House Husband

I always forget there's 31 days in July thats because my son was born on the 30th and in my head its the end of the month. I think today I will drag out my Christmas stamps and paper from the hiding place.
But before my blog goes completely into Christmas mode here's my card for Lenny with what I think is the perfect image from Mo Manning. If you don't know what I mean check out this post.
The image is Shoulders Boy S and there are quite a few to choose from including some with a girl and a fabulous Soldier one.
The papers are Simple Stories and since the stars were already on the paper it stands to reason that I follow through with larger stars. The Good Luck is cut out using Memory Box alphabets dies.
I knew I should have schedule this post cos I'm a bit late this morning having celebrated my nephew Steven getting married to Beth yesterday. Haven't downloaded the camera yet so I leave you pic of the happy couple I took at my brothers Ruby Wedding last year.

Wheatfields

Hi, all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge!
Thank you for joining us for the Emboss It Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.
We will be back soon with the name of the lucky winner of the $50 Voucher.
This week the challenge is ...

ANYTHING GOES!

That's right, it's your FAVORITE challenge of them all! Show us what you've got folks! Anything Goes, but your best is always ADORED!!!

We are showcasing Cas-ual Fridays and Technique Tuesday Products this week. You don't have to use them to join in but if you have some we would love to see how you ROCK these awesome brands! If you don't have any yet, follow those links, folks, because you are in for a treat! If you love sentiments, BOTH CAS-ual Fridays and Technique Tuesday offer AMAZING original sentiments along with some fantastic images, too! YAY!

As always Simon Says Stamp will be giving away $50 voucher to shop at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store. Because you are awesome!

Another card that looked better inside my head. I saw this layout and thought it was a bit different but I had an issue with the last bit of stamping of the Avery Elle Wood grain stamp, smudge the last bit so it had to be cut down. There was no chance I was going to risk making another when it was almost perfect.
I cut the top shape to size and then used the Tim Holtz Inkpads to blend colours using a punch circle for a  mask for my Sun.
I then stamped the wheat stamp from Technique Tuesday Grateful twice each time to give a bit of shadow effect. Then I used held my breath while I stamped the sentiment but it turned out fine.
My problem I think is I should of had a mat under the top part of my card, that and a bit more time when I made it last week.

So now it's YOUR turn. We can't WAIT to see what you want to show off! Happy Crafting!

There are fabulous Giveaways and inspiration from fabulous designers on a daily basis over on the Simon Says Stamp Blog , if you haven't subscribed by email you may want to so you don't miss out! We are talking some GOOD stuff, folks! For reals!

 

You have until Wed  8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in the challenge.

No backlinking allowed - creations must be new, Only 5 new creations will be eligible in the prize draw.

Favourite Stamp

The new challenge on Everybody Art is now up and this week is for your favourite stamp. Ok I know this stamp is a digi from Mo Manning but its also a Penny Black cling stamp, yes I know thats a bit of cheat.
To be honest all my stamps and digi are my favourites which is why I have had a hard job parting with some and also I hard job to chose which one to use.
Making this card while MIL was here and very short of time wasn't such a good idea since there isn't many embellishments but hopefully it looks busy enough they won't be missed.
The papers are some I got from Stamping Up and thought it was time to use them. My favourite MFT border die for round the circle and scallop border is a punch . Some lace and ribbon to finish.
Do pop over and check out the team and hope you can decide on a favourite stamp too and join us.
This is the last challenge for the summer and the challenge will be back in September.

A Knitting Fairy for Mum

Another card I can now show, its my Mum's 89th Birthday today and my Sis brought over a cake yesterday. It was lovely has we sat out in her Nursing Home's pretty garden. But she got her cards and present so I know this one has already been received not that my Mum goes on a PC.
When I saw Mo's Baby Fairy Purl I knew I had to use it for her. She's always knitted and for a long time she stopped but when she got settled into a Nursing Home after many years she wanted to start again. Today she has been making Father Christmas, Snowmen and Penquins ready for the home's Christmas Fair.
My only problem with this card was I couldn't stop adding stuff.
La La Land corners, MFT Upsy Daisy die with  Memory Box Fresh Foliage and I'm so glad Simon Says Stamps make a English Mum die.
Not sure I should be on the computer has for the past hour its been lightening and thundering.

