One more before ....

.... the end of the year!  Last night, Jed told me he was going to his friend's house today.  Some time later, he "happened" to mention that today is his friend's birthday.  WHAT?!! No lazy morning lie-in for me this morning so - I was up making a last-minute card for the poor birthday boy, who was this close to getting neither card nor present thanks to my ditzy son!!  Here's my rushed offering:

I'm entering the following challenges: Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, Creative Inspirations and C.R.A.F.T. Challenge ("Anything Goes") and Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge ("Party Time").

I used a similar design and layout to a card I made a few months ago, no time for innovations today! My original intention was to print a silhouette of a cat walking along the bottom of the card (as Patrick has a lovely cat in his house), but I was told in no uncertain terms that Patrick doesn't like cats that much, he mostly just likes football!  So I printed out a football, also a bunch of road signs, including one with his age on the front.  Here's a side-shot of the layered up signs.

Recipe:

Paper: Cosmo Cricket "Get Happy"

Stamp: IndigoBlu "Ink Splats"

Stencil: Tim Holtz "Bricked"

Font: "A Dripping Marker" dafont.com

Other: staples, thread, signs printed from internet

Thanks for looking!

Blew the dust ....

.... from my craftroom yesterday!  I haven't made anything since my last post, have been knitting instead, as I'm still working through physio.  My neck is much improved, but sorting that out has uncovered middle back problems (yes, middle back - not upper or lower!) and that makes close-up cardmaking a bit painful.  Oh well, it's getting better - and I've ordered my Christmas card stuff - way to undo all the good work!

My daughter's boyfriend is 23 today, this is the same fella I deigned to make a card for last year!  He's still around! Here's what I made:

Update 25/10/16- this card was Featured at Little Red Wagon - thank you!!

I'm entering the following challenges: Little Red Wagon ("Let's Party"), Creative Knockouts ("Embossing" - I've heat embossed the letters with my new embossing pen, not wildly impressed with it though.  I've also dry embossed some vertical lines on the top right of the card - you can kind of see them!), Inspiration Destination ("Anything Goes") and Seize the Birthday ("Anything Goes").

Lar likes cycling and bikes and such, so I was chuffed that I remembered this old IndigoBlu stamp set with a racing bike.  Inked a nice urban grungy brick background stencil and stamped the bike on top.  Here's a closer look:

Recipe:

Paper: Cosmo Cricket "Get Happy"

Stamp: IndigoBlu "Grand Tour 1" set

Stencil: Tim Holtz "Bricked"

Fonts: "Alexis Marie" - dafont.com and Arial Black

Other: Red e.p., Glossy Accents, staples.

Do you like my artificial grass?  The hard landscaping of our new garden is finished - we've just got to finish putting cladding on the walls and then it will be done - possibly this weekend.

Thanks for looking!

It's been a while ....

.... since I've posted, and with all that's going on around here, I'd say my crafting and blogging opportunities over the next few months will be pretty limited. I haven't actually made anything over the whole month of August, and now my son, my daughter and I are all back at three different schools, with three different timetables and collection schedules so life is going to be horribly hectic for the next year.

Having said all that, I made a card for my little godson's 2nd birthday.  We spent some time on holidays with him and his family in August, and he is just the most sunny, happy little chap.  Here's what I made for him:

I used last week's sketch from Deconstructed Sketches and I'm also going to enter the following challenges: Corrosive Challenges ("Let's hear it for the boys"), Crafty Girls ("Anything Goes") and Crafty Cardmakers ("Make an Impression")

I used some very old Cosmo Cricket papers (I could probably keep making cards for the next decade and still not run out of paper!) and added buttons and a double-embossed number 2.  Here's a side-shot of the dimension on the card:

Recipe:

Papers: Cosmo Cricket ("Lil Man")

Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug "Tiny Bubbles"

Fonts: "Learning Curve" and "SimHei" - www.dafont.com

Other: Basic Grey buttons

Thanks for looking!

On the road ....

