Late

Normally for a Baby shower I used Mo's Baby Shower and Mother to Be but the baby shower's theme was Alice in Wonderland so I used the Late.

It meant I could use an old MFT die set which was the teapot and cups, I do have their latest one but it is larger. I then used a Memory Box Birch Tree die for my sign post. The words were generated by the computer but cut out and used Stampin Up banner punch (its retired) to make my fish tails. A square punch can do the same job.

There's always something I nearly forget the papers are some old Echo Park and the frame round my rabbit is also from MFT.

It's been a busy old week DD now can wash her clothes and keep things chill while sitting on her sofa just waiting on the cooker for Monday. I've also had to pack for the retreat at the weekend.

Polar Bears

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Thank you for joining us for the Pop It Up Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.

This week the challenge is

Anything Goes

We are showcasing Stampendous Products this week! You don't have to use them to join in with the challenge 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

When I first saw the Stampendous Polar Bears, I knew I wanted them to showcase Stampendous but I can see I wasn't alone and the Stamp and Die is out of stock at the moment. If you love and want them too, I would use 'notify me when back in stock' I've used it a few times.

I still have the Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid Winter Petite, in was in stock when I made this card but to be honest you could get away with other pads simply changing the bears scarfs.

I made my snowy sky by using Oxides using Broken China and Salty Ocean but first I stamped Simon says Stamp Falling Snow stamp with Versamark and some Simon says Stamp Clear Fine Detail Embossing Powder.

I used the Simon Says Stamp Slopes and Hills dies to make snow drifts and I used their Stitched Ovals for my snowy background.  To finish I used the Simon Says Stamp Abby Snowflakes dies, each one was cut twice and layered to make them stand out better. Not forgetting the Memory Box Star of Wonder which also got the layered snowflake treatment.

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Outer of Space

Even though these fabulous dies arrived in my craft room ages ago its only now I've managed to find time to play.

First of all I made my background using yes you guessed it Oxides, this time I stamped the inkpad on my craft mat a sprayed a bit of water and plod a bit of card in it and I did that with two colours. I then used Simon Says Stamp Tickle Breeze Spray die across it to give a bit of interest. I did wait till my inks had dried.

 I did the same with another bit of card using the green then I used a blending tool with a blue and then I used the Simon Says Stamp Space Journey dies using the planet dies I made my planets. The rings are some scraps of yellow card

I made the frame using Simon Says Stamp Stitched Squares dies and the stars are from the Space Journey had to cut a few more to balance the card. To finish the sentiment I used was from Simon Says Stamp Shine On.

Jersey Boys

You will have to forgive my blue Telephone box but I didn't think red would work. It looks a simple layout but it was a pain to matt and layer. It seems my software that prints decent photos make weird sizes so I had to cut down to fit.

It's pretty boring but I wanted to make a record of our day in London. The papers could be My Minds Eye. The camera and phone is MFT dies and the Skyline is Memory Box, the Telephone Box is an odd one I brought from Ally Pally a few years back, I have a post box too. The letters are cut from Story Book cartridge from Cricut.

No more Layouts till I've been to the Retreat next week.

Rosslyn and Baby Shower

My Rosslyn from Helen Shrimpton is now done certainly learnt a thing or two about crochet with this blanket lots of new stitches. 

Using the same colours I made a comforter and since I was going to give it to the Mum to be at the Baby Shower which was an Alice in Wonderland theme I made a little bunny for the centre.

I stitched the sleeping eyes bit worried about using safety eyes with a young baby.

My niece held the shower at her house and sent the men and my little gt nephew to the pub. She did an amazing job along with my Sister we all had our jobs to do. Mine was to make some pocket watches and keys. My DD made some amazing cupcakes, tasted good too and I helped made the bunny ears for one lot.

My other talented niece made this fabulous Mad Hatter cake specially for the shower. She also reminded me that I didn't show the added bit of the back of Order of Service we did.

Luckily for me I had the Memory Box die which worked for the back. Did mean the pesky red tape came out again. The words were generated on the computer and then with some circle die and MFT Scallop Stitched frames finished it off.

