Sunday, May 31, 2015

Last of the Christening Pocket Pages


Finished of the two Pocket Pages for the Christening. All the Christening pages are made using the same Echo Park papers and flowers. One of things I have discovered my printer's photo software makes random size photos does cause a bit of headache sometimes.


I knew that MFT teapot and cups set would come in handy. Now these pages are done I'm onto Hubby's 60th not sure where to do them in 8 inch and have a separate book like I did for my Vegas trip, decisions, decisions.

Saturday, May 30, 2015

White on White


I can't believe I wasn't force to make a shaker card but I saw the Freshly Made Sketch and I immediately saw a shaker card. So I thought I would combine the two with the Penny Black Saturday Challenge of White on White with only the image in colour.
Since gold is very much in vogue at the moment and I just so happened to have the Penny Black Efflorescence stamps which I haven't used yet. It meant I didn't have to colour if I just gold embossed using the stamps. I cut them out and off their stems leaving a little white border so that the embossing didn't have a hissy.
I use a gold glitter pen for the centres so that was the flowers now for the rest of the card.
First I used the Bricked embossing folder from Sizzix and cut it out and stuck it firmly to the main card. Time for my shaker card but first I used the Penny Black Interlocking Die but I only wanted a part of it to back my shaker card. The outside frame was using the Simon Says Stamp Stitched Square Dies and I used the Penny Black Flourish but it got cut up to make my swirls.
Finally a sentiment using the Simon Says Stamps Sketched Banners and once again using gold embossing powder.
Not really sure it works but do like the gold flowers I can see that being used again.

        

Friday, May 29, 2015

Just Like Buses


So I finally sat down to use the June Simon Says Stamps kit unlike last time it didn't land in the bin.(Whoops what I meant was the last card I tried to make my post sounded likeI threw the kit in the bin). I've used the fabulous Happy and Smile stamp set  which comes with the kit but you can buy separately and this red stripe card was also in the kit. I do have an issue actually cutting the paper and this is the only one a bit of another I managed to cut. 
The sketch is CAS(E) this sketch  that was launch yesterday, I decided to use the stamps then found the banners in the Simon Says Stamps Baby Party Animals which I paper pieced along with the parcels.

I've added the sketch because I'm still smiling and patting myself on my back at how clever I was making the above card, little things!


This card I first used the Simon Says Stamp Diagonal Stripes to make the blue background. Then I got out the Stitched rectangles to make the centre. The flowers I had left over from a Pocket Page Project thought it would be a shame to waste them they are Simon Says Stamps Flowers on My Mind stamp set. Of course I had to use the fabulous Smile circle die that came with the June Kit. I actually made something very similar for my Pocket Page apart from the birthday sentiment, I can see this die being used a lot.



This is sketch SC542 from Splitcoast Stampers and I thought I would give it a go I still had another background made for a card then didn't use with the same stamp that make my blue diagonal stripes. There was no way I was cutting 6 inch sheets of pretty card to make my fishtail banners so I used the washi tape again came with the kit. I layered on card then made my banners in different sizes. Then of course had to use the die again.


Thursday, May 28, 2015

Busy Bee


Still struggling to make cards, have one on my desk at the moment I got so far and now I thinking the best place for it may be the bin but we will see. So at the weekend I had a bit of blogger break and got out some scrapbooking instead.
I had some of these October Afternoon papers left over the only 12 inch piece was the words which I cut down. A couple of bits that was 12 inch long.
I saw a sketch on Pinterest which got me started and then I went my own way. Butterflies are Kars punch my caterpillar which I just discovered I forgot his eyes will sort that out with a white pen is a Poppystamp die. The bee is a Simon Says Stamp stamp and words are Do Crafts foam ones.
Ivy leaves are a Sue Wilson, flower is Memory Box I think its the Aster one but don't hold me to that, grass is MFT but I had to cut three dies to fit along the bottom. I added a couple of grungy stamp dots to make the word place not so plain.
The little chap is Sebby from last year.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

100th Birthday


wed-newchallenge-header

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Thank you for joining us for the Stencil 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

We are showcasing AVERY ELLE 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
50dollar_voucher_600px