For Lenny

At last I can start showing cards that I've made for people but until they had been received they've had to stay in my draft post.
I knew it wasn't a good idea to make a retirement card for a work friend of Hubbys cos now I've had to do another for someone who is leaving. He is actually leaving because his wife earns more money than he does so he's staying home to look after his baby son.
He's leaving after 35 years working mainly as tractor driver and what better image to use than Mo's The Big Guy Tractor. Since his tractor was blue I obviously had to colour the cards tractor that colour too. Also he cuts large areas round the town using it which gave me the inspiration to place the PoppyStamps die of the flower border in front.
The Memory Box alphabet letters I used for the good luck and the Stampin up punch for chevrons.
The stamped sentiment on the outside and inside of the card are Penny Black.

Because Lenny won't be getting up early to travel from Littlehampton to Guildford each morning that inspired me to use a Dr Digi Walter image. My Biggest problem with this card it had to be large. In fact its an A4 card that I had to make joining the two pieces of card together that took the time.

Busy Mouse

Oh this turned out far busier than I thought it would hope it doesn't overpower my little mouse image. I'm still trying to use up all the Bo Bunny papers. The sketch is one I found my goggling card sketches but stupid me didn't think to save it.
Of my little mouse is a Penny Black and I decided to use the Memory Box Lavish Branch die and I found this flowers in my stash which I place where the flowers are on the branch.
Mmmm my umbrella looks a bit flat but it isnt.
So its an early start today to take back MIL home and it looks like it will have to be an early start on Sunday too.

Chalkboard Lollies

I love that inside the Simon Says Stamps August Kit there is a piece of printed chalkboard and just add some paper pieced lollies using the stamp set and it almost a finished card. I just added the printed banners and heart with a bit of twine from my Stash to finish off and job done. Really quick card.
Since we're staying home today I'm hoping I can finish off the card thats been on my desk for three days now. Its just waiting for the image to be layered

Bowled Over

I'm really not sure on the banners, yes the fish tail works but the the other one not so sure but I do love the trees in the Doodlebug paper. Also not forgetting Mr Dunderton poor chap definitely looks henpecked. Well the Missus let him out for a couple of hours to play cricket and since she has no interest at all in the fair game she nicked his credit card and off to do a bit of shopping.
This was going to be my son's birthday card but decided on another it also reminds me my nephew went on a stag do that included playing with Devon Malcolm couldn't have been much fun dressed up as Kermit.
Obviously Mr Dunderton is from Dr Digi and the sketch is from Sketch Saturday a couple of weeks ago.
I've managed to make a card for next weeks Simon Says Stamps Wednesday Challenge had to be a quick one cos we took MIL to Wisley yesterday. Today we're going to Bird World which we haven't been for years so be interesting to see how its changed. We had thought of going to Marwell but since its a full house of family and a hot car and three adults squeezed in the back for an hour and half might not be a fun idea.
Sorry I haven't been able to blog hop but hopefully after this week I might be able to track down the goodies I had put aside for a candy. Just wish I could find them.

Embossing Bella

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Thank you for joining us for the Spots and Dots Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.
We will be back soon with the name of the lucky winner of the $50 Voucher
This week the challenge is ,,,,,,,,

EMBOSS IT

heat emboss, dry emboss or you can use embossing paste.

As always Simon Says Stamp will be giving away $50 voucher to shop at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store

I couldn't decide to heat or dry emboss so I've tried both. First of all using a scoring board like the Martha Stewart Scoring Board I embossed the lines down the sides of the main panel.The camera just about lets you.
I've never had much luck with white ink pads you only have to look how many I've got to see that so I decided to heat emboss with  Simon Says Stamp Best Mom Ever stamp set, in fact I've used the small rose from the set. Stamped on the paper with Versamark and used white embossing powder. Does make it tricky to use an embossing tool to give them more depth but I think they work with the cute image.
Onto the sweet image is another Stamping Bella called Opal the Optimist and the papers are Authentique Flourish pack. Nearly forgot I finished off the card by using the Happy Birthday die from Simon says Stamp.
I thinkg thats it, oh not quite the tiny scallop border is MFT.

