Monday 31 August 2009

365 Cards Movie Monday Pretty in Pink


I haven't actually heard of this movie and so I just went with the colour and the type of dress that came to mind when I looked at the DVD cover illustrations.
I had a slight accident with the card as it fell into my wastebin unnoticed where it came into contact with a dirty babywipe which also had a lot of Stazon Stamp Cleaner and black ink on it, resulting in a dirty great blotch on the fold of the card. So I cut off the front and remounted it, I think it's OK now.
I handstamped the background paper with gold paisley and black random dots and overstamped the image with the dots too. I hand tore the edges and inked them with gold.
I love this dress stamp which I believe is Inkadinkado. I have two of them, a large wood mounted one and this smaller clear one which is part of a set which the sentiment also comes from.
Apologies for the dreadful photo, it has drained most of the vibrant pink out of the picture, but it's that time of day when I have to go out with my little easel and take a picture in the front garden to get any light at all!

I found another challenge blog


This is the first time that I have come across My Time to Craft Challenge Blog, so I thought that I would have a go. The theme is to depict some kind of beverage, I'm not sure just what is in this lady's glass, but I wouldn't mind a taster right now as the weather has warmed up a little this afternoon.
The sketch is from Papertake Weekly Challenge and the recipe of 1 ribbon, 2 squares and something that sparkles comes from The Pink Elephant. There is a tiny gem on the tag and the young lady has been coloured with Pearly Paints, so those are my sparkly bits. The papers are Wild Asparagus from My Mind's Eye and the image is Penny Black.
This is another birthday card for one of my daughter's friends but from us this time.

Sunday 30 August 2009

Stampin' for the Weekend


My daughter asked me to make a card for an ex-colleague who has just given birth to a second daughter. When I came across the Stampin' for the Weekend blog today I thought that I would enter this card for their 'Anything Baby Goes' challenge.
The stamp is entitled Special Delivery from Hero Arts, and I'm really fond of using it. The border punch is from Martha Stewart and the lettering is Cuttlebug Babyface alphabet dies.
After sitting for most of the day in the not too warm Hampshire weather, the result of the 4 day cricket match is probably going to be a draw as we came home when bad light stopped play, with Hampshire needing 140 runs with only 17 overs in which to do it!
Don't ask me to explain the rules... it's all just too complicated and I don't understand a lot of them myself!
My husband has just looked on the internet and the result of the match was as we expected, a draw, as no further play could take place because of the bad light.
Still, we had a great lunch from the Members' Carvery! Can't all be bad!

Another Multiple Challenge!!


I seem to be on a roll with combining challenges today, here's my second card this morning which incorporates several challenges. I began with the sketch from 365 Cards, with which I took a slight liberty, changing the shape of the central element, the theme of Christmas is from Penny Black, whose gorgeous image this is. The colours (ruby, cream and gold) are the choice of Colour Create Challenge and the Secret Crafter has a subject entitled Flights of Fancy where there must be wings on the card. It certainly would be a flight of fancy for a chicken wouldn't it!
I enjoyed doing this one, but my husband is shouting to remind me that we're off to watch cricket in 30 minutes and I'm not dressed yet! Ooops!

Multiple Challenge


A card for several challenges!
I just discovered Sunflowers and Dragonflies Challenge blog whilst hopping around a few blogs and thought I'd give the challenge a go. The theme for this challenge is monochromatic. Creative Inspirations is requesting a friendship card, One Stop Crafts is Cute and Cuddly, Stamp Something's theme this week is Animal somethings and for the C.R.A.F.T. Challenge the core'dinations card is embossed with one of my new Cuttlebug folders and lightly sanded. The sketch I used for all these is from Mojo Monday week 101.
I haven't had 6 in one go for a long time!
I think the little bunny is a Sugar Nellie stamp, I wish I could remember these things better, but he is a real cutie isn't he!

