Manly Men...

Hey hey!

I'm here today with one of two cards I made for my colleagues' boyfriends' 30th birthday.  I'll be back with the other one soon :)

I thought I'd have a go at the freestyle collage style that everyone else seems to pull of with such ease, but that evades me completely!!

I am quite proud of how this turned out, more for the fact that it's COMPLETELY out of my comfort zone as opposed to how it actually looks.  Although, it's kinda growing on me!?  I started with the WOW! hexagonal background stamp (you can just about see it in this photograph in pale blue) and it was askew - after I got over that I was off!  Then I went crazy with the 'stain' stamp and the arrows, added some texture with some dry embossing and heat embossed the sentiment.  I even stamped directly onto the card front which is usually something I try to avoid because once it's done, it's done!  I drew and fussy cut the '3' and the '0' and stuck those on with foam adhesive.  There's foam adhesive under the uppermost white layer and the grey layer - that's a lot of dimension!

This is another entry headed over to Catered Crop's 'Manly Men' Recipe Swap - I'm surprised to be entering more than once, masculine cards usually have me stumped!!

Thank you for stopping by ;)

Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Smooth Grey, Buff
Stamps: STAMPlorations - Vignette: Chevrons & Arrows; Stamping All Day - Distressing stain;
                  WOW! - Sexi-Hexi
Ink:        Versacolor - Cyan, Lapis Lazuli; Distress Ink - Spiced Marmalade; Versamark
Other:    WOW! - Earthtone Blueberry e/p; Craft Concepts - Grunge Stripes

Travels...

Hello, hello!

How are we all?!  I'm sorry I've been away so long, but I have a fairly reasonable excuse... :)  I started a new job on Monday and isn't it always the way that everything else gets super busy at the same time?!  My DOH had a lot of admin bits that he needed doing this week too (it's not that I'd left them until now, it's that they cropped up this week just because I was busier than usual!) so in actual fact I've been going to work for a rest!!  I still have a pile of washing to do too...I need a fairy!  ;)

I'm just scraping in for the deadline for this one!  I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the winners at Catered Crop for last month's birthday card challenge with this card.  That means I get to join the fabulous DT as a Guest Designer for this months' challenge!  Whoop whoop!  The challenge this time is 'Safe Travels'.  

I'm not going to lie, when I saw this theme I thought 'this is definitely going to be a challenge!' because I don't have anything in my stash that's particularly travel-related.  But that's when things get interesting, right?!  So I had a little brainstorm and started thinking of things that are related to travel, which I like because you end up coming up with something that's less obvious than the theme.  My first thoughts were of maps and forms of transport, that sort of thing...but then I thought more about the emotional side of travel.  To travel means to leave the place you are in and head off somewhere new - which is exciting and can be sad all at the same time!  There's also a sense of freedom associated with taking yourself out of your familiar surroundings and knowing that you can go anywhere you want...I think that's fantastic!!  So, I went along these lines...  Then things got a bit profound - I think it's been one of those weeks!  I was thinking about how all of us are on a great big journey every day - the journey of life.  As Darnell tells us at the end of every one of her amazing posts - Life Is Too Short.  It's certainly too short to be doing something you hate - we should enjoy everything, no matter how small and change the things we don't like - simple right?!!

So, I know I got a bit off track with the whole travel thing, but those are the thoughts it invoked in me, so there!!

Anyway, enough babbling...the card...

I chose the Distress Ink colours - Broken China and Crushed Olive - because they remind me of when you look at an image of the globe - green for land and blue for ocean.  Again, maybe another tenuous link, but it's a link all the same!  I really like this sentiment - I think it's just perfect :)

I'm also entering this card for the current CAS-ual Fridays challenge which is '2 Shades of Grey' - I'm so glad they didn't go with 50!  ;)  They've updated the rules over there so you should definitely check it out if you haven't already :)

Thank you so much for coming back to see me after my absence!  ;)

Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Black, Grey, Sky Grey
Stamps: Clear Impressions - Cherry Blossom
Ink:        Ranger - Perfect Medium; Distress Ink - Broken China, Crushed Olive
Other:    WOW! - Ebony e/p; pearls

Dragonfly dreams...