There was a post on shared on my Timeline on FB about Winnie who was about to have her 100 Birthday but had wasn't expected to get any cards. Bit of a mistake to put on Facebook especially on crafters timelines.
This is the card I sent her, I made it with Avery Elle Numbered Balloons Die I do have the stamps too but I tried stamping and embossing in gold and the numbers weren't happy to be cut out. Lucky I had a scrap of gold card, can't believe I didn't use it in the first place. Found some gold twine for the balloons held together with the sentiment from Simon says Stamp Birthday Messages fishtail  banner.
To make it a bit fancy I used the Spellbinder Majesty die for background for the balloons, I see these are out of stock at the moment but there's no reason to have it there or even another fancy oval would look just as good. The main outside background is using the Simon Says Stamps Favourite Flowers but I stamped in gold and embossed with gold embossing powder.

So now it's YOUR turn.  Happy Crafting
Simon Says Stamp 

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Good Luck


Its time for a new challenge on Everybody Art Challenge this week its a sketch. I'm pretty sure I only cheated once and that was for the lace and ribbon I've a sneaky feeling it should be under the mat its above.
Other than that I think I've kept pretty much to the sketch.
 
My papers are LOTV, flowers are the EK Success punch and the sentiment is a Woodware one.
The image is a Saturated Canary and I know here in the UK there are the Race for Life events going on, this image is perfect for that.
Do pop over and check out the team, also hope you can join us this week.

Friday, May 22, 2015

Turtle



No card to show but I do have my turtle which I crochet. He fits in the palm of your hand and I'm so pleased how he turned out I don't think I gonna be able to part with him.


Here's the link to his pattern, apparently he's called Sheldon.


He also has a little tail.


Thursday, May 21, 2015

Christmas in May




It made a nice change to colour up a Christmas image for the latest Blog Hop and I chose my favourite Winter Fairy Talva. She does take a bit of time to do, to make her icy wings I used glossy accents with glitter but I have to wait for that to dry before added the flower soft and fun flock mixture to made fluffy bits on her clothes.
For a change I used the Spellbinders Majesty Oval but I think the Floral Oval is still my favourite, I cut out the centre before lifting the die to give it a frame over my image. The Holly is Martha Stewart punch but I added an extra leaf and the Ivy is a Sue Wilson but chopped up to fit.
The papers are a download from Nitwits but its not as wishy washy in real life and what happened to my ribbon because its changed colour when I photo the card.

So you should of arrived from my teamie Julie and I can't tell you Hop, Skip and Jump to anyone because I'm the end of the hop. But if you didn't realise there was Hop pop over to Heidy's where the hop started.

Don't forget there are two $5 gift vouchers to spend in Mo's shop to be drawn from someones comments so make sure you comment on everyone in the blog hop posts.


Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Stencil It


wed-newchallenge-header

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Thank you for joining us for the Inspirational Color Swatch 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

STENCIL IT 

We are showcasing THE CRAFTERS WORKSHOP 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
50dollar_voucher_600px



Last week I used stamps and white embossing powder this week I've used a Mini Echo's from Crafters Workshop stencil but first I run the card and stencil through my big shop but left the stencil on to blend Simon Says Stamp Blush Pink and Hero Arts Butter Bar onto the white space. So although not obvious in the photo it gave a nice raised finished.

Then I stared at it for a while because if I wasn't careful my card would look like last weeks so I chopped the corner off it almost broke my heart since I was so please with how it turned out.
I needed some flowers so I used the Simon Says Stamps Favourite Flowers now this I did use last weeks technique by stamping and white embossing before blending some colour on. I cut them out and now I needed some leaves well the Simon Says Stamps Cluster of Leaves are permanently on my desk (my craft die box is too small so it lives on my desk).

Now it needs something behind the flowers and leaves so I got out my Spellbinders to chose a die to work behind the flowers and the smaller one from Oval Majesty was just the right size and again I added colour before I lifted the die from the card.
To finish I needed a sentiment and since I needed an Anniversary card for my Sister and BIL I used the one from Simon Says Stamp Tilted Banners.