Sorry for the long post and with lots of photos but I want to make sure I recorded everything.

Life is Like a Balloon

On Facebook Mo has two pages one the Bella and Bronte Clubhouse where you show off your makes and a Challenge page . Its worth joining for that alone. 

Well over on the Challenge FB page each month we have a challenge this month its using Life is like a Balloon now this isn't an obvious choice of image for me just look at those skinny arms and legs in the card below but I do love a bargain and you get two main images with a sentiment and if you merge the two together that makes three images altogether.

So today on my blog you get two cards but they're very similar. Above you have the doggy flying over the Zoo paper from Doodlebug At the Zoo. 

The papers for the balloon came from the same paper pack. Its quite easy to do, I insert my images into word and save them the right size for next time so when I need to paper piece I just print on paper not card. 

Using a dry ink like a roller and in my case I use repositionable so I can rub it off, stick the pattern paper on the paper and reprint then fussy cut out. Which also allows me to make extra balloons too.

This time I found the Memory Box Cloud Background in the middle of some scrap card seemed right to use it for the other image. I cut out using a Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangles and stuck a blue bit of card behind it. You could blend blue ink on a bit a card but I was in a rush as usual.

The papers are you guessed it Doodlebug, this time I used Yankee Doodle and so are the balloons and the dodgy strings on the extra balloons was with a pen.

Pop it Up

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Thank you for joining us for the CAS Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.

This week the challenge is

Pop It Up

You can make a pop up card or use 3D foam to pop up elements on your project. We will be looking forward to seeing how you interpret this theme 

We are showcasing Lawn Fawn Products this week! You don't have to use them to join in with the challenge 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 nearly panicked when I saw Pop Up for a challenge I kept thinking of those complicated cards that need your brain in gear to make. I then double checked and read the rest of the information and you can used 3d foam to pop up you image and I sighed with relief.

But has a DT member I thought I would push the boat out a little by making an Easel card well it pops up!

I had brought this Belated Birthday stamp and die set a while ago when I realised I was permanently late for Birthdays cards at the moment. I had planned to use the words with other stamp sets I have but when this challenge came up to showcase Lawn Fawn I thought why not use the Turtles/Tortoises

I used Lawn Fawn Lets Polka in Meadow for my sky and grass also there's dotty pink in the pack too.
My Border is again Lawn Fawn this time its the Valentine Border die.

With green pattern paper I used Simon Says Stamp Slopes and Hills and their Stitched Banners for my sentiments.

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Golden Wedding

You may remember I made a Golden Wedding card using a Mo Manning image but I also may a more traditional Golden Wedding Card.

This time I used the Sizzix Bricked embossing folder and my Hougie Board to make the embossed stripes. Lawn Fawn Valentines Border with a bit of gold ribbon to hide my embossed patterned card's join.

The Ivy is a Creative Expression die and the flowers I think are Honey Pot Stamps using a gold inkpad and gold embossing powder.

The actual word were created on the PC and placed in the Spellbinders Floral Oval.

I've now given them to my friend who asked for them, I'm not keen on making cards for others I'm always scared they won't like them which is why I made two. Then they ask how much again I don't like asking for money so I always ask if they have a favourite charity to put it in their pot. In this case the lady is a doggy person and the RSPCA will benefit.

Had a lovely time at the Baby Shower yesterday, now we have to wait patiently for the arrival.

Child Labour

I found the two layouts I made at the last Bracknell Scrap Cafe Crop, I thought they turned out not too bad. The papers are some old Kaiser ones I have but the colours work for the little chap in my Sister's Garden.

The letters I'm pretty sure are Memory Box, the leaves are MFT and I have a stencil with the large scallops so I fussy cut them out.

The tag in the top layout is Simon Says Stamps but I can't remember who makes the sentiment.

My poor blog is suffering and I really must do better, life is really getting in my way. I finally managed to get into my craft room yesterday making my DT cards for this week. My plan is to make the following weeks asap and maybe have a play with all the new stuff that as arrived in my craft room recently.

Today I'm off to a Baby Shower first though Hubby and me have to shoot off to ASDA for some edible glitter for DD to finish some cupcakes.