Saturday 29 August 2009

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp Recipe


The recipe from Dare U 2 Digi stamp today is 1 ribbon, 2 patterned papers and 3 flowers.
This is card for my daughter's friend, whom we've known since she was a baby.
The image is Chris Dark's and the papers are Anita's. The design is mine!
There are in fact 3 flowers but I've put one over the other as the card was too small. They started life as white, but I coloured them with distress ink and a spritz of glimmer mist.
It looks to me as though one sprig of leaves is pointing to the name and the other to the number!
She likes green, I hope she likes it!

365 Cards Day 182 Sporty Saturday


Just a quick one as I'm going to join my husband watching cricket at the Rose Bowl this afternoon. It's Hampshire v. Somerset in a 4 day game. This is day 3 and we're doing well... Hampshire that is!
I noticed that cricket wasn't one of the options from 365 Cards today, just baseball, soccer, basketball, tennis, golf, or volleyball... despite us winning the Ashes! Come on you American gals, how about cricket and rugby, they are ball games too!
I played safe and did a card depicting soccer!
I've just had a call from my husband wondering where I am, I'd better go!

Daring Cardmakers - Give them an Inchie!


I have never attempted making any 'Inchies' before and as with the first time I tried making an ATC, I was surprised at how small the actual thing really is.
It was quite difficult to decide what I would have on my little squares and in the end had to mask a stamp in order to get small enough images. The stamp I used from Stampin Up is of the three composers plus the treble clef, so in order to make 5 Inchies which was the requirement from Daring Cardmakers, I masked the stamp each time before inking and used the treble clef part of the stamp twice.
I overstamped the background with a variety of stamps in Weathered Wood distress ink and gold pigment ink. The sentiment is from Serendipity Stamps.
I've toyed with a number of ideas to add something to the top left of the card, but discarded everything I tried, if anyone has any ideas I'd love to hear them.

Friday 28 August 2009

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #23 - 3D


I bought this stamp at the weekend after the shop I had just discovered had actually just closed. The lady in the shop must have thought that I was a desperate crafter and took pity on me and opened up the shop for me to have look around. As she had already 'cashed up' I couldn't use a card and so had to see what cash I had in my purse. This Magenta stamp just about cleaned it out until I could get to a cash point!
I stamped the image with Versamark and embossed it with clear embossing powder, before painting the image with pearly paints. I stamped a second image to do a little decoupage to make the 3D effect for the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge.
The sentiment is from Hero Arts.
I'm a sucker for anything with daisies on as it's my granddaughter's name!

365 Cards Day 181 White Space



The challenge today is to use the sketch and add to the card only in the area of the black lines.
I'm quite happy leaving large expanses of white card showing and in truth prefer very simplistic designs to overcluttered and fussy cards, so this one was great for me. I did fancy using one of my new Unity Stamps KOM for August, but the idea just didn't quite materialise.
The trellis is from a Cuttlebug die. The leaves are from Leonie Em punch and the flower is another from a spray from Poundland. I'm afraid I don't know the make of the sentiment as it is unmounted and therefore has no markings.
Hav a good day everyone!

SPCC #12



Sadly this is not my finest hour for SPCC, but somehow when I start on a challenge I seem to get an idea of how I'm going to approach it into my head and even when things are not working out as successfully as I'd wish, I don't seem to be able to get away from my that original thought. This happened here. It seemed like a good idea at the outset... using the pink and the orange on the gerbera, but it went all downhill from there.
I don't have the original colours required, but these are as close as I could match from my stock.
Maybe I'll do better next week!

Thursday 27 August 2009

365 Cards Day 180 Going Vintage



Today we need to use a 'vintage' image for the challenge from 365 Cards. It's odd that I just happen to have bought this stamp this last weekend.
When visiting my son in Bury St Edmunds, I discovered a craft shop which had fabulous things in it and I just had to purchase a thing or two. This Crafty Individuals stamp was part of my booty.
The Tim Holtz background paisley stamp arrived yesterday from Artymiss. The manuscript is from Stampabilities, the sentiment from MSE and the corner flourish (which I love) is from My Mind's Eye. What fun I had stamping this one!
I used Stazon timber brown, with Ranger Antique Linen for the distressing.

