CR84FN63 - Hello ....

... Good morning - time for my second card with our fabulous CR84FN63 colours of denim, tan and brown.  Last time I went with a very masculine card, this time I've made a card for one of my UK buddies.  I like to send home notes - I know it's easier to send emails, but there's nothing nicer than getting something in the post, something to keep!

Stamps: Hero Arts - Layered Flowers (CL496); Dawn Bibby - Flower Patch; Waltzingmouse - Compact Sentiments II
Inks: Memento - Rich Cocoa; Distress - Walnut Stain, Faded Jeans
Accessories:  Waltzingmouse - Lace; Papermania - Portobello Road DP 6" x 6"; Marianne Die - LR0133; Stampin' Up! - Crumb Cake card

I enjoyed making last week's card with the distressing, etc, so I had another go.  I started off with some old style newspaper print paper from the Portobello collection, cut it to size and then distressed the edges, crumbled it up and then lightly rubbed over some colour.  I cut the dotty paper to size, distressed the edges and added this lovely cream lace.  I made the layered flower by stamping the image three times; twice onto some postage style paper and once on the dotty paper.  On the bottom layer of the flower I sponged on some blue ink.  I stamped a couple of flowers directly onto the card, and then used my stamp-a-ma-jig to position the sentiment.  I finished off by adding some leaves.

Here's the graphic for this week's colours - photos courtesy of Magnolia Rouge.

For more inspiration cards from the DT check out the CR84FN blog or click on the links in my sidebar.  Don't forget, we are having an Open Design Call - we want to add some new designers to the team.  The six month term will begin on 4th November 2012.  Do make sure to use our colours and add "DT" after your name so that we know you want to be considered.

See you soon.

Trick or treat ....

... Evening all!!!  I've had a busy day today.  This morning I had my driving test in order to get a Michigan driving licence.  Thank goodness, I PASSED!!!  I now have all my American ID - a social security number and a driving licence - I exist!!!!  After my test we headed to Northville to check out the Victorian Festival - small, but fun.  We came home with a cherry pie and a very nice brie wrapped in pastry and cherries to bake, I'm saving that for Thanksgiving.

While browsing the Internet this afternoon I came across a sketch challenge that I'd missed!!  Don't know how that happened.  Not only does The Sweet Stop have a fab sketch, but they are also having an Open Design Team Call - so I'm throwing my card into the hat!!  I've actually used two challenges to make this card:

• The Sweet Stop - SSS177 - great sketch and Open DT Call
• The Play Date Cafe - PDCC150 - super warm, rich autumnal colours

I decided to use the Play Date colours to make my second Halloween card - I need to make a few this year; some so that Kathryn can send them to the UK for her friends and some for her friends here.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Hocus Pocus, Oval Classic Frames, Heirloom Patterns, Very Vintage Labels 10, Gracie at Halloween

Inks:  Distress - Barn Door, Vintage Photo, Wild Honey, Antique Linen

Spellbinders:  Labels 10 (S5-022) #3, Petit Ovals Sm (S4-140) #2, Nested Lacey Pennants (S5-029)

Accessories:  Gems and card from stash

I created the background pattern using my stamp-a-ma-jig and two stamps.  I inked up the wreath stamp, stamped off onto scrap paper, and then stamped on the card and repeated until finished.  I used the same method to stamp the filigree cross.  I used my blender tool to add a touch of colour to the edge of the card.  I made the ribbons by cutting panels of white card and using the blender tool to add colour, then over stamping each panel with a different pattern.  I like this tone on tone effect.  To make the sentiment pennant I used my Spellbinder die, inked it while still in the die and then stamped the sentiment.  I stamped this pretty labels 10 frame and then cut it out with the die, while still in the die I added some colour.  I stamped Gracie onto white card and cut out a section with my Spellbinder die.  I coloured the image with Promarkers to match, as closely as possible, the distress inks.  I finished off by adding two gems.

That's all for now.  It's almost time for our favourite TV programme of the week - Dr Who!!!  We get to see the show a few hours after it has aired in the UK!  Such fun.  See you tomorrow with my second card for CR84FN63.

Fall fun .....

..... Last night I went to stamping party run by my local Stampin' Up! demonstrator - Karin.  I met some new crafting friends and had lots of fun playing with some of the new products from the SU Holiday Brochure.  Karin designed and prepared our packs, and we made four cards.  One of them fits in quite nicely with this week's challenge at CAS-ual Fridays - CFC71, to make a card inspired by Fall!