Hey guys!

How are we all?  I had such good intentions this week with regards to crafting - I was going to get caught up on all of the birthday cards, Mother's day cards and all the other cards I have to make...but alas, life never goes that way does it!  It turned into a super hectic week with another few on the way...but that's what keeps things interesting hey?!  :)

I did manage to get in before the deadline for The Paper Players sketch - which is a lovely CAS one so how could I resist :) and another go at the Catered Crop Recipe Swap - Good Birthdays.

I've gone monochrome with a touch of glittery embossing powder and a silver embossed sentiment...

This guy is pretty self-explanatory, so you'll be pleased to know that this is a super short, ramble free post today!  I'll try harder tomorrow if I can get a few more cards made!  ;)  Like I mentioned, the dragonfly was heat embossed using WOW's Clear Hologram Sparkle powder and so in real life he's super sparkly and looks like he might float away!  ;)

Here's The Paper Players sketch...

and Catered Crop...

Thanks so much for stopping by, and a great big thank you for all being so kind with your commenting...it really makes my day and I really appreciate you all taking the time to leave your thoughts ;)

Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, White Hammered, Pale Turquoise, Teal
Stamps: Verve - Hope Blooms; Clear Impressions - Wild & Free
Ink:        VersaColor - Silver; Papermania - Turquoise
Other:    WOW! - Silver Super Fine, Clear Hologram Sparkle e/p; rhinestones

Retro rainbow...

Hello guys!

It's Friday - yaay!!  I hope you all have some lovely plans for the weekend ahead, may it be jam-packed full of things to do or a nice, peaceful rest  :)  I'm not sure what I'm doing with mine yet...I'm sure I'll figure it out as I go along!  My DOH has the day off today (yipee!!  I feel like I haven't seen him for ages as he's been working 7 days a week :( ) and the sun has actually made an appearance!  It may not be warm, but at least the rain has ceased for a while which is a good thing.  My thoughts are with all those who have been adversely affected by the terrible weather we've had, not only here but in the US too...I hope you're all ok :)

Before I get onto my card...welcome to my new followers!  Thank you so much for joining me here - I hope you enjoy your stay!  ;)

So anyway, the card...that's why we're all here!

This one is for Retro Sketches, Catered Crop AND A Blog Named Hero - whoop!

This card came to me seemingly out of nowhere!  I woke up the other morning and the idea was just in my head - who knows what I must've been dreaming about?!  I actually quite like how this turned out!!

There's not really a great deal to say abut this card - it's pretty obvious how it was made - no super duper techniques or skill!  Just some concertina'd card made by using my little score board (I only got this a few weeks ago - can you believe how far behind I am!), an embossed sentiment and some sparkly bits...c'est voila! 

Here's the view through the zig-zags...I couldn't help myself, it looked too pretty!!

So, for the challenges...

Retro Sketches, sketch obviously!...

Catered Crop - Birthday...

and last, but by no means least...A Blog Named Hero - Roy G. Biv...who doesn't love a rainbow?!!...

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you all have a fabulous weekend whatever you're doing and I may see you before it's through!!  ;)

Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Black, Bright Red, Citrus, Daffodil, Spring green, Ocean Blue, Grape,
                      Lilac
Stamps: Stamping All Day - Art Deco Happy Birthday
Ink:        VersaColor - Black
Other:    WOW! - Ebony e/p; rhinestones

Frame it...

Hey, hey!

I hope this Wednesday morning finds you all well ;)  Can you believe we're half way to the weekend again?!  I mean seriously...I know time flies as you get older, but this is ridiculous!  Over half way through February too...how did that happen?!  The good thing about the weeks passing quickly however is that the new challenges come around sooner!  There's a silver lining to every cloud  ;)

Speaking of new challenges, I've noticed a (nother!) new one has cropped up and it's super cool!  It's called 'Cure For The Monday Blues' - how perfect is that!  Another challenge to look forward to on a Monday morning!  Taheerah is the mastermind behind this inspiration challenge (sorry, I categorise challenges...sketch, inspiration etc... it helps me when I'm stumped!) and it is now in its fifth week.  I became aware of it on week 3 but have only now had a chance to participate  :)

This week's inspiration image has the title 'Frame It'.  Now this is kinda spooky because I was in one of those arty-farty bar/cafe places over the weekend (my brother is as arty-farty as I am, else I don't normally get to go to these places!) and they had a wall decorated solely with mirrors of all different sizes and different styles of frames and I thought at the time...'that would be a cool idea for a card.'  Yes, I am that sad...  So anyway, I did a quick sketch when I got home so I didn't forget my idea and thought...'I'll get round to that at some point'.  Well, after seeing the inspiration image for this week I couldn't put it off any longer!!!

