SNG - Mon Amie .....

.... Good afternoon.  It's Mother's Day here in the States and that's why this post is rather late!  I should have had it up first thing this morning, but instead I spent some time with my family.  Full story below!!  I've had a super time today and managed to get into my craft room earlier this afternoon to finish this card.  I've used one of Rick's wonderful Randi Dandi images for a card with a tropical feel:

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digi - Mardi Gras Beads; CAS-ual Friday Stamps - Mon Ami
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Lil Inkers - Dual Stitched Rectangles #3
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Say Aloha; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear

Our weather over the last few days has been distinctly tropical with high temperatures around 30°C, lots of humidity and thunderstorms.  So I had to play with the Mardi Gras Beads image, available exclusively at I Brake for Stamps.  I used the colours in the design paper to colour the image.  I coloured the image with Copic markers, cut it out with a stitched die and then added sparkle with my Wink of Stella brush.  I coloured her mask and the jewellery.  I also added lots of little gems to the necklace and earrings.  Accordingly, I'm submitting this card to this week's Left of Centre Challenge - LOC#77 where the DT would like us to use bling!  On the inside I used another piece of the tropical design paper for a mat layer and on the white panel stamped a fabulous lotus like flower and a sentiment.

I've got a bit of a confession.  This card would have been up first thing this morning, if I hadn't made a really silly mistake.  I have lots of Wink of Stella brushes including the colours.  If you look a the photo below I think you'll see my mistake:

It was really hot this morning and I woke quite early, so I went to my craft room and coloured this image.  I was so pleased how it turned out.  I reached for my clear Wink of Stella and started to add sparkle to the mask and jewellery.  I couldn't work out why the mask suddenly looked really dull - until I realised that I'd picked up the WHITE WOS brush!!!  I couldn't remove the colour and didn't have time to do another image before going out with Kathryn!

That's all for now - Kathryn is cooking dinner for us this evening - so I'm going back into my craft room to play some more!  I hope all my US friends have had a wonderful Mother's Day.

Uniko Studio - Nautical Treasure ...

...  Hello.  It's Day 2 of the Uniko Studio introduction posts and I'm here to share with you a card made using Nautical Treasure.  I think you all know that I really enjoy making masculine style cards and this mini-set is absolutely perfect for guy cards.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Uniko Studio - Nautical Treasure
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Sahara Sand, Tangerine Tango, Soft Suede
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Rectangles #4, Dual Stitched Rectangles #2
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Soft Suede; SU DP - Tangerine Tango, Sahara Sand

I used the colours from this week's CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#123 and I'm also submitting to Happy Little Stampers May CAS challenge - HLSMayCAS to use die cuts or punches.  I created my background by stamping a grid of the large compass with the smaller compass inside.  I stamped the boat onto white card and again on some scrap design paper.  I really like paper piecing and the sails were so easy to do.  I added the Fleur De Lys emblem to the large sail.  I layered the white die cut panel on some brown card and then adhered the whole image to the card with dimensional tape.  I finished the front with a simple message.  On the inside I cut mat layer of brown card and on the white panel added another boat and compass.

Don't forget to visit the rest of the team's blogs - they have all made something special to share with you.

Tomorrow, Monday 11th is Release Day - You'll get to see both sets in their entirety with more projects from the team.  And we'll also be having a Design Team Blog Hop where there's the chance for one lucky person to win the entire release!

Don't miss out on the fun - from today until 10th May, there will be random winners for mystery prizes - no hints as to the prize or the value, you just have to join the fun!!

Places to join in and possibly win a prize are by commenting along the way on the Uniko Studio Blog, on the DT and Guest Design Team blogs, liking the Uniko Studio Facebook page and by following on Twitter and Pinterest. 

Uniko Studio - Flower Power #7 ....

.... Good morning!  You've seen the sneak peaks and now it's time to introduce the first of the new mini-sets from Uniko Studio.  Do you like the Flower Power series, great then you'll love Flower Power #7 - with lots of sentiments that will be very useful.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Uniko Studio - Simply Said Birthday, Flower Power #7
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise; Versamark; Memento - Grey Flannel
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Basic Black; Wink of Stella - Clear, Orange, Blue; White Embossing Powder

I've used the colours from the current CAS-ual Fridays Challenge - CFC#139 to make this clean, simple card.  I stamped the outline flower several times in black and then inked up the solid in orange and blue and overstamped - they are really easy to line up.  Then I cut them all out.  I covered the bottom third of the card with a black panel on which I stamped the greeting in Versamark and heat embossed with white powder.  I added some more flowers, this time just the outline image, in both orange and turquoise along with some little dots.  I finished the front by adhering the coloured flowers along the top of the black panel.  Oh yes, I also added some clear Wink of Stella to the petals of the plain flowers.  On the inside I cut a mat layer in black and added some more flowers on the white panel.

