Be Merry ....

....  Morning all!  I've another Christmas card to share with you this morning.  I need to make lots of Christmas cards to post to family and friends in the UK and I'm almost there!  This is good, as the last posting date for the UK is 9th December and we have got to get all the cards written and stamped before then!  This is a really simple card:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Seasonally Scattered
Inks: Versamark; Distress - Peacock Feathers, Broken China, Tumbled Glass
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Martha Stewart Punch -Snowflake; Glitter Paper; Doodlebug - Lily White Dots

I'm submitting this to the Fusion Challenge - FUSION#22 where you can take inspiration from the photo, use the sketch or both.  I've taken inspiration from the photo.  I stamped the word Merry in the centre of the card, embossed it with clear powder and then shaded with several shades of blue ink.  I love the way the word pops out.  I adhered the panel directly to the card base and added a few punched snowflakes and enamel dots.   On the inside I've a mat in turquoise and a plain white panel for my own greeting.

That's all for now!

Believe ....

... Hello, good morning!  Do you believe in fairies?  I do hope so as I've a fairy card to share with you today:

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digi - Star Fairy
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Enchanted Garden; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear; Kaisercraft - Enchanted Garden Embellishments

I'm submitting this card to the Left of Center Challenge - LOC#54 where they have a theme to use polka dots and also to Not Just Cards - NJC#6 where the theme is anything goes, but must use a digi image.  Isn't the fairy just gorgeous?  Rick draws fabulous images - you can get her at his Zibbet shop.  I coloured her with Copic markers and added lots of sparkle with Wink of Stella - you can really see it in the photo too!  I used my X-Acto knife to cut out the tiny spaces on the inside of the image and then used scissors for the rest, sadly I cut off the little stars that came from her shoes, but I couldn't save them.  I covered the card base with this pretty pink polka dot paper from Kaisercraft.  In the same pad I found the quote from Peter Pan and decided to have her sitting on top!  I finished the front with the sentiment from the embellishment pack.  I edged her with a copic marker to give a shadow.  On the inside I cut another piece of design paper for the mat and on the white panel added another sentiment from the pack. 

I put this card together yesterday morning while waiting for Ben's plane to arrive in Detroit.    I coloured the image a while ago, so the card came together really quickly.  I found a website where we could track the progress of Ben's flight - it arrived earlier than scheduled, which was good for Ben and Sophie.  They got through Immigration and Customs quickly and we were back home by just after 2.30pm!! 

They had a very busy first day here as they took Kathryn to see Black Veil Brides in Royal Oak.  The queue around the theatre was huge and some of the kids had been there all day in temperatures just at freezing!!  While Ben, Kathryn and Sophie went to the show, Jonathan and I had a lovely evening.  We found a wonderful Indian restaurant, Moti Mahal, and had the best Indian meal since we moved to America!  We'll be going back there.  After that we went to the cinema to see Interstellar - this is a fantastic movie - we were both completely taken up with the story and totally lost track of time. 

I'm not quite sure what our plans are for today.  As I type this Jonathan and I are the only ones up!  The kids are all exhausted and still asleep.  Hopefully we'll get out later and make the most of what promises to be a lovely, if cold, day!  Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.  Bye for now.

RSD EDT - November Showcase ....

.... Hello.  Today I'm sharing a card that I've made for the Rick St Dennis November Showcase.  I'm still so excited that I was picked to join Rick's Elite Design Team.  The theme for the Showcase is Winter, and I've made a Christmas card:

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digi - Winter Friends; MFT - Ornament Banner Builder, Seasonal Sentiments
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Stampin' Up! - Smoky Slate
Dies: Die-namics - Rounded Banner STAX # 7 and #8
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card -Melon Mambo, Smoky Slate; Copic Markers; Glitter; Cuttlebug EF - Snowflakes

I adore this snowman peeking round the corner - don't know what he's looking at!  You can find this image and many more at Rick's online stores, either Zibbet or Esty.    I printed the image on white card, coloured with Copic markers and cut it out with a die.  I layered it on to a grey mat layer and added some glitter - got to have glitter on Christmas cards.  I finished the front by cutting a mat layer in bright pink (to echo the scarf), stamping a bold greeting and added a snowflake embossed layer.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of pink and stamped another greeting on the white panel.

Go check out our blog Sparkle and Glitter to see some winter themed cards from the rest of the EDT using Rick's fabulous images.  That's all for now - see you soon.

