All that glitters...

Hey people!

How are you?  I hope you've all had a great weekend - I'm just relaxing now psyching myself up for work tomorrow.

I've had a chance to make some cards - woohoo!  This is me trying to be organised this year as I can just see things getting busier and busier as the year goes on...a Christmas card!  I'm sorry to mention the word so early, but I know you all know how it is - in card making terms it's only just around the corner hey?!  :)

I was inspired by the current Addicted to CAS challenge where the code word is 'Gold'.  That just screamed Christmas to me :)

Here it is...

I'm not going to lie...I may have bought some new bits!  ;)  Waltzingmouse Stamps had a sale on Christmas stamps and I absolutely LOVE Clare's Christmas designs...a little treat to myself, but don't tell anyone!  They work so well alone, it didn't require me to do anything which is always good ;)

There's not really a great deal I can say about this card - the stamps did the work, I just embossed it all in gold - yum!  All that's left to do is to pop on over to Addicted To CAS and link this bad boy up!

                                                         

Thank you so much for stopping by and sticking with me and my sporadic posting - love you guys!  ;)

Supplies
Card:     Paper Mill Direct - Black, Super Smooth White
Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Seasonal Flourish, Ornate Ornaments
Ink:        Versamark
Other:    WOW! - Metallic Gold Rich e/p; pearls

Love, love, love...

Hello, hello!

How are you all?  I hope you all had a fabulous weekend and got a chance to get some crafting in :)

Well, all has returned to normal here.  We are both home, myself from visiting family and DOH from sunny Australia.  Bless him, at the wedding he got heat stroke and nearly passed out!  He was fine after a while though and by all accounts was well looked after by his nearest and dearest in my absence :)  He had a fantastic time and I know he wished he could've stayed longer, but that's life I suppose.  We're planning a trip over there, hopefully this year, to spend some quality time with his family :)

But now, it's that time of year again when I wish I'd bought a heart die!!  Every year I think, 'this would be easier if I had a heart die, I'll make sure I get one of those' and yet here we are, another year has passed still with no die!  Stars, that's another die set on my list...maybe one day I'll get round to it ;)

I have made two cards today (the withdrawal of being away from my desk has put me into overdrive!) both of which are for Valentines Day :)  This first one is for my DOH and is for THREE challenges!  It's rare that I make a card that is eligible for that many challenges!

This idea has been floating around my head for a little while now...I'm not entirely sure where it came from?!  I also wasn't sure how I was going to make it into a reality so I just went with it and here's how it ended up!  It really doesn't require an explanation so I'll not bore you!  The only thing I will say is that yes, the sentiment is handwritten :)  I haven't used the Gothic style font for ages...when I first started calligraphy it was absolute favourite so I thought it was time I had another go at it :)

I am entering this card into the following challenges;

Cas-ual Fridays - Over The Edge...the little heart is trying to make a bid for freedom!

Addicted To CAS - Love...that's pretty obvious I would've thought!

Paper Mill Direct - create a Valentine's card...and I used Paper Mill Direct card, as always!!

The second card I have to show you today is the same as one I made last year, in May I think?  The only difference is I swapped the lime green for red as requested by my brother as a Valentine's card for his partner and I thought I'd share it anyway :)  It has a completely different feel to it actually, I was surprised at what a difference changing one colour made!

Thank you very much for stopping by guys, I appreciate it :)  I will catch up on commenting I have missed and I shall certainly have a browse of blogland as soon as I can because I've missed y'all!!

Supplies

Card One

Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Grey, Black, Bright Red

Stamps: Hero Arts- Valentine Flourishes

Ink:        Ranger - Perfect Medium; Windsor & Newton - Black

Other:    Cosmic Shimmer - Berry Red Aurora e/p; rhinestones

Card Two

Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Grey, Black, Ruby Red

Stamps: Hero Arts - Valentine Flourishes

Ink:        Ranger - Perfect Medium

Other:    WOW! - Ebony e/p; Spellbinders - Classic Edges One, Circles; pearls

Something a bit different...

Hello, hello, hello!

