Challenge yourself today!

Ok, Ok! So I know by this point you are probably REALLY fed up with me this week...! What does this woman think she is doing? Posting this much in a single week cant be good for the health...! SORRY ;P

I need to post these cards as they were both for a challenge and only run for a week.. Well its Wednesday already so here you go. For those of a weak dispostition who feel their strength waning at all these cards - feel free to close your eyes!

(If youre looking for the DCBD Challenge card... Scroll down!)

Here is this weeks challenge from Stamp With Us. Its a layout challenge and for me was tricky!


While I was struggling with the layout trying to get it to look balanced I realised I should have made a square card. Would have made the process alot easier!


This is a fabbo new stamp set from the US Stampin Up! Catalog called Charming... The stamps are made to coordinate with some really sweet jewelery and Charms that you can change and stamp little panels that go inside... Really sweet!


Recipe. (All SU!)
Stamps: Charming
Card: So Saffron, Very Vanilla
Paper: Tea & Crumpets DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, So Saffron.
........................................................................................

Sooo, sorry to overwhelm you but this card was made from the same sketch and ALSO a Colour Challenge from Diva Coffee Break Design.


Can I tell you... This one made my head hurt! I am still not happy with the card.. Cant get my head around it. But hey ho!


The whole reason for doing this colour challenge was the ribbon... I had a small length in my stash - you know the type you get free on the front of a crafting magazine and as soon as I saw the colours I knew...


Like I said, not 100% happy with it but... Its funny anyway!

Recipe. (All SU! unless stated otherwise)
Stamps: Wanda's Wit and Wisdom, Crazy for Cupcakes
Card: Very Vanilla
Papers: Real Red DSP
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede, Real Red SU Markers.
Blender Pens. Ribbon from stash.

Go visit these websites... Challenge yourself today!

TTFN!

C xx

Christmas Cards, Set 4...

Nearly there...!


Ive gone all unconventional again with this set... The first card gave me the idea for the second... PINK!


Pretty straight forward again, just embellished with a clear button to which I glued a stamped piece of card to the base and then glittered the top.


Now this is where I went wild and crazy!


Pink AND flowers on a Crimbo Card! Whoa Nellie!!


Please let me know what you think of the pink?!?

Recipe.
Stamps: SU!, Occasional greetings, Gifts of Christmas.
Card: Kraft, SU! Whisper White, Pretty in Pink.
Paper: From SU! I Wish Scrappin Kit.
Ink: SU! Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Soft Suede.
Ribbon from SU!, EK Success border punch, liquid pearls, stickles glitter. Clear button, brads and silver elastic cord from SU! Pink button & flowers from stash.

TTFN

C xx

Bonus Card... Mojo Monday 106

Heres a little bonus for you... The next installment of Christmas Cards will be with you tomorrow but I thought I would try this weeks sketch over on the Mojo Monday blog...


Bit of a challenge for me as I dont usually do so many layers. I had bought these papers a while ago, loved the colours but never got round to using them. I thought they were a bit too bold for my liking. SO, I thought about how I could soften them. I think it works... What do you think?


I know theres a couple of spotches where I sponged around the edges... It was an equipment error, honest! I dont yet have a sponge that Im happy with. I picked some triangle sponges up from the craft shop but they are a bit too dense and have hard edges... Hence the blotchiness...!


This was alot of fun and alot of mess! My fingers are purple and green now! Tee Hee!...

Recipe. All SU!
Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes.
Ink: Old Olive, Orchid Opulence, Rich Razzleberry.
Card: Whisper White.
Papers: Cottage Wall.

Pop over to the Mojo Blog sometime... You will see some amazing cards and might get the urge to try a layout challenge! Let me know...

TTFN

C xx

Christmas Cards, Set 3...

Ok, so, prepare yourself... When you see this next set and the AMAZING flocked paper you will more than likely fall off your chair. They are even better in real-life trust me!


First one is pretty simple... Stamp, layer, dab glue, glitter. The hard part was tying the bow...


This bow took me 20 MINS!!! NOT normal for me but I couldnt get it to look pretty so in the end I just wrapped it around the paper, tied one separately and stuck it on with a glue dot.. THAT only took 2 minutes!


