Book worm ....

... Hi!  I can hardly believe it's already Wednesday - the week is simply flying by.  This morning's card features the cutest little bookworm, why?  Well, I just love books of all varieties.  I made this card using a couple of challenges:

• The Sweet Stop - SSS222 - layout
• Less is More - LIM131 - colours

Stamps:  Sweet 'n' Sassy Stamps - Bookmark Bits & Pieces; Invoke Arts - Dream
Inks: Stampin' Up! - So Saffron, Crushed Curry, Baked Brown Sugar, Early Espresso
Accessories: SU Card - Naturals White, Baked Brown Sugar; SU Blender Pen

It's been a while since I played along with The Sweet Stop challenge, but as I was lucky enough to meet Korin and Dan Sutherland (owners of Sweet 'n' Sassy) at the Heirloom Stamp Show last week and picked up that last set of Bookmark Bits & Pieces, I had to play with it.  I believe it's one of the new sets coming out shortly.

The colours over at Less is More are not my favourite, but the whole point of a challenge is to make us work out of our comfort zone.  I decided to use the lovely Naturals White card to make the base (like the flecks in the card).  I stamped the cute bookworm onto Naturals White card and coloured him with SU inks using my blender pen.  I really like this quote and it works well with the bookworm image.  I layered them onto some Baked Brown Sugar (one of the new SU in-colours).  The big "dream" sentiment is part of my in Invoke Arts stamp.

For the inside I used another of the verses and added the owl image (just love owls).  I think the owl is perfect for this card to do with reading and learning; the owl is traditionally associated with Athena the Goddess of Wisdom.

That's all for now - I'm off to get the rest of the washing sorted out!  I do wish I had a magic wand that I could wave and all the housework stuff would be done.  Then I could play for hours!!  Well, I might do that anyway :)))  See you soon.

Start spreading the news ....

.... I'll bet you're all humming the song now!!! I know I am!  My card today has been made for three challenges:

• CAS(E) this Sketch! - CTS#39 - layout
• CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S36 - colours
• Sweet Stamp Shop Use What You Have - UWYH#11

Stamps: Sweet Stamp Shop - Cityscape, Dia De Los Muertos, Let's Chat
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Basic Grey
Dies: Spellbinders - Crown Circles (S4-302) #3, Circles Lg (S4-114) #4, Circles Sm (S4-116) #4
Accessories: SU Card - Basic Grey; SU DP - Old Olive; White Lustre Card; SU - 1" Circle punch

I was looking through my stash of Sweet Stamp Shops sets and saw the phone dial and cable - they sort of reminded me of a flower - so that's what I played with.  I stamped the phone dial twice onto white card and used my Spellbinder dies to cut out the circles.  I used my 1" SU circle punch to cut out the centre of the pink dial.  I then die cut the crown circle and adhered the phone dial on top.  I made the card base from Basic Grey card. I cut a panel of white card to fit and scored a border all the way round.  I stamped the phone cable directly onto the card and then adhered the phone flower.  I finished off with the scroll sentiment.  For the inside I cut another panel of white card and stamped a tick box greeting!!  A fun card for my stash.

My stash of SSS sets remains the same - and I still have lots of ideas - they are fun!

Hope you're all having a good day.  I've had a busy morning, lots of jobs to do before our holiday!!  So pleased that I managed to get an hour in my craft room this afternoon.  See you soon.

Guy card ....

... Hello!!!  Anyone know where today has gone?  I seem to have lost time!!  Hey ho!  I've a quick card to share with you this afternoon.  I've made it for the current challenge over at The Male Room - theme "Anything Goes".  This looks like it's quite a popular challenge - there are almost 50 submissions - and still plenty of time to join in!!

Stamps: Stamp a Mania - Mimbres Background, Deco Lizard, Dakota Tracks
Inks: Kaleidacolor - Denim; Brilliance - Silver
Accessories:  Black card; Silver Holographic Card; White Lustre Card

This card came together really quickly, largely because all the work on the beautiful image above was done by Cynthia (Stamp A Mania demonstrator) at the Heirloom Stamp show on Saturday.  Stamp A Mania make wonderful stamps with images from the South West.  I simply mounted the image onto some silver holographic card and adhered the whole onto a premade black card from my stash.  The card is actually quite large 8¼" × 5¾".  I did do a little stamping myself - I added a white panel to the inside (so that I can write) and added another lizard using the Denim Kaleidacolor inks.