It's been a few days since I've posted anything, but that doesn't mean I haven't been making anything!  Although, I must admit that despite all the fabulous inspiration from the challenges and my fellow bloggers, Mr. Mojo is still on the missing list...boo to him!  If you see him around anywhere looking like a lost lamb, will you please point him back in my direction - ta!  :)

I am posting today, not a card, but a gift set of notebooks.  I was on Amber's wonderful blog the other day and found this tutorial on how to make your own notebooks.  Now, I know it seems obvious once you've watched the video, but I had never thought that PVA glue would work so well as a binding agent!  So anyway, I thought I'd give it a go.

I was also still on a mission to use some of my hoarded collection of patterned paper so that's exactly what I did...here are the little fellas...

Each notebook has a co-ordinating card as the colour on the inside...if that makes any sense at all?!!!  (It would seem not only has Mr. Mojo done a runner, but so has Mr. Vocabulary!  Apologies peeps!)  For the red plaid notebook and the blue striped notebook, I used the same colour card for the labels as I did for the inside.  The black script notebook has a black card inside, but I though that it needed a lighter grey colour for the label... :)  Those little strips of card on the labels are for the recipient (my little brother) to write on so that he knows what he's using each notebook for.  He's on the hunt at the moment for a house so I thought he might use one for noting down estate agents, mortgage lenders, furniture stores etc.  That way all the information pertaining to each subject is in one place and not on a thousand pieces of paper which I find tend to grow legs and wander off just when you desperately need them!  (Is that just me?)  Another one he could use for sketching and maybe adding fabric samples for his tailoring and I don't know what he'll use the other one for, but I had to make three else it would've upset Mr. OCD, who is still alive and kicking!

Now, I couldn't just present him with three loose notebooks, that wouldn't be very professional would it?!  Just like Amber, I had to make a little box for them all to live in...

The box, as you can see, is made from black card and the wrap is made from a pearlised white card which isn't so obvious.  I used the same script patterned paper that I used for the notebook to make the tag, mounted on black card.  It does have 'Just For You' heat embossed in silver on the back, but I forgot to take a photo of that - whoops!  A bit of silver thread and Bob's your Uncle!

Here's the little rascals trying to escape...

I was quite pleased with how they turned out and I think I may make a little set for my sister too, she's as bad as me for doodling designs (she likes to make jewellery) and losing important information scribbled on scraps of paper!  She's always travelling about so it's difficult to keep track!  I think I'll pick some brighter colours for her ones though, these were chosen as more masculine colours but they don't look as pretty as bright ones would!  :)

As I used die cuts on these notebooks to create the labels, I'm going to enter this into Addicted To CAS's challenge to use...you guessed it...Die Cuts!!  I'm not sure if they qualify for this challenge as it's not a card, scrapbook page etc, but it doesn't get much more CAS than sticking a label on a sheet of patterned paper!  I'm sure someone will let me know if I've broken any rules!  :)

Thanks for stopping by guys ;)

Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Black, Sky Grey, Ruby Red, Ocean Blue, Pale Turquoise, Primrose
                   Yellow; K&Co - Best Of; White pearlised card
Stamps: Verve - Glad Tidings
Ink:        VersaColor - Silver
Other:    WOW! - Silver Super Fine e/p; Spellbinders - Fancy Tags 3; silver thread
                  

An inspiration medley...

Hey guys!

I'm here with another Christmas card...big surprise there huh?!

I have made this card as a second entry into CAS-ual Fridays, an interpretation of the sketch at CAS(E) this sketch (you'll see what I mean hopefully!) an entry into the 'Transparent' challenge at Addicted To CAS AND, last but by no means least, the challenge over at WOW! Embossing Powder this month is 'Stars and Stripes'!  Phew!  

ETA:  It has been pointed out to me that this card may also qualify for the criteria over at the Merry Monday challenge which is Blue, White and Silver.  I am hoping my little pop of gold doesn't count me out, I'll pop it in to this challenge anyway and we'll soon find out I suppose!  Thank you!

Here is my card...

and a little close up for ya...

Now...I realise that this may not be exactly what the guys over at Addicted To CAS meant when they chose 'transparent' as the cue card and I'm almost certain this is completely different to what the WOW! guys had in mind too...but bear with me a moment and I'll try to explain my logic!

I was going to make these banners using acetate - that's about as transparent as it gets, right?!  But, then I thought of winter and frosty windows and so I decided on vellum to portray that...with me?!  And for WOW! I was thinking that snowflakes are like winters' stars and these banners are my stripes!  If these links are a little too tenuous then I do apologise, but that's where my little brain took me when I was thinking about the inspirations!

