Piece of Cake

Mmmm not sure about this card wasn't quite how I imagined it and I had difficulties in working out what embellishments to use. I'm guessing this was a card too far but I had been trying to make enough cards to fill my drafts for when we are back from MIL when I know I won't be up to making cards.
The papers are Kaiser not sure of the make now and the image which I will print out again to make another attempt is called Piece of Cake from Mo Manning the sentiment was included with the cake.
I always say I shall show warts and all.

John's 60th

At the all day crop at Bracknell I started Hubby's Birthday Album, I gave myself a brief of Clean and Simple Scrapbooking which caused a great deal of sniggering amongst my friends. When most of the morning had gone everyone complained how they've hardly done anything where I declared I had made a layout so they called out to show them its the one above and I had already cut the photo to fit the 8inch album. At least I made them laugh!

The Papers are Fancy Pants, I brought the collection pack and apart from plain cardstock I'm hoping to only use the pack.

With a bit of help from some Stamping Up stamps.

American Crafts Thickers, Simple Stories Alphabet stickers and some Simon Says Stamps Alphabet Stickers too.

The last two layouts I made using the front cover of the collection no waste here!

I'll be honest some layouts were quicker than others but in all I made twelve layouts and I still have twice that many to do.

White Daisies

I did warn you that I've my mice stamps out, this one has to been a favourite. My sister had this stamp and was happy for me to borrow whenever I liked but that meant thinking about it now I have it in my collection and can get it when I want.

The papers are some favourite ones from a card pack why is it I can't cut through favourite paper till its the only one left lucky the brick one had one strip left so it had to go the way of the bricks.

I've used my Upsy Daisy dies from MFT you can see how I'm making cards at the moment just grab my favourite things. The leaves are Simon Says Stamp Cluster leaves die and so the Congratulations is theirs two. The word die is fine but fiddly if you layered it twice but worth it in the end. I find having a pokey tool or toothpick(new one not used) to butt the curves into the letters.

My card making yesterday didn't much happen with several intteruptions they were all good ones but did have an effect on my crafting so I will be hiding out in my craft room till at least two cards are made.

LIM Puppy

I think I maybe in time for Less is More challenge which is for a sketch. My little chap is Penny Black Tranparent Image, I'm always worried that the critters were on the bit of the small size but this set seems to be OK. I did have to stamp him a few times before he was good enough to for colouring.
I stamped one on the angle but the others were for layering.

The paper is an old I think it could be Fancy Pants, I laid a piece up against the image and trim round it, finished with a Lawn Fawn Stitched Scallop Borders. Also with the sentiment that sits on my desk.
I also used a Stitched Frame from Simon Says Stamp Bundle of shapes luckily I decided to this before layering my image when I realised it would be very plain.

I managed to finish Stuart Minion to give to my nephew, now I need to make one for my daughter!

Sketch Snowman

When I saw this weeks Sketch Saturday, I remembered the High Hopes Snowmen Heads which were already colour, match made in heaven maybe not.
The first one I tried to add snowflakes and stars from an Cuttlebug die and made the panel with punched rounded corners and left it with white space. Looks fine in real life!

Somewhere along the long I had used the Christmas paper that I had put with the Snowmen heads so I had to find some more. First attempt didn't work not sure if this one was any better. I had given up on the sketch now, how could I add snowflakes to already pretty snowflakes so added some gems to the snowflakes printed already on the paper.

This was the card I was going to put the Snowman head but the colours didn't work so rather than waste it, I added a Simon Say Stamp Snowflake which now looking it could have done with another layer to help it pop. The sentiment on all the cards are a Penny Black one that came with a clear set.

My minds being diverted to crochet a new set of granny square but I'm aware that next week I will be feeling pants so I need to get plenty of cards and things in my drafts.

Anything Goes

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Thank you for joining us for the Back To School 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 HERO ARTS 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

.

I had seem a card where the images were left black and white and it just so happens that I had the Hero Arts Etched Daisy stamp and thought I would give this a try.

First I made a couple of masks this is how some of the daisies look like they are behind each other.
I coloured the the background with my pencils. I quite like the finished look.
I also cute out a daisy to place beside my sentiment.

The sentiment is made using Hero Arts Handmade die and stamp set but I didn't like the words so I hunted through some Simon Says Stamps and quite a few fitted but I decided I liked this one from Soaring for You the best.