Do visit the Uniko Studio blog to see what the rest of the team have made with this lovely set.  Here are the details for the rest of the release.

Today and Sunday 10th - The Design Team will be introducing the new sets with some fabulous inspiration projects
Monday 11th - Release Day - You'll get to see both sets in their entirety with more projects from the team.  And we'll also be having a Design Team Blog Hop where there's the chance for one lucky person to win the entire release!

Don't miss out on the fun - from today until 10th May, there will be random winners for mystery prizes - no hints as to the prize or the value, you just have to join the fun!!

Places to join in and possibly win a prize are by commenting along the way on the Uniko Studio Blog, on the DT and Guest Design Team blogs, liking the Uniko Studio Facebook page and by following on Twitter and Pinterest. 

I was so pleased that my stamps finally got to me and that I could make something for the introduction of the set.  But I'm running a bit late with the card as I was out yesterday at the Great Lake Mega Meet - second visit, but this time no shopping just playing and watching demos.  It was such fun.  That's all for now.

52CCT - Colours .....

...  Hello, good morning!  It's time for our colour challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  Patricia has picked some wonderful colours - soft pink, soft yellow and soft green - just gorgeous.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Big Bloom Poinsettia; PTI - Wet Paint Holiday
Inks: Stampin' Up! - So Saffron, Pistachio Pudding, Pink Pirouette; Memento - Grey Flannel; Versamark
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Rectangles #5; PTI - Wet Paint Holidays
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Pistachio Pudding; Ranger Watercolour Paper; Gold Embossing Powder; Gold Mirri Card; Spray 'n' Sparkle - Gold; SU DP - Pink Pirouette

I took inspiration for my card from the new Muse: Christmas Visions Challenge - MCV#1 - Kimberley's card is just stunning.  I'm also submitting to Merry Monday - MM#157 where the team would like us to use dry or wet embossing on our card.  I pretty much kept to Kimberley's layout and I also used poinsettia.  I created a watercolour background using SU inks and then stamped the poinsettia in Versamark, heat embossed with gold powder and cut both flowers out.  I made the base from pale green card and die cut two panel to go on top.  I die cut the greeting from gold mirri card, stamped the ampersand and then adhered the words.  Before attaching the flowers I sprayed some gold sparkle over them both.  On the inside I cut a panel of white card, added a couple of small poinsettia and finished with a bold Christmas greeting.

I made this card yesterday afternoon just as we hit a record high temperature for the day - 30°C (86°F) - sunny and humid - not the kind of weather that makes me think of Christmas :)  Do visit the blog and check out the cards from the rest of the team.  Have fun!

Uniko Studio - May Sneak Peek 2 ...

... Hello, good morning!  I got this post done in time - yea me.  Here's our second peak at the new release from Uniko Studio.  I think this set is going to be so useful and I just love it:

Here are the plans for the release of these two new sets.

Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th - The Design Team will be introducing the new sets with some fabulous inspiration projects
Monday 11th - Release Day - You'll get to see both sets in their entirety with more projects from the team.  And we'll also be having a Design Team Blog Hop where there's the chance for one lucky person to win the entire release!

Don't miss out on the fun - from today until 10th May, there will be random winners for mystery prizes - no hints as to the prize or the value, you just have to join the fun!!

Places to join in and possibly win a prize are by commenting along the way on the Uniko Studio Blog, on the DT and Guest Design Team blogs, liking the Uniko Studio Facebook page and by following on Twitter and Pinterest.  Go have fun!!!

Edited:  My stamps arrived yesterday - so I will be able to make some cards to introduce the new sets :)

Great Lakes Mega Meet ....

...  It's been a really fun day here in Northville.  Today is the first day of the Great Lake Mega Meet in Novi and I was out early as those of us who pre-register can get in at 9.00am.  I think that a lot more people registered early this year as there was quite a crowd waiting for the gates to open!!

I had several things that I wanted to get today - the new Distress pads in both colours, some more Copic markers and the new Hero Arts ombre pads.  I was really pleased as I manged most of that - sadly only managed to get the Fossilised Amber though.  Here's a photo of my haul:

I'm delighted with my new goodies.  Here are close ups of the various items:

Love these crazy bird stamps.  A few Christmas stamps from Dylusions and then these wonderful sets by Brett Weldele - love the zombie!!

There was a special on this stand - buy three Lawn Fawn items and get the fourth free - well, it was a bargain!!

I found the Hero Art ombre inks - I think they're fab.  The bottles are Color Burst from Ken Oliver Crafts.  They contain mircofine highly pigmented water colour pigments for watercolour backgrounds.  They are bright and easy to use.  Check out this video here.

I got some super new Spellbinder dies - basic shapes and some really fun geometric designs.

And finally - the lovely Fosillised Amber and the Grey Slate Dylusions spray. 