We are also waiting for another Carpenter/Handyman to ring me back it with only be the sixth one but this one told me to ring him if I he hasn't got back to us over the weekend fingers crossed everyone.

Heart Tree

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

Clean And Simple 

We are showcasing CASual Friday Products this week! You don't have to use them to join in with the challenge but if you have some we would love to see them used! The lovely Michele Gross, owner of Cas-ual Fridays very kindly provided the design team with products to use for this challenge and we would like to say a huge thank you! x

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

I knew I wanted this Calm and Loving stamp set from CASual-fridays, I think I was more interested in using the heart blossom stamp to make my own background. There are some smaller heart stamp to fill up any spaces I've missed.

I used Oxides to make my background but I did this before I went on my hols and I'm not sure which pink I used and there are a few. I've checked by making a sample and can confirm its Worn Lipstick and Candied Apple.

I then stamped my tree and using Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangle cut it out and then used the Scallop Border die again by Simon Says Stamp. I used the rectangle dies for the background I made and the two together to make a rectangle.

To finish I used the Simon Says Stamp Best Hugs stamp set for my large hugs and the it will be ok was with the Calm and Loving stamp set.

Latest Crochet Update

I've started a masculine Ross Poldark from Catherine Bligh, Stylecraft have used this pattern as a cal but I had already downloaded the pattern although their video did help with a tricky bit.

I'm making it for a special guy hope he likes it. The Lost in Time Shawl is still a work in progress but I have another Scheepjes Whirl to make another or a different pattern.

My DD has now informed me a dear friend who had been trying for a baby as now been successful and it means another a baby blanket. I think they are going to find out the sex so will wait to hear what colours I will need. I think I will do another Rainbow Ripple Blanket with a comforter too.

Stamp It

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Thank you for joining us for the Anything Goes Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.

This week the challenge is

Stamp It

i.e. use a stamp, no digi images allowed
STAMPtember® is a very special month on the Simon Says Stamp  calendar and this week we are showcasing some of the latest STAMPtember® products. You may not yet have any of the new products but we would appreciate you using Simon's Exclusive Products if you have them, although it isn't necessary to join in with the challenge.

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

The arrival of a new  Simon says Stamp Stamptember Artsy Shapes stamp set came along the same time of an ordered parcel with Simon Says Stamp Encouraging Animals inside. It seemed only right to combine the two.

I have to thank my friend Anna who suggested to use the larger stamps as a banner it really does work a treat with a bit of Doodlebug Twine.

I stamped my cat twice so I could cut out the glasses and I didn't have the dies so I carefully cut the cat with a little border, practice makes perfect or so they say. When everything was in position I used Glossy Accents to make it look like glass in the glasses.

I'm pretty sure a sketch was used to inspire my layout of my card but can't work out whose, could be an old one. But I made a long banner using Simon Says Stamp Stitched Banner and used a sentiment that came with the Encouraging Animal stamp set.

The spotty paper came from Lawn Fawn Lets Polka in the dark and I used a bit of red to mat and layer to make it stand out.

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Do you use Instagram ?  If so please add  #ssswchallenge to your challenge entry uploads so we can see them on there too.

Tag

So finally Stamptember has arrived so I hope you're following Simon Says Stamp on FB and their Blog to join in all the fun. I was very lucky to receive a stamp set from Simon Says Stamp called Artsy Shapes.

Now I'm going to honest they really not my type of stamp I don't do journalling books which I would imagine they would work great but what I did like was the line stamp which would work for journalling on Scrapbooking pages and love the date which again for scrapbooking.

The tag I made was using the Simon Says Stamp Dress Up Tags dies this also comes with me every time I go to a crop. I used the recent colours released Oxides Salty Sea, Picked Raspberry and Antique Linen.

Now you could stamp the Artsy shapes first and mask them before blended but I'm far too lazy to do that so I stamped them on white card and cut them out. I used a Distress Pen Pumice Stone round the edges to hide my rubbish cutting.

Mmmmm I think I could use these Artsy shapes a lot after all.x