We're moving .....

... It's all official - we are moving to Northville, Michigan in March!  We went to London on Thursday for our appointment at the US Embassy.  We were told to expect a long wait, but we were in and out in an hour!!  We should get our Passports with Visas next week.  The plan is that Jonathan goes over to America first; he's hoping for about 20th February.  Kathryn and I will join him sometime in the middle of March, after we've got our furniture packed and sent off, and after I've finished off getting our place ready for tenants!!  We will be moving into a lovely house at the beginning of April and our furniture and stuff (crafting bits) should arrive soon thereafter.

We had a super day in London - after our visit to the Embassy, we headed off to the Dr Who Experience at Olympia.  We had a fantastic time!!  Kathryn has an extremely vivid imagination - she was rather "worried" when we went through the crack in the wall!!!  The interactive experience last for about 25 minutes and that's followed by a Exhibition of Dr Who costumes, heroes and villains.  If you've got children who like Dr Who it's a really fun way to spend a day!

We left London about 6.00pm and got home just after 9.30pm - it was a long and exciting day.

Today has been really busy with the Rental Agents coming round to the house, taking photos and details to get ready to let our home out!  It will be so strange leaving this house and going to America.  But it's going to be such an adventure.

I'll be checking in tomorrow to pick up details of this week's Less is More and Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenges - I know I'm going to be very busy in the next 4 - 5 weeks, but I should get some time in the evenings to unwind and make a card or two!!  That's all for now - I'm off to bed!!  See you soon.

Some guy cards ....

..... Last week my aunt asked if I could make her some cards - she wanted birthday cards for her family, as well as a selection of cards for anniversary, thanks, thinking of you, etc.  I've started by making a couple of birthday cards for my cousins.  I still have a couple more to make for my uncle and other cousin.

For my first card I used the sketch from this week's Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge - WMSC83.  Jen Cuthburtson drew the sketch - it's circular!!  I don't do well with circular cards, so I've adapted the sketch a bit - I've used the sketch as the main feature on a square card.

I started with a white linen textured card base.  I cut two circles in shades of green.  I stamped a plaid pattern in metallic inks on the smaller of the circles and then glued them together, offsetting the circles to create a diamond pattern around the edge.  I wrapped some natural raffia around the circles and attached them to the card base with dimensional tape.  Instead of a heart I used a couple of stars onto which I stamped more patterns.  I finished off the main topper with a few brads in bronze, gold and silver - to match the metallic inks.  I completed the card with a simple birthday greeting.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Off Beat Backgrounds, Free Spirit Sentiments
Inks:  Brilliance - Mineral Trio; Memento - Cottage Ivy
Spellbinders:  Pinking Circles Sm (S4-172) # 6, Pinking Circles Lg (S4-170) # 6, Stars (S4-092)
Accessories:  Brads, raffia and card from stash

My next card has been made for two challenges:

• For Your Inspiration - FYI#23 - a wonderful photo
• Clean and Simple Stamping - FTL175 

For my card I've used the colours from the inspiration photo - the shades of blue, the grey of the background buildings, the white of the building in the foreground and the naturals of the ground.  I've kept pretty close to the layout of the sketch.

I used some Stampin' Up! designer paper for the background - using stripes to give a graphic feeling.  I used a few of the Circle Circus stamps for the toppers using two shades of blue and adding a brad to the centre circle.  I finished off by cutting out a tag, sponging on some colour and stamping a clean and simple sentiment.

Stamps:  Stampin' Up! - Circle Circus; Waltzingmouse - Free Spirit Sentiments
Inks: Distress - Chipped Sapphire, Stormy Sky, Antique Linen, Pumice Stone
Accessories:  Stampin' Up! punches; brad and card from stash

I like making cards for guys - which is fortunate as my aunt needs four male birthday cards!!  I'll be making a few more cards for her over the next week or so.  When I've finished, I'll take them down to her.  Such a fun project!!  Before I sign off for today, I'd like to welcome a couple of new followers.  Hello and welcome to Wilfreda and Sandra - so glad you joined me!

