AFTERNOON TEA LADIES

Once again I've got a manic week going on so just zipping in to hopefully catch a couple of challenges before they close.

My Australian friends left on Wednesday then it's been workmen since and probably up to Tuesday when I can 'fingers crossed' cut the ribbon to my new bedroom (so to speak). Simply can't wait.

So this is to combine three challenges; Simon Says Stamp (anything goes), Color Throwdown and Sketch Saturday and it's for a colleague at work who is retiring. She's a very elegant lady and I'm hoping she'll get to do plenty of Afternoon Teas soon.

Sadly and somewhat amazingly I didn't have the correct purple shade for Color Throwdown so I'm hoping I can sneak in with this one ... apologies ladies.

   

Card Recipe:

Image: LOTV
Sentiment: Clearly Besotted
Sizzix: Swiss Dots Embossing folder (de-bossed)
Pretty Pink Pearls: sent over from my American Auntie
Wink of Stella - couldn't resist adding some extra sparkle

Ok more crafting needed so thanks for stopping by and back tomorrow.

PHEW JUST IN TIME!

Well I don't know where the week has gone but I'm here with a quick post and a card I created last night.

It's a commission for Father's Day and looking at how quick the weeks are flying I best get my crafty mits working on something for my own Dad and F-I-L! 

If you follow my blog regularly you'll know I've been having some renovations to my Master bedroom and ensuite shower room and I'm happy to say the shower room, at least, is taking shape. All walls moved, plastered, tiled and initial plumbing in place and we've a lull now until the units can be fitted then it'll all come together (fingers-crossed) quite swiftly. I can't wait and have already 'bagged' first shower when it's done! LOL!

So here's my card and it's to enter the Sketch Saturday Challenge (#231 27th October '12) and Simon Says Stamp where the theme is Father's Day / Masculine.

Card Recipe:

Image: LOTV - pre-coloured Vintage Boys Art pad (enhanced with a few glossy accents)
Papers: Studio Calico & Papermania
Sentiment: Clearly Besotted
Twine & Doodlebug Sprinkles from my stash

  

Ok that's all for now so catch up with you all soon and thanks for dropping in.

STAR CRAZY

Hey what a sunny day today and fingers-tightly-crossed we could be in for some of the yellow stuff over the weekend too! Not sure whether I've just tempted fate now!!!! Anyway I've had a boring but productive laundry day and my washing machine has taken some stick so in between turning it all around I've made this card.

I'm cutting it very fine to enter the Sketch Saturday Challenge as Mr Dazzle isn't in from work yet and I daren't faff with his photography equipment as it's too complicated so I'm typing up the post and hoping he'll arrive in time to take a quick piccy!

I've used the colours from this week's ColourQ Challenge so off over there too. Ooooh just typing up my card recipe and the word 'dies' got me thinking ... I'm off to Simon Says Stamp too where it's a 'Die-Crazy' week.

Some cards seem to take forever and this one is one of them even though I've known all week what I wanted to do with it.

Card Recipe:

Stars: Various dies from Memory Box and Sizzix Framelits, with the biggest die cut 4 times to add dimension to the card then inlaid with the smaller ones. I've coloured the edges with Promarkers to cover up any white bits on the stars too.
Other Dies: MFT Die-namics Pierced Rectangle Stax
DP: Doodlebug
Sentiment: Clearly Besotted - Geometric I heat embossed with gold embossing powder
Metallic cord from my stash
The stars are loaded with Clear Wink of Stella with Glossy Accents on top. Sorry couldn't resist making them pop with dazzle!

Ok hubby is back so just going to sort the photo.

      

Back again tomorrow so see you then.

SAILING AWAY ...

Well I can't believe it's Thursday already but then again with the extra day at the weekend I guess that's where the days have gone!

I finally got to a bit of crafting this afternoon and I'm hoping I'll be just in time to enter this card at Sketch Saturday Challenge plus I've used the colour combo from Color Throwdown so off there too. This means another play with that turquoisy colour even though I said I'd put it away! Hee Hee!

Whoops also heading over to Papertake Weekly where it's anything goes with an option of NOT using patterned paper.

