Sorry ...

... I didn't get to post yesterday.  I suffer from migraines and occasionally, despite mediction and trying to ignore it, I have to retire to bed and simply sleep.  That was yesterday - boo, what a waste of a day!!  However, I'm much better this morning.

I should also say Hi to Donna - my latest follower - thanks for joining me.  It is so nice of you all to follow my blog - I appreciate you all.

I'm off out with my husband this morning, but I should be back this evening with a couple of cards.  Enjoy your day.

Pretty in pink and green ....

... that's what Mona Pendleton from Cupcake Creations wants.  Now I think that Mona designs the most awesome cards.  She is a member of the Design Team at Waltzingmouse Stamps as well as designing for Spellbinders.  So as you can tell Mona is one creative lady.  She has recently started to host her own colour challenges - Create for fun - hence CR84FN.  Don't you love that :)  This is the first time I've played along.  The inspiration comes from this sketch:

Now you may already have noticed that green is one of my favourite colours, and as I also rather like pink I thought I'd give it a go.  I've kept my card relatively clean and simple and I used a masking technique to create the forest of Christmas trees - all made from the wonderful Teeny Trees set.  For the topper I used the Nutcracker Prince - and coloured him shades of pink and green.  And that makes another card towards my Christmas Collection.  Actually, I'm rather pleased how this turned out.  So here's my take on "Pretty in Pink and Green".

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse Stamps - Nutcracker Sweet, Teeny Trees
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black, Cottage Ivy, New Sprout, Bamboo Leaves, Rich Cocoa, Angel Pink; Distress - Worn Lipstick
Pens:  Pilot - Silver; Promarkers - Apple, Meadow Green, Magenta, Cerise, Baby Pink, Cool Grey 1; Stardust - Gold, Clear
Spellbinders: Mega Ovals and Mega Scalloped Ovals

Craft class this morning was lots of fun.  I finished off some of my homework from the Back to Basics course at MCC.  I completed my swatch sheet of embossing powders.  I didn't realise I had so many!!!  And it was a very worthwhile exercise - I realise that there were some powders that had never been used.  But now I know how they look.  I'll post some up here tomorrow - see you then.

More challenges ...

... I seem to be on a bit of a roll.  I've managed to incorporate two challenges in one card.  Amazing!!  The challenges this time are:

• The Play Date Cafe - this is a lovely challenge- PDCC54; you can do any theme but you have to feature the colours they have chosen - this time stucco orange, celery and white
• Clean & Simple - they have another sketch, FTL115, to challenge our creative skills
  

I don't have the particular colours specified in the PDCC54 challenge, but I do have Tim Holtz Distress inks that are quite similar.  So I cheated a bit and used them.  Also, my base card is not exactly brilliant white, it's more a creamy white :)

The FTL115 sketch was perfect - I knew exactly which set would work with this design.  I got the wonderful Circle Circus stamps from Stampin' Up! a while ago - I used them to make invitations to my Stampin' Up! party a while ago.  I really like the stamps - they are such fun - and I now have the punches to go with the stamps, so it's easy to punch out the shapes!  Last time I cut them out by hand ;(  This is the card I've come up with.  I'm quite pleased with the clean and simple look; I decided to make it a thank you card.  It's important to have thank you cards ready for those unexpected occasions.

Stamps:  Stampin' Up! - Circle Circus, (the greeting is Stampin' Up!, but I can't remember the name of the set!)
Inks:  Distress - Dired Marigold, Shabby Shutters; Versafine - Sepia Brown

I'm off to craft class this morning and will be making a few more Christmas cards for my collection.  Back again soon.

Been shopping ...

... over at Claire's place - the stamps are so lovely.  My order has been placed and now I'll have to wait a bit for them to arrive.  In the meantime, I can do some homework on my course with Glenda and also make a few more Christmas cards.

Not only have I been shopping for me, but Jonathan and I went out with our darling daughter Kathryn to buy a coat.  Who would know that it would be so difficult!!  We took Kathryn into every shop at our Retail Park and she hated everything she saw. Then we went into Top Shop and she saw an animal print coat - and fell in love!!!  After that nothing was acceptable.  However, we're rather good a negotiations and we left the park with two coats (much cheaper than the animal print one she'd seen) a sensible black one for school and a grey animal print for fun.  It was so much easier when I could simply buy clothes for her. 

That's all for this evening - I'm off downstairs to get a coffee and settle down to watch the TV - a bit of catching up to do this evening.  I'll be back tomorrow with a few more cards.