I've had a really super start to my day; I've gone back to Weight Watchers and today I lost 6lbs!!!  I'm really pleased as I've lost 15lbs in 4 weeks!  I've a way to go, but this makes me feel so motivated!!  That's all for now - I'm off to make lunch for Jonathan and me.    See you soon.

Less is More - 1st Anniversary .....

.... A year ago Chrissie and Mandi launched Less is More - a blog dedicated to the art of clean and simple card designs.  While I've been making cards for quite a while - I still don't have a specific style, but I've always really liked the CAS look and over the last year, I've learnt so much from Chrissie, Mandi and the LIMettes!  I love the community spirit of the blog - always supportive, always encouraging and always challenging!

The challenge at Less is More - LIM53 - this week is a colour challenge - the ladies would like us to make a card using the colour AQUA !!!  What a fabulous choice!  I found a set of Inkadinkadoo stamps that I've been wanting for a while in the January sale at  Hobbycraft - a real find!   I used the biggest stamp in the set for my card - a rabble of butterflies!  Finishing the card with an inspirational sentiment.  While the challenge didn't specifically ask us to make a one layer card - I've even managed to do that!

Stamps: Inkadinkadoo - Morphic Bugs
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Tempting Turquoise
Accessories:  Card from stash

I'm also submitting this card to a couple of other challenges:

• Flutter by Wednesdays - FBW#188 - Open theme, but must include a fairy, angel or butterfly (done)
• Do You Stack Up? - DYSU#57 - Where they have an "anything goes" theme

Less is More's first challenge was also a colour theme - Black, white and pink and this was my card:

My crafting time has been reduced somewhat, but I'm still managing to get a couple of hours in my craft room in the evenings and I'm trying to make cards that fit multiple challenges!  I don't know how I'm going to cope once my craft room is packed up!!!  I think I'm going to have to get together a "survival craft kit" - with some basic inks and a few stamps!!  Still I have at least a month before I have to pack!  That's me finished for today - I'm off to get some tiding done - must have the place in showroom condition for Friday.  See you soon!

Lost in space ....

.... This week's challenge at CAS-ual Fridays - CFC38 is to make a card based on a movie - keeping it family friendly!  And, as it's the first challenge of the month, the winner will get to be a temp Girl Friday as Guest Designer!   That's a great incentive!

One of my favourite TV series when I was a child was Lost in Space with the Robinson family, Don West, Dr Smith and the Robot all trying to survive various adventures.  In the 1998 a movie was made based on the series, and while it wasn't anywhere near as popular as the TV show, I enjoyed it!!

That was the inspiration for my card - I stamped a star filled sky, embossed a simple sentiment and attached a rocket "lost in space"!  The stars were embossed with a variety of powders - silver, gold and white tinsel, and I coloured the space rocket with Promarkers.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Half Pint Heroes, Christmas Cottage
Inks:  Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versamark
Accessories:  Stampin' Up! - Night of Navy card; Embossing powders and Promarkers

We had a visit from a removal company yesterday - following the decluttering I was hoping to find that we'd reduced the volume of our goods - we have, but not by very much!!  Following Kathryn's tidy up in her bedroom, she is donating a number of books, some old puzzles (all complete), a doll and pushchair and some dressing up clothes to the school.  She's been really good about reducing her toy stash!

It's another busy day here - Jonathan's been taking photos for our Visa applications, we form filling and getting the house tidied for a photo shoot on Friday!  That's all for now!

CR84FN47 - Thank you ....

.... It's the second week of our CR84FN47 challenge - these colours are so pretty and we've already had nearly 60 submissions.  I can understand why - the colours are just fab!  The inspiration photos are super, courtesy of Magnolia Rouge, so why did I have such a hard time coming up with my second card?

