Waltzingmouse Blog Party .....

.... Hello!  Here's another in my series of scheduled posts.  It's the 17th of the month and that means it's time for the Waltzingmouse Blog Party.  The theme this month is Summertime Fun.  I had the idea of making a card with the big strawberry as I just love strawberries and cream in the summer, but this is what I made instead:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - My Island, North Shore, Free Spirit Boy
Inks: Distress - Faded Jeans, Weathered Wood, Worn Lipstick, Spiced Marmalade, Dried Marigold; Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Promarkers - Carmine, Cocktail Pink, Amber, Pumpkin, Orange

Later this summer, we are going to Mexico for our family holiday - will be so nice to have Jonathan with us!  The thought of the tropical warmth lead me to a tropical sunset and this fab North Shore image.  I created the sunset using Distress Inks (thanks to Anya for a wonderful tutorial on U-Tube).  I stamped the North Shore directly onto the card in Versafine giving a lovely crisp image.  I added the perfect sentiment from My Island and finished off the front with my favourite hibiscus flowers.  I stamped the flowers twice onto white card and coloured them with Promarkers; I cut out the centre flower and adhered it with dimensional gel.

That's all for now - all being well I've got Internet access, so I'll get a coffee and check out the cards made for the challenge.  See you soon.

Happy Father's Day ....

.... Good morning all!  Today is Father's Day and sadly we won't be in Northville to spoil Jonathan.  Kathryn did ask me to make a card for her to give to her Dad - I had such fun!!  I used this week's Colour Q - cQc193 colours for the card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Country Labels 4, Man of the Hour
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Real Red, Certainly Celery, Bermuda Bay, Island Indigo; Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versamark
Dies: Spellbinders - Labels 4 (S4-190) # 5; Labels 4 Sm (S4-309) # 6
Accessories: SU Card - Real Red, Bermuda Bay, Certainly Celery, Island Indigo; White Lustre Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Couture Creations EF - Workshop

I absolutely adore the Country Labels 4 stamps - I stamped the image five times - in black (embossed with clear powder), Real Red, Certainly Celery, Island Indigo and Bermuda Bay.  I die cut the black image and cut out a different section in each colour (I saw this on the launch at Waltzingmouse but I can't remember whose card it was!).  I cut out the centre of the scraps and stamped the sentiment in black and embossed with clear powder.  I decided to make a mat layer using all four colours of card - I used a grid to line up the scraps taped them together, die cut the shape and adhered the patchwork label on top.  I decided to keep the card white, but embossed it to add detail.

The inside has a mat layer in Bermuda Bay and on the white panel I stamped the two sentiments that Kathryn picked out.

I think Jonathan has a relaxing day planned - we'll call him on Skype to chat.  Love the Internet - makes keeping in touch so easy.  Bye for now.

Christmas Ornaments ....

..... or baubles - whatever you want to call them.  Those wonderful jewels that hang on our Christmas trees.  This week's challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown is a theme to feature Christmas Ornaments/Baubles on your cards.  Here's mine:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Vintage Ornaments, Ornate Ornaments, Yonder Star
Inks: Memento - London Fog; Stampin' Up! - Night of Navy, Bashful Blue; Versamark
Dies: Spellbinders - 2012 Heirloom Ornaments (S5-116) #4
Accessories: Silver Foil Card; White Lustre Card; Silver Embossing Powder; Luminarte - Radiant Rain Mist Ice; Habico - Blue Bow

I have to give credit for the idea of using the ornaments on the background to Elizabeta Kushner - she made this wonderful card.  My card was really easy to make.  I simply started stamping the ornament in the middle of the card and worked out.  I made a mask to cover the ornament so that I could stamp the sun ray pattern inside.  I mounted the background paper onto a silver mat.  To complete the front I stamped the ornament again on white card and embossed with silver powder.  After cutting out with the matching die, I used my aqua pen to paint the ornament.  I added a sentiment and attached the ornament with dimensional tape and finished off with a dark blue and silver bow!

I kept the inside quite simple; a silver mat layer and stamped a sentiment and sun ray patterns on the white panel.  I think this design would work nicely with gold and red too!