Challenges galore ...

... I've been busy making cards for various challenges, and I've made a card to fulfil the requirements for three challenges!!  They are:

• Creative Card Crew - here the requirement is to feature punches
• Little Red Wagon - requirement to use the colour red #53; they are celebrating one year of challenges
• Just Add Ink - they provided a sketch, JAI42, to follow:

I think this is the first time I've actually managed to combine challenges in one card - I'm usually too busy trying to work out how to meet the requirements of one challenge, never mind three!! 

But this time it all came together rather well.  I started with the JAI42 sketch - I liked this layout and felt that the flower could be changed a bit to a Christmas bauble.  And that led to the next requirement - punches.  I used my Christmas Bauble stamps and punch from Stampin' Up!, along with a lovely punched Bauble border from a Martha Stewart Punch.  So that was two out of three!  And the last requirement was to include red - in honour of a year at Little Red Wagon - that was easy - red backing paper, red tinsel embossing powder and red ink!! 

Overall feeling when I'd finished this card - really pleased.  And, more importantly, another card towards this year's collection.  So, here's the finished card:

JAI42;  Little Red Wagon #53; Creative Card Crew - Punches

Stamps:  Stampin' Up! - Delightful Decorations, Contempo Christmas
Card:  Anita's Classic Christmas Red Papers; Gold card from stash; Green textured foil card from stash
Accessories:  Papermania - Green ribbon;  Martha Stewart - Baubles border punch;  Stampin' Up! - Ornament punch

I hope that everyone in the UK has enjoyed the Bonfire Weekend.  In the end, we didn't go to the Firework Display yesterday; we'd been out all day and were totally shattered.  So we stayed in the warm and watched our neighbour's display from the warmth and comfort of our living room.  And that seems to me to be the way to enjoy the fireworks.

That's all for now.  I have quite a bit of housework to catch up on, but provided I get finished, I'll be back later this evening.  I plan to go shopping over at Claire's shop - it's worth a visit!!

OLW27 - Christmas kindness ....

... and a Give-away, is how Susan introduced her OLW challenge at Simplicity, this week.  Susan has received an email from Rhonda Schmidkunz (part of group who make cards for inmates at North Dakota Penitentiary).  Rhonda's group usually made layered cards, but the rules changed and now only one-layer cards are allowed - so Rhonda asked for Susan's help.  Thus, the OLW challenge this week is to:

"Make a December Holiday card that meets the North Dakota State Penitentiary rules for cards, as follows:

• No metal (brads, wire, etc.)
• No gemstones or pearls
• Limited glitter
• Flock, ribbon, embossing, and punched shapes are okay"

I think many of the girls in the States will be sending their cards to Rhonda to forward to the Penitentiary, but my card would not get there in time to be included, but it will form part of my Christmas collection for 2010.

Stamps:  Stampin' Up! - Contempo Christmas;  Papermania - Filigree Christmas Tree; Waltzingmouse Stamps - Text-It
Inks:  Versamark; Memento - Cottage Ivy; Distress - Pine Needles
Embossing Powder:  Stampendous - Detail Clear, Detail White

I've been doing a course on stamping techniques, run by Glenda Waterworth, on the My Creative Classroom site.  We've been learning about the versatility of using Versamark and resist techniques.  I'd done this technique a long time ago and sort of forgotten it.  But it's great for getting some detail into one layer cards!! 

On my card I stamped a background of green Christmas text using the Text-It set.  I'd already put on the main greeting using Versamark and embossing with Detail White.  I then rubbed my anti-static pad (but missed a bit, as can be seen by the slight glow around the bottom of the tree) over the card.  I used Versamark on the big Christmas tree and this time embossed with Clear Detail.  The final bit was to use a direct to paper technique; I used dark green pine needles distress ink, which also brought out the texture in the card.  Finally, I wiped the excess ink off the Christmas Tree and Greeting - to reveal text under the tree!!  Very pretty!!  Click on the picture to see the detail.

I'm really pleased with how this has turned out.  That's all for this evening - I'll be back tomorrow.

Sunshine ...

... honest, we've got sunshine this morning.  And blue skies with fluffy white clouds - what a difference to the last week!!  Just popped in quickly to say Good Morning All - It's a Wonderful Day!!  We're off to Chester to visit that Bear Factory this children all love so much :))))  And if the weather stays like this we'll have good weather for the Firework Display this evening.  I love it when the day starts off so brightly - wishing you all a good one.