.... again!  Our lovely piano teacher at school has just retired, and I wanted to make a card that didn't include any of the obvious music/keyboard/piano motifs.  She and her husband head off with glee each summer holiday to travel the roads of Europe in their caravan, so I decided to base my card around that.  Here's what I made:

I used the sketch from last week's Deconstructed Sketch (flipped) and I'm also entering the following challenges: City Crafter ("Chipboard"), Creative Inspirations ("Distressing"), Fab 'n' Funky ("Feels Like Summer"), Little Red Wagon ("I need a Vacation") and Charisma Cardz ("Anything Goes").

I used some very old papers by Cosmo Cricket - my starting point was the cute car and caravan chipboard image - never thought I'd get to use it!  I highlighted the vehicles with glossy accents.  I cut the foliage from one of the patterned papers.  Here's a side-shot of the dimension on the card.

Recipe:

Papers: Cosmo Cricket "Mr. Campy"

Font: "Alexis Marie" - www.dafont.com

Die: Nestabilities "Blossom"

Other: Glossy Accents

Thanks for looking!

Don't forget the ....

.... Christmas birthdays!  My birthday is in December, but far enough away from Christmas to have always been treated separately by everyone.  But my friend's son has was born perilously close to Christmas, and it's very easy to overlook it.  He is old enough now to realise if people don't mark his special day, so I make a concerted effort to separate Christmas and his birthday.  I will send off his card so it will arrive in the post specially addressed to him on the right day (hopefully, fingers crossed the over-worked posties can make it happen!) and his birthday present will definitely not be wrapped in Christmas paper!!  Here's the card I made for him:

Update 19/12 - this card was chosen as one of the Top 3 on Charisma Cardz - thank you, ladies!

I used the sketch from this week's Mojo Monday and I'm also entering the following challenges: Little Red Wagon ("Holiday Birthday") and Charisma Cardz ("Your Favourite Word" - I reckon Happy or Birthday are everyone's favourite words!).

I always hold on to string and cord, especially if it's coloured, from parcels, new clothes, old notebooks or whatever, so I was happy to recycle some black cord on this card.  I have no idea where I got it originally, but the hoarding is now justified!!  The card ended up being quite a bulky one with lots of dimension - here's a side-shot:

Recipe:

Papers: Cosmo Cricket "Get Happy"

Font: Computer Generated - "Little Bird"

Punch: MS "Drippy Goo"

Other: Glossy Accents, eyelets and black cord from stash

Thanks for looking!

Dusting off ....

.... my long-neglected blog, oh dear, where has the last month gone?  I haven't been crafting much, but have a few bits and bobs to post, most recently I made another sympathy card, for my step-mum's friend.  Here's what I made:

I used a Deconstructed Sketch from a few weeks back, and I'm also entering Charisma Cardz ("All Distressed").  I love the duck egg blue/brown colour combination on this card - they are the recipient's favourite colours and I hope she likes the card.  I used some very old papers and fussy cut the little medallion.  Here's a side-shot of the layers on the card:

Recipe:

Papers: Cosmo Cricket "Everafter"

Other: Hero Arts pearls, computer generated font

Next, my craft club had our final meeting before Christmas.  We always do a Secret Santa and I gussied up a plain kraft bag to wrap my gift in.  Here's how it ended up:

There are oodles of Christmas challenges out there - I'm entering ABC Challenge ("A is for Almost Christmas"), Totally Papercrafts ("Anything Christmassy but a card"), The Ribbon Girl ("Ho ho ho - Christmas challenge") and Corrosive Challenge ("Anything Goes").

I used some lovely Basic Grey papers, glammed up with some gold card, and made a matching gift tag - here's a pic of that:

 

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Little Black Dress"

Dies: Nestabilities "Pinking Circles"

Other: Pinking Shears, ribbon from stash

Thanks for looking - will hopefully post a bit more in the next few days!  Don't wait up, though!!

Happy Hallowe'en ....