I've scheduled this post - so hopefully it has gone up as planned!  Kathryn and I are in the UK now - a busy month planned visiting family and friends.  I do hope to have Internet access and be able to visit you - can't wait to see what you make!  Don't forget to check out the Design Team's cards.  Bye for now.

Nautical birthday ....

.... Surprise!!!  I bet you didn't expect to see a card from me today!  I made this on Wednesday evening as I really wanted to play along with these challenges:

• Freshly Made Sketches - FMS90
• Colour Throwdown - CTD246

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - The Open Sea; Waltzingmouse - Man of the Hour; My Favourite Things - Favourite Sentiments
Inks: SU - Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry
Dies: Spellbinders - Squares Lg (S4-126) # 6 & 7; Squares Sm (S4-128) #6
Accessories: SU DP - Olive Olive; SU Card - Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz; White Lustre Card; SU Marker - Old Olive; SU Punch - Circle 1¼"

My card has a nautical theme and is for a guy.  Even though the colours include a pink, I think this works for a guy.  The guy it's going to likes to wear pink, so I think it works for him!!  I used some textured Pear Pizzazz for the side panel and then cut several mat layers.  On the white panel I stamped the image of the sailing ship in Rich Razzleberry and while still wet used my aqua brush to pull the ink into the ship's sails.  I cut a flag for the birthday sentiment, stamped the sentiment in green and added a dashed line beneath,  I finished the front of the card with the compass.  For the inside I cut a green mat layer and on the white panel I stamped a really bold sentiment and finished with another compass.

That's all for today.  By the time this post goes live Kathryn and I should have landed and hopefully cleared Immigration, Customs and collected our bags.  Then it's only a case of picking up the car and driving to Plymouth.  Our marathon holiday has started!!!  See you tomorrow for my 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown post - all scheduled!  Bye for now.

Christmas Banners .....

... Morning all!  Today's the day - Kathryn finishes school mid-day and tonight we fly to the UK to see family and friends!  So excited now.

But I did find some time to play in my craft room yesterday evening and I've a Christmas card to share with you today.  I used a couple of challenges to make it:

• CAS-ual Fridays - CFC104 - to use flags and banners
• Jingle Belles - JB:13:12 - a sketch - which has banners!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Nordic Winter, Secret Santa (Chief Elf), Compliments of the Season II
Inks: Distress - Festive Berries, Evergreen Bough
Dies: Die-namics - Fishtail Flags Layers Stax # 2 & 3, Fishtail Flags STAX #2; Spellbinders - Circles Sm (S4-116) #3
Accessories:  SEI DP - Berry Melody; Stampin' Up! - Scalloped Circle Punch; White Lustre Card

This was fun to make.  I picked out three coordinating papers used my Die-namics dies to cut the banners and layered them onto the card.  I stamped the Chief Elf image twice, in green and red punched out the green layer adding some ink to the edges for definition, and used my Spellbinder circle die to cut out the centre.  I adhered the rosette with dimensional tape.  To finish the front I added some elf footprints leading to a simple sentiment.  For the inside I cut a mat layer in another pattern and a white panel on which I stamped a simple sentiment.  Sorry about the quality of the photos, but I had to take them under artificial light!

I have a series of scheduled posts lined up - so do drop by to check them out.  But that's all for now - I'm off to the hairdresser this morning, then it's packing and off to the airport.  See you soon.

You bring me sunshine .....

.... Hi again!  I'm back a bit quicker than expected - got all the washing and ironing finished quicker than expected - so free time to play!!!  And that's good because as soon as I saw the challenge at CASology - CAS48, cue word YELLOW, I knew what I'd be making.  The card also works for the current Addicted to CAS Challenge - ATCAS14, cue word CIRCLES - here there are many!!! Here's my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - My Island; My Favourite Things - First Class Friend; Verve - Learning to Sail
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Daffodil Delight; Memento - London Fog
Dies: Lil' Inkers - Stitched Squares #6; Memory Box - Circle Burst Sm
Accessories:  SU DP - Daffodil Delight; White Lustre Card

This came together so quickly - I think it took 30 minutes from start to finish!!!  The cue word yellow just shouted sunshine to me.  I used the polka dot bright paper from Stampin' Up! to make the mat layer; I also stamped a little sun on this paper and cut it out.  I used the Lil' Inker squares to cut out the white layer and then used the Memory Box die to create a "sun".  I love the words on this sentiment, absolutely perfect for the card.  I finished off the inside with a mat layer in yellow card and on the white panel a heartfelt sentiment.