WMSFC - Theme ....

.... Hello again.  I'm back with my post for our new Waltzingmouse Fanatics challenge - WMSFC#31.  This time we've got a theme for you to play with - the theme is flowers.  Here's my take:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Roses in Bloom, Pic-Nic Patterns, Crackle Background
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Crisp Cantaloupe, Always Artichoke; Versamark; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Rectangles #3
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Always Artichoke, Crisp Cantaloupe; Copic Markers; Winks of Stella - Clear

I used the colours in our challenge graphic - I took the photo at a tulip farm in Holland, Michigan in May 2013 - for my card.  I based the layout on a recent sketch from My Favourite Things Wednesday Sketch Club - MFTWSC#201.  I used the large crackle background over the entire card base in pale peach.  I cut green and peach mats using a die, stamping a pattern on the green and adding a white panel with verse to the peach panel.  The rose, rose bud and leaf were stamped on white card, coloured with Copic markers and assembled to make one focal image.  I added sparkle to the rose and rose bud with a clear Wink of Stella brush.  I adhered the finished roses with dimensional gel.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of green card and on the white panel added another rosebud, leaving a large blank area for my message.  Also below is a close up of the rose showing the sparkle.

For more inspiration with our flower theme - check out the blog for projects from Kathy and Tara.  I'd like to remind everyone that you must use at least one Waltzingmouse image, sentiment or digi on your projects.  That's all for now - have fun!

RSD EDT - Progressive Challenge ....

...  Hello all!  Welcome to Part I - Take II of the November Progressive Challenge.  Part I of the Progressive Challenge has an Anything Goes theme - you can make anything you like so long as you use a Rick St Dennis image.  You can get your images from either Rick's Zibbet or Esty shops - there's a huge selection ranging from cute to scary!  Here's my card:

Stamps: RSD Digi - Mexican Clown Troupe; Sweet Stamp Shop - Dia De Los Muertos
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Violet Crush; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear

I was lucky enough to win this image of the Mexican Clown Troupe earlier this year and I had such fun colouring it in.  The Day of the Dead (Dia De Los Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated on1st and 2nd November, when families gather to celebrate and remember departed family members.  Traditionally, the 1st is known as the Day of Innocents when babies and children are remembered and the 2nd is the Day of the Dead.  Although it is always very sad to lose a family member, I really like this Mexican tradition to celebrate the living memories of the loved ones that have passed on.  It is a loud, bright and fun festival.  I think it's a wonderful way of allowing children to learn that death is a natural part of life and nothing to be scared of.

I covered the base of the card with beautiful black paper which really allows the brightly coloured image to pop.  I printed the image twice on to white card and coloured them with Copic markers.  I cut out the orange and blue clowns and layered them up to give a bit of dimension.  I finished the front with a simple scroll.  On the inside I cut another piece of design paper for a mat layer and added some roses, a candle and a tiny coffin.

Check out the blog to what the rest of the design team have come up with for the Progressive Challenge.  Part II of the Challenge uses a special digi image that you will get from Rick, but  you have to link up your project for the first part here.  Have fun!

52CCT - Theme ...

.... Hello.  It's the middle of November - only five more Saturdays to go before Christmas!!  Oh, that sounds really close now :)))  I think I'd better tell you about our challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  This week we have a theme challenge and Jacqueline has asked us to make a Christmas Window, here's my take:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Flurries, Frosty in the Meadow, Elf Made
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Stampin' Up! - Old Olive
Dies: Poppy Stamps - Grand Gothic Arch; Lawn Fawn - Stitched Hillside Borders
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Smoky Slate; Anita's DP - Classic Blue Christmas; Clear Embossing Powder; SU Markers - Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso; Glitter and sequins; Acetate

I've seen shaker cards all over the Internet for the last few weeks, so I thought I'd make my Christmas window a shaker card.  I cut a panel of white card slightly smaller than the base and cut out the window shape (I've kept the white window frame for use later).  I put the panel onto the card base and lightly traced round the inside of the window frame.  I also cut a frame in grey which I attached to the white panel with double sided tape.  I cut a piece of acetate larger than the window and attached it to the tape.  I cut some snowy design paper to size and adhered it to the card base and stamped the trees.  On white card I stamped the little house, embossed with clear powder, cut it out and coloured the windows and doors.  I adhered this flat to the card.  Next I cut a white hill and adhered that flat.  I finished off with a large tree right in the foreground.  I put dimensional tape all the way round the stamped image (making sure there were no gaps) and finished by adding some glitter and sequins.  I put some dimensional tape at the corners of the window panel and a placed it on top of the foam ring.  And the shaker card works!!!! Yea!  On the inside I cut a mat layer of grey and stamped some more trees and a sentiment on the white panel.  Here's a close up of the window - you can really see the sparkle and shimmer of the glitter and sequins.

