Do you want to hear a secret?

...  You do!  Great!  I've been keeping a secret, and for me that's really hard.  A few weeks ago I got an email from Sandie (she coordinates all the Uniko Studio challenges) inviting me to join the fabulous Uniko Studio Design Team.  I was (and still am) so excited - my husband was really surprised by my sequel of delight!  I love Beverley's stamps and dies and use them quite a lot.  So here I am with my first post as part of the Design Team.

Stamps: Uniko Studio - The Hands of Time, All Occasion Sentiments #4; Winnie & Walter - Happy Christmas
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Bermuda Bay, Soft Sky
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Bermuda Bay; Wink of Stella - Clear; Promarkers; Gem

I used the colours from this week's Less is More challenge - LIM#201.  These gorgeous cool colours made me think of snowflakes. So I decided to make a Christmas card with my favourite set - The Hands of Time.  I love this set, it really is so versatile and so pretty.  I stamped the large hands image onto white card, coloured it with Promarkers and the fussy cut it out.  Once cut out I used my clear Wink of Stella brush to add sparkle to the hands.  On a panel of white card I stamped a bold sentiment, added a couple more images from the set and then adhered the large image on top.  I finished the front with a little aqua gem.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of dark aqua.  On the white panel I stamped a border of snowflakes and added a sweet greeting.

 

 

 

It's not just me joining Bev's team today - Sarah of Sazzle Dazzle Cards is also joining the team.  I'm absolutely thrilled to be a member of this team. 

We were out last night at Kathryn's school.  It was the annual Choir Concert.  Kathryn has been in the choir for several years now.  Kathryn has a super voice (yes, I know I'm biased) and I'm sure I could hear her clearly.  She looks so grown up too in her long dress.  It was a good show - the kids did themselves proud.  Anyway, that's all for now!

Creepmas Day 6 ....

.... Good morning.  We're at the halfway point in the Smeared & Smudged 12 Days of Creepmas.  I am really enjoying visiting all the ladies taking part in the official blog hop (I forgot to sign up on time, so I'm joining in via their Facebook page).  The projects being made are just fantastic - canvases, altered books, tags, trays, 3D projects and, of course, cards.  I'm not being very adventurous, I'm just making cards.  Here's my card for Creepmas Day 6:

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digi - Nimbleknees Gherkin Creepmas Elf; Winnie & Walter - Happy Christmas
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Old Olive; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: SU/Sizzix - Word Bubble Framelits
Accesories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Holly Bright; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Gold; SU Punch - Modern Label

My Creepmas projects tend to be rather more Creepmas lite than some of the wonderfully dark projects that I've seen.  Today's card is no different.  I adore this Creepmas elf; don't you just love his name - Nimbleknees Gherkin?  If you like him, you'll find him and his friends at Rick's Zibbet shop.

I printed him on white card, coloured with Copic markers and then fussy cut him out.  I covered the card with design paper - I really like silver birch wood and all those cardinals.  I printed the sentiment on the computer, punched it out and adhered it to the card.  I finished the front of the card with a word bubble saying "It's mine!".

I have a story with this card.  Nimbleknees Gherkin was wandering around the woods when he came across a pile of grumpy presents - you've seen the pile before, click here.  He checked to make sure no one was looking and then he took one.  Then Nimbleknees Gherkin ran out of the woods shouting "It's mine!!", all the while checking to make sure that he wasn't being followed.

On the inside of the card I cut a mat layer from another piece of design paper and on the white panel I stamped a simple wreath and sentiment.

If you want to see more fabulous Creepmas projects, here are the links to all the ladies playing along with the 12 Days of Creepmas.  Be warned - some of the projects are very dark - but they're still brilliant.

Terra- Hop Hostess
Black Dragon
Maureen
Teresa
Julia
Sue The Nanny
Jane
Susan
Nan
Shell
Kim
Monique
Airless Chambers
Keren
Sarah
Leigh
Lisa
Lady Brayton
I'm busy working on some projects that I plan to schedule for later this month - that way I can really enjoy the holiday season.  I also have a rather large pile of ironing that needs doing - again!!!! That's all for now. See you soon.