Stamps:  Stampin' Up! - Perfectly Preserved
Inks:  SU - Early Espresso, Raspberry Ripple
Accessories:  All SU - Woodgrain EF; Framelits Cannery Set (goes with Perfectly Preserved); Small Oval Punch; Gems, paper

The woodgrain EF is really super and gives a lovely deep impression.  I like the preserve jar in this set (it has a matching die) and this is where there's a link to Fall - preserves!! Yes?  I filled the jar with some flowers and added the diecut sentiment and flower.  This card is on its way to one of my Mum's friends.  Yesterday Cynthia helped my Mum sort through her wardrobes - they've given 7 bags to charity!!!!  Cynthia is brilliant.

We also made a Christmas card, a birthday card and another thank you card (can't have too many of them!).

Stamps:  Stampin' Up! - Ornament Keepsakes
Inks:  SU - Real Red, Basic Grey
Accessories:  All SU - Framelits Holiday Ornaments (goes with Ornament Keepsakes); Gems, paper & ribbon  - I lost the sentiment that we made, so I stamped on a greeting that I had at home

Stamps:  Stampin' Up! - Embellished Events
Inks:  SU - Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade
Accessories:  All SU - Framelits Holiday Ornaments (simply cut off the bottom of the ornament to make the vases); Punch - Boho Blossoms, pearls, paper & ribbon

Stamps:  Stampin' Up! - Perfectly Preserved
Inks:  SU - Early Espresso, Raspberry Ripple
Accessories:  All SU - Framelits Cannery Set (goes with Perfectly Preserved); Small Oval Punch; Gems, Orchard Harvest DP


I had such a fun evening and am looking forward to the next one.  Oh yes, I did place an order for some SU goodies - but not any of the stuff I used above!!  That's all for now.

Santa cameo ....

.... Hi!!  This is a really quick post as I wanted to get my card up before running out to a PTA meeting and the shops!  And would you know it, it's raining!!!  This card is for three challenges:

• Less is More - LIM85 - to use oval(s)
• CASology - CAS11 - where the cue word is white
• Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge - WMCC07-12 - July where we need to use orange

It's taken me a long time to work out how to include orange in a Christmas card - but I think this works!!

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Santa's Coming to Town, Oval Classic Frames, Vintage Ornaments
Inks:  Memento - Tuxedo Black, Morocco
Spellbinders:  Classic Ovals Lg (S4-110) # 3 & 4
Accessories:  Cuttlebug EF - Distressed Snow; Card from stash

I'll be back later today to add details!  I've changed the photo - the sun is shining now and this is much brighter - you can really see the orange!!

Okay - back now!  Had to rush out this morning to a PTA meeting at Kathryn's school.  There was a really big turn out - bigger than when I've been to PTA meetings in the UK.  I like that it was held at school during the day, as the Principal and Deputy were there to add information.  It was a good meeting, and I've signed up to help out at the upcoming Book Fair!

Now to add some detail to my post.  I think the oval for LIM is easy to spot.  I've done a cameo but with a twist - mine's Santa!  He's based on some cards I made last year and a witchy cameo that I made earlier this year.   To make the cameo I stamped Santa's head, masked him off then stamped the "sunray" pattern from Vintage ornaments, the I cut the oval with the smaller die.  I made a frame using one of the classic oval stamps and cut and embossed it.  The challenge at CASology is to use white!!!  Most of the DT went totally white, but as some had used a touch of colour I decided to add orange as my pop of colour.    For the July Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge (yes, I know I'm very, very late) Lynn wants us to use the non-traditional colour ORANGE!!  To add interest to the white theme, I embossed a layer of card with one of my cuttlebug folders - distressed snowflakes - works really well behind the Santa cameo.  I finished off with this sweet sentiment.

That's all for now.  See you tomorrow!

Christmas post .....

....  I thought it was time I made some Christmas cards - I'm not sure when the last posting date to the UK is, but as I've got over 100 cards to make, I'd better get started.  I used three challenges to make this Christmas card:

• Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge - WMSC115 - designed by Jennifer Holmes
• Jingle Belles - JB1219 - theme - going postal
• Colour Q - cQc155

I thought that this week's colours from Colour Q would be just right for a Christmas card, but I did substitute Milled Lavender for Pale Plum.  Here's my card:

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Text It, Festive Foliage, Santa Was Here
Inks: Stampin' Up! - So Saffron, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive; Distress - Milled Lavender
Spellbinders: Postage Stamps (S4-348) #3, Squares Sm (S4-128) #4, Pinking Circles Lg (S4-170) #3, Pinking Circles Sm (S4-172) #2
Accessories:  SU Card; Card from stash

I really like the theme at Jingle Belles to go postal - use postage stamps or images on a Christmas card, but I've been struggling a bit with it.  That was until I saw this week's Waltzingmouse sketch - it all suddenly fell into place.  I stamped the pine cone images randomly onto white card and then selected the areas to cut out, I didn't emboss the image layer as I wanted it to look like a stamp.  In the sketch there's a place for a ribbon, but I decided to suggest a ribbon by stamping the elf footprints.  I adapted the sketch a bit more by adding my sentiment in the centre of the card using this fabulous sentiment from Santa was here.