I swapped the speech bubbles in the CAS(E) this sketch sketch for the banners...I think that's quite obvious!  As is the stitching for the CAS-ual Fridays challenge ;)

I really wish that I'd used gold for the central banner because there's less contrast between the white and silver snowflakes than I was anticipating, but I just didn't have the time to re-do it so it is what it is!  I'm hoping it's one of those things that only pedantic arty people like us will notice and that the recipient of this card will never even consider that fact!  ;)

Now that I have my needle and threads out I have an idea for another stitched card using the Muse inspiration, I just hope it turns out how I'm imagining!  ;)

Challenges:

Thank you so much for dropping in ;)

Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Navy; Vellum
Stamps: Penny Black - Crystalline; Wild Rose Studios - Let It Snow
Ink:        Ranger - Perfect Medium
Other:    WOW! - Bright White Opaque, Silver Super Fine, White Twinkle, Metallic Gold Rich e/p; thread

An autumn overload...

Hello guys and gals!

I hope you're all enjoying your weekend so far.  I certainly am as I found a little time in which to craft - and I hope I made the most of it :)

I have made a card that is fit for THREE challenges!  Some people are great at this and that's just normal for them - me, not so much!!

Today's card is being entered into CASology where the Cue Card is 'Autumn'; CAS-ual Fridays where the challenge is 'Fall colours and a leaf' and last but definitely not least, Addicted To CAS where the Code Word is also 'Autumn/Fall'.

There are no prizes for guessing what my card is going to look like!!

I was trying to hone my inner Ardyth on this card...I'd like to think there's one in there somewhere, but I very much doubt it!!

This card definitely evolved from the original idea...in fact it was quite a major transformation!  The plan I started out with when I sat at my desk was to die cut the leaves into opposite corners and place autumnal blended colours underneath that just peeked through, finished with a nice sentiment in the middle of the space.  Well, that didn't happen did it?!!  Nope.  I did try that but this particular die isn't 'shapely' enough if you know what I mean and just looked like I'd cut a blob out of the corner!  This is a house of making the best with what you have, so as not to waste the 'failed' die cutting attempt, I used the leaf blob for the purpose it was intended!  I blended the colours onto the die cut and then decided it still needed more definition, so I clear embossed the coordinating leaf stamp over the top.  It still wasn't defined enough so I emboss again in copper pearl and that was just the ticket!  The sentiment was embossed in that lovely Halloween glitter powder to tie in with the colours a bit :)

Anyone bored yet?!!  How can a simple card become so long winded huh?  ;)  I kinda like this little, simple card and it will be a good one to have on standby should I need a thank you note :)

The challenges...

Thank you for stopping by and reading my rambles ;)  I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White
Stamps: Verve - Bloom & Grow; Bo Bunny - Sentiment Stamps
Ink:        Ranger - Perfect Medium; Papermania - Yellow; Distress Ink - Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door
Other:    WOW! Halloween Glitter, Copper Pearl e/p; Verve A Cut Above Dies - Elegant Leaves

Addicted to CAS meets more Christmas NBUS...

NOTE:  This is my second post of the day...please scroll down to have a peek at the first one :)


Hi guys!

How we all doing?  I imagine all my fellow countrymen (and women!) are looking forward to what promises to be a nice sunny bank holiday weekend!  Fingers crossed!

Today's card is for the challenge at Addicted To CAS which is 'Holiday'.  I haven't played along with them for a while now and this card came to me straight off when I saw the code word.

I think this could be the first card I've ever made without a sentiment...?!  There wasn't really any room for a sentiment, plus I figured that with a sparkly Christmas wreath slapped on the front it was pretty obvious what occasion the card is for!  ;)  This wreath stamp is an NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff...check out Darnell's blog for the full run down!)  Also, I think this would count as a QACAS card too...again, see Darnell for the meaning.  I love that she comes up with her own language...every one of Darnell's posts are a learning experience, you've got to give them a read if you haven't already!  She makes some stunning cards too, but I think that goes without saying ;)

In real life this card is a little more interesting than it looks in this picture because I added sparkles!!  It would hardly be Christmas without sparkles would it?!!  Let's see if you can see it a bit better in this picture...

