I'm done with ....

.... Norah!  Finished the last of three cards ordered for her 60th Birthday at last.  They were collected this morning and my customer is very happy with them.  I had the beginnings of the final one on my desk in my post yesterday. Here's what I made:

'Scuse the dark photos - it was very overcast this morning, and I didn't have a chance to wait for brighter skies before this was collected.

I used the sketch from this week's Basic Grey Challenges, and am also entering this into CES Challenges ("Feeling the Blues"), Crafty Cardmakers ("Flutterbies"), Papertake Weekly ("Anything Goes") and A Spoon Full of Sugar ("Tags").

I had a butterfly punch out to use for this card as well as the stamp, but when it came to it, I didn't use any punched butterflies.  Bit of useless trivia about me - I'm afraid of butterflies and moths - maybe that's why I could only put one on the card!!!

I made rolled up paper roses for this card - haven't tried this technique before and I really liked making them, will definitely be doing this again.  Here's a close-up of the flowers and leaves:

And here's a shot of the card with the tag sticking out.  Wow, those pics are dark, even after adjusting the levels, etc.

Recipe:

Papers: BG "Figgy Pudding"

Stamps: Inca Stamps "Swallowtail", Magnolia "Old Valentine Letter"

Inks: Distress Inks

Other: Hero Arts pearls, clear embossing powder, Cuttlebug embossing folder

Thanks for looking - back to cards with other names on!!

If card-making was my job ....

.... I'd be living in a cardboard box by the side of the road by now!!  Honestly, I'm such a slug - I really need to crank up a gear or two or several and make more things!

But the reason I'm here is I did make something!!!  Another baby girl card, and I only realised after I'd made it that I made a card for a girl called Olivia using Basic Grey "Olivia" papers.  Serendipity!!  Here's my card:

I've used the sketch from this week's Sketch Saturday and I'm also entering it into the following challenges: Mo's Digital Challenge ("Oh Baby"), Wild Orchid Challenges ("Anything Goes"), A Spoon Full of Sugar ("Shabby/Vintage") and Stamp Something (Digi week).

I used another cute image from Mo Manning, it's part of a set called "Diaper Crew".  Here's a close-up:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Olivia"

Image: "Diaper Days" by Mo Manning

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Wild Orchid flowers, nestabilities, ribbon and doily from stash, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!  I'll hopefully have another card to share before the weekend (but don't hold your breath!)

It's still ....

.... snowing, we've got another snow day off school tomorrow, and my cup of joy is overfloweth-ing!!!!

It's Thursday, and that means time for another challenge on PaperPlay.  We're sponsored this week by Whimsy Stamps and our challenge is "Monochromatic".

I went for an all-pink card, for a teacher in school who has just had a baby girl.  Here's what I made:

Sorry about the terrible light - it's very grey here with all the snow clouds so photos are coming out very dark.

I'm used the sketch from this fortnight's Truly Scrumptious and also the "think pink" optional extra.  I'm also entering this into Lili of the Valley Thursday Challenge ("a few of my favourite things" - stitching, distress inks, stickles!) and A Spoon Full of Sugar (Recipe - 3 papers, 3 flowers, 3 buttons).

It's the first card I've made with some recently acquired Lily of the Valley images.  I love this little cutie - perfect for Baby cards for either boy or girl.  Here's a close-up of the image:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Bittersweet"

Image: Lili of the Valley "Baby Blanket"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Wild Orchid flowers, mesh and buttons from stash, stickles, needle + thread

Now I'm going to clean up my messy house, and then head out for some fun in the snow.  I hope to take some pictures to contrast with those I took on Sunday, there is SO much more snow since then.

Thanks for looking!

You should see ....

.... the giant pile of ironing in my house that's waiting to be done!!!  Nothing like a holiday to multiply the laundry by a gazillion percent, but I had a card to make for our Deputy Principal, who is now happily ensconced back in his own classroom after the arrival of the new principal. 

I wanted to make a funny card, so this is what I ended up with:

I'm entering it into the following challenges: Crafty Cardmakers ("Stitching"), A Spoon Full of Sugar (use embellishments), Papertake Weekly (card for a guy), The Shabby Tearoom (has a inspiration pic with red/blue/white colours that I've used) and Paper Sundaes (card for a man).