TMR - Christmas ....

... Hello!  It's time for our new challenge at The Male Room.  Our challenge this week is really simple, we want to see your masculine styled projects with the theme of Christmas.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Tis the Season, Cabin Plaid Background, Elf Made
Inks: Kaleidacolor - Fruitcake
Dies: Spellbinders - Mega Rectangles Sm (S4-144) #3
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Basic Black

This card came together so quickly.  I used the large plaid background stamp from Waltzingmouse, inked up with Fruitcake (very festive colours) and simply covered the whole of the card.  I think the plaid works really well for a masculine card.  I kept it simple by stamping a bold sentiment in the same colours, cutting it out with a die and layering onto some black card.  Simple!  On the inside I cut a mat layer of black card and a multicoloured greeting on the white panel.  Done! 

For more inspiration with masculine themed Christmas cards - check out the blog and see what the rest of the team have made.  This is the last challenge this year, we're taking a break over Christmas and will be back with new challenges for you in 2015.  Have fun!

Creepmas Day 5 ....

....  Hello again!  It's time for the Smeared & Smudged 12 Days of Creepmas challenge.  We're at Day 5 and I've a simple, elegant and rather creepy card to share with you today.

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digi - Creepmas FanCy Senti
Dies: Spellbinders - Fleur de Lis Rectangles (S4-317) #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Holly Bright; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear

Over at Rick's Zibbet shop he has several Creepmas sentiments and I really like this one with the eyes, snakes and cobwebs.  I printed it onto white card and then coloured with Copic markers.  I added sparkle to the cobwebs and eyes, as well as the little shrunken head.  I covered the card with design paper in a deep rich burgundy and covered with glossy pine cones.  I cut an ornate gold border using my Spellbinder die to frame the sentiment.  It wasn't quite wide enough, so I simply cut it up the middle and attached it at either end of the frame - sort of like gates opening into a Creepmas wilderness!  Here's a close up of the sparkle on the shrunken head.

If you want to check out more wonderful Creepmas projects - here's the list of all the ladies taking part in this year's 12 Days of Creepmas challenge:

Terra- Hop Hostess
Black Dragon
Maureen
Teresa
Julia
Sue The Nanny
Jane
Susan
Nan
Shell
Kim
Monique
Airless Chambers
Keren
Sarah
Leigh
Lisa
Lady Brayton
That's all for now - I'm having a bit of a pamper day today - I'm getting my hair done in preparation for Christmas!   See you soon.

SNG - Jingle Bells ...

... Hello again!  I'm still busy working on Christmas cards for this year - I'm almost finished, but I think it's better to have too many, than not enough!!  This one is cute with an edge of grunge!

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digis - Billy Goldenbells; Reverse Confetti - Tinsel 'n' Trim; Stampin' Up! - Gorgeous Grunge
Inks: Distress - Evergreen Bough, Tumbled Glass; SU - Mossy Meadow, Glorious Green; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Ovals - #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Gingerbread; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Gold

I used a couple of challenges in the making of this card.  I used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#165 for the layout (I kept, mostly, to the sketch), and I used the theme from Addicted to CAS - ATCAS#53 - where the cue word is DOTS.  I got this cute little guy from Rick's Zibbet shop.  I printed him on white card, coloured with Copic markers, cut out with a die and then while in the die I shaded in some grass and a sky.  I covered the card base with this fab dotty paper and added some grungy splatters before adhering the die cut image.  I finished the front with a fun sentiment.  On the inside I cut a mat in the same design paper and kept the greeting really simple - and totally appropriate too!

That's all for now.  Take care and see you soon.

Birthday Wishes ....