.... to everyone.  I'm posting a very quick post - Jed and I are about to go and carve pumpkins (I'll put up pictures of them tomorrow), bit under time pressure, so I'll get to my card.  It's a Hallowe'en birthday card for Jed's friend - his party was last night.  Again, I was under time pressure, then the crackle glazed bat didn't dry properly, then it was too dark to get good pictures (and so the excuses roll on!).  Here's what I made:

 

I used the sketch from last week's Deconstructed Sketches and I'm entering the following challenges too: Daring Cardmakers ("Spooky Birthdays"), Simon Says Stamp ("Anything Goes"), Crafty Creations ("Make it Yourself"), Card Crafters Circle ("Autumn Splendour") and Totally Gorjuss ("Spooky").  I made the letters from the birthday boy's name, and I also made a spring-loaded bat!  I glued several layers of black cardstock together, drew and cut out the bat shape, then liberally coated it with crackle accents.  Then I swanned off for lunch with some friends, confident that when I came back, the bat would be both dry and crackled. BUT, it wasn't!  Eeeek - what to do?  So I put it in the hotpress for another hour.  No difference.  Then I took a heat gun to it.  Eeeek - dry but blistered.  So, as time had run out, I stuck two googly eyes over the worst blisters, attached the spring (from an old notebook spine) and called it a day!!  Here's a terribly lighted side-shot of the bat:



Recipe:

Papers: Cosmo Cricket "Matilda" and Rusty Pickle "Costume Party"

Other: Computer generated font, googly eyes and spring from stash

Thanks for looking - for those who enjoy Hallowe'en - have a fun evening!!

Sweltered in an Irish ....

.... heatwave!  All those reading in the USA will be laughing hysterically at our definition of a heatwave - it's been getting as far as the high 20s Centigrade for about a week now (that translates to about 80 Fahrenheit).  I know it's hitting 3 figures in the west and mid-western USA right now - well, bless all your hearts, I would just keel over and die in that!!!!  We've been opening all the windows (whilst keeping the new cat indoors - a masterpiece in organisation!), and bought an electric fan today to try and keep a bit cooler in the afternoons.  On the plus side, the garden looks amazing, my strawberries and tomatoes are giving a bumper crop, and everyone is in a super good mood because, of course, when the sun is shining there is nowhere in the world as nice as Ireland!

I went to a friend's house yesterday - she had put out a 10ft inflatable pool in the back garden for the kids, and the adults were in the garden too - crafting under the gazebo.  I enjoyed playing with her extensive collection of stamps, and got the makings of a few cards done, one which I finished today:

I used this week's Deconstructed Sketch and I'm also entering Cupcake Craft ("Anything but Square"), Papertake Weekly ("Old, New, Borrowed or Blue" - mine is the borrowed stamps) and ABC Challenge ("Q is for Quite a Few" layers).

Here's a side shot of the card - I love that crackle background stamp.  I stamped the flower on kraft a few times and cut out extra blossoms, coloured and crumpled them and stuck them down for added dimension.  I made the letters using a computer font, printed out on card, stuck down on a few more layers of card, then cut out and inked.

Recipe:

Papers: Cosmo Cricket "Mr. Campy"

Stamps: Not sure - borrowed from Jackie - thanks, hun!

Colouring Medium: Prismacolor pencils, distress inks.

Other: Ribbon from stash.

Thanks for looking!

Still scrambling ....

.... around, trying to get my mojo up and running.  Only one week and four days left of school, I am looking forward to having time to do things - have the usual ambitious (overly ambitious?!!) to-do list of people to see, projects to do, once-a-year cleaning jobs to undertake, etc., etc.!!  Let's see!!

My son is away this weekend at his friend's birthday party/sleepover - they went quad-biking yesterday (the horrors!), but friend's Mum kindly texted to let everyone know their sons were still in one piece afterwards!  Here's the card I made for the birthday boy:

Update 18th June: This card was given a Spotlight Artist Award on City Crafter - many thanks!

I used the sketch from this week's Deconstructed Sketch and I'm also entering this into the following challenges: Creative Inspirations ("Father's Day/Male Themed"), Papertake Weekly ("Hello Boys") and City Crafter ("All About Him").

I did a lot of doodling on this card - all the lettering, numbers, arrows, etc.  See the MS "Drippy Goo" border punch - remember a few years ago these were like gold-dust and everyone wanted them - I got one then and this is the first time I've used it!!  Here's a side-shot of the drips, doodles and dimension on the card:

Recipe:

Papers: Cosmo Cricket "Get Happy"

Punch: MS "Drippy Goo"

Other: Black and white gel pens

Thanks for looking!

Think it's about time ....

