One layer with a flourish ....

.... Hi again - I'm popping in with a card for this week's Less is More - LIM71 challenge.  Chrissie and Mandi would like us to make a one layer card using some flourishes.  I've used this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge - PDCC136 for the colour inspiration.

This is a really simple design and quite quick to make.  I stamped the main flower in purple, used a mask, stamped a couple more flowers which again were masked, and then I stamped some background flowers and the flourishes.  I finished off by using this really fun sentiment!  There is white space on the card, although I suspect not enough to satisfy the clean, clear lines that the Diva Ladies like :) but I'm still submitting it to the challenge :))))

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Fancy Flourishes Scallops & Dots, Compact Sentiments II; Dawn Bibby - Flower Patch
Inks:  Memento - Elderberry, Teal Zeal, Nautical Blue
Accessories:  Card from stash

That's all for now - hope you're all having a fabulous day.  It's been a super day here - so bright and sunny and not too humid, which is always good.  See you soon.

No 1 Son ....

... I've no idea where this week has gone - it has just flown by and I realised this morning that I've not been in my craft room at all this week!!  I decided to make a card for my darling son - Ben is just coming to the end of his GCSEs at the moment - so I thought I'd send a card to let him now that whatever the outcome, he's my No 1 Son!!  I'm also pleased to let you know that Ben and my Mum are coming over to the States in July to spend a month with us and I'm so looking forward to it.

I've been able to combine four challenges in the making of this card:

• Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge - WMSC101 designed by Edna Morrisedie
• Colour Q - cQc141 - just love these colours
• Do You Stack Up - DYSU76 - theme is boys/men
• Charisma Cards - CC#23 - theme male cards

Don't you just love that tie?  Ben likes to have cards with layers, so the sketch is perfect for his card.  I started off by stamping the lovely chevron design in three shades of blue ( I don't have brocade blue so I substituted Marina Mist).  The I cut a panel of Lucky Limeade card using the largest Wonky Rectangles die. Next I cut three shapes with my Spellbinder dies and, while still in the dies, I over stamped two of the shapes with some patterns.  I finished off by stamping "No1 Son" in Night of Navy.  I'll be posting this card to Ben later today.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Compact Family, Off Beat Backgrounds, Heirloom Patterns
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Lucky Limeade, Bashful Blue, Night of Navy, Marina Mist
Spellbinders: Star Circles (S4-335) #2, Wonky Rectangles (S4-306) #6, Pinking Circles Lg (S4-170) #2, Stars (S4-092)
Accessories:  Card from stash

I must say thank you to a couple of challenges for awarding me Honourable Mentions - really pleased to have been picked.  I'm a bit late thanking the 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown team for my Honourable mention for my Nativity Themed card, and sadly I'm going to miss this week's challenge!!  The second card Honourable Mention is Just Add Ink and CR84FN56 card - Andrea's birthday card!  Here are the cards they picked:

If you've not joined in with our CR84FN56 challenge there is still plenty of time.

That's all for now - I'm off to town with Kathryn - she's started her summer holiday and is keen to get a new pair of sandals!!  See you soon.

End of term ....

... One thing that is really difficult to get used to here in the States, is just how early the schools close for their summer break.  I know that it is because American schools have shorter holidays during the school year, but it's still hard getting used to the idea of a 2½ month summer break!!!  What am I going to do with Kathryn ? :) :)  The school closes on Thursday, but I think most of this week will be quite relaxed and today all the 5th Grade kids are off to a local sports centre for fun and games!!

It was so hot here yesterday (32°C) that we had a quiet day in the house - in the air conditioned cool!!!  Kathryn asked me to make a couple of cards for her teachers, which I was delighted to do.

For my first card I used the One Layer Wednesday - OLW91 challenge to make a card for a teacher.  This week the challenge is being hosted by Jennifer at Styles Ink.  I made an ultra clean and simple card.  I stamped the rectangle, greeting and apple directly on the card base and coloured the apple with Promarkers.  Well, you have to have an apple on a card for the teacher!!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Frame It, Peace and Plenty
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black
Promarkers: Apple, Meadow Green, Cocktail Pink, Walnut, Warm Grey 1

For the second card I've used a couple of challenges:

• Do You Stack Up - DYSU#75 - the DT would like us to use paper piecing
• CAS-ual Fridays - CFC56 - the DT would like us to use polka dots in the design

The school pledge at Ridge Wood Elementary is:

As a Ridge Wood Rocket,

I promise to do my best,

Show compassion,

Keep a positive attitude,

Be respectful and responsible

In every way.