...  Good afternoon - I'm back with a very feminine birthday card.  I got my new Waltzingmouse Stamps delivered at the weekend and I just love these wonderful old fashioned roses.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Old Country Roses, Big Day - Today
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Calypso Coral, Tangerine Tango, Blushing Bride, Island Indigo, Pistachio Pudding, Wild Wasabi, Old Olive
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Island Indigo; Wink of Stella - Clear

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

• Colour Q - cQc#270
• CAS(E) this Sketch - #102
• Just us Girls - JUGS#270

I turned the sketch upside as it worked better for my card in this orientation.  I really like the colours from Colour Q and thought they'd make fabulous roses.  The word cue at Just Us Girls is sparkle, and while it's hard to see in the photo above, all the roses have a dusting of sparkle from my Wink of Stella clear brush.  I made the card base from deep turquoise.  I cut white panels, temporarily stuck them together and then stamped the roses.  They are a three-step stamp and line up really easily.  I masked off the roses and then added some leaves.  I stamped the sentiment to match the card base.  I separated the white panels and layered the smaller white panel onto turquoise card to give this lovely offset effect.  On the inside of the card I stamped a simple greeting and another smaller bunch of roses.

Below is a close up of the roses - you can just about see the sparkle - it does show up more in real life!!!

We had a really fun weekend.  The company had a box at the Detroit Lions game - it was such fun.  It's always great to get together with other members of the team, and it was super to be able to watch the match.  I hadn't realised that Ford Field was a covered stadium, so it was an unexpected surprise to be warm while watching.  To the home crowd's delight the Lions beat Tampa Bay Buccaneers 34-17. 

That's all for now - I've got a few more cards to make and some housework to do - what shall I start with ? :) :)  See you soon.

Halloween review ....

... Morning all!  This is just a quick review of some cards I made a few years ago.  I recently had an email from Jenny who creates papers for our crafting passion.  Sometime in 2011 I got some of the papers she'd designed free with one of the British craft magazines and I used them to make Halloween cards for Waltzingmouse Blog Hop.  Jenny has kindly showcased my cards on her blog - so I thought I'd share them again:

I really like the bold patterns on the paper and the colours were perfect for Halloween cards - indeed they were the basis of the colour scheme.  You can see full details of these cards on my original post here.  These make a nice break from all the Christmas cards I've had lately!  And now, I'm off back to my craft room to finish off a few last minute Christmas cards, along with a few birthday cards for January!  See you soon.

Creepmas Day 4 ....

.... Hello!  We're on Day 4 of Smeared & Smudged 12 Days of Creepmas. I've another Creepmas/Christmas card for you today:

Stamps: Smeared Ink/Teri Sherman - Holly Sugar Skull; Winnie & Walter - Winter Wonderland
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Spellbinders - A2 Locking Loops (S5-175); Lil Inkers - Stitched Rectangles
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - North Pole; Stampin' Up! Card - Real Red; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear; Glitter

I absolutely love the Mexican Day of the Dead sugar skulls - and I think Teri's Creepmas style sugar skull surrounded by holly leaves and pretty berries is just fabulous!  I printed the image on white card, coloured it with Copic markers, cut it out with a die and then added sparkle with my clear Wink of Stella brush and glitter.  I used my new WOS brush - so there's a bit more sparkle than I'd normally like!  I think the image is so beautiful that I decided to finish it off with a lovely frame.  I die cut this frame from some winter design paper and layered it on a red card base.  On the inside I cut a white panel, added some decoration and a greeting.  Here's a close up of the sugar skull with sparkle and glitter.  I'm submitting this to this week's Just Us Girls Challenge - JUGS270 where the word is SPARKLE.  I've got lots of sparkle on this card - it might be a bit left of centre, but it sure does sparkle!!  Hope you ladies like it.

Here's the list of everyone taking part in the 12 Days of Creepmas challenge.  Do check out their work - some of these ladies make the most amazing 3D projects - something that I might have to try!!

Terra- Hop Hostess
Black Dragon
Maureen
Teresa
Julia
Sue The Nanny
Jane
Susan
Nan
Shell
Kim
Monique
Airless Chambers
Keren
Sarah
Leigh
Lisa
Lady Brayton
I think that today I'm going to have to get some housework done - my ironing pile is getting bigger and bigger.  That's all for now - have a great day.  See you soon.

Happy New Year ....