So now it's YOUR turn.  Happy Crafting

There are fabulous Give Aways and inspiration from fabulous designers on a daily basis over on the Simon Says Stamp Blog , if you haven't subscribed by email you may want to so you don't miss out 

You have until Wed  8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in

No backlinking allowed, Only 5 new creations will be eligible in the prize draw

Cowboy Baby

Another Tuesday, another challenge from Everybody Art Challenge and this week you have to use Corrugated Card. I was able to cheat a bit here, I have a rippler ( I think thats what its call) that makes card look like corrugated card and make the border across my card for my twine.
Of course my baby image comes from Mo called Tex I did erase the toy on his side to make my life easier with the cutting and layering but I still made sure the Mo's copyright was left.
The papers are Simple Stories and my stars are Spellbinders but I used the die to draw round to get the red mat for underneath the actual stars.
There's just enough space left to add a number, well just about.
Now don't forget to check out the team and hope you can join us this week.
I shall be around but my time on the PC is limited with MIL arriving today.

Ice Cream Truck

I was determined to use this months Stamp Kit from Simon Says Stamp often it arrives and time flies out the window. But I saw the stamp set of Ice Cream Dream and the cute Ice Cream Van Diecut they needed to be used. So I cut out the white from the window and though you can't see it I've added acetate behind it.
Used a Memory box Landscape die  to go with the cloud paper that came in the kit.
Our little heatwave sapped my energy so I wasn't keen to stamp and colour so using one of the papers I stamped and just cut them out. I stamped on some scraps of Kraft card to make the lollie sticks. Now my lollies are good enough to eat.
The birthday wishes sentiment is from Birthday Balloon set and the I also used Talk Bubbles die but it was chopped up to fit the corner. The enamel dots are Doodlebug and the trick with them is just use a few and try not to cover the page but I still trying to learn that technique.

Baby

I class this card a bit of failure, love the large Hello and Doily Heart from Simon Says Stamps but my bunny lets me down. The Clearly Besotted was stamped in a pink that matches the card but the camera hated it and shes a bit wishy washy. Then I was keen on the white eyes so I dotted them with a brown pen thinking black would be too harsh but don't like this either.

So this time I used googly eyes and photo it in a difference place. The camera definitely didn't like photo the rabbit and the googly eyes are even worse now. Not sure how I can resolve or save this card.
Well the weather men got it totally wrong about the weather and the Airshow BBQ had the best weather ever. I leave you with two photos I manage to take and the highlight of the show.

Hedgie time

A quick card this Saturday I saw the sketch in my card sketch board on Pinterest, although its not quite the same now. I made my flowers using the EK success retro punch to look like the ones on the patterened paper but I still want to make my centres smaller but its too late since they are truly stuck.
The leaves are MFT are from MFT and I just noticed no ribbon or twine what was I thinking.
Yesterday I managed a card before hiding out in my front room, when its the hottest day of year so far you kinda thankful for living in cold, corner house but even so I have fans going.
Of course the weather has to take a turn for the worse when we off to my sisters Airshow BBQ lets hope it skirts round and misses us altogether.

Poinsettia

Mmmm new Memory Box dies, love the idea of a poinsettia corner cluster but they are the outline rather than the whole flower. Although a bit fiddly I think this card turned out alright but thinking afterwards my centres should be gold but the red pearls do look rather striking.
My favourite Christmas sentiment from Simon Says Stamp to finish. I may moan about how fiddly but once I dealt with the dies it was simple job of  fixing onto a card.
I've had a very successful week making cards but most can't be posted till after next week, still have a Wedding card to make which again can't be shown for a while. I'm now behind on my layout a week so eventually some catching up will need to done there.