Card Recipe:

Image & Sentiment: Clearly Besotted - Going Places set and I've die-cut the boat 3 times and glued together to make it stand proud of the card.
Background: Memory Box Stencil - Wave (mounted on foam pads for added dimension)
Tools: CBS Scalloped border die, MFT Die-namics Sentiment Strips, Distress Inks and to finish off a couple of sequins by Doodlebug and a Winking of Stella to the boat.

   

Catch you all soon and thanks for stopping by.

STARS AND BUTTERFLIES

Happy Weekend

Had a little bit of crafty time so I've 2 quick posts to enter a couple of challenges so first up is my 'stars' card. I'm always short on masculine cards so when I saw the sketch at Sketch Saturday and the colours at Colour Me card challenge this week I decided to combine the two.

I'm also heading across to Papertake Weekly where the theme is White & 1 other colour or shades of that colour plus Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where it's a 'Keep it CAS' week.

Just realised I used tonnes of snippety bits on this card so as soon as the gates open at Pixies Playground I'm going to drop this in there too.

Card Recipe:

Papers: From my stash plus Papermania textured cardstock
Sentiment: Clearly Besotted
Stars: Memory Box

    

SUNGLASSES 2

Back again with another bright one and again it's to enter Less is More 'Make me / you Smile' and Simon Says Stamp 'Animal Antics'

The image and sentiment are digi images From the Heart Digi Stamps and the long-legged chickens just crease me up and remind me of a night out with the girls.

I've used the sketch from Sketch Saturday so heading over there and it's coloured with promarkers and accessorised with a couple of enamel dots and papers from Doodlebug at Craft Mojo, glossy accents and a wink of stella.

   

PLAYING WITH NEW STUFF

Happy start of Bank Holiday Weekend! Whoopie!

I've been playing with some of my new crafty bits this afternoon to enter a few challenges so here's what I've come up with.

First up I've had another go at sponge daubing to make a very dull and cloudy sky BUT it's to fit in with the CAS Colours and Sketches Challenge and when you check out the colour palate below you'll understand why.  I've combined it with the sketch from Sketch Saturday and the CAS on Sunday Challenge where it's 'A birthday to die for' (using a die cut).

          

Card Recipe:

Die Cuts: Sizzix Framelits & X-cut circles
Memory Box - Cloud dies as a template for the sky & Clearly Besotted - Going Places stamp & die set
Sentiment: Clearly Besotted - Brand new set 'Design a Tree'
Dotted Road: Uniko Studio - Background Circles
Candy dots: Stampin Up with black pearls from my stash
X-cut - corner punch


Next up is to enter the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge with the colour palate from Paper Players. Although I've used the sentiment from Clearly Besotted - Design a Tree set on other cards this is the first time I've used the other stamps and I thought the colours and stamps made for a good anniversary card. The sentiment is from another Clearly Besotted set - Paired up.

I've used my X-cut corner punch again - it was on my desk from the other card, MFT Die-namics Fish tail stax, a Darice woodgrain embossing folder and scalloped border die from Clearly Besotted. Finally the backing paper is from a new pack I recently purchased by Doodlebug (Kraft in Colour) from Craft Mojo.

   

Ok I'm off to catch up with some TV and I hope I'll get down to some crafting over the weekend although I've had my parents staying this week and my Dad has been passing on tips from his hobby (watercolour painting) so I've had to get myself fixed up with some materials and now I'm torn between what to do first!!! My aim is to combine the two and colour images on my cards with watercolour paint but will see how it goes!

Enjoy the bank holiday.

CRAFT TURN-AROUND

Hi All

Happy Sunday - this is a scheduled post as the in-laws are up today and not sure when I'll get a minute to blog!

My first card is / was a disaster and somehow I managed to turn it round in about 5 minutes! Quite pleased with myself. It was initially a combined entry to CAS(E) This Sketch and Colour Throwdown. I decided to have a go at re-inserting die-cut bits into my Memory Box Piestra Tile die having seen this technique around on a few blogs ... BIG mistake. This particular die is far too fiddly and it took forever trying to pick up the teeny little snippety bits, aching back and eyes etched with concentration! It was heading for the garbage until I picked up a new little 6x6 pack of design papers from Doodlebug (as recommended by Michelle Short at The Card Grotto) and it all came together.

Now I did mention snippety bits and I've realised this card would certainly deserve a trip to the playground (Pixies Crafty Snippets Playground) and I'm feeling a bit guilty as I've not been there for a week or so. Simply ran out of time so today I'll go and check out the playmates.