This card is going into my stash of cards that I have ready to send to Ben.  I got quite a bit of glare on the main image above - sorry, but it really does show the colours off beautifully!  That's all for now - better go and start getting dinner ready!!  See you soon.

Bedtime story .....

.... Hi everyone.  My card today has been made with a couple of challenges in mind:

• Waltzingmouse Bedtime Story Sketch - WMSBSS1
• Dynamic Duos - DD#64

Stamps: WMS - Candy Wagon, Cabin Plaid BG, Big Berries - Strawberries, Folk Art Labels #25, Compact Sentiments
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Daffodil Delight, Strawberry Slush; Memento - London Fog
Accessories: SU Card - Strawberry Slush; SU DP - Daffodil Delight; Martha Stewart Border Punch; White Lustre Card

This was also going to be for Addicted to CAS with their theme of Summer - but the card isn't CAS and there is NO white space at all, but I have to give them credit for the theme.  Summer means strawberries to me!

I used the big plaid BG stamp for the card base - sort of like a picnic blanket (thanks to Julia for the idea).  I cut a strip of pink card and punched a border down each side, then attached a centre strip of yellow paper.  Using London Fog (black was too dark for this) I repeatedly stamped a fun sentiment.  I stamped the big strawberry three times, two of them using the second impression and cut them all out.  I made the leaves by stamping them first in grey and then over stamping with yellow - creating a sort of green - but NOT using green!!  I attached the two paler strawberries directly to the card base and then adhered the sentiment strip over the top.  I finished the front by adhering the big red strawberry with dimensional tape and adding a birthday sentiment in the corner.  For the inside I simply made a mat layer in pink and on the white layer stamped a frame in grey and added another greeting in yellow.  This one is going in the post tomorrow!!

I had a brilliant morning at the Heirloom Stamp Show yesterday and came home with lots of lovely new goodies.  I got the new Distress Glitters and Pens - such wonderful colours.  I also got a number of lovely new stamps from Impression Obsession, Invoke Arts and Stamp a Mania.  I watched a demo by Cynthia at Stamp a Mania - she demoed the new Kaleidacolor ink collection - Denim.  Here's what she made for me -I'm going to use it on a card for Ben.

 Image created by Cynthia (Stamp a Mania)

As well as the show, I've been really fortunate to have a couple of my cards picked in two of my favourite challenges.  I got a CAS-ual Fridays Favourite award for my rainbow brick card - totally thrilled to get this award!  And yesterday evening I discovered that Michelle had picked my green feathers as a Dynamic Darling.  As you can imagine I was doing a happy dance last night :))  Thanks to everyone for the lovely comments too, very much appreciated.

That's all for now - catch up tomorrow!

A Christmas sketch .....

.... Good morning - Sarah is hosting this month's challenges at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown and her first challenge is a super sketch.  Now, when I first saw this sketch I planned to create a card with a view through a window pane, but I woke yesterday morning with another idea entirely - hope you like my take on the sketch:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Seasons of Love Tags, Compliements of the Season II
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Stars (S4-092) # 1, 2, & 3; Lil' Inkers - Stitched Circles #1; Die-namics - Fishtail Flags STAX #3; Cuttlebug Alphabet - Olivia
Accessories: Stampin' Up! Card - Real Red, Garden Green; SU DP - Real Red, Garden Green; White Lustre Card; Black Matte Card; Crystal Glitter; SU Marker - Black

The sketch reminded me of a tic-tac-toe grid - so that's what I played with.  I cut a white panel, rounded the corners and sketched out the grid in pencil and then drew the lines in freehand.  I diecut the stars (sort of like crosses) from red design paper glued on the letters to spell "JOY" and added a bit of glitter.  For the noughts I used the smallest stitched circle and different papers and cards. I inked around the edge of the panel with my black marker and then attached it to the cardbase.  I layered several stars to make the big star and adhered that over the sentiment flag.  For the inside I cut another panel in white, rounded the corners to match the front and added a sentiment.

I think this card is for Jonathan - this is the first time I've made his card so early!!! 

Now, don't forget to go to 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown blog to check out the cards from the rest of our Design Team - they're fab!  Can't wait to see what you make with Sarah's sketch.