I was beginning to think that I wouldn't have a card to share with you this week - nothing I tried seemed to work.  So I decided to miss a week, then late Friday night I suddenly remembered some pretty papers that I had that would fit with our colours.  Now, I'm not terribly good using designer papers, most of my cards tend to have  papers that I've made with stamps.  I'm determined that this year I'll use up some of my huge collection of papers.

I kept the design really simple as the papers really are lovely.  I simply cut a couple of sheets to size and matted them onto red card.  The rose paper has a sort of green tint here - but it really is pale blue!  To make the topper I cut two of the accent shapes from Parisian Motifs and layered them to make this pretty flower.  To finish off I simply added the thank you sentiment.  This card was so quick to make - took me 15 minutes!!

Papers:  Pink Petticoat - Vintage Rose Collection (free with Quick Cards Made Easy)
Spellbinders:  Parisian Motifs (S5-035)
Accessories:  Card from stash

Edited:  I have to apologise for the photo - it make the pale blue background appear pale green!  I have used blue - honest!!!  I'll try for a better photo today - very much depends on the weather.


I've managed to get a better photo - and in this one I think you can see the pale blue background so much better!  

Monika, our Guest Designer, and some of the Design team have more cards to share with you this week - check out the CR84FN Blog.

We had a fantastic time at Helen's party last night - she had no idea that it was happening!!  Jonathan and I had a super time on the dance floor dancing to Come on Eileen, Tiger Feet and lots of old stuff!  Kathryn sat there with her head in her hands!  Don't you just love embarrassing your kids?   Helen's birthday cake was fabulous - also themed for Guiding - it had a tent and flag pole with Helen's initial.  Wish I'd had my camera!

I must also say thanks for the lovely comments on Kathryn's card - she'll be thrilled!  As for the various chargers we discovered - I don't think we have any idea what they are for, but we're bound to work it out once they've gone!

That's all for now - have a super day.  See you soon.

What a morning ....

... We've had today!  We have made good progress filling the skip - it's amazing just how much "stuff" you collect, you know recipes that might be useful, but you never look at again, elastic bands, lolly sticks,  etc, etc.  Well, I've been brutal and tossed anything like that.  We discovered lots of charging cables and plugs - haven't got a clue what they belong to - so they're in a pile for the waste metal guy to collect next week.  But it's been a good morning we've cleaned out three cupboards and four drawers - only upstairs to do now.

Kathryn had a fun morning making a card for her friend's birthday.  And quite by accident Kathryn's card fits in with this week's Flutter by Wednesday challenge - FBW#188, where the theme is open but the card must include an angel, fairy or butterfly.

In Kathryn's stash are a number of items that I made and gave to her.  Kath decided on a pretty lilac card and added the lace border.  She positioned the sentiment with my stamp-a-ma-jig and finished off with this opulent butterfly.  The butterfly was stamped some time ago and I used glossy accents and glitter to decorate it.

Stamps:  A set that I got free - can't remember the company; Creative Expressions - Big Butterfly
Ink:  Memento - Grape Jelly
Accessories:  Card from stash; Martha Stewart Deep edge daisy punch

The weather today is horrid.  It's freezing cold and raining.  The weather forecast is for snow in many parts of the UK, but in our area they are simply forecasting rain.  So it's going to be very cold, wet and, I think, icy this weekend.  Fortunately it's nice and warm inside and I'm off to get warmer still - yet more ironing to be done.  Hey ho!!  See you soon.

Birthday rosette .....

.... This morning I have a special birthday card to share with you.  One of my friends asked me to make a 60th birthday card for his wife - but he didn't want flowers or pink. Helen is one of the local Guiders and she has been involved with the organisation for a long time, and Glynn wanted me to make a card using the Guide colours of blue and gold and to incorporate the Guide logo.   I had a hunt on the Internet and found the Trefoil logo which is a lovely soft blue, downloaded and made my own backing paper.

