Bauble Jewels

This week the challenge is

Anything Goes  

We are showcasing our very own Simon Says Stamp 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!

The lovely folks over at Simon Says Stamp are generously giving away a FABULOUS $50 voucher to shop at the  Simon Says Stamp Store! All you have to do is take out your crafty supplies, make something following this week’s prompt, and add a link in the Inlinkz at the bottom of this post! You can join 5 times so you could have 5 chances to win! How AWESOME is that!! All winners are chosen randomly, so everyone has an equal chance to win! Woo Hoo!! Good Luck to everyone! The Design Team is looking forward to seeing your crafty makes and will pop around to visit you ASAP!

I had seen some wonderful cards made with Simon say Stamp Ornate Ornaments and oxides so I thought I would give it a go.

First I use a Clear Inkpad for embossing and watermarking and then used WOW Opaque White with the Ornate Ornaments and used various colours to make my baubles. In the end I cut out with the Dies about 12 baubles with one card making it to the bin and a couple I saved for later use.

In the end I made four cards three very similar and this one, I decided this was my favourite and to use it for this weeks challenge.

All baubles need something to hang from so I used the Simon says Stamp Pine Needles, I need to find an easier way to attach my gold thread round the branches. I few choice words and fingers covered in glue but luckily none on the card.

To cover up the ends of the needles I added some Holly and Berries using the Simon says Stamp Holly Fanfare. I did them in white so the colour of the baubles would stand out and the red berries.

Nearly forgot I run a bit of plain white card through the Big Shot with Simon says Stamp Wonky Rectangles and I also remember to stamp the sentiment first which was also in the stamp set.

The other ones I made I show later this week if I don't have a senior moment.

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

Cute Koala

Plenty of Scrapbooking in my drafts but not many cards which means my Christmas Pile isn't growing and if I keep finding cute images to use instead of Christmas isn't going to help either.

I managed to buy this cute Koala before Lili of the Valley stopped doing digi images which is a shame but I will be back buying their cute stamps though.

I had the die cut of Lawn Fawn Quilted Backdrop already cut from my fussy poppy now idea why I cut two but it wasn't going to waste.

The butterflies are with the image and since I have to print out a few images to layer I had plenty of them to use. The Circle frame is Simon says Stamp Stitched Circles and I used their Stitched Banners too but the sentiment is one that sits on my desk and I have no idea where it came from.

Finally I have to explain the pearls which were not planned but somehow a dirty mark appeared and needed hiding.

It took me quite a while to get over Retreat and my cardmaking as suffered as a consequences, health wise this is  one year I hope to end. Nothing dramatic but NHS changing their minds what methods to use to deal with pain and having to deal with silly side affects, lets hope they leave well alone now.

Halloween

A break from Wedding and Birthday Layouts since Halloween is in the middle of next week I thought this Halloween layout would be best to post today.

The papers are I think My Minds Eye but not proper Halloween paper, the cute skeleton is a photo borrowed from FB a couple of years ago of my nephew but I knew I would scrap eventually.

I made this layout at the Retreat but I came with cricut made spiders and bats with their googly eyes already stuck. The tiny spiders are a Memory Box die and the pumpkins were made with Simon says Stamp Stitched Ovals overlapping themselves with a leaf die cut down for their stalks.

The cute printed die cut had to be used and love the title from a Pinterest layout so I had to use but I'm thinking the first to should be double O but its too late now to do anything about it.

I only stayed one night on the retreat, both myself and my Sister agree we wouldn't do it again but we begrudged paying an extra £30 per night just because it was half term and the Hotel was busy with Lego Land visitors. The extra travelling took a bit of toll on the body and we finished early on Sunday to go to my nephew's First Birthday is was an event which couldn't be missed.

Cute Shark Card!

My little nephew had his first Birthday and he had a Baby Shark theme party. How on earth are you suppose to make a shark cute!

I didn't even have a shark stamp which I had Hubby's permission to buy a shark stamp, I found one from Newton Nook called Shark Bites. I added some cute fish from Simon says Stamp Beautiful Memaids and coloured them matching the Echo Park Sweet Baby Boy papers

I used Simon says Stamp Stitched Oval and their Stitched Banner for the sentiment which came from their Sketched Flowers. The letters and number are Newton Nook Essential Alphabet that was the easy bit. The today stamp came from Simon says Stamp Uplifting Thoughts but I had to blank out the rest of the words trust me it took more than once.