Kathryn has just come home from school, weighed down by the contents of her school locker.  The children had to clear everything out today.  I think the last couple of days consist of fun activities - films, parties and signing of the Year Book.  I can't believe how fast the past year has gone.  Kathryn really has enjoyed her first year at an American Middle School - junior high!!!  She's grown up such a lot too!

I think that really is all for today. The weather has turned out to be much nicer than expected and I think I need to do a bit of weeding before we fly to the UK.  See you tomorrow.

Elegant birthday wishes ....

.... Morning all!  Time is marching on soooo fast and I have lists as long as my arms - just to make sure that I don't forget anything before we fly on Thursday.  But I've made sure of some "me" time and here's a card I made for a very special lady.  My mother-in-law has her birthday when I'm in the UK, so I've gone a bit mad and made a large (8" ×8") card for her.  I used a couple of challenges to make it:

• The Play Date Cafe Challenge - PDCC85 - just adore these colours
• My Favourite Things Wednesday Sketch Club - MFTWSC127 - sketch

Stamps: Stampendous - Jumbo Dahlia; Hero Arts - Layered Flowers; Waltzingmouse - Say It Loud; PTI - Stylish Sentiments - Birthday
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Island Indigo, Raspberry Ripple
Dies: Die-namics - Fishtail Flags Layers Stax # 3; Spellbinders - Grand Big Scalloped Circles (LF-249) #3
Accessories:  Kanban DP (Grey); Martha Stewart Punch - Arches Border; SU Card - Island Indigo, Raspberry Ripple; White Lustre Card;

I had such fun making this card.  I love the colours - so rich and elegant, perfect for my mother-in-law.  I cut a mat layer in raspberry onto which I layered this lovely grey/silver paper - isn't the flourish just wonderful?  I had to trim the grey paper to fit the card, and used the scrap on the envelope.  I stamped the dahlia onto white card and cut it out, layering onto a teal scalloped circle.  I stamped the sentiment onto white card and cut it out with my Die-namics fishtail dies.  I finished the front of the card with a punched border in white and an accent flower, layered with all the colours.

For the inside I cut another mat in raspberry and on the white panel I stamped another dahlia (using second impression for a more subtle look) as well as the flourish from the same set.  I think the sentiment is just right for Madeline's card - she's always in our thoughts, but more so on her birthday.


To complete the look, I also decorated the envelope using the left over strip of grey/silver paper - I couldn't waste it - far too nice.  I punched the arch border in the grey paper and laid it over a strip of raspberry card.  They look great together.

I got lots done yesterday - washing and ironing - making sure that Kathryn and I both have clean clothes for our trip.  I laid out the suitcases in the spare room too - and am starting to pack!  I have to be careful to make sure I don't go over the baggage weight limit!

That's all for now - I hope to have a card to share with you tomorrow.  Bye for now.

Father's Day ....

.... Hi - hope you all had a good weekend - we did!  A pool party on Saturday - taking lots of photos of models at play, and then yesterday a super walk in Maybury State Park (see below).  I really enjoyed the walk, but Kathryn really wasn't happy!!  She enjoyed the breakfast after though!

My card this morning is for Father's Day, for my father-in-law from Jonathan.  Sadly my step-father died 10 years ago - and I miss him still, but I still get to make two cards each year - the one for Jonathan will be posted later!!!  I used this week's Colour Q - cQc192 challenge for the colours - I think they are just perfect for a masculine card, and I'm also submitting it for Addicted to CAS - ATCAS14, where the cue word "Circles", and I think the monocles count:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - USA 1776, My Kind of Guy, Man of the Hour
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Island Indigo, Certainly Celery, Soft Sky, Smoky Slate (substitute for Going Grey)
Dies: Spellbinders - Large Labels (S4-168) #4, Small Labels (S4-169) #5
Accessories:  SU Card - Island Indigo; White Lustre Card

I carried the bowler hat theme on inside the card, with little bowlers in the corners and a simple, but heartfelt sentiment, in a frame.  I really like the shadow effect on these sentiments!