This next one was made with my new Top Note SU Die and the Big Shot. I cut out 2 layers and trimmed the red paper along the perforation line so the white frames it...


The swirlies on this were glittered with some stickles after I glued them down.


Recipe.
Stamps: Best Yet, Holiday Best SU!
Card: Kraft, SU Whisper White.
Paper: Christmas Cocoa Speciality (SU!)
Ink: SU! Real Red.
Ribbon is SU! organza, Sissix Swirls Die, SU! small oval and small scalloped oval punches. Fiskars border punch.

Part 4 is a goodie...
Enjoy...

TTFN

C xx

Christmas Cards... Set 2.

So who says Christmas Cards have to be red & green? Not in my house they dont!


Well, Heres some of that lushious flocked Speciality DSP from SU!... The white snowflake is all fluffy and stroke-ie...


Bling-a-licious!


For the next one I pulled out my Big Shot and a Cuttlebug Embossing Folder for the background...


I think I also broke another rule and put a flower on my Christmas Card... Boo yah!



Im loving this Speciality Paper sooo much, I may have to buy another pack already!
Recipe.
Stamps: SU! Gifts of Christmas and Occassional Greetings.
Card: Krafr and SU! Very Vanilla.
Paper: Christmas Cocoa Speciality paper from SU!
Ink: Chocolate Chip and Real Red (SU!)
Tafetta ribbon in Kraft from SU!. Scallop edge punch, Martha Stewart Punch, Liquid Pearls, Flower and bling from Stash. Rhinestone brad from SU!

Come back for part 3!...

TTFN

C xx

(PS. for those who I left dangling after saying the dog wasnt well, heres an update... We have been struggling for a while here with a nasty ear infection. Apparantly because of the heat dogs with floppy ears tend to be more succeptable because theres not enough air circulating around the ears to keep the insides dry...
Well, shes not been herself, extra barky, extra tired so we phoned our vet who is out of town. Turned out to be a blessing! Found an ACE Vet who stuck a cool camera inside and we got to see on a screen what was going on... Yuk! She had to stay with him and under general anaesthetic have both ears flushed from bottom to top. Well, as you can imagine she is glued to my side now and its taken a good couple of days for her to get over the happy gas! All seems to be going good. Daily ear washing, drops and anti-biotics twice a day, keeping me busy! Hoping it all goes well as the final option is surgery...

Promised Christmas Cards... Set 1

Boy, did I have a productive day yesterday or what?

I managed to design and make a total of 10 Christmas Cards yesterday! It was only 9 at 9pm but I had to make another as I cant leave an odd number...! Im going to show them to you in batches of 2... as I was looking at them I seemed to have made them in sets of 2 so...

Now I have been printing examples and jotting down layouts and colour combinations for a while, putting them in my 'Christmas File'. I pulled out all my notes and started brainstorming ideas. I have come up with my basics for this years cards... A Kraft (or light brown) card base as it works with white or vanilla cardstock... A dash of ribbon, some fancy borders and a splash of glitter. There is also a certain 'look' Im trying to achieve so the layouts are all similar...

So heres the first 2 I made...




This one actually was a mistake-cover-up jobby! I tried to watercolour the dove a little and used too much ink. So I just re-stamped in a green, cut it out and covered with glitter... I think it looks better this way!


The colouring on this one went ok so I just blinged up some red berries...




Cute Huh?

Recipe.
Stamps: Gifts of Christmas (SU!)
Card: Kraft and SU! Very Vanilla.
Paper: I Wish Scrappin Kit (SU!)
Inks: SU! Chocolate Chip and Colour Q light brown.
Ribbon: SU Very Vanilla 5/8" Grosgrain, SU Ribbon Originals - Mistletoe (Holiday Mini).
Ranger Liquid Pearls, Stickles red Glitter, SU heat n stick & Dazzling Diamonds glitter. Martha Stewart Punch.

Be sure to come back and see the rest of the cards as Im using some of the fab new products from the SU Holiday Mini Catalog... Can I say FLOCKED PAPER! Oooooo!

TTFN

C xx

Christmas Cards- Coming Soon!