Here is my card...

I'm not gonna lie...this isn't exactly how I had envisioned this card...I'm fairly happy with the outcome though.  I have pushed myself a bit with this one too...it's leaning towards the freestyle collage style that I'm so jealous of and am desperate to be able to pull off without it looking like a disparate mess when the idea is to coordinate all of the elements beautifully!  Also, I have SKEWED nearly every element on this card which caused my OCD to go into overdrive I can tell you!!!  I'm still twitching now!  I have to keep looking at it to get myself used to it!  ;)  (Yeh, yeh, I know I'm bonkers...!)

What I am happy with though, are the colours.  It's a very muted palette for me and I'm pleased that they all work together quite well despite not being colours that I would normally use.  I'm definitely going to need a glass of wine this evening just to get over all this change!

And just because this will probably be the first and last time you see anything like this on my blog, here's a close up of the layers...

Now, here is the inspiration that has pushed me and caused me to get into such a tizz (in a good way you understand!)...

See, it's so pretty!!

I am also entering this card in the challenge over at Catered Crop - it has been WAAAY too long since I joined in over there!!  The Recipe Swap for this fortnight is 'Good Birthdays'.

Ok, so that's all for now  :)  Thank you for stopping by ;)

Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Black, Grey, Sky Blue, Pink Sorbet; Tracing paper
Stamps: Clear Impressions - Wild & Free; Verve - Notebook Paper Plain Jane; Flourishes - Berry Sweet 
Ink:        Ranger - Perfect Medium; VersaColor - Charcoal; Distress Ink - Victorian Velvet, Dusty Concord
Other:    WOW! - Platinum, Clear, Bright White Opaque Super Fine e/p; rhinestones

Four challenges, one card...BOOM!

Hello there!

Today is SUPER busy day so I'm going to have to be quick!  There are about a million things I should be doing instead of writing a blog post...he he!  I'm off to the airport in two hours for a little trip to Edinburgh for my DOH's brother's wedding!

I would like to take a moment to say hi to my new followers though!  I'm so glad to have you here and I hope you enjoy your stay!  ;)

Now, as the title suggests I managed to hit four challenges with one card!  Hopefully it counts for all of them ;)

The challenges are Catered Crop - Orange is the new black (which I did start watching on Netflix last night and looks pretty good!); CAS(E) this sketch #50 (can you believe it's been going nearly a year already?!); the Fusion card challenge which I haven't played along with for a while and last, but not least, The Paper Players - a CAS masculine birthday card.

Here's my card;

...and a wee close up of the stitching...

Yes, I'm still on a sewing roll!  I know that my Father-In-Law won't realise just how long it took to draw the circles, measure the distance between the holes (I am too OCD to eyeball that sort of thing!) pierce the holes and then sew them...but that's ok, I know you guys do ;)

The layout is from the CTS sketch, the colours are from the inspiration photo over at Fusion (and kinda the layout I guess?) and the Catered Crop orange-ness.  Hopefully this counts as a CAS masculine birthday card too because like I say, it's going to my Father-In-Law!!  ;)

Thanks so much for stopping by, all your support really encourages my creativity ;)

Still with the grey background Blogger?!!!  Really?!!


Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Spring Green
Stamps: Stamping All Day - Deco Birthday
Ink:        Ranger - Perfect Medium
Other:    WOW! - Opaque Primary Mandarin e/p; thread

Pack it up...

Hello there!

I managed to find some time to join in with the Catered Crop challenge which is to make some packaging.  This little project has been floating around my head for some time now and this was the perfect opportunity to get it out of my head and into a real form!