So now it's YOUR turn.  Happy Crafting
Simon Says Stamp 
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

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Circle Easel Card


We're looking for non angular cards for this weeks Everybody Art Challenge and I'll give some free advice if you plan to make a circle easel card, buy it. I'm pretty sure some canny craft company sell them. It was touch and go that this card didn't end up in the bin.
Not helped that I made it when I was pretty exhausted and ready to give up card making its a wonder I finished it.
The cute image is of course Lily of the Valley and so is the fabulous papers. My flowers are Upsy Daisy from MFT.
The sentiment is from Simon says Stamp Soaring for you set, love that those three words work for almost any occasion. The circles were made using Lifestyle dies since the largest on fits my Big Shop.


Now its your turn or I at least hope you can join us this week and don't forget to check out the team.
Thankfully I've manage a few cards without having a meltdown, long may it continue.


Monday, May 18, 2015

Button Birthday


Liking the lighter mornings otherwise you could still be waiting for a card because I didn't have one today but managed to make one yesterday although no time to photo it.
I used the Sweet Sunday Sketch and my Pure Innocence Cute as a Button has been coloured for a while so long that its now sold out at Simon Says Stamp where I brought it from.
I used the Happy of the Happy Birthday die from Simon Says Stamp and used the Birthday part of a sentiment from their Birthday Messages. The flowers and fence are all my MFT but did use a small circle punches for the smaller flowers.
I've paper pieced her clothes, for some reason I always feel she needs to be dressed this way, the papers are Doodlebug.
Fingers crossed I have another successful day making cards and not just filling up the bin.


Sunday, May 17, 2015

Full of Love


Another quick schedule post not sure how I will be feeling so I thought I better sort this post out. I made this layout at the retreat I went to in March. Although not made for the challenge some of the elements mean I could enter it which I wasn't going to but my sister made me.
How could you not used these photos. The papers are some old Authentique ones, the denim coloured papers are perfect the a jean loving boy.
There's some stitching round the some of the mats, some silly fool it would be a good idea, won't be doing that again in a hurry.

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Within Your Heart


I had a few ideas for a card today but when my empty rubbish bin became full I decided to call it a day.  I just happened to have the Penny Black Beau Jardins paper pack, since I wouldn't be able to cover the pretty floral paper I decided to use that as my main image. Helped with the sketch on Freshly Made Sketches this is what I came up with.
The Spellbinders oval  came from a set that just happened to come home with me from our shopping trip but the words are a very old Penny Black stamp and very often in the past I've always used with a butterfly. So I grabbed my favourite Butterfly die from Simon Says Stamp and the job was done.
Sorry for the short schedule post obviously I shouldn't plan to do things in advance you never know how you gonna feel.


Friday, May 15, 2015

Bear Love


This poor bear from Di Digi's had been on my desk waiting to be finish for a few days. He wasn't quite finished before I went to visit MIL and it was another couple of days before I felt like sitting down and finishing the card off.
Possible it wasn't a good idea to leave it so long because I'm not quite sure my flowers work but I do love my cute bear once I was able to colour his head how I wanted but it did take a couple of times.
Mmmm my sentiment has slipped will check it later and straighten it.
I haven't card make much this week although I not sure what I've done instead and tomorrow I'm off to the Bracknell Crop. I still don't have a  Penny Black card for tomorrow but will try to make one today after I've been swimming and before I pack my bags for the crop even if it a CAS one.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Anniversary


I had to make an Anniversary card but my poor craft brain was struggling so I grabbed the new Memory Box Distressed Windham Collage die  and the Row of Poppies.
It just so happened the Perfect Love stamp set from Simon Says Stamps was in the pile of must put away stuff on my desk so I used the anniversary one from the set. It just need a die for it to sit in and I chose the smaller die from the Fleur de Elegance.
To finish I used some Simon Says Stamp Holiday Shapes hearts to stop my heart racing when I see all that white space!
We wanted to have a look at some Powerchairs and I found a shop in Copthorne near Gatwick so we've popped over there to have a look it just so happened that Crafts U Love was on the way home well it was on my navigators map! A few items and thats £50 gone.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Colour Inspiration


wed-newchallenge-header

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Thank you for joining us for the Let's Get Sentimental 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

INSPIRATION COLOR SWATCH

may13-color-inspiration-2
Isn't this 'Sweet Treats' Color Combination lovely !  Thank you Jenn for creating this awesome color swatch, those cupcakes sure do look yummy !
We are showcasing our very own SIMON SAYS STAMP EXCLUSIVE 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
50dollar_voucher_600px