...hmm..maybe?!  Sparkles and a splash of red and I was happy :)  Oh, I nearly forgot...the glittery wallpaper has made another appearance - love this stuff!  Just for another little Christmas sparkle :)

Thanks for stopping by, I love seeing you all ;)

Supplies
Card:     Paper Mill Direct - White, Black, Grey; Graham & Brown - Disco Black wallpaper
Stamps: Penny Black - Star Dance
Ink:        Ranger - Perfect Medium
Other:    WOW! - Ebony e/p; pearls; silver glitter glue

Happy Birthday, Ardyth!!...

Surpriiiiise!!

Today is the fabulous Ardyth Percy-Robb's birthday and the equally fabulous Darnell is throwing a blog birthday party!  I was so honoured to be invited along!  If you would like to join in the fun, just pop over to Darnell's blog and link your birthday wishes up to inlinkz - the more the merrier!!  :)

I can't imagine there is anyone in blogland who doesn't know who Ardyth is?!  She is such an inspiration and her mojo never seems to wane.  She comes up with the most incredible ideas and has a fantastic knack of interpreting challenges in her own unique way - which is always sensational :)

So, then it came to making a card.  What could I possibly make that would do justice and be a fitting tribute to such a wonderful designer...?  Well, I really had only one option...rainbow!!  A woman after my own heart, Ardyth loves a rainbow card...I do hope you like this one Ardyth, it's especially for you!

Ta da!  Happy Birthday, Ardyth!!

Here's a close up...the black background is SPARKLY!  The sentiment is also glittery, although as I am no David Bailey and have only one light source, it's really difficult to see the sparkle in the embossing powder...but I promise you it's there!!

The background paper is actually wallpaper and it has the most apt name for this occasion - it's called Disco Black Glitter!!  What's a birthday party without a disco?!!!  :)  You may be seeing more of this paper...it's too cool  :)

Anyway, Ardyth, I hope you have a wonderful day and enjoy your virtual birthday celebrations as well as your 'real life' ones ;)  I also hope you get spoiled rotten by your nearest and dearest and cherish every moment of YOUR day!

I am entering this card into the Addicted To CAS challenge - the code word being 'Birthday'.  Also it would seem I missed out on their previous challenge which was 'Rainbow' - erm, well, this card kinda makes up for that!  ;)

Thank you for stopping by everyone, as always, I really appreciate it ;)  I know I've been MIA recently, internet issues still plague me and time has become somewhat elusive of late...I will endeavour to make more time however as I am starting to get withdrawal!!  :)  See y'all soon!

Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Black, Bright Red, Citrus Orange, Daffodil, Spring Green, Ocean Blue,
              Grape, Lilac; Wallpaper - Disco Black Glitter by Graham & Brown
Stamps: Stamping All Day - Art Deco Birthday
Ink:        VersaColor - White
Other:    WOW! - White Twinkle e/p; sequins

Addicted to Fusion...

Hey!


First off - Happy St. George's Day to all my fellow country folk!  :)

Now on to my post proper; 

...the Fusion Challenge

Despite the gorgeous inspiration image and the very pretty sketch, I struggled a bit with the Fusion experiment this week.  The problem was that I had an idea in my head and for the life of me I could not make it translate onto a card!  Partly because I didn't have the right tools, but mostly because I just couldn't work it!

So...I decided to go with just the inspiration image - it's stunning!

...and my card...

...what do ya think?  I'm also entering this into the challenge over at Addicted To CAS this week as the code word is FLOWER.  

This is going into the CAS-ual Fridays Birthday Bash challenge too :)

Thanks for stopping by ;)

Supplies
Card:     Paper Mill Direct - White,Black, Raspberry Pink
Stamps: Verve - Elegant Flower Plain Jane; Stamping All Day - Art Deco Birthday
Ink:       Ranger - Perfect Medium
Other:   WOW! - Ebony and Silver Super Fine e/p; rhinestones

Addicted to CAS(E)...Happy Anniversary...

Hello there peeps!

The dreaded 'Nojo' has continued to plague my creativity and that is why I haven't been here for a while.  Despite the fabulous inspiration that you and all the challenge blogs provide, my mojo is, it would seem, as stubborn as I am and refused to make an appearance - doh!!