ABC Challenge C - Circles Cute Card Thursday - New Beginnings



Another requested card for the forthcoming birth of a third daughter.
It seems odd to me that parents know so much about their unborn children. I didn't even have any kind of scan with either of my kids, and so the gender was a total surprise at birth... but then I'm old and medical science has moved on apace! Anyway, it's known that this baby is a girl and the parents have already chosen the name Bertie. Unusual, I hear you say! I haven't heard of a female called Bertie, but it is kinda cute.
This card is for the ABC Challenge this week where circles are required and also for Cute Card Thursday, New Beginnings. I think that a new baby is about the best new beginning there is! The stamp is Forever Friends and the embossing is Cuttlebug.
Have a great day!

Wednesday 26 August 2009

365 Cards Catch Up Days 176, 178 & 179

We have had a lovely few days away in Suffolk with our son and daughter-in-law over the weekend. As their house is still being renovated, we decided to stay in a nearby hotel. The walls were being plastered, but things are nearly finished and once decorated I think that the house should look lovely.
Back home again and I'm trying to catch up on some challenges.
For today's challenge on 365 Cards a checkerboard background is required. This card is a thank you from my son and daughter-in-law for one of their very kind neighbours, who has been really generous since they have moved into their house, giving them plants and watering them when they were away on holiday.The challenge for Day 178 of 365 Cards - Back to School - came just at the right moment as a friend at the gym asked me to make a Good Luck card for a little one who is about to start school for the first time! He doesn't know whether to be excited or scared!
This is for the 365 Cards Day 176 Super Sketchy Sunday. I decided to use this sketch for a requested engagement congratulations card for a friend. She is wondering whether I might get a commision for the wedding stationery... we'll see!




I think I've caught up!
If anyone needs to know what things I've used for these cards, just ask, I think the post is long enough already! I don't want to bore you!

Monday 24 August 2009

365 Cards Day 177 Monogram Monday


Whenever I make cards for weddings, engagements or anniversaries I often like to add the initials of the couple as a way of making the greeting more personal.
This card is an anniversary greeting for my niece and her husband.
I didn't actually make Gilly's wedding stationery as she was married a couple of years before I began cardmaking, but I have done the Christening invitations for her son. (In fact those cards also contained a monogram. )
White on white with dry embossed pearly card and a heat embossed silver heart, mounted on Nesties. The initials are from the Cuttlebug Olivia alphabet.
We had a visit to Woodbridge in Suffolk yesterday with our son and daughter-in-law. What a stunning location, especially in the glorious sunshine. Wonderful!

Saturday 22 August 2009

Idyll Hours Award


I must say was delighted to have received this award from June today. She has such a wonderful blog and her work is simply fab. Do take a look.
I have to admit to misreading the title as at first I thought it said idyl hours, meaning not doing much (with a slightly strange spelling), but then realised that there was a double letter which changed the whole meaing of the phrase altogether. I do spend many idyll hours at my craft desk I must say.
Now I need to list 5 things I like and pass the award on to 5 more bloggers.
1. Sunny days.
2. The company of family and friends.
3. New shoes.
4. My first cup of fresh black coffee each morning.
5. Listening to Morten Lauridsen's Magnum Mysterium, it sends shivers down my back it's so beautiful.
My list of five bloggers to whom I would like to pass this award is
Victoria, Eileen, Jackie, Jenny and Glenna
Great bloggers every one!

365 Cards Day 175 Stampin' Saturday


Oh my word! I enjoyed this one, there's something most theraputic about stamping, and I certainly stamped a lot on this. For 365 Cards, the requirement was that we layer the stamping, not masking, but overstamping!
I began with the background and stamped all over with the random dotty stamp in gold. Then I overstamped with the Hero Arts French Script in black and then added the My Mind's Eye clear border stamp, overlapping that a little to make it fit the dimensions of the paper.
The image is a silhouette or watercolour Hero Arts set stamped with black Stazon. This has also been over stamped with the dots and a tiny script clear stamp again from My Mind's Eye.
The sentiment was also fun to do, and I didn't over stamp as much as overink. I wanted to use three colours on the stamp as I fancied a pop of red on the card. So I inked the red line first, then the gold, which went over the bottom line too, so I wiped a little of that off before overinking with the black!
Done in one take!
I quite like this one, it's different! I hope you do too!