I got out matching inks to the photo colour inspiration and then I went through my Simon Says Stamp stamps to work out which ones I haven't used much. These large blossom are actually Succulents from the Greeting and Succulent stamp set but they look pretty good as flowers to me.
I stamped with Versamark and then used WOW white embossing powder, I do think they are the best white I have tried.
Then using Ranger Blending tools I blended some colour to match the inspiration trouble was I was pleased with the finished result and couldn't cut the background I made so I used it all. Has you can see I also stamped some single ones with the intention to used the matching Dies, but because I had blended over the edges I knew there wouldn't be a nice white border so I just cut round them instead.
It only seem right to use the Penny Black Flourish die that had been lingering on my desk waiting to be used, its quite fiddly to layer another layer but I think its worth it in the end. All finished with a fishtail banner using a Simon Say Stamp Birthday Messages stamp set.
I just wanted to say a huge thank you for all the fabulous comments on my previous Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Crazy Birds card.

So now it's YOUR turn.  Happy Crafting
Simon Says Stamp 
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

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Wedding


It's a new challenge on Everybody Art Challenge, this week its Wedding, boy did this card give me a headache. I was forever having to redo bits.
First of all I gave the wedding dress of Mo's Bride and Groom image some colour only lightly but left the train white. But one I overlap the Spellbinder Arch Window die over the image that left an odd bit of colour. So of course I realised this after everything was stuck down so I have to fiddle to over lay the new white dress bit.
I also originally stamp the sentiment too low in the corner and since it annoyed me I cut it off but then I was left with what do I do now. So I chose a different sentiment from the Simon Says Stamp Congratulation set that would work across the bottom so it looks like it meant to look that way!
Blasted I've just notice his hands moved probably when I was messing with the dress. Seems the way of my cards at the moment.
Any way hope you can join us this week and have better luck than me, don't forget to check out the team.
At last I've got my injections done although didn't appreciate he wanted some blood as well and he's referring me back to hospital. So its a few days taking things very easy while my shoulders settle down did manage to finish the card sitting on my desk since last Thursday but its not going to help with my DT cards back to CAS ones I guess.


Monday, May 11, 2015

Texting Babe


I regret adding my dotty corners cos in hindsight I don't think they were necessary but they're well and truly stuck so there they will stay
The sketch is last weeks Mojo Monday sketch and my image is from Mo Manning, she is called Janny Texting. Another image that is perfect for an older girl card.
The papers are Kaiser and my flowers are made with my EK success retro flower punch but its so old its struggling with a clean cut so I'm finding it I punch it the the wrong side showing it doesn't damage the pattern paper.
It was nice to see MIL settle into her new room at the Nursing Home it was a good size and she was excited when we managed to set up the television so she could she watch her favourite programmes. It looks like I'll be resting in the garden catching some sunshine for the next couple of day.


Sunday, May 10, 2015

Adore


My friend does some amazing layouts with lots of stamping on so I've been trying to experiment a little. So under my flowers and flourish is some stamping using Stampin Up retired Grid stamp and their Grungy stamp set.
The flourish is from Cheery Lynn and the flowers are Simon Says Stamp Flowers on my mind set. The papers are Echo Park.


Again I've stamped on this layout using the Stamping Up French script again a retired stamp and another stamp set that escapes me at the moment and some more grungy stamp set. I've used same Flourish and flowers as above but also I've used my favourite butterfly punch from Kars.

Saturday, May 09, 2015

Memory box


I'm sorry but I didn't get to make a Penny Black card, I got the some old stamps to make a quick CAS card but felt exhausted and what with doing a flying visit to MIL to visit her in her new home. I decided I need to rest before we went.  We have a list of things to move since we have a car and BIL doesn't but trust me I'm only supervising.
Back to my card I picked a couple of new dies from Memory Box or Poppystamps all the same to me. The row of poppies and the collage dies. I haven't done it yet but I do plan to cut the collage with some acetate this will give me a rough stencil it is quite delicate so it might not work time will tell.
So once I've used all my new dies I added the sentiment panel with a spellbinder die and used the Simon Says Stamp Wishing die and stamp set.
Fingers crossed I will recover quick from the weekend and I'll have a Penny Black for you next week.