That's all for now - I might get back with a card or two later, but if not I'll see you all again tomorrow.

Tag - part 2 ...

...  Gosh, it's been a busy day today.  I typed up the minutes of the Scouts Programme Planning meeting - we've got some fun events lined up - incoporating ideas from our Scouts and planning according to the weather.  I don't do too many outdoor events in the winter (December), so the requests for night walks and camps will have to

wait for warmer weather!!!  I'm mean! 

I also managed to get all the ironing done - it's so nice to see empty ironing baskets.

So as I was sitting down watching the news with a nice cup of coffee - well earned - I suddenly thought of another Tag for Claire's Tag - You're It competition.  I have another set of Claire's stamps that have hardly seen ink - yes, I know that's bad.  So without further ado - here is the tag.

I used a wonderful set that Claire released last year - it's a secret so you have to visit a special place - don't want little eyes to see this set!!  You'll need a password - ibelieveinsantaclause - should work :))

I'm really pleased how this turned out.  A sweet little Elf Shoe - in very festive colours.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Secret Stamp Set

Inks:  Versamark; Memento - Cottage Ivy;  Distress - Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint

Embossing Powder:  Heat It Up! - Red Tinsel, Green Tinsel

This image lends itself to a bit of decoupage!  And it's so easy to cut too.  I kept it really simple and only did two layers - for a card I might be a bit more adventurous and do three or even four!!  The green shoe base is a piece of paper that I had in my stash and actually had holly leaves on it - so worked as a tag backing.

That's all for this evening.  No bonfire party around here tonight - we're going to the big one in Chester tomorrow night.  Besides, it's rather wet and windy - so not the best night to enjoy fireworks.  Here's hoping that tomorrow will be better.

Monochrome look ...

... that's the look I've gone for with my card for the Clean & Simple challenge.  The sketch for this week's Fall-to-layout (FTL114) is as follows:

I like this sketch - it really is clean and simple!!  So, what did I do?  Well, I changed the shape of the card from a square to a DL landscape and decided not to bother with stamping at all.  I bought a beautiful Kanban kit from QVC some while ago.  The card is simply wonderful - lovely colours, with flourishes and swirls and deeply foiled, and it came with some wonderful die cut flowers.  I tried them on the black and silver swirly card, but felt it was a bit too much!!  Yes, I know sparkly is good, but sometimes, too much.  And that's how I came up with this:

Card:  Papermania

Embellishements:  Kanban kits from QVC

I've got another busy day today - I've got to sort out the Scouts programme for the next couple of months, finish the ironing (again!!), do some of my MCC homework (the fun bit) and start to work on my next OU course.  This time I'm doing a course about the planets in our Solar System - brilliant!! 

That's all for now.  Back again tomorrow.

"Tag - you're it!" ...

.... that's the title Claire has given to her WMS Christmas 2010 Challenge.  Claire wants to see tags - all sizes, shapes, designs - with the key themes being Christmas, beauty and elegance.  To quote Claire, "I just want to see prettiness! So, gimme your best frills, your finest feathers, your most prized pearls!".

And best of all Claire is offering a fantastic prize of a £100GBP voucher for the WMS store - which can be used on anything!!!  And if you use Waltzingmouse Stamps on the tag - then Claire is adding an extra £25 to the prize.  She's an amazing lady and this is a brilliant prize.  Now, how do I fix the random number generator to select my tag?!!

 The deadline for the competition is 6th November - so only two days to go - and the winner will be announced on Sunday 7th November.  That just happens to be the day that the new Waltzingmouse Stamps are launched.  It's so exciting - Claire and her Design Team will be featuring the new stamps in the few days leading up to the launch.

I've decided to include several photos of my tag and I've got pictures of front and back.  It's a large tag measuring 7½" (18.5cm) from the star to the end of the gems.  It's much longer if you include the ribbons.  It's just short of 4" (10cm) across at the widest point.  When Kathryn saw it - she said she'd love to have it on her Christmas present!!!  Don't you just love kids?

It took me a while to think of what to do, but once the idea came it was easy.  I knew that I wanted to use the large Christmas tree from the Nutcracker Sweet set, but I wasn't sure what shape to make the tag.  Then I realised that the new Spellbinders 2010 Heirloom Ornaments were the perfect shape and just the right size!!  I wonder if Claire already knows this?