Dear reader,
Please don't desert me! I have things to share with you... Life has a habit of getting in the way of crafting! I managed to make 2 christmas cards yesterday amongst the chaos and plan to spend the day dog-sitting (Shes not been well - I will explain later) and crafting - I hope!

I have my new SU goodies from Craft Club and a cute project we did over with Karen using the new In-Colors... Oooooooooo Pweetty!

I will be back later with those cards...

TTFN

C xx

September Craft Club Cards

These are the beautiful cards that were made in this months Club. Unfortunately I wasnt there as I was being fingerprinted..(see THIS post for details) but Karen sweetly made these for me and gave me a quick run down on how they are made...


Now she wants me to stress that she doesnt claim any responsibility for these cards as she gets her ideas from t'internet and CASE's (copy and share everything) to her hearts content... HERE is the link to her inspiration...


This is made using the Bride & Groom Speciality Papers from SU! As you can see from the next one you dont have to stick with the Black & White theme... This paper can be altered to any colour you want... FABULOSO!


This card is using the same white speciality paper as above but you just brayer or sponge whatever colour you heart desires over the top. The non-shiny pattern on the paper will absorb the ink and the shiny will resist. Cool huh?


I LURVE this one... Would make an awesome wedding card dont you think?


Thanks again Karen! Its always lovely to craft from someone elses viewpoint... Cant wait till 22nd!

TTFN

C xx

Last (and craziest) Card... (AKA Swirls & Pearls!)

Well you have to smile at this one... It was late at night. I had a long day. I went a bit mad with the swirls and the pearls...


In no way symetrical, in no way pretty... Just a bit too much dont you think? I like the colouring anyway... ha ha ha...


I think I may just have to 'rescue' the Gorjuss Girl and put her on a card that she deserves... !

BTW, doesnt the bird look like a chicken? Is it supposed to be a chicken? Who has a conversation with a chicken for goodness sake?

Reicpe: Stamp from Sugar Nellie, 'Gorjuss - A little birdie told me'.
Inks: Black Staz-On, SU! Markers.
Cardstock: SU! So Saffron DS Papers from SU!
Sizzlits Die 'Scribbles Swirls'. White Opal Liquid Pearls by Ranger.
Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Large Labels' dies.

So, Im done with this series now. Hope you got a laugh from this last one... I DID! I have the latest cards from my Craft Club to share next...

Y'all come back now Y'hear?

TTFN

C xx

Second Card in the Series...

Now this card is Abbis FAVOURITE! If you know my daughter you will immediately know why... Its pink and its glittery!


I must admit I had a smile on my face when colouring this as I knew she would like it... I actually think it looks a little like her too, including the attitude!


Did you notice the die cut swirls this time?


I ran the swirls through my Xyron twice - first time as usual and only removed the top transparent sheet. I then turned the piece over and ran it through again to get adhesive on the other side. This time remove both sheets making sure it still has the original backing piece on it. You can then glitter then front really easily and just peel off the backing sheet to stick on your card... Some pieces I just glued onto the card and added stickles iridescent glitter for a bit of contrast. Oh and the clear 'blobs' by the main image are just 3d gloss.

Recipe: Stamp is from Sugar Nellie - 'Gorjuss - Sitting' by Susanne Woolcott. Inks: Black Staz-On and SU! Markers.
Cardstock is SU! Pretty In Pink. Paper is SU! Sweet Always.
Sizzlits Die is 'Scribbles Swirls'. 3D gloss and glitter from stash.
Spellbinders Nestabilites Classic Ovals Large and Classic Scalloped Ovals Large.

Last card coming soon... I think I went a bit crazy with that one...!

TTFN

C xx

New & Improved Service... New Cards...

I now know what I have been missing... The new Whizzy Machine is AWESOME!!! Ive edited and uploaded about 20 photos already and its only 8.20am!
OK, so Ive been playing with my new toys I bought at the craft shop... Specifically the Sissix Sizzlitz Die (try saying that 5 times fast!) in my Big Shot. Ive just used the swirly one... My mission was to create 3 cards using the swirl and some of the images I coloured recently with my SU! Markers and watercolour brush... (Oh and of course my Nestabilites too!!!)