Finally I cut out some seaweed stalks from Memory Box that I blended with some ink that worked with the papers.

I did my best but obviously not as cute as his cake made by niece Cake that from Farnham, the top tier was a Lemon  and the bottom was Madeira and since I had a bit of each layer I can tell you tasted as good as it looks.

The Under the Sea theme was carried on throughout the house

 Including the Family Room

Don't forget Shark Jellies

Curtains of Fish

Even Shark and Fish Hats included.

Even Grumpy worn one.

Skipping Santa

My Christmas cards are growing far to slowly, Birthdays keep getting in the way but I have used a Mo's Skipping Santa recently.

The snow falling papers were a freebie from the Making Cards magazine seemed a shame not to use it. Not sure where the red and white card came from but I've a sneakily feeling its upside down but that's between you and me.

The snow drifts are made using Simon says Stamp Stitched Slopes and Hills and the lamp post is a Memory Box die, I have an old one with three lamps but I decided I needed one lamp one.

I'm trying to work out the snowflakes I think they could be Lawn Fawn Mini Snowflakes and yes that is indeed a black peel off.

Echo Park Halloween

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

This week the challenge is

Halloween/Spooky  

We are showcasing Echo Park 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

The lovely folks over at Simon Says Stamp are generously giving away a FABULOUS $50 voucher to shop at the  Simon Says Stamp Store! All you have to do is take out your crafty supplies, make something following this week’s prompt, and add a link in the Inlinkz at the bottom of this post! You can join 5 times so you could have 5 chances to win! How AWESOME is that!! All winners are chosen randomly, so everyone has an equal chance to win! Woo Hoo!! Good Luck to everyone! The Design Team is looking forward to seeing your crafty makes and will pop around to visit you ASAP!

Halloween is growing event here in the UK but sending cards maybe isn't high on the list, having cute photos and collecting sweets are probably more important.

Lets be honest it's good fun making Halloween cards and I had this idea to make an actual pumpkin card. I decided to use the Echo Park Celebrate Autumn perfect colours. I used the Simon says Stamp Stitched Oval cutting three ovals, you overlap two of them and place the third in the centre.

Rather than have a green stalk I decided to use a Witches hat using the Simon says Stamp If the Hat fits.  I discovered I had rather a lot of space and decided it needed a sentiment which is why I used the Simon says Stamp Stitched Banners with their Hey Pumpkin stamps.

I couldn't just stick a banner on so I got out my new Tim Holtz Thinlits called Funky Foliage and using the Echo Park papers made a couple of Toadstools.

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

Winter James

A few weeks ago I saw the sketch on Sketch Saturday and decided to give it a go and use some of the LOTV Christmas James the bear that I had coloured. You can't make Christmas cards without a least a couple of James the bear he is so easy to colour.

The papers could be some old Lawn Fawn plaid ones and banners are Simon says Stamp dies.

My snowflakes are Lawn Fawn Mini Snowflakes and my square frame is a MFT die. I cheated on the sentiment I have some small white and black peel offs which I've decided to use up. Once they gone I won't replace them but there is not point holding on to them.

Surprise

Only seems right that while I'm on a Scrapbooking weekend at The Scrap Cafe Retreat to post a layout. Still creating my Sister's surprise party layouts but I've sorted out a few kits with 2016 photos.

The papers are a collection pack from Simple Stories and considering Mr Mojo as up left I don't think it turned out too bad.

My buttons and triangle banners are all some really old MFT dies, the buttons I cut three of each and layered them to give a more solid look.

It's scary that it will soon be 2019 and I'm still two years behind.

Fussy Sympathy Poppy

Did I mention that I brought this Simon says Stamp Beautiful Flowers 2 stamp and die set because the two single flowers reminded me of poppies and perfect for this time of year when we remember the fallen.

This one is a bit more fussy rather than CAS that fabulous background is a Lawn Fawn Quilted Backdrop die.  The rest I kept simple, the stitched frame is Simon says Stamp Stitched Oval dies and the sentiment banner are MFT Stitched Fishtail Strip dies.