I love green and purple together - I've used that colour combination lots of times (well, if it's good enough for Wimbledon, then it's good for me!).  I stamped the Christmas tree image four times and embossed them all with detail silver.  On the tag base I added some lovely stars which I embossed with detail clear.   I used distress inks in shades of purple and green to colour the ornament, and rubbed the ink off the stars - a very pretty effect.  To colour the trees I used Twinkling H2Os - you can't really see it in the photos, but in real life the tree has a lovely shimmer.  I added a bit of glitter to the heart and spot in each segment of the tree and then cut out the pieces.  The back of the tag has an area for me to write a Christmas message.  I found some blue and green beads in my stash and threaded them to make a long tail for the tag.  Finally, I added ribbons at the top and a little greetings tag on the front. 

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse Stamps - Nutcracker Sweet, Teeny Trees

Spellbinders:  2010 Heirloom Ornaments, Labels 14

Paints:  Twinkling H2Os - Snapdragon, Cedarwood, Green Tea, Lemongrass, Irish Mist, Guatemalen Green

Inks:  Versamark; Distress - Milled Lavender, Shabby Shutters, Dusty Concord

Ribbons, beads from my stash

So that's my entry for Claire's competition.  I had such fun making the tag - and now all I've got to do is decide which present it's going on!!  Do check out Claire's blog - it's a great competition!!  

That's all for now.  I'll be back again tomorrow. 

  

Waltzingmouse sketch challenge ...

... has been finished.  That's good because last week I was away and unable to play.  I got withdrawal symptoms :))  The sketch, WMSC21, for this week caused me a few problems - I simply couldn't think what to do.

I had a few ideas but none of them were really inspiring.  Then this afternoon I was going through my stash of card blanks (of which I have loads) and I came across this beautiful pink square card.  It's such a vibrant colour and comes with a black envelope, so that immediately suggested a sort of "lovey" type card.  Then I realised that I had an IDEA!!!!  Yea!

I made the pocket by cutting two scalloped hearts - Spellbinders nesties - I found these matching papers in my stash.  I know that they were designed by Dawn Bibby and came from a set that I got from QVC.  They seemed totally appropraite for this card.  I used the Sweethearts set from Waltzingmouse Stamps to stamp three little hearts and also for the greeting on the card and on the tag.  The border on the tag is also from Waltzingmouse Stamps and is from Holiday Labels No 14.  I am really pleased with the way this card has turned out.  Kathryn loves it!!  But then it's pink and black - so totally up her street!

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse Stamps - Holiday Labels No 14, Sweethearts

Spellbinders:  Scalloped Hearts, Labels 14

Inks: Distress - Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick; Memento - Rose Bud; Versamark

Embossing Powder: Heat It Up! - Snowflake Tinsel

Card:  Inspire Me Papers

Paper:  Dawn Bibby design

I've also been busy this afternoon working on a special Christmas tag for a competittion that Claire is running. She has a organised a brilliant prize and I'm keeping my fingers crossed :))))  Check out Claire's blog.  I'll be posting my tag tomorrow.  

Bye for now.  See you tomorrow. 

MCC homework ...

... my tone-on-tone green card is now complete!!!  You may recall that I posted some tone-on-tone backgrounds which I'd done as part of my MCC course homework.  I've already made cards with the other backgrounds, but was struggling at bit with the green one.  Then today I knew what to do.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse Stamps - Nutcracker Sweet, Seasons of Love - Tags, Very Vintage Labels No 4; Stampin' Up! - Baroque
Inks:  Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress - Dusty Concord, Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters
Pens:  Promarkers - Prussian, Bluebell, Lilac, Primrose, Lemon, Almond, Cinnamon, Tan; Sakura Stardust - Golden Star #703, Copper #705
Spellbinders:  Labels 4, Labels 10
Card:  Green card from stash, Gold mirri card, Mondi IQ 160gsm white paper

As you know, I'm rather keen on Waltzingmouse Stamps - designed by the very talented Claire Brennan.  Last month Claire released the Nutcracker Sweet set - which is forming a large part of my Christmas 2010 collection.  I've already stamped and coloured a number of the Nutcracker and St Nicholas images as toppers for my cards, and I remembered that one of the St Nicholas stamps was coloured purple - which works so well with green.

I used Distress inks to tint the edge of the St Nicholas image and leave a crisp white border around the image.  To make the gold matting layer I used the same die that I used to cut out the image, only this time I drew around the outside of the die and then cut out the shape.  This gives a smaller border than using the next sized die up - that sounds sort of complicated, but I hope you know what I mean!  The greeting was made using Labels 4 (a set I don't use often enough), adding a border from Very Vintage Labels No 4 and the actual words come from Seasons of Love.  I added some sparkle to the card by using Sakura Stardust pens to colour the belt, staff and clasp.  Afterall you have to have some sparkle on Christmas cards.