I kept the design quite simple - it's simply layering with different papers and finishes.  I decided to make a rosette as the main feature on the card and used a number of different nesties to cut out the layers.  The only bit of stamping on the card is the birthday greeting.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Frame-it
Inks:  Stampin' Up! - Bashful Blue; Memento - Paris Dusk
Spellbinders:  Blossom Tags & Accents (S5-072), Star Circles (S4-335) # 3, Pinking Circles Sm (S4-172) #6, Lacey Circles (S4-293) #5, Grand Big Scalloped Circles (LF-249) # 2
Accessories:  Cuttlebug Alphabet dies - You're Not the Boss of Me; Card from stash

Today is going to be quite busy.  Jonathan and I will be starting on the next round of decluttering; and I'm sure we'll make a good start on filling the skip!  Kathryn is going to make a birthday card for her friend - she's at the party this afternoon.  And this evening we are all off to Helen's party.  It's going to be a fun day!  See you soon.

Visa news and a couple of cards .....

.... Things are suddenly moving a lot faster now and we had news about our Visa application yesterday - we all have to go to London next week for our interview on Thursday at the US Embassy.  It's all so exciting - and a bit scary too!  All being well, we should get the Visa by about 17th February and then it's all systems go!  BUT, until we have the Visas in our passports, anything can happen.  Mind, at this stage, it should be okay.  Will let you know!!

In the meantime, I've got a couple of cards to share with you today.  My first card has been made for a few challenges:

• Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge - WMSC82 - a lovely sketch from Anya
• Colour Q - cQc122 - just love these colours!
• Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge - WMSCCC12-01 

As soon as I saw those wonderful colours from Colour Q, I knew that I wanted to make a Christmas card with the Nutcracker Prince resplendent in his uniform of red, pink and black!!!  I didn't quite make enough Christmas cards last year, so this year I'll be making sure to make cards as and when I can - to join in with the WMS Christmas Card challenge go to the WMS blog and join the forum!  The theme for January's challenge is to feature a day or nighttime sky, and you need to use some Waltzingmouse stamps.  I've used Anya's layout for the card.

I started off by stamping the Prince onto some white card, embossing him, colouring with Promarkers and then cut him out.  I tried to make a hill effect with the text stamp - it sort of works.  And I stamped snowflakes in my day time sky in shades of pink, red and kraft - it's a fantasy world!!  For my scalloped banner, I used the deep daisy stamp on some red foil card, cut a piece of regal rose card and attached a dotty ribbon over it.  To finish it off I added some black embossed hearts.  Finally, I used a Fancy Tag for my label sentiment, sponged on some red and stamped the sentiment in black.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Nutcracker Sweet, Compliments of the Season, Sewing Box Hugs, Text-it
Inks:  Stampin' Up! - Real Red, Regal Rose, Crumb Cake; Versafine - Onyx Black
Spellbinders:  Fancy Tags Three (S5-031)
Promarkers: Poppy, Crimson, Salmon Pink, Khaki, Black, Blush, Ivory
Accessories:  Martha Stewart - Deep Edge Daisy Punch; Clear embossing powder, ribbon and card from stash

Recently I was asked to make a 21st birthday card.  I emailed a couple of sketches with suggestions for layouts, Diane told me what she wanted and off I went.  I decided to do a mock up, just to make sure it was okay.  My first attempt was far too formal, especially as the card is for a 21 year old!  So I grunged it up a bit!  She liked the mock up, so I made it last night.

This is an 8" × 8" card - you need something special for a 21st!  I started off by lightly spritzing the card base with some Cosmic Shimmer silver and then stamped the funky circles - they are second impressions as I didn't want the images to be too strong.  Then I used the graffiti stamps in pale grey and stamped them randomly around the card.  I added the grid stamp in shades of green for a bit more depth.  To finish the card base I spritzed again with more of the silver and some purple.  The card has a lovely shimmer.