Friday 21 August 2009

365 Cards Day 174 Just Peachy & Cute Card Thursday #74 Lazy Dayz


We've been to visit some friends today, whom we haven't seen for over 20 years. It was one my husband's childhood friends and his wife. Sadly she has not enjoyed good health for quite some time and is now confined to a wheelchair. However, we had a wonderful day of reminiscences, a very good lunch in a pub and have returned home determined not to leave it another 20 years before we meet up again.
This card has been made on my return home and as it's getting dark now the picture is not the best.
For 365 Cards the theme was to use peach as a predominant colour. Actually this paper from Pink Petticoat is called papaya I think, but it looks kinda peachy so I hope that's OK.
Cute Card Thursday requested that the cards be summery in subject or colour, so I think that this works on both those counts.
The image is Penny Black, the sentiment is Unity Stamps and the swirl is My Mind's Eye. I love that set of clear stamps.
Tomorrow, we'll be off to see my son's house which they have not long moved into and which is still in the throes of renovation... I'll try to stear clear of any paintbrushes!

Thursday 20 August 2009

One Stop Crafts Challenge Black & Pink



This will have to be a quick post as I can't really concentrate at the moment. My daughter just rang to say the she has had her purse stolen whilst out shopping with the baby. She needed some telephone numbers to be able to ring and stop her cards. What a worry. Her driving licence was also in the wallet which naturally has her address on so she will want to get home really quickly.
I'll come back and finish this later as I'm a bit upset!
Later...
Well my daughter has reported the loss to the police and dealt with all the necessary banks etc and as far as she knows no attempt to obtain money from her cards has taken place as yet. The problem now is that she will have to wait for replacement cards to be sent. She feels wretched.
Since learning of her problems, for some reason I looked for my driving licence, I can't think why now, but it wasn't where it should have been and so I have spent the best part of a couple of hours searching for it. My daughter rang again and during the conversation I was trying to recall the last time I might have used it and I remembered using it as ID when buying groceries in Spain in June. Sure enough the driving licence was in the purse we keep the Euros in. If only Libby's problems could have been so easily remedied.
Anyway this card is for One Stop Crafts Challenge of Pink and Black!
It's mainly diecutting and embossing with a few punchies thrown in.

The Cuttlebug Spot - Invitation


I love making wedding stationery and when I saw the the challenge this week from The Cuttlebug Spot was for an invitation, I thought that I'd like to share my latest wedding stationery with you. It's for the chap who was my son's Best Man last year. He is to be married in the Spring and all the wedding stationery is my gift to the bride and groom.
I prefer to use a technique which eliminates the chance of things going awry when there are large numbers of cards to be made, so I don't quite know where I'd be without my Cuttlebug, which lives on my workdesk and is always within arm's reach!
This invitation is an illustration of how much I rely on my trusty 'BUG!
The centrepiece is comprised of Nesties Labels dies, 2 used together using a magnetic mat a) to aid positioning and b) to aid embossing. I then embossed the middle diecut, in the Swirl embossing folder. The heart and initials were also cut from Cuttlebug dies.
I always add double-sided tape to the back of the card before I cut with the dies so that in effect they form stickers, which means I just have to peel off the backing before applying to my projects.
The small pearl was added as the bride will be wearing some family pearls for her special day and I wanted to make reference to this in the stationery.
I hope you like it!

2 Sketches 4 You 33



I like the fact that the sketches from 2 Sketches 4 You are classic. There's never too much clutter and yet there's always plenty of opportunity for personal interpretation.
This sketch is a case in point.
My interpretation reflects how I was feeling at the time... somewhat baroque!
It's fairly simple, with a little recycled manuscript and some Papermania paper, all lightly distressed with Ranger inks.
I shall now have to work out how the make an envelope for this slightly differently proportioned card to my usual ones.