I didn't both to take a photo of the Copic markers - they are already in use!!  I bought a copy of Sandy Allnock's wonderful Hex Chart at the weekend and I spent yesterday morning colouring in the hexagons that I have.  I added the ones I bought today and you can see that I've still got quite a few to get!! 

If you haven't got this chart yet, it is well worth getting.  You really can see the way the colours relate to each, and you can also see the ones that are very similar!  Anyway, that's all for now.  It's time for me to get dinner sorted out.  See you tomorrow!

Uniko Studio - May Sneak Peek 1 ....

....  Oops, good afternoon, I'm a bit late with this post.  But it's worth the wait, as it's time to share with you a peek at the new release from Uniko Studio.  Here's a glimpse of the first set:

Pretty flowers - another in the series!!  I think they look fab.  I'll have another peak to share with you tomorrow.  Here are the details for the release:

Tomorrow - Sneak Peak 2
Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th - The Design Team will be introducing the new sets with some fabulous inspiration projects
Monday 11th - Release Day - You'll get to see both sets in their entirety with more projects from the team.  And we'll also be having a Design Team Blog Hop where there's the chance for one lucky person to win the entire release!

Don't miss out on the fun - from today until 10th May, there will be random winners for mystery prizes - no hints as to the prize or the value, you just have to join the fun!!

Places to join in and possibly win a prize are by commenting along the way on the Uniko Studio Blog, on the DT and Guest Design Team blogs, liking the Uniko Studio Facebook page and by following on Twitter and Pinterest.  Go have fun!!!

At the moment this is the closest I've come to the new release stamps too!  Beverley has posted the parcel to me, but as of now - the parcel still hasn't arrived.  I'm really hoping that the parcel will get here in tomorrow's post as I really want to make some projects with the new sets - they're fab!!!  Bye for now.

SNG - Ooh La La ....

....  Good morning from a rather damp Northville!  I'm running a bit late with today's card - should have been up first thing this morning, but I rather lost track of time :)  Anyway, my card is light, bright and rather pretty - a total contrast to the grey, wet view from my window.

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digi - Rare Turtle; Avery Elle - Bonjour
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Coastal Cabana, Poppy Parade, Blushing Bride
Dies: Spellbinders - Mega Rectangles Lg (S4-142) #3, Deckled Mega Rectangles Lg (S5-015) #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Coastal Cabana, Poppy Parade; SU DP - Calypso Coral; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear

You know I have a fondness for Rick's turtle images and this one is just gorgeous.  She's called Rare Turtle - and as she's standing up with a sweet parasol, I guess she is kind of rare.  I used the colours from this week's Colour Q - cQc#290 and the layout is based on a recent Freshly Made Sketches Challenge - FMS#183 (which I didn't get chance to play along with).  I coloured her with Copic markers and added some sparkle to her hat, nails, necklace and the butterfly with my clear Wink of Stella brush.  I layered the finished image on some pale aqua card.  I cut a panel of coral design paper for the bottom of the card, added a thin strip of red card and then stamped the sentiment in aqua.  I adhered the completed image with dimensional tape.  On the inside I cut another layer of design paper and on the white panel added some decoration and a birthday greeting.

If you like this elegant Rare Turtle you can find her at Rick's Zibbet shop along with lots more turtle images.  You can also find some of Rick's turtles at his Esty shop.  Here's a close up of the sparkle on her hat:

That's all for today - I've got a pile of ironing upstairs that needs to be done - my least favourite job!  However, it needs to be done and I suppose I can catch up with some TV while I do it!  See you soon.

52CCT - Sketch ....

....  Good morning!  Welcome to the first challenge of the month at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown and our hostess is Patricia.  As normal, we have a sketch for you and Patricia is happy for you to flip it, change it to a square or make it a mirror image, but we must be able to see the basic sketch in your finished card.  Here's my take:

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Festive Foliage, Frame-It
Inks: Versamark; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Provo Craft - Hippie Chick
Accessories: Cream Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Holly Bright; Stampendous - Frantage Aged Gold Embossing Enamel; SU Markers - Mossy Meadow, Garden Green, Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede

The challenge over at Merry Monday - MM#156 this week is to use green, pine cones and the word Believe - check!  I flipped our sketch through 180° as it worked better for my design.  I covered the card with some lovely pine cone design paper in green. On the central panel I stamped some pine cones and branches in Versamark and embossed with Frantage embossing enamel.  I love the effect this embossing powder gives, but it does have a tendency to fly off the card!  I die cut some letters from the design paper to make the word and adhered them direct to the card.  I finished the front with a couple of extra pine cones that I attached with dimensional gel (but you can't really see that in this photo!!  On the inside I cut another sheet of the design paper and stamped a simple greeting and a few more pine cones too.

Do check out our blog to see what the rest of the team have made for you.  You've until Friday 8th May midnight BST (7.00pm EDT) to submit your card.  Have fun!!