For the postage stamp squares I made my own coloured card.  I used my Promarkers to make the dark and mid blue squares.  The large postage stamp has been coloured with a few Cosmic Shimmer Mists - silver, purple and green - it not only adds shimmer, but gives a lovely metallic feel.  The computer and book image and the runner were from the web and have been printed on satin photo paper - Aidan is at University and loves running!  I finished off the card by making the "21" from a stencil and my Promarkers.  To make Aiden's name I used one of my Cuttlebug alphabet sets.  I'm really pleased how this turned out.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Free Spirit Boy, Off Beat Backgrounds
Inks:  Kaleidacolor - Blue Breeze, Fresh Greens; Memento - London Fog
Spellbinders:  Postage Stamps (S4-348) # 4 & 5, Standard Squares Lg (S4-126) # 4 & 5,
Promarkers: China Blue, Indigo Blue
Accessories:  Cosmic Shimmer Mists - Silver, Purple Violet, Meadow Lush; Card from stash

We've had a big skip delivered this morning so that we can declutter (again).  It's is really amazing how quickly you can build up "stuff" - things that I might need again, but in reality am unlikely to go back to.  That's all for today - I'm off to town to send the 21st card to Diane and get started on a bit more house stuff!  I'll be checking in tomorrow for a few more challenges, but I suspect they are going to be the last for a while!!  Sob!  See you!

Less is more, banner and bling ...

..... I've managed to play in my craft room today - yea!!  And I've made a card for three challenges - I think this is the only way I'm going to be able to keep playing in my favourite challenges!!  And the challenges for this card are:

• Less Is More - LIM52 - a sketch from Chrissie and Mandi, but with a few instructions - (a) the card must be landscape, (b) it must be rectangular and (c) the band must remain in the vertical position
• Jingle Belles - JB12-03 - a banner holiday, where we must use the blog's banner as inspiration for our card
• 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - 52CCT-5 - the theme for this week is to use embellishments, specifically rhinestones!!

I really like this sketch from Chrissie and Mandi - so many possibilities, and will go into my notebook for use again.  I took my colour inspiration from the Jingle Belles banner - bright red, soft grey, soft green and some shimmer too - perfect Christmas colours, and it was easy to add some bling!  I masked off the vertical band and sponged on distress ink, then I flicked on water to give a subtle impression of falling snow.  While masked I stamped the holly leaves in the same colour.  To define the edges of the band, and to echo the grey and shimmer in the Jingle Belles banner, I added holographic silver border peel offs.  I stamped the Christmas tree in London Fog and coloured the image with Promarkers, cut it out and attached it to the card with dimensional tape.  I added lots of red gems to the tree.  I finished off with a simple sentiment stamped in bright red with a tiny gem on the dot of the i!

Stamps:  Chocolate Baroque - Christmas Flourish; Waltzingmouse - Nutcracker Sweet
Inks:  Distress - Evergreen Bough; Stampin' Up! - Poppy Parade; Memento - London Fog
Promarkers:  Green, Mint Green, Terracotta, Cinnamon
Accessories:  Silver holographic peel offs; Red gems and card from stash

I had a really busy day yesterday.  Now that things are progressing with going to the States, I spent most of the day compiling a list of what we're taking and doing a valuation for insurance purposes.  Scary!!  I  had a phone call from my Aunt - her friend has asked me to make a 21st birthday card.  I got a few details, emailed a couple of sketches, and will be making that card later today.

I had a lovely time in town this morning - did a bit of shopping at the local market and enjoyed the bright winter sunshine.  It might be cold, but it's so beautiful.  That's all for now - must get back to my craft room and get started on the 21st card!  See you soon.

St Luke's Challenge - Love & Lace ....

.... Can you believe it's already 1st February and time for the new St Luke's Charity Card Challenge?  Well, it is!!  The main event in February is Valentine's day, and so we've taken amour as our theme this month.  We would like you to use some lace and make a card filled with love for someone you love, or an anniversary card, or wedding card - or something else if it fits the theme of LOVE and LACE.