Last Christmas (which feels like only yesterday, however was nearly a whole year ago now...how did that happen??!!) I was given a lovely box of Thornton's chocolates - yum!  As i was eating the chocolates I noticed how cool the box was and I thought that it would make a lovely box to put a gift in.  Because I have a terrible hoarding type OCD, I couldn't bring myself to just decorate the box I already had...so I disassembled it and painstakingly measured it all out and then drew out and made my own.  I have to admit, it took a few attempts to get it just right, but I was really pleased with how it turned out ;)

Here's the original box...

...and here is my version of the box...

This box is for my Mum, she absolutely loves the Art Deco style women in their beautiful dresses.  I have to say, so do I!  ;)  I thought it would be more elegant to keep the colours to a minimum and use a classy silver on black - I know for a fact that Mum will like that so there will be no bottom slapping required!!  Ha ha! ;) 

Luckily, my mother doesn't read my blog, at least not on a regular basis, and so she won't see this which is handy as I am planning to use this for her Christmas present ;)

I am also hoping that this counts as 'decadent'.  The challenge this month over at WOW! Embossing Powder is to create a project inspired by the theme of 'Decadence'.  I don't think there's anything much more indulgent than a box of chocolates or a an ornate box for a lovely present ;)  (This box is ornate for me!)

Thank you guys for stopping by, as always ;)

Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - Black, White
Stamps: Papermania - Art Deco; Verve - One Person
Ink:        VersaColor - Silver
Other:    WOW! - Silver e/p; pearls; rhinestones; silver elastic

Variation on a theme...

Hi guys!

How are you all?  It's been ages again hasn't it...I hope you're all well :)

I am here today with a few cards, all based on the same layout.  The first one is the birthday card I made for my other half's son's birthday this Thursday just gone...

His favourite colour is yellow, so as you can see I ran with that.  Also, this ties in nicely with CASology's cue card for this week, which is 'Yellow'.  It's been such a long time since I was able to join in at CASology, I'm really pleased I had a chance this week!

As it is Father's Day today (Happy Father;s Day to all you Dads out there!) I have two cards, one for my Dad and one for the Father-In-Law (maybe he'll be my actual father-in-law one day, but I consider him to be my second Dad already :))

My Dad's favourite colour combination has always been blue and orange.  Whenever he made scale model aeroplanes he always made them in blue and orange...

Once again, my stamp collection is seriously lacking and I don't have a Father's Day stamp of any description, so the pen and ink came out to finish this bad boy off!  Thank you for all your comments last time about using a Versamark pen so that I could emboss my hand written sentiments...I did give it a go.  Unfortunately, with calligraphy you require a flat tip nib (width to suit) and the Versamark is obviously round tipped so no matter how hard I tried, the effect didn't turn out quite right :(  So I am still on a mission to find a liquid embossing ink that I can dip my nibs into like I do with the coloured ink...I may have to email Versamark!!  :)  I am entering this card into the Recipe Swap over at Catered Crop this week - the theme being 'For The Boys'

The Father-In-Law's card I made in black and white...

I'll admit, I made a mistake here.  My Father-In-Law is an avid supporter of Tottenham Hotspurs having grown up in Tottenham and played for the youth team back in the day.  I'm not a big football fan and have only seen the Spurs kit at a glance if it's been on the TV.  I thought the colours were black and white - they're not!  Their colours are NAVY and white, so I think I can be excused for getting it wrong!  When I found out it was too late to make another card in the right colours so I had to leave it - maybe next time Richard - sorry!!  It doesn't matter too much though as he didn't know that's what I was aiming for in the first place :)

That's all for today...I am hoping to get some cards made by the time the weekend is out although it hasn't gone well so far!  I miss posting and being in blogland with you all!  You'll be glad to know that the training of my other half to cook dinner is going well...he did try to cut his finger off when we were at work at the beginning of the week though so he hasn't been able to cook, or do much else, all week or I would've had a chance to sit down and craft!  Oh well, he's on the mend now and hopefully his finger won't take too long to heal so that I can get out of the kitchen and back to my desk :)

Thanks so much for stopping by  ;)

Supplies

Yellow Card:
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Black, Grey, Daffodil, Primrose
Stamps: Stamping All Day - Art Deco Birthday
Ink:        Ranger - Perfect Medium
Other:    Thread; rhinestones

Blue and Orange Card:
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Black, Grey, Sky Blue, Citrus Orange
Stamps: NONE!
Ink:        Windsor & Newton - Light Blue
Other:    Thread; rhinestones

Black and White Card:
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Black, Grey
Stamps: NONE!
Ink:        Windsor & Newton - Black
Other:    Thread

Happy 30th birthday...erm, I mean 21st!!...