I've used my funny Basic Grey stamp creatures, and I decided to put googly eyes on them since they are a staple of most classroom art supply cupboards!!!  I made the banners from the lovely OA papers, cut out and glued to a red thread string, then attached at the ends so they swing freely. Here's a close-up of the images:

Recipe:

Papers: October Afternoon "Seaside"

Image: Basic Grey "Heart Girl" and "Frog Boy"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Lettering: 20 year old college letraset rub-ons - I knew they'd come in useful some day!

Other: Ribbon from stash, Doodlebug button, glossy accents, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!  And tomorrow, while I'm waiting for the iron to heat up, I'm planning to get a proper look at what you've all been up to - how I've missed blog-hopping!!

Is it Monday ....

.... already?!!  That was a quick weekend, sigh!

My friend's son passed his driving test last week.  A few years back, in my early card-making days, when his sister passed her test, I made a card for her using one of my Snoopy stamps, so I decided to use the same stamp for him.  Here's my card (taken in veeeerrry poor light):

I used the sketch from this week's Papertake Weekly, and am also entering it into this week's Spoon Full of Sugar ("Animal Crackers") and Crafty Creations ("Transportation").

I coloured using Distress Inks and highlighted the glass and chrome bits of the car with glossy accents.  Here's a close-up of Snoopy and Woodstock:

Recipe:

Stamp: Stampabilities "Driving Woodstock"

Papers: Basic Grey "Nook + Pantry", Basic Grey "Archaic", October Afternoon "WeatherVane"

Other: Buttons from stash, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!

Sending Donkey ....

.... smiles!  Many crafting bloggers will have heard of the accident that befell Michelle, a lovely lady who lives on a farm in Texas.  Some of her friends on A Spoon Full of Sugar decided to organise a card drive for Michelle - so she will get cards from all over the world wishing her well.  One of her great loves is her beloved donkeys, so as part of the card drive, freebie digi donkeys have been provided if people wish to use them.  Here's my card:

I used the lovely sketch from this week's Truly Scrumptious, and am also entering it into Totally Papercrafts (pearls and swirls).

I was originally going to use soft greys and pinks (donkey colours!) - but when I checked out Michelle's work, I can see she loves bright colours, flowers and pearls - so I ramped up the pink - a lot!!!

This is only the second time I've used a digi-stamp, my printer is not so good with these at all.  I dried it with a heat-gun several times and it took a few goes to colour without smudging.  All I can say is I'm glad my donkey is grey!!!  Here's a close-up of the image:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Bittersweet"

Stamp: Digistamp by Meljens at Whimsy Stamps

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Stickles, Maya Road Flower, Basic Grey Pearls, ribbon from stash, needle + thread

Thanks for looking, and if you haven't already and would like to make a card for Michelle, follow the links in this post to find out the details.

Nearly there ....

.... we get our school holidays on Friday at 12 noon - only 36 and a half hours to go (who's counting?!).

Another of the cards I had to do was for another work colleague who is getting married over the summer.  She and her Mum both craft (Hi Avril and Lauren!!) - and they made the most gorgeous, elegant invitations for the wedding.  They visited my craft room a while back and both were crazy about my Hero Arts heart stamp set, so I decided it would be only right and proper to use those on this card:

I kept to roughly the same layout (flipped 90 degrees) and style as I used for the other staff wedding card I made a few weeks back, but changed the colour scheme.

I'm entering this on The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge (wedding/anniversary) and A Spoon Full of Sugar (good luck/best wishes).

Thanks for looking!

Still working ....

.... my way through the to-do list of cards.

This one is my DT entry for PaperPlay this week.  I set the challenge - it's called "Something Old" :

"It's easy to be seduced by all the lovely new products, but this challenge is to use something very old from your stash. Could be the first papers you loved and didn't want to cut into, or what were cutting edge embellishments. Drag them out and use them!!!". 

Our prize this week is €10 credit from The Scrapbook Store.

My card is a retirement card for our school Principal (who is also my boss!), and I originally intended to make something utterly different.  I was going to colour an image in distress inks and use some very old papers, but somehow this happened:

The "old" is the postman hairy string, and also the corrugated card that I rescued from the packaging of a garden heater.  The stamps are, I suppose, getting quite old and the paper is from last year (yes, I know that's pushing it!).

I'm also entering this on the following challenges: Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge (include a quote), Totally Gorjuss (one for the boys), A Spoon Full of Sugar (enjoying the sunshine), Crafty Creations (it's a stitch-up) and Creative Inspirations (another one for the boys!).