I decided to make a card for my Mum - it's not specifically for Valentine's day or anything particular, but just because I love her.  I used some papers that I got free with Simply Homemade - the colours and patterns are just fabulous.  I started by sponging a touch of colour to the edge of my card base.  Next I cut two pieces of paper to make the base layers.  In my stash I found this really pretty cream wavy lace and attached two pieces side by side.  I used my Spellbinders dies to cut a couple more layers; on the top layer I stamped this fabulous frame and heat embossed it with clear powder.  I wanted to send Mum some flowers that would last, and I found these lovely stamps (that have only seen ink a couple of times).  I stamped the corner flourish in brown as it gave a much softer feel than black.  I then stamped a selection of flowers onto different papers, heat embossed them and then cut them out and attached them to the card.  I finished the card off with some faux stitching.

Stamps:  Creative Expressions - Floral; Spring Stamps - free with Crafts Beautiful; Waltzingmouse - Very Vintage Labels No 10, Sweethearts
Inks: Versafine - Vintage Sepia; Memento - Rich Cocoa; Distress - Antique Linen
Spellbinders:  Labels Ten (S5-022) # 4 and 5
Accessories:  Kaisercraft Gypsy Sisters Paper free with Simply Homemade; Clear embossing powder; Lace and card from stash

For more inspirational cards with our Love and Lace theme, check out the Design Team's blogs:

Tara Cardwell

Jenny Mullens

Anne Forrest

Sylvie Colledge

Lynne Atkinson

Our prize this month has been donated by Sasha who was our winner in November with this wonderful snowflake card.  Not only has Sasha kindly donated the prize, but she is also joining us as our Guest Designer this month, so do visit her blog and leave a comment.  The prize?  Oh yes, Sasha has donated some fabulous stamps for February's lucky winner.  Sadly, I can't win them!!!

I'm submitting my card to a few other challenges:

• Crazy 4 Challenges - C4C121 where the DT would like us to use lots of layers (done)
• One Stop Craft Challenge - #167 - they would like us to use stitching - faux or real (done)
• Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - #170 - the team would like us to use ribbons (lace ribbon, done)
• Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Challenge - #113 Handmade embellishments (I stamped all the little flowers by hand and then cut them out, I hope this counts)

Don't forget, if you can spare your card (s), then please send them to St Luke's Hospice for the next sale - full details on the blog here.

That's all for now, but I'll be back later today.  Hope you all have a super day.

Dotty ribbons .....

... A quick post this morning to share a card that I've made for two challenges:

• Do you stack up? - DYSU#56  where the design team would like us to use ribbons on our card
• CASE study - CSC#75 inspiration card

It's the last challenge from the current muse over at CASE Study - Jen Rzasa has provided some fabulous inspiration cards and this week's is just lovely - I adore the tied threads!  For my card I've used a large sentiment - to echo the sentiment on Jen's card, and dotty rainbow ribbons.  I decided to run my ribbons on a diagonal.  It was really easy to attach the ribbons evenly, I simply attached my card to my glass cutting mat and used the guide lines to line up the ribbons.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Join Us
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Ribbons by Avec in various colours, Card from stash

I've been busy in my craft room this weekend trying to get as far ahead with my Design Team cards as I can, and I'm making quite good progress.  As you know, Jonathan came back from the States last week and things are now beginning to happen with regards to our move to the States.  That means I've got quite a few bits and pieces to get done on the house - odd little bits that I'm happy to live with, but that need to be sorted before we can let the house to tenants.  So I'm going to be quite busy in the next few weeks - the down side to all this is that I don't think I'm going to be able to take part in quite as many challenges as I've been doing.  Sob!!!  But it is so exciting!  Just wish I had an actual date!!!