Hi guys!

I am here today with a birthday card for my partner's son's girlfriend!  (my would be step daughter-in-law I guess?!)  It is her 30th birthday today, but we have decided that it should actually just be another 21st because 30 sounds too old!!  :)

I made this card using the sketch from CAS(E) this sketch - I've been so busy lately...you know, in the real world (ugh...don't you just hate that it eats right into the time you could be spending doing something you actually WANT to do?!) and I was so pleased that I managed to find some time to join in with this challenge as it is fast becoming one of my favourites, which is hardly surprising as the sketches and inspiration from the DT are always so amazing...right!?  I am really pleased to hear about the alterations they are making over there as of the next challenge...the deadline is being extended from Tuesday to Thursday (which is super helpful for me, I'll have fewer excuses now!) and they are going to invite past winners to be guest designers - how exciting!  As if we all needed another incentive to play along :)

I have just noticed that it's the 30th challenge which I think is nicely coincidental with Sara's 30th birthday...it's the simple things in life...ha ha! ;)

Here's the sketch...

...and here's my card...

Hopefully you can tell that I did use the sketch, albeit as more of a jumping off point than actually following it strictly it transpires!  You should know me by now...I struggle with rules ;)  I just added a little decorative border at the bottom instead of the banners and put my banner at the top...my Mother would agree that I always have to do everything arse upwards ;)  (her terminology, not mine!)

Personally, I am not really an animal print kinda gal, I'm much more plain than that as I'm sure you've all noticed.  Sara, however, loves leopard print and so I got this paper just for her!  Yep, this is another crazy British wallpaper - I know Ardyth was astounded at the Disco Black glittery wallpaper that I used on her birthday card!  So Ardyth, here's another one for you! 

I know it's a bit difficult to see as my lighting situation has yet to improve...and my photography skills for that matter...but I have used that lovely Clear Matt Dull embossing powder from WOW! again on the background to add some subtle flourishes.

I am also entering this card into the Catered Crop Recipe Swap, which this time round is 'Mellow Yellow'.  I know there's nothing remotely mellow about this card, but it certainly has the yellow element!  

Thanks for stopping by ;)

Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Black, Daffodil; A.S Creation - Leopard Print Wallpaper
Stamps: Stamping All Day - Art Deco Birthday; Waltzingmouse - Fancy Flourishes and Scallops and Dots
Ink:        Ranger - Perfect Medium
Other:    WOW! - Clear Matt Dull and Ebony e/p; Spellbinders - Classic Edges Two and Decorative Inserts
             Three; flowers; rhinestones

Guest Designer anyone...?!

Hello there!

It's been a while hasn't it!!?  My absence has been due to technical internet issues I'm afraid - I don't know how I've coped without it for so long?!!  Two weeks is way too long!  Also, during this time my iPhone decided the best thing to do would be to delete ALL of my contacts!  I was horrified!  Luckily I managed to retrieve them - phew!  I have now realised that I should back my phone up a little more often - apparently it hadn't been done since November 2011 when I got the phone - whoops!  I am a little concerned about how much my life depends on all this technology and how lost I am without it!  

Anyway, enough of all that!  Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who still stopped by my little blog and left so much love and encouragement during my absence - I did manage to receive a few emails intermittently throughout my internet-less time so that was lovely :)  I am planning on visiting you all very soon!

