Only one more ....

.... man card to do now I've finished this one.  Phew!  We were out last night at a friend's surprise 40th party - I made his card in a rush in the afternoon, photographed in horrid light before tucking it in my bag, went out, had a great night, came home - and d'oh, realised the card was still in my bag!!  Oh well, at least that meant I got to re-take the pics in daylight (albeit winter daylight)!  Here's what I made:

Update 3rd Dec: This card was picked as a Top 3 on CES Challenges  - thank you!

I used the sketch from this week's Sketch Saturday, and I'm also entering this into Basic Grey Challenges ("Lost and Found" - reuse something found around the house - I've used the corrugated packaging cardboard and the burgundy string which was from a clothes label) and CES Challenges ("Special Milestone Birthdays").

As I was tight for time on this, it's a variation of the 60th card I did a few weeks back. Used the delicious BG Oxford paper again - soooo good for male cards, and yes, more rosettes - I love making them so much.  Here's a side-shot of the rosettes and dimension of the card:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Oxford"

Sentiment: Computer generated

Other: Doodlebug brads, needle + thread, corrugated cardboard, string from stash, BG "Bittersweet" buttons

Now just have to do a belated birthday card for another nephew that has been put on the long finger again and again - those poor guys always get left 'till last, and then it's full steam ahead on the Christmas cards and whatever else Christmassy I get around to!

Thanks for looking!

That mention ....

.... of churning out cards on my last post had the immediate effect of making me screech to a complete creative halt.  I mustn't use such dynamic verbs in future!!

I had a commissioned deadline to meet this morning, so having huffed and puffed about it all week, I got down to it yesterday afternoon and made a card.  It's for a friend's relative, Auntie Bina, who is 90 today.  I haven't met her but she sounds like a fun and fiesty lady, so I decided to avoid any little old lady pastel shades and go for vivid colours.  Here's the end result:

Recipe:

Papers: October Afternoon "Modern Homemaker"

Image: Pure Innocence "Hello Cupcake"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Diamond Stickles, ribbon from stash, glossy accents, needle + thread

I used the sketch from this week's Stamp with Fun, and I'm also entering this into Moving Along with the Times ("Ribbons and Bows"), Dutch Dare (recipe - I've got image, papers, layers and ribbon), ABC Challenge ("Dazzle") and Crafty Cardmakers ("Recycle" - my red ribbons and bow were kept from Christmas crackers).

I finally ordered my Christmas card stuff, and it arrived during the week.  I'm slightly freaked out by the lateness, so my design is quite simple (even though I wish I could add stitching, just don't have time).  Have a few other birthday cards to make and then the production line begins.

Thanks for looking!

Churning out ....

.... the male cards!!  November is a month for male birthdays in my family, nothing like adding that pressure to that of the upcoming Christmas season!!  My husband is first, then his nephew, then a two-week gap before some more.  Gah!!!  Anyway, here's what I made for my husband this year:

I'm entering this into the following challenges: Basic Grey Challenges ("Anything Goes" - second time this week!), CES Challenges ("Entertain Us - Song or Film" - of course, mine is "The Italian Job"!), Totally Papercrafts ("Stitch It"), The Shabby Tea Room ("Homespun Fall" - a gorgeous inspiration pic that I've taken the colours from) and Our Creative Corner ("Masculine - using non-traditional colours").

Another pinwheel (or are they called rosettes?) - anyway, I love making them.  They are the perfect way to use those strips that are cut off the edge of a piece of 6" x 6" paper to make the background layer for my cards, those strips I can never bear to throw away.  I have oodles of them and at last can put them to some use!!!

I've been teasing my husband because he's getting to that stage where he's doing that stretchy arm thing when he's reading - needs to get the eyes tested, etc., and he is in complete denial.  When he looked at this card, he said "There's only one "L" in Paul", to which I replied "There's only one "L" plus an exclamation mark on your card - you need to get your eyes tested!".  Hee hee, got 'im!!!

I had to make the Mini bit three times - I had decided to try out the cracked glass technique, used about half a pot of e.p. building up the thickness I wanted, cracked OK, then my son came to see what I was doing and asked was the Mini supposed to look like it had crashed!  Oh dear, not quite the look I was going for.  The second one I forgot to distress the edges before putting one layer of e.p. on and it looked bland.  This is the third!

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Wander"

Stamp: "Mini" by Blade Rubber Stamps

Sentiment: Computer Generated

Other: Distress Inks, ribbon from stash, Doodlebug brads, needle + thread

Now on to nephew's card - eek!  He's turning 20 so no longer a teenager, but that doesn't make it any easier!!

Thanks for looking!

Had a lovely afternoon ....

.... in my craftroom, making a commissioned card.  I really enjoyed myself - even though I'd left it until almost the last moment.  Had a moment of panic when I started questioning the age of the birthday boy - I knew it was 60, but I started arguing with myself and trying to work it out logically - so ended up having to text to check for sure!!!  And of course, it is 60!!  This card is also my DT entry for PaperPlay this week - our challenge is called "Button Up".  Here's what I made:

I used the sketch from this week's Mojo Monday.  I'm also entering this into Basic Grey Challenges ("Anything Goes") and Simon Says Stamp ("Buttons").  I made the pinwheels - fun but fiddly, especially when took on a life of their own when I was trying to fix them to the backing circles!  I made a star and the numbers and crackle accented them - here are some close-ups:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Oxford"

Sentiment: Computer generated

Other: Doodlebug brads, BG Bittersweet buttons, handmade pinwheels, star, numbers

Thanks for looking!