This card is winging its way to the UK as I type and hopefully will get to my father-in-law on time!!  As an aside, the bowler hat stamp in this set always reminds me of paintings by Rene Magritte - bowler hats feature in many of his paintings.

As we were walking around the park yesterday, we kept finding signs about the Maybury Sanitorium, so I did a bit of searching on Tinternet!  I found out that the Maybury Sanitorium, opened in 1921 and closed in August 1969, was built as a place to treat those suffering from tuberculois.  It was named after William Maybury who built the place, sadly he died of TB in November 1931.  In 1971 Michigan Natural Resource Commission purchased the land and property from the city of Detroit, and the State Park officially opened in May 1975.  It's a wonderful park with lots of routes for walkers, horse riders and bike riders, lots of trees, open land and a fishing pond.  I'll be going again!!

That's all for now - only four more days before Kathryn and I fly to the UK - so much to do!!!  But I'm still going to find time to play in my craft room for a bit ;)  See you soon.

Wheely!!!

... Good morning - a very quick post this morning to share a card that I've made for this week's CASology - CAS47 challenge.  The cue word this week is "WHEELS" and I've gone for a slightly relaxed view of wheels:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Summer Afternoon, Pursuit of Happiness
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Eyelet Squares (S4-305) # 3, Squares Sm (S4-128) #5
Accessories:  SU Card - Pacific Point; Copics; White Lustre Card

The wheels in this image are so relaxed, they are stationary!!  I really like the image - so sweet, and I thought it went really well with the sentiment to pause and take time to "just be happy".  I stamped the image in Memento ink, coloured with Copics and cut it out with the dies.  I mounted the finished image onto a funky blue frame.  I finished off with the simple sentiment.

Yesterday afternoon I was out at a photo shoot with Jonathan - it's the first time I've gone to a proper shoot!!  We went to a pool party - nine models and a whole lot of photographers - all trying to take photos.  It was brilliant.  I learnt such a lot about taking photos and I'm sure my next shoot will be better.  I plan to go through the photos today and select a few to put up on Flickr, as well as a few here.  That's all for now.  See you soon.

Shades of Green ...

..... So, it's the second Saturday of the month and that means we have a colour challenge for you at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown, featuring my favourite colour GREEN.  The rules for this challenge are simple:  you may use ALL shades of green, BUT NO OTHER COLOUR.  You may use ONE neutral - white, cream, black, kraft or grey.  As for metallics - as long as they're green, they're okay!!  Here's my card:

Stamps: Just Rite - O Christmas Tree; Waltzingmouse - Compliments of the Season II
Inks: Versamark; Stampin' Up! - Wild Wasabi
Dies: Spellbinders - Nested Pennants (S5-028) # 1, 2 & 3
Accessories:  SU Card - Garden Green, Certainly Celery, Lucky Limeade, Wild Wasabi, Pistachio Pudding; Clear embossing powder; SU - Dazzling Diamonds; Promarker - Lush Green; Green Foil Card; White Lustre Card

The colour green suggested Christmas trees to me; lots of them!!  So that's what I made - a stylised Christmas tree forest.  I used several shades of green card.  On four I stamped the images in Versamark and embossed with clear embossing powder and on the tiny pale green I stamped the image in Wild Wasabi.  I used the Nested Pennants to cut out the trees.  I added some glitter to a few of the trees.  I cut a mat layer in green foil and adhered the Christmas trees directly to the white panel.  Although there are lots of layers, this is quite flat and will be easy to mail. 

For the inside I cut another green foil mat and on the white layer I stamped the sentiment in Versarmark, embossed with clear powder and then sponged over the top with Wild Wasabi to bring out the design.

Don't forget to check our the Green creations from the rest of the team - they are all just fabulous!  I look forward to seeing what you make!

That's all for today - I'm off to a photo shoot with Jonathan today.  Our local group is at a pool party with five models in swimwear - should be lots of fun.  I do hope the pool is warm though!  See you soon.