Autumn glory ....

... Good morning!  It's a beautiful autumn morning here in Northville - the skies are brilliant blue, it's lovely and warm and the trees around here are turning all shades of red, orange, green and gold.  And I've been inspired to make a card for a few challenges:

• Freshly Made Sketches - FMS105 - sketch
• CAS-ual Friday - CFC115 - theme
• Waltzingmouse Fanatics Challenge - WMSFC#2 - colours

Stamps: WMS - Peace & Plenty, Blessed by You
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Cherry Cobbler, Coral Calypso, Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso
Accessories: Promarkers - Various; SU Card - Cherry Cobbler, Coral Calypso, Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso; White Lustre Card; Cuttlebug EF - Swiss Dots

 

I think our Waltzingmouse Fanatics colours are perfect for this autumn themed Thanksgiving card.  I really like the clean, graphic lines of the sketch.  I embossed the smaller squares with dots for some texture and attached them to the contrasting card and adhered the panels to the card base.  I inked up the solid leaves using the rock 'n' roll technique, stamped off onto some scrap and then stamped on the white panel with the second and third generation impression - which gives a nice subtle background.  I inked the sentiment in Early Espresso and stamped onto the card.  I stamped the cluster of oak leaves and acorns onto some scrap white card, coloured it with Promarkers and then cut it out.  I attached the leaves with some silicon gel to give a little dimension.  The inside is simply a mat of Cherry Cobbler and white card.

Calling all you Waltzingmouse fanatics out there - I know there a quite a lot of you!!  Our colour challenge features warm, rich shades perfect for autumnal themes, for masculine cards, for Thanksgiving cards and even for feminine cards.  Tara and I are really looking forward to seeing what you make - you have until Thursday 3rd October, 5pm (Noon EDT) to join in!

Now, I'm off out to enjoy some of this gorgeous autumnal sunshine!  See you all soon.

Waltzingmouse Fanatics Challenge #2 ....

.... Good morning!!  Waltzingmouse Fanatics Challenge is back today with our second challenge.  This time out we're giving you a colour scheme to follow.  We've gone for hot, autumnal colours - you don't have to use them all (although it would be great if you do), but you must use at least 3 colours.  Here's my card:

Stamps: WMS - Two Step Sprig, Country Labels 4
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Coral Calypso, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Wild Wasabi, Pear Pizzazz
Dies: Spellbinders - A2 Brackets Borders One (S5-181)
Accessories:  SU Card - Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler; White Lustre Card, Cuttlebug EF - Swiss Dots; Basic Grey - Candy Buttons

I use the layout from this week's Seize the Sketch challenge - STC#4.  I'm really pleased that I was able to include ALL the colours from our swatch!!  I made the card base from Crumb Cake card and cut the scalloped panel from Cherry Cobbler (love that colour).  I used the Two Step Sprig set to make the flowers and leaves.  I cut a strip of vellum, embossed it and then cut the Vs.  I finished off the card with some enamel dots.  I left the inside blank so that I can write a message.  I'm so pleased how this one turned out!

We had twenty fabulous entries to our first challenge - it was really tough picking a winner and top three - we'd love to see this number beaten!! 

You have until Thursday 3rd October 5pm GMT (Noon EDT) to submit your entries.  Don't forget to visit Tara and check out her card.  See you all soon.

Christmas Trees ....

.... that's the theme that Ruth has for us this week's at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  I just love Christmas trees and I've made a few cards this week:

Stamps: Impression Obsession - Zenspirations Christmas Trees; My Favourite Things - Christmas Sentiments
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Riding Hood Red, Crumb Cake; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Spellbinders - A2 Matting Basics A (S5-131) #5 & 6, A2 Matting Basics B (S5-132) #6 & 7
Accessories:  SU Card - Riding Hood Red, Marina Mist; SU DP - Crumb Cake; SU Markers - Riding Hood Red, Marina Mist, Crumb Cake; White Lustre Card; Glitter

I used the colours from this week's Addicted to Stamps & More! Challenge - ASM#63.  I kept the design really simple with the colours in the mat layers and in the words.  I stamped the Christmas tree in Versafine, heat embossed with clear powder and used my SU markers to colour the letters.  I added a touch of sparkle to the star and ornaments.  For the inside I made a mat in blue and stamped a bold sentiment in red, finishing off with some snowflakes.

I really like this set of Christmas tree stamps and decided to make a few more for my stash.  This one is CASEd from the card I made for our canvas challenge here.

Stamps: Impression Obsession - Zenspirations Christmas Trees; Waltzingmouse - Nordic Winter, Ornate Ornaments
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Pool Party, Old Olive; Archival - Jet Black

Accessories:  SU Card - Crumb Cake, Old Olive; Canvas Paper; SU Markers - Various; White Lustre Card

I kept the inside simple:

The card is the same size as my previous canvas embellished card - small and sweet!  I really like the texture on this one.  My last card using this set of stamps is ultra clean and simple.