Before I made it, I wasn't thinking of having a quote on the card, just something like "on your retirement", but when I spotted this rub-on in the paper pack, I just thought it sounded so apt for a retiring principal.  He doesn't have to worry about all the big issues that crop up while working in school anymore!  Here's a close-up of the image and sentiment:

Recipe:

Papers and rub-on: Cosmo Cricket "Earth Love"

Stamp: Hero Arts "Three Designer Leaves"

Colouring Media: Hero Arts shadow ink and colouring pencils

Other: Distress ink, string and corrugated card from stash, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!

Safely back where I belong, in ....

.... my comfort zone.  I spent several happy hours last night with distress tool, inks, needle and thread and it felt good!!!

My card is for a retiring Sunday School teacher called Rosie.  I immediately thought of using BG "Sugared" paper, with its lovely blousy roses, but am branching off in other botanical directions too by using a Mary Hall for Sugar Nellie stamp called "Miss Sweet Pea"!!

My card is for this week's challenge on The Sugar Bowl, a lovely sketch (and an option to use pink/black/white, what can I say, I'm a rebel, I only used 33.3% of that option - pink/green/cream!!).  I changed the sketch very slightly by putting the "three elements" on the left hand side, I needed the right for the tag which has quite a bit of info that the customer wanted "on the front" - I love making tags for getting all the text on, but not in a way that clutters the card.

I'm also entering this on Crafty Angels ("My favourite stamp"), A Spoon Full of Sugar ("Floral Delight"), and Creative Cottage ("Pink").

I coloured this stamp using Distress Inks, love the dusky pink and olive green colours.  I have lots of the ink pads, but only a few reinkers and I am definitely going to build that collection.  Here's a close-up of the image, it's such a sweet stamp:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey Sugared

Stamp: Mary Hall "Miss Sweet Pea" for Sugar Nellie

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: BG "Sugared" brads, ribbon from stash, needle + thread.

My daughter started her exams today, talk about cool as a cucumber - I don't want her to be panicking, but I wouldn't mind if she was a teeeeny weeeeny bit less laid-back either!!!!  And the next few weeks are bonkers, parish fete, boss's retirement events, car-boot sale, it's all go - and I have a long list of cards to make too.  EEEK!

Thanks for looking!

Rush rush rush ....

.... I started the card for DH's grandmother yesterday morning, thinking we were leaving for the party at about 3.30 and I had loads of time.  The kids were at the cinema with DH, nice quiet house, no hurry on me.  So I changed a few bits as I was going along, experimented with things, broke out the crackle paint and the rock candy stickles, until they came home at 1.30 and he said we needed to go at 2.45.  WHAT?!!!  So I put it all together in a massive hurry, photographed it, got changed, into the car, painted my nails one at a time every time we hit a red light, and now as I look at the photos, I realised I forgot to stick pearls on the image.

I've used Martine's lovely sketch on this fortnight's Basic Grey Challenges, and broke into my gorgeous new BG Capella papers, which are my absolute favourite of their recent releases, I love the colours.

I'm also entering this card on A Spoon Full of Sugar (celebrations), Crafty Creations (use your favourite stamp - I do love this set), Creative Inspirations (Distressing), Quixotic Challenges (Emboss it), Simon Says Stamps (pink/blue and green and brown - all here I think!) and ABC Challenge (Vintage).

I was faffing about with three of the set of these Hero Arts stamps, two with leaves, trying to get them to look like a bouquet, and it wasn't working - so I cut the leaves off two of them and just used them with the one single flower.  And I had meant to put tiny pearls on those little circley bits, but ran out of time.  Here's an image close-up:

Recipe:

Papers: BG Capella

Stamps: Hero Arts "Peeking Posies"

Colouring Medium: Prismacolour pencils and sansodor

Other: Nestabilities, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Crackle Paint, Distress inks, Maya Road Pins, lace from stash, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!

Now I'm smooookin' ....

.... second post in one day!!  Will probably never happen again! 

I've finished another communion card, for our friends' little girl - we're going to this one 'cos it's on Sunday, the day after the 90th birthday party (I have yet to make the card for the 90th birthday girl - next on the long list!)

I've used this week's lovely sketch on Just Magnolia and made my second Tilda card (I think this one is supposed to be a bridesmaid but I figured she could be in a communion dress either!).  Here it is:

I don't think I've ever made such a girly card and the lilac/yellow colour combo is a definite first for me!  Originally, I only had the yellow ribbon, but when I was sticking it down, I pulled the sticky tape funny and a great big ladder appeared in the ribbon.   Aaaaagh!  I couldn't change it 'cos everything was stuck down too well, so I used the little bits of lilac gingham to cover the disaster.  It actually looks nicer with that addition.