Pirates Life for Me

Its time for another Blog Hop from Mo's Dream Team and this month I'm the hostess with the theme of Water of any description. This was because I knew there was lots of images with water guns, bubbles and even in the case of my card sea.

A simple card but a rather complicated image to layer. There's quite a lot of merging going on here. First off there's the Beach Element 1 which I then had to merge my images on. I needed something for First Mate Kate to sit on so I had to use the chest from Pirates's Stuff that just left Captain Hugh.
I doodled round the yellow patterned paper to match the Beach Element frame and I found my Crossbones die.
It did take a while to layer but I'm really pleased how it turned and I saved the merged image so I don't have to tear out any more hair doing it again.
Since this is my theme and I'm hostess the blog hop starts here and you need to Hop, Skip and JUMP over to Heidy and if you get lost the whole pop over to Mo's Dream Team Blog where the Blog order is there in its entirety. Don't forget to comment along the way there's a couple of Mo's vouchers to be randomly drawn from the comments.

Spots and Dots

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Thank you for joining us for the Let's Be Clear Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.
We are welcoming 3 new designers onto the Design Team this week. Please join us in welcoming the lovely  VIRGINIA.  JENN  and CARYN 
We would also like to thank LAUREL, EMILY and LAURA for all of their lovely creations over the past months/years. We wish you all the very best of luck for the future.
We will be back soon with the name of the lucky winner of the $50 Voucher
This week the challenge is ,,,,,,,,

SPOTS AND DOTS

We are showcasing  Paper Smooches Products this week. You don't have to use them to join in but if you have some we would love to see them used.

As always Simon Says Stamp will be giving away $50 voucher to shop at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store

My card is plan B because I was going to cut out the Birthday Word Wise from Paper Smooches along side of my Pure Innocence image but Mr Big Shot had an hissy and it didn't cut properly. So I cut the words out in Pink didn't like it, White no wasn't keen and in the end I decided on the grey but I'm still not convinced.
I've already said the image is Pure Innocence from MFT but haven't said that she is called Happy Mail.
The papers are Authentique Flourish and the flowers are Martha Stewart Hydrangea punch.
I actually used the Mojo Monday sketch this week.

So now it's YOUR turn.  Happy Crafting

There are fabulous Give Aways and inspiration from fabulous designers on a daily basis over on the Simon Says Stamp Blog , if you haven't subscribed by email you may want to so you don't miss out 

You have until Wed  8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in

No backlinking allowed, Only 5 new creations will be eligible in the prize draw

Swirls

Goodness is Tuesday again and another challenge on Everybody Art Challenge, this week its for Swirls.
I used this adorable image that I saved after merging two of Mo's images Mikhail and Fifi aren't they so cute together.
The Bo Bunny papers which are so old has a bit dark grey so suited Mikhail and of course all the pink for Fifi. I started to used a sketch from the Sketch and Stash gallery but it went its own way and looks nothing like the sketch now.
My swirls are MFT Formal Flourish but I cut two for each corner but cut off the main part so I could add to the one left to make a corner swirl. Then I tried to add flowers several times and then gave up because none looked right.
Don't forget to check out the team and hope you can join us this week.
I have a long list of family cards to make July being a busy month and then include a leaving work card or two and a Wedding too. Images have been coloured which is the easy part now to turn them into cards.

Fish for Dinner

Just when you thought it was safe to go in the water I make another fishy card. Ok but I was inspired by the Blog Hop where one of the hoppers used the wave stamp a couple of times with different colours and then when I saw the CAS(E) this sketch well I just had to.
Once again I used the Simon Says Stamp Keep Swimming set, I didn't use Birthday since I wasn't sure it would fit and I was right.
I also used copics to colour the fish but maybe next time I chose different colours blue and yellow on cheap card was asking for trouble and I'm amazed that none look a bit green.
The spare room sorted but I don't think Hubby realised how long it would take but the job is done.