So now it's YOUR turn.  Happy Crafting

Do you use Instagram ?  If so please add  #ssswchallenge 

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

Little Kid

Saturated Canary a few weeks back had some new images which I picked up a couple including Three4thekids, they are so cute I had to get them, not that I have any kids!
I decided to cut her out, then layer and I added glossy accents to her glasses. I think when I make her into a card again I may paper piece her pinafore.
The papers are LOTV, favourite Memory Box die and some Elizabeth Designs Flower dies. I can't help thinking the bottom space needs a sentiment.
I love British Weather not! Saturday we had tempertures into the 30c yesterday it halved to 15c with enough rain for the year's total.
No card making yesterday was in and out all day and then decided I needed to get on with my minion, today I should get into my craft room today and I must colour some images for DT work.

Freshly Sketched

It seem only right to create something for this week's Freshly Made Sketch since it is their 200 challenge and I was the The Queen of Clean of their 100 Challenge.
So when I flipping through the Doodlebug paper I saw the waves and the contrast check paper and thought it would work with the Simon Says Stamp sailboat die then of course you need clouds. Used my favourite cloud dies from the My Heart Soars die and while I was about I decided to use the matching stamp set to make my kites.
I was discussing with someone how to send I'm thinking of you card rather than a get well card for a friend undergoing an operation for cancer and you don't know how bad things really are. Sending Smiles is more uplifting and more postive response and I so glad Simon Say Stamp sells the Sending die and the Happy and Smile stamp set.
I've recently been sent some Stamptember goodies and yesterday I had a bit of play unfortunately nothing I can show yet. Today I must get down to finish a Minion, Hubby had control of the telly for a change ( usually he gets relegated to the bedroom telly) but it does mean crochet and watching football is a no no for me, nearly finished my book though!

Crochet Post

I've just realised I haven't photograph the CAS layouts that I have done so far for Hubby's 60th in Spain but since I'm running late I'll post about my crocheting instead.

I finally finished the Dahlia Granny Square Throw, I find making the square easy but the border is hard for me to hold and I end up having to work  with craft gloves to stop my hands from hurting so much. I'm not very good at borders it seems this time I've added two many stitches. I will bear that in mind next time. But its going to my niece for her Macmillan Coffee afternoon

My first attempt at a minion, I found the yellow wool even though its double knitting its thinner than the rest of the wool, so there's no room for a mouth. So I'm making another and using different size hooks seems to be working at the moment.

We off again to MIL again soon and I need something to crochet in the car, so here the colours of my next granny square blanket. Love that the Woolwarehouse send the wool in these bags, I put my blanket above in one, makes a nice finishing touch.

Thimble Mice

I decided that my Penny Black mice have had nice break from being used and its time to use them again. Most of my Mice are old wood mounted but I'm seriously looking at some of the clear ones now that they are not as small as when they first started making them on clear stamps.
I've also brought back out the Memory Box leaf die, this has to be a firm favourite because I can cut it so it fits the corner and some tiny punch flowers to finish.
The long scroll is possibly Cheery Lynn die but its not in its packet but its a purple die which is why I think its that company.
The papers are Echo Park again not really sure which pack but there's only a few left so it most be an old one too.
Hopefully I will be making cards this morning but this afternoon the temperatures are suppose to be very hot which just shows how daft are weather is, it was only few days ago I was wrapped up in cardy's and throws.

Miles in Winter

Another cute little chap waiting with my coloured images to be make into a card, he is called Miles in Winter.
The papers are some old Stampin Up and the sketch started off as Sweet Sunday Sketch but a strip is missing and I added the twine.
Of course my Holly is Martha Stewart but the three leaf one I have added a leaf. The scallop sentiment again from Stampin Up but the actual sentiment is a Penny Black one from a clear set that now looks like thats permanently on my desk now.
I added my mixture of fun flock and flowersoft before I added the squirrel.
I did make a card yesterday in fact I almost made two so things are looking better on that front and this weekend I'm not going anyway except if the weather improves for Sunday we might pop up to Wisley for the morning. But I do have Stuart the Minion to make since I promised my nephew I will bring it next week.

Teenager

Time for a Dream Team blog hop and thanks to Anneke for a brilliant theme. I was really pleased and lucky to have made my card on Monday because by Tuesday I had a really bad neck which meant I could hardly move, add my internet trouble is hasn't been a good week but at least the neck is on the mend just have to be careful.

I picked my favourite teen image and probably one of the first of Mo's images I brought Video Boy.