Despite all the layers on this card, it is still fairly flat so I might make a few more based on the sketch for my stash.

That's all for now - off to be some house stuff!!  See you soon.

Thrilled to bits ...

... to find that I've been given an honourable mention over at CASology for my witchy card for CAS10.

Off to have a ponder about this week's challenge !!  See you soon.

Kraft and twine ....

..... Morning all, cutting this one a bit too close!!  I've a card for this week's Do You Stack Up? - DYSU89 -where we are to use kraft and twine on our card.

Stamps:  Papertrey Ink - Rosie Posie; Lil Inker Designs - Coffee Cozies
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Real Red, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Dies: Lil Inker Designs - Coffee Cozies
Accessories:  WMS - Twine; SU - Crumb Cake Card, Real Red Pen; Card from stash

I really like the hexagon patterns in the PTI set and decided to use them to build the background for this card.  It was so easy stamping each colour in turn.  I wrapped some twine around the panel and adhered it to the card with dimensional tape.  I love coffee!!!  Can't start my day without a cup, or two!!  So this set from Lil Inker is just perfect - it comes with matching dies :)  So easy to assemble this cup.  I stamped the wrap twice - once on kraft and once on white, and coloured the heart on the white card, cut it out and attached.  I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to position the sentiment. The colours are based on the inspiration photo from DYSU?

That's all for now!  I'm off out this morning, and it looks like Fall has arrived.  What a difference a day makes!  Grey skies, a gentle wind and softly falling rain - yes, it's Fall!!  See you soon.

Waltzingmouse Blog Party - Fall Blessings ....

..... It's 17th September that  means it's time for the monthly Waltzingmouse Blog Party - the theme is Autumn (or Fall as it's called here in America).  I am beginning to get used to that!  Full details of the blog party, with times and a super inspiration photo can be found here!

I've used this week's sketch from Mojo Monday - MOJO259 for the layout of my card.  As soon as I saw the sketch I know one of the stamps I'd be using.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Blessed by You, Dainty Doilies 2 Small, Faux Fun, Peace & Plenty
Inks:  Stampin' Up! - Calypso Coral, Early Espresso; Distress - Antique Linen; Memento - Rich Cocoa
Spellbinders: Nested Lacey Pennants (S5-029), Deckled Mega Rectangles Lg (S5-015) #3, Scalloped Mega Rectangles Lg (S4-143) #3, Lacey Circles (S4-293) #5
Accessories:  Memory Box - Piestra Tile Die; Promarkers - Burnt Orange, Spice, Peach, Soft Peach; SU Card - Early Espresso, Calypso Coral, Crumb Cake; Card from stash

I used various Spellbinder dies to cut elements of this card.  I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to position the lacey doily on the cut circle and trimmed it to lie against the coral panel, and adhered them to the card base.  Next I cut the rectangles.  While the deckled rectangle remained in the die, I sponged on some Calypso Coral and Early Espresso and then went over both of them with some antique linen, which really blended the colours together.  I stamped the oak leaves and sentiment onto the panel and adhered it to the card.  I used the knitting stamp from Faux Fun on some coral card and then cut out the pennant with my Spellbinder die.  I stamped the oak leaf & acorn image twice and coloured them with Promarkers, then fussy cut them both! I attached them to the card with dimension tape.

It's a really beautiful day here - the sun is shining, it's pleasantly warm 23C (74F), soft blue skies with some cloud and the birds are singing like mad.  According to the weather forecast this is probably the last day of summer - tomorrow the temperature is expected to drop by 7C!!  Much cooler.

That's all for now - I've had a good morning in the craft room.  Not only have I managed to complete this card reasonably early, I've also had a good tidy up!  Now I'm off for a cup of coffee and will be back later to waltz my way round the Blog Party!!  See you soon.

Our beautiful girl ....