.... we had some good spring light around here, I'm getting a bit tired of shockingly lit photos!!  I don't often make identical cards (apart from the Christmas production line!), but I needed two sympathy cards in a hurry.  Of course, while I was merrily making the cards at a crop yesterday, the sun was blazing away outside, and when I was taking the pics today, it was a dull grey day!  Here's what I made:

I used a Mojo Monday sketch from a few week's back, the three circle layout suited this card.  I'm entering it in the following challenges: My Time to Craft ("Embossing"), Daring Cardmakers ("March colour combo") and Simon Says Stamp ("Anything Goes").

Here's a side-view of the card, followed by a close-up of the heat-embossed stamp:

Recipe:

Papers: Cosmo Crickets "Everafter"

Stamp: Hero Arts "Dandelion"

Other: Doodlebug brad, Clear embossing powder

Thanks for looking!

Are you ....

.... a resolution-maker?  I'm not, especially at New Year - I think it's unrealistic!!  So as I was making the card I'm about to show you, and thinking idly to myself "Wow, my output is increasing, wouldn't it be great to make lots of cards and do lots of blog posts this year", I quickly slapped myself (metaphorically!) on the wrist!!  Step away from the resolutions!!!  I do have some good crafting news to share shortly (not sure when it's shareable), so watch this space!

Anyway, I was at a crop yesterday, and made almost a whole card, which I then finished when I got home.  Here's what I made:

 

I used the sketch from this week's Mojo Monday, and I'm also entering this into the following challenges: Totally Gorjuss ("Spotty"), Our Creative Corner ("Shabby Chic"), Totally Papercrafts ("Ribbon") and Moving along with the Times ("Floral Delights").

 

I used a Papertrey Ink stamp set that my friend, Anne, brought back from a trip to Cincinnati, layered, scrunched, inked and distressed for good measure!!  Here's a side shot, showing the layering:

 

 

Recipe:

Papers: Cosmo Cricket "Everafter"

Stamps: Papertrey Ink "Simple Sunflower"

Die: Nestabilities "Lacy Circles"

Other: Ribbon from stash, glossy accents.

 

Thanks for looking!

 

First one ....

.... of 2013, and it's a last-minuter!!

This is my DT sample for PaperPlay - sadly it's our last challenge for a while.  Sandie has decided to close the challenge blog for a while, to hopefully reopen some time.  This week's challenge, ironically, is called "Celebration".  I had to make a card for a teacher at school who has just moved into a new home, after a difficult few years, so it's certainly a move to celebrate.  Here's what I made:

I used the sketch from this week's Deconstructed Sketch, and I'm also entering the following challenges: My Time to Craft ("All about the new"),Stampin' for the Weekend and Papertake Weekly ("Anything Goes"), Simon Says Stamp ("New Something") and Cute Card Thursday ("Something New").

I used some very old papers from Cosmo Cricket called "Mr. Campy" - I love that line, but have only scraps left at this stage.  I made the little scene using a couple of different Hero Arts stamps and cutting a little grassy knoll!  Here's a closer look:

 

Recipe:

Papers: Cosmo Cricket "Mr. Campy"

Stamps: Hero Arts "Design Block Clouds Background" and "From our House to Yours"

Colouring Medium: Sky - Hero Arts Hues, house and trees Prismacolor pencils

Font: computer generated

Other: buttons from stash, hairy string, glossy accents

 

 

Thanks for looking - and a very happy 2013 to everyone!

 



Too close to ....

.... Christmas for non-Christmas crafting!  My friend's son has his 6th birthday today, and I am ashamed to say that today is only the second time I've managed to make a birthday card for him (last year being the first!).  Most of his relatives combine birthday and Christmas pressies, so I was determined to make a separate birthday fuss of him!!  Here's what I made:

I do think some red stitching around the outside of that lovely teal spotty paper would have been lovely, but no time.   I used the sketch from this week's Deconstructing Sketches and I'm also entering this into Totally Gorjuss ("For someone special").

Here's a side view of the layers - see the googly eyes I added to the orange sticker?  I love googly eyes!

Recipe:

Papers and sticker: Cosmo Cricket "Lil Man"

Number: Pink Paislee

Other: American Crafts eyelet, googly eyes, baker's twine

Thanks for looking!

Ever left everything ....

.... until the last minute? That's me this Christmas - I still haven't started the Christmas shopping, the house is a tip, the days are definitely ticking away faster than they should be!! Eeek!!