Don't forget to visit the blog to see what the rest of the team have made using the theme Christmas Window.  And a reminder that we're still running our DT Call - you need to play along with all the challenge this month, simply add the initial DT after your name when you link up!  That's it for now.

Dazzling Snowflake ....

... and no, I don't mean the ones outside on the roof tops!!!  I have a very clean, simple and elegant Christmas card to share with you this morning.

Stamps: Winnie & Walter - Winter Wonderland
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Memory Box - Dazzling Snowflake
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Silver Holographic Card

I'm submitting this card to CASology - CAS#121 where the cue word is Festive.  It's been a while since I played along, but I just had to with this week.  I think the card is so festive and so elegant.  It's super easy to make.  I positioned the die on the front of the card, cut out the flake backed the inside with holographic card and finished with a simple sentiment.  I used the same holographic card to make the mat layer and stamped a simple greeting on the white panel.  Also below is a close up photo of the snowflake where you can see the shimmer and the rainbow effect on the holographic paper.

I've almost made enough cards for this year, but as this one is so easy to make and is absolutely flat (so easy to go in the post), I think I'll be making a few more but with the snowflake in different colours.

You might not see me around for a while as Ben arrives tomorrow and I plan on spending lots of time with him and his girlfriend.  They are going to find it much colder than the UK, but I think they'll enjoy themselves.  I've got lots of posts scheduled - so please drop by tomorrow and check out my card for the new challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  See you soon.

So Thankful .....

... Good afternoon!  It's officially winter here in Northville.  The current temperature is 0°C (32°F) and we're not expecting to get much higher and, as I type this post, I can see snowflakes falling - albeit very small flakes!!  And we're so lucky here, folks living in the UP (Upper Peninsula of Michigan) have had over 3ft of snow and they're not even the worst!  Anyway, enough of that, I've a card to share with you today:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Gratitude for Days, Holiday Cheer
Inks: SU - Cajun Craze, Crushed Curry, Mossy Meadow, Blackberry Bliss
Dies: Serendipity - Pumpkin; Die-namics - Fishtail Flags Layers Stax #1 and #4, Fishtail Flags STAX #2
Accessories: Cream Lustre Card; SU Card - Mossy Meadow, Cajun Craze, Crushed Curry; SU DP - Colour Me Autumn

I'm playing along with several challenges.  The layout is based on this week's sketch at CAS - Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#100 - it's their 100th challenge - congratulations.  Now, I'm not sure whether this will count as there's very little white space, but it is a clean, simple design - so maybe it'll be okay!!!  I might have to make another card though!  I'm also submitting to this month's Serendipity Stamps Challenge - SSCB#37 where the theme is Thankful, and that's the theme at Cardz 4 Guys - C4G#11 too! 

I covered the card with this gorgeous design paper, cut panels from matching card, created the little sentiment flag and finished the front with this wonderful die cut pumpkin.  On the inside I cut another piece of design paper and added a simple greeting on the cream panel.

This is for my stash of Thanksgiving cards.  Thanksgiving, which is in two weeks, is a huge event here in the USA, almost bigger than Christmas! I think I might be giving this card to a very special young man who will be arriving in Detroit on Saturday!!!  I do think that Ben and Sophie are going to have a bit of a shock as to just how cold it is here! 

I was really delighted to see that the ladies at CAS-Colours & Sketches had picked my Perfect Pear card as one of the Top Three for challenge #96 - thank you so much.  The couple were really pleased with the card.

That's it for now - see you soon.

TMR - Time ....