.... Kathryn is 11 years old today!  Where has the time gone?  It only seems a few minutes ago that she was a baby and totally dependent on us.  And now Kathryn is a strong, bright, lively, independent young lady, but she still likes to have a cuddle and kiss with her parents - so long as it's not in public!!  Here's the card I made especially for her.  I used this week's CAS-ual Fridays - CFC70 challenge to use black, white and one other colour.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Halloween Party, Midnight Feast, Fancy Flourishes - Scallops & Dots, Eat Cake, You're Lovely
Inks:  Memento - Tuxedo Black; Distress - Mowed Lawn, Black Soot, Pumice Stone
Spellbinders: Labels Twenty Five (S5-077) #4
Accessories:  Promarkers, Glitter and card from stash

Kathryn wanted me to make a card with a "Goth" feel.  I created the shadow flourishes on the card base by stamping once, moving slightly to the side and stamping again.  I stamped the gown onto white card and cut it out with Labels 25.  While still in the die I added some shading around the dress staring with pumice stone and then with black soot.  To make the dress  I stamped stars onto plain white card, stamped the dress and coloured it green (see "Snow Bite" below).  Then I cut it out, attached it to the die cut and added a touch of glitter.  I found the Monster High logo on the Internet and printed off a tiny skull to decorate the dress - I coloured the bow to match the dress.  I finished off the card by stamping the sentiments directly onto the card base and adding the spider.

We've had a fun weekend celebrating with Kathryn.  We were out on Saturday getting her birthday present. Kathryn wanted to have a mobile, but in the end she got an I-Pod Touch and she's absolutely delighted with it!!  Kathryn's present from her Nanna was two Monster High Dolls and she spent yesterday afternoon playing with them.  The one on left is "Snow Bite - Draculara" and the one in red is "Little Dead Riding Wolf - Clawdeen Wolf".

Kathryn has a huge collection of Monster High dolls and I often pass her bedroom door and hear her playing with them.  She's still my little girl.  Here are a few photos of Kathryn from birth to present day.

This last one was taken in August while we were on holiday in California - so grown up!!  Happy Birthday Kathryn!

CR84FN63 & DT Call ....

... Hi - another week gone and we're half way through September!!  I've a super card to share with you today using our CR84FN63 colours of denim, tan and brown.  As soon as I saw these colours I knew I'd be making a card for my son Ben.  I decided to send Ben a "do your best" card - something to let him know that I'm thinking of him as he settles into his new college and starts working on his A levels.

Stamps: Papertrey Ink - Game On, Rock On, Simple Circles; Uniko Studios - Extra Time
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Early Espresso, Crumb Cake; Distress - Weathered Wood, Faded Jeans
Accessories:  Stampin' Up! card - Early Espresso, Crumb Cake; PTI - Guitar die; EK border punch; Jeans backing paper

When I saw that denim was one of the colours I knew I had to use this jeans backing paper.  It was a download, but I can't remember where I got.  If anyone recognises it, please let me know.  The page is actually A4 in size, but I printed it much smaller and made it fit a standard A2 card.  I distressed the edge - a bit like frayed denim and I used my scalpel to cut open the pocket.  The card base was made from some SU Early Espresso card folded to A2 size, with a simple mat of Crumb Cake withe the edges distressed.

I made the little notepaper by stamping the Uniko time card image, tearing it down, punched the border and stamped the various sentiments.  Then I screwed it up, opened it out and smoothed it and brushed over some crumb cake, giving the suggestion that it had been screwed up in the pocket.  I attached a guitar tag to the paper in the pocket.  To give it a really grungy feeling I attached the inspiration sentiment with a staple and paperclip.  This card is already on its way to Ben.

It was really sunny when I made this card and I ended up taking lots of photos to try and get a good representation of the card.  The main image is best view of the card, but I think in the small picture below - the paper really does look like denim!!

For more card using our fabulous CR84FN63 colours - click on the links below:

Mona Pendleton, Sue Lelli, Pauline Pollington, Andrea Matthews, Heather Jensen and Shannon White.

These fabulous photos are courtesy of Magnolia Rouge - I really like the dress on the body form!  Have fun!

Don't forget that we are having an open DT call - full details are on the CR84FN blog.  If you want to be considered keep our to our colours and enter at least TWO of the following challenges CR84FN63 and/or 64 - add "DT" after your name in Inlinkz.  Good luck!!

That's all for today - enjoy the rest of the weekend and I'll see you soon.

Lovely surprise ....

.... Hi - sorry, no card today!  I had planned to play in my craft room, but I've been out most of the day.  I do, however, have some news.  I was lucky enough to be selected by Mr Random as the winner of two sets of stamps from the {stamps}of life with my card for last week's DYSU88.  This card:

I am absolutely thrilled to bits and am looking forward to picking out my two sets of stamps!!!