 

Stamps: Impression Obsession - Zenspirations Christmas Trees
Inks: Kaleidoacolor - Fresh Greens
Dies: Spellbinders - Wonky Rectangles (S4-306) #6
Accessories:  White Lustre Card

Yesterday I counted up the number of Christmas cards I'd made so far.  I've got 66 (including the three on today's post).  That's a really good number, but I still need about 80 more!!  There's still plenty of time to join in and get a start on your Christmas cards.

Don't forget to visit our blog and check out the inspiration cards from the rest of the team - as always they are just fab!  That's all for now!

Happy Birthday wishes to ....

... our darling daughter Kathryn.  Twelve years ago today our gorgeous girl arrived; she has given us so much - love, laughter and fun.  This is Kathryn's birthday card:

Stamps: Sweet Stamp Shop - Zombies, Dia De Los Muertos; Cas-ual Friday Stamps - Countdown, Stop; My Favourite Things - Birthday Sentiments
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Daffodil Delight, Bermuda Bay, Primrose Petals, Rich Razzleberry; Versafine - Onyx Black; Versamark
Accessories: SU Card - Primrose Petals; SU DP - Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight; White Lustre Card; Scraps from bin - turquoise, white glitter paper; Promarkers - Yellow, Maroon, Antique Pink, Turquoise; Clear embossing powder

I know that Zombies are not the normal decoration for a birthday card, but when Kathryn saw this set she told me that she wanted her birthday card to use this set!!!  Did I mention that my daughter is very strange?  No!  Well, she is and we just love her.

I used the sketch from the current Clean & Simple Stamping - FTL258 challenge for the layout.  The colours are from last week's Colour Q - cQc206 challenge, the colours are so bright and vibrant - perfect for a bold, fun birthday card.

I stamped the Zombie girl's face onto vellum using Versafine, heat embossed with clear powder, cut it out and then coloured the reverse of the image using Promarkers (matched as closely as possible to the SU colours).  Once dry I ran the image through my Xyron to make it self-adhesive.  I stamped the large rose on to some SU design paper and a bit of turquoise scrap and the smaller solid rose on to SU card and heat embossed with clear powder, and then in Primrose Petals on white glitter paper.  I stamped the birthday sentiment on the card - first with a second generation impression and then again with fresh ink.  Then I stamped a couple of pretty borders above.  I attached the roses and then added the Zombie Girl.  For the inside I cut a mat in Primrose Petals and on the white panel I stamped another zombie as well as some roses.  I finished with a bold sentiment which I stamped first in yellow then in black - giving a drop shadow effect.

To complete the look - I also decorated the envelope with the left over bits - the zombie boy and some cute little feathers - all printed on vellum and coloured with Promarkers.

I have to admit that it took me ages to make this card.  I was determined to use the zombie girl image - as Kathryn has specifically asked for it, but my first couple of attempts ended up in the bin!  They were looking more like Halloween cards, but I think this one works.   Here are a couple of pictures of my gorgeous girl:

2003 - In the back garden

2005 - Christmas - Kathryn as Cinderella

 2009 - Kathryn in Benidorm

2011 - Our first visit to Michigan 

2013 - End of August - Kathryn with green hair!!!

If you made it this fair - thanks for reading.  I think you have realised that I'm a very proud Mum ;))  Have a great day - see you tomorrow.

Colourful Get Well ....

.... wishes!  This card is for three challenges:

• Colour Q - cQc206
• Less is More - LIM137 - to make a one layer get well card
• Addicted to CAS - ATCAS22 - Theme - get well

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Patterned Occasions
Inks: SU - Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry, Primrose Petals, Daffodil Delight
Dies: Spellbinders - Reverse Wonky Rectangles (S4-307) # 5
Accessories: White Lustre Card

It's amazing how often similar themes appear on different challenges, this week both Less is More and Addicted to CASE want a get well card - and I need one for my stash, so here it is.  I used the bold, bright colours from this week's Colour Q challenge - just the sort of thing to cheer you up when you're feeling low.  I embossed the wonky rectangle frame onto the card and then used my stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp the plasters - leaving the sentiment on the last one!  Easy.  Here's a close up of the embossed lines.

That's all for now - I'm off to get dinner ready for us all.  See you tomorrow - I've a fun card to share with you!

A bit of retail therapy ...

.... so Kathryn got some money for her birthday presents and she was very keen to spend it all - NOW!!  We went up to Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi - a really nice shopping centre - and she went into Hot Topic to buy some band T-shirts.  Kathryn was so pleased with her purchases.  And, of course, while we were out it was only natural for Jonathan and I to do a bit of shopping too!  I had a nice time looking around Jo-Ann's and Michael's and I was very good - I only got a few sheets of scrapbook paper and some texture plates for my Big Shot.