Another wonderful thing that has happened (possibly given away by the title of this post!) is that I have the opportunity to be a Guest Designer over at Catered Crop this week!  Woohoo!  I was one of the three winners of the Make An Impression Recipe Swap :)  My first ever GD spot and I'm so excited!!  Another great big thank you to Lyndal for introducing me to this challenge ;)  

Some shameless boasting there, sorry!  I'm just too excited!  The Recipe Swap this time round is 'Fabric of Friendship'  - how fab is that?!  I have a bag full of fabric remnants from my brother and a friend of my sister who is a seamstress so this was the perfect opportunity to use some unfairly neglected fabric!

Here is my contribution to the challenge;

I have to say, I was part way through this card when I thought 'wouldn't it be lovely to have a sewing machine!'  My fingers were somewhat sore after this!  (I had done some sewing for another three cards previous to this one and my paper piercer makes the holes slightly too large so I have to use my needle - after 100 holes or so it really starts piercing through your finger with the eye end! Ouch!)  

I had an image of how I wanted this card to look in my mind, as we all do.  When I was part way through, I really didn't think it was going in the right direction, however I persevered and it actually ended up just how I wanted it!!  Phew!  I like that the fabric and the stitching looks a little messy (for me anyway!) that was the soft touch I was going for :)  If my brother doesn't see it on here first, I think this may end up as a birthday card for him!!  

I can't wait to see what the other GD's and the DT come up with, not to mention all the participants too - the last challenge was jam packed full of beauties!

Thanks again to Linda for this opportunity - you've made this girls week!  :)

Thanks for stopping by everyone, I'm hoping to be back a little providing that the internet behaves!  Ciao for now ;)

Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Sky Blue
Stamps: Stamping All Day - Art Deco Birthday
Ink:        VersaColor - Silver
Other:     Fabric remnants; thread, WOW! - Silver Super Fine e/p; sore fingers!!!

10/10 for effort...

Hey peeps!

How's it going?  I hope you all have glorious weather where you are like we do today!  Gonna get myself out in the garden - whoop whoop!

As expected, Mother rejected the previous card I made for her friend who is moving house...I knew it would happen.  She tried to be diplomatic about it however when I emailed the picture over to her... 

"Ooooh thats lovely, but can you add a "New house" or "Good luck in you new home" type message-think that would be more appropriate.
 
Thats one for the collection tho'
 
Love you more xoxoxox xoxoxox xoxoxox "

...so there you have it - verbatim.  Back to the drawing board I went.  Then I saw the sketch for this week over at CAS(E) This Sketch and I knew exactly what I was going to do!  Don't you just love it when that happens?!!

I am loving this sketch - the possibilities are endless...wouldn't you agree?  For my card, I stuck with the red, black and white colour scheme of before as I have it on good authority that these will go down well with the recipient (and Mother)... 

I think it's safe to say that this is very obviously a 'New Home' card and I cannot foresee any 'suggestions' this time!  ;)  Unfortunately, I don't have ANY stamps whatsoever relating to 'new home' or 'moving house' or even 'good luck' as it goes, so the trusty nibs and ink came out.  They do get a bit neglected now that I have more sentiment stamps now actually, which is sad.  I should make more of an effort to actually write things myself!  The only draw back is that I love to emboss my sentiments...so unless I can find some liquid embossing writing ink then that's not going to happen...I see a hole in the market here!  

Lacking in embossing writing ink, I embossed the chevrons instead!!  Another present from the fabulous Chupa in her blog candy giveaway ;)  This card actually started life as a rectangular one, but he just didn't look right so I chopped him down and he looks much better square!  The house and sentiment are popped up on foam tape so it's a little more interesting. 

A big thank you to Lyndal for pointing out that there is a challenge over at Catered Crop - Make An Impression and that my previous moving card and now this one would qualify!  Thanks girl!  So, I'm entering both cards into that one too :)

Right...I'm off to enjoy the sunshine now...knowing our weather today will qualify as our whole summer and I'd hate to miss it!!  Have a wonderful weekend my lovelies, especially those of us with a bank holiday coming this Monday :)  We're going to a bike rally with our Harley friend and it's gonna be good!

Thanks for stopping by ;)

Supplies

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

Stamps: Gel-a-Tins - Chevron-tastic

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

Other:    WOW! - Apple red and Ebony e/p; rhinestones