  Must try to get some more published now :))  Good night all - see you tomorrow.

Joyeux Noel .....

... I'm so in the Christmas spirit right now.  I've been to Kathryn's school where I went to watch the dress rehearsal for the School Play.  The children were fantastic and, as always, I had a tear or two at the Nativity story.  I am so proud of Kathryn - she has missed almost all the rehearsals because of our trip to the US, but she's a real star.  Kathryn nailed the dance routine and was singing her heart out with all her friends.  It was fabulous.  I did try to take photos, but the lighting at school is not good.  However, I do have a picture of Kathryn and also of Widow Twanky - played by a brilliant young man called Tom.  I think he has a big future in acting.

And I've also managed to make a Christmas card for a couple of challenges - so pleased too as I didn't think I was going to make it.  The challenge at CAS-ual Fridays - CFC30 it to use a tic-tac-toe grid and make a card based on the line you've picked.  And I've used the layout from the current Clean & Simple - FTL169 sketch.


I've picked the middle line of the tic-tac-toe grid - and I've gone for a very literal interpretation of the sketch.  I started off by stamping some green chevrons onto kraft card and then cutting out a triangle using my trusty nesties!!!  Voila - a Christmas tree!  I randomly stamped some holly leaves onto the card base.  Next I made the sentiment label, first cutting out a pearly green mat and then a kraft oval onto which I stamped a sentiment and some more holly leaves.  I coloured the berries with Sakura Stardust - so they have a really pretty shimmer.  I like this card - and might make a few more.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Off Beat Backgrounds, Very Vintage Christmas Set
Inks:  Kaleidacolour - Fresh Greens
Spellbinders:  Nested Pennants (S5-028), Lacey Ovals (S4-314); Classic Ovals Sm (S4-112)
Accessories:  Kraft card and Sakura Stardust pen from stash

Kathryn and I went into Mold this afternoon after school.  Kathryn had to have an official passport photo taken.  And while there I took a few photos of the town looking so pretty and Christmassy!  And very, very cold this evening too!

Tom as Widow Twanky in the school production of Aladdin - he had a great time!

Kathryn in the middle - dressed in the tunic she got from Mumbai.

Mold Town Centre at dusk - so pretty!

It's time to come to a close now and go get some dinner.  I'll be back again tomorrow with a couple more cards for you - I'm busy trying to catch up with some challenges.  Take care.