My favorite sentiment stamps Simon says Stamp Thoughtful Messages stamped in the banner but I had to use the large die to fit properly so it overlaps the card but it just gives a rectangle card a bit interest at least that's my excuse.

It's been a busy week with Hubby's and mine Birthdays and its not ended yet. I'm away this weekend at The Scrap Cafe retreat, I will be checking out the card making ladies for ideas for Christmas cards ideas but I will be scrapbook. On Sunday I will have to finish at lunchtime to go to a very special nephew's 1st Birthday.

Another Crochet Update

Nearly finished my Secret Paths Shawl which is a freebie pattern, I've used a Scheepjes Whirl while not cheap I think never beats their gradual colour changes.

I may have mentioned I don't like lots of projects in progress but I couldn't resist the Ugly Christmas Sweater Afghan Cal which again is free. I always wanted to join in with one and I also wanted a Christmas coloured Afghan so its a win win situation. So far I'm two weeks in and probably working on week three as I post.

I still working on my Thursday Night Afghan Blizzard Squares annoyingly my Sister keeps going away so its not growing that quickly.

Also I thinking of making a cover for my foot stool since I've had to repair it with parcel tape and I've order some wool for an idea which should end up as jacket for me. Oh dear that's five projects and make over hundred Christmas cards, better get off the PC then.

Baby with Giraffe

This was another image that I was thinking of using for a 1st Birthday but wasn't in keeping with the theme, the actual card can't be posted till Tuesday and I will do my best to make sure I post it, certainly was out of my comfort zone.

So I used the fab Echo Park Sweet Baby Boy, really good do with this set to scrapbook but will need the larger size. The Stars are MFT and the scallop border I think could be Lawn Fawn. 

Nearly forgot the main part of the card the image, its from Mo Manning called Baby with Giraffe. Finally the sentiment is a Simon Says Stamp die sentiment.

It's been a real busy week and this weekend I'm at the Scrap Cafe Retreat although we have to leave early on Sunday to celebrate a very special cute baby's 1st Birthday, trust me the photo's will follow after hearing part of conservations between my Sister and her Daughter!!!

Animal Antics

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

Animal Antics   

We are showcasing Hello Bluebird 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

The lovely folks over at Simon Says Stamp are generously giving away a FABULOUS $50 voucher to shop at the  Simon Says Stamp Store! All you have to do is take out your crafty supplies, make something following this week’s prompt, and add a link in the Inlinkz at the bottom of this post! You can join 5 times so you could have 5 chances to win! How AWESOME is that!! All winners are chosen randomly, so everyone has an equal chance to win! Woo Hoo!! Good Luck to everyone! The Design Team is looking forward to seeing your crafty makes and will pop around to visit you ASAP!

One of things I discovered was my Birch Trees dies have all retired and since this is my DT card for Simon says Stamp I couldn't use them. I decided I would buy the Hello Blue Bird Birch Trees dies and blow me you've all brought them at the moment out of stock, if you want them I would definitely do the notify me when back in stock, this allows Simon to know how many are interested as well as letting you know.

For some reason I decided to make a circle sky and using the Simon says Stamp Falling Snow Stencil and using a white uni-ball pen I used the stencil for my snow dots. Why I've never done this before because it was soooooo easy.

I used the Simon says Stamp Wonky Rectangles mainly because it gives a finished look and for my little critter I used their Retro Deer. Coloured his antlers with a brown pen and Nuvo Drops Autumn Red for is nose.

Not sure what I was thinking but I cut the top of the Birch trees with Simon says Stamp Stitched Circles which gave me the curved space at the top for my sentiment.

Now to work out the sentiment, from our Family part is from Simon says Stamp Ornate Ornaments. Oops can't seem to work it out and I've tidy my craft room since making the card, seriously need to get my act together and write things on a post it note. I've sneaky feeling that 3 stamp sets were involved and the wishing one could be from a birthday set rather than Christmas and found loads of Merry Christmas I could've used, the only thing I can guarantee that they were definitely were Simon Says Stamp. Will have to work it out cos I reckon I may need it again.

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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.