However, Kathryn also got a gift card for Barnes & Noble - so we went there too.  We went a bit mad!!!  We found a Dr Who 50th Anniversary Edition of Monopoly and I got a boxed set of the Harry Potter books.  When we moved to the US I gave the local  High School all the hardback editions we had (the whole set).  I saw a super new boxed paperback set and just had to have it!!

As soon as we got home we unpacked the game and played.  I thought I'd done a brilliant deal with Jonathan getting several complete sets and building houses, then Kathryn built hotels on the browns and blues - suddenly I found that I had a rather large cash flow problem.  Kathryn won!!!  She was delighted to beat us both - and there was no fudging either - she beat us fair and square!!!

Below is a picture of the box that the Harry Potter books come in - I think it's a lovely image.

Above is a picture of the book spines - making a fabulous image of Hogwarts.  I'll be starting them shortly.  I would like to think that Kathryn will read them too - at some point! 

It's been a really fun day.  And now I think I'm going to play in my craft room - see you soon.

Stampin' with Karin .....

....  a few other cards that I made at a recent Stampin' Up! meeting at Karin's.  All the cards we made are CASEd, but with a few adaptations from me.  My first card is a sympathy card for my stash - I've used far too many sympathy cards recently.

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Serene Silhouettes, Petite Pairs
Inks: SU - Soft Sky, Island Indigo, Smokey Slate
Accessories:  SU Card - Basic Grey, Soft Sky, Whisper White

The card is made from a base of Basic Grey with a panel of Soft Sky card on top.  On the white panel the strips were made by using masking tape.  I torn three bits of tape and gently touched each one to the ink pad and then applied the tape to the card - it gives a lovely distressed finish.  Next I stamped up the image in Island Indigo and stamped to the side of the card and added a sentiment.  The inside is another panel of Soft Sky with white card on top.  I stamped the flowers again and the sentiment that pairs with the one of the front.  To complete the card, I also stamped the image on the envelope.  The card is CASED from Karin's own design.

The next card I'm sharing is a complete contrast to the sympathy card.  It's bright, funky and fun.

 

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Tape It, Gorgeous Grunge, Label Love
Inks: SU -Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay; Versamark
Accessories:  SU Card - Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White; SU Punch Artisan Label; SU EF - Stylish Stripes; White embossing powder; SU Buttons; Twine

I love, love the grunge and tape stamps.  I can see these sets being really useful for me as I love to make cards for my son Ben - can you image this card in slightly more masculine shades!  There is no sentiment on the inside, just a few grungy images and space for a message - I did the envelope too.  The card is CASEd from Beth's card here - I changed up the colours and sentiment.  But I love layout (Freshly Made Sketch - FMS97) which I didn't manage to play along with!

The next cards uses a technique that's completely new to me - faux herringbone.  Karin demonstrated the technique - it's lots of fun.  This is my take on the card:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Lots of Thanks
Inks: SU - Crushed Curry, Costal Cabana
Accessories:  SU Card - Costal Cabana, Smokey Slate, Crushed Curry, Whisper White; SU Punches - 1¾" Circle, 13/8" Circle, 1¾" Scalloped Circle; SU DP - Eastern Elegance; Gems; SU Multipurpose Adhesive Sheet

You start with three coordinating papers cut into ½" wide strips and a panel of card covered with adhesive sheet.  This card is based on Julie's card here - and Julie also has a video showing the method on U-tube - the link is here.  I like this technique - all the cards we made in class looked so different.  Julie has made lots of cards using this technique click here to see more of her cards.  The inside of the card is really simple with a mat panel in Smokey Slate and white card on which to write the greeting.

The last card that we made is a sweet card that I've made to send to a friend.

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Six Sided Sampler
Inks: SU - Strawberry Slush, Basic Grey
Accessories:  SU Card - Soft Sky, Basic Grey, Strawberry Slush; SUDP - In Colours 2013-15, Subtles Stack; SUEF - Honeycomb; SU Punch - Hexagon; SU Punch - Bitty Butterfly; Pearls

The card is CASEd from Debbie's card here.  It is pretty much the same, but I changed up the colour of the sentiment and one of the butterflies. The card base is made from Soft Sky with a panel of Basic Grey on top which has been embossed.  I stamped some images onto white card and cut them out with the hexagon punch as well as a few from SU design paper.  I stamped the sentiment to match the pink butterfly.  On the inside I used a few of the left over hexagons and another butterfly.

I was planning to spend yesterday afternoon in my craft room while Kathryn had her party - but I ended up creating a font list on my PC - very useful it is too.  Here are some photos from Kathryn's party; they're a joint effort - Jonathan took them and I edited:

It was a small, select group - the girls had lots of fun.  Kathryn picked an Oreo cake and we found some candles that burned with different coloured flames, which Jonathan captured perfectly in the photo above.  It was a fun day.  And the party continues - we're going shopping so that Kathryn can spend her birthday money!!!  See you soon.