365 Cards Day 173 Mixed Message


This is the first time for about 6 weeks that I have actually been able to do Thursday's Challenge from 365 Cards on a Thursday. However, today my daughter has the day off and so I don't have to go the 75 odd miles to Bath to look after Daisy! I'm missing her already!
We have been challenged to use three different methods of creating a sentiment within one card. I have used an part of an embossing folder from Quickutz for the THANK, a Cuttlebug Kids die for the 'ewe' and a rubber stamp from MSE for the ...for everything!
The flowers are from a Woodware punch, the leaves are from a Leonie EM punch and the border has been stamped with a clear stamp from My Mind's Eye.
Short and sweet!

Wednesday 19 August 2009

365 Cards Day 172 ABC's and 123's



This is a simple card for my granddaughter's little friend, who is approaching her first birthday.
The teddies are Penny Black and I have made my own alpha stickers for 365 Cards challenge today, by putting double sided tape on the back of my card before I zapped it through my Cuttlebug, using the Babyface Alphabet. Once cut, I just had to peel off the backing and adhere the letters in position.
I have been playing around with punches too. The flower was a plain one also from a Cuttlebug die, but I gussied up the tips of the petals by popping them into a scalloped corner punch. I removed the corner guides from my punch and used it upside down so that I could see what I was punching. The punchies in this picture show the before and after flowers. I think it adds a little variety.
I have been out in the garden today, poor thing had been sadly neglected of late, I think I'm going to have to get a man to come and do a bit of maintenance, it's all got rather overgrown! It's surprising what a drop of sunshine inspires one to do!

Tuesday 18 August 2009

365 Cards Day 171 Trio Challenge


For 365 Cards today the stipulation is to include this trio of elements; triangle, button and sticker. Not only have I included these things, but there is trio of each one. (Actually there are only two triangles I've just realised)
I don't use stickers often, so a considerable hunt through my bits and bobs took place. Finally I came across these heart stickers, which I bought long ago when I first walked into a craft shop and hadn't a clue what to buy or where to start! In fact my cardmaking began when my daughter requested hand-made wedding stationery in 2007. What a world she opened to me, and I've been grateful to her ever since.
The papers are Clare Curd's Signature Range (the polka dots) and Canon downloads.
The flowers once more from my Poundland spray. Those flowers seem to be going on and on!

SPCC Challenge #11







A gentle looking card for SPCC this week with this interesting colour combo.
The image is from Penny Black and the sentiment which reads 'Thinking of you', is from Hero Arts. The backing paper was free inside Creative Cardmaking magazine, Issue 5.
The tag is made from a Cuttlebug die and the ribbon which is by American Crafts Elements, I have used on the wrong side. Used on this side, the colour matches perfectly, whereas the right side has pink dots on it! A little careful tying was required!
I think it looks really calm!

Monday 17 August 2009

365 Cards Day 170 Double Duty


For today's card our creations had to have a dual purpose, not however a money holder or gift card holder. I chose to make a bookmark. Knowing what I'm like when I try to read in bed, I thought that this sentiment was apt.
No fancy matting or layering, just an image (coloured with Derwent Inktense Pencils and a water brush) and a sentiment... plus the ribbon to stop it from sliding out of the book!
DO please take a look at my yesterday's 365 Cards contribution, I've only just managed to post it!

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - You're Beary Special


A very simple card, for the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge, with just the right sentiment!
The image stamp is PSX and the sentiment is Anita's. Gentle colouring with Whispers Pens and a water brush.
That's it!

365 Cards Super Sketchy Sunday!


This is the final result of all my struggles yesterday. I think the problem was that I was trying to be clever and combine challenges. I couldn't find the colours and papers I fancied with the sketch. So... I gave up and just did this! In the end I'm quite pleased with it. Thanks Sherry for the encouragement!
This is a tri-fold card. I made a 'button' from card which I punched 2 ribbon slits in, mounted it then cut two more slits through the card itself. I used the pretty, organza ribbon to fasten the card together. It took me a while to work out how to thread it so that it tied properly, but I got there in the end.