That's all for now - I'm off to craft class this morning and then this afternoon I'm going to be organising jobs on the house!!  See you soon!

CR84FN47 - Happy Birthday ....

... I find it hard to believe that it's almost the end of January - where has the month gone to!!  And it's time for our new colour challenge at CR84FN - we have some really pretty colours for you to play with - pink, red and light blue!

Heather found this lovely combination of colours; the pictures are courtesy of Magnolia Rouge.  I've spent a very happy half hour looking at their gorgeous blog!!

I used our colours to make a birthday card for Ben's grandmother, Marilyn, who celebrated her 75th birthday last Friday.  I didn't want to include any specific numbers, but I did want to make a special card for her.

I stamped the flower in each colour three times, and heat embossed them all with clear powder.  I fussy cut the inner flower three times, and then used a circular punch for the centres.  I like the shape of Labels Fourteen and cut three labels; on the largest I sponged red ink, on the next I stamped the polka dot frame from WMS and on the smallest label I stamp the fancy flourish frame (which you can just about see) in clear and then sponged on light pink ink and finished off by stamping the sentiment in red.  I added a pale blue ribbon to the card base, arranged the flowers and labels and then finished off with some jewelled flourishes.

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Triple Treat Flower; Waltzingmouse - Frame-It, Holiday Labels No Fourteen
Inks:  Stampin' Up! - Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue
Spellbinders:  Labels Fourteen (S4-290) # 3, 4 and 5
Accessories:  Jewelled flourish; Clear embossing powder, ribbon and card from stash

I took a couple of close up photos of the flowers - it's really pretty and so easy to cut out.  You can see the lovely gloss from the heat embossing and if you look really closely you can see the fancy flourish on the pink label!

We are pleased to welcome Monika as our Guest Designer for CR84FN47 and 48.  Monika makes the most wonderful embroidery projects and she has a quite unique take on our challenges.  Check out the CR84FN blog to see the inspiration projects from the team, or click on the links:  Mona, Sue, Heather, Andrea, Stephanie, Suzanne, Lisa and Monika our Guest Designer.

That's all for today - Kathryn and I are off to hunt for the very elusive Monster High dolls - they seem to be selling out quite quickly around here!!  And later today I hope to get to play in my craft room.  See you soon.

A CAS-ual card ....

.... For Saturday morning - I know I'm not going to be first on the CAS-ual Fridays challenge, but I'm in earlier than normal for me!!  I've made this card with two challenges in mind:

• CAS-ual Fridays - CFC37 - where we have a sketch layout
• Play Date Cafe Challenge - PDCC116 - with super rich colours

I followed the sketch quite faithfully, starting off by stamping a background using the large doily set from Waltzingmouse, (inspiration from my Blog Buddy Pauline) which I then embossed.  I stamped the sentiment onto plain white card and used my square nesties to cut it out.  I threaded some fine navy ribbon (recycled) through the holes in the beaded square.  I made a pennant and home made brad and attached it to the card with dimensional tape.

   

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Doilies Large, Back in the Saddle, Bitty Banners

Inks:  Stampin' Up! - Pear Pizzazz, Night of Navy, Elegant Eggplant

Spellbinders: Nested Pennants (S5-028), Beaded Squares (S4-315) # 3, Standard Squares Sm (S4-128) # 4

Accessories:  Cuttlebug Folder - Love's in the Air (set of 4); Card, ribbon and brad from stash

I've got a busy morning today - I'm taking Kathryn into town as she wants to visit Argos for a new doll and after that I'm off to donate blood at one of the local schools.  I used to be a regular donor, but when I moved to Wales I sort of fell off the radar!  Anyway, I started back again in February last year and was due to go again in October, but couldn't because I'd had various vaccinations before going to India.  But I'm allowed to go again - so this morning I'll be parting with "an armful" of O Neg!!  Jonathan is off for a photo shoot in the morning, making up for lost time!!  That's all for now.  See you later.