I'm also entering this on A Spoon Full of Sugar (celebrations), Creative Inspirations (distressed), and ABC Challenge (V is for Vintage).

I coloured Tilda using Distress Inks - I am just loving this method of colouring - thanks Mina!!!  Here's a close-up of the image:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey Kioshi

Stamp: Magnolia Tilda - image from Mina - thanks!

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: MS Valentine Lace punch, Nestabilities, ribbon from stash, needle + thread.

Thanks for looking - wish me luck as I crawl back up the stairs to start the Happy 90th Birthday card!!

Back in action ....

.... I had no choice, I had a lot of cards to make this week.  Some of my son's classmates are having their first holy communions on Saturday - he was invited to two of their parties, but sadly for him, his great-grandmother's 90th birthday party is on the same day and he has to go to that.  He is not one bit happy and I don't blame him, what 8 year old boy would pass up on bouncy castles and mountains of sweets to go to a meal with a bunch of geriatrics and an accordion player?!!!!

Anyway, this is what I made for his friends, and it's also my PaperPlay DT entry for this week.  Set by the lovely Deirdre, it's called "Up in the Air"  - "We want to see things that fly. It can be butterflies, fairies, aerplanes or even balloons."

I don't have any religious-y stamps or embellishments, so I went with a Hero Arts dove that I've used before for communions.  I also stitched a little cross beside the name.  Here's my card:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Archaic" and "Basics - Kraft"

Stamp: Hero Arts "Holiday Doves"

Colouring Medium: Prismacolour Pencils and Sansodor

Other: Nestabilities, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Tea Dye Distress Ink Needle + Thread

I've used the sketch from this week's Double Dutch Challenges, and am also entering it into A Spoon Full of Sugar (celebration), Creative Inspirations (distressed), and Quixotic Challenges (Emboss it).

Thanks for looking!

My first ....

.... Tilda card - what took me so long?!!!

This week's challenge on PaperPlay was set by Mandy and it's called "Pretty Pastels".  We are sponsored this week by Card Mad Fairy, who are offering a prize of some of their digi images, and also our old DT member, Kate, has put together a lovely prize package.

This was another challenging one for me, I'm not really a pastel-kinda girl!  But one of the images I coloured at Mina's workshop last week has a pretty pastel blue dress, so I decided to use it on my card.

I'm also entering this in the following challenges: A Spoon Full of Sugar (3D something - I've popped up the image), Creative Cottage (circles), Quixotic Challenges (distressing - I always do!), and, for the first time Just Magnolia (anything goes).

As far as I can remember, I don't think I liked Tildas very much when they first came out.  But I think I've got used to them, 'cos now I do like them, and have recently even bought a few!!!  I really enjoyed colouring them, it's very easy to decide where to put shading, as all the lines are already there in the stamped image!  Here's a close-up of the image - this is the one without the bruised face!!  I put stickles on her lacy underskirt, very cute in real life, invisible on the photo!!

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Dasher"

Stamp: Magnolia "Tilda Writing Diary"

Colouring Medium: Tim Holtz Distress Inks

Other: Nestabilities, MS Doily Lace punch, ribbon from stash, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!

Big Girl ....

.... Colouring!!  I went to a workshop last week, where the lovely Mina was teaching how to colour with Distress Inks.  I've been itching to try this technique for a while, and I really enjoyed the class.

I sat down to make a card for yet another friend who is about to turn 50, and is a real girlie-girl, so I decided I'd do a Gorjuss Girl card for her, using the Distress Ink technique.  I had great fun colouring, and it's amazing what tiny quantities of ink are needed - very economical!!!  Here's my card:

I used this week's lovely sketch from Friday Sketchers - really nice to work with.  I'm also entering this into Totally Gorjuss (use a Gorjuss Girl!), Daring Cardmakers (Die-Cuts - I've used die-cut ribbon), A Spoon Full of Sugar (Happy Birthday) and The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge (Distressing).

Here's a close-up of my colouring:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey Urban Prairie

Stamp: Gorjuss Girl "Sent with Love"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks.

Other: BG Buttons, Needle + thread, ribbon sent to me by Elisa (thanks, hun!)

Thanks, Mina - I hope I've done your tuition justice!!!  Everyone else, thanks for looking!