.... Hello!  Can you believe how fast time is passing at the moment?  It's already time for our new challenge at The Male Room.  For the next couple of weeks we'd like to see your masculine styled projects with the theme of TIME.  Here's my take:

Stamps: Aurora Wings Digi - Steampunk Owl; PTI - Hands of Time; Uniko Studio - Time, Extra Time;p Stampin' Up! - Circle Circus, Delightful Decorations
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black, Grey Flannel; SU - Brocade Blue, Bashful Blue, Crushed Curry; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Circles Sm (S4-116) #5
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Crushed Curry; Copic Markers; Clear Embossing Powder

The inspiration for this card comes from a few places.  The phrase "time flies" suggested a bird and I found this super steampunk owl.  And then there's the opening credits for Dr Who, I absolutely love them with the cogs, roman numerals and the whole theme of time!  I've added a link at the end of this post to the credits.

I started off by drawing a pencil line down the centre of the card and used my stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp the dotty circles.  Most of the images are second generation with just a few using the first impression.  Then I randomly stamped clock faces, roman numerals and yellow dotty circles. I coloured the owl with Copic markers and fussy cut it out.  I stamped the main clock face on white card, coloured it to match the owl and cut it out with a circle die.  I stamped the hands in Versafine and embossed with clear powder.  I adhered the clock flat to the card base and attached the owl with dimensional tape.  The sentiment was made from a couple of stamps - I used the large fancy word "Time" from the Papertrey set and finished it off with the rest of the phrase from my Uniko set.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of yellow card and stamped some circles on the white card.

For more inspiration using our Time theme - check out the blog and see what the rest of the team have made.  Now, as promised here's the link to the opening credits for Dr Who - enjoy!  See you soon.

Creepmas Birthday Party Lights ...

.... Good morning all!  I think you all know by now that I like to mix up stamps and images and create something a bit different.  Well, here's a birthday card with a twist: 

Stamps: RSD Digi - Creepmas Tree Lights; Waltzingmouse - USA 1776, Putting on the Ritz
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Real Red, Bermuda Bay, Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight; Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Bermuda Bay; Kaisercraft DP - Violet Crush; Copic Markers

I got this super little guy a little while ago but couldn't decide what to do with him.  I printed him on white card, coloured him with Copic markers and fussy cut him out.  I came across the new challenge at Left of Centre - LOC#53 where the theme is fireworks/celebration and I decided to make a birthday card with party lights, fireworks and that gremlin causing trouble!  The layout is based on this week's sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch! - CTS#99.  I cut a strip of design paper to go down the side of the card, I like the elegant damask pattern, sort of like wallpaper!  Then I stamped some fireworks exploding in the background, added my little gremlin wrapped in lights and finished with a sentiment.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of teal card and stamped more fireworks and a birthday greeting on the white card.

One of the things I really like about Rick's images is that even the scary monsters are kinda cute!  On this card the monster is just a tiny bit scary - the bright colours and birthday theme make him sweet.  But if I decided to make him really scary I'd just need change up the background.  You can get this image (and many others) at Rick's Zibbet store - check it out and have fun!

I've got a really busy day lined up - a trip to the hair dresser, to the shops for new pillows and then the supermarket for food.  Oh yes, there's washing and ironing too!  Bye for now - see you soon.

Best Buds ....

... Good morning!  Here's a card that I made yesterday, and it's not a Christmas card!!

Stamps: MFT - PI  Little Gardener
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Rectangles #3
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Poppy Parade; SU DP - Lucky Limeade; Copic Markers; Cuttlebug EF - Floral Fantasy; SU Circle Punches - 1" and 1¼"

I've been making so many Christmas cards recently that I thought it was time to make something a little different.  I used the sketch from My Favourite Things Wednesday Sketch Club - MFTWSC#201 for the layout and the colours are from Colour Q - cQc#266.  The colours could be used for a Christmas card, but I've made a card for a friend in the UK.  I stamped the image, coloured it with Copic markers and cut it out with a die.  I used the same die to cut another panel in lime green paper.  I decided to add some texture by embossing the white panel with a floral pattern to match the theme and layered it onto red card.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of green design paper and added a sentiment.

I've been really busy in my craft room working on cards for upcoming design team posts - I plan to have all the cards made and the post scheduled so that I'm free to spend time with Ben when he arrives next Saturday!  I'm so excited!!  We all went to the cinema yesterday to see the new Disney movie Big Hero 6 - it was absolutely fabulous!  By turns funny, moving, sad and full of action packed fun - it's a great family film.  Both Kathryn and I were in tears a couple of times.  I highly recommend it.  That's all for now - I'm off back to my craft room to finish of a few more cards.  See you soon.  Enjoy the rest of the weekend!