Hope you all have good plans for the weekend.  Today I'm off to the Suburban Showcase for Heirloom's Rubber Stamp & Paper Arts Festival - should be lots of fun.  But obviously I'm only looking!!!!  That's all for now - see you soon.

Elegance in heels ....

.... Wow, where has this morning gone?  I've just realised that it's the afternoon now, so I'm keeping this short as I've got to get into the garden and weed!!! UGH!!!  This one is for three challenges:

• Less is More - LIM130 - Pinterest photo inspiration
• Uniko Studio Challenge - USC#1 - theme to say "Hello"
• Retro Sketches - RS74

Stamps: Uniko Studio - All Occasions Sentiments # 1, Background Builders - Round in Circles; There She Goes - ROFL Taglines
Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Promarkers - Black, Warm Grey # 2 & 4; Sakura Stardust Silver Pen

This is a reasonably small card - 5" × 3½".   I really like the inspiration photo - those shoes are so elegant, but I don't think I could walk in the heels!!!  I kept to the monochrome scheme.  The subtle pattern in the ribbon was the basis for this card, but I wanted to add a little something - so I opted for circles!!  I stamped the shoes onto white card and coloured them with Promarkers - you might just see a subtle circle patten in the shoes - and then cut them out.  To give the shoes a little definition I attached them with dimensional tape.  Clean, simple and fun!

That's all for today - off to do the weeding - a job that I absolutely HATE!!!  Oh well, it'll be worth it, as I do like a pretty garden ;)  See you soon.

One for four ....

... Good afternoon from a somewhat dull, grey and rather humid Northville! Not easy to take photos when it's like this, so please excuse the photo!  I've made a card and managed to use four challenges to make it, and they are:

• The Male Room - TMR1 - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stamp Shop Use What You Have - UWYH11
• Colour Throwdown - CTD253
• Muse - MUSE28

Stamps: Sweet Stamp Shop - Chemistry
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Lil' Inkers - Instant Camera Die
Accessories: Stampin' Up Card - Smokey Grey; Promarkers - Cyan, Sunflower, Pumpkin, Cool Grey 1 & 3; White Lustre Card

The Male Room is a new challenge that launched today and, as the name says, focuses on projects for Men/Boys.  I know that lots of people aren't too keen on guy cards, but I really enjoy making them, so I had to play along with their inaugural challenge - it's an easy one too - as Anything Goes!!!  I've also managed to play along with Muse this week - just love Lynn Mangan's inspiration card and have used the layout for my card.  This week's Colour Throwdown challenge are bold and bright and I think perfect for a guy card.  Finally, I'm submitting this to the Sweet Stamp Shop challenge to "Use What you Have".  I've have a super stash of SSS stamps and I've had the chemistry set for a while (I'm a science nerd) and haven't inked it up before, so that's the one I'm using!  I'm trying to build a stash of cards to send to Ben - I try to send one a week - and I think he'll like this theme!

I cut the Camera die twice - once in grey and one in white.  I stamped the flask image directly onto the white panel, used the second impression and then coloured it with Promarkers.  I stamped the chemical symbols onto another scrap of card and cut them out and adhered them over the flask.  I stamped the bulb onto some more scrap, coloured with Promarkers and adhered it to the card with dimensional tape.  I love the fun sentiment - Ben might think it means him :))  Here's a photo of my SSS stash - got lots of ideas for the new ones!

Well, I think that's all for today.  I've off to get dinner ready.  Kathryn is having a friend over for a sleepover tonight - she's so excited!!

PJ Party in the afternoon ....

.... Good afternoon!  Hope your day is going well.  I'm back with another card for Claire's Waltzingmouse Pajama Party (only 5 hours to go at the time of typing).  I've already made cards for Tickle Me Silly and You're a Doll, and I've managed to get into my craft room again this morning to make a card for the In the Background challenge:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Free Spirit Boy, Half Pint Heroines
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Midnight Muse, Old Olive, So Saffron
Accessories: SU DP - Old Olive, Marina Mist; SU Card - Midnight Muse; SU Markers - Marina Mist, Black, Midnight Muse; Promarkers - Tan, Caramel; Copics - E00, R20; White Lustre Card

I've made this one for my son, Ben.  I love the random circles from Free Spirit and use them often, particularly when I make cards for Ben.  My boy is going through a rough patch at the moment, and it times like this when I wish that we lived closer, but as I can't be there in person, I'll send him a little note.  I made the card base from Midnight Muse card, cut a panel in white onto which I stamped the circles.  I saw Erin's card this morning; I loved it and thought I'd CASE it for Ben.  I cut a panel of the text design paper adhered it to the card and then stamped on the hot air balloon.  I stamped the balloon again onto coloured paper and card, then paper pieced the balloon and coloured the basket.  I was going to use one of the heads from Half Pint Heroes to represent Ben, then I realised that Ben's hair is actually rather long and hangs over his face - so I used one of the face from Half Pint Heroines!!!  These sets are so versatile!  For the inside I simply stamped some of the circles - using the second and third impressions for a subtle look.

