Snowflake Bear

No Everybody Art Challenge card this week we are on Summer Break so I decided to show another card I'm not sure about.

First off the snowflake background is a die from Taylor Expression die and I like how that turned out although I have used gems rather than pearls. Then I decided to cut out the LOTV bear and robin leaving a little border around it now this border is awful and the reason why I don't do this. Next time I shall just cut round him properly. At least then I can use a grey pen to hide any rubbish fussy cutting.

Because of the little robin I wanted to bring in a bit of red and added a bit of red twine to my Christmas sentiment. If only I hadn't glues it on, I would have taken it off, even now I'm think I can alway make another sentiment banner.

Drummer Baby

Here's one of the cards I've made over the weekend and I'm not altogether pleased with this one using the Sketch Saturday Sketch. Admittedly  I planned to leave a bit of space below the sentiment so I could add a number. But it still seems plain.
Of the card is saved by the cut LOTV image. The papers are First Edition and the musical notes are Memory Box.
I was amazed yesterday that I'm the Featured Stamper on Splitcoaststampers. The idea is you go to my gallery and use one of my cards there to inspire you to make a card. Its quite honour.

Oh it looks like Pearls and Navy on White card won the day on My Merry Dilemma.

A Merry Dilemma

It is possible that this die is one of the new Christmas Release from Memory Box but I was really good and only brought about five out of a huge release. The aim is to make quick cards. But my dilemma is how to mat and layer.
First Navy on Navy with gems or do you prefer the one below with pearls

The sentiment is Hero Arts embossed with white embossing powder.

Then there Navy on White using pearls, I think maybe I prefer the pearls but not sure on the white!

Maybe I should have done white on white and cut out the snowflake corner a couple time and stuck them together to give a bit depth. I think that will be my next attempt.

I did manage to make a couple of cards but theyre a bit mmmmmm not sure about these I will have to photo them today it may stop me from throwing them in the bin.

Simon Says,,,,,,Summer Vacation Kid's Challenge

Have children already saying I'm Bored how about,

Simon Says ,,,,, Summer Vacation Kid's Challenge

Hi all and welcome to another of our annual Simon Says Stamp Summer Vacation Kid's Challenge where we host a special challenge dedicated to our young designers.

ANYTHING GOES 

It is time for all you crafters to let your children loose in your crafty corners for a few hours. Just close your eyes and set them free to explore their creativity :-) You are allowed to hide your Copic Markers and extra special papers and you are allowed to help just a little bit if necessary, but we really want the children to 'DO IT' themselves as much as possible :-)

This challenge is open to all children aged between 2 and 16 inclusive.

We have not 1, not 2 but  3 surprise parcels of crafty goodies, hand picked by Simon !

For this challenge we have a very special Junior Design Team who have done an excellent job. Please pop along to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog and please leave comments for them on their blog posts. Thank You xx

This challenge will continue for the whole month of August, finishing at 6pm Ohio time. 11pm UK time, 12 pm CET  on August 31st.

Abundance of Flowers

Today is the first Saturday of the month and this means a new challenge on Penny Black Saturday Challenge and its for Flowers. Since Penny Black does loads of floral stamps and not forgetting the cute images with flowers so where can you go wrong.
I haven't use this little chap for ages and his bunch of daisies inspired my card. My daisies are a Woodware punch and the centre are a Stampin Up punch. The stems are a Poppystamp die lucky for me the daisies hide the flowers underneath.
I saw Lols a team-mate from Simon Says Stamp use the cloud die and I knew I had to have it can't think why I didn't buy it the first time round. I like how the outline gives an impression of clouds although I don't recommend leaving near the door on a wet, humid day it upset the glue I put on. The sentiment is Simon Says Stamps I think this one could become a favourite.
Hope you can join us this month and check out the team, there's also a chance to become a DT member too.

Derek Clapton

My poor son was a bit concerned because I gave him this card and my DD gave him this one from last week both with Mr Dunderton from Dr Digi. I have to confess I love these digis cos they are so  much fun.
I was a bit naughty I erased the cabinet that was next to the image so Derek Clapton thats the name of the image was a stand alone. Which worked a treat for me so I could add the Simon Says Stamp word die and the sentiments from the Balloon sentiment sets.
Now I did see a sketch like this but I couldn't find it but no doubt its probably ended anyway. I love how some of the banners can be colours you're no keen on but work when together.
At last its August and my very busy July is over and I found the hiding space for Christmas stamps and papers, now all I need is the goodies I brought for candy.

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.