On the plus side, my card from a few posts ago here has been picked as one of the Top 3 on CES Challenges (yayy - a blinkie!!).

I had time between batches of Christmas cards to do a commission. One of my colleagues asked me to do a graduation card, I hmmed and hawed because I didn't think I would have time, but then she told me the name of the graduate - and she was such a lovely child when she was at our school a million years ago that I had to say yes. So I was in the craftroom most of the weekend between Christmas cards and this:

I used the sketch from this week's Sketch Saturday, and I'm also entering it into quite a few challenges that it fits, namely: The Crafty Pad ("Give it a Punch"), Charisma Cardz ("Spots"), Cute Card Thursday ("It's just a number"), Crafts and Me ("Pearls and Swirls"), Simon Says Stamp ("Anything Goes") - and, this might be a bit cheeky, Mo's Digital Challenge ("Great Outdoors" - it does say the topic is broad - Mo's DT - can we say this girl has just ran outside waving her degree and throwing her mortarboard in the air? If not, I completely understand!).

I used this lovely image from Mo - that robe was hard to colour in black, really it's ended up faded grey but I hadn't time to go over it again. I decided to match it with black/cream papers and add a few touches of bling to make it nice and celebratory. Here's a close-up of the image:

Recipe:

Papers: Cosmo Cricket "Circa 1934"

Image: Mo Manning "Grad Girl"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Fiskars "Threading Water" punch, Hero Arts Smooth Gems, Prima swirl, needle + thread

After I finished, we went into town to meet friends for a coffee, Grafton Street looked gorgeous all lit up and festive in the dark. Here's a pic I found on the internet - not a great shot but you get the idea:

Thanks for looking!

Betcha didn't think ....

.... I'd finish that card today?  Neither did I, but .... I did!!  Maybe because I have to make a card a day for the next three days, no excuses - they're all due imminently.  Eek!

Today's card is the second of three commissioned cards that I'm making for a lady's 60th birthday.  I'm going for a very different look for each one, so I've moved from yesterday's soft greens and fairies to this -screaming bright red and manga!!

I've used the sketch from The Sugar Bowl - I'm also entering this into Kaboodle Doodles ("Stitching"), Stamp Something ("Summer Something" - my manga girl looks like she's heading out into an Irish summer - with sunhat AND umbrella!) and Totally Gorjuss ("punch or die").

I changed this card so many times while I was making it - the cardstock went from red to cream to aqua and finally walnut - and the top patterned paper layer went from these cherries to some blue with kites to some blue with red birds and finally back to the cherries again.  What a pain in the wotsit!!  My crafting buddy, Michelle, lent me a beautiful doily die at the crop the other night - it cuts out the most intricate doily pattern which I've used on this card - I'm going to have to buy this die, I think it's on the Joanna Sheen site.  It's also extremely therapeutic poking the bits out of all those little holes!!

Here's a close-up of my little Manga girl.





Recipe:

Papers: Cosmo Cricket "Togetherness" and "Early Bird"

Image: Sugar Nellie "April Showers"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Doily Die, Hero Arts pearls, ribbon from stash, needle + thread

Thanks for looking - fingers crossed for another card tomorrow!!!

The end ....

.... is nigh!!  End of school year, that is.  One and a half days to go, woohoo, then two months of sleep-ins, late breakfasts, even later lunches, and lots of time for crafting!!

I was delighted recently when Timi and Nicole from Crafting Ireland Magazine asked me if I would like to be showcased in the Designer Spotlight section in the second issue of their online mag.  I didn't have to be asked twice!!  So the issue went live yesterday, and I'm so excited to see my work "in print"!!!

On the current craft front, I'm still trying to struggle through the school housekeeper's card orders before we close, here's the next one:

I used the sketch from this week's Sunday Sketch and Stamp, and I'm entering this into The Shabby Tea Room ("My Favourite Things" - I love these papers and love making my own chipboard embellishments) and The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge ("Embossing").

Here's a side view of the layers - I love that embossing folder:

Recipe:

Papers: Cosmo Cricket "Circa 1934

Image: Mo Manning "The Tramp"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Cuttlebug "Tiny Bubbles" embossing folder, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!