Happy Birthday Sis

I'm still scrapbooking 2015 but I have one more wedding one to do and that she be that year done. In fact I need to sort out some more photos and kits ready for the retreat coming up soon.

This layout is using a sketch from Pinterest but using my papers and the fact I didn't quite get the angle right. I used some old MFT Slide dies which have come back in fashion, I remember having to stick pattern paper over the top of white slide die cuts thank goodness for someone inventing die cutting machines and wafer thin dies.

The little hearts and star confetti was made using Simon says Stamp Holiday Shapes on scraps of matching card and randomly stuck on.

Koala

There is a new release at Simon say Stamp called Fun and Festive I quickly ordered what I thought would be useful in my craft room but now I've seen all the wonderful creations I want all the other that I didn't order.

Simon says Stamp very kindly sent me this Large Picture Book Koala die it always surprises me that when this happens Mr Mojo usually is away on holiday again. Everyone have done marvellous job with these dies and I was tempted to forget to post mine.

Since I wanted to use the Simon says Stamp Leafy Frame I thought the Koala would be lost and decided to add a white border which is very easy to do just draw round the actual die. The border is even all the way round just the camera being difficult.

By doing this, it is much easier to add the individual pieces, add a bit of white using a Uniball White pen to help bring him alive.

Oh the background is one of the ones made previously with oxides. Lastly I made the sentiment tag with Simon say Stamp banner dies and Messages for Everyday.

Crochet Update

So finally my Easter Jewels is finishes, I really enjoyed making it but I did have some issues. First my tension there was no way my tiles were going to be the size they were meant to be. I would have to use a really large hook and then my crochet would be horrible.

So I stuck with the two hook sizes that suit me but then I kept forgetting to change them to the point I gave up worry about it.

I also like the way some people didn't add the triangles to corners but do you think I could get it to lay flat, I unpicked it so many times, it would have been quicker to make and add those pesky corners.

My last issue is my fault using hook sizes that suit me, it came out quite small, in hindsight I would added another row and I would have plenty of wool to do so.

Meanwhile I've started another shawl using Scheepjes Whirl using the Secret Paths from Johanna Lindahl which is a free pattern. I'm also joining in with the Not so Ugly Sweater Blanket Cal the plan is to use greens and reds with  maybe a bit mustard which is almost a gold colour but we will see.

Three little kittens

I had planned to make this card for someone but I've had to have a total rethink on their card but I still wanted to used this image so I kept things nice and simple.

The papers are Echo Park and I had to used stars to decorate, they are the smallest star die from MFT Stitched Stars and Simon Says Stamp Bundle of Shapes.

The sentiment which I absolutely love comes from the stamp that was with Simon says Stamp Card Kit but you can buy the stamp set separately Sketched Flowers.

Almost forgot the most important part of my card the cute image which is from Mo's Digital Pencil called Three Little Kittens.

Anything but a card

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

We are showcasing My Favorite Things 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

The lovely folks over at Simon Says Stamp are generously giving away a FABULOUS $50 voucher to shop at the  Simon Says Stamp Store! All you have to do is take out your crafty supplies, make something following this week’s prompt, and add a link in the Inlinkz at the bottom of this post! You can join 5 times so you could have 5 chances to win! How AWESOME is that!! All winners are chosen randomly, so everyone has an equal chance to win! Woo Hoo!! Good Luck to everyone! The Design Team is looking forward to seeing your crafty makes and will pop around to visit you ASAP!

I was a bit disappointed in the tags I made below so I had to quickly make up another, now I'm not sure about this one and the others have grown on me. First of I made the tags by using MFT Single Stitched Line Tag Corner Rectangles Frame and I used it to draw round to make the background in Soft Navy card.

I made my snow mound using Simon say Stamps Stitched Slopes and Hill and the hills are made from MFT Snow Capped Mountains using some scrap card out of my scrap box.

I didn't want the whole tag taken up with mountains so I used the star from the Simon says Stamp Ornate Ornaments  it also had the great sentiment from our family to yours sentiment. I also have the dies.

I made these tags the same way using the die cut to draw round etc. I roughly used a watercolour pencil then used some water bring the colour across but the paper wouldn't play ball, probably because it prefers copics or my polychromos with sansador.

You can recognise the sentiment but so are the other words, handy stamp set.

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