I stamped a whole bunch of images as soon as I got my new stamps and have been colouring gradually when I have time. There were some I had messed up on the shadowing so I just cut them out!

Heres the first card...


Ive used the Kraft cardstock I bought and the Tea & Crumpets Papers from Stampin Up!. I folded the strip along the bottom and pierced a strip that I had used my scallop edge punch on. This is lifted up with 3d foam... The swirly-gigs could be a problem to stick down but I ran them through my xyron sticker maker and it was easy peasy...



The nesties shape was cut out in so saffron but was too much of a contrast so I sponged it a little round the edges to tone it down... 2 Layers of stickles glitter on the wings, some Liquid Pearls from Ranger and its done!

Recipe: Sugar Nellie stamp is Bumble Bee by Suzanne Woolcott.
Inks: Black Staz-On and SU! Markers.
Kraft cardstock and watercolour paper from craft shop. Tea & Crumpets Designer Series Paper from SU!
Sissix Sizzlits Die 'Scribbles Swirls' and Liquid Pearls by Ranger in Gold Pearl and White Opal.
Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Scalloped Ovals Large.

Another 2 cards to follow but this is by far MY favourite... I will show you Abbis favourite next...

TTFN

C xx

Woo Hoo! New Toy!

I will definately be back later with a set of 3 cards I made over the weekend... Ive been playing with my new toys that I showed you the other day. I just have to figure out how to load photos on our new computer... The old PC is officialy no more... An ex-PC! (for you Monty Python fans!) Matt finally admitted defeat and went and bought a lovely new machine - Its actually a lap-top - I think he was a little jelous of MY lap-top which I bought a few years ago and things in techno-geek world have progressed sooooo fast that it was time we caught up... Got Vista now (which I hate) but will have to learn to live with it!

Back later with some cards...
TTFN

C x

9-11

Please remember the day today. Say a prayer for those who lost loved ones and still live every day with the effects from the events 8 years ago...

No cards today. Doesnt seem appropriate.

C xx

Shopping again!

I dont want to brag but I just got some amazing bargains at the local craft shop. (You know, the one with the mans name starting with M)

Just wanted to share with you as I cant wait to get crafting!


Ok I know you probably want some details so here goes... I got the last sheets of 12X12 Kraft c/s at 27c ea... The Large Sissix Teddy Bear die was reduced from $15.99 to $7.99 (!) and the Sizzlitz swirly thingy (the original reason I went shopping today...) was reduced from $9.99 to $4.99... I couldnt resist the other Sissix Die as it has a lamb and a teddy and a lion and a bunny! CUTE!!!

So the other stuff was... a set of 4 small C/B embossing dies (Fancy Corners) which I thought were very me!, a decent pair of tweezers that work backwards i.e. you have to apply pressure to open them, a pack of cards and some gorge large rhinestones (photo doesnt show it well but the bling has clear and a lushious pale-minty-green colour) both from the $1.00 bin. We always lose our cards but I mainly bought the cards coz of the cute plastic case... gonna put my ATC's in it.

To top it off I have a 50% off coupon for next week too... Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm....!

Bargain-a-licious or what?

Back in a couple days with some finished projects using my new goodies!!!

TTFN

C xx

Road Trip!

Texas is a beautiful state...
So this week we had to take a quick overnight trip to Lubbock. I had an appointment to have my fingerprints and mug shot taken... NO Ive not been a naughty Noo Noo! It was the last step in becoming Legal! My green card has been renewed and now I can officially stay (and work...) in the USA.

It was actually really nice to get out of town (albeit only 4 hours away) and see the countryside.


These were taken from the passenger seat at 70 mph... The windfarm is near Big Spring and is (I think) the biggest in Texas. I know some people dont like them but personally I think they are beautiful... Why not harness what is free without any nasty emissions. We passed so many smelly oil pump thingys that these windmills were a refreshing change.


And then the clouds rolled in - or rather we rolled into the clouds!

See that little patch of sunlight on the road? Cool huh?

And then it did this!



Are we there yet?


Back later with another post... Phew! 2 in one day. Dont get used to it!!!

TTFN

C xx