The papers are Echo Park boy papers not sure which ones they are now and I had a search in Pinterest to get some inspiration and saw a card from Dawny P using the Martha Stewart Zig Zag border punch for a border on top of the image.

The stars are a combination of Spellbinders and Simon Says Stamps die.

Now you should of Hopped over from my friend Julie's Blog and now you need to Skip and Jump over to the fabulous  Lou's Blog.

Don't forget to comment along the way for a chance of one of the two vouchers to spend in Mo's shop.

Back to school

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Thank you for joining us for the Food and/or Drink 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

BACK TO SCHOOL

We are showcasing MY MIND'S EYE 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

Thank goodness Mr Virgin is behaving today and the engineer that came yesterday changed all the connections all through the house. Not sure I would want to try and do all the links today on my hudl.
So back to my card which I feel a bit guilty about it really does look Clean and Simple but it did take a while to layer my arrows.
My mind went blank what to do for a Back to School card and that was partly why I got the My Mind's Eye Hello World, I was thinking of Geography. I took the world map and the Simon Says Stamp Mod Arrow Border and cut the arrows out carefully placing to one side in the way of the die to use on top of the layers. I then cut out three more layers and when all were in placed I added the map arrows.
I was so impressed with my arrow border I didn't want to hide them and in the end I just used the Simon Says Sending die with the Happy and Smile stamp to finish off the sentiment.

I was worried you wouldn't see my arrows so I took another picture at a jaunty angle.

So now it's YOUR turn.  Happy Crafting

Do you use Instagram ?  If so please add  #ssswchallenge 

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

Balloon Bear

Ok this morning is being a nightmare with Mr virgin having technical difficulties in my area not helped that his monthly outrage was yesterday. I had no photo in my drafts so I have managed to take one with my phone because it was lighter than my hudl and sent it to my email so I could open and add it to my blog using the hudl.
So here's a card which Mr blogger finally let me make larger that I made using the Sketch Saturday sketch.
I used LOTV papers with Simon says Stamp stiched rectangles which I made a frame and sticky fixed it over the image.
My stitched clouds are from La La land and the sentiment is the one sat on my desk.
When Mr virgin decides to work again I will add the links.

little Lamb

Well this could be interesting post, I've had to pair my phone with the hudl to write this post and its a bit awkward. But its all a learning curve.
So my adorable image is of course one of Mo's which I will link later not even such what's she is called. I have had coloured for a while, since before Easter.
Although I made the card thinking it would work for a baby's first birthday and would be a good image for a christening also.
The papers are some 12 by 12 that I must of picked up on my travels and my flowers are of course my EK success is ones. I remember how shocked I was at the prices of these punches but I have had them years now and they still work well.

Yesterday

There was new sketch for this week Freshly Made Sketch and although I have diverted of the sketch a bit it did inspire to make this really quick card.
I used the Simon Says Stamp Stitched Slopes and Hills, keep forgetting I have these die. I used the Yesterday patterned card from Carta Bella and the twine is from Doodlebug.
Finally the Sending die is from Simon Says Stamp with the little fishtail banner from the stamp set Sending and Wishing.

So heres the sketch so you can see how my card is not quite the same and possibly too far from the sketch I can't enter it.

Not sure I will be up to doing much in the way of cardmaking today, the most I will probably do is empty my crop bags. I managed quite a few CAS layout though some were more clean than others.

Penny Black Paper Piecing

This was a bit of experiment I like but whether I would actually give it to someone maybe not. First of all I was sort of inspired by a Splitcoaststampers card sketch which is why I've torn patterned paper across the page.
The papers are Yesterday by Carta Bella and I used the Penny Black Divine stamp on the papers so I could paper pieced the flower heads. I was quite please how the patterned paper worked, a complete fluke.
My centre panel I used an Impression Obsession French text stamp with a Crafter Workshop Harlequin stencil made some greenish diamonds and a lot of inking round all the edges all the pieces of card including the flowers, butterflies etc.
I actually stamped the Penny Black stamp on my patterned card and white card in situ so the stems would just follow on. Any bits it missed was added in with a black pen.
My Butterflies are Simon says Stamp Butterflies friends had I added the antennas with a pen. The sentiment again the word die is from Simon Say Stamp.
My bags are packed and I'm off to an all day crop, I have my Hubby 60th Birthday photos and plan to make a CAS album for him. It will be interesting how CAS it will be!!!!!!