As well as using the Pajama Party Background challenge I used the following to make this card:

• The Paper Players - PP156 - for the layout
• Colour Q - cQc200 - for the colours

At the time of writing this post, the Colour Q challenge isn't up yet, but I saw the colours on LeAnn's blog this morning and just had to play with them - they are perfect for a guy card!  I've had such playing along with the first Pajama Party challenges, and it isn't over yet. Each pajama party ends with a Bedtime Story - where we're given a sketch and that challenge is open until 5th August.  Claire and the Design Team have made some fabulous inspiration cards - do check them out!!

That's all for now.  See you soon!

PJ Party feathers ...

....  Hi, it's me again!  I've another card for Claire's Pajama Party - this time I've used feathers.

Stamps: Fine Feathers, Funky Feathers
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Garden Green, Pear Pizzazz, Smokey Slate
Dies: Spellbinders - Labels 18 (S4-310) # 2, Labels 24 (S4-353) # 2, On the Edge (S5-168)
Accessories:  SU EF - Cloudy Day; SU Card - Pear Pizzazz; White Lustre Card

I had lots of fun making this card.  I stamped the feathers onto white card and then cut them out by hand (haven't got the cut files yet).  They are actually really easy to cut out.  I made the card base from Pear Pizzazz, cut a small panel in white card onto which I embossed these super dotty clouds.  I sued some of the textured Pear Pizzazz card to make the bottom panel and die cut the edge to, sort of, match the clouds.  I cut a couple of die cut shapes, stamped the sentiment on the green card, layered them and adhered the label with dimensional tape.  I using this card to send a thank you note to another of my UK friends - they're a bit late, but it's taken a while to get back into the swing of things!!  Here's the inside:

As well as the feathers theme, I used a couple of other challenges to make this card:

• Dynamic Duos - DD#63
• Clean & Simple Stamping - FTL251

I love all shades of green so I had to play along with this week's Dynamic Duos challenge.  The layout from Clean & Simple Stamping is just super - there are so many possibilities, and I turned it upside down!  I think that's all for this evening.  I'm going to go check out the cards at the Pajama party - see you soon.

PJs at Waltzingmouse ....

....  Good evening everyone - Claire's having a Pajama Party over at Waltzingmouse Stamps.  At the beginning of July Claire launched some wonderful new stamps and this is the perfect opportunity to play with them.  Claire has given a list of challenges here.  Here's my card:

Stamps: WMS - You're a Doll, Folk Art Medallions, Crackle Background
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Coral Calypso
Dies: Spellbinders - Ovals Sm (S4-112) #5, Scalloped Ovals Sm (S4-113) #5
Accessories:  SU Card - Crumb Cake, Calypso Coral; White Lustre Card; SU Glitter; Promarkers - Pear Green, Mango, Soft Peach; Copics - E00, E01, G42, R20

I've been itching to play with all the new sets - they are just fab!  And I particularly like the sweet little Russian Dolls - so I decided to make a thank you card with them.  This card is for one of my friends in the UK who was kind enough to have Kathryn over for a sleepover when we visited.  I decorated the inside too - keeping it simple.

 I used a few challenges in the making of this card:

• Colour Q - cQc199 - for the colours
• Fusion Card Challenge - FUSION 14 - used the sketch
• Addicated to CAS - ATCAS18

I had to adapt the colours a bit as I don't have the shades listed on the cQc graphic, but I think the colours are close.  I love the simple sketch at this week's Fusion challenge (so pleased to finally get to play along).  I turned the sketch on its side as it worked better for my card. I added just a touch of glitter to the doll - which is the challenge at Addicted to CAS this time.

I'm going to get a coffee and get into my PJs and check out all the cards.  See you soon.