... confused?  Then I'll explain.  I was invited to join Inkspirational this week as Guest Designer - and I'm absolutely delighted to join this talented team.  The challenge this week is Anything Goes with Gold.  I made a New Year's card:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Celebrate New Year, Making Spirits Bright; Waltzingmouse - USA 1776
Inks: Versamark; Brilliance - Galaxy Gold; SU - Real Red
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Rectangles #2 and #3
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Real Red; Gold Mirri Card; Embossing Powders - Red Tinsel, Gold Tinsel

One of the things I really like about New Year is all the firework displays that take place around the world.  London always puts on a great show, as do many other major cities.  So I decided to have fireworks exploding behind a sentiment.  I made the base from red card, cut a panel of white slightly smaller and then stamped lots of fireworks.  Some in ink directly on the card and some in Versamark and embossed with either red or gold embossing powder.  I stamped the sentiment in Versamark, heat embossed with red tinsel powder and then cut it out with a die.  I layered it on a gold mat and attached the panel with diemsnional tape.  On the inside I went very simple - a gold mat layer, white panel with simple greeting and some glasses.

I've made so many Christmas cards recently that it was lots of fun to make a card for New Year - I think I'll make a few more!  Do check out Inkspirational's blog to see what the Design Team have made for you.  Have fun!

52CCT - Pick a Previous ....

...  Good morning!!!  Well, it's December now - only a few more weeks until Christmas day, but there's still time for one more card - or even two.  If you've been playing along with 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown since the beginning of the year, you have got a good stash of cards already.  But, just in case you need a few more, we've got a special challenge for you this month.  You can Pick a Previous Anything - colour, sketch, theme or recipe from our 2014 challenges - just click on the archive tabs. We have a sponsor this month - Deedee's Digis and the winner of the December challenge will get a fabulous prize from her.  I used her digi on this card:

Stamps: Deedee's Digis - Ugly Sweaters; Simon Says Stamps - Sweater Words & Appliques; Winnie & Walter - The Big, The Bold and Merry
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Stampin' Up! - Melon Mambo
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Melon Mambo; Cuttlebug EF - Winter Wonderland; Vellum; Clear Embossing Powder; Copic Markers

I decided to revisit the colours from our October challenge - I like these clear, fresh colours and thought they'd be perfect for some Christmas sweaters of the "ugly" variety!!!  I printed the sweaters onto plain white card, coloured them with Copic markers and cut them out.  I embossed some white card with bold snowflakes and ran a pink marker round the edge to give a fine outline of colour.  As I didn't want to hide too much of the front I stamped a fun sentiment on to some vellum.  On the inside I kept it really, really simple with a mat of bright pink and a bold greeting.

Do check out our blog to see what challenges the rest of the team have decided to play along with.  You've got lots of time to play along - this challenge runs until 19th December - we'll be posting the winners at the end of December.  Do drop by later - I've got another card to share with you - but it's a secret :)  See you later!

Creepmas Day 3 ....

.... Good morning!  It's Day 3 of the Smeared & Smudged 12 Days of Creepmas.  If you look quickly at this card, it could almost pass as purely Christmas!  It would have to be a quick look mind!

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digi - Creepmas Tree Monster; Reverse Confetti - Tinsel 'n' Trim; Waltzingmouse - Elf Made
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Anita's DP - Classic Christmas Red; Copic Markers; Vellum; Wink of Stella - Clear

I used the sketch from this week's Retro Sketches - RS#134 for the layout.  I used some design paper from my stash (it goes really well with my Creepmas tree monster).  I printed this guy on to some scrap paper, coloured him with Copic markers, added some sparkle to the ornaments, cut him out and finished him with chunky glitter on his hat.  If you like my Creepmas tree - you'll find him, and many more digis, at Rick's Zibbet shop.  On the inside I cut a mat layer in the same design paper and added a bold sentiment on the white panel.

Here's the list of all the folk playing along with the 12 Days of Creepmas - I'm off to check out what they've made.

Terra- Hop Hostess
Black Dragon
Maureen
Teresa
Julia
Sue The Nanny
Jane
Susan
Nan
Shell
Kim
Monique
Airless Chambers
Keren
Sarah
Leigh
Lisa
Lady Brayton
That's all for today - do come by tomorrow to see my new card for 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  See you then!