I'm so pleased to have finished that lot of homework.  Glenda's course has been brilliant - she has given us all so many tips and I've learnt loads.  However, I do have a backlog of homework to do :))  But as it's crafting it's more like play!!

I managed to get into Chester this morning and get my shopping done early, which was fortunate, as the weather this afternoon has been awful.  Rain, rain and more rain!  And it's still pouring now and blowing a gale too. 

Well that's all for today.  I'll be back again tomorrow with a few more cards. 

Clean and simple ...

... cards have not always come easy to me.  I think that must be an understatement - I find them really tough.  Well, I think I can now say that I found them really tough.  Since I started doing the One Layer Wednesday cards at Simplicity, and now Styles Ink, I think I'm beginning to get the hang of them.  Which is sort of good as I decided to have a go at FTL113 posted on Clean & Simple on 22nd October.  Their layout is based on the "rule of threes".

Initially, I couldn't decide what to do.  I thought of doing something with flowers, but then I found a sheet of bright blue card in my stash and I changed direction completely.  The card had to be more masculine - so out came my faithful Waltzingmouse Stamps - Free Spirit - Boy.  I think these stamps are great - there are so many images in the set, and the little ones were just right for this challenge.  I used the coordinating sentiment set for the greeting and kept it really simple.  The striped backing piece is from a kit I got from QVC ages ago - I think it's by Dawn Bibby.  But it's just perfect for this card.  I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

Card:  Blue card - from stash; Striped blue paper - Dawn Bibby (I think)
Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Free Spirit - Boy, Free Spirit - Sentiments
Inks:  Versamark
Embossing Powder:  Stampendous - Detail White

That's all for now.  I've got a busy day lined up - have to head off to the shops for various bits, then there's the housework type stuff - ironing, cleaning, etc, etc!!  I have to do it - then I can play in my craft room.  I really MUST make more Christmas cards.  I've started, but I've got about 150 to make :)  See you later.

The Play Date Cafe ...

... challenge 53 has been completed!!  I only saw it yesterday, but decided that this was a challenge I could do at craftclass this morning. 

I love the picture that has been used to illustrate the featured colours; those being black, white with a splash of burgundy.  The Aquilegia (or Columbine) is one of my most favourite flowers - I have so many in my garden that it could be considered a weed!!   But enough of gardens, this is not a gardening blog!!

My card is very clean and simple, and as the Challenge team used flowers in their photo, I decided to use flowers in my card. 

I started with an black A6 card blank and took a piece of black and white flower printed paper - which I coloured using promarkers.  I trimmed the paper to fit the card blank and added a very simple circular greeting. 

I'm really pleased with how this card turned out - I think it's quite striking.

Paper:  Papermania - Inspirations

Pens:  Promarkers - Ruby, Lipstick Red, Burgundy

Craftclass was really good fun this morning.  I missed last week's class because I was away at Mum's.  So I spent a bit of time looking at the cards that had been made while I was away - they are so talented.  My friend Doreen is busy making lots of Christmas cards using glittered peeloffs - and they're stunning.  Note to self - "I must play with my peel offs".   I started on a few other cards too, but they need to be finished. 

It's hard to believe that today is 1st November - it's really warm here in North Wales; the sky is brilliant blue and the sun is shining.  I think someone forgot to mention that it's autumn!!  Not that I'm complaining, oh no - I'm making the most of it.

That's all for today, but do call by again tomorrow and see what else I've made!!

Pinch, punch ...

... the first day of the month, and no returns!!!!  I was up early - still operating on British Summer Time - and decided to reply to the various comments left while I was away.  I hope I've replied to you all, but if not thanks for leaving a comment.  I wish that Blogger had an automatic reply feature.

Today it's back to school day.  Kathryn, as always, is very keen to be back - she does enjoy being at school.  Although I think it's mostly so that she can be with her friends - and that's a good reason.  She had a great time last night at the Halloween Party held in our community centre.  There were so many children there - and they all looked fantastic.  A good time was had by all!

And I'm off to craft class this morning.  I hope to be able to do a few challenge cards today - I've missed them.  And, of course, I can catch up with the girls.  Back later - with some cards.

Can't believe it's November already!!  Time really does fly as you get older :)