In an attempt to force my mojo out of its apparent retirement, I decided to sit at my desk and remain there until something came of my 'patience'!  Also, it is my in-laws anniversary on the 1st April so I needed to make a card, mojo or no mojo.

I used this weeks' CAS(E) this sketch sketch and took inspiration from the code word over at Addicted To CAS - 'Spring'.

Ordinarily, when I use a sketch for inspiration, I CAS-ify it - this time the opposite happened and the layers just kept coming!  Go figure!?  I think this is proof that my mojo is off kilter!  The colours were inspired by the word 'Spring'.  Given all the terrible weather (it was snowing here this morning would you believe?!!!) I wanted to make a bright card - I thought it's be nicer for the in-laws to open :)  

I feel as though my mojo could be on it's way back - I do hope so as I miss making cards and blogging!

I hope everyone has a lovely day tomorrow for Easter - I hope you all eat and drink too much and spend some quality time with your families :)

Thanks for stopping by ;)

Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Raspberry, Pink Sorbet, Primrose, Sky Blue, Peppermint
Stamps: Verve - Wishful Elegance
Ink:        Ranger - Perfect Medium
Other:    Cuttlebug ef - D'Vine Swirls; Spellbinders - Fancy Tags Three; WOW! - Green ep; Crafty Ribbons
             Rose Quartz seam binding; thread, rhinestones

A blast from the past...!

Hey!

I scoured the challenges for this week to find something to kick start my missing mojo and I came across The Play Date Cafe challenge which is a challenge I haven't played along with for AGES!  I have, however, missed the deadline which is a bit annoying - but the inspiration was still helpful!! The colours, alongside the awesome sketch over at Retro Sketches, sparked something within me and I managed to come up with a card.  I'm not honestly sure how I feel about it yet, but I think it's growing on me :)

I was a little stumped by the theme at Addicted To CAS - Wings.  I'm not an 'image' person really so I was trying to work out how I could incorporate wings into a card without actually needing an image.  I was looking through my embossing folders and came across the perfect solution - I have an embossing folder named 'Wings'!  If that wasn't meant to be then I don't know what would be!  :)

Here are all my inspirations;

...and here is the card that I have made for my best friends' birthday...

Luckily, my friend is not a 'girly girl' - in fact I don't think I have many girl friends who are especially girly?!  I'm not sure what that says about me really?!  Anyway, slight tangent there, sorry!  My friend is a big fan of blue and green (she's always wearing blue and her wedding colours were lime green, black and white which was just stunning!  I'll get the photo's of the stationery that I made on here one of these days) so I think there's quite a large possibility that she will like her card, despite the splash of pink - she will get over it I'm sure :)  Can you see my sneaky wings embossed on the tracing paper there?!  I'm quite pleased with how that turned out and it adds a little bit of girly-ness to an otherwise plain card :)

Despite missing the Play Date Cafe deadline, the colours over at The Paper Players this week are strikingly similar, there is just an extra colour - brown.  I am waiting for my new WOW! embossing powders to arrive (I was lucky enough to win last months' challenge and got to choose 12 powders!) as one of them was Bark and will be perfect!  I hope they arrive before that deadline!  :)

I am going to get back to my desk now and see if I can find my mojo - it WILL return!!

Thanks for stopping by ;)

Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Peppermint, Pink Sorbet; Tracing Paper
Stamps: Verve - Hope Blooms
Ink:        VersaColor - Black
Other:    WOW! - Ebony e/p; Craft Concepts - Wings e/f; Crafty Ribbons - Sky Blue seam binding; pearls

Addicted To CAS #7

Hey there!

I have recently found a new (to me) challenge blog - Addicted To CAS - how fantastic!!  The code word for this challenge is;

Which is just perfect timing as there are a few male birthdays coming up in the near future!  I have made this card for my Mum's boyfriend who's birthday is very soon;

This card came together super fast - which as we all knows just NEVER happens!  I have the idea in my head as soon as I saw this challenge and luckily it came out exactly as I had imagined - why can't they all be like that hey?!
It was quite difficult to stop myself from adding any rhinestones or frills, but I'm quite pleased with myself as I managed to refrain!

Thanks for stopping by ;)

Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Black
Stamps: Happy Birthday (freebie and I have no idea where it came from!!)
Ink:        Distress Ink - Broken China, Crushed Olive; VersaColor - Black
Other:    Baby Blue Grosgrain ribbon