Go Rockets!!!

So it was very easy to come up with a design for this card - Kathryn wanted me to use the sweet rocket from the Half Pint Heroes set.  As the school colours are red, white and blue - I decided to print off some polka dot paper and paper piece the rocket.  I stamped the frame directly on the card - this time with the gap at the top.  Using my stamp-a-ma-jig, I stamped the rocket flying out of the frame - moving on up to Junior High!!  I coloured the rocket fins, window frame and flame with Sakura Stardust pens to give a subtle shimmer.  I made the sentiment on my computer and cut it out with Spellbinder, adding shading around words. I finished off by stamping some stars around the rocket and the moon.  Kathryn was so pleased with this one!  This one is for her class teacher, Mrs Zane, who is a fabulous teacher.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Half Pint Heroes, Frame-It
Inks:  Memento - Tuxedo Black; Distress - Stormy Sky, Chipped Sapphire
Spelllbinders: Petit Ovals Lg (S4-138) # 2
Accessories:  Sakura Stardust pens

Just in case you're worried - Kathryn has lots to do over the summer break.  She will be going to some summer camps and my Mum and Ben are coming to stay with us for a month in July - we are all so excited to have them here.  That's all for now, see you soon.

CR84FN56 - Sorry I'm late ....

.... it's time for our new challenge at CR84FN; our colours for CR84FN56 are yellow, grey and neutral - so many possibilities!  The photos are courtesy of Style Me Pretty and aren't they super?

I made a card for my team mate - Andrea - she celebrated her birthday last week on 7th June and I was late!!  Sorry Andrea - I hope this card gets to you soon.

I like the strong grey colour in the photos and decided that I would try to make that a feature of my card, so I made the card base grey and then promptly covered most of it with a really pretty paper in soft yellow and white!!  I kept the strong grey in the background shape of the butterfly and topped that with the floral filigree butterfly in a stronger yellow.  I stamped the birthday greetings in pale grey and added some lovely pearl flourishes.

Stamps:  Stampin' Up! - Happiest Birthday Wishes (hostess set); Uniko Stamps - Extra Time
Inks: Memento - Grey Flannel
Dies: Serendipity - Butterfly Outline die and Floral Butterfly Die
Accessories: Papermania Capsule Papers - Lemon Sorbet; Want to Scrap - Pearly flourish; Card from stash

For more inspiration using our fabulous colours visit the rest of the CR84FN design team:

Mona Pendleton, Lisa Somerville, Andrea Mathews, Sue Lelli, Pauline Pollington, Suzanne Czosek, Shannon White, Heather Jensen.

In May, my blog buddy Jeanne Jachna became a Mischief Maker at the Waltzingmouse sketch challenge and she offered a prize on her blog of a WM stamp set and I won!!!  I was delighted but as I've already got (all) Claire's stamp sets, Jeanne kindly sent me the wonderful Serendipity butterfly dies that I used on this card!  They're fab!

I am submitting this card into this week's Just Add Ink - JAI121 challenge, where the ladies would like us to Just add pearls!!

That's all for now.  I look forward to seeing your creations with these wonderful colours!

I'm late, I'm late .....

.... for a VERY important date!!!  I'm late sending a birthday card to my mate Kathy - she hit a decade on 5th June and it's going to be a while before she gets her card!  I've used two challenges to make this card:

• Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge - WMSC100 
• Less is More - LIM70  where the colours are red, white and blue

I'm not sure whether the ladies will allow this card as it's definitely more than less!  However, I really like the colour theme, so I'll try to do another slight more less is more card later!!  

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Pic Nic Patterns, Chicken Wire, Florentine Frippery, Fancy Phrases
Inks: Memento - Nautical Blue; Distress - Festive Berries
Spellbinders: Wonky Rectangles (S4-306) # 5
Accessories:  Petaloo Flower; Ribbon (from Waltzingmouse); Memory Box Die; Card from stash

That's all for now - it's still difficult to type - one handed is slow!!