Sunday 16 August 2009

Stamp Something - Something from Summer Vacation


This is my contribution for Stamp Something's Challenge this week.
We haven't been away from home this summer, but on the odd beautiful day that we've had, we've walked down by the beach. We live very near to the sea on the south coast. There are several places where beach huts line the shore and it's great to see families enjoying days together in the fresh sea air.
I used a Cuttlebug die to make the huts, but cut off the chimney and re-shaped the roof of each one. I used a different Core'dinations colour for each and then embossed them with the Cuttlebug stripy folder (I'm not sure what it's called).
The tag is a MSE stamp which predominantly reads 'By The Sea' with seaside associated words as a background. The sea has been embossed with the Cuttlebug script embossing folder. The sentiment stamp is from Hobby Art.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge #45 Fancy Corners & 2nd Attempt 365 Card Toile


I really wasn't too pleased with my contrubution for yesterday's challenge from 365 Cards, so when I saw the theme of fancy corners from the Secret Crafter's Saturday Challenge this week, I decided to combine the two and have another go.
I much prefer the black and white background and with it I could use a black silhouette chandelier. (Something I've wanted to do for quite a while.)
The corners are Cuttlebug and I love them, they seem to fit with many styles. The sentiment is Stampin up on a Cuttlebug tag. Even with my DIY Stampamajig it took me about 4 attempts to get it central and straight.
I'm happier with this than I was with my previous attempt at using a 'Touch of Toile'.

From the talented Julie

I have been honoured with this award by Julie. Thank you so much for thinking of me Julie!
To offically accept the award I have to do the following .
1.
Thank the person who nominated you for this award

2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog
3. Link the person who nominated you for this award
4. Name seven things about yourself that people might find interesting
5. Nominate seven Kreative Bloggers
6. Post links to the seven blogs you nominate
7. Leave comments on all seven blogs letting them know you nominated them

As to telling you 7 things that bloggers would find interesting... I don't know if I'm that interesting, however here goes.
1. I had back surgery in the USA.
2. I my appendix removed in France. (I seem to have a bit of a fettish for leaving bits of me in far flung places!)
3. One of my favourite perfumes is LACOSTE pour femme.
4. My favourite colour is blue... could be pink, but I think it's blue.
5. I colour my own hair. (Light ash blonde)
6. I snorkled for the first time last year in the Caribbean.
7. I like to have breakfast wearing my dressing gown. (Not it public places you understand!)

Now to my nominees, I would like to choose Victoria, Jackie, June, Sherry, Michelle, Chris and Julia.
All these ladies help make my blogging experience more interesting!
Thank you all.

Saturday 15 August 2009

Card Patterns Sketch 28 & 365 Cards - Toile


It seems that this was my only remaining piece of backing paper with a Toile design, which was the requirement for 365 Cards today, and so the colours for this card were determined by that.
The sketch evolved into that from Card Patterns this week after I had tried several of my stamps in an attempt to find a suitable image. When I finally ended up with a square shape, the rest sort of followed.
To the naked eye the ribbon is a much closer match to the paper than it appears in the photograph. Had it not been for the Card Pattern Sketch I probably wouldn't have added it, but in fact I think it's OK.
The image is part of a stamp from PSX mounted on a Spellbinders Pendant.

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - Blue, Green & White or Cream ~ ABC Challenge A - Animals


Here is another Digi stamp from Dustin Pike. I think that his images are such fun and this little chap (or should I say big chap) is no exception.
I coloured him with Derwent Inktense pencils, blended with a water brush. The papers are from Canon free downloads. The sentiment is from a Hobby Art stamp. The leaf stamp is from My Mind's Eye.
Dare U 2 Digi Stamp chose the colours blue, green and white or cream and for the ABC Challenge this week Anything Goes... with Animals!
There you have it!