                                    


Card Recipe:

Image & Sentiment: Clearly Besotted - Butterfly Wishes Additions & Dandelion Dreams, In the Frame dies
Papers: Papermania & Doodlebug
From my Stash: Doodlebug pearls
Other Tools: MFT Die-namics - Fishtail Flag Stax & Sizzix Circles

   


My next card is another commission - this rugby-mad teenager is certainly keeping me busy and this time his sister asked for a card - specifically with a white teddy and tartan scarf! Unfortunately the tartan clad teddy was too difficult to manage but I did find Snoozing Louie from Digistamp Boutique and I've fussy cut the armchair onto some tartan paper from my stash. It has made the card look a little Christmassy but it's definitely a birthday.

I've followed this week's Sketch Saturday Sketch so I'm heading over there with it and as it's a Digistamp Boutique image I can enter it in their monthly challenge here.

Card Recipe:

Image: Digistamp Boutique - Snoozing Louie
Sentiments: Clearly Besotted - Geometric Style, For Everyone & Basic Numbers
Tools: Retro Circle embossing folder, X-cut Corner Punch, Clearly Besotted Balloon dies, Promarkers
Papers: From my stash

 


Ok that's all for me today - hope you all enjoy whatever you are doing today especially if it's crafty work.

See you soon

OVERBOARD ON PINK DAY

One more mega quick post and this one is another one for Simon Says Stamp where it's Mother's Day or a Special Girl. Well this one is for my special Auntie who lost her husband too soon and very suddenly just a few weeks ago. She doesn't check out my blog so should be ok posting this in advance of her birthday which is later this month. Understandably she's having a pretty rough time right now but hoping my card will give her a little smile - she loves bling so I've showered it with glitter and gems!

I've used the Beautiful Blooms stamp set from Uniko Studio and I nearly burst with excitement at the start of the week when Beverley announced she was launching matching dies for this fantastic set. Sorry but I just couldn't wait to get my hands on them as I'm not a great fussy cutter! They are BRILLIANT.

Other bits and pieces used: Sentiment from Clearly Besotted - Fabulous Fushias, Scalloped edge stand-alone die also Clearly Besotted and some bakers twine from my stash.  I even got a bit carried away and stamped the envelope too and it's just peeping out from behind the card.

Next up and last one for today is an entry to Sketch Saturday #300 - well done ladies.  Another commission; this time a Christening card. I had to slightly alter the front strip on the sketch so as not to cover the beautiful dress in the image.

Card Recipe:

Image: LOTV
Sentiment: Computer generated
Tools: Lattice embossing folder, corner punch, scalloped stand-alone die from Clearly Besotted, Sizzix circle dies
From my stash: twine, pearls, glitter card



Right must dash it's tea-time. Catch up with you all again soon and thanks for popping by.

LOVIN' HALF TERM CRAFT TIME

THREE days in a row for me!!! Wow it's a while since I've managed that...just shows what a few days off work does.

I've had some commissions to do this week so that's kept me busy but I also have a card to share using the newly released Dandelion Dreams set from Clearly Besotted and it's heading right over there for the monthly challenge which is a stunning colour palate this time.

I love this set and wanted to try something CAS and colourful with them so I've masked off 2 areas and stamped the image then used a sentiment from the same set, a strip of patterned paper from Echo Park and a couple of enamel dots. I daren't add any more in case I go OTT!

I did make another card using a cherry cake with gingham but wasn't happy with it so that's gone in the 'not for public viewing' pile!

Next up is a commission card that my Mum asked me to make for one of her dog-loving neighbours. This cute little dog has been in my stash for far too long and I think he/she's just gorgeous. I've used the sketch from this weeks Sketch Saturday challenge so I'm heading over there along with Pixies Snippet Challenge - I keep missing that one.

The backing paper is from the Bazoo range from Helz Cuppleditch and I've used my Cricut for a change to cut the scalloped circle and balloons. I keep thinking about selling it as it's hardly used but just now and again it's a handy piece of kit! The sentiment is from Clearly Besotted 'It's Your Birthday' set and I've added some pearls and twine from my stash.



Hope you are all having some fun and crafty time. Enjoy your evenings.