Thank you ....

.... this is a quick post to say thank you to all you wonderful ladies who have sent me the most lovely cards - they have pride of place on my mantle!

Here are a few close up shots - I'm blessed to have such creative and kind friends - thank you.

And the one below is very special - made by my darling daughter, Kathryn.  She's used my favourite colours.

Sadly, I've not been able to make many cards this week.  I've been experiencing a rather painful left elbow over the last week or two, and this past week it's got worse.  And last night, it went!!  Typing this is taking me quite a long time - as I'm having to do it almost one-handed!  For a touch-typist that's painful ;(  I've got tennis elbow and the only thing I can do it rest my arm, ice it regularly and take pain killers.  Hopefully, it'll have eased soon and I can go and play with my crafty birthday goodies!!  It does give me the perfect excuse to sit down and catch up on all the past episodes of Grey's Anatomy - currently on S5!!!

Later this afternoon we are all going over to our friends, fellow ex-pats, and we're going to celebrate 4 birthdays - mine, Alex (my friend's son who was 13 last week), Sophie and her daughter Isla - who share a birthday on 4th June.  And, as we're missing the Jubilee celebrations, we're having our own here!!

Bye for now.

St Luke's Charity Card Challenge - Furry Friends ...

.... It's the 1st of June well, for me, it's actually late evening of 31st May, but wherever you are in the world, it's time for our new challenge at St Luke's Charity Card Challenge.

This month we've got a super cute theme - we'd like you to make a card featuring our furry friends - dogs, cats, rabbits, gerbils, teddies, etc - your choice!  You can use papers, charms, stamps or even some photos of your furry friends.  I've actually made two cards!!!

My first card features a cute bunny and punny sentiment. the colours are this week's Colour Q - cQc139 colours.  I used a Pink Petticoat bunny image that I got in one of the UK card magazines - I cut it out with my trusty Spellbinder dies and coloured it with Promarkers.  I cut around the outside of the die to make a mat with a thin border.  The background stamping was inspired by a piece of Pink Petticoat paper (see photo at the end of the post) which wasn't quite a match to the Colour Q colours, so I adapted it and made my own.

Stamps:  Stampin' Up! - Seeing Stars (discontinued); Pink Petticoat - Bunny image free with UK magazine
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Rich Razzleberry, Night of Navy, Crumb Cake, Bashful Blue
Spellbinders: Large Labels (S4-168)
Accessories:  Promarkers - Khaki, Pastel Beige, Powder Blue, Cornflower, Warm Grey 1; Card from stash

My second card features Tatty Ted - he's a real cutie.  I've used three other challenges to make the card:

• Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge - WMSC99 - sketch by Lynn Mercurio
• Play Date Cafe Challenge - PDCC134
• Charima Cardz - Use some bling

I turned the sketch on end to make my card.  I stamped Tatty Ted onto white card, cut him out with my nestie and added some shading around the edge.  I didn't add any more colour to the image as it's so detailed already.  I simply coloured his patches yellow.  I made the border by stamping the tiny gingham check onto white card, cutting it out and using a Martha Stewart punch to create the scallop effect.  I stamped the dotty pattern onto white card and cut out a fancy circle.  I attached all the elements to the card and finished off by stamping the sentiment directly onto the card and added some bling for good measure!

Stamps: Carte Blanche - Tatty Ted (free with magazine); Waltzingmouse - Gingham & Co, Compact Sentiments II
Inks: Memento - Toffee Crunch, Love Letter; Distress - Tattered Rose; Stampin' Up! - Daffodil Delight
Spellbinders: Crown Circles (S4-302) # 2, Rectangles Sm (S4-130) #5
Accessories:  Martha Stewart border punch; Gems and card from stash

The rest of the team have also made some cards to share with you - either check out the blog or click on the links below:

Tara Cardwell

Jenny Mullens

Anne Forrest

Sylvie Colledge

Lynne Atkinson

We have a prize for the lucky winner this month - some stamps from Waltzingmouse Stamps - Text-it.  This is a really useful set with text in a variety of fonts.

I look forward to seeing your cards.  Here are the graphics from the challenges I used this week:

And the inspiration Pink Petticoat paper - love the stars!!

See you soon.

CR84FN55 - Deepest Sympathy .....

.... Hello - I hope you are all enjoying your weekend.  Today, and for the next two weeks, our CR84FN55 colours are lavender, celery and grey.

Our inspiration photos are courtesy of Leslie at A Creative Mint.  I do like these photos, particularly the cotton reels!!

Now that we've settled into our new home, I have to rebuild my stash of cards - I gave a lot of cards to my Mum and Aunt before we moved to the States.  This colour scheme is really pretty and can be used for all sorts of occasions and I've decided to use it to make a sympathy card - something you always need, just in case!

For the layout I used a sketch from Clean & Simple Stamping - FTL190.  I know that it's too late to submit to the challenge, but it was just what I wanted for my card.  I started off by folding in half a sheet of A4 lavender card.  I then cut a couple of mat layers - one in green and one in white.  I embossed the white card with one of my Cuttlebug folders (so glad that I've rediscovered these).  I cut an oval mat from the lavender card onto which I mounted a beautiful cross.  I used my Spellbinder die to cut the cross and while in the die I added a touch of subtle colour using chalks.  I kept the sentiment very simple and printed it, in grey (black was too dark) on the computer.  The font I used was Garamond, 22pt and I added a shadow effect.

Spellbinders:  Cross Collection (S4-265), Petit Ovals Sm (S4-140) #4
Accessories:  Stampin' Up! Card - Wisteria Wonder, Certainly Celery;  Cuttlebug Folder - Victoria; Pebbles Inc Chalks

I know that the team have come up with a really varied selection of projects for this week's colours - so do check out their blogs by clicking on the links below:

Mona Pendleton, Lisa Somerville, Andrea Mathews, Sue Lelli, Pauline Pollington, Suzanne Czosek, Shannon White, Heather Jensen.


It's the Memorial Day weekend, today we are planning to visit The Henry Ford Museum, specifically Greenfield Village.  There are a number of activities planned to honour veterans, as well as a reenactment of a Civil War encampment - with music, parades, people in costumes.  It should be really good fun and hopefully I'll have to some photos to share with you all later.

That's all for now - I hope you're all having a super weekend.!  See you soon.

Flashback Friday .....

....  Just found a fun challenge via my blog buddy Tara (Craftilicious) - she's the guest host for Flashback Friday and Tara has selected the flashback theme as your first masculine card!!  Well, I couldn't resist that.

I'd made a few cards before this one - but didn't start taking photos of my cards until 2006.  I made this card for Jonathan's birthday - it's very basic (and the photo is awful) - sort of clean and simple!  I started off with a sticker (Jonathan is a football fan) mounted onto white card and coloured with a Sakura Glaze pen.  I then layered it onto several mats.  I attached this to a plain turquoise card base, added another sticker and finished off with a simply birthday sentiment which was heat embossed - although not very well heat embossed!

As this card was made a long time before I started my blog - this is the first time it's been seen by anyone outside the family!!  Be kind - I was still learning!!  Actually it's quite nice to go back and look at cards I made a while ago and realise that I've learnt a lot!

That's all for now - it's just gone midnight and I'm off to bed.  Wishing everyone a super Memorial weekend - it's a long weekend in the States!

Waltzingmouse Blog Party ....

.... starts today (a little later than usual) and the theme this month is to use felt and/or cozy fabrics.  I've opted to make a birthday card for my friend Heather.  I've combined the blog party theme and the current Ribbon Reel Challenge - RR28.  Lenet has chosen a gorgeous photo and wants us to use DRY EMBOSSING plus IVORY/WHITE, LILAC, PINK and SOFT GREEN/TURQUOISE plus, of course, RIBBON.

I started off by making the lilac mat by inking some white card with the lovely new Tim Holtz lilac distress ink - so, so pretty.  I cut a slightly smaller mat of white card onto which I stamped a birthday greeting and the hot air balloon from Half Pint Heroines - it's a wonderful set of stamps!!  I ran the card through my Cuttlebug to emboss it and added some soft fluffy ribbon at the bottom.  I stamped the balloon onto two different, but co-ordinated fabrics, and cut out the layers.  I stamped the basket and little girl onto plain white card, coloured them with promarkers and cut out the layers.  The embossed layer was attached to the card with dimensional tape and then I had lots of fun attaching all the bits of decoupage!  Kathryn was amazed to see me doing this!  I think the end result is really sweet.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Half Pint Heroines, Compact Sentiments, Fancy Flourishes - Scallops & Dots
Inks: Memento -Tuxedo Black; Distress - Shaded Lilac
Accessories:  Cuttlebug Folder - D'vine Swirls; Felt, fabric and ribbon all from stash; Card from stash

Now I'm off to join the Party!

A one in three .....

... It was a glorious day yesterday - bright sunshine, blue skies and very warm - bliss!!  As a consequence of the wonderful weather I was out and about in Northville and didn't get to play in my craft room until last night.  I wanted to make a card for Lena & John - friends of mine from home - and I used a few challenges to make it:

• CAS-ual Fridays - CFC53 - to use punches on a CAS card
• Clean & Simple - FTL191 - super sketch
• Just Us Girls - JUGS137 - lovely bright colours

I've been having fun with my Cuttlebug folders and decided to use the Clean & Simple sketch to show off one of the pretty patterns.  I used some paper from a free pack to mat behind the embossed panel and to make the tag, and I cut a pretty flower with my new Spellbinder dies.  I added just a touch of yellow - Tim Holtz's new spring colour!!  I finished off by adding a simple sentiment.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Compact Sentiments

Inks:  Memento - Gray Flannel; Distress - Squeezed Lemonade

Spellbinders: Persian Motifs (S5-079), Nested Pennants (S5-028)

Accessories:  Paper - Craftwork Cards Vintage Rose (Free with a UK magazine); Cuttlebug Folder - Victoria; Card from stash

We have now registered with our new doctors - a lovely practice in Northville, but it is weird having to pay for the service!!!  I miss the NHS already.  And we really should have checked to make sure that all the medication we're on was available here - we're both having to switch to something "similar".  Hopefully all will be well.  It's going to be another glorious, HOT day here in Northville.  I think I may have to turn on the AC!!

That's all for now - I'll be back later with my card for this month's Waltzingmouse Blog Party - you can check out details here.

Waltzingmouse & Colour Q ......

... You know, I keep forgetting is how long cards take to get to the UK from the US.  I realised last night that it's my nephew's 17th birthday on 29th May and I'm not sure whether this card will get to him on time, but I'm hoping!!  I've used two challenges to make Jacob's card:

• Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge - WMSC98 - designed by Lynn Mercurio
• Colour Q - cQC138

In February, Lynn made a beautiful card using French Country and Chicken Wire (the new sets from Waltzingmouse); I really like Lynn's card, so I've CASEd it with a masculine feel for Jacob.

I used Crumb cake to add some subtle colour to the card base and then stamped the small chicken wire pattern all over.  I cut out various panels; shaded most of them with More Mustard and stamped different patterns.  I used the longer central panel to make a birthday greeting using Pool Party and Poppy Parade, the sentiments were clear embossed to keep the colours true and then I added some more shading with Crumb Cake.  I finished off by adding a couple of embellishments stamped onto white card - if you look carefully, there is a touch of white!!  I added some faux stitching to the panels to finish them off.  

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Free Spirit Boy, Back in the Saddle, Chicken Wire, Off Beat Backgrounds, Compact Family, Free Spirit Sentiments

Inks: Stampin' Up! - Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Poppy Parade, More Mustard

Accessories:  SU - pens; Card from stash

I realise from the photo that the Pool Party is very subtle!!!  It looks better in real-life.  Here's a close up of the greeting sentiment.

Yesterday I told you that I was off to do my good deed for the day and give blood at the local blood drive.  Well I got there and found out that as I lived in Great Britian between 1980 and 1996 I'm not allowed to give blood.  They are concerned that people who lived in the UK during this period might be incubating CJD.  It felt very strange to be turned away, especially as I give regularly in the UK!!  Oh well, never mind, I'll simply have to given when we return to the UK.

Now, before I go I must welcome some new followers - Claire, Jackie and Ardyth - welcome!!  That's all for now.