Friday 14 August 2009

365 Cards Days 166 & 167

Yet another week where I have to catch up Thursday's Card on Friday. Daisy and I had a lovely day together yesterday, I must say that she's getting very good at retail therapy! I got yet more bargains in the tail end of the sales too.
For today's challenge the card had to look like a gift!
I cut out the shape and covered it with the striped paper. I stamped the flourishes with glue and sprinkled Glamour Dust all over them.
The tag is Sizzix and the sentiment is Stampin Up.
If you zoom in you may be able to see the twinkle!

Day 166 from 365 Cards requires a recipe which comprises a 4"x 7" card, with 5 flowers, 3 patterned papers, a wet embossed sentiment and glitter.
I'm hoping that 'wet embossed' means 'heat embossed' because that is what I did, I hope it's right. The papers are a mix of Canon and Shabby Princess, the flowers from my Poundland spray, the centre of the flowers are made from a Woodware punch and another small one and even with my new specs I can't make out the name on that, but the logo looks like an italic M. Anybody know this brand?
Both middles on each flower are glittered to the max!

Wednesday 12 August 2009

Colour Create ~ Pink Orange & Green & Sketch & Stash


This little Hedgie is the third of my latest Penny Black purchases from the Paper Mill Shop... Buy 2 Get 1 Free!
I had coloured him in before I realised that these were the colours from Colour Create this week, so I went on to choose backing paper in line with the challenge. The sketch is from Sketch & Stash and as just mentioned my new item of equipment is the stamp. The tag is Nesties which I have punched with small holes for the ribbon. The flowers are Cuttlebug and the flourish is a clear stamp from My Mind's Eye. I think that the paper is a Canon download.
I'm just off to the optician and then on to Bath for my babysitting duties tomorrow!

2 Sketches 4 You & 365 Cards Day 165 Shape Up


I love uncluttered sketches, which is the joy of 2 Sketches 4 You. This one is a wonderful example. Today I have combined it with the challenge from 365 Cards where the predominnt shape has to be a star. As it is Art Glitter Week on 365's blog, my little bit of twinkle (Glamour Dust) won't be unwelcome either!
The stars are cut with Fiskars and X Cut punches and the ribbon tag is Spellbinders. The sentiment is part of a MSE stamp.

SPCC Challenge #10




I hadn't seen this SPCC challenge blog before this morning, but following a comment on one of my cards, which included an invitation to join in the fun, I decided to check it out!
This is a combo of colours that I would never have thought of in a million years, so it was quite a challenge to construct a card around it!!
I didn't have any Stampin Up card so I used similar shades from my supply.
The image is from one of my new Penny Black stamps recently purchased from the Paper Mill Shop on offer... Buy 2 Get 1 Free!
The background paper has turned out rather darker than it originally started out, as I over-stamped it with a floral stamp from My Mind's Eye using Tea Dye Distress ink. I coloured the image with Derwent Watercolour Pencils and a water brush.
The sentiment is Hero Arts, the embossing and flower are Cuttlebug and the leaves are from a Leonie Em punch.

Penny Black Sketch & Secret Crafter - Cute as a bug.


This really pretty pink from my local PaperMill shop has appeared yet again. This Penny Black stamp is another new acquisition, as said Paper Mill shop has an offer at the moment of 'Buy 2 get 1 free' on Penny Black stamps, which I have availed myself of a couple of times recently. Never could resist a bargain!
Two Challenges this time, the sketch from Penny Black and the ladybird for the Secret Crafter. The papers are Papermania and a Canon download. The sentiment is from Unity Stamps.

Tuesday 11 August 2009

365 Cards day 164 Colour Scheme


This is the colour scheme for today's card, which set me thinking for quite some time. Finally I came up with this card. I used a die from the Cuttlebug Babyface alphabet set for the buttons and the background paper is from Canon. The sentiment is from MSE mounted on Nesties. The stamped flourish on the paper is an Artemio clear stamp.
I'm still struggling with these glasses, the focus on the computer keyboard is decidedly squiffy! I have an appointment to see the optician tomorrow so I'll have to